From Mercenary to King

Chapter 79: Elf Knights and the Power of the Pike Phalanx (1)

“Hah!”

-Step, step, step.

The pikesmen, who had formed orderly ranks, thrust their pikes in all directions according to the shouts. No gap could be seen to squeeze into any part of the square they had formed.

It was truly a sight like a hedgehog. Thanks to this, not only Shatien but also the Centurions who were observing let out exclamations.

“Wow. This is truly incredible, huh?”

“It looks like a moving wall.”

“No joke, it feels like it would repel even a lance charge. It is like a moving fortress.”

The Centurions all shook their heads in amazement. It was because the dense pikes blocked the north, south, east, and west without a single gap. Even the mercenaries, who were supposed to be free-spirited, were moving like a single body. It was truly an outstanding level of discipline.

Shatien was also unable to hide his admiration.

‘This is truly great. To coordinate the mercenaries' breathing like this in such a short period. Wow...’

Inwardly, he began to see Miles in a different light.

“Is it possible to advance in one direction? Even slowly is fine.”

Maintaining a posture while stationary and maintaining it while moving were as different as heaven and earth. Since the pikes were long, if they were not managed properly while moving, they would shake and the formation would fall into a mess.

Nevertheless, Miles answered very confidently.

“Ahaha. Of course! If they cannot even move, would that be a formation or just a bunch of idiots?”

“Then will you show me, Miles?”

Shatien’s eyes sparkled. For the first time, he was full of expectation to the point his heart throbbed.

“Now, now. Watch closely, Shatien.”

Miles commanded the pikesmen in a loud voice.

“Pikesmen, advance forward!!”

“Advance forward!”

“One-hah! One-! One-!”

-Step, step, step, step.

Looking at the way they moved in time with each other's commands, the appearance of the pikesmen was truly intimidating. Furthermore, the way the long pikes shook slightly every time they moved was like trees in a forest where the wind blows.

In short, the movement of the pikesmen looked as if a forest were walking.

‘It worked. This is it!!’

Shatien cheered inwardly.

Even that fearsome Order of the Black Rain would be unable to break through and would collapse once they met the phalanx of these pikesmen.

“How on earth did you do it?”

Until just a short while ago, they were mercenaries who could not even hold a pike properly. But they became able to coordinate their breathing and walk like this in such a short period? And without the formation breaking?

There was surely a secret.

Then Miles scratched his head as if embarrassed and spoke.

“Hahahaha. Well... it is nothing special. I thought that if it is hard to coordinate the breathing all at once, why not add a shout every time they move to make it easier to coordinate.”

Adding a shout?

Were those not things that knights shouted to encourage courage and threaten the enemy when they charged?

He had never seen a shout used in this way. As far as he remembered, it had never been like that even in the future.

‘This is... a great talent. He seems to have a certain animal-like sense.’

He thought that perhaps the reason he had only thought Miles was good at hacking with an axe was because there had been no opportunity to display his abilities.

Miles... he was simple, but he seemed to have the ability to look at the essence of an open mind that was not actually simple at all.

-Grab.

Shatien grabbed Miles’s hand.

“W-What the? You rascal. Why are you suddenly grabbing my hand and making a fuss!”

“Miles. I beg of you. Please also cultivate the halberdiers into elite troops like this.”

He did not know the method, but he thought Miles would surely have a way.

“Ah, that is much more of a headache. It is not a matter of formation but a matter of individual proficiency! Ahem. Still, well, I will try to find a way. Ahem. Hum. Hum.”

Miles repeatedly cleared his throat, pretending to give permission reluctantly. He was cute at times like this. He was a man with a bountiful beard.

“Thank you, Miles.”

Around the time everything was being concluded like that, Count Bellua’s messenger suddenly came running. The messenger stood before Shatien and showed courtesy.

“I greet Sir Shatien! His Excellency Count Bellua is looking for Sir Shatien right now. Please come to the conference room quickly along with Captain Mordo.”

At the mention of a meeting, Shatien’s expression hardened slightly. In this current situation, even if it was a meeting, the answer was already decided.

‘He will be discussing the placement for the next battle.’

Shatien looked at the place where the Imperial Army had been far away. He could roughly imagine their movements and their placement map in his head. Accordingly, Count Bellua would likely move the army as well.

‘Yes, all preparations are finished.’

In fact, it was the first debut stage. The debut of Shatien’s infantry, which possessed proper anti-cavalry power.

Therefore, Shatien’s heart throbbed. The Order of the Black Rain... he only had the desire to make them taste a new hell.

* * *

“Did you call for us, Your Excellency Count Bellua?”

Shatien said as he entered with Captain Mordo. The barracks conference room was already full of people.

“Welcome, Sir Shatien.”

“It is good to see you after a long time! Hahahaha.”

“I worried a lot. It is a relief that you have regained your senses.”

He was worried that he might be rebuked for coming late, but it was a groundless fear. The nobles who had arrived first rather welcomed Shatien enthusiastically as soon as he entered. It was close to a somewhat excessive welcome for Shatien, who was nothing more than a knight.

‘Mmm... it is burdensome.’

Well, he could roughly guess the reason, but it was true that it was burdensome nonetheless. Therefore, Shatien hurried to bow his head and show courtesy.

“Thank you very much for worrying. Thanks to you, I was able to wake up without any issues.”

After expressing gratitude for the welcome, Shatien hurried to sit down.

‘Anyway, the number of new people has increased quite a bit.’

He did not notice at first, but looking at it now, he saw several unfamiliar figures. Pale skin, a face close to a beautiful form, and pointed ears.

They were the strong barbarian warriors who had come from the eastern frozen lands of the continent, the bellicose Elves.

He heard Count Bellua had requested help from the Margrave of Rostingia last time, and as expected, they seemed to have arrived already.

“Hmm. Are you the one called ‘Shatien’, fellow knight?”

An Elf who happened to meet his eyes opened his mouth. Judging by the armor with ornate patterns, he appeared to be the highest-ranking officer among the nobles dispatched here.

“My name is Ragnarsson. I am a great warrior and the rightful heir of Margrave Ragnar, the rightful ruler of Rostingia. I have heard of your great fame far and wide.”

“That... it is just a hollow reputation of no consequence.”

It was a name he had heard in his past life. A man who never declined if there was a battle and always pursued great achievements. The story of how he alone blocked 100 Imperial soldiers at the Milvus Bridge in the northern part of the Empire was a legendary tale that had spread far and wide.

The man who blocked 100.

That was the nickname of that Elf.

And...

‘The mad duel-maniac.’

He could not possibly put this nickname into words. If he did, that Elf might jump up from his seat and try to split his head open in the name of a duel.

Look at him even now.

-Grrrrr.

Aren't Ragnarsson’s two eyes burning strangely?

Shatien was momentarily worried that the man might request a duel. Fortunately, they were gathered for a strategy meeting now, and there was also the prestige of Count Bellua who had summoned them, so he trusted that he would not do such a thing.

Surely he would not be so discourteous.

But Shatien realized he had held that race called Elves in too high regard.

“I hear you fight very well huh? I heard you have already killed more than ten knights, yes? Very excellent. A Knight Killer! What a killer nickname. How about it? Why not have a duel with me once. Kehehe.”

“P-Pardon?”

“Blood and sweat! The collision of technique and power! A bloody battle fought with one's life on the line! Is a duel not the most sacred and noble thing to prove oneself before God? How about it? Why not clear this place right now and go outside with me? Hmm?”

“Ha, hahaha...”

No matter how civilized an Elf from Rostingia might be, an Elf was still an Elf.

Shatien laughed awkwardly and scanned the surroundings. He tried hard to send a look asking for some help, but people were slyly avoiding Shatien’s gaze.

‘No! You disloyal bastards!’

They were praising him earlier as if they would give him their liver and gallbladder, and now they were pretending not to know like that. He was the fool for trusting the nobles!

“Ahem. Since the famous ‘Warrior’ of Rostingia praises me like this, I don't know what to do with myself.”

To Elves, warrior was like a better word than knight. Because they worshipped pure strength and bloody battle.

“You know a thing or two. Haha.”

“I agree. Even among humans, there was one who knows what a warrior's honor is, Lord Ragnarsson.”

Ragnarsson and the Elves twitched the corners of their mouths as if satisfied with Shatien’s answer. Of course, every time they did, they were not familiar at all, but only more frightening because of the scars crossing their faces.

“But is the war not right before us now? It seems wise to pour our strength into the enemy first rather than among ourselves.”

“That is true...”

“If we exhaust our strength like that and those cowardly Imperial bastards invade at that time, what will we do? Since they will know of Lord Ragnarsson’s high reputation as a warrior, they will surely act cowardly out of fear.”

“What? Ahahaha. That is true. Hehe. Yes, yes. That is right.”

Ragnarsson laughed loudly while looking giddy. Shatien watched Ragnarsson and made a crying face, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Is this not just an Elf version of Miles?

“You must visit Rostingia later! I must introduce you to our lord.”

“That is right. He is a person suitable for a grand festival.”

“A festival of blood and madness!”

“It is a truly manly festival where one proves one's strength through a tournament for thirty straight days.”

Shatien felt even more uncomfortable at those words. Is there nothing but battle in the heads of these Elf bastards?

Just listening made his mind feel faint. He only had the thought that he hoped someone would quickly shut the mouths of these war-loving Elves.

And fortunately.

“Everyone is here.”

Count Bellua entered the barracks.

“Ahem.”

“Hum, hum.”

The Elves who were chatting excitedly finally shut their mouths. They were ‘civilized’ ones in their own way. None of the Elves were bold enough to act like horned colts before Count Bellua, who had effectively become the power of the continent.

“Everyone has worked hard. As you all know, the Imperial Army has retreated to Carcassonne. We will likely engage in a large-scale field battle before it.”

The nobles quietly agreed with Count Bellua’s assumption. Carcassonne was indeed a large city, but the number of troops the Imperial Army had brought was too great.

Rather, if they entered that city and held a siege, they would collapse on their own due to lack of food. Furthermore, since they had to utilize the advantage of the Order of the Black Rain, a powerful cavalry force they had gone to great lengths to bring, they would unconditionally try to have a decisive battle in the plains.

“Tsk. If it is a field battle again, the losses will be great.”

“We lost many knights this time too... that persistent Emperor bastard.”

“Since the Imperial side has also lost many knights, it will be worth a try.”

The nobles indirectly predicted the war situation. Since they had already fought the Imperial Army before, they did not think the situation would be much different.

Then the only remaining variable was one.

It was only the Order of the Black Rain.

But even this had already been countered.

“Do not worry about those bastards, Count Bellua. We have already fought them countless times. We shall block them all.”

“That is right!”

“For the honor of Rostingia!”

“Death calls us! Let us show those fellows who the true warrior is.”

“Woooooo!”

It was precisely the Elf knights from the Margravate of Rostingia.

“......”

“......”

Even though it was, well... quite barbaric.