Chapter 35
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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
nKant maintained a serious expression.
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nAs he rode on his warhorse, his hand, which was holding the Intimidation banner, was wet enough to stain it.
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nIt was sweat.
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nHe was sweating because the Desert Bandits he had sent out to scout the place were returning one after another.
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nOne of them was missing.
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nA missing Desert Bandit was not a good sign.
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nThat meant the missing member was possibly dead.
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nIt was bad news.
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nThe intelligence gathered by the Desert Bandits sounded even more heart-wrenching.
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nThe infantry units gathered and standing in their formations in the street began to murmur among themselves.
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nThey were somewhat shaken.
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n“Calm down.”
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nKant’s voice was suddenly heard.
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nHis eagle-like gaze swept across the forces who had begun to look shaken. He raised his voice and yelled, “Only cowards flee in the middle of a battle. Swadians do not fear!”
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nThe news regarding the 50 retainer knights spread throughout the oasis.
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nAfter hearing the news, the troops by Kant’s side started to turn pale.
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nThey were not mere NPC data. They were living people.
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nThey were capable of fear.
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nThey were capable of excitement.
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nThey were capable of being high-spirited in battle.
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nThey were also capable of cowering in fear.
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nIt was especially so given they had discovered they were about to face 50 fully armed heavy cavalry units.
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nThe shock was so severe that their legs began to give.
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nThey quickly realized just how terrifying facing a heavy cavalry was.
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nAfter all, the Kingdom of Swadia’s military might lied within their heavy cavalry units.
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nA heavy cavalry that crashed left and right, smiting down their enemies on the battlefield, had been the very tool the Kingdom of Swadia relied on to reign supreme. They also served as the key to keeping enemy nations afraid and not daring enough to intrude their borders without careful consideration.
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nLow-level troop classes like them were like cannon fodder before 50 heavy cavalry units.
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nThat fact remained true even if they were armed with polearms like spears and long scythes.
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nThere was one thing worth noting.
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nEven the Kingdom of Rhodoks, which had a military force armed with shields and spears and had defeated forces of the Kingdom of Swadia several times in the mountains, dared not step foot on the flatlands to take on fully armed Swadian cavalry units.
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nThe 50 Swadian Knights would have been able to easily skewer a 200-strong infantry force.
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nIf not for the polearms, not even 500 infantry units would have been able to stop the knights in their tracks. The infantry units were likely to end up becoming dead bodies on the flatlands.
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nWorse still, the 165 infantry units serving Kant were low-level troop classes.
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nThe mere mention of 50 Swadian Knights was more than enough to break through their psyche.
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nEven if those 50 were the most common of cavalry units, such as a light cavalry unit like the Desert Bandits, they would have been able to easily crush them all if they used the right tactics, let alone 50 Swadian Knights.
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nKant knew that as well.
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nHe was frowning when he asked, “Are they from the Dukedom of Leo?”
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nOne of the scouting Desert Bandits replied, “Indeed.”
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nThe Nahrin Desert was right beside the Dukedom of Leo.
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nKant’s expression remained stern as he took a deep breath. His eyes seemed rather murky.
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nHis mind filled with several bad scenarios.
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nKant unconsciously gritted his teeth, recalling to his rather awkward status back in the dukedom. I have chosen a place like this to be my fief, yet those people still refuse to let go of me.
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nSome of the nobles back in the dukedom would have liked it very much to see the youngest son of the duke dead.
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n“What should we do, My Lord?”
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nThe Swadian troops all looked at Kant. Their eyes were filled with dread.
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nThe knights were different from the Jackalans.
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nThe Jackalans were just a ferocious primitive race with little intelligence to speak of.
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nThe troops were able to clash head-on with them without any problems.
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nThe 50 knights seemed a small number, but they were still a force to be reckoned with.
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nAll of them were fully armed.
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nThey were all well-trained.
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nThey were equipped with the best equipment money could buy.
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nThey consisted of a terrifying force capable of easily crushing Drondheim.
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nThey…
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nAre unable to even resist!
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n“Bear in mind, there are no cowards among Swadians.”
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nKant’s heavy, severe voice resounded in the ears of all within earshot.
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nHe knew that anyone could easily panic in this type of situation. For him, a lord of the Kingdom of Swadia, a status given to him by that world, panic was not an emotion he could afford to give into.
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nHe had to stabilize the morale of his forces.
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n“Recruits and peasants, blockade the ends of the street.”
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nKant held the Intimidation banner high. The banner, which had a golden lion emblazoned on a red background, billowed in the wind.
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nHis arrangements were quickly relayed. “All militia members are in charge of sniping the enemy from the rooftops with hunting crossbows!”
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n“Understood!”
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nAfter hearing Kant’s orders, the troops instantly responded loudly.
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nWhile all of them still looked shaken, their morale was somewhat restored as Kant gave his orders and made arrangements.
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nWhen he was building Drondheim, the way the buildings were lined coincidentally formed a street. The cluster of tightly packed buildings formed a fortress-like layout, making it rather easy to defend.
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nAt the very least, they did not need to fight the knights head-on on the flatlands outside.
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nHe was done with his arrangements.
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nBoth ends of the street were packed with infantry units throughout the entire 32-foot-wide street.
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nThe Swadian Recruits were placed at the forefront with their two 3-foot-long spears extended outward. The Swadian Peasants served as reinforcements right behind them with their long scythes. They were assembled in a crude phalanx formation.
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nThe militia members were standing by on the rooftops at the side with their hunting crossbows.
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nNot only were they capable of shooting, which would have messed up the enemy’s offensive formations, but they also were able to leap below to help maintain the line of defense if things went south on the street.
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nWith the Continent of Caradia being constantly at war, infantry units were more than familiar with battles.
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nEverything was ready.
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nEven the people from the Reyvadin trade caravan, who were all currently based at the grocery store, showed up.
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nThe leader of the trade caravan, who wore mail armor and was armed with a flanged mace, brought six of the escorts and the 12 sentries with him. He stood right behind Kant. They were all standing by waiting for orders.
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nThey planned to help with the defense.
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n“Lord Kant, the Reyvadinian trade caravan is willing to participate in this battle. We await your orders.”
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nThe leader spoke in a forthcoming manner.
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nKant nodded and smiled before saying, “Thank you.”
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nAlthough the escorts and sentries of the trade caravan consisted only of first- and second-level troop classes, at the very least, they were still a fighting force. It was best if they were able to help out with defense at such dire times.
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nGiven the situation, Kant was not in a position to be picky.
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nTime passed.
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nThe sun was setting.
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nThe light of dusk was struggling to stay around.
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nStars began to appear in the darkening sky.
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nIt is quite a familiar scene.
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nKant narrowed his gaze, recalling what happened eight days prior.
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nThat was the hour when he used Rowan and the knights to destroy the Jackalan Tribe that had taken over the Oasis Lookout.
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nThat was an exhilarating battle.
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nHowever, the situation was now reversed.
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nHe had become the one defending the Oasis Lookout at such an hour. He was now in the role of those pathetic beings waiting for the other party to strike.
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nThis feels sh*tty.
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nKant clenched his fist.
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nHe waited quietly for their last stand to come. Instead, Kant heard the Swadian Militia shouting from the watchtower.
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nHe looked up at the top of the watchtower and asked with a frown, “What did you see?”
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n“M-My Lord.”
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nThe militia member showed his head and pointed southward, saying, “They are here!”
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nThe forces at the ends of the street were slightly shaken. It was apparent that all of them understood that the enemy force was going to soon be at their door.
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n“The enemy force” referred to those 50 knights.
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nYet, all of the troops sported an unbefitting calm on their faces. Even the Swadian Peasants looked calm. Their eyes were filled with resolve to fight until the last man was standing, just to protect their homes.
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nIf they failed, they completely lost the right to live.
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nA dialog box from the system appeared on Kant’s retina.
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nDing… Side Quest assigned
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nSide Quest: Form an alliance
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nReward: Rain of Arrows (500 Vaegir Marksmen) x 3 waves
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nIntroduction: The darkening sky is bringing danger with it. It is fortunate that an elite force is coming. You could choose to ally with them and make it through this predicament.
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nIt was a Side Quest.
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nKant quickly read the introduction. His expression immediately stiffened.
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nForm an alliance? He was somewhat puzzled.
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nAt the same time, he was feeling both doubt and shock.
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nThe system’s introduction of the quest was rather ambiguous, but he saw a looming danger in it at the same time.
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nIt was a warning from the system.
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nThe darkening sky is bringing danger with it… Kant read the line to himself.
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nHe again read the next line. An elite force is coming…
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nChoose to ally…
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nThose were the keywords, and they made Kant’s heart race.
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nHe suddenly seemed to have realized something.
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nAt the same time, a noise was heard at one end of the street. It was the sound of a horse hurriedly galloping toward them. There seemed to be someone returning.
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nKant turned to look in that direction.
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nIt was the Desert Bandit who had been missing.
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