Chapter 161 : Fierce Battle (1)

It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was a bit awkward to say, but the quality of the mercenaries and armies on the Apennine Peninsula was considerably low.

Especially ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as a result of becoming city-states and engaging only in minor wars of attrition, the knights and mercenaries of this region repeated wars that were like plays, where they would fight moderately and then surrender if it seemed they would lose.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍people of the Apennine Peninsula called these battles "civilized combat of civilized men" who inherited the heritage of the ancient empire, and looked at people outside the peninsula as barbaric.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the thoughts of those outside the Apennine Peninsula were completely different.

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was especially true for the knights born in the Holy Empire.

To ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the knights of the Holy Empire, who fought every day against battle-crazed elves in the north and bellicose barbarian tribes in the east, the combat style of the Apennine Peninsula was excessively like children's play.

And this was not a mere prejudice.

'Three Holy Empire knights are far superior to five knights of the Apennine Peninsula.'

In reality, a glaring difference in skill existed.

The Doge, who managed the state affairs of Mediolanum, felt that difference intensely.

It was not for nothing that the Doge of Mediolanum abandoned the Church and sided with the Emperor of the Holy Empire.

The people of the peninsula, who fell into the comfort provided by peace and wealth, were eventually forced to kneel beneath the feet of the bellicose Emperor.

Just as the ancient empire was once brought down by barbaric ancestors.

"The Emperor has specifically selected and sent fifty knights. With the hundred-plus knights led by you and the five hundred cavalry under your command, you will be able to crush the weak infantry units of the peninsula. Doge."

Arrogance was laced in the voice of the court mage, Libetraum.

The Doge of Mediolanum might have felt unpleasant at the belittling words, but he did not care.

"Haha. Sir. To think the Emperor provided such support, it is very reassuring."

"His 'Majesty' the Emperor expects nothing but victory from the Duke. Such a level of power support was not an easy decision even for His Majesty. Therefore, the Duke must conclude this war well."

"Haha... yes. I am well aware that His Majesty has provided great support. And don't worry about the war. Sir Libetraum. With your magic and hundreds of knights, how could we possibly lose."

"Hmm..."

At the Doge's flattering words, the court mage Libetraum's lips twitched.

Well, even as a court mage, he thought that they were unconditionally at an advantage in this battle.

He heard that the young knight named Shatien, who currently led the Church's forces, was good at blocking cavalry charges with infantry.

What was it called, a long spear phalanx?

A phalanx of infantry using long spears even longer than lances...

"It will be of no use before your magic anyway."

"That is true. In fact, the more they stay packed together to form a phalanx, the greater the damage they will suffer."

As he answered, the court mage Libetraum's eyes sparkled.

Libetraum's mystery was lightning.

That destructive power was maximized the more the opponent gathered together.

Since it stretched out in a straight line and devastated the entire area.

Rather, the more they gathered to form a phalanx upon seeing the allied knights, the more disadvantageous it would become for them.

"Then let us prepare to meet them quickly. They probably haven't even imagined that we would appear right away. We must target that moment."

"Hehehe. Indeed. It is a magnificent plan! Let us go. What are you all doing! Prepare for the march immediately! Get on your horses at once. I shall proudly meet them outside the fortress walls!"

"Wuooooh!"

"Forward!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Mediolanum! Let us punish the arrogant dog of the Church!"

* * *

Step, step, step.

Thud, thud, thud.

The Church's army advanced smoothly without hindrance.

"Hmm, to think your scheme would hit the mark..."

Mage Agpiel was reluctant.

It was because the current situation was absurd.

Do those city noble bastards have no pride?

It only brought forth sighs.

Well, he supposed it was because this young noble had set the board so well.

"Still, don't let down your guard."

"I have already scattered scouts in all directions. Just in case the enemy attempts an interception."

"An interception? Would they do that when we are almost right under their noses? It is a force of four thousand. Two thousand troops are coming down from the north, and from what I know, the size of the city's garrison is only at a level of two thousand?"

"That is correct. It is said that even that is a number scraped together, so it will not increase further."

When Voltion added a word, Mage Agpiel looked at Shatien as if to say, "See?"

"Even so, one never knows. Usually, when one is in high spirits like this, it is the best time to be off-guard and suffer damage."

"Would it not be more logical to sneak some troops outside and ambush when a siege is attempted? Rationally speaking."

"Oh...!"

Shatien was surprised by Mage Agpiel's advice, which was sharper than expected.

Certainly, he could suffer great damage in such a case.

Is an army not more disadvantaged the more its rear is exposed?

Especially since he knew there were quite a few knights in the city of Mediolanum, it might be quite threatening if that knight power was positioned outside.

"I must certainly be careful of that."

"Well, it is a relief that you say you will be careful, though of course, that is equally a case of extreme madness. If they were in their right minds, they would not send that precious knight power outside."

"Well, considering the combat style of the nobles, that is a high possibility. Mage Agpiel. Haha."

An ambush was a move that was difficult to emerge from the rigid heads of nobles who thought it was something only cowardly weaklings did.

They would likely be shut inside the fortress as always.

However, the thoughts of Shatien and Mage Agpiel were...

"Commander! A large-scale cavalry unit has appeared ahead."

"?"

"Looking at the flag... it is the Doge! It is the flag of the Doge. The Doge has come out to intercept, leading knights and their squires."

"????????????"

Somehow, the opponent seemed to be an individual even further beyond common sense.

* * *

"Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!"

"Form a phalanx. Quickly!"

The officers shouted and urged the men.

The mercenaries moved in a flurry of confusion, but the speed was not very fast.

'It’s slow...!'

The scouts confirmed them from afar and delivered the message quickly, but there was not much time to spare.

Just as Shatien's scouts discovered them, they too would have discovered the scouts.

-Bwuuuuuuuuu—!

Indeed, while they were busily breaking the marching formation to form a phalanx, a group of cavalry appeared on the hill across with the sound of drums.

"This is bad!"

"The bastards are already here!"

"I see them too. Mage Agpiel."

While the scouts were coming and going, the bastards had followed behind.

'It will still take a long time for the phalanx to be completed....'

Because they were in a long marching column to increase speed, they did not have the manpower to form a proper phalanx.

In contrast,

-Neigh!

"Halt, halt!"

"Form the ranks!"

Before they knew it, the enemy's cavalry lined up on the hill had established their formation and was preparing to charge toward this place.

It was certain they would suffer immense damage at this rate.

-Shing!

Shatien drew his sword.

"Mage Agpiel! Miles!"

"?"

"??"

He felt their questioning gazes, but there was no time to hold them and explain.

Shatien shouted as he spurred his horse.

"I leave the cleanup to you! Hyah!"

"W-Wait, what!?"

"Are you crazy? Shatien?! What are you doing?"

Mage Agpiel and Miles jumped in surprise as they watched Shatien rush forward alone with a single horse.

To think the commander-in-chief was stepping forward to block the enemy instead of commanding.

And alone, at that!

"H-Huh? A single enemy knight—no, the commander-in-chief is suddenly rushing forward."

And that was the same for the other side.

The knights of Mediolanum, who were forming ranks and preparing to charge, were quite flustered by the sudden unexpected variable.

"W-What should we do?"

"What do you mean, what should we do! You idiots. Capture him! It is a golden opportunity."

The Doge of Mediolanum was fuming at the pathetic words of the knights, but he thought it was actually for the better.

"If we capture him, this war is over!! Charge quickly! I will specifically report the achievement to His Majesty the Emperor for the one who captures him."

"Oooh!"

Only then did the knights' eyes sparkle as they leveled their swords.

Why would knights have left the Empire and come all the way to the Apennine Peninsula under the Emperor's order?

It was all because they were greedy for achievements.

If there was a guarantee from the Doge of Mediolanum, the Emperor would surely give a massive reward.

"He is mine!"

"Don't make me laugh. It is impossible with your skill. I shall handle him. Hyah!"

-Rumbleeee.

The knights shot forward as if competing.

As a result, the ranks were disarrayed, but no one cared.

After all, was it not a matter that would end if they just captured that commander-in-chief?

If he came out like that alone, they would be able to capture him before long.

That young commander-in-chief would soon regret his own bravado.

Everyone thought so, and the Doge of Mediolanum thought so as well.

However...

"I am Lotte, the Knight of Baien... Ack!"

-Boom!

"Accept my sword! The honor of dying by my hand— Gurgle!"

-Crunch!

"Eek! I shall avenge the knight. You wretch... Keugh!"

-Slice.

Three or four knights who collided with that young commander-in-chief collapsed in succession.

Without being able to offer a single moment of resistance.

But this was merely the beginning.

-Crush!

-Crunch!

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Aaargh!"

"W-We cannot stop him. He is strong!"

"Get him! Group up! We can never win alone. Where did such a monster come from...!"

Shatien was handling all the charging knights alone.

Thanks to that, the mouths of the Doge of Mediolanum and the court mage Libetraum, who were watching that scene from behind, fell wide open.

"???????????"

"?????????????????????"

It was truly an astounding situation.

* * *

"Huff, huff."

Sweat poured down like rain.

His body was hot, as if it were burning and on fire.

He wanted to strip off his armor right away and lie down on the ground.

However, Shatien did not let go of the edge of his tension.

"Dammiiiiiiiit!!"

"Group up more! More, more, more!"

Because there were still plenty of enemies to face.

A skirmish between knights on horseback was bound to be endlessly moving.

Colliding toward each other, then turning around to collide again once they distanced themselves.

A succession of endless impacts.

Shatien had already had his third collision, and every time, the knights of Mediolanum were falling off their horses in heaps.

And soon, the time for another collision arrived.

-Rumbleeeeee.

Horse hooves vibrated the ground noisily.

The enemies had already found a way to counter him and began to establish a formation.

Five of them stuck closely together in the front, and another five on each side stuck closely together shoulder-to-shoulder, pushing in.

Since there was no answer through individual combat due to a lack of skill, it was a movement as if they intended to crush him with mass by uniting together.

'This is troublesome.'

No matter how much the mystery of his lineage was helping Shatien, there was no answer to a mass pushing in without any gap.

It seemed he should avoid this collision.

Shatien thought so and gripped the reins.

It was to lure them as much as possible and then turn his horse to return to the unit.

But right then, a noisy sound was heard from behind.

-Neighhhhh!

"Kiyooooooooooh!!"

A noisy sound.

And a characteristic barbaric high-pitched shout.

"An honorable death for us!! Let us help the knight and give a name to this legendary fight!"

"Hyah!! Hyah!! Let us harvest their heads."

"Let us show the majesty of the elf knights to those weak human knights of the Empire! Hyah!"

It was the elf knights.

They had been unable to contain themselves as their bodies heated up from Shatien's performance.

They… truly were consistent, those pointed-ears.

Though it was a relief for Shatien himself.