Chapter 165 ·Siege of Mediolanum (3)

Secretly ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍but with absolute fairness, the letters were delivered to each respective group.

Naturally, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as soon as they received those letters, they were all flustered and simultaneously conflicted.

"What? ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍If I capture the Doge and surrender, he will recognize the merit and speak to the Church on my behalf?"

To ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍some, he offered a sweet carrot.

"If ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you bind the Imperial supporters and surrender, he will speak to the Church to specifically spare your lives? And the excommunication will be settled in the form of a property donation?"

To ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍some, he offered forgiveness.

"If we open the gates and surrender, he will guarantee a safe retreat.... The front lines within the Empire are quite complicated right now, aren't they?"

And to others, he proposed the preservation of their forces.

These were measures that each group desperately needed.

Therefore, they were all bound to be greatly shaken upon receiving the proposals.

They knew well that once a siege truly began, there would be no turning back.

According to common practice, from the moment troops were deployed to scale the walls, one could no longer receive any customary protection.

No matter how they looked at it, there seemed to be no chance of winning by holding out, so would it not be more profitable to surrender quickly instead?

Especially since the proposal only required them to hand over their opposing factions rather than themselves.

It was all the more enticing.

And while they were each harboring different thoughts and agonizing over the decision.

"An envoy from the Church has arrived."

Yet another proposal reached them.

"Um.... Sir Shatien, the Commander-in-Chief of the Church, has said this: 'When will you give me an answer to what I proposed?'"

The only problem was....

"......?"

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

"?!?!?!!?!??!?!?!?????"

This proposal was spoken publicly in the Council chamber where they were all gathered.

* * *

"Did you truly send an envoy?"

"Yes, Master. If one is to sow discord, should it not be done properly? By now, things must be quite turned upside down."

"...I am sorry, Sage of the Forest. I suppose I taught my disciple poorly. My breath hitches thinking about how difficult it must have been for you while you were together."

"Hehehe."

Mage Agpiel laughed playfully at Master Joachim's apology.

The chemistry between the Master and the disciple was quite entertaining.

"Still, is it not a good scheme? These are beings who find it difficult to unite in the first place. Is it not better if they bicker among themselves and collapse on their own?"

"Hmm. However, such a trick could instead provoke their anger and cause them to unite, Sage."

"True. That could certainly happen."

Mage Agpiel stepped back, acknowledging the valid point.

The human heart was a complex thing that was difficult to understand.

Was it not the way of human affairs to not always move according to predicted results?

And the conversation between Master Joachim and Mage Agpiel seemed to turn out roughly correct.

"....Hmm. Is their cohesion stronger than I thought?"

It was the fifth day since he sent the envoy to stir up trouble.

There was no reaction whatsoever from the Council beyond the walls of Mediolanum.

By this point, Shatien had to admit it.

The Doge of Mediolanum possessed much greater control than expected.

In that case, all that remained was to truly break the walls by force.

Shatien thought so and ordered the entire army to prepare for battle.

He intended to start a siege without rest from the next morning until evening.

But then....

"Shatien! Shatien!!"

"Mmf.... Miles. What is all this noise in the middle of the night? You will wake all the men."

"No. There is no time for that. Come quickly."

"What?"

What was going on?

Then Miles shouted urgently in a loud voice.

"A fire has broken out in Mediolanum!! It is an incredibly massive fire!"

"?"

A fire?

Suddenly? In the dead of night?

That doubt lasted only a moment.

Shatien, who stepped out of the tent, realized why Miles had shouted so loudly.

-Whoosh!

Vivid red flames were greedily licking with red tongues in the darkness. Fire so massive that it could be seen clearly even from Shatien's camp.

* * *

The inside story of the incident was soon revealed.

"Surrender! We Surrender! Guarantee our safety according to honor and custom!"

"We have come after receiving the Commander-in-Chief's proposal! Please protect us!"

Some city nobles, including council members, had fled from the gate where the fire broke out.

Covered in soot, they shouted while gasping for breath.

"We made a decision, captured the gate, and set the fire! Please keep the promise you made the other day, Sir!"

"Oh?"

"The guards led by the Doge moved, but we were able to repel them. Now the gate is completely empty. The Captain of the Guard has also joined our side. They will be too distracted fighting inside the city for the time being, Commander!"

It was surprising.

He thought they had rejected his proposal because there had been no word, but that was not the case.

However, because there was something suspicious, Shatien asked back.

"But why did the fire break out like that?"

Setting a fire to distract the eye was the most basic of basics, but was that not a bit too much?

It was a conflagration large enough to burn down the entire city.

Then the city nobles who had fled hesitated before finally confessing.

"W-Well, that is...."

The story was quite ridiculous.

The factions, who were only suspicious of each other due to Shatien's meddling, had moved to suppress their opposing factions, but it just so happened that everyone moved at the same time.

As coincidences overlapped, the fire grew too large to control, and the interior of the city fell into chaos as they slashed at one another.

And that meant right now....

'It is an opportunity!'

Shatien's eyes sparkled.

"Miles!"

"Yeah! You called?"

"Prepare the units immediately. We will enter the castle right away."

"Okay! Got it. I will prepare the swift guys first."

Since a judgment had been made, it was time to move immediately.

Shatien watched Miles leave and immediately looked for his Master.

However, his Master had already gathered all his gear and was waiting for Shatien on horseback.

"Tsk tsk. You are slow. Looking at the flickering flames, how did you not see it as an opportunity?"

"Ha-Haha. Master!"

Joachim patted the side of his saddle and spoke to Shatien.

"I have already woken all the knights. They will be finished arming themselves and rising soon."

"Sounds good!"

With a bright smile, Shatien climbed onto his horse.

Just as Joachim said, the elf knights had finished arming themselves and were lined up steadily before Shatien.

Their faces were already flushed red, perhaps feeling the heat of battle.

"According to the holy mission given by the Church, we shall suppress the enemy! Follow me!"

"Wooooooooh!"

"Kiyoooooooh! For glory!"

With a thunderous roar, a hundred cavalry rushed toward Mediolanum. And at the very front was Shatien.

* * *

"Doge! Fires have broken out everywhere."

"Give the orders!"

The flames soared.

It was difficult to see ahead due to the acrid smoke, and he coughed violently and repeatedly.

While everyone was in chaos, the Doge of Mediolanum maintained cool judgment like a leader.

"The gate? What happened to the gate! We must protect the gate first."

If things had turned out like this, the enemy outside would not stay still.

The Doge's judgment was accurate.

But there was a stroke of bad luck.

"Block the Doge!"

"You must never let them through here!"

The Captain of the Guard was holding his sword in reverse and controlling the path to the wide-open gate.

Furthermore, several city nobles had joined them, and their knights were bunched up tightly to block the crossroads.

The Doge shouted in a rage.

"You cursed traitorous bastard!!!!"

"Traitor! Those are not words for an excommunicated heretic to say! We are merely moving so that the city can be ruled by a proper ruler. Block them!"

"Wooooooooh!"

"Kill them all! Block the gate immediately!"

It was a desperate situation regardless.

Both the Captain of the Guard and the Doge of Mediolanum bit their lips and gave instructions.

The moment they backed down here, their futures would be completely over.

-Neigh!

Fortunately, the goddess of victory smiled upon the Captain of the Guard.

-Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Along with the neighing of horses, the sound of monstrous hooves hammered the ground into a mess.

"We are on the side of the Church! The side of the Church! Open the way quickly!"

The Captain of the Guard shouted instructions with a bright smile.

Then, the soldiers who were barely holding off the Doge's attack hurriedly split to the left and right.

-Neighhhhh!

"Chaaaaaarge!"

Thanks to that, the cavalry led by Shatien passed through the gate without losing speed.

"B-Block them!"

"Spears! Raise the spears quickly...."

-Crush!

"Aaargh!"

-Crunch.

The Doge of Mediolanum belatedly shouted and ordered a phalanx, but it was already too late.

The elf knights led by Shatien passed through the gate without hesitation and began to gallop through the city.

The guards of Mediolanum fell helplessly and began to be pierced through repeatedly.

"Dammit! Knights! Knights! We only need to catch that bastard. That bastard is Shatien! Capture the Commander-in-Chief first!"

As the situation turned out like this, the Doge of Mediolanum screamed in desperation.

He tried to reverse the atmosphere by capturing the Commander-in-Chief at all costs.

But the Doge had forgotten.

That overwhelming martial prowess Shatien had shown the other day.

"Hyah!"

When the knights of Mediolanum rushed toward him, Shatien instead sprang forward as if it were for the better.

"U-Ugh?!"

One knight shouted in surprise, but Shatien was faster.

Slice.

The lightning-fast sword strike cut the knight's neck before he could even react.

It was the same for the knight charging beside him.

The knight who tried to pierce Shatien from afar with a spear was split along with the spear shaft and rolled on the ground.

The same went for the opposing knight who raised a shield to take the attack and tried to strike back with a mace.

The shield instead obstructed his vision, and Shatien's sword soared from outside his sight to claim his life.

"C-Crazy...!"

He rushed ahead alone and caused a riot among the knights, while simultaneously pressing down and crushing them with pure skill.

Shatien's skill was already somewhere beyond that of an ordinary knight.

"Hahaha. It seems my disciple's skill has improved a great deal."

Because of that, Master Joachim, who was watching the scene, felt very proud.

The growth of a disciple was always a joyful thing.

Though it was a disaster for the enemies.