If You Wish For A Married Couple's Duties

Episode 60. Raid (2)

“The blade of a spear can’t pierce their skin! Aim for their heads or napes!” 

Baron yelled as he hit the neck of the werewolf that pounced on him.

But his cry was in vain as it was buried by the soldiers’ screams.

This is because Tochern Castle’s soldiers were too weak, and simply incapable of dealing with werewolves.

“H—how do you even kill that thing—?”

“Argh! Help me!”

They weren’t even able to swing their spears properly, and couldn’t help but give their lives to the monster’s teeth. 

“D*mn it.”

Baron muttered curses as he swung his sword.

Thus far, the monsters have never directly attacked the castle.

For such a thing to happen so suddenly, it was too odd. 

“Sir Baron!”

While he was momentarily distracted, a huge shadow pounced onto him, along with a knight’s cry.

“Gyuaahh—!”

The mouth of a monster huge enough to swallow up a human man was wide open. 

Baron hardened like a stone on the spot with his widened eyes. 

Thunk!

Just when he was rooted to the spot and thought that he was going to die, a large spear penetrated through the head of the monster before him. 

It was such a clean and powerful strike, and the spear that was stuck in the monster’s head was still shaking.

“Lord!”

After spotting the duke behind that monster’s carcass, Baron shouted. 

Baron’s face, which rarely gave away his feelings, was filled with delight.

“It’s not like you, Baron. Get yourself together.”

“My apologies, Lord.”

He quickly caught up with Leonhart, who was coming over from a few steps away.

“What’s the situation like?”

“Only the Eastern and Northern gates were attacked. The wizards are preparing a large-scale magic spell for defence, but it might take a while.”

“Then, do you think you can earn enough time?”

“It’ll be a little difficult.”

The two continued their conversation, while cutting down the monsters that came up to the watchtower.

The surrounding soldiers couldn’t help but marvel at the accurate and precise strikes, which seem to be measured with a ruler.

“The soldiers of Tochern Castle are too weak, and although our soldiers are excellent, they lack the experience to deal with monsters. They’re holding out somehow, but…”

Baron flicked his bloodstained sword into the air and continued.

“At this rate, the castle might fall.”

Leonhart’s eyes narrowed at his lieutenant’s report.

The Esbaden’s Order of Knights, who have been dealing with the monsters thus far, have consumed too much of their physical strength. Ordering them to fight harder than they do now was impossible.

In addition, there weren’t any large-scale weapons such as cannons or catapults in Tochern Castle.

“…So this place is beyond hope.”

Leonhart kicked the chest of the monster that stretched its claws towards him.

He went down the watchtower and shouted at Baron.

“Baron, just leave it be and follow me, along with the most unwounded knights!”

“Huh? But the monsters keep advancing…”

“Stop nagging and follow me!”

Leonhart ran down the stairs instantly and ran towards the pillar where the horses were tied.

There was a simple reason why the monsters attacked humans. 

It’s because they were prey.

In that case, wouldn’t you want the prey that’s right in front of you, more than the prey beyond the walls that are hard to climb?

“My lord, what are you trying to do?”

“We’ll attract their attention.”

“What?”

Baron caught up with the duke, and his eyes widened at the duke’s words.

“If that’s the case, I’ll head out with the knights! The Lord should remain in the castle……”

“Shut up, I am the master of this land. Do you expect me to watch my land get trampled upon?”

Leonhart climbed onto a giant black horse and grabbed the reins.

Anger blazed within those blue eyes of his. 

“And since they’re so desperate for human meat that they came here themselves, I should personally receive them.” 

Baron looked up at his lord and mounted on a horse after making up his mind in an instant, 

The duke’s elite knights that followed him from the watchtower also mounted horses with determined expressions. 

They rushed within the inner side of the rampart and stood in front of the Western gate, which hadn’t been attacked yet.

The soldiers that were guarding the place looked shocked at the sight of the duke. 

“Hey, you.”

Leonhart pointed at a soldier that stood next to the gate.

“Inform Count Jive that I’ll lure the monsters into the Northern forest, and for him and the soldiers to join us as soon as the wizards have finished the defence work.”

“Y—yes! Understood!”

The soldier that was suddenly entrusted with a great responsibility, rushed inwards hastily. 

At the same time, with the duke’s gesture, the rest of the soldiers opened the gate.

Creaakkk—

The huge gate opened along with a difficult sound from its hinges. 

Soon after, the duke and his knights exited Tochern Castle swiftly.

* * *

“The duke left the castle?”

Count Jive, who was dealing with the monsters on the rampart of the Eastern gate, frowned at the soldier’s message.

“Yes, the Duke said that he would lure the horses into the Northern forest, and that the soldiers should join their ranks as soon as the wizards have wrapped up the defensive measures.”

“…I see.”

“T—then, this one will be returning back to my post…”

“Wait a minute.” 

Just then, the count called out to the soldier, who was leaving the rampart like he was trying to escape. 

“You said that the Duke went out with the knights, right? How many knights were with him?”

“What? Uh, it’s…”

“A rough estimate is fine.”

“Ah, there were around fifteen people.”

“Fifteen.”

Count Jive nodded after staring down the rampart silently for a long while.

“I see. You may go.”

“Y—yes.”

The soldier quickly disappeared, afraid that the count would call him back again.

Count Jive sheathed his sword once again while above the chaotic wall, which was filled with the monsters’ roars and humans’ yells. 

Unlike normally, he had an unreadable expression on his face. 

“Count.”

At that time, a wizard who covered his whole body with a dark green cloak appeared next to the count who was alone.

Surging up from the wall’s shadow like a ghost, he bowed politely.

“The defensive spell is complete. Should we activate it immediately?”

“Then are you just going to watch? Activate it immediately.”

“But…”

The person in a dark green cape lowered their voice like it was a secret.

“I don’t think the number of the duke’s knights has been sufficiently reduced yet.”

“That much is sufficient. In any case, those rascals are used to dealing with monsters. If they fell in a place like this, they couldn’t have been considered a part of the Esbaden family’s knights.”

Count Jive frowned at the werewolf that was struggling to get up.

“Also because Sir Nate used quite a cumbersome method.”

He stabbed his sword into that monster’s snout mercilessly and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, even if they were brainwashed, to think that they don’t even know restraint.”

“That’s the downside of brainwashing magic. The degree of brainwashing can’t be controlled, and the brainwashing magic can’t be released once it’s in effect.”

“Why are there so many effects to that magic? Anyway, whether it’s a wizard or everyone and their mother, they can’t even use magic properly. Their worth is just unnecessarily high.”

Count Jive mumbled irritably and waved his hand away at the wizard. 

“Ah, it obviously doesn’t include you. I’m talking about those parasitic wizards that cast brainwashing spells. They requested even more money to deal with the monsters.”

Count Jive’s eyes widened and he shrugged his shoulders. 

“That’s not all. What kind of absurd request are they making, to add a clause about additional compensation for their silence after finishing the commission?”

He grinned at the wizard that was standing beside him. 

“So before I return to the ducal castle, I’m going for all of their throats. For additional compensation in order to buy their silence, they say? The dead aren’t able to talk.”

At the count’s words, the wizard bowed their head silently.

“Of course, you’re a wizard that’s both talented and outstanding, so I don’t believe you’ll do anything stupid like them.”

“…Of course.”

“Haha, you’re too nervous. Don’t worry, if this matter is successively settled, I’ll tell him to restore your identity.”

Count Jive laughed loudly, but his face soon stiffened.

“Yes, apparently the duke has just left the castle with around fifteen knights.”

He smiled wickedly at the crowd of werewolves that were swarming before the external side of the walls.

“This is a god-given opportunity.”

“…Are we to take action right away?”

“Of course.”

Count Jive looked at the wizard and bared his teeth.

“Everything has its time.”

Just as Count Jive was about to turn around and head into the inner side of the wall.

Wooshh, pok!

Along with a sharp sound of something cutting through the air, an arrow flew right past the count’s face.

The count, who was once an active knight, turned his head around with surprising speed, but he couldn’t avoid the flying arrow completely.

“Ugh.”

Count Jive clutched his right ear and groaned. 

His earlobe was ragged by the arrow.

The astonished wizard immediately tried to apply healing magic, but the count refused.

“That’s enough. This kind of injury is nothing.”

Count Jive clutched an ear and looked around. 

He had definitely felt killing intent along with that arrow. 

Someone must have been aiming it at him.

“Who was it that just shot the arrow?”

“I didn’t see anyone.”

“No, I’m certain…”

Count Jive frowned and stared ahead.

Just as the wizard had mentioned, he didn’t feel any particularly unfamiliar sign of life.

Although it might be because of his noisy surroundings. 

‘Was it on purpose, or aimed at the monster, but ended up badly?’

The count rose from his seat, trying to ignore the chills that travelled down his back momentarily.

Now wasn’t the time to be distracted by arrows that he didn’t even know where it originated from. 

“Activate the barrier, and you’ll move right away. I’ll stall for a little more time before heading to meet the Duke.”

“Yes, Count.”

The wizard disappeared into his own shadow like how he made his appearance. 

After confirming that he had disappeared, Count Jive cleared his voice and shouted loudly so that his voice could be heard from everywhere.

“Everyone, stay away from the rampart! The defensive spell is complete! If you want to live, stay away from the rampart!”

His voice was really loud and full of dignity, like a general that led the soldiers.

It was unimaginable that he’s a traitor that’s plotting an evil scheme

* * *

“Let go of me!”

Dooha shouted sharply at the person that grabbed her wrist.

“Let go, Daniel!”

“Calm down, Madam!”

Daniel, who was arguing with the Duchess, eventually pushed her against the wall forcefully.

Originally, it was something that couldn’t have happened, but it was made possible due to the use of magic to strengthen the power of his wrists. 

“I said to calm down right—!”

Meanwhile, Dooha’s amber eyes burned with such rage as though they were about to melt.

“Didn’t that d*mn Count say that he’s trying to kill the Duke!”