In This Life, I Will Raise You Well, Your Majesty!

Chapter 35

Khiiikk!

Kyaaakh!

The knights watched as the green-skinned monsters approached with their mouths wide open.

“Huft. Huft.”

The sound of exhausted breathing fell to the floor.

The fingertips holding the sword were trembling.

Despite the fact that the knights had been fighting for a long time, and a considerable number of monsters had been laid under their feet, they continued to flood in endlessly.

It was because of the repeated vicious cycle that the sound of fighting and the smell of blood entangled even the monsters that had been imprisoned in the depths of the depths.

“Damn it, they said we just need to step up and pretend to wipe out these monsters and then we can retreat!”

The knights’ expressions darkened even more as one of their colleagues shouted with a grimace.

After being surrounded and pushed around, they eventually merged into one group forming a circle with their backs facing each other, vigilant in all directions, and there was no hole in sight for them to escape.

They understood the anger of their colleague, thinking that this would not have happened if there was at least one correct piece of information.

No, they wanted to be even angrier than that.

It was an honor to die while fulfilling a duty as a knight, but this was no different than the death of a dog.

“Let’s hold on a little longer. It’s been a while, so someone might come and find us.”

Vincent tried to comfort his colleagues.

“In this place? How?”

The knight next to them pointed at the monsters surrounding them with the tip of his chin.

Being chased by monsters, they had come to a much deeper place than they had planned…

If anyone wants to come all the way here to find them, they will have to get rid of them all… right?

Besides, the purpose of today’s event was not to wipe out the monsters.

It was in order to create an external justification for the movement to attend a secret meeting of Marquis Blemir, who fell out with the Crown Prince, but was still collectively referred to as a member of the Crown Prince faction.

That is why the secret meeting place was chosen near Mt. Kaoka.

Mt. Kaoka is located a little far to the north of the capital city, and it is the last shield to protect Barossa from the militant northern countries due to its rugged shape with its arms wide open that encircle the capital city naturally, causing enough headache for invaders.

According to Count Morell, who was well acquainted with Mt. Kaoka, it is a very suitable place to use as an excuse, because there had been no quarrel for a long time in the vicinity of the center of the mountain, and the domains of the various monsters are divided to keep each other in check…

Even when the swordmaster, the Marquis, was away, he said that it would be possible to pretend to wipe out the monsters without taking much damage from the knights.

However, it was already too late to realize that in other words, if something went wrong, this place could become a chaos.

No matter how much the monsters fight with each other, one must not forget that their greatest enemy and prey are humans.

“So we’re just going to die?”

The rotten smell of the monsters pierced the tip of the nose.

As Vincent spoke, the knights’ expression became distorted, and each and every one of them straightened their swords.

“Since it is so, if the lord Marquis’ knights die in a place like this, wouldn’t our faces be crushed?”

[T/N: Not literally ‘face crushed’, but more like ‘feeling ashamed’. Korea and Chinese love to use this idiom.]

They were the Knights Order created by the Crown Prince faction, and someday they would have to be moved by the use of the Crown Prince faction, but it was true that they were known externally as the bodyguard of Marquis Blemir.

The knights also include many children of the Crown Prince faction’s nobles, and they were now participating in the meeting of their fathers.

They were put in charge of the boundary around the meeting hall.

All those who were present here were handpicked and trained by Marquis Blemir.

And they were very proud of that fact.

“Of course. So, even if I have to die…!”

Vincent clenched his teeth and swung his sword.

Crung!

The horde of monsters that were rushing towards Vincent split horizontally. Blood and guts were pouring out of the slaughterhouse.

The other knights swung their swords like crazy.

The knights were standing in a circle with their backs to each other, continuing their attack and defense at the same time.

This was because the moment someone collapses, the ranks would be destroyed and everyone would be in danger.

Pababakk!

Kwang! Kwaaang!

The knights’ sword spread out like thorns in all directions, and the monsters clashed violently to break them.

Jeukh! Jeukh! Jeukh!

Break them! Everyone, step on it!

Thud! Thud!

The cries of the monsters who lost their intelligence penetrated into the ears as if they were human.

“Kughh!”

The knights tried to endure it somehow, but there was clearly a limit to what was possible with only effort.

Prokh!

A colleague with a hollow chest collapsed, his waist bent.

Vincent bit his lip and moved to fill the void of his comrade.

There was no time to check the condition of the fallen comrade.

It was only one person, but if Vincent didn’t act quickly, the rest of his comrades would all die!

Even so, he didn’t know how much longer this time could go on.

And the end came so suddenly that they couldn’t help but be surprised, even though they were already prepared.

Kyarugh!

The monsters rushed at the knights, but because there were so many of them, one of the largest monsters they had been fighting got impatient and jumped up.

After sticking out its head a few times, it stepped on its own kin and soared up before rushing into the knights’ rank.

“Huh!”

When Vincent noticed, he was frightened and swung his sword with his might.

Poong!

The monster retreated faster than Vincent’s move and crushed its kins during its fall, but…

“Kuh-heok!”

The knights were not in a good shape either.

While Vincent defended his stomach, his comrades rapidly withered and the circle collapsed.

Kiii!

As if instinctively feeling something, the monster rolled its fist-sized eyes.

Then, it folded its hind legs like a frog and then straightened them, jumping up just like it did before, and falling over the heads of the knights.

Pang! Paang!

The knights who had to pay attention to both the front and the overhead felt their end was near.

They didn’t even have the strength to swing the sword, so the knights stood still holding them like horns that sprouted.

Shadow casted over their heads.

Now that huge, stinky rock-hard body would crush them.

It was their pride as a knight that they didn’t close their eyes tightly in the face of deepening death.

And knights who have not lost their dignity are entitled to share the wine of victory.

Kwaaang!

With a loud sound, the darkness disappeared and light came in.

Chwaruk!

The knights’ faces were wet and sullen.

Not from blood and flesh.

It is something that only a master with ability can grant to their people!

There were still monsters all over the place, but the knights were making a different expression from before.

The knights stared at the huge vortex that was created in one place behind the monsters.

The densely packed monsters trembled in fear and fluttered.

Wine that would dampen the dry throat would soon be sprayed everywhere.

Kwaaang!

Kwang!

Whenever Blemir swung his sword, the monsters that stood in his way disappeared and the path was cleared.

The grooves in the deep dirt floor, like being scratched by sharp nails, were filled with the blood and flesh of monsters. It wasn’t the kind of surface that a human could walk on but it didn’t matter.

Poong! Pong!

Even though the sword did not reach it, the corpse of the monster that burst was cut over and over again, creating a mound, and Blemir climbed up on it.

Hiiik! Hiiik!

The few remaining monsters looked up at him and stepped back.

It was extremely rare for monsters with a killing instinct to show such an appearance…

However, the man with clear dry wood-colored eyes still didn’t look that much different from usual.

Even Rohan Scherzer, the head of the 1st Knights of the Imperial Palace, who is said to be a great swordsman, cannot beat him.

Marquis Blemir glanced at the remaining monsters.

Hudadakk!

The monsters began to run away all at once, anxious so as to not reach his gaze.

Blemir lightly jumped from the top of the mound and hit the dirt floor.

He walked to the knights who were struggling, leaning on their swords that were stuck upside down on the ground.

“I was a little late.”

He omitted the middle of the story, but Vincent replied casually without caring.

“It seems that the meeting has been getting longer.”

“Because everyone likes to talk nonsense.”

The owner of the meeting, who had to put up with those useless words, muttered in annoyance.

There was definitely a line between his forehead as he swept his messy red hair back.

It was clear that he was in a bad mood, but Vincent closed his mouth because there were so many things to guess.

The silence didn’t last long.

“Take care of the dead. Even if we couldn’t save them, we should go back together.”

“Yes, my lord.”

It was then that the bitterness as a survivor and the regret for the lost comrade hit his heart.

Blemir, who waited for Vincent and his knights to recover the corpse, went down Mt. Kaoka with them.

When they went to the meeting place, those with urgent schedules had already returned, and the rest of the people were still waiting for him, who had gone to Mt. Kaoka after saying that there was a problem.

As the Marquis returned without a single wound, they wondered what had gone wrong…

Until they saw the condition of the knights who followed him was very bad.

There weren’t many dead, but the air was bloody and dull.

Seeing them, Count Morell, in particular, was at a loss.

Baron Hauser stepped up quickly.

“I was hesitant to send my children to the Marquis because I was afraid that it would be a burden to the Marquis, the swordmaster. As expected, my lord took care of it quickly.”

“That’s… what I’m saying. This is… Recently, the drought has been severe, so it seems that the habitat of the monsters in Mt. Kaoka has changed.”

Count Morell thanked Baron Hauser for his excuses and efforts to calm the mood.

Marquis Blemir shot them a look, as if he had no intention of relieving his frown.

Everyone tried to take their own interests, but no one caused problems intentionally.

One problem arose, and in the end Blemir had to step in and fix it.

He was angry inside, but he didn’t vent it out.

‘Marquis Blemir, don’t get angry easily. Once you get angry, you have to take it with you until the end.’

It was because of the cool yet clear voice that came to mind.

Right.

Now isn’t the time to get really angry.

“In any case, I won’t say much about this, but a small mistake can create a big gap. Be more careful going forward.”

As the nobles nodded, implying that they understood, Blemir decided not to mention the matter on Mt. Kaoka any more.

“The meeting is over, everyone may return.”

When the nobles greeted each other at Blemir’s declaration and were about to disperse…

“My daughter is visiting my mother-in-law around here for a while. The time is right too, how about having dinner together…“

Said Count Morell, who hesitated while looking at the atmosphere.

His daughter was rumored to be quite a beauty.

“There is no time. Well then, see you later.”

Blemir refused without hesitation.

Count Morell’s face turned red, but he couldn’t do anything because of the situation, so he merely sighed and turned around.

“Is that why that Count asked us to come here?”

Vincent didn’t respond to his colleague’s murmurs, but he sympathized.

As Blemir approached, Vincent handed him the reins he was holding.

The swordmaster, Blemir, listened to the knights’ conversations, but he didn’t pay much attention.

However.

“If even Mt. Kaoka is like this, would it be any different in other places? The 2nd Empress is heading to the west, and it must be much messier because it is closer to the Miyon Desert.”

“Even if anything happens, it won’t be too bad for us. These days, she’s getting too strong.”

“Nevertheless, the Crown Prince is the son of the 2nd Empress, so she is useful to oppose the 1st Empress. The one who lasts longer…”

The coming and going words of the nobles as they moved farther away stopped him. He was getting hot inside, but Blemir was frustrated because he didn’t know the reason.

A pair of white gloves with dried red wine in a box in his drawer came to mind.

“You won’t get hurt again, will you?”

From that moment on, the woman he thought about kept getting hurt and sick.

Neiiiigh!

The horse stopped and called out to its good master and rubbed its face as if trying to act cute. Blemir, who came to his senses, caught his breath, and rode on his horse.

The 2nd Empress is faithfully fulfilling her role, so he must do the same. As long as they keep their promise, their bond will continue.

A contract that no one knows, and only one witness, the Crown Prince, proves it.

Blemir tapped the horse’s side with his heel and slammed the rein down.

Tadadak!

The horse shot forward.

His red hair fluttered in the wind.

And his bodyguards hurriedly mounted their horses and ran after him.