“Ramiro has yet to hear news from the border.”
Ivan spoke while sitting on the terrace of the Saint’s assigned guest room. Late afternoon, he had barely escaped from the banquet that lasted until the sun was slowly setting.
The Saint, leaning against the terrace railing, quietly said.
“I knew about the train derailment.”
“So, that means the train ambush was Ramiro’s doing. Once we leave Ebron, a pursuit party will be right behind us.”
“How did you know we wouldn’t hear news?”
“The horses we rode on.”
Ivan continued his thoughts, recalling what Count Philippe had said.
“I just learned the whereabouts of those horses.”
“Oh, that they were the warhorses ridden by those knights.”“Right. Now they must realize that it’s not that we lost them, but that they were taken from us. From the King’s perspective, he must be assuming that our forces are larger than they actually are.”
The number of people who entered was only six at most, but the forces mobilized for the train ambush exceeded five hundred, even without counting the knights, which were more than six in strength alone.
They would think it impossible for them to break through all of that strength alone, so the King must be considering an invasion of Krasilov’s borders or a similar military mobilization.
Therefore, at least in Leonor, direct action wouldn’t be possible. Leonor was directly adjacent to Krasilov’s border. If Krasilov marched, it would be the first to be crushed, so they wouldn’t act rashly without information.
Considering this.
“By now, the King’s courier must have headed toward the northern border, and if the noble who carried out the ambush quickly sent out a courier, by tomorrow it should reach Ebron. If they realize we entered without any other forces, they’ll start pursuing us right away…”
“Calculating three days, at least two days ahead.”
Nodding at the Saint’s words, Ivan thought about how, unless they were elves of the upper nobility, information delivery in this world must occur through physical means.
Using the time difference in information to break through enemy lines wasn’t a difficult concept. Especially if it was even among the same ‘alliance’.
Before the opponent could fully recognize and respond to the information, all they had to do was escape beyond the enemy’s territory.
“If we set aside two days to pass through the western plains of Lorensia, we can avoid the major cities and still make it to the Papal Enclave on time.”
“Hmm…”
The Saint stretched happily as she looked at the evening sunset.
“If factions divide after participating in the council, that is, if everything resolves itself according to God’s will, relatively… after a peaceful conclusion to the situation.”
She lightly placed her hand on Ivan’s back. He felt her white fingers gently twitching over the coarse fabric of his coat.
“Are you thinking of becoming a knight of the newly established Church?”
“No.”
“Even later?”
“Hmm.”
“Even if the Lord desires that?”
“I will negotiate amicably with the concerned parties.”
“What kind of virtue did Elizaveta accumulate in her past life…?”
“Virtue of the past life.”
Ivan chuckled softly.
Given that he had landed in this miserable world for 30 years suffering for the sins committed in his past life, it was quite a funny story.
The evening sunset hung on the castle wall. Ivan turned his back and said.
“Now, we depart.”
“Indeed. Brother.”
The Saint laughed gently and embraced the nape of Ivan’s neck. Ivan lightly stepped on the terrace railing and jumped directly down beneath the spire.
There was no sound following Ivan’s movement until he landed, slowing his descent by striking the gaps in the castle wall with the axe he had drawn from his side.
*
“No, you said definitely tomorrow morning!”
“Our older brother mentioned that we would depart this evening first. It’s a basic disruption tactic.”
“Ugh… I just want to rest a bit more…”
“Ech. Let’s go. Stop whining.”
“Bella!!”
The group was bustling beneath the southern gate. When Ivan and the Saint appeared in the distance from the gate, Lucia puffed out her chest as if to say, ‘See, I told you so!’
Sighing in exasperation, Ecdysis weakly waved her hand.
“How much longer do we have to go?”
“Two days to the Lorensia border, and another two days through western Lorensia. Four days.”
Ivan leapt onto the horse’s back and reached out his hand to the Saint. When she took his hand and climbed onto the saddle, he immediately took the reins.
“We will ride until the horse collapses during that time.”
“And then?”
“We’ll abandon the horse and run.”
At Ivan’s words, Isabelle chuckled and gripped the reins facing him.
“Repeat, master, train.”
Oscar chuckled at her joke. The group regained their composure through a brief rest and began to move.
*
And two days later, when they arrived at the Leonor-Lorensia border.
After finally gathering their belongings from the last fallen horse, Ivan looked at the flags visible at the edge of the plains and chuckled.
“You’re more capable than expected.”
From the horizon, a massive red dragon was flapping the banner while clutching a shield in one hand. Below it, small ensigns were lined up.
The order of knights from Leonor, Orden de los Caballeros del Drago. The cavalry royal led directly by Count Philippe de la Almagro. In other words, the royal knights of Leonor were stationed here.
“Shall we breach it…?”
“They must have seen us already from over there.”
Ivan clicked his tongue and thought briefly. They planned to move their troops immediately after the council concluded. It wasn’t just to block our paths, but from the beginning, Leonor wasn’t focused on Krasilov…
‘They must have anticipated which nation among the Southern Six Nations would be expelled and devised a grand strategy accordingly.’
Did they consider it disadvantageous to engage directly with Krasilov, Tylesse, and Drovian? That wolfish ruler was the one keeping tabs on Lorensia, who had allied with him first.
And that meant—
“Over there…!”
This indicated that Lorensia would also be watching over Leonor from the border.
Flags were fluttering on the opposite horizon. The white lily banner signifying the border battalion of the Lorensia Kingdom fluttered beneath the afternoon plains.
With both legions stationed facing each other, they needed to make it through the western plains of Lorensia and reach the Papal Enclave.
‘It must be because they plotted the shortest route to the Papal Enclave.’
The council was held at the Papal Enclave. In other words, to be the first to recognize the outcome of the council, they must be stationed closest to the Papal Enclave.
“Let’s go.”
Ivan snapped his fingers and gestured to the group.
“Pardon? Where to?”
“To the Papal Enclave. From here on, the Saint knows the way, so don’t stop and just keep running. We should be able to arrive in two days.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll follow.”
Ivan drew his axe as he observed the approaching armored knights from a distance. The iron glimmered under the sun.
“Maintain your distance.”
If the Saint cannot reach the council, then Krasilov will be in danger. It doesn’t matter if the Southern Six Nations split and fought among themselves, but it cannot be permitted for the north, adjacent to the Demon Realm, to be at risk.
Tylesse is to the east, Krasilov to the north, and Drovian to the west, maintaining a long frontline. Worrying about the rear was enough during the great wars; it cannot be so in this age.
In a world where those with noble intentions are sacrificed due to the greed of kings and lords, and in an era where those with noble intentions have disappeared, a brutal world where everyone must fight for everything cannot come to pass.
If it were so, then what in the world were the heroes and Veolgrin, Jill Ber, the Great King and his comrades, sacrificed for?
And…
‘I made a promise.’
To Jill Ber, and again to Veolgrin. He promised his lost friends.
That he would never lose a comrade before his eyes again. That is his ‘page,’ realized after long contemplation.
They say all possessed individuals turn their own pages. Yes, then, that is my story. To never lose someone again.
His entire life had been nothing but failures. If that’s why his story hasn’t ended yet, then not anymore. No more.
And to add one more thing.
While he had never succeeded in protecting anyone, at least he had never failed to survive.
Click.
Ivan chambered his pistol and stepped forward.
The group, looking at his back, quickly bowed their heads and began to run.
*
The knight leading the charge gradually slowed down, glancing back at the departing group before raising the visor of his helmet.
Ivan looked at that face and let his pistol droop.
“I didn’t expect you to come out directly, Count Almagro… or should I say, ‘the Butcher’ Philippe.”
“It’s been a while.”
Philippe, with an aged and haggard face, quietly looked down on Ivan.
“Were you heading to the Papal Enclave?”
“As you can see.”
“Are you planning to kill the Pope?”
“Not at the moment.”
Turning his gaze back to Ivan, Philippe scanned the knights standing beside him with a faint smile.
“I thought your name sounded familiar, but it’s such a common name in Krasilov that it could be that. Perhaps your appearance has changed too much.”
“A lot of time has passed.”
“I heard you died.”
“That was true.”
Ivan stared at Philippe while gripping his axe. Philippe took a moment to collect himself before stepping back.
“We’ll pull back.”
“Pardon? But, Madam!!”
“I cannot permit losses before the battle. This is a command I issue as a commander.”
“Madam, His Majesty’s orders—”
“If you want to follow those orders so much, go out alone. I won’t stop you.”
Philippe turned his horse as he spoke to Ivan.
“Little Ivan. I pay my respects to your achievements. You’ve returned alive from the worst battlefield a human can endure.”
Click, click. The horse gradually grew distant. Count Philippe spoke quietly as he left.
“Leonor won’t oppose you today. But Lorensia will pursue you. If you manage to survive again and meet once more… it won’t be the same as today.”
“I look forward to it.”
Ivan watched the departing count and returned his pistol to its place. The knights watching him gritted their teeth and charged toward their lord.
Turning his gaze again, he saw the legion of Lorensia lined up on the opposite horizon.
In any case, the task at hand had not changed. Ivan began to step toward the Lorensia army.
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