Chapter 110: Accept Weapons
“My… land?”
The crown prince read the letter, his eyes shaking.
But no matter how he looked at it, this was utterly unbelievable.
“Don’t tell me that brat has already conquered this land? But they haven’t even moved yet!”
The one confronting Cantum was one of the 25 chieftains.
Like Yamanta, the lord of Molar Castle, he was a renowned great warrior of Bahara. If Balrog had fallen and the king had been dethroned, normally he would have moved.
‘They should’ve rebelled against Kaistein, who had conquered Bahara. Because obstinacy runs in their blood.’
But what were they doing now?
The adjutant raised his voice upon seeing the crown prince’s bewildered eyes.
“We are currently under attack by Kaistein. You must evacuate immediately, Your Highness!”
The crown prince stared at him incredulously. However, the adjutant would not be joking in this situation.
Thus, he hurried back out with his adjutant.
But something really unbelievable was happening.
It was none other than what was captured in his eyes.
“Catch those Cantum rats!”
“Kick out those who have defiled our country!”
It was because there were tens of thousands of Bahara warriors surrounding them.
No, it wasn’t just them.
“Your Highness! Watch out!”
Bang! Bang!
Flying toward him was an incredibly huge typhoon. It blew up the bulwarks surrounding Cantum’s camp, as well as the tents and soldiers. No, as if that wasn’t enough, it flew right to the crown prince’s face.
At that time, the escort knights guarding the crown prince rushed toward the typhoon.
All while activating their Oaths.
“We will stop it!”
Boom! Boom!
As many as ten knights fought as one against the typhoon. Thanks to this, the crown prince was safe.
But not the knights.
“Ugh… I can’t believe it’s this powerful even if I use Oath to block it. As expected of the god of war…”
“Cough… So, him being called the best knight on the continent wasn’t just an empty boast…”
Many of the knights fell down, bleeding. Some rolled on the floor with armor and shields crushed.
It was the price they had to pay for standing in the way of the continent’s best knight.
The adjutant shouted at the sight.
“Your Highness, you must get away from here quickly! The knights can’t fight any longer!”
Although there were some knights left, they were nowhere near enough to replace the crown prince’s escort knights. Furthermore, Duke Lavaltor was unstoppable.
Only those at the level of the emperor’s five generals could dare to face him.
‘But they did not come to this Northern Expedition.’
It was a price the crown prince had to bear for confidently claiming that he could use Kaistein. Originally, he would have been a true emperor candidate in recognition of his merits.
But now he couldn’t.
The crown prince gnashed his teeth, recalling a man’s nickname.
“‘Tempest’! Duke Lavaltor really has come all the way here!”
It was the name of the man revered as one of the greatest knights on the continent.
The crown prince cried out hastily.
“Hurry up! Get out of here!”
Even Cantum could not go unscathed if it was attacked intensively by the two countries.
Moreover, the crown prince had boasted that he would not lose his troops. He dared not imagine what he would face in his home country if he lost his soldiers.
‘If I make the wrong choice, I could lose my title as crown prince.’
Besides, if Duke Lavaltor had come from Kaistein, he would not have come alone. Staying here any longer was practically akin to taking the express carriage to hell.
He had to flee without a moment to waste.
But at that moment, his adjutant shouted.
“Your Highness! What do we do with the supplies stored here? To pack these things, the time—”
“Are you saying those supplies are so important now? Duke Lavaltor and the Bahara savages are just around the corner!”
“B-but all the supplies here were obtained with your slush funds. If you lose this, your position as the next emperor will be in jeopardy!”
“!?”
The adjutant had a point.
Most of the resources for the Northern Expedition were here, and they all came from the crown prince’s own pocket. But it wasn’t just any fund. It was all the foundation for becoming emperor.
If these were lost, he would have no money at all to become an emperor.
And once that happened?
‘My position of not only the next emperor but also the crown prince is at stake. I may be eliminated by my political opponents.’
The crown prince clenched his teeth. Then he shouted.
“How much time do you need?”
“One hour is enough.”
“I’ll give you 30 minutes. Discard all supplies that cannot be packed by then.”
“Your Highness!”
The adjutant exclaimed with shock.
That time frame was impossible no matter how.
Nonetheless, the crown prince yelled with livid eyes.
“I can’t get caught by him again. You hear me? I’m going to be the emperor of Cantum! Once is enough for such a disgrace!”
Anything lost could be retrieved again.
But the lost honor would never come back. He could not lose to Ian again.
The adjutant bowed his head.
“I, I’ll try to get it ready somehow.”
The crown prince immediately ordered the soldiers.
“30 minutes! We can get away from it if we hold on for 30 minutes! Everybody, raise your spears! Attack the enemies!”
Frankly, thirty minutes against so many troops was but a tall order. However, these men were also among the strongest army in Cantum.
“I will do your orders.”
“Defend the bulwarks! Shoot the arrows so the enemies won’t cross over!”
The retreat path had been secured.
All they had to do was hold on. Once they were ready, they would escape.
The moment the crown prince thought so.
“Your Highness! Watch out!”
Grooooo!
With a booming sound, a massive storm hit the crown prince and Cantum’s soldiers.
***
The Kaistein soldiers who attacked Cantum’s camp looked pale.
Among them, Helsin, the general, was particularly shouting like crazy.
He had no choice but to do so.
“Hold tight, everyone! Or we’ll be blown away!”
“Aaargh!”
A storm so humongous it could engulf the entire Kaistein and Bahara forces, as well as Cantum, was unfolding right before their eyes.
Grooooo!
A cataclysm that no mere humans could hope to withstand.
It was caused by none other than one man.
The man who let his aura soar high in the face of the storm. He was Duke Lavaltor.
Duke Lavaltor slightly raised the corner of his lips as his gaze landed on Cantum’s camp.
“That should be enough.”
And he swung his hand down.
Then, the huge typhoon rolled toward Cantum.
Boom! Boom!
Within seconds, more than half of the bulwarks in Cantum’s camp were blown away. People and everything were swept away by the typhoon.
Duke Lavaltor could see the crown prince holding a message with a face full of disbelief among them.
He smirked.
“Surprised already even though we haven’t even started yet?”
Then he raised his hand again.
Chhk!
Then the knights waiting below lowered their helmets. All were in the perfect battle stance.
It was Lavaltor’s pride, Blue Wolf.
The strongest knights, said to be invincible if the duke with them, were ready to mobilize.
And their forerunner, Hite, shouted at the duke’s signal.
“All sortie! Bite the enemy, Blue Wolf!”
“Whooaa!”
The Blue Wolf responded with a loud roar. Then, with unstoppable momentum, they charged toward Cantum.
Seeing them, the soldiers of Cantum yelped.
“B-Blue Wolf!”
“The mad wolves are coming! Everyone, avoid them!”
But it wasn’t just Kaistein who attacked Cantum.
Bahara also joined in the fray.
Those who had only been in a standoff until now were also moving.
“Kill those rats!”
“You disgusting fuckers who dared to defile the land of Bahara!”
“Don’t let a single man live!”
It must have been frustrating to stay quiet all this time.
They advanced, smashing the soldiers of Cantum with a truly ferocious spirit.
Among them were several of the 25 chieftains.
One of the five chieftains who had chosen to follow Ian.
“This is the first order of the regent, Ian! Knock down the enemy!”
“Kaistein is the hometown of the regent! Do not attack them! Take down only the Cantum guys!”
It was a truly shocking statement.
Prince Olak, the fittest man for the throne, was still alive, so how could a man from Kaistein be the regent?
But none of Bahara warriors raised any objections.
Because they had already heard the story beforehand.
‘The one who defeated the First Warrior, Arak, with only his own strength.’
‘The one who shattered the darkness that stained the kingdom, smiting his head with a giant hammer, and sat on the throne himself.’
‘The one who gathered Prince Olak, the five chieftains, as well as Yamanta, the lord of the Molar Castle, under the banner of the Great Warrior.’
Bahara was a country of warriors.
Therefore, if such a great man was at the top, he would be welcomed instead.
Seeing this, Duke Lavaltor put to rest the Oath he was about to bring forth.
“I don’t need to step up any further.”
It was because Cantum was already half-destroyed by his power.
All that was left was for the two countries to join forces to deal with Cantum and capture the crown prince.
At that moment, the general, Helsin, approached with a worried expression on his face.
“Your Grace, is this really okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“To join hands with Bahara, the target of the Northern Expedition, and attack Cantum, an ally. Even if the supreme commander has changed, how would other countries criticize…”
At Helsin’s words, Duke Lavaltor smirked.
“It’s Cantum who should be criticized, not us.”
“Pardon?”
“They decided to draw the enemy’s elites with a preemptive attack, yet they didn’t do anything. His Highness, on the other hand, conquered Balrog and Bahara himself. This is his land already.”
“However, as an ally, we should send a notice…”
Duke Lavaltor looked back at Helsin.
“Did we not send them a notice? We even kindly sent a letter through the messenger. That should be enough on the battlefield.”
He had even confirmed with his eyes that the messenger had entered the crown prince’s tent.
Honestly, though, sending the messenger was quite a shame.
That would have been enough to convey their intentions.
Duke Lavaltor’s eyes gleamed.
‘When a problem with the supreme commander arises, the deputy commander takes over all authority.’
That was why he didn’t respond to the request for help and headed for Balrog with all his might.
But look at this.
In a short period of time, Ian saved the supreme commander, the First Princess, and conquered Balrog. No, that was not all. With the help of Prince Olak and the five chieftains, he became a regent.
Ian even sent him this order.
[Bahara was conquered in the name of Ian Kaistein. I will send a messenger and a letter to the crown prince of Cantum. Make sure to clean up after.]
Capturing the crown prince was also included in the cleanup.
It was clear that the man who might become his son-in-law wasn’t satisfied with Bahara only, so he set his eyes on conquering Cantum as well.
So, what could he do?
‘As a loyal subject, I must lend a helping hand.’
Duke Lavaltor put his fingers together, his face ferocious.
His fingers were shaped into a hand flute.
Fweeet!
Then, one Blue King galloped from his military camp. It was one of the horses freed from the curse after Ian told the secret and gave the medicine.
Without a moment of hesitation, Duke Lavaltor jumped at its back.
Plop!
Despite the shock from Duke Lavaltor’s bulky body, Blue King was unperturbed. Rather, this agitated the horse as if urging him to hurry. The duke smiled upon seeing the war horse he liked for the first time in his life.
“You are excited too, huh? Then let’s stir things up, shall we?”
Neigh!
Duke Lavaltor kicked it in the leg with a fierce glare.
His target was the crown prince of Cantum.
Seeing the duke heading their way, Cantum’s soldiers screamed frantically.
“R, run away! Duke Lavaltor is coming!”
“Get out of here!”
Boom! Boom!
The strongest knight on the continent.
He began his charge, crushing everything in his path.
***
“Your Highness! The messenger has arrived. It’s a great victory!”
Fiosen shouted as he burst in.
No, he was about to shout, but he bowed like everyone else and slowly posted his report.
He had no choice but to do so.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
It was because numerous Bahara warriors were present in the palace of Bahara and all were kneeling toward Ian.
Ian smiled after hearing the report.
“What about the crown prince?”
“He didn’t move despite the messenger’s report. It is reported that he was defeated by the joint attack of Father—no, Duke Lavaltor and Chief Antum. He is currently being carried here.”
Ian’s lips curled up at this.
‘Yeah, I told him to get out quick.’
He could picture the situation even without looking at it.
The crown prince must have ignored what Ian said or locked up the messenger.
‘Duke Lavaltor is not the type to wait and would have attacked him without delay.’
Well, as an older brother, he gave the warning at the very least.
The one who didn’t understand that was the crown prince. He would have to regret it himself.
Then Fiosen quietly approached and whispered.
“However, we discovered something unexpected. A large amount of supplies was found in the half-destroyed campsite.”
“Oh?”
He never thought the crown prince would have prepared such a gift.
Ian gave the order with delight.
“Tell them to move all those supplies here as well. We should hold a festival.”
“I will do so, Your Highness.”
Despite everything, things had been going so smoothly.
‘Now I just need to appoint Olak as the new king of Bahara and hand over the regent, and it is over.’
And he would head back to Kaistein and be recognized by King Eloin for being the victor of the competition.
Now, he would be the unlisted heir to the throne.
It was then.
“Your Excellency Ian!”
The chieftains of the revitalized Bahara Kingdom stood before Ian, not as subordinates but as equals.
All stood fully armed.
In the frontmost, Yamanta, the lord of the Molar Castle, was holding his ax.
Ian’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Could it be that they’re going to attack me now?’
Was he going to be tortured like what happened in his previous life?
The moment Ian, with a grim face, was about to summon his knights.
All the Bahara warriors shouted as they prostrated themselves before him.
“Please be our king!”
Following that, all of them held out their weapons with both hands toward him.
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