8 days. 19 hours. And 23 minutes.
That's how long it took to eliminate one of the Grand Duke's armies. Alternating between surprise attacks and tactical retreats to minimize casualties on both sides.
It wasn't easy. The injuries sustained were not insignificant. A knight's charge is like artillery fire—the kind of thing you can't respond to after seeing it with your eyes.
"Hard to believe we're the same species."
Ivan was riding ahead, half-asleep. His muscles screamed in pain, repeatedly tearing and healing, while his overworked ligaments swelled red, on the verge of rupture.
If he lost consciousness, he might sleep for days. He had to stay awake somehow. It wasn't time to rest yet.
"Is he still alive?"
"Shh, quiet. Let him sleep."
How did they fight? First, a swift raid to take out the cavalry commander. Strike the confused command post, then immediately turn and flee with the knights.
Once the pursuit began, they escaped into the forest and picked them off one by one. Half the nobles' knights died at that point.
As for the soldiers...
The soldiers survived in greater numbers. That's fortunate. They may be called soldiers now because they carry weapons, but aren't they just farmers who would hold plows or pitchforks in their hands otherwise?
That's the problem with civil war. A reduction in military strength directly leads to a reduction in industrial workforce.
A scenario where both sides annihilate each other can be interpreted as an extreme decrease in the population's sustenance capacity. Even if they're enemies, regular troops should be spared as much as possible and sent back to their homes.
That's the only small hope for Tilles to survive.
The rebel leaders needed to be cut out precisely, meticulously. Like a craftsman's delicate work.
"Even if we somehow reach San Matilenne, we'll only have about 60 cavalry at most. Considering stragglers, it'll be even fewer."
"I know."
"Do we have a chance? Didn't they say Grand Martel Count's army exceeds thirty thousand?"
"Didn't that man say? If you want to give up, put down your weapons and live as farmers."
Ivan felt a strange paradox. To save as many people as possible, to save this country. With such noble-sounding words, he was leading soldiers to their deaths.
How absurd it is that saving someone requires sacrificing someone else's life. But even back then, it was an everyday occurrence.
Too many good people died. War always takes the lives of the righteous first.
He too was one who walked toward danger at others' commands. That's mostly what he did.
He rushed toward the Seven Dragon Field at the late king's command. The king and his seniors all died in that battle.
He cleared the path when the Hero wished it. Many members of the Annihilation Squad lost their lives in the process.
When the princess cried and begged, he headed for the Dragon King's lair. After that day, the Annihilation Squad no longer existed.
He had heard too many commands to sacrifice his life for the greater good. But he never thought he would be the one giving such orders. It was ridiculous and pathetic. He had no right to do so.
Inciting others and driving them into danger is the work of heroes.
Only heroes can bear such a burden. They can treat others' lives as expendable for the greater good and still endure. Only those who believe in their own justice and move forward even in despair.
But Ivan could never be like that. He had neither the qualification nor the ability to be called such. He was the type of agent who could accept cowardice for small gains. He was a selfish man.
-And we're outsiders.
Ivan nodded at Kim Seon-woo's words. That was the biggest problem.
Outsiders from a distant world.
With no right to ask the inhabitants of this world to risk their lives.
-Let's go back now. Let's live quietly in Krasilov. Let's just support the heroes of this era as they grow up. Ivan, we don't need to risk our lives.
He nodded at this too. There's no need, and then...
His goal had always been the same. To return home. To escape this cursed pre-modern world and return to a safe world where laws and social systems meticulously protect individuals.
He didn't want to give his heart to this world anymore. Everyone he had cared for died before his eyes.
So he didn't want to anymore. He agreed with those words. However.
However.
It was Ivan who picked up the sword instead of saying "I don't want to anymore." It was Ivan who understood and endured all of Kim Seon-woo's wounds and scars, and still stood up and moved forward.
Because Kim Seon-woo had lost all will to live.
Ivan agreed with Kim Seon-woo's words. Since he was also himself, all his thoughts were ultimately no different from his own.
But Ivan did not consent. To live, to survive, to move forward. Because it was ultimately Ivan himself who had to give his all every moment for just that.
'Noisy.'
He would never be able to live like the many great heroes he had encountered.
But still, having seen them once. Couldn't he at least imitate them? While thinking that.
And through repeated attempts, might the copy he finally built up possibly reach the original? While thinking that.
At least at the feet of the heroes of that era whom he admired.
"It's raining!!"
"Ah, damn it. Perfect. Shields! Bring the shields!"
"I'll hold the reins. My goodness, after fighting like a demon, he turns out to be human after all. No reaction even when I take the reins."
"Rest a little more. We may not be able to stop arrows, but we can at least shield you from the rain."
"Haha, receiving such noble protocol is not easy even for royalty. You should consider it an honor."
He heard it all.
Ivan vaguely responded and closed his eyes again. It was hard to tell whether he had actually answered or if it was just a hallucination.
In his burning nerves, Kim Seon-woo's voice was no longer heard.
-Buuuuuuu—!!
"This is unbelievable."
At dawn, the sound of horn trumpets echoed. The soldiers gripping spears on the gallery had dark circles under their eyes, having stayed up all night.
The view from the high walls of the inner castle was horrifying. In the distance, troops filled the plains of San Matilenne as they marched forward.
When combat forces exceed 30,000, it's safe to assume three times that number including supply personnel. By simple calculation, conservatively speaking, the total hostile forces on this plain numbered just under 100,000.
A thousand people standing together is called a crowd. It means they can fill a plaza and more. Ten thousand of them would fill an amphitheater. A hundred thousand would turn the plains black.
"Should we rethink our strategy? How can we assassinate anyone in that?"
"We have no other option."
Oskar sighed heavily, gripping his sword tightly. Tension, pressure, burden, and survival instinct all rang alarm bells. They needed to kill one count somewhere in that mass and return.
If they failed, Tilles would be finished.
Even if they succeeded, there were too few ways to return alive.
The soldiers were terrified. Even the Capital Defense Force, said to be the most elite of Tilles' regular troops, felt the same.
-Buuuuuuu—!!
A curtain of people, a barrier of military flags was approaching.
"Come in. Come in..."
Yu-jin muttered, gripping his sword tightly. They had left one gate open in the enemy's march route. All other gates were firmly closed.
Naturally, they would begin their entry from that direction. There was no reason to waste soldiers' energy by raising siege towers.
'Please come in.'
Count Grand Martel was the epitome of an arrogant, narcissistic tyrant. He was someone who had scorched and plundered every domain that opposed his will.
Would such a person remain in the rear at the decisive battlefield for usurping the throne? Under overwhelming numerical superiority of more than tenfold?
The odds were fifty-fifty, but Yu-jin secretly hoped he wouldn't.
"They're—in!! They've come in!!"
Elfihera, using a far-sight spell beside him, screamed.
Good.
Yu-jin pulled down his visor and quickly said:
"Miss Elfihera. Your blessing."
As Elfihera formed a hand sign, purple magical energy twisted through her fingers. The magic struck Yu-jin's head like lightning.
Overwhelming courage welled up in his chest.
Good.
Yu-jin nodded and drew his sword.
"The Lord is present, so I shall know no fear."
"This is just a courage-boosting spell..."
"Kill the heretics."
Yu-jin descended from the gallery, reciting scripture. His companions followed. Within detection range, Yu-jin could be called the best scout.
"Oskar. Aren't you going to say something? Something dignified as the Guardian Knight!"
"Let's drop the formalities now."
"What...?"
"If we return alive. Because we're friends."
Oskar smiled and pulled on his helmet. Isabelle and Asidis burst out laughing and drew their weapons.
"Lower the drawbridge!!"
"What...? What?"
The guard showed a bewildered expression at Oskar's shout. Tens of thousands of troops were approaching. The commander was ordering the gates opened?
"Hold out for half a day! I'm going to eliminate Count Grand Martel now!"
"That's suicide!!"
"Standing here isn't much different! I'm ordering you to stand here and commit suicide!"
The soldiers' faces hardened at Oskar's words. Oskar raised his sword and shouted:
"So at the very least, as the one who told you to die, I'm saying I'll go out and die fighting myself! Lower the drawbridge! Hold out for half a day, and if we don't return, surrender!"
"...Open the gate!"
"Open the gate!!"
The gate opens. The heart of the great knights that had never fallen on its own throughout the last war.
Passing through the gates of Palais de Royal, Oskar roughly struck his pounding heart to calm his tension.
It wasn't time to be afraid yet. They weren't dead yet.
Let's recall what Ivan taught. If one finely tunes magical energy, even heartbeats can be controlled.
-Buuuuuuu—!!
The horn sound echoed. Oskar clenched his teeth and gripped the horse's reins.
Then, with a bang, his shoulder plate rattled greatly. Staggering from the impact, he looked to the side to see Isabelle smiling.
"Stand tall and proud!"
"What...?"
"It's the Hero Party's first war together, so don't be so hunched over! If you're going to be like that, just follow from behind!"
"Ha."
Dawn illuminates San Matilenne. Bathed in the rising sunlight, Isabelle was smiling, holding her sword high.
Yes, a hero. The Hero Party.
Just as my father did, so shall I.
"The shield is my role originally. Stay quietly behind me."
"Now your expression has softened a bit. Let's go. We need to return quickly so we can drop the formalities."
The party galloped toward the sun.