“What are they doing…?”
I stood on the hill in a daze.
I had heard that a battle was about to start, so I came to this hill that overlooked the battlefield… but now…
Herbert and Werner were at the very front lines. Literally, right at the very front.
“Herbert’s back hasn’t been in great shape lately, but it seems he’s eager to prove himself in this long-awaited battle.”
The one who spoke was my father.
I hurriedly tried to kneel, but he stopped me with a gesture.
“It’s fine. There’s no one here but those of the House of Vywahl.”
My father stood beside me, his eyes fixed intently on the battlefield.
“Werner is quite strong for his age. You should understand that he wants to earn merits as a knight for the sake of his lord.”
“If it’s for my sake, I’d prefer that he stays alive and serves, rather than risking his life.”
Hearing my words, my father sighed and spoke to me, as if giving me advice.
“There will always come a time when you must sacrifice something to gAinzich something else. This battle too is a necessary sacrifice to pacify the Sylria region… It’s about to begin. Watch the nature of war closely.”
No sooner had he said that, a streak of fire shot across the sky.
It fell into the enemy camp, and the air was filled with a flash of light and the sound of an explosion.
When the light subsided, I could see that the damage wasn’t extensive, affecting only a few dozen men, but the sound and light caused a great commotion in the enemy ranks.
Seizing this opportunity, our forces charged forward, cutting deeply into the enemy’s ranks.
“In the end, battle is a clash of spirits. Once disordered and broken in spirit, you lose. But even in a seemingly lost battle, the tide can turn.”
My father pointed towards the vanguard of our army as he spoke.
Werner and Herbert were charging ahead, but they were brought to a halt by a single man.
“That one is a knight from the remnants of Baltia. He’s been a real nuisance, but we must settle this.”
Before I knew it, my father had mounted a horse, followed by a retinue of knights.
“Remember, even a single person can change the course of battle.”
He rode about two meters ahead and then turned back to look at me.
“As for what we spoke of earlier, if you still wish for them to survive despite everything, then gather forces for them, prepare their equipment, and devise strategies. That will make them stronger and keep them alive. Be greedy, Ainzich.”
“I will keep that in mind, Father.”
With a nod, my father rode off without another word, charging into the battlefield with several knights at his side.
They flanked from the side, cutting through the enemy ranks.
When they reached the formidable enemy knight, the two squared off.
A tense atmosphere gripped the entire battlefield.
Soon, as if synchronized, the two knights spurred their horses forward and crossed paths.
After they passed each other, the enemy knight slumped and fell from his horse.
My father raised his sword high into the sky, and a cheer so loud it shook the earth erupted.
He talked so much about the nature of war, but in the end, he resolved it with personal prowess… Father, that’s unfair. But this is how the strong fight. I must follow my father’s advice and understand how the weak must fight.
With the defeat of the skilled enemy knight, the war came to an end, and they surrendered.
