The enemy, while attacking the fortress, is being struck from behind, causing unrest among their soldiers.
Even so, they rally their troops and continue the assault on the fortress, making the battle grow fiercer.
“Your Grace! Three knights at the castle gate!”
The soldier’s report came through with a clear sense of urgency.
“Understood. I’ll go now.”
I gather my guards and return to the castle gate. The reserves are already gone, and everyone is fighting desperately. If we can just hold here…
When I reach the gate, I see Kurt and a few other knights facing off against the three knights who previously urged us to surrender.
“You’ve done well… but if I take your head, Duke, we win.”
One of those knights glared at me.
“You’ll have to defeat me first.”
Kurt stepped forward to confront him.
Kurt was already covered in wounds, with blood dripping down. Anyone could see he was utterly exhausted.
“You may have some skill, but I’ll kill both you and the Duke here!”
The enemy knight brought down his sword from above, and Kurt didn’t block it but guided his own blade to deflect its trajectory. Even in his battered state, Kurt skillfully conserved his strength, using the minimum force necessary to defend.
But I could no longer just stand by and watch their fight.
Kurt had held the castle gate until now, but with him occupied with the enemy knights, the peasants began slipping through the gaps in the perimeter at the gate and were swarming in.
I thrust my sword into the chest of a peasant soldier who came at me. His face froze in terror. My hand became sticky with his blood and faint warmth.
As I withdrew my sword, he collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. I muttered a brief apology in my heart.
Looking around again, I saw fierce fighting everywhere. This won’t hold…
“Regroup at the barracks!”
Wounded soldiers were there, and our only option was to hunker down inside the building. If we retreat there, there’s no way out… but we must make a stand.
At my command, the soldiers retreated toward the barracks, with the enemy following closely.
However, one person refused to retreat.
“Kurt! Fall back! You’ll die!”
“…Leave this to me.”
Without turning around, Kurt responded only with his voice. He was barely standing. Kurt’s imposing stance at the gate was helping us, but even he had his limits.
Should I send in soldiers and knights to rescue him? No, it’s impossible. Kurt is already surrounded by many enemies.
“Your Grace! Reinforcements at the rear gate!”
The rear gate has finally been breached…
I have no choice but to retreat to the barracks with the remaining forces.
As I considered this, a fireball streaked over my head and hit the castle gate, erupting in a tremendous explosion. I turned around instinctively.
“Ah, Ein. Seems I made it in time.”
“Brother Rumer…
