Chapter 22 – Urich’S Brothers (5)
Chapter 22 – Urich’s Brothers (5)
At Earl Degelton’s formation, two flags fluttered in the air. One was the Earl’s Red Bear flag, and the other was the Silver Lions’ flag.
“It’s good land.”
Silver Lion Garcio spoke with his eyes narrowed. The open terrain smelled like fertile land. One that could grow crops by just tossing some seeds around.
“Alrian… I will definitely get your revenge.”
Earl Degelton spoke while looking at Earl Molando’s camp.
“It looks like they think they have a chance of victory if they take it to a defensive battle? It’s laughable that they think they can block off the Silver Lion Mercenaries with that rabble.”
“The most that they did was set up fences and raise a watchtower. There won’t be an issue, leader.”
An aide-de-camp with excellent eyes spoke after observing their enemy’s formations.
The Silver Lion Mercenaries have participated in sieges multiple times before. Compared to a castle with stone walls, tree forts like that were a non-factor.
“My brother. By evening, it will be your flag that is planted there.”
Garcio pulled out his sword and raised it. The mercenary group confirmed the signal and advanced. The flag bearer waved the flag from side to side.
Cling, clang.
Their metal armor shook the ground. Other than their archers, the entire Silver Lion Mercenaries were heavily armed. The majority of them wore chainmail armor and quite a few even wore the Southern scale armor. Wearing armor made of iron was the symbol of a heavily armed soldier.
‘What an overwhelming sight.’
Earl Degelton’s eyes widened.
People made of iron were marching. Their nefarious eyes shone under their firmly placed helmets. These men who lived by killing others… that is what a warrior is.
“Hieek. W-We have to fight against those guys?”
The conscripted soldiers, who were on top of the fences, were terrified. Directly facing the marching soldiers in heavy armor made their spears look endlessly weak and the leather that they were wearing as armor look awkward.
“Haah, that’s no joke.”
Bakman looked at the Silver Lion Mercenaries. He was covered in cold sweats.
‘Should we have run away as Donovan said?’
There were no other options now. He silently touched his sun necklace and prayed.
“Ru, please don’t take me just yet.”
On one side, a clergy member showed up to bless the soldiers. The soldiers crowded over there to receive blessings right before the battle.
“It’s funny if you think about it. They believe in the Sun God and we also believe in the Sun God. But we’re fighting like this. Ru definitely has favorites.”
Bakman laughed. The victors were the ones who were loved by Ru more.
“Archers!” shouted the captain.
The archers on the watchtower pulled back their bowstrings. The soldiers were in their spots and prepared to fight.
Tremble, tremble.
The conscripted soldiers’ legs were shaking. They wanted to throw their spears down and run away right that instant. But if they ran away, they would die to an ally’s sword instead.
“I’m a farmer, not a soldier. A fucking farmer. Shit, fuck.”
The conscripted soldiers didn’t understand why they had to fight. They were just expendables that died if their lord commanded as such.
“Fire!” shouted the captain.
The archers fired their arrows in a chorus. The archers were not that bad. Because the conscripted archers were originally hunters, their eyes were fierce. Unlike farmers, hunters can always become good soldiers.
Fffft!
A part of the Silver Lion Mercenaries toppled over from the arrows. Those who were unlucky died from the arrow piercing deep, and those who only had light wounds—thanks to their armor—stood back up.
“UWOOOOOH!”
The Silver Lion Mercenaries lifted their shields high and charged. They didn’t stop even with the rain of arrows. Unless they were unlucky, there was no chance of actually dying from them.
“They’re coming!”
The defensive infantry shouted as they stepped forward. They had no confidence of winning if they collided. The Silver Lion Mercenaries were as intimidating as they expected.
“Grit your teeth and fight!” Bakman shouted while lifting his spear forward. The mercenaries focused up and stared straight ahead.
“UWOOOOOH!”
The Silver Lion Mercenaries were close enough that they could see their faces.
CRUSH! SHATTER!
The Silver Lion Mercenaries ran into the wooden fences. The sloppily built fences shook as if they were going to break immediately.
“Stab them! Kill them!”
The soldiers that were on top of the wooden fences struck the Silver Lion Mercenaries. Their weapons clanged, and a roar could be heard. The Silver Lion Mercenaries stepped on each other to throw themselves on top of the fences.
“Three of them went over! Take care of them now!”
Bakman shouted while looking back.
The Silver Lion Mercenaries that climbed over the fences raised their shields and put their backs together. The conscripted soldiers inside the fences swung their spears, but the mercenaries skillfully parried them.
The defensive battle was over quickly as they started the melee.
‘Damn it, they got through so easily. The difference in soldiers’ skills is too big.’
The gap caused by the mercenaries who weren’t here was too big. All of the skilled mercenaries went to wait in ambush.
‘We’re going to die at this rate.’
Bakman bleakly bit his lips. He looked at the far-away Earl Degelton.
‘Go, Urich. Capture him and quickly end this battle.’
* * *
* * *
“I swear that if you propose a plan like this again, I’ll kill you,” Donovan threatened Urich. He lifted his sewage-covered face. Because of the awful smell, his nose was numb, and his body itched as if there were bugs crawling all over him.
“Whatever.”
Urich smirked and opened his eyes. The battle was ripe.
“Everyone, be careful of even light scratches. You can die from shit poison,” said Sven while also raising his head.
The plan was successful. Earl Degelton’s army didn’t think to look here as well. They were confident in their victory and only attacked the defensive line.
“Earl Degelton is riding a horse. There are eight heavily armed soldiers near him.”
Urich spoke while observing their target. He was a blurry dot for the others’ eyes, but Urich saw him clearly.
“If he runs away on horseback, it’s all over. We only have one opportunity,” said Donovan to Urich.
Urich nodded and quietly stepped out of the pile of sewage. He lowered his stance as he pulled out the bow and arrow he hid under the dirt.
“Heut.”
Urich breathed in and drew his bow.
Tense.
His strong muscles propped the arrow without shaking it. He then pulled the bowstring back long and stared at his target.
For tribe warriors like Urich, an outstanding warrior was synonymous with being an outstanding hunter. Hunting skills were as important as fighting skills. There were no tribe warriors unable to shoot arrows.
Tiiiing.
He let go of the bowstring. A clean sound could be heard.
Fffft.
The air was being split apart.
Neeeigh!
Earl Degelton was surprised. The horse he was riding on fell over, causing the earl to sprain his leg. In an instant, there was an arrow deep in the horse’s head.
He stared as he held onto his sprained leg.
“A-An arrow? From where?”
The guards looked around the area.
Pfffft.
Another arrow flew, hitting a guard square on the head and killing him instantly.
“It’s an ambush!”
Earl Degelton shouted while looking at the men covered in black sewage. These men, who looked like evil spirits straight out of hell, charged at them.
“Run! Run!” shouted Donovan.
The mercenaries spat out the sewage that came into their mouths and took a deep breath.
“Protect His Lordship!”
The guards surrounded Earl Degelton and raised their shields.
Urich dropped his bow and ran after the other mercenaries.
“Fuuu.”
Urich quickly stepped in front of the other mercenaries.
“UWOOOOOH! UWOOH!”
They smashed into the guards. The fight had begun.
“Give me your neck!”
Urich’s eyes shone as he chased down Earl Degelton. He didn’t actually plan to kill the earl as he said, but he did plan on injuring at least one leg.
He pulled out his axe and threw it.
Clang!
The axe hit a blade and bounced off.
“So you used your heads. I didn’t expect soldiers would be waiting in ambush there.”
Silver Lion Garcio, who just deflected the axe, stood in front of Urich. He looked at Urich who was completely covered in sewage.
“Your hair’s already getting white when you’re not even that old yet?”
Urich snickered and held an axe and sword in each hand. He recognized that his opponent was the leader of the Silver Lion Mercenaries. It was because he heard about his appearance before. Even without that, those who were on the level of leaders gave off a different aura.
“So the excellent mercenaries were you guys? The fight is already being finished up. If you surrender, I’ll hire you all as the Silver Lion Mercenaries.”
Garcio spoke while grabbing his sword with both hands. Like a true illegitimate child of a noble, his stance showed that he was properly trained.
Urich hit his weapons together to make a sound. He cracked his neck to the left and right. His wild smile hung on his face.
“Haha, thanks for the offer. But I don’t work for people weaker than me.”
“That’s a shame, nameless mercenary.”
Urich and Garcio faced off. Urich felt his hairs stand on end.
‘So he’s not just any other mercenary.’
Garcia’s stance gave almost no openings, and even those were blocked by his chainmail armor.
Urich didn’t have a lot of time. It was obvious that the enemies would soon join up and surround him and the mercenaries. He had to capture Earl Degelton before then.
‘Whether it works or not, I have to charge in.’
Urich moved his arms chaotically. The two weapons raged like a violent storm.
Clang! Claaang!
Urich and Garcio’s weapons clashed with each other. Garcio, who was holding onto a metal weapon, opened his eyes wide.
‘For a nameless mercenary, he has nice weapons.’
Garcio’s sword was also made from good iron. As a leader of a mercenary group, he uses high-quality equipment. Urich’s sword was just even better to the point where Garcio could tell the difference.
SLICE!
Urich’s sword cut Garcio’s chainmail armor. The chains were split and cut down, but Urich was unable to cut the leather armor underneath as well.
CRUSH!
Garcio left defending his side to his armor and tried to cut Urich’s head. However, the pain in his side caused him to step back.
‘My rib is broken.’
When a regular sword cuts chainmail armor, the attack’s power is reduced to the point where it fails to hurt beneath the armor. Even if it were a strong hit, the blade would either give and break or be bent.
“Imperial steel.”
Garcio spat while muttering to himself. Urich’s blade was still sharp—as keen as a wolf’s fang even after severing the chainmail armor.
If it was a weapon of that caliber, it could only be made of imperial steel. It was a weapon difficult to acquire even with money.
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