My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 208

208. Stormwind Mercenaries (2)

The mountain’s time flows faster than anywhere else.

A reddish sunset painted the horizon over Amsberg.

The evening atmosphere hung heavy in the streets of Amsberg.

However, darkness already filled the forest in the mountains.

Night had already fallen in the mountains, earlier than in the town.

The sunset cast an even more intense red glow than usual.

But it couldn’t penetrate the darkness that had already consumed the forest.

Perhaps that’s why.

“W-what, what are those…”

Soren’s voice trembled, betraying his fear.

He stared at the five old men before him, still sprawled on the ground.

Five old men in total.

But the aura they exuded was anything but that of feeble old men.

It wasn’t the aura of the weak or the drained.

Judging by their presence alone, you wouldn’t think they were old at all.

“Step back, Soren-nim.”

The soldier in front of him muttered, blocking Soren’s path.

More accurately, a knight disguised as a soldier.

Moreover, a highly skilled knight from Avenne.

Seeing such a capable knight calmed Soren’s racing heart.

He didn’t know where these old men had come from.

He didn’t know how they knew his route and blocked his path.

And he knew they were no ordinary old men.

But that was the extent of his knowledge.

There were only five of them.

They were just old men.

On the other hand, his forces numbered thirty.

Moreover, each and every one of them was an outstanding knight, ranging from upper to highest-level Aura Users [Aura Users: Individuals who can manipulate their life force for enhanced abilities].

That was a six-to-one advantage in numbers.

And they were young, active knights, not doddering old men.

What could these five old geezers possibly do?

It was true that he was initially flustered by the sudden appearance.

But that was all it was.

A brief moment of surprise.

A confrontation in the darkness of the forest.

A silence as deep as the night.

Soren slowly rose to his feet.

And as if that movement was a signal.

Clack─!

Thud!

The five old men were the first to move.

Their figures blurred as they melted into the darkness.

“These are not opponents to be taken lightly!”

“Protect Soren-nim as the top priority!”

Echoes reverberated through the forest.

As if to cut through those echoes.

Whooooong─!

A giant axe filled the field of vision.

Clang─!!

“Kkeuek···!”

The knight’s face twisted in pain at the bizarre force surging through his sword.

The colliding axe pressed down with overwhelming weight.

A tremendous force, carrying terrifying momentum, crashed down on him.

The knight staggered backward.

“This is… I can’t withstand it…!”

Sizzle─!

A cutting sound, like a death rattle.

Before that brutal force, the knight’s body was cleaved in two and collapsed.

At that moment.

Whoosh!

A blade flashed in, aiming for Hugo’s flank, seeking to exploit an opening.

Just before the blade could tear into Hugo’s side.

Thwoong─!

With the sound of a crossbow, an arrow sliced through the air, heading straight for the knight.

The arrow flew accurately, targeting the knight’s neck even in the darkness.

The knight’s sword, which had been aimed at the old man, changed direction.

He parried the incoming arrow.

Clang─!

A spark flew out with a dull metallic sound.

The brief flash of light illuminated the darkness.

And revealed the figure of a woman, briefly visible.

The woman had somehow appeared right in front of the knight’s face.

A movement so swift it was almost imperceptible.

If it hadn’t been for the spark, he wouldn’t have even seen her coming.

The knight hurriedly raised his sword and swung it at the approaching woman.

But even faster than the knight’s sword.

Two daggers had already found their mark on the knight’s body.

Swish─!

With a chilling slicing sound, the knight’s figure crumpled to the ground.

Facing the woman and the old man.

“I heard you hunted ogres recently. You’re not dead, Hugo?”

“I don’t think you’re one to talk, Bonita.”

Hugo and Bonita grinned.

And then, as if on cue, they looked back.

Towards the crossbow arrow that had flown from the shadows.

“The rear support is solid.”

“Shall we go again?”

Uryaaaaaaa!

Hugo roared and swung his huge axe.

A figure like a raging beast.

“Hieeik···!!”

At the sight, Soren screamed and stumbled backward.

Two knights had been instantly defeated.

Without even landing a single blow, they were now bleeding and collapsing on the ground.

What… what kind of power do these old men possess?

Moreover, those two were not the only ones.

Kwaaaang─!!

A roar that exploded in an instant.

There, two old men were battling the knights.

Stocky, muscular old men.

A figure that naturally made one think, Dwarf…? [Dwarf: A race known for their strength and craftsmanship in fantasy settings.]

Moreover, the two faces were quite similar.

None other than Maxim and Toma.

And the sledgehammer and mace held in the hands of Maxim and Toma.

“Men are power! Destroy everything that gets in the way!”

“Kkhahahahahat! Smash them all!”

Kkwaaang─!

Every time Maxim and Toma swung their weapons, explosions seemed to erupt.

Clearly, it was metal striking metal.

But the sound was that of a clear explosion.

Perhaps because of that.

“Keuheok···!”

“Kkeueok!”

The knights were overwhelmed by this bizarre power.

“W-what is this…”

Soren couldn’t comprehend the current situation.

In the meantime.

Swish─!

Once again, a chilling slicing sound was heard.

Blood splattered across the field of vision.

There, an old man was wielding a sword.

The old man didn’t have any striking characteristics like the others.

To be precise, he was an old man who fit the very definition of ‘old man’.

His wrinkles were deeply etched.

He possessed no bulging muscles, no trained physique.

Perhaps because of that.

Clang─!

Crack─!

The old man’s sword, upon colliding with the knight’s, shattered.

Fragments of the sword scattered in all directions.

It must have been unable to withstand the knight’s aura.

And that was a natural outcome.

The people gathered here were knights who wielded aura.

High-level knights ranging from upper to highest level Aura Users.

There was no way an old man could block the aura of such knights.

So the current sight was a predictable phenomenon.

But what followed was anything but.

The old man rolled roughly on the ground.

Ignoring the broken sword, he moved swiftly.

And when he rose again, the old man held a new sword in his hand.

None other than the sword he had picked up while rolling around.

Moreover, the sword used by the knight who had fallen earlier.

The old man seized the now-unclaimed sword and charged towards the knight.

Clang─!

Clang─!

And he fought in the same manner as before.

“K-kueuk···!”

The knight facing the old man groaned.

Because the old man’s swordsmanship was unorthodox.

Even though he was using a completely different type of sword.

Not all swords were the same.

There were various types of swords.

Broadly, longswords and shortswords.

And even within the type of longsword, there were numerous variations.

Shotel, rapier, machete, falchion, flamberge, etc.

Not all swords were the same, even if they were all longswords.

There was a significant difference.

And most knights trained with a single weapon.

To be precise, they trained with the type of weapon that suited them best.

Naturally, the type of weapon that suited each person varied.

It was no exaggeration to say that if there were thirty knights, there would be thirty different weapons.

And of course, if the weapon changed, the skill also changed.

The movements became clumsy, and the power was not properly applied.

This was common knowledge for knights.

But this old man was different.

Clang─!

Swish─!

He didn’t care what weapon it was.

He displayed a high level of skill, as if he had been training with it for a long time.

However, it didn’t last long.

Whether it was due to a lack of proficiency with the weapon.

Or whether he had lost his touch over the years.

Crack─!

The old man’s weapon soon broke.

But every time that happened, the old man changed his weapon and fought.

He continued to fight fiercely, seizing the enemy’s weapon.

Hans, the leader of the Stormwind Mercenaries and a Weapon Master [Weapon Master: A title given to someone who has mastered the art of combat with various weapons.], fought against the knights in this manner.

“W-what is it…”

At the sight, Soren slumped to the floor, unbidden.

And he couldn’t understand it at all.

Just, just five old men.

The current situation, where thirty knights were unable to cope with such old men.

“W-what the hell is going on…!”

Soren couldn’t understand it at all.

#

Meanwhile.

Avenne family’s mansion located in Amsberg.

“Hmm…”

Cyan carefully examined the face of the man standing before him.

He had been told that he was an employee working in the dining room of the Avenne family’s mansion…

Cyan scrutinized the man’s features.

And compared them with the sketch in his hand.

A sketch of Soren, drawn based on Amelia’s memory.

Cyan tilted his head, comparing the faces several times.

As a result.

“This person is not him either.”

He confirmed that the face of the man in front of him did not match the face in the sketch.

“Then I…”

The man’s eyes darted around as he looked at Cyan.

Cyan nodded once.

Only then did the man hurriedly leave.

“Can’t you stop now?”

And the voice that followed.

Turning his head, Cyan saw Holland.

To be precise, Holland was grinding his teeth, his hostility palpable.

“The Soren you mentioned is not in this mansion.”

Holland spat the words at Cyan as if they were poison.

“Hmm…”

At Holland’s words, Cyan paused, lost in thought.

Earlier, while he was waiting quietly in the reception room.

Holland had returned shortly after.

And accompanied him, saying that he would allow the search of the mansion.

It was unexpected to allow the search, but…

In fact, it could be said that it was the expected outcome.

‘He must have taken Soren out in advance.’

Because he must have moved Soren beforehand.

If that wasn’t the case, there was no way he would have allowed Cyan to rummage through the mansion like this.

So, to be honest, the search that Cyan was conducting now.

Was a pointless exercise.

Soren must have already left the mansion.

And allowing Cyan to search.

Perhaps this was also a ploy to buy time.

To hold Cyan back and divert attention.

So that Soren could hide in a safe place.

A transparent trick.

But Cyan knowingly played along.

‘By now, Hans must have caught Soren.’

Because Cyan also needed to buy time and attention.

So Cyan checked the people in the mansion.

And now there were only a few people left.

Perhaps Hans had already apprehended Soren.

So he could stop at this point.

“Shouldn’t we check to the end?”

Still, he had to play the part.

“······”

At Cyan’s words, Holland’s expression twisted.

He gnashed his teeth, openly displaying his anger.

Seeing Holland’s reaction, Cyan chuckled.

Cyan shook his head and began to move.

To be precise, he was just about to move.

‘······ Wait a minute.’

Suddenly, a question flashed through Cyan’s mind.

Specifically, Holland’s behavior.

Holland’s face was flushed and contorted.

Holland hadn’t kicked Cyan out, even though he was openly expressing his displeasure.

There were several reasons, but the most compelling was this.

It was to delay Cyan.

He understood that much.

He fully understood why Holland was sticking close to Cyan.

But that wasn’t solely Holland’s responsibility.

To be precise, there had to be others besides Holland.

Two people who were even more anxious than Holland.

At first, he thought they had left to take Soren away.

And he had no intention of stopping them.

That was why he had come here in person in the first place.

But by now, they should have revealed themselves.

By now, they should have taken Soren out and revealed themselves with a sneering smile.

But they were nowhere to be seen.

Quite some time had passed.

“Where are Sister and Brother now?”

Roswell and Nathan were not making an appearance.

#

“N-no way…”

Soren couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The knights were scattered around.

The number exceeded twenty.

Consequently, there weren’t many knights still standing.

At most, fifteen.

He suspected it was even less than that.

The knights, who had initially numbered thirty, were now less than half.

A situation where more than half of the forces had been decimated.

Moreover, their condition was far from good.

Of course, the opposing side hadn’t escaped unscathed.

He couldn’t see clearly in the darkness, but the old men were panting and struggling to breathe.

Also, all of them were bleeding from their wounds.

They must have sustained serious injuries.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so clearly visible even in this dim environment.

A situation where both sides had suffered significant damage.

Even considering that, the situation was unfavorable.

First of all, they were overwhelmingly outmatched in terms of morale.

The fifteen knights were terrified of just five old men.

If it continued like this, if things went on like this.

The outcome was obvious.

So there was only one thing to do.

“Hieeik···!!”

Soren hurriedly turned and fled.

Seeing Soren’s escape, the old men pursued with fierce determination.

Fortunately, the remaining knights blocked their path.

But.

Thwoong─!

He couldn’t ignore the crossbow bolt that whizzed past his ear.

Whoosh!

An arrow streaked through the darkness, aimed at Soren.

His eyes widened in terror.

Right then.

Clang─!

A shower of sparks erupted in front of Soren.

And instead of the sound of the arrow piercing Soren’s flesh, a dull metallic thud echoed.

At the same time, sparks flew.

At the same time, the field of vision brightened momentarily, and Soren saw two figures.

“I followed you just in case…”

“As expected. There’s no way that bastard would do that without any countermeasures.”

Soren slumped to the ground.

And perhaps because of the sudden commotion.

Hans and his colleagues ceased their attacks.

The knights also stopped fighting.

Soon, all eyes turned to the newcomers.

There, two people slowly emerged, dispelling the darkness of the forest.

A man with short blonde hair.

A woman with blonde ponytail hair.

“Y-you guys are…!”

Hans’ eyes widened in disbelief.