Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 148

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A 7-star knight is considered a force equivalent to a division.

Can one person really take on thousands of soldiers alone? To those who haven’t awakened their magic, it seems impossible.

But conversely, it also means that a force the size of a division can take down a 7-star knight.

Even a 7-star knight has weaknesses. Limited by their physical bodies, they too get exhausted.

In fact, there have been many instances where high-ranking knights or mages from enemy nations were captured through attrition [gradual weakening of an opponent].

······.

Suddenly, a painful memory surfaced.

In the ‘future,’ I also died that way, overwhelmed by the endless waves of the Hamel Empire.

I shook my head, banishing the memory.

Attrition warfare isn’t an option for the Lionel Kingdom, which suffers from a chronic manpower shortage. Nor do I want to use it.

It’s a method only possible when soldiers are seen as expendable, not as individuals.

So, the conclusion.

I’m the only one who can face one of the 7-star knights from the Jeokheung Province and Eunhwa Province alliance.

“His Majesty will take on one of them.”

The people gathered in the barracks nodded.

Most of them had witnessed me, back when I was a 5-star magic swordsman, breaking Charles’s mental domain during the Crown Prince’s inauguration ceremony in real-time.

The established battle doctrine stated that it was nearly impossible to defeat a stronger opponent one or two levels above you in a 1:1 fight, but I had broken that rule several times, so they all considered me an exception.

“Are you sure you’re alright, Your Majesty?”

Bert asked cautiously, still worried.

I nodded slightly.

“I have to step up myself to reduce the sacrifices of the soldiers. And isn’t this why I’m wearing this?”

I tapped the armor I was wearing.

The mithril armor obtained from the Danar ruins.

Its magic resistance was far better than expected. It easily withstood magic and even decent aura attacks. Even if another 6-star knight wore this and fought, they could buy a considerable amount of time.

Among those who know that I excavated the ruins, many believe that this armor is the artifact that came from there.

“Ahem.”

Julian’s clearing of his throat redirected the attention that had been focused on me back to him.

“In fact, the staff, including myself, wanted to avoid a situation where His Majesty would have to step forward as much as possible.”

“Hmm······.”

The knights blushed as if they were ashamed.

It was understandable.

I was the commander-in-chief.

Not just a military commander-in-chief, but the king of the Lionel Kingdom. It wasn’t hard to imagine the repercussions if I died on the battlefield.

“So, the staff put their heads together to minimize the moments when His Majesty is exposed to the enemy on the battlefield.”

Some of the knights’ eyes widened at Julian’s words.

“A knight duel, then.”

Galard, the commander of the Azure Lion Knights, guessed the answer.

“That’s right. The only moment His Majesty will appear on the battlefield is when he engages in a 1:1 knight duel with the opponent.”

***

Ironforge.

The area with the most Graysteel deposits in the northwestern part of the Lionel Kingdom, which the Hamel Empire had occupied.

It was an important place, but not a strategic stronghold.

You can tell just by looking at how well-developed the roads surrounding Ironforge are. This is in contrast to Bellington Fortress, where the enemy can only reach the fortress after passing through a narrow valley.

It wasn’t always a barren plain.

Originally, it was a mountainous area with dense forests, but the Hamel Empire cleared it all out in the process of developing the Ironforge mine.

The only advantage for the defending side was being able to occupy the high ground on the hill.

There was a man with sharp eyes looking down at the Hamel Empire army from the hill occupied by the Lionel Kingdom army.

Corporal, Jubar Hines.

He was the one who had been rescued from Radwan Runtia’s laboratory by the Tricolor Staff and had wandered around looking for a place to die.

-I! Evan Lionel! Will definitely create a kingdom where our children, and their children, can dream of the future.

Jubar, who had also participated in the Southern Rebellion, felt his soul tremble at Evan’s cry at the time.

Although his own child had already passed away, he wanted other children to live in the world that Evan had spoken of.

So he became a Lionel Guardian, and two years later, he rose to the position of squad leader of an archer squad of 10 men.

If he survived until the end of the war, there would be no problem with him being promoted to sergeant.

“D-do you think we can win? I heard rumors that there are four 7-star knights among those bastards.”

“You fool! Haven’t you heard the story of how His Majesty the King broke the Imperial Prince’s mental domain at the Crown Prince’s inauguration ceremony!”

“I-is that true?”

“Of course it is!”

The sound of a private first class scolding a private could be heard.

Jubar glanced at them.

The private first class also couldn’t hide all the fear on his face. He didn’t seem to completely believe the rumors either.

‘Is it natural?’

There were many witnesses, but they were all people who lived in the royal capital, Barona. The private and private first class were from rural areas far from the capital.

It was understandable that they were skeptical.

“It’s true. So you don’t have to worry. It’s already been two years. His Majesty the King must have achieved even more remarkable things in the meantime that ordinary people can’t even imagine.”

Two subordinates simultaneously widened their eyes at the long sentences uttered by the taciturn Corporal Jubar after a long time.

“Corporal Jubar. Have you perhaps seen it yourself?”

Jubar nodded slightly.

The private first class, whose face brightened, turned to the private.

“Did you hear what Corporal Jubar said? So don’t worry and just follow Corporal Jubar closely. There’s a rumor that he’s a man even the Grim Reaper avoids······.”

Boo-ooo-ooo─

The horn sounded throughout the entire military camp, interrupting the private first class’s words.

A signal that a battle was about to begin.

Jubar gripped the bow in his hand.

At that moment!

“Oh! Over there!”

“I-it’s His Majesty! His Majesty the King!”

He doubted his eyes.

Because Evan on a white horse was heading towards the enemy alone.

“A knight duel! It’s a knight duel! His Majesty is going to participate in a knight duel!”

***

Knight duel.

You can think of it as a one-on-one fight.

Even in my past life, a general with proper equipment overwhelmed ordinary soldiers. I know that trying to determine victory or defeat through their confrontation wasn’t just a story in fiction.

That was the case in my past life, where there were no magic awakeners, so how much more so in this life?

In the Lionel Kingdom alone, when there is conflict between local lords, there are surprisingly few cases where the entire force clashes with each other.

Victory or defeat is obvious with just a duel between knights.

Even the village idiot can guess which side will win if a centurion led by a 3-star knight faces off against a regular centurion.

If the side whose knight is annihilated first is bound to lose anyway, then trying to determine the victory or defeat of the war through a knight duel is by no means an irrational thing to do.

Of course, when it goes beyond the unit of territory and becomes a conflict between nations, the victory or defeat of the war is not determined solely by knight duels.

In addition, it is customary for the commander-in-chief to be the highest in rank, so they send out lower-ranking knights to boost morale.

The command of the Hamel Empire army, which was an alliance between Jeokheung Province and Eunhwa Province, must have been thinking the same thing.

But.

I came out alone.

I could feel the Hamel Empire army’s formation wavering. I shouted loudly at them.

“I am! Evan Lionel, the King of the Lionel Kingdom! If there is any knight who has the courage to face my sword, come forward!”

***

Jeokheung Province and Eunhwa Province.

The reason why the two provinces of the Hamel Empire were able to dramatically form an alliance and advance to Ironforge was because the lords of the two provinces realized early on that the prince they were supporting was not fit to be emperor.

Jeokheung Province and Eunhwa Province, which had withdrawn from the succession battle early and declared neutrality for the time being. As is the case with most neighboring provinces, the two were like sworn enemies.

But.

They agreed that they could not lose Ironforge to the Lionel Kingdom, and a coalition force was formed with more than half of each province’s forces mobilized to retake Ironforge.

The command of such a coalition army was in a very chaotic state due to the challenge Evan had issued: the knight duel.

A knight wearing red armor and carrying a red greatsword on his back glared at the people gathered in the barracks with fierce eyes.

“I’ll go.”

It was Levens, the son of the Lord of Jeokheung Province, a 7-star knight.

A man with a slender figure and long, monkey-like arms scoffed at his words.

“Nonsense. I’ll go.”

Erhnan, the son-in-law of the Lord of Eunhwa Province.

Like Levens, he was a 7-star knight.

The two glared at each other, engaging in a battle of wills.

“Huh······ This is something.”

“To think that Evan Lionel would directly participate in a knight duel.”

“What confidence does he have?”

“Is there something he’s hiding?”

Two knights were leisurely talking even in the tense atmosphere. They were the commanders of the Jeokheung Province and Eunhwa Province knights, assisting Levens and Erhnan.

The two were also like enemies, but they had many opportunities to meet, so they were able to have normal conversations.

The two knight commanders, who were whispering to each other, came to the same conclusion.

There was no reason to avoid the knight duel.

The ridiculous rumor that he had broken the mental domain that the 19th Prince had deployed during his time as a 5-star magic swordsman was not even worth considering.

Even if it were true, it must have been due to the use of Lionel Kingdom artifacts.

They had risen to the position of transcendents, 7-star knights. Someone who hadn’t even possessed six stars breaking the mental domain of an 8-star knight on their own? They knew all too well how absurd that was.

He must have a hidden card.

But whatever it was, it wouldn’t be enough to harm a 7-star knight. At best, it would be enough to hold out and run away.

The risk is low, but what about the reward?

If they took Evan Lionel’s life, the war would end neatly at that moment. They might be able to seize the momentum and swallow the Lionel Kingdom.

That was their judgment.

However, there was one old knight who had a different thought than the knight commanders.

One of the few 5-star knights in the barracks.

‘I have a bad feeling.’

The old knight, who had been with Erhnan even before he caught the eye of the Lord of Eunhwa Province, had a good sense. He knew when to step up and when not to step up.

He was personally showing that being old meant surviving.

After much deliberation, he whispered softly in Erhnan’s ear, who was confronting Levens.

Just one word was enough.

“Lord Erhnan, I have a bad feeling.”

Erhnan glanced at the old knight and frowned.

He had decided to participate in the knight duel with Evan no matter what.

If he didn’t perform well on the battlefield, the Lord of Eunhwa Province would be displeased, needless to say. Moreover, unlike Levens, who was a direct descendant of the lord, he was just a son-in-law.

‘What should I do?’

Erhnan’s worries deepened.

***

It felt like I had been standing between the Kingdom army and the Empire army for two hours.

Just when I was starting to think that the Empire army was going to refuse the knight duel, I saw a man wearing red armor with a greatsword on his back.

‘Is that Levens?’

I raised the corners of my lips slightly.

He rode his black horse to close range and then turned his horse back towards the Empire army. I also sent the white horse I was riding back to the Kingdom army.

Showing that I would not return without victory.

The knight duel is a life-or-death battle between two knights who have dismounted from their horses. That was why the knight duel wasn’t called a one-on-one fight in this life.

Well, if you ask if a knight can run away faster than a horse if he runs away, I have nothing to say.

“Was that armor the source of your confidence in applying for a knight duel against a 7-star knight without knowing your place? Your build is similar to mine, and it would be perfect for me to dye it with your blood and wear it.”

Levens recognized my armor, so he must have eyes.

I responded with a smirk instead.

A guy who had ended his life in my hands in my past life as well. It was only polite to ask with my sword whether he could escape fate this time.