LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 26 - Salvation (1)
14. Salvation (1)
As night descended, Yuri returned to the Briol camp outside the castle walls.
Raymond was seated by the fire, absently stirring the kindling.
He remarked.
“You’re back early.”
“I’ve seen enough.”
Yuri replied.
“You’ve reaped your fill, I suppose.”
“Rumors have spread already?”
“Hahahahaha…”
Yuri sat across from him.
Each flicker of the flames highlighted Raymond’s deep, age-lined face.
In all his lives combined, Raymond had always been older than Yuri. It meant he had more experience.
Yuri picked up some dry twigs that had fallen to the ground and tossed them into the fire.
Raymond spoke.
“They say you met Fenec.”
“Fenec?”
“A holy knight from the Holy Kingdom.”
“That’s his name? I didn’t know that.”
“He’s a skilled knight.”
“He didn’t look like one to me.”
“Character and ability don’t always correlate. He’s arrogant, but he has skills. The problem is that it’s limited to his swordsmanship.”
“Whether it’s swordsmanship or anything else, Laurent is better.”
Raymond laughed out loud.
“Well, Briol knights are exceptions, if you’re speaking in general terms.”
There was pride in his statement.
Yuri also chuckled.
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to rest in Gid?”
“It’s fine.”
Yuri glanced back. An improvised tent served as a temporary camp.
“That’s enough for me.”
“You’re quite humble.”
“In a battlefield, it’s luxury.”
As a mercenary, sleeping on the bare ground was routine. A rock for a pillow and the sky for a ceiling, with a comrade’s moans as a lullaby.
“That’s true. This is the battlefield.”
Raymond caressed the sword lying beside him.
“A war is coming. Aren’t you afraid, Your Highness?”
“I am!”
Yuri confessed honestly.
No human feels nothing when facing a weapon filled with killing intent. It was the same in the past life and now.
“There’s just a reason bigger than that fear.”
Raymond widened his eyes and then nodded.
“A wonderful answer, Your Highness. You always surprise me.”
“Don’t say that already. There are many more surprises to come.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Raymond smiled, causing wrinkles to form around his eyes.
Yuri sensed that Raymond had significantly lowered his guard around him.
Did he have children?
“The moon is lovely. You’re not yet of age, but would you care for a drink?”
“Is there any?”
“I brought a few bottles just in case.”
“You’re well-prepared.”
“It’s well-aged wine.”
“That’s my favorite.”
“I’ll fetch it.”
Just as Raymond was about to rise from his seat, the gates of Gid opened, and someone on horseback galloped toward the camp.
This chapter is translated by f.enrirxlations/jjoestar
Raising dust, the rider dismounted urgently in front of the two.
“Your Highness. Forgive my rudeness.”
He was a messenger sent by the lord.
“It’s all right. What’s the news?”
“The Lord has sent word. The main troops of the Holy Kingdom have been attacked by orcs.”
Yuri clicked his tongue.
It was the very situation he had been concerned about. One must never let their guard down beyond the border.
Raymond, standing nearby, asked.
“But instead of the Holy Kingdom, you came?”
“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
“Did the lord of Gid send you separately?”
“Yes.”
He understood the situation.
Raymond gave a wry smile.
“Prideful, aren’t they?”
“They seem that way.”
The Holy Kingdom sought to handle it themselves, and the lord worried, sent a messenger.
There was no need for the lord to intervene. The Holy Kingdom might raise objections in the future.
This chapter is translated by f.enrirxlations/jjoestar
Nevertheless, he informed Briol of the situation.
Yuri found the lord of Gid to his liking.
“Convey my thanks to the lord.”
“Yes!”
“Sir Raymond.”
“Yes, Your Highness”
“Before we have that drink, shall we take a little stroll?”
Raymond grinned like a young boy.
“Great.”
“They might treat us as unwelcome guests, though.”
“I’m used to that kind of thing. I was an unwelcome guest on the estate, too.”
“Quit after the Allied forces are done.”
“Hahaha…”
Yuri asked the messenger.
“What’s your name?”
“Roy.”
“Roy. Can I ask you a favor?”
“Yes!”
“Go back to Gid and find the knights of Briol. They’re probably in a tavern. Tell them my words. First come, first served; whoever can come, hurry up.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t stand on ceremony; go immediately.”
“Yes!”
Roy mounted his horse again and spurred it on.
The messenger disappeared in a cloud of dust, heading back toward Gid.
* * *
Upon hearing the news that the main troops had been attacked, Sibylla hurriedly donned her armor.
Fenec and the Holy Knights, who had been drinking, hastily returned.
Fenec pressed the messenger for information.
“What’s the situation?”
“I’m not sure. We were still fighting when I escaped.”
The messenger’s clothes were stained with blood.
He explained that he had barely shaken off the pursuing orcs.
“How many?”
“Not too many, but every one of them was like a beast—.”
“Of course.”
Common soldiers also learned the Mana Method, but their level was lacking. In contrast, orcs were born with brute strength.
Unless one reached the level of a knight, they couldn’t face an orc one-on-one.
Sibylla spoke, “Let’s leave before the damage increases.”
“Understood.”
Fenec nodded.
They couldn’t afford to retreat before joining the Allied forces. The honor of the Holy Kingdom was at stake.
Hurriedly, they finished their preparations and mounted their horses.
Hearing the news, the lord rushed in.
“Princess, you’re going immediately?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to request support from the Briol troops…?”
Fenec, standing behind, objected.
“What do you mean by that? Affairs of the Holy Kingdom should be handled by the Holy Kingdom itself. Do you think we will lose to the orcs?”
“That’s not what I meant; I’m suggesting we minimize the damage.”
“We’d be better off going alone than forming a half-hearted alliance. If the levels don’t match, they’ll just be in the way.”
“Huh…”
Because of the incident earlier in the day, Fenec held ill feelings towards Briol.
He had confidence in his abilities. He believed this could be resolved under their power.
Sibylla also agreed with Fenec’s opinion.
“Lord, don’t worry. It will end without any trouble.”
“I hope so, but still…”
Worry lingered on the lord’s face.
Sibylla intentionally chose to ignore him. She didn’t want to seem reliant or apologetic to a foreign land before joining the Allied forces.
She steeled her resolve and mounted her horse.
“We are the Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom.”
She clutched the holy relic hanging from her neck and invoked her power.
“Oh Lord, your servant is about to run. Please grant us your support.”
A white glow emanated from Sibylla’s body.
The light enveloped her, her horse, and spread outward, enhancing their speed and stamina.
Grasping the reins, she shouted fiercely.
“Move out!”
Following Sibylla’s lead, the Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom galloped towards the gate.
Startled residents scattered, but they paid no mind as they increased their speed.
They exited Gid.
Suddenly, she caught sight of Briol’s camp set up outside the walls.
The face of Yuri Briol, who expressed concern over the surprise attack, flashed in her mind.
His judgment had been correct.
Sibylla murmured to herself.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t have come first.”
Originally, the whole troops were expected to reach Gid by the next morning.
However, Fenec had suggested going ahead to meet the lord, and she had agreed since there was no reason to refuse.
She hadn’t anticipated problems arising overnight.
The rash decision was regrettable.
Yet there was no time to dwell on past mistakes. She had to focus on the impending battle.
Sibylla evaluated the likely course of the upcoming conflict.
“Fenec.”
“Yes.”
“According to the messenger, one leader is directing all the orcs. The moment we enter the battlefield, target that one.”
“Understood.”
Fenec nodded.
“Shall we attack simultaneously?”
“Yes.”
Even though he preferred not to follow her lead, he wasn’t so foolish as to incite unnecessary discord in this situation.
He shouted to the knights following him.
“As soon as we encounter them, charge directly. Do not hesitate. You will break through the wall, then the Princess and I will follow to strike down the enemy leader.”
“Yes!”
While running, they altered their formation.
This chapter is translated by f.enrirxlations/jjoestar
The Holy Knights took the lead in preparing for the assault, with Sibylla and Fenec bringing up the rear.
The main troops of the Holy Kingdom were not far away.
“There,” said the leading knight.
“We can see them.”
In the distance, the flag of the Holy Kingdom waved on the horizon.
Sibylla felt relieved.
The flag hadn’t fallen, which meant they hadn’t been annihilated yet.
“What about the orcs?”
The leading knight looked ahead through a telescope.
“They’re in battle!”
“And the troops?”
“They’re maintaining formation and putting up a fight.”
The battlefield soon came into view.
A fierce battle raged.
Whenever the orcs swung their massive weapons, soldiers got pushed back.
A few remaining knights fought valiantly, but the orcs paired up, mobbing and immobilizing them.
Human and orc bodies lay scattered.
Sibylla gritted her teeth.
She had never fought orcs before; this was her first time seeing them. There was no time to analyze them now.
She immediately tightened her focus.
White mana surged from her body.
Her horse too became part of a single entity enshrouded in light.
It was the Standard Cavalry Charge of the Holy Kingdom.
Horse and rider became one in their charge.
“Accelerate!”
The appearance of the Holy Knights brought hope to the soldiers of the Holy Kingdom.
“Reinforcements are here!”
“The knights have returned!”
But their joy was brief.
While charging the orcs, Sibylla felt the ground shift beneath her.
“Ah…?”
The earth’s resistance vanished.
Realizing something was wrong came too late.
Ahead, the knights were tumbling in sequence.
It was a trap.
They were promptly swallowed by a pit.
Horses and riders, armor and armor tumbled together.
Sibylla’s head struck another knight’s armor.
Her vision blurred, ears buzzing, as her consciousness slipped.
“It can’t be…”
She fought to steady herself.
“All of you, stay alert!”
Even her own voice sounded distant.
Using her sword as leverage, she pushed herself up.
“It’s a trap!”
The orcs had dug wide pits.
But from above, it hadn’t looked like a trap at all. There was no doubt trickery was involved.
“Orc Shamans…”
She whispered the name.
They reportedly had mage-like figures among the orcs, capable of inciting frenzy and deception.
Too easily fooled.
She kicked at a knight squirming by her feet.
“Get up, now!”
Following Sibylla, Fenec also rose. He rallied those around him.
The knights began regaining their senses. Most of the horses had broken legs.
“Get out of here immediately!”
The pit was deep but not insurmountably so.
Suddenly, Sibylla detected an unusual scent.
The ground felt slick and wet.
“Oil.”
She looked up.
Above the pit, an orc stood holding a torch.
A grotesque face twisted in a mocking grin.
Something was wrong.
Watching the torch fall, Sibylla’s heart plummeted.
Thoughts raced.
Should she cut it?
That would ignite sparks.
Should she grab it?
It was out of reach.
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined orcs laying such elaborate traps.
A single moment of neglect.
That price was death.
She closed her eyes tight.
A childhood memory flashed.
The day she first manifested her divine power, everyone praised her. The moment she bested her brother in swordplay, the praise turned to animosity.
After her mother’s death, she had always been alone in the palace.
The so-called representatives of God in the Holy Kingdom bore no resemblance to the deities they preached.
So, is there really such a place as paradise?
Would her soul become ash with her body, buried under the falling torch?
I want to live.
That solitary thought lingered.
An eternity seemed to pass in an instant.
“Sibylla.”
At the end of it, there was a voice.
“Open your eyes.”
Sibylla cracked her eyelids open.
“Ah…”
It seemed like magic.
In the blink of an eye, everything had changed.
Instead of a falling torch, headless orcs tumbled into the pit.
Instead of derisive orcs, a boy holding a torch peered down at them.
The orc’s torso eventually crashed to the ground. Blood poured from the severed neck, spreading over the oil.
No one could find their voice.
The Third Prince of Briol.
Yuri Briol looked down on them and smiled.
“What faces you’re making.”