Episode 125

Holding my lance in a poised stance, I scrutinized it for any weaknesses, but none were visible.

This realization set off alarms in my mind, and cold sweat broke out involuntarily.

My heart pounded, and tension gripped my chest.

“A moment’s negligence could mean death.”

Behind me, the voices of my subordinates urging me on could be heard.

“Damn, when are we going to climb the watchtower?”

“If we keep this up, we’ll end up dead on the walls…”

“Ah, the captain of the hundred!”

The delay in subduing Hilde put the lives of the men behind me at risk.

“How did I lead this unit all the way here?”

I had to subdue Hilde as quickly as possible, by any means necessary.

Once again, I felt the weight of hundreds of lives, perhaps including others beyond my unit, resting on my shoulders.

Hilde stepped forward and thrust her lance directly at my chest.

“Die!”

As I swung my sword to the right to deflect her thrust aimed at the center of my breastplate,

Her stance changed abruptly.

Instead of aiming down, her lance shifted to target my neck from above.

And then, her lance tip sped towards my neck like a bullet.

“Changing the trajectory of her attack so quickly, what is this? It’s unfair.”

I hurriedly adjusted my sword’s path to block her strike.

Upon blocking, Hilde seemed pleased and commented,

“Not bad.”

Then she attacked again, faster this time, like a storm, repeatedly thrusting at me rapidly.

The target of her lance tip varied with each thrust: the breastplate, under the armpit, the neck, gaps in the helmet, the side of the thigh, etc.

Places like under the armpit, helmet gaps, and the side of the thigh are difficult to target with a lance, and attackers usually expose a “gap” when aiming for these areas…

But no such gap was evident in Hilde’s attacks.

“Such solid fundamentals, she could have topped the national exams if she studied.”

I, too, tried to catch or dodge her attacks, looking for an opportunity to counter…

But Hilde, seemingly reading my intentions, provocatively said,

“This can’t be all you’ve got?”

Then, increasing her intensity, she attacked even faster.

Maintaining extreme tension, dodging the lance tip’s target, and occasionally deflecting it with my sword, I gradually felt my strength draining.

Against other swordsmen, I could find an opening by absorbing the weight and speed of their swinging swords.

“Three times faster than swordsmen of similar skill, great.”

Not that it was impossible, but I still couldn’t find a way to exploit Hilde’s weakness, which was frustrating.

“Would you just die!”

Though I had no real intention of killing, such harsh words escaped my lips.

“You’re the one who should die!”

As Hilde continued to thrust her lance at me, she changed her stance and took a half step closer.

Her attacking style shifted slightly.

Previously, it felt as if she was only attacking with the blade of her lance, but now she used the entire lance as her weapon, pressing me aggressively.

“Die, Martin!”

This time, Hilde’s thrust came under my armpit.

As I attempted to dodge and counter, she forcefully stamped her right foot on the ground.

Then, she slightly withdrew her lance shaft to the right and struck my right armpit with great force.

The impact and pain that spread through my body felt like a heavyweight wrestler had struck my armpit with all his might using a wooden stick.

I was about to scream involuntarily, but crying out here would mean admitting that the flow of the battle had shifted to my opponent.

So, I bit down hard and stifled the sound.

“Ugh.”

Hilde, thinking her strike was effective, increased the speed of her attacks.

“How about this?”

A relentless sequence of attacks with her lance—thrusting, and if that missed, striking with the shaft or changing the trajectory to target another vital point.

Despite how long we had fought, she showed no signs of vulnerability.

Feeling suffocated again, I murmured a resolution to focus my mind, gripping my mental faculties tightly and observing her lance blade and shaft closely, hoping to find an opening.

And then, I sighed in disbelief.

“I didn’t see that coming.”

The solution I found was disheartening.

After all, no matter how skilled Hilde was with her lance, it was still just a lance.

So, like handling a regular long spear, grabbing the shaft would suffice.

“Damn, it feels so futile now that I know.”

Ah, of course, catching a lance shaft thrashing around at hundreds of kilometers per hour isn’t easy.

But it’s a world of difference from having no solution at all.

“I’ve finally found it.”

Muttering to myself, I continued to withstand her attacks while waiting.

Unlike when I was merely blocking without any plan, finding a breakthrough felt like figuring out how to beat a boss in a game, which was quite enjoyable.

If it weren’t for the situation, I might even hum a tune.

Hilde then sheathed her lance and stepped back, asking,

“Do you enjoy the battle?”

Just like how group projects are fun right before finishing, and since I’m about to win this duel with you…

Of course, it’s enjoyable.

“Immensely, my knight.”

“To respect my status as a knight at such a time, I just don’t understand…”

Right after her words, Hilde thrust her lance at my neck without hesitation.

Watching the trajectory of the coming lance, I extended my left hand, concentrated with aura, to graze the shaft, and then I was able to grab it as tightly as possible.

Hilde struggled to pull it back, but as a man trained primarily in strength, I held onto the shaft and wouldn’t let go, preventing her from retrieving it.

“Damn it…”

I pulled my left arm back sharply and stepped forward, throwing myself into her embrace.

‘Normally, whether it’s lance knights or spearmen, they wouldn’t let go of their lance…’

If things go as planned, I should be able to break into her embrace…

“This is the end!”

However, as soon as Hilde realized she couldn’t pull the lance back with her strength, she clicked her tongue and said,

“Tch, in that case.”

Uncharacteristically for a lance knight, she simply let go of the lance.

As a result, my left hand danced in the air, still holding onto the shaft.

“This cunning…”

Hilde switched to a less expensive-looking two-handed sword.

“Just because I don’t have a lance doesn’t mean I become weaker!”

No, even if that’s the case, if her primary weapon is a lance, she couldn’t possibly be as proficient with a two-handed sword.

Without her lance, she’s effectively weaker, isn’t she?

Yet, for someone who primarily uses a lance to remain so confident without it…

‘It’s attractive, almost to the point of wanting to possess it.’

Observing Hilde with her sword, I pondered where to strike, how to capture her…

Even though she has switched to a sword, her approach and focus seem similar to when she wielded a lance, suggesting she might attack as if she were still using one.

Just like before, I can deflect her attacks with my gauntlet or armor and overpower her.

I have devised a strategy to ensure my victory in this duel.

However, at that moment, the sound of majestic drums and low horns came from outside the castle.

“Damn, why retreat now of all times!”

Capturing Hilde, who guards the watchtower, and pushing forward a bit more would secure our victory.

But no, a field battle introduces too many variables, and even if the situation looks favorable for us now, our soldiers are likely exhausted.

Even I am drenched in sweat and finding it hard to breathe.

“Damn it.”

While I muttered in frustration, the defenders of the castle erupted in cheers.

“We survived, damn it! We survived!”

Some on the watchtower banged their swords against their shields, making a loud noise.

“We’re alive, we made it through today!”

With the retreat order given, there’s nothing to be done for today…

“Guys, damn it, let’s head back. It’s an order to retreat! Those at the back, start descending the ladders in order.”

After giving the command, I picked up a lance that had fallen to the ground and handed it back to Hilde.

“Your lance skills were truly impressive. Let’s settle this next time, my knight.”

“Your swordsmanship was commendable. Yes, let’s decide the outcome another day.”

After handing over the lance, I immediately withdrew.

Thus, our unit, including the entire force under the command of Count Canosa, safely retreated from the castle.

“Ah, damn… we almost had them.”

As I grumbled, Otto chuckled.

“Did you let a high-ranking knight slip away? Those types command a hefty ransom.”

“Not a high-ranking knight but a low-ranking female lance knight.”

“…Seriously, why did you let her go?”

I sighed and replied.

“Her skills were at the expert level. I should have captured her. Capturing her could have ended this siege much sooner.”

Otto laughed off my words.

“Even if she’s an expert, she’s still a low-ranking knight. What’s there to worry about…”

We engaged in some idle talk before returning to the camp.

Over the following week, we had to continue the siege, and as I had predicted, that woman, merely a low-ranking knight…

Became a symbol of morale for the soldiers within the castle and a stalwart shield in its defense, rising to become a central figure in protecting the castle.

While this might be fortunate for Baron Kurst and the others, it’s unfortunate for us…

How are we going to deal with this?