Episode 131

I’ve drawn my sword, so if they wish to survive, they must confront me with the intent to kill.

The rumor that Hilde betrayed the baron has severely demoralized them.

I didn’t even promise to spare them if they surrendered, yet those on the castle walls are too frightened to fight, shivering and trembling.

“Deus, Maria, please save us…”

One of them even whispered in a frightened voice that he didn’t want to fight.

“If we fight like this, it’s a dog’s death, damn it…”

It’s astonishing how effective labeling the low-ranking knight, Hilde, as a ‘traitor’ has been.

‘The reward for devising this strategy is more than I could have hoped for.’

Realizing the situation, a high-ranking enemy officer drew his sword and began to rebuke his soldiers.

“If you don’t want to die, arm yourselves and charge all at once! If we lose the walls to that man right now, we’ll all die together!”

He’s not wrong, but if a commander’s soldiers are too frightened to act, shouldn’t he lead by example?

I’ve never seen someone so adept at avoiding responsibility.

‘This mess is exactly because someone like Hilde is absent.’

Nevertheless, as the commander brandished his sword and yelled, those who were shivering and hesitating just moments before began to show resistance.

“Die, you invader!”

The man charging at me from the front still couldn’t overcome his fear, his weapon-holding hand trembling.

‘I refuse to die at their hands.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly, channeled aura throughout my body, and gripped my sword with both hands.

“You’re the one who’s going to die.”

With those words, I swung my sword from the head to the groin of the one charging at me, splitting him in half vertically.

Killing an enemy by targeting vital points or causing excessive bleeding with minor cuts to the skin and muscles is usually sufficient, so a vertical cut like this might seem excessive.

‘But sometimes, being excessive is the most effective approach.’

Seeing one cleanly split in half vertically, another soldier wet himself and screamed wildly.

“Ah, damn! Damn, this isn’t right! Save me!”

Terrified out of his wits, another charged at me, mindlessly swinging his sword in the air.

To the people of this world, it might seem like he suddenly went mad…

‘The horror of war has led to PTSD, losing his mind.’

Understanding why he was acting this way, I quickly freed him from this painful and difficult world by cutting his neck, sending him to heaven.

Now that he’s dead, he won’t have to fear dying in war.

I extended my right hand forward and provocatively snapped my fingers at them.

“Anyone want to try dying here so you don’t have to live in this tough world anymore?”

Despite my provocation, instead of charging, their faces turned pale, with tears and snot running down.

Stupid bastards, even if you’re afraid of dying, you should either bite down hard and charge or look for a chance to run away.

What difference does it make if men act like this, tsk.

“If you won’t come, I’ll go to you.”

I took my sword and cut down those in front of me, to my left, and to my right, one by one.

Then, someone who seemed to be a squad leader shouted loudly.

“Snap out of it, you crazy bastards! Gather 10 people and take him on together!”

The one who shouted swung his sword, cutting one of his subordinates nearby.

“Ah, damn!”

The cut man didn’t die but grimaced in pain and ground his teeth.

“Captain Hatin, have you lost your mind?”

“Who’s gone mad! Next time I’ll really stab and kill you. So, if you want to live, fight that guy!”

The fact that a squad leader has to swing his sword at his own men in battle to get them to fight is astonishing.

Still, this harsh measure proved effective, as several of them formed up and charged at me all at once.

“Damn it all!”

“We just wanted to live in peace!”

“You’re our enemy, sir!”

Watching them charge at me, tears in their eyes and teeth gritted, their faces betraying the fear they felt, really made me feel like I had become the villain.

‘It really makes me feel like I’ve become the bad guy…’

‘In war, there’s no good or evil, just mass murder, killing civilians, and looting.’

I quickly amplified my aura and swung my sword with precision.

On Earth, decapitating someone with a single sword strike might be challenging, but in this world, where aura exists, slicing through multiple necks in one swing is effortlessly achievable.

It’s like cutting through spam with a kitchen knife, or perhaps even easier and quicker than that.

‘I could get addicted to this sensation; sometimes it’s better than sex.’

As I commanded while cutting down those charging towards me.

“Today, let’s plunder the left watchtower and throw open the castle gates! Let’s go!”

Hearing my command, they responded with vigor.

“Yes, Captain of the Hundred!”

“Damn, let’s go in! Without that woman, it’s a piece of cake.”

“Let’s kill every single one of them without leaving anyone behind!”

I continued to cut down the enemy as I made my way towards the left watchtower.

“Today, this castle is mine!”

After mustering all my strength to amplify my aura, I charged with full force towards those in the left watchtower.

“Die!”

Those struck by me were sent flying as if hit by a rampaging bull and collapsed.

“Ah!”

Those behind them collided with the ones I had sent flying and fell to the ground.

‘The defense is slowly breaking.’

In this moment, the enemy commander attempted to confront me, sword in hand and charging.

Unlike mercenaries who crudely learned aura, he appeared to have mastered both aura and swordsmanship, evident in his stable breathing and posture…

‘But this is a battlefield, not a practice yard… he made a mistake by sticking to the book.’

Is it because Hilde is absent, or is this guy just an inexperienced knight…

He doesn’t seem to lack skill, but who in their right mind adheres strictly to the book in a war?

“You’re Martin Meyer! I, the low-ranking knight Hobert Clementine, will kill you and offer your head to Baron Kuster.”

It would have been convincing if he were an expert like Hilde.

Did he really think a novice who can barely enhance his strength with aura could kill me?

Sir Hobert attacked me with his sword, exactly as described in the swordsmanship textbooks.

He seemed to have honed his skills, but it was neither yawningly slow nor clumsy.

‘His father must be wealthy, wielding a mithril sword.’

I deflected his sword with minimal movement and immediately stabbed his neck.

“Who do you think you’re aiming at, rookie?”

Then, I rushed towards the staircase leading to the watchtower.

I stabbed or sliced anyone blocking the staircase and sometimes grabbed enemies by their necks with my bare hands and threw them.

“Have a good trip, buddy.”

The one thrown by me screamed.

“Damn, I’m falling. Save me!”

He fell headfirst to the ground and turned into a lump of flesh.

As I killed one by one and climbed up the watchtower, magicians and archers aimed at me all at once…

“You should’ve grabbed an axe or a mace, idiots.”

I kindly pointed out their mistake and charged at the dumbfounded ones.

They tried to confront me with their staffs and bows…

‘A magician who can’t chant and an archer who faces the enemy up close are the weakest.’

“Die! Martin Meyer!”

“Shouldn’t you draw the arrow first?”

Before they could come to their senses to chant or shoot arrows, I had already cut them all down.

Then, standing on the watchtower, I looked around at the other parts of the walls.

‘With Hilde gone and morale dropping, the higher-ups have all come out.’

The baron’s flag is still planted at the headquarters, so the baron must be holed up in the very inner part of the castle…

But the flags of other mercenary leaders and high-ranking knights are fluttering all over the walls, so my guess must be right.

“I should storm into the headquarters inside the castle right after opening the gates. It’s the perfect time for a break-in.”

“Let’s go open the gates, guys!”

With that declaration, I dashed down the stairs leading to the castle gates.

There were soldiers on the stairs, but fewer than I had anticipated.

‘They must have all rushed to defend the walls.’

Running swiftly, I reached the room with the device to open the gates…

Having come this far, I decided to offer mercy just this once.

“Surrender and open the gates, and I’ll spare you. Then, I’ll simply let you go.”

At my command, they nodded, discarded their weapons, and promptly opened the gates for me.

“With the soldiers guarding the most crucial gate like this, the castle is truly doomed.”