Episode 132

As the castle gate opened, a tremendous cheer from our allies erupted from the outside.

“The gates are open! Let’s finish off these bastards today!”

“Forward, to victory! These bastards are as good as dead today!”

“Let’s not leave a single one of them alive!”

Simultaneously, the sound of rapid drumming and the resounding blast of trumpets from outside the gates suggested…

It seems Lord Canossa has ordered a full attack, sparing no effort.

“Time your strokes well with the incoming tide.”

Catching my breath, I noticed Otto, drenched in sweat and gasping for air, approaching me.

“Commander of the White Unit, we’ve done enough, haven’t we? How about we leave the rest to those coming up behind and go rest? After all, weren’t we the ones who played the most significant role in this siege?”

There are three major achievements a soldier can claim during a siege.

First, climbing the walls to provide a bridgehead for other soldiers to assault the castle.

Next, scaling the walls to open the gates.

And lastly, capturing the highest-ranking person in the castle.

Among these, ‘opening the gates’ is considered the highest achievement, and there’s a rational reason for this.

Climbing the walls first becomes an achievement that different soldiers can claim as the siege drags on, and naturally, the commander of the defenders can be captured once the castle falls.

But opening the gates means that from that moment, a path to conquering the castle with minimal ally casualties is created.

“So it’s reasonable to suggest taking a rest now.”

Then, I shrugged my shoulders and said.

“Tell those who are badly injured or tired to step back, and our White Unit will go for the commander’s head. Not that I’ll complain if you don’t follow…”

After removing my helmet, I smirked at one corner of my mouth.

“Just a bit more of this hellish effort, and the first digit of our reward might change. Especially you, Squad Leader Jackson, you were talking about retiring soon. Wouldn’t it be comfortable to save up a bit more money, to live in the countryside with a 20-year-old beauty?”

At my words, Jackson scratched the back of his head with an awkward expression.

“Ah, damn it. I’ll go all the way, as the Commander says. Senior Otto, you’re in this till the end too, right?”

As Otto nodded in agreement, those who were in good condition expressed their willingness to follow.

“Now that it’s come to this, I’ll aim for a baron’s title and get promoted!”

Baker, who has been with me since I became the leader of the ten-man squad, pounded his armor and declared confidently.

“This time, I’ll catch a knight and treat our Commander of the White Unit to a grand drink with that money.”

I shrugged my shoulders and teased him.

“Do you think you can handle it alone? I, the Commander of the White Unit, don’t consume anything cheap.”

“This time, I did quite well myself. I’ll perform even better in the future.”

“Alright, Baker, I’ll keep an eye on how well you do. If it’s below the standard, you’re going on a solo raid tomorrow.”

“Isn’t that too harsh?”

“You should keep your bragging in check. It hasn’t been long since you were promoted to senior mercenary, and you’re already eyeing the position of ten-man squad leader?”

As I said this sarcastically, the men of the White Unit burst into laughter.

“I knew that guy would end up like this the moment he got too greedy for promotion.”

“We’ll survive today’s victory, but that guy will die on a raid tomorrow.”

“Senior Baker, when you pass away, we’ll make sure to dig a deep grave for you!”

After letting them laugh for a while, I quickly gathered the men ready to fight and prepared to rush into the interior of the castle.

“Once we’re inside, don’t pay attention to anything else and rush into the biggest building. That’s where our esteemed Baron Castor’s command post will be.”

Then, without any delay, I led the soldiers toward the command post located in the center of the castle.

Despite being near the place where the commander of Villa Hora Castle, the baron, was likely to be, there were hardly any soldiers to block us.

It was baffling, but upon reflection…

It was because the soldiers and commanders inside the castle were too pressed to come out and stop us from entering.

Looking around, soldiers under Lord Canossa were flooding in and fighting on the castle walls.

“Kill the pathetic lackeys of Baron Castor!”

The mercenaries, knights, regular soldiers, and serfs under Baron Castor were overwhelmed, just trying to fend off the enemies advancing before their eyes.

“Reinforcements! Send reinforcements!”

Even with the gates breached, their calls for reinforcements revealed the desperation of their situation.

Moreover, as seen from the watchtower, they had placed all their elite forces, who could be considered the castle’s last stand, on the walls in an attempt to protect the castle at all costs…

“We need to end this before they regain their senses.”

“Run as if your feet are on fire!”

With that shout, I increased my pace even further.

As we neared the command post, a knight and a few soldiers aimed their weapons at us.

“Kill those despicable and lowly bastards!”

The knight, having spotted me, recklessly charged at me.

It seemed he thought killing me, the commander of the White Unit, could turn the tide of the war.

“The idea is good, and the courage commendable, but…”

“Move, you bastard!”

I deliberately knocked his sword into the air, sending it flying high.

The sight of the knight’s sword soaring through the air left his soldiers with stunned expressions.

“Their morale will only drop further seeing their commander being toyed with when they’re already losing.”

The knight attempted to draw another weapon to resist, but…

“Time to die.”

My sword swiftly sliced through his neck.

“We’re in a hurry, so if you drop your weapons and surrender, you’ll live! Otherwise, you’re dead. If you want to return to your families, make your choice wisely.”

As I feigned swinging my sword through the air, they dropped their weapons to the ground.

“Will you really spare us?”

“We don’t have time to engage with you. Either disappear somewhere or surrender to Lord Canossa with your hands up.”

Hearing this, the soldiers we were fighting quickly fled.

“Don’t bother chasing them. We don’t have the time.”

“Yes, Commander of the White Unit.”

After they vanished, I surveyed the area and noticed a massive stone building.

Without a word, it was evident that this building was the “command post.”

“If anyone has a hammer or something similar to smash with, bring it here.”

At that, Otto approached with a two-handed war hammer and a smirk.

“Here you are, Commander.”

Though it’s a weapon, and using it to break down the door of the command post might render it unusable afterward…

“A hammer is a hammer; it should suffice to break down that door.”

“I’ll smash the door, so you all stay back and guard. Open for allies, block for enemies.”

After issuing the final order, I quickly circulated the aura throughout my body.

Then, I struck the door forcefully with all my might.

With a loud bang, the giant wooden door cracked.

“Continuing like this, breaking it is only a matter of time. But, be prepared.”

The absence of screams of horror from inside suggested that something was likely waiting for us.

After several forceful strikes with the hammer, I managed to demolish the door.

“Good. Now, charge in!”

Discarding the now useless hammer, I grabbed my two-handed sword and rammed my shoulder against the door.

As the door burst open with the sound of shattering wood, just as I suspected, mages and archers were lying in ambush inside.

The mages seemed almost done with their incantations, indicating that a spell could be launched at me any moment.

“This is dangerous.”

The loaded bows could release arrows at me at any time.

“Everyone, get down!”

While instructing my men to duck, I extracted aura from my body as if wringing it out and launched myself towards the side with the enemies.

“Arrows might miss, but a direct hit from a magic spell could be fatal.”

“Fire Spear!”

As those words were uttered, numerous spells flew towards me, but…

“Damn, barely survived.”

I moved a step quicker into a position where the enemies’ magic couldn’t reach me, directly into the midst of the enemy.

“Did you just age ten years, kid?”

I then mercilessly slaughtered the mages and archers before me.

Having almost no experience in close combat, their equipment might have been that of regular soldiers, but their combat skills were no different from those of serfs.

And Otto, not wanting to miss this opportunity…

“Charge following the Commander of the White Unit!”

After briefly glancing back to ensure that Otto was effectively leading the White Unit members…

‘Is that the baron over there?’

As soon as I spotted Baron Castor, I sprinted at full speed towards him.

“Baron, you can’t escape.”

Knights in splendid armor attempted to block my path, but…

‘I’m faster.’

As expected, I was the first to reach the baron.

“Die!”

Baron Castor swung his sword at me, which I easily dodged.

After dodging, I carefully controlled my strength to ensure that the baron wasn’t seriously injured before knocking him to the ground.

“Argh!”

Then, I pointed a dagger at his throat and declared.

“Martin Meyer, Commander of the Whitebeard Mercenary Group, has captured Baron Castor! If you don’t wish for the baron to die, everyone surrender!”

Upon my declaration, all of Baron Castor’s men inside the command post laid down their weapons.

“This actually worked.”