The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family – Chapter 59 – Tribal Conflict (24)

Author: Dawn

At Viktor’s shout, all the people around him began looking at him with expressions as if they had suddenly snapped to attention.

The piercing cry had washed away their anxiety about the light-emitting spheres.

“The castle is under attack. Everyone to your positions! You there, escort the priest.”

When Viktor pointed at a mercenary with his finger, the man nodded blankly.

“Father, I’ll head to the inner castle first. Please follow that mercenary to safety for now.”

Anton replied with a pale face.

“No, I’ll follow you, Sir. I believe I’m the only one in this castle who can claim to know something about witch’s sorcery…”

Viktor thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Understood. Then please go to the Count first. I need to calm the chaos on my way to the inner castle.”

“…Understood, Sir. Please be careful.”

Anton tapped the still dazed-looking mercenary, then disappeared inside first.

Watching this, Viktor looked up at the glowing spheres in the sky with blazing eyes.

‘I don’t know what kind of scheme this is, but…’

For him, it wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

Viktor began running slowly while shouting.

“Prepare for battle! Everyone prepare for battle! Hey, go to the watchtower and sound the alarm. Wake up the people around! Hurry, everyone move!”

Bellowing at people who were still acting as if their souls had left them, sometimes using his hands, Viktor made a wide circle toward the inner castle.

Fortunately, people who quickly regained their senses were emerging one by one, so it didn’t seem Viktor needed to keep shouting continuously.

Before long, he had entered the path leading to the inner castle.

He could see mercenaries clustered together, holding torches and rushing urgently somewhere.

Viktor continued running toward the castle gate at the same pace while fingering the handle of his mace.

‘This is actually better. If infighting had broken out, that would truly be the end. We need to unite now.’

He didn’t know how close the enemies had come, but at least he didn’t think the castle would fall instantly.

The ominously floating spheres weren’t causing any particular harm yet, and with people’s confusion gradually settling down, this could be the perfect opportunity to heal the conflicts between them.

While lost in thought, he outwardly confirmed that those guarding the inner castle gate had fallen into a panic state, calmly knocked some sense into them, then entered the inner castle.

Since the inner castle was where the nobles resided, it was relatively where elite forces were concentrated.

However, the degree of chaos was not much different from outside.

While several people who had regained their senses were trying to control the surroundings, many were still caught up in confusion.

“D-damn it! We need to shoot that thing down! We have to shoot it down!”

“It’s a demon! It’s definitely a demon’s scheme!”

“You damned ignorant bastards! Get your heads straight and follow orders! If you dare not listen to me…!”

A knight raged at the mercenaries causing a commotion around him, then instantly drew his sword and brought it down.

Even though the mercenary was about to be struck by the sword, he was still trembling and unable to regain his senses.

Clang!

The knight’s sword cutting the mercenary’s throat did not happen.

“S-Sir…!”

“Calm down. This man seems to be in an odd state.”

This was because Viktor had rushed over like lightning and blocked the knight’s sword with his wrist guard.

While the knight who had brought down his sword staggered with a shocked expression, Viktor paid him no mind and focused on the fallen mercenary.

Despite nearly losing his life just moments before, the mercenary was merely trembling as if he knew nothing.

Viktor’s eyes narrowed.

‘To be unable to regain his senses to this extent…? Is this man particularly weak-hearted, or…’

Viktor lowered his hand and grabbed the mercenary’s shoulder, lifting him up instantly.

“H-eek…?”

“Everyone prepare for battle!! Get up and prepare to fight!”

“Aaaaah!”

Then he put all his strength into his abdomen and shouted once more.

An tremendous voice echoed out, and those who heard him were startled and began looking around as if they had regained their senses.

And the man caught by Viktor writhed with a pained expression, unable to even cover his ears.

It seemed blood was flowing from his ears, but Viktor ignored this.

He set the man down on the ground and quietly opened his mouth.

“Still can’t regain your senses? How about it?”

If he couldn’t answer, Viktor was ready to shout again.

The mercenary hastily grabbed his ears while shouting.

“Thank you! Thanks to you, I’ve regained my senses! Thank you so much!”

“Really? You still seem lacking.”

“No! No! I’ve really regained my senses! I’ll go do my job right now!”

The mercenary staggered away dizzily while holding his ears.

Viktor watched this with no particular expression, then turned his head to check on the knight.

The knight was frowning and covering his ears, then lowered his hands as if nothing had happened when he met Viktor’s gaze and grinned wickedly.

“Sir, you truly have a talent for handling those beneath you. To make them regain their senses with just one shout.”

“You flatter me.”

When Viktor lightly deflected with modesty and waved his hand, the knight who had been admiring suddenly tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

“But Sir, why did you interfere with me cutting down that man? Since he dared ignore a knight’s words, shouldn’t he rightfully be killed?”

“…You may be right, but in my view, he wasn’t normal just now. It seems it might be related to those spheres somehow.”

Viktor looked up at the sky.

The spheres were glowing ever brighter and spinning around the area even faster.

‘I don’t know what they are, but they’re having some influence.’

Not reacting even when a sword was flying at his face was clearly not normal.

Viktor frowned slightly and spoke to the knight.

“Sir, you’re the only trustworthy person here. Spread the word to those around as quickly as possible. Tell them to be careful since those spheres seem to be affecting people.”

When Viktor patted his shoulder and nodded, the knight’s face was colored with solemnity.

“…Sir! Leave it to me. I’ll do my best to spread the word!”

“Mm, reliable.”

“Sir, you can call me by name. It would be an honor to be called by name by a knight like you.”

At the knight’s serious words, Viktor was inwardly somewhat flustered.

He had no idea what the name of the knight before him was.

However, unlike his flustered inner state, Viktor’s expression remained as brazenly calm as ever.

“Mm, it would be an honor for me as well if you called me by name.”

“Is that really true?! Sir Viktor, I’m so happy…!”

“Ah, but I need to hurry a bit more. Let’s meet again after we each finish our tasks.”

“Mm, that’s right. Sir Viktor, then I’ll see you later!”

When Viktor brushed it off, the knight left with a pleased expression.

He quietly let out a sigh of relief and turned his eyes.

Though it was night, since the commotion had started and considerable time had passed, not only the Count and castle lord but the lords as well were likely to be in the great hall.

‘Indeed…’

Once again, Viktor’s footsteps moved busily.

Fortunately, the nobles were all gathered in the great hall as Viktor had thought.

Though they had shown an ugly side facing enemies, they were still people who had experience leading armies.

Even the eastern lords, whom he hadn’t expected much from, were all present without exception, having regained their senses with serious expressions and exchanging words.

When Viktor entered the great hall, Mikhail, who had been near the entrance, greeted him with half joy, half worry.

“Sir Viktor, you’re safe! I was worried because I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“Ah, I had some business and was returning from the outer castle. What on earth is all this commotion about?”

“…Follow me first. The Count is waiting.”

Following Mikhail inside, the Count was waiting for him with an indescribable expression.

Each time the spheres spun around emitting light, shadows fell across the Count’s face creating contours.

He seemed both tired and relieved.

Viktor tilted his head slightly at the Count’s changed atmosphere.

“Welcome, Sir. I was waiting for you.”

The Count spoke first.

“I apologize for being late, Your Excellency.”

“What chaos this is. Did you hear about the situation on your way here?”

“No. I came here first since I heard Your Excellency was waiting.”

“…I see. Would you come this way for a moment?”

The Count rose from the large chair he had been sitting in and guided Viktor to the window.

“…”

Viktor silently followed the Count and looked outside the window.

The great hall, located at the highest point of the inner castle, could look down clearly at the surroundings, and even in the darkness, the rapidly moving spheres caused the view to flicker, making him unconsciously furrow his brow.

Viktor asked the Count with a puzzled expression.

“Your Excellency, what on earth…”

“Sir Viktor, can you see down there?”

The Count pointed to the moat and bridge outside Radovitz.

Viktor frowned as he looked there.

And gradually, his eyes began to narrow.

“Your Excellency, that is…!”

“Ah, what was bound to come has come. They’ve begun the siege.”

With the Count’s somewhat resigned words, Viktor’s vision urgently began surveying around the castle.

Though the light was interfering, it couldn’t completely block his superhuman sight.

Flames burning here and there in the darkness like bright stars.

‘Torches…’

Due to countless torches too numerous to count, it felt like the illusion of a starry night sky flowing down.

From horizon to horizon.

A massive barbarian force was surrounding Radovitz.

“With the castle walls, we can adequately face them.”

“Have you already forgotten? We said there’s no food!”

“…That can be managed somehow by reducing rations! Let’s hold out first. We can only survive by holding out!”

“Until when? Until those bastards withdraw? We’ll all starve to death before then! We’re finished now!”

The lords seemed calmer than expected, but looking closely, that wasn’t the case either.

Their faces held resentment, resignation, and anger.

And naturally, this included not only the barbarians but Viscount Odor as well.

“If the castle lord had just reduced rations from the start, we could have held out much longer. This is all the castle lord’s fault!”

“Since things have come to this, shouldn’t you take responsibility? Of course, it’s already too late whatever the castle lord does, but still.”

“…How about surrendering even now? Though they say barbarians don’t know customs, I heard they don’t just kill surrendering nobles outright. If we pay ransom later…”

“But would they accept just any surrender? Still…”

The lords’ murmuring echoed through the quiet great hall.

Their attitude wasn’t even trying to hide it.

The viscount’s face twitched from afar, and when his knights brought their hands to their waists, an ominous atmosphere began emanating from various parts of the great hall.

“Foolish bastards…”

The Count sighed deeply in anger with his hand over his face.

He was truly writhing as if there was nothing he could do.

‘How can we be held back here of all places… I’d rather.’

A vicious expression formed on his face covered by his hand.

Just as he was about to spring up as if he had made up his mind.

CRASH!

At a tremendous noise coming from somewhere, everyone in the great hall reflexively ducked their heads and lay flat.

“Wh-what?!”

“What’s happening now… ah, look over there!”

While the lords screamed and knights drew their swords looking around, someone shouted as if they had discovered something.

There was a large crack in one side of the great hall’s solid wall.

Since it was bright as day, it was a large enough wound for anyone there to confirm the crack.

“What on earth is happening… could they be using siege weapons?!”

“Check outside!”

The knights pushed the lords into safe corners and hastily leaned out the windows.

However, no objects like massive siege weapons were visible.

One knight turned his head with a puzzled expression.

“It doesn’t seem like they brought catapults. Then what on earth…”

“Ah, dodge, Sir!”

That’s when it happened.

One knight waved his hand in horror.

“What, why?”

“Behind, behind!”

While the knight who had looked outside wore a puzzled expression, his back had somehow begun growing brighter.

CRASH!

“What the… Aaaaah!”

Everyone in the hall could see clearly despite frowning.

A sphere of light that grew larger as if expanding and flew closer, directly striking where the window was!

The knight who had been standing right in front was sent flying with a scream.

The wall shattered and stones flew in all directions, and while people cowered and ducked their heads in terror, the light sphere calmly pierced through the opposite wall and flew off in another direction.

Mikhail covered the Count while shouting with a horrified face.

“Everyone be careful! That thing seems to have substance!”

“How does this make any sense?!”

“Such power, I’ve never heard of it! Those barbarian bastards, what on earth…!”

Spheres that could shatter solid castle walls and still fly around unaffected.

Though small in size, they possessed terrifyingly powerful force.

Fear began to rise gradually on people’s faces.

‘Perhaps… it might really fall…!’

‘Damn it, am I going to die here?’

That’s when it happened.

Sir Lusimov, Viscount Odor’s confidant, shouted.

“It’s coming again! Your Excellency, get down!”

Through the breached wall, one sphere could be seen charging clearly in one direction as if it had eyes.

It was where the viscount was crouching.

“No!”

“Protect His Excellency!”

The surrounding knights drew their weapons and rushed forward, but since the sphere charged so instantly, it seemed they wouldn’t even have time to block it with their bodies.

The viscount’s face changed like someone resigned to fate, and while Lusimov bit his lips and covered the viscount with his body, the sphere had already shattered the wall and was charging toward the viscount.

CRASH!

The viscount squeezed his eyes shut.

The sphere charging while destroying everything in its path seemed unstoppable by anyone.

“…?”

But when no pain came no matter how long he waited, the viscount slowly opened his eyes.

“Good heavens…”

“Truly… is that human?”

And he couldn’t help but make a deflated sound from his mouth in utter shock.

He could see Lusimov covering his body with his eyes desperately shut, and someone blocking the front of him.

A massive build, overwhelmingly large height and frame.

Well-made armor made the man’s body appear even larger, and since he seemed unable to put on his helmet in time, his exposed head had hair fluttering.

Thud!

Viktor’s feet supporting him dug slightly deeper into the floor.

However, as if this much couldn’t do anything to him, his body remained firmly unmoved.

“Hup!”

When Viktor lightly made a fighting sound and raised his hands, the fiercely spinning sphere came right along.

He put strength into both hands and flexed his muscles with all his might.

Crack…!

Then something utterly unbelievable happened.

The sphere that had been brightly illuminating the great hall was gradually being torn in half.

At that moment, Anton, who had belatedly rushed into the great hall, saw this and cried out in alarm.

“Impossible…! Tearing apart a witch’s sorcery with bare hands?!”

Veins stood out on Viktor’s neck.