The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family – Chapter 86 – Knight of Ascension (21)

Author: Dawn

A strong wind was blowing.

Unlike the principality’s army, which displayed a splendid sight with flags fluttering here and there throughout their ranks, the barbarians were simply lined up without even a proper banner.

However, there weren’t many who looked down on them for that reason.

Maksim, captain of the Birch Tree Mercenary Company, gulped nervously.

Since encountering that monster called the Rock Demon Serpent or whatever—the first such creature he’d faced in his rather long mercenary career—he had resolved not to be surprised by ordinary matters, but even so, the barbarian warriors possessed something that made opponents tense.

“They look murderous, really…”

Startled by the words that escaped his lips without thought, Maksim glanced around nervously.

If his subordinate mercenaries had heard, it might have damaged the captain’s dignity.

To properly manage rough and unruly mercenaries, one had to display appropriate dignity and charisma.

If rumors spread that the captain had been frightened, it would obviously be very bad.

Fortunately, none of the mercenaries seemed to be paying attention to his words.

Maksim let out a sigh of relief and looked forward again.

He could fully understand why the mercenaries were staring ahead with obviously tense expressions.

After all, wasn’t he feeling exactly the same way?

‘They really do look fucking terrible, those damn barbarian bastards…’

In front of the formation where the barbarian warriors were lined up, one man had stepped forward and was spouting something.

Though it was difficult to understand due to heavy dialect and an extremely hoarse voice, what caught the mercenaries’ attention more than his words was his incredibly savage appearance.

His build wasn’t particularly large and he looked agile, but the severe scars covering his entire face and the garishly colored, unpleasant tattoos evoked a bizareness and revulsion like seeing something that shouldn’t be seen.

Moreover, his narrow, cruel-looking eyes that stretched to both sides had clearly vertical pupils, and his flickering tongue was also split in two—he was definitely a snake beastman.

As if enjoying the disgusted faces of the principality soldiers, the man opened his mouth once more with an unpleasantly hoarse voice mixed with hissing sounds.

“Is there no warrior of the principality who will face me, Stenka, in single combat! Well, there doesn’t seem to be anyone among you weak principality bastards with such courage, hahaha!”

When the barbarians burst into laughter following Stenka’s words, the mercenaries flared up.

“Those bastards!”

“Are you done talking, you snake bastard!”

Stenka’s provocation grew even more intense.

“Ah, then this generous body will give you an opportunity. If your leader crawls here between my legs, I’ll specially take care not to kill him. Though he’ll have to be prepared to have his face skinned, hahaha!”

“That fucking bastard!”

“We should kill him right now!”

The mercenaries, who had initially been somewhat intimidated by his appearance and the ferocity associated with being a barbarian warrior, began to get excited as if they’d never been scared at all in response to Stenka’s provocation.

“How dare he speak Sir Viktor’s name!”

Maksim was also one of those people.

With his face flushed red, he spewed out all kinds of curses.

It couldn’t be called mercenary-like behavior, but he was already completely intoxicated by the commander leading his unit.

He had already developed great fondness for Viktor’s prowess and character through various experiences from Permikoff to the east.

On top of that, the respectful attitude Viktor had shown when departing as the vanguard and, decisively, defeating the Rock Demon Serpent had been enough to make Maksim feel maximum loyalty toward Viktor, who wasn’t even the one paying him.

Just as he finally couldn’t contain his anger and was drawing his weapon.

“Waaah!”

“…!”

Someone could be seen slowly riding forward on horseback.

“…Sir Viktor!”

It was Viktor Kobarov, commander of the vanguard.

Viktor looked at the snake beastman who was observing him with sharp eyes as if he’d never been screeching loudly just moments before.

His two eyes gleamed cunningly, suggesting he was clever, but he didn’t look particularly intelligent.

He spoke in a calm voice.

“Viktor of House Kobarov. And who are you?”

“…Ha! Did you really come crawling between my legs? But I’m sure I said it clearly? That you had to crawl here on your belly for me to spare you!”

Stenka revealed his killing intent and laughed cruelly.

However, even at his crude provocation, Viktor wasn’t shaken in the slightest.

With his unchanged, impassive face, he simply continued speaking as usual.

“Don’t want to answer? That’s fine too.”

“…What are you babbling about? You’re not so scared that you’ve lost your mind, are you? You should know we don’t accept surrender, so give up early… Kraaaack!”

When a javelin that had been drawn at some point flew instantly toward his face, Stenka instinctively raised his hand to block it, then clutched his pierced hand and screamed.

Without even looking at him, Viktor shifted his gaze to the distance.

Wearing a thick coat uncommon among barbarians, as if to hide his missing arm, Bohdan was staring directly at him.

“I wasn’t particularly interested anyway. By the way, didn’t your master warn you about me? I thought you might have some great trick, but you’re just someone with a loud voice.”

“You, you fucking bastard! I’ll skin your face!”

Extremely enraged, Stenka violently pulled out the javelin, and without caring about the blood streaming out, drew a long sword and spear.

Then he quickly spurred his horse and approached in an instant, beginning to swing his weapons crosswise.

Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew as armor and blade collided, and Stenka cried out with a shocked expression.

“Cra-crazy…!”

And those were his last words.

Crack!

With a sound like a watermelon breaking, Stenka’s face caved in.

He swayed for a moment, then fell straight to the ground.

Viktor lightly shook his hand to shake off the blood, then shouted loudly.

“Bohdan, stop hiding like a coward and come out! I’ll face you!”

Waaah!

The principality soldiers cheered, while the barbarian warriors fell silent.

It was a scene difficult to believe even seeing it with their own eyes.

Bohdan gritted his teeth.

‘He’s becoming more and more of a monster…’

Though he was far away, he could still see clearly.

Without even dodging the blade Stenka swung, he lightly blocked it with his armor, then caught the spear thrusting through the gap with one hand and struck his head with the other.

Without even drawing a weapon, he had shattered the head of his prized warrior in a single exchange.

It was incomprehensible boldness and strength.

‘Even so, for someone who’s supposedly the commander to step forward personally… are all knights like that?’

He had intended to break the principality bastards’ spirits before the real battle, but instead only his own side’s morale had plummeted.

Not only his tribe’s elite, but the warriors of various other tribes following his faction couldn’t say a word.

They had been overwhelmed by an opponent who had lightly subdued Stenka, called one of Bohdan’s faction’s greatest warriors, as if dealing with a child.

Against such a monster, duels before battle no longer had meaning.

Bohdan ignored Viktor’s provocation and gave orders.

“Warriors! Crush those bastards! Bring me their leader’s head!”

“Uryaaah!”

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Along with howling, enormous drum sounds echoed.

The barbarian warriors all began charging their horses at once.

“Protect Sir Viktor!”

“Cavalry, charge!”

“Maintain proper distance as discussed beforehand!”

Led by Mikhail and Krupin, the gradually becoming skilled cavalry first rode out to protect Viktor’s side, while the mercenaries began forming up according to their respective captains’ commands.

Even before the charge of barbarian warriors thundering in with such synchronized hoofbeats that it was spine-chilling, they were moving with more composure than expected.

Clearly different movement from the principality soldiers they’d encountered before.

If they had been ordinary conscripts or mercenaries, they would have been paralyzed with fear by the thunder-like sound of hoofbeats moving as one and the enormous drum sounds, but these men showed surprisingly no signs of being frightened.

Viktor’s defeat of the enemy warrior in one blow had raised morale sky-high, but more than anything, the vanguard was mainly composed of experienced mercenaries who had become even more mature through various experiences.

While the barbarians’ fierce reputation was certainly frightening, having just encountered the Rock Demon Serpent, which was several times more terrifying and horrible, these men were no longer easily scared by ordinary matters.

“No matter how bad I am, I can kill those bastards!”

“What are those guys anyway? If you stab them with a sword they’ll die, fuck! Kill them all!”

Added to that was high loyalty to their commander.

Not only the captains but each individual mercenary responded keenly to Viktor’s orders, forming up based on what they had planned beforehand.

While they could give broad orders, getting mercenaries—who were close to independent units—to follow detailed and precise commands was supposed to be nearly impossible.

It was proof that they truly followed Viktor.

Composed of experienced, skilled soldiers who weren’t intimidated by enemies, with members who could follow orders based on high loyalty.

Viktor’s vanguard, though slightly inferior in equipment and training, had become a unit worthy of being called the principality’s finest elite.

Viktor breathed in as he watched the enemies charging in step.

Soon veins bulged on his neck, and his voice echoed with tremendous volume.

“Are you hiding among your subordinates again, Bohdan! You coward! Wherever you go, wherever you hide, I will find you! Wait for me, Bohdan!”

At the eerily low and clear voice that pierced their ears, the barbarian warriors gritted their teeth.

It felt like facing some monster of the steppes rather than a person.

Mikhail, who had ridden up behind him, spoke calmly without even disturbing his breathing.

“Sir Viktor, the cavalry is ready. Please give the order!”

Viktor glanced back.

Mikhail and Krupin, fully armored and helmeted, along with cavalry who, though far inferior to them, were well-equipped enough to be chosen as riders, were looking at Viktor with excited expressions.

He could also see Tumen, now wearing principality-style armor instead of barbarian clothing, and Lukovich, armed no less than a decent knight.

Alisa would be protected in the center of the infantry formation, offering prayers at a makeshift altar.

Viktor spoke in a cold voice.

“That the enemies would engage in field battle rather than defensive warfare was already anticipated. Everyone act as prepared.”

“Yes, Sir Viktor!”

“Tumen, Lukovich. Support Sir Mikhail and Sir Krupin well.”

“Understood, Lord Viktor!”

Seeing Viktor show the true appearance of a northern warrior, different from his usual generous demeanor before battle, Tumen replied with an excited face.

Sir Krupin, like knights on the eve of battle, explosively radiated killing intent and shouted in a boiling voice.

“Sir! Quickly give the order!”

Viktor smiled coldly and lowered his helmet’s visor.

“We break through. We’ll show those barbarian bastards what a true charge is.”

“Waaaaaah!”

The cavalry began to move.

Though somewhat clumsy due to low training levels, the wedge formation with Viktor at the point still looked solid and sharp.

Viktor, positioned at the tip, completed the formation’s sharpness.

He drew his battle axe and his eyes blazed.

The fierce momentum escaping beyond the visor seemed to trail behind like a tail, emitting an eerie light.

The distance between them was closing in an instant.

Close enough to see in detail the sweat-soaked face and dirty hair of the barbarian warrior at the front, even the patterns on the small bow he held.