Chapter 170: ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? (4)

Chapter 170: Year Old Army (4)

That was Johan.

“What? Who is it?”

“■■■ ■■?”

When a group of western knights charged in like lightning, the warriors were not confused.

Their morale was too high and ferocious to crumble from the ambush.

They immediately turned their horses and fought back. Combative shouts welcomed Johan.

Johan advanced, defeating those warriors.

Only warriors who would not shame their father god and mother goddess were gathered here.

The colorful banners standing out even among the dust showed evidence that these warriors were from noble families.

Warriors carrying those banners charged at Johan with spears. The wind blew fiercely with the smell of blood.

Johan slaughtered those warriors as he advanced.

Garhatzha, who had defeated three Vynashchtym knights today and received silk and a necklace from Yeheyman, charged at Johan with a sharp glittering spear. Mobhrahim, who had defeated the sub-captain of the imperial guard and captured a small flag, also charged at Johan with a battle axe. Igar, who was said to have unparalleled swordsmanship as a slave guard of the sultan, also charged at Johan with a longsword.

Johan butchered those warriors as he advanced.

“■■■! ■■ ■■■ ■■■!”

“Send reinforcements! A mad ■■ b*stard has appeared!”

As the renowned warriors fell to the dagger and their decorated spears were broken, the warriors on the other side began to grasp the situation.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems an ambush has come from the left flank.”

“What are you saying? They are no more than a small group at best. However they obsessed about capturing the emperor, you mean to say they was ambushed by that? I will provide soldiers, go stop them!”

Yeheyman’s deputy nodded and rushed out. Yeheyman looked annoyed. No matter how blindly ambitious, to be ambushed like that. . .

The elite had gathered here at the center. To be shaken by such an ambush itself was shameful.

“. . .!!”

Yeheyman’s eyes grew wide as he watched the situation. He could not believe the scene before him.

The formation was crumbling before a single man.

As a western knight swung an abnormally massive warhammer, warriors around him tumbled like rotten trees.

Hit on the armor, bodies were smashed beyond recognition. Blocked by shields, shields were smashed along with the bodies.

The enthusiastic Eastern knights and warriors who had fought bravely soon lost morale and fled.

Centered on Johan’s charge, the formation collapsed like a broken dam.

“A demon has appeared! The pagan b*stards of the West have brought a demon!”

“Dear gods! Banish that demon!”

Seeing each other’s backs as they screamed and fled, the formation collapsed even faster. Johan fiercely chased the enemy, spurring his bloodthirsty bicorn.

Yeheyman was so angry he saw red. The fierce elites of the center were scattering like diseased son of a b*tches.

Warriors who should have charged into the emperor’s camp were now struggling just to defend their own banners.

The emperor’s banner was seen retreating. The emperor’s imperial guard had barely reorganized their formation and were pulling the emperor back. It was hopeless to try capturing the emperor now.

“Ye. . . Yeheyman-nim.”

“Sound the retreat! Withdraw to camp and regroup!”

Like a veteran knight of many battles, Yeheyman grasped the situation. To leave things as they were would only deepen the wound.

That fearsome Western knight dastard leading the cavalry had torn up the formation with nightmarish fighting ability, but fortunately their numbers were small.

Now was the time to retreat if they hoped to.

If the emperor’s imperial guard regained their senses and counterattacked, the damage could be far worse.

“Retreat! Retreat!”

At the unpleasant blare of horns, the warriors in the center began hastily falling back.

Though they might have felt wronged and resentful to retreat from the emperor’s tent, none remained to grumble.

Giada felt slightly embarrassed. Since he wouldn’t be held responsible anyway, he had passed on only good words about Johan, so the high praise made him feel awkward.

“Are you planning to pursue the retreating enemies?”

“Well. . . I’m not sure. Wouldn’t His Excellency make that decision? Many of my men have died or were injured as well. . .”

Jusvan hesitated as he scratched his wound.

Although not as much as the center, the left flank led by Jusvan also suffered considerable damage. The enemies were just too numerous.

They had forced a retreat, but the enemies still had remaining forces. He didn’t want to attack their camp first.

The tent curtains parted and the eunuchs came out, followed by the Emperor revealing himself. Johan and Jusvan got up from their seats and briefly paid their respects.

“You all fought very well. Victory would have been uncertain without everyone’s dedication. I thank Count Yeats once again in particular.”

This overt display of gratitude, not just a simple thank you, was highly unusual, yet no one present found it odd.

Considering Johan’s exploits, it was still a very modest remark.

“Will you continue attacking the enemies?”

“The soldiers are tired and injured. I don’t want to make mistakes by forcing things. And. . .”

There was a chamberlain inside the fortress that he didn’t want to risk danger for. But the Emperor left his trailing words unsaid. There was no need to reveal his intentions in front of others yet.

“And?”

“The enemies have sent an envoy. They offer gold if we let them withdraw.”

Jusvan’s face brightened. Representing the Republic, he had no thoughts of fighting to the death against the pagans. Didn’t the Republic also trade with Eastern Empire’s merchants to begin with?

As long as they stayed away from here, he was happy to turn a blind eye.

“What will you do?”

“I want to hear both of your opinions.”

“I agree, Your Majesty. The enemies still have significant numbers left. Attacking their entrenched position is dangerous. And if they move elsewhere to pillage, how will we handle that damage? Accepting their offer to save face shows mercy and authority.”

“That will be all, I think.”

When Jusvan finished speaking, Johan raised his hand. The Emperor nodded as if to say speak.

“Couldn’t the enemies have set a trap?”

“I don’t think they would do something so dishonorable. . .?”

Basic respect for honor did not change even for pagans. No matter how pagan, oaths and promises made between each other were sacred. Those who broke them were effectively throwing their own honor into the gutter.

But Johan was the type to suspect first regardless of honor or anything else.

“We should be vigilant until they leave, just in case.”

“If that’s what you wish, make it so.”

Surprisingly, the Emperor readily accepted Johan’s request. Even though it required not just Johan’s troops but also the Emperor’s and the Republic’s mercenaries to carry out.

‘Huh. More accommodating than I thought.’

Johan wondered if this was the Emperor returning the favor for coming to the center’s aid. If so, he deserved at least this much in return.

However, the Emperor was not doing this out of mere goodwill. He valued Johan much higher than Johan realized. Because of yesterday’s battle.

‘My God!!’

Gaïaros had witnessed Johan’s charge from afar. The shock still hadn’t worn off.

That lightning strike of a charge in the middle of disadvantageous terrain swarming with enemies!

After the charge ended, the Emperor realized the mercenary captain’s account was actually closer to understatement.

With that kind of battle behind them, Johan’s words carried undeniable authority. If Johan had strongly advocated attacking, the Emperor would have seriously considered it.

‘Seeing the count say this, there may be something there. We should raise vigilance.’

“Anything else to suggest?”

“Not particularly. . .?”

Johan felt the Emperor’s question was slightly uncomfortable. The nominal supreme commander was the Emperor, and the Republic’s mercenary captain was next to them as well, so why keep asking him?

‘He’s not trying to thrust me to the forefront claiming the soldiers are fine, is he. . .’