***
"Dale!"
It was no surprise when his mother, Elena, came to Dale's room that night.
"Mother."
Dale was not embarrassed but bowed his head toward his mother with a calm expression.
"Is it true that you are going out with your father to subdue a horde of orcs?"
"Yes."
No matter how brilliant Dale's talent is, in the eyes of his mother Elena, he is ultimately a nine-year-old child.
"Let's talk to your father again."
And in any world, a mother's concern for her child is not much different.
"There's nothing to worry about."
Turning to Elena, who couldn't hide her worry and continued her words, Dale quietly shook his head. "I will take charge of this dukedom in the future."
After shaking his head, he quietly made up his mind and continued speaking.
"I have to become stronger for my mother, father, and younger sister Rise."
The current Dale was not a miserable revenge demon with nothing to lose. Now he had things to protect, and that fact never dulled Dale's blade.
Rather, at the moment when he reflected on the things he had to shoulder, Dale's blade became sharper than ever.
"Besides, my father and Uncle Helmut are also with us."
"Still…"
"You don't have to worry too much, Mom."
Dale quietly hugged Elena. "Please allow me to protect my mother."
At those words, Elena took a deep breath. After she swallowed, she smiled quietly.
Two hundred knights responded to the summons from the vassal knight appointed by the Duke.
Fifty Household Knights residing in the duchy's castle.
In addition to a total of 250 cavalry troops, the elite ranger unit 'Winter Sentinels' stationed in the White Mountains.
Quick resolution. What the duke summoned to subdue the orc horde was a unit completely specialized in mobile warfare.
And that night, in the conference room of the Duke of Jackson.
"It is said that the Orc tribes established a camp in the upper reaches of the Jackson River."
"What is the exact number of troops?"
"The number is a little less than one thousand."
When the messenger from the 'Winter Sentinel' ranger unit stationed in the White Mountains reported, the Duke of Jackson quietly nodded.
As usual, these were vassals who were loyal to the duke's family, led by Lord Helmut.
Even monsters are no exception to the harsh environment of the Demon King's Territory beyond the White Mountains. Therefore, the large-scale movement of monsters who could not endure hunger, or in other words, the plunder of the duchy's residence, was not a big deal.
"Considering their insufficient supply, it's probably only a matter of time before they cross the river."
Compiling the given information, Sir Helmut Blackbear spoke.
"I guess so."
The Duke of Jackson also did not deny it but nodded calmly.
"Shall we prepare a raid to take advantage of the timing of their crossing?"
"No."
However, at Helmut's next words, the Duke of Jackson shook his head.
"Before they gather their strength and cross the river, we will strike from our side."
"What do you mean by that?"
"We will lead our cavalry across the river downstream and join up with the ranger unit to carry out a surprise attack," said the Duke of Jackson. When Helmut heard those words, a look of confusion appeared on his face.
"Your Excellency, there is a
"You don't have to worry about that."
However, it was the 6th Circle elf wizard Sepia who dismissed Sir Helmut's subsequent concerns.
"Sepia, the elder of the Blue Tower, has decided to help in this battle."
The Duke of Jackson continued.
"With my magic, I will form an 'ice bridge' that will allow the entire cavalry to cross the river downstream."
Those words were followed by gasping sounds from all over the place.
An ice bridge large enough for hundreds of horsemen, each weighing hundreds of kilograms, armed with heavy armor, to cross the river all at once. This would be a feat that ordinary wizards would not even dare to perform. However, the 6th circle water attribute elf wizard was by no means an 'ordinary wizard.'
"Of course, this is the extent of the help I can give you, Your Excellency."
The doctrine of the Blue Magic Tower is in harmony with immortality. Still, there was only one reason why she was willing to risk her controversial status and help in the fight.
Sepia's eyes quietly turned to the seat next to the Duke of Jackson. There was a nine-year-old child there, silently listening to the vassals' meeting.
"Thank you, Mrs. Sepia."
Dale, who had been listening intently to the story, finally smiled and opened his mouth.
The expedition began in the darkness before the early morning sunlight even reached its peak.
However, apart from Mother Elena's concerns, strictly speaking, it wasn't even something that could be called a 'battle.'
The Duchy of Jackson was constantly exposed to the threat of monsters, and they were subdued every time. Even at a time when the Black Duke himself was leading his men along with Lord Helmut, what orc would dare to hurt Dale?
'Nevertheless, it is ultimately a mother's heart to worry about her child.'
Thinking like that, Dale smiled bitterly. After laughing, he turned his head away.
Two hundred and fifty knights, wearing gray
Lastly, the northern war horses were fully armed and clad in black horse armor.
The 'Black Cavalry,' the pride of the Duke of Jackson, has finished its campaign and awaits orders.
"Your Excellency the Duke, please give us the order!"
Sir Helmut Blackbear, a knight whose entire body was covered in heavy armor, opened his mouth.
"Dale."
At those words, the Duke of Jackson quietly turned his head.
"Yes, Father."
"This cavalry unit, of which our Duke family is proud, is also the force you will lead in the future."
Black Cavalry. They are one of the top three battlefield destroyers in the entire empire.
"In other words, these are your knights."
Knights of Dale.
'…They are my knights.'
The military power that was never allowed in his past life.
"Give the order to march on my behalf."
Dale quietly held his breath as his father continued. After swallowing his breath, he nodded his head with determination.
"The proud swords of the House of Jackson."
It contained a serious and heavy sound that cannot be attributed to a nine-year-old child.
"The time to set out has come."
At Dale's words, his knights all raised their cavalry spears in their hands.
"I will obey young master's orders!"
"For the young master!" "For the House of Jackson!"
The swallow's tail-shaped flag attached to the end of the lance began to flutter in the early morning breeze.
The cold rushes over the river water.
The area of the river, where land was barely visible at the end of the horizon, began to freeze rapidly along with the rushing cold air.
'After all, she is my teacher.'
This is not something that can be done just by freezing it. The strength was such that hundreds of cavalrymen fully armed with heavy armor could cross the river all at once. In addition, attention is paid to increasing friction to prevent horses from slipping on ice.
A water-based magic that is flawless in scale and sophistication. It was a miracle that the current Dale could not dare to imitate.
"I have always been indebted to you, Sepia."
Looking down at the cold frozen river, the Duke of Jackson silently expressed his respect.
"Thank you, teacher."
Dale, who was guarding the duke's side, smiled brightly like a child.
'A bright smile.'
Is that the expression a child who is about to face a group of orcs could make? Sepia's feelings as she watched Dale were truly complicated.
"As a wizard of the Blue Tower, this is all the help I can give."
Sepia lowered her head, leaving behind the endless bridge of ice. In the darkness of dawn, the frozen river radiated light like glass. Above them, the cavalry began crossing all at once.
Before long, Sepia, left alone, muttered words she could not bear to say in front of Dale.
"Dale, please come back safely."
The greatest necromancer on the continent, and one of the Seven Swordsmen, is protecting the child. Thinking rationally, it would be difficult to even imagine Dale getting hurt.
However, there was barely any difference between a mother's heart worrying about her child and a teacher's heart worrying about her student.
Light split the dark dawn sky. It was a fiery arrow announcing the start of a night raid.
A baptism of blazing flames. The 'Winter Sentinels,' a ranger unit that had ambushed them in advance, fired flaming arrows all at once, and a group of flames that decorated the sky fell towards the Orcs' camp.
Grumble!
"Grrrrgh!"
The orcs raised their voices at the unexpected surprise attack. The roar of an animal was literally deafening.
"1st, 2nd, and 3rd cavalry squadrons, charge in a wedge-shaped formation!"
Not to be outdone, the loud roar of Lord Helmut, commanding his knights, rang out.
One hundred and fifty knights from three battalions of 50 men put their cavalry spears between their armpits and began to gallop.
Couched Lance. To the Orcs who were panicked and in a hurry to form a defense, the gallop of heavy cavalry mercilessly plowing down.
The total weight of the knight, horse, and armor they are wearing is about 800 kilograms. In addition to the weight, the cavalry spear was struck with the acceleration of the horses galloping at full speed.
Lance charging.
It wasn't even a fight. No matter how orc he is, he is like a piece of paper in front of the impact power of a heavily armored knight and horse.
A march of destruction as a steel truck crushes everything in front of it.
And when the offensive reached its peak, Lord Helmut, who was observing the situation from atop the ridge, raised his voice again.
"Shoot a signal and order the 4th and 5th cavalry battalions waiting in the rear to charge."
"Yes!"
At those words, the messenger guarding his side shot something into the sky.
Pow!
Something like fireworks scattered blue light in the sky at dawn. Magic flare.
"Charge!"
At the same time as the signal, the cavalry detachment that had taken a detour to the right side of the Orc camp and was hiding began to charge.
A storm of steel swirling from all directions.
"Watch carefully."
Likewise, while watching the battle unfold from the ridge, the Duke of Jackson calmly opened his mouth.
"This is the power of the cavalry that our Duke family is proud of."
Even in the midst of endless cavalry charges and sequential deployments, the ranks are never broken up.
The true power of the knights is not just the inaction emanating from a single Aura blade. It lies in the tactical destructive power that comes from thorough organizational power.
'It is truly overwhelming.'
Dale sighed quietly. Without hiding his pure surprise.
"It's one-sided."
"It is still too early to let down your guard, young master."
However, contrary to Dale's admiration, Lord Helmut still did not lose his caution.
'I guess so.'
Just when they thought they had been devastated by the cavalry's continuous assault, a roar like that of an animal continued again.
Anyway, the number of orc groups is more than four times that of this group. Moreover, the opponents are a fighting race with warriors' temperament from birth.
Moreover, no matter how powerful a cavalry charge is beyond imagination, it is not possible to repeat the offensive endlessly.
When the cavalry's charge slowed down, the surviving Orcs began a counterattack.
A dense formation using long spears for anti-aircraft troops. Once the formation was finally formed, the subsequent cavalry charge did not have the same destructive power as before.
"The surprise attack was quite effective, but the damage was not enough to destroy them."
Sir Helmut observed the battlefield from the ridge and calmly assessed the situation.
"First, we will take over the troops and reorganize the battle line, and then we will attack one after another to break down the square."
As soon as he spoke, a messenger nearby fired a signal to retreat. At the same time, the cavalry surrounding the Orcs' formation turned their horses in unison. After quickly and quickly attacking the troops, they lined up again and launched a cavalry charge. No matter how strong the Orcs' phalanx is, in the end, it is a fight with a clear outcome.
It was right then.
"Grrr!"
Huh!
Javelins filled with the might of the Orcs rushed towards the cavalry, which turned its nose and retreated.
It is not enough to inflict damage to knights armed with heavy armor. However, a few very lucky spears succeeded in striking through the gaps in the horse's sparse armor.
Heehee!
Among them, one horse that was pierced through a vital point screamed and fell over. At the same time, the knight who was riding the horse also fell from the shock. Only one out of two hundred and fifty knights retreating. He was really unlucky.
And in order to kill the one straggler who fell off his horse, several Orc swordsmen began to approach.
Toward the prey that couldn't even move properly due to the shock of falling from a horse.
"One killed in action."
Nevertheless, the Duke of Jackson and Lord Helmut just calmly maintained their composure as if it was within the expected range. As if they were just watching the knight die.
'The fallen…'
Either way, this is a battlefield. It is absurd to expect victory without any damage. Dale also knew the reason.
"──Why are you watching?"
Nevertheless, Dale asked back.
"The proud sword of the House of Jackson has been exposed defenselessly to the enemy, so why are we watching?"
He wasn't waiting for an answer. After asking, Dale pulled on the horse's reins without hesitation.
There was no time to relax enough to wait for a kind response from the two people.
At the same time.
"──Ice Bolt, Barrett M98B, 8.58x70mm."
In the case of bolt-type magic that relies on speed, spells are rarely recited out loud. The first lesson that new wizards in the Magic Tower learn is how to cast Bolt without chanting.
Moreover, Dale's formula added afterward is something no one in this world could understand.
Barrett M98B.
8.58x70mm ─ .338 Lapua Magnum.
Bolt action sniper rifle and bullets specialized for long-range anti-personnel sniping.
To others, it will just look like a list of unidentifiable passwords.
Therefore, after looking at the formula that Dale added, the Black Duke dismissed it as just an immature child's stroke.
The mistake made by beginner wizards who mistakenly believe that spells are 'magic that works as they say it' and arbitrarily insert words that only they can understand.
No matter how much magic is the embodiment of an image, to become a magic spell, you need a very clear symbol that is shared across times and cultures.
This is because the function of self-suggestion as a spell cannot be performed unless such a powerful image exists.
It should have been so.
──Taang!
The ice bolt released from the fingertips traveled an absurd distance and struck the orc swordsman's bone.
'Ice Bolt? No, no.'
Seeing that scene, the Black Duke could only hold his breath.
The essence of death shot from Dale's fingertips was something that could not even be called a ice bolt (crossbow arrow).
T/L Note:
1. Ford - a shallow place in a river or stream allowing one to walk or drive across
2. Surcoats - a loose robe worn over armour.
3. Stilettos - a short dagger with a tapering(thinner or narrower towards one end.) blade.