I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 79: Anyway, Assassination (4)

Standing on the city wall, Baron Robert smiled brightly.

This was because the Western Lords Alliance army was approaching with great momentum.

Although the flags they were carrying were all different, showing the lack of unity due to the haste in which the various lords had gathered their forces, Baron Robert was instead moved by that ‘difference.’

It clearly felt like the Western lords had come together, united to face the external enemy.

That was truly the human army facing monsters.

The united strength of humans.

Baron Robert, moved to tears at the sight that could easily be seen in both chivalry and literature, welcomed the alliance’s army with the mighty cheers of his knights and soldiers.

“Baron Anjou.”

“Baron Robert.”

Baron Robert, facing the leader of the vanguard of the alliance army, Baron Anjou, both had gleaming eyes.

Baron Anjou was also a knight whom he had long admired.

However, regrettably, Baron Robert had no time to discuss chivalry with Baron Anjou, as well as the others.

For it wasn’t just Baron Anjou who had come leading the alliance.

“Baron Laval.”

“I am Bardo, a knight delegated with military command by Lord Ober.”

“I am Baron Wilhelm, a knight of Count Carian.”

With the introductions flowing one after another, Baron Robert responded, showing his respect to each.

Although he honestly wasn’t interested in Baron Laval, the other two were knights he had known by name, and no matter what, they were reinforcements who had come to save Baron Robert’s territory, so it was only right for him to welcome them wholeheartedly as a lord.

“By the way, Baron Robert, where is the Black Knight?”

As soon as the greetings were over, Baron Laval looked around and asked.

In fact, it was obvious that not just him, but the others were also looking for Yoo Seong.

When even Baron Anjou showed a similar reaction, Baron Robert smiled with a somewhat strange joy and spoke.

“The Black Knight of Lothian has gone out on a reconnaissance mission with Lady René.”

“Wait, the Black Knight himself?”

“Yes, he said it was the most accurate method.”

“Well…I thought that might be the case.”

Recalling what had happened in Lushen, Baron Laval nodded in a somewhat awkward manner.

Considering the abilities of the Black Knight of Lothian and his mage, it was certainly more efficient for those two to go on the reconnaissance themselves rather than dispatching a hundred scouts.

Baron Anjou, perhaps having thought the same, nodded once and then looked at Baron Robert.

“Baron Robert, I would like to know the current situation of the battle.”

Though he had gathered some information on his way, it was only a little bit.

At the Baron of Anjou’s question, Baron Robert’s face became gloomy as he recalled the fall of Legion and the defeat of Sir Charles, but it was only for a brief moment.

“I understand. Please come inside. I will also give you a detailed report of the Black Knight’s actions.”

The situation was certainly not good but they had the Black Knight of Lothian on their side.

That fact gave Baron Robert hope.

“I will count on you.”

Nodding in response to the Baron of Anjou’s words, Baron Robert led the Western Lords Alliance’s leadership toward the inner castle.

When Baron Laval’s eyes widened upon hearing of Yoo Seong’s achievements, Yoo Seong sat with René, eyes closed.

The village was empty, as everyone had fled.

The two, who had been sitting in such a comfortable position that it almost seemed like they were just sleeping, suddenly straightened their posture and focused.

“Can you see it, heir?”

“Yeah, I can see it clearly.”

Using René’s light bird for reconnaissance.

Originally, only René could share her senses with the light bird, but that was no longer the case.

Thanks to the new magic René had learned from the Book of Camelot, she was now able to relay the light bird’s senses to Yoo Seong as well.

A great army of ratmen was marching forward.

The estimated number of soldiers was about 12,000.

Moreover, those 12,000 weren’t just ordinary ratmen of smaller stature than humans.

There were over a thousand cavalry riding large wolf rats, and among the marching troops, huge rat-ogres and rat-trolls—creatures combining trolls or ogres with ratmen—were positioned.

And there were siege weapons advancing with loud noises.

Powerful mages, the Red Eyes and Blue Eyes, were also not few in number.

Altogether, there seemed to be at least twenty of them.

A large army with a scale and composition that could easily trample over a territory like Baron Robert’s but Yoo Seong and René couldn’t focus on the ratmen’s vast army.

As soon as their vision reached the center of the advancing forces, they couldn’t even think about looking elsewhere.

Rat Lord.

A miracle born among the ratmen.

The last bloodline of the ratmen’s god, now gone.

The antlers that sprouted from his head looked like a crown, and his black fur seemed so dark that it seemed to absorb all light.

The Rat Lord sat with his eyes closed on a palanquin.

Due to his enormous size compared to regular ratmen, the palanquin was also large, and hundreds of ratmen slaves were pulling it.

When René saw the Rat Lord in her view, she broke out in cold sweat.

She had seen a divine heir before.

The prince of the kobolds.

The disaster that invaded Lothian.

But it was different.

Compared to the Rat Lord standing before her, the kobold prince was just a child.

René could feel the overwhelming aura of divine blood from the Rat Lord’s body.

Now, René understood Yoo Seong’s words about the fall of Legion—it must have been due to the Rat Lord.

And then, the Rat Lord opened his eyes.

He looked at the light bird with his red, blood-colored eyes, and at that moment, Yoo Seong and René both realized it.

Their eyes met.

It didn’t just mean that the Rat Lord had spotted the light bird.

The Rat Lord was looking at Yoo Seong and René through the light bird.

[Is it you?]

They even heard a voice.

René felt as though she couldn’t breathe as the Rat Lord’s voice echoed in her mind.

It felt as though the Rat Lord’s thick, dark magic was squeezing her entire body.

The Rat Lord smiled.

He smiled while still leaning on his palanquin.

He did not harm either René or Yoo Seong.

He only left them with words as he smiled.

[I will look forward to it, young human king.]

The Rat Lord’s magic disappeared.

Unlike when the necromancer appeared, the light bird didn’t explode or vanish.

It seemed as though the Rat Lord was saying that he could look at it as much as he wanted, without interference.

He just gently pulled back his magic.

“It’s okay, René. Let’s stop here.”

At Yoo Seong’s words, René hastily withdrew the light bird.

When she opened her eyes, her entire body was drenched in sweat.

René, breathing heavily, looked back at Yoo Seong.

Her golden eyes, usually full of energy, were now filled with confusion and fear.

The Rat Lord must be defeated.

Only by repelling the Rat Lord could they win.

But how?

How could they possibly face that monster?

It wasn’t just a monster with great strength.

He was also a powerful mage with immense magic.

His words contained divine power.

Those words were curses and magic, and any normal mage would surely die or faint just from facing his malice.

Wh-what should we do?

René silently asked with her eyes.

She tried to hold back her voice, but her expression revealed her question.

Yoo Seong didn’t hastily say it would be fine.

Because he too had been shocked and flustered when facing the Rat Lord.

Even in Fantasy Monarch, the Rat Lord was an incredibly powerful being but not like this.

He was the one who had practically single-handedly destroyed Legion.

The monster that knocked down Sir Charles, who had mastered second-level chivalry, with a single strike.

Now Yoo Seong understood.

He was a being with that much power.

But even so.

Yoo Seong held René’s trembling hand.

With the same hand that René had been surprised by for being so large, he completely enveloped her small hand, sharing warmth.

Gradually, René’s trembling eased.

Instead of asking if she was calm, Yoo Seong gave a small smile and withdrew his hand. René blushed slightly and awkwardly turned her head.

“The marching speed is fast. It’ll take about two days to reach Baron Robert’s territory.”

At Yoo Seong’s words, René nodded.

Although the time wasn’t enough to completely gather the Western Lords alliance, it was sufficient to finish preparations for facing the Rat Lord.

Yoo Seong opened his status window and looked at Yoo Seong Castle.

The temple and blacksmith were busy working.

Kate, with the soldiers, had gathered in the temple to pray, shortening the temple’s second function, the time of sanctification.

The blacksmiths in the forge were stoking the holy fire, while Fergus and Melisa were hammering away tirelessly.

They were preparing to face the Rat Lord.

Finally, Yoo Seong looked at Vanadain.

Holding Tristan’s bow, he wasn’t hiding somewhere with Diana as usual, but was instead standing atop the city wall, pulling back an empty bowstring.

Yoo Seong could summon four units simultaneously.

This also meant that he could summon four knights.

One of those spots was reserved for Vanadain.

Vanadain had the most important role in this operation.

Vanadain pulled back the bowstring again.

Despite his three-foot stature, his profile looked truly magnificent.

“Elves are still elves.”

Yoo Seong smiled bitterly and closed the Yoo Seong Castle.

“Now, let’s go back—Rene?”

Yoo Seong blinked as he asked.

This was because Rene, who had been sitting right next to him, was now sitting almost 2 meters away.

Why is she suddenly doing that?

When Yoo Seong asked with his eyes, Rene hesitated, covering her face with her hair, and then spoke quietly with a red face.

“Because…I was worried it might smell…”

Because she was drenched in sweat.

Surprised by the unexpected response, Yoo Seong blinked and smiled, and Rene’s face turned even redder.

“No, sorry. No, but seriously, it doesn’t smell at all.”

It seemed to be an unnecessary remark.

So instead of repeating his mistake, Yoo Seong simply stood up and said:

“Let’s go back to Baron Robert’s territory.”

Rene nodded without saying anything, and the two rode off, keeping a slight distance from each other.

The next day after Yoo Seong and Rene returned to Baron Robert’s territory, the army of Lothian, led by Ruan, Robin, and Edgar, arrived at Lord Robert’s territory.

The battle priests had already arrived with the first support force, so the additional troops were only 400 infantry, but they had to leave some of their forces behind to defend Lothian. Considering that, they had gathered as many troops as possible.

“Robin!”

“Miss!”

“Robin!”

“Miss!”

Rene and Robin happily embraced each other, while Jillian and Ruan exchanged graceful greetings.

“The Baltois family also sent support troops, all cavalry, but due to the distance, it will take them longer to arrive.”

Perhaps it was news he had heard along the way, Edgar spoke.

“It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. They must have had a hard time traveling such a long distance. Let’s let them rest today.”

If the Baltois family’s troops had arrived—especially if the knights leading the reinforcements had joined—the battle with the ratmen could have changed in nature, but it was unavoidable.

And the following afternoon the ratmen’s great army arrived at Baron Robert’s territory.