Chapter 70. One animal vs. eighty-seven people (6)
There are always variables.
Something difficult to predict. Exceptional circumstances. Unexpected accidents and other things appear anytime, anywhere. It subverts expectations, changes situations, and changes well-laid plans.
Now even Plantz knows variables.
It’s easy to predict a few moves ahead in a chess game, but haven’t we learned that living in the world is different?
I learned that a well-made plan to catch Evan could be completely ruined by a poison pouch that one of the knights gave me. I learned that Kalian, who was right in front of Rashid’s sword, might not necessarily block the way. I learned that there were days when, when I went out to visit after fully preparing from head to toe, Anne ran out of the bathroom provided for the two cats with soap bubbles hanging down, ran into my arms, and cried sadly.
– …… curiosity.
And today too.
I once again realized that variables can arise anytime, anywhere.
He analyzed the scent of the surface of the water and instructed them to make something that would have the same effect but without the scent. He gathered all the Balkan wizards who had learned the earth attribute and had them create as many pits as they could, and prepared a strong net and numerous magical bullets. They decided where and how to deploy the eighty-six members and what kind of fight they would fight, and made them all familiar with it.
Until then, everything had gone smoothly.
Not everything, including the actual fight, went as planned.
When a scent like sleeping incense was released into the room, Calian had already prepared to start a fight. I set up magic lanterns throughout the forest to keep in mind that they would continue to sneak into the shadows and try to fight, but there was no need to use them thanks to Calian, who was always running wild without hiding himself. Two more traps were set in the forest, but Kalyan was not caught. The pink-haired wizard who could not drink milk was instructed to scout near the center of the forest and provide support for the first group, but he did not notice Calian’s approach, and the first group was quickly ‘outcast’ by Calian.
However, they did not act as variables.
It was just a little different from what I expected, so there was no need to revise and redefine the plan.
– He said he did it out of curiosity.
– That’s right, Deputy Commander, who seems like he will only be the Deputy Commander for a while, not your subordinate.
But a variable arose.
– I hope you fall asleep. When do you think it will happen?
– I ate it. According to the Manasil pharmacist, I will sleep well until tomorrow.
A wizard who was included among the eighty-six.
As soon as the sleeping scent was completed, the wind wizard decided to take it to the forest and spread the scent while pretending to fight Calian. That guy became curious about the perfection of the sleeping pill.
I was curious to see if it was really made well so that it didn’t have any scent. So I opened the lid of the sleeping pills and smelled it. Even though I didn’t know that it was a medicine that was not only for ingestion but also spread in the air.
– What do you want to do, Deputy Commander, Deputy Commander?
Plantz closed his eyes for a moment as he heard Arsene tell him the news on behalf of the wizard who had fallen asleep.
No one can cure a wizard’s curiosity. know well.
Plantz knows that it would be quicker to wait for my fiancé to grow taller than to wait for the wizard to give up his curiosity.
However, I also know very well that it is not easy for a wizard facing such a great fight to become more curious about things like sleeping pills than fighting.
– I am also someone who has seen the prince change, so can I go instead? You seem to forget it often, but I am the vice commander.
While standing next to the wizard, I kept hearing the excited voice of a crazy wizard with blue hair who must have aroused my curiosity about sleeping pills.
– In fact, the vice corps commander, the vice corps commander, is also the vice corps commander, and I am also the vice corps commander, so in the end, aren’t we the same deputy corps commander? Therefore, there is no need for me, the vice-corps commander, to participate in battle after receiving permission from the vice-corps commander, who is also the vice-corps commander. However, since you said that this is a fight related to some kind of bet between the prince and the deputy commander, the deputy commander, I, the vice commander, should first ask the deputy commander, the vice commander,… I wish I could just turn it off
.
I wish it would turn off please.
– Plus, he’s good at fighting, Vice Commander, Deputy Commander.
– Isn’t the problem because I’m good at fighting?
– What do you mean?
– I think this situation is close enough. By touching my brother.
– ……Did you know that this was a situation that was gnawing at something that the prince had stored in his memory? Since you said that you had soldiers fully dressed in Vulcan uniforms standing in front of the prince who had taken on the appearance of a king, I thought you did not know what the situation was.
A voice with clear sarcasm was conveyed.
Plantz, with his eyebrows furrowed, sent a reply.
– I know. Kalyan knows too.
– So, did you two really do this on purpose?
– You have to look at the scent in person to know whether it is as strong as you remember.
After wearing a lily-scented perfume that was very similar to Renier’s, I realized that it was not as strong as I remembered. Only after breaking the tightly locked window and removing the tightly drawn curtains did I see the brother who had decided to go outside.
So, each of us learned that sometimes it is helpful not to just caress but to intentionally touch and explode.
– Then why are you trying so hard to win when you could just lose?
– Win or lose. It would be enough for my brother to fight properly without having anything on his back anymore, so why should I lose? He says he knows he made a bet. I don’t have to win to get it.
-What did you hang up?
– Knightly Oath.
– no way. If Prince Calian loses, he will take an oath as a knight…
– No. the opposite. If I win, I’ll give it to Kalyan.
There was no answer from Arsene.
Maybe he’s spitting out swear words out of his mouth. Planz thought about this for a moment and continued driving with a solemn look in his eyes.
– I don’t think you know. It is said that the king did in the past what Sir Castrin, His Majesty’s knight, did now. Moreover, in the past, Lord Castrin said that when a war broke out, he went somewhere else and blocked the Balkans. The King’s knights do not move that far away. It is said that Sir Castrin was not the king’s knight at that time. This means that there was another knight to guard His Highness Chase’s side. A sword master with as much force as Lord Castrin, and the last one… the one who will guard the castle gate until the very end.
– okay.
– The fact that the king came to that point and left the palace even with such force means that he was a knight protecting the king, not the country. If it had been a position other than knight, wouldn’t he have at least competed with Lord Castrin? So the king must have been a knight of His Highness Chase.
– know. me too.
– …and lower. His Royal Highness Chase’s mother is a concubine. The king is the queen’s descendant. That’s why the king became a knight instead of staying by his brother’s side as a member of the same royal family as the current prince.
– I know that too.
– But why do you do the same thing?
Arsene, who had stopped speaking, fell silent again.
Looks like he’s swearing again.
When the story about the knight’s oath was brought up, Planz, who briefly remembered Calian’s face as if he had been in and out of the abyss, spoke.
– It’s not the same. Aren’t the times and now different, the king and I also different people? Chase, his wife, and my brother are not the same at all. But my brother and I are still confused. So we decided to fight. Win or lose.
If Planz wins, he will realize for himself that this time, Balkan exists to protect, not to kill or invade.
Calian may have failed to stop Balkan this time, but that fact would not be a turning point. This is because it shows that Plantz, who has the force and power to defeat Calian, only chooses the Knight’s Oath as the most efficient method instead of ‘there are plenty of other ways to choose’. The fact that Chase and Bern’s only way to live together is fundamentally different from when Verne’s knightly oath was the only way for them to live together.
If Calian wins, Calian will no longer be the Bern that fell in front of the castle walls that day. This time, we blocked the Balkans. In that case, he would realize that he was different from the helpless Chase who could not stop Verne’s oath as a knight.
Plantz will not risk his life for the same reasons as before, but even if a situation arises where Plantz risks his life, Calian will not associate it with Chase, whom I was unable to protect. Because the Balkans were blocked.
I knew that, so I decided to fight.
Neither Planz nor Kalian. Win or lose.
– Then wouldn’t it be right for you to call me too?
– Wizard. you.
– Our prince is now holding a sword made of cloud iron. I can’t break that cloud.
– so.
– Didn’t you say there’s no castle wall behind the prince’s back? So, because of me, that fragile boundary will not be broken and there will be no more holes in the prince’s heart.
At Arsene’s words, Plantz’s eyes closed and then opened again.
– With sleeping pills. and.
– yes. Im here.
“…… under.”
The blue-haired crazy wizard, who had already arrived and asked for permission rather than coming here with permission, was slowly walking in front of Plants and grinning. A long sigh flowed from Plantz’s mouth when he saw that.
So Arsene joined the fight.
Even Plants couldn’t figure out what kind of variables this crazy guy would create in this fight.
* * *
No.
Is it an ornament?
He’s been drilling holes in my stomach and teaching me how to use the sword, but why are you just sitting here randomly firing arrows instead of using the sword you’re supposed to use? Do you think I can’t use a bow? I’m also good at using a bow. Brother, are you looking at me like a really big wild boar?
Calian frowned when he caught a glimpse of Planz, who had no intention of getting down from Estina’s saddle. And then he opened his mouth.
“Thirty-seven, including Lord Hertz. Are you attacking them all at once?”
“There are less than 20 people, so I sent 25, but it was no use.”
“I thought they were sending out about 20 people for training purposes.”
“I think we can do hunting training with that number of people later.”
One side of Planz’s lip went up.
“If my brother says it is difficult for him to deal with 37 people by himself, I will reduce it.”
That shit still makes me feel bad.
Slowly, like Lucy in front of a toy, and like a wild beast in front of delicious prey, Calian grinned and bared his fangs, gently raising his gray sword.
“It’s hard.”
The tip of the sword points to the planz.
Calian looked at Planz. I looked at Arsene. I watched Damien Scone, one of the division commanders of the Knights, standing behind him. And laughed.
How could it be like that?
Are they all gathered together in the same way as that day?
“I would have been a bit frightened if Sir Zeia had been to Lord Scone’s left.”
Tuk.
The tips of black shoes covered in mud tapped the floor once.
“Unfortunately, it’s a little different.”
Tuk.
I brushed off Needlen’s blood that had just been spilled.
“Whether it’s one animal versus eighty-six people. One versus eight thousand. It can’t possibly be too much.”
– Ugh!
A halo of black light appeared on the gray sword. A sound like the breathing of an animal in the dark night enveloped the sword.
Toouk.
The sword briefly touched the floor.
– Whaaah!
I gave strength to my feet. I kicked the floor as if I was tapping my toes and lifted myself up. He leapt as if he were about to fly.
-Woung Woo -woong
…….-
A cloud of dust rises. The wind rose.
Because it was not the main servant, a whirlwind that took a long time for Needlen to cast blows.
Plantz frowned.
Arsene created a shield in front of Planz and put it on. and.
– Kagagang kaang!
– Kaaaaaaaa!
The sound of many blades being sharpened was heard from behind.
– Kaaang kang!
– Kagang!
– Kang kaang!
A horrifying sound of a blow that seemed to be engraved in my bones was heard from next to me.
– Kang kaang!
From the other side.
Also from the other side.
-…… Sloppy!
Several knights and wizards fell to the floor at what could have been the same time.
“Fifty seven.”
The remaining members quickly move on.
A wizard should be standing around here, and in front of him is a knight other than me. In a situation where I couldn’t see an inch in front of me, out of habit, I guessed where I needed to go and ran. We lined up and formed a camp. The sword was extended in all directions.
“Wizard. You.”
“Your vice-corps commander, vice-corps commander. I am not assigned anywhere, so I will take care of it myself.”
“I thought you would run out right away.”
“If I had done that, I would have died right away.”
“So. Are you saying that you will watch all of your subordinates fall first before leaving?”
“Anyway, these guys will be proud of the scars they received from the prince for the rest of their lives. If they step forward and end the fight now, they will only receive my resentment.”
“so.”
“Have you not read the storybook? The villain leader’s hidden cards are usually the last to come forward.”
“……The villain leader.”
Plantz was escorted by two wizards and three knights. And Arsene’s voice rang out from the dust cloud.
– Hwiiing!
Another wizard who used wind used magical power.
The wind created by Calian was blown in reverse, clearing away the soft dust that was blocking the view.
– Let’s go!
Gai again sees Calian’s sword extending through four layers of shields, blocked by the sword of Damian, the commander of the knights’ division. Sparks flew from Damian’s sword, and the sound of scraping bone came from Calian’s sword.
Calian, who smiled as if it was all right, kicked his foot as soon as his sword bounced. He forcibly pulled the sword that was bouncing back forward and struck Damian’s sword that was about to be recovered.
– Quaaaang!
A strong blow that the original Calian could not deliver was delivered to Damian. The flaming red hair fluttered wildly for an instant. The sword tightly held in my hand bounced down for a moment.
– Ugh, wow!
– Kaaaang!
An excited metallic sound rings out from Calian’s sword.
A fireball flies towards Calian’s side. After striking it in the opposite direction, Damian’s sword suddenly flew in front of my nose. I hit it. They struck down an arrow of lightning together. Avoided the ice whirlwind. He blocks Damian’s sword once again and bounces it away. Calian’s counterattacking sword is blocked by the swords of the four knights.
– Peeing…!
But at that moment, a sharp voice was heard.
Calian, who was charging towards the wizards, stretched out his sword.
– Kagan kang!
I knocked out all three arrows that were flying at me.
Calian turned his head. I looked briefly into the green eyes of Planz, who had shot three arrows with one string.
“Is my older brother calling me?…”
Thirty-seven a moment ago.
The number was still overwhelming.
Even so, the king who had to be hidden behind his back had already appeared. It was as if he was trusting Arsene and standing by his side. As if shooting arrows from a distance to assist the remaining members.
“Why are you picking me up like that?”
He continued to look at Plantz, who was looking at him with eyes that made it difficult to read his thoughts. Then he slightly bowed his head towards Plantz and bowed. After that, he spoke in a voice so low that it could not be heard.
“It’s great bait, but I’m still full.”
I’m not going to my brother’s direction yet.
And Calian laughed long.
Because almost being captured once is enough.
– Hwiik!
– Kaang Kagagang!
– Taaaat!
Calian’s figure, who took a step back, disappeared from sight. At the same time, four layers of shields are erected again around Damian and the knights. Calian, ignoring the shield, moved his feet.
He slashed the shoulder of the brave wizard wearing a shield for Damian with his sword. It pierced the waist of the knight who was running next to him. He swung the sword as he retrieved it and cut down the two knights who were aiming behind him.
No fatal wounds were inflicted.
“… Ugh!”
It might hurt, though.
Calian leapt forward again.
I floated on a sphere of water that flew from somewhere. Step lightly on the sphere and leap again.
– Coo!
Calian came back to Damien and stretched out his sword. Inevitable interruptions continue. I swatted away the arrows of flame that came pouring down.
As if in return for Calian’s endless attacks, four spears of wind rose in the air and pierced the sides of the two wizards and the two knights. He immediately struck down Damian’s sword that was blocking his path.
– Hiss!
Damian’s sword flew out with a sharp sound. Calian’s sword, which slightly twisted his waist to avoid it, glowed black. I tapped Damian’s shoulder, which was full of strength, with the handle of my sword. He moved his arm after avoiding Damian’s sword, which was stabbed back as if to retrieve it.
Calian’s sword, moving at a speed unseen by the eye, was aimed at Damian.
– Suddenly!
– Shhh!
The sound of flesh splitting came first through my body.
The sound of a gray sword cutting through the wind was heard behind it.
How do I achieve that speed?
Damian, who grinned with questioning eyes, fell down and fainted. While holding the forearm that was cleanly penetrated.
After that, the fight continues.
Send the sword and block the sword. Send magic and block magic. Throw away the sword and avoid the magic. He extends his sword and scatters magic.
The wind subsides.
There is a smell of ash from the flames. The fishy smell of blood disturbs me. The bluish-silver hair that danced as if it were another sword or a shadow sinks toward the floor.
“……Seventy-seven.”
and.
Leap again.
There are ten people left.
Calian shook off the blood from his sword and looked away. He stretched out his feet towards the remaining wizards. But then.
– Slut!
– Kwasik!
From that intimidating feeling, another sound blocked Calian’s path.
– Blah blah blah!
A spear of ice is seen deeply embedded in front of Calian’s feet. From there, a stream of ice branched out and headed towards Calian.
“I’m here.”
“It’s quite late, Lord Hertz.”
“It’s late because I was mentally preparing.”
“Are you fully prepared?”
“I was prepared to die and show you talents that I had never shown before.”
“Did you hide something?”
“I learned something along the way.”
Calian, who smiled at the happy words, nodded towards Arsene.
‘It’s a surprise. ‘You surprised me!’
‘Why are you so surprised? ‘Embarrassing people.’
‘You have to be like a human to not be surprised!’
‘That’s harsh. ‘You don’t even treat me like a human anymore?’
‘It’s already a whitish thing, with its hair down, slinking around in the middle of the night. Do you think it’s a person?’
‘You have to see it as a person. Then why are you in your study in the middle of the night?’
‘Because I can’t sleep again. I’ll let him sleep for a while and then watch him and then come out.’
‘No way. Did you use sleeping pills again?’
‘That’s it. ‘When did you come?’
‘Just before. Anyway, I won’t tell my brother that I used drugs, so give me a string to tie my hair up with.’
‘How long has it been since you gave it to me last time? Are you telling me again? Where do you get lost like that?’
‘I burned it. ‘In the fire.’
‘fire? Why the fire this summer? ‘Why are you burning that?’
‘… That happens. Anyway, give me some.’
‘Oh really. I should buy about a hundred of them or something. He already noticed that I took sleeping pills and went to sleep. I’ll give you a hair tie, so don’t keep the secret and just make some noise. I was really surprised.’
‘sorry. ‘It’s a habit.’
‘Why did it become a habit like that? Anyone who sees him will think he is a thief and not a prince.’
‘Don’t say that. ‘Give me the strap, Arianne.’
okay.
“Hidden. Good.”
The hidden power.
A real sword that was never used.
‘Lord Castrin doesn’t do that, so why does his so-called disciple don’t?’
Kalyan had it too.
Not the sword that only pursued silence.
Not the lightness I held in my hand to silence the sound.
– ……Cow.
Calian, holding a new sword, kicked his foot.