Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 14

“I’ve finally caught up.”

These were the words that slipped from my own mouth as I took the lead, finally catching up to Caroline at the border with Virendorf. Approximately 100 enemies entered my field of view, still far from engagement distance. Upon my words, the marching song of Sabine and the others naturally came to a halt, and the color of their eyes transformed into that of readiness for battle.

“Faust, what’s our move?”

So it comes to this. Technically, you’re the supreme commander. Well, it’s Valiere-sama’s first battle, so it can’t be helped. As the Second Princess’s Advisor, I suppose it’s my role to assist. Normally, I’d ask what Anastasia, the First Princess, or Duchess Astarte would think in this situation, or they might respect my seasoned judgment enough to grant me autonomy from the start.

Considering this, it’s clear that Princess Anastasia was exceptional from her first battle. It’s not that Valiere-sama is lacking; it’s that Anastasia-sama is extraordinary. With these thoughts, I glanced forward at Caroline, murmuring,

“They’ve likely noticed us by now.”

“Do you think they have binoculars, just like us?”

“It’s an incredibly useful tool. It’s unthinkable that Caroline wouldn’t possess one, all the more so in these plains where the field of vision stretches far and wide.”

Confidently, I whispered that our presence was undoubtedly noticed by Caroline. Now, it depends on how they respond. I’d prefer to avoid a full-force battle; the damage would be too great. I refuse to let innocent civilians and my own people die needlessly. Helga reported, using her binoculars,

“The enemy… they’ve now divided into two groups.”

Fleeing. With the Virendorf border in sight, Caroline chose to escape, using the bandits as sacrificial pawns. Somewhat thankful, it’s better than a full-force battle with structured formations. A more convenient situation for us.

“Helga, prepare our people for battle.”

“Yes.”

After instructing Helga, I then turned to Valiere-sama.

“Valiere-sama, we’ll start by scattering the weak.”

“Scattering the weak?”

“In this situation, there’s no role for the Royal Guard or militia. It’s simply… a slaughter.”

I whispered so to Valiere-sama. Yes, this is nothing but a slaughter. Just like any other military duty, a mere extermination of bandits. Smiling faintly, I returned a smile to Valiere-sama and began the charge, signaling with a code.

“Cross!”

The preparation of crossbows by five knights was already complete. All that remained was to pull the trigger.

“Helga, before you put away the binoculars, check one more time. Can you see the enemy commander?”

“Yes, I can see them. Likely not a bandit. Judging by the chainmail and helmet, probably one of the enemy’s knights.”

Bandits wouldn’t silently become mere pawns. There must always be a leading commander. One of Caroline’s knights, then? It seems that bandit group was taken over by Caroline after killing their leader. The knight stepped forward to command the bandits, knowing full well it meant death?

Caroline is quite the character to make such a move. With that analysis complete,

“There’s no need to target the knight with crossbows. I’ll take care of the knight. First, ensure the enemy’s archers, all five of them, are killed.”

“Understood, Lord Faust.”

I despise archers. Not that deflecting arrows is troublesome, but it’s irritating. For that sole reason, I prioritize killing the archers first. That’s all there is to it; bandits are nothing more than that. Now, it’s time to engage the enemy.

With Valiere-sama’s Royal Guard and the magistrate-led militia slightly behind, we, twenty soldiers from the Polydoro territory, along with myself, take the forefront.

“I am Faust von Polydoro! If you seek death, come forth!”

“――!!”

Fear raced through the enemy ranks.

There was only one man knight in the Kingdom of Anhalt who would charge at the forefront like this: Faust von Polydoro, the Knight of Wrath, the strongest knight in the kingdom. For the enemies, there could be no doubt about his identity. Although a name I despise, having such a moniker is useful at times like these.

“Calm down! After all, he’s just a man, a knight led by rumors! Stay calm!”

The enemy leader, one of Caroline’s knights, attempted to calm the bandits, but to no avail. I wouldn’t allow them to escape. The bandits were to be killed to boost morale.

 “Sing for me.”

The song of bloodshed. I ordered not my beloved people, but the thirty enemy bandits.

The crossbows fired, targeting the five suspected enemy archers, hitting their mark due to the skill of the seasoned knights. Within moments, five of the thirty bandits were dead.

 “Now, scream.”

The scream of death. Riding my horse, I naturally took the lead, as always. Wielding a magical greatsword passed down through generations, I beheaded five startled bandits in succession, equalizing their numbers with my people.

“And die.”

As they fell to the ground, creating pools of blood, there were no longer any archers among the bandit group. This was the best outcome. I charged directly at the knight acting as the bandit leader, merging with my steed in a single motion.

Leaping. I soared through the air with my horse, Flügel, landing in front of the chainmail-clad knight of Caroline. The knight couldn’t react in time. With my beloved greatsword, I sliced from the top of the knight’s head down to her abdomen, bisecting her. The knight’s helmet, split in two, fell to the ground alongside her body.

“Your leader is dead now!”

My shout echoed across the battlefield, demoralizing the bandits who had lost their commander. Without leadership, the bandits, some begging for their lives, others trying to flee, were systematically killed by my people. With spears. Or swords. It was a routine matter.

This sort of task had become second nature during my military service from ages fifteen to twenty. My people efficiently carried out their work—the slaughter. Even as I thought this, I continued to kill any bandits near the knight, one after another, their numbers too trivial to count. Keeping track of a kill score was too tedious.

The battle lasted less than a few minutes, with no casualties on our side. It was a routine slaughter.

“May you be reborn as flowers or something in the next life.”

With those concluding words, I looked down from my horse at the dead bandits. Thirty bandits killed in just a few minutes. Without needing orders, my knights began reloading their crossbows, pulling back the strings with winches. Valiere-sama’s Royal Guard and the forty militiamen led by the magistrate caught up.

“Faust. Those bandits?”

Valiere-sama asked a needless question. It should be obvious.

“I killed them all. You can see for yourself.”

“What about your casualties, Faust?”

“Zero.”

Always zero. I wouldn’t die to mere bandits. The only times I prepared for death were during my first battle and the campaign against Virendorf. Bandits can be slaughtered while humming a tune. They’re just weaklings. The real issue is—

“The discussion starts now, Valiere-sama. While preparing to reload the crossbows, we’ll resume the pursuit of Caroline. It’s likely she’ll try to cross into Virendorf. In the worst case, I might leave the battle to chase Caroline alone. During that time, I’ll transfer command to Helga. Feel free to use her as you see fit.”

Though I say “feel free,” I have no intention of letting them die in vain. It’s not as if Helga will blindly follow Valiere-sama’s orders. A knight commander of a noble lord isn’t raised that way. Without expressing this out loud, I looked towards Caroline’s forces. Two carriages led the way; one held men and boys taken from a direct domain, and the other likely carried Caroline herself.

Which one is the right target? The big chest or the small chest? I suspect Caroline is in the smaller carriage, harboring something valuable. With these thoughts, I waited for the crossbows to be reloaded.

※

“There’s no need for you to die. Let the bandits remain as mere expendable pawns.”

“Even expendable pawns require a commander. Surely, you realize this, Lady Caroline?”

I bit my lip upon realizing the knight had volunteered to lead the bandits, offering herself up as a sacrificial pawn.

So far.

We’ve come this far, only to…

The border of Virendorf is just ahead, within an hour’s reach.

I saw the border through my binoculars earlier. There, knights from Virendorf, having noticed us from their fort’s watchtower, were waiting at the border with dozens of soldiers.

That’s our goal.

Surely, asylum will be granted.

We can escape from this country.

“In the worst case, be prepared to flee alone, Lady Caroline.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What meaning would there be in abandoning you all to escape alone?”

“The meaning lies in the fact that we have supported you, Lady Caroline, all this way. As long as you survive, surely, that will have meaning.”

Such fools.

Do they still believe that their failure in the succession dispute is their fault?

The failure in the succession dispute…

“The failure in the succession dispute was due to my own folly. I should never have engaged in such a thing.”

Regret.

I finally voiced it out loud.

The defeat in the succession dispute was all due to my incompetence.

I finally admitted it.

I should have networked more with other vassals.

During my military service, I should have connected with the royal family—the Queen Liesenlotte and the First Princess Anastasia—and worked to have my claim acknowledged.

More, much more.

If only I had done more.

The words of regret are endless.

“Weren’t we, the vassals and the citizens, all comrades who shared the same pot during our military service? We, who supported Lady Caroline, are to blame. Ah, but we no longer have time. This is farewell, Lady Caroline.”

“Wait—wait for me!”

Ignoring my plea, the knight ran off to join the bandits, all for the sake of allowing me to cross into Virendorf and seek asylum.

How many knights and citizens have we lost in the dispute over the domain?

How many severely injured did we leave behind during this march?

Ah.

Ah, had I foreseen this outcome, I would never have embarked on the succession dispute.

With each death, the folly of my actions becomes more apparent.

“…Martina.”

I call out my daughter’s name.

I couldn’t bring her along for this escape.

By now, she might have been hanged in the domain.

“…To Virendorf, to seek asylum.”

Staggering, that’s all I can mutter.

That’s all that’s left for me, who lost my husband to illness, my daughter to folly, and forced my loyal knights into being expendable pawns.

I shall present the men and boys I’ve taken from the direct domain as an offering to Virendorf.

Using the wealth packed in the carriages, I’ll start anew as a knight.

Selling all the information I know about the Kingdom of Anhalt might also be a good idea.

Let them call me a traitor; what do I care?

I have nothing left.

Except for the seventy elite soldiers I brought along, excluding the citizens I served with in the military.

Then, a report like a whisper from a demon reaches my ears.

“Lady Caroline! Lady Caroline! Through the binoculars, we’ve confirmed the enemy commander!”

“Who is it? A familiar face? Duchess Astarte, or perhaps…”

“The enemy commander is a male knight, most likely Faust von Polydoro, the Knight of Wrath!!”

I impulsively leapt from the carriage to see the situation of the bandits—my knights.

There, likely, a one-sided slaughter was taking place.

Judgment has come.

The Knight of Wrath, who has turned into a demon to judge me, had arrived.