Chapter 70

 "Flanders Offensive and Defensive Battle: The Price of Passion"

 

"Flandern Battle: The Price of Passion"

Wulf harnessed the power of gravity and accelerated even further. None of his subordinates could keep up. Similarly, William charged up the hill to confront him. Their gazes towards the opponent who moved beyond their expectations differed greatly.

White was filled with anger. Regardless of the circumstances, he blamed himself for allowing an opening from which he could be attacked. If he were to bear the responsibility for defeat, it would be a significant stain on his career. Therefore, his anger overflowed.

Black was delighted. He hadn't expected such unexpected moves that had surpassed his expectations. The existence of a formidable adversary like William Livius naturally brought a smile to his face.

"Mercenary!"

White, William Livius' slash gleamed. Wulf, using his height advantage and exceptional jumping ability, easily evaded it and executed a spinning strike upon landing. However, what he thought was a guaranteed hit was thwarted as White lifted the scabbard on his waist and deftly avoided the sword strike.

"White Mask!"

Black, Wulf still had one sword left. The irrationality of wielding two swords shone brightly in this dire situation. He quickly swung his sword at William, who was still facing away. He aimed for the most difficult area to dodge, around the knee. However, William was not just turning his back without a plan. As Wulf's sword came down, he swung his own sword in the opposite direction.

"What!?"

"Ugh!"

Wulf had the edge in reach, but William had the advantage in momentum. Wulf realized that if they clashed head-on, it would be to his disadvantage, so he forcefully adjusted his sword to meet William's. They both were sent flying in opposite directions.

"This guy!?"

Although their upbringings were different, there was one crucial point where William and Wulf were the same.

It was their unwavering belief in their best abilities, free from doubt and compromise, as they had pursued their paths without deviations or wasted effort. Even if there were detours, they used them as stepping stones. That's why they were similar.

At a young age, William and Wulf, White and Black...

"Hey hey... our commander is evenly matched."

They both stood at the pinnacle. Considering their ages, they were extraordinarily precocious. They also had tremendous room for growth. Their insatiable thirst for power, rooted in despair, drove them equally. That's why they couldn't stop. They couldn't afford to.

"You're doing well!"

The black wolf roared. Their pursuit of the path they had walked. There were fools who followed it. That fact eased the loneliness of the lone wolf. They were not alone. Their enemies were here. Those who equaled themselves and their existence.

"Just die already!"

The horde of undead moaned in frustration. The black wolf, who had blocked their path, thought he was superior to anyone else in his generation, just as William believed. In terms of overall ability among their peers, they should have been ahead of everyone else.

That pleased him, and it made him hate.

"Is there someone in our generation who can match our commander?"

William continued to handle Wulf, who had the advantage in speed, with rationality. Wulf was faster with each move, but William was more precise. It was a balanced battle. The horde of undead and the wolf devoured each other and elevated themselves. With each move, they became more formidable.

"Whoooaaaargh!"

They danced on the hilltop, their breath forgotten. Their swords grazed each other, and the blood flew. Their swords cut down the flowers that grew from the ground, coloring the world. No one else could enter the world they created.

*Gulp*. For those who had no choice but to watch, it was an irresistible spectacle.

 "The battle that seemed to last forever. However, the end comes suddenly.

"William!"

Carl and his group finally arrived at the scene, albeit late. With their combined efforts, including their subordinates, they could break through Wolf's forces. There was no need to rush the fight, but...

"Wolf! The sound of horse hooves is getting closer! We're in trouble if we stay like this!"

The sound of horse hooves meant Gilbert, who was riding a horse, was approaching. Even for Wolf, facing both William and Gilbert would be a heavy burden.

"Shut up! This is a good time! Don't get in the way!"

But Wolf was too high to think clearly. He wanted to continue the battle in this situation, causing his subordinates to panic. And...

"Two fools. One of them is technically our ally. Kill the one in black."

With overwhelming speed, Gilbert and his knights appeared on the scene. This was a checkmate situation. Unpleasant sweat trickled down the backs of the subordinates. "Total defeat" - those two words represented their despair.

"Overrun them!"

As Gilbert gave the command, the knights charged. Their target was Wolf and his companions.

"Damn it! I should've spent my ill-gotten gold on women instead of saving it."

The black mercenaries were in a defensive position. They weren't without skill. Wolf had brought them here to take down the main camp. They were among the most skilled in the mercenary group.

"Hmph! Can infantry beat cavalry?"

Infantry and cavalry had fundamentally different capabilities. Moreover, their opponents were Gilbert's elite knights, not the kind who would serve under a mere hundred-man commander.

"We captured such a big fish, but if we lose the general, it's all in vain, you bastards!"

They were mercenaries too. They had long since accepted the possibility of losing their lives. Nevertheless, this kind of scattered situation was not what they had in mind. They had to somehow keep their leader alive, the wolf boss they had grown fond of.

"We're ready to die, you idiots!"

They faced the approaching knights with their swords drawn. The knights, mounted on horses, smiled. Infantry swords wouldn't reach them. Being on horseback gave them an absolute advantage. That overconfidence created a gap in the knights' hearts.

"But this is no time for games!"

In the midst of that gap, an arrow shot with a scolding tone. Despite their advantage, the knights fell from their horses, smiles still on their faces. It was a shot that was fast, powerful, and above all, incredibly precise. It took down an opponent in heavy armor with a single shot.

"Who is that!?"

Only Gilbert understood what had happened when the arrow was released. Even so, he was too late...

A man on horseback rode up the hill alone, shooting accurately while riding a horse. A master of archery. The only ones who knew the name of the man who had casually taken out the knights were Anselm, who was present on the battlefield, and his comrades.

"Uwaine!"

Uwaine intervened in the fight between Wolf and William without even glancing at his comrades. He leaped from his horse to the space between them in just a few seconds. In the blink of an eye, Uwaine deflected both of their swords. Then he kicked William away and struck Wolf in the stomach with a powerful punch.

"Ugh!?"

Wolf writhed in pain, and Uwaine threw him over his shoulder onto the horse. In an incredibly short amount of time, Uwaine had saved his leader. He did it with a calm demeanor, even as he smiled, in this tight situation. Uwaine, the vice-commander.

"Nicely done, Uwaine! You can always count on him!"

The black mercenaries were filled with renewed vigor. But...

"Die, you lowly mercenaries!"

Gilbert acted. His sharp, deadly intent was like a sword itself. The overwhelming advantage of being on horseback gave him momentum too.

"He does have momentum."

Uwaine had already dropped his bow and had a sword in hand. Sword clashed with sword. The platinum gleam of his blade shattered Gilbert's sword like a lion's fang. Gilbert's sword flew into the air. Uwaine glanced at Gilbert's throat and then mounted his horse with his leader.

"Sorry, you guys. Die."

Uwaine's words were directed at his allies. There was only room for one on the horse. The rest would have to be left behind.

Hearing that, the black mercenaries grinned.

"We'll collect our pay in hell. Make sure the interest piles up as you live longer."

"Our interest is quite high."

"Yes, we'll make sure to pass on the message."

Uwaine turned his horse and pretended to flee.

"Don't let them escape!"

Gilbert's cry echoed on the battlefield. Without a horse and with his sword deflected, Gilbert's pride was in tatters. Nevertheless, he didn't forget his role as a commander and directed his soldiers.

"As you wish!"

The knights rushed at Uwaine. With one hand holding Wolf down and the other holding the reins, it should have been easy to finish them off. But even so...

"Die!"

Attacked from two directions simultaneously...

 

"..."

Releasing the reins, drawing his sword, and effortlessly slicing through the opponent's weapon. He performed such actions with ease, as if it were nothing. Two flashes of light, and the arm of a familiar knight was sent flying. Uwaine passed through them without even glancing in their direction.

"Kuh, are you going to let him escape?"

As Gilbert moved to pursue, the black mercenaries launched a sudden assault. In an instant, he dodged and picked up his sword.

Uwaine's figure was already gone. Only the men remained, grinning with sinister smiles.

"...Don't interfere. I'll kill every one of you."

Their shattered pride. To regain it, they needed to chase after Uwaine. But they were obstructed, and they couldn't forgive that. Being hindered by something as insignificant as a pebble on the roadside was infuriating beyond measure.

"Alone? You're underestimating us!"

The mercenaries pounced on him all at once. The man facing them had sharp eyes.

"It's you who... are underestimating me."

Without any mercy, he cut them all down.

---

"We've lost valuable subordinates. It's your mistake in judgment," Uwaine said as he slammed Wolf against a tree. His eyes showed no warmth, only disappointment in his leader.

"I won't make excuses. I admit I made a fool of myself. Do as you wish."

"Very well."

Uwaine struck Wolf's face with a powerful punch. Wolf was thrown to the ground.

"Hey, stop it! Sure, Wolf messed up, but he did take down the enemy commander, right? So, maybe you don't have to punish him so much. Right?"

Nika stepped between them to stop Uwaine, who wore a bitter expression but lowered his fist.

"It's quite chaotic here. Anyway, it's a mountain. Perfect for a picnic, hahaha."

Rudolf le Harzburg appeared at Wolf's camp. Everyone present froze. It was an unthinkable situation. Harzburg's people setting foot in a place like this was beyond belief. It was utterly absurd.

"By the way, where's Anatole?" Raimbalk, one of the Three Nobles, asked the people there. They all remained silent.

"Huh? Did he die?" Rudolf's voice sounded amused, but his eyes were not smiling.

"He's not dead. However, he's seriously injured," Uwaine's voice was heavy.

"Who asked for your opinion? I'm talking to Wolf here."

Uwaine stepped back in silence. Wolf and Rudolf faced each other. There was a significant height difference between them, which was accentuated by Wolf's demeanor.

"It's not a good situation, huh? Having a nameless commander like the 'Sobbing Spear' doesn't make sense. Above all, if you can't defeat the White Mask, it's meaningless."

Rudolf emphasized his point. Wolf didn't disagree. He had realized it thoroughly. The White Mask was chosen by the gods, just like him.

"It was a mistake to rely on a man like him. In that case, let us handle it and show you how to defeat the White Mask," Raimbalk said, but Rudolf ignored him completely, which frustrated Raimbalk.

"Maybe you were just too weak for this?" Uwaine, Nika, and all the black mercenaries, who should have stayed silent, reacted to those words. They sent a wordless killing intent towards Rudolf. Raimbalk's glare had no effect either.

"You're not weak. I just got a bit greedy today," Wolf said as he stood up and moved forward. The height difference between him and Rudolf was significant. Wolf's aura made it even more pronounced.

"I'll take on the White Mask, and the battles as well. So, you can just fondle some breasts and wait for me."

The Black Wolf's fangs. They had been honed by self-blame. Even Raimbalk was taken aback by the atmosphere Wolf exuded. The pressure was so intense that Rudolf smiled.

"Then I'll leave it to you for a while. I'll prepare a substitute for Anatole... just in case. Good luck, Black Wolf."

Rudolf's purpose for coming remained unclear, but in the end, the situation was resolved. Although they had a hitch at the very end, Wolf's group was still in a dominant position. They had defeated the enemy commander and, despite being wounded, Wolf was still alive. This difference was significant.

"We'll clear our name soon. We have to earn back what they took from us. You guys better make sure to survive until our debts are paid off," Wolf declared.

"We have high-interest rates."

"Yes, we'll make sure to pass that message along."

With that, Wolf turned and seemed to pretend to flee.

"Don't let them escape!"

Gilbert's shout echoed on the battlefield. They had been pushed back at the very end, but they had managed to push back the enemy's forces today. Moreover, the wounded Wolf had not been killed. They were not just winning; they were still in an advantageous position. This was no time for dejection.

"We'll win again tomorrow. And we'll do it perfectly," Wolf declared.

 

"Why am I not good enough?"

On the way back, Rudolf, who had come secretly, was being carried on Rheinvelka's back. He hated walking. Although they weren't returning all the way to Flandren, returning to their base was still quite a distance. That's why he was being carried. It was only natural.

"In mountain warfare, it's not like you can win. I mean, one-on-one combat is one thing, but mountain warfare is tough, right? Honestly, Nederkus is militarily outdated. They can't win in a regular army versus army scenario. That's why they outsource it. They hire specialists."

Rheinvelka seemed dissatisfied. She believed she could easily handle that level of military force herself.

"Don't underestimate it. No matter who you are, if you get slashed with a sword, you'll die, and if you get pierced by enough arrows, you'll die. Even the Three Nobles aren't invincible. Especially you, considering your various vulnerabilities."

Rheinvelka slumped her shoulders. In response, Rudolf almost slipped off her back, and he lightly tapped her head. She apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

After calming down a bit, Rudolf spoke up.

"Which do you think is superior, the White Mask or the Black Wolf?"

To Rudolf's question, Rheinvelka immediately answered, "The Black Wolf."

Rudolf chuckled.

"I thought so too, that's why I asked for their help. I hesitated for a moment... But, well, as mercenaries, they should be fine, right? No matter how skilled they are, they're still just mercenaries. They can't change the world. I guess that's their intention, but... the world isn't that forgiving."

Rudolf yawned.

"The Black Wolf is strong. But the White Mask is terrifying. That's something I understand. Wolf-kun pushed himself too hard. The 'Lion Candidate' didn't seem to notice, though."

Rheinvelka tilted her head. Seeing that, Rudolf smirked and went to sleep.

After confirming that Rudolf had fallen asleep, Rheinvelka reflected on their conversation thus far. Then, she looked up at the sky and furrowed her brow.

"Terrifying, huh? Is that man even more 'fearful' than me?"

Rheinvelka's mutterings were absorbed by the night's veil.