Episode 143: Infantry Battalion Commander vs. Knight Order Vice Commander

　On Eldare Avenue, the battle had begun between the infantry battalion led by Leon and the kingdom’s knight order commanded by Vice Commander Yurius Weissmaster.

　Even though they were collectively called the kingdom’s knight order, the abilities of its members varied greatly. There were more than a few nominal knights like Narcian and his close aides.

　However, the ones gathered under Yurius were undoubtedly a select group of elites, their skills the real deal.

　Despite that—the infantry battalion led by Leon was advancing the battle in their favor.

　They continued a fierce assault, slowly but surely forcing the enemy to retreat.

“Take this!”

　While knocking enemy soldiers away with his spear, Leon calmly assessed the battlefield.

(Even if it’s a major avenue, it’s still urban combat in the end… Those knight guys can’t fully utilize their innate mobility.)

　Since it wasn’t a wide-open battlefield like a plain, the knights’ greatest strength—their mobility—was severely restricted.

　Furthermore—.

(Our strategy worked out perfectly here. The soldiers’ morale is high… and we have the vampirized Serodonia soldiers too.)

　The moment their surprise tactic of opening the east gate from the inside and charging into the castle succeeded, the Kirchhen Kingdom side must have suffered a massive psychological shock.

　On the other hand, their side’s morale had soared due to the strategy hitting the mark.

　In addition, the power of the vampirized Serodonia soldiers was overwhelming.

　The battle was completely in their favor. But deep in Leon’s heart, it wasn’t elation over the advantageous situation… but a hint of unease.

“It looks like we can push through like this!”

　Amid the chaos of the battlefield, the one who called out to Leon like that was the young infantryman Robert.

　Indeed, based on momentum alone, it seemed like they could win it all this way. Even Leon himself wanted to believe that.

　But he shook his head slightly.

“No… there’s no way it’ll end like this. Don’t let your guard down.”

　What Leon turned his eyes to was—Knight Order Vice Commander Yurius Weissmaster, leading the forces near the center of the enemy army.

　He was calmly observing the battlefield while issuing composed commands.

　There was no sign of panic or agitation in his movements.

(That guy… isn’t flustered at all.)

　Despite being pushed back, the enemy commander Yurius remained calm. As if everything was going exactly as planned.

　At that moment, an ominous sign appeared.

“Ah, guh… uah…”

“Aah… gah, aaaaaaah…!”

　From among the Serodonia soldiers who had been showing outstanding performance on the battlefield, pained groans began to leak out.

　Several of them suddenly collapsed on the spot, falling to the ground.

“Are you okay?!”

　Serodonia soldier commander Ricardo hurriedly shifted to defense, plugging the gaps left by the fallen soldiers.

　Thanks to his swift action, the unit avoided total collapse.

　However, the number of Serodonia prisoners groaning in pain and lying on the ground was definitely increasing.

　Not only that, but Ricardo himself was feeling something wrong with his body.

　He was somehow enduring it with his strong willpower, but intense dizziness and a sense of weakness were assaulting his entire body.

　On the other hand, the kingdom knight order’s commander—Yurius—was watching the scene with a detached expression.

“…So the backlash has finally appeared.”

　With cold eyes that showed no emotion whatsoever, he surveyed the battlefield while quietly turning his thoughts.

(—Those Serodonia prisoners have reached their limit here. Vampirization… comes with its due cost.)

　To begin with, vampires as beings have several clear weaknesses.

　Things like sunlight or silver weapons fall into that category.

　But Celestina had overturned that common sense. Vampires who overcame their weaknesses and gained overwhelming power—that’s why she’s one of the ‘Seven Great Calamities.’

　And the Serodonia prisoners who inherited even a part of that power no longer feared the sun or silver.

　However—.

(Through vampirization, their bodies and magic power have indeed been greatly enhanced. But their souls can’t keep up with that rapid change.)

　Yurius was convinced of that.

　Against the explosively increased power, the souls of the Serodonia prisoners were screaming, causing their bodies to break down one after another.

　With very few exceptions, overcoming the effects of vampirization required time.

　They had no choice but to gradually acclimate their bodies and souls, carefully adapting to withstand the strain.

　For example, Evan and others, in the early stages right after vampirization, had minimized the use of that power and cautiously adjusted over time.

　But the Serodonia prisoners had no such leeway.

　Rather, because they overused their power, the backlash appeared all the more intensely.

　However, the freshly vampirized Serodonia prisoners had no such temporal leeway. Rather, because they overused their power—the backlash appeared strongly.

(Siegfried must have understood this fact. Yet, did he not inform his subordinates about it? …Well, whatever.)

　Showing no emotion at all, Yurius calmly raised his voice.

“Gentlemen, the time for observation is over. From here on—we go on the offensive. Advance!”

　With that order, the kingdom knight order moved as one.

　As if unleashing the power they had been holding back, their assault was extremely fierce.

“Damn it…! Like hell I’ll let you!”

　Leon readied his spear, assuming a defensive stance.

　From the direction of his gaze, a single knight approached, slicing through the air.

　Clad in silver armor, what he thrust out was a rugged lance.

“Guh…!”

　Leon barely parried the thrust strike with his spear. Even though he deflected it, the heavy impact reverberated through the bones in his arms.

“Heh… So the Knight Order Vice Commander Weissmaster himself is making an appearance…!”

“—That’s only natural, Leon Vague.”

　Yurius replied calmly.

“You’re a man whom Count Kreving has taken an interest in. I have no intention of taking that fact lightly.”

Yurius was aware of the information that Siegfried had shown interest in this young man—Leon—since his enrollment in the officers’ academy.

　The man who revived Celestina of the ‘Seven Great Calamities’ and brought down the magic barrier Magia Valm. There’s no way someone like him, whom such a Siegfried takes notice of, could be ordinary.

　Yurius readjusted his spear with minimal movement, then unleashed thrusts without a shred of opening. Second strike, third strike… his attacks were swift, yet heavy.

“However… that’s precisely why, if I bury you here, Count Kreving will lose a valuable piece. —I’ll be taking your life right here.”