Ranker's Return

Supplementary Story 18

Thousands of troops were lined up on a hill of a mountain range in an area near Duke Jerata’s territory, Franc. The unique thing was that they were all cavalry on horseback. There wasn’t a single infantryman. The man at the head of this cavalry shouted and asked, “Did everyone get enough rest?”

“We rested so much that we are feeling sick, Deputy Commander.”

“Aren’t you looking down on us too much?”

“This is a warm-up exercise.”

The soldiers responded with a smile to the question of the man called the deputy commander.

“Who are we, Deputy Commander?”

The answer to this question didn’t come from the deputy commander but from the side.

“As expected of the Knights of Keon. It is worthy of the name of the number one knights of the empire. Isn’t that right, Lebron?” Alexander laughed at Lebron, the deputy commander.

The atmosphere was so bright that it was hard to believe it was right before the battle.

“I am confident that I know better than anyone how strong you are, even more so than Teacher who is the commander of the knights. Still, I think I have to say this.” Lebron turned his horse, took off his helmet, and looked at the Knights of Keon. “Be composed. Never let your guard down. Don’t show mercy to others.”

The moment Lebron’s words ended, the momentum of the Knights of Keon changed rapidly. They scattered a force sharp enough to be reminiscent of a sword.

“Aldred.” Alexander smiled with satisfaction at the sight of the Knights of Keon and called out to Aldred.

“You called, Your Majesty.” Aldred appeared from nowhere and knelt in front of Alexander.

“The evidence?”

“I’ve secured it.” Aldred took out a small bead and held it out to Alexander. Alexander grabbed the bead that Aldred held out and injected magic power into it. The bead swallowed Alexander’s magic power and started to project an image in the air.

-The materials?

-They are ready.

-Uwaaaah!

-Spare me!

The video showed the experiments of the black magicians. The horrendous scene flowed in an unfiltered manner.

“This... I’ll kill them.”

“As expected of the black magician bastards.”

“I’m glad this battle isn’t just murder.”

The Knights of Keon were outraged by the video. The experiments of the black magicians were inhumane. Their pressure, which was like a well-refined sword, started to grow wild like a storm.

“By the way, Deputy Commander, isn’t it a problem to strike Duke Jerata with this video alone?”

“What if there is a problem?” Lebron retorted at the words of a Knight of Keon. “By the emperor’s command, the duke’s family was destroyed. The charge is that he joined forces with black magicians. In this situation, who would rebel because a duke’s family disappeared without a trace?”

Black magicians were taboo existences in the current Yusma Empire.

Lebron continued, “Of course, there are some who will say that it is an excuse to strengthen imperial power. However, it will be quieter if we give up some of the rights that Duke Jerata had.”

Lebron wasn’t interested in politics, but he wasn’t stupid. In the short period of time after talking to Alexander, he had perfectly grasped the physiology of the nobles.

“Exactly. I taught you, but I still can’t believe it.” Alexander listened to Lebron and clapped. Clap clap clap!

It was really satisfying. Lebron was good enough to succeed John Blake as a pillar supporting the empire.

“Someone will fill the vacancy. Of course, they have to be loyal to the empire and have great abilities,” Alexander said. The new nobles would only live for the sake of the empire.

“So don’t worry and go to battle. The opponent isn’t a duke of the empire. It is a bug who has joined hands with the black magicians.” Alexander finished speaking and lightly kicked the horse’s side. The horse that carried Alexander raced down the hill toward the Franc castle.

“Follow His Majesty!”

Like Alexander, Lebron rode the horse down the hill. He was followed by thousands of knights.

***

The guards on the walls of Franc Castle were confused when they saw the troops rushing from afar.

“Why are there knights?”

“It is rare to see a knights division this large in the empire...”

It was a sight they had never seen in their lifetime. The Yusma Empire was the only nation on the continent. There were no wars, so it wasn’t easy to have such power. This made such a sight even more difficult to see.

“We have to close the gates first, right?”

“Of course, lift the drawbridge right away!”

The knight guarding the gate made a quick decision. He didn’t know who the approaching knights were, but it was necessary to prevent them from entering the castle. A huge drawbridge was lifted toward the sky, and the thick iron gate was closed. The more than a thousand knights simply watched the drawbridge rise without much action.

“Reveal your identity!!!” the knight on the walls shouted.

“My name is Alexander.” The man at the forefront of the thousands of knights took off his helmet and answered the question.

“Alexander?”

‘Alexander’—it was the name of the man who was the 1st Imperial Prince not long ago and had now become the emperor.

However, the knight guarding the gates of Franc, the Jerata Dukedom, didn’t know his name or face. It was natural. How could someone who lived in Franc all their lives know the face of the 1st Imperial Prince?

“I’ll give you 10 minutes. Disarm and open the gate.” Alexander continued to speak while looking unimpressed by the other person’s ignorance of his identity.

“I will ask again. What is your identity?!!” the knight shouted with a frustrated face. His stomach was burning.

‘There was no word until they showed up...’

It wasn’t one or two but thousands of people. There was no proper information even with such an army in front of them.

‘Even if there is support, they will need to come soon...’

They tied up the enemies’ feet with a stopgap method, but it was literally just a stopgap. If the enemies were truly knights, they would cross the moat even without a drawbridge.

“Your Majesty, how can you say that? How can they know Your Majesty’s name? You should explain it properly. We are here to capture Duke Jerata, not to kill the people of Jerata.”

Lebron saw Alexander’s behavior and shook his head. Then he came forward on Alexander’s behalf.

“I am Lebron, the deputy commander of the Knights of Keon. We came here to catch Duke Jerata, the traitor who joined forces with the black magicians. Open the gates immediately!” Lebron explained himself accurately to the other party and revealed the purpose of his visit.

“The Knights of Keon?”

“Black magicians?”

“The duke?”

The top of the walls became chaotic in an instant. It was confusion caused by Lebrons’ words.

“Nonsense! The duke didn’t join forces with black magicians!” The knight started trying to stop the agitation. However, such efforts came to nothing.

“Words don’t work.” Alexander raised his hand and pulled Lebron’s shoulder back. Lebron turned to look at Alexander. The two people exchanged looks for a moment before nodding simultaneously.

Lebron turned and shouted to the Knights of Keon lined up behind him, “Knights of Keon, listen!” “We will enter Franc Castle today. Is that possible?!!”

“Yes, Deputy Commander!”

“It is sufficient, Deputy Commander!!”

“An hour is enough.”

The Knights of Keon took out their respective weapons. They were ready to go out at any time.

“I’ll say it one last time. Will you open the gate?” Alexander suggested again to those on the walls.

‘What should I do?’ The knight on the wall was at a loss. It was the first time in his life. He couldn’t think of a way to deal with it.

Just then, a blue light appeared behind the knight. It was teleportation magic. More than a dozen people showed up on the walls.

“1st Imperial Prince, do you know what you are doing now?” An old man with a healthy appearance started talking to Alexander on behalf of the knight.

“It might not be the answer you are looking for...” Alexander raised his right hand and pointed to the wall.

“We came here to catch Duke Jerata, the traitor who joined forces with the black magicians!!” Lebron cried out.

After that, Lebron rode his horse and charged toward the walls alone.

“Catch the rebellious Duke Jerata!”

The thousands of Knights of Keon followed. The Knights of Keon were moving as one body. Only the sound of horse hooves echoed through the field.

“Are you really going to fight?”

“With the Knights of Keon?”

“The duke is really working with a black magician?”

The confusion on the walls increased. Fear dominated their body once the battle with the Knights of Keon really took place. The Knights of Keon were the strongest knights of the empire. Everyone here had dreamed of joining the Knights of Keon when they were young.

“I think the 1st Imperial Prince really intends to wage a war, Duke,” a nobleman standing behind Duke Jerata spoke with a pale face.

“John Blake didn’t come here, right?” Duke Jerata asked with a relatively calm expression.

“I know he is at his mansion in the capital.”

“Then... I will kill Lebron and Alexander here today.”

“Is it possible?”

“If I use what we have prepared... it will be enough.”

“Can we use them? There are many eyes watching,” the nobleman expressed concern. It was because using it was no different from proving that Alexander was right.

“This person, wouldn’t it be meaningless if we die? Call them, then leave.” Duke Jerata turned around. It would soon turn into a battlefield here. He had to pull out before then.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” someone called out to Duke Jerata. It was Lebron, the man on the horse.

“How...?” Duke Jerata’s expression hardened. He couldn’t believe it. The wall was quite a far distance away from the point where Lebron had been. He couldn’t get here this fast even when riding a horse. Moreover, the troops on the walls weren’t scarecrows. They would’ve just attacked the Knights of Keon who were rushing in.

“You completely forgot about the Knights of Keon. You actually believed in these scarecrows.” Lebron clicked his tongue.

The Knights of Keon were ridiculously superior when it came to individual force. In particular, the commander of the knights was a monster who could be called superhuman. This much was nothing.

“I won’t say much. Just die, trash.” Lebron swung his sword. It was a clean blow without any hesitation.

A huge pure energy flew along the path of the sword. The pure energy swept over the walls. It reached Duke Jerata in one breath.

‘This is such an empty end...’

Duke Jerata closed his eyes. He was an ordinary man who didn’t have magic or swordsmanship. He was incapable of stopping the flying pure energy. However, a black membrane appeared in an instant and bounced off Lebron’s pure energy.

“You finally showed up, black magicians.” Lebron smiled at the sight.