ALL NOVEL C24
Chapter 24: Guerilla Warfare (4)
[You have won the battle.]
[You have gained 20 Commander Skill Points.]
[Defeating a villain: Slight increase in virtue score.]
[Liberation of the village: Slight increase in virtue score.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your stats have slightly improved.]
[You have gained 10 Commander Skill Points.]
[The level of your general infantry has increased.]
[The level of your elite archers has increased.]
[The level of your light cavalry has increased. (Eligible for promotion!)]
[A new unit type has been added.]
[Logistics facility: A new logistics facility has been added.]
[Royal Mage: Rene’s level has increased.]
Yoo Seong, checking the status messages, exhaled heavily and observed the burning corpse of the troll.
No matter how regenerative trolls were, this one was clearly dead.
‘Decapitation kills them.’
At first, Yoo Seong thought this was nonsense, but upon reflection, it made sense. Even trolls, who could survive severe wounds thanks to their regeneration, died cleanly if their heads were severed.
In fact, all the trolls except the leader troll that Yoo Seong personally decapitated were still writhing despite being on fire.
Watching the spearmen under Kate’s command finish off the struggling trolls with their spears, Yoo Seong retrieved his sword and turned toward the village.
Having cleared out the goblins and trolls occupying the village, it was time to free the people.
“Rene, let’s go.”
“Yes, Successor.”
Rene, consciously taking a deep breath, nodded and followed behind Yoo Seong. Usually, she would smile brightly after a victorious battle, but the gravity of the village’s situation made her adopt a somber expression.
The village was silent.
Those who could still move or were trapped behind fences cautiously observed Yoo Seong and Rene but did not immediately cheer.
But that hesitation didn’t last long.
As Camelot’s forces entered the village behind Yoo Seong and Rene, expressions of relief began to spread across the villagers’ faces.
“Waaah!”
“Hurrah!”
A cheer erupted, a primal cry of joy born from the realization of survival.
They had witnessed their loved ones being slaughtered and butchered right before their eyes. Even if the period of suffering had been brief, the mental trauma was immense.
There were more people overwhelmed with emotion and crying uncontrollably than those who managed to cheer.
“Kate, Vanadain, Diana. Free the villagers.”
At Yoo Seong’s command, the knights and their troops quickly moved to release the captives.
The freed villagers repeatedly expressed their gratitude, though one girl simply collapsed, crying.
Rene recognized the girl’s face.
She was an acquaintance of the boy seen in the light bird’s vision.
With reddened eyes, Rene clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth. She wanted to approach the girl and say something comforting, but no words came to mind.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Nearby, a voice of gratitude echoed.
When Rene turned, she saw a child holding their mother’s hand, both crying as they thanked her.
The mother, too, wept as she expressed her gratitude.
Pausing momentarily, Rene smiled brightly and nodded to them.
It’s okay now.
It’s all over.
Yoo Seong has driven out all the bad ones.
Reassuring the mother and child while comforting herself, Rene turned her attention back to the freed villagers.
Her heart swelled with emotion.
Rescuing people.
Saving people from monsters.
With a deliberate smile, Rene took a deep breath and began searching for Yoo Seong.
She spotted him a short distance away, interrogating a goblin that hadn’t managed to escape. For some reason, this sight made her smile.
‘Calm down, Rene. Calm down.’
Laughing and crying—what a mess.
After covering her face with her hands and taking a deep breath to settle her expression, Rene approached Yoo Seong.
As she neared, Yoo Seong, having finished his interrogation, turned to her and said:
“As expected. The trolls have scattered and are ravaging Baron Volano’s territory.”
The swamp trolls’ king, Golgo, was the one who led the fall of Volano.
With his retinue occupying the city and holding daily feasts of human flesh, a considerable number of trolls remained there. However, many trolls, each leading their goblin underlings, had scattered in different directions.
The entire Volano territory was in the same situation as the village of Philo.
Despite this grim news, Yoo Seong calmed his anger and thought rationally.
As the trolls were dispersed in small groups, they could be intercepted effectively.
In other words, it was the perfect situation to reduce their numbers through guerilla warfare.
“Next up…Copper Village?”
Rene mentioned the village northeast of Philo as Yoo Seong nodded in agreement.
At that moment, someone interrupted.
“Successor, there are people here requesting to see you.”
Jimmy appeared, leading two young men.
Yoo Seong assumed it was probably the village chief, but the sight of the two men made him pause in surprise.
They were far from ordinary villagers.
Short-cropped hair and robust physiques.
These weren’t the kind of muscles developed through farming.
Most telling was their gaze.
Not the eyes of peasants but warriors.
‘Militia? Mercenaries?’
Neither.
‘Combat Priests.’
They were from the Combat Priesthood dedicated to Omphalos, the God of the Iron Wall, located in the northern part of Baron Volano territory.
The emblem of the wall etched onto their left hands confirmed their identity.
“Combat priests of the Omphalos Order?”
At Yoo Seong’s words, the two men looked momentarily surprised before nodding.
“Yes, we are combat priests of the Omphalos Order. Thank you for liberating us and the village.”
After expressing their gratitude, they looked at Yoo Seong with a mix of curiosity and puzzlement.
“May we ask who you are?”
It wasn’t an accusatory question but one filled with genuine interest.
Although they hadn’t witnessed the battle firsthand, the situation made it clear.
The man before them had wiped out a horde of goblins and trolls.
Most significantly, he had slain three trolls—no small feat.
“I am Yoo Seong of Lothian.”
“Lothian? Could it be…?”
One priest turned to the other, their eyes meeting, before both looked back at Yoo Seong in unison.
“The Black Knight of Lothian?”
“The one who saved Lothian from an imminent kobold invasion and personally slew the kobold prince?”
Astonished, the priests’ faces lit up in genuine admiration.
Yoo Seong, however, maintained a stoic expression with some difficulty.
Hearing the nickname “Black Knight” aloud, along with the exaggerated tale, was quite embarrassing.
“Y-Yes, that’s me.”
As Yoo Seong managed to reply, Rene stepped forward and added:
“By the will of Baron Latus, Sir Yoo Seong has become the new lord of Lothian. I am Rene Baltois, his mage.”
With a slight lift of her robe’s hem, Rene curtsied gracefully, momentarily entrancing the combat priests with her radiant beauty.
However, as expected of priests, they quickly regained composure and focused on her words.
“Baltois…as in Count Baltois family?”
“Yes, I’m the second daughter.”
Rene’s cheerful smile turned the priests’ faces red as they responded with awkward smiles.
Noticing this, Yoo Seong chuckled wryly before addressing the priests.
“What’s the situation?”
Skipping formalities, he went straight to the point, prompting the combat priests to answer.
“Baron Volano sent a plea for help. The High Priest ordered the Combat Priesthood to intervene. My companion and I were on a reconnaissance mission but were unfortunately captured.”
Their embarrassment at their failure was palpable, but Yoo Seong pressed on.
“Is the Combat Priesthood mobilizing?”
“Yes, though with the territory already fallen, their plans may have changed.”
The Omphalos monastery in northern Volano was sizable but still classified as a general monastery, likely housing only a few dozen combat priests. Even so, they were a force to be reckoned with.
The Iron Wall of Omphalos symbolized the divine protection of humanity against external threats. For the combat priests, mastering martial arts was akin to prayer itself.
As such, many combat priests were skilled not only in divine magic but also in knightly combat, making their participation a significant boon.
“Black Knight of Lothian.”
“…Just call me Yoo Seong.”
Though puzzled, the priest quickly resumed.
“Yoo Seong, join us at the Omphalos Order. If your forces and the Combat Priesthood unite, we can rally the local lords and reclaim Baron Volano’s territory.”
“Yes! Please join us!”
The second priest, raising a clenched fist in enthusiasm, eagerly supported the suggestion.
But Yoo Seong shook his head firmly.
“No, I won’t be joining you.”
“Pardon?”
“I will continue moving through Baron Volano’s territory, reducing enemy numbers with ambushes. If the Combat Priesthood intends to engage, have them come to Philo Village. I will coordinate my return accordingly.”
The priest looked flustered.
“But, Black— I mean, Yoo Seong, even if your troops are strong, moving through the territory with such a small force is far too dangerous.”
“You’re right. It is dangerous. But that’s not the point.”
The combat priest, who had been quietly waiting for an explanation, suddenly heard Rene chuckle softly as she spoke.
“You’ll understand shortly.”
“What?”
Understand? Understand what?
Could it be reinforcements?
“More importantly, I’d like to ask something of the two of you. What are your names?”
“Phil and Bill.”
“All right, Phil. You’ll return to the combat priesthood and inform them of the current situation and about me. Bill, you’ll lead the villagers to Lothian.”
“Are you seriously planning to conduct guerilla warfare?”
Phil’s voice trembled with concern as he heard Yoo Seong assigning the villagers to him. His expression, mirrored by Bill, seemed to scream: How can we talk him out of this?
Just as Rene was about to interject again, a clear voice interrupted from the side.
“Successor, everyone is assembled.”
It was Kate.
Phil and Bill turned to the source of the voice. When they saw Kate, their eyes widened, and their faces reddened immediately.
“A…saint?”
“No, I am the successor’s knight.”
Kate answered with a gentle smile, and the combat priests turned even redder, their embarrassment rendering them frozen. Meanwhile, Yoo Seong reconsidered his impression of the Omphalos combat priesthood.
‘Sure, Rene and Kate are exceptionally beautiful…’
Letting out a faint, bitter laugh, Yoo Seong didn’t bother addressing their reactions. Instead, he shifted his attention to the Camelot troops who stood lined up in perfect formation. Their faces brimmed with pride—whether due to their nearly flawless victory or the liberation of the village.
Yoo Seong couldn’t help but feel proud of them too.
His gaze swept over Diana, still stoic as ever, and Vanadain, who stood beside her with a small smile. Finally, his eyes settled on Kate, standing at the forefront of the troops as their representative. Raising his fist, he addressed them.
“Well done, everyone. For the glory of Camelot.”
“For the glory of Camelot!”
In unison, the entire Camelot force thumped their fists against their chests in response. The sight left both the combat priests and the villagers awestruck.
“L-light?”
Suddenly, the Camelot troops began to dissolve into light.
The soldiers emitted faint, gentle lights, while Kate, Vanadain, and Diana radiated beautiful golden hues.
The villagers were left gaping at this mythical spectacle, unable to close their mouths. Even the combat priests were wide-eyed, struck speechless at the luminous army that appeared in light and disappeared the same way.
In that moment, Phil jerked his head upward, his face as if struck by a hammer. He urgently turned to Yoo Seong and exclaimed.
“Wait! Could this be chivalry?!”
Chivalry—the power to summon an army of light.
Hearing Phil’s words, Bill also looked at Yoo Seong in astonishment. Yoo Seong, however, merely smiled faintly instead of answering. He was already atop the summoned Alphonse.
“Rene.”
“Yes, Successor.”
At Yoo Seong’s call, Rene responded sweetly, grabbing his hand and climbing onto Alphonse with him.
“I’ll continue the guerilla warfare. I’m counting on you, Phil and Bill.”
“Uh, y-yes, understood.”
Even at a glance, there had been over 60 troops.
Moreover, the golden-haired knight, who radiated not just beauty but a distinctly sacred aura, wasn’t a mere doll. In the brief exchange, her free will had been evident.
Could such chivalry truly exist in this world?
What words could describe someone who wielded such power?
And suddenly, it all made sense.
His chivalry made it possible to continue the guerilla warfare.
“The Black Knight of Lothian…”
Phil muttered unconsciously while Bill, raising his head, watched as Yoo Seong and Rene rode off into the distance.
“Go to Lothian!”
Rene called out, waving her hand at the two priests. Phil and Bill both nodded, smiles forming on their faces as they began moving without hesitation.