I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 26: Guerilla Warfare (6)

~A week after the fall of Volano~

The Western Branch of the Omphalos Order, the Iron Wall God’s Order bearing the emblem of the iron wall that protects humanity, was crowded with three times more people than usual.

Most were refugees who came up from the Volano Baronial Territory.

Ruan, the Priest Knight leading the Combat Priest Order of the Omphalos Order, had a complicated expression as he looked at the refugee camp that had naturally formed near the monastery.

It wasn’t because he disliked or was uncomfortable with the refugees.

Half of what filled Ruan’s mind was dissatisfaction with High Priest Gillian, who only ordered them to stay stationed even in this situation, and the other half was curiosity about unresolved questions.

‘Villages are being liberated.’

Since the fifth day after the fall of Volano Baronial Territory, refugees had been steadily appearing every day.

At first, he thought it was natural.

It was only natural that villagers located in the outskirts of Volano Baronial Territory would flee.

However, listening to the refugees’ stories, they hadn’t just fled.

“The Black Knight of Lothian liberated our village!”

“The blonde Saint was there too!”

“There was also an elf!”

“There were lots of knights too!”

“You fool, those were just cavalry.”

“Lady Baltois? Ah, anyway, there was also a magician. She was incredibly beautiful.”

After hearing all these exciting stories, Ruan was confused.

This was because he too had heard rumors about Lothian’s Black Knight.

The Black Knight of the Sun who slayed the Kobold Prince and protected Lothian.

While it seemed a bit strange for a Black Knight to have the modifier ‘sun’, anyway, stories about him always included the sun or sunlight.

Whatever the case, Ruan had heard up to the news that the Black Knight who saved Lothian had become the new lord of Lothian following Baron Latus’ dying wish.

But now this Black Knight of Lothian appeared in the northern part of Volano Baronial Territory with troops?

‘No, does that make any sense?’

How did he suddenly appear?

Did he use some sort of spatial movement magic with his army?

But the surprising things didn’t end there.

“The Black Knight of Lothian liberated our village.”

“The Black Knight of Lothian saved us.”

“The Black Knight’s army crushed those goblins!”

The new refugees were people who lived in villages close to Volano.

In other words, this meant the Black Knight of Lothian was now sweeping through Volano Baronial Territory.

And this kind of news had been coming in for 3 consecutive days.

‘According to the rumors, the troops number about one hundred.’

But was it possible to roam through Volano Baronial Territory with this level of troops without supplies?

Although goblins and trolls were monsters, they weren’t fools.

It should have been impossible not to notice an army moving around, but according to the refugees’ stories, they seemed to be caught off guard and annihilated every time.

How was this happening?

Was the Black Knight of Lothian some kind of genius at mobile warfare specializing in ambush and surprise attacks?

Or was he using some kind of magic?

And while the Black Knight of Lothian was active like this, saving people, was it right for Ruan himself and the Combat Priest Order, who serve none other than the Iron Wall Omphalos, to just sit here doing nothing?

And finally today.

When both curiosity and impatience had reached their peak, someone appeared who could quench Ruan’s thirst.

“Phil!”

“Sir Ruan!”

Combat Priest Phil, who had been sent for advance reconnaissance and went missing, appeared leading refugees.

They were people from Philo Village, located closest to Lothian, and considering the geographical location, they were likely the first to be liberated.

“Phil, what’s going on? Did you perhaps have any conversation with the Black Knight of Lothian? How exactly is he moving?”

When Ruan asked urgently, Phil was momentarily flustered before smiling and saying,

“Yes, that’s right. The Black Knight of Lothian saved us.”

At this expected answer, Ruan swallowed dryly.

Until now, although refugees said they had spoken with the Black Knight of Lothian, most had only heard things like go north, I can’t lead you because I need to keep fighting – so there was hardly any information to gain.

But Phil might be different?

And as expected, Phil brought up a different story from before.

“The Black Knight of Lothian is truly remarkable. Not only is his martial prowess outstanding, but he possessed chivalry beyond imagination.”

“Chivalry!”

Ruan raised his voice without realizing it.

This was because ever since first hearing the stories from refugees, what he was most curious about was precisely the Black Knight’s chivalry.

Chivalry was truly a mysterious power.

Even Ruan’s own chivalry possessed truly mysterious abilities.

‘Some kind of chivalry related to troop mobility perhaps?’

As Ruan intensely shot Phil a look telling him to continue speaking, Phil, newly feeling the pleasure of being a storyteller, unconsciously paused briefly before continuing.

“The Black Knight’s chivalry is the ability to summon an army of light.”

“Summon? He summons an army of light?”

“Yes, that’s right. It was the ability to freely summon an army of light numbering over dozens. Moreover, among the summoned forces were also knights. They were all real knights with their own consciousness and will.”

At Phil’s explanation, Ruan couldn’t respond immediately.

His brain was momentarily paralyzed from hearing such surprising news.

‘He summons an army?’

Chivalry that summoned something already existed, and Ruan himself knew of several.

But chivalry that summoned an army was unheard of.

The reason Ruan was much more surprised than Baron Latus was simple.

At the time when Baron Latus saw it, what Yoo Seong could summon was only serf units and archer units, and even then the numbers were small.

But the army of light that Phil saw was different.

There were infantry units, archer units, and even cavalry, including three knights.

The armament status and scale were so drastically different from what Baron Latus had witnessed that it was natural to be much more surprised.

“Impossible…No, then all questions are resolved.”

The reason why the Black Knight of Lothian could move freely through the already occupied Volano Baronial Territory and mysteriously liberate villages.

‘Because he can just travel alone!’

Even the supply issue made sense.

The difference in quantity and effort required for transporting food to feed an army versus feeding just one person was worlds apart.

‘Still, he is truly extraordinary.’

One way or another, this was the Black Knight of Lothian who was roaming through Volano Baronial Territory alone and liberating countless people.

This was not something easily done even with chivalry that could summon an army.

“Truly a model for all knights…”

“Yes. He was someone overflowing with truly knightly spirit. When I suggested joining forces with the Combat Priest Order in the north, he declined saying he needed to save the suffering people of Volano Baronial Territory as quickly as possible, even just one more.”

Though Phil’s retelling added quite a bit of embellishment to Yoo Seong’s words, the context remained the same.

At Phil’s words, Ruan felt renewed shame.

Although it was the High Priest’s of the order, as a knight – and a priest knight at that – he felt deeply ashamed of turning a blind eye while clearly knowing what atrocities were happening before his eyes.

‘This cannot continue. Even if it means disobeying High Priest Gillian’s orders, I must deploy the Combat Priest Order.’

Although the Black Knight of Lothian had already liberated all the outer regions of Volano Baronial Territory, Volano still remained.

Of course, even if the Black Knight’s forces and Combat Priest Order joined forces, retaking Volano would be difficult, but they should at least show sincerity by deploying to meet with the Black Knight.

No, he wanted to show it.

‘Considering the order and location of liberated village people, we can roughly deduce where the Black Knight of Lothian might currently be.’

He would likely be near the eastern part of Volano Baronial Territory.

But that’s when it happened.

“Sir Ruan, the Black Knight of Lothian said if you wish to join forces, to meet at Philo Village.”

“At Philo Village?”

“Yes, it seems he considered the time it would take for me to reach the Combat Priest Order.”

It took Phil slightly over four days to get here.

And during that time, the Black Knight of Lothian had been moving freely through Volano Baronial Territory, and combining all the information so far, there was a high chance he was located in the eastern part of Volano Baronial Territory.

‘Yet suggesting to meet at Philo Village in the western part of Volano Baronial Territory…does he think the goblins and kobolds will head toward Lothian?’

It was a possibility that made sense.

Nodding his head, Ruan looked at Phil again and said,

“Phil, I’m sorry for asking about your well-being so late. I’m glad we could meet again like this. I will pray that Omphalos blessing continues to be with you as it has been until now.”

“Thank you. I will pray for you too, Sir Priest Knight.”

“Yes, then go rest from your journey.”

After finishing his conversation with Phil, Ruan immediately moved to his office and gathered his subordinate Combat Priest Leaders.

“From now on, we join forces with the Black Knight of Lothian.”

They were Combat Priests who had already heard many stories through the refugees.

When everyone agreed without objection, Ruan wasted no more time.

All 50 members of the Omphalos Order’s Combat Priest Order began heading south.

* * *

At the same time, Goblin Shaman Killakal, sitting alone on the highest spire of Volano, frowned while glaring into the distance.

Although it was clearly the Swamp Trolls who conquered Volano, the one actually leading both the trolls and goblins was Killakal.

Golgo, the King of Swamp Trolls, was a troll raised by Killakal.

Having absorbed various spells and potions from Killakal since childhood, Golgo was able to gain strength and size that overwhelmed ordinary swamp trolls, and naturally became the king ruling over nearby swamp trolls.

Golgo still considered Killakal his master, and the trolls under Golgo’s rule in turn enslaved numerous goblins.

In other words, it could be said that under Killakal was Golgo, and under him again were the trolls and goblins.

Therefore, Killakal worried as the leader of the army.

A crack had formed in the barrier, and through the crack, the ‘light’ was exposed.

Following that light through the crack to arrive in this land was good.

The light, also called the fire of civilization, had already disappeared from the world beyond the barrier but now he felt its presence here.

Killakal’s instinct wanted that light.

But Killakal’s reason was not to forget that goblins and swamp trolls alone would not be enough to compete in the upcoming war over the light.

More monsters would cross the barrier to obtain the fire of civilization.

The Seven Kings would also cross the barrier to obtain the fire of civilization.

Therefore, Killakal killed his instinct and thought rationally.

Monopolizing the fire was impossible.

Then at least establish a position and build up forces before those who could, those ‘Seven Kings’ crossed over.

If so, when one of the kings eventually crossed over, they could offer their forces and receive an appropriate position.

It was a perfect plan.

Until they took this land that humans called Volano, things seemed to be going well.

But strange things had been happening these past few days.

After the fall of Volano, news of the trolls and goblins that had scattered in all directions was cut off.

When sending goblins to assess the situation, the only reports coming back were that trolls and goblins alike were all dead.

It was truly strange.

It was clear that the scattered forces were being destroyed one by one, but they couldn’t figure out by whom.

Killakal stood up and looked down from the spire.

Blood and human flesh overflowed throughout the streets.

There were still over 30 trolls in Volano’s city center, and over 500 goblins.

‘Perhaps it’s time to move.’

Rather than recklessly scouting outside, they would leave this place entirely and head elsewhere.

‘I don’t know who’s picking them off one by one, but they can’t be large in number.’

If they were of significant size, it wouldn’t be this difficult to find traces of them.

‘We just need to move together.’

If they gathered the trolls and goblins and moved as one, no matter how skilled those causing trouble outside Volano were, they wouldn’t dare to challenge them.

After all, didn’t even the people who lived in this castle get crushed without putting up much resistance against the rain of rocks thrown by the trolls?

Having made up his mind, Killakal turned his head to look west.

While the trolls and goblins were busy violating, killing, and eating humans, he had conducted what could be called torture and interrogation, and was able to obtain a considerable amount of information.

“Lothian. Yes, that’s what they called it.”

The name of the city located in the west.

Killakal wasted no more time.

As soon as he came down from the spire, he called for Golgo, and Golgo, as always, obeyed Killakal’s words.

“Let’s go, this time we head west.”

Around 30 trolls and 500 goblins, plus about 300 starving and exhausted humans to be used for various purposes.

The troll army led by Killakal began their march toward Lothian.

* * *

“They’ve begun marching.”

In a small forest in the northeastern part of Volano Baronial Territory where Volano could be seen from afar.

At Rene’s words, who was observing Volano through a bird of light, Yoo Seong took one deep breath as if something expected had finally come, then asked.

“What’s their size?”

“About 500 goblins and slightly less than 40 trolls…but there are definitely some mixed in that are much larger than the trolls we’ve faced so far. There’s one troll carrying a goblin on its shoulder that seems twice as tall as the other trolls.”

After finishing speaking, Rene swallowed dryly.

The sight of over 30 trolls, each with a size ranging from 3 to 5 meters, marching while shaking the ground was that overwhelming.

Could Lothian withstand it if that many trolls reached it?

It was impossible.

Remembering the rain of rocks that Iserina had mentioned, Rene unconsciously hugged her own shoulders.

The number of villages liberated on the way here was five, including small farming villages.

The number of trolls defeated was around ten, and goblins numbered in the hundreds.

But they had never faced more than three or four trolls and about a hundred goblins at once.

With that many gathered together, picking them off little by little like before was nearly impossible.

Then only one option remained.

A head-on battle with them was the only choice.

Rene deactivated the bird of light and looked at Yoo Seong.

Rene’s golden eyes held anxiety and fear, but at the same time also carried trust and faith in Yoo Seong.

Together with Yoo Seong, it would be possible.

Yoo Seong would be able to do it.

This wasn’t just groundless faith.

Rene had fought alongside Yoo Seong throughout liberating five villages.

And through those five battles, Rene herself, Yoo Seong, and Camelot’s forces had all grown stronger than before.

Meeting Rene’s eyes, Yoo Seong nodded.

Though they hadn’t exchanged any words, some things could be understood just by looking.

This guerilla warfare had been quite successful.

Including Philo Village, they had saved six villages, and in the process defeated over ten trolls and more than five hundred goblins.

The number of village people they had liberated and saved reached seven hundred.

And another achievement.

—

Name: Cheon Yoo Seong

Gender: Male

Job: Holy Knight

Level: 11

Status: Mid-level Commander

Special Characteristics: Successor of the Holy King, Master of the Army, Successor of the Round Table, Dragon’s Heart

—

Through five battles, he had reached level 11, and as expected, underwent a class upgrade.

Not only did his abilities increase significantly and he gained Holy Knight skills upon advancing from Apprentice Knight to Holy Knight, but that wasn’t all.

Yoo Seong’s own chivalry.

‘Heir of the Light’ wasn’t simply chivalry that summoned Camelot’s forces.

Summoning an army was merely an additional ability; the essence of the chivalry encompassed a broader concept.

Not the Army of Light but the Successor of Light.

Yoo Seong recalled in his mind the forces other than the Army of Camelot.

The three hundred conscripts being trained by Sir Simone and Robin in Lothian, and about 50 combat priests of the Omphalos Order.

Neither side was suitable for dealing with trolls but Yoo Seong didn’t mind.

The plan for how to fight the army including trolls was already established.

The battlefield would be Lothian.

However, it wouldn’t be a typical siege defense.

It would be decided in a mobile battle.

“Let’s go, René.”

“Yes, Successor.”

When René nodded with a determined face, Yoo Seong smiled slightly before summoning Alphonse.

After joining with the combat priest order near Philo Village, they would reach Lothian ahead of the trolls.

Yoo Seong rode on horseback together with René.

And six days later in the afternoon, the army of trolls led by Killakal reached the vicinity of Lothian.