However, not everyone in their ranks was happy about this. One day the disgruntled came to the count and declared that they refused to take part in a dishonourable battle. Ian had gone around telling everyone that the city was cursed. This man was literally bringing a curse down upon them. If they continued to associate with such a mage, their honour would be trampled into the dirt.
Touching his head wearily, Ian explained to them that this curse was simply a lie. How could they believe rumours that he himself had spread?
One of them said that a mage's words could not be trusted, and his comrade agreed with him. He was clearly trying to deceive them.
Ian frowned. So, since they could not tell whether he was deceiving them or not, they had simply decided to declare everything he said a lie. He covered his face with his hand tiredly and sighed heavily.
But still, the knights were the main force in this war. The count himself knew it. It was written all over his face. Without his knights he would not be able to fight. So in the end he had no choice but to listen to them.
If that was so, was there any point in staying here?
He told the count not to trouble himself so much, and headed for the exit of the tent.
"Since my presence is so unpleasant, I'll gladly leave you. However, after that you shouldn't expect my help, no matter what happens."
He left the tent.
Lucy ran out after him and asked him to wait. She was so sorry. The knights had treated him so rudely for no reason. Her uncle had been so confused that he could not get a word out.
Seeing the way she tried to calm him down, he smiled. It was strange, but he felt a little better, probably because she apologised so sincerely.
He told her that everything was fine. He was not angry. "Leaving the battlefield is a crime, right? Besides, you can't find any secrets among the dead."
She shed a tear. She was sorry that this way he would miss his chance to distinguish himself, and he only smiled at that. He patted her on the head and asked what good distinguishing himself would do him. The sword she had promised him would be enough.
She was very happy that he had finally agreed to take that as his reward, and promised him that she would definitely get this magic sword. And if that was not enough, he could marry her and take all the lands.
He immediately walked away from her, saying that the sword was quite enough for him.
And she said delightedly that she would give him anything, so let him just marry her.
And he refused again.
A few days later, the two armies finally met. Graeme counted about four hundred opponents, and his comrade asked with a smile whether he was afraid.
He smirked and answered him. Him — Graeme Single-Edge — afraid?
Then he frowned. He was very angry that Lucy had dared to join the count, but it was all useless. If he won this battle, she would be his. Moreover, they had the Black Knight of the East on their side, so victory was within their grasp.
One of his subordinates ran up to him and reported that the enemy army was advancing. Then he drew his sword and exclaimed that he did not care whether there were four hundred of them or four thousand. He would cut down anyone who dared raise a sword against him. He pointed at the enemy army and ordered them to attack.
The huge cavalry moved forward. Swords clashed.
Meanwhile, the count and his entourage waited nearby. The knight told Ian that they had the advantage, and he thought, with a smile, that the numerical superiority was enormous. At this rate they would win.
But then he noticed something strange. A knight in black armour was dealing with their warriors easily.
Understanding what he was thinking, the man told him that this was the black knight from the Eastern Empire. That place is famous for its long winters, and with that black armour there could be no mistake.
Ian frowned and wondered what he was doing here.
Meanwhile the black knight masterfully dealt with everyone in his path and broke through, which made Ian nervous. He was incredibly fast. He simply cut them down, and the army began to give ground. If this continued, they would be in serious trouble.
He turned to Dekade and asked what would happen if their centre was penetrated.
He answered that in that case, they would be next. His words made everyone nervous. And he added that if the centre retreated, the black knight would not chase the fugitives. He would go straight for the count.
Count Katanat immediately jumped up from his seat, calling them worthless fools, and ordered Sir Dekade to go to the front lines and defeat this black knight.
Ian became worried at once. Why him? He was the only one who treated him like a human being. Such a noble knight. If he went out onto that battlefield now, he would never return.
He asked the count not to rush. There had to be another way.
But the knight had decided to follow orders. Ian was indignant and asked what he thought he was doing.
He answered that he would carry out his lordship's order and stop the enemy.
Ian was amazed. How was he going to stop this black knight? Going out there now was the same as walking to certain death. It was better to take the count and retreat.
Dekade stated that he had entered his lordship's service and must follow his knightly oath.
He already knows all this, Ian thought, but for a modern man this is just a meaningless death.
He exclaimed that this was not defence. It was simply an exchange of one life for another. Let him just look at those dead soldiers.
Seeing the smile on his face, he realised that the man knew all of it. He understood perfectly well what was happening, and he was still going.
Was it really true that in this world, people like him always had to be sacrificed?
Sir Sil, the knight guarding the centre, rode up to them, and Ian grew nervous. Realising that the situation was dire, the man informed them that to their shame, they were defeated. Every second counted, so he was retreating with his lordship.
Ian was shocked by what he had just said. To their shame, they were defeated. How shameless he was.
Dekade turned to him and said that he should also accompany his lordship and Baroness Tarian. He himself would stay here and buy them time. After that he mounted his horse and rushed into battle with the others.
Is this right? Ian thought. Can I really just let him go to certain death? A man who followed the knightly code to the very end, even among all these scoundrels — is it fair that he alone should die in a war unleashed by these fools?
Lucy came up to the horses and noticed that Ian was simply standing there, and asked worriedly what he was doing. The count had decided to retreat. They needed to get out of here quickly.
But he could not abandon Dekade in trouble.
He mounted his horse and told her to get out of here with that bastard Sil. He would stay with Sir Dekade and fight them.
She looked at him with concern in her eyes, and he told her, with a parting smile, that they would definitely get out of here alive. She tried to stop him, but he had already ridden off.
He caught up with the knight, and the man turned to him in surprise, asking what he was doing there.
He said that he would distract the enemies, and he should protect the count.
Dekade said that it was useless. He could not handle it alone.
"I'm a magician," he replied. "At least I can stand up for myself."
His confident look made the knight grin. It looked as though he was not bluffing. He looked at the enemies with confidence and said that he had probably worried for nothing.
The enemy army, led by the black knight, was very close now. Dekade turned his squad around, telling Ian that he was relying on him, and asked him to be careful.
As he watched them go, an arrow flew past his face and buried itself in a tree behind him.
The raven immediately flapped its wings and cried out in fear that they would die here, that this was definitely the end for them.
Ian told him not to panic and to shut up, then turned around and decided to lure the enemies into the forest first. Luckily, they ran after him. The forest was quite dark, and they lost his trail.
They armed themselves with crossbows and began to scour the area, looking for him, and finally they saw the magician in a clearing. He unrolled a scroll and began to chant a spell.
One knight asked fearfully what he was muttering, and his comrade took aim.
After that, Ian tore the scroll.
Lightning flashed in the sky and struck them straight on, scattering them in all directions.