The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Chapter 285

Episode 285: I Didn’t Come Alone. (3)

Baron Hutton hurriedly raised his sword and blocked Giselle’s downward strike.

Kaaaaang!

“Ugh!”

For a moment, he felt an enormous pressure. Baron Hutton slightly tilted his sword blade to release some of the force that was coming at him.

Paaang!

The ground cracked open as the baron’s foot was slightly pushed due to not being able to release all of his strength. His eyes opened wide at the unbelievable strength.

‘What is this…?’

I just blocked a simple attack. But the sword almost broke again. No, if I hadn’t released my strength at that moment, not only the sword, but my bones might have broken.

It was a power incomparable to when he had blocked the arrow. I was starting to feel that something was wrong.

Dduk dduk!

Jiselle continued to press down on her sword. The blade of the sword held by Baron Hutton gradually tilted downward.

If I continued like this, my head would slowly split.

Jiselle was smiling with shining red eyes, looking like a battle-mad demon.

The baron shivered for a moment.

‘T-this is not the power of a high-level knight!’

The Information Department estimated that Jiselle’s power was at the level of a beginning high-level knight, since Jiselle had never before been renowned for her military prowess.

The fact that he was judged to be at the level of a high-ranking knight was because of the rumor that he was active in the Cavaldi War.

Baron Hutton’s thoughts were not much different from what the Information Department had expected. He thought that although he was injured, he would be of a higher level and had more experience, so he could calmly lead the battle.

But what an absurd power this is!

‘This is ridiculous! Something is definitely wrong!’

At that moment, Giselle relaxed her strength and raised her sword. Baron Hutton’s sword, which had been resisting him, flew up as if chasing Giselle’s sword.

WHEEK!

Kaang!

Baron Hutton twisted his arm forcefully to block the sword that was coming down from Giselle again and quickly stepped back.

‘A showdown of strength is unfavorable. That guy’s strength is no ordinary one.’

Perhaps because he was young, he was brimming with energy and strength. He had just arrived on the battlefield, so he must also be brimming with mana.

Baron Hutton tried to use his skills to win, but Giselle followed him without giving him a moment to breathe and swung her sword.

Kaang! Kaang! Kaang!

The swords clashed against each other, sending sparks flying into the air several times.

Baron Hutton could not easily gain the upper hand. On the contrary, he was increasingly pushed back as time passed. It was difficult to properly dodge Giselle’s attacks, so all he could do was block them.

Still, his sword was not disturbed at all. Baron Hutton was calmly waiting for his one chance, blocking all the sword swings that Giselle made in strange trajectories.

Jiselle looked at the sight with amusement.

“That was pretty good. If it weren’t for the injuries, this could have been a really fun fight.”

It was sincere. In the Kingdom of Rutania, it was hard to find someone of this level of skill unless they were part of a duke’s family.

Baron Hutton was unable to fully demonstrate his abilities due to injuries sustained in the fight with Gillian and the wounds he received from an arrow.

However, it was at a level that was not easy to catch with a 2nd stage core.

‘I guess that’s why I was able to fight Gillian.’

Although Baron Hutton may have been a bit lacking in physical condition and mana, his swordsmanship skills were worthy of being considered the best in the North.

“But we can’t afford to overlook such circumstances on the battlefield.”

I had no intention of wasting time on an interesting opponent. What good would it be to argue with a swordsman who couldn’t even show his skills?

Jiselle took a deep breath, shook off her regret, and adjusted her grip on her sword.

Even though Baron Hutton was injured and on the defensive, he did not waver at all. He held on well despite the pressure from Giselle’s side, which was much stronger and faster.

If you compete with this kind of opponent using technique, it will take a long time.

If so, the answer is simple.

You just have to press down with more overwhelming force and speed than you have now.

Jiing―!

The third stage of the core was activated, and Jiselle’s eyes became even redder.

“Let’s start again.”

Baron Hutton deserved a three-stage attack.

Kwarrung!

Every time Jiselle swung her sword, a lightning-like sound rang out. Baron Hutton looked astonished as his already tremendous strength grew even stronger.

‘Wow, how did you get such skills!’

Boom!

It was so fast and strong. Every time I blocked an attack, my posture shook and my stomach turned.

Boom! Boom!

Quasi-snap.

Even though he didn’t block it a few times, the sword of the baron started to crack. Even though he concentrated his mind and filled it with mana, he couldn’t withstand the impact.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!

As time went by, Jiselle’s attacks became faster. Baron Hutton gritted his teeth. He was barely able to block them, but it felt like every bone in his body was crushed every time he blocked them.

It was definitely a mistake to think that Jiselle was a high-level knight. Not only the information gathered by the Intelligence Service, but even the rumors that were considered exaggerated did not even half express the extent of Iza’s skills.

He was an opponent you couldn’t win against if you weren’t in top physical condition. No, even if you were in top physical condition, you wouldn’t be able to win. There was clearly someone higher up in skill than you.

‘Hey, we need to retreat for now.’

In order to save his life, he had to give up the honor he had built up throughout his life.

Baron Hutton tried to escape somehow. However, Jiselle’s sword doggedly followed him and did not let him go.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With each clash of swords, the ground flipped over and dirt flew up. The two moved so fast that others could not keep up with them with their eyes.

Desmond’s knights and soldiers flinched. They too instinctively felt the need to go and rescue the baron.

“Crunch!”

Blood began to flow from Baron Hutton’s mouth. Even though he had only blocked the attack, the shock built up inside his body and he was breaking down.

His calm swordsmanship, which was his specialty, was no longer of any use. He was unable to keep up with the opponent’s strength and speed, which suddenly increased explosively, so he was only concerned with blocking the attack.

It was only because Baron Hutton’s swordsmanship was so excellent that he was able to last this long.

But now that too was coming to an end.

Kwaaang!

With a loud impact, the sword of the baron shattered. His mana was no longer able to withstand the immense force.

“This, this… … .”

Wedge!

Baron Hutton, who was at a loss after losing his weapon, immediately tried to dodge, but Jiselle’s sword was faster.

Kwajik!

There was a sound of bones breaking, and then Baron Hutton’s right arm fell to the ground.

“Kwaaah!”

At the same time, Desmond’s knights popped out.

“Save the Baron!”

There was a very urgent look on their faces.

The duel was already over. If a third party intervened in the middle of the duel, it would be a loss to Baron Hutton’s honor, but that was a problem to think about later. For now, saving his life was the priority.

But before they could get close, Giselle’s black sword cut horizontally and slit the throat of the baron.

Squat.

Bam.

The head of Baron Hutton, one of the mightiest men in the North, fell to the ground and rolled in vain.

Desmond’s knights, who had been running out, froze for a moment when they saw that sight.

“I, Your Majesty… … .”

“Baron Hutton is dead… … .”

“How could this happen… … .”

Desmond’s group all looked at each other in a daze. But Giselle did not let them become sentimental.

He said, naturally extending his sword.

“Sweep it away.”

Jiiing―!

The armor of the Fenris knights waiting behind began to glow.

About 300 knights and 1,000 cavalry rode out on horseback.

Doo doo doo doo doo!

Desmond’s knights cried out in panic at the sight of the suddenly charging Fenris army.

“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”

They also drew their swords and tried to fight the approaching Fenris army. However, Giselle approached them one step ahead of the Fenris army.

Scratch!

Jiselle was still maintaining the core activation state at level 3. She swung her sword with her overflowing mana, and one of the knights’ heads fell off in an instant.

Jiselle was not satisfied with that, and began to attack indiscriminately towards the surrounding area.

Boom! Boom!

“Eww!”

Desmond’s soldiers’ formation became a mess when Giselle barged in.

Everyone was aiming for Giselle who had approached them, so there was no way they could properly form a line. Knights and officers everywhere were shouting and trying to calm the soldiers down.

“You idiots! Get in line!”

“Block the front! Block the front!”

“Wake up!”

Doo doo doo doo doo!

Fenris’s army rushed in between Desmond’s army, who were in disarray.

Kwaaaaang!

“Eww!”

Desmond’s men were already in a state of low morale after the death of Baron Hutton.

In the meantime, Giselle had broken the ranks and the cavalrymen who suddenly burst in, so they were unable to stop them.

Kwaaang! Kwaaang!

Although some knights and soldiers fought bravely, once the momentum was broken, it could not be revived. There was no commander to control the situation.

Desmond’s pursuit party fell apart with frustrating speed.

“Retreat! Retreat for now!”

“You must join as planned!”

“Each of you run away on your own!”

As the quick-thinking knights shouted, Desmond’s army began to scatter in all directions.

If things continue like this, we will inevitably face annihilation. In that case, it would be better to have at least one more person survive and join the main force.

Fortunately, more than half of the pursuing force were mounted soldiers, so the survivors quickly escaped the battlefield.

As the knights and cavalry of Fenris followed them, Giselle waved her hand and shouted.

“Enough! Stop! Don’t follow me any further!”

Fenris’s army is small compared to Desmond’s army. If they disperse and meet Desmond’s main force, it will be dangerous.

“You ran away a lot.”

Jiselle laughed as she watched Desmond’s men scatter in all directions.

It seems like about half of them escaped alive. It was a shame that more people survived than expected, but it wasn’t unbearable.

We’re going to meet again anyway. I’ll just completely destroy it then.

“Wow! I won!”

“They say our lord is incredibly good at fighting!”

“As expected, it is the Lord!”

The knights and soldiers took up arms and cheered. They did not fight the opposing soldiers for long, but it was all thanks to the lord who had defeated the foolish baron.

After saving Gillian and easily driving out the enemies in the early stages, morale was bound to rise.

Giselle put on a triumphant expression and moved to find Gillian again. As he passed, the troops split to make way for him.

Gillian, who was standing supported by the medics, looked at the approaching Giselle with eyes filled with emotion.

As expected, he was a great person. As soon as he appeared, he killed the baron and changed the atmosphere. There was something more to Jiselle than just her skills.

“My lord… … .”

“Gillian!”

As if no further words were needed, Giselle approached Gillian with her arms outstretched and hugged her tightly.

The two of them remained silent for a long time. Everyone looked at the scene with a solemn atmosphere.

After a while, Giselle took a step back and spoke solemnly.

“Take heed to those who fought and sacrificed their lives for the territory.”

Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!

Everyone raised their weapons and saluted.

Stonehaven’s troops, including Gillian, risked their lives to fight for their lands.

They deserved high honor and the praise of all.

After a moment of silence, as if to change the solemn mood, Giselle said to Gillian with a playful expression.

“Why are you so beaten up? Have you gotten too weak because of your age?”

Gillian laughed at Giselle’s whining words. Even though she spoke like that, he couldn’t help but notice the warmth in her eyes.

Gillian opened her mouth with difficulty, suddenly feeling as if her throat was choking up.

“……it’s okay.”

“It’s okay! First, Gillian and the injured people should return to the castle quickly. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Hearing that, Gillian suddenly looked as if she had realized something and asked.

“My lord… … How on earth did you get here?”

“I thought it would have come to this if it had kept getting pushed back. Isn’t that obvious?”

Jiselle is a skilled warrior in war. She knew that if the pursuers were chasing Gillian, she would want to see the match here, where they could best surround him.

Gillian nodded as if he understood. The lord certainly had the ability to know that much.

The important thing wasn’t how you found out about this place, he asked in a trembling voice.

“The fact that the lord has appeared here… … means that preparations are already complete?”

Jiselle answered with a confident expression, without a hint of shame.

“no.”

“……yes?”

“Oh, how can I finish so many already? No matter how great I am, that doesn’t make sense.”

“Then why on earth did you come here?”

Then Jiselle answered with a calm expression.

“I’m almost done. No, just right? Well, at least?”

Gillian’s head suddenly went blank at Giselle’s seemingly excused words. Why did they sacrifice themselves? Wasn’t it to buy time to save more people?

“What… is… this?”

“Hey, that’s what you’re saying. Did I really do it half-heartedly? Thanks to Gillian, I finished the bare minimum of preparations. But if I had prepared more here, everyone would have died today, right? That’s why I came as soon as the bare minimum preparations were done. Wasn’t the timing perfect? ​​Wow, this is amazing, me.”

Gillian’s ears were deaf to Giselle’s boasting.

“Oh, why did you do that? No, we can’t defeat Desmond’s army with our forces alone. You should have prepared, you should have prepared more.”

“You want me to just leave you all alone while I’m preparing and dying?”

“Even if we all die… … .”

“What’s the use?”

“…….”

“What’s the point of trying to prepare perfectly if Gillian and her friends all die?”

We couldn’t just fight without any preparation, because that would mean we would all die together.

But Gillian and the others couldn’t be abandoned either. So Giselle compromised with only the bare minimum of preparation.

“My lord… … .”

Gillian and the others who had fallen looked moved. If the lord had wanted to, they could have sacrificed themselves and prepared for war more reliably.

But they gave up that advantage and ran to save themselves, even though they knew that it would put the lord himself in more danger.

Of course, emotion is emotion and reality is reality.

Gillian, who suddenly came to her senses, urgently said the words she had not been able to convey.

“Okay, I understand. Let’s talk about this later. We need to leave this place quickly.”

“why?”

“Desmond’s main force is nearby! Count Desmond is no pushover. He has already grasped the situation here and is… … .”

Jiselle turned around and cut off Gillian.

“I think it’s already too late.”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the distance, Desmond’s army was approaching. The ground shook with each step of the countless troops.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Not only from the front, but also from both sides, the army was approaching. The soldiers who had fled had already joined, and Desmond’s army had formed a formation to surround Giselle and her group.

Jiselle smiled faintly at the sight.

“I finally get to see your face, Harold Desmond.”