At that moment, a fierce battle was taking place in front of the castle walls between the rebels trying to invade the castle and the Gilliforth army blocking them.
Grasp-!
Gilliforth swung his hammer from the front.
Three or four of them flew away at once with a threatening wind noise.
"Gilliforth! You were said to be the only hope for the rotting Valdina but that was all a lie. Can't you see your suffering people?!"
Someone among the rebels shouted at him.
The intention was to attack Gilliforth's reputation and break his momentum.
"Did you say people? All I see is a bunch of swordsmen who smell money!"
However, the surrounding warriors were frightened and retreated at the sight of Gilliforth running wild like a tiger.
"I... I! If I were old, I would sleep in a coffin! What are you doing? Why would you be swayed by a small army like that? We outnumber you ten to one!"
Horrols jumped up and down, startled by the loud roar of Gilliforth
"What are you doing! Kill him! Kill that old man!"
A volley of arrows was fired simultaneously at Gilliforth, who was swinging his hammer.
At that moment, a knight ran quickly and raised his shield to block Gilliforth.
The arrows that fell on the shield all had broken feathers.
In the brief moment before the shield was raised, someone on horseback swung a sword and cut down at the arrows.
"D'Angel!"
Gilliforth was startled when he discovered a familiar figure on the horse.
"Master, why are you here? Who are they all?"
"D'Angel! Why are you here when you should be on the battlefield with His Majesty!"
It was an opponent that one could never accidentally encounter in the current Valdina.
"Don't worry. Is there any other reason why we can be here in such good condition?"
"Could it be the war is over?"
Gilliforth's words were a mixture of astonishment and delight.
"Yes, we have won. We have restored the peoples of the plains."
D'Angel smiled brightly.
"Your Majesty is coming too. I came first with a scouting party to check on the situation in the castle, but I didn't know that we would suddenly encounter a battle, did I?"
Yet, his eyes were sharp as he stared at the rebels' flag.
"Is this a rebellion?"
Upon hearing the news of victory, Gilliforth quickly wiped away the tears streaming from his wrinkles and answered.
"Not exactly. Some traitors are obsessed with power."
"Huh? Who the hell they are!"
D'Angel narrowed his eyes. Then he paused and remembered.
"She's not a very bold child. This is the first time she's sent me a letter like this. Something must have happened to Dea."
'Is this what His Majesty meant when he said not to announce victory? The reason Her Royal Highness suddenly transformed is...'
"What happened in Valdina while we were away?"
Gilliforth snorted at D'Angel's question.
"Oh, there have been many things. Just as there were enemies on the plains, there were also many evil spirits hiding in human form here and there."
"..."
D'Angel, his expression hardened aimed his weapon again at the rebels.
His gaze was still directed towards Gilliforth.
Ping-!
A scream echoed from afar where the arrow had flown.
"Somehow. I thought those guys stuck in the middle of the civilians were used to using knives, but it turns out they're the ones who took the money."
Having spent years on the battlefield, he quickly recognized the presence of disguised mercenaries among the rebels.
'We've been away too long.'
D'Angel sighed and was angry at the same time.
An empty throne and a fleeting victory report. It was enough time for someone to feel empty.
"Are he, by any chance, the Regent?"
D'Angel immediately grasped the gist of his master's ambiguous words.
It was like the instinct of a general to discern the enemy even in a crowd of people.
When Gilliforth answered with a smile, D'Angel had no choice but to grit his teeth.
'You are such a greedy wolf. You show your teeth at all costs.'
As if sensing his master's mind, D'Angel's enemy horse yowled threateningly.
"But don't worry. He'll never get what he wants."
Gilliforth glanced at the rebels who were hesitating in fear.
As more and more people started to slip through the front lines, the leader started to shout loudly.
'Her Highness Medea told us to let the advance all the way to the walls.'
The Princess's orders were to prevent those rebels from ascending the castle. If they were scared too much, they might retreat far away.
Gilliforth, who had briefly glanced at the distant white walls, soon shouted loudly.
"That's enough! We are now stepping down!"
"Yes, Master!"
The elite knights of Gilliforth quickly withdrew from the battlefield.
It was amazing how well-trained they were and how unbroken their formation was.
"Master, this is an unbelievable force of mixed soldiers and mercenaries. Why don't you take care of those in front of you first and then enter the palace?"
D'Angel, too, did not hide his inability to understand the strange orders, just like Gilliforth once did.
But Gilliforth asked an unexpected question instead.
"D'Angel, how many Agemas did you bring to the scouting party?"
"Yes? About twenty. I didn't bring many to guard His Majesty."
The corners of Gilliforth's mouth rose in satisfaction.
"I think that'll be enough. You have somewhere to go with me for a bit."
He pointed to a small village outside the castle.
"The Grand Duke of Castullo's forces are hiding in that village. They want to set foot in this country."
"Yes? What do you mean, Master?"
Looking at D'Angel's expression that said he didn't understand for the time being, Gilliforth thought back to the Princess's letter.
[The remnants of the forces of Grand Duke Castullo, who was recently driven out of the castle, will remain in Valdina.
They will try to interfere in the rebellion and exert their influence when they have a chance, so I hope you will destroy them and bring them here to show the world Katzen's true face.]
Immediately after receiving the letter, he secretly followed the Grand Duke's trail.
As the Princess had expected, Grand Duke Castullo did not leave Valdina and secretly visited Duke Claudio's household.
And after a while, a large number of disguised people entered Valdina. They were people with skills that were incomparable to those of the rebels.
Gilliforth realized that they were secret agents of the Grand Duke of Castullo.
'The Grand Duke's men also helped the rebels from behind when they attacked the palace earlier."
However, when Gilliforth appeared, they hid again so as not to be discovered.
'If Her Highness Medea had not warned me in advance, I would have opened my eyes and lost my kingdom without even knowing that I was contaminated with Katzen's poison.'
Was Valdina's successful rebellion with the help of the Empire really only one of his own?
That was tantamount to declaring one's intention to become a puppet of the empire.
'Claudio, as long as you take the throne, nothing else matters! What will happen to the future of this country...?'
Gilliforth trembled at the Regent's selfishness, but at the same time, he trembled at the anticipation of being able to shatter that selfishness.
"A little later, when the signal comes, we will go to that hill and ambush the Grand Duke's forces. Of course, we had no idea that they were Katzen people, and we thought they were in league with the rebels. They are hiding like rats, so how could we be mistaken?"
D'Angel was simply bewildered by the teacher's words that mixed up future and past periods.
"Master, I really don't understand what you're saying-"
"You idiot. Just remember to destroy them. It is Her Highness's order."
"Her Highness the Princess?"
D'Angel's eyes lit up at Gilliforth's answer.
Does Highness the Princess, who has a clear view of the distant battlefield. have another plan?
He immediately nodded, his expression of discontent gone.
"Then we should do it right away."
"You, did you get hit by a rock on the battlefield...?"
How can this stubborn person accept it so meekly?
As Gilliforth hesitated, the disciple answered.
"Master, don't you know? If it weren't for Her Highness the Princess, we would all be dead."
"What?"
"Once this is over. I'll tell you step by step. You won't believe it."
Gilliforth snorted.
"Huh, do you think you're the only one who's had unbelievable things happen to you? I have a lot to say, you punk."
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