A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! - FSAGW Chapter 73 (Part 1)
“Danger…!”
Without any warning, Salmos swung his sword towards Ecrin, and Ecrin, who had been off guard, quickly raised his left arm.
Thud-
“Kraaak!”
“E-Ecrin! What is this!”
Ecrin managed to save his life with a quick reaction, but his left arm, which he had raised, was cut off by Salmos’s sword.
Salmos hastily retreated from Bavran and Ecrin, and opened his mouth.
“I meant to finish this in one blow. My friend, just go peacefully.”
“Sal-Salmos, why did you attack Ecrin? Could it be… You betrayed me?”
“Haha, Lord Barvan. I’m sorry, but I was Jansen’s person from the start. So, you can’t call it betrayal.”
‘Crazy…’
Not only the behavior of those guys, who acted as if Kaiyan didn’t matter, was amusing, but also the capability of Jansen, who managed to plant Salmos, Barvan’s closest confidant, was impressive.
Barvan, whom he had briefly spoken with, was a highly suspicious character. He was someone who wouldn’t believe things he hadn’t verified. However, that very person had already subjugated one of Barvan’s most trusted men.
“So that’s what happened. But… Salmos, you miscalculated. You sided against me. You’ll die here today for serving the wrong master.”
Although Barvan’s expression was distorted with anger, Jansen burst into laughter rather than feeling tense at the sight.
“Hahahaha! Barvan, you still haven’t given up? You know your swordsmanship is quite talented, but can you defeat Salmos? And the Marshal Knights, come forth!”
Responding to Jansen’s call, dozens of knights who had been hiding inside drew their swords and stepped forward.
“Do you really think you can beat all these knights? Oh! Just in case, if you’re thinking of escaping using an artifact, it’s useless. I’ve already prepared for it through Salmos.”
“I never intended to run away in the first place. You and your traitor will die here.”
‘Where does he get his confidence from?’
Even as the situation turned against him, seeing Barvan shout loudly was odd. Just as Kaiyan was about to think this, a loud noise echoed from the stairs Barvan had come from.
Clank, clank.
The sound of heavy armor moving and clashing. A sound Kaiyan had often heard on the battlefield.
“So, the Shadow Knights have arrived. It’s over for you now, Jansen.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Well…”
Just as Barvan was about to say something, dozens of people crowded the passage noisily. But.
“Lord Jansen, my apologies for being late!”
“Perfect timing, Grandel. You’re fine since you’ve arrived precisely.”
The newcomers weren’t the Shadow Knights Barvan had mentioned. They were dozens of knights led by Grandel, one of Jansen’s subordinates.
After Grandel’s confirmation, Barvan’s expression twisted.
“How…?”
“How did clever Barvan end up like this? Forgot who had communicated with the Shadow Knights?”
‘Communication, huh… Right. Salmos was in charge of that.’
Perhaps Barvan had also realized that fact, as his expression turned to despair.
“I’ve been played… It’s my fault for not knowing that Salmos was a traitor.”
“Haha, don’t worry too much. But still, since we’re family, send them off without pain.”
As Jansen’s knights gradually approached Barvan, Ecrin, who had been staunching the bleeding on his severed arm, stood up with a sword in hand.
Ecrin’s face had turned pale from the excessive blood loss, yet the immense fervor emanating from his eyes made Kaiyan feel like applauding.
“Lord Barvan, I’ll manage to hold out somehow, so run away.”
“Ecrin…”
“Do you remember what I told you when I first taught you swordsmanship?”
“…That as long as you don’t give up until the moment you die, opportunities will definitely come.”
“I’ll create that opportunity. It’s been an honor serving you… until now.”
From the perspective of an observer, it could truly be an inspiring sight – a knight who picked up his sword to save his master despite his injuries.
‘But that doesn’t mean there’s a reason to spare Barvan.’
The reason Kaiyan was standing still, doing nothing, was that if he set his mind to it, he had a chance of escaping from here. Otherwise, he could just kill everyone and escape. However, he wasn’t doing that for a simple reason: both Barvan and Jansen were the same, both being noble guys.
‘Both are no good.’
As he watched the standoff between them, when he was contemplating what to do, Jansen, standing beside him, looked at me with an irritated expression.
“Haha, I’ll take care of you guys neatly after Barvan is sorted out. Thanks to you guys, we managed to capture Barvan, but forgiving the price of impersonating a noble is tough, you know.”
“That’s… well, do as you please.”
“You arrogant fellow…! Oh, after this incident is over, I’ll have to deal with them too. Their name was… Banson Mercenary Group, right?”
“…Once Barvan is dead, the Banson Mercenary Group won’t matter anymore.”
Hearing the Banson Mercenary Group from his mouth, Kaiyan’s heart raced. No matter where the Banson Mercenary Group went, even if it wasn’t in the Royal Kingdom, escaping the targeting of nobles would definitely not be easy.
However, the reason he had to deal with the Banson Mercenary Group was because of Barvan, and if Barvan died here, there would be no need to target the Banson Mercenary Group anymore.
“Just your arrogant attitude is enough reason to find and kill those guys. Killing a few bugs like them is a simple task.”
“…Are you really going to kill the Banson Mercenary Group?”
“Hahaha! Are you afraid of me now? Looks like you have a special connection with those guys. In that case, I’ll definitely find them and kill them all. Oh! I’ll make sure to convey that they’ll die because of you.”
‘…I just wanted to leave.’
Kaiyan had intended to leave quietly, thinking that even if Barvan died, the safety of the Banson Mercenary Group, his original target, would be guaranteed. Until just now, that is.
“It’s quite tricky for the Banson Mercenary Group to die. There are people I want to protect among them. Barvan!”
Calling out loudly to Barvan, who was surrounded by dozens of knights, he looked at me through the gap between the knights.
“If I spare you, what can you offer?”
“…I’m sorry. It feels like I caused your death for nothing. You were an interesting guy I met after a long time.”
“Cut the nonsense! If I save you, what can you give me?”
“Krk… If you save me. Yes, if you save me and Ecrin, I’ll grant you any wish you have. So, is this the answer you wanted?”
“Yes, I’ve got the contract clearly. Barvan, don’t forget that promise.”
Turning my head back to Jansen, I drew my sword, causing the startled Jansen to hurriedly hide behind Salmos.
“Salmos! Kill that guy right now!”
“Hehe, understood. Killing a single mercenary like him is no big deal.”
Salmos started approaching with his characteristic laughter.
‘He’s being careless.’
Judging by his skills, he was roughly at an intermediate or advanced expert level. However, coming toward me in a carefree manner with such skills?
‘He probably wants me to kill him.’
On the battlefield, being careless means death. That’s why even if the opponent is weak, one should gather all their strength.
In that regard, Salmos’s biggest mistake was not only underestimating Kaiyan’s abilities but also having too much confidence in his own skills.