The Defeated Dragon Chapter 122

122 – Taking Tremblingwoods on a Campaign to the Thorns Ridge

“As you wis.h.!.+”

Marcus saluted solemnly, his eyes sparkling: “Knights have to be baptized in blood and fire to complete the transformation of their nature! At last, it's time to test the members of the knight squad!”

Knights were born to fight, that was Marcus' belief.

Nowadays, he had convinced himself to stay secluded in the Flower Town, to wait for his chance to distinguish himself and seize the aristocratic glory. However, that didn't mean that his boiling blood had cooled down. He had been looking forward to implement the plan set for the Thorns Ridge.

Liszt also wasn't idle. He started to ama.s.s weapons after his coin pouch was fattened. To date, he had ama.s.sed fifteen sets of knight's full body armor and weapons.

A set of knight's equipment comprised of a horse, a lance, a sword, a s.h.i.+eld, a full body armor, as well as a set of horse armor, a mace, a flail, and other weapons. If one was not set on superior quality, then such a set of equipment, which barely met the standard to be used on the battlefield, would cost more than five gold coins.

Maces and flails were regarded as anti-siege weapons and therefore, they could be foregone.

As for lances, however, there had to be some spares. On the battlefield, lances were easily snapped during charges. In general, a knight should be equipped with three lances.

Knights were expensive. It took money to train, feed, and equip knights as well as maintain their equipment and raise the horses.

A baron with an ordinary town as their fief could at most support a single knight squad. The once barren Flower Town couldn't afford to support a knight squad. Yet now, with the daily income from seafood, Liszt could finally groom a knight squad.

“Sir, I heard that you want to eliminate the Thorns Ridge's magic beasts! I wish to lead the patrol team and join the campaign!” When the town's defense officer Karl heard this news, he rushed to the castle at once.

Shortly after, the worm officer Röhm Weinfa.s.s also rushed to the castle: “The worm protection team is composed of serfs, with their fighting strength practically being nonexistent. However, I wish to serve as Sir's retainer, to fight in the Thorns Ridge for Sir!”

Karl and Röhm were also rather lacking in terms of fighting strength, yet Liszt was very pleased with their intent none the less: “I'm very pleased with your loyalty and courage. However, I need you to preserve the Flower Town's affairs. There is no need for you to follow me on this campaign against the Thorns Ridge's magic beasts. Defend the Flower Town well. If a magic beast were to escape into the town, I need you to stand out.”

“As you wis.h.!.+”

“I swear to guard the Flower Town!”

Next, Gort, Blair, and Isaiah successively came to express their loyalty by requesting to go to the battlefield. Liszt successively encouraged them to stay. If he were to take this group of five good-for-nothings to the battlefield, they would just drag him down instead.

……

As the mission was urgent, Liszt had prepared in advance. Despite the road still being muddy, when the sky cleared up, Liszt was ready to set off.

With Thomas' help, he put on the black magic beast leather armor and equipped the gem weapon Redblood Sword. When he exited the castle, his leather boots stepped on the still wet horse field's alfalfa. With a whistle, the grazing Blackdragon galloped over from the distance.

Two retainer knights, Philip and Xavier walked, over with Liszt's equipment. They carried no lances, just bringing a pair of swords and a s.h.i.+eld. The battle was going to be carried out in the woods, which weren't suitable for charging with lances. Of course, there were still bow and arrows. Liszt's archery was second only to Marcus'.

“Master, here is a smoke gra.s.s flint package.” Thomas handed over a small paper package wrapped in several sheets of thick bast paper. Inside, there was dried smoke gra.s.s and a flint.

In a pinch, the package could be ignited with just a bit of friction from the flint and in turn, smoke gra.s.s' fumes could be released. It could be a life-saver at a critical moment.

Admittedly, removing the danger that might arise from the Thorn's Ridge was important, but keeping one's life was even more important. However, the smoke gra.s.s flint package just served to deceive the others. In fact, he had a large bundle of smoke gra.s.s concealed in the s.p.a.ce gem. To stop magic beasts' offensive, the bundle of smoke gra.s.s could be released and ignited at a moment's notice.

With bow and arrow on his back, Liszt mounted Blackdragon. Suddenly, he looked at the kennel, where he saw Tremblingwoods wagging its tail.

His eyes lit up. Tremblingwoods could already release Rockthorns, it was strong and healthy, and its fighting strength was not inferior to an Earth Knight's. It was an excellent helper. Most importantly, it was trained to be very obedient and loyal to him.

“Thomas, bring Tremblingwoods over.”

“You want to bring Tremblingwoods to the battlefield?”

“That's right.”

Tremblingwoods immediately lunged towards Blackdragon when Thomas untied the rope. Blackdragon was not nervous, it was quite familiar with Tremblingwoods. Tremblingwoods, naturally, didn't attack Blackdragon. It just wagged its tail.

“Tremblingwoods, keep pace with me.”

Liszt spurred the horse forward. Tremblingwoods soon caught up obediently.

Everything was ready.

When they reached the junction of the horse field and the main road, they saw Marcus and the knight squad already a.s.sembled, waiting to set off. Gort and the others also stood there to send them off.

Tremblingwoods was not the least bit nervous when they merged with the squad, as it followed Blackdragon.

“Sir, Tremblingwoods is outstanding.” Praised Marcus.

“Which is why I'm taking it to the Thorns Ridge. It'll have a natural advantage in the Thorns Ridge, and might bring us some unexpected help.”

“Right. For the fief, for the castle, for Sir, it should also contribute.” Said Marcus, before putting his right hand on his chest and saluting Liszt, “I'm willing to charge at the enemy for Sir!”

The other retainer knights followed suit, saluting together.

“I'm willing to charge at the enemy for Sir!”

Liszt's expression turned solemn, his sapphire eyes under the helmet swept his knight squad with a glance, and he said in a spirited tone: “Set off, to the Thorns Ridge!”

Blackdragon advanced in big strides. The other horses followed suit, closely cl.u.s.tering around Liszt.

In their wake, there was no dust, just splashes of water.

Under the cheers of Gort and the others, the knight squad treading on the puddle-filled road gradually receded.

Standing at the castle's gate along with the servants, the butler Carter watched the backs of the knight squad. With his hands on his chest and his face carrying nervousness, gratification, and expectation, he cheered out loud: “The glory of knights s.h.i.+nes on you, Master, you will return glorious.”

“That's right, Mr. Carter, that's what we all believe.” Said Mrs. Mawson solemnly.

Not far away, at the stables, One-Eyed Barton muttered with tobacco in his mouth: “The horses in Master's knight squad are a mess. It's best to raise a team of black horses, so that they would look more imposing… However, Master is worthy of the Tulip Family's lineage. His brilliance cannot be overlooked. May the glory of knight always s.h.i.+ne upon him!”

When the knight squad had gone far, Gort, Isaiah, and Blair turned around and went to the town together.

“Is seems like the Thorns Ridge's threat is going to be solved soon.” Said Gort lightly.

Isaiah had a somewhat worried expression: “Magic beasts are not that easy to deal with. Gort, do you really believe that Sir Baron can settle those adept at hiding magic beasts?”

“Pretty much. Liszt is far more composed than you imagine, don't think of him as a sixteen-year-old youngster. He is a qualified lord and a qualified knight. Also, I've seen his archery, it's already at Marcus' level. His sword is a gem weapon gifted to him by Marquis Merlin.”

Blair said cheerfully: “Sir is a child of glory beloved by the glory of knights. The Thorns Ridge doesn't pose a problem, it's merely a whetstone meant to sharpen his sword.”

He turned his head, looked at the already empty gravel road, and said in a slightly frivolous tone: “Let's have a bonfire when Sir returns.”