Chapter 20: 20 Art

Chapter 20: 20. Art

A perfect strike! Clean! Sharp!

Darcus attempted to flick the blood from the tip of his blade, but under the moonlight, he saw not a single trace of it. He wasn't sure if it was due to his exquisite technique or the superior material of the blade.

Darcus adjusted himself and walked a few steps before finally finding a good position.

"Rain, come here."

Rain walked over and asked, "My Lord?"

"Come closer. Stand with me."

Rain moved over slowly. Although he was somewhat bold, he wasn't bold enough to think he could stand right beside Darcus.

"My Lord?"

"Look! This is the angle. Capture the confrontation between me and Bastine," he said, pointing at Bastine on the ground. "Then include you guys and the raven that was on my shoulder just now. The sickly green Morslib in the night sky, the village engulfed in flames behind us, and the phantom silhouette behind Bastine. Got it?"

It was quite strange; perhaps Rain's ancestors hailed from the Kingdom of Charis? In this land of Nagaros, where traditional art was incredibly barren, he actually knew how to draw.

Rain thought for a moment, then nodded seriously. "Understood, my Lord. Once we are on the ship, I will sketch out the framework. Once you are satisfied, I will finish the painting after we return to Krakalond."

"Don't mess me around. Draw Lilith pulling my hair instead."

"My Lord, I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Darcus walked back to the side of the Ripper Claw, removed his bracer, and began reloading his flintlock musket.

"The cavalry of Batonia are the pride of the Old World—not the kind we saw this afternoon, but cavalry composed entirely of knightly lords. It's possible our Ebony Claw might run into them in a moment."

Hearing this, Rain remained silent and instead looked toward his brother. Flaneas said cautiously, "My Lord, although we do not fear them in a one-on-one fight, there are simply too many of them, aren't there?"

"Look at you! We run! What else?"

Alisha took the initiative to mount her Dark Pegasus and flew over the village, letting that group of soldiers who were still having fun come out; she wasn't afraid of being smoked out.

Darcus re-equipped his bracer and helmet, looking up at Alisha flying in mid-air, and shook his head.

The Druchi soldiers in the village began to assemble into ranks and marched out of the village. They were driving over fifty brand-new slaves; the blacksmith uncle and Alan's brother were among them. There were also two wagons pulled by Nuln beasts, filled to the brim with chickens, ducks, and geese, while several soldiers drove pigs and cattle.

Darcus mused, "This poor village probably doesn't even have a Gold Ecu. As for Daniels and Pennies, what use are they? If they're useless, are they meant to be chewed? Should I just ditch the loot and bolt? How will those Druchi describe me when I get back? That I was scared off and didn't even see the enemy's tracks?"

The Gold Ecu was the currency of Batonia, simple and elegant in design, with a weight comparable to the Empire's Crown. The obverse featured the profile of the founder of Batonia, 'The Unifier' Giles le Bat, while the reverse showed the classic image of Giles slaying a dragon. On the silver Daniels, even the date of Giles's death was printed incorrectly, and as for the bronze-tin Pennies, they weren't worth mentioning—after all, you couldn't buy a nine-pound fifteen-penny shirt with them.

Summoning the Blightwalker Chariot, Darcus began to give orders: "In a moment, you all will press the rear of the column to scout. Watch the north; cavalry might be coming. If you see cavalry, blow the horn immediately. As for the rest, handle it yourselves. Stay safe."

Chariots were flexible things; they would charge when they saw an opportunity and run or linger when they didn't.

"Edmund! Slaughter the pigs and cattle and put the best meat in the chariot. Be careful during the march; cavalry might attempt a raid soon."

The Druchi army had plenty of experts who could process pigs and cattle in minutes. Darcus and the two brothers began to eat with the Cold Lizards to prepare for the potential battle ahead.

The column began to turn.

To the north, there was indeed a troop of cavalry. This royal cavalry unit consisted of eleven knightly lords, accompanied by their families in carriages and a host of attendants. These lords had just finished a wedding and were returning to Soirel. While traveling along the highway, they suddenly saw thick plumes of smoke rising into the distance, mingled with the glow of fire.

The knights reined in their horses to watch.

One knightly lord asked, "Is that Avignon over there?" He then looked toward another knight in the group, as that was the fief he governed.

The other knights also looked at him. The man's mouth trembled slightly as he replied, "Yes, that is Avignon."

"The Greenskins around here have all been cleared out. Beastmen?"

"It must be Beastmen; the sky is too green tonight. Those bandits wouldn't have the capability to attack Avignon; those peasants don't even have decent weapons."

"Could it be those Druchi pirates?"

"Why would they come here instead of the many coastal villages? Avignon has nothing."

"You're right, I agree."

"I believe it is Beastmen as well."

The knights discussed the matter while the leader continued to think, preparing to make a decision.

"Don the armor! We're going to check it out!"

The leading knightly lord said to his attendants, "Escort the ladies and the young misses to the nearest castle in a moment, and then you follow."

The attendants serving the knights to don their armor all complied.

The ladies and young misses opened the carriage doors, watching their husbands or fathers bid them farewell.

The knights' expressions were solemn and determined, as if the fruits of victory were already within their reach and the Goddess of the Lake had already smiled upon them.

Gondel was a famous questing knight from Le Anguran.

He had renounced all personal property and all rights of inheritance to his lands. He had appointed another knight to fulfill the duties of managing and protecting his fief, making adventuring his priority from then on. His subsequent life would be accompanied by various trials and hardships, which would temper his mind, body, and soul. During his long search for the Holy Grail, Gondel had traveled across all parts of Batonia, fighting everywhere; two years ago, he had even participated in the Defense of Coloni. The path he chose was extremely difficult: he swore he would never sleep in the same place two nights in a row, and as long as he lived, he would never cease his search.

He appeared mighty and savage, with a disheveled beard, worn-out armor stained with blood, and a tattered surcoat and cloak. He brandished a massive knightly two-handed sword and rode a tall, powerful Batonian warhorse, with equipment, weapons, parchment, and scriptures hanging from the horse's hindquarters.

Tonight, he did not rest, but continued his search. For he knew that the rising of the Morslib was a precursor to the resurgence of the Beastmen, and that Beastmen would ravage the land tonight. He saw the flames rising in the distance, and he swore he would make those monsters pay in blood!