The Little Duchess' Home Tutor (Novel) - V2 C17

Volume 2 Segment 5

Chapter 17 – Riot in Capital part 8

Translator: Mab

Editor: Kiriyume

 

I used my staff to receive the sword, I twisted my body to evade a thrusting spear, using the moment to unleash a kick to an enemy knight.

 

“Gah!”

 

His bearded face contorted in pain, before I used it as my foothold to leap and land in the spacious corridors of the Royal Palace.

Not even a moment after, countless offensive spells rushed in.

If I were in perfect condition, I would have already intervened with and eliminated their magic formulas.

…However, I’ve already reached the bottom of my mana pool. I couldn’t snuff out all of them.

I eliminated the minimum amount of spells that flew at me as I approached the Kingsguard knights who were too injured to move. I put my hands on their armor and used wind magic to blow them to the very back of the formation.

 

“Prepare yourself!” “No hard feelings, but you’re dead!!”

“!”

 

Two highly skilled knights, one a man the other a woman, came and rushed towards me with their spears. Their bodies clad in armor gleaming purple. 

I unleashed several hits of my own with my staff, many of which bounced off their shields, making my attacks ineffective.

—Strong. They are orthodox vanguard spear knights!

Using what little mana I had left, I launched ‘Thunder God Spear’ diagonally from behind me at the fastest speed I could muster. At the same time, I also activated ‘Flame God Wave’ from right beside me.

Both knights stepped back as they blocked the spells with their shields and barrier orbs. 

Then it came, a voice that sounded off-puttingly calm for being in a battlefield. An old knight, his hair as white as his beard that he rubbed, commented on me nonchalantly.

 

“Do not be dismayed, glorious knights and magicians of Algren. This man, he is a man of valor and wisdom, a rare one to meet. No wonder they call him the Princess Sword’s Brain. However, his spells do little on us. Defend yourselves well and there is nothing you should fear from him.”

　

What a brilliant analysis of me.

Putting aside a one-to-one fight, if I had to face such a large number of people, and they’re a military army to boot, I would be killed as soon as they recovered from the chaos.

…And not only have their numbers increased, they keep sending in stronger and stronger knights.

I leapt backwards and retreated to the fifth post that Bertrand-sama and the other knights had prepared.

The enemy commander gave out his commands calmly.

 

“Numbers. Push him hard with numbers.”

“Sir, yes sir!!!!”

 

The old knight—perhaps the famed Old Harclay of the Algren Dukedom, served three generations of Duke Algren and has long and lustrous military feats under his belt. Someone probably made a book about him.

In other words, the troop that unleashed a storm of offensive magic and formed lines of spears at the forefront of the rebel army—was Duke Algren’s most elite order, the ‘Purple Forbidden Enclosure.’

I glanced behind me.

None of the Kingsguard knights was unharmed. Recovery was slow despite the fact that healing magic was seen alight one after another. After all, the knights in charge of healing were running out of mana due to the endlessly continuing series of battles.

　

—We have put up quite a fight ever since the invasion of the royal palace began, to say the least.

 

We managed to crush the four first waves at the entrance of the Royal Palace.

At first they mobilized mercenaries and knights who didn’t seem to have much skills or willpower our way, but eventually we managed to draw Duke Algren’s knights.

After which, Richard and I rushed into their ranks recklessly in order to throw their army, that had been coming onto us in waves, into chaos, whilst knights of the Kingsguard Order behind us used long-distance attacks to wound as many enemy troops as possible. While we did get pushed as far as the third post that was constructed in the corridors of the Royal Palace, we managed to delay their advances, but… from there on, the tide of war changed.

Their frontline changed to spear knights clad in purple armor, led by a knight who seemed to be the Old Harclay himself.

And the result was—phew, a sigh escaped from me as I sat down on the floor and called out to Richard. As for Richard, he was being treated with healing magic by several people at the same time as he was basically covered in blood. Though, his wounds were too deep to be treated by healing magic that’s being used on the battlefield.

 

“Can you move, Richard?”

“…Of course. I got some rest, after all. Well, time to go berserk, I guess. Damn, that Old Harclay, is a trouble. So much strength for being over 80, this isn’t fair.”

“Tell me about it. Richard.”

“Nn? What? …Allen, we’re not retreating, not now. Right, guys?!”

“Obviously!” “We’re just getting started!” “Once this war is over, I’ll propose—” “Oi, stop it you halfwit!” “Shut your mouth!”

 

The beaten and wounded knights merrily raised their voices.

Really, these guys… Yeah, the Kingsguard Order maybe really is the strongest Chivalric Order throughout the Kingdom.

My older friend, whose red hair had been dyed a deeper shade of red with his own blood, staggered to his feet and winked.

 

“See, them?”　

“Yeah. Seems like we’re not retreating.”

“All right, let’s move it—Sir Harclay! Sorry for making you wait!! I won’t have you think that Leinster’s flame and sword are weak!!!”

 

His voice was lively, as though the person himself wasn’t gravely injured. Small, flaming feathers fluttered around in response to his will to fight.

I glanced at Bertrand-sama when Richard lost his sight of me.

In response to Richard’s words, the old knight spoke calmly.

 

“…Your Highness Young Duke Richard-dono. You and your Kingsguard knights, as well as that young brave there, have fought valiantly. Incredibly, unbelievably valiantly. To lay down my sword here is to tarnish your valor. Hence, I ask you to surrender. I assure you, in my name, that you will be safe of any harm.”

“I can’t accept such terms.”

“The outcome of this war is already clear. The… people who escaped will never join up with either Leinster or Howard.”

“No doubt about that. Your mole must have leaked the information to—……gahak! A-, Allen…?”

 

As he was speaking, I struck the base of Richard’s nape with my staff that was clad in lightning magic.

He turned around, trembling, as he reached out and grabbed my neck. The color of his eyes, for the first time I saw it, was the color of wrath—before he collapsed.

I held my friend in my arms and muttered in his ears. “I’m sorry. However, I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

I pulled his sword from its sheath before I left Richard in the hands of the knights in charge of healing.

 

“Bertrand-sama!”　

“Yes sir! First Squad, Second Squad, and all those who’re in the shape to fight, fall back to the next post!! The rest of you will escape with the vice commander!!”

“No way!” “Bertrand-sama!” “We still can fight!!”

“Shut your trap you brats!! Dying here is a perk for us old bones. Allen-sama!”

 

I launched several ‘Flame God’s Wave,’ ‘Dark God’s Chains,’ and ‘Earth God’s Thorn’ that I had prepared all this time from all directions.

In one fell swoop, I stirred up the enemy’s ranks and temporarily blocked the passage.

The Kingsguard knights retreated deeper into the palace.

—The old knight and I exchanged glances before he gave me a sharp question.

 

“Why?!”

“For the honor of my name and for the life of my friend! Ah, and one more thing.”

 

I replied instantly, then stopped it with a grin.

On my right hand, Richard’s chipped one-handed sword.

One my left hand, an old long staff that Lidya picked for me.

 

“I believe you should have known already—‘Kingsguards never surrender.’”　

“…Magnificent. If possible, I’d rather have you as my—Nay. My words matter not at this point. Hmmph!!!!”

 

The old knight unleashed his spear full of energy, its blow shattered my spells.

The line of the battlefield cracked, the enemy troops came forward with full killing intents.

 

“I am Hague Harclay, vassal of the Duke Algren.”

“I am Allen, the Sword Princess’ Brain.”　

“Now” “we shall”

“FIGHT!!!”