A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

Arno hurriedly raised the head in his hands.

It wasn’t Beaumont’s face at all.

"Damn it, we were tricked!"

In a fury, Arno hurled the head away.

...

Far from the battlefield, with Eric’s contingent.

The long wait was making Belem extremely anxious.

"Brother Eric, it’s time, isn’t it? That kid Arno has taken down the King’s Banner. If we don’t go now, we’ll miss our chance!"

"Wait a little longer!"

Eric bit his thumb, his gaze heavy as he stared at the distant battlefield.

’William definitely has a trick up his sleeve.’

"No more waiting, Eric. If we don’t go now, forget about getting any credit. If Lord Robert finds out later, this kind of behavior is tantamount to cowardice. We wouldn’t be able to talk our way out of it."

Belem stood up.

Following Belem’s movement, the Knights stood up as well.

Belem’s mood was a reflection of the Knights’ own feelings. For a Knight, cowardice was the greatest shame.

The Knights couldn’t understand Eric’s orders. The war was almost over; if they didn’t go now, they wouldn’t even get the leftovers.

If not for Eric’s command leading them to victory in several previous battles, these Knights would never have listened to the orders of a Cultivator, no matter how favored he was by Lord Robert.

Nothing in this world could stop a Knight from pursuing honor.

"Just a little longer. Wait. Trust me, Belem."

Eric grabbed Belem’s arm.

Just as Belem was about to lose his temper, a battle cry suddenly erupted.

The two of them turned their gazes simultaneously toward the distant position.

A group of Knights holding the King’s Banner, maintaining a dense formation, charged into the King’s Army camp.

Meanwhile, Robert’s Knights, who were busy plundering the camp, didn’t react at all. Some of them even mistook the charging force for their own troops returning from pursuing the enemy.

By the time that group of Knights charged them, Robert’s Knights finally realized what was happening, but it was already too late.

’Just as I expected. The King was prepared.’

Belem immediately rushed to his Warhorse and vaulted into the saddle.

The Knights also hurriedly mounted their horses; they had been itching to go.

Just as Belem was about to set off, he noticed Eric was still standing in the same spot.

"What is it, Brother Eric?"

"It’s nothing."

Eric shook his head, then also vaulted onto his horse.

He had a faint sense of unease.

’Everything is going exactly as I predicted.’

’But why do I feel so uneasy?’

’Forget it. Maybe it’s because of that bunch of citizens from Southampton.’

’We went west on a fool’s errand. We clearly won the battle but came away with no spoils. I’m probably just getting anxious over gains and losses.’

So Eric told himself.

Eric and Belem led all the Knights and Mounted Crossbowmen, charging toward the King’s Army camp.

The sudden attack by the King’s Army Knights was extremely effective.

The Knights and soldiers from Robert’s side, busy plundering the camp, had no time to reform their lines and mount a defense. They were caught completely off guard.

Arno and Robert knew they had made a grave mistake and could only scramble to salvage the situation. They hastily formed a scattered line, but it was completely useless—just like the predicament Hugh had faced before.

Although Robert’s Knights were still fighting bravely, their strength had already been exhausted in the previous battle. In contrast, the King’s Army Knights who launched the surprise attack were a fresh force just entering the fray.

The formation they had barely managed to hold together began to collapse.

"Robert, let’s retreat," Arno said, leading a group of Knights to guard Robert’s side.

"We can’t retreat! The moment we do, it will be a total rout."

Robert roared, his tone fierce and filled with intense unwillingness.

He himself could retreat, he could save his own life, but his army would be completely finished.

Never mind the many Mercenaries under his command; even the most loyal Knights would have their morale shaken if they saw their Lord flee.

If nothing unexpected happened, his army would be utterly destroyed after his retreat.

Everything he had accomplished would turn to dust.

’Damn it, I made it this far!’

’Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!’

’What should I do...?’

’Eric, where are you?!’

"Don’t worry about me! Everyone, charge forward! NO RETREAT! NO RETREAT! NO RETREAT!"

Robert bellowed.

But the Guard Knights beside him didn’t move, either out of concern for Robert’s safety or because they already knew the battle was beyond saving.

Robert was suddenly overcome with rage. He swung his Longsword and stabbed it into his horse’s rump.

The intense pain caused the Warhorse to let out a piercing neigh. Then, it carried Robert out of the protective circle of Knights as he brandished his Longsword and charged toward the King’s Army Knights.

Robert’s nearly insane actions startled the opposing King’s Army Knights.

One King’s Army Knight couldn’t dodge in time and was slashed across the face by Robert, falling from his horse.

However, the King’s Army Knights quickly recovered and noticed the Crown on Robert’s head.

A moment later, Robert felt a heavy blow to his waist. He lost his balance and fell from his horse.

The Crown also fell to the ground.

Robert scrambled to his feet. Just as he was about to remount, he suddenly sensed something and quickly turned his body, but a Longsword still pierced his arm.

It was one of the King’s Army’s Dismounted Knights. He had clearly recognized Robert’s Identity and was charging at him, brandishing a Longsword.

Robert watched everything unfold with a sense of despair.

Yet, in the instant the dismounted Knight’s Longsword was about to pierce Robert, the Knight’s Longsword fell, and he collapsed stiffly on top of Robert.

A strangely shaped Longsword had pierced the dismounted Knight’s back. Robert recognized this style of Sword.

It was a Viking Longsword; his ancestors had left several of them behind.

Then, a hand reached out in front of him. Robert looked up, and a familiar face came into view.

"Eric!"

"Your Majesty, there are no Crowns to be found on the ground."

Eric helped Robert up, then pressed the Crown into his hand.

By now, the surrounding King’s Army Knights had been driven away by the Knights led by Belem, who had formed a protective circle, shielding Robert and Eric within.

"You..."

"Your Majesty, you have more important things to do. Go and reorganize the formations of the Genoese Crossbowmen and the Flemish Spear Soldiers. Leave this to me."

As he spoke, Eric put his own Monk’s Robe on Robert, then helped him onto a horse.

Robert seemed to want to say something but ultimately changed his mind.

"Come back alive, Eric."

"Of course."

A short while after Robert rode away on the Warhorse, the situation on the battlefield had just begun to improve with the arrival of Belem and Eric. But then, another group of King’s Knights charged toward the battlefield from a different direction.

The one leading them was none other than William.

"William is here!"

"William is here!"

"..."

The King’s Knights roared.

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