A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

In the Forest.

Baron Berkshill, Henry Fellers, was leading twenty horsemen in pursuit of a madman who had attacked their column.

Ferris never imagined that someone on a light horse would dare to attack a company of over five hundred Knights.

This act reminded him of the troublesome enemy he and Earl Hugh of Chester had encountered in Wales—Edric the Wild. But even that Barbarian wouldn’t have been so audacious.

"My lord Baron, we don’t need to chase a single bandit. The Earl might need us now."

"It’s fine. Hugh can handle anything. No one can withstand the charge of five hundred Norman Knights. Our presence will make little difference."

Ferris waved a dismissive hand at the Knight who had spoken from behind him.

The sound of hooves echoed to his left, and Ferris instantly wheeled his horse around and galloped in that direction.

The Knights behind him had no choice but to follow.

The trees in the Forest were packed closely together, leaving only enough room for a single horse to pass. The twenty Knights were thus stretched into a long, single-file line.

Ferris dug his spurs in hard, and his Warhorse instantly picked up speed, even though accelerating on such a narrow forest path was incredibly dangerous.

A light horse was no match for a proper Warhorse.

Before long, Ferris caught up to his quarry just as they reached a slightly wider clearing.

Ferris finally got a clear look at him. The man wore a strange Barrel Helmet with a Cross-shaped slit for the eyes. Over his heavy Chain Armor were strange, thick plates of iron.

Just as Ferris drew his Longsword and prepared to close in, the man, instead of dodging, charged straight at him.

Their Longswords met. His opponent’s speed was astonishing. Before Ferris could even think of his next move, a warm liquid splashed across his face, and an excruciating pain erupted from his eye.

"AAAAHHHH—MY EYE!!!"

The intense pain in his eye caused him to lose his balance and fall from his horse. However, just before he hit the ground, his arm was seized. He was lifted into the air, his knees dragging along the ground as he was pulled into the adjacent Forest.

Eric reined in his horse. Nearby Attendants quickly took hold of Ferris and pinned him to the ground.

A moment later, the thundering of hooves grew louder as the Knights led by Ferris arrived in pursuit.

Without a moment’s hesitation, they charged toward the direction of Ferris’s agonized screams.

"Fire!!!"

Eric roared.

A shower of Arrows flew from the Forest, striking the unprotected heads of the Warhorses. The horses that took fatal hits collapsed to the ground.

But the Attendants’ archery skills were only average, and three or four horses still broke through the arrow storm.

Eric raised his hand. A rope was pulled taut. The charging Warhorses, focused only on moving forward, lost their footing instantly. Their riders were thrown off, slamming into tree trunks and falling unconscious.

Five other Knights who arrived later remained outside the Forest, restraining themselves from charging in.

Eric drew a dagger and plunged it into Ferris’s shoulder. The sharp pain made him cry out again.

Hearing Ferris’s piercing scream, the five remaining Knights looked at each other, hesitating. After a minute, they made the rational choice, turned their horses around, and headed back the way they came. They were clearly retreating.

"Seems you aren’t worth that much, are you?"

Eric said with a light chuckle, patting Ferris’s cheek.

"Pathetic."

However, Ferris had only been blinded in his left eye. His right eye, though soaked in blood, was still intact. He glared viciously at Eric, but the pain in his shoulder and eye left him with no strength to curse.

Eric took off his Barrel Helmet. ’The Barrel Helmet is great for everything except ventilation,’ he thought. ’Luckily, it’s Winter. If I wore this thing in the summer, my head would probably get cooked.’

’I wonder how Robert is doing. Did he manage to retreat in time?’

’Even though I only drew off about twenty Knights, it should have been enough to delay their march for a bit.’

’If Robert got caught, then the last few days will have been all for nothing.’

’I’ll have no choice but to go back to King’s Bridge Monastery and lay low. That guy Philip would definitely give me hell for it.’

’I hope God is watching over him and he got away safely.’

"Go strip their Chain Armor and Helmets. Those are your spoils of war."

Eric waved his hand at the Attendants.

The Attendants were instantly ecstatic. The Chain Armor and Helmets were a significant windfall. With this gear, perhaps they could truly become Knights. They rushed toward the group of fallen riders.

However, just as they were enthusiastically stripping the armor, the sound of hooves rang out again.

Eric’s heart tightened. ’Damn it, how can they be back so soon?’

’I led those guys on a long chase just now.’

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Everyone grab your Bows and Arrows, reform the line!"

Eric yelled frantically.

The group of Attendants had finished stripping the Armor, and several had already started trying it on. Even with Eric’s shouting, they couldn’t immediately return to the line.

Just as Eric was about to bolt, he got a clear look at the banner. It was the Normandy Double Lion Banner.

’Robert?’

Eric walked out of the Forest and into the clearing.

Seeing that Eric was still in one piece, Robert let out a sigh of relief.

"How did you end up retreating all the way here?"

"Retreat? What are you talking about? We finished them all off!"

Belem jumped off his horse, forgetting about his injured foot, and tumbled to the ground. Two Attendants helped him back to his feet.

"It’s a real shame, brother Eric. You missed out on a world-shaking battle! God was truly with us. We slaughtered them, left none alive! I single-handedly charged their left flank and shattered their formation."

Eric didn’t need a brain to know Belem was spouting nonsense again; he just pressed his hand against the man’s face.

He looked over at Robert. Robert’s right arm was hanging limply, and the bloodstains on his Chain Armor had begun to turn black.

"All you need to remember is that we won. A complete and utter victory! And it was all thanks to my command."

Robert pointed to himself with his thumb. Although his voice was calm, it was laced with a joy and pride he couldn’t suppress.

With that, Robert tugged on his reins, turned his horse around, and started back the way they came.

"Brother Eric, you have no idea how dangerous it was. We really have Robert to thank for this one. The number of Knights... the odds were completely against us. But Robert actually used the Attendants, formed them into Archers and..." Belem was the type who couldn’t hide his emotions, and he rambled on and on.

Just as he mentioned the words "Attendants" and "Archers," Eric raised an eyebrow and glanced at Robert, who promptly urged his horse to a faster pace.

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