The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 86

“Simply recapturing the capital holds no meaning.”

No matter how exceptional the Imperial Hounds were, taking down a nation’s capital with their own power was absolutely beyond them.

Ultimately, those foes would be pushed back, and the gates would be taken care of. The issue, however, was what those foes were aiming for in the meantime.

“Should we start by rescuing the royal family?”

There seemed to be other objectives, but it was impossible to tell at the moment. For that, entry into the capital was necessary, but joining the main force wasn’t the best option.

“Getting involved with the main force would only mean playing a supporting role to the Royal Knight.”

And it felt like recapturing the capital would only be possible after all major events were settled. That would mean venturing into a forced scenario zone and taking risks without reaping any worthwhile reward.

“In the end, the method is…”

While Raul was pondering over something in his mind, the guild communicator activated.

“Master, we have arrived at the designated location.”

‘The timing couldn’t be more perfect.’

The one reporting was Pierce, the deputy commander. He had received certain orders from Raul and was moving along with Kane, a new addition.

“What’s the situation?”

“We’ve taken out their sentries and secured an entry path.”

“Where can we join inside the fortress? Our current position is in front of the square in Sector 5 of Area B.”

“Please wait a moment.”

After receiving information from Kane, Pierce informed Raul of the joining point.

“Past two blocks to the east from there…”

“Good. Let’s meet at the joining point in 10 minutes.”

Raul ended the communication and set off towards the meeting point, leaving the makeshift fortress behind.

* * *

Creak. Creeeak.

The sound of the wooden staircase twisting echoed in the confined space.

The tea shop seemed an unlikely place for a basement, yet it was filled with oak barrels of wine and beer.

Apparently, the tea sessions for royals and nobles involved more than just elegant tea drinking.

Thunk.

The sound of something opening came from a corner of the underground cellar.

“Over here.”

Kane, who called out to Raul’s group with a soft voice, was the one who opened it.

“You did well.”

“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve been through, Master.”

Despite what he said, the bloodstains on Kane’s clothes and the faint smell of blood suggested a rather intense battle.

“Please, this way.”

After walking for a while along a cleverly hidden secret passage behind the wine cellar, a rather large corridor awaited, along with some familiar faces.

Pierce and about twenty members of the First Knight Order, along with a few of Kane’s subordinates who were in relatively good condition, were there waiting.

“As we continue down this path, we will arrive at the underground of the royal palace. It seems like they’ve already dismantled most of the mechanisms and traps, and there aren’t many guards around.”

“Kek kek, seems like they never expected to be backstabbed like this.”

Kane nodded in agreement with Jake’s words.

The random attacks on various guilds in the underworld that began a few months ago must have been a precursor for today.

‘But things won’t go as you guys have planned.’

Kane’s thirst for revenge flared as he remembered his fallen subordinates.

“The secret passages leading to the palace are numerous and complex. What I know is only a part of it. Normally, the passages would be blocked by various barriers and mechanisms, but they should all be open now.”

“Do you also know where these passages lead to?”

“I’m not quite sure about that. Where do you plan to go?”

“We were hoping to head to one of the royal palaces first.”

“I have a general idea of the layout of the royal palace in my head. Once we exit the underground passage, I can guide you to your desired location.”

Having a proper informant was definitely convenient. Without Kane, they might have struggled to find their way, rummaging through the Royal Palace overview maps at the Link Cafe.

“Alright. Let’s see where this secret passage takes us.”

Thus, Raul and the new group made their way through the secret passage towards the royal palace.

Kane also made sure to assign some of his informants the task of guiding additional troops that might come to provide a safe retreat.

Whoosh, thunk.

Thud.

“Clear.”

Pierce and Kane quietly took care of an Imperial Hound guard blocking the secret passage ahead.

Creeeak.

As they pushed open the revolving stone door, a cool and dark space appeared before them.

‘Is this a food storage?’

Shelves and sacks were piled high with food supplies. Kane, who moved like a cat to scout the surroundings, spoke in a low voice.

“This is the 3rd floor underground food storage of the royal palace. It seems there are no guards nearby, but I sensed patrols of squad-sized units above us.”

“Do we have to go above ground to reach other palaces?”

“It depends on where you want to go. Some places are connected through underground passages. Where do you wish to go?”

“Where does the 6th prince reside?”

Raul’s choice was the 6th prince.

Targeting the king or the crown prince was risky since the enemies might have deployed their strongest forces. It would be better to rescue another royal family member, and who better than a classmate he was acquainted with?

“The 6th prince resides in the Warhorse Palace to the east. It’s where the 4th prince, the 6th prince, and the 3rd princess, children of the 3rd queen, stay.”

“Good. Lead the way.”

“The place can only be accessed through the ground. Are you sure that’s okay?”

Kane asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

However, Raul just smirked and stretched his neck from side to side. Isn’t it funny? This is our base camp and yet, we have to skulk around in our own territory. Don’t you think the same, my comrades?”

“You speak the truth. It’s the empire’s dogs that should be hiding, not us.”

“Just give the order! We’ll smash them to pieces.”

The knights were bristling with readiness, as if they could burst into action at any moment.

Having successfully infiltrated the royal palace, Raul had no intention of hiding any longer. He judged that as long as they avoided the enemy’s main force, his group of knights had the advantage. And in case of an emergency, they could still escape.

“All hands to battle stations. From this moment, we charge in a straight line to the Warhorse Palace. Crush every enemy we encounter and rescue our allies. Let’s bring the hammer of justice down on the despicable empire’s hunting dogs, the ‘Imperial Hounds’!”

“To the hammer of justice!”

“Let’s go! Sweep away the empire’s scum~!”

“Yeah!!”

Raul, twenty armored users of the First Knight Order, and Kane bravely dashed through the corridors of the royal palace.

The Imperial Hounds, detecting the strange noise, descended into the basement, only to be swept away by the tremendous sword qi unleashed by Jake.

Whoosh, slash!

Even the knights who managed to deflect the sword qi were helplessly knocked down by the relentless assault of the First Knight Order.

“Damn it, where did these knights come from…”

“Must report, urgh!”

The swords of the First Knight Order, mercilessly slashing through, left no doubt as to where the blood staining their armor originated from.

Boom!

“Argh~.”

Guards at the basement stairway entrance, members of the Imperial Hounds, were caught off-guard and flung away by the breaking door debris.

Upon reaching the first floor, the smell of blood and something burning filled the corridors. Flames leapt in various places, and the sound of clashing arms and screams was unending.

‘Just as planned.’

Since the palace had already been swept through once, there weren’t many enemies left inside.

And those encountered in the basement were weaker than expected – mostly ordinary agents or mediocre cavalry.

‘The real warriors, capable of facing the royal knights, must be fighting at the walls or chasing after the royal family.’

Given the considerable number of royals, the enemies would have spread out. There were as many as five palaces within the main palace grounds alone.

With the enemies scattered and the First Knight Order including more than twenty armored users, there were hardly any who could stand in their way.

‘We’ll take advantage of the enemy’s complacency and their divided forces, picking them off one by one before we encounter their main strength.’

Reflecting Raul’s resolve, their advancement was unstoppable.

Upon sighting an enemy, they charged eagerly, and if the sound of clashing arms was heard nearby, they quickly rushed to rescue their allies.

“Thank you for saving us, sob.”

“Do you know where the royal family members might have retreated to?”

“The Fourth Prince is…”

“Thank you for the information. There’s an escape route through the 3rd basement level of the main palace’s food storage.”

Having gathered information on the royals’ whereabouts from the rescued allies, they directed the non-combatants towards the escape routes.

“I will join too!”

“Please let me help too!”

As some knights and soldiers began to join, the troop’s size grew larger, and by the time they finally arrived at the eastern palace ‘Warhorse,’ they had secured a force of over a hundred people.

And then, a little later.

Clang~ Clang! Crash!!

“Kill the prince!”

“You bastards! You can’t lay a finger on the prince!”

In the middle of the third-floor corridor, royal knights were engaged in combat with the enemies, backs against the doors.

The friendly forces consisted only of four royal knights with shields and three soldiers, whereas the enemies had at least ten knights in black armor and over fifty cavalry and agents.

The royal knights already seemed to have depleted their power armor, with several arrows stuck in their bodies, and some were bleeding profusely through the cracks in their split armor.

“These guys are as good as dead. Keep pushing them!”

Surrounded, the Empire’s agents didn’t stop shooting arrows and crossbow bolts from the back, while the cavalry pressed the knights from the front.

At this rate, annihilation seemed only a matter of time. But just then.

Whoosh~ Splutter!

“Argh!”

“Cough.”

From one side of the corridor, a barrage of arrows hit, catching the Empire’s soldiers off-guard.

“Waaaah!!”

“Wipe them all out~!”

Then, a force of over a hundred knights and soldiers broke through their flank.

Clang, clang, scrape!

The Empire’s forces were not to be underestimated, and a fierce melee ensued as weapons clashed. However, the elite First Knight Order, at the peak of their momentum, could not be easily stopped.

Scrape.

Raul’s bastard sword neatly sliced through the neck of a resisting demonic cavalry. He then targeted another nearby cavalry.

Clang!

The cavalry’s claw deflected Raul’s mana-infused blade.

‘This is… A second-type demonic cavalry?’

Surprisingly, the cavalry’s claws were coated with a thin layer of a black mana blade.

While the first-type demonic cavalry enhanced physical abilities were mass-produced, the second-type were monsters enhanced to utilize mana on top of their boosted physicality.

‘But after all, they’re just beasts acting on instinct.’

Using his swordsmanship, Raul flicked away both of the demonic cavalry’s hands at once, then thrust his sword lightly into its empty chest.

Gurgle.

The pierced demonic cavalry collapsed powerlessly to the floor.

Multiple attackers might have been a problem, but in a one-on-one fight, not even an expert-level knight could stand a chance.

Boom. Crash!

While the formation of regular agents and demonic cavalry was breached, the Empire’s knights remained.

As the First Knight Order and the Empire’s knights began to seriously cross swords, shards of sword qi flew in all directions, chaotically enveloping the battlefield.

(To be continued)