The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 87. Clash and Retreat!

The corridor wasn’t particularly spacious, so when about ten knights mingled together, it became fully packed. Observing the collision of knights from a step behind, Raul wore a slightly regretful expression.

‘It’s not a huge difference, but we’re being pushed back.’

Excluding the officers, most of the knights were stuck between the beginner and intermediate levels, and their real combat experience was still lacking.

However, having reached the expert level in such a short period was remarkable in its own right. Given that they had gathered those with talent, they were bound to grow even more over time.

While he was watching the knights’ battle, a group appeared from the opposite end of the corridor and started rushing towards them.

“You dare cause a commotion in this place?!”

With a fierce momentum, brandishing their sword aura, the group of about ten was none other than the Royal Knights of the Ruben Kingdom.

“Damn it. Everyone, retreat!”

Feeling the crunch, the commander of the Imperial Hound ordered a retreat and smashed through the corridor windows, leaping out.

“Ha, lucky brats!”

The imperial knights roughly pushed aside the First Knight Order and jumped out the window.

“Damn bastards!”

Jake and a few other knights attempted to follow, but Raul stopped them.

“Enough. The priority is escorting our allies.”

‘Spreading our forces thin is dangerous.’

Threatening enemies were still scattered around. There were too many variables to chase after formidable foes.

After dealing with the delayed imperial remnants, a Royal Knight who had been guarding the door approached, his wounds sealed with a healing potion provided by Raul but visibly exhausted from the fierce combat.

The Royal Knight expressed gratitude for Raul’s help and exchanged greetings with other Royal Knights who joined later.

“Is the prince safe?”

“Of course, this way…”

As the firmly shut door opened and they stepped in, the royals and about ten courtiers looked surprised, then sighed in relief upon recognizing the newcomers.

“We are grateful for the safety of the princess and princes. The enemies have been routed, so please rest assured. We shall take it from here!”

No sooner had the door opened than a Royal Knight, hastening forward and kneeling on one knee, loudly expressed his commitment.

“Ah, and you are?”

“Senior Royal Knight Jose, at your service, Your Highness!”

Inside the room stood two of the royalty, the Fourth and the Sixth Princes. The elder of the two, the Fourth Prince, nodded with satisfaction and praised Jose.

Then, the Sixth Prince Gerard, standing at the back, asked with a tilt of his head, “Wasn’t Sir Jose appointed as the Second Prince’s escort knight? What brings you here without him?”

“His Highness has already moved to a safe location. However, he was concerned about his brothers and ordered us, including myself, to rescue you.”

“My brother did?”

“Yes. Instead of staying here, please follow me. I will ensure your safety to a secure location!”

Despite Sir Jose’s confident promise, the Sixth Prince Gerard’s expression remained puzzled.

“My second brother wouldn’t do such a thing…”

From the beginning, the Second Prince was different from them and their mother, and even resided in a separate palace.

Usually ignoring them and rather giving them the cold shoulder, now he suddenly cares for them? However, the Fourth Prince seemed to have a different perspective.

“Was it Sir Jose? I’ll speak with my brother and father to grant him a significant reward. Lead the way, quickly.”

“Yes, righ—”

“Wait!”

Someone stopped Jose in his tracks. It was Raul, who had been standing slightly back, watching the situation with interest.

“Who are you to block the way in front of this prince?”

“My apologies. I’m Raul de Ashton, the third son of the Count Ashton.”

The Fourth Prince’s eyebrows twitched, and just as he was about to speak, the Sixth Prince Gerard quickly intervened.

“Sir Raul! What brings you here?”

“It seemed the palace was in danger, so I brought my knights.”

Truthfully, Raul and Prince Gerard weren’t exactly friends. They were classmates at the academy but had never really spoken outside of it, and it was only a few days ago at a ceremony that they had briefly greeted each other.

However, through their time at the academy and the ceremony, Gerard knew that Raul was trustworthy. There had to be a reason Raul had stopped them.

“Do you know each other?”

“Well…”

After a brief explanation from his brother Gerard and the story from the royal knights escorting them, the Fourth Prince calmed down.

“So, Sir Raul, what’s the matter?”

“I suggest we evacuate through an escape route we’ve secured. From what I’ve seen, the palace is full of enemies, and even the walls have been captured. It would be better to leave the palace through a nearby exit rather than heading to an ‘unknown safe place,’ wouldn’t it?”

At Raul’s words, the royal knight Jose sprang up and shouted.

“Ha! How dare an outsider dictate what the princes should do? The protection of the royals is the duty of our royal knights. Outsiders should back off. And how can we trust your word that you’ve secured an escape route!”

However, not Raul, but the royal knights and soldiers he had brought with him spoke in unison.

“It’s not a lie. Many have already evacuated safely thanks to Sir Raul.”

“The guards and soldiers are covering the retreat. We need to escape before more enemies arrive!”

But the Fourth Prince chose Jose over Raul.

“I will go with Sir Jose to where my brother is. Let’s go, Gerard.”

However, Gerard did not move.

“My lord, I’m sorry, but I will accompany Sir Raul. I can’t believe Sir Jose’s words that he came to save us, leaving my second brother behind.”

Could it be, even if there was a safe place, his knights were sent away while the enemies hadn’t retreated yet? That wasn’t the character of the second brother Gerard knew.

“Tsk. It seems you’ve grown more suspicious since you started going outside. To not trust your kin and servants but rely on an outsider… I’ll say no more. Take care.”

Thus, the Fourth Prince followed Jose, while Gerard looked at his back with a sorrowful gaze.

“Don’t worry too much. I have my men with you; if anything happens, they will inform me.”

“Phew, thank you. By the way, have you heard any news about our father or other siblings?”

“It seems His Majesty is still safe, but I’m not sure about the others. Let’s evacuate for now.”

And thus, they were able to safely arrive at the underground secret passage using the retreat route they had secured.

Raul, expressing his gratitude to Gerard and the royal knights who thanked him, assigned a guide and escort to them before re-entering the palace.

“Where are we currently?”

“The entrance to the [Battle Spear] Palace in the north. In addition to Prince No. 4, Princess No. 3 and Prince No. 8 and their entourage have also joined.”

“Keep tracking without letting your guard down until the end. I will join you soon.”

After ending the communication, Raul quickly headed towards the palace in the north.

‘Hmm. What are they thinking?’

Jose, the royal knight, and his party seemed to have a hidden agenda, but Raul could not be certain of their true identities.

Perhaps because this was a forced scenario area, Raul’s analysis was not functioning accurately. That was why, when dividing the forces earlier, he had instructed Pierce and Kane to track them.

As he neared the Battle Spear Palace, encounters with monsters became more frequent than with the imperial soldiers. And a slight chill started to crawl up Raul’s arm.

‘This feeling…!’

It was unmistakable. The ominous feeling that was faintly perceptible even from the distant mansion. An overwhelmingly intense force was drawing closer.

‘For some reason, it feels like I need to hurry.’

Raul’s hands, slicing through monsters, began to move more busily.

* * *

“Sir Jose, are we still far off?”

Prompted by the 4th Prince, the high-level knight Jose reassured him with a smile.

“We are almost there. It just took a bit longer because we’re moving cautiously to avoid enemies. Plus, haven’t we managed to rescue others thanks to that?”

“Of course, but…”

Contrary to Jose’s assurance of their imminent arrival, they had already been wandering for more than 30 minutes.

The group of about fifty men Raul had assigned at the start had dwindled after a few battles, falling behind or getting separated.

What remained were only about ten of Jose’s party and roughly twenty soldiers, excluding the five royal knight knights assigned to him and his brothers.

Of course, having nearly twenty royal knights with them should have been reassuring, but an inexplicably ominous feeling was setting in.

‘Why does it seem like there are more monsters the closer we get to the “safe” location?’

But it was too late to turn back; they had come too far.

‘The Battle Spear Palace…’

An odd place where entry was restricted even to royalty under normal circumstances. He had always been curious about the palace, but he never expected to come here under these conditions.

In the silence, the growling of monsters and an unknown vibration continued sporadically, only heightening the unease.

Just then.

Whoosh – Thud, Thwomp!!

“It’s the enemy!”

“An ambush!!”

As they were passing through the large lounge on the first floor of the royal palace, arrows poured down on them from all directions.

“Protect the prince!”

“Form a shield wall!”

True to their reputation as the elite guards of the palace, the soldiers quickly formed a defensive formation, and the knights deflected the incoming arrows.

However, the number of soldiers had already halved. That’s when the enemies showed their true colors.

“Nobody move!”

“Ah! My prince!”

While the royal knights were distracted by the arrows, Jose’s subordinates had swords pointed at the throats of the prince and princess.

“You fiends! What is this treachery?”

The fourth prince shouted in anger, but Jose clicked his tongue and wagged his finger from side to side.

“In your current situation, you shouldn’t be getting angry but rather begging ‘please save us~’. No?”

Then, he thrust a small dagger deep into the thigh of the fourth prince.

“Ah!!”

“You cur!”

The royal knights made to rush forward, but Jose threatened them with his sword.

“If you don’t do as I say, the prince dies. Now, everyone calmly lay down your weapons and take off your power armors. I’m counting to ten. One, two….”

Caught in a dilemma, the royal knights gritted their teeth, but they seemed to have no other option.

‘Hehehe. This is quite entertaining.’

When it involved the second prince, there was no time, so they were all killed, but now there was no need to rush.

With five expert-level royal knights and three members of the royal family, there were plenty of uses for them.

“Damn it!”

Clang, clatter.

The weapons fell from the hands of the royal knights.

‘Good. It’s over now.’

Just as Jose, or rather No. 1, wore a very satisfied smile.

Pop.

The magical lights illuminating the royal palace lounge went out, and darkness fell.

“What’s going on!”

“What happened?”

Panicked voices were heard from everywhere, but no significant movement was felt. However, the very next moment.

Flash-bang-boom!!

Bright lights and the sound of explosions erupted from various parts of the lounge.

“Ah, my ears!”

“My eyes!!”

It was as if a stun grenade had detonated, and the people in the hall clutched their eyes and ears in agony.

However, No. 1 and a few knights who were equipped with power armors reflexively circulated mana to protect their eyes and ears, but they couldn’t avoid being momentarily staggered.

And during that brief period, the situation had completely reversed.

“Wipe them all out.”

With these low words from Raul, the First Knight Order and the troops swept over the enemies.

(To be continued)