Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

After knocking Fredrinn unconscious, Xavier carried him and left with a broad grin on his face.

On the other hand, the battle at the main gate of the estate had already come to an end with the retreat of House Silversword and House Keller.

Looking at the disappearing enemies, Treston sighed while shaking his head.

Did I make the correct decision?

“Gather the wounded and have them treated immediately!” He shouted to his men.

“Yes, sir!”

They managed to repel the enemies, but they had suffered numerous casualties. Many of their warriors died, including a few Knights and even Elite Knights.

Treston didn’t know if this could still be called their victory.

While he was observing the destroyed walls, a warrior came to his side and asked.

“Sir, what should we do with the enemy corpses?”

Treston frowned and thought for a moment before he replied. “Gather them in one place and don’t let anyone touch them.”

Hearing this, the warrior was surprised, but he still acknowledged the command with a salute. “Yes, sir!”

Treston looked at the corpses all over the place with a gloomy expression.

I just hope that Lord Darvin will stop this meaningless battle. Only our warriors would suffer from this.

***

Warrick didn’t just arbitrarily make the decision to retreat. When Treston suggested it, he coincidentally saw the signal from Fredrinn’s group.

Just then, he saw Anton Keller approaching him on horseback.

“Sir Warrick…”

The old man’s face was filled with guilt and remorse.

Truthfully, Warrick resented the old man. They wouldn’t have to fight if he had stayed in his mansion, but Warrick knew that he was also at fault. He had underestimated the enemy’s power and it ended in tragedy. Many warriors died, including the warriors of House Silversword.

Looking at the old man’s face, he shook his head and waved his hand. “Let’s not talk about this for now. We are still in enemy territory so we must return to the estate and prepare our defenses.”

Anton Keller saw the grief in Warrick’s eyes. He wanted to say some words of comfort, but he was too embarrassed to say it. After all, he had made the decision to attack despite Warrick’s warnings.

“Alright.”

They headed back to Lanela where they regrouped with Fredrinn’s team. However, they were stunned when they saw that there was only one warrior who had returned.

Warrick’s heart dropped when he saw this and he quickly grabbed the only survivor in Fredrinn’s team. “Where is Fredrinn?! Where is he?!”

The Elite Knight was terrified by Warrick’s gaze. With a trembling voice, he replied. “S-Sir Fredrinn… He stayed behind to buy us some time to escape…”

Warrick and the warriors of House Silversword couldn’t believe their ears.

Warrick subconsciously grabbed the man tighter and muttered with a blank look. “How could this be? Fredrinn…”

“We encountered a Transcendent Knight during the rescue operation. He killed all the members of our team and I was only lucky enough to be saved by Sir Fredrinn…” The Elite Knight grimaced as he recalled that scene.

Warrick frowned. He was aware that there were three Transcendent Knights helping House Harrison.

“Who was it?” He asked with a cold look.

“Xavier Coldstone…”

Hearing this, the face of a middle-aged man wearing a strange smile appeared on his face.

If it’s him, there’s a chance that Fredrinn is still alive. I should wait for Sir Galanar’s arrival before making a decision.

With Fredrinn’s life and death uncertain, the group returned to the estate with grim faces.

Upon returning, they immediately bolstered their defenses in case of enemy retaliation.

When night came, Warrick finally received the casualty report.

“Sir, House Keller lost fifty-seven of their warriors. Twenty-four of them are heavily injured and the rest are lightly injured.”

“On our side, we lost twenty-eight warriors. Seven are heavily injured, while the rest have minor injuries.”

Warrick’s face darkened upon hearing this.

Owen… my friend, my brother…

He clenched his fists while looking at the list of casualties.

“You may leave.” He motioned to his subordinate.

The man bowed and left without saying a word.

Warrick slumped into his seat and covered his face with his palm.

Unknowingly, tears slid down his face as he remembered the faces of those who had died.

My comrades…

****

In the clinic of House Harrison, Darvin went to visit his injured son along with the important members of the family.

When he heard that his son was in critical condition, he immediately rushed to the clinic.

“Where is Richard?! Where is my son?!” Darvin roared at the medical personnel as soon as he arrived.

“L-Lord Richard is still being treated, my lord.” One of the medical personnel responded nervously.

“Where is he?! Bring me to his room!” Darvin shouted.

“You can’t go there, my lord! The doctors and nurses might not be able to concentrate with you around. Please relax and have some faith in our medical personnel.” Treston suddenly appeared.

Seeing him, Darvin walked towards him and slapped him hard.

Pah!

“My son was harmed because of you! If you had protected him well, he wouldn’t have been hurt!” Darvin vented his frustrations on the old warrior.

Everyone was shocked to see this. They felt pity for the old warrior, but no one dared to speak up.

Treston didn’t even flinch after taking that slap. It didn’t hurt him in the slightest, but he felt something within him crumble.

He lowered his head and apologized. “I was incompetent, my lord. It was indeed my fault. I will voluntarily step down from my position as the commander of the army to atone for my incompetence.”

He didn’t wait for Darvin’s response and left the clinic with heavy strides.

Looking at the old warrior’s disappearing figure, Darvin belatedly realized that he had overreacted. “Wait! Sir Treston!”

He called out to the old warrior, but Treston didn’t look back.

“Dammit!” Darvin gritted his teeth and stormed inside the clinic to search for his son.

Everyone felt a sense of unease all of a sudden.

A rift has been formed between Darvin and Treston.