The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World

Chapter 731- The Divine Oath, the Fall of a Hero and the Truth (3)

Unfortunately, no one could refute those words. Everyone present knew exactly what kind of person Reinhardt was. Once he decided upon something, he would walk that path until the very end.

Mikita asked with a trembling voice, ”So you simply watched him leave? What if this is exactly what the demons wanted? What if it’s an ambush? What if...”

”I know.”

Faced with the accusations of all the high-ranking knights of the Temple of Light, Drystan could only clench his hand.

”You think I didn’t tell him that? I said everything I could. But he still wanted to go. He told me if Aurelia was truly captured by the demons’ hands and he ignored it, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.”

The tent became quiet once again. No one could speak because they all knew in their minds that their commander would never abandon someone he cared about. If he did, he wouldn’t be the commander they knew.

”So... he chose to gamble. No, it would be more accurate to say that he chose his responsibility. He entrusted us with ours... while he carried his alone.”

Another heavy silence descended.

Drystan looked at every Holy Knight standing around the table. He knew that all of them were aggrieved, but now was not the time.

”Have all of you forgotten what Commander ordered? He entrusted the Northern Alliance to us. Our duty is to retreat. With our supplies exhausted, wounded filling the infirmary, if we continue fighting, more knights will die.”

”So we’re just supposed to abandon him?” the Holy Knights questioned.

”No. But neither can we ignore his orders.”

He looked at Bob and the others and spoke with authority.

”From this moment on, Bob will take command. Bargo will act as the second in command. You two will lead the knights back to the valley and mount the resistance from there.”

”Wait, what are you saying?” When the others heard that, they were all confused.

But Drystan did not stop.

After handing out orders, he donned his own gear and spoke.

”As for me, I will go and back the commander. Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back.”

Seeing Drystan armor himself to go reinforce their commander, they finally understood that their vice commander never intended to abandon their commander. In fact, if anything, he wanted to go with him.

After all, the other party may have his sister. As a brother, how could he not be worried about her? But because he had heavy responsibilities on his shoulders, he could not just throw them away and follow along.

Thus, after discussing the plan for the future and delegating the command, he was ready to follow the Commander.

The Holy Knights looked at the Vice Commander, who was getting ready, and sighed collectively.

Bargo, usually the most hot-headed one, stepped forward and reasoned.

”Drystan, you might be stronger and as talented as Commander Reinhardt. However, you fail in one aspect miserably. And that is to read the hearts of your subordinates. The commander went to challenge the Heavenly King and the entire demonic legion all by himself, and now you too are following in his steps and jumping into the abyss. So tell me, after hearing all this, do you truly believe that we will all just sit here and do as you command while you and Commander try to seize all the fun?”

Fun or not, everyone present here was of the same mind. They all wanted to back up their commander even if it cost them their lives.

”You underestimate us knights, Drystan. After fighting tooth and nail together, let me show you the bond this band of knights possess.”

Saying that, Bargo walked toward the exit. Before leaving, he stopped and then, without turning around, he spoke calmly.

”The Commander has already made his choice. So now... it’s our turn.”

He stepped outside.

Moments later, a loud horn echoed throughout the fortress.

Every knight looked toward the command platform. Bargo stood atop it.

Seeing that the other party had something to tell them, thousands of tired knights gradually gathered below.

Seeing everyone arrive, Bargo drew a deep breath, his booming voice echoing throughout the fortress.

”Listen to me, everyone. Do you still remember what the messenger demon told us a while ago? Our Commander has made his choice and departed. He has gone beyond the northern mountains alone. Even though he knew that it might be a trap, especially laid out by the demons for him, he still went there without fear. To rescue someone precious to him. And perhaps to end this war.”

Hearing that, a ripple spread through the gathered knights. Murmurs immediately erupted.

”What?”

”The Commander left?”

”Why would he go alone? Why didn’t he take us?”

Bargo raised his hand to stop the commotion. The fortress instantly became silent again.

”I know what you all are worried about. But hear me out. Our Commander entrusted us with one final order. Retreat and preserve the Northern Alliance. To live so that humanity still has a chance to resist the demons.”

Saying all that, he raised his index finger before the onlooking knights.

”So... I now ask all of you. There are two roads before us. The first... we follow the original plan. We retreat, regroup in the northern pass and survive.”

He then raised his second finger.

”The second... we march beyond those mountains. We risk our lives and stand beside our Commander. And together... we end this accursed battle once and for all.”

Bargo declared and spoke in a loud voice.

”I will not make this decision for you. You are knights of the realm who have fought bravely for the kingdom. Each of you possesses your own honor. So choose. Will you retreat and honor the commander’s original command, or will you follow your Commander into hell itself? No matter what choice you make, I will respect it.”

Silence fell over the fortress. For a moment, no one spoke.

Then the next second, someone broke out into a grin.

”Heh...”

Another burst into laughter. Someone snorted. All kinds of reactions burst forth from the knights.

”Sir Bargo, is there really a need to ask?”

A young knight around eighteen or nineteen years old drew his sword and shouted loudly, ”Retreat? Our Commander walked into hell. So naturally... we’re going after him.”

”You spoke the words right out of my mouth, kid.” An older knight put his arm around the other party’s shoulder and laughed loudly. Then he too unsheathed his sword.

Then another, and more, and more.

In the end, everyone was echoing the same thing.

Every knight had drawn their weapon.

Seeing this scene, Bargo laughed heartily and turned around to look directly at Drystan.

”You see this?”

He pointed toward the thousands of gathered knights.

”Can you hear the screams in their hearts? They’ve already made their decision. Everyone standing here is our brother. They’ve entrusted their backs to one another countless times. They’ve laughed together. They’ve bled together. And now they are ready to throw away their own lives if it’s for their Commander.”

Drystan quietly lowered his head, a faint smile finally appearing on his face.

”You all are a bunch of idiots. You do know that by disobeying orders right now, people in the future will condemn our actions.”

Indeed, just like Bargo said, when it came to understanding others, he couldn’t even hold a candle to his commander.

”Idiots?” Bargo burst into laughter.

”Indeed, we are all a band of idiots, and the biggest idiot among us left first.”

He suddenly raised his sword high into the air.

”So be it. Let the future condemn us, we couldn’t care less. Knights. Let’s go. Back up our commander!”

”OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

The unified roar of thousands of knights pierced the heavens. It echoed across the snowy mountains as though the fortress itself trembled beneath their resolve.

.

.

Beyond the northern mountains, a scene straight out of hell unfolded.

Snow fell silently from the sky, dripping down on the mountains of corpses that lay scattered across the frozen earth. There was so much demon blood and so many corpses that even the snow itself had turned crimson in many places.

Some bodies had already begun disappearing beneath the falling snow.

Crunch... Crunch... Crunch.

One pair of footsteps slowly crossed the battlefield.

With every step he took, his sword flashed, and several charging demons were cleaved apart before they even realized what had happened. Their bodies silently collapsed into the snow.

Crunch... Crunch... Crunch...

Reinhardt continued walking with a calm aura. Yet... every demon who saw that lone golden-haired knight instinctively backed away. No one dared stop him. Anyone who did simply became another corpse buried beneath the snow.

Far ahead, the outline of a dark castle could be seen through the blizzard.

Inside the castle.

”My Lord!”

A high-ranking demon rushed into the throne hall.

”P... problem. That human... that Divine Paladin... he’s...”

But before the demon could finish...

Step... Step... Step...

Footsteps echoed throughout the enormous hall. A golden-haired figure slowly walked through the shattered entrance.