Chapter 18

"Alright, who's next?"

The knights flinch at Jex's fierce smile. Seeing their reaction, Jex judges it the perfect time to attack and raises his voice.

"Men! This is our chance while the enemy is cowering!"

"ROOOAAARRRR!!!"

The ravenous wolves, who had been watching the two men fight, let out a roar and boldly charge at the knights. Despite their captain's encouragement, the knights, still shaken by the earlier scene, move sluggishly. The ravenous wolves, with their morale high and momentum on their side, take down the knights one after another.

"Is this it...?"

"Are you the leader?"

"...Go ahead and behead me."

"We don't kill. But, engrave this in your flesh: our existence!!!"

Jex's blow knocks the captain unconscious, and he falls to the ground. The remaining knights are eventually all defeated as well.

Silence descends upon the once noisy forest. As the ravenous wolves prepare to leave, erasing all traces of their presence, Barbarotto blocks their path.

Barbarotto, who had been blown away by Jex's gust, was now battered and bruised. Nevertheless, driven by his duty as a knight, he stood up, despite his injuries, to block the ravenous wolves' path.

"I won't let you go..."

"You can still move..."

"I have the pride of a knight. I won't let you pass."

"Huh... You're a tough one. I wish we could have met under different circumstances and in a different place."

Jex, with a sardonic smile, points his sword at the obstructing Barbarotto.

"I'll crush your pride and resolve."

"Don't think it will be that easy!"

The final battle between Barbarotto and Jex begins. Despite being in a severely disadvantaged state, Barbarotto continues to fight Jex. On the other hand, while Jex is unscathed, his stamina is low from the intense battle with Barbarotto and the previous fights with the knights. However, his condition is not as dire as Barbarotto's, and there is no reason for Jex to lose this fight.

The battle continues for a while, but Barbarotto, reaching his limit, drops his sword and kneels on one knee, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

"Zaa... Haa... Zaa... Haa..."

"You've fought well. But, your body can't take it anymore."

Jex, without mercy, places his sword at the throat of the kneeling Barbarotto. Despite this, Barbarotto does not give up, glaring at Jex with sharp eyes.

"Hah. You still have that look in your eyes. But, this is reality. Look around. The other knights are down, and there's no one to help you. In this situation, are you still going to fight?"

"Hmph... Don't ask me something I already know."

"I see... You were a good knight, Barbarotto Dogram."

Jex acknowledges that Barbarotto is worthy of praise and simultaneously a threat, raising his sword.

(Ah... Lord Leord. Please forgive me for not being able to go to sword practice.)

Barbarotto, after apologizing to Leord, loses consciousness. Jex glances at the unconscious Barbarotto and leads his men out of the forest.

The ravenous wolves, having emerged from the forest, laugh and discuss their victory over the knights. They had decisively defeated a superior opponent, and their joy is immeasurable. However, the most significant factor in their victory was Jex's triumph over Barbarotto. That battle had a profound impact on the morale of both the ravenous wolves and the knights. If Barbarotto had won that battle, the outcome might have been different.

But the outcome cannot change now. The knights have been defeated, and the ravenous wolves have won.

A girl approaches Jex, who is walking at the front. Jex continues walking straight ahead without looking at the girl.

"Hey, why did you just break his arm? He'll come back when he heals, you know?"

"......I couldn't take the sword from such a man."

"But, without the magic sword's power, it was dangerous! If we have to fight again—"

Jex places his hand on the girl's head, who is questioning him with a tragic expression.

"I won't lose. I promise."

"That's unfair... That's so unfair, Jex."

The girl, gently touching the hand on her head, is left speechless.

The ravenous wolves return to their base, a cave hidden by camouflage, which the knights have not discovered. However, Jex suggests they consider moving due to recent events.

"We defeated the knights this time, but they will likely come back with more numbers. We shouldn't count on a surprise attack working again. So, we'll go into hiding for now. But, the country will still be on high alert for us. We'll have to endure for a while."

The subordinates laugh and respond to Jex, who is bowing with a pained expression.

"Haha. What are you talking about? We're good at enduring, you know."

"True. We've endured for a long time. It's nothing new."

"Maybe it's time to visit our hometowns."

"Good idea. We can treat it like a vacation."

"You guys... Let's not talk about dark things. When the time comes, I'll call you back. Until then, no one should fall behind. And don't forget our principles."

"Got it!"

Thus, the ravenous wolves decide to suspend their activities for a while. The country, unable to find the ravenous wolves, decides to put them on hold for the time being.

"Jex, what will you do now?"

"I'll stay there for a while."

"Okay. Then, I can play with the kids again after a long time."

"Yeah. Let's go."

"Okay!"