Chapter 38

"It's certainly become more severe..."

The kingdom's army clashed with the imperial forces. In the midst of the chaos, Darren Galst exhaled heavily.

From atop the castle walls, his father commanded the overall strategy, while Darren, as a commander of a thousand knights, stood on the battlefield, brandishing his spear and rallying the soldiers.

Placing Darren, who should have been his son, on the front lines was an order from Basel, and it clearly demonstrated Basel Galst's character, which did not allow for special treatment even for family members.

"Sir Darren, are you alright!?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Sara, I'm relieved to see you are unharmed as well."

Sara Raiford, his subordinate, ran up to Darren, out of breath.

The slender female knight's armor was scratched in various places, but she herself did not appear to have any noticeable injuries.

After confirming that the female knight, who was yet to be married, was unscathed, Darren let out a sigh of relief.

"Commander Arlaud, who was leading the right wing, has been killed! It's impossible to maintain the front line now!"

"Is that so... Arlaud is gone."

Hearing of his comrade's death, Darren's handsome face twisted in pain.

While his father, Basel Galst, had a rugged, rock-like appearance, Darren bore no resemblance to him and had the looks of a noble prince.

His well-defined features remained beautiful even when tinged with sorrow, and even Sara, who was used to seeing him every day, couldn't help but be captivated.

"Continuing the battle will only lead to certain defeat. However, Father has not given the order to retreat yet. We must hold our ground for a little longer and buy some time... Sara?"

"H-Huh... Yes!"

"Is something wrong? If you're tired, you should fall back to the rear..."

"N-No, I'm fine! I was just thinking, that's all!"

Sara couldn't bring herself to admit that she had been captivated by his face and waved her hands frantically to cover it up.

Darren's expression turned skeptical, but he couldn't press the matter further with his blushing subordinate and tightened his grip on his spear again.

"If we are annihilated, the kingdom will no longer have the strength to defend the Brain Fortress. This is the decisive moment. We must hold on a little longer..."

Before Darren could finish his sentence, a high-pitched trumpet sound echoed across the battlefield.

The shrill sound, which cut through the air, came from the Brain Fortress.

"It seems this is as far as it goes. We've managed to survive."

"Have we really survived...?"

With a troubled, ambiguous smile, Darren responded to Sara's uncertain gaze.

"That depends on Lord Raidor... Now, let's retreat."

"Understood!"

Darren gave orders to the surrounding soldiers and began the retreat to the rear.

The main gate of the Brain Fortress, which had been opened at some point, was now drawing in the kingdom's soldiers like water flowing into a hole.

The sun, which had reached its zenith, gradually began to tilt westward, and the battlefield entered a new phase.