Medieval Knight System: Building the Strongest Empire Ever!-Chapter 66: The Unexpected Enemy

The Beren Lance Cavalry’s power was tremendous.

Before the main force could even organize its formation, they charged at the bandits conducting the siege with five-meter-long lances at the fore, maintaining a line formation. Michael had warned me when the heavy cavalry joined that they wouldn’t follow commands, but I never thought they would actually go through with it.

Thud thud thud thud!

Even with just ten riders, the vibration from the hoofbeats was considerable. If there had been hundreds, it would have been magnificent enough to shake the earth. Cavalry armor differed somewhat from the plate armor I wore. It was relatively lighter and more streamlined, with a lance rest fitted to the right side of the chest.

This was where the lance was braced.

It was called the couched method, a technique with significantly greater destructive power than older cavalry methods. The lancers struck the bandits’ rear directly. Caught off guard by their sudden appearance, the bandits couldn’t mount a proper response and were mercilessly trampled.

Oscar watched the scene in admiration.

"This is my first time seeing a cavalry charge—it’s truly spectacular."

"Mine too. It’s certainly impressive."

"Doesn’t look like we’ll even need to lift a finger."

The number of bandits visibly dwindled, and they began scattering in all directions to flee. The Feuzen militia and residents defending from behind the palisade cheered at our army’s arrival. The Beren lancers seemed to have claimed all the glory for themselves. Just as Michael had predicted, the rest of us were nothing but extras.

Thud thud thud thud!

But then cavalry burst from the northern forest.

Enemy cavalry had appeared at a completely unexpected moment. Why enemy cavalry? Because someone in the center army had shouted that they bore the Burgundy flag. That quartered coat of arms was unmistakably Burgundy’s. But why were those French bastards appearing north of Rosenheim?

"Ted! Get to the center army! Tell them we’re awaiting orders!"

I quickly dispatched Ted to the center army. I had been moving the right wing in coordination with the center’s position, but following the field commander’s orders was fundamental. Burgundian cavalry appearing north of Rosenheim, so close to Breisburg, was no ordinary problem—it was a crisis.

Northwest of Rosenheim lay two territories, both bordering Burgundy. Count Euz’s and Count Essenbach’s domains were positioned there, and the fact that Burgundian forces had broken through between them to reach Rosenheim proved that a local war was currently raging in the north.

The Beren lancers also spotted the Burgundian cavalry and organized their formation.

The Burgundian cavalry appeared to number about twenty riders—twice their own strength. But even so, the Beren lancers didn’t back down. They may have ignored orders to monopolize glory and impress the Crown Prince, but they were still the duchy’s elite cavalry, and they charged with courage.

Crash!

Crash!

When both sides collided with lances at the fore, two Beren lancers were unhorsed while five Burgundian cavalrymen went down. The Burgundians clearly weren’t top-tier. The Beren lancers punched through in a wedge formation and continued to clash.

"Orders to move the right wing in coordination with the center formation!"

Ted returned with the instructions. Michael’s center army was reorganizing its formation to face northwest. That meant I needed to reposition the Rosenheim soldiers on the right wing accordingly.

Why was Michael shifting the formation to face northwest?

While the Burgundian cavalry and Beren lancers fought fiercely, our army was building positions facing northwest. I learned the reason shortly after. An infantry unit carrying flags with Burgundy’s quartered emblem emerged from the forest.

Even at the lowest estimate, they outnumbered us.

Wasn’t this dangerous? Especially with the Crown Prince in the center army.

The Rosenheim soldiers tensed up at the sight of the army that had suddenly appeared.

"Sir, whose army is that?"

"Presumed to be Burgundian. I never expected to encounter them in a place like this."

"Burgundy? Why are French bastards in Rosenheim territory? This isn’t even the border!"

That was exactly what I wanted to know.

While Gustav and the Rosenheim soldiers—who had joined merely to earn campaign pay—trembled with anxiety, I was surprisingly calm. Thanks to that, Oscar and Ted steadied themselves as well. And that composure spread through the unit, easing the unrest.

Because every man in this unit was looking only at me, their commander, my maintaining a calm and steady bearing went a long way toward preserving morale. When the center army halted, I halted the right wing too. A messenger arrived from the center, and I joined the officers at headquarters.

"Michael, we’re outnumbered. How do you plan to fight?"

"Your Highness should prepare to withdraw."

"What? Are you telling me to abandon my men and run?!"

The Crown Prince was furious, but the other commanders seemed to share Michael’s view. Risking danger over bandit suppression was one thing, but the problem was that this was an army from Burgundy—a foreign power—and they had us outnumbered. Under those circumstances, we couldn’t fight with the Crown Prince present.

To put it bluntly, even if the rest of us were wiped out, the Crown Prince absolutely had to escape safely. Of course, I had no intention of dying either. If there was a way to get the Crown Prince, Michael, and my men out alive, I would choose that option without hesitation.

"What’s fortunate is that running into us was just as unexpected for them."

"What makes you think that?"

If they had been lying in wait for our army, they would have sprung an ambush from all sides. Instead, they hadn’t attacked while they took their time organizing their formation. The encounter had been purely coincidental for both sides. Since neither was prepared, we had time to form up.

Meanwhile, the Beren lancers and Burgundian cavalry were locked in a fierce fight.

Cavalry fights cavalry and infantry fights infantry. Just as the Beren lancers had charged without waiting for orders, Michael speculated that the Burgundian cavalry had done the same—rushing out the moment they spotted the Beren lancers. That was a perfectly valid assessment. The Burgundian commanders were probably struggling with the same problem.

"But the issue is that prolonged fighting puts too great a burden on our side."

"I will absolutely never run! The Altringen royal family has ridden the battlefield for generations! Especially against Burgundy, an enemy we’ve fought across generations—I can never flee! Anyone who has inherited the royal blood must never turn their back and run, no matter how disadvantageous or dangerous the situation!"

"Franz..."

At the Crown Prince’s impassioned declaration, Michael and the other close aides fell solemn.

Duchy army soldiers who had been watching closely erupted in cheers.

"That’s right! As long as we have His Highness the Crown Prince, we won’t lose!"

"Running from Burgundy? Out of the question!"

"Altringen is with us!"

"Long live the Duchy of Beren!"

Wahhh!

In the suddenly charged atmosphere, Michael, who had been watching the Crown Prince with a rigid expression, relaxed and allowed himself a faint smile. I approached Michael and patted his shoulder. My brother-in-law was having a rough time. Logically, sending the Crown Prince away from a losing battlefield was the correct decision—but was it unconditionally the right one?

"His Highness has grown a great deal."

"What will you do? It looks like they’ll move soon."

"We’ll have to meet them head-on. As long as His Highness the Crown Prince is here, the soldiers won’t break easily."

Michael ultimately chose a direct confrontation. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

I was wondering whether there might be a better approach when a quest suddenly appeared.

[Gale Knight I Quest]

[Defeat the Burgundian army]

[Commander Scouter temporarily provided]

[Reward - 5,000 points, 50 silver coins (hazard pay)]

[Family Prestige +300]

[Danger Rating ★★★☆☆]

A three-star danger rating quest in this situation.

And the quest was named Gale Knight. A quest meant for me?