The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 119 - 06: The Name of the Holy Knight

Chapter 119: Chapter 06: The Name of the Holy Knight

The wind gently blew.

The branches in the forest behind swayed.

The three factions’ flags fluttered in the breeze as the soldiers from all sides stared at each other.

On the right was an army of at least 20,000 soldiers—4,000 cavalry, 10,000 infantry, and 6,000 archers. Judging from their weapons and gear, it appeared to be an elite force. Their banner bore the emblem of the White Fox.

On the left was an army of nearly 40,000 soldiers—5,000 cavalry, 15,000 infantry, and 7,000 archers. Additionally, there were at least 13,000 militia. Their banner displayed the Golden Snake.

Although the Golden Snake Army had more troops than the White Fox Army, it clearly lacked the readiness and discipline of the latter. From this perspective, the two sides could be considered evenly matched.

"The Golden Snake is the emblem of the Fides Golden Snake Dynasty, while the White Fox..." Shelley fumbled through her notebook and explained, "The White Fox is the emblem of the White Fox Family of Bert Duchy, located in northern Fides!"

"Thank the heavens; we’ve run into both of the major families of the Ailuo Peninsula as soon as we arrived," Black Cat grumbled.

"So, are they about to start fighting now?" Gray asked.

"Probably... maybe... possibly," Shelley replied, blinking her eyes.

Andrew, folding his arms, remarked leisurely from the side, "The Casesis Mountains have long isolated the Ailuo Peninsula from the rest of the continent. There are only two nations on the peninsula—a duchy and a kingdom. The Fides Kingdom has a large population and abundant resources, while the Bert Duchy controls the trade routes and is even wealthier than Fides. These two nations have been mortal enemies for generations. Now that the influence of the Church is waning, they’ve probably just seized the chance to come up with an excuse for war."

"Should we wait for them to finish fighting first before passing through?" asked Bangchui.

After thinking for a moment, Gray turned his head and said to Carl, "Carl."

"Yes!" Carl, holding high the Silver Moon Banner, spurred his horse and galloped toward the center line where the two armies faced off.

"What did you send him to do?" Black Cat asked.

"I told Carl to have them pause for now. After all, resolving the food issue is more important. I want to talk to them first."

"What the...?" Black Cat was stunned. "This is what your observation of human nature has taught you? Wars—just stop them with words?"

"Of course." Gray spoke softly, "As long as I can bring both of them to their knees, yes, I can."

This response left Black Cat speechless.

The voices of Vivian and Catherine in his mind remained silent as well.

"Are you sure you’re not just planning to use intimidation to take their food?" Andrew muttered from the side.

...

"Who’s that?" Under the Golden Snake Banner, the round-bodied King Lusien V of Fides, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and adorned with a large golden chain, stretched his neck to look. "Reinforcements from that Jean bastard? There’s barely even 200 of them."

...

Under the White Fox Banner, the gaunt Duke Gene II of Bert, clad in heavy armor and wearing a perpetually stern expression with lifeless fish-like eyes, also craned his neck. "The moon? Does Lusien have a family under his command with a moon as their crest? Never heard of it. What’s this fellow up to?"

...

Soon, Carl reached the point between the two armies. With force, he planted the Silver Moon Banner firmly into the ground before them.

Silver Moon, laurel leaves, vines, and a golden cross.

The components might not matter, but the Silver Moon and the golden cross... those immediately drew all eyes. The soldiers on both sides were suddenly stunned.

"The Church’s people?"

"It’s Holy Knight Gray! Holy Knight Gray of the Beishier Duchy!" someone in the crowd cried out in astonishment.

Instantly, the soldiers on both sides erupted into murmurs. Even the commanders widened their eyes in shock.

"What is he doing here? Isn’t he supposed to be in Isaac?"

"He’s not here to help those bastards across from us, is he?"

"I heard Holy Knights all have Guardian Angels..."

"Wasn’t it said he’s no longer blessed by the Holy Spirit?"

"And I heard his fiancée is a demon..."

"Well, I suddenly don’t think facing a Guardian Angel sounds so bad."

Though human transportation in the continent was rudimentary, relying primarily on horses and carts which were slow, news—thanks to carrier pigeons—spread remarkably well. Even though Gray had never been to the Ailuo Peninsula, his name was already well-known throughout the region. Nobles emboldened to defy the Church head-on because of Gray knew even more about him.

Both Lusien V and Gene II simultaneously squinted their eyes as they shifted their gazes back and forth between Carl and the distant Gray. Their expressions grew grim. Clearly, they had both mistaken Gray as reinforcements for the other side.

Scanning the army formations, Carl raised his voice and shouted, "The Holy Knight requests that King Lusien V and Duke Gene step forward for a discussion!"

He then turned and rode back, leaving only the fluttering Silver Moon Banner behind.

Meanwhile, Gray turned to Shelley and whispered softly, "Wait here. Don’t wander off."

"You’re going alone?" Shelley asked, her mouth agape in surprise.

"Just me is enough."

With a pull of the reins, Tenidas carried Gray forward toward the planted banner.

Watching his retreating figure, Shelley clasped her hands over her chest, unable to suppress a love-struck smile.

"What’s gotten into you?" Dora asked.

"Isn’t he just the coolest?" Shelley boasted. "Amidst tens of thousands, alone on his own. That presence... ah!" She boldly declared, "He’s the most handsome man in the entire world. Even if in the future you can’t marry a man as handsome as your father, it’s okay to feel sad, because after all, he will always be your dad, right?"

"I’m not sad..." Dora mumbled softly.

"Well, I am quite sad." Jones said, full of exasperation.

All the soldiers, more than sixty thousand of them, just stood there silently watching as Gray raised his head high, rode his steed, and crossed the lush green grass toward them.

That aura—majestic, as if he were a king inspecting his troops.

The Battle of Lion King City had already made the Silver Moon Knight Order’s reputation spread far and wide. No one doubted that he was a battlefield king—if this person was indeed Gray.

When Gray finally reached the Silver Moon Banner, he tugged on the reins and circled once in place, scanning the surroundings, before repeating what Carl had said earlier. He shouted, "I am Holy Knight Gray! I ask King Lusien V and Duke Gene to step forward for a discussion!"

From within the army formation, Lusien V yelled back, "How do you prove you’re Holy Knight Gray?"

"Exactly! How do you prove it? What if you’re an imposter?" Gene II chimed in, only to pause and suddenly realize, "Wait, the other side doubts his identity too? Didn’t they call him here?"

Gray took out a scroll, tossing one toward Lusien V’s army and another toward Gene II’s.

"The first is my official Holy Knight appointment decree with the Pope’s seal. Your Majesty should recognize it. Feel free to verify its authenticity. The second is the formal title conferment scroll naming me an Earl, issued by Duke Beisher. Duke Gene, you may also authenticate it with your experts."

After speaking, Gray stayed mounted and waited patiently in the center.

"Is this real?" Lusien V asked his advisors quietly.

"It should be genuine."

"What do you mean, ’should be’? Either it is or it isn’t, damn it!"

"Then... it is. Unless someone stole it from Holy Knight Gray. But who would dare steal from him?"

On the other side, Gene II was asking his own advisor similar questions.

"It’s real."

"Are you absolutely certain?"

"I’m certain. Unless Duke Beisher forged it himself, which is highly unlikely."

After a long pause, the two commanders reluctantly returned to their respective positions, though neither seemed eager to make the first move forward.

"We recognize your identity and are willing to discuss terms," Lusien V shouted, "But I demand that Gene, that old bastard, step out first. I trust you, but who knows what he might be up to? He might ambush me with cold arrows!"

"Ha! You shameless scoundrel!" Gene II retorted loudly. "Sir Holy Knight, I trust you but not him. He accuses me of using cold arrows? I should be the one suspecting him! For that reason alone, I absolutely refuse to step out before he does!"

"You dare call me shameless, you faithless mongrel with no shred of knightly honor or divine belief!"

"You damned swine! Who are you calling mongrel?"

"You despicable, dishonorable wretch! I would never resort to something as vile as using cold arrows!"

"Ha, who’d believe you? Only swines prepare cold arrows!"

"Mongrel!"

"Swine!"

"Mongrel!"

"Swine!"

A king and a duke, trading insults at the top of their lungs with no regard for dignity—shouting vehemently across Gray.

As their bickering continued, Gray unmistakably noticed soldiers beside each commander discreetly readying crossbows.

Yes, for all their loud threats, both sides were preparing cold arrows behind their leader’s backs, cursing as they loaded their weapons.

With a sharp "clang," Gray drew his longsword from his waist.

In an instant, silence blanketed the battlefield, and both commanders stared at Gray in stunned disbelief.

Under the watchful eyes of two entire armies, Gray raised his sword upright before his chest and shouted loudly, "I, Holy Knight Gray, hereby swear in the name of a Holy Knight to guarantee the fairness of this meeting! Should any hostile act occur during this meeting, the perpetrator, their family, and their entire nation shall face my wrath!"

After declaring this, Gray sheathed his sword with another "clang." Standing tall in the center, he didn’t even look at them but asked coldly, "Well then, can we proceed, gentlemen? Or are you suggesting a Holy Knight’s word holds no value for you?"

That icy tone seemed to send shivers through everyone present.

Would anyone dare provoke the infamous Silver Moon Knight Order?

The corners of Lusien V’s and Gene II’s mouths twitched uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty, should we still proceed with cold arrows?"

"Do you want me dead? Put them away! Now!"

"Understood... understood."

The shield bearers in the front line finally stepped aside, clearing a path as the two commanders slowly emerged from their lines.