Chapter 3: I'll Be There Right Away
Hearing this voice, Elson felt a flame ignite within his chest—excitement, emotion, and surprise interweaving. But he also knew this was no time for joy.
The communication could cut out at any moment, and the fortress's situation was dire. The gray-haired knight suppressed the pounding in his heart, strode to the stone platform, closed his eyes, and connected his spirit to the communication array.
"Lord, this is Black Forest Fortress, Silver Knight Elson."
"It actually connected? Looks like Artemis's small communication array isn't a cheap product."
Hearing the reply, the voice on the other end of the array seemed equally surprised: "Too bad the range is so short. I've been riding through the snowfield for two days just to get a strong enough signal... Elson, how's the fortress?"
He couldn't understand what a "small communication array" or "signal" meant, but Elson could glean from the scattered information that his lord was no longer far from the fortress. Buoyed by this, he wasted no time and reported as quickly as possible: "The fortress has lost all its satellite bastions. Supplies are less than a third of full storage. Nearly fifty thousand frenzied beasts are stirring in the Black Forest ahead, and the black-purple mist spreading over the mountains cuts off all detection magic and communication spells—that's why we couldn't warn the main city."
"Casualties?"
Hearing this, the voice on the other end immediately turned serious: "Is the situation critical now?"
"Casualties are not heavy. Fifty-three warriors fell when the bastions were breached, and one hundred sixty-seven were injured during the retreat. However, the frenzied beasts withdrew yesterday after breaking through all the bastions. As for the fortress itself, it hasn't been attacked yet. A forty-meter-high wall isn't so easily breached. The beasts could strike at any moment, and everyone is fully preparing for battle."
"The situation isn't bad. The losses are acceptable. Elson, is there any el—"
Buzz!
A low hum rang out, and the communication was cut off. Elson opened his eyes in frustration. He looked around and noticed the entire bell tower was trembling slightly. The white mirror surface on the stone platform, rippling faintly, confirmed this.
"What's going on?"
He strode out of the room, the gray-haired knight gazing out the window at the buildings: "A golden-rank giant beast is attacking. The wall is about to be breached. Black Forest Fortress is about to fall."
Who could stop the knights' resolve to protect?
No one. A knight's sword was always swung to defend something. Life and death, in the face of this resolve, had long become meaningless words.
"I never had the chance to swear my allegiance to you—a regrettable pity. But now I must head to the front lines to defend this land..."
He paused, and the gray-haired knight smiled, his expression serene: "This, too, counts as fulfilling a knight's duty."
"No, Elson, stop right there."
After a moment of silence, the dignified, confident male voice rang out again from the other end of the communication array. The Lord of Moldavia said firmly to his knight: "No one will die. You don't need to sacrifice your life to show loyalty to me."
"Because I'll be there right away."