As Jize cut open Bui’s side, Gi Zu attacked him with his spear. Despite a pool of blood having formed, he still thrust out his spear. The trajectory his spear followed was too straightforward, however, and it couldn’t be anything more than easy pickings for Jize.
Jize dodged that spear that came thrusting straight forward, then entered Gi Zu’s range with a step. Immediately after, he swung his blade, seeking to cut off Gi Zu’s head, but Gi Zu hurriedly brought back his hand, so he was able to survive with just a scar on his neck.
Gi Zu broke his posture from shock, and Jize pursued after him. In a flash, Jize held his sword in a high stance, but the sound of an arrow cutting the wind forced him to take a step back. Immediately after, the arrow shot from the shadows passed through where he was just a while ago.
“I see. So you’re planning to shoot when things are going bad for you.”
As Jize opened up the distance between them, Gi Zu also stepped back. In his place, Bui stepped forward and swung his iron spear from above Jize’s head. That attack could crush the ground and send stone fragments flying, but Jize easily dodged it.
Jize jumped back and breathed out, then while paying attention to the two monsters blocking his path and keeping an eye out for the other monster shooting at him, he rested a little. This battle wherein a single blow could end him was extremely draining on his concentration and nerves.
Jize intended to kill these monsters here, but it was likely that these monsters were planning to retreat. Otherwise, there would be no reason to allow their main forces to retreat.
Monsters gaining intelligence… It was a terrifying thought, but he had no choice but to acknowledge it.
“To think they were able to retreat in such orderly manner.”
The enemy before him was probably just trying to buy time. But even then, there weren’t that many monsters that could face a holy knight like himself on equal footing. As such, these three monsters are probably big wigs of the monster army.
The greatest opening is when they try to run.
If they take too much time retreating, the main forces of Germion Kingdom will catch up. In that case, they will no longer be able to run. They should be aware of that. If so, then Jize could not afford to leave. They might also try to run at the expense of others.
Either way, one of them will fall to Jize.
There was no need to push himself. Jize just had to calmly assume his stance. And when an opportunity presented itself, he would kill them.
As such, the only thing he was worried about was failing due to a misstep in his concentration. Jize fought with the three monsters while taking a break from time to time to maintain his concentration.
As for the goblins, the most they could do was to keep themselves from dying to this holy knight. Bui the Orc King, Gi Zu the Duke Class, Gilmi the Noble class… Despite these three working together, they were gradually being pushed back.
The approaching shouts informed them that the enemy was getting closer.
“Bui-dono.”
Gi Zu quietly spoke to Bui, who had eaten the forbidden fruit (apple) and had a completely different aura.
“Please step back when I give the signal.”
“BURUuuUu…”
As Bui breathed out violently, Gi Zu stepped forward. And the holy knight that had taken distance, suddenly stepped forward and entered into his range. Gi Zu swung his spear to intercept Jize, who had suddenly entered into range, but Jize dodged his attack.
In fact, Gi Zu only ended up being cut. Gi Zu cried out in pain, but he bought time. Gi Zu himself never thought he would be able to win against a holy knight. At first he was furious when he heard Gilmi and Shumea’s plan, but now that he was fighting Jize, he knew they were telling the truth.
He had to acknowledge it.
The enemy in front of him was clearly stronger than himself.
That humiliating truth roused the flames of anger, but that anger could not possibly overturn reality. And it was precisely because of that that Gi Zu obeyed the plan. It was a given that there would be an enemy stronger than him when he was living in the forest. Those that were big, those that had poison, and those that had sharp fangs…
This human had none of those, but in their place, he possessed a skill that he had trained so hard for.
No matter how many times he swung his spear, the enemy would nimbly dodge and cut his thighs. When Gi Zu fell to his knees, Jize’s sword came swinging. Gi Zu immediately rolled on the ground to dodge. Jize wanted to pursue, but Bui’s attack forced him to back off.
“Holy Knight-dono!”
The southern army Jize led entered the open area. When Jize saw that, he was certain of victory. But it was then that the suffering Gi Zu cried out.
“Ved! Now!!”
Suddenly, flames spread through the ground.
“This is… No! Retreat!”
As soon as Jize saw the pillars of flame running across the ditch of the ground, he cried out and ordered his soldier to retreat.
“Pops!”
“KU… As expected, that human is absurdly strong.”
Ved, who had been hiding, ran to where Gi Zu was. Jize did not pursue. As he lifted up Gi Zu, whose expression was twisted in pain, Zu Ved glared at Jize, but without saying anything, he ran.
“Damned monsters! You intend to burn even your camp!?”
Jize spat curses as he glared at the running Bui and Ved, but he couldn’t chase after them. No. He had to get his men out of here now. It was more important to get his personal army back on its feet than to chase after the monsters.
