When Gowen returned to the western capital unconscious and heavily wounded, the reaction of the people was so grim it could not be put into words.
The army, in particular, were quite shaken by the events. The absence of both their commander and vice-commander caused them to panic.
Of those present, some suggested to fight to the bitter end, while others suggested to open a path and let at least Gowen escape.
If the knight-commander, Corseo, were still alive, the soldiers probably wouldn’t have fallen into such a state.
The platoon commanders were strong warriors in their own right, but they did not have the ability to bring everyone together. With that, Gowen’s army could only fall into the crucible of discord.
It didn’t take long for the soldier’s unrest to spread to the people, but it wasn’t like they actually had a choice.
Even the rich merchants, who tried to run to another city, couldn’t because the soldiers, who wanted to fight to the death, stopped them. Like ripples rippling off each other, the city fell into chaos.
That chaos continued even after the southern reinforcements led by Sivara arrived.
The people were already panicking even with the beacon between the colonial city and the western capital lit, so they naturally cared little for their arrival.
“I take it messengers have been sent to the capital?”
The Ripper Knight, Sivara, stood in place of Gowen, who was still unconscious.
Gowen’s staff could only hang their heads in shame to Sivara’s question.
Immediately, a messenger was sent. The north and the south already knew that the goblin threat had gone out of control, but by the time King Ashtal received word, the Goblin King was already at their throat.
The goblin army defeated the northern army and advanced southwest. The colonial city was only a day’s distance away, so it did not take long for Yuan’s army to meet the goblins.
Unfortunately for them, with the evolved Rashka and Gi Ba leading the army, they only ended up being driven away to the east of the western capital.
The goblins pursued the retreating soldiers. Like this the Goblin King managed to advance to the western capital.
The forces led by the Goblin King numbered 800, while the humans now also only numbered 800 due to losing too many times. Sivara watched the approaching goblins from the top of the spire and groaned.
“They sure are organized,” he said.
The goblins were dressed in leather armor and equipped with spears of the same length. They advanced steadily.
Standing at the vanguard was Gi Jii Yubu’s army.
Seeing the goblins move naturally with near perfect coordination left Sivara’s common sense in tatters.
“…Perhaps they’re stronger soldiers than humans.”
As Sivara watched the approaching army, he noted a black goblin that stood out from the rest.
“Is that the leader of the horde?”
Sivara brushed his golden hair up and wryly smiled.
“Monster hunting is supposed to be Gulland’s specialty… Sigh, did I end up pulling the short the end of the stick?”
Sivara grumbled as he smiled bitterly. Just a little, he was envious of Jize, who was probably currently buried in a mountain of documents.
“…Without Lord Gowen leading the army, that monster needs to be stopped. If not, this capital is hopeless.”
Only the big merchants were able to run from the western capital. They ran to the main capital as soon as the western capital calmed down after Sivara arrived.
Unfortunately, the rest of the citizens couldn’t just run and leave behind for fear that they would only starve to death without their livelihoods.
Because of that Sivara was forced to make a difficult decision.
He knew he was at a disadvantage, but there was no other choice but for him to go out himself. After all, the walls were short, there was literally nothing stopping the goblin army from marching into the city.
He was a holy knight. It was his duty to protect the people.
“Gather everyone, we need to talk.”
Sivara called for a war council. Attending that was Gowen’s company commanders, the commander of the colonial city, Yuan, and the commanders of the southern army. Sivara proposed to fight the enemy outside.
“I’ll take the southern army with me and bring the battle outside. While the goblins’ attention is focused on me, the western army should help Lord Gowen escape.”
The ever gentle Sivara nonchalantly proposed his plans, but contrary his tone, it was a cruel proposition.
Moreover, the one taking on the most dangerous role was none other than Sivara himself.
The commanders of the western capital were speechless.
“No, we can’t lose you now, Lord Sivara. That would prove too great a loss to the kingdom, I should be the one to go.”
It was none other than Yuan, who had been tricked by the goblins, who said that.
“That’s an attractive suggestion, but you can’t win against that goblin, can you?” Sivara said.
“That’s…”
“Just watch, I’ll show you the true power of the Ripper Knight. So, with that, the southern army shall be taking on the riskier role. Dismissed!”
“Yes, sir!” The western platoon commanders hit their chest as they showed agreement.
Of the seven holy knights in the Kingdom of Germion, the most popular and most skilled commander was none other than the veteran, Gowen.
After him was the hero who rescued the saint, Gulland; and then, for other reasons, the Ripper Knight, Sivara.
Sivara did not have Gowen’s aura nor did he have some special achievement like Gulland, but he was popular among the young soldiers.
His easygoing personality made it easy for others to connect to him. In fact, he’s so easygoing that others call him Marriage Killer. Of course, that’s without malice.
He also wasn’t the sort to expose his soldiers to unnecessary risks. Because of that he garnered a popularity unlike that of Gowen or Gulland’s.
It was that same person who gave the southern army a difficult task.
“We’ll assume a 3-stage length and width formation in the following order: spears, cavalry, archers.”
The western capital was surrounded mostly by level fields.
With the harvest still in season, the wheat fields stood tall.
A gust of wind blew from the south, passing over the bountiful wheat fields as the goblins and the humans confronted each other.
“…Still beats not doing it.”
At Sivara’s signal, a beacon was lit in the western capital.
“Please make it in time.”
Sivara fixed his iron helmet over his head and mounted a well-statured steed. That was not a horse but a monster with three eyes known as happy lion.
“Spears at the ready!”
A sharp light reflected from the spears of the southern army. It sought to pierce the goblins itself.
“Cavalry, ready to charge!”
The goblin formations expanded toward the flanks, suggesting that they wanted to surround them. The leader of the goblins was at the center.
“Let’s show these monsters how the southern army fights! Spears, closed formation!”
The spears closed in on each other and hid behind their shields as they readied their spear.
“First is defense! Spears, advance one step!”
The curtains on the western capital war was lifted at Sivara’s command.
