Mass release – 2/5
***
The sun on the southern island was scorching hot. It was even worse for the Knights of Morte, most of whom were from the North.
The knights washed themselves in with spring water and applied cool mint ointment every morning, but it was not enough to beat the heat. It was even more difficult to fight the Southern Army that was constantly attacking them.
But Victor felt more surprised than tired.
Their enemies were really very weak. For him, who regularly fought with Morte’s knights, everyone else was like a scarecrow. When he wielded his sword, bodies piled up around him in an instant.
So Victor instinctively suppressed his strength. He wanted revenge, he hated his enemies, but in the corner of his heart was Mortheon, who lectured him about the preciousness of life and chivalry. He didn’t want to look like a monster to his older brother.
Fortunately, his knights were able to deal with the incoming enemies easily. So Victor spent each day defeating the enemy in moderation.
However, the situation on other islands was not as good. Mortheon, who received a letter from the command, couldn’t bear it and burst into anger.
“You idiots, you didn’t expect this?”
“What did they say?”
“They said that our allies are being defeated individually. They have fewer numbers than us, but we’re all isolated. They focus their power and attack a few places a day.”
The knights groaned.
The strength of the Imperial Army was that there were many soldiers, but right now it was not possible to take advantage of that. Rather, their power was dispersed, making it easier to be attacked. Mortheon finished reading the letter.
“So they want reinforcements to come. To send Morte’s knights to the island where there is the most damage.”
“When will we advance to the mainland of the Southern Kingdom?”
“I don’t know. It seems that the damage to our allies is greater than we thought.”
Victor frowned.
He knew the planned operation wouldn’t go well, but this exceeded his expectations. It was terribly incompetent.
The knights were resentful, as if they were thinking the same thing.
“I can’t believe it, your highness. How could they say such a thing?”
“This is a complete waste of time. We must return to the mainland now.”
“I think the same.”
Mortheon let out a deep sigh. He looked more exhausted than he did at the funeral of their father. There was a sense of helplessness in his sagging shoulders. He and his knights were being wasted in a useless place.
But the Grand Duke was not easily discouraged. Mortheon folded the letter.
“We might be able to convince command when the situation improves. Divide our knights into three groups. One unit stays here with me, and the other two will be sent to other islands to support our allies. One of the support units is with Victor…”
“That’s not possible.”
Suddenly, his chief of staff intervened. Mortheon asked in surprise.
“What do you mean?”
“You can’t send him. Little Duke must stay here with his highness.”
Mortheon stared at him with a frown. He couldn’t understand why they wanted to leave Victor behind.
However, the other knights quickly agreed.
“That’s right, my lord. Keep the Little Duke by your side.”
“We have enough strength even if we go on our own. Of course, it will be difficult without either of you.”
“It’s better than being anxious though.”
An old knight smiled faintly.
“If the Little Duke is with you, no one will get hurt, right?”
‘I see.’
It was then that Victor realized their intentions.
They recently lost their master. The death of their master, who had been with them for many years, left a burden on the knights. They wanted to protect Mortheon.
Victor thoroughly understood their hearts. He never wanted to lose Mortheon.
“Yes, brother. I will stay.”
After hesitating, Mortheon eventually agreed with his men.
A few experienced knights and Victor remained on the island with Mortheon, and the relatively young knights were divided into two support units.
In the middle of the night, a ship carrying the knights left the island.
Victor stood beside Mortheon and wished his comrades good luck.
***
The dispatched knights performed their duties perfectly. A letter from command informed them that they were moving from one island to another, rescuing allies.
The remaining knights also did a good job. Mortheon, along with his men, sank several warships off the coast of the Southern Kingdom. When they approached in the middle of the night and cut the anchor line or blew a hole in the hull, the enemies showed signs of surprise.
The soldiers who invaded the island were easily defeated by Victor and the other knights. They had more numbers than before, but to Victor, it was nothing more than a nuisance.
The Knights of Morte were victorious day after day.
After several weeks had passed, the Knights’ victory was widely known among the Imperial Army. It was to the extent that command wrote them directly to thank them. The knights complained about canceling the operation, and the chief of staff sent a reply expressing those concerns.
However, the letter sent back was very strange.
[…It’s easy to be arrogant with a few wins. Although Morte’s knights are brave, they cannot change the war on their own. Wait for the next order from command.]
“Can I cut off the head of the man who wrote this?”
Someone asked in an angry voice. Mortheon grinned.
“Even they must know that they have unnecessarily high noses.”
“Isn’t this enough? Had it not been for us, the Empire would’ve already been defeated.”
“Hold on a little longer. I don’t want to further reduce the number of allies.”
They were all huddled around the bonfire. It was the time they used to cool off their burnt skin and dine on dried bread and fruit. There was no alcohol, but those nights alone relieved some of the fatigue from battle.
Another knight joked.
“So what if we don’t have any of those guys? We have the Little Duke on our side.”
“I know. The Little Duke is invincible.”
The knights laughed out loud.
Victor smiled quietly.
It was rewarding to receive the trust of his colleagues, even on a rough battlefield.
Under the vast southern night sky, the knights talked a lot. They talked about wanting to drink wine, longing for Morte’s winters, and hoping that the knights of the support unit would bring back some delicious food.
‘Come to think of it, Leonard and Carlz will be back tomorrow.’
‘They’re likely fighting over something stupid right now.’
Victor smiled inwardly and swallowed a piece of fruit.
After their meal, the knights said goodnight and headed to bed. Only those who stood guard overnight were left behind.
Before entering his dormitory, Mortheon called to Victor.
“Shall we go to the beach for a moment?”
Victor nodded his head and followed his brother.
***
The geography of the island was now familiar.
It was a small island, half covered with sand. Among the empty houses and guard posts, the trees native to the south formed a forest.
The two brothers silently walked along the dark beach, listening to the gentle waves. Mortheon suddenly spoke.
“The day I dueled you… I was honestly a little upset.”
Victor looked at him in surprise. Mortheon was talking about a few years ago, when Victor defeated him and became a senior knight.
‘Why is he suddenly telling this story?’
He knew it was likely painful for him to have been defeated, but he didn’t know he held a grudge for this long.
However, what followed was completely different from what he expected.
“Because it meant that I can’t protect you anymore. I am your older brother, and I promised to protect you. I can’t do that anymore.”
Victor was speechless.
He had never thought of it that way. Mortheon had always been his strong support, but before he could say anything, Mortheon added.
“But now, I just feel lucky.”
Warm brown eyes stared at Victor quietly.
“No matter what happens to me, you will live. Even in a situation where there is nothing I can do, thinking about your survival gives me comfort.”
His chest felt tight.
It reminded him of the time when his mother passed away, his father left the castle, and he was all alone.
It was Mortheon who saved him.
His older brother saved him and taught him about the world.
Swordsmanship, friendship, family and love. He was the one who taught him all that.
A world without Mortheon was unimaginable.
Victor said firmly.
“I won’t live alone. I’ve been training all my life for that. I will protect you no matter what.”
He said it like an oath.
Mortheon seemed a little surprised.
But soon, a bright smile spread across his face as he looked at his little brother.
“Thank you, Victor.”
Victor nodded his head shyly.
‘It’s embarrassing to say something like that.’
He and Mortheon went back to their quarters after silently walking along the beach for a little while.