The Traitorous Prince

Crossfire

"Gasp, gasp..."

Shion, who was trapped in the remains of the building, clenched her teeth and tried to raise her body.

"Ah... Cough!"

Would it feel like this to get hit by a catapult?

She could not put any strength in her body. As she barely touched the floor with her trembling arms and raised her upper body, she saw the Silver Wolf slowly approaching her.

"I'll acknowledge it, Eindel's knight, You're the first to have pushed me this far since the beginning of this war."

Canis smiled cruelly.

"I'm really complimenting you. Thanks to you, I was able to have a battle-like fight after a long time.

Holding his sword with both hands, Canis walked slowly.

"I'll show you respect. I'l I hit your neck without pain."

“…”

Shion closed her eyes tightly.

This was how it ended.

She could not get a shot at those monsters.

Only defeat...

"Huh?"

Canis, who was slowly approaching to show respect to the rival who pushed him, paused.

Whistle-

He heard the sound of the wind being cut from somewhere.

"What, what..."

When Canis turned his head to the side wondering.

There was a shell in front of him.

Bang-l

The shell that fell on Canis1 helmet exploded.

“…”

As Shion opened her mouth wide while watching the thick heatwave, she heard a familiar unlucky voice next to her.

"The Seven Dragon Knights of Brunhilt have one very bad habit."

As she looked back, she saw Huey, squatting on the collapsed stone wall, smiling with his scattered blonde hair fluttering.

"At the critical moment, they're going to act like a knight and do useless shit. Especially after having an 'honorable fight' or something, it always happens.

“…”

No, you're also doing shit right now... She wanted to tackle him, but Shion did not have the power to do that. Huey glanced at her and grinned mischievously.

"He can't get hit when he runs everywhere, but our artillery should be able to aim properly if he walks so slowly, right?'

When the heatwave was lifted, Canis, who was down on one knee, could be seen.

"Ha...!"

He seemed to have lifted his sword to prevent the explosion at the last moment, but the damage was clear. Blood dripped down from the scratch above the eyebrows.

Canis raised his hand, roughly wiping the blood, and growled.

"Hey, you! How dare you interrupt a knights1 fight!

"What shit are you spewing? Aknigh ts'fight? What you're doing isthe samething asa grown-up beating a child."

Huey gave a wink from which a star seemed to be jumping.

"So, I'm like a child! Should I spray some more sand to have a fair duel~?"

Looking back at the inner wall, Huey nodded broadly.

Bang!

Immediately after, dozens of shells fired from the inner wall fell on Canis one after another.

"Ah! Oh my god!"

Even the Silver Wolf had no chance to avoid the crossfire.

Canis fled behind the debris of the next building and curled up to avoid the shock as much as possible.

"Shoot! Shoot! Pour it all out! Give it a little bit of time and it will come out! Keep shooting until the cannons melt-!"

Shouting, Huey ran to Shion and raised her. She looked puzzled.

"Why are you saving me? Neither I nor you would have any good feelings for each other."

"Hmph! Don't, don't get me wrong! I didn't mean to save you!"

Huey blushed and turned his head away.

“…”

Shion looked nauseous.

Huey, who lent his shoulder to Shion and encouraged her, smiled softly.

"Hey, Shion. Think and live. Without you, the Commander of the Knights, wouldn't the minimum command system collapse?1

“…”

"What's the point of being in control on the military? My orders have no authority. If you don't support me, the soldiers won't listen to me."

Shion, who was listening quietly, smiled.

"That's definitely true. Soldiers won’t be loyal to a traitor like you."

"Haha. That's what I'm saying! Oh, and above all,"

Showing his fangs, his bright red eyes were sparkling.

Huey looked up and down at Shion lovingly.

"I can't let you die comfortably in a place like this.

Scary.

Looking into Huey's eyes burning with hatred, Shion felt goosebumps rising all over her forearm.

"You have to face a much, much more, disgraceful and painful end, Shion.

“…”

"You have to pay for betraying me, right~? Hehe.

SoRRR.91R.RR don't think about dying this peacefully.

Whispering in her ear, Huey helped Shion and moved to the inner city.

“…”

Pay for betraying him.

Was it more than death?

Shion closed her mouth and walked with Huey.

No matter the cost later, it was more important to survive now.

"Phew!

And at that moment, Canis ran out of the crossfire.

"Oh my."

"...Gasp.

Huey and Shion looked back with wide eyes. A beat late, Huey screamed.

"Ahhhhhh?! He's too fast?!

Canis has been hopping like a wolf.

"I won't let you go, you bastard!

"Run, run! Imagine that you're going to die if you get caught, and run!"

Huey sprinted toward the entrance of the inner castle, which was far away.

Shion, who he had been supporting, was thrown to the floor and left alone.

“…”

As Sion fell on the floor after being push by Huey, her lips twitched.

They were distorted.

"That..."

She got up with a quick movement that was not like someone injured. She started running after Huey.

"This damn prince! If you want to save me, save me till the end-!

The prince with chains wrapped around his upper body, the bloody knight commander, and soldiers in the surviving outer space were all running away toward the entrance to the inner castle.

Canis was chasing fiercely right behind them.

Looking down at the whole scene, the defensive forces in the inner castle sweated.

Eindelgrass was the capital of the Ei ndel Kingdom.

But its outer castle area had completely fallen.

It was only a week after the beginning of the war against Brunhilt, and only an hour after Huey's return.

* * *

"Close the gate! Hurry up!

Shion, who barely escaped to the inner castle, shouted.

Shut-l

Finally, after the last injured soldiers came in, the inner gate was quickly closed.

In order to protect the troops' retreat, artillery and archers were generously firing on top of the wall.

Brunhilt's advance was delayed by the pouring shells and arrows. The soldiers who escaped in that gap managed to retreat to the inner castle.

"Gasp, gasp, gasp, gasp!"

Huey crawled inside and sat down on the floor, panting.

"Gasp, gasp, gasp, gasp, gasp...

“…”

"Gasp, no, I'm dying! "It's so hard...

Huey had abandoned Shion and ran away first, butsoon ran outofstamina and eventually collapsed.

Shion wanted to let him die, but she could not.

She had to support Huey in reverse with her injured body.

'Things are really different...'

Grumbling inside, Huey was stillgasping.

"Gasp, gasp...

"...Stop gasping. It's ugly."

When Shion gave him a hard time, Huey got angry.

"Hey! I've been imprisoned for 3 years and suddenly run like this! Can't I do this? Oh, my..."

Huey roughly shook off his sweaty hair, Shion thought his randomly tangled blonde hair looked just like a broom.

"Hmm?'

Huey, who looked up and down at Shion, clicked his tongue.

"First of all, I'll lead the resistance here, so, Shion, go get emergency treatment quickly."

"What? No, I don't need to..."

Shion realized her physical condition only after answering.

Her whole body was in tatters after being hit by Canis' sword and being kicked.

It would not be strange if she collapsed and fainted right away.

"The priests are waiting, right? Hurry up and get some treatment.

"But...

Brunhilt was just around the corner. She did not know what would happen while she is away for a while.

Huey looked confidently smiling at Shion, who was hesitant.

"Leave it to me! Who am I? I'm Prince Huey~ Trust me! I have a great strategy to stop that monster!"

“…”

Why? She had more doubts than trust after hearing this.

However, she had to receive treatment now even for future battles.

Shion turned back with an unwilling step.

"Then, I'll go.

"Okay, okay~ Take care of yourself~!"

The corners of Huey's mouth went up.

"Take your time, slowly, and take a good rest. "Hehehe..."

Creepy.

Shion got goosebumps on both shoulders.

'What... is he planning?'

It was scarier because she could not guess. She thought that she should come back as quickly as possible.

As Shion disappeared, Huey glanced around the soldiers lined up.

"Now then, proud soldiers of Eindel?"

Huey bowed down and let out a creepy laugh.

"Now that I'm the commander, everyone should follow my command."

He looked like a devil asking for a sacrifice.

"You trust me and follow me, right! I'll protect this country... So don't make a sound and move as you're told,"

“…”

The tired soldiers had an ominous feeling.

* * *

The soldiers were agitated.

Looking down at what was ha ppening under the fortress walIs in front of the gate, they trembled.

They sweated a lot with a pale complexion. Some even dropped their weapons from their hands.

"What? What's going on?"

After receiving emergency treatment, Shion, who was coming up the wall, was embarrassed by this chilly atmosphere and asked. However, no soldier answered.

Everyone looked back at the prince Huey standing proudly on the wall with frightened eyes.

“…”

Shion frowned because she could not understand the situation.

Did the treatment take 10 minutes? But even if the atmosphere changed in the meantime, it was too much of a change.

"Huey? What's going on? Why are the soldiers..."

Shion walked calmly toward Huey on the castle wall.

And in her eyes, the view under the wall gradually appeared.

Only then did Shion notice why the soldiers were so terrified.

Led by Can is, the Brunhilt imperial army had advanced to the front gate of the inner castle.

And Huey's choice of tactics was indeed simple.

The gate was opened, and 10 soldiers lined up rushed outside. Immediately after, the gate was closed again.

The soldiers who went out like that run to Canis one by one. That was all.

.?"

What the hell?

At this crazy sight, Shion opened her mouth unknowingly.

"I’m Beowyn, son of Beo! Canis! Take my sword!"

"Miter, the eldest son of the Gunthers! I'm going!"

"Uhhh! I'm K-Kane! Ca-Ca-Canis! Die!

The soldiers shouted their names, cried, and rushed to Canis.

Poof-l

"Next, next!

And Canis was tearing the soldiers who approached him in one blow.

Fragmented bodies piled up on both sides, literally forming a small hill. It was a gruesome sight.

"What are you doing?!"

Shion grabbed Huey by the collar harshly. She had a clear look of embarrassment.

"I entrusted you with the military power to stop that monster! But what are you doing right now?"

"As you can see, they're stopping him."

"They're not stopping him! They are..."

Shion shouted out loudly, not like her cold-hearted usual self.

"They are being wiped out!

But Huey did not even blink. He looked down the wall again and shouted.

"You're noisy. Let's move on, next!"

"What kind of tactic is this? This is just death!

Even the knights were not even a match for Canis.

But sending ordinary soldiers one by one, what crazy thing was that?

This was not even a tactic. It was just suicide. No results could be expected from it.

"Shion, who is in command right now?"

Huey's bright red eyes glanced at Shion.

His face, which had been flirting and silly until 10 minutes ago, had become ridiculously cold.

"Don't argue with me."

"But!"

"And, you'd better keep that in mind. If you disobey my order one more time...

“…”

Shion bit her lip and stared at Huey.

If I do, what will happen?'

"I will cry.

“…”

"Really. Very loud. While grimacing. I'm going to cry."

“…”

"If you don't want to see that, you'd better follow my orders~"

Shion touched her aching forehead.

Anyway, Huey was the one in command now. Shion had no right to protest against him, as she was only a knight under his command.

She clenched his teeth and beckoned at the soldiers who were looking at her with her earnest eyes.

"...Keep sending them."

"Yes, yes...!"

The next 10 people went out of the gate. All of them looked terrified.

The soldiers cried and rushed to the wolf one after another. Immediately after, they collapsed in blood.

They could not even resist, They could not swing their swords once. They were just trampled on like ants. Exhaling their last breath was the only thing they could do.

Canis carefully tore apart all the soldiers who shouted their names and attacked him.

The other soldiers watching the scene trembled because they did not know when their turn would come.

"Ha...

Less than 1,000 troops were remaining in the inner castle, And even half of them were injured.

Shion wanted to shed tears of blood as she looked at the casual consumption of the last army of the Eindel Kingdom, in which every soldier was precious.

"Next."

"Next!

"Next! What are you doing? Next, get out!"

Whether or not he thought that the lives of the soldiers were as expendable as arrows, Huey calmly gave the death order.

The soldiers' self-introduction, the sound of Canis' sword swinging, and new scream constantly rang.

'Wouldn't it be better if I kill this damn prince and take over the military right now?'

Shion thought with her hand on the handle of her sword.

Even if I’m imprisoned right away, wouldn't it be better to die honorably...?

It was then.

Thud!

The end of Canis' sword touched the floor.

Chiik-

After that, the scapular part of the black armor that covered his whole body opened up, and hot steam spewed back.

"Oh my... I'm dizzy."

When Canis took off his helmet, the face of a handsome man with thick lines that did not match the brutal fights was revealed.

Hot steam also rose from his neck, The silver hair above it was soaked in blood.

"Lord, you have exceeded the time limit."

A silver-haired boy who appeared silently received the helmet from Canis.

"You'll have to leave now.

"I know. I guess I overdid it. It's been a while since I got this excited..."

Canis, who nuclearized and shook off the blood of the sword, raised his index finger toward Huey.

"Hey! I'm going to take a break. Stay calm and wait, Eindel's pigs!"

Canis smiled fierce like a wolf.

"Next time Tll be grilling a steak with your king's neck in your palace!

Huey, who was listening quietly, clicked his tongue.

"It's not going to taste good even if you grill that old man..."

"Don't say such disrespectful things...

As Canis turned around, the Brunhilt army, which had only been watching from afar, also began to withdraw at once.

Looking down at the back of the retreating enemy's head, Huey snorted.

"The extraordinary strengthof the Brunhilt soldiers isthanksto the d ragon blood flowingthrough their bodies."

“…”

"In particular, the seven Dragon Knights have a strong concentration of dragon blood, so the expression of their power is explosive,"

Shion swallowed a groan as she looked at the smashed exterior and the city in the distance.

"Ahem... But their bodies are fundamentally human. There is a limit to using the dragon's power. In other words, there is a time limit.

"So, did you use up the soldiers to reach that time limit?"

"That's right. In addition, thanks to the useless chivalry that they value so much, they unconditionally fight the soldiers one-on-one when they attack after saying their names."

Huey raised his nose and nodded.

"That's why I was able to buy time with a simple strategy!"

He bought time with innocent lives, and also used honorable chivalry to his liking.

It was truly a garbage strategy.

“…”

It was trash, but there was no other way.

At least as Shion, he no longer knew how to effectively withdraw the container. At least for Shion, because she did not know how to effectively resist the Dragon Knight.

Ahhh... The smell of blood was all over the place.

Even in the face of the numerous deaths, Huey did not blink.