The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 18: First Battle of a Geat Success

Alice pushed DeWitt’s body to the side and sat upright.

Before, during the altercation between her and DeWitt, the soldiers on both sides kept their distance, fearful of getting involved.

DeWitt seemed to have the advantage then, likely because he was concerned about potential interference, intentionally leading her away from the main path.

Looking around, she noticed that there was nobody in close proximity, giving her a chance to compose herself.

Despite her blood-soaked clothes and disheveled appearance, she couldn’t afford to dwell on these minor issues and quickly checked her injuries.

DeWitt’s slash had healed, leaving a long, dark scar that shocked her.

Rising to her feet, she tested her body by moving her arms and legs, feeling mostly fine with only a slight dizziness likely due to the excessive blood loss.

The plan called for her to quickly join the main group after defeating DeWitt, continuing to fight until achieving final victory.

However, DeWitt had damaged her sword, forcing her to wield his massive blade instead.

In their struggle, he had attempted to sever Alice’s hair with his sword and when he fell, the sword nearly sliced off her ear, resting perilously close to her temple.

She contemplated whether the God of Doom would assist in reattaching her ear if it were severed.

Fearing the worst, she speculated on having to adopt a new moniker as “One-eared Alice” upon attaining the rank of Special Grade Mercenary, a prospect she found dreadful.

Overall, it was fortunate that she managed to save her ear.

However, she questioned her ability to wield DeWitt’s massive sword.

When she stood face to face with him, she immediately felt overwhelmed by the sheer size of the sword. It seemed even heavier than Rom’s usual huge sword, to which she was more accustomed.

Given her preference for lighter swords, she wasn’t sure if she could even lift it.

Despite her uncertainty, she realized that there was no other weapon available to her at that moment. Returning to the battlefield without a weapon would pose too great a risk.

She was determined not to rely on divine intervention once more.

Therefore, she made the decision to take the sword, even though it might not be a perfect fit for her hand.

Although she had never wielded such a massive sword before, she had observed Rom using it on many occasions and was familiar with some of its techniques.

Taking a deep breath, Alice steeled herself and lifted the giant sword.

It was rather peculiar; the sword did not feel as heavy as she had anticipated.

Observing her arms, they appeared just as slender as ever, lacking in muscle.

Nevertheless, the sword in her grasp seemed to have lightened. Despite being described as a massive, two-handed sword, she was effortlessly holding it aloft with one hand.

Was it possible that the God of Doom had inadvertently enhanced her strength when he rescued her?

She was taken aback, but there was no time to dwell on it. The urgency of the battle required her immediate presence, especially since she was able to wield DeWitt’s sword.

Securing the sword on her back, she mounted a horse that materialized out of thin air, and galloped towards the frontline of the battlefield.

At this moment, the two armies were locked in a stalemate.

It was challenging to differentiate between victory and defeat as both sides had equal battle strength; there was little disparity.

However, Knight Gale, the leader of the opposing forces, possessed expertise in employing unconventional strategies and held a slight edge in terms of strategic planning.

Knight Gale had formulated a solid plan and was anticipating DeWitt’s arrival to decimate the entire army of the Moores City. He was aware that the Special Grade Mercenary Immortal Rom was not participating in this battle.

He believed that DeWitt was exceptionally powerful and skilled with a sword, making it likely for him to defeat the red-haired Allen, who had not experienced a solo mission before.

Suddenly, a figure approached in the distance.

Observing the man riding on a horse wearing a silver helmet from a distance, he mistook him for DeWitt. Hastily, he gave orders to his soldiers to execute his strategy and began to adjust their formation.

However, as the man approached and removed his helmet, Knight Gale realized he had fiery red hair.

It was Allen!

Despite being covered in blood and exuding a menacing aura, the young man was so strikingly beautiful that he resembled God of War descending from the heavens.

Allen raised DeWitt’s silver helmet above his head and flung it to the ground while proclaiming, “DeWitt the Mercenary is no more! Victory is within our reach! Soldiers, charge!”

DeWitt played a crucial role in the battle for Dragon City, which had a significant impact on the morale of the army led by the City Lord of Moores.

On the other hand, despite Dragon City’s forces following orders to reorganize, their spirits were already crushed and they were in disarray.

Allen bravely charged ahead, wielding his massive sword that none could oppose, causing the enemy to retreat under its sharp blade.

He led his soldiers in disrupting the enemy formation and successfully reaching the commander’s tent, ultimately compelling Knight Gale to surrender.

Ultimately, victory was achieved by the City Lord of Moores, with Knight Gale taken as a prisoner.

In accordance with custom, the family of the noble knight were required to pay a substantial ransom to Allen, divided among the City Lord of Moores, the Mercenary Union, and Allen himself.

Allen’s share amounted to around thirty gold coins, an astonishing sum for a young mercenary like him.

Nevertheless, the ransom was not the primary concern; Allen’s advancement to the rank of Special Grade Mercenary seemed almost certain.

In order to commemorate their triumph, the sergeants serving under the City Lord of Moores organized a lavish feast that evening. Despite being just a mercenary, Allen received an invitation to attend.

However, he declined, stating his intention to hasten back to the royal capital in order to make arrangements for his promotion with his master. Although everyone understood, only Alice knew that this was an excuse.

After her near-death experience in the recent battle, she found it challenging to concentrate on her impending promotion.

A god who had been absent for a considerable period suddenly intervened, pulling her back from the brink of death before vanishing without a trace.

It was an encounter that would undoubtedly unsettle anyone.

Furthermore, she had recently celebrated her seventeenth birthday, and the impact of such an event was overwhelming for her. She was eager to return to Rom’s side and share the news with him.

As Alice journeyed to Moores City, Rom opted to stay in the royal capital without taking on any other quests. Instead, he focused on acquiring a small farm located near the city using his savings accumulated throughout the years.

The land in close proximity to the royal capital was quite pricey, but he believed it was a worthwhile investment due to its fertile soil and the absence of any ongoing wars.

He wasted no time in purchasing the property and getting it ready for his stay.

Rom had a knack for creating a cozy living space, as he furnished the farmhouse to his liking.

During his leisure hours, he would visit the Mercenary Union headquarters in the city in order to gather information about Alice’s whereabouts.

He took great pride in her bravery as a skilled mercenary.

He had anticipated her arrival in the royal capital three days after the battle concluded, but he was surprised when someone knocked on the door of his farmhouse on the second night.

Upon opening the door, he was greeted by the sight of Alice standing there.

“I was told by the Mercenary Union that you were here.”

Rom nodded in response, “I have acquired this property.”

She appeared different, not displaying the excitement expected from a victorious fighter. Although Rom wanted to inquire about the battle, she hugged him tightly instead.

He resembled an aged father who had been suddenly caught off guard by his teenage daughter: stunned, ashamed, and with his arms outstretched, he was speechless.

As he heard Alice start to cry and felt her tears dampening his shirt, he was at a loss for words.

“What, what, what?” He stuttered. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you come back triumphant?”

Alice didn’t bother responding; she just continued to cry.

On the battlefield, she had appeared as a brave warrior, a valkyrie, a comrade of death.

However, now, upon seeing Rom, fear overwhelmed her heart, revealing her vulnerable, childish side completely.

It was the first time in her life she had been in such danger. She believed that if the gods had not intervened, she would have perished by now.

Her tears could not be stemmed.

Rom could only support Alice as she leaned on him, occasionally patting her on the shoulder.

He replayed all the horrible scenarios in his mind and regretted allowing her to go on the mission alone, considering her young age.

Alice wept for an extended period until she couldn’t shed tears anymore. She sensed that it might be the final instance she cried in front of her master and let out all her emotions.

After composing herself, she released from Rom’s grip and explained the reason for her outburst.

“I came close to death during my battle with DeWitt,” she disclosed.

Taken aback, Rom took a step back and scrutinized her closely.

She appeared unharmed, leaving no visible signs of being on the brink of death.

She did not wait for him to ask and proceeded to explain the situation. She provided details ranging from DeWitt’s left-hand sword to how she was ultimately saved by the God of Doom.

When she mentioned the God of Doom, Rom’s expression turned serious. After she had finished recounting her story, he let out a sigh.

“I never expected that god to actually intervene. Since he chose to save you, does that mean you now consider yourself a believer?” He inquired as he observed Alice’s nodding in affirmation, prompting him to sigh once more.

Rom felt the need to caution her, “You need to tread carefully in this matter. I myself am not a devotee or follower. The Temple of Light’s followers might overlook individuals like me who do not adhere to their god, but I am well aware of the consequences true heretics face. If you must pray, do so in private. Keep your faith concealed from the public eye.”

Alice had been receiving similar advice since she was twelve years old while at the temple. At that time, she was too young to comprehend it, and it only frightened her.

By the age of seventeen, she had traveled extensively and acquired sword-fighting skills, causing her to no longer hold the people in the temple in high regard.

She had also become somewhat unimpressed by such counsel.

Nevertheless, Rom was her mentor, father, and savior who had rescued her during a crucial moment.

She did not wish to contradict him; instead, she simply pursed her lips and remained silent.

As Rom gazed into her eyes, he discerned that she did not truly agree with him.

He understood that she was still youthful and that her interactions with mercenaries of varying beliefs over the years had distorted her perception of global affairs.

He realized that this could not be rectified instantaneously, so he shifted the conversation to a different topic, “Without further ado, you mentioned that you have become stronger. Let’s put that to the test. Is that… Is that DeWitt’s sword that you are carrying on your back?”

Alice nodded in affirmation, pulled the sword from her shoulder, and handed it over to him.

He examined it closely and expressed his approval, “What an exceptional and high-quality sword. DeWitt must have spent all his entire savings to acquire it. Such a valuable weapon cannot be purchased casually, but must be stumbled upon by chance. If it is infused with a magical gem, even if it is placed in the king’s armory, it would not seem inferior. Sadly, it ended up in the possession of a humble mercenary. I doubt we will ever witness it being imbued with a magical gem.”

He let out a sigh and returned the sword to her, “It is getting late, so sheath the sword for now. We will head to the martial arts training grounds in the morning.”