Chapter 69: Conqueror's Haki, Burst!
Although Rivalen had known from the start that the Picts, having prepared for so long, were not planning a minor skirmish, and he had braced himself mentally for it, it was only after he truly understood the situation that he discovered it was even worse than his worst-case scenario.
First, the men he had dispatched returned and reported the specific number of Picts.
He had initially thought that even if it was the Picts' main force, it would be on the scale of the large Pict armies they had faced before.
But in reality, the Picts had gone all out this time, gathering all thirty-two of their tribes together!
This was an all-out strike, assembled after the Picts had resolved all their internal conflicts and settled all their grudges!
Just from the intelligence officer's description, Rivalen knew that if not for Camelot's aid, Selkirk Territory would be doomed to fall!
Even their sturdy walls and fortresses could not possibly hold back so many people!
And what's more...
Just as he learned of the enemy's numbers and realized that even with his own men from Selkirk Territory and Camelot's main force, they would still be at a significant disadvantage, and was preparing to request reinforcements from King Mark and King Pellinore...
It began to rain!
And it was a terrifying downpour!
Countless bolts of lightning, some even appearing red, flashed across the sky. Often, a dozen or more would strike at once, as if heralding the apocalypse.
Although Selkirk Territory was not far from the lands of King Mark and King Pellinore, the roads to the north were extremely difficult to travel, with many mountain paths.
Under such severe weather conditions, sending a messenger was out of the question.
However, at that moment, Rivalen was still thinking: in such foul weather, how could the Picts possibly lay siege to the city?
But then he took a look toward the city walls and discovered that while the rain was pouring down and the thunderstorm was raging on their side as well, the wind was in the Picts' favor!
The rain was being blown toward them!
The Picts had the wind at their backs, while they were facing a headwind!
Good heavens, in a siege where the Picts couldn't use cavalry, this weather was actually more advantageous for them. In such conditions, the defending archers couldn't even draw their bows properly!
...
Rivalen seemed to be already contemplating the worst-case scenario.
But it was at this very moment that Noah arrived.
He could teleport anywhere on the island of Britain.
So, when he learned from White that the Picts' attack was about to begin, he came over directly.
After his arrival, the eyes of the Camelot knights began to burn with fervor.
After all, these knights had all personally witnessed Noah pull Caliburn from the stone. Seeing Noah arrive was like a fanatic seeing their true god. They were instantly put at ease, and the oppressive atmosphere brought on by the weather, the number of enemies, and the mood in the camp vanished in that instant.
Even the soldiers from Camelot cheered upon seeing Noah.
Such a commotion naturally reached Rivalen's ears quickly.
"Hm? What's going on in the Camelot camp?"
He couldn't quite understand how the men of Camelot could be laughing so loudly in such a desperate situation.
Did the troops from Camelot have such a good mentality?
He felt this way, and so did the knights under his command.
But just as they were wondering, Noah walked in from outside the tent.
"Rivalen, although the atmosphere for our first meeting isn't the best, it is a pleasure to meet you—I am Noah Blake, also known as King Arthur."
Huh!?
The one who entered was Noah.
The moment they saw Noah, all the knights stood up instinctively, Rivalen included.
Although not everyone in Britain knew Noah, the new king, before the public execution, after that event, was there anyone in all of Britain—from lords to knights, to merchants, workers, and farmers—who did not recognize the new king, Noah?
So, the moment they saw Noah, their first reaction was nervousness, but then, thinking of the current situation, they were immediately excited.
After all, the king had come. Perhaps their situation wasn't so hopeless after all!
Seeing the reaction of his knights, Rivalen went over to greet Noah as well, and then dismissed the knights while they were still excited.
After the knights had left, Rivalen finally asked Noah a question.
"My King, how many men did you bring?"
"Isn't Camelot's main force already here? Other than that, I came by myself."
Noah hadn't even brought Artoria.
Artoria had taken Noah's new appointment and gone to see Kay and Scáthach. She needed some practical combat experience and to make a name for herself. Incidentally, she was also carrying Noah's new orders for that patrol team regarding the north.
As for here...
His presence was enough.
Even if he hadn't come, as long as White used her full power, those Picts would be nothing to fear!
"Ah, this... My King, forgive my bluntness, but if that's the case, then you should leave quickly!"
Rivalen had already figured that because of the sudden storm, even if Noah came, he probably wouldn't be able to bring many troops. After all, if the number of troops was large, Noah wouldn't have arrived so quickly.
That was why he had been afraid that Noah had brought too few men, and why he had dismissed his knights while their morale was high, before they could realize this.
But he never expected Noah to have come alone...
What's the use of you coming by yourself?!
Rivalen almost shouted the words.
But Noah just smiled and patted Rivalen's shoulder.
"Don't be afraid, we are not without a chance of victory—after all, I knew about all of this long ago and have been making arrangements for a while. So don't panic, I have my plans."
Hearing Noah say this, Rivalen calmed down a little.
"Then, my King... do you have a plan?"
"Of course—anyway, I heard from White that the Picts' army is almost here, right? Let's assemble the troops now and get everyone set up for defense, or it will be too late."
As Noah spoke, he patted Rivalen's shoulder again and then walked out of the tent.
Although Rivalen still couldn't see much hope, he had no other choice now.
So after he walked out of the tent, the troops in the entire camp quickly mobilized, beginning to set up defenses on the walls of Selkirk Territory.
And with the storm, the Picts' army appeared within their field of vision.
The two sides were separated by a buffer zone.
On this side of the buffer zone were the walls of Selkirk Territory. On the other side... a black, oppressive mass. Looking out, whether to the front or to the sides, there was no end in sight. That was the Picts' army!
At that moment, from the direction of the Picts, a man wearing light leather armor and carrying a blood-red spear walked to the very front of the army and roared toward Selkirk Territory.
"Open the gates and surrender, and we will not slaughter the city!"
As he spoke, a boom exploded from the sky. The heavy clap of thunder seemed to resound in everyone's heart, making the man's words sound incredibly immense.
Noah was standing on the city wall at this moment, listening to the man's voice and the thunder in the sky, feeling the fierce wind and rain on his face.
He smiled.
And his laughter could be heard by the Picts, and also by the defending soldiers of Selkirk Territory.
For a moment, everyone's gaze focused on him.
Then Noah drew Caliburn and plunged it into the ground directly in front of him. He gripped the hilt with both hands and spoke with a smile.
"The difference between a bandit and a knight is not strength, but whether one understands restraint. Having abandoned all honor, to the point where you even speak of slaughtering a city, no matter how many of you gather, you are nothing more than a mob of disgraceful bandits!"
"Surrender to bandits? And trust you? Don't make me laugh!"
"And..."
Noah paused here.
As he paused, he, standing on the city wall, slowly raised his head. As he looked down upon the Picts, the wind, which had been blowing in their favor, suddenly changed direction!
The wind and rain that had been lashing at Noah now flew out from behind him, striking the Picts head-on!
The advantage of the wind suddenly belonged to the defenders!
And amidst everyone's utterly shocked gazes, Noah spoke, narrowing his eyes and unleashing his Conqueror's Haki with full force toward the Picts before him!
"You are too arrogant. I am the King of Britain! In the presence of the King, who permitted you ants, gathered here, to speak so brazenly!"
"Fall, you ants!"
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