The sergeant in the militia teaching team didn't lie to me. The necessary experience can save your life at a critical moment.
If it wasn't for that one month of training, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to dodge that fatal strike in my sleep. The sudden attack triggered a lightning-like alarm and woke me up from my slumber. When I opened my eyes and saw the sharp longsword, I couldn't help but feel a piercing chill from the bottom of my heart.
How terrifying!
But to be honest, I don't know how I reacted at that time. Perhaps it was an instinct cultivated by the long-term training, but I tilted my head at the critical moment and the sword grazed my ear.
At the critical moment —
Then I saw the emblem of Blumanto's blooming black rose insignia on the steel longsword. It was inlaid on a square iron plate. I was stunned for a moment before I could recognize it. "Madara's undead army!" It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over my head, waking me up completely. Damn it, why are these things here?
I clearly remember that I was on vacation at an old house in the countryside of Bucce. It was a property left behind by my grandfather. I asked the old man's permission to stay here temporarily and help him take care of the old house.
My mother was a Carlegoth, which was the closest blood to nobility in my body. But my father was just an ordinary miller. He didn't even participate in the famous November War like my grandfather and received the Candlelight Medal. He was just an honest middle-aged man.
As for me, I was just an ordinary young man who could be found anywhere in the kingdom. My biggest dream was to join the army or go out on an adventure and earn a big family fortune.
Maybe I could find a beautiful wife to spend the rest of my life with. How perfect!
But let's not talk about that. Right now, there was a terrifying Undead beside my bed that wanted to kill me. My heart was in a mess. Fortunately, the things that the instructor taught me were still in my head, and I didn't throw them out of my head because of my chaotic thoughts. I thought back for a moment. My sword should be beside the bed, but that skeleton wouldn't give me the chance to reach for it. Now I realized that this wasn't a good habit. Next time, I'll remember to put it under my pillow.
Of course, these thoughts only existed for a moment in my plan.
I instinctively jumped out and rolled off the bed. At the same time, I pulled the skeleton that was standing next to my bed to the ground. At this moment, I remembered every word that the instructor said during the first combat lesson.
"Remember, these are Madara's lowest soldiers. They are driven by pure Soulfire. They move slowly, lack intelligence, and are weak."
However, before I could finish my thoughts, a huge force surged from below me. It was as if I wasn't suppressing a skeleton, but a bull. In short, an irresistible force sent me flying outwards, and I slammed into a cabinet on the side. I heard my bones and my bookcase groaning in unison, and I gritted my teeth at the excruciating pain coursing through my body. But I shook my head to shake off the dizziness — because I remembered what I had to do. In my shaky vision, the skeleton had stood up to pull out the sword it had stuck in the bed.
Its movements were indeed very stiff, but how could its strength be considered weak?
But I had to turn around and run because the 'guy' had pulled out its sword and became a dangerous presence again. As for me, I knew that I was no match for it. Even if there were three of me, I wouldn't be able to defeat it. More importantly, I didn't have a weapon in my hand.
My sword was blocked by it. Of course, I believed that it was just a coincidence because skeletons don't have intelligence.
As I scrambled to the door, I could not help cursing my bad luck — for I saw that the door to the hall below had been smashed open, and a cold moonlight spilled in. The moonlight would have been poetic if it had not been for the fact that there was another set of white skeletons in the hall.
I noticed that this Madara low-level existence had just walked in. It was holding a steel sword in its hand. The skeleton was wearing Madara's chainmail, and it was wearing a black helmet.
But what made me feel the most depressed was that it raised its head and locked onto me with two scarlet flames dancing in its black eye sockets.
It seemed that it had seen me.
There was a wolf in front and a tiger behind. This wasn't a good sign.
Honorable Martha, I couldn't help but pray to the God in my heart. I was only nineteen years old this year. I couldn't die in such a remote place.
That's right, I still haven't confessed to the woman I like. When I thought of the charming young merchant girl, my heart couldn't help but beat faster. Her house was just across from mine. I couldn't let the woman I like be in danger.
I calmed down and tried to find a way to escape. My mind was spinning fast. At this time, the lesson of the sergeant came into my mind.
"Only when you calm down can you fight!"
This view coincided with my current situation. But I didn't have a weapon in hand. I couldn't fight a beast with my bare hands, right? I panted and leaned against the wall nervously. I looked around frantically. Although this old house couldn't be said to be barren, there wasn't anything in the hall that could be used as a temporary weapon.
If only my grandfather had been a great nobleman. I have been to the Earl of Remington's house, and there are shields, swords, and axes hanging on the walls in their main hall, which is five times the size of this one. I should be able to easily find a suitable weapon in there.
Moreover, my swordsmanship wasn't bad. I wasn't bragging. The old sergeant had personally praised me. He said that my swordsmanship was the best in our batch of students.
Even that kid from the Bretton family wasn't my opponent. Although I always envied him for having a father who was a local officer. If my father was a local officer, I would definitely be able to join the guards.
Of course, it was useless to say that now. In short, my sword and I were still separated by the skeleton soldier from before. Although they couldn't run, their walking speed was about the same as an ordinary person's. Their movements were a little stiff, but they were only a little slower than an adult.
If it was on the training ground, I bet that I could play around with them. But in this narrow space, I would probably be stabbed if I rushed forward.
The two skeletons were getting closer and closer. The 'ka ka ka' sound of their footsteps was like knocking on my heart. My heartbeat was like thunder, thumping non-stop.
I was at a loss. The skeleton from the bedroom walked out. It paused for a moment, then turned around and walked towards me. I subconsciously took a step back, and my back bumped into something hard.
Only then did I remember that there was an oil painting hanging on my back. This painting was passed down from my grandfather's generation. It was said that it was a family heirloom. The cripple from the Black Pepper Alley once said that he wanted to buy this painting for ten gold coins, but my father refused.
My father was a stubborn old man, but I was different from him. If it wasn't for this incident, I often thought that I would sell this painting when I reached the end of my road. Then I would buy a beautiful horse and travel the continent with the young lady who dreamed of being a merchant.
But I couldn't care about that now. This family heirloom was going to save my life. I turned around and grabbed the wooden frame of the painting and pulled it down. At this time, I wasn't in the mood to worry about whether or not I would damage it. This thing was worth at least ten gold coins, although I suspected that it was worth more because the cripple from the Black Pepper Alley was famous for being stingy.
Ten gold coins was a large amount of wealth. The most money I had seen in my life was ten silver coins.
I couldn't help but take a deep breath. I could feel my hands trembling. I thought that I would throw this painting at the terrifying undead and slip away when it was on guard. Then, I would get my sword and use my swordsmanship to smash these two skeletons into pieces.
Of course, I could also do the same, but I would have to run to the streets. But I couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be things like these outside. Rushing out bare-handed would be seeking death. Thus, I made up my mind and felt that it was better to be a little braver.
Although this was only an ideal idea, maybe it would ignore everything and stab me with its sword. Then, I would have to go see Martha -sama.
I couldn't help but think, would they erect a tombstone for me that would say —
"Poor Brando, he obviously guessed wrongly —"
I shuddered and quickly shook my head to get rid of the ghostly thought that was occupying my mind. Pah, pah, pah, I won't die.
Then, I looked at the dusty oil painting in my hands. To be honest, I couldn't see what was so good about it. Was this really ten gold coins? I wonder if the cripple from the Black Pepper Alley would feel that it was a pity to throw it out like this?
However, that terrifying undead was already right in front of me. I didn't have the time to lament the loss of the 10 gold coins and the opportunity to travel the continent with the merchant lady, because I had already subconsciously thrown out the picture frame.
I threw it accurately and the painting flew in a straight line towards the white skeleton. Great, that idiot raised his sword and slashed horizontally. I saw the dusty oil painting split into two pieces in midair.
What a strong force! But fortunately, the Sergeant didn't lie about the crucial point. These skeletons really lacked intelligence.
As soon as this question flashed through my mind, I subconsciously rushed out.
My bedroom door wasn't far from me. Thank you Martha -sama, I only needed to rush out a few more steps to see my sword lying there quietly.
That sword was also one of my family heirlooms. My grandfather once used it in battle. It was said that he was a servant of a Knight for a period of time and this sword was bestowed to him by that Knight —
That sword should be from the year 32. There was an ivy imprint on the sword to commemorate the victory of the Battle of Grinoires.
I remember that year, His Majesty changed the design of the cavalry sword. The sword was changed from the original two arm length to one arm and a half. The copper ornaments on the guard were also changed to ordinary iron flowers. This was to reduce the cost and adapt to the 'November War' that was getting longer and longer.
That's right, it was a cavalry sword.
Hmph, once I get my hands on that sword — —
"Bastards of Madara, it's your turn to be unlucky — —"
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