Knight Lords: Infinite Simulation and the Path of Light

Let's move on to Chapter 98! Pikachu! Oh no! Serena!

The noisy sound of horses' hooves would startle Haven, who was deep in thought in his tent. A flash of light, and the documents on his lap were put into his ring before he stood up and walked out.

Upon exiting the tent, they discovered that the Imperial troops, who had previously departed, had returned. Hundreds of cavalrymen had completely surrounded the camp, and Kubasi and the others, who were resting on the ground, were trapped inside the camp before they could even react.

The cavalrymen, who had formed a circle, silently made way for him. Ampar and Vestakia rode side by side into the camp. When they saw Kubasi and the other two lying on the ground, Ampar looked up and burst into wild laughter.

"Hahahaha, you think you can run away? No one can escape my grasp, no one!"

Kubasi looked at the Imperial cavalry around him, who were poised to attack, and hurriedly sat up. He reached out and forcefully pushed Lori, who was squatting to the side, toward Havent, who was walking out of the tent.

"Let's go, leave here, and go to Mr. Will's side."

Lori was shoved hard by Coopers and stumbled, about to crash headfirst into the tent's support poles. Haven quickly reached out and grabbed Lori, who then looked up to regain his balance.

Kubasi, covered in wounds, had already stood up and struggled to walk to his two seriously injured subordinates who were still lying on the ground. Looking at Ampar, who was grinning maliciously at him in the firelight, he was prepared to die. Perhaps today would be the day he returned to the Kingdom of Hyronis. It was just a pity that he was trapped in Will's camp and would eventually drag them down with him.

A gentle breeze swept across the lake, turning the moon's reflection into dappled fragments. Kubasi, his heart calm, had already foreseen his fate. Looking at Ampar, who was sitting on horseback a dozen meters away, he slowly walked over.

"I'm willing to give up resistance and go back with you. I hope you can spare the people in this camp; they are all innocent."

Ampar's laughter stopped abruptly when he heard Kubasi's words. Looking at the former Free Ranger leader standing a few meters in front of him, his face gradually darkened. What kind of look was that? What kind of expression was that? Damn it, he should be afraid, he should beg for mercy, he should be terrified!
To Ampar's disappointment, Kubasi's face was expressionless, only showing a sense of relief, a feeling that he would not have any regrets even if he were to die the next moment.

The more this happened, the angrier Ampar became. How could this be! No! He should be terrified, filled with fear, and kneeling on the ground begging for my mercy, begging me to spare his men. He should be kneeling and begging for forgiveness!

"Oh?????? Commander Kubasa, are you giving me an order?!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, but you're no longer a regimental commander in the Imperial Army. You're just a filthy, despicable traitor now. What right do you have to speak to me?"

Looking at Ampar's sudden erratic behavior, Kubasi was a little confused. What was going on? How could this guy change so suddenly? He had asked him to surrender in Falling Moon Canyon, but now that he had actually surrendered, he was acting all furious.

“I have given up resisting. According to the laws of the Empire, you can arrest me now. Ampar, didn’t you want this matter to end here? Take me away now, and this matter will be completely over.”

Looking at Kubasi, who had already given up resisting, Ampar felt a sudden surge of irritation. It was like the feeling of a spoiled child going crazy because he couldn't get what he wanted.

Hehehehehe~
"Of course, of course, you will be arrested. However, the people in this camp are suspected of harboring traitors to the Empire. I now suspect that this camp is full of your accomplices, and I am taking them all away now."

Upon hearing Ampar's statement, Kubasi was stunned for a moment. If there was anyone in this world he cared about, it was none other than Will and Lori, who had just helped him. He had chosen not to resist so that Ampar would let them go, but he didn't expect that this guy would not let Will and the others go.

Seeing a hint of tension, fear, and apprehension finally flash across Kubasi's expression, Ampar felt a sense of satisfaction. Yes, that's it, that's it. Ants are ants, and when facing the strong, they must show fear; it's a sign of respect for the strong.

“They don’t know me; they’re just adventurers camping here. I forced them there; it has nothing to do with them.”

Ampar watched Kubasi's increasingly anxious expression, a sense of satisfaction filling him. This was it, this was the feeling. Struggle! The more you struggle, the more I feel the thrill of having life manipulated in my hands.

"Don't worry, Commander Kubasa."

Whether these adventurers are accomplices or not can be determined by taking them back for questioning.

What then? If they have no problems, I will naturally let them go, of course, as long as you confess.”

Kubasi glanced at Ampar, then at the Imperial cavalry that had surrounded his men, and a deep despair settled in his heart. His severely injured body could no longer sustain high-intensity combat, and he could no longer lead them to break through the encirclement again as he had during the day.

Just as Cubas gritted his teeth, deciding whether to commit suicide to save Haven and the others, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey! Sir, you don't look like a nice guy when you're smiling."

As Ampar was enjoying the thrill of Kubasi's fear, an untimely voice interrupted his pleasurable experience, and Ampar, his expression gradually stiffening, turned to look.

A thin boy was standing in front of the tent, scrutinizing him. The way he looked at him infuriated Ampar. It felt just like how Angelecas looked at him.

"Who are you? How dare you disturb the Imperial Army's operations?"

Looking at Ampar's gloomy face as he looked at him, Havent shrugged and said in a slightly flippant tone:

"Ah, sir, greetings. I am merely a passing adventurer. I wonder what brings you here, as you have suddenly surrounded my camp?"

Although I was a little surprised that the boy remained calm and composed in the face of the situation, I couldn't care less about that now. The boy had already made me extremely uncomfortable.

"Hehehe~ You? A passing adventurer?"

As he spoke, he turned and glanced at Kubasi standing beside him.

“Him! A traitor to the empire. Since he has appeared in your camp, I cannot help but suspect that you have some connection with this rebel. Come with me and prove your innocence, and I will naturally release you.”

Looking at Ampar, who was eyeing him covetously, Havent smiled calmly.

"My lord, what you say is quite amusing. In my opinion, you just want to use us to control Captain Kubasi. If a righteous and proud knight like Captain Kubasi were to bow down and submit to you, that would be a very satisfying thing for you."

Seeing Haven reveal his true thoughts, Ampar's expression instantly darkened. He stared intently at the child who exuded an aura that he found repulsive. In his heart, he decided to get rid of the child later. After all, he was just a wilderness adventurer; his death was no big deal.

"Hehehehe, Vistakya, prepare to make your move. Everyone here is a rebel; execute them all."

Upon hearing Ampar's words, Vistakya's brow twitched slightly, and he pulled the reins closer to Ampar.
"Sir, isn't this inappropriate? They look like just a group of ordinary adventurers. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to rashly kill innocent adventurers?"

Upon hearing that Vistakya actually contradicted him, Ampar suddenly turned around, glaring fiercely at Vistakya.

"Are you questioning me, Commander Vestakia? Or are you not going to carry out the orders from the military? There are no adventurers here, only Imperial rebels who broke out of Falling Moon Canyon. Your mission is to wipe them all out, do you understand?!"

Looking at the hysterical Ampar, Vistakya pursed his dry lips and remained silent. If it weren't for that accident, perhaps he would still be a knight with ideals, a sense of justice, and goals. Unfortunately, things have turned out this way, and he has no way out and no choice. He doesn't know if he, who has lost his knightly heart, will be able to go to Valhalla when he dies someday in the future.

"Stand your formation, prepare to attack! Target! All living things in the camp."

As Vistakya gave the order, the cavalrymen who had been on guard raised their weapons, and the second circling of horse archers aimed their crossbows at the few people in the camp.

Seeing the scene before him, Kubasi panicked. He had already let down his brothers who followed him, and now these two kind-hearted teenagers were going to be implicated because of him. Just as Kubasi was desperately racking his brains to figure out how to solve this predicament, Havent's lazy voice came again.

"Um, I have a question I'd like to confirm."

Ampar looked at Havent, who had raised one hand, with a gloomy expression, wanting to see what other tricks this brat was planning to play.

“Your name is Ampar, right? I won’t beat around the bush. My name is Will Hill, or you can call me Havente Hylan.”

Seeing the boy's increasingly serious expression, Ampar's heart skipped a beat when she heard that familiar name. After a second or two of hesitation, she seemed to suddenly remember something and looked at the boy standing outside the tent with a startled expression. Then, a surge of intense joy rushed to her head, and her voice trembled involuntarily due to her excitement.

"You are, you said your name is Havente Hylan?? The Hylan from the White Lion family of the North."

Looking at Ampar's flushed face, Havent couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "Fate is a really interesting thing. Some people and things always seem to meet in the end."

"Yes~ If there isn't a second White Lion in the North, then it must be true. Although I don't mind exchanging a few more pleasantries with you, it seems we are enemies, Lord Ampar."

Seeing the young man before him readily admit his identity, Amber almost cried out in excitement. In this place, he hadn't expected such an unexpected gain! Suppressing his excitement, Amber began to plan. If he could bring this heir of the Northern White Lion family back to the capital, his achievement would be phenomenal. No, no, he couldn't just leave him back with the family. That would mean he'd have nothing to do with him anymore. That bastard Angelecas would definitely snatch Haven away. He had to keep him under his control. Only in this way—no, it had to be this way—when he used this foolish Northern heir to control the Highland Territory, he would be the true heir. He, Amber, would no longer be a maid's illegitimate son.

Looking at Ampar's constantly changing expression and the disgusting smile that appeared on his face, Haven could easily guess that the other party was definitely talking nonsense about how to kidnap him and how to use him to threaten the Highland Territory in order to disrupt the entire Northern Territory.

To this, Haven could only say, "This is truly a toad lusting after a swan; they're dreaming." He wasn't some powerful figure, and Ampar wasn't some lucky Oirat. To prevent Ampar from getting carried away with his fantasies, Haven coughed twice and said again:

"Um, Ampar, control your expression. I want to ask you a few things."

This time, instead of showing impatience, Ampar, whose thoughts had been interrupted, looked at this very valuable child with a smile.

"Ah~ Of course, of course, young master Haven, I never expected to meet you here, it's such a pleasant surprise."

Beside him stood two stunned men, Kubasi and Lori. Kubasi was shocked that the one who saved him was the heir of the Northern Territory of Hyland, and that everything he had lost was due to a conspiracy against the North. The next moment, Kubasi suddenly understood why the boy had reacted so strongly to what he had just said.

Lori was surprised. He never expected that his older brother, who usually acted as he pleased but was exceptionally reliable in crucial moments and whom he admired and respected so much, was also born into nobility and was a much more prestigious earl heir than himself, an illegitimate child with an unclear identity.

"I already know part of the plan to destroy the North. What do you intend to do, Lord Ampar?"

Upon hearing Havent's words, Ampar's pupils visibly contracted. He turned to look at Kubasi, who was standing there stunned, and chuckled dryly.

"Young Master Haven, what are you saying? I don't quite understand."

Seeing that the other party didn't intend to escalate the situation and might even want to win him over peacefully, Havent shook his head. Then, a ring flashed on his hand, and a stack of papers appeared in his palm.

"The sudden attack by the Church of Death in the North was your doing, wasn't it? And Earl Levin, who was forced to stay in Fallenleaf Town due to an unexplained attack, was also arranged by you, wasn't he? What I'm curious about is, who are you working for?"

Seeing that Haven had clearly explained part of their plan, and with the paper in his hand that looked like a letter, Ampar's face turned frosty. Since this guy already knew the plan, he absolutely could not be allowed to leave this place alive.

But this thought only flashed through my mind. After all, even without these things, those guys in the North would still be suspicious. What I'm doing now is just eliminating a few obvious clues, so that those people in the North, or His Majesty, won't discover these things so quickly.

Thinking of this, Amber looked at Havent and couldn't help but laugh:

"How foolish you are. The Hylan family is truly doomed with an heir like you. It's quite a coincidence that you discovered something. In that case, Young Master Havent, come with me. Don't worry, I won't hurt you, as long as you behave."

Seeing that the other party had finally admitted it, Haven nodded in satisfaction.

"Great, then I don't need to worry that this is a misunderstanding."

Looking at Havent, who spoke strangely, Ampar was taken aback. She didn't quite understand what the heir of the Highland Territory meant by acting as if he had everyone on his side figured out.

Haven turned and looked around. The cavalry surrounding the camp numbered nearly a company (less than 200 men). Although these soldiers were also acting under orders, there's a saying that no snowflake is innocent before an avalanche. Similarly, even if we don't want to be enemies, at this time and place, it's a matter of life and death.

"Serena~ Wake up, it's time to get to work."

As Havent called softly into the tent, a silver-haired girl who looked like she hadn't woken up yet rubbed her eyes and came out, looking at Havent with a blank expression.

Haven reached out and smoothed the girl's slightly messy long hair, looking into her pale purple eyes as he said:

"I'm in some trouble. These people are all my enemies. Can you help me eliminate them?"

After a few seconds, the girl's adorable, rosy-cheeked look from just waking up disappeared, and she reverted to her usual aloof demeanor, turning to look at the Imperial cavalry that Havent was pointing at.

"Sure, Will, did they bully you?"

Seeing the murderous intent in the girl's eyes, Haven reached out and ruffled her hair.

"No, we simply have different ideologies. In the words of Count Mori, they want what we have, but we don't want to give it to them, so we are enemies now, it's that simple."

The silver-haired girl nodded silently after hearing Haven's words. Serena didn't care about what Will said, but Will was unhappy, and Serena cared a lot.

Thinking of this, the silver-haired girl slowly floated up, and a powerful magic surged from her body. The potential energy generated by the magic formed a gale that pressed the withered weeds tightly to the ground.

On the other side, Ampar, whose clothes were rattling from the violent magic, stared in shock at the silver-haired girl floating in mid-air, radiating a dazzling magical aura.

As someone who was just one level away from becoming a mid-level mage, he naturally knew just how terrifying Serena's strength was—it was simply terrifying.

Ampar screamed in alarm as she realized what was happening.

“Vestakya, Vestakya. I command you to attack these traitors immediately.”

The silver-haired girl Vestakia, whose body was now surrounded by a torrent of magical energy, also had a bitter expression on her face.

As a legion commander himself, he naturally understood the terrifying nature of the girl before him. After all, she was a legion battle mage he had only met a few times. Even Lord Sathorvor hadn't unleashed such intense magical pressure during the previous battle to exterminate the kobold tribe.

Lord Sassolor's strength is already at the level of a mage, and the aura emanating from this silver-haired girl is dozens of times stronger than that of Lord Sassolor.

However, things have come to this point, and there's no point in thinking about anything else. Even if our side wanted to retreat now and pretend that this never happened, it's probably too late.

Vestakia glanced around at his men, seeing the terror in their eyes, and could only silently pray to Hyronis, hoping that the god he had worshipped for most of his life would protect him at this moment.

"All soldiers, listen to my command and prepare to attack."

As an ordinary heavy cavalry unit of the Empire, the vast majority of soldiers in the unit have not yet reached the professional level. In his current squad, there are only about thirty people with low-level strength, five or six people with mid-level strength, and only himself with high-level strength.

The next moment, the torrent of magic that erupted from Serena's center fully demonstrated to Starkia that in the face of overwhelming power, any strategy based on numerical superiority is meaningless.

Like an atomic bomb exploding, a strong, suffocating, and oppressive gust of air directly knocked the cavalrymen who were charging forward with their weapons to the ground.

Floating in mid-air, Serena was like a Valkyrie, powerful and beautiful. Her beautiful purple eyes turned cold as she looked down at the fallen cavalrymen below as if they were ants.

The wind was so noisy that it reminded Vistakia of that afternoon five years ago, when he was sitting in his tent writing a battle report after completing a campaign to wipe out bandits.

At that moment, one of his personal guards came in and handed a letter to Vestakia.

His mother was ill, very ill, and Vistakya, who had just become the cavalry captain, was unable to save her.

Later, a captain named Abe gave her his military pay, and her mother lived for two more years, even though she later did many things she didn't want to do in order to repay Captain Abe's kindness.

But the thought of his mother being able to stay with him for two more years made the code of chivalry seem less important.

That's fine, this ending is good enough. I wonder if Hyronis will forgive himself.

Lying on the ground, Vistakya quietly watched Serena shoot out countless beams of light, no longer struggling, his heart finally calming down at this moment.

As the beam of light drew ever closer, he calmly closed his eyes.

"Mom, your confused son is coming back to your arms."

(End of this chapter)