Leading the Charge

Within the contents of the parchment, I discovered that I would be entrusted with the command of a hundred knights, going to a dungeon known as Veil.

Among the three dungeons present in our county, Thron, Web, and Veil, the latter is considered the smallest. In Edren, we have the liberty to name our dungeons, in contrast to the Empire's distinct nomenclature system.

Under the Empire's classification, Veil would bear the name EdDun-C, wherein the suffix 'C' signifies its rank, determined by the adventure guild. Ranging from F as the lowest to S as the highest, this ranking system evaluates the danger posed by the dungeons.

While Veil may be classified as a C rank dungeon, its strength in the context of Edren should not be underestimated.

It appears that they are intentionally dispatching me and the knights on a potentially suicidal mission. However, their plans may be thwarted, for with my mastery of the Wyrmheart Stance and the millennia of experience bestowed upon me by Galadriel, I possess the means to vanquish the dungeon's monsters without the need for deploying magic.

"Monsters of higher ranks, such as D rank and C rank, are likely to possess valuable mana cores. By collecting these cores, I can amass a considerable sum of money and ultimately break free from this accursed family. Besides, the entrance examination for knights in the Empire is scheduled to take place in a few days," I pondered, contemplating my impending escape.

Clad in a new attire, I made my way to the barracks, donning a sturdy pair of pants fastened with a belt adorned with an additional scabbard to house my longsword.

Over my form-fitting shirt, I wore a leather armour crafted from the hide of Ninebull, a formidable creature known for its defence. While this armour provided minimal protection in combat, I deemed it necessary to avoid appearing overly arrogant in the presence of the knights.

Maintaining a balanced demeanour was crucial, for the knights had already gathered a sense of apprehension, well aware of the impending events. In the realm of warfare, knights often served as mere sacrificial pawns, thrust into the frontlines.

Approaching the barracks, I handed the parchment to the official in charge. Their incredulous reaction was unmistakable as they stammered, "O-only one hundred?!" Pity and shock etched across their countenance, reflecting the daunting nature of the task at hand. "Please wait, I will inform them to prepare," the official hastily assured, scurrying off to relay the message.

In due time, the assembled knights joined our ranks, and we commenced our march towards Veil, the accursed dungeon.

The legs of the knights quivered, sweat glistening upon their brows. They were all too aware that this undertaking bordered on a suicide mission.

How could a mere hundred knights withstand the onslaught of a beast tide originating from a C rank dungeon?

As we arrived at Veil, a sight greeted us—several adventurers locked in combat with a few beasts near the dungeon's entrance. Their wearied gazes lit up with hope upon spotting our arrival. "Reinforcements! Reinforcements have come!" they cried out, their voices carrying a mix of relief and urgency.

"Assist them," I commanded the knights, and a select few hastened to aid the adventurers in dispatching the beasts swiftly. Once the immediate threat was neutralized, I approached some of the adventurers to inquire about the situation. "What is the current situation?" I queried.

"These are but the first waves of beasts emerging from the dungeon. We were engaged in battle, but it seems that a few managed to slip away and head towards the village," one of the adventurers reported.

"We shall handle the situation here. You, on the other hand, must pursue the escaped beasts," I instructed the adventurers, as they promptly set off on their assigned task. Turning my attention back to the knights, who awaited further orders, I outlined our strategy. "We must lure the beasts out of the dungeon. Engaging them from within would prove arduous and disadvantageous. Knights, form a defensive formation, with me positioned at the forefront. Create a barrier near the dungeon entrance."

Initially, the knights expressed hesitance, voicing concerns about my safety. Nonetheless, their obedience prevailed, and they adhered to my instructions. "You two," I singled out two knights, "your responsibility will be to clear the area and remove the fallen adversaries. Ensure that you extract the mana cores from their bodies."

At first, the knights regarded my words as jest, but my unwavering gaze dispelled any notions of levity. The seriousness of my intentions became unmistakable. "You aim to earn a profit amidst this suicide mission," their expressions seemed to convey.

With the formation now established, I stood facing the gate of Veil. Flanking me on either side were knights, forming a protective wall. Their role was twofold: prevent any escaping beasts from fleeing and direct them towards me. Amidst murmurs and whispers among the knights, I quelled their chatter with a surge of mana. "Begin," I commanded the knights stationed near the gate, urging them to infuse mana into an explosive bead and hurl it into the entrance. A resounding explosion ensued, followed by the resonant roars of the unleashed beasts.

The object employed was known as the explosion bead—a seemingly innocuous object empowered by the infusion of mana.