Chapter 122: Chapter 122

Chapter 122 - Blitzkrieg on a Train (4)

The two boys with drawn swords, and the rebels armed with various weapons.

In that standoff, Vargas slowly spoke.

"Drop your weapons and surrender. I swear I won't let any harm come to you."

It was an offer he had also made to the Princess's knight earlier, but this offer carried a different emotion.

And that emotion was pity for the boys.

Pity for the boys who were forced onto the battlefield at such a young age.

And the desire not to stain his hands with their blood was the reason.

However, in contrast to the old man's outstretched hand of compassion...

The black-haired boy, who had a darker impression among the two, immediately and firmly rejected the offer as soon as he heard it.

The blonde boy, with a more lively impression, remained silent.

Vargas couldn't understand. Why would that boy so fruitlessly risk his life?

"Think rationally. I won't bother to talk about the obvious disparity in strength. If you surrender, I swear again that you won't suffer any unfair treatment."

Vargas repeated what he had said earlier in a subdued voice.

The boy Vargas looked at seemed terrified. At least, that's what he thought.

He looked like a hedgehog raising its quills, afraid that the enemies would harm him.

However, the boy replied.

"Can you guarantee that this assurance of safety will remain firm even after we leave this train?"

After leaving this train, even if their fate were to be handed over to others – Vargas's superiors or liege – could their safety be guaranteed?

And at those words, Vargas could only fall silent.

The operational situation within the train was Vargas's purview, but the treatment of the hostages afterward rested solely with his superior – the leader of the Hardline Faction.

And recalling the state of the one who ordered this, and considering the Hardline Faction's radicalism, he could not assert that no harm would come to them.

As the old man's silence lingered, the boy aimed his sword. The blonde boy standing beside him did the same.

"...So it comes to this."

Vargas murmured, as if in a sigh.

He, too, knew inwardly that the offer of surrender was nothing more than a sweet lie.

The previous persuasion was merely his own weakness, turning a blind eye because he didn't want to stain his hands with the boy's blood.

Even after repeatedly engaging in actions without a grand cause or righteous purpose, a lingering attachment remained.

To that 'righteousness.'

And the boy clearly saw through that lie.

'...He wasn't terrified after all.'

The boy saw through him. Not as someone to be feared, but as an enemy to be fought on equal terms.

"...I respect that fighting spirit. Boys."

Vargas slowly took his stance, aiming his spear.

"Before we clash, I'd like to ask your names."

It was a habit from his days as a knight.

Now, there was no reason or meaning to ask it, but old habits die hard.

And to that question, the boys replied.

"Elwin Van Cardenas."

The answers came with resolute eyes.

Immediately after those answers echoed in the silent train.

Even amidst that chaotic combat situation, I thought.

'It's at least fortunate that the enemy isn't using or threatening the hostages.'

I had secretly considered such a worst-case scenario. If the rebels were capable of attacking a train, their hatred for nobles would have reached its peak, so I even thought it would be strange if they didn't do that.

'Fortunately... that guy who seems to be the captain seems to have his head screwed on straight.'

The fact that he offered a surrender rather than blindly attacking us, who clearly showed hostility, indicated that.

I don't know if it's right to say this about a train terrorist, but I guessed he understood the 'line' that a person should not cross. Follow current novels on ⓝovelFire.net

Well, no matter what kind of person he was, he was an enemy I had to fight now.

Anyway, right after organizing my thoughts, there was one more thing I had to pay attention to.

[System: Checkpoint has been updated!]

Yes, it was that notification.

I inwardly scowled. I had thought of trying it once, and if it didn't work, I'd regress and find another method, but for a checkpoint to be set so overtly...

[System: Due to the collapse of the Origin's balance, checkpoints will be further subdivided.]

[System: Be aware that a single mistake can lead to irreversible consequences.]

Was that what it meant last time?

Still, it was fortunate that it was set in this kind of situation.

If I had realized this change in a truly desperate situation... I wouldn't have had time to react, but fortunately, now there was some room for countermeasure.

'But it's still just as disadvantageous.'

The numerical disadvantage was self-evident, and even the old man with the spear in front of me possessed an aura beyond imagination.

A clearly disadvantageous situation.

However, the situation wasn't that bad.

Just before the battle began, I whispered to Elwin.

"Elwin, please take on that old man who seems to be the enemy commander. I'll take care of the surroundings."

Leaving the old man, who was clearly radiating considerable killing intent, to Elwin, I would deal with the other intruders.

'In the past, I, who was weak against multiple opponents, would have taken on the enemy commander, but...'

At this point, Elwin was hesitant in actual combat, and now I could handle multiple opponents.

'The important thing is to keep looking for opportunities to target the enemy commander while dealing with the others.'

And so, in the midst of the battle, I focused first on assessing the enemy's level.

Because if it turned out that I was insufficient, I would have to fight with regression as a premise.

And the judgment I made was.

'The guys other than the enemy commander are manageable.'

That was my conclusion. Except for the one who seemed to be the enemy leader, the others were somewhat manageable.

The only problem was...

The sound of sword clashing with sword.

I parried the sword of the guy who had rushed at me first, then gasped for breath.

Yes, the problem was my stamina. My already poor stamina had been depleted due to the continuous battles earlier.

'This damned stamina is finally holding me back.'

The question of why my strength and stamina weren't growing once again crossed my mind, but that wasn't important now.

I parried the sword of the enemy I had just engaged with, then quickly bent my body down and rushed forward.

I cut the Achilles tendon of his ankle.

At least he wouldn't be able to move during this battle.

As you could see from these movements, I wasn't completely exhausted.

I just couldn't perform at my full potential. But that was enough. Judging by the enemy's level, it would be a close fight, but I wouldn't be overwhelmed.

And I was confident in sustaining this kind of situation.

In the tense combat situation, I quickly rolled my eyes to look at the scene where Elwin and the enemy commander were clashing.

A dull sound, almost entirely different from the sound I had just made clashing with the enemy I was fighting.

It was hard to believe it was the sound of blades meeting.

Judging from such a tumultuous sound and Elwin's strained expression... the enemy commander's level was considerable. Of course, fatigue from continuous battles also played a part.

Whatever the factors, the fact that even Elwin was struggling meant it was correct to view him as being at a considerably high level among knights.

'He's not comparable to First Astros like Gabriel, and he's a step below, but since his objective is a direct confrontation, he might be even more troublesome.'

That was the final assessment.

However, conversely, it also meant that Elwin, even as an academy student at this point, possessed combat prowess comparable to renowned high-ranking knights.

Elwin fluidly brought his sword down from where the spear was struck, then naturally deflected the ensuing dull blow.

Taking advantage of the gap when the enemy's spear was thrust down, he even attempted to penetrate inside and attack.

Although the attack missed by a hair's breadth due to the enemy commander twisting his body, the old man seemed to be in awe of that strike.

An unfamiliar actual combat situation. The disadvantage of already having expended considerable combat power.

But it was precisely the flashes of brilliance shown under such adverse conditions that made him a protagonist of .

'Overall, it's a stalemate?'

That was the conclusion I reached after surveying the entire battle situation.

The battle was evenly matched. The scales were not perfectly tipped in either direction.

Normally, in such a situation, I would have repeatedly faced death until I found the key to victory.

And it was also true that this was my greatest combat strength.

However, I looked back at the current situation and thought.

'I won't fight on the premise of regression.'

Lately, I had started using the regression ability of 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』 completely like a tool.

Thinking back to when I first experienced regression and feared the pain of those countless deaths... it was a world-changing experience.

I hadn't completely adapted to it, and I could endure it because I saw the possibility of victory, but anyway.

If I had presupposed regression, I would have probably aimed to increase the win rate for the next round rather than aiming for victory in this battle immediately.

Because even if I won, taking a fatal blow would mean nothing to me.

But this time, I made a different decision.

And that decision was based on the last lecture I received from Acaite, just before leaving for the Railroad Mysterium.