Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 39: Cliché General

Chapter 39 - Cliché General

Today’s journey was slightly awkward. Lenitia avoided meeting my eyes while Lia’s daring hands were even more touchy and clingy. We remained quiet throughout the entire morning.

We didn’t need an afternoon break as we arrived at Constantia’s pride fortress city, Garuda Stand. Its stone walls stood 20 meters high, each wall 50 meters thick. Surrounding the hexagon-shaped fort was a formation of water moats, external ballista towers, and spike fences.

I remembered in the game: the war spilled over to this fortress after Choi Fraus’s death. Lenitia and Lia were dispatched here along with other game characters to repel Zoli’s onslaught.

In addition, behind the fortress walls was a prestigious knight academy, where musou knights were cultivated. Lenitia and Lia were its alumni. Although Constantia’s resources were lacking, it was still a good starting school for custom characters in the game.

Lia and I got off the horse as soon as we arrived in front of the drawbridge. Lenitia, remaining on the horse, shouted at the sentry soldier on the walls.

"I’m Lenitia Constantia! Lower the bridge and let me in!"

Minutes later, the drawbridge was lowered. A platoon of horsemen rushed out and stopped in front of us. Everybody jumped down from their horses and knelt.

The leading knight took off his helmet, revealing his scarred face, white hair, and full beard.

I remembered him. Troturre Fox, one of the two great generals of Avaritia despite being only a level 4 musou knight. He was a rotten bastard who secretly worked for Choi Fraus, and he was the one who coerced Lenitia’s father to send her to Avaritia.

However, I bet he hadn’t foreseen Zoli’s betrayal. What comes around goes around. Betrayer versus betrayer.

But what should I do against Zoli? He started off as a level 5 musou knight. It would take a while before I could up with his strength. For now, I would just play along with the storyline and pit Troturre against Zoli, which was why I had told nothing to Lia or Lenitia.

"Praise the forefather! Welcome back, Your Highness!"

Lenitia assumed the demeanor of a royal member. She declared.

"Avaritia has betrayed us. He set an ambush and attacked me and my escort knights! Some of his spies within our ranks also attacked me and my personal retainer!"

Troturre’s expression turned ugly.

"W-What?! T-That’s impossible!"

"Do you take me for a liar, General?"

"...No, Your Highness."

"Then, you’d better be grateful to the brave young man behind us. He’s the one who rescued me from those vile traitors and brought us home."

Lenitia exaggerated her gesture and pointed at my face. All eyes turned to me.

Oh, dear princess. Did you hold a grudge against me or something? Why were you dragging me into your political world?

I looked at the general, and we locked eyes.

Troturre was a bad poker player for sure. His expression revealed all his negative emotions and hatred toward me. What a typical villain.

"And who might this bas...this person be?" Troturre asked. His killing intent locked onto me. Man, he was terrible at hiding his emotions.

"Crow." I introduced myself.

"Just Crow? No surname?"

I smirked and taunted him with my last night’s nickname.

"Crow from the Threeleg family of Florida Village!"

Ahem. I might not have looked like it, but I was somewhat of a Florida man myself.

Lia, on the other hand, turned away from the crowd and coughed. She was red to the ears. Woman, I knew you were laughing. Mind your manners, you fake-boob pony... I mean, woman.

Lenitia also covered her mouth while her cheeks reddened. Surely, she had witnessed or heard our little roleplay.

Anyway, I thought my introduction was fine. Every knight gazed at my pants in awe and admiration, probably. Even if their faces were covered behind helmet visors, I knew they were smiling and smirking.

Only Troturre stared at me in ridicule.

"I’ve never heard of that village and surname. You must be a self-proclaimed knight or a low-born noble."

I shrugged and chose not to argue with this corny geezer.

In this world, commoners couldn’t practice martial arts or know a cultivation method. Only a few chosen ones could sense and use musou energy. Level 1 was the best rank they could attain unless they were main characters.

As for me, an accidental level 2 musou knight, I was considered a noble by default.

Lenitia changed the topic. "Help us settle down. We have traveled a long way. I need to write a report to my father and discuss our next moves with the ministers."

I almost forgot about this as well. Constantia was a poor country. Though they had inherited a great fortress from their ancestors, they lacked the manpower and resources to maintain it forever.

If I remembered correctly, according to the story right now, Constantia was facing a drought season, and the king had pardoned his people’s taxes. This led to the dissatisfaction of the aristocrats, who commonly embezzled local taxes. It was not strange that Lenitia got thrown away so easily.

I glanced at the moat. The water was still full to the brim.

The knights behind Troturre were wearing fur coats and silk capes. Their weapons and equipment were without a single scratch. A few of their breastplates featured gold emblems as decoration.

A drought season? Poor? Yeah, right.

The corners of my eyes fixated on Troturre. Cliché bastards. All the money and water were allocated to him and his buddies, no doubt.

Since there was nothing I could do, I kept my mouth shut and watched the show.

The knights stood up and opened a path for us to enter the fortress. Lia and I followed Lenitia.

Behind the fortress walls were multiple barracks and gathering areas for knights and soldiers. However, most were empty, leaving only a military camp with a black lion banner, which belonged to Troturre’s unit.

I saw a wall of crates—beautiful crates. Some earth jars lined up in rows and columns. Tall vases mixed in, gleaming under the sunlight. Weapon and armor racks were arranged around an empty square where knights could duel each other.

I almost drooled at the sight. That area was a loot goblin’s heaven.

I’d be back, soon. AW BE BHACK!!

With difficulty, I averted my eyes from the farming area and followed Lenitia to the citadel palace, where her true residence was located.