Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 18: Interlude - Lia, the Unsung Heroine

Chapter 18 - Interlude - Lia, the Unsung Heroine

Lia never trusted Crow. His strange crows around him made her uneasy.

When Lenitia ran into Crow for the second time, Lia sensed something amiss. His sudden rise from level 1 to level 2 in just a few days only deepened her suspicion. No commoner could achieve that without guidance or a proper cultivation method.

She suspected he was an Invidia spy, and she hated that Lenitia interacted too much with him.

That night, as they shared a tent, Lenitia finally asked for Lia’s opinion.

"What do you think of him?"

"He’s either a spy or a liar. We should deal with him now."

Lenitia admitted, "He’s untrustworthy, but he might still be useful."

"Useful? How?"

"His cart. Did you notice it?"

"...Oh."

Crow’s belongings were peculiar. Pots and jars could fetch a high price, but they were also easy targets for thieves.

Lenitia explained. "I had my men inspect them. Most are empty. One hides a mutated crow. The rest are food and wine."

"That’s... too ordinary. A level 2 knight should carry elixirs or a weapon suited to his element. He has nothing."

Lenitia shrugged. "It’s fifty-fifty. Either a rare genius—or an elite spy. For now, I’ll keep him as insurance."

"Insurance?"

Lia tilted her head as she realized her master’s intent. "You’re worried about the rumor, aren’t you?"

The rumor was troubling. Choi Fraus, King of Avaritia, had failed his breakthrough to level 7. His power had fallen to level 5, leaving him bedridden. In his absence, General Zoli Diripio seized control of the country. Lia’s father had warned her to avoid the man because his motives were unpredictable.

Lenitia asked, "If Choi Fraus dies, who will be the next king?"

"His eldest son, Cash Fraus. Level 2. Incompetent... and a womanizer."

Lenitia groaned. "So if the king dies, I’ll be forced to marry his debauched son. Excellent."

"..."

"Anyway, if we encounter Choi Fraus, we’ll hand Crow over as a supposed Invidia spy. That should earn us safe passage."

Lia nodded. It was the best plan they had.

.

The next day, they learned Studium had died in the cave. Lia suspected Crow had killed him to erase loose ends. She kept her distance, watching him in secret.

After burying the body, they continued their journey to Avaritia. However, Crow’s choices grew stranger. He insisted on taking a detour and chose a rough road instead of the main road. Crow ended up exhausting himself because of his cart.

That night, Lenitia’s patience ran out. She asked Crow for a jar as an excuse and bait, then pulled Lia aside. They discussed quietly.

Lenitia muttered. "I think he’s leading us into an ambush. Maybe a deserter turned bandit."

"That’s what I thought. Should I kill him tonight?"

"Yes. That would be best."

"Alright. I’ll silence him in his sleep."

Lia smirked. Lenitia sighed as she was tired of pretending to be friendly.

But before they could return, five soldiers surrounded them with torches and drawn weapons.

"Your Highness, please follow us quietly. It’s dangerous at night."

Lia’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t recognize their faces.

They weren’t escorts. They were impostors.

"Who are you?!" she unsheathed her sword.

One tossed a bag at their feet. It burst, releasing black dust.

Lia roared, channeling her Musou energy. Against five ordinary soldiers, she could have crushed them easily. But as the dust filled her lungs, her wind aura fizzled. Her stomach churned, her gums bled, and she spat blood.

"Gu poison?! You’re Avaritia spies!"

Lenitia held her breath. However, without air, her energy faltered. Her vision blurred, and her eyes were burned.

One of the men laughed. "Not quite. But if you want to live, come quietly. Our lord has been eager to taste you."

"Bastard!"

Lia enchanted daggers with wind musou. Her daggers flew, slicing through the smoke and into the men’s skulls. All five men fell, but more soldiers emerged.

Two hundred men in Avaritia’s yellow uniforms surrounded them. Five were level 3 Musou knights.

A knight raised his spear. "Lenitia Constantia, by order of Lord Zoli Diripio, you will come with us, or everyone dies."

Lenitia gasped. "What?! Hold on! We’re emissaries of Constantia! We came in peace! Why are you doing this?!"

"For your safety, of course."

A thunderous boom echoed. In the distance, an army charged into Lenitia’s escort, and the massacre began.

Despite the poison, Lia forced her musou energy to surge. She leapt from the smoke, and her blades flashed.

"We’re breaking through! Follow me!" Lia shouted.

Lenitia bit her lip and obeyed. The battle erupted.

Torches flared, and shadows danced. The clash of steel rang out as Avaritia’s men crossed blades with Lia.

Lia’s breath was ragged as the poison was still in her veins, yet her mind fueled her body, disregarding the pain. She raised her short sword, cutting down 20 men in succession.

Lenitia drew her blade and picked off regular soldiers, whom Lia failed to deal the finishing blow.

Five Musou knights advanced and blocked their escape route. Five more knights, leading another 100-man unit, chased after them. Their yellow armor gleamed under the torchlight. Behind them, regular soldiers tightened the encirclement.

A brave militiaman lunged at Lia, but she sidestepped and beheaded him in one swing. Wind energy burst from her strike, sending his body crashing into two more. Lenitia’s sword swept, and her musou blade cut through regular soldiers’ shields as if they were paper. 30 men perished instantly.

But the knights were not stupid. They kept their distance, sending regular soldiers to tire them. While hiding among the crowd, they taunted the women.

"Give up! You won’t last!"

Lenitia’s eyes narrowed. "Silence!"

One knight sneered and channeled his Musou power into his spear. The spear turned purple as it was enchanted by earth-element poison. After a windup, he threw the spear at Lenitia.

Lenitia roared and parried the incoming spear with her sword. But as her blade contacted the spear, another purple mist erupted. More poisonous smoke got into her eyes and nose.

"Your Highness!"

Although Lia was poisoned, her movements got sharper as though she was fueled by fury and willpower. Every swing generated a wind aura blade, cutting down dozens of men in her path. She then pulled Lenitia from the purple smoke.

Lenitia shut her eyes, but she didn’t panic. She parried another arrow shot by one of the knights. As poison streamed down her face, her intuition heightened. She pinpointed the weakness in the enemy’s formation.

Still, the enemy pressed harder. Lia staggered, and her knees faltered. A knight slammed into her, knocking her back. He got on top of her and pried her breastplate.

"Lia!"

Sensing danger, Lenitia shouted and sent a wind blade at the knight. However, three knights covered the person’s back and blocked the attack with their shields.

Lia roared, summoning the last of her strength. A whirlwind burst from her body, scattering the remaining knights into the sky. They were hurled into the darkness.

The tornado swept through the common soldiers, opening a path.

Lenitia opened her bleeding eyes and stayed in the eye of the storm. When the tornado vanished, she rushed to Lia’s side.

"Stay with me, Lia!"

Lia got up, but she collapsed to one knee, gasping for air. Her musou was nearly gone.

They didn’t linger. Reinforcements were already approaching from the northeast. With no time to rest, the two heroines fled south into the night.

They looked north. Somehow, another chaos broke out there as torches and noises moved away from them as though they were pursuing someone.