Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 44: Crow VS Troturre 1

Chapter 44 - Crow VS Troturre 1

Ah, shit. Here we go again.

Rushing down the stairs, I raised my torch high to pretend that I cared.

Garrison soldiers in full plate armor from the gate dashed toward my stairs and shoved me aside. One of them yelled at me.

"MOVE!"

Because of my injured legs, I fell on my butt. I pushed myself back up and watched the crowd of men running around like headless chickens.

I pretended to be one of the confused soldiers, but I dashed toward the drawbridge gate.

Since this gate was the main logistical pathway to the outside town, it was currently open. By default, the bridge remained lowered.

However, heading out with a torch might have looked suspicious. I threw the torch aside and slipped out, sprinting with my life depending on it.

The southern moat was wider than the rest because of the water reservoir of the logistic hub "Detrain Town." It would take a while to cross it.

I looked back at the walls. Torchlights brightened the rampart, but they didn’t even pay attention outside. It was unclear whether their confidence was due to the fortress’s altitude, or if they were just conceited.

At a distance, Cow-Cow glided in the sky and crossed the moat. He disappeared into the woods.

Well, see you later. I was confident that wouldn’t be the last time we met.

I turned around. As I looked ahead, there was the figure of a knight standing at the end of the bridge. Behind him was a platoon of a hundred soldiers.

Troturre was standing there with a smirk on his face.

Since when had he and his troops been there?

"Where do you think you’re going, dung knight?"

Oh dear. I had been had. Now, I guessed he hadn’t blasted through the castle walls to chase me for a reason. This cunning fox had it prepared.

Still, he made a mistake.

Against AOE-Debuffer-Tank pseudo-Thor Zoli, I would have run 100 times out of 10. Against Troturre in an enclosed space, in a narrow corridor, in a room, or behind the walls, I would have surrendered without hesitation.

However, facing Troturre in an open field was another ball game. A wind user like him was only good in crowd combat. In 1v1 battles, he lacked the DPS or threatening techniques. He was essentially asking for a surprise cavity search.

I let out a long sigh and raised my hands as though I was surrendering, yet I walked closer to Troturre.

"Is attacking your guests during the night standard in your army?"

"Heh! I’m the owner of the castle! I have the authority to arrest criminal scum like you!"

I had the urge to retort that I had done nothing wrong, but he would have framed me regardless. Since debating wouldn’t work against the ambitious idiot, I coughed and changed my tone.

"I’m surrendering. So? What is it you needed?"

Troturre laughed. "Kneel and confess! Are you working for Zoli?!"

"Nah, I was born in Frogine. I’m working for Louis Zen. Are you sure you want to cross him?"

That was total bullshit, by the way, but at least I could extend our conversation a little longer.

My broken ankle still throbbed, but I walked toward Troturre. The archers behind him also glared back at me with their bows fully drawn.

"So, you are an Invidia spy!" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Troturre bought it. Now, just a little more, and he would regret his life. I walked five more steps.

"Now that you know I am working for Supreme General Zen himself, you should know that my soul has been engraved with his seal. If I died here, he wouldn’t let you roam free even if you surrendered to him later."

"Hah! That is the lousiest threat I have heard! Do you think he cares for a level 2 weakling?! He has a thousand level 4 and 5 knights under his command, not counting those level 7 monsters!"

I measured our distance. We were twenty meters apart, but the archers were about ten meters behind him. They weren’t within my attack range yet. I kept walking closer with my hands raised, but my dragon seal inside my cloth was pulsing, reacting to my thoughts.

I could feel its energy within. It was almost time.

I inhaled deeply and taunted him. "Use your head, General. Compared to the flame type, how many wind-type musou knights exist on the continent? I’m curious, what’s your theory on how my master, who originated from a common background, achieved his esteemed position?"

Troturre paused. His eyes narrowed. "He is a fire type like you."

"Answering your question earlier... I am still young, yet I have reached level 2 on my own. You are beyond your 60s, yet you are still stuck at level 4. Comparing our prospects, I think he values a young fire knight more than a backstabbing geezer who can be easily replaced."

I walked five more steps and laughed in his face.

"So, do you believe he cares about you, General?"

Troturre stood still. His face appeared blank in the faint glow of the torch.

I lowered my arms and walked a few more steps. I was about ten meters away from him.

The eyes of Troturre flickered for a moment. His tone shifted.

"How about we work together? I’ll give you Constantia!"

I almost laughed. This fox was actually trying to jump ship.

Thank you, Lord "Lv Bu." Your reputation was very useful.

"What do you want in return, General?" I asked.

"The key to the Constantia Royal Mausoleum!"

He referred to Lenitia’s blood, which was the key to unlocking the royal tomb in the capital city. Though Troturre didn’t specify why he wanted the key, I knew he coveted the Garuda’s heart blood, the elixir that allowed any wind-type musou knights to skip levels to 7.

However, that elixir was reserved for Lenitia. Those without the Garuda bloodline would die after consuming it.

I shrugged and asked him, "Is that all?"

Troturre smirked. "Second condition, I want the princess. It’s a shame to get rid of such a gorgeous sow. It’s only fair that she should serve me in my bed!"

Damn pedo. He sickened me.

"And I also want her attendant. That woman has the perfect body for sex. You were with them. You agree, right?"

Although I didn’t prefer silicone-like women with exaggerated bust sizes, I could still lose it when people disrespected my partners. You crossed the line, buddy.

Five meters.

He was within range.

I had played enough.

I didn’t need superficial movements since Troturre’s stats were superior to mine. The only way to win was musou-spamming.

I drew my sword and slashed Troturre’s throat. Both my sword and Troturre were set ablaze.