Thanks to Iris and Luka's talk, the two decided ultimately to send only half the current knights to the wall, while the rest would follow him on a different task. Iris asked if he would join her on the main assault, but he smiled and said.
"Someone has to make the explosive distraction, haha."
"You... You really change greatly depending on the stance of the opponent!"
"Don't you prefer it this way?" He smirked at her playful attitude. After she tried to turn the tables on him with the engagement, their initial fierce atmosphere became harmonious, flowing like a stream.
"W-Well, it's not bad, but you can still improve!"
"Heh, I don't think I can change that much, keep dreaming. Dwarf Princess."
"It's Iris!"
"Yeah, yeah, go and get some sleep.
The attack will take place tomorrow night, you'll have a long day ahead of you."
She placed both hands on her hips, swaying them while acting annoyed with his playful dismissal of her concern. Despite this, Iris didn't complain; she instead watched him with her huge green eyes and asked with a mumble.
"You're going to do something dangerous again, aren't you?"
Luka reached out and stroked her curly orange hair, running his fingers through the silky strands with a soft smile.
"Well, you forced my hand, and now I have too many important things to protect."
"Mhm, I cannot thank you enough, Lord Luka."
"Just drop the lord, you're already higher than me, let's keep things comfortable."
"Then, don't call me princess and just call me Iris, okay?"
"Yeah~ now go to bed, Brea seems a little tired, but I wanted to borrow her for a little while."
Upon hearing his words, the muscular woman slammed against the table and pointed at him, "Never, how can I leave the princess without a guardian?!"
"Just have Galatea protect her, she's a woman, so there won't be any chastity issues, right?"
"Ueeeeh, Galatea?" Iris pushed out her little pink tongue, clearly disliking the idea, but soon fixed her expression and peered up at him with inquisitive emerald eyes. "Do you absolutely need Brea tonight?"
'Ah, what is this different Iris?! She's never been so cute or soft!'
Luka felt someone had replaced Iris, the destroyed, with a cute little orange rabbit.
He spread his arms and circled the lovely princess.
Then spoke with a dramatic flair.
"I do, tonight I will head into the forest and hunt dozens of goblins to grow stronger, for a mere lord to become a princess's spouse, I must be excellent not just in looks and virility, but also in ability and strength!"
"Oh, give over, my dear Fiancé. I know you're going to do something stupid and rely on her to keep you safe, huff~ well." She shuffled closer to him and handed a small hair tie to him with slightly pink cheeks. "Don't get hurt, okay?"
"I promise to keep myself and Brea safe.
We'll be taking someone to take the blows for us after all."
Iris raised her brows but remained silent, skipping to the exit while holding a heavy axe that came from nowhere. When she reached the tent's exit, she peeked back at him with a cute smile and said. "Luka, I understand you enjoy women greatly. But please don't forget me or our promise. Okay? Even if that woman is Brea."
Thunk!
She swung the axe at a bag of oddly shaped sausage meat and cleaved it in half. Her lips tugged upward, sneering at Luka as she flung the heavy axe over her petite shoulder and vanished into the night.
Luka stared into space as she vanished.
He remained motionless as both Gerard and Vaun watched him with dead fish eyes.
'The girl isn't an innocent rabbit, she's a vicious wererabbit!'
Bang!
Luka sat down, his back dripping with cold sweat.
After countless years as an Angel, he'd never faced an Iris so terrifying.
'So she noticed...'
Thanks to her threat, though, Luka could change his focus from the swollen sausage meat in his pants to the lump of grey flesh in his head.
"Vaun, Gerard, what do you think about our plans?"
The old knight yawned while sipping from his second stein of warm ale, while Vaun, an elf, could remain awake for days without issue.
'His preppy aura is irritating me.'
"First, I would like to remind you, for the fourth time, MY LORD. You already have a Fiancée, the daughter of Duke Aldebaron of the neighbouring territory!"
The wrinkles of Gerard's forehead seemed to have multiplied several times since the conversation in this tent started as he spoke with a feeble voice.
"Ah, well... one or two extra women isn't an issue for me."
"It's an issue for Lady Aldebaron!"
'Ah, I never expected Gerard to be so aggressive and clingy to this subject.'
Luka slammed his feet back onto the table and pushed himself back, rocking on his stool with crossed arms.
"Listen, Gerard, I do not plan to succumb to the laws or stupid ideals of my father or the nobles of this land. Should I deem the Lady of Aldebaron worth my time and a positive gain for Babylon's growth or existence? Then I shall make her my woman and let her follow me. If not, then she can rot in eternal darkness."
"B-But My Lord..."
"Gerard, there is no time to be fixated on stupid things when the world is about to collapse."
"Ahem! If the princess heard this, she might flip out." Brea, sitting beside him, joined in the conversation with a quiet voice.
"Anyway, forget it. Right now, we focus on the goblins! I plan to send a detached force around the ridge, here."
Luka tapped the map and pointed out one of the few areas where Amol Village suffered a disadvantage. A small passage led up the mountains from inside the Amol Plains, where the untamed goblins liked to linger.
This passage led to the small ledge that overhung the walls protecting Amol.
"Oh? Your knowledge is quite remarkable, to think you knew of this."
Brea sat up straight.
Her eyes sparkled like gemstones from the moment he started speaking about fighting, goblins and strategy.
"So you agree that it's a good place to attack while you and the main forces take the front gates, we will rush inside."
Vaun raised his hand.
"Go on, Vaun, you can speak freely here."
The half-elf nodded, then tapped the tight, vertical passage.
"Sire, this path will be difficult for horses to traverse, along with the large number of monsters. It would be impossible without taking wild beasts instead of horses for our mounts."
'Oh?'
Luka didn't think this deeply; he knew only the most high-quality war horses crossbred with monsters that carried horse blood.
Horses might not be good for this task.
"Furia will be fine!"
"No, it's better not to force her." He glanced at Brea.
"Are there any spare wolves from your force?" He remembered the dire wolves ridden by both the Amol warriors and goblins.
"Uhm... Sire, about that..." Vaun interrupted once more, and then he shifted closer to Luka and whispered in his ear. "My Lord, I have just the wolf that would suit you. She is wild, powerful and big enough to match your atmosphere."
"Okay, after this, bring me to her."
"Of course, Sire!"
[Vaun is delighted by your acceptance and trust!]
[Loyalty has increased!]
The happy Vaun jogged back to his seat and closed his eyes.
Luka stretched his sore body, enjoying the slight cracks, while Gerard's expression caught his attention.
The old knight glanced at his calloused hands with a look of emptiness.
"My Lord, may I ask what my role entails... am I needed for this mission?" His voice lacked the power it had before. A strange sense of discomfort filled Luka as he listened to Gerard speak as if he were useless.
"Gerard de Alverain!"
"Yes, My Lord!"
The old man stood at attention, his posture and frame still muscular thanks to the slowly developing aura within his abdomen.
'It won't show yet, but I can feel the tingling atmosphere around his body. In a few more battles, he'll finally awaken his aura and regain ten years of youth.'
Luka gave Gerard the respect he deserved and stood neatly, his body still weak and lacking the muscle definition he desired.
But it was enough for now.
He tucked one arm behind his back, the other across his chest, saluting the old knight with respect.
"Knight Commander. I order thee, support Princess Iris in her assault on the Amol Village, save as many innocent souls as you can while protecting and training our future hope and glory!"
'Yes, although Galatea can serve as a captain. This man will be my commander; I shall mould and develop him into a bastion of death and protection. Death to our foes and an unbreakable paragon for our young warriors.'
"You shall be my sword, my shield and the guide of our new age. Take the young warriors and teach them the true nature of monsters. Slay and destroy all goblin life, until nothing but the flames of victory remain!"
Light returned to the old man's eyes with each embellished word. This man wasn't a rookie, but an old, weary knight who'd searched for his true lord for over five decades.
'I will become that Lord!'
Luka offered his hand.
"Knight Commander, will you take this role and serve me until your light fades?"
Neither Vaun nor Brea made a noise as the old man shook on the spot, with a single stream of tears spilling from each eye.
".... I will devotedly serve you, My Lord!"
The old knight dropped to his knee, without hesitation, though he swore before Luka never heard the words he wanted and waited, pushed it and pushed it.
Until finally.
[Gerard de Alverain was moved by your constant attempts to motivate him!]
[Gerard de Alverain has fully accepted the Class: Knight Commander!]
[Gerard de Alverain's potential has upgraded: Platinum --> Diamond!]
[Loyalty Has Doubled]
[Affection has reached 100]
[Corruption has increased by 20]
[Gerard de Alverain Gained the Title: Knight of the Fallen Star]