My Ex-Girlfriend Was Appointed as a Knight Commander

Chapter 58

“...In the no-man’s land?”

Count Léon Benning furrowed his brow as he asked. It was rare for his expression to change so naturally, as it usually remained composed and controlled. Léon Benning typically dined alone, without his wife or retainers, unless it was a particularly special occasion.

The servant delivering the message bowed his head and nodded. Léon Benning emptied his wine glass.

“Yes. According to Roberto Miller’s report, the number of monsters breaching the wall beyond the cliff at the edge of the no-man’s land has dramatically increased. Thousands of them are attacking the walls.”

Count Benning rubbed his eyes and asked in a measured tone.

“The knights have been deployed for support, I assume.”

“Yes. The royal family immediately ordered the knights to head for the no-man’s land.”

As Count Benning extended his glass, another servant standing by poured more wine. Benning swirled the wine gently in his glass, filling it only to the bottom. The blood-red wine swayed and shimmered within the glass.

“I doubt they’d send just a few knight orders if that many monsters are breaching the wall.”

Léon Benning drew out his words, his tone suggesting deep contemplation. The servant noticed that the count’s usually emotionless eyes now glimmered with something else.

Opportunity.

It was the look of a hunter driving prey into a trap. Léon Benning set the glass back down on the table.

“So, what has the royal family done in response?”

The servant swallowed dryly, overwhelmed by the intensity in Benning’s gaze. The count, known as one of the kingdom’s strongest men, was displaying a fierce resolve. Few could withstand such a forceful presence. The servant, feeling the pressure, continued his report.

“The royal family has drawn troops from its direct forces and sent them as reinforcements to the no-man’s land.”

Léon Benning’s gaze grew even sharper.

“And the number? How many soldiers did the royal family deploy?”

With trembling hands, the servant placed Roberto’s report on the table. Léon Benning took the paper and began reading it.

“While the exact number isn’t clear...”

“A thousand.”

Léon Benning read the report aloud.

The royal family had decided to send about a thousand troops, along with the knight orders, to the no-man’s land.

“A thousand, you say.”

Benning’s voice brimmed with heat. It was sharp and dangerous, like a blade freshly forged in fire.

“A thousand!”

A sinister grin spread across Léon Benning’s face. Those who knew him well would have felt a chill down their spine. His fighting spirit was surging. Nearly half of the kingdom’s core forces that guarded the capital had been deployed.

“And surely there’s more to tell.”

Léon Benning continued reading the report. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he reached the final lines written by Roberto.

A royal emergency council is being held. It is highly likely that the king will request additional troops from high-ranking nobles and dispatch them to the no-man’s land.

“The once cautious King has lost his composure when it comes to matters related to the no-man’s land.”

Léon Benning casually made this irreverent remark. His shoulders shook ever so slightly as he continued reading the report.

“It’s time to gather our forces.”

The servant gasped at the count’s declaration.

“First, we’ll need to contact the Second Prince... and the Bourdain family. And you.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The servant straightened up, fully focused on Léon Benning.

“I sent out the call for reinforcements so long ago... yet it’s only been a month since then.”

It had been a while since they’d last seen the Margrave, and he looked worn down with fatigue. It wasn’t the typical weariness of paperwork that haunted his gaze—this was deeper. Dark shadows loomed under his eyes, hinting at sleepless nights.

“How cruel. I thought we could at least hold on for a month.”

Despite his exhaustion, his eyes still burned with a fierce light. Even as he faced the Raven Knights, his mind seemed consumed with thoughts of how to kill the monsters clinging to the wall. He tapped the table again as he spoke to Theodora.

“You’ve seen the city, haven’t you? We’ve issued an evacuation order.”

The Margrave let out a deep, heavy sigh as he slumped into his chair. His battered insignia, scratched and worn, told the story of someone who hadn’t taken off their armor in days.

“As soon as the number of monsters started increasing, I ordered an evacuation. People were told to take only the bare essentials and leave. You may have seen them on your way here.”

“...Yes, we passed through the nearby city of Myura. There were far more carts and people than usual,” Theodora responded.

The Margrave nodded, seemingly relieved, and took a long draw from his pipe. As he exhaled, a thick cloud of smoke escaped his lips. He set the pipe aside and continued speaking.

“Well, then we can rest easy. Myura... that must be part of Count Agon’s territory.”

“Yes, Count Agon would have gladly taken in the refugees.”

The Margrave nodded again.

“Yes, he would. He took in our people 15 years ago... I hope he’s just as willing this time.”

“Damn it.”

The Margrave ran a hand through his hair, now white and thinning, as it fell limp around his face. He irritably pushed it back.

“Still, it’s fortunate that His Majesty sent troops immediately. Without them, we would have been breached.”

He gestured with his chin toward the outside of the tent.

“...But even they must be at their limits by now. The arrival of the reinforcements might give us a moment to breathe, but there’s no way we can hold off the monsters for days on end. Fifteen years ago, hundreds—no, thousands of people died.”

The Margrave’s thoughts grew heavier.

“It’s like trying to stop the tide with human hands. The monsters surging in now are just like that.”

Theodora observed the Margrave’s increasingly irritated expression.

“Even for the no-man’s land, this isn’t a normal situation. The only way to turn the tide is to kill Behemoth, the one who controls the monsters.”

As difficult as it might be to hold back the monsters, slaying Behemoth was the only hope.

The Margrave clicked his tongue in frustration. Theodora cautiously asked him, “...May I inspect the situation now?”

“As much as you like. You’d end up seeing it sooner or later anyway.”

The Margrave stood up and gestured for Theodora to follow.

“This lull won’t last long.”

The Margrave exited the tent, the flaps billowing as he strode outside.

“We don’t know when those damn monsters will attack again.”

No sooner had Theodora followed him out of the tent than a sudden alarm bell rang out from the watchtower. The bell tolled ominously in the crimson twilight, splitting the sky with its sound. Something was approaching from beyond the walls. The earth rumbled with a deep, unsettling vibration.

Deng, deng, deng, deng.

Knights and soldiers near the walls, those loitering around the tents, and even those resting with their weapons set aside, all turned pale as they rushed toward the wall.

“Get the lift moving! If you can’t use it, climb!”

“Bring more arrows! Where are the archers?!”

“Battle stations! Everyone, take your positions! Reinforcements, fall back and cover the front lines!”

Theodora looked up at the towering walls. At the top of the walls, the fading light of the setting sun cast long shadows.

“Hold the line! They’re coming...!”

The presence of the monsters grew heavier from beyond the wall.

And then, the shadowy figures of the beasts began to leap over the wall, blotting out the sun.