Chapter 37  : Persistence in Adversity

Sir Hobson chuckled and said, “This is an expedition funded by Duke Cameron.”

He sensed what Kant was thinking and explained, “Scholar Hank is one of the most renowned scholars in the entire Dukedom of Leo. He came to some conclusions regarding the lost city, so Duke Cameron was willing to sponsor Scholar Hank to carry out this expedition.”

“This will be a fruitful trip.”

Scholar Hank nodded and said with a serious tone, “I’ve received an old manuscript that has something to do with the lost city.”

“Huh?” Kant was somewhat startled.

He recalled that old manuscript he handled about half a year ago in the academy before he left.

He was unable to help but ask, “Was it that manuscript I saw?”

“Correct.”

Scholar Hank nodded and said, “It was that manuscript.”

He paused for a bit. Joy was seen on his wrinkled face. “I have you to thank for sorting out the materials. That led me to finally decipher the words written within. There was a line of utmost importance regarding the lost city.”

“What was it?”

Kant eyed the scholar with a serious expression.

Even Sir Hobson, who was by the scholar’s side, as well Captain Rowan, who took to staying mum behind them, was unable to help but stare at that renowned old scholar of the dukedom.

“When the sun rises again, the golden holy city shall blossom anew.”

Scholar Hank spoke slowly and with a serious expression. He deliberately worded it slowly to allow all to hear him clearly.

It sounded rather mesmerizing.

The line itself sounded like a prophecy of sorts.

Scholar Hank paused for a bit and added, “That line was something written in the manuscript. After deciphering the line, I was certain that the golden holy city mentioned in the book was referring to the lost city.”

“That’s shocking to hear.”

Sir Hobson sighed lightly. As someone who was learned in literary arts, he was able to tell how mighty those words had been.

As for Captain Rowan, he dared not say anything.

His status was far below the three before him.

“It is quite shocking.”

Kant nodded. Even he would have thought the line meant something significant.

He eyed the old scholar and sighed. “Master Hank, you might actually be able to find something after all.”

“I will.”

Scholar Hank’s face was covered in a beaming smile.

He was able to tell what Kant’s sigh meant, but he did not say anything else.

As someone who was at such an advanced age, it was not so much a matter of what was found but that he wanted to see it for himself. He was determined to embark on an expedition, even if it meant putting his life at risk, being laughed at by his peers, or eventually failing.

Wuuuuuuuu

Suddenly, the sound of the horn from the Oasis Lookout rang out behind them.

The 17 Desert Bandits immediately turned around.

Kant’s face froze. He quickly said, “Sh*t.”

“Baron Kant, are you in trouble?”

When he saw Kant’s troubled expression, Sir Hobson frowned. He quickly added, “The sound of the horn seems pressing.”

Horns were used to relay messages.

The same things were used in the Dukedom of Leo.

“Indeed.”

Kant nodded. With a rather serious expression, he said, “There are enemies inbound, and they have huge numbers.”

He worded it concisely.

In truth, Kant had no idea just how large the enemy forces were.

According to what was told by the system’s introduction and hearing how pressing the sound of the horn from the watchtower was, there was no doubt that there were many.

“Jackalans?”

Captain Rowan was unable to help but ask that given his prior experience.

As someone who fought alongside Kant before, he knew that the Oasis Lookout, which was vastly different from what it had once been, was an oasis they had taken from a Jackalan Tribe.

“It seems like it.”

Scholar Hank nodded and said, “Jackalans have lived in the Nahrin Desert since ancient times.”

Sir Hobson smirked and said, “If it is the Jackalans, I think that we could help.”

The group of retainer knights behind him consisted of a 50-strong heavy cavalry platoon. Even during battles fought back in the dukedom, such a force served as a main force. There were more than enough to take on 50 primitive Jackalans.

“You have my thanks, Sir Hobson.”

Kant realized that the system meant for him to ally with Sir Hobson’s forces.

The verbal agreement was made right there and then.

The system saw the side quest to was completed.

[Ding… You have finished the side quest through painstaking efforts.]

[Side Quest: Form an Alliance is completed]

[Reward Acquired: Rain of Arrows (500 Vaegir Marksmen) x 3 waves]

[Introduction: You made an alliance with the elite force, raising the probability of making it through the predicament. But remember, alliances are fleeting. The only one you can truly trust is yourself.]

A dialog box appeared on his retina.

A golden card hovered in Kant’s mind, seemingly waiting to be used.

Countless people were depicted on the card. They all seemed to be drawing their bows and firing ahead. Kant was able to tell what the card meant by coupling what was drawn with the description of the thing called “Rain of Arrows.”

“500 Vaegir Marksmen shooting in three volleys?”

Kant licked his lips. His eyes were filled with determination. This looks fine.

The Vaegir Marksmen were one of the two strongest troop classes available in the system.

The other comparable class was the Rhodok Sharpshooter, which was a class of terrifying crossbowmen known for their extremely effective range and devastating damage potential.

The Vaegir Marksmen class, on the other hand, was known for its very high rate of fire and extremely effective range, making them human machineguns on city walls. If they took effective vantage points and were provided with an ample amount of arrows, they were easily able to show their enemies what true terror was like.

In terms of scale, raining down arrows over a vast area was also what that troop class did best.

Even Swadian Knights, who were the best when it came to fighting on land and clad from top to toe in metal alongside their horses, needed to suffer a certain amount of casualties before they took down a huge force consisting of Vaegir Marksmen.

“Come to my village.”

Kant turned to Sir Hobson and Scholar Hank and said, “It’s a small place, but it’s still quite defensible.”

“We’ll do just that.” Sir Hobson nodded.

The 50 retainer knights behind him followed as well.

Those knights were all reserve units. If they performed brilliantly on the battlefield or possessed extraordinary powers, they would become knights envied by many. If those things happened, it brought them one step closer to becoming a noble.

Everyone left the dune and headed toward the Oasis Lookout.

The soldiers remained puzzled.

Those people, who were thought to be enemies just moments ago, suddenly became allies.

If one truly thought about it, one would have found the situation rather laughable. That was perhaps caused by miscommunication in terms of intelligence.

Then again, the true enemy was about to show itself.

The Swadian Militia members on the watchtower quickly descended. They looked rather serious and worried.

A militia member quickly went over to Kant and reported, “Lord Kant, a massive number of Jackalans has been detected on the northeastern side. The initial speculation is that they are about 2,000 of them, and they are moving very quickly. They will probably reach the Oasis Lookout in 20 minutes.”

“2,000 Jackalans?”

Kant’s brows slightly furrowed into a frown. He sounded rather parched when he had spoken.

That number was rather frightening.

Even Sir Hobson, as well as Scholar Hank, who was walking with a cane, looked serious.

The sheer number of Jackalans was no longer something that was easily compensated with superior quality.

Even those 50 retainer knights, who were all heavy cavalry units with formidable skills, were not equipped to easily penetrate the formations of the Jackalans.

The best tactic to take at the moment was to simply not fight at all.

In Kant’s perspective, those Jackalans were heading straight for the Oasis Lookout. For him, avoiding a fight was not a sound option. If he chose to yield, that meant the Jackalans would once again take over the Oasis Lookout.

His Drondheim.

His fief. His village.

At the moment, it would have meant he lost everything.

[Ding… Side Quest assigned]

[Side Quest: Persistence in Adversity]

[Reward: Denars x 1,000, Reputation x 500, Honor x 1]

[Introduction: The darkening sky brings with it a brutal battle. Your ability to defend your village depends on your persistence. Please believe in yourself. The most excruciating of persistence shall create miracles.]

A dialog box was seen on Kant’s retina.

It was none other than a newly assigned side quest.