Edmund’s steps came to a halt, his eyes fixed straight ahead as he watched the mysterious panel appear again with simple writing, but enough to shock him.

Death flag?

"No, Lord Edmund. Charging straight at them without troops is not a wise move!" Sebastian said firmly, pointing toward the village from the cliff.

Edmund began thinking hard again, forming the best plan to save Leonor without risking his life.

He was still on horseback, his eyes scanning downward as he watched the chaos unfolding in the village.

"You all go ahead first. I’ll think of something," Edmund said.

"Understood. Please be careful, Lord Edmund."

Sebastian and two cavalry soldiers left the place, leaving Edmund alone on the rocky cliff, watching Tuca Village.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Edmund urged his horse down the slope, slowly watching the baron’s forces fully prepare.

They gathered neatly in front of the baron’s castle, wearing low-quality iron armor, helmets, and swords with worn blades.

Their leader arrived on horseback, a man with a long beard, wearing a warm coat, armor, and holding a sword.

"The damned monsters from the cursed Kingdom of Mughort have arrived. Prepare yourselves, my soldiers!" declared the baron, Nigel.

Several villagers stood in front of the baron’s formation, carrying large cloth sacks filled with their valuables.

"Please! Let us take shelter in your castle, Lord Baron!"

"Open your castle gates for us, Lord Baron!"

"Lord Baron... please save us!"

Their cries of despair and surrender echoed. But Nigel, the Baron of Tuca, did not listen.

Instead, he swung his hand forward, giving an order to his soldiers.

"Take the pretty women and the children inside. The rest of them, use them as shields to slow the enemy!" Nigel ordered.

A hundred of the baron’s soldiers moved in an orderly formation, pushing people aside and dragging away the women they deemed worth saving.

Panic spread beyond imagination.

The men tried to resist, but they were immediately injured and killed the moment they fought back.

Edmund witnessed it and immediately spurred his horse forward.

He made it onto the village dirt road, seeing flames engulf buildings and people.

Several soldiers from the Aschwin Family, who were in disguise, immediately recognized Edmund.

They stepped forward, placing a hand on their chest and bowing their heads.

"We are ready to receive orders!" they said firmly, ten of them.

"Focus on evacuating the villagers to the cliff. Cavalry troops from Archester will arrive in two hours," Edmund replied.

"Yes, Lord Edmund!"

Edmund rode forward and reached the rear line of the villagers.

His horse came to a stop, neighing loudly.

His eyes locked onto Baron Nigel.

"You and your soldiers are absolutely ordered to protect the village!" Edmund declared.

Baron Nigel turned and looked at the handsome man shouting at him, clearly shocked.

"Viscount Edmund?!" Nigel asked.

The villagers turned and saw Viscount Edmund up close.

Many of them begged for hope, asking him to save them.

"All villagers, evacuate out of the village immediately. My troops will guarantee your safety."

"Cavalry forces from Archester will arrive."

Edmund lifted his head again and stared at Nigel.

"You should know your duty, Baron of Tuca!"

Baron Nigel had no choice. If he defied Viscount Edmund’s words, his life could end at the gallows.

"My soldiers! Raise your weapons and attack those monsters!" Nigel ordered.

Nigel and his forces left the castle to begin the fight, unlike Edmund, who remained in the middle of the village.

He turned and asked about Leonor. One of his soldiers spoke.

"I didn’t see her among the evacuees," the man said.

Damn it! Is she still at her house and hasn’t evacuated yet?

He pulled the reins and spurred his horse forward, racing down the main road toward Leonor’s family home.

He never expected the enemy forces to have already reached the outer edge of Tuca Village, right near Leonor’s house.

Edmund’s attention shifted to the side, seeing Leonor’s house already consumed by flames.

But there was no sign of her.

Edmund grew more anxious. He focused his eyes ahead, clearly seeing the monster forces from the Demon Kingdom of Mughort beginning to withdraw from Tuca Village.

There was only one possibility: they had successfully kidnapped Leonor.

Baron Nigel and his forces cheered, raising their weapons and declaring victory.

Their victory only came because the enemy had retreated.

Edmund spurred his horse forward at full speed, startling Baron Nigel and his remaining 89 soldiers.

"Sir Edmund! Where are you going?!" Nigel asked.

This is bad! Leonor has probably been kidnapped by them.

———[WARNING!]———

[Death Flag detected]

[Probability of death >85%]

The death flag appeared again, the probability of death reaching 85%.

I have to hurry!

Edmund rode into the forest, clearly seeing the monster forces from the Demon Kingdom retreating.

He prepared his sword and gripped it tightly. Faint screams could be heard ahead, a girl crying for help.

That’s... Leonor!

SLASH!

Edmund attacked them, slicing off heads and cutting them down with force.

One monster soldier fell, causing the entire group to go on high alert.

"We’re under attack? How many troops?!"

"Just one!"

"ONE?!" the monster leader shouted.

The man charged forward on his horse, swinging left and right, cutting down and beheading every monster.

Their bodies were trampled under his horse’s hooves.

His horse finally stopped when he realized he had been surrounded.

They encircled Edmund, leaving him with no escape.

He looked ahead. Leonor was there, being carried on the shoulder of an ogre monster.

Edmund refused to give up. He rose and stood on his horse’s back, then leaped forward with force, shocking the monster soldiers.

"That’s impossible!"

Edmund swung his arm, cutting down the goblins around him.

Their arms were severed, their blood flowing and soaking the ground and Edmund’s clothes.

But that didn’t matter. His goal was to move forward and save Leonor, no matter the risk.

He ran forward, deflecting every attack.

Several arrows struck his body, especially his back and thigh, causing Edmund to collapse helplessly.

———[WARNING!]———

[Death Flag detected]

[Probability of death >95%]

Edmund forced himself to keep moving, chasing after the ogre.

With his legs and back injured, jumping and attacking an ogre would not be as easy as he imagined.

But he did not give up.

The man gripped his sharp sword, focusing all his strength into his arm.

He hurled the sword forward, cutting through the air and shocking everyone.

STAB!

Edmund’s sword, thrown with all his strength, pierced straight into the bald head of the ogre, instantly dropping it.

Leonor managed to free herself, running away from the other monsters until she stood right in front of Edmund.

She saw him sitting on the ground, pale-faced.

"Why... would you do this for me?" said the 16-year-old girl.

"I don’t know, Leonor."

Leonor gasped in shock, her eyes still fixed on Edmund, "How do you know my name?"

While they were talking, the monster forces were about to attack them.

However, they were delayed by a loud rumbling sound from behind.

Everyone turned around, including Edmund and Leonor. The system panel appeared in front of Edmund.

———[WARNING!]———

[Death Flag detected]

[Probability of death >25%]

"They’re... here!"

Cavalry troops in white armor and iron spears arrived in great numbers, around 500 soldiers.

The monster forces quickly moved to attack the Aschwin cavalry.

However, their superior equipment and numbers made it impossible for the Demon Kingdom of Mughort’s monsters to hold their ground.

They fled in panic, and victory was achieved by Aschwin in this battle.

Sebastian arrived wearing a different outfit: white armor and a silver sword, though he still wore his glasses.

He looked down at the injured Edmund, "You always choose the most dangerous path, my lord."

"I need to report the details of this battle to Count Julian. He must reward you," Sebastian said.

"Can you give me a hand?" Edmund asked.

Sebastian smiled and extended his hand, "Of course."

Just before they left, Leonor called out to Edmund. The injured Edmund glanced back briefly.

"What is your name?" Leonor asked, curious.

"I’m Edmund, Edmund Aschwin," Edmund said, "Come to Archester... if you want to live!"