Torrent galloped through the night, occasionally leaping over obstacles, landing effortlessly, and continuing onward.
「Quest」 Rescue Laban from Encirclennent (Completed)
「Reward」 Level Up: LV 46 → LV 47. Acquired Weapon: "Lance" (Skill: Charge)
Nidhogg saw the golden light of his brand flash, confirming his level had increased. He was closing in on the final threshold of the "Human Titan" tier.
Just then, he felt Laban suddenly slump forward against his back. He gently pulled on the reins and whistled softly.
Torrent slowed to a stop.
Nidhogg turned, looking at Laban's wound. "Are you badly hurt?"
Laban was still conscious. He held on and spoke weakly, "Poison... poisoned arrow..."
"Understood." Nidhogg now had a clearer idea. He leaned down, pretending to reach into his pack, and produced his Flask of Crimson & Cerulean Tears and his Flask of Wondrous Physick.
He told Laban to open his mouth, then poured the mixed tears he had been accumulating into the Physick Flask and emptied it into Laban's mouth.
Generally speaking, the effects of the Flask of Wondrous Physick varied depending on which tears were used to concoct it—restoring health, focus, stamina, reducing damage taken, increasing damage dealt, and so on.
Nidhogg's Flask of Wondrous Physick had only one effect: curing various abnormal status conditions, including poison.
He wasn't stingy. He emptied the entire contents of his Flask of Wondrous Physick for Laban to drink, then switched to his other flask, now configured as a Flask of Crimson Tears, and gave that to Laban as well. They would slowly replenish on their own anyway.
Nidhogg had some impression of Laban. If possible, he hoped this man wouldn't die here. He might be useful later.
Almost all the kings, queens, ministers, and knights who appeared in the Kingdom of Midland looked down on people of humble birth. Only a rare few, like Laban and Irvine, were more enlightened.
During the Hundred-Year War, Laban and Irvine had supported the Hawk Company's assault on Doldrey. They had ultimately helped retake the city, ending the war and witnessing the Hawk Company's most glorious moment.
When the Kushan Empire invaded, Laban and Irvine had also actively resisted.
Believing that Griffith, as the "Holy Eagle," was their savior, they had sided with the "New Hawk Company" and eventually witnessed the birth of Falconia, the capital of the eagles.
It could be said that Laban and Irvine were among the few genuinely decent gentlemen among the Midland nobility. Nidhogg didn't dislike them; in fact, he quite respected them. He naturally didn't want good people to die here.
The two flasks of holy water went down, and soon Laban's consciousness grew clearer. The pain and drowsiness he had been feeling seemed like a distant dream.
Laban sat up. He wasn't stupid. "What did you just give me?"
Nidhogg pretended to put the flasks back into his pack, though he actually stored them in his brand. He urged Torrent forward again. "Just some medicine to save your life."
Hearing that Nidhogg didn't want to elaborate, Laban dropped the questions but said solemnly, "Thank you sincerely. If you hadn't saved my life, I would probably be dead back there."
"May I ask who you are and why you saved me? Of course, once I return to the Midland base camp, I will surely repay this kindness."
Nidhogg replied, "It doesn't matter who I am. I saved you because I don't want to see the Tudor Empire win. And incidentally, I have something I'd like to ask you."
"Something? What do you want to ask?" Laban was immediately on alert. If the question concerned the military deployments of the Kingdom of Midland, even if this man was his savior, he would never reveal such information.
Nidhogg sensed Laban's tension and smiled. "Relax. I want to know if there's a way to infiltrate the city of Doldrey. Do you have any ideas?"
"Doldrey?"
Laban rubbed his chin and frowned.
"That fortress is easy to defend and nearly impossible to assault. They keep the gates tightly sealed. Climbing the walls is even more unthinkable—there are thirty thousand defenders inside!"
Every knight of Midland knew something about Doldrey. That city, occupied by the Tudor Empire, represented a hundred years of national shame that had yet to be washed away.
Laban was no exception. He knew that if the army in Doldrey refused to come out, there was no way to breach the city from the outside.
In truth, it was Guts who had held back General Boscogn, and Griffith who had used himself as bait to lure out Governor Gennon, allowing Casca to lead the army into a weakened Doldrey.
"It's not that simple, is it..." Nidhogg murmured quietly.
Laban looked at Nidhogg with some confusion. "Why do you want to infiltrate Doldrey?"
For a moment, Laban wondered if Nidhogg intended to defect to General Boscogn. But he quickly dismissed the thought—impossible. Nidhogg had saved him and killed the commander of the Black Iron Boar Lancers. How could he possibly be defecting?
What exactly was Nidhogg's purpose? Doldrey was so dangerous. Why would he want to enter that dragon's den?
The more Laban thought, the more confused he became. But then, suddenly, something clicked.
This man had just said he saved his life because he didn't want to see the Tudor Empire win. And now he wanted to enter Doldrey alone... Could it be...
"You..." Laban asked, astonished. "You want to assassinate Governor Gennon, the supreme commander of the Tudor Empire's northern front?"
He dared not even think about General Boscogn. That man's monstrous strength was too formidable. Governor Gennon, naturally, became the most plausible target for an assassination.
Nidhogg was momentarily stunned but didn't want to explain. He remained silent.
Laban took his silence as confirmation. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, marveling inwardly.
"I never imagined the Kingdom of Midland possessed such a heroic figure, willing to infiltrate the enemy city and attempt assassination..."
"Just think—if he actually succeeds, it would be the perfect opportunity for us to retake Doldrey! I wonder who he really is..."
Just then, Nidhogg noticed torches flickering in the distance. He gently pulled on the reins and guided Torrent toward a nearby dense forest to hide.
Laban also spotted the lights. His heart tightened, thinking the pursuers had caught up.
Then came the sound of hooves. A group of cavalry charged into view.
Laban, illuminated by the moonlight and torches, stared intently and realized it wasn't the heavy cavalry of the Tudor Empire. These riders looked more like Midland cavalry.
"Wait!" Laban said to Nidhogg. "I think those are our people."
Hearing this, Nidhogg tugged the reins, and Torrent slowed to a stop in his tracks.
They looked closer. Indeed, this cavalry bore little resemblance to the Tudor heavy cavalry. In fact, Laban even recognized something familiar.
"That banner, that coat of arms... It's Irvine's knights!" Laban was overjoyed. He told Nidhogg, "They're our knights! No need to hide!"
Nidhogg nodded, whistled, and Torrent trotted out of the dense forest, stopping in the middle of the road.
The knights quickly halted their gallop, and the regimental commander rode forward—it was Irvine.
Laban dismounted, still a bit unsteady, and stumbled toward Irvine, calling out, "Lord Irvine! It's me! Laban!"
Irvine recognized him. It was indeed Laban. He quickly dismounted, walked over, and supported Laban. "Lord Laban, I've been searching everywhere for you! I never expected to find you here!"
"It's a long story, but fortunately, I was saved by a hero." Laban turned and pointed toward Nidhogg, still mounted on Torrent. "If not for him, you would have surely seen my head hanging from the gates of Doldrey."
"A hero?" Irvine looked in that direction and was momentarily stunned.
That figure, that armor, that eccentric horse—they matched the heroic image described by the villagers from the town sacked by Balzac's mercenaries days ago. It also matched the vague silhouette burned into his memory.
Was this the same man?
Laban didn't notice Irvine's expression. He whispered excitedly, "He's truly a formidable warrior. He's planning to infiltrate Doldrey and assassinate Governor Gennon! Such courage is astounding!"
Assassinate Governor Gennon? Irvine was stunned.
First, he single-handedly annihilated Balzac's mercenary company. Then he rescued Laban, one of Midland's young commanders, from certain death. And now, without fear, he intends to assassinate Governor Gennon?
If all this was true, what kind of man was this? Unthinkable... Irvine himself was dumbfounded.
Laban was about to introduce Irvine and Nidhogg when he saw Nidhogg suddenly turn his horse and spur it forward. He simply rode away.
"Benefactor!" Laban hadn't expected Nidhogg to leave so abruptly. He called after him but could only watch as Nidhogg's figure vanished into the distance. He sighed in regret.
He hadn't even repaid his debt of gratitude. Now the man was gone. He was probably heading to Doldrey this very night. Would they ever meet again? Alas...
Laban and Irvine stood there, hearts full of emotion. Their respect for Nidhogg deepened, and both silently hoped they would one day cross paths with him again.