CREAK—
The heavy gates of Doldrey Castle were raised. Nidhogg rode Torrent across the drawbridge, burst through the gateway, and vanished into the deep night beyond.
They were both covered in blood—but none of it was their own. The knights, soldiers, and mercenaries they had killed had left their marks on them.
A wave of soldiers poured from the city walls and the gatehouse, loosing arrows and stones at Nidhogg and his mount in wild, disorganized volleys. Still, not one struck true.
In that moment of danger, Nidhogg seemed to remember something important. He pulled on the reins, stopping Torrent. He dismounted, grabbed Boscogn's head, and ran back.
Truth be told, fighting his way through thirty thousand men to seize this head—or being hunted through Doldrey—had been thrilling.
But now, a group of soldiers stood there, so pathetic that he and Torrent couldn't be bothered to kill them. They hadn't even helped him open the gates. In the end, he'd had to cut down over a dozen soldiers just to get them open.
Now it was time to give them something to cheer about.
"Watch the show!"
Nidhogg took a few steps, hurled the head forward, then kicked it upward. Boscogn's head sailed through the air in a high arc and landed beyond the city gates.
The pursuing cavalry hastily reined in their horses, terrified that their hooves would trample Boscogn's head.
"Tell me—how could you miss such a big target?"
Nidhogg glanced at his handiwork, then ran back to Torrent and remounted. He took one last look at Doldrey and squeezed his legs.
"Let's go. Tonight's work is done."
Torrent raised his head to the sky and whinnied, white vapor pluming from his nostrils. He ran faster than ever, charging in one breath toward the river before Doldrey and galloping across its surface.
「Quest」 Infiltrate Doldrey / Eliminate Governor Gennon / Eliminate General Boscogn (Completed)
「Reward」 Level Up: LV 48 → LV 52. Acquired Weapon: "Battle Axe" (Skill: Decapitate)
Nidhogg saw that he had jumped four levels at once. His heart soared. He couldn't help but shout with joy on horseback.
Torrent whinnied in reply.
Man and horse ran for what seemed like forever. Doldrey Castle had long since vanished from sight. Nidhogg saw no pursuers behind him, but foam was forming at Torrent's mouth. He gently pulled on the reins and let Torrent stop to rest.
He let Torrent drink from the river and fed him fruit.
Torrent was dissatisfied. He gently nudged Nidhogg with his horns, shook his head, and snorted white vapor.
"Alright, alright! I promised, and I'll do it!"
Nidhogg made good on his word to carry Torrent.
He turned his back and let Torrent raise his front hooves, resting his entire upper body weight on Nidhogg's shoulders.
Suddenly, Nidhogg felt as if he were carrying a mountain. But at Level 52, his strength far exceeded that of an ordinary man.
He let out a great shout, tightened his core, and actually lifted Torrent onto his back. He began walking along the riverbank.
"Now... are you... satisfied?"
Nidhogg trudged forward with Torrent on his back, not forgetting to ask.
Torrent let out a long, rhythmic whinny, as if he were about to bounce on Nidhogg's back. This was apparently a sign of satisfaction.
Nidhogg quickly steadied Torrent, afraid he might throw them both into the river. He was about to scold the beast when suddenly, countless points of white light appeared before his eyes, like fireflies swarming together.
From the white light emerged Melina, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
She stepped out of the light, lowered her hood, revealing her short chestnut hair. She looked up and saw Torrent riding on Nidhogg's back as he walked forward.
For a moment, Melina almost opened her left eye—but she restrained herself. She merely twitched her right eye and spoke in her cool, businesslike tone:
"Allow me to inform you in advance: once you reach Level 54 and above, you will gain greater power. This includes the ability to command Spirit Ashes, as well as access to more exotic weapons, shields, materials, and items."
"Some you will be able to use, some you will not. When the time comes, you can give me the weapons, shields, materials, and items you cannot use. I will melt them down into 'Runes' and channel them into your body."
"However, it seems you and Torrent are currently enjoying yourselves... Perhaps I need not concern myself with such matters. It appears I was overly worried... Very well, then."
Melina shrugged off her cloak and, without waiting for Nidhogg's reply, dissolved back into white light and quickly vanished.
"Hey—!"
Nidhogg hadn't expected Melina to appear at such a moment, say her piece, and then leave so quickly—without giving him a chance to explain anything.
He set Torrent down, put his hands on his hips, and pointed at him. "You've ruined my reputation! Melina probably thinks we're unserious, that all we do is play around. And here we just accomplished something important today..."
Torrent stepped forward and gently bit Nidhogg's finger with his big teeth. That was his reply.
---
The next day, at the Midland army's base camp near Doldrey, Laban was astonished to find a letter in his tent. It detailed the various changes occurring within Doldrey.
The contents were so shocking that Laban initially thought it was a prank.
Only when he saw the signature—"The knight who saved your life"—did he begin to trust the information. The letter claimed that Governor Gennon, General Boscogn, Commander Adam, and Vice-Commander Samson had all been assassinated.
Even he couldn't have done that...
But what if it's true? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we miss it and wait for the Tudor Empire to send reinforcements... who knows how long that will take?
Laban hurriedly found Irvine. After reading the information and discussing it, they quickly went to find the leader of the White Tiger Knights.
The next day, scouts sent by the Midland army to Doldrey reported that something was indeed wrong with the city. The gates were closed, but few troops manned the walls, and those present seemed disorganized.
In other words, this was impossible—Boscogn would never allow such a military lapse.
As a result, the White Tiger Knight commander hesitated for several days. This allowed Laban and Irvine to lead a few knights in a cautious assault on Doldrey.
The results were satisfying. Doldrey's defenses were in chaos.
Gennon, Boscogn, Adam, and Samson—the four key figures of Doldrey Castle—did not appear during the Midland army's attack.
The White Tiger Knight commander made a decisive choice. He immediately mobilized all nearby troops, seizing this heaven-sent opportunity to storm Doldrey. They would capture this fortress!
Without its governor and generals, the Midland army finally took the leaderless, chaotic Doldrey Castle after a day and night of fierce siege warfare.
By then, Tudor Empire reinforcements arrived—too late.
The roles reversed. The Tudor army now attacked Doldrey, while the Midland army defended.
The Midland army held the city and quickly sent word to Windham, the royal capital, requesting reinforcements.
The King read the letter and was overjoyed. He immediately decided to personally lead a great army to relieve and secure Doldrey.
When the King's army arrived and entered Doldrey, the Tudor Empire realized the situation was lost.
Until their internal civil strife was resolved, they could no longer spare forces to attack Doldrey. They were forced to retreat.
What worried them more was the fear that the Midland army, using Doldrey as a springboard, might turn the tables and invade Tudor territory—especially given their current internal turmoil.
Therefore, after much deliberation, the Tudor Empire was compelled to send a peace proposal to Midland, hoping to sign a treaty.
The King wanted no more war.
He had retaken Doldrey and washed away a century of national shame. His royal authority was secure, his prestige immense. If he continued fighting and something went wrong, it would tarnish his achievement. So he agreed to peace.
Thus ended the Hundred-Year War between the Kingdom of Midland and the Tudor Empire.