In Type-Moon, people create a magic family lineage

After several back-and-forth exchanges, the English realized your tactics. They stopped attacking the city and instead besieged it—attempting to trap you inside. But each time, you broke out and wreaked havoc.

The knights under your command are growing ever stronger.

Through your observations of them, you further develop your theories, combining them with previously accumulated knowledge, and delve ever deeper into the mysterious path.

【besides】

You've heard that Joan of Arc has completely conquered the entire Loire River region. She has won every battle and is known as the Savior of France—the Holy Shield protecting the nation, and together with you—the duo of 'sword' and 'shield'.

[You have already achieved your initial goal: to be recognized as a saint by the church, on par with Joan of Arc.]

You also confirmed this news from the letter Joan of Arc sent; you two have never lost contact and have become increasingly familiar with each other.

She always boasts about her improved writing skills, and you always manage to expose her flaws.

You always said you'd teach her a lesson when you got back, but you never actually did.

She also shared with you her observations, the welcome the French people gave her, and the gratitude and praise from her officers and soldiers for your role in holding back the English army in the north.

She has something to say to you—

【'We have always fought side by side, the most steadfast and unwavering comrades-in-arms'】

...

[After the defeat on the battlefield, most of the English army was routed. You have heard that Henry VI was furious and decided to send even more troops to crush them.]

[You haven't been involved in the mysterious world of magic for many years, but one day, a magician suddenly brings you a message, telling you that the 'King' has crossed the sea.]

You received a message from the South.

Charles, the yet-to-be-crowned Crown Prince of France, was suddenly besieged in Chinon in the south.

The enemy forces bypassed the English Channel and landed directly at La Rochelle, a port on the Atlantic coast west of France, with 50,000 English troops.

Joan of Arc, commanding a large army, is besieging the city of Osel after months of siege, and the city is about to fall.

She intends to lead her troops back to reinforce the area.

The noble officers under his command, however, held differing opinions and argued incessantly.

The tide of war turned dramatically, and facing the temporarily empty northwestern border of France, you finally made your decision—

[Leading troops back to reinforce]

...

"Are we really going to abandon the soon-to-be-breached Castle of Ausel, abandon all our efforts over this period of time, and retreat with our troops?"

The oppressive atmosphere of the campfire, burning brightly in the cool of the early summer evening, was broken by a deep, humming voice. The people sitting around the table displaying the sand table and flags looked up at the tall, rugged figure who was speaking.

Then another person suddenly stood up, looking menacing: "Count Jean de Bross, are you going to disregard His Highness Charles' safety?"

"The glory of France rests on Your Highness alone—we, as vassals of France, must go and rescue Your Highness!" The young man who spoke was not as tall as Count Bross, but he appeared extremely upright, like a long sword drawn from its sheath.

The man's words caused Count Bross's expression to change slightly, and his thick mustache trembled: "Of course I didn't mean that!"

"Then what do you mean?" the young nobleman pressed aggressively.

Count Bross did not respond.

But then another man stood up: "Lord John Stewart, the Earl of Bross's intention is naturally to fight for the honor of France!"

He freed Bross from his predicament, then looked at the remaining people in the tent, the numerous officers and nobles, and spoke loudly.

"I think you should also know that His Highness Charles's Château de Chinon has been repaired many times, and even if the French are fierce and cunning, they cannot conquer it in a short time."

"And the Castle of Ausel before us has also been repaired by the British many times. If we cannot remove it this time, then when we come back to fight again, we will never have such a good opportunity!"

Although in essence it was for the merit of taking down the castle, for the so-called honor of his own family, and for the glory of conquering cities and seizing territory—there is no such thing as the saying in Europe that the greatest merit is to save the lord, and Crown Prince Richard has never been their direct superior. In addition, Crown Prince Charles is currently the only heir to the French crown, but no one knows whether he will eventually be able to wear that crown—but what he said does have its reasons.

The words spoken by the people present immediately sparked a lot of discussion among those around them.

The discussion within the camp was roughly divided into three factions: one faction advocated continuing the siege, another advocated withdrawing troops to provide aid, and the last faction remained ambiguous and did not express any opinion.

Meanwhile, at the very end of the table, at the very top, a few steps away from everyone, sat the general, his brow furrowed and his face full of worry.

The girl with blonde hair braided into pigtails, wearing silver plate armor and a dark purple battle robe underneath, had her eyebrows slightly lowered, and she also looked helpless.

As the nominal commander of this army, Joan of Arc naturally supported the withdrawal to rescue Dauphin Charles—although they had never met, she had to return to the aid of France.

The greater good is at stake; this is something she must do.

However, although she was the commander-in-chief, her subordinate generals would follow her orders as long as it was in their common interest.

However, a conflict of interest has clearly emerged at present.

However, the military power she alone possessed was insufficient to convince the public through force.

She was ultimately too young.

He has fame, but lacks prestige.

However, this was clearly not a reason for Joan of Arc's silence.

That's not her personality at all.

Once she's made up her mind, she won't give up on it.

"Everyone."

The girl raised her face, relaxed her brows, and spoke in a clear voice, which silenced the crowd's discussion and drew their attention to the young country girl.

Facing the gazes of the noble officers, Joan of Arc remained unfazed and declared, "The glory of the Lord protects France."

“The honor of France belongs to His Highness Charles—we are gathered here because of His Highness’s decree, so how can we stand by and watch His Highness fall into crisis?”

Her message was clear.

This is not the first time she has expressed her stance.

"But, Lady Joan of Arc, are you sure you want to give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"

Count Bross, however, insisted, "If we can capture the Château d'Auxerre in one fell swoop, then France will regain the initiative in the north, and the reconquest of our territory will be just around the corner—"

"Yes, although it is very impolite, we cannot follow your opinion."

The nobles who continued the siege expressed their opinions.

The nobles who supported the cause opened their mouths, ready to argue with them again.

It still didn't work...

It seems we have no choice but to split our forces.

Joan of Arc thought so.

Yes.

They split up and went their separate ways.

This is a bit risky, but it's the only way for now!

The girl took a deep breath and was about to speak.

She opened her mouth, about to utter her final decision...

Howling!

Outside the tent.

Under the vast darkness of night.

Amidst the sprawling camps surrounding the city of Oser, the sudden roar of galloping horses and the thunderous sound of a torrent echoed through the area.

Joan of Arc was taken aback.

The noble officers were also startled and turned to look at the source of the sound, looking outside the tent—outside the gauze curtain that had been suddenly lifted by the wind.

It was a towering figure who rode straight into the camp, mounted a magnificent horse, and whose entire body emanated a powerful, almost visible magic woven into thick armor, resembling the return of the Knights of the Round Table from the ancient Arthurian legend.

One after another, they filed in, forcing the soldiers guarding the camp to retreat again and again, even kneeling down.

That is...

"'The Knight of the Wild Hunt'... oh no, it's 'The Paladin'!"

Those who came from there were undoubtedly paladins under Lu Kang's command.

The knights split into two groups.

A man rode up from the middle, his heavy, black scholar's robe billowing in the evening wind like wings, truly resembling both a god and a demon.

Mixed with power and might!

"It seems I've come back just in time, and you've had a very heated discussion."

The 'scholar' spoke, his voice clear and resonant.

The officers and nobles, who had been discussing the matter heatedly and blushing just a moment ago, suddenly fell silent, not daring to utter a word.

Only Joan of Arc slowly rose from her seat.

Looking at the 'comrades-in-arms' whom I hadn't seen for half a year and had only known for less than a year, yet who I felt an instant connection with from the beginning and who are now already very familiar with each other.

Gazing at Lu Kang's unchanging handsome figure.

She once again achieved that completely relaxed state, both inside and out.

Yes...

"Yes, Mr. Vic."

The girl said sincerely, happily, and genuinely, "You've come back just in time!"

These are her comrades-in-arms and close friends.

Outside the Holy Shield of France.

There should have been a 'sword' by then, shouldn't there?

Chapter Sixty: The Mobile Temple Woven by Knights Alarms the Church

You arrived at the French camp besieging the Château d'Auxerre and successfully reunited with Joan of Arc.

Under the overwhelming force of your three hundred 'holy knights,' the entire army finally decided to obey Joan of Arc's orders and withdraw—to aid Chinon and rescue the trapped Crown Prince Charles.

Although Count Robes and his men were reluctant to accept defeat at the fortified high city of Auxerre, which they were just one step away from capturing, they knew that without taking this castle occupied by the English, they could not regain the initiative in the north, nor could they guarantee the absolute safety of their own fiefdoms—which were mostly located in the region bordering northern France.

[But they also understand that although your three hundred 'paladins' are few in number, they can break through an army of tens of thousands. Under absolute force, they dare not put up the slightest resistance.]

It wasn't just the English who feared you; the French did too.

The powerful and wealthy also fear the moment when the sword you wield might turn and pierce them.

However, you don't intend to do that.

[At least for now]

The military meeting ended hastily in an atmosphere of unprecedented terror, with many powerful officers leaving to return to their respective camps and prepare for their retreat.

You haven't left.

[Because you've always lived and eaten with Joan of Arc—it was like that before you left, and it's like that now.]

The campfire crackled and flickered, and the deep night enveloped the interior. The once noisy camp had now fallen into a brief silence. Lu Kang walked around the table in the center of the tent, glanced at the simple sand table depicting the battlefield and the flags scattered on it, and instantly recognized that it was a simulation of the unprecedentedly large army led by Joan of Arc in this restarted campaign, whose numbers had already exceeded 30,000.

Conquering cities and fortresses along the way, occupying the entire Loire River, and using this river as a defense to consolidate France's control over the remaining large swathes of southern territory, before continuing to lead the army north, eliminating Auxerre, and advancing on Paris—this was clearly the strategic course Joan of Arc had been following before the sudden siege of the Dauphin Charles.

If it weren't for the sudden appearance of the English army in the southwest, Joan of Arc's strategy, which was both steady and swift, would have been absolutely correct.

"Well done."

Lu Kang withdrew his gaze and gave a simple evaluation. He looked up at the girl he hadn't seen for half a year, and there was no trace of estrangement. Instead, he said, "You have a bit of my style from back then."

"is it?"

Joan of Arc was practically slumped in her seat. She had maintained a dignified and imposing demeanor in front of the officers, but now she was exhausted. In front of Lu Kang, she had no desire to pretend at all.

Even though they hadn't seen each other for six months, Lu Kang still felt an instant connection with her.

"The only problem is that he still can't learn to read. He still needs to be disciplined with a stick!"

Lu Kang said bluntly.

Joan of Arc jolted awake, sat up abruptly, and instinctively wanted to run away.