As Kane’s close aide, Gerard knew very well that this Guardian Knight, ugly as sin and with a smile worse than a sob, was actually a man who wasn’t good with words, yet was warm‑hearted and genuinely kind.
On days without missions, his lord would always put on a thick cloak, hide his real face, and walk the streets.
He handed out money to the poor.
He helped old grandmothers cross the road.
He played house with little kids.
He carried water for pretty widows.
Any good deed he could do, he would do.
Whenever Gerard asked why, Kane never answered. But every time he finished helping someone, that hideous face of his would always show a slightly delighted smile.
Obviously, this time his lord Kane had seen that soldier’s brave and tragic stand, and couldn’t suppress the compassion bursting out of his heart.
But that clearly clashed with Her Highness the Saintess’s plan.
“My lord, you acted on impulse.”
“It’s fine. Her Highness only wanted us to ambush the demon army inside the city. We go out now and lure them in, it’s the same thing.”
Kane’s completely unconcerned tone made Gerard’s mouth twitch.
Her Highness clearly meant: lie in ambush in the city. You’ve completely twisted her intentions!
But this brave knight also knew his lord’s “fault.”
Expecting this warm‑hearted Kane to stand there and watch that heroic soldier die for nothing was absolutely impossible.
Yet how were they supposed to explain this to the Saintess?
“My lord, what you just said… Her Highness won’t buy that.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take full responsibility.”
Gerard was about to cry.
When Her Highness punished them later, how was he supposed to endure it?
And yet… though his face was full of helplessness, what filled Gerard’s heart even more was a deep, bone‑deep respect.
In The Brilliance, the honor of a Guardian Knight ranked second only to the Knights of Punishment. Many Guardians cared a lot about the people under them, but they still kept that lofty, looking‑down‑from‑above mindset.
In their eyes, ordinary folks might live tough lives, but that was just how it should be.
The man in front of him was different. He was the reason Gerard, already level fifty‑two, hid his true strength and followed him with absolute loyalty.
Because of this.
Lord Kane never judged a person by status or looks.
Maybe… it was because he’d grown up in a ruined noble family.
But whatever the reason, Gerard had silently thanked the heavens countless times that The Brilliance had a true “knight” like him.
To follow such a man, even while hiding his level, was something Gerard accepted willingly.
“Temple Knight” was actually a kind of title. From the lowest Diligent Knights up to the highest Holy Knights, all were titles granted by the Saint Church.
There were a lot of rules behind them. The most important: every knight bearing a title had to believe in the Saint Church.
There were plenty of high‑level powerhouses among common folk, but if they didn’t believe in the Saint Church, they couldn’t receive a title.
These titles boosted one’s strength. The stronger the title, the more buffs it granted.
These were all powers given by the gods.
Besides that, a Temple Knight’s title came with unmatched honor and privileges.
All Temple Knights enjoyed the status and treatment of nobles.
Gerard looked at the back in front of him.
Lord Kane was always like this. Silently standing at the very front for everyone else, facing every hardship head‑on, then showing a relieved, joyful smile once the danger had passed.
His smile was never for himself, but for others.
“My lord, if you want to lure the demons into the West City, you’ll have to fight them first.”
Gerard glanced around, then spoke in a low voice behind Kane.
Because of Kane’s noble character, many knights followed him from the bottom of their hearts.
Among all the knights, aside from Will Kevin—The Brilliance’s, and even the entire Moon State’s strongest knight—the number of knights serving under Kane was the highest.
Over a thousand of them.
And you had to know, all the knights in The Brilliance added together only numbered a little over four thousand.
Kane’s forces alone inside the city were more than a thousand men, and every one of them was at least a Hope Knight or higher.
Their minimum level was twenty.
“Mm. How’s the evacuation of the citizens going?”
Without turning his head, Kane faced the Demonlized beastmen. Even with tens of thousands of demons before him, his expression didn’t change. He was still worried about the situation inside the city.
“Reporting, my lord, the citizens of West City have all been evacuated. According to Her Highness the Saintess’s orders, we’re all hidden in the alleys and side streets. This time’s… this…”
“Street battle. That’s what Her Highness called this kind of warfare.”
“Yes, this street battle will definitely land the demon army a heavy blow right at the start!”
Gerard couldn’t help admiring the Saintess. In the past, when was there ever a battle like this?
Whether it was the Saint Church, the elves, the dwarves, or even the beastmen.
Every race’s wars were always two armies lining up, facing each other head‑on, giving it their all in a single clash.
Yet the Saintess had thought of using their familiarity with the city layout to ambush the demon army.
This strategy of “we get ambushed but turn it into our ambush” was something Gerard had never even heard of before.
Maybe this kind of fighting wasn’t very honorable. But facing the demon army, who still cared about honor?
“Good. In that case…”
Kane turned around and glanced at the hundred‑plus knights.
“You know my rule.”
Gerard answered at once.
“Rest assured, my lord. All one hundred and thirty‑seven have been fully registered. Every one of them has adult siblings at home, parents who can be supported, and they’re all from large families with many children.”
Kane said nothing more. He just nodded slightly, a trace of ferocity flashing in his eyes.
“Warriors!”
“Oh!!”
One hundred and thirty‑seven Temple Knights raised their lances high, answering the lord they followed with all their hearts.
Hearing their shout, Kane stared expressionlessly at the sea of Demonlized beastmen and lifted his greatsword.
“Follow me… kill!”
“Kill!!”
The roar of the Temple Knights shook heaven and earth.
There were no clerics, no magi, no support professions of any kind, yet the knights showed not a hint of fear.
One hundred and thirty‑seven horses raised their hooves high and slammed them down onto the ground.
Knight Legion war‑formation skill—[Trampling Intimidation].
Boom!
A thunderous rumble exploded outward, dust rising from the ground. One hundred and thirty‑seven warhorses let out piercing screams in unison.
A wave of force surged out from the knights’ formation. Every Demonlized beastman caught in it showed instant, raw terror on their faces.
Looking at the fear twisting those Demonlized faces, Kane let out a furious roar and raised his silver greatsword high.
The counterattack led by Her Highness the Saintess had begun.
