Naturally, everyone was very impressed.
The light of the Houston Kingdom Army.
Sparing his own body for his patients.
'The Light of the Foreign Lands. Not only is he warm and compassionate, but he's also brave.'
"I will join you!"
"No, I will go with you! We Lan warriors do not indulge in such valorous deeds!"
Raymond and Macapell III put their hands up, and many volunteers came forward.
Not all could join them, so the best were chosen.
Muhad of the Lan.
He was the second strongest of the Lan warriors, a knight of the rank of Sword Expert.
Note that the strongest warriors stayed behind to lead the Lan army.
And Elmud was next.
The self-proclaimed top genius of the Kingdom of Houston.
He was a knight of Expert Advanced rank, and his heart fluttered with excitement at the sight of Raymond.
'This is my greatest joy as a Relief Knight, to be able to protect my lord by his side. I would give my life and soul to make sure that not a single hair on his body is harmed!'
Elmud, although seemingly a fool, felt honored to be entrusted with the task of protecting Raymond.
On the side of the Kingdom of Droton, the loyal Viscount Thys, a knight of the rank of Sword Expert, also stood among them.
With three Sword Expert Advanced members, the Order now boasted the most powerful lineup they had ever assembled.
Additionally, five Expert Beginners, including Christine and Rao, strengthened their forces.
It was astounding how much power an Expert Beginner could wield within a small or medium-sized Knighthood and still be regarded as an advanced core knight.
Despite their modest numbers, they were more than capable of overwhelming a small knighthood!
'Good, so even if we encounter a few enemies, we shouldn't be in any danger!'
Raymond said confidently, relieved.
''We'll set out as soon as it gets dark."
The plan involved drawing attention to the Lan soldiers attacking the south gate.
The few castle defenders would be forced to focus on the south gate, leaving the other gates neglected.
At that point, the Order would infiltrate the palace and open the northern gate, which was closest to the palace.
They would enter the star wing, secretly waiting near the northern gate, and would then enter the castle and capture it.
Luckily, there was a good hiding spot for my troops near the north gate.
'And I'll get the credit for taking the castle. Perfect!'
Raymond beamed with satisfaction as he walked down the secret passage.
Even in the darkness of the secret passage, his face was bright.
'Huhu. If all goes well and the war is over, I'll be Super Rich.'
He fantasized happily.
This once far-fetched dream was now within reach, just around the corner.
The thought of being wealthy and enjoying beef all the time brought a wide smile to his face.
As he immersed himself in his daydream, Christine, who was also present, interrupted his thoughts.
"Are you happy that this strategy will reduce the sacrifices of soldiers?"
"..."
"I know you're always thinking about the soldiers. I'm trying to emulate that kind of Master."
"..."
Beside him, Rao chimed in.
"You're right, Princess. His heart is always full of loyalty and Noblesse Oblige."
Truth be told, Rao was still sometimes confused.
His genius intuition was sounding a warning.
But Rao was unshakable now.
He was a great man! Such doubts are the result of ugly jealousy! He suppressed his doubts firmly.
'I can tell by the way he's taking the initiative now. He has nothing but the best interests of others in his heart.'
"I, Rao, I will definitely emulate you."
"..."
Finally, Elmud said.
"My lord... No, I don't think I should imitate my Master. How dare I! I am only your servant... No, I am content to be my master's hands and feet!"
Raymond was silenced by the chorus of fools.
'By the way, Elmud, why does that sweet potato fool keep calling me Lord? Does he want me to die at the hands of the Marquis of Aris?'
It was Elmud, the sweet potato, who he had clearly told not to call him lord, but was still blabbering away.
Now everyone around him knows that Elmud serves Raymond as his lord.
'... Now I don't know. I wonder what will happen.'
Meanwhile, the young King Macapell III looked at Raymond and the others with envy.
'They have a lot of faith. They all have a lot of respect for Baron Penin, which is to be expected after all he has done for them.'
Macapell III clenched his fists.
'When I grow up, will I be like Baron Penin?'
Macapell III thought of Baron Penin's past.
A scorned bastard, and yet here he was, a shining light in the Hustonian army.
The loyalty of those around him is so strong it's a wonder.
'...I want to be like him.'
The young king hoped in his heart that when he grew up, he could be like Raymond.
And so, without realizing it, Raymond became a role model for the young king.
King Macapell III impulsively asked.
"Baron Penin, may I ask you a favor?"
"Go ahead."
"When the war is over, would you be willing to be my tutor?"
"...!"
Raymond looked at Macapell III in surprise.
Macapell III shook his head, embarrassed by his own words.
"O-of course, I'm not asking you to become my formal teacher, that would be difficult given the circumstances... I'm just asking you to drop by when you have time and teach..."
At that point, Macapell III had turned red.
He looked at Raymond's eyes with a glowing expression!
'...What? Are you serious?'
Raymond was dumbfounded.
King Macapell III's eyes were glowing.
What could he say?
They were like the eyes of a young boy gazing at a hero, which made him feel even more uneasy.
Raymond coughed in vain.
"...My inadequate teaching is not worthy."
"I-it is not inadequate! If you are not worthy enough, who would dare to call you my teacher?"
He tried to deny it, but he flinched.
Raymond hesitated, then nodded.
It occurred to him that he had nothing to lose.
This wouldn't be a bad thing.
Being King Droton's honorary tutor would be great publicity.
Raymond saw the people of Droton's kingdom as potential patients.
So becoming the King's honorary teacher would be a great way to promote his practice!
"Very well, I'll be sure to stop by from time to time and give you some guidance.
"I will be waiting for you, so please do come."
The young king smiled broadly.
It was the smile of a child, not a king, but a child of his own age, and that was how they talked.
The secret passage came to an end.
They had arrived at Droton Castle.
***
The secret passageway was surprisingly connected to the palace.
"..."
King Macapell III glared at his throne.
He had been driven out in disgrace by Archduke Berard, and now he was back.
Macapell III choked up and thanked Raymond.
"I thank you. Baron Penin, it is because of you that I have been able to return to the throne like this."
Raymond shook his head.
"No. Our work is not done yet, and we must move quickly."
Truth be told, Raymond was beginning to feel a little uneasy.
He was afraid that once they entered the castle, they would be faced with enemies.
"Come on, let's get to the north gate. Once we open it, this mission will be over."
King Macapell III nodded. He returned to the castle, but not to his throne. The throne would not be truly reclaimed until Berard was defeated.
"Understood, I'll be on my way."
And then it happened!
An eerie voice rang out.
"My, my, my. I was forced to remain in the castle for personal reasons, and to be greeted by such an honored guest."
A figure emerged from the darkness.
A man who appeared to be in his mid-forties.
A razor-sharp energy radiated from his entire body.
A long scar ran across the corner of his eye.
"It's been a long time, Great Scarecrow King of Droton."
The mocking voice sent a shiver down the young king's spine.
"Kalis! Why are you here?"
The voice was filled with fear.
Raymond was startled.
'Kalis, the second-ranked knight of the Droton Kingdom?'
There were two famous knights in the Kingdom of Droton.
The first was Sword Master Count Alfonso.
He had been at the forefront of the battlefield during this war and had fought Duke Leif several times.
The second was Kalis.
Someone who is close to being a Sword Master.
'What's wrong with him? Wasn't he always following Archduke Berard closely?'
Kalis had a different role than Count Alfonso.
If Count Alfonso was the beast of the field, he was Berard's dog.
A lazy dog who only stuck by Berard's side.
"..."
Macapell III shuddered in fear of meeting Kalis.
Kalis was a nobleman who had risen through the ranks of the commoners.
He had a bloodline complex, and he felt superior to the nobility.
As the most favored confidant of the Archduke of Berard, the nobles looked the other way when he insulted them, and Archduke Berard used Kalis to humiliate the young king.
As a result, King Macapell III suffered several unforgettable and terrible humiliations at the hands of Kalis.
The memories became traumatizing and crushed the young king's spirit.
'Damn it, we're running into a powerhouse like this. This wasn't in the cards.'
Raymond bit his lip, and then Elmud stepped in front of him.
"Don't worry, my lord. I will protect you."
He said in a determined voice.
"The sword that protects my lord is unbreakable, so as long as you have me, I will not lose! I will win!"
The others drew their swords as well.
Muhad, warrior of the Lan, Viscount Thys, loyalist of Droton, and other sword-experts.
Glowing mana blades lit up the battlefield.
At the sight of them, Raymond felt a surge of confidence.
'Yes, no matter how strong our opponent is, one man. The odds are in our favor!'
The enemy, Kalis, was technically an Expert Advanced.
He was close to being a Sword Master, but not quite there yet.
There was a world of difference between the two, so their power would be enough to overpower him.
Just then, he remembered a message.
[In times of crisis, the effect of the "Guardian Doctor of the Battlefield" attribute will be activated!]
[Your skill, 'Heart of Steel', will be strengthened by the "Guardian Doctor of the Battlefield"attribute effect!]
A steadfast will enveloped his heart.
Like a message, it felt more powerful than usual.
It allowed Raymond to look at Kalis without trembling, but that wasn't all.
[Confirm that the opponent is a 'jerk'!]
[The opponent's 'Jerk level' is confirmed to be 'Very High'!]
[Skill, 'Jerk Coping Mechanism' is manifested!]
Was it because he had disgraced the young king?
Kalis was categorized as a "real jerk."
Raymond thought of an easier way to get to him.
"Do you happen to like shit?"