Lu Cheng carried the sleepy Nuoyi and climbed up to the "lookout point" mentioned by the iron ring.
This lookout point was located on the outer periphery of the second floor of the building. Only half of the stairs remained, but it was surprisingly able to support the combined weight of Lu Cheng and a large backpack of tactical supplies.
"How many people are there?"
Lu Cheng came to Tiehuan, took the telescope from his hand and looked outside through the ruins of the wall.
The sky had become completely dark. The telescope in Lu Cheng's hand did not have night vision function, but a faint white light appeared on the outskirts of the forest in the distance.
Lu Cheng speculated that it was the kind of crystals that could emit light inside the church. The humans in this world used these crystals instead of candles for lighting.
"A total of seven people have been observed so far, and they are all wearing attire similar to armor and chain mail." Tiehuan said.
"Is it the army of this country? Or a reconnaissance team... It doesn't look like it."
Lu Cheng used the telescope to see the location where the light came from. It was a cavalry squad moving slowly forward.
The 'horse' they were riding successfully attracted Lu Cheng's attention. It was not a horse-like creature. It had very long hair all over its body, and it walked on all fours. Its head was a bit like a sloth on Earth.
To describe it in one word is silly and cute.
The fur on the body of this creature used as a mount was stained with a lot of blood, and the "soldiers" sitting on it were not in good condition either.
The style of the armor on the soldiers was a bit like the 'chest armor' of the Roman Empire period on Earth, but only the leading soldier or the leader wore this kind of attire, while those in the back row of the team wore lower-level chain mail.
"It seems they have been attacked, and there are many injured."
Lu Cheng's gaze passed over the leader and looked towards the rear of the team. Most of the soldiers at the rear were injured, and some soldiers' wounds were not properly treated. Lu Cheng could still see blood flowing out of their wounds.
Rather than a reconnaissance team, it would be more appropriate to describe them as soldiers who survived a battlefield, and a major defeat at that.
'That is the banner of the House of Skare.'
Suddenly, the drowsy Nuoyi tugged at Lu Cheng's clothes and showed him the line of words.
"The royal family?"
Lu Cheng put down the telescope in his hand and took a look at the contents of Noy's notebook.
Nuoyi thoughtfully drew a picture of a chicken flapping its wings on his notebook. Lu Cheng looked at the picture and then at the flag held by the group of soldiers.
Lu Cheng is sure that Noy will become a postmodern impressionist painter in the future.
The emblem of Scarre's national flag should be a creature like an eagle. Lu Cheng really doesn't believe that country would use a chicken as its national flag.
"Captain, they are coming towards us, what should we do?"
Feng Kite was holding his sniper rifle in a free-standing sitting position. While he was talking, he had already pointed the muzzle of the gun at the leading and most capable soldier below.
'They should be looking for me.'
Nuoyi showed Lu Cheng the sentence on the notebook again.
"Looking for you?"
When Lu Cheng wanted to find Nuoyi to ask for the details, those people had already arrived near the church, and if he spoke loudly, they might hear him.
"Captain's next instructions?" Tiehuan asked.
Lu Cheng glanced around the second floor. Hiding in the shadows here, he could just see the ruins below. It was an excellent vantage point for observing the town or the interior of the building.
"Hang up." Lu Cheng thought for a while and gave the order, "No... I mean stay where you are."
… …
Survived.
When Hubert Asherlandon passed through the forest and saw the Crescent Town which had become a ruin, the first emotion that emerged in his heart was an incredible emotion.
He used to be the commander of the First Knights of Skare and has been retired for nearly three years.
He was almost sixty-seven years old and should have been enjoying his retirement in his own manor, but half a month ago, Hubert resolutely accepted a secret order from the king and once again took up his weapons that had not yet rusted and set out on a journey.
The reason? Because the country's young people are dying.
Whenever Hubert thought of this, he gripped the reins a little harder.
The blood crystal beasts have been wreaking havoc in this country for a long time. Those monsters have turned the land and people of this country into their food.
Even Hubert's son, grandson, and wife did not escape this disaster.
He is the only one left in his family.
So when Hubert accepted the king's order... he set out with the awareness that he would die.
"Cheer up! We've arrived at Crescent Moon Town!" Hubert shouted loudly to the soldiers behind him.
The soldiers did not respond to Hubert's shouts, but their groans of pain mixed with despair sent a chill down Hubert's spine.
This was originally a cavalry team of thirty people, but only seven were left from the royal capital to Crescent Moon Town.
They encountered attacks from blood crystal beasts several times along the way, and the fact that they were able to survive until now can only be attributed to the protection of the gods.
"General Hubert, I still have some dried meat left."
A 'soldier' in the team came to his side on a walking beast and handed him a piece of dried meat.
"Your Highness Elena, I'm not hungry now. Please share this food with other soldiers."
General Hubert said, looking at the helmeted soldier beside him.
Under the helmet was a pretty face, with a little dust on her cheeks making her look a little dirty, and her red pupils glowed faintly in the darkness.
Elena, the seventeenth princess of the Kingdom of Skarre.
When Hubert first saw her, she was beating her oldest brother to the ground.
As a princess, she should not have appeared on this dangerous frontline battlefield, but her excellent fighting talent did not hinder her in this march.
Her brothers all died or were killed in the rampage of the blood crystal beasts, and finally there were only four princesses left... Only she was willing to take on the burden of her deceased brothers and protect the safety of the people as a soldier in the attack of the blood crystal beasts.
"The other soldiers have already eaten. This is the last portion, General Hubert." Elena stuffed the jerky in her hand back into General Hubert's hand.
"Thank you. And Princess Elena, is the magic power stored in your holy crystal sufficient?" Hubert asked.
"I still have an unused earth vein crystal fragment, which should be able to support one or two battles."
Elena raised her left hand, and on the back of her hand a scarlet crystal was emitting a dim light.
This is the symbol of every country's royal family... the Holy Crystal.
The magic power within the holy crystal can give the people under your command powerful combat power in a short period of time, which is why Elena appears here.
“I hope I can hold on until the end.”
Hubert looked at the town that had turned into ruins. To be honest, he no longer had any hope for this mission.