Grand Duke Ferdin

Under the moonlight, in a low clearing.

“Commander…”

Loen muttered unconsciously while gazing at the crackling campfire.

Her expression seemed deep in thought.

“You look troubled. Is it burdensome?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Loen shook her head at Seraphine’s casual question.

It wasn’t particularly burdensome.

This was better than being pushed around by others for no reason.

It was just that she felt she needed to possess skills befitting the increased responsibility.

“I think it’s about time I learned a new specialized magic.”

“Already? You’ve already mastered two?”

Seraphine asked back with an incredulous expression.

Saying such things in front of someone who had only learned one?

Her golden eyebrows twitched slightly.

But Loen was serious.

Through the recent battles, Loen had realized her shortcomings.

That was her vulnerability to fast-moving enemies.

Even imbuing Judgment with guidance properties had clear limitations.

Those beyond 5-star grade had plenty of ways to counter it.

In the case of Planar Cut and Dark Light Sphere,

both were powerful but ultimately area-of-effect magic.

Moreover, the casting process was clearly visible—white lines being drawn and light spheres floating in the air.

Because of this, specialized magic was of little use in the chase battle with top-tier demon Albert.

Therefore, what was needed now was:

‘Faster, more powerful magic effective against single targets.’

Magic that would be particularly lethal to demons…

Such magic was desperately needed.

“That’s true. I’ve learned various spells, but when it comes to magic useful against single targets… Magic Bullet, Judgment, and Electric Lance are about it, right?”

Seraphine also expressed strong agreement with Loen’s continued explanation.

Until now, they hadn’t encountered such powerful enemies, so it hadn’t been a major problem.

But there was no guarantee it would stay that way.

Seraphine stroked her chin in contemplation.

What would be good for the next specialized magic?

If focusing on lightning attributes…

‘Something that allows faster casting while having greater speed and power, like a superior version of Electric Lance?’

Surprisingly, Loen and Seraphine reached similar conclusions.

Well, having experienced the same things, their conclusions would naturally be similar.

Soon, the two mages began drawing blueprints for new magic in their minds.

Considering their natural talents and the combat experience gained during the Western expedition,

developing new specialized magic wouldn’t take very long.

“Ah~ When will I reach 5-star grade~”

Meanwhile, Psyche, hugging her knees with her arms while watching the two, was just poking the campfire with a branch for no reason.

Bored. But knowing this was an important moment to interrupt, it felt awkward to interfere. But still bored. Come to think of it, where did the youngest go? Don’t tell me he’s training again?

Then a sharp battle cry pierced her ears.

When Psyche turned her head, she glimpsed Leus through the trees, sweating profusely while swinging his sword.

Geez. Psyche shook her head.

The sight of him continuing training whenever he had time was truly admirable… rather than that, doesn’t he get tired? That kid is surprisingly tenacious.

Everyone except herself was absorbed in something.

If she were an ordinary person, she would have been influenced by this and done something herself, but unfortunately, Psyche was a dragon-tribe girl far from such things.

Plop.

Psyche lay down beside Loen and blankly counted the stars while gazing at the night sky.

One, two, three… Then she gradually fell asleep.

The next morning.

Loen offered her back to Psyche.

“Get on.”

“Yes. But Loen, aren’t we moving too fast?”

Psyche yawned as she climbed onto Loen’s back.

The Southwest Combined Forces were currently in full-scale Western stabilization operations.

Each Legion’s forces would be recapturing major strongholds and cities from the traitors one by one.

Loen decided to move separately.

She only gave orders to the Magic Battalion and Armored Knight Corps to follow her,

and headed straight for the Grand Duchy’s capital with her companions.

“Time is short, so there’s no choice.”

“I see.”

Of course, Loen wanted to move leisurely too.

But contrary to expectations, she had been tied up at the fortress for nearly two weeks with command-related matters, making it impossible.

She had to go support the Grand Duke before it was too late.

“Hold tight.”

“Yes!”

Soon Loen’s group shot through the air toward the capital.

The streets of the Grand Duchy’s capital were complete chaos.

Priests in white robes, acting as if they were saviors, wore holy expressions while forcing citizens to join their order.

“Believe in the Solar Church! Brothers and sisters! Then you can be safe from those evil demons!”

“I-is that really true?”

A citizen asked with anxious eyes.

“Of course! With just this sacred cross, no vampire will be able to set foot in your house!”

The priest answered with a confident voice while waving a wooden cross.

“The end times are approaching, everyone! You must repent and embrace the Solar Church even now! Only then can you avoid the coming end times and welcome the light of salvation!”

It was clearly absurd apocalyptic preaching.

Yet surprisingly, a considerable number of citizens were kneeling around the priests, offering prayers.

Fear of the vampires that appeared every night had long paralyzed the citizens’ reason.

The order’s fear-mongering worked very well in such desperate situations.

Isn’t it human nature to want to depend on something when times are hard?

The Solar Church was cleverly exploiting that desperation, expanding its influence at a frightening pace.

The current chaos was an unprecedented opportunity for expansion for the order.

At that moment.

Four shadowy figures in gray robes passed through the bustling streets.

They paid no attention to the chaotic atmosphere and silently walked toward the palace where the Grand Duke resided.

In the palace located at the center of the Grand Duchy’s capital.

A meeting about vampire countermeasures was being held in earnest in the great conference room.

Among the major nobles of the Grand Duchy seated around in a circle, there were also scattered figures in white robes.

They were those who had received baptism from the Solar Church.

The meeting went awry from the start.

Sharp shouts directed at each other filled the conference room.

“Your Grace! Please formally request support from the Solar Church before it’s too late! Only they can resolve this situation!”

A noble in white robes shouted with veins bulging in his neck.

“What’s so lacking that we’d ask for help from some religious group! His Grace has requested support from the Franz family, so let’s wait a little longer!”

“Some religious group?! Without the order’s help, who knows how much greater damage would have occurred!”

The Grand Duchy was currently split into two factions:

The loyalists who followed Grand Duke Ferdin and the opposition who were dissatisfied with his rule.

Originally, the Grand Duke’s influence was formidable.

As the Franz family achieved rapid growth, his status rose accordingly.

However, due to the activities of traitors and the proliferation of vampires, the situation had completely reversed.

As a result of various events occurring in succession, Grand Duke Ferdin was currently facing a serious political crisis.

His authority had fallen and public sentiment was boiling.

“Really a complete mess, right?”

“Indeed.”

In a corner of the great conference room, Ria and Babil watched the spectacle with their arms crossed.

The openly revealed traitors had already been executed.

Surprisingly, they had existed in both factions.

In such a situation, it was awkward to act rashly.

During such sensitive times, one had to move even more cautiously.

“Your Grace! The order is ready to step up at any time. So it would be best to make a decision as soon as possible.”

“You’re not trying to use help as an excuse to exert influence over the Grand Duchy?”

“Shut your mouth!”

“What, what did you say?!”

Ria narrowed her eyes.

‘There must be demon minions hiding among those guys too, but I can’t catch any tails.’

Just as she was about to speak to Senior Babil—

“Senior, regarding the Solar Church guys, did you find out anything—”

BANG!

Ria’s words were cut off by a sudden loud noise.

Someone’s sudden intrusion into the great conference room. The panicked voice of a palace butler echoed around.

“W-wait! Without permission, how dare you, ugh!”

Ria and the Senior uncrossed their arms and looked at each other.

What’s this situation now? Indeed.

Four unidentified individuals entered the conference room.

One of them stepped forward and pulled back their hood, finally revealing their identity to all.

A woman with long black hair and impressive red eyes.

It was none other than Loen Franz.

“Gasp…”

“Why is that person here!?”

“Finally, you’ve come!”

“Loen!?”

Amid the surrounding commotion and shock, Grand Duke Ferdin fixed his gaze on Loen with eyes mixed with joy, while Ria looked at her with disbelieving eyes.

Loen gave them a light nod and raised her hand, shouting to everyone.

“Please pay attention, everyone.”

A sudden declaration for attention.

Among those looking at her with puzzled faces at this unexpected situation, there were some trembling with excessive fear. A considerable number of them wore white robes.

In an instant, Loen’s eyes sharply swept over them.

“…”

A heavy sense of oppression began to slowly press down on the entire conference room.

In that suffocating atmosphere,

Loen finally opened her mouth.

“Flash.”

As light flickered, a considerable number of nobles covered their eyes with both arms and burst into complaints along with groans. To suddenly cast magic! It was truly an absurd, unprecedented situation.

“Ugh!”

“What kind of behavior is this!”

“Are you insane!”

However, everyone quickly shut their mouths at the eerie sounds reaching their ears.

They instinctively sensed something was wrong.

Swish!

Starting with the sound of someone’s neck being severed, spine-chilling sounds echoed one after another.

Sharp weapons slicing through skin, cruelly penetrating flesh and muscle. Hot blood gushing like fountains, throats gurgling as if filled with phlegm, and the desperate sounds of dying breaths…

Eventually,

When the nobles slowly opened their eyes as their vision returned:

“!!!”

The situation was already over.

Regardless of affiliation or faction, corpses with missing necks lay everywhere, and the once-splendid conference room floor was now thoroughly soaked with flowing blood.

It was an inevitably chilling and murderous scene that would be forever etched in memory.

Meanwhile, Grand Duke Ferdin, who had been sitting at the head seat,

Joy at the long-awaited support finally arriving, fear at witnessing the noble massacre he had only heard about right before his eyes, and bewilderment at not understanding the current situation…

With an indescribably complex expression, he barely managed to greet Loen.

“L-Loen Inspector. It’s been a while.”

The person who had recognized her potential even before Loen became a senior, offering support along with an artifact gift. Loen gave him the brightest smile possible.

“It’s been a while, Grand Duke Ferdin. I heard you’re facing quite serious internal and external crises.”

“Ah, about that…”

As the Grand Duke’s gaze swept over the blood-soaked interior,

The surviving nobles looked at her with fearful eyes as if witnessing a natural disaster.

In that corner, Senior Ria and Senior Babil, who had witnessed the entire process, stared at Loen with their mouths agape.

Their expressions contained some bewilderment. At times like this, one should be more cautious…?

Taking in those reactions, countless questions and confusion stormed through Grand Duke Ferdin’s mind.

However, he suppressed his countless doubts and

opened his mouth with a faint bitter smile.

“Well, the internal problem seems to have been cleanly resolved with this.”