Purgatory (4)

“Kerberos.”

Kerberos recalled her time at the demon military academy. Back then, Staufen was a special instructor teaching her. Called suddenly just before graduating from the military academy, she frowned when she heard Staufen calling her name in a stiff tone.

“I hear you got engaged to Daemon?”

“Yes, instructor.”

Kerberos’s tone was stiffer than ever. Staufen shook his head, clicked his tongue, and looked at her with pitying eyes. Kerberos couldn’t understand his disapproving gaze and instead just frowned.

“I don’t think that’s a good choice.”

Kerberos didn’t ask why. Staufen couldn’t possibly say anything bad about the Demon King’s offspring. But she also knew the reason for Staufen’s opposition. A profligate, talentless ruffian who acts out relying only on his bloodline.

“My engagement is my personal family matter. It’s not something for you to voice your opinion on, regardless of what you think, instructor. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this conversation.”

Kerberos said that and turned around. Staufen looked at her back and said:

“Under an incompetent commander, neither strategy nor ability is of any use. You probably won’t even have a chance to use your skills. Do you think you’re such a great commander that you can cover up the commander’s incompetence?”

That was a kind of verbal abuse. Emotional and crossing the line. Kerberos didn’t get excited by Staufen’s irrational and personal remarks. She calmly said:

“Nothing changes by saying that. Because no one would entrust a frontline commander position to someone of traitor origin.”

Staufen stroked his chin and closed his mouth. Kerberos didn’t give him a glance. The door closed and the sound of walking in the corridor faded away. Staufen watched her back as she crossed the playground. Her back figure looking blurry like a dot.

A carriage rolled up to greet her, and Staufen muttered while stroking his chin.

“I wanted to go there too, Kerberos.”

---

When Kerberos first took charge of this military camp, she thought the walls were higher and longer than expected. Because it could quickly penetrate into the heart of the kingdom, it had deep moats, and reinforced defenses with palisades in front and behind the solid walls.

There was a village behind, making supplies easy, and the advantage of open roads made it convenient to receive troop support.

“C-Commander. What should we do?”

Kerberos saw soldiers filling the horizon. It seemed there would be soldiers left over even after surrounding the walls in layers, and it looked like they could easily jump over the walls with just a short ladder. And at the front line, a man who shouldn’t be there was sitting on a horse.

“Kerberos.”

And that man called Kerberos’s name in a sly and unpleasant voice.

His huge horns and drooping mustache revealed his nature.

A vile and cruel demon. He didn’t hesitate to do anything to prove himself, and mercilessly eliminated any being that wasn’t useful to him. Kerberos said:

“I heard you were stationing troops up there, but you abandoned the main force and ran away?”

To Kerberos’s question, Staufen nodded and retorted.

“Call me instructor, you insolent girl.”

His tone was harsh, but there was no sign of anger in his expression or voice. Kerberos calmly composed herself and said:

“Retreat. There’s nothing you want here.”

“No. Everything I want is here.”

Kerberos’s words were nonsense. Telling him to retreat was merely a slip of the tongue proving her own weakness rather than a threat. Staufen shook his head with a satisfied expression and pointed at her neck, saying:

“Are you willing to fight risking your life?”

“I won’t let you take a single step on this land.”

“Interesting. The girl who used to bring up my traitor status is now willing to risk her life fighting for this tiny piece of land. You whore of the Demon King’s army. Was the man you met this time good in bed? You’re even willing to risk your life, which you didn’t stake last time.”

Laughter spread from the demon side. Staufen provoked Kerberos with a grinning face, and Kerberos glared at him while taking a deep breath. Then she shouted to the soldiers in a small voice. When hearing insulting words, she shouldn’t give the soldiers time to dwell on and think about them.

She had to keep them as busy as possible so they couldn’t think about anything.

“Everyone prepare for battle. Archers take your positions, soldiers raise your shields.”

The soldiers began to move. The process of preparing for war was full of fear. One soldier said in a fearful tone:

“Are we going to fight when their numbers are so large?”

“Then are you planning to open the gates for them?”

Staufen laughed as he watched the soldiers move in unison and raised his arm. The soldiers spread out on the wide field didn’t seem to intend to charge. Staufen said:

“I don’t like fighting that much. I don’t want to see civilians sacrificed either.”

Kerberos bit her lip.

Staufen said:

“What I want is the head of that evil traitor, Kerberos. If you hand over that head, I’ll guarantee the safety of the village. Even after the war ends, I’ll take responsibility and help this village continue to survive.”

Kerberos shouted:

“Stop talking nonsense!”

After shouting, she thought she had been drawn in. Her excessive reaction was proof that this threat was actually effective. She took a deep breath and looked around. The soldiers were still moving diligently, but there were clearly some glancing around.

Kerberos thought.

Will they really trust me?

Will they really not betray me against that military force?

Kerberos realized that she herself didn’t deeply trust these people either. So she didn’t talk about this subject. She opened her mouth while avoiding eye contact:

“….This fortress is solid, and we’re close to the capital. If we can hold out until reinforcements arrive, it’s our victory.”

“Do you think you can stop this military force? The frontline troops have already been annihilated! Can you see their necks!”

Staufen spread his arms wide and boasted of his military force. And behind such a Staufen, the necks of soldiers were brought on carts. At Staufen’s nod, a catapult rolled up, loaded with the heads of commanders, and fired them.

The heads that soared high into the sky fell in the middle of the village with thud, thud sounds.

“Kyaaaaa!”

“Uaaaaaaah!”

The civilians who confirmed the heads screamed, and Staufen’s voice rang out louder.

“I’m trying to show you mercy! Because I too was once not part of the Demon King’s army! I can understand your fear and terror!”

The soldiers’ faces were tinged with fear and terror. Kerberos said:

“…Don’t waver. That guy isn’t like that. He’s the coldest and most garbage-like person, farthest from mercy. This is just a deception tactic.”

“Humans! Don’t you understand even after seeing those heads! The only one who can protect you here is that one demon! Are you saying you’ll risk your lives for that demon! We came to punish that traitor! Kerberos’s head! If you give us just that, we’ll guarantee your safety!”

Kerberos took a deep breath.

She must not waver.

Because she was the commander,

But.

Will these villagers really fight together for her sake?

Can they keep enduring even after hearing those words?

Kerberos couldn’t meet the villagers’ eyes.

She deliberately avoided looking at the soldiers’ gazes now, feeling like she might crumble if she saw them.

Staufen’s voice was heard. He somehow seemed in a good mood. As he drew his sword, the soldiers raised their weapons as if they had been waiting. When the large army simultaneously drew their weapons on the plain, the sound alone made the soldiers shrink back.

“If you insist on seeing blood, I have no choice! Don’t blame us after you’re dead!”

Following Staufen’s loud voice, a soldier blew the war trumpet.

Kerberos knew all too well the majestic trumpet sound and the flow that followed.

A tidal wave carrying ladders would rush in.

That tidal wave would spout demon war cries, accompanied by vicious spears and swords, and smash into the castle walls to kill innocent people.

Kerberos thought of the porter’s face.

She bit her lip, recalling the faces of the hero’s party that had gone on the mission.

Somehow, she had to hold out until reinforcements arrived that could defeat Staufen.

She shouted:

“All troops! Stop them! We must hold out until support arrives! Don’t let them trample this land!”

The soldiers responded with tense expressions and lowered their bodies.

Kerberos tried hard to draw her sword and rush out to forget her confused and fearful heart.

The tidal wave is coming.

A huge tidal wave was rushing in to break down the castle walls and kill people.