episode_0059

On this sunny morning, a time when most people would still be fast asleep, all members of the Breitna family were bustling about, busily preparing for something.

Today marked the departure to the snowy mountains, so there was no time to spare in checking the conditions of the warhorses and organizing the deployment due to the significant movement of elite fighters within the family.

While nominally the commander-in-chief of the Breitna family’s forces was the patriarch, Carman, the current command authority here was held by Isabella, who had a few elite warriors and the Holy Maiden following her lead.

Responding first to Ian’s request, Isabella had diligently gathered the best magicians and priests she could bring along without omission.

In a martial clan like this one, professions such as magicians and priests were not common sights. Those selected by the Holy Maiden were not only rare talents but also held crucial roles as they could be responsible for the lives of the elite troops being deployed this time.

Furthermore, using the discerning eyes of Cecilia and Yuria, some skilled individuals were selected from a few mercenaries and hired. This was followed by thorough background checks on Yuria’s mercenaries, just completed moments ago.

“They won’t take this seriously enough to risk their lives.”

At least if they can be somewhat useful.

This isn’t a small-scale operation, and if what Rachel warned about happens, it’s likely to escalate into a large-scale hunt. They shouldn’t expect too much from them.

These mercenaries weren’t called upon for group movements. Most of them were gathered for infiltration, reconnaissance, and scouting purposes due to their swiftness. Some were even organized into separate squads.

It was more efficient to have Cecilia’s knights, trained through Yuria’s hellish regimen, form the front lines rather than employing those who couldn’t handle themselves properly.

In terms of pure combat power…

Yuria: 200,000

Me: 30,000

Isabella: 15,000

Rachel: 10,000

Cecilia: 10,000

Numerically speaking, this was the situation. However, when combined with Yuria’s strengthened relatives and others, they were a top-tier force capable of easily capturing at least a city.

After finalizing the formation, while riding in the carriage, reports from the scouts sent ahead began to come in.

They thoroughly searched from the entrance to the middle section of the Snowy Mountains, but found nothing. That’s what they reported.

In the calm interior of the luxurious carriage, akin to the calm before a storm on the eve of battle, everyone tensed up as something approached closer and closer.

“…So, when do you plan to detach that one next to you?” Rachel asked Yuria, giving a subtle hint, as Yuria clung to me like a medal around my neck.

In response, Yuria, leaning against my neck with her arm, stared intently at Rachel with narrowed crimson eyes.

“I don’t directly consume blood other than my master’s. Moreover, thanks to the special bond I share with my master, his blood helps me accumulate strength. For a vampire, it’s best to reserve blood consumption for when it’s truly necessary.”

“Have you forgotten there are other watching eyes here?”

“That’s not my concern.”

“Because of you, Ian has been under your control for 8 hours! He looks uncomfortable… Still-”

“Ian. Are you uncomfortable?”

Yuria casually tilted her head with an expression that said, “Really?” as she asked.

Damn it. Let’s keep our composure, guys. We’re heading towards the climax of the story.

I made an effort to manage my expression as best as I could in response.

“…No, I’m fine.”

“See? Did you hear that, Rachel?”

“Why are you making such a big deal out of it…! Get away already, I can stand beside him now-”

In a moment of truth revealing itself, Rachel blushed, coughing awkwardly and reddening the tips of her ears.

The saintess, leaning on me with a detached gaze, was dozing off.

It seemed essential to maintain divine power. With a dazed expression for two days now, I was starting to worry.

“If a large-scale battle were to occur, I would be constantly occupied. Dealing with those monsters who fear not death and push forward in hordes, erasing memories through the dominion’s command consumes a significant amount of magic. Even without that, I have the most tasks to undertake. To do so, I must keep drinking Ian’s blood.”

Rachel sighed, impressed by Uriah’s convincing explanation for why she needed to be embraced. She shook her head.

“…You don’t even pretend to be a maid anymore.”

“We are a legitimate couple. A family. There is no master-servant relationship here. If the master desires it… Although it has happened several times at night, being a slave maid doesn’t matter.”

Their hands were still, only their lips moving. Why did it seem like they were about to overturn the table and engage in a deadly conflict?

What would Cecilia say if she saw this?

She wouldn’t care.

As the dawn slowly retreated, which seemed capable of freezing everything outside the window, the bright sun rose defiantly against the cold, allowing us to reach the snowy mountain.

The knights, fully prepared, stood in formation, their eyes sharp and unwavering like finely honed swords, gazing at the snowy mountain without a hint of wavering.

Just by feeling the amount of magic emanating from them, it was evident they were exceptional.

The spectacle of magical energies shimmering in different colors before my eyes, each resembling small pillars, made me realize the grand stage I had stepped onto and the awe-inspiring feeling of commanding them.

And then it happened.

His eyes widened at the urgent report from the scout who had rushed in.

Beyond the snowy mountain.

It was sensed.

With extrasensory perception, sharing characteristics with Uriah, he felt a presence that could rival hers.

And those senses were roaring within me.

“…There isn’t much time left until the day the dragon will be resurrected.”

It’s probably due to the butterfly effect caused by the ‘variables’ I created.

As if to prove them right.

Variables began occurring from the very beginning.

…

The entrance to the cave.

As reported by the previous scout, the snowy mountain was eerily silent, as if devoid of any life.

But, oddly enough, that was even more unsettling.

The absence of any sound means that there are no sounds of common rodents stepping on leaves, or even the chirping of birds.

“…They’ve all been devoured.”

Seeing the abandoned bird nests and broken eggs, Rachel remarked briefly.

Following this, as they entered the cave to meet the scouting party, a chilling scream echoed, halting their steps.

A red dot, visible within, appeared frantic, as if fleeing from something.

The eerie human screams reverberating throughout the cave.

…Mercenaries have fallen, or at least it’s not a good sign.

Subsequently, Isabella and Rachel signaled, swiftly entering the cave.

There was no time to waste.

If they were still alive, or if the situation was different, they needed to make contact quickly.

“…They’re already springing out as if to devour us.”

Uriah, narrowing her eyes, spoke ominously, sensing distinctly from far within the cave.

The cave was trembling.

Or rather, the ground was shaking gradually.

The number of them beyond the entire cave could be felt even from outside.

As if trying to burst out forcefully from within, the distinct sound of insects, amplified by heightened hearing, along with the crunching and chewing noises, involuntarily put the body on edge, sending a chilling shiver down the spine—a signal that automatically triggered a state of alertness.

Pwoo-! The horn resounded.

-Slurk!

“-Everyone! Prepare for battle!”

Drawing her long sword from her waist, Cecilia shouted towards the front of the cave with a thunderous voice, as if lightning was striking.

Now it was a distance visible to the naked eye.

All eyes focused on them.

The first sight of dozens of unfamiliar demons seemed natural, and large-scale horse-like creatures with three heads were also emerging. Among them, the most prominent was a hydra pulling in the limbs of a mercenary whose breath had already ceased, as if it would tear in three directions.

It was a gruesome sight.

Apart from the torn body as if subjected to all kinds of insults, looking at the faces of the corpses enjoying agonizing screams in a painful manner after being torn apart revealed that these creatures indeed possessed the nature of demons.

And that’s not all.

“…Are they already prepared for the infected marionettes?”

“Marionettes?”

“They might not have the immense scale like before, but even one breath poses a threat. With their tenacious regenerative abilities and tough scales, killing them is no easy task… And it’s not just one; there are three.”

Rachel gazed at the creatures rising in the sky with a face that seemed to recall bad memories or burn with intensity.

Following her advice, the demon creatures had no strategy or tactics. It was all about a headlong charge.

Blitz tactics.

At a glance, it was evident that the creatures flowing out of the cave in the hundreds were already approaching this place like a natural disaster.

Yes. The battle had already begun. From the moment we set foot in this nest, Mount Seol.