episode_0163

Kati crossed the border alone and entered the beginning of a no-man’s land.

It was not a violation of orders or a desertion.

I came here after receiving permission from the commander of the No Man’s Land garrison.

The purpose was simple.

If you deal with all the monsters that will cross the border in advance, your rest time will be longer.

Then I will be able to talk more leisurely and for a longer time with Ian.

With that in mind, Kati massacred many monsters in advance at the beginning of the no-man’s land.

Now all that’s left is to go back and secretly contact Ian.

“… ?”

Kati noticed a deep scratch.

The clear marks on the sand were large and the targets were not just one or two.

Not only was it swept away, but the footprints of several monsters were also overlapped.

The direction is southeast from here.

Although the possibility is small, it may be possible to bypass the barrier and enter human territory.

Kati took out the imaging mirror and contacted the garrison commander.

-What’s going on?

“Multiple traces of movement leading to the southeast were discovered. Do you track it?”

-Southeast, southeast… . Ah, it’ll be okay. I know what you’re worried about, but to the southeast there is an unexplored mountain range that even humans have not yet fully explored. It’s impossible for monsters to pass through there.

“Is that so.”

The garrison commander added with a leisurely smile.

-Maybe if a manticore is with us.

“Manticore?”

-The leader of the dark army, Manticore. Haven’t you heard of it too?

I know that Kati heard it from Ian.

No, it’s a name you can’t possibly know even if you haven’t heard it from Ian.

The time when Ian was in charge of the first warrior party.

The person who almost killed him was none other than an elite soldier of the Dark Legion.

The only reason Katy asked this question was because she felt uneasy for no reason.

-He’s an unusual guy who disappears and then appears right before your eyes. They say it looks like some sort of teleportation… . Anyway, it is said that he can move quickly with certain monsters.

“… … .”

-But, isn’t it a bit strange that the Manticore would take a detour? I heard that the corps commander has reason and can understand language. If they are going to show up, it makes more sense to attack the wall where all the important figures of humanity are gathered. Or will they attack a place where a simultaneous subjugation of the corps commander is currently in progress?

That was correct.

Currently, there are only minimal forces left in the human territory inside the wall to maintain security.

If you raid that territory, you might be able to take it down easily.

However, even so, the benefit gained from the Demon King’s army is small.

It is much more beneficial for them to target the gateway where many elites are missing in order to simultaneously subdue the corps commander.

-The last few days have been quiet, with no sightings.

The garrison commander’s reasoning was reasonable.

“… I will return.”

Kati, who had been looking toward the southeast, turned around.

Time is too late.

I have to go back and have one more word with Ian.

*

“Is that a person…? .”

Someone muttered next to me.

Lucia also agreed with that statement.

Due to the fierce battle, the surrounding terrain was in disarray.

In the huge pit that had formed in the middle, a knight with flowing blonde hair was fighting.

The opponent was a snake hundreds of times the size of the knight.

It seemed that the knight was not even a bite away from the snake.

Wyrm, commander of the 4th Corps and commander of the Stealth Corps.

It was a monster that moved stealthily underground and then attacked.

Because of its characteristics, starting a fight was difficult.

Kylie’s answer was simple.

He becomes the bait, predicts the route, and overturns the entire land in the area.

It was an ignorant strategy, but it was possible with Kylie’s power.

We did pull Wyam up on the ground, but that was just the beginning.

Dealing with that transcendent monster was no easy task.

Fortunately, no one could get in their way due to the monster’s physique and Kylie’s strength.

The warriors who came to support fought against other monsters amidst a weak earthquake.

‘Isn’t that the real monster over there?’

Lucia thought as she cut down the monster carriage.

‘The size and density of the force are all formidable.’

She was looking at Kylie.

I was shocked when I saw it before.

The appearance of dozens of sword energy being released in a dense manner, spreading out like a circle.

It was a shocking experience for Lucia, who could only use two feet at the time.

‘In the first place, fighting back against such a large monster with only a sword… .’

The sight of him fighting alone, without anyone else’s support, was spectacular.

As a human, I hate it, but honestly, it was like a hero from a myth.

‘It’s so hard… .’

It’s far away, but clearly visible.

Blood was dripping from his mouth, his legs were trembling as if they might break at any moment, and his shoulders were creaking every time he repelled Wybum’s attack.

Nevertheless, Kylie gritted her teeth and endured.

“Argh-!”

As soon as someone screamed, Lucia fired her gauntlet in that direction.

-thud!

The buffalo monster that tried to trample the fallen warrior was hit in the face and staggered.

Lucia, who followed like a gauntlet’s tail, immediately decapitated the buffalo.

Instead of stopping there, he throws the hatchet at the gliding flying monster, making it hesitate.

He jumped on the back of a water buffalo that had not yet collapsed and cut the staggering monster in half in the air.

“Are you okay?”

“Thank you… .”

Kylie is also a monster, but the other warriors thought Lucia was a monster as well.

‘A person who hasn’t even been a year old has already reached this point… .’

Lucia’s growth was remarkable.

It’s not just her.

The fruits actively participated in both large and small battles, gaining experience with fierce momentum.

‘It’s scary. Maybe I can surpass Kylie.’

That’s what everyone thought when they looked at Lucia.

at that time.

“Ugh! It’s dangerous!”

Someone shouted, looking in Kylie’s direction.

Kylie’s shoulders drooped helplessly.

Wyam opened his mouth towards her.

It looked as if Wyam was eating it, but it looked different to Lucia.

‘… no way.’

“What should I do?! Should I run away?!”

“What are you talking about! Go and save Kylie!”

“We can’t face that monster alone!”

While everyone is confused.

The moment Wyam’s mouth covered Kylie, Lucia saw.

The sight of Kylie lifting her head and taking a leap.

*

Black maw with a fishy smell falls, blocking the sky.

Kylie stared at it with calm, sunken eyes, then immediately jumped up.

‘No matter how strong he is, his body isn’t strong at all.’

This is a reckless operation.

However, as with most operations, the more dangerous it is, the more certain victory and rewards are guaranteed when successful.

Kylie jumped into the throat that opened to swallow her with her sword raised.

My vision quickly darkened.

The fishy smell became stronger.

Kylie’s black at the end.

-Phew!

It stabbed me somewhere in my throat.

-Karrr!

Wyam trembled and cried.

The inside shakes without mercy.

I feel weak.

The body is already at its limit.

It feels like the hand holding the sword will slip, but I grit my teeth and hold on.

It is endured not by physical strength but by mental strength and will.

“Fuck… . I can’t die like this, I can’t die… .”

I haven’t even apologized yet.

There is no shame in dying from a snake like this.

Kylie raised her whole body’s mana again.

Swords that have not been refined through magic consume extreme mana.

Just shooting puts a lot of strain on your body.

‘Even that kind of sword skill isn’t enough right now. ‘I definitely have to end my life here.’

This is an opportunity that will never come again.

If you slip, you will die, not Wyam.

If you don’t fight to the death, you will die.

Send mana to the sword and spurt it out.

It’s not about shooting sword energy, it’s just about recklessly scattering the mana flowing towards the sword.

Like a fiery torch, the sword burned with a blue light inside Wyam’s dark interior.

-Kirrr!

*

“That… .”

Wyam, who had been making a mess of the pit, collapsed.

And then, cutting the back of Wyam’s neck, Kylie walked out hurriedly.

“Ka, it’s Kylie… !”

“Wow-!”

People cheered for a moment.

The stealth legionnaire hidden under the ground rose up and tried to attack Kylie.

However, Lucia was faster than him.

Lucia, who was suddenly standing next to Kylie, released sword energy in a circle towards the stealth legionnaires falling from all directions.

The sword energy fired twice in succession split the monsters into thirds.

“You did your part?”

After saying that, Lucia looked back at Kylie, who was leaning on the sword, and grinned.

“You almost followed along, right?”

Kylie, who was sitting on top of Wyam’s body, laughed and muttered.

“… Monster bitch.”

*

Helena looked down at the floor blankly.

There should be green fields, but the ground burned brightly.

Still, his body was fine.

Rather, it was full of energy.

Raise your head and look around.

A circular floor made of light yellow light appeared in the middle of the wilderness.

‘sanctuary… .’

A sanctuary from the Bible was recreated before my eyes.

And the one at the center was, of course, Aria.

[Mors slopebit et natura.]

Her voice, singing hymns reverently, was too clear and unsuitable for this battlefield.

It was as grand as a trumpet sound from the sky, and as transparent as a clear sky.

[Cum resurget creatura.]

At the same time, it was sacred, fitting very well with this sanctuary.

[Judicanti response.]

The party that came to help Aria had quite a few people.

Rather than fighting alone, she excelled at strengthening her allies.

Moreover, the opponent is none other than ‘Nohosti’, the commander of the 7th Corps and the commander of the heterogeneous corps.

He is no ordinary monster.

A race that was once on the side of humans, but was persecuted because of its appearance and turned to the side of the demons.

He was a ‘goblin’ who was skilled in language and tools as well as human culture and tactics.

“Everyone, don’t step into that light!”

The goblins retreated at Nohosti’s command, but it didn’t mean much.

[Rex tremendae majestatis.]

As Arya changed the phrase, a curtain of light appeared and trapped the goblins.

[Salve me, fons pietatis.]

The warriors ran wild inside.

The orb of light created by Aria rose into the sky and rained down on the goblins who were trying to escape.

The monsters were helpless under the bombardment of blazing light.

That wasn’t the only reason they could win unilaterally.

There was a dome-shaped shield surrounding the entire sanctuary.

A selfish one-way protection that allows attacks coming from the inside to pass through and never allows attacks from the outside to come in.

It was made by Helena.

“That doesn’t make sense… .”

An archer muttered.

It was as he said.

He fights with his strength replenished on the sacred sign of Aria, and safely snipers the goblin that escaped outside from within Helena’s protection.

At the same time, goblins who ran away cannot re-enter here or even support from a distance.

It is an infinitely one-sided battle.

It even feels like a miracle from God.

“Isn’t this a real sanctuary…? .”

Someone muttered in shock.

Aria in the center thought as she looked at Helena, who was maintaining protection.

‘… It’s a scary ability.’

In a war where both sides are trying to kill each other, how amazing is it that only one side can kill one side?

Ian picks two of the corps commanders as his most dangerous enemies.

Manticore, and Nohosti.

One of the two, Nohosti and his elite soldiers, was falling helplessly.

‘One-way. Its characteristics are scary, but its size and density are also formidable.’

Even goblins did not sit still.

Hundreds of goblins attacked from all directions, but Helena’s defenses were strong.

‘I might catch up with you soon.’

It was a strange feeling.

I felt like I was giving up my place to someone, but I wasn’t anxious.

It was all just a little bitter.

If it had been someone else, they probably would have tried to steal it.

However, this is the priest Ian chose.

In that case, it’s just a matter of giving it away.

Even if it was a little bitter, there was nothing I couldn’t do.

He was a little disappointed that his feelings had nothing to do with atonement.

“Kaaak-!”

Nohosti, who was left alone, screamed.

Nohosti, screaming, swung his ax at Bangho with all his might.

When I took a step, there was such a strong force that the ground split.

“… !”

Helena stumbled from the life-searing blow.

Aria said after stopping singing.

“Get protection.”

“Yes? but… .”

“It’s okay. Instead, when the fight starts, please set up a barrier to confine me and Nohosti.”

The main axis of the current operation is Aria.

Helena lifted the protection without further questions.

“Human bastards-! Because of you… !”

Nohotis crossed the sanctuary, not caring that his body was burning.

Reinforced warriors stood in the way, but Nohotis broke through them and rushed towards Aria.

Aria looked at him with calm eyes and muttered.

It was a prayer.

“This sinner groans, and his face turns red with shame.”

Ian.

It may be difficult to forgive the late apology and feelings.

Please, may your wish come true.

“Fire, hear this petition.”

As soon as the prayer was finished, the light that formed the sanctuary was sucked into both hands of Aria.

A whirlwind of white light formed on my hand.

“Die!”

Nohosti raised his ax high.

Rather than dodge, Aria rushed forward and punched Nohosti in the abdomen.

At the same time, Helena’s protection unfolded around the two.

“Ugh… !”

Nohosti was hit in the stomach and staggered, but because he did not dodge, Aria was also hit by the axe.

A crack appeared in the protection worn around the body.

Aria frowned and swung her fist again, and Nohosti also corrected his posture and swung his ax down.

Fists and ax blades collide, tearing the air.

-bang!

Along with the sound of the explosion, a white flash spread out in all directions from where it hit.

The hot light touched Helena’s protection.

Helena knew right away.

That light is a miracle of scorching heat radiated by Aria.

‘Is this why you asked me to keep you locked up? .’

If this light had reached our allies, several of them might have melted.

At least he is holding on because it is his own protection.

Instead, I have one question.

The inside of the hemispherical protective shield is white with light.

‘In that heat, even Aria herself… .’

A few more crash sounds were heard, and the light filling the interior was absorbed into one point.

It was Aria’s right hand.

Aria and Nohosti suddenly appeared, their entire bodies in tatters.

Aria’s clothes were torn and bleeding from the ax blade stuck through the broken protective guard, and Nohosti’s body was shaking because his bones were broken and broken.

Because of the fierce heat that stirred up the inside of the protective guard, both of their skins even melted.

Aria, holding the white light tightly, struck Nohosti’s helpless face with all her might.

puck! With a terrible sound, half of Nohosti’s face fell off.

Slurp.

The death of a corps commander who had reached his limit was in vain.

Aria looked down at it, took a hard breath, and then muttered lowly.

“… Amen.”

A sacred silence fell.

Helena was shocked to see Aria.

‘Even though I was traveling alone, there was a reason why I didn’t carry a weapon… .’

She is a scary woman.

However, it is a way to surround yourself with miracles and create a sanctuary to help those around you.

Maybe, I thought I could follow along.

When Helena removed her protection, the heat trapped inside spread out in all directions.

After regaining consciousness, Aria looked around.

Everyone, including Helena, was looking at them.

What appeared on their admiring faces was gratitude and admiration.

I feel sick.

We fought unreasonably to protect them.

I also got hurt.

But now I realize that it doesn’t diminish my self-worth.

Aria treated the pain of her body with joy as if it were a medal, and smiled softly.

*

“Manticore… .”

Ian muttered about his unrealistic enemy.

My head is a mess.

This is a species that only becomes active after the winter becomes more severe.

However, he was active in the early stages of the war, and has now appeared in front of the Magic Tower.

Why is it so twisted?

There was only one answer to the question.

‘because of me… .’

That was the only answer.

A corps commander targeting himself.

The devil knows himself.

And, a manticore appears proudly in front of him who came to stop the attack of the magic tower.

‘How much do you know about me?’

Just a moment of doubt.

Ian thought quickly.

You can’t beat that.

The Manticore must reveal itself when attacking.

So, that act of appearing and approaching was no different from a declaration of murder.

‘Carty. Help me.’

*

[Carty. Help me.]

On her way back, Carty received a quick and desperate telepathic message.

I responded to the summons without answering.

In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed.

A tall magic tower.

A collapsed forest, blood and monster corpses strewn around.

This is not the scenery of the gateway where Ian should be.

There was no reason for me to have such doubts.

“Owner… sir… ?”

The manticore’s tail pierced Ian’s falling body.

Blood flows from his mouth.

Blood flows through the body too.

It doesn’t feel real.

Why is this happening?

Ian’s body slowly falls.

The rain seemed to knock him over, very slowly.

It’s not that he’s slow.

It’s just that Katy’s sense of perception has deviated from reality.

There was no time to think about anything more.

I clenched my molars and immediately pulled out my sword.

-phut!

Immediately after the sound of air bursting, the figure of Kati, who disappeared from her place, appeared in front of the Manticore.

The shrunken, sharp eyes glare at the manticore.

No need to say anything.

-Poof!

He stabbed the sword aiming at the face, but the manticore pulled out its tail and took a big leap backwards.

There is no sound or footsteps.

A strange enemy with no presence.

-Soak.

Ian collapsed behind him.

She wanted to turn around, but Kati held her breath and held back.

Not yet.

You must kill the enemy first.

After ensuring the owner’s safety, you must check for injuries.

How deep is the wound?

How much it hurts.

You won’t die, right?

What if I die?

My knees were shaking because of that anxiety.

My breathing becomes rough, my shoulders shake, and my hand holding the sword becomes too strong.

Kati consciously breathed slowly, trying to control her emotions.

“… … .”

Expression and presence without texture.

The manticore slowly blurred.

It was about to disappear.

Before that, Kati disappeared.

-Quad!

Before we knew it, she appeared with her sword stuck in the manticore’s face.

The sword got stuck right in the eyeball.

“… !”

The manticore screamed and struggled.

Even the screams are bizarre.

There is no sound, but I feel a loud sensation.

Kati plunged her sword deeper, moving it back and forth along the manticore’s head.

The scorpion’s tail fell aimed at her.

-Poof!

However, Kati dodged it and then stepped on the joint of the tail and pinned it.

My entire body’s strength is boiling over with emotion, and it feels like it’s going to explode.

Black mana and blue mana tangle with each other and run wild.

Using all of that power, Kati decapitated the Manticore.

-wickedness!

With the sound of splitting the air, the manticore’s head fell.

There is no blood.

It is an enemy that lacks common sense.

After chopping up the Manticore’s body several times and killing it, Katy returned to Ian.

*

“Please save me.”

Kati knelt in front of Scarlett.

In front of Katy, Ian was lying quietly with a large hole between his abdomen and chest.

“Please.”

Kati bowed her head.

The rain keeps falling, hitting the back of my head.

“Please. Because I will do anything. Because I can die instead. Please save this person… .”

Scarlett’s complexion was equally pale.

Because of himself, Ian ended up like this.

“First, let’s move it inside the tower. I’ll try to save it somehow… .”

Kati tried to reach out to lift Ian, but fell back.

I didn’t know how I was able to carry him all the way here and I was scared to touch him.

‘No, no. I need to come to my senses… .’

It’s not the first time, but it’s something you can’t get used to.

Someone precious dying before your eyes.

“Ha, ha… .”

Out of breath, Katy eventually moved Ian into the tower with the help of Scarlett and the magicians.

Kati, who managed to come to her senses, helped stop the bleeding and disinfect.

Meanwhile, some magicians began work on restoring the portal.

Scarlett announced this to everyone she could through the video mirror.

Vivian, Helena, Lucia, Mercy.

And, Sylvia, Kylie, Aria and Beatrice.

Everyone found out.

Ian was seriously injured and collapsed.