episode_0147

It was a full day later when I woke up after fainting while standing.

A private room in a temporary ward.

I barely woke up one day and looked around while lying in bed.

A dark, quiet room with only moonlight shining through the window.

A half-person was sitting on a chair next to the bed, dozing off.

“Asha… ?”

“… Ah, Hashal! You’re awake? How are you feeling?”

It was a half-submerged voice.

“It’s the body… It’s better than I thought.”

Although my arms and legs were tingling, I was able to move somehow, perhaps because the priests were taking care of me while I was lying down.

In the first place, I fainted due to exhaustion of stamina, not because I was seriously injured.

I guess it’s thanks to Asha’s armor.

I heard from Asha, who smiled happily, about what happened during the day.

—-

The end of the battle.

While Leopold’s army, whose stamina was falling before their lives, formed a circle and barely held on, Ernst’s army, which came as a relief force, wiped out the remaining monsters in one fell swoop.

Even so, the number of enemies remaining at that point was only about three hundred, so it may not be an achievement worth bragging about.

Ernst, who entered the castle after confirming the destruction of the monsters, also did not look very bright due to the results being below expectations.

“You deserve to be disappointed. They brought all the elite soldiers, but since there are only so many enemies left, it looks like they came to clean up the place rather than as a relief force… . So, what happened after that?”

They may have sent out scouts, but they wouldn’t have expected us to reduce the enemy’s numbers so quickly.

By the time I rushed over, only the dregs of the monsters were already left.

A number that would be ridiculed even if it showed condescension.

“Prince Leopold stepped forward and greeted Prince Ernst. Both of them looked like they were going to fight at any moment.”

– Are you still alive, brother?

– Isn’t it thanks to the hard work of the soldiers of the empire and the support troops of the Holy Kingdom? A candidate for a saint from the Church of Elfinel… Even Prince Richard, the knight commander of the Holy Legion, helped us.

“Did you two say that?”

“Yes. Then, after glaring at each other for a while, Prince Ernst ordered his troops to clear the battlefield and went to take care of it. Collect the bodies, treat the wounded… Checking the number of troops remaining, things like that.”

Asha didn’t seem to notice, but it was a slightly creepy story.

That means he almost passed out and died.

The meaning of the two people’s words was simple.

When Ernst appeared to be contemplating whether to use this opportunity to commit murder and blame it on the monster, Leopold responded.

To do that, you have to kill the entire remaining 3 corps and even the leading members of the Elfinel Church, but do you think you can handle it?

If Ernst had not taken a step back after being convinced… A massacre between humans would have unfolded there.

These are truly heartless things.

Leopold, who dragged thousands to death for his position, and Ernst, who contemplated killing those who survived.

It is said that all losers will be purged… Anyway, that’s true.

After all, isn’t it because of his father’s bloodline?

—-

It took four more days for the situation to be completely controlled.

I also quietly focused on recovering my physical strength for four days.

As long as Ernst’s army was in control of the situation, this place was no different from the enemy camp.

Although I won’t use my hands… There’s no harm in being careful, right?

The fifth morning like that.

Leopold decided to return to the islands with his forces.

There was still work left to do, such as restoring the castle and investigating the source of monsters, but he claimed that his troops no longer had the strength left to do so.

If you return to the system with Ernst, you will be seen as a remnant of a defeated soldier.

That’s not entirely wrong.

Half of the troops deployed were blown away.

I also decided to join them and return.

The horse they were riding was already dead, and Asha’s bike didn’t even have any fuel left.

“No, what do you mean? It’s already been lost?”

Marquis Ludwig scolded me as if it were absurd.

That was definitely a good thing to say.

It would have been better if it had been a horse strong enough to overcome demonic energy.

In the end, he was given a spare warhorse, rode on it with Asha, and followed Marquis Ludwig to the islands.

Because all the carriages were being used for the seriously injured.

While I was marching, the people around me glanced at me, and their gazes were quite different from before.

I wonder if it was because of Lacey’s ring or if my performance impressed them.

Probably both.

Fear and doubt. Without any hint of reluctance, his eyes were full of awe and admiration.

Like boys looking at dinosaur fossils.

A faint smile of satisfaction crossed my cheeks.

Because it was the view I was secretly looking forward to.

—-

There was no fancy improvement ceremony.

Because the dying Ferdinand and Isabella were not the ones to hold such a welcome event.

In addition, the losses of Leopold’s army were truly enormous for it to be called a victory.

The number of surviving star corps was nine hundred. There are sixty paladins.

Nearly half of the number returned to the sky.

The damage to the empire was even more serious.

Of the 8,000 troops, only 4,000 survived, and 1,000 of them were no longer able to fight.

Of the two hundred imperial knights, there were only seventy left.

There are two masters who were sacrificed.

It was not a war with another country, but the losses suffered from subjugating monsters were at an unprecedented level.

Of course, that level of loss against the Five Heavenly Commanding Sect was a great achievement.

But… It’s embarrassing to say it with my own mouth, but honestly, if I hadn’t come, we wouldn’t have lost.

“Thank you for the princess’s salvation. I will definitely repay you for this one day.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

After bowing politely, Leopold led his troops and headed toward the imperial palace.

His complexion wasn’t bright, but he didn’t look like he was in despair either.

Is it because I somehow won?

As the scale of the enemy was large, if you package it well, you could argue that it was not a mistake but a quick reaction and heroic struggle.

It will take care of itself. If you were going to gamble this much, you would have thought about it in advance.

After sending the prince off, he also said hello to Marquis Ludwig.

“Did you say you needed a coachman? I’ll tell you at the Jedo Mansion. Please contact them if necessary. And, I wish Sir Nigel well in the future.”

“Okay. I’m sorry for interrupting your words.”

It is said that the Marquis will return to the East immediately after settling this matter.

Berengeria was left empty for too long.

Asha headed back to the workshop and parted ways with Lacey before arriving at the special hall.

“I’ll see you later. There are stories that need to be told about that sword.”

Lacey smiled lightly, bowed to me, and then followed Richard to the church headquarters.

She will also be quite busy for a while.

A crusade where troops were sent unreasonably. All responsibility for that will fall on her.

Now that half of the Elfinel Church’s power within the empire has disappeared, Shaulithe’s influence will become stronger in the future.

The reputation itself will increase with this achievement… Since our actual military force has been cut in half, it will take a long time to restore it.

By the way, let’s talk about the sword… .

Did you notice Durandal as expected?

Well, since he fought so splendidly, there’s no way someone who was a candidate for sainthood wouldn’t notice.

To be honest, I’m a bit anxious.

I couldn’t even guess what he was going to say.

Anyway, I won’t say such nonsense as returning Durandal as it is a sacred relic of the church.

—-

The special pavilion finally arrived again.

Friede was nowhere to be seen.

I found out that he was dispatched with other children.

They said they would take a week off, but it looks like they only took a week off. Should I call this sincerity? .

Let’s leave it alone. I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out.

Although he acts harsh as if it were that day all year long, his nature is kind… .

Whether it’s skill or experience, there is no one else I can trust as much as him.

I’ll think about it later, and get some rest first… .

My tired body has been asking for rest. Even though I rested for nearly five days at Einfeld Castle.

I took off my armor, washed up, and lay down on the bed.

I must have been quite tired, so I fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.

====[□□□ □□□ □□]====

An ancient ruin that no one knows about, created deep underground.

From the innermost temple, the transformation of the world finally began.

“Finally… !”

Hundreds of runes glow darkly, illuminating the inside of the temple.

The first apostle looked up at the altar without even hiding his joy.

The engraving of the six-pointed star in the middle of the altar and the golden cups placed at each corner.

The five glasses were empty… The first glass was filled with something unknown.

A dark red liquid resembling wine flows.

Bubbles resembling human faces swirled and let out horrifying screams.

And, finally, the Holy Grail overflows.

One drop. Another drop.

It soon becomes a stream of water, wetting the surface of the glass and flowing down.

Small cracks began to spread in the chalice, which had lost its color due to being stained by the flowing vengeful spirit.

The blood of the Holy Grail soaked into the imprint of the six-pointed star.

A tremendous brilliance rises.

Magical light enough to light up the entire underground ruins.

The unprecedented magical power concentrated on the altar penetrated the first chalice.

The shattered chalice scattered its contents on the altar.

And then, an enormous amount of magic surged towards the heavens, enough to cover the entire world.

The entire ruins vibrate like crazy.

“Finally, we’ve finally reached this point! The first Holy Grail was destroyed!! Are you watching, false gods!”

The first apostle, Peyrus, burst into laughter.

I couldn’t see it, but I could feel it.

The moment when that hateful wall of heaven that was blocking them is broken!

“With this, we will regain our chance for ascension!!”

A passionate roar echoed throughout the ruins.

—-

On this day, the laws of the world were distorted.

—-

The World Tree, which had been silent for nine hundred years, finally opened its mouth.

-It got so bad.

The fairy elders looked at their god in astonishment.

11 The priests of the main deity suddenly felt that their power had become slightly stronger.

As if the gods had taken a step closer to them.

The strong people who reached the limit of mastery felt that the wall blocking them had disappeared.

A new level was waiting for them.

—-

And, monsters boiled all over the world.

In a graveyard in a rural village, in a dark forest.

From caves, barren plains, to the middle of a battlefield.

Reports of the appearance of monsters continued to appear from various places.

At a frequency that is more than three times that of the previous one.

The world has changed.

Everyone felt that fact.

There are only a few people who know the cause.

=================