Ch.109Chapter 109. The Red Knight of War

    Red Knight of War.

    From her name symbolizing war, she was one who possessed enough pure military might to be called a calamity even among the Four Knights.

    The strike she delivered earlier was the maximum firepower she could unleash in an instant.

    The moment that power collided with her opponent, she felt a considerable dissonance from her own sword.

    Even though the result was complete annihilation without a trace, she had the feeling that her full-power attack had been “slightly impeded.”

    ‘Hard… no, it felt as if the attack itself was distorted.’

    It was likely an ability that nullified physical attacks that touched the user’s body.

    But such abilities ultimately respond to the user’s magical power, and generally, such abilities can eventually be penetrated by overwhelming output that exceeds magical power.

    In the end, though the opponent’s ability was extraordinary, she prevailed because she was superior in capability.

    If the opponent had approached the battle more cautiously, there was a good chance they could have negated her attacks multiple times.

    ‘As expected, they’re troublesome. These Heroes.’

    Yes, judging by ability alone, they certainly weren’t pushovers.

    That was the assessment the Red Knight had made about Heroes after their previous clash.

    “What was that? An idiot?”

    On the other hand, to those who didn’t know the process, it would simply look like someone who rushed in recklessly and died.

    Becoming aware of such an honest assessment coming from beside her, the Red Knight quietly turned to look at the Undead fellow next to her.

    Unlike the other Undead who had set out to attack the walls at her command, this masked corpse was the only one ignoring her orders and taking position beside her.

    “I thought they might have had something up their sleeve when they charged in, but they just died with a ‘poof’… Puhehe, it’s amazing they’ve survived this long with such intelligence~”

    “…Blight, why are you in the army I’m leading?”

    The White Knight of Plague, Blight.

    Or more precisely, a “doll” created by his hand.

    It was merely a body made by stitching together suitable corpses and injecting his magical power to replicate his consciousness.

    The main body would be carrying out a diversionary attack from another direction, but she couldn’t help but wonder why he had attached such a projection to her.

    Perhaps he had some news to deliver?

    “Why am I here~ I came to keep our dear Red Knight company in case she got bored~”

    “…Blight. You.”

    “Woah woah! Don’t be so harsh~ Don’t comrades joke around with each other during operations?”

    Blight stepped back two paces in exaggerated surprise.

    Though bickering was normal between them, that was only when they weren’t on a mission.

    “Do you think what we’re doing right now is some kind of joke?”

    This was an order from none other than their master, yet how could he so proactively speak of jokes in the face of enemies?

    “Puhehe, it is a joke~!”

    Nevertheless, Blight maintained his characteristic playful demeanor as he answered her.

    “No matter how many living humans come at us, it’s hardly a problem, right? You should know well what our ‘titles’ signify.”

    As he said, the Four Knights of the Apocalypse each embodied the potential to bring humanity to extinction.

    To beings like themselves, created to project such existences, humans were no different from insects that could be crushed underfoot at any time.

    It would even be considered humiliating if they couldn’t afford the leisure to exchange wordplay.

    “…It’s a matter of mindset.”

    Despite this, the Red Knight steadfastly maintained her attitude.

    No matter how easily humans could be defeated, discipline must be maintained or loyalty would crack.

    “Oh my, here we go again with this.”

    “That’s my line, Blight. I don’t care what kind of person you are or what thoughts brought you here. But if it means disregarding the instructions Mother gave us…”

    “Yeahhh~ I got it~ For the sake of the loyal servant of our great lord, I’ll refrain from joking from now on.”

    Blight grumbled that it would have been more fun to tease if the arrogant one had come along.

    The Red Knight, indifferent to this as well, was about to turn her attention back to the battle situation when Blight’s projection called out to her again.

    “Let’s put the jokes aside then. Actually, I came because there’s something serious I wanted to ask.”

    “What are you trying to say now…”

    “Annabelle Britannia.”

    The Red Knight’s movement stopped abruptly.

    She might have cut him in half if this was another joke, but her sword wasn’t drawn against him.

    The name mentioned now was one she could not possibly ignore.

    “…You’ve been saying you can’t remember your name all this time, but could that possibly be it?”

    “……”

    The Red Knight silently turned to look at Blight.

    There stood Blight still wearing his mask and white rags, but his characteristic playful smile had been erased.

    Yes, as if to show that this question was quite important to him.

    “…Is that so important?”

    “Important indeed. For us, lingering attachments are power, and names play the most crucial role…”

    -SLASH!

    His head was severed by a belated sword strike.

    As it flew off, the Red Knight’s attention had already long turned to the battlefield.

    “If you’re going to talk nonsense, get lost. Even if your main body is focused on the operation, your chattering beside me will interfere with what I’m about to do.”

    “…Kuhehe. Unlike usual, you’re reacting quite sensitively, which is concerning.”

    The severed head of the projection chuckled.

    As the power within it gradually faded, Blight’s projection used its crumbling consciousness to leave one final message.

    “Well fine, we’ll continue our unfinished conversation after the operation. Please do a good job stalling, Princess Annabelle~”

    With that, the head collapsed as its power was exhausted.

    The Red Knight, dismissing it from her mind, stepped toward the battlefield raging at the barrier.

    As she did so, she felt the name he had mentioned gradually surfacing in her mind.

    ‘Annabelle Britannia. The last heir of a kingdom destroyed by plague.’

    Had she lived that life, she would have been destined to be a leader, but such hypotheticals mean nothing to the dead.

    Everything achieved in life must be abandoned once buried beneath the grave.

    Even if those memories formed her foundation, dwelling only on past glory would accomplish nothing in the present.

    ‘Yes, I am merely a doll existing for Mother.’

    And her only attachment was fighting for Mother.

    Becoming a sword to fulfill her mother’s unfulfilled attachments from her previous life.

    ‘A tool living for Mother… if Mother desires humanity’s extinction, then I too must dream of humanity’s extinction.’

    Annabelle, resurrected with only that single attachment, began to observe the siege being carried out by the Undead.

    -KRAAAAAAAA!!

    The Undead, far more ferocious than ordinary ones and wielding immense power, were gnawing away at the barrier situated between the valley.

    Having received the power of war from her, their strength and violence far surpassed that of normal Undead.

    No matter how sturdy the walls, without proper resistance, it would only be a matter of time before they crumbled under their might.

    “The enemies are chipping away at the walls!”

    “Archers to positions! If the enemies notice and respond, set up palisades to hide and regroup!!!”

    But their opponents were legions summoned from the Empire to defend this place.

    Following a capable and passionate officer, they had been trained and were now determined to repel the Undead offensive, not letting their guard down despite the advantage of the barrier.

    “Mage Battalion Unit 1! Rain fire on the outer areas to guide the enemies to the center! When they gather in one place to avoid the attacks, annihilate them all at once!”

    “Infantry, stand by behind! If the enemies can’t climb over the walls, there’s no need to go out and fight them!”

    BOOM, CRASH!

    A baptism of arrows and magic shot from atop the walls.

    As the Undead were swept away helplessly by these attacks, the humans’ cheers grew louder as they sensed the battle turning in their favor.

    “Don’t lose heart! These walls are protecting us!”

    “If this continues, we’ll have the advantage! Wipe them all out!”

    Yes, in warfare, defense is overwhelmingly more advantageous than offense.

    In human history, sieges could last for years, making it inefficient to grind down troops in this battle.

    That is, if this were a “war between humans.”

    “Defense Captain! Enemies are climbing the walls from the side!”

    “Block them immediately!”

    “Impossible! We’ve used too much magical power on bombardment and our firepower has been cut off!! We need time to gather magical power!”

    Yes, being alive means consuming energy.

    Both physical and mental strength need time to replenish, but the Undead are not bound by such concepts.

    They are beings that can fight indefinitely as long as they have magical power to animate their bodies.

    If a war of attrition is induced against an army of such beings, humans with their limited stamina will inevitably develop gaps.

    -RUMBLE!

    Such a gap had formed at this moment.

    Realizing this, the Red Knight prepared to swing her sword, gathering magical power.

    “Defense Captain! The Red Knight is gathering magical power over there!”

    “What, what is she trying to… Oh no! Everyone, get down!!!”

    -KWAAAAA!!!!!

    A storm unleashed as an aura concentrated with vast magical power was swung.

    The impact scraped away the surface of the wall, causing cracks to spread to where soldiers were stationed atop the wall.

    The moment the wall, built and reinforced over a month, showed signs of collapse from just one strike.

    -BOOM, BOOM!

    As such powerful blows landed repeatedly, despair began to bloom on the faces of the soldiers stationed on the wall.

    They had thought that with relatively few troops conducting the siege, it would only be a distraction.

    Could that monster be planning to destroy the wall and invade right here?

    “B-block it! Block it now!!”

    “Impossible! The Undead have already climbed up to the top of the wall…!”

    “Ignore them and shoot! If we don’t stop that, the wall will collapse!!”

    The Undead, taking advantage of the gap created by the confusion, climbed up to the top of the wall.

    Though they belatedly sent armed forces up to protect the archers and mages, by then Annabelle had already prepared to deliver the finishing blow.

    Yes, if it could be destroyed in the first place, there was no need for mere diversion.

    -BOOM!!

    When her strike, filled with such determination, hit the main beam, the wall finally lost its balance and collapsed on the spot.

    All the humans standing on it could do was futilely resist the gravity and falling rocks crushing their bodies.

    “AAAAARGH! S-save…”

    -RUMBLE, CRASH!

    A river of blood flowed through the wreckage that had collapsed miserably.

    Annabelle, stepping into the scene that had fallen silent, thrust her magic-infused sword into the ground.

    ‘Half of the troops that brought us to the point of destroying the wall have been consumed…’

    Even for an army that knows no fear, reckless charges will inevitably result in heavy casualties.

    Nevertheless, Annabelle did not consider this battle unfavorable.

    ‘Numerical inferiority can be replenished in the course of war.’

    -CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

    Soon, magical power spreading from her sword began to infect the corpses of soldiers buried in the debris, forcibly raising their bodies.

    Lifeless corpses were forced to rise, joining her forces.

    Sensing the danger, the commander urgently shouted to the soldiers defending the line formed across the valley.

    “Damn it, assault team! Block the enemies’ entry immediately! If this breaks, the damage will be even greater!!”

    “N-no, sir. That’s my comrade…”

    “Hanson! Snap out of it! It’s me! Your best friend… GACK!!”

    In an instant, those who had been comrades until now turned into enemies.

    Toward former comrades who couldn’t accept this reality, the Undead rushed without hesitation to quench their thirst by taking their flesh and bones.

    Though the soldiers who finally grasped the situation tried to regroup, by then over a hundred soldiers near the wall had already been infected and joined the Undead army.

    “My army. Sweep away everything you see.”

    Yet none dared to charge at the commander leading them.

    She was a being who had single-handedly destroyed a wall that thousands of troops couldn’t breach.

    With no guarantee of victory even if they risked their lives, the soldiers’ morale rapidly crumbled with each step she took.

    “Seize their lives, and desecrate the dignity they value more than life itself.”

    Yes, humans were such pitiful beings.

    Though war may begin at human hands, it is called a calamity because they cannot suppress the waves of madness themselves.

    To her, who was war itself, the current battle wasn’t even entertainment.

    “And prove to those foolish ones.”

    “That everything happening here is none other than the result of humanity’s original sin…!”

    “Ugh, AAAAH! Save me!”

    In the end, even soldiers who lost their will to fight and threw away their weapons began to flee.

    But corpses show no mercy.

    They simply follow their instincts, continuing to pursue in order to make others join the whirlpool of madness.

    -RUMBLE, CRASH!!!

    Just as their advance was about to reach the main stronghold beyond the valley, the upper part of the valley collapsed, blocking their path.

    With the road blocked by falling rocks, the survivors barely managed to preserve their lives.

    Following this, the ground where the rocks had fallen was overturned by some force, turning the inside of the valley into chaos.

    -RUMBLE, THUD!

    A strange phenomenon as if gravity had been reversed.

    After gravity was restored, soil poured down on the Undead who had fallen headfirst to the ground.

    “…Who are you?”

    Seeing her subordinates ultimately buried alive, Annabelle paused her advance and raised her sword toward the one blocking her path.

    There stood a paladin in heavy white armor.

    “Paladin of the Meter Order, Jaseong Nam.”

    Standing alone with his back to the now-blocked valley entrance, he began to assert his presence, resting his symbolic weapon, a “large shovel,” on his shoulder.

    “I’ve come to bury you in this valley.”

    Despite being just one person.

    Displaying a stature that seemed more solid than hundreds of troops and a wall.


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