Ch.112Chapter 112. All-Out War Against the Demon Army (3)

# Southern Front

Ravin and Naidrian entered the jungle with only a small number of troops.

Though called “small,” they were supply soldiers burdened with various relief goods and provisions, essentially serving as porters.

Nevertheless, there was no trace of anxiety in the soldiers’ eyes.

“Ravin, what kind of person is Jimkkun?”

“What? Are you interested?”

“I just got curious suddenly. Everyone’s been relying on him these days, haven’t they?”

Ravin honestly didn’t like Naidrian.

She knew well that although the timid archer hadn’t actively participated in the bullying, he had always looked at Lin with disgust or contempt.

It was natural to be annoyed by an elf who still acted high and mighty, unlike the thief who had finally acknowledged Arsil after receiving a great shock in the Holy Nation and experiencing bitter regret at the ruins of Sewage Alley.

“He’s been a reliable man since childhood.”

But there was no need to create conflict now, with a major battle ahead.

Especially not with the dragon knight they were about to face.

If the two of them started a power struggle, even the soldiers following behind would fall into anxiety.

“He was kind but strict when needed. Especially regarding manners. He scolded me and Arsil when we had a twisted view of the world, saying we’d make big mistakes when dealing with people who actually mattered.”

“Hmm. Is that so.”

Despite suppressing her dislike and answering sincerely, the response was lukewarm.

Ravin thought, “figures,” and tried to tune him out.

Or at least she tried to.

“All three of you grew up in the slums, right? So I guess both Jimkkun and you would think nothing of looting or embezzlement?”

“…What are you trying to say?”

Sensing the barb in his words, Ravin stopped walking and growled at Naidrian.

Likewise full of discontent and irritation, Naidrian began to snipe at her.

“I wonder?”

“Are you suggesting that Lin or I are skimming something…?”

But Ravin couldn’t finish her sentence.

The jungle, which had been daylight, suddenly darkened as shadows engulfed the surroundings.

The soldiers murmured in fear.

Ravin shouted to them:

“Stay together! Focus only on defense. We’ll handle the attack!”

Ravin drew her dagger while Naidrian nocked an arrow and scanned the surroundings.

A voice, now so familiar it was almost comforting, reached the two on guard.

“Lin isn’t here? What a bust.”

Sallermei appeared with blue magical energy.

Though not on horseback, her overwhelming presence remained.

“That’s fortunate. I hope Adora meets Lin.”

“Hey, it’s too dark. Turn on some light.”

When Ravin protested, Sallermei smiled while twirling her spear.

“Why should I? I can see fine in the dark.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“…?!”

A whisper in the spear-wielder’s ear.

She hadn’t sensed any presence at all.

She barely dodged the incoming dagger.

“I was just saying that for your comfort, but I guess it doesn’t matter?”

Thieves are professionals who operate in darkness by nature.

And Ravin stands at the pinnacle of thieves.

Her presence vanishes again as if she was never there.

While Sallermei was on high alert, she heard the sharp sound of an arrow’s trajectory.

Barely determining the direction, Sallermei spun her spear like a windmill, and the arrow struck the shaft.

Despite it being just an arrow, the spear-wielder was forced back, and Naidrian coldly remarked:

“I suppose this is what they call shooting with eyes closed?”

“Ha… interesting.”

Blue flames sparked in the spear-wielder’s eyes.

—

Tigria and Arsil were moving ahead even faster than the main force of the central front.

Tigria was flying low just above the ground to avoid detection by the enemy, with Arsil running beside her.

“Hey.”

After fidgeting for a while, Arsil seemed to steel himself and addressed the mage.

As Tigria merely turned her gaze toward him, Arsil slightly lowered his eyes.

“Have I done anything to offend you or wrong you in any way until now?”

“No.”

Huh? Wasn’t her tone just now less stiff than before?

As Arsil tilted his head in confusion, Tigria asked him a question in return.

“Have you apologized to Luciena?”

“Ah… no.”

He had shamefully forgotten.

Arsil fell into self-loathing.

Of all things to forget.

The issue with Lucie was similar to what he’d done to Jimkkun.

Moreover, having been played by the machinations of the shield knight and the imperial princess, Arsil had become a traitor who stabbed his comrade in the back without discernment.

“Have you?”

“Yes, but Luciena says she can’t forgive me.”

“…”

“More precisely, she said she doesn’t care about anyone except Lin.”

“What’s that about…?”

It was becoming increasingly complicated.

If Arsil could go back in time, he would want to beat his past self to death.

Oh, but since it would be me versus me, our skills would be similar, so I might get beaten up instead.

At the edge of the mage’s vision, enhanced by Arsil’s buff, a dark red group appeared.

“They’re here.”

Both the mage and the saint stopped simultaneously.

Tigria shot a magical flare signal toward the sky.

The main force would surely increase their speed after seeing the flare that rose with a sharp sound and burst with a “pop.”

“Time to work.”

But what Arsil pulled out from his inventory was a hairpin.

After carefully fixing the pin in his hair, Arsil finally took out his dragon scale gloves and muttered:

“With this, Lin is with me.”

Though the saint’s murmuring was quite irritating, Tigria deliberately ignored it and looked ahead.

Among the horde of monsters, which seemed to number in the hundreds, were demons and the dual swordsman at their forefront.

Her stance, arms crossed with hands on her sword hilts, was a provocation inviting them to come at any time.

“Tigria, how many were in our main force again?”

“Two thousand.”

Though they seemed to have the numerical advantage, demons were asymmetrical forces to begin with.

Tigria and Arsil needed to somehow reduce their numbers first.

“Can the two of us take down the dual swordsman?”

“Impossible. We need to stick to our original plan and hold out as long as possible.”

Denarua frowned at the hero party whispering continuously before her.

“So much useless talk in front of the enemy. Mere insects.”

“Oh yeah? Well, insects fight with cunning, you know.”

Arsil retorted casually while crackling with holy power like lightning.

Fighting with cunning? You, Arsil?

Tigria’s eyes widened, but she didn’t show it and flew up into the air.

“It seems Lin isn’t here. No reason to spare you, so you’ll all die here.”

“That’s our line.”

Numerous magic circles formed around the mage as she unfolded her scroll of knowledge.

“Are you prepared? You’ll pay for tormenting Lin right here!”

Finally drawing her dual swords, Denarua charged forward.

Behind her, monsters and demons rushed together.

“Hmph! If I defeat you here, perhaps Lin will forgive me!”

The saint shouted spiritedly while summoning a tremendous amount of holy power.

—

So I’m passing through here after all.

Feeling nostalgic, Lin looked around in admiration, forgetting they were on the march.

Not just Lin, but Luci and the soldiers following behind were also busy looking around in great surprise.

“Impossible. When I came here last year, it was just the same desert region.”

Various green plants reaching up to their waists spread out vastly.

In just one year—only one year—to grow this much.

Even Lin couldn’t believe it.

Naidrian was truly an exceptional botanist.

Unlike the southern jungle infused with demonic energy, these trees were even performing purification.

Whether Naidrian intended this or not, Lin broke off a branch and put it in his inventory just in case.

He wasn’t sure if it would help his arm or have any effect on Parma.

“I’m worried. This place wasn’t like this before. Could there have been some disaster?”

As Luci whispered, clinging to his arm, Lin smiled and patted her reassuringly.

“Life has grown, so it’s not a disaster. It’s a good sign, if anything.”

Nevertheless, Luci couldn’t shake off her anxiety.

This was her first large-scale battle with Lin.

During the Demon King subjugation, she had resented him being in the rear, but now she wanted to beg him to stay back.

Because she would rather die herself than see Jimkkun get hurt.

The image of Lin dying from his injuries in Epfalter’s cave kept flashing in Luci’s mind.

The soldiers’ morale also improved after seeing the small growing forest.

Just witnessing life blooming in the emotionally barren battlefield provided considerable comfort to the soldiers.

But the peace didn’t last long.

Not long after leaving the forest, a fierce sandstorm arose.

Everyone covered their eyes with their arms and endured for several minutes.

Even after the wind died down, they slowly raised their heads one by one.

“So you’ve come.”

It was regrettable.

Honestly, he had hoped she wouldn’t come.

The woman with bandages covering her entire body.

Only the white hair sticking out between the bandages on her head provided the sole clue that she was the illusionist Adora.

“I suppose this is the third invitation.”

Her chest and shoulders heaved greatly.

Even breathing seemed difficult for her.

“Lin, won’t you quietly come with us?”

But Lin firmly shook his head.

Adora bit her lip.

“Adora.”

Why?

Lin found himself asking the illusionist without even realizing it.

“Are you okay?”

“…I’m fine.”

To the woman smiling mournfully, Lin asked again with genuine anger in his voice:

“Adora, I asked if you’re okay!”

It was concern.

The first concern she had ever received from someone other than the Demon King and the Dragon Knight.

“No, it hurts so much.”

She almost sobbed.

Despite being a dragon knight, she didn’t want to show weakness, but facing Lin made her want to act spoiled.

She wanted to hear even just one word telling her not to be in pain.

“This is why I can’t give you up.”

*Swoosh!*

Two fans unfolded.

“I want all of your attention, all of your affection.”

In her eyes dwelled not only moisture but also madness.

“Where do you get the nerve, you walking corpse.”

Luci also raised her Abyss.

“You die here.”

“Don’t underestimate me! I too am a member of the Dragon Knights!”

The two fans began to dance an elegant pattern along the path of the hero’s sturdy sword.