Ch.120120. The Battle of Mercury (1)

The long festival had come to an end.

After the brilliant fireworks, only the irregular song played by the wind remained.

Since I had been caught up in unnecessary trouble from the first day, it had been an eventful five days. With the festival’s conclusion, I wanted to rest properly today. I stayed by Sione’s side until she fell asleep, then returned to my room.

There was something I needed to check.

Right after kissing Sione, something familiar had entered my field of vision.

Lying on the bed, I looked into the remnants of Park Shin-woo, not Ray.

[You have obtained Sione Sianella’s first kiss.]

[Due to your deep bond with her, a large portion of your power has been unlocked.]

“This is…”

My Mana surged dramatically.

Unlike before, when it had increased by just a trickle, this was on a completely different scale.

My Mana seemed to have doubled. With this much, the burden of wind magic would be significantly reduced. I could probably handle fire magic practically as well.

‘I never expected a kiss would increase my Mana this much.’

I felt drained.

At the shooting range at dawn, when Sione had made the first move, I shouldn’t have stubbornly put it off.

How many troublesome situations had I faced since then? With this much Mana, I could have dealt with that woman who was targeting Adelheid, and even the orc in the blizzard, much more easily.

I let out a hollow laugh.

But my eyes continued to scan the information.

There was more.

[Sione Sianella’s trust and affection for you are nearly at their maximum.]

[Sione Sianella’s evaluation of you is “My own knight.”]

[When protecting Sione Sianella or eliminating enemies within a certain distance of her, a significant amount of your power will be unlocked.]

I had seen something similar before.

On the way to the Marquisate of Feiosha, after killing those cultist women, I had received a reward.

Back then, her evaluation of me was “A knight more trustworthy than anyone,” and my power was only unlocked when protecting her.

Now it had been shortened to “My own knight,” but the weight of “My own” and the honorific suffix was quite heavy.

Moreover, now my original power would be significantly restored not only when protecting my naive master but also when defeating enemies around her. A good sign.

“I received a nice festival gift.”

No, in this barbaric world, my original power wasn’t just a nice gift—it was an invaluable one.

In this world that could collapse at any moment, power is extremely important.

‘Come to think of it, Siabel said she would teach me swordsmanship.’

Now that the festival was over.

If the cultist matter was resolved well, I might soon be called by her again.

There were still a few things to think about, but…

I gently closed my eyes.

It was late, so I’d continue my thoughts after waking up early tomorrow.

…

The very day after the festival ended.

The count’s mansion became more chaotic than ever before.

Of course. With such rumors circulating, how could the talkative male servants stop their gossip, and how could the soldiers remain lax?

—A great army of monsters was approaching from the demon border. The soldiers were to tighten their discipline and prepare for a siege.

Given the nature of the rumor, all the early-rising servants were discussing this topic. I merely eavesdropped on their conversations.

‘Suddenly, a great army of monsters is marching here.’

Even so, what kind of rumor is this?

Normally, I would have dismissed it easily, but.

[First War]

[Your intervention has changed history. If there had been no intervention at the altar in the Beltrin Mountains in summer, the war that should have begun with the attack on Princess Adelheid’s coming-of-age ceremony would have been postponed until winter. The blood of Sianella gathered here will defend the territory according to the oath inscribed in their blood. Help them stop the enemy’s advance.]

[Reward: Granting a new possibility for your being, Weakening of the Demon]

[Failure: Depends on the degree of failure]

“Shit.”

Since the quest had appeared, the rumor was no mere rumor.

* * *

Ainel’s announcement that war would soon break out in the territory spread instantly.

The territory was in chaos, but disciplined soldiers and clerics from the church prevented internal collapse. Currently, the County of Sianella was shrouded in the thick fog of war.

“That’s unfortunate. I’ll have to postpone teaching you swordsmanship. I really have the worst luck. Promises with you always seem to get delayed.”

Siabel postponed showing me the sword and led the soldiers.

Although the soldiers were afraid, they had no intention of fleeing.

Women in armor with swords at their sides walked the territory and beneath the western wall with resolute faces.

Territory residents with determination volunteered to join the count’s army.

Those who weren’t either huddled by the eastern wall, which they thought would be safer, or boarded carriages heading to other territories. Some even walked the long distance alone. The atmosphere in the territory was nearly at its worst.

Lavi owned an expensive magical device that could contact the marquis at any time. Thanks to this, Ainel was able to somehow keep those famous mages in the county through conversations with the marquis. Of course, only the mages would participate in the defense. Aria’s safety was guaranteed separately.

“Sione and Ray. I have something to tell you.”

Then Ainel came to us directly.

Not as the head of the family, but as a knight, wearing armor and carrying a sword.

After finishing our conversation with Ainel, several days passed.

Some fast-moving monsters began approaching the walls.

They weren’t particularly strong, so the soldiers had no trouble eliminating them, but we could feel the war drawing closer.

The closest family to the count’s house, the County of Velleia, where Sione’s childhood friend belonged, sent reinforcements and supplies. Several war mages and cavalry known for their bravery knelt before Ainel.

Other families were quite far away, so it would take more time for their aid to arrive.

Two more days passed like that.

All kinds of war supplies were gathered at the wall, specifically the western wall facing the Beltrin Mountains. Disciplined soldiers filled the area below the wall, and Sione and I were walking through this tense street.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“Of course I am. This isn’t just some minor battle; Mother said the fate of our family depends on this defense.”

“Moreover, the head of the family ordered you to climb the wall and pierce through the enemies.”

“In any case, I’ve already crossed the wall. It would be a waste to use an archer like me when every single soldier is needed. Besides, she said I could go down below the wall anytime if it became dangerous.”

I stopped walking and looked directly at Sione.

“…The monsters will create mountains of corpses, and the survivors will climb those mountains to reach the top of the wall.”

Sione quietly stroked her bow and met my eyes.

That naive one was showing perfect calm but her hands were trembling slightly. That composed expression was just a mask.

“Up there will be a scene of carnage. It will be the most brutal place of all.”

I know.

“It will be difficult. Once you see it, you might not be able to sleep easily. The wall will be stained red, and screams and the smell of iron will fill the air.”

When I was a Hunter.

I too had experienced a siege.

A Hunter who fell into a ruined world and had to somehow conquer it. Among them, I had fallen into an old castle and endured a long struggle with few troops and just one wall.

Despite having conquered numerous dungeons, I can confidently say that the devastation then was no less than in other high-level dungeons.

“It’s dangerous. Monsters lacking reason are not opponents you can reason with. They will rush at you without hesitation when they see you.”

This is no place for an archer who has only been standing on her own two feet for just over a year.

She could be caught by monsters and physically destroyed. Sione’s fragile mind might break.

“It’s not too late. Let me speak to Ainel. It would be better if you didn’t have to go up there at all, and instead waited in the rear like Sion.”

I couldn’t understand why Sione had nodded without any hesitation to Ainel’s order.

“No, it’s fine.”

“You’re trembling.”

“…”

“Will you really be alright?”

“…Yes. Because—”

Sione nodded slightly.

“You’re here with me.”

“What?”

“I said I have no worries because my own knight said he would protect me.”

“…”

“Besides…you’ve been telling me recently. Not to be obsessed with recreating the myths of my ancestors, not to be deeply buried in the four characters of my name.”

Sione tilted her head to the side and smiled softly.

“So I’ve decided to do that. Sianella or whatever. If it’s dangerous, I’ll go down below the wall and take shelter.”

“You said the fate of the family is at stake. Though this is the worst situation that should never have happened, if the family were to be wiped out in this war…it might be fine to abandon the name altogether. It would be nice to just be Sione and Ray, living happily together in a small village.”

“If it’s a retreat after a tough resistance and defeat, it’s not betraying the count’s house but an unavoidable surrender. The oath bound to your heart won’t reproach you.”

Sione took a step closer to me.

“You said Sione is more important than Sianella. I too value you more than my name.”

After saying that, she turned her head to look up at the wall.

“If I’m severely injured or die, I won’t be able to meet you again. So there’s no way you and I will be broken up there, so stop worrying. I’ll shoot my bow just enough to be true to myself, then come down. Will you allow that?”

“Haah…”

Sione seemed to have already made up her mind.

Even if she was a little afraid, she was looking at the world without wavering, having already established her beliefs.

She must have come to terms with her name to some extent. And what cut off her excessive immersion was the weight of my existence to her.

“If it seems dangerous, I’ll drag you down below the wall immediately.”

Sione simply nodded in response.

Then we climbed up the wall.

The view of the territory from above and the scenery outside had their own charm.

Time shifted.

The sun set, and the moon rose.

Many mages and archers gathered on the wall. Behind them, knights including Siabel and Diolia quietly watched their backs.

Somehow, Ainel came to stand beside Sione. They were looking in the same direction.

Beyond that horizon.

Whether the enemy was coming or not. They were just quietly watching.

That’s when it happened.

Woooong—!

A woman standing on the watchtower blew a horn without hesitation.

“They’ve finally come.”

Ainel said, touching the hilt of her sword.

The enemies began to appear beyond the horizon.

Under the moonlight, an army of tens of thousands was marching toward the wall.

The moon is a symbol of madness and demons.

Like demons that rampage at night, those monsters seemed to believe this late hour was their true time.

They narrowed the distance without rest, making the ground tremble.

I was shocked at the sheer number of heads visible in that direction.

“Ah…”

…I should probably drag Sione down below the wall right now.