Ch.125Breakthrough (3)

“We’re still lacking! We must pave the way for the Regent’s advance first!”

“Deploy the heretics! If necessary, scatter gold to recruit mercenary groups.”

“Warriors who seek battle, come to us! Here is a battlefield where you can fight the Papal States to your heart’s content!”

The Dark Order, which had been barely maintaining its existence while holed up in the south, now soared.

Despite the endless fierce battles that should have exhausted them, vitality coursed through their bodies. They wielded their swords with the determination to fight until they lost all combat capability. As a result, the war situation throughout the eastern region was devastating.

While Durin executed a deep penetration toward the command center, the Order’s knights were scattered to stronghold cities across the region, attempting sabotage to prevent the Crusader Army from concentrating in one place.

They burned monasteries, raided merchant groups, and sniped priests on worship days. There was no holy war here. They used any means necessary to achieve victory.

“Surrender! We surrender!”

“We’ll hang white flags on the walls, so please don’t attack!”

Fear spread like wildfire through rumors. Despite Crusader forces still being stationed in various locations, many cities chose submission over requesting aid. This was a boon for the Dark Order, opening possibilities to establish strongholds and expand their influence.

“Very well. We accept.”

The Dark Order did not refuse such proposals. They welcomed with open arms these excellent sacrifices that walked right into their hands for disrupting the enemy’s rear.

“Let’s go! We must head to the next city!”

However, they did not embrace them.

As soon as the lord or mayor came outside the city gates to signal their surrender, the Order quickly prepared for their next move. They handed over a pledge of loyalty to the Dark Order and immediately turned their horses around.

“Why, why aren’t you protecting us?!”

“Protection? We promised cooperation, but when did we say we would protect you?”

The knights of the Order sneered when the bewildered lords hastily questioned them.

“Our goal is only to increase the number of demon worshippers. We have no interest in your cities.”

“We cannot survive! How can we possibly face the Holy Knights outside…”

“Figure it out yourselves. We don’t care.”

Only stunned expressions remained. The Dark Order knights departed, leaving clouds of dust in their wake. Only white flags fluttered on the city walls. The city officials couldn’t hide their dismay.

“They say they have no interest in building power. This is unexpected.”

“I hear there are still many heretic knights roaming this area, so let’s wait. Who knows? Someone wanting to make the flower of faith bloom anew might protect the city.”

“Let’s hope so. If necessary, we’ll offer them donations. That might be what they wanted all along.”

“An excellent idea.”

While they babbled on, a new order of knights appeared. Night hadn’t even fallen yet. This showed how chaotic the situation was, and that to survive, they absolutely needed to recruit knights of the Order. The lords grew more desperate.

“Over here! We surrender!”

“Spare us! Those who wish to believe in the demon faith seek salvation!”

“Here! Here are desperate lambs!”

They frantically waved their arms and squawked loudly, each trying to catch attention. If necessary, they even beat drums with all their might to attract notice. Their efforts were not in vain. While many units ignored them and passed by, some led their forces to the front of the city.

“Hmm. So you desire the faith of the Order?”

“Y-yes, indeed. We never actually rejected demons. Rather, we wanted to receive their teachings.”

“This chaotic land will make a good teaching material.”

“What?”

“Try to survive as best you can. I wish you luck.”

Were they being mocked? To receive such treatment after surrendering.

Inwardly boiling with rage, they wanted to remove the white flags immediately and prove their purity to the Holy Knights. But the Order’s knights were not so careless.

“They left behind a pledge, so we cannot call upon the Papal forces.”

“They’ll surely turn the area into a wasteland with their inquisitions…”

“If worse comes to worst, let’s just flee with our households. I see no solution.”

The eastern cities continued to be abandoned by heretic knights and faced the strange predicament of being attacked by Holy Knights.

The moment they chose surrender, they betrayed the Papal States. The Dark Order they chose as allies had absolutely no interest in civilian welfare.

It was as if fate itself had drawn its sword against them.

“Who will save us?!”

Only bitter cries echoed emptily.

#

“Secretary, the east has completely fallen into the demon’s grasp.”

“We cannot identify heretics through inquisition. The Dark Order interferes wherever we go.”

“At this rate, we’ll have to declare the entire east heretical and deal with it accordingly.”

Bad news continued to reach Rupiel. The situation was spiraling out of control.

“The angels of the Crusader Army are fine, but the remaining human soldiers have families in their hometowns.”

“We’ve conscripted many easterners who know the geography well, so it’s difficult to impose harsh measures.”

“If we proceed without human help, our angels will be isolated in this land.”

In a month, entire territories had been lost. They could have maintained the front line with harsh measures as before, but Rupiel’s convictions stood in the way.

“Secretary, we didn’t descend to this land merely to protect the Papal States. We are warriors who came to save them all, to act in place of the Archangel’s indifference.”

He had risen alone because he could not bear the current Archangel’s neglect of the human realm. He raised an army to save everyone. He led the angels who followed him down to ensure that the fortresses of faith could once again be firmly established throughout the Creator’s land.

He had certainly thought they would win quickly due to their numerical superiority.

“You must decide. Either declare them all heretics and erase them completely, or hold out against the demon forces and claim victory in the end.”

Rupiel remained silent. So did the advisors who had offered their counsel. They only reported the grim situation. No viable alternatives came to mind.

Though the human realm was said to be the angels’ front yard, the Archangel’s indifference blocked the heavenly path. There was no brilliant light breaking through those dark clouds. It was frustrating.

What made one so desperate to grasp power?

Weren’t angels born to care for humans? Faith was trust and gratitude for protection, and it was right to bestow power accordingly.

At least until corruption set in with the passage of time.

“I regret this.”

Rupiel lamented. Everything seemed dark before him.

Their ancestors claimed the great heavens, but later generations failed to manage it properly. They enjoyed the achievements built by their predecessors as if they were their own, until everything finally collapsed. The Archangels of previous eras who confronted demons had at least maintained the status quo.

This time was hopeless. He thought himself a god. If he had looked upon the human realm even once, just once, his thinking might have changed. But he never deigned to look down. He never left his comfortable chamber.

He hoarded God’s love for himself, lost in his own world.

“In the end, I must bear this burden.”

Rupiel clenched his fist. The Secretary’s role was to assist the Archangel.

If he couldn’t change him, he would step forward and sacrifice himself. Death would complete it. It would alert heaven to the threat in the human realm. A hundred thousand innocent Crusaders might perish, but if one thought of them as sacrifices for God…

“…”

His body trembled. He was in a situation where he had to commit a grave error.

He had to move forward while feeling disgust at his own powerlessness.

“Prepare the army.”

“Secretary, what about the southern front…?”

“Abandon it. The Demon Regent takes priority.”

He would face the demons’ only hope.

Whether the goddess of victory would smile upon them or the goddess of death would come seeking revenge remained to be seen.

“May we prevail.”

He muttered this dry wish.

#

“Your Excellency! They’ve finally made their move!”

The assault force that had cut across the eastern region to the central area.

Their numbers had dwindled to two thousand. Half had met their deaths, but their morale remained unbroken.

Rather, it burned brighter. They were closer to a glorious death, and this gave them vigor.

“Is it Rupiel’s main force?”

“Yes. According to spies sent by the Dark Order, they number approximately five thousand troops.”

“So we’re surrounded by elite forces of ten thousand from front and back.”

Five thousand elite heavenly troops led by the seething Rupiel.

Five thousand Holy Knights and priests rushing desperately from the east.

Compared to their two thousand, superior forces in both numbers and unit types were approaching them from all sides.

Some might speak of doom, but not the demons.

“Prepare to break through! We’ll reach them before the eastern forces arrive!”

If Rupiel was coming, they would welcome him.

That was the demon way of battle. Decapitate the enemy’s leader to destroy their will to fight.

It was even better that the opponent was the Archangel’s Secretary.

“Let’s go, descendants of Tantalos! It’s time to take more angel heads!”

“Kill them!”

The battlefield would unfold on a plain about two days away.

The dawn of a battle that fate would gleefully observe had arrived.