Ch.128Pelheim Senova (1)

Fellheim Senova (1)

Esmeralda shuddered as she observed the fortress city’s response.

They were fulfilling their existing promise. Moreover, the soldiers were burning their lives for the sake of humanity.

At the very least, it meant they didn’t know Fellheim Senova’s true intentions.

And that was also an attack directed at her, who was hesitating now.

‘Fellheim Senova… responded more calmly than I expected.’

And to Eirene, it was truly an appropriate move.

Without certainty of her betrayal, if the hero’s party faltered here, they would face backlash.

Even if they were justified, the fact would remain that Esmeralda had ignored the soldiers’ deaths.

This was like tightening a noose around their own necks.

Fellheim Senova must know well that this approach could eventually tighten around his own neck too.

But it’s obvious which side would suffer the greater blow.

‘Fellheim Senova has nothing left to lose. That’s why he has a wider range of options to choose from.’

Eirene could understand what Fellheim Senova was thinking.

Of course, understanding didn’t mean she could counter it.

When dealing with someone who has nothing to lose, you’re bound to be at a disadvantage.

“Eirene.”

“Yes, Hero.”

“We’ll proceed according to the original contract.”

“Well, that seems reasonable.”

“I thought you’d try to stop me?”

“No, considering future developments, that’s better. For now, let’s act according to your instincts.”

Yes, that’s better.

Though the risk would increase, this way they could prepare for the future.

And high-risk situations were common for the hero’s party anyway.

“Then while watching our backs…”

Shing.

Esmeralda drew her holy sword and spread its radiance widely.

Drawing the world’s attention, she announced her presence.

“From now on, let’s target Legion Commander Six.”

With those words, Esmeralda leaped down from the fortress wall.

Following her, twelve swords left trails of light in the air as they plunged into the heart of enemy territory.

“Then I’ll go too.”

Tina followed behind.

As the scout who covered the hero’s blind spots joined in, Esmeralda’s charge gained stability.

“Millia, please do as usual. I need to go down.”

“Okay.”

Clack.

Finally, Eirene followed the two of them.

She couldn’t charge valiantly like them, but Eirene created stairs with her holy power and slowly descended to the ground. She couldn’t catch up to Esmeralda anyway.

All she could do was control the surrounding area.

“Since we’re facing undead, this might actually be fortunate.”

Flash!

A pure white radiance collapsed a section of the Demon King’s army, spreading its presence throughout the crowd.

“It’s the Saintess…”

“The Saintess is with us!!”

Eirene drew more attention than Esmeralda who had plunged into the heart of enemy territory.

This was both Eirene’s political intention and consideration for Esmeralda.

By drawing attention like this, wouldn’t it reduce the concerns about attacks from behind?

Since she was more confident in defense, drawing attention this way was also important.

‘The problem is that I don’t have a reliable vanguard protecting me right now.’

If the opponent is undead.

Yes, with that thought, Eirene began to take control of the surrounding area.

Kuuuung!

The person supporting Eirene was on top of the fortress wall.

In a sense, it was the most dangerous position.

Millia was deploying large-scale annihilation magic while under the protection of the fortress city knights.

Though they were attacking the Demon King’s army together now, it would become the most dangerous position the moment the fortress city turned against them.

But Eirene didn’t worry separately about Millia.

‘With that terrifying magic…’

Wouldn’t the attackers be the ones to be pitied instead?

***

With the hero party’s intervention, the balance collapsed instantly. The previously tense standoff between the three forces began to tilt in one direction.

Esmeralda hiding in the heart of enemy territory, eliminating dangerous enemies in advance, and Tina assassinating enemies while covering Esmeralda’s blind spots.

Eirene suppressing enemies with wide-area holy magic while strengthening allies.

And Millia destroying enemy formations with large-scale annihilation magic. Especially Millia’s magic was so overwhelming it made one wonder if common soldiers were even necessary in war.

Yes, because of that…

‘Soon…’

The appearance of someone to explain the reason was inevitable.

‘…here it comes!’

Kiiiiiii!!

The battlefield, noisy with metal friction and screams, was consumed by an ear-splitting wail.

The Demon King’s army, which had been helplessly swept away by Eirene’s holy magic and Millia’s bombardment, began to hold their ground.

‘This is Legion Commander Six’s power…’

Eirene shuddered at the battlefield mage who nullified her attacks with all kinds of protective magic.

Yes, this is why infantry and knights could still stand on the battlefield.

Mages who realized they could eliminate them at once with area attacks began to create countermeasures one by one.

Ritual magic cast over an area, not individual enhancements.

On the battlefield, mages basically had only one purpose.

“Prepare for bombardment! Mages, ready the defenses!”

Commanders operating troops across the battlefield shouted.

Mages dominate the battlefield with powerful, wide-range magic.

Since that’s the goal, preventing the opponent from doing the same is equally important.

One purpose, but two roles.

A wall and a siege weapon.

No matter how great the difference between mages on both sides, once one side starts to focus, the situation becomes fixed.

And then.

“What… is…”

What’s needed to overturn this fixed battlefield situation is the tactics of common soldiers and their commanders.

And…

“What the hell is that knight?!”

The presence of an overwhelming “individual” who can change the tide single-handedly.

‘This quickly…?’

Eirene trembled at the sight of the black knight who exuded an overwhelming presence despite the chaos of countless soldiers entangled.

She had expected Legion Commander Nine to be added to the Demon King’s army.

And she also knew that was the weapon the opponent had prepared.

Information shines brighter the more it’s concealed. To reveal such premium information as the existence of Legion Commander Nine so easily?

Something’s different.

There’s something unexpected.

“Ugh?!”

Eirene’s eyes met with Legion Commander Nine who was looking at her from afar.

Two red eyes glowing in the ominous black mist.

The moment their eyes met, she understood.

“Ah, damn… Right. I suppose you would think that way too.”

The black knight wasn’t targeting Esmeralda who was still penetrating deep into the Demon King’s army.

“Cutting off supplies in war is only natural.”

The fact that he was targeting her, who was providing all the support from behind.

Eirene quietly took her stance.

Her morning star trembled in her grip, but there was no choice.

“I wonder if I can hold out…”

A battle to take the opponent’s head.

The one who endures wins.

Eirene prepared to throw herself into danger once again today for the revival of the Celestial God’s Order.

***

Something was strange.

Esmeralda, who had penetrated the battlefield and was overwhelming the enemies, couldn’t shake off the doubt lodged in a corner of her mind.

‘What’s strange?’

The situation was unfolding well.

That much was fine. After all, wasn’t that the purpose of the operation?

Wasn’t that what a hero was for?

She was an asymmetric force. It wasn’t so strange for her to break through the enemy soldiers.

In the first place, this situation wouldn’t last long either.

That’s what she had known, and…

Kiiiiiii!!

Indeed, that’s what happened.

Esmeralda thought as she struggled to push back the demon soldiers whose defenses had suddenly become solid.

They had become stronger. Definitely stronger.

Enemies who had been nothing to her a moment ago had transformed into opponents requiring her effort.

But it was still manageable. Even with enhancements, there were limits.

That’s why she had been waiting for the opponent’s asymmetric force.

‘Legion Commander Nine.’

And with the wailing, the first to appear was the knight of death.

[Name: Nine]

[Race: Living Armor] [Title: Legion Commander, Black Knight]

[Trait List]

Imperial Swordsmanship Lv. 71

Unique Swordsmanship Lv. 88

Black Magic Lv. 42

Necromancy Lv. 22

[Comprehensive Estimate Lv. 926]

As expected.

A reasonable figure based on comparing the forces of the legion commanders she had seen so far.

Everything was as she had expected.

She had become stronger too.

It was surprising how smoothly she had advanced, but she had grown that much stronger.

And as she expected, the opponent exuded a strength that made her knees weak just by looking.

And it was also possible that such a monster would head towards Eirene, who was supporting her, rather than herself.

She had anticipated all of that.

It was a plausible scenario.

Then what was this unease?

“Esmeralda!”

“Tina!”

“I think we should go back.”

“Is that a feeling?”

“Yes.”

Not a rational judgment, but a feeling.

But if it was Tina saying it, the reliability was different.

However, to turn back based solely on intuition at such a critical juncture would put not only her but also numerous soldiers in danger.

Esmeralda thought.

Just one more. If there was just one more piece, she would make a decision.

The threat she felt from Legion Commander Nine.

The intuition warning her to turn back now.

What did he say? How strong did he say he was?

Esmeralda recalled.

She dug through her memories for each piece of information Garnet had given her.

Then suddenly.

-Legion Commander Nine. That bastard Six raised a Death Knight.

A sentence flashed through her mind.

Esmeralda examined Legion Commander Nine again with trembling eyes.

[Name: Nine]

It was certain the opponent was a Legion Commander.

[Race: Living Armor]

The known race was different.