Ch.136136. The Defense of Kairos (3)

Quenore Strope is strong.

This is treated as a proposition like “the sun is hot” or “ice is cold” among the people of the continent. By any standard, Quenore Strope plays above it. Everyone who has crossed swords with Quenore says the same thing. The feeling of facing some enormous, insurmountable wall. One that repels you when struck and makes you slip when you try to climb it. Such a massive ice wall.

And now, watching the battle between the giant and Ilroy, Quenore Strope felt the same emotion that those who had dueled him must have felt. Beyond the pure white veil of the limit, he could see the sparks flying between the giant and the human. Ilroy was literally fighting while burning everything. When the giant drove down a fist larger than a mountain peak, the silver-white meteor soared, drawing two trails behind it.

Clang-!!

The giant’s hand, trying to smash down the meteor, gradually rose back up. Quenore stared blankly with his mouth open as he watched Ilroy push back the giant’s weight. He was surpassing his limits even now. Every minute, every moment, with the world on his shoulders, he was accomplishing things that couldn’t be done. Even when bounced off by the giant, even when caught by its fist, the hero didn’t back down. The breaking point was shattering at the hero’s sword tip.

I was arrogant.

That’s what Quenore thought.

He had thought there was no higher to climb. He had thought no clear goal could exist. He had thought he was walking at the very front, and that the limits he faced were the limits of the world.

Quenore’s world shattered then. He felt as if he could see the world beyond what he had thought was the limit. The outer shell of mana broke like a snake shedding its skin. What he had thought was common sense was overturned. Quenore Strope became a completely different swordsman after that day.

==

“Quite a grand expedition, it seems, Grand Duke.”

When Quenore mounted his horse, Ris approached with what sounded like a joke. A smile spread across Quenore’s face as well. The newly enlightened Quenore looked even younger. It wasn’t that they hadn’t been worried when he locked himself in the mansion and immersed himself in meditation for days. But having gone through all that, Quenore’s expression now looked brighter than ever.

“Indeed. The time for revenge is approaching. The time for repaying debts seems to be approaching as well.”

Ris felt the immense pressure emanating from Quenore. What would those who had fought the Grand Duke before think if they saw him now? Would they even lose their fighting spirit to face him again?

“It’s a nice day. The sky is clear.”

Quenore tilted his head back and took a deep breath. The warm yet humid summer air of the north passed through Quenore’s lungs, circulating through every corner of his veins, awakening his body. As Quenore’s senses sharpened, his presence vanished. Through the horse standing on northern soil, Quenore knew the earth had thawed. A softness that wasn’t muddy. It was a good time to set out on a long journey.

“Since the giant’s attack, the number of monsters has decreased significantly. Group movements have been reported, but there seem to be hardly any threatening monsters. Only a few Crawlers might pose a threat to knights who can use aura.”

Ris reported, wiping the smile from his face. Quenore, with his eyes gently closed, nodded.

“But… it’s a different story in other regions. In particular, there are reports that monster activity near the royal capital has increased dramatically, as if someone had given orders. With such movements, it wouldn’t be strange if something happened soon.”

“Something will happen. What does the Earl think?”

Quenore asked, opening only his mouth while keeping his eyes closed.

“No need for lengthy explanations. What Evernode and Barktins experienced, the entire kingdom will now experience. Monsters will sweep across the continent on an unprecedented scale. If a specific entity is commanding them, a storm capable of sweeping the entire continent will target only the royal capital.”

By then, no matter how fortified the royal capital’s fortress is, it would collapse in an instant.

“What about the north?”

“If we focus on defense, we can hold out without losing a single territory resident. There are no giants or commander-level monsters that followed the giant in the north now. No matter how brutally they try to push in, Evernode won’t fall.”

Ris affirmed. Quenore rolled Ris’s words on his tongue. If they focused on defense, Evernode could be maintained without issue. But the royal capital couldn’t withstand without the north’s help. It was obvious what action Quenore needed to take.

“Ris, what did you say we should consider before sending reinforcements?”

“…Whether we can preserve ourselves. We should first examine whether there would be any strain in sending reinforcements while maintaining the fortress.”

A question thrown into empty space. When Ris caught the Grand Duke’s question with the duty of a vassal, a faint smile appeared on the Grand Duke’s lips. When Grand Duke Quenore finally opened his eyes, they were burning with fighting spirit, frozen blue. Though the reins were loose, veins protruded from the hand holding them. The Grand Duke turned his horse’s head and said:

“We need to eradicate the monsters near the north.”

Ris raised his eyebrows at the Grand Duke’s words. Grand Duke Quenore, finding Ris’s reaction amusing, let out a hearty laugh.

“Are you saying that the so-called warriors of the north are afraid of weakened enemies and will stay bundled up inside the castle? Haven’t you heard that the best defense is offense?”

“That’s true, but…”

As Ris hesitated, the Grand Duke’s hand rested on his shoulder.

“Why are you so surprised? Weren’t we discussing what to consider before sending reinforcements?”

“So that’s what you meant. You intend to personally set out to support the royal capital without leaving any troubles in the north.”

“It’s right for me to go. It seems the royal capital’s strength alone will be insufficient to stop so many monsters. His Majesty is there, and the hero’s party except for Ilroy will be there, and Laura… that magician is there too, but their strength alone will be difficult.”

The Grand Duke sighed.

“Ilroy must have disappeared because he trusts people like me. Then we have an obligation to live up to his trust. The north owes him a life each.”

“Well, if it’s the hero’s words, what can we do? I’ll count mine as two debts. Once when I left for patrol, and once when the hero defeated the giant.”

Ris said, holding up his fingers, and the Grand Duke looked at him with narrowed eyes. Ris didn’t cower under the Grand Duke’s gaze, shrugging his shoulders and joking.

“I’ll leave gathering troops and mastering basic training to you. Promote the existing skilled soldiers and drill the new recruits until they’re near death.”

“Isn’t that my specialty? Leave it to me. By the day we march, I’ll train them to be useful, if not fully capable.”

Ris nodded with an eerie smile.

“I will form patrol groups with Luke to eradicate the monsters in the north. I’ll make sure those vermin never lurk around Evernode and the north again.”

Thus, the war in the north began earlier than in the royal capital. Quenore personally went out slaughtering monsters in the north. To the south of Evernode was Luke’s army. To the north, Quenore and several knights slaughtered monsters on sight. Whether small or large, strong or weak. Evernode’s forces didn’t discriminate. The monsters gathering in the north were crushed under Evernode’s hooves.

“We’re heading south.”

“Wasn’t that what we were preparing for?”

It was the day when northern monsters had been so thoroughly eradicated that not even traces could be found after searching the forest all day. Quenore said this while standing on the Hill of the Fallen, looking down at Evernode.

“Evernode will be fine, Father. Don’t worry too much.”

Luke’s qualities were excellent. Quenore thought it fortunate that he could entrust Evernode to his son. It was a selfish thought. On one hand, he thought it would be fine if Luke, if his family, didn’t have to follow him into this war. Quenore bit his lip slightly.

“You’ll come back, right?”

Karin gently tugged at Quenore’s clothes. The Grand Duke looked down at Karin calmly and nodded. She had grown stronger. Though she might just be hiding it, she had grown. She had grown taller too in such a short time. The child was growing up quickly.

“I’ll go help the hero and come back.”

At the mention of “the hero,” Karin’s expression brightened. The strong impression Ilroy had left was still deep in Karin’s mind. And it would probably remain in her mind for the rest of her life.

“When the battle is over, can we see the hero?”

Faced with Karin’s sparkling eyes, the Grand Duke couldn’t bring himself to say no.

“I’ll ask him.”

And so, the protector of the north, who had become a storm, began to head south.

==

“They seem to have prepared thoroughly.”

A knight said in a dazed voice. Agnes could only nod in agreement. The Grand Duke and the northern army were sweeping away monsters as if nothing could stop them.

“It’s Evernode…! Grand Duke Strope of Evernode has arrived!!”

Someone’s excited voice could be heard shouting from the castle walls. Agnes nodded very slowly. The sea of monsters was parting. The monsters’ command structure was focused on targeting the royal capital’s walls, so they couldn’t flexibly respond to the forces suddenly attacking from the side. Between the castle walls and the northern blizzard, monsters were being trampled to death.

And at the forefront, a blue flash was howling.

“For Kairos! For Evernode!”

The swords of the northern heroes responded in kind.

“Were the monsters we faced before weaker than these?”

“No, sir!”

“Was the blizzard at the limit line fiercer?”

“No, sir!!”

Berserkers hungry for monster blood. The knights swung their swords with blue light in their eyes. Ris wore a fierce smile, and Serin cut down three monsters at once with a sharp battle cry. And Quenore was approaching Agnes. With one of the north’s famous horses.

“Get on.”

Quenore said, handing the reins to Agnes.

“So the north doesn’t even suffer monster attacks anymore.”

“There are no monsters left that could threaten the north.”

At Quenore’s words, Agnes’s eyes widened like saucers.

“You said you came to repay your debt to the hero, and it seems you’ve returned much stronger.”

“Thanks to Ilroy. I wanted to show him this too.”

Quenore smiled and held up his sword. An aura of a form Agnes had never seen before was enveloping Evernode’s sacred sword.

“…I still have a long way to go to catch up.”

“Your Majesty, with enough time, I believe you can certainly reach this level.”

Agnes jumped onto the horse with a bitter smile. Even in the midst of war, even with tens of thousands of monsters swarming around, the northern horse wasn’t disturbed. Agnes looked at the battlefield. They could win. They could sweep away the monsters like this.

“I’ll go ahead.”

Agnes said as she rode off. Quenore nodded with a smile.

“For Her Majesty the Queen.”

Hope is best seen in the midst of despair. The responding voices were growing louder. The royal capital’s soldiers were bustling about to respond to the northern army. The gates were rising, and organized support units were coming out through the gates.

“We’re going out too!”

“How long are we going to stay cooped up inside the walls just defending!”

And.

Despair is also best seen in the midst of hope.

“No!!”

A sharp scream rang out. Quenore turned around, his pupils trembling.

…What is this?

The soldiers who had gone out to provide support were gone. No, they had all been turned into bloody chunks scattered across the battlefield. It, overshadowing even Quenore’s presence, had suddenly appeared there.

A golden lion was staring at Quenore with gleaming eyes.