Ch.136Chapter 136. Is This Right? (1)

“Hey, long time no see, everyone?”

Felipe scratched his head awkwardly as he greeted them first, but no one responded to his words.

Erika was looking at Felipe with contempt in her eyes, while Addy wouldn’t even spare him a glance.

“Commander, Yuria and Jacqueline are already engaged in battle.”

“Yeah. Let’s hurry and go too.”

Addy only said what she needed to while monitoring the situation through the communication device.

When no one returned his greeting, Felipe seemed embarrassed and stepped back, fidgeting with his spear.

The reason Felipe had been at the eastern edge of the continent was exactly as I had expected. He remembered something I once mentioned about a training location and went there to improve his skills.

As I recall, I had just said whatever came to mind at the time, so I’m more surprised that such an island actually existed.

“You understand the situation, Felipe?”

“Of course, Commander. So we just go and cut down monsters, right?”

“That’s right.”

Though there were many complex circumstances involved, that conclusion was correct.

First, we go and cut down the invading monsters.

“Addy, what’s the situation?”

“The western allied forces where Yuria and Jacqueline are deployed are currently fighting under Yuria’s command. From what I can see, they don’t seem likely to fall easily.”

“Okay. What about the others?”

“The Crescen and O’Neil armies are about to enter battle as well. Both locations seem to have completed their defenses, but…”

“The issue is where Satan will appear.”

“Yes. Whichever side Satan appears on will likely be breached no matter what.”

“Hmm.”

I pondered briefly while listening to Addy’s report.

Where should I go in this situation?

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter, does it?’

My brief deliberation quickly ended.

Thanks to the footage provided through the communication device, I could now easily move between the Crescen Empire, O’Neil Kingdom, or the Western Allied Forces.

That meant I could go assess the situation first, then immediately teleport to wherever Satan appeared when reports came in.

“Then I’ll go to Crescen. Felipe, go help out on the O’Neil side.”

“…Huh? What about me?”

Erika, who had been quietly listening to my words, asked with a puzzled expression.

Not just Erika, but Addy and Felipe also looked confused.

“Erika, you…”

I began calmly explaining my thoughts to Erika.

**

<Due to sudden changes in continental politics, the overall difficulty has been increased. Accordingly, the penalty has been reduced.>

<Main Quest (5) ‘Sudden Calamity’>

Objective: Stop Satan, the resurrected demon.

Details: The nameless demon has officially resurrected under the name ‘Satan.’ Seal him again.

Reward: Title acquisition (Hero of the Continent)

Penalty: Play Reset [Penalty reduced due to increased difficulty]

‘Is this for real?’

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at the absurd message that appeared before me.

As soon as I met Felipe on the eastern island and brought him back to our hideout, a system message appeared before my eyes after a long time.

It was quite sudden and somewhat difficult to accept.

The quest content gave off the impression of being a final quest.

I hadn’t done anything to warrant a difficulty increase.

It was unfair, but there was nothing I could do.

I just had to accept it.

‘Well, I have to do it anyway, what else can I do?’

The system that gave me the overpowered ability of “Teleportation” can be really annoying at times like this.

So inconsiderate and arbitrary.

“So the Commander will be at Crescen?”

“Yeah. If Satan appears, signal me right away, okay?”

“Okay. Time to see the results of my training.”

Due to Satan’s unexpectedly sudden movement, our plans had to change a bit.

Originally, the Black Shadow Corps planned to lead our own forces north independently like other countries, but there wasn’t enough time to bring all our members north.

So we changed our approach to just sending the captains as support.

In truth, most of the Black Shadow Corps’ strength lay in its captains anyway.

It would be more effective to fight with the captains’ forces, but they were plenty strong without them.

*Swoosh*

Felipe gripped his spear from his back and smiled with anticipation.

Each of the Black Shadow Corps captains had their own specialties.

Erika of the 1st Division excelled in stealth and tracking, while Jacqueline of the 2nd Division specialized in combat.

Yuria of the 4th Division was skilled in magic and handled the corps’ public image and “diplomacy.”

And Felipe, the 3rd Division captain, also specialized in combat.

However, his style differed from Jacqueline’s.

While Jacqueline’s style focused on one-on-one or small-scale combat, Felipe was the opposite.

A spearman specialized in fighting multiple opponents.

He was exactly the kind of force needed in a war against monsters like this.

*Whoosh*

“I’ll go ahead then?”

Small flames appeared at the tip of Felipe’s spear, soon enveloping the entire weapon.

Felipe, seemingly unaffected by the heat, gripped the flame-wrapped spear and glanced at me.

“Yeah. See you later.”

*Whoosh*

Instead of answering, Felipe leaped into the air, his black corps uniform fluttering.

I watched the red flames grow distant before teleporting elsewhere.

Though somewhat simple-minded and rough, he’s more serious about combat than anyone else, so he’ll manage well.

Next was Yuria and Jacqueline’s location.

*Woong*

I immediately teleported to the Western Allied Forces, who were in the midst of battle.

Unlike the O’Neil Kingdom forces who were just beginning their battle, this place was complete chaos.

“Yongyong.”

*Kuwoong*

I called for Yongyong as soon as I arrived.

When Yongyong appeared, everyone’s attention suddenly turned toward me.

I’ve gotten used to it, but such large-scale attention is still burdensome.

Thankfully I’m wearing a mask.

*Grrrr-!*

Yongyong, now out in the world, growled happily as if recognizing something.

Yongyong’s gaze was fixed precisely on Jacqueline, who was mercilessly cutting down monsters ahead.

Jacqueline must have felt Yongyong’s gaze, as she almost simultaneously looked back at Yongyong with flashing yellow eyes.

Anyone could see they were happy to see each other.

*Flutter- Whoosh-*

Without any command from me, Yongyong naturally spread its wings and flew toward Jacqueline.

Jacqueline, as if she had been waiting, jumped up and landed precisely on Yongyong’s head in mid-air.

It feels like Yongyong is being stolen from me.

“Tsk. They really get along well.”

*Grrrr-*

Yongyong purred contentedly as Jacqueline stroked it, then quickly changed its stance.

Just like in the Flora Kingdom, Yongyong charged fearlessly toward the numerous monsters.

“Now then…”

After confirming that Jacqueline and Yongyong were working together enviably well, I stepped back.

In any case, now that Yongyong had joined the battlefield, our side had gained an advantage.

*Woong*

I wanted to talk to Yuria if possible, but she looked too busy.

She was occupied with repairing ice walls as they broke and periodically firing area-of-effect spells.

Truly impressive.

After checking on Yuria and Jacqueline’s situation, I teleported to Crescen.

The Crescen Imperial Army’s position was the most stable and orderly of the three battlefields.

With “Iron Wall Knight” Uncle Lois leading the way, backed by Bernstein’s flames and Phrysis’s ice, the monsters were struggling to advance.

It made me wonder if they even needed my help, as they were holding their ground well.

“Ahem, hmm.”

I cleared my throat unnecessarily, knowing my voice would be disguised anyway.

Still, I’m affiliated with Crescen Academy, so someone might recognize me.

Better safe than sorry.

*Woong*

After carefully checking my mask, uniform, gloves, and Black Shadow Sword, I teleported next to Uncle Lois.

Despite my sudden appearance beside him, Lois showed no surprise and naturally looked at me.

“You are.”

“It’s been a while?”

“Oh. A famous person has arrived. Sneaky as always.”

“Come on, sneaky? I just came.”

Lois Sinclair turned his gaze forward again with a subtle smile.

I exchanged simple nods with the two mages standing next to Lois.

So that person is Emily’s mother.

She gives off a completely different impression from Emily, very cold.

“You might be better off supporting elsewhere.”

“Our captains are already at the other battlefields.”

“Haha. Truly an elusive group.”

Meanwhile, the black monsters continued to pour in.

*Grip*

I readjusted my grip on the Black Shadow Sword and prepared to charge.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to swing my sword freely.

**

“Argh!”

A scream filled with frustration and irritation burst from Arte’s mouth.

Monitoring all three battlefields simultaneously, Arte was extremely annoyed by the unexpectedly solid human defenses.

Though it was a shame, she had thrown the giant centipedes as bait, and while the allied forces were in confusion, she had advanced almost her entire main force.

She thought things would go smoothly.

But once again, those people were the problem.

The Black Shadow Corps, who always interfered with “The Nameless”—no, now Lord Satan’s plans.

Though there were only two of them, the battlefield atmosphere changed instantly with their appearance.

It wasn’t for nothing that they said a top-tier mage or knight was worth more than a thousand soldiers.

Thanks to those two people who reversed the situation with their abilities, the battlefield atmosphere had completely changed in an instant.

To the point where Arte found it difficult to step forward rashly.

And it wasn’t as if attacks on the other fronts were going well either.

‘At this rate, Lord Satan will…’

Arte gritted her teeth and frowned as a red-haired man in Black Shadow Corps uniform appeared on the O’Neil Kingdom army’s side as well.