Ch.137Leopold’s Speech

“Then we’ll have the Bone Serpent respond according to Lord Ludwig’s plan… but what about the ‘Whisperer’? If we let that creature live, won’t our fallen soldiers continuously resurrect as monsters?”

Leopold’s concern seemed reasonable.

The Whisperer was infamous not for its raw power, but for the danger of its abilities.

The veil of dark mana it spreads resurrects the dead as rotting, diseased creatures.

For every enemy killed, three allies die, and immediately after, those three corpses resurrect as monsters.

Then nine, twenty-seven, eighty-one.

Death and rebirth continue endlessly, and like drops of wine falling on a cloth, the entire battlefield becomes stained with monsters in an instant.

It was chilling just to imagine.

It would be no exaggeration to say that the moment its power manifested, the battle line would completely collapse.

It was the worst outlook, but fortunately, Richard shook his head.

“I will bestow blessings on everyone before battle, so there won’t be a problem at least for this fight. As long as Elpinel’s blessing remains… even if they lose their lives, dark mana won’t be able to infiltrate for the time being.”

Leopold’s eyes narrowed slightly.

It was somewhat reassuring, but not completely comforting.

“That means if this becomes a prolonged battle, they will eventually resurrect as monsters?”

“We can purify the bodies with fire before that happens. It would be difficult during field operations, but if we’re defending the fortress, I believe we’ll have enough time for that.”

“So the first battle will be the greatest challenge… I’ll put my trust in you all.”

“Elpinel watches over us, we will certainly be victorious.”

“Leave it to us.”

Margrave Ludwig also nodded.

Insufficient troops, a strategy that was little more than a gamble.

It was always unsettling to engage in battle with uncertain odds of victory… but he understood the importance of this war.

After that, the three remained atop the wall for quite some time.

There were still many issues to discuss.

—-

About forty minutes later.

The monster army had drawn close enough to be clearly visible to the soldiers.

The soldiers who had completed all preparations were lined up below the fortress walls.

Eight thousand Imperial troops, two thousand Holy Brigade.

Considering that the Holy Brigade fundamentally belonged to the Holy State, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Holy State was showing even more sincerity than the Empire.

The Archbishop of the Church of Elpinel had opposed participation, but Lacy Elmaine Stardolf had pushed through by emphasizing Elpinel’s doctrine.

The Saint candidates were symbols of their respective churches.

The stigmata engraved on them was proof of being chosen by God, so even the Archbishop found it difficult to ignore Lacy’s determination when she brought out the doctrine to advocate for a holy war.

The morale of the Imperial troops was even lower than before.

They had heard from their superiors that they would be engaging in battle outside the fortress.

“That crazy prince… We’d barely manage fighting from the walls, but he wants us to fight outside?”

“Didn’t you hear the knights’ explanation? The walls would collapse if we don’t!”

“So they’re telling us to fight monsters that can destroy walls?”

Though their voices were whispers, there were so many that clear unrest was spreading throughout the army.

Several knights were shouting to control them, but the murmuring didn’t stop.

In contrast, the Holy Brigade appeared quite composed.

They were quietly mumbling prayers or kissing their holy symbols, preparing for martyrdom.

They truly looked like the elite of the elite.

It was only natural. Once the Saint candidate decided to participate, the Church of Elpinel had no choice but to send their finest troops.

If they lost the battle and she died, it would tarnish the church’s name.

Thus, ten thousand troops had gathered.

The knights also lined up in front of the soldiers, looking up at the fortress walls.

Their warhorses had been left inside the fortress, as they couldn’t fight mounted against this enemy.

Thirty knights from Landenburg. Two hundred knights dispatched from the Imperial Knights. And about a hundred Paladins.

Knights with exceptional skills were organized into a reserve unit to face the Bone Serpent, while the Paladins were planned to hold the front line alongside the Holy Brigade.

As a result, about forty knights were assigned to the reserve unit.

Eight Masters were added to their number.

It seemed sufficient to hunt down the Bone Serpent before it could escape.

While most forces were deployed outside the fortress, half of the eight thousand Imperial troops remained inside.

When the time came for allied forces who had defeated the Bone Serpent to retreat into the fortress, they would climb the walls to provide covering fire.

Perhaps because they wouldn’t immediately face the enemy, their expressions were somewhat brighter.

But as their expressions brightened, the complexions of the soldiers stationed outside the fortress worsened.

Leopold looked down at them from atop the wall.

“Soldiers of the Empire, do you still remember!”

Leopold raised his voice to begin his speech.

To increase their chances of victory, even if just a little.

The soldiers’ attention focused on the young prince.

—-

“A thousand years ago, do you remember whose land you stand on? No, whose world this was! Do you remember?”

Even from atop the wall, Leopold’s voice resonated powerfully enough for all soldiers to hear.

His dignified appearance and thunderous cry made a deep impression on the soldiers.

There was an imperial majesty that hadn’t been seen since the current Emperor, Ferdinand II, had weakened.

“You must know! You’ve all heard it since childhood! The world did not belong to humans. No, there was nothing that belonged to humans in that era!”

It was a story everyone knew.

Childhood tales told by parents.

Teachings spoken by church priests.

The history that superiors had drilled into their heads since joining the Imperial army.

“In those days, we humans were merely slaves. Miserable livestock who needed permission from their masters even to breathe!”

The listening soldiers were somewhat bewildered.

Certainly he projected majesty, but they couldn’t understand why he suddenly brought up history.

Leopold himself privately wondered if his speech would be effective.

He was accustomed to dealing with nobles, but this was his first time addressing soldiers.

With each word he uttered, he felt no certainty.

But he had to succeed somehow.

“Who broke that terrible era, that life of livestock! Who severed the chains of slavery and gave people the right to the land, the rivers, even the right to live? You have not forgotten them!”

One hero’s name came to everyone’s mind.

The first Emperor of the Empire. Carlos.

—-

Listening, Margrave Ludwig slightly furrowed his brow.

‘Invoking the Great’s glory won’t mean much at this point…’

Though the imperial bloodline was said to descend from Carlos the Great, he didn’t think that invoking an ancient hero’s name would raise the soldiers’ morale now.

‘I suppose his lack of military experience is showing…’

As Ludwig thought, the soldiers’ reactions were lukewarm.

Yes, Carlos the Great was impressive, and they knew this prince carried that bloodline, but so what?

Would the ascended Great descend to help his descendant?

It seemed meaningless.

Everyone thought it was just a ceremonial speech emphasizing the imperial bloodline.

“Do you think I speak of Carlos the Great? Do you think I’m trying to establish authority through old tales?”

Until now.

“You’re wrong! It wasn’t Carlos the Great! It wasn’t the Twelve Knights! It wasn’t even the gods!!

Those who saved humanity were YOU!!”

Leopold shouted with all his might.

With clenched fists, using all his strength.

His roar echoed across the quiet plain like a lion’s.

“Ordinary soldiers. Knights whose names weren’t even recorded in history! Your ancestors were the heroes who gave dignity to humanity!”

Leopold swung his left arm roughly.

Everyone looked at the prince in surprise at his words, which seemed to deny divine grace and the achievements of their ancestors.

“Carlos the Great and the Twelve Knights were merely catalysts. No matter how strong they were, just thirteen of them couldn’t have defeated countless enemies by their strength alone! It was your ancestors, all of them united with swords in hand, that allowed humanity to triumph against the world!”

Leopold still lacked confidence.

But he simply shouted with all his might.

With such passion that it reached everyone listening.

“That is the strength of humanity! Each of us alone is weak. We are weaker than any other race on this land!”

Lacy, listening to the speech, kissed her holy symbol.

Though she disliked content that seemed to deny divine grace, she knew well what she needed to do now.

“But since your ancestors finally gave birth to the Empire 800 years ago, united humanity has never been defeated!

Until now, and as long as we fight as one, it shall remain so forever!”

This was all Leopold wanted to say.

At that moment, brilliant light poured down upon his head.

The holy light released by Lacy.

Bathed in the cascading pure white light, the prince appeared to the soldiers like the second coming of a hero, sacred and divine.

Leopold drew his sword.

“Take up your swords! Fight as one, trusting in each other! I too shall fight alongside you!

Each one of you is a hero, and today is not the day we fall!”

His roar echoed across the plain.