Ch.144Prologue

The battlefield situation had improved a bit since earlier.

It seemed they had succeeded in subjugating one of them, as a Tomb Eater lay limp with its head and limbs torn to pieces, while five Masters were literally dismembering the remaining one.

The creature thrashed about in convulsions, but it was merely futile resistance.

Each Master had latched onto its head and limbs, grinding the bones like a blender.

Every time the Paladin swung his arm, a streak of lightning pierced through like a spear, and the halberd of a middle-aged man in an Imperial Knight uniform dug into and split the monster’s bones.

The whirlwind of flames shot by the Mage enveloped the creature’s arm, melting it.

Nigel was gradually severing the monster’s leg by repeatedly thrusting and withdrawing his spear like a sewing machine.

Though his pace was somewhat slower compared to the other Masters.

Certainly, just stabbing would be tricky against such a large monster.

Nigel’s fighting style seemed specialized for combat against humans.

The man wielding dual swords was particularly impressive.

Mounted atop the Tomb Eater’s massive skull, he swung his arms wildly while shouting battle cries.

Bone fragments torn away by his endless slashes scattered like a fountain.

I heard dual swords were a symbol of defeat, but he fights quite well for that.

“That side will be finished soon… If you want to help, take charge of the collapsed wall section. If yesterday is any indication, those creatures will retreat soon.”

“I heard from the prince, but do they really retreat? Why would creatures that never tire do that?”

“I suspect the Whisperer is waiting to bring reinforcements.”

That could be it.

From their perspective, it would just be a meaningless war of attrition if all the useful monsters were eliminated.

I parted ways with Lord Landenburg and headed toward the rocky hill.

Priests I met along the way blessed me once more.

“Don’t fall back! It won’t be long until they flee!”

As I approached the collapsed wall, Leopold’s shouting gradually became audible.

This injured man who can barely swing a sword is holding the line at the center of the defense.

It’s probably thanks to the guard knights protecting his sides rather than his own ability.

Where did Asha go?

The dwarf in heavy armor was nowhere to be seen on the front lines.

I thought she would be fighting here since she could no longer fly.

“Knights! At this rate…!”

“Prince Leopold.”

“Ah, Princess. Shouldn’t you be resting more?”

Leopold, who had been shouting at the top of his lungs, turned his head toward me and looked me up and down.

All my minor wounds had healed and my left arm where the sword had pierced was now fine, but I was still covered in blood… to others, I might still look seriously injured.

“I’m fine. More importantly, have you seen Asha? I don’t see her anywhere.”

“If you mean Lady Asha, she went up to the wall after asking the priests for blessings. The Church of Elpinel’s blessings are less effective on non-humans, but somehow they managed with two priests pouring out their holy power.”

Up on the wall? That doesn’t mean she’s using her lance, but rather…

“Himmel’s technology is second to noooone! Taste the power of gunpowder!”

Just then, Asha’s shout echoed from high above.

And then.

– Tadadadadada!

A rain of bullets poured down with consecutive bursting sounds.

The lance mounted on the wall was no longer a spear but essentially a massive gun barrel.

The tip, with its spearhead removed, spewed flames without pause.

The monsters danced ridiculously and shattered into pieces under the bullets, which were imbued with faint but definite holy power.

Everyone around turned their gaze toward Asha.

I felt bitter inside as old memories surfaced.

I never thought I’d hear that bastard’s machine gun sound again, even in another world.

Its rate of fire, penetration power, and range were somewhat inferior compared to modern machine guns… but it was still plenty deadly.

“So that’s the power of dwarven magical tools, firearms… truly impressive in both power and noise.”

Leopold muttered in admiration.

I see they’re known as magical tools in the Empire.

In reality, they have nothing to do with magic.

Anyway, that side of the wall should be fine.

She’ll hold out well until she runs out of ammunition.

“Then I’ll support the defense line for now. Is that acceptable?”

“That’s sufficient. This battle won’t end in just one day, so don’t overexert yourself.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

After receiving the priests’ blessings, I drew Durandal.

The reawakened Sword of Oath. A blue aura began to envelop its sharp blade.

The engraved seal glowed faintly.

A strange exhilaration flowed through my fingertips.

Without doubt, this sword has some kind of power… that affects the mind.

Not in the malevolent way like Frosting, but still.

A pure fighting spirit resembling duty and sense of mission, different from the madness of murder karma or instinctive combativeness.

A mental control that transforms a person into a knight.

They said the Great’s Twelve Knights fought guided by their swords.

So this is what they meant by the sword’s guidance.

The reason it wasn’t as intense an impulse as during the Great Fire was perhaps because I believed this situation wasn’t my fault but Leopold’s responsibility.

In any case, thanks to that, I wasn’t consumed by a sense of duty.

‘Accumulate karma. For an unshakable, strong mind.’

Lacy’s advice flashed through my mind.

—-

I ran toward the defense line, sword in hand.

Heated body, faint exhilaration, calm mind.

It was the optimal state for a warrior entering battle. I couldn’t help but smile.

Before reaching the soldiers, I leaped over their heads and advanced.

In the distance, I could see over a thousand monsters growling.

“W-what!”

“Someone from behind! A knight?!”

Some soldiers shouted in surprise at my figure flying over their heads.

A monster’s head approached right before my eyes.

Mixed Remains. A monster swinging its whip-like arms toward the Holy Corps forming a shield wall.

I raised my longsword high above my head.

The blade I gripped gleamed in the sunlight.

Perhaps thanks to all the battles so far, I felt certain that the karma I had accumulated myself, not Hersella’s, had grown stronger than before.

“Haaaah!”

A blue flash struck like lightning.

The monster, split in half, writhed in its death throes.

—-

“The Mixed Remains with a single blow…”

“That armor, from earlier…! Is it Lord Median!”

“It’s the Were Eater! The Were Eater has come!”

The knights and soldiers forming the battle formation shouted in surprised voices.

Eyes mixed with fatigue, relief, expectation, and hope stabbed at my back.

Without answering, I turned to them and raised Durandal high in my right hand.

Morale surged with their cheers. With this level of spirit, there should be no need to worry.

I saw Leopold giving a wry smile at the sight, more effective than a hundred speeches.

I turned around again.

Perhaps the two creatures isolated in the castle were the only dangerous enemies, as there were no medium to large monsters like Tomb Eaters or Flesh Entities in sight.

Just Rotting Patients and Mixed Remains.

If we weren’t surrounded, I was confident I could handle them.

They clearly said the enemies would retreat during the battle.

I’ll trust that.

Standing firmly at the front of the formation, I raised my sword toward the charging monsters.

—-

Every time the blue arc cut through the air, severed limbs rolled on the ground.

The body of a monster gripped in my left hand was torn to shreds.

A Rotting Patient I kicked hard burst apart, scattering putrid flesh behind it.

There was no need to worry about the rear or flanks.

Most enemies were concentrated to the front, and the occasional monsters targeting the sides were being checked by the Paladins and knights inside the formation.

“Haaaaaaah!”

A slash delivered with both hands gripping tightly.

The body of a Mixed Remains burst apart and tumbled away.

Forty minutes since the battle began.

Mountains of corpses were piled before me.

The blade still displayed its sharpness, and whenever the holy light imbued in my body dimmed, new blessings flew in to bolster my strength.

Without even thinking about how many I had cut down or crushed, I just kept fighting, endlessly meeting the enemy.

I’m not sure when it started, but Durandal’s blade was now emitting a vivid blue light, and the seal was radiating brilliant golden light.

Endless vitality flowed in from the blade.

I felt like I could keep fighting for dozens of hours at this rate.

Thanks to me blocking most of the enemies, the soldiers’ losses were also minimal.

Though I couldn’t protect every soldier.

Mainly those guarding the outermost areas were sacrificed.

I didn’t have the luxury to run over there to save them.

“Hold on a little longer! The enemy has begun to retreat!”

After fighting for about ten more minutes like this.

Prince Leopold shouted loudly.

Indeed, while the front was still in fierce battle, looking far behind, I could see the monsters gradually withdrawing.

…They really are retreating.

It was still an unnatural sight.