Ch.4747. Hero (1)

Two weeks had passed since the saint and the mercenary arrived at the temporary settlement. There was no progress in reconstruction. It seemed easier to think of Barktins as a city that had never existed in the first place. The harbor reconstruction hadn’t even entered the preliminary stages. Clearing the rubble of the collapsed city and building a new one from scratch would take a long time, even with mages mobilized to help clear the remains of Barktins that had been reduced to ruins.

Isis had taken charge of treating the people in the settlement. Like the ruins of Barktins, patients kept appearing from somewhere without end. When one person was healed, another would die. Infections swarmed in wounds, and the hot air caused them to fester.

“Saint… please save me, Saint…”

A boy groaned, holding out his severed arm. He was the twentieth patient of the day. The mother who brought him was limping with bandages around her leg. Isis poured her magical power into him. Without the severed arm, she couldn’t heal it. Growing a new arm was impossible. All Isis could do was slightly ease the phantom pain the boy complained of.

“Please save me…”

No matter how much magical power she poured in, the boy remained in agony. The saint’s mana was being depleted in chunks. She poured out most of her remaining mana. Isis, sweating profusely, also treated the mother’s leg. The broken leg gradually healed and found its proper position.

“Thank you.”

However, her expression showed concern only for her son, not caring at all about her own healed leg. Isis watched the mother and son leave the temporary medical tent. Through the fluttering tent flaps, she could hear people murmuring outside.

“Please conserve your magical power, Saint.”

A soldier who was helping with the treatment said. Isis shook her head. As she tried to forcibly draw up more mana to call another patient, she collapsed forward. The next person waiting outside the tent was a patient with half their face wrapped in bandages. The soldier controlling the flow of people at the tent entrance blocked the patient from entering. Through the gap in the tent, the patient’s remaining eye desperately looked at the saint.

“Let them in.”

“That’s not possible, Saint. If something happens to you, you won’t be able to save the many others waiting for you. Can’t that person wait until tomorrow for treatment?”

The soldier spoke in a stern voice, but Isis remained stubborn.

“Let them in…”

“Are you determined not to take care of your own body, Isis?”

Aryen caught Isis from behind as she was about to collapse. Isis tried to shake off his hand, but her body wouldn’t obey. She staggered and sat down.

“That’s enough for today. The sun is already setting.”

“I can’t… do that.”

“Stop being stubborn, Isis. Your body won’t hold up.”

Aryen lifted Isis, who didn’t even have the strength to support herself, and moved her to a bed. The priests sighed as they watched.

“I never imagined the aftermath of the calamity would be this severe. It’s not for nothing they say it will destroy the world.”

“If this is what happens from just a brief landing, imagine what would have happened if they had continued advancing beyond Barktins.”

The faint sound of priests discussing. Isis couldn’t help but recall the memory of that day.

‘If you want to kill everyone in Barktins, then do so.’

Those words seemed so distant then. At that time, the saint crossed the line between life and death for the first time, passing through her own death. My death seemed close, while the deaths of others seemed distant. The hero who sought only death on the front lines was reckless and irresponsible, while the mercenary who sought our survival through the enemy’s death was rational and strong.

Ugh. Ugh. Even if it hurts, please bear with it a little. We need to disinfect it. You can’t die, stay conscious.

The screams and groans were incessant. When she closed her eyes, those sounds became even clearer. Under the summer sun, the smell of festering wounds was stronger than the smell of medicine.

What am I? What are the saint and her sense of duty? What did we do wrong then? Why did the bishop look at me reproachfully then? Am I regretting my choice that day?

Isis clenched her fist tightly, trying to hold onto her fading consciousness. Urgent footsteps could be heard. A soldier, drenched in sweat, burst through the tent.

“What’s happening?”

A priest sitting in the infirmary greeted the soldier. The soldier continued speaking without even catching his breath.

“The Fourth Calamity is coming. The military force is larger than expected. Even Duke Strope of Evernode has urgently requested support from the royal capital… However,”

The forces of Evernode, including the hero, will not retreat.

The soldier’s words echoed in Isis’s head.

==

On the night when the boundary line approached right before their eyes and the silhouette of the giant began to appear beyond the veil, Duke Quenore convened a meeting of senior officials. Now the meeting room needed torches and lanterns. In the flickering, elongated shadows, the Duke’s expression was deeper than the night.

“The Fourth Calamity is approaching.”

Duke Quenore began with those words. The atmosphere in the meeting room sank even heavier with that single sentence. The Duke placed his arms on the northern map spread across the table and exhaled deeply.

“And there’s still quite some time before reinforcements arrive.”

The response to the request for support would soon be reinforcements. Since the fate of the kingdom, the continent, and perhaps the world hung in the balance, reinforcements would certainly come, but even if they rode day and night, it would take more time for them to reach Evernode. While they could handle the monsters alone without much difficulty, it was a different story if the “giant” joined the battlefield directly.

“The boundary line has already covered the forest. It seems its influence has begun to reach the walls.”

The sky wasn’t as bright as before. The sun barely showed its form through the thick clouds, filtered by snow clouds, presenting a gloomy morning. Soldiers who had been fighting without coats until yesterday began to gather blankets and thick coats one by one, and an unexpected gale struck the walls, making a sound like ghosts wailing.

“Monsters can attack without any problem in bad weather, but we can’t fight well. From tomorrow, casualties will noticeably increase. If many of those commander-like creatures remain, it might be difficult to maintain the front line. Evernode has many excellent knights, but we don’t know how much strength those damned monsters are conserving.”

Duke Quenore tapped his finger on Evernode fortress on the map. I looked at the places marked “Beyond the Forest,” “Boundary Line,” and “Great Canyon” behind it. Evernode stood as the last gateway to the continent.

“I don’t think we have many options. So before I propose my countermeasure, I’d like to hear your opinions. Lis.”

The Duke looked at Lis first. Lis was looking down at the map following the Duke’s finger.

“What do you think?”

“No matter how many come, it doesn’t matter. We will defend Evernode. I will stand firm here as before and face the incoming monsters.”

Lis’s voice was resolute. The Duke didn’t agree with Lis’s words but simply nodded.

“Next, Hemil.”

“I agree with Lis. What other choice could a knight born and raised here make?”

The knights of Evernode all gave the same answer. Although he knew no different answer would come, Duke Quenore looked at each knight and asked the question. It was as if he was checking and confirming the knights’ determination. The vassals and chamberlains gave the same answer.

“…Very well. Then, let’s ask the outsiders for their opinions.”

The Duke’s blue eyes gazed at me. I couldn’t read Duke Quenore’s thoughts.

“There is also the option of abandoning this castle and retreating, Hero Ilroy. We could evacuate a southern city, regroup there with the forces from the royal capital, and then counterattack. Don’t you think that would give us a better chance of defeating the giant?”

“That is absolutely impossible. Evernode must be defended.”

I answered immediately. Evernode is not the frontline but the last line of defense. In the original story, they failed to stop the approaching giant and surrendered all of Evernode. Many knights, including Duke Quenore, perished with the fortress, and as monsters spread throughout the world, fear of the calamity spread.

“Why do you think so too, Ilroy?”

I narrowed my brow and spoke.

“If the giant crosses this fortress, the boundary line will completely freeze this world, and the giant will trample every city and nation simply by walking.”

I calmly described the impending disaster while habitually touching the hilt of my sword. The expressions of those gathered became even more rigid at my words.

“Even if we retreat from here, there’s no guarantee there will be a next opportunity. The calamity and its monsters won’t stop to regroup after occupying this place, nor will they stay satisfied. They will advance endlessly until the world is destroyed. Freezing mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas.”

I wonder what Aryen would have thought. He always chose the path to defeat the calamity. In the original story, the collapse of Evernode was always described as inevitable. People said it was the fault of the hero who failed to defeat it first. Was that really true?

“We won’t be able to stop the monsters from spreading either. Once they cross Evernode, they can go anywhere on the continent.”

The Duke nodded. He seemed somewhat relieved.

“Yes. Thank you for saying that. What does the other hero party think?”

I felt George’s gaze on me. His expression looked very complicated.

“I… agree with the hero’s opinion.”

George said only that and didn’t add anything more. Marianne and Daphne also just nodded without offering any special opinions. Duke Quenore closed his eyes after hearing the opinions of everyone attending the meeting. In the silent meeting room, only the sound of the fire dancing could be heard.

“Here’s what we’ll do.”

The Duke opened his eyes and spoke.

“I’ll split our forces into two. One will remain in Evernode to defend the castle, and the other will open the gates and advance toward the heart of the enemy.”

My eyes widened.

“We’ll fight and retreat repeatedly, delaying the enemy’s advance and accumulating damage. And when reinforcements from the royal capital arrive, we’ll entrust the defense to them and depart to bring down the Fourth Calamity.”

The Duke turned his head toward me.

“I will take charge of delaying the advance. And Hero Ilroy, I ask you to defend Evernode with Lis.”

“…If we break through the enemy forces, fewer troops will press against the walls, so it would be better if I accompany you to delay the giant’s advance.”

I said so with an inexplicable uneasiness. In the original story, there were mentions of the Duke alone stopping the giant’s advance several times, but I couldn’t just rely on the original description anymore. And Duke Quenore shook his head at my suggestion.

“Not many people are needed to break through the enemy forces. And a defensive battle needs someone to be a rallying point. Who else but you could save soldiers in crisis?”

The Duke trusted me. But I was afraid to leave the calamity to the Duke alone. I couldn’t completely trust the original description.

“If you want to protect Evernode, there’s no other alternative, Ilroy. We need to buy time until we can face them with full strength. And I am strong enough not to need your help.”

I bit my lip. I couldn’t see any alternative. I could insist on accompanying the Duke against his wishes, but as he said, there would be no one to protect the soldiers and the fortress.

“Understood. However,”

I raised one finger as I spoke.

“Promise me you won’t be greedy to defeat the giant. If you find yourself in danger, you must retreat without fail.”

“Of course, I promise. Unlike you, I have no desire to steal achievements.”

Duke Quenore joked with a laugh. The knights of Evernode snickered and began to laugh one by one at the Duke’s words. The frozen atmosphere in the meeting room eased a little.

“The unit delaying the giant’s advance will be composed of elites, with minimal personnel. I’d prefer not more than twenty. The hero party and Lis, Serin, stay behind. Hemil, you come with me, and Hans, Adrian, Tiron as well.”

Duke Quenore quickly began organizing the unit. After careful consideration, the Duke selected fifteen people. He ended the meeting with that list.

“We’ll depart tomorrow morning before the battle begins. Please go and rest for today.”

The Duke said as he rose from his seat first. His footsteps seemed heavier than usual as he left. The meeting room door opened and closed. The wind coming through the door gap made the torches flicker and go out. The smoke made the air in the meeting room hazy.

==

“I’ll be back by tomorrow morning. If I have strength left, I might even attack the monsters invading from both sides.”

The morning after the meeting, Duke Quenore said so from atop his horse. I stood at the outer castle entrance with my Holy Sword, ready to open a path for them.

“I wish you good fortune, Duke. Please return safely.”

“Worry about yourself rather than me. Don’t worry about me and defend this castle well.”

Open the gate!!

Clank, clank.

The castle gate’s bars rose. Monsters bared their teeth, coming to greet the Duke and me. I took a stance, activating the first stage of the Holy Sword. The Duke looked at my posture and grinned.

“Good. At times like this, don’t spare your strength and use it generously.”

“Just focus.”

I curtly responded to the Duke’s words as I drew up my energy. The monsters began to hesitate slightly at the pure white aura. I swung the Holy Sword down, clearing the monsters from the path. The Duke immediately spurred his horse and began to gallop away.

“I’ll be back.”

“We’ll guard it well.”

I watched the Duke and knights’ backs as they quickly became small dots until the gate closed, then returned to the top of the wall.

That day, fewer monsters attacked the walls. As the attacks weren’t fierce, the soldiers began to tremble with fear rather than relief. A tense day passed without much fighting, and night fell again. I spent that night wide awake.

The next day.

As the sun rose, monsters began pounding on the gates again, but the knights still hadn’t returned.