Chapter 162

Chapter 162

In the midst of a battlefield where humans and demons faced each other. A girl stood there.

Even though she was at the very front of the group, the girl was dressed in light clothing as if she had come out for a stroll.

Although combat hadn’t broken out yet, the girl calmly gazed at the demon side, even in a situation where a stray arrow could fly at any moment.

While high-ranking demons were not visible, there was one mid-ranking demon who appeared to be the commander, along with several low-ranking demons who seemed to be his subordinates. And the demon-beasts and demons forming the army numbered at least in the tens, if not hundreds.

Considering the scale of the war engulfing the continent, it was ambiguous to call it a large number, but it was by no means a small number.

On the other hand, what about this side? Barely more than ten people stood behind the girl.

Moreover, only one person was wearing armor, and the rest were those who had come to assist the girl.

“Demons are really troublesome even on the way home. Don’t you think so, Sir Rufin?”

“It seems the demons noticed the young lady’s return and were waiting to ambush her. Please be careful.”

Knight Rufin took a slight step back as he spoke.

Instead of preventing his daughter from suddenly volunteering for the army, he had sent his most trusted knight, Rufin, as her escort. However, Rufin, rather than stepping forward to protect her, took a step back and distanced himself from her.

But no one pointed out his behavior. Instead, they acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and even calmly soothed their horses, which they had ridden, as if they weren’t worried about the upcoming battle.

From a not-so-distant distance, the demon side finally moved.

Demon-beasts and demons led the way, followed by low-ranking demons. Despite the distance closing, the girl calmly raised one hand.

Then, next to the girl, another girl appeared.

“I don’t think I need to step in. Three Musketeers, please come out!”

A girl with light sky-blue hair, appearing from thin air, lightly raised her hand and clapped.

Then, following the girl, three knights appeared.

Unlike the two girls in flowing clothes, these were three knights in proper armor.

Although they looked reliable, the number three was pathetic when facing tens or hundreds of enemies. Yet, the girl lowered the hand she had raised as if it didn’t matter at all and ordered the charge. And the three knights, following her gesture, charged without a moment’s hesitation.

However, as the three knights took a step, ten soldiers appeared behind them.

Thump, with a heavy sound once again along with the soldiers, twenty soldiers appeared behind them.

Another step, and another.

The charge that started with three knights had now formed an army.

Their number was exactly 99, along with the knights.

Although they all had different appearances, they were definitely present there.

Finally, the groups clashed.

Despite this, the steps of the knights and soldiers did not stop. Their swords, spears, and even their bare hands tore through the enemies.

Of course, the demons also resisted fiercely, and the human soldiers were also counterattacking. A demon, whose arm had been severed by a soldier’s attack, stabbed the soldier’s heart with the sword in its other arm.

And at that moment, the soldier disappeared like an illusion with a light pop, as if he hadn’t been there. Before the demon could react, another soldier completely severed the demon’s head.

A moment later, the disappeared soldier reappeared as if he had never left, and immediately plunged back into the battlefield. As if he had been there all along.

Such scenes were visible throughout the battlefield.

They would never die. Unless their spiritual bodies were damaged or their connection with the sorcerer was severed by an overwhelming attack, such attacks would only send their materialized forms back. Even then, due to the sorcerer’s exceptional abilities, they would immediately reconstitute their bodies.

Then, does this army have any weaknesses?

Of course, this army had weaknesses. Since the army started from a single sorcerer, the moment the sorcerer died, this army would disappear like an illusion again.

The mid-ranking demon, the leader of the demon army, quickly realized this fact.

At that moment, when their forces were clashing. The sorcerer, standing far away, was calmly watching the battle. Only an old knight stood a step behind her as escort, and next to the sorcerer was only a frail girl.

Therefore, the mid-ranking demon raised his spear over his shoulder. It only took one hit. If he could take down the sorcerer, this battle would be his victory.

Gathering all his demonic energy. He focused on the movement of every muscle in his body and took a step. One step, one step.

He charged with the spear raised, and threw it, drawing an optimal trajectory.

His javelin was his specialty. Faster than an arrow, and stronger than magic, he boasted.

Swish!

The flying javelin arrived before the girl faster than the sound it made cutting through the air. Even so, the girl’s gaze was still fixed on her army. Even the knight standing as escort had not noticed the javelin’s presence and was still standing a step back.

However, just before the impossibly thick spear, imbued with demonic energy, could pierce the girl’s head, the sky-blue haired girl standing next to her intervened.

Is she trying to sacrifice herself? But the javelin’s momentum was fierce, and it was clear that with just one girl’s body, she wouldn’t be able to slow it down even slightly, and both would be pierced.

It certainly would have been.

However, the spear, which had been tearing through the very air, stopped in a way that was too surreal. Furthermore, instead of the aftershock of the spear’s power causing a whirlwind, only a gentle breeze lightly rustled the girl’s hair.

Despite the distance, the mid-ranking demon felt his eyes meet the girl who had blocked the spear. No, it wasn’t just a meeting of eyes.

-How dare you aim at someone like me? Are you tired of living? Of course, I’ll kill you even if you don’t do this.

A voice that sounded chillingly close, as if it were right next to him.

-Well… it’s someone else’s property, so I’ll return this spear.

Despite the distance, the voice was clearly audible. It was definitely not a hallucination.

-Then, take this well.

That chilling voice informed the demon.

Thwack!

Of his death.

***

“Huh? What’s wrong, Rinne?”

“It’s nothing, nothing. Just a small bug flitting around, so I was catching it.”

Rinne waved her hand as if it were nothing, answering Yuri’s question calmly. From Rinne’s perspective, it wasn’t entirely untrue. Of course, it was a bit large for a small bug, and it knew how to show off a bit.

The battle had already ended. In fact, it wasn’t so much a battle as a massacre. They possessed overwhelming power and, moreover, they didn’t die. It was a battle they couldn’t lose even if they wanted to.

After the massacre, the returning army had all reverted to their spiritual forms, and only the three knights stood before Yuri.

“You all worked hard! I’ll protect Yuri, so you can go inside now.”

At Rinne’s words, the three knights moved their hands to their waists and raised signs they had pulled from who knows where.

Three signs with circles drawn on them. Now that they had a formal contract, they could speak, but they still liked to express themselves with signs, these Three Musketeers.

Seeing this, Yuri chuckled, and the three knights disappeared with a pop, seemingly satisfied.

Instead, Rinne scooped Yuri up and placed her on the horse’s saddle.

“Then, Uncle Rufin, let’s depart immediately.”

Rinne, sitting side-by-side behind Yuri, lightly patted the horse’s rear without even waiting for Rufin’s reply.

The horse, intelligent like its owner, began walking along the path without any sign of surprise, and Rufin and the other party members followed behind.

***

“Welcome. It’s been so long…”

As soon as they returned to the territory, Craig, who had heard the news in advance and came to greet them, embraced Yuri and Rinne with both hands at once.

Craig, who had already acknowledged Rinne as his daughter, saw no reason to discriminate between them.

Hurting his daughter was enough of a mistake from the past.

“…You came and visited during the last battle, even overstepping your authority.”

Craig, being one of the nine Sword Masters on the continent, could not be stopped by anyone, even the empire’s military commander. Of course, the Grand General, who was also a Sword Master, reprimanded Craig on behalf of his subordinate commander, but he paid no mind to it.

As a result, his love for his daughter spread through the ranks, causing Yuri to be unable to face her subordinates properly for a while.

“Ah! Come to think of it, there’s a guest who came to see Yuri.”

However, Craig continued speaking nonchalantly, as if he paid no mind to his daughter’s displeased voice.

“What? A guest?”

Only then did Craig release Yuri and Rinne, whom he had held in his arms, and casually pointed to the side with one hand.

It was possible to be discharged from service after a short period not only due to the influence of her father, Craig, but also due to the consideration of the Grand General, Yuri’s direct superior.

Of course, it was also possible due to the merits she had earned.

Even so, the Grand General, while assisting Yuri with her discharge, continued to urge her to remain in the military. Especially during times of war like this, it was easier to get promoted. In the military, which was mostly male, Yuri, a capable woman, was a talent that the Grand General couldn’t afford to lose.

However, Yuri had no lingering attachment to the military. Ranks held no interest for her whatsoever. The reason Yuri joined the military was simply to gain strength and experience. There was no better place than the battlefield to fully unleash the power of necromancy.

And since she had gained enough strength and experience to be satisfied, she had no regrets about leaving the military now.

Therefore, she thought the guest who came to see her might be someone sent by the Grand General to keep her there, but when she turned her head and saw who it was, it was an unexpected person.

“Celie…”

“I’m so sorry for being so late. Now… let’s go find her.”

Unlike the Grand General, who relied on his rank, Celian’s words were enough to capture Yuri’s attention.