episode_0037

The long meeting had concluded.

The vassals and the Duke, having somewhat established their future direction, stepped onto the walls of Mullypen, facing the biting cold wind.

Whoosh—

Despite the snow-capped mountains being so far away, a cold wind blew all the way here. The soldiers, exhaling cold breaths, looked exhausted, and the knights were desperately trying to encourage them.

After the meeting, the vassals, each having their own tasks, began moving busily across the various parts of the city walls, and Duke Oleg patrolled the walls with his old comrade-in-arms, observing the enemy’s movements.

Thump. Thump.

“How long has it been since they began their offensive?” “It began around dawn yesterday, so exactly one day has passed.”

Yuri Andropov. Vice-Commander Yuri. With the Knight Commander position vacant, he was Duke Oleg’s oldest comrade-in-arms and loyal retainer, having stayed by his side the longest.

“What’s the extent of the damage?” “About two hundred soldiers have fallen, and three knights. There are other collateral damages, but…” His gaze shifted. His eyes turned towards the soldiers. “Most importantly, morale has fallen drastically.”

“Indeed.” What lay before them now was an undead army, presumed to be a force of shadows. With the advent of the Army of the Dead, the very word ‘undead’ had become a symbol of terror across the continent, so it was impossible for the morale of soldiers facing undead, which might even be part of the Army of the Dead, to be high.

“This isn’t the Army of the Dead, is it?” “You know they emitted a deep green aura, don’t you?” “……Right.”

The Golden Tree. The World Tree. The color of the dead tree’s leaves, created when the Golden Tree, which once emitted golden light, perished. Unlike the deep green aura reminiscent of those leaf colors, the aura emanating from *their* bodies was a completely different hue.

“Then where did such a massive army emerge from?” The Duke asked, exhaling a cold breath. “That… I don’t know either.”

A massive undead army, emitting a golden aura. The corpse armies, appearing as if formed from yellow soil, had established their positions endlessly, encircling this massive city from all directions.

Even though this great city, home to millions, was not small, they had thickly besieged it, forcing a continuous war of attrition. Furthermore, this war of attrition was not conducted in a crude manner; most of their attacks were excessively sharp and precise, expertly exploiting the city’s weaknesses.

Even if Mullypen’s defensive walls were more robust than steel, and the siege weapons protecting the city literally crushed the enemies relentlessly, the persistence of these foes, steadily killing their own soldiers and achieving a favorable exchange ratio, felt in some ways more systematic and thorough than even the Army of the Dead.

“However, in my opinion…” Yuri trailed off, gazing at the undead army. “Judging by their attire and the occasional booming drum sounds, they appear to be undead that have been slumbering since the era of ‘Reh.’”

“The era of Reh, you say?” It wasn’t that he didn’t know. Rather, it was a reaction born from knowing it was an unimaginably distant past era.

“Hmm…” For a moment, Yuri’s words seemed unbelievable, then the name of a dynasty he had read about in ancient books resurfaced in his mind. “The Reh Dynasty.”

The Reh Empire, an empire founded by a great general born there. The uniquely shaped buildings and cultural styles depicted in the books had seemed so wondrous to the Duke at the time that he still held them in his memory.

“But wasn’t that the era before the Golden Age?” Certainly thousands of years ago. A time impossibly long ago, when Feanor and the prophets were busy extending their influence across the continent. For the Reh Empire was the very empire that had perished with the birth of the first catastrophe, the Demon King, in that era.

At the emergence of a being from such an unimaginably distant past, the Duke unconsciously frowned. “Truly, ever since the Army of the Dead arrived, all sorts of bizarre things have appeared on the continent.” Yuri silently agreed with his words.

“So, what are your intentions?” “Regarding what?” “Most of them are undead.”

Yuri pointed at the soldiers of the ancient empire. “The drumbeats echo ceaselessly, disturbing the citizens’ sleep, and they bring unknown cannonballs to continuously fire cannons, battering Mullypen’s walls.”

“And just the other day, unidentified knights using teleportation magic joined their army.” “Honestly, their presence concerns me more, Your Grace.” “…….”

Oleg shared the same thought. The offensive that began around dawn yesterday. And the day before the offensive began, unidentified Black Knights had suddenly appeared. For literally ‘nothing’ could be felt from them.

‘Star power.’ That was it. That power of the stars, residing within a human’s soul and spirit. The power that humans, that all living beings, must possess was utterly undetectable in those who clearly seemed to be knights.

Instead, as if swallowed by something, only darkness filled the space where starlight should have been. ‘Did I see it wrong?’ That couldn’t be.

Even if he had failed to reach the Grand Master realm, and even if he was a dying old man, he was still a Master, strong enough to be counted among the top ten on this continent. ‘Then what exactly was that?’

Just in case he had seen it incorrectly, the Duke looked at Yuri and asked him. “I couldn’t feel the star power within the souls of those Black Knights we saw back then.” “…….” “Did you also not feel it?” “Yes, I… I don’t think I felt it either.”

Yuri said, a deep shadow cast across his face. “That’s why their presence concerns me even more than the army of corpses, Your Grace.” No matter how strong someone is, if they possess power within the realm of common understanding, it can be overcome with courage. But if a veiled entity, wielding unknown power, stands before you, it is no longer a matter that can be overcome with courage.

“Furthermore, I am most worried about the knight in golden armor who stood before the Black Knights then.” His voice trembled slightly. Yuri had traversed countless battlefields, growing unafraid of death, yet at this very moment, he displayed fear to his liege.

“…….” Oleg knew this fact as well, so he simply gazed at him without a word. And for the first time in years, “Haha.” he smiled again, saying to his old comrade-in-arms. “It seems both you and I truly have grown old.” Judging by how we now fear death, which we once didn’t.

“Your Grace…” Perhaps it was because of the smile shown after so many years. Yuri’s eyes dropped to the ground, and he began to bow his head. In his subtly trembling voice, complex emotions accumulated over the years were intertwined.

“We might die.” Hergil looked at the young knights with eyes filled with regret. “But if we do not die, who will die in our stead?” His gaze turned towards the city.

“For our family, for the city, and for its citizens.” I have lived my entire life as a knight, embracing this conviction. “Therefore, even now, I simply act according to my conviction.”

Rather than releasing hundreds and thousands of valiant words in my mind to embrace the courage to overcome death, I will simply hold onto the conviction that has permeated my life, and act accordingly. “Isn’t that the most knightly way?”

“Your Grace…” It had been far too long. For him to speak such words. For him to show such a smile. Even if that smile was one forced out with effort. Even if it was a smile from a body and mind aged, wounded, and weary. Seeing his liege display that magnificent demeanor from decades ago once more, the old knight also began to gather strength, recalling that glorious time.

“So, just hold out a little longer.” If they could hold out until the expeditionary force arrived, that force would surely defeat them. “No matter how strong those bastards are, they won’t be able to stand against the heroes, the Imperial Guard and the Knights, who are called the strongest on the continent.” Unsure when that would be, but determined to endure as long as possible until they arrived, the Duke and the old knight steeled their resolve.

Just then. Rumble━━━

A colossal sound, powerful enough to shake the ground, began to reverberate throughout the entire city.

A tearing shriek━━━ Then came an ominous sound, as if gnawing at the very air. Turning their heads at the sound.

Thud━ Thud━ A knight in golden armor was moving with heavy footsteps.

As if conjuring an aura. Boom━ Holding a massive silver halberd, enveloped in black light. The Duke’s eyes trembled upon seeing that halberd.

“That’s…” The Imperial Guard Captain’s weapon. The strongest being protecting the Imperial Family, alongside Duke Balium. The halberd of the Imperial Guard Captain, one of the Emperor’s two knights, was in the enemy’s hands.

‘This is not the time.’ That power is dangerous. The ominous black light, which resembled an aura but wasn’t, clearly held immense power, far beyond the level of a typical aura.

Seeing that, the Duke urgently shouted. “Everyone scatter! Get to a place where its attack can’t reach, quickly!” At his words, the bewildered soldiers hastily fled.

“Your Grace! You must also take cover quickly!” “No.” Clang. The Duke drew his sword. “I must stop that.”

With that level of power, even Mullypen’s sturdy walls would be torn apart like paper. And. ‘It would breach the walls, invade the city, and lay it to waste.’ That, he had to prevent.

Even though most citizens had been evacuated to the city center, a significant number still lived in the outer districts. If that thing’s attack was allowed through, it would undoubtedly reach them.

Grind. ‘I must stop that…!’ Even if he couldn’t defend the walls, he had to prevent it from going beyond them. As the Duke resolved this, he simultaneously began to channel his aura.

Vwooom━! And at the same instant. Whoosh━! ━━━!!! A slash, infused with black aura, shot forth from the halberd.

The Duke’s eyes, seeing the slash faster than sound, instinctively knew it the moment he saw it: this was not a slash an old, frail man like himself could handle. ‘I’m going to die.’ Hergil instinctively knew this.

Just then. Thwack—! Someone rushed forward, pushing the Duke’s body far away. Yuri. ‘Yuri.’ The old knight who had served him longer than anyone. His last comrade-in-arms, who had remained by his side until the very end, stirring nostalgia for the past,

CRASH━━━!!!! With a colossal slash that warped the city walls, he vanished.