episode_0277

A forest filled with fallen leaves.

A woman in black cotton clothes was walking along a path among overgrown weeds.

Where she had just passed, a huge deer was lying panting.

As I saw thick magical energy flowing out from holes all over its body, it was not just a magical beast.

“…Ugh.”

[Chusaldan Danju Soi] spit out blood mixed with blood.

These guys were originally only found near mountain ranges. However, now it can be easily seen beyond the steppes and even in the foggy canyons where the people of Silea live.

‘It’s awful.’

thud!

Soi defeated another demon beast that came running again.

The people of Sileia are born strong, and Soi is the leader of the Chussaldae, the strongest group among them.

Even a mindless magical beast, no matter how strong and gigantic it is, can be defeated with a few stabs at vital points.

“…Ugh!”

but,

There was nothing that could be done about the demonic energy emitted by the beast.

I had never once allowed an attack, but just by breathing, a cloudy energy entered my body and my five internal organs shrunk.

It would be nice to have a break, but there are no members who can step forward in her place.

This is because many people died on the prairie not long ago.

‘Monstrous wizard.’

Soi recalled the elf that appeared like a natural disaster.

-I don’t think they are imperial people, are they immigrants from the west?

-Who are you?

-What are you guys? The subject is giving off the scent of a demon god. Judging by his appearance, I don’t think he’s a cult member.

The elf leisurely glanced at the warriors. Even though she was surrounded by dozens or hundreds of people, she spoke leisurely as if she didn’t care at all.

-Would you please move out of the way for me to pass?

The elf said and stretched out his staff.

-Are you an imperial wizard?

Jerome, a Confederate warrior, said:

-What if you’re an imperial wizard? Should I at least attack you?

-Then there is no way to get out of the way. Everyone ready for battle!

At Jerome’s command, the knights of the Federation drew their swords.

The extermination team led by Soi also raised their swords.

That shouldn’t have happened.

Originally, they were a chussal group that could only draw their swords under Soi’s command, but because the elf in front of them was so powerful, they were scared and became violent.

And so, a massacre that could not be called a fight began.

When the wizard swung his staff, lightning swept across the battlefield.

After pursing his lips a few times, the warrior’s face became covered in blood, and he committed suicide by tearing out his heart with his own hand.

It was an unbelievable sight to see.

I thought it was a dream, but it wasn’t. My legs were shaking from fear, and my heart was pounding in sync with it, so I was forced back to reality.

When I came to, I was covering my nose from the acrid smell.

There was no human smell.

Because there were not many people who survived the terribly strong elves.

But in the meantime, Soyi was relieved.

Many warriors died, and the Federation and Sileia suffered a lot of damage, but I thought it was fortunate that the princess was not there and all of Sileia’s power was not gathered.

It’s a weak thought that a warrior shouldn’t have, but it’s inevitable.

The reason Sileia took up the sword was not to annihilate everyone. Wasn’t it to find a way to live and create a better world?

‘…So you have to lead the princess out.’

The place where Soi arrived with her vomiting body was a shabby shrine.

A place that feels too uncomfortable to be in the forest.

Although the demonic beast was spread throughout the continent, the shrine was not broken as if someone had taken care of it, and no turbid energy was felt near it.

It’s because of the presence of the woman inside.

Soi prostrated himself in front of the shrine a short distance away.

“…Princess.”

The person inside was Yoru, the elder’s daughter.

“You have to leave now.”

“It looks like it hurts a lot.”

Yoru came out walking on his feet. She was wearing a white suit instead of a red silk one, and when combined with her pale face, she looked like a ghost.

“Take some rest. As the night gets deeper, there will be more demonic beasts.”

“So, are you going out together?”

“Didn’t you say it clearly? I will spend the rest of my life here.”

“The Grand Elder has all-out war in mind. If things continue like this, Sileia’s legacy may end.”

“…whatever I do will be of no use.”

As Yoru finished speaking, Soi’s eyes widened.

The body that was curled up on the dirt floor was instantly moved onto the veranda.

“Soi, I don’t know.”

Yoru stroked Soi’s head.

Although it doesn’t look like there is a single wound on her body, she wonders how many demonic beasts she must have cut before coming here… Soyi’s blood pressure was so messed up that she had to worry about that.

“I keep doubting that everything I do is useless.”

“…Not really.”

“It’s nonsense.”

Yoru lowered his gaze. Before she knew it, there was a broken stone in her hand.

Originally it was a stone statue modeled after the sea goddess.

However, now it is in a horribly broken state, with cracks here and there.

Yoru didn’t do it. It just happened because the subject of faith lost its power.

“The goddess who watched over us has disappeared, and our cause does not make us fear the empire. No matter how much I swing the sword, I get nothing. The empire is rather tightly united, and unexplained misfortune does not fall from Sileia.”

“…”

“Now… I’m even starting to wonder if I’m strong.”

At one time, Yoru had nothing to fear in the world.

She won every battle and always survived no matter how many knights surrounded her.

He overcame numerous crises, and the lives of those under his command were not thrown away in vain.

…Until I met a man in a smelly gutter.

My swordsmanship, which I thought was the best in the world, was blocked by meaningless scribbles.

Caught off guard?

I had no choice but to think that way, so absurdly the first attack was allowed.

If the man hadn’t deliberately saved her life, she could have died on the spot.

‘…twice.’

A defeat I have experienced in my life.

And the failure that followed broke Yoru’s heart.

This is already the fourth time. If Yoru had gone to the steppe, he would have reached his fifth failure.

“The princess is strong.”

Soi raised her head and looked up at Yoru.

“That wizard, goddess, and princess would have been able to deal with each other.”

“…Lie.”

“If it’s a lie, what happens? It’s already been a year. I hate to see the princess living alone like this.”

“…”

“Do you know how much the villagers ask about the princess? Do you know that the elder has been drinking alcohol ever since the princess went into seclusion?”

Before I knew it, Soyi’s voice had quieted down.

“The fate of the clan depends on the princess. Even if you don’t pick up a sword, you can stop the elder, right?”

“…I feel weak from a bird I haven’t seen before.”

Yoru let out a long sigh and caressed Soi’s cheek.

“I wonder if people would cry over the deaths of their compatriots.”

“…”

“Seeing the request to stop my father… I think it was sent by the gurus of the Presbyterian Church.”

“No.”

“Nothing. The only people who know about this place are you.”

Is this life in seclusion soon coming to an end? I started to worry that if I sent Soi back, more people would come here.

Yoru helped Soi up.

In the forest, the days are short and the nights are long. The night air was already cold and it wasn’t snowing, but I thought it was winter.

“Let’s sleep for today.”

“…Are you going out tomorrow?”

“If I don’t go out, will I stay up all night?”

“…That’s how it should be.”

“I’m going out. I’m going out, so sleep now. Then I will collapse.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it is difficult if a patient occurs in a place where it is difficult to survive alone. And, since they keep holding the villagers hostage, I won’t be able to sleep well either.”

Yoru went into the shrine and took out the bedding. I didn’t expect guests to come, so I only had one blanket.

“You had a hard time coming, so you can use the blanket yourself.”

“…Um, princess?”

“Soi, I don’t want to hear nonsense about how the two of you can use it together.”

“…”

“Gross.”

Yoru, who spat out harshly, was only able to close his eyes after confirming that Soi was asleep.

*

“Why am I applying for vacation?”

Hugo’s mansion, Siron said as he put a piece of bread covered in jam into his mouth.

“Victor might not listen. He always listens to my requests. I have to ask for it myself. What if you say something and it gets returned?”

“…”

“And it’s not even an expedition, it’s just a subjugation system. Didn’t you want to go too? They say that if you go somewhere and show your face for no reason, it’s better not to go.”

“Well, that’s true though. Some of the members want to go…”

Siriel scratched the back of her head sheepishly. I thought he had said it out loud that he didn’t want to go.

“Who is that?”

“The expedition ended in vain, and my father also said that he needed a place to vent his youthful energy.”

“If you need a place to vent your energy, you can go to Night Rail.”

“Night Rail? Why there?”

“…Something like an auction house. I’m saying relieve stress by spending money at the gambling table.”

Siron broke into a cold sweat and shook off the crumbs. He couldn’t bear to say the word “whorehouse” in front of Siriel.

“And, I don’t like the subjugation system. With so many knights leaving the capital, if war breaks out in the meantime… ”

Siron frowned and shook his head.

“When you say that, it looks like war will definitely break out.”

Lucia said that as a joke.