episode_0137

“Then let the Skeleton Snake respond according to Lord Ludwig’s strategy… What should the ‘whisperer’ do? If you keep him alive, won’t the soldiers who died in battle be constantly resurrected as monsters?”

Leopold’s concerns seemed reasonable at first glance.

The Whisperer is a notorious monster not because of its true power, but because of the danger of its abilities.

The veil of magic that it spreads resurrects dead people as rotten sick people.

When killing one enemy, three allies die, and immediately afterward, three corpses are resurrected as monsters.

And nine, twenty-seven, eighty-one.

Death and rebirth continue endlessly, and like a drop of wine falling on the hem of a cloth, the whole place is stained with demons in an instant.

It was a creepy story to even imagine.

It was no exaggeration to say that the moment its power was unleashed, the battle line would collapse.

It was the worst prospect, but fortunately Richard shook his head.

“I will bless everyone before the battle, so there will be no problem, at least until this battle. As long as Elfinel’s blessing is upon us… Even if you lose your life, the demonic energy will not be able to penetrate for a while.”

Leopold slightly lowered his eyebrows.

Although it was fortunate, it did not provide complete reassurance.

” Doesn’t that mean that if the war continues for a long time, he will eventually be resurrected as a monster? ”

“Before that, you can purify the body with fire. It may be difficult during a field battle, but I think there will be some leeway if there is a defensive battle.”

“In the end, the first battle is the biggest turning point… . I will only trust you.”

“Elfinel is looking down on us, so we will definitely win.”

“Please leave it to me.”

Marquis Ludwig also nodded.

Insufficient troops, strategy no different from adventure.

It has always been unpleasant to engage in battles with uncertain odds of victory, but… It’s not that I don’t understand the importance of this war.

After that, the three did not come down from the castle wall for a while.

There were still many issues left to discuss.

—-

About forty minutes later.

The army of monsters was already close enough to be clearly visible to the soldiers.

After completing all preparations, the soldiers lined up under the castle walls.

Eight thousand imperial troops, two thousand castle corps.

Considering that the Holy Legion is fundamentally an army belonging to the Holy Kingdom, it is no exaggeration to say that the Holy Kingdom is putting more sincerity into it than the Empire.

The archbishop of the Elfinel Church opposed participation in the war, but this was the result of Lacey Stadolph’s push by emphasizing the doctrines of Elfinel.

Candidates for sainthood are people who are like symbols of the religious order.

The stigmata engraved on them were proof that they were chosen by God, so even the archbishop would have found it difficult to ignore Lacey’s will to advocate for a holy war, even bringing out a catechism.

The morale of the imperial army was even lower than before.

Because I heard from my superiors that there would be a revolution outside the castle.

“You crazy prince… . Since fighting on the walls wasn’t enough, let’s fight outside… ?”

“Didn’t you hear the drivers’ explanation? They say that if you do that, the castle wall will collapse!”

“So, you’re telling us to fight the monsters that are destroying the castle walls?”

The voices were as quiet as a whisper, but as they were not alone, clear agitation was spreading throughout the military.

Some knights were shouting and trying to control them, but that didn’t make the disturbance go away.

On the other hand, the castle army looked quite calm.

All they do is quietly mutter prayers or kiss the holy symbol to prepare for martyrdom.

He looked like the elite of the elite.

It’s natural. At the point when the saint candidate decided to enter the war, the Church of Elfinel had no choice but to send out its most elite troops.

If she were to lose the battle and die, it would be a disgrace to the name of the church.

In this way, ten thousand troops were gathered.

The knights also lined up in front of the soldiers and looked up at the castle wall.

The war horses had been left inside the castle. It was an enemy that could not be fought while on horseback.

Thirty knights of Landenburg. There were two hundred knights selected from the Imperial Knights, and about a hundred paladins.

Knights with exceptional skills were organized into a reserve force to deal with the Skeleton Serpent, and paladins planned to block the enemies on the front lines with the Holy Legion.

As a result, the number of knights organized into the reserve unit was about forty.

Eight masters were added to it.

The number seemed sufficient to subdue the Skeleton Snake before it escaped.

Most of the troops were lined up outside the castle, but half of the eight thousand imperial troops remained inside the castle.

When the time came for the allies who had defeated the Skeleton Snake to retreat into the castle, climb up the castle wall to cover them.

Perhaps because they did not have to face enemies right away, their expressions were somewhat bright.

As their expressions brightened, the complexions of the soldiers stationed outside the castle worsened.

Leopold stood on the castle wall and looked down at them.

“Soldiers of the Empire, do you still remember!”

Leopold raised his voice and began his speech.

To increase the odds of winning even a little.

The soldiers’ eyes were focused on the young prince.

—-

“A thousand years ago, the land you stood on. No, whose world did it belong to? Do you remember!”

Even while on the castle wall, Leopold’s voice rang loud enough for all the soldiers to hear.

His dignified appearance and loud shout made a deep impression on the soldiers.

There was a royal dignity there that had not been seen since the decline of the current emperor, Ferdinand II.

“There’s no way you wouldn’t know. Everyone has probably heard it since childhood! The world did not belong to people. No, it was a time when there was nothing that belonged to humans!”

It was a story everyone knew.

An old story my parents told me when I was young.

Teachings spoken by priests of the church.

The history of the past that superiors had been telling us at length since the imperial army enlisted.

“At that time, we humans were just slaves. The most miserable livestock that had to get permission from their owners even to breathe!”

The soldiers listening were a little confused.

It certainly looks majestic, but I couldn’t figure out why he was suddenly bringing up history.

Leopold, too, was doubting whether his speech would be effective.

I was used to dealing with nobles, but this was my first time giving a speech to soldiers.

Even though I was saying one word at a time, I wasn’t sure at all.

But I had to do it somehow.

“Who was it that destroyed the lives of livestock during those cruel times? You will not forget who were the people who broke the chains of slavery and gave people land, rivers, and even the right to live!”

A hero’s name came to everyone’s mind.

The first emperor of the empire. Carolus.

—-

Marquis Ludwig, who was listening, frowned slightly.

‘It would be meaningless at this point to show off the grandeur of a great emperor… .’

Although the imperial lineage was said to have been traced back to Carolus the Great, it did not occur to him that the morale of the soldiers would be boosted by bringing up the name of such an old hero.

‘As expected, there is nothing we can do about the lack of military resources… .’

As Marquis Ludwig thought, the soldiers reacted angrily.

I know that Carolus the Great is great, and that the prince is of that lineage, but so what?

Will the ascended emperor come down to help his descendants?

It was a meaningless story.

Was it a ceremonial speech intended to emphasize the royal lineage?

Everyone thought so.

“Do you think it is Carolus the Great? Do you think I am saying this to establish authority through old stories?”

Until this time.

“Wrong! Not Carolus the Great! Not the twelve knights! Not even the gods!!

It is you who saved people!!”

Leopold cried out at the top of his voice.

With both fists tightly clenched, with all your might.

A lion-like roar rang out across the quiet plain.

“Ordinary soldiers. Knights whose names were not even left in history! Your ancestors are the heroes who gave people dignity!”

Leopold swung his left arm roughly.

Everyone looked at Leopold with surprised expressions at the prince’s remarks that seemed to deny God’s grace and the progenitor’s achievements.

“Carolus the Great and the twelve knights were nothing more than an opportunity. No matter how strong they were, only thirteen could have won against so many enemies with their own strength! Your ancestors, they all fought as one with swords in hand. Therefore, humanity has won against the world!”

Leopold still wasn’t sure.

However, he just did his best to shout.

So much so that the passion is conveyed to everyone who listens.

“That is the strength of a person! Each of us is just a weak being. Weaker than any other race on this earth!”

Lacey, who was listening to the speech, kissed the badge.

She didn’t like the idea of denying God’s grace, but she knew what she had to do now.

“However, it has been 800 years since your ancestors finally created an empire. Humanity, united as one, has never been defeated!

Until now, and as long as we fight as one, we will continue to do so forever!”

This was all Leopold wanted to say.

At that moment, brilliant light poured over his head.

The holy light radiated by Lacey.

The prince’s appearance, engulfed in pure white light pouring down like a waterfall, was divine in the eyes of the soldiers, like the second coming of a hero.

Leopold drew his sword.

“Raise your sword! Trust each other and fight as one! I will fight with you too!

Each and every one of you is a hero, today is not the day we are defeated!”

A roar echoed across the plains.