Chapter 138 - Something to Be Proud Of

Alexander Arken, the Crown Prince, was seething with rage.

The adjutant who had made the report fidgeted nervously before answering once more.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness. The Knights tried to strike their flank to break their momentum, but they ended up getting isolated instead..."

"W-What kind of...?"

How could they fall for something so stupid?

No matter how much Alexander thought about it, he simply could not understand.

Hearing the report, one of the strategists muttered,

"Those tactics had even worked against the savage warriors of the North, who are said to be the bravest of all..."

"It should have been an operation with well over a ninety percent chance of success..."

The strategists spoke as though none of it was their fault.

Alexander replied with an irritated expression.

"What were the enemy’s losses?"

"We estimate... around three thousand. Of those, two thousand five hundred were Melted."

"So we achieved something, didn’t we? Didn’t we?"

"..."

"Why aren’t you saying anything!? Stop hesitating and answer me!"

"T-That’s... the Melted are essentially nothing more than lumps of flesh. Their real core forces are the beast-type Monsters..."

Killing creatures that were nothing but walking chunks of meat was meaningless.

The truly important enemies were the beast-type Monsters.

Yet while only five hundred of those had died, eighty thousand imperial soldiers had been sacrificed.

It was enough to drive anyone insane.

Including the non-combat personnel, a total of eighty thousand troops had been deployed.

An entire legion had been sent.

How could every single one of them accomplish absolutely nothing?

The strategy had been devised by the greatest military minds in the heart of the Empire and approved by every relevant department.

The disastrous outcome came from one simple mistake.

They had treated the Demon Race as if they were merely stronger Monsters.

On top of that, they had sent more than four times the total manpower and two and a half times the actual combat forces.

Victory had seemed inevitable.

Alexander ground his teeth and spoke to his adjutant.

"Send reinforcements. Crush them with sheer numbers! Have the Second and Third Legions revise their anti-Monster tactics and dispatch reinforcements immediately!"

"We should certainly prepare reinforcements, however..."

The hesitant response made Alexander completely lose his temper.

In the end, he hurled the chess piece in his hand straight at the adjutant’s head.

"What exactly is the problem!? Huh!? There are thirty million people in the Imperial Capital! Are you telling me we can’t even replace those losses!?"

"W-Well... all the commanders who should lead the reinforcements are... bedridden."

Alexander was left speechless.

"Every commander is bedridden!? How does that make any sense!?"

"We contacted them immediately after receiving news of the annihilation... but they all claimed to be recovering at home. It appears to be some kind of epidemic, so their residences have been placed under quarantine..."

Just this morning they had all been perfectly healthy and smiling.

Now they all supposedly had the same contagious illness?

The truth was obvious.

They had heard first that eighty thousand troops had been wiped out and immediately hid inside their homes.

Because they did not want to die.

If an army of eighty thousand could accomplish nothing, what chance did they have?

They had simply decided to wash their hands of the matter.

"Y-You... you..."

A bunch of incompetent bastards!

They strutted around pretending to be brave, yet when they were actually needed, this was how they behaved?

Alexander’s face flushed red and blue with rage, but he forced himself to calm down.

Losing his temper now would only hurt himself.

That was what he told himself.

Yet reality continued to torment Alexander without mercy.

"A report has arrived from the Far East Unit."

"What are they doing over there?"

"They report that they have eliminated six gigantic Monsters responsible for breeding other Monsters."

"They killed six of them at once?"

Alexander stared blankly in disbelief.

The messenger, oblivious to his reaction, continued excitedly.

"They encountered far less resistance than expected, so they’ve divided their forces again and intend to pursue the Monsters spreading toward the smaller villages."

"They’re even pursuing them...?"

"They also asked that we inform you they intend to eliminate the remaining six within three days."

"Within three days...?"

It was utterly absurd.

The Empire’s elite legions were struggling desperately.

Yet a ragtag army was somehow producing outstanding results.

That was simply impossible from Alexander’s perspective.

"H-How many casualties did they suffer?"

Alexander estimated the numbers in his head.

Roughly two thousand soldiers had been deployed.

They had confronted hundreds of Monsters.

At the very least, fifty percent should have died.

At least one thousand casualties.

Even in the best-case scenario, twenty percent—four hundred men—should have fallen.

The messenger answered.

"Fifty."

Alexander’s prediction missed spectacularly.

For a moment, he wondered if the messenger had forgotten to add the word "hundred" or "thousand."

He had not.

"Fifty? Only fifty?"

"There were fifty casualties in total, but only ten of them were fatalities. Overall, they report that everything is proceeding safely. And..."

Crash!

He never finished his sentence.

Alexander had hurled a crystal goblet and smashed it against the messenger’s head.

"Drag that bastard out of here!"

Eliminating the gigantic Monsters meant cutting off the enemy’s supply of Monsters.

Yet somehow, that report infuriated him even more than the news that eighty thousand imperial soldiers had died.

"At this rate... at this rate..."

Everything would be blamed on Alexander.

Not merely blamed.

Public opinion would brand him as incompetent.

That was the real problem.

Failure was acceptable.

Incompetence was not.

For Alexander, who had already been branded the incompetent Crown Prince, this was the worst possible outcome.

He desperately squeezed every last drop of wisdom from his mind.

The legion had suffered a crushing defeat.

Every commander who should have handled the aftermath was pretending to know nothing.

If this continued, the entire operation would inevitably fall into the hands of the Second Prince.

The Second Prince had already been building his own private army while working together with mercenaries.

This incident would finally give legitimacy to his claim to the throne.

The moment everything ended and the final reckoning began, Alexander’s future as heir to the Imperial Family would come to an end.

’Olivia.’

My beautiful, damned little sister.

So you’re trying to ruin me yet again.

’The Empire...’

Alexander clenched his fist tightly.

His fingernails dug into his palm until bright red blood dripped onto the floor.

No matter what.

No matter how.

’The Empire must become mine!’

With that resolve, Alexander abruptly stood.

If it meant resolving this crisis, he was prepared to sell even his soul to a demon.

"Y-Your Highness, where are you going?"

Ignoring the bewildered voices of his strategists, Alexander walked away.

Eventually, he stopped before an ornate door deep within the Imperial Palace.

The door had not been opened even once in fifteen years.

It resembled the prison of a sealed demon.

Yet what lay behind it was not a demon.

It was something even more awe-inspiring than a demon.

A being whom even the Crown Prince could not command.

Everyone looked down on him.

Yet he was anything but insignificant.

Alexander knew that better than anyone else.

That was why he approached with utmost caution and called toward the door.

"Father."

The only person Alexander could call Father was Emperor Godfrey Arken.

No answer came from beyond the door.

"It’s me. Your son, Alexander."

Bowing his head humbly, he continued,

"The Monsters are coming. I sent an army, but it was annihilated, and now the enemy is advancing toward the Empire."

"..."

"And now no one is willing to listen to me. At this rate, and Olivia will take everything."

"..."

The continued silence made Alexander’s emotions boil over.

"Didn’t you always say that Olivia was the finest card you possessed? Well, that card is moving on its own now."

"..."

"She’s undoubtedly trying to seize control of the political world exactly as you predicted. Are you really going to let her run free as she pleases?"

He pleaded again and again.

Silence was the only answer.

Finally, Alexander snapped.

"Can you even call yourself a father!?"

He exploded, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"You’ve never cared about me since the day I was born! You’re old! Once your son comes of age, you should quietly hand over the throne! Just how many more decades do you intend to cling to it!?"

"..."

"My rebellion against you happened long ago! Haven’t you punished me enough already? How much more do you intend to make your own son suffer!? It’s not like you’re going to live forever! You rotten..."

Just as he was about to continue shouting, a single note slid out from beneath the door.

The message was so brief that it occupied only the tiny surface of the paper.

The moment Alexander read it, his entire body trembled.

Inside, he muttered,

’I knew choosing that damned old man was the right decision.’

The world constantly called him incompetent.

Yet when it truly mattered, he always shone.

Alexander grabbed the note and hurried away.

The Crown Prince did not even bother to say thank you for the wisdom he had received.

Meanwhile, the bedroom door of Emperor Godfrey Arken remained firmly shut.

***

Around dawn, Ferda led his soldiers forward.

The primary strategy was to split into two battalions, advance ahead of the Monsters’ route, and establish defensive positions before they arrived.

The pounding of horse hooves drummed against the earth.

Only by riding without rest could they barely reach the first defensive point in time.

After urging their horses onward, the first location finally came into view.

The farmers who had come out early to inspect their fields looked utterly bewildered.

Judging from Ferda’s group’s attire, they realized these were people of high status.

Removing his straw hat, one of the farmers cautiously approached.

"You appear to be people of high rank. What brings you here...?"

"Has nothing happened here yet?"

"If you mean anything unusual... no, nothing has happened..."

Looks like we arrived ahead of schedule.

"Monsters! The Monsters are coming!"

Correction.

Right on schedule.

Using Amplification Magic, Ferda issued his command.

"All forces! Form defensive formation!"

Clank! Clank!

The synchronized sound of armored soldiers moving as one stirred the heart.

Bark! Bark!

A farmer cried out in terror.

A wolf charged straight toward him.

A Wolf Monster had spotted him long ago and was already pursuing him.

An ordinary farmer could never outrun a wolf.

He would be killed before reaching the safety of Ferda’s defensive formation.

"Luri."

The moment he called her name, Luri’s figure disappeared.

She had already leaped high into the sky.

Gripping her enormous axe with both hands, she swung it behind her head.

"Hah!"

Then she hurled it.

Boom!

"Aaaah!"

The farmer stumbled forward as the ground shook violently.

Wondering what had happened, he looked back.

The entire area had been torn apart.

At the center lay the corpse of a Monster, purple blood pouring from its shattered body.

A small figure landed lightly beside the axe embedded in the earth.

As though it weighed nothing, she casually pulled the massive axe free.

Then she cast a brief glance toward the farmer.

The moment their eyes met—those chilling silver eyes—the farmer shuddered.

"Run. Quickly, human."

"Y-Yes!"

The farmer immediately resumed running.

The Wolf Monsters hesitated.

For the first time, creatures incapable of fear sensed that they stood before someone vastly stronger than themselves.

If she swung that axe, they would be cut down as effortlessly as wheat before the autumn harvest.

But Luri simply turned around and returned to the formation.

The wolves could not understand Luri’s actions.

However, that brief moment of confusion quickly gave way to instinct.

Bark! Bark!

The wolves charged at the Knights forming the defensive formation, plunging straight into close-quarters combat.

"Hold the line, brothers! We are behind you!"

"Instead of just standing behind us, come help!"

The Knights shouted back while firmly holding their ground.

Ferda was the only Mage present.

Yet that alone was enough.

He used the three Three-Star Mages he had brought along as Mana Walkers, drawing Mana Bolts from them.

Ferda waited for the exact moment the Wolf Monsters were about to attack, disrupting their movements and creating openings.

That was all he did.

Yet even that was more than enough support.

The Knights drove their swords into the chests of every Wolf Monster, finishing them off.

In the end, without relying on the Mage to eliminate enemies directly, the Knights alone succeeded in wiping out every Monster.

"Wooooah!"

"Victory is ours!"

They pounded their plate armor with their fists and roared in triumph.

Ferda’s First Pursuit Battalion consisted of a total of 108 men.

It was composed of five young nobles, their retainers, and the troops from the young ladies’ faction.

The Second Battalion, meanwhile, numbered 250 men, boasting an overwhelming advantage of 142 soldiers.

By numbers alone, the imbalance was obvious.

Yet no one in the First Battalion had any complaints.

They knew Luri’s true strength.

Dressed in a maid outfit and possessing a petite frame, she looked like nothing more than an ordinary young girl.

But the sight of her carrying an axe far larger than her own body across her shoulder filled everyone with indescribable reassurance.

Although she had remained in the rear and could not personally intervene in every battle, morale never dropped.

Ferda’s commands and support came exactly where they were needed.

Thanks to that, they had defeated every Monster without suffering a single casualty.

The young nobles who had fought on the battlefield puffed out their chests proudly.

"I simply cannot understand how the Imperial Army was annihilated."

"Indeed. They’re this easy to deal with."

"Of course, without Regent Ferda’s command and support, it might have been impossible!"

In truth, it would have been impossible.

Creating openings by interrupting Monsters with such tiny amounts of Mana, as Ferda did, was not a technique ordinary people could perform.

I’ve fought them alone countless times while trying to capture them alive.

He had learned exactly where their weaknesses lay.

And knowledge gained through experience remained unchanged even across time itself.

Regardless, they had protected the village without relying on the Dragon Spawn.

That was what truly mattered.

Had they arrived only a little later, the villagers of the small settlement would have become food for the Monsters.

The grateful villagers clasped their hands together in prayer.

"Thank you so much, Sir Knight!"

"May we ask your honorable name?"

"Haha, of course! I am Dmitri Nazarov, the future heir of Count Nazarov’s House!"

The young nobles seized the opportunity to loudly proclaim their names.

Even if it was only a tiny village, having one’s name spread there would greatly help one’s future career.

Luri looked at them with utter disdain before asking,

"Lord Ferda, aren’t you going to join those fools and brag about your own name?"

"Is there any need?"

"If you aren’t even going to do that, then why did you volunteer for such thankless work?"

Luri asked with a grumble.

"I needed something to be proud of."

"Something to be proud of?"

When Ferda had suggested splitting into two separate groups, he had thought to himself that sacrificing a few small villages was simply unavoidable.

Like the other young nobles—

No, even more than they did—

He would have cared little about such sacrifices.

Yet, deep within his heart, the image of Valdrova quietly surfaced.

Would she weigh profit and loss in a situation like this?

Even if she were misunderstood as an Evil Red Dragon, protecting everyone—loving everyone despite everything—that was the reason she lived.

That was why Ferda answered,

"Because she would never stand by and do nothing."

Ferda had come here to do what Valdrova herself could not.

Therefore, he could not simply stand by either.

At the very least, when he spoke with her again, he wanted to bring her some good news.

That he had saved many people with his own hands.

He wanted to receive that pure joy shining in her eyes as a gift.

It was that simple, innocent desire that drove Ferda forward.

"So, in the end, all of this was because you wanted something to brag about to Master."

"That’s right."

"You’re just like a dog."

Ferda turned toward Luri.

"Was that suddenly an insult?"

"You always tell me I’m like a dog or livestock and then claim it isn’t an insult. So why is it an insult when I say it?"

"Isn’t it because you genuinely think of me that way?"

"I already think of Lord Ferda as a masochist. Does that mean I can call you a perverted masochist?"

"That one isn’t allowed."

"And why not?"

Not only was it nothing but baseless slander, there was an even simpler reason.

"I’m the fiancé, and you’re the Attendant."

"...May I poke the place where Master’s horn pierced you one more time?"

The veins on her face bulged as her expression turned terrifying.

Her slender finger aimed directly toward Ferda’s chest.

Just then—

"An unexpected situation has occurred."

One of the messengers Ferda had been using as a Mana Walker hurriedly spoke.

"What is it?"

"They report that the Monsters spreading out have changed their speed. They’re running at full speed toward the third point."

Ferda’s next destination was where Hellus Fovidas was stationed—the primary objective.

Not only would the Monsters pass through that location, but even considering the speed of their horses, they would arrive too late.

In situations like this, there was only one choice.

"We’ll have to revise the route and save the village beyond it instead."

You abandon what cannot be saved.

It was a cruel decision, but there was no helping it.

Nothing in this world could ever be perfect.

"That won’t be necessary."

The one who interrupted was Luri.

Resting her axe upon her shoulder, she spoke.

"I’ll go there instead."

"You?"

"I’m the only one who can get there in time anyway. Besides, I can handle it alone."

If Luri stepped in, the operation would proceed smoothly once again.

"Thank you."

"You don’t need to thank me. I’m doing this for myself."

"For yourself?"

"Didn’t you say you wanted to look impressive in front of Master?"

Luri snorted proudly.

"I want to look impressive in front of Master too."

Even so, she actually had no need to do this.

This was something she was doing entirely for Ferda.

She simply did not want the story he would someday tell Valdrova to include the fact that he had been forced to abandon a small village.

Ferda was grateful for her thoughtfulness.

"Come back safely."

"You should worry about yourself, Lord Ferda. If you come back with even a scratch, I’ll scrub you until your skin peels."

He did not understand why she was talking about scrubbing him after he had been injured, but it did not matter.

It simply meant that Luri wanted him to return safely as well.

Luri unfolded the wings she had kept hidden.

The instant she moved, her small figure shot into the sky like a blazing comet.

"Whoa..."

"So that’s a Silver Dragon Spawn...!"

Since Luri had never openly displayed her horns or tail before, the soldiers stood there in complete amazement, staring blankly at the path she had carved through the sky.

There was not a moment to waste.

Looking at them, Ferda shouted,

"We move too!"

More than a hundred horses once again galloped across the plains.

After riding hard for nearly two hours, they reached their destination before the Monsters arrived.

However, someone completely unexpected was waiting there to greet them.