Chapter 138 - A Bragging Right

The fiercely enraged Crown Prince, Alexander Arken.

The adjutant who had given the report sweated profusely as he answered once more.

"T-That is correct. The knight order struck their flanks to break their momentum, but ended up isolated instead..."

"What kind of..."

How could they be defeated so stupidly?

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

Hearing this, the staff officers muttered among themselves.

"To think that the tactics that worked against even the bravest barbarian warriors of the north were rendered completely useless..."

"It was a strategy with a guaranteed win rate of over ninety percent..."

The staff officers gave off the nuance that they were not at fault.

Alexander spoke with an annoyed expression.

"What are the enemy's losses?"

"They are estimated... to be around 3,000. And even then, 2,500 of them are Melteds."

"There are still results, right? Right?"

"..."

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

"W-Well... the Melteds are practically just lumps of meat. The core forces are the beast-type demonic creatures, and..."

There was no use killing things that were just lumps of meat. The most important targets were the beast-type demonic creatures, yet 80,000 soldiers had been sacrificed just to kill 500 of them.

He felt like he was going crazy.

A total of 80,000, including non-combat personnel. He had sent an entire corps, so did it make sense that all of them had fumbled so badly?

It was a tactic discussed by the top brains of the Empire's core, and a result that had been approved by all departments.

However, this result came about because they had created their strategy by simply treating the demonic creature race as slightly stronger monsters.

Above all, since they had sent over four times the number of personnel, and 2.5 times the pure military force, they naturally thought it would be an overwhelming victory.

Alexander clenched his teeth and spoke to the adjutant.

"Send the reinforcements. Push them back with sheer numbers! Re-establish the anti-demonic creature tactics for the 2nd and 3rd Corps, and send the reinforcements!"

"As you command, we must prepare the reinforcements, but..."

Alexander snapped at the lukewarm response.

In the end, he threw the chess piece in his hand at the adjutant's head.

"What's the problem!? Huh!? There are 30 million people in the Imperial capital, and you're telling me we can't fill those numbers!?"

"The thing is... all the commanders scheduled to lead the reinforcements are... bedridden."

He was left speechless.

"All the commanders are bedridden!? Does that even make sense!?"

"We contacted them first after hearing the news of the annihilation, but... they all claim to be recuperating at home. They suspect it is an epidemic, so entry to their residences is currently forbidden..."

People who had been laughing in perfect health just this morning suddenly caught an epidemic?

It was obvious.

They had heard the news that an 80,000-strong army wasn't enough and hid in their homes.

Because they didn't want to die.

If 80,000 had died, what brilliant solution would they possibly have?

They were feigning ignorance.

"These... These..."

Those incompetent bastards!

They bluffed so much, acting all brave, and now when they are actually needed, they act like this?

His face flushed red with rage, but he cooled his anger as much as possible.

Getting worked up now would only be to his detriment.

He thought so, but the situation continued to roll cruelly against Alexander.

"News has arrived from the far east forces."

"What are they doing?"

"They report that they have eliminated six colossal demonic creatures that reproduce the demonic creatures."

Six of those at once?

Alexander wore a blank expression, but the messenger obliviously continued speaking in an excited tone.

"They also stated that since they did not struggle as much as expected, they will divide their forces again to pursue the demonic creatures spreading toward the small villages."

"They're even pursuing them...?"

"And they asked me to relay that they will eliminate the remaining six colossal ones within three days."

"Within three days??"

It was a ridiculous situation.

For a ragtag army to be performing actively while an elite corps was struggling helplessly was an impossible tale for Alexander to accept.

"H-How many casualties did they have?"

Alexander estimated in his mind.

Around 2,000 soldiers had mobilized and faced hundreds of demonic creatures, so at least 50%—1,000 of them—should have died.

Even if not, at least 20%, or 400 men, should have died.

The messenger answered.

"Fifty."

However, his expectations missed spectacularly.

He wondered if the messenger had omitted a unit like 'hundred' or 'thousand' at the end, but that wasn't the case either.

"Fifty? Only fifty?"

"There are 50 casualties, and out of those, only 10 are dead. They say they are generally unharmed. And..."

CRASH!

He couldn't finish his sentence.

Alexander had thrown a crystal glass, smashing it against the messenger's head.

"Drag that damn bastard out!"

Taking down the colossal demonic creatures meant cutting off the supply of the demonic creatures' numbers.

And yet, it was even more irritating news than hearing that 80,000 men had died in battle.

"If this keeps up... If things go on like this..."

Everything would be pinned on Alexander's responsibility.

It wouldn't just be a matter of taking responsibility; public opinion would boil over, labeling him as incompetent.

That was the problem.

He could fail, but he could not be incompetent.

For Alexander, who was already branded as an incompetent Crown Prince, it was the worst possible situation.

Alexander tried to squeeze out every bit of non-existent wisdom he had.

The corps suffered a major defeat.

The commanders of other armies who should be sent to resolve the situation were all feigning ignorance.

If that happened, this entire operation would be handed over to the 2nd Prince.

The 2nd Prince, who was already joining hands with mercenaries and gathering his own army, would gain justification for his right of succession.

The moment the incident was resolved and the reckoning began, his life in the Imperial family would also come to an end.

'Olivia.'

'My fucking little sister who is more beautiful than anyone else.'

'You're trying to screw me over like this again.'

'The Empire is...'

Alexander clenched his fists tightly.

His fingernails dug into his palms, and bright red blood dripped down.

No matter what,

No matter how,

'The Empire must be mine!'

Because of that, Alexander kicked his seat away and stood up.

If it meant resolving this situation, he was more than ready to willingly sell his soul to a demon.

"C-Crown Prince, where are you going?"

Alexander moved his feet, leaving the voices of his dumbfounded staff officers behind.

Like that, Alexander stood before an ornate door located in the innermost part of the imperial palace.

The door there hadn't been opened even once in a staggering 15 years.

It was no different from a place where a demon was sealed.

However, what was inside was not a demon.

This entity, more awe-inspiring than a demon, was a being he could not do anything about even with his status as Crown Prince.

Everyone looked down on him, but he was absolutely not someone to be taken lightly.

Because Alexander had realized this more painfully than anyone else, he approached more carefully than anyone and called out to the door.

"Father."

The only person he could call 'father' was the Emperor, Godfrey Arken.

There was no answer from beyond the door.

"It's me. Your son, Alexander."

He continued speaking while bowing his head subserviently.

"The demonic creatures are coming. I sent an army, but I am told that army was annihilated and the creatures are currently heading toward the Empire."

"..."

"And right now, no one is willing to listen to me. If this continues, Ureas and Olivia will take everything."

"..."

Alexander choked up at the returning silence.

"Didn't you always say so, Father? That Olivia was the best card you held. That card is acting on her own right now."

"..."

"She is undoubtedly scheming to seize the political world, just as you said. Are you going to let her run wild as she pleases?"

He tried appealing time and time again, but faced with the returning silence, Alexander ultimately lost his grip on his reason.

"Are you even a father after acting like this!?"

He exploded and screamed at the top of his lungs.

"You never had any interest in me since the day I was born. If you've grown old and your son has come of age, you should quietly pass down the throne! Just how many decades do you plan on gorging yourself on it!?"

"..."

"The time I rebelled against you is already a thing of the past! Haven't you tormented me enough as punishment? How much do you have to screw your own son over to be satisfied!? It's not like you're going to live forever! This rotten..."

Just as he thought about screaming even more, a note popped out from under the door.

A document with a message written as briefly as the surface area of the paper.

Alexander shuddered upon seeing the contents of that paper.

He muttered to himself inwardly.

'As expected, choosing this damn bastard was the right answer.'

The world babbles on passionately about him being incompetent or whatever, but he is a human who shines when it counts.

Alexander grabbed the paper and hurriedly ran off.

The Crown Prince didn't even say a word of thanks for the wisdom, and the door to the Emperor, Godfrey Arken's bedchamber, remained firmly shut.

Around dawn, Ferda led the soldiers and moved out.

The main operation was to split into two battalions and proactively enter the path of the spreading and advancing demonic creatures to conduct a defensive battle.

The sound of horse hooves beat the ground like a drum.

The horses had to move without rest just to barely arrive at the first point on time.

As a result of spurring them on, the first point came into view.

The farmers who had come out early in the morning to check on their fields wore bewildered expressions.

Seeing the attire of Ferda's group, they realized they were high-ranking people and approached while taking off their straw hats.

"You seem to be esteemed nobles, so what brings you here...?"

"Has nothing happened here?"

"If you mean an incident, there's nothing in particular...?"

It seemed they had arrived earlier than the scheduled time.

"Monsters! The monsters are swarming in!"

Correction, they had arrived right on time.

Ferda issued commands using amplification magic.

"All forces! Form a square!"

CLACK! CLACK!

The sound of armor moving in perfect order resonated in their chests.

BARK! BARK!

A farmer was startled out of his wits, and a wolf charged toward him.

A wolf demonic creature had spotted him a while ago and was currently in pursuit.

It was impossible to outrun a wolf's speed with the speed of an ordinary farmer.

A casualty was going to happen even before he could enter the defensive square formed by Ferda's battalion.

"Luri."

The moment he called that name, Luri's figure disappeared.

She had already leaped high up into the sky.

Then, grabbing a massive axe with both hands, she swung it behind her head,

"Hup!"

And threw it straight down.

BOOM!

"Aaagh!"

The farmer fell forward from the vibration of the ground.

Wondering what had happened, he looked back.

That entire area was completely overturned, and at its center lay the corpse of a demonic creature spilling purple blood.

A tiny figure landed on the axe embedded in the ground.

As if it were nothing, she picked up the heavy axe and smoothly cast a glance toward the farmer.

A shiver ran down his spine when he met those eerie silver eyes.

"Run quickly, human."

"Y-Yes!"

The farmer started running again.

The wolf demonic creatures could not move rashly.

Even though they lacked the emotion of fear, for the first time, they felt the sensation of standing before someone truly strong.

If she swung that axe, they would be beings senselessly cut down like a wheat field in autumn.

However, Luri turned her feet and came back.

The wolves did not understand Luri's actions.

But having that kind of reasoning was only momentary, and they quickly returned to their primal nature.

-BARK! BARK!

The wolves charged at the knights forming the square, leading to close-quarters combat.

"Hold out! Brothers! We are behind you!"

"Don't just stay in the back and help out a little!"

Even while yelling in exasperation, the knights held their ground dependably.

Ferda was the only one playing the role of a mage.

But that was enough.

He used the three 3rd Circle mages he had brought along as mana batteries, drawing Mana Bolts from them.

Ferda aimed for the exact moments they tried to attack, interrupting the wolf demonic creatures' movements and creating openings.

That was all he did, but that alone was sufficient support.

They finished them off by plunging their swords into the chests of all the wolf demonic creatures.

In the end, without relying heavily on the role of a mage, the knights successfully repelled all the demonic creatures on their own.

"Woooaaaah!"

"We are victorious!"

They beat their plate armor with loud clangs, letting out roars of victory.

The 1st Pursuit Battalion, where Ferda belonged, had a total of 108 men.

Five young lords and their subordinates, along with the lady's forces, were moving together.

The 2nd Battalion was organized with 250 men, showing an overwhelming numerical difference of 142.

Looking purely at the numbers, it was noticeably unbalanced, but the 1st Battalion had no complaints.

They knew Luri's latent power.

Wearing a maid outfit and looking like nothing more than a little girl due to her tiny stature, seeing her carrying an axe on her shoulder that was far wider than the surface area of her body made her look more dependable than anything in the world.

Even though such a person had retreated to the rear, putting them in danger, their morale still didn't drop.

Ferda's command and support were provided in the right place at the right time, and as a result, they had successfully repelled the demonic creatures without taking a single casualty.

The young lords who had stepped onto the battlefield and fought swaggered around with triumphant expressions.

"I can't understand how the Imperial forces were wiped out."

"You can say that again. They are this easy to handle."

"Of course, it might have been impossible if not for Regent Ferda's command and support!"

It actually would have been impossible.

Making a demonic creature flinch and opening up a gap with such little mana, like Ferda did, was not a technique ordinary people could pull off.

'It's because I've fought alone so many times trying to capture them alive.'

He had learned from experience what aspects left them vulnerable, and that learned experience remained unchanged even across time.

Whatever the case, they had protected the village without relying on the dragon spawn.

That was the important part.

The residents of the small village, who would have become the demonic creatures' meals had they been even a little late, clasped their hands and prayed.

"Oh, thank you so much, Sir Knights!"

"May we please ask your esteemed names?"

"Haha, of course! I am Dmitri Nazarov, the future successor of the Count Nazarov family!"

The young lords took advantage of this moment to go around bragging about their names.

Even if it was a small village, once one's name spread, it would be a great help for their career advancement.

Luri looked at them as if they were pathetic and asked.

"Are you not going to squeeze in among those foolish things and show off your name, Lord Ferda?"

"Is there any need to?"

"If you aren't even going to do that, why did you take on this hard work?"

"I need something to brag about."

"Something to brag about?"

Ferda had thought about it when he said they needed to split into two again.

That sacrificing small villages was something that naturally happened.

Like the other young lords, no, even more so than them, he probably would have had no interest in the sacrifices.

However, he implicitly recalled Valdrova's figure in his mind.

Would she weigh the gains and losses in this situation?

Even if she were misunderstood as an Evil Dragon, protecting everyone and loving everyone in spite of that was her reason for living.

Because of that, Ferda answered like this.

"Because she would never just stand by."

Ferda had come here in place of Valdrova to do the things she could not do.

Because of that, Ferda could not just stand by either.

At the very least, he wanted to bring her even a little bit of good news the next time he spoke to her.

That he had saved many people with his own hands.

He wanted to receive her purely joyful emotion as a gift.

Such a pure desire was what moved Ferda.

"In the end, you did all this because you wanted to make something to brag about to my lady."

"Yeah."

"You're like a dog."

Ferda turned his head toward Luri.

"Are you swearing all of a sudden?"

"You always call me things like a dog or a dog and a pig and claim it's not a swear word, so why is it a swear word when I say it?"

"You only said that because you didn't normally think of me that way, isn't that right?"

"I think of you as a masochist, Lord Ferda, so is it okay if I call you a masochistic pervert?"

"That's not allowed."

"Why is it not allowed for me?"

Not only was it simple slander that wasn't true, but there was an even simpler reason.

"I am her fiancé, and you are her attendant."

"... Master, may I stab the spot where the horn pierced you just one more time?"

Her expression turned vicious with veins popping out on her face.

Those slender fingers aimed for Ferda's chest.

It was then.

"An unexpected situation has occurred."

One of the messengers he had been using as a mana battery spoke with urgency.

"What is it?"

"There is a change in the speed of the spreading demonic creatures. They say the creatures are running at full speed and moving toward the third point."

Ferda's next destination was where their primary target, Hellus Phobidas, was located.

Not only did they have to break through and pass that area, but considering the horses' speed, they would already be too late the moment they arrived.

At times like this, he had no choice but to make the best possible choice.

"We have no choice but to adjust our point and save the village behind them."

He would abandon what could not be saved.

It was cold-blooded, but unavoidable.

There is no such thing as perfection in this world.

"There is no need for that."

The one who interrupted those words was Luri.

Luri spoke while shouldering her axe.

"I will go that way."

"You will?"

"I'm the only one who can get there in one go anyway, and I can easily handle it alone, so it won't be a problem."

If Luri stepped up, the operation would proceed smoothly again.

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me. This is for my own sake."

"For your own sake?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to show off to my lady, Lord Ferda?"

Luri puffed out a breath through her nose.

"I'm going to show off in front of my lady too."

She said that, but in truth, it was unnecessary for Luri.

This was for Ferda's sake.

A consideration so that the story he would recite wouldn't have to include the part where he had to abandon a small village.

He was grateful for her attentiveness.

"Return safely."

"Take good care of your own body, Lord Ferda. If you get even a scratch, you'll have to get your body scrubbed vigorously."

He didn't understand why getting a scratch meant he had to be scrubbed, but it didn't matter.

Because that meant Luri also wished for Ferda to be safe.

Luri unfurled the wings she had kept hidden.

And the moment she moved, her figure flew off like a comet.

"Whoa..."

"So that's a Silver Dragon spawn...!"

Because Luri had never shown off her horns or tail, the battalion members were mesmerized by the sight and stared blankly at the path she had taken.

They couldn't delay for even a moment. Ferda looked at them and shouted.

"We're moving too!"

Over a hundred horses galloped across the plains once more.

Thanks to running for about two hours, they arrived before the demonic creatures could enter.

However, an unexpected presence was waiting to welcome them inside.