Chapter 276 – Chapter 276 ― Like a Shotgun (5)
Episode 276 ― Like a shotgun (5)
For the first time, Roan was sorry that he had no skills. Roan’s ‘appeal’ changed his clumsy speech into words that touched his heart, and that might have been a little more helpful to them.
But Roan didn’t hesitate.
Even without the help of skills, it can be done.
I have already done dozens or hundreds of times to convey my heart to someone. He got lucky naturally.
“Proud knight of burden. Jim thanks you for your determination and loyalty.”
Knights say that giving up one’s life for one’s master is a beautiful loyalty, and demons instinctively consider it an honor to obey someone stronger, but risking one’s life to others is basically not easy.
However, the twenty knights surrounding Roan were filled with tension and joy.
Even without skill, the flow of air felt through his sharp senses made even Roan’s heart excited.
“We are now in Evirzio’s second… It is like an arrow.”
I guess I was too excited. I almost inadvertently said it was a bullet.
Fortunately, everyone said that even His Majesty was nervous, and smiled quietly. Thanks to that, everyone’s nervousness was relieved a little.
“It’s small, but it has enough sharpness to change the direction of a war. So I have chosen you to be my arrowheads and feathers.”
The opponent has already pulled out a vicious hand. Now, Roan wasn’t going to give up either.
If the ‘niche’ eats up all of the dark forest, what remains after that is the country of the demons and the country of humans. The order may be slightly different before then. However, it seems that everyone perishes anyway.
The demon “Greed” I heard about from the Goddess-sama and Amelie is not an existence that can be easily used by someone.
Like all demons, it is a being that literally digs into someone’s weak heart and uses it. Those who could not endure it become polluted and become monsters.
A ‘gap’ is like a fire.
The demon inhales the smoke and increases its strength.
A fire, once started to grow, is not easily extinguished. They eat forests, demons, and humans. Eventually all continents will be burned.
Of course, the victim also includes Roan.
Before that, Roan decided to beat the wizard. He’s already had enough time. He tried to fight head-to-head in a moderate way, but in the end this way didn’t suit Roan’s kernel.
It has enough power to not lose on the continent. And you have to survive.
Qualifications are sufficient.
After this battle, Roan decided to move his knights to Spross. A dragon’s barrier blocks magic, but not brute force.
He had the power, so he didn’t have to wait for someone to rescue him. Rather, Roan was able to save someone.
So he decided to act.
And he decided to save it.
Even if it meant saving the lives of annoying humans, he decided to do so.
You can worry about it later. Because there are many people who can help you think together.
“Don’t hesitate and fly. Let’s go and put an end to this war.”
So Roan spoke to the knights, to the three women who assisted him, and to himself.
After confirming that all humans had disappeared from the Dark Forest, Aina sent a set magic signal to Grünent. After completing his role, Grunent slowly disappeared behind the demons.
Soon after, the sound of horns began to be heard from the plains.
It was so low, but it sounded like it was squeezing my heart so that it resonated far away.
Helen said a short prayer and lowered the visor of her helmet. Urtellia and Aina started chanting incantations in low voices.
It was on the verge of clashing between the forces of demons and humans gathered on the southern border. Although the number was close to doubling, the humans did not back down.
Behind Evirgio’s army, the demon lords felt puzzled as they saw Merde’s army not retreating.
“How stupid.”
The cold voice seemed to freeze even the air around it, but the aides and knights surrounding the Grand Duke of Darkness were not surprised. To them, it was just the usual grand duke.
Sitting on a high ground, the commander of the Southern Dark Command, the Grand Duke, stared at the slowly advancing Evirgio and Merde forces with cold eyes.
It would be foolish to collide like that, unless you’re going to deliberately raise the ball against a number of opponents on the plains. Or, you have other ulterior motives.
The Merde Army was advancing slowly, maintaining its semicircular shape. It was because it was intended to change the formation to break through the siege.
And all the lords, including the Grand Duke of Darkness, knew the man’s intentions. It was thanks to the magic that the forest fairies sent to the demon emperor early in the morning, at a time when it would be more correct to call it still night.
— Allies.
Horses and humans appeared.
Humans entering the forest will pay the price.
The forest fairy who was by the emperor’s side replied in response. By setting the right time for the demons.
Perhaps the punishment the forest fairy was talking about has come true. Human armies will not move as planned and will be trampled on.
“The guys who say they use agile maneuvers with their distant allies don’t have double or triple means of communication. You guys don’t make that mistake.”
“All right. Grand Duke.”
“The Central Knights are fast. Slow down a bit.”
At the gesture of the Grand Duke, the rider raised a suitable flag. Soon, like a beacon, a flag of the same color rose towards the front, accompanied by the sound of drums for a signal.
Evirgio’s purpose today is not to eliminate Merde’s army.
Of course, the demons feel hostility towards humans, and there is no reason to show mercy to the side that invaded the border first, but the emperor did not want casualties.
It’s dissatisfying, but I didn’t need any more reasons than that. If the emperor wants it, he does it.
That’s why the grand duke paid attention so that all the troops could be maintained to the extent that they would slowly squeeze humans.
If you don’t measure the distance properly, a battle will break out in the blink of an eye. As if threatening, the 8,000 troops shook the earth and moved slowly.
‘It would be difficult if I miss this opportunity.’
From a young age, Roan was quick-witted. Sense, or something like that, I liked it.
That’s why he discovered Erenia’s ability, and even after that, when the former emperor tried to do something, there were many times when the words that he threw at him were often filled with anticipation. Perhaps it is his unique ability.
Could it be because of that?
Although he was obviously cautious, he was caught by his tail.
He thought his behavior was strange since last year, but he couldn’t think of it because he noticed about ‘greed’.
Now, seeing the emperor wielding a power called holy power, which is unreasonable to the demons, the grand duke came to the idea that Roan, if not all of his plans, at least in Basel, could definitely thwart his plans.
And when the traces of the artifacts spread out in the imperial castle were touched, the Grand Duke could not help but move.
Among the various items that were handed over to Elenir after the human wizard activated it, the artifact that surrounded the imperial castle and absorbed the power within it suddenly stopped working one day.
It was when Erenia had not long since ascended the throne as empress.
It was a demonic presence that neither Elenia, who used demonic magic, nor the Grand Duke could feel. Schlaner assured me it was safe. This power cannot be countered with magic or holy power.
However, the relics placed in the imperial castle, even in the empress’ room, considered the most intimate in the castle, stopped working for some reason.
Eleanor confirmed that the artifact was operating without any problems, but the human’s words that the power gathered in the castle was no longer felt were true.
Because the power accumulated in the Grand Duke himself was different from before.
“Stop the advance of the infantry.”
The grand duke, who suddenly stopped thinking, opened his mouth.
And not long after, the 8,000 troops that filled the plains stopped surprisingly smoothly.
It was the army of the Southern Black Spirit who stayed on the frontline for several years under the command of the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke’s ability to take care of the territory was outstanding, and that’s why he was able to occupy the Grand Duke’s position.
In addition, the army was properly rested, did not starve, and morale was high with superior numbers in the name of dealing with the invading army.
The victory was with the demons.
The distance between humans was close. Probably at a distance where you can see each other’s faces. Literally on the fly.
Merdegun was feeling the fear that Evirziogun would crush him right in front of his nose.
The Grand Duke had the illusion that he was receiving the emotions humans felt. Is there an object that is not shaken at a moment like this? At that moment, I felt the urge to trample and break this balance and exchange the emotions flowing from within with power, but the Dark Duke suppressed the shaking by slightly frowning his brow.
After all, he is no longer emperor,
As Grand Duke, he was near perfect both politically and militarily.
His work is almost done.
“I will go to the front.”
Before the Grand Duke could finish his words, the Grand Duke’s body disappeared as if it had melted into a black mist.
The aides and knights were not surprised.
That vast field, over 10,000 people had gathered, but the huge space was suffocatingly silent.
“… Why stop?”
The humans did not know that the Grand Duke, commanding the enemy forces, was trying to squeeze their fears out.
I knew that the number was overwhelming, but the army of demons surrounding me was ferocious. The lords swallowed dry saliva. I just wanted to run away.
Didn’t they even leave the rear empty?
‘Is it to retreat?’
Marquis Stein had a hunch that something was wrong. By now, the signal should have come from inside the forest with arrows or flags. I can’t send messengers there now.
“Why aren’t Schulzer’s cavalry receiving a signal!”
In anguish, the knights under his command brushed off the signalman. The signal trumpets and drums were sounded several times, but the cavalry, which had been deployed in the forest in advance under the cover of darkness, remained silent.
“What happened…”
One of the lords opened and closed his mouth in a trembling voice. No matter how bad the situation was, it was because I had a hunch that if I said it out of my mouth, it would really not work.
But everyone in command could guess what he was trying to say.
Could it be that something happened to the troopers in the forest?
‘Nonsense.’
The Marquis Stein shook his head a few times.
If the forest fairy, which is said to be in an old story, didn’t kill all the knights, could this happen?
It was a naive idea that he could have made because he did not know that the forest fairy was allied with the demons and was in close contact with them.
But I couldn’t fault the idea. The fact that forest fairies have diplomacy with the demons was a fact known only to the great lords and some of the Xeno people of West Blood.
I don’t know if the humans sent a spy into the demon’s great territory or the imperial castle, but the people of Merde didn’t see the demon as a target to use their sophisticated hostile foreign policy – called spying.
In any case, if the cavalry cannot move, another plan must be considered. If they collided like this, they would break as if they were swept away by waves.
‘At least if we retreat, there is no way to hit us from behind. Is it right to bite the wire now?’
Not only Marquis Stein, but everyone else in the command was confused and lost in thought. Because of that, the humans noticed the fact that there was movement behind the demons’ encirclement quite belatedly.
“… Hmm?”
On the stage set aside for the commander, Marquis Stein frowned in the direction of the commotion. The Marquis’ mouth fell open as he looked through the telescope his aide handed him.
“That… , What is it?”
Someone asked in a bewildered voice.
Only the Marquis understood the meaning and burst into anger.
Finally, he learned why the demons had surrounded Merdegun without advancing any further.
“Escort, defend the command post! All troops, be sure to stand by your place!”
The demons were trying to take 5,000 hostages.
