Chapter 144: Siege of the Frontline

“Yes! Of course!”

Ator answered with a bright smile.

Who was Marma?

He was the leader of the Golden Lion Knight Order, one of Seionia’s top ten knight orders, and one of the continent’s top 100 knights—a figure Ator had always respected.

Since such a Marma had something to ask, he naturally wanted to answer.

“When exactly did you submit to Varta?”

“Yesterday.”

“……Yesterday?”

For a moment, Marma retorted, wondering if he had misheard.

Submitted yesterday?

Yet how could things seem so nonchalant?

“Yes.”

Ator answered, and afterward, Marma continued with his questions.

Should he call it fortunate?

Ator’s position wasn’t low, and he knew a lot.

Thanks to that, Marma could learn what had happened in the Eon Kingdom’s capital.

What in the world…!

He had thought the Eon Kingdom possessed the demonic energy artifact.

But that wasn’t the case.

It was brought by those who came as support from the Rios Empire.

The problem was that those who brought the demonic energy artifact were beings who wielded demonic energy.

And at a very high level.

In other words, this wasn’t an issue of retrieving an artifact.

It was a matter that needed to be publicized immediately and questioned to the Rios Empire.

Of course, the Rios Empire would likely deny it.

And understandably so, since it wasn’t official support from the Rios Empire.

It was support sent by the Belling Marquis Family, one of the empire’s powerful families.

Moreover, there was no evidence.

It was just Gaon’s claim.

However, Marma believed Gaon.

Gaon wouldn’t lie about something like this.

The Rios Empire might truly be unaware, but at least the Belling Marquis Family had a very high probability of colluding with the demon faction.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

As Marma fell silent, Ator asked.

“……Thank you.”

Snapping back at Ator’s question, Marma expressed his gratitude and turned around.

The original plan was to enter the city and retrieve the demonic energy artifact.

But now it was meaningless.

The demonic energy artifact would be with Gaon.

In other words, there was no reason to stay here any longer.

It seemed better to return and discuss the current situation.

As Marma moved away from the gate again.

Whoosh!

Light burst from inside Marma’s armor.

The source of the light was a communication crystal orb.

It was provided by the Intelligence Agency for contact, and Marma quickly took out the orb and connected the communication.

And the figure of the First Saintess Adela appeared on the orb.

“Yes, Lady Adela.”

Marma spoke to Adela and thought.

Has something happened?

For some reason, Adela’s expression was dark and urgent.

At first, he thought it might be because of the Eon Kingdom, but it didn’t seem so.

-Have you arrived by any chance?

“Yes, the matter here is resolved.”

-Ah, that’s a relief.

-Then, could you head to Coexistence Zone 18 right now?

“……To Coexistence Zone 18?”

Marma couldn’t help but retort.

He was about to report on the situation, yet suddenly go to Coexistence Zone 18?

“Has something happened there?”

-Yes, contact was cut off just a while ago.

-And the demonic energy has increased massively.

-It seems they’ve started moving in earnest.

“Ah! Yes, understood. I’ll depart immediately.”

-Then I’ll contact you later.

“Wait a moment!”

Adela gave her farewell, and Marma urgently exclaimed.

He knew the situation was urgent.

But he also needed to talk about the Eon Kingdom.

-……?

At Marma’s exclamation, Adela made a puzzled face.

And Marma quickly relayed the story of the Eon Kingdom.

-……We need to talk with the Rios Empire.

“Yes, that seems best. We need to confirm if it’s just the Belling Marquis Family’s deviation or if more are involved.”

-I’ll look into it on this side.

-You’ve worked hard.

“It’s nothing! Then I’ll depart immediately!”

Ronen, the frontline city in Coexistence Zone 18.

Currently, numerous people were gathered on the northern walls of Ronen.

The expressions of those on the walls were very dark.

Not a single person wore a bright expression.

The reason everyone’s expression was dark.

It was because of the demonic energy filling the surroundings and the demon legion advancing from the front.

The scale of the demon legion was immense.

They were packed so densely that even shooting arrows without aiming would hit someone.

And it wasn’t just the north.

Similar levels of demon legions were advancing from the east and west as well.

The only escape route was south.

But fleeing south in this situation?

Would the demon legions advancing from east and west stay idle?

They would surely form pursuit teams.

No, it might already be blocked in the south, just unseen.

It was right then that a priest’s voice rang out.

“Oh God…”

It was a voice full of desperation, calling for God.

Of course, no miracle like God responding occurred.

Thud…

Thud.

Soon, the demon legion halted its advance.

And then, from the rear, enormous demonic beasts—at least 10m tall, visible even from afar—stepped forward.

The demonic beasts were all holding massive rocks.

Why were they holding rocks?

It didn’t take long to figure out.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The demonic beasts began throwing the rocks.

And the rocks cleaved through the sky toward the walls.

At this rate, the walls seemed destined to be miserably smashed by the rocks.

However, those on the walls didn’t flee at the sight of the rocks.

Some had anxious faces, but even they silently held their positions.

It was right then.

Whoosh!

A golden barrier appeared.

It was a barrier that emanated sanctity just by existing.

And the rocks were blocked by the barrier and fell straight to the ground.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

In that way, the rock attack was blocked.

“Oh God!!”

Someone on the walls exclaimed.

And the priests of Seionia on the walls began praying.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Strange golden patterns appeared all over the walls.

And soon, massive golden spears revealed themselves from the walls and began flying toward the demonic beasts.

But perhaps because of the surroundings filled with demonic energy?

The golden spears, which had been over 10m long, began shrinking due to the demonic energy.

And by the time they reached the demon faction, they were only 4m in size.

Their length had been reduced by more than half.

And as the length decreased, so did the destructive power greatly.

Whoosh!

The golden spears exploded, and brilliant light spread in all directions.

And the demonic beasts facing the light made pained faces.

That was the end.

Though they might have been wounded, no demonic beasts died.

The demon faction’s attack was rendered futile, and the human faction’s attack landed.

However, the ones with poor expressions were the human faction.

And understandably so, as the golden spears just now were the strongest attack the human faction could currently muster.

Yet they couldn’t kill the demonic beasts with their strongest attack.

How could their expressions be good?

And it was right then.

The demonic beasts that had thrown rocks earlier gripped rocks once more.

Then, once again, the rocks cleaved through the sky and began flying toward the walls.

Holy Knight Parachel, on the walls, looked at the rocks and thought.

Can we hold out until support arrives?

-So, Seionia has currently dispatched reinforcements.

Graxios’s report ended.

“Hmm.”

Gaon let out a low groan.

A problem had arisen in Coexistence Zone 18, where the standoff had continued.

The demon faction had suddenly advanced, and it was presumed that the frontline city Ronen was now surrounded.

No, not presumed—it was certain.

Why else would contact be cut off?

Moreover, Seionia had requested support.

That’s why it was a problem.

Ronen was called a frontline city, but it wasn’t directly facing the front lines.

It was located quite inland.

Yet how could Ronen be surrounded?

Even if surrounded in the unlikely event, measures should have been taken beforehand.

Considering the distance, reinforcements should have been sent in advance.

But from the report, Seionia was only now hastily sending reinforcements and requesting help from nearby.

It was far too late.

Pathetic bastards.

Gaon lightly shook his head.

And he spoke.

“I’ll head to Coexistence Zone 18 right now. Kring and I should be enough, so don’t send additional personnel.”

-Understood.

“Instead, start occupying Coexistence Zones 14 and 15. I didn’t leave a single one, so purifying the demonic energy should be easy.”

-Yessir!

Gaon ended the communication with Graxios’s answer.

And he put the crystal orb in his pocket and looked at Kring.

Kring, who had been listening to the conversation from the side, was looking at Gaon with very sparkling eyes.

Seeing the expectation full on his face, it seemed fine to depart immediately.

“Kring.”

“Yes!”

“I’m thinking of going right now; can you withstand the spatial force?”

The situation was urgent.

So, he planned to move via Teleport.

The problem was the spatial force.

Gaon could withstand it sufficiently.

But Kring?

“Hmm…”

Kring let out a groan and fell into thought.

The thought didn’t last long.

Soon, having finished thinking, Kring answered.

“I think it’ll be fine if we rest for about a minute at the midpoint!”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

At Kring’s voice full of certainty, Gaon nodded as if understanding and closed his eyes.

And shortly after.

Whoosh!

A magic circle appeared beneath Gaon and Kring’s feet.

Swish!

Light burst from the magic circle, and Gaon and Kring arrived in Coexistence Zone 17.

Upon arrival, Gaon checked Kring’s condition.

Kring’s face had turned slightly pale.

But that was all.

Fortunately, he seemed fine except for being tired.

“Are you okay?”

Gaon nodded, and Kring immediately closed his eyes.

And he focused on breathing.

Gaon, seeing Kring’s face quickly regain color, waved his hand.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Then, dozens of ‘spears’ made of various attributes like ice, water, fire, electricity appeared.

The reason Gaon suddenly created spears was the beings around them.

They all harbored ‘demonic energy.’

Then, the spears Gaon created began flying toward the beings harboring demonic energy.

And naturally, no beings dodged or blocked the spears, and all met death.

Having finished cleaning the surroundings, Gaon waited for Kring to finish recovering.

“Done!”

Soon, having finished recovering, Kring said, and Gaon closed his eyes.

Whoosh!

A magic circle appeared beneath their feet.

Swish!

With the light, Gaon arrived near the destination, the frontline city ‘Ronen’ in Coexistence Zone 18.

This time too, upon arrival, Gaon checked Kring’s condition.

Perhaps because the travel distance was slightly shorter than the first?

Fortunately, Kring’s complexion wasn’t as pale as during the previous Teleport.

“This time, 30 seconds should do!”

“Yeah.”

Gaon answered Kring’s words and looked ahead.

Ahead, there were numerous beings harboring demonic energy.

Perhaps because of Gaon and Kring’s sudden appearance?

Most were showing flustered reactions.

Gaon looked beyond the demon faction.

He saw a golden barrier surrounding the city ‘Ronen.’

The barrier’s condition wasn’t good.

Cracks were everywhere.

Judging by the state, it seemed it would be destroyed soon.

Of course, not anymore.

Gaon was confident.

Confident that he could kill all the demonic beasts attacking Ronen before the barrier was destroyed.

Gaon turned his gaze back to the demonic beasts.

The demonic beasts, who had been in panic, began showing hostility one by one.

Gaon smiled brightly at the demonic beasts’ reactions.