Chapter 46: The Great Battle of Rivera

Kwaaahhh-!

The ogre and Jeanne d’Arc fell from the top of the Rivera fortress wall.

But unlike the ogre, who crashed to the ground in a pitiful state, Jeanne rose slowly with an air of noble grace.

“L-Lady Saint fell down with the ogre!”

“No, look carefully! The Saintess landed perfectly!”

“How brave of her. Just looking down from that height makes my legs tremble…”

“O-Ogre’s getting up! How tough is that skin of his?!”

The ogre shook his head side to side and then rose with a fiercely angry expression.

Rubbing his shoulder where a piercing wound throbbed, he snarled fiercely at Jeanne.

“Oooohhh~!”

But Jeanne d’Arc showed no hint of intimidation as she adjusted her Sword.

Then.

Taat!

Pushing off the ground with force, Jeanne charged toward the ogre.

The ogre let out a thunderous roar and swung both arms to grab her.

But.

Chaaaat!

Jeanne quickly dropped to her knees, sliding smoothly between the ogre’s legs.

At the same time, she slashed the ogre’s Achilles tendons on both legs, which were glowing red from Albochil’s effect.

“Kraaahk!”

Furious, the ogre slammed his palm, as wide as a pot lid, mercilessly onto the ground.

Kwang! Bang! Bang!

But he couldn’t reach her.

Not even a collar brushed.

Jeanne dodged every strike with light, airy footwork like the wind.

Chaaak! Chaat!

Meanwhile, Jeanne’s strikes plunged mercilessly into the ogre’s skin, weakened by Albochil.

Chaaak!

“Grrroooaaah!”

With elegant, graceful movements like a sword dance, the soldiers atop the fortress wall were utterly mesmerized by Jeanne d’Arc.

Watching this, the Commander of the Order of Knights muttered with sorrow.

Because the sparkling grass packed densely near the gate made it impossible to advance easily.

“Ugh… we can’t provide ranged support because the Saintess might get hit. Is there truly nothing we can do…?!”

Then the Deputy Commander next to him brightened and said,

“But Commander! Look, the Saintess is pushing forward! All alone against the ogre! I believe in the Saintess! Saintess! Stay strong~!”

The Deputy Commander’s loud encouragement seemed to reach Jeanne as well.

Soon, she faintly smiled and took a new stance.

Her Sword hung diagonally, one leg stretched far behind, and the Sword held close to her waist.

Seeing this, the Deputy Commander’s eyes widened as he murmured,

“C-could it be…?!”

That was unmistakably the stance of the Five Continuous Strikes she had shown during their last duel.

Taat!

With a cloud of dust, Jeanne’s figure vanished.

Startled, the ogre blinked rapidly and hurriedly scanned the surroundings.

Then.

Chachachachaak!

A dazzling arc appeared, and five clear scars were carved onto the ogre’s left arm.

“Krrroooaaah!”

The ogre clutched his left arm, roaring in agony.

But Jeanne d’Arc’s Five Continuous Strikes were only just beginning.

Chachachachaak!

This time, five streaks of light rained down on the ogre’s right foot.

“Grrroooaah!”

The Five Continuous Strikes is a secret technique honed to perfection with the smooth connected attacks of southern swordsmanship.

But Jeanne’s version of the Five Continuous Strikes was entirely different from the Deputy Commander’s.

She used it in her own unique way.

The Haedong Kumdo she had learned sharpened her Sword techniques even further, and mastering the fundamentals of various martial arts made her movements lighter and more fluid.

Yes.

‘…It was worth showing her several manuals.’

—Chachachachachak!

Again, Jeanne’s Five Continuous Strikes rained down on the ogre.

Left arm, right arm, left foot, and right foot—all hit in the blink of an eye.

In total, twenty strikes exploded against the ogre.

“…May God take your soul.”

By now, a clear color swirled in Jeanne’s blue eyes.

Then.

Saaak!

A brilliant silver arc pierced swiftly through the ogre.

At the same time.

…Kuuung!

The ogre’s massive body slowly toppled onto the ground.

—Dding!

[Quest]

Kingdom Rush

• 1. Protect the Sanctuary……. [Complete (V)]
• 2. Protect Rivera……. [Complete (√)]

[System]

• Quest Complete!

•Reward: “Sacred Ground Designation Right”

“…It’s finally over.”

The quest window announcing the successful repulsion of the monster invasion felt so comforting.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one feeling that way.

“God has saved us! Ah, thank you! Oh God!”

“The Saintess defeated the ogre! A hero! A true hero!”

“Long live! Long live! Praise be to God! Long live the Saintess!”

“Waaaahhh! Rivera has won!”

Voices praising the Creator and the Saintess echoed throughout Rivera.

The Great Victory of Rivera, which would later fill a page in the Franz Kingdom History, had thus drawn to a close.

The next day.

The square was packed with residents of Rivera gathered near the podium set in the middle.

Soon, the Lord of Rivera, Baron Gilbert, appeared on the lofty stage.

Scanning the crowd with serious eyes, he then opened his mouth with a solemn voice.

“Just yesterday, Rivera faced an unprecedented crisis! A horde of monsters invaded this, the kingdom’s last rear line. The enemy consisted of some 500 goblins and three ogres! In comparison, our forces—knights and soldiers combined—numbered barely seventy. But…!”

The crowd in the square swallowed hard and focused intently on the Baron’s speech.

Among them were the Rivera Army who had fought alongside Jeanne d’Arc, Sanctuary Devotees, and even a bandit group.

Baron Gilbert clenched his fist and shouted.

“…But we prevailed! We drove out all the monsters who sought to destroy Rivera! This was only possible because two forces stood against the monsters and Rivera! One of those was the bandit group that had been pillaging the northern mountains!”

At this, the crowd murmured loudly.

It seemed hard for many to believe that the bandits had helped defend Rivera.

“The bandits risked their lives to stop the monsters. Truly a brave and righteous act. However, they also carry the burden of their past deeds! Therefore, I offer them a chance for repentance.”

Looking down at the bandits, Baron Gilbert declared in a resounding voice.

“Become soldiers of Rivera! Be the shield that protects the people of Rivera! Thus, you will atone for your misdeeds for the rest of your lives! The Deputy Commander of the Knight Order will train you as proper soldiers! But if you refuse, you will repay your sins behind bars!”

The bandit chief immediately raised his hand and shouted,

“My lord, I accept! I want to live honestly from now on!”

One by one, other bandits raised their hands, hoping to become soldiers.

“Please count me in!”

“I want to be a son my parents can be proud of…”

“They say soldiers are provided food and lodging—no need to steal anymore.”

“I’ll work hard and be of help!”

According to what I heard from Shylock, although the Rivera bandits often pillaged, they never committed heinous crimes like hurting people or murder.

‘Despite his appearance, the bandit chief was said to have done whatever he could to prevent harm to others.’

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commander watched the bandits with a devilish grin.

“…Anyone who joins half-heartedly will regret it. It’s better to go to prison. I’ll strip away that rotten attitude completely, ruthlessly remaking you into soldiers.”

Under the Deputy Commander’s fierce warning, the bandits’ pupils trembled uncontrollably.

Watching this, the Deputy Commander shouted fiercely.

“You don’t expect me to teach you how to respond, do you? If you don’t answer!”

“Four! Understood!”

The bandits nodded resolutely and shouted in unison toward the Deputy Commander.

Next, Baron Gilbert announced,

“The Sanctuary residents also greatly contributed to the Order’s efforts! Such courage and loyalty cannot be overlooked, lest God be displeased! Therefore, from today forward, the Sanctuary’s taxes will be permanently exempted!”

A permanent tax exemption was truly an unprecedented reward.

The Sanctuary Devotees smiled brightly and embraced one another.

But Baron Gilbert wasn’t done yet.

“In the victory of the Great Battle of Rivera, there is one figure whom we cannot forget! The pure white Knight sent by God to save us! The hero of Rivera who single-handedly defeated the Goblin Lord and even the ogre!”

Then, the pure white Knight appeared on the stage.

Blond hair, blue eyes, and skin as white as jade.

But what drew the most attention was her dazzling titanium armor.

“Jeannette, protector of Rivera, I hereby appoint you as Rivera’s hero. As Lord Gilbert Wald, Baron of Rivera, I bestow upon you the White Knight Insignia.”

With a gentle smile, Baron Gilbert pinned the shining white insignia on Jeanne d’Arc’s shoulder.

It bore the image of a white knight astride a radiant white horse, brandishing a Sword boldly.

Receiving the insignia, Jeanne stood tall on the podium.

At that moment, the entire crowd burst into enthusiastic cheers and applause.

“Waaaaaah! It’s the Saintess!”

“Did she really defeat the ogre all by herself? Amazing!”

“Wow, she looks even younger than my daughter.”

“Look at that pure white armor! She truly looks like a knight from legend!”

At that moment, Anna, smiling brightly, asked with sparkling eyes,

“Uncle Shylock! Our big sister is a White Knight! That must be super, super amazing, right?!”

Shylock replied with a kindly smile.

“The White Knight Insignia is a prestigious symbol granted only to those the Lord trusts most. It means you are officially recognized as a hero of Rivera.”

“Wow! My sister is a hero of Rivera! Then I’m the hero’s little sister. Hehe…”

Anna seemed so excited she kept giggling.

Then Jeanne d’Arc, standing proudly on the podium, raised her elegant pure white Hwandō high into the sky and shouted,

“We are walking through darkness. Fierce monsters swarm everywhere, and the wicked threaten the Franz Kingdom, the Franz royal family, and the people.”

Jeanne’s spirited voice made the crowd swallow hard.

Some nodded vigorously in agreement.

“The darkest hour is always just before dawn. But now the sun is rising! The darkness retreats, and light begins to sprout! This is because the Creator is with us!”

Waaaaaahhhh!

Jeanne d’Arc’s powerful speech sent the residents of Rivera into a roaring cheer that seemed to shake the entire square.

“Long live the Saintess—Hoorayyyyy!”

Among those shouting the loudest was none other than the Deputy Commander of the Rivera Knight Order.

Though it felt good to be praised by the residents, what satisfied me most was seeing Jeanne recognized by so many.

‘…Especially seeing her receive the White Knight Insignia made my chest tighten with emotion.’

Feeling joy over someone else’s achievement was something I never imagined during my past ten years as a Room-bound Creator.

At that moment, a new system window appeared before my eyes.

—Dding!

[System]

-Would you like to designate Rivera as a Sacred Ground?…

……

(Y/N)

• Sacred Ground Designation Right will be consumed.

It seemed I could designate Rivera as a Sacred Ground using the “Sacred Ground Designation Right” from the last quest reward.

No sacred energy was required, and besides, where else but Rivera would I choose as the first Sacred Ground?

“No reason not to!”

Then, a radiant light warmly enveloped the entire area of Rivera.

Dding!

[Rivera has been designated as the first Sacred Ground!]

[Holy energy begins to spread over the land!]

[Residents of Rivera have become followers of the Creator!]

[Bond of Faith: Holy energy increases proportionally with the number of believers!]

[Believers: 400 → 2,400]

[Holy Energy: 30/480 → 2,480/2,480]

The 2,000 residents of Rivera instantly became believers.

Holy energy surged explosively.

‘I’ve had a lot of occasions to use holy energy recently, so this is great.’

Then, a new system window appeared again.

—Dding!

[Level Up!]

[Room-bound Creator]

-Level: 9

-Holy Energy: 2,490/2,490

-Believers: 2,400

-Doctrine

1 Eat deliciously and zero calories!

2 Help those in need

-Skills

1 Bond of Faith

Because the number of believers had exploded, the Creator Level had now reached 9.

While leveling up was satisfying, something else caught my eye even more.

[System]

• The size of offerings received from believers is now fully intact!

“This…!”

This was welcome news indeed.