I spent quite a few busy days.
I had been holding on, whipping my exhausted body and mind.
Whenever I had time, I practiced Magic and the Four Stars, and I cut into my sleep for repeated meetings. Since we were currently in a state of war, I couldn’t allow myself to relax even for a moment.
Then one day, a rather shocking prayer reached me.
‘Do not try to shake off the darkness.’
‘Because there is light, the birth of darkness is inevitable.’
‘Light and darkness must achieve balance, so as long as light exists, the pitch-black void will be born endlessly.’
It was a warning from a certain shaman sent through Huger. That warning became so firmly lodged in my mind that it refused to leave.
My stomach churned. I wanted to ignore this warning disguised as a prayer.
However, I knew that shamans did not speak useless words. Even if they caused confusion with their combinations of abstract words, they did not tell lies.
If his words were true, it meant the reason the First World had been dark since the beginning was entirely because of my light. It wasn’t just some simple error.
I closed my eyes and observed my inner self. As my consciousness sank deep down, I saw what had been invisible before.
The Divine Power hidden meticulously inside the Saint’s body.
If that meant the darkness known as the Demon Realm had to be inevitably created because this power shone too brightly—if what I had simply dismissed as an error was actually something that had to be born—then who was the culprit of this era of chaos?
I asked myself, but an answer did not follow easily. I bit my lip.
The Demon King and those five creations had merely followed their own essence. They were simply born black.
For the darkness to exist as darkness was not a sin, yet that darkness had invaded this world and caused countless casualties. That was why they became evil. That much was an unchangeable truth.
But if so…
Who was the “origin” that made the darkness commit sins? What did the darkness crave that made it invade this place?
“Damn it.”
I had only changed one premise. I had simply retracted the thought that ‘they were born as an error,’ yet many things looked different.
Perhaps the beginning of the sin was my own assumption that the darkness was an error.
I closed my eyes and slowly steadied my breath. Whatever the case, not a single thing I had to do had changed.
The Demon Realm was still the villain, and we still could not coexist.
***
“Marx has started moving again.”
In the conference room of Steel Thorn Castle, I revealed what I had discovered through my Divine Sight.
The 3rd Prince, Kaval, who had retreated after his defeat, was now sallying forth alongside the 2nd Prince. Upon hearing that news, the commanders let out low groans.
“Since they’ve tasted the bitterness of defeat once, they’ll surely come prepared with more reinforcements. Furthermore, if the 2nd Prince joins them…”
“The relationship between the 3rd Prince and the 2nd Prince isn’t that great, so there’s a high possibility they will split their forces to launch an ambush.”
Before I could even finish my sentence, the commanders busily exchanged opinions.
Thump! Thump!
I knocked loudly on the table to quiet them. Regrettably, the main point started now.
“The Kingdom of Tahar, the Kingdom of Typhon, and the Duchy of Jan. These three nations have sent support troops to Marx.”
It wasn’t by force; it was voluntary support. What that implied was clear. They were those who were certain of Marx’s victory, or those who had been captivated by their madness.
“A considerable number of troops will be swarming us…”
Alisa’s brow furrowed slightly. Static came from the crystal ball placed in the middle of the table. it was the contact line connected to each fortress.
“One thing is certain: the army led by Kaval will attack this castle once again. From his perspective, he must have his revenge.”
I added as I leaned my back against the chair. Kaval Marx—the Marx bloodline who had almost lost his head to my sword.
I really should have killed him with one stroke back then. Unfortunately, I missed him because he was decked out in a series of quite rare Artifacts.
As I thought that, I glanced at Alisa. In the previous battlefield, the order she had given me was to bring back Kaval’s head.
Her expression when she ordered me to kill her own younger brother had been truly cold. The nickname “Witch of Victory” suited her very well.
“This is no different from three nations participating in the war. How are we supposed to…”
“If we are pushed back here, it is clear that even more nations will solidify Marx’s position. The more that happens, the less chance we have of winning.”
The wizards looked busy racking their brains. Especially many things were at stake in this fight. So, I had called for reinforcements in my own way.
***
“Daddy—!”
“Hey, you punk!”
It took quite a long time for Richard’s reinforcements to arrive at Steel Thorn Castle. It took two weeks just to cross the border of Laplace from the Garden in the south.
They traveled for another four days after that to finally arrive where Richard was.
“Saint, have you been well?”
“Ho ho, it seems your aura has become even more refined.”
Aaron spoke in a nostalgic tone. Gide stood a step back, smiling warmly. However, the greetings of those two did not reach Richard.
“Daddy, Daddy—!”
“You brat! You started a war without even giving your big brother a hint? Do you know how worried I was!”
Adele, who had burrowed into Richard’s arms, repeatedly called for her father, expressing her joy. Moritz had him in a headlock and was shaking him back and forth.
It seemed he had suffered quite a bit of heartache because of his brother who was off on his own.
“Ahem, hmmm! Stop, stop it!”
Richard, who had been harassed for quite a while, calmed the atmosphere. Richard’s companions had brought familiar faces with them; dozens of Elves from the south were standing further back.
Their glossy skin and vividly shining eyes indicated that their energy had recovered quite a bit.
“Ho. Are these your companions?”
Alisa approached at that moment. Her blue eyes took in each guest one by one.
“I am the King of Laplace, Alisa Marx. I ask for your understanding that I cannot give you a grand welcome due to the wartime situation.”
Aaron and Gide bowed respectfully. It was an etiquette that was neither excessive nor lacking. But for some reason, Moritz’s face turned bright red.
“I-I am Moritz Bartenberg. My foolish younger brother must have been quite rude to you all this time. He’s such an arrogant fellow, it’s practically a given. As his older brother, I apologize on his behalf… O beautiful King.”
Ugh.
Richard covered his mouth. The lowered voice was unbearable to hear. People did say that love blooms even on the battlefield.
Pfft.
Alisa laughed at Moritz’s sudden courtship.
“If it weren’t for the war, I would have held a banquet. It’s a shame.”
“Master does have a bit of a fondness for banquets.”
“When something good happens, it is only right to hold a banquet and enjoy the joy. That is how you enjoy life.”
Richard and Alisa talked calmly, but the atmosphere of Steel Thorn Castle was not in a good state.
Since a massive army that could not possibly be stopped by a single castle was flocking toward them, it wasn’t unreasonable for the wizards to be frightened.
Leading up to today, the warning sound of the Boundary Spell had rung three times. The first cry meant the enemy had crossed the border.
The second cry meant the enemy had drawn quite close. The third meant the enemy was right upon them.
“Ha, talk about timing… A battle as soon as we arrive?”
“It seems like a fight breaks out everywhere the Saint goes.”
The companions who heard Richard’s explanation wore exhausted expressions. And starting from that dawn, a thumping sound could be faintly heard from afar.
Tweet!
The Crying Bird flew over the castle, announcing the arrival of the enemy.
The eyes of the Magic Armor Soldiers, who had been deployed in advance, flashed brightly, and the wizards, who had practically flown up the stairs of the castle walls, swallowed hard.
Thump. Thud.
Beyond the hill sloping below the castle walls, black things were swarming. Because the Demonic Energy even obscured the moonlight, they couldn’t even properly see the enemy’s appearance.
They couldn’t distinguish if the darkness before their eyes was the gloom of night or the black color of Demonic Energy.
Naturally, an invisible opponent was more terrifying. The castle’s wizards trembled. However, the case was different for Alisa and Richard.
“As expected, it is the army led by Kaval. I see the banners of the Kingdom of Tahar and the Kingdom of Typhon as well. On top of that, they’ve also been stained black.”
“The troops of the Duchy of Jan must have been added to the 2nd Prince’s army.”
“First, let us finish this battle.”
Waaaaah—!
At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted from the enemy. That roar, which rode up the steep hill, hammered against the castle walls.
“He, heek!”
Someone gasped. It felt as if they were facing Beasts rather than humans. Steel Thorn Castle lost its nerve before the fight could even begin.
Then, a song flowed over the castle walls.
[In the dark of midnight]
[He shall deliver the good news through a lamp]
[Soon the dawn of prophecy shall break]
Alisa was the first to react. Shuddering, she turned around. She saw dozens of Elves with their hoods pulled deep, and three knights from the Northern Continent with their hands clasped together.
And Richard stood in front of them.
[The darkness harbors fear]
[The sheep harbor belief]
[How could they not endure this short night?]
Whether it was the darkness of the night or the pitch-black color of Demonic Energy, the holy tone of the song pushed back the gloom.
The wizards, who had been overwhelmed, looked toward Richard. A brilliant dignity was radiating from him.
Clang—
As eight chains embroidered the air, curved tree trunks surged from the ground. As the Four Stars lit up the night sky, light erupted from the bodies of the knights.
[Simply believe]
[Now it is time for the dawn to break]
Hummm, vreeee—
The four rings now rotated simultaneously. That sound awakened the spirits of the wizards. At the sight of the auspiciously glowing rings, it felt as if even their own rings were vibrating.
Roooar—!
The enemy, who hated the light, roared. But that roar could no longer reach the castle walls.
“…It truly is magnificent. The scene allows me to picture exactly how you all have fought until now.”
Alisa breathed out a quiet exclamation. The sight of them greeting the battle while singing a Holy Song clearly showed how many dark enemies they had faced.
“The real ones were left in the Northern Continent. You can look forward to it, Master. Later, the opportunity for them and Laplace to be together will come.”
Anticipation lingered in Richard’s voice as he joked. It would be truly reliable when the Temple Knights of Riot Castle and Laplace stood together.
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