The day broke.
High atop the wooden castle, which had finally been reborn as a magnificent fortress, Alisa raised her hand.
*Bho-ooo—!*
*Boom—thump—*
Along with the sound of the horn announcing the attack, the majestic sound of drumbeats echoed at regular intervals.
“Break the barrier!”
At the commander’s shout, the Wizards raised their spirit staffs.
Spells of lightning, wind, and flames struck the barrier surrounding the Capital.
*Woong—* Ripples formed on the surface of the translucent barrier.
It was as if a single Nail Leaf had fallen onto a calm lake; there was only a momentary shimmer. It was a hollow sight, considering that tens of thousands of spells had exploded at once.
“Markus’s Barrier has been notorious since long ago,” Gide said softly.
He watched the magical explosions illuminating the barrier with eyes that had sunk low.
“Its ability to block external impact is far superior to even a Dragon’s. I heard that when Bartenberg fought a battle against them, that barrier was the biggest headache.”
“Gide,” I called out to him.
The gaze of the veteran of a hundred battles, which held a mixture of years and wisdom, turned toward me.
Come to think of it, Gide was the first person I saw after becoming Richard. He was the only man in Bartenberg who cherished Richard. Even now, the affection I had felt so intensely since that first meeting remained vivid.
“Are you scared? Of fighting Markus?”
“Ha, how could that be?”
Gide shook his head as if the suggestion were absurd. Indeed, he was not the type to be easily frightened. That was likely why he had thought to pluck out a Dragon’s Heart for Richard’s sake.
“Then you’ll fight well even without me.”
“Young Master.”
Did he notice the unusual atmosphere? For the first time in a while, the title ‘Young Master’ flowed from Gide’s mouth.
‘No matter how solid that barrier is, it will break eventually.’
Look. The place where Allen’s Sacred Fire clung was already developing fine cracks.
*Boom—!*
The Wizards began a concentrated bombardment toward the cracks. Gradually, the barrier’s screams grew louder.
The Knights steadied their breathing and drew their spears and swords, burning with the will to fight against the Undead that would pour out from beyond the barrier.
But I was different. My fighting spirit was directed solely toward the Grand Army Commanders.
I had already consumed too much time on the way here. There was no more time to spare.
“Watch over Aaron, Moritz, and the Knights well. If you look away, they’ll become Undead before they even know it.”
“…Are you planning to face the Grand Army Commanders alone?” Gide asked.
I turned my head to avoid his glaring eyes.
“I can’t wait until all of Markus and the corpses are cleared. The opening of the Rift has reached a point where it’s unavoidable. To prevent the worst-case scenario, I have to break in and buy time. So, finish the battle as quickly as possible.”
I added, “I’m telling you in advance, but I don’t have the slightest intention of dying. I don’t risk my life on the impossible. It’ll just be a little exhausting.”
Arahel and Mamon. The Demonic Energy of the two, which had expanded to its limit, pricked my skin like awls.
But what was even sharper was Gide’s gaze.
“Deciding such a thing without a single word of consultation… you are disqualified as a lord. You told me to serve you as a new lord, yet you’re acting as recklessly as you did in the past.”
His voice was colder than ever. With all his pent-up dissatisfaction exploding at once, Gide could not control his words.
For some reason, that made me laugh.
“I know. That’s why I’m telling you first. When a rogue acts like a rogue, you were always the one who took the rogue’s side. I’m counting on you this time too. Lead the Knights so they don’t get shaken up.”
After fuming for a long while, he let out a deep sigh. It was the sigh of a man who knew very well that I had no intention of overturning my decision.
“…”
*Crash—!*
The barrier, which had been absorbing impact like a rippling liquid, shattered into pieces like glass as it broke.
“Waaaaah!”
As the barrier of Markus was shattered, morale soared. The Wizards took advantage of the momentum to fiercely bombard the bone wall surrounding the Capital.
*Boom! Boom!*
The Knights beat their breastplates with their iron-gauntleted fists. With their firm mouths, they sang a Sacred Song. As the white bones cracked, their fighting spirit heightened.
“Master, please do not hesitate. Bafel Marx lost this castle long ago.”
I approached Alisa, who was standing quietly, and spoke.
“Do you think I would hesitate when facing an enemy?”
“I said it just in case. After all, there are so many troops following you, Master.”
“That is a ridiculous thing to say.”
Her eyes, which held a Magic Array, captured me.
“And what about you? Are you not planning to charge into the enemy camp alone, leaving behind the Knights who follow you?”
“Did you hear that?”
“Your expression has been unusual since yesterday, so I had my suspicions. Well, the others probably didn’t hear it.”
To think she heard my conversation with Gide. It seemed her ears were as sharp as any knight’s. It was just as well, as I had been about to tell her anyway.
“Indeed. Is it truly so urgent that you must buy time?”
I did not answer. I simply turned my head and looked at the castle in the Capital. Massive Demonic Energy was gathering and distorting the area around the castle.
A Rift prepared by two Grand Army Commanders. It wouldn’t be strange if the sky tore open at any moment. If that opened in this situation, there would really be no answer.
“Haaa…”
Alisa let out a sigh, having realized my intention. At that moment, the bone wall finally crumbled.
*Kree-eee-eck—!*
Like beasts escaping from a cage, the corpses rushed out through the mounds of collapsed bones.
“It has begun.”
The Magic Armor Soldiers and Knights charged as if they had been waiting.
*Clang—!*
The corpses were knocked back by the violent charge.
“Leave the Undead to the Knights!”
“Cease fire! All Wizards, prepare for the appearance of the Liches!”
The shouts of the commanders echoed loudly. Alisa, who had been observing the battlefield from the highest point of the wooden castle, eventually raised her spirit staff.
The Eye of Laplace stared intently at one spot.
“It seems you really have lost this castle. How dare you use invisibility magic in front of me?”
“Dispel.”
With that low murmur, the forms of the Liches were revealed. They were lined up atop the bone mounds as if they had been there from the start.
“Prioritize the Liches!”
“Protect the Knights from their attacks!”
The commanders’ voices burst out once more. After biting her lip for a brief moment, Alisa also began to join the bombardment.
I watched the scene before looking slightly upward.
[EYE OF LAPLACE – ACTIVATE ]
I saw what had been invisible. Above the heads of the Liches, who could no longer be distinguished from one another, was a single large eyeball.
It was a Fragment of the Demon King, even larger than the one held by Caron or the Second Prince.
—Soon. Very soon.
—Ooh… Uh-huh…
The bloodshot eyeball spoke in a voice full of excitement. To my ears, it was merely hideous.
‘…’
Richard climbed onto the Star. As he prepared to fly into the air immediately, Adele approached him.
“I knew you’d be like this, Dad.”
She hesitated for a long time with her fists clenched tightly, then soon held them out to him. It was the Fruit of the World Tree, a supreme treasure that ripened only once a year.
Richard accepted it.
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t die!”
Adele saw Richard off with a face full of worry.
The Star flew through the air. The Wizards were the first to notice who was riding upon it.
“…The Saint?”
Richard was flying toward the enemy camp alone. Although the Wizards let out confused voices, they did not take their eyes off the Liches.
‘If it’s him, he must have a plan.’
Thinking so, they poured out their magic with all their might. However, it was different for the Knights who were struggling with the Undead.
“Sa-Saint!”
The men, drenched in dead blood, wore expressions of disbelief. When their eyes met Richard’s, their faces turned pale.
Whenever the Saint wore such an apologetic look, it invariably meant he was about to do something reckless.
“I-I’ll go too! I’m coming with you, Saint!”
“Hey! Where do you think you’re going alone!”
Aaron and Moritz looked up and roared at the top of their lungs. They ran, slashing through all the corpses blocking their path.
However, the distance between them and Richard, who was flying through the air, only grew wider.
“Stop, Young Lord Moritz. Aaron, you too.”
Gide blocked the two men who had broken rank. At his voice, which was infused with Mana, the Knights’ gazes gathered.
“The Saint said he would block the Grand Army Commanders alone… We must kill these damn piles of corpses and those annoying Liches. If we don’t finish them off as quickly as possible, the Saint will be in that much more danger.”
Gide recited Richard’s message. Instead of wasting time on useless resentment, cutting down even one more corpse would increase the Saint’s survival rate.
From that moment, the aura of the Knights transformed. With their mouths tightly shut, they decapitated the corpses with all their might.
“Damn bastard! That guy who’s so eager to die!”
Only Moritz could not stop a shout from bursting out, as bad memories had resurfaced.
‘…’
Ah. My back feels prickly.
But I did not look back. Riding the Star, I headed straight for the Fragment of the Demon King.
“Eat this.”
The black blade of Bad Bond flashed.
*Crunch.*
The sword blade pierced right into the center of the ominous eyeball.
—Father… it is already too late.
—You will not be able to stop it.
The eyeball poured out words that weren’t even worth responding to. Soon, the Giant within Bad Bond absorbed the thing. This would make it much easier for the army to fight the battle.
Magic from the Liches rained down toward me. Fearing I would be shot down if I lingered, I quickly crossed the bone mounds and entered the Capital.
Ruined buildings were everywhere. In the middle of the half-destroyed city stood a towering bone castle. From its peak, Demonic Energy that sent chills down my spine overflowed.
[ EXPLODING STAR – ACTIVATE ]
*Clang—!*
Passing through the scattering shards of bone, I finally stepped down from the Star. There were familiar faces there.
『 Ka-ha, ka-ha-ha-ha-ha—! 』
Arahel’s eyes widened as she burst into mad laughter. I had no idea what she found so funny.
『 Just what were you thinking, coming here alone… 』
The little boy with black hair only tilted his head, resting his chin in his hand.
Arahel and Mamon. Looking at them, I drew up my Divine Power.
“I came to buy time. I’ll play with you for a bit.”
So. Get your hands off that Rift, which I can’t stand the sight of.
As I said that, a smile spread across the boy’s face as well.
『 This is a foul. 』
『 We can’t possibly refuse this, can we? 』
It was a smile that curled up to their ears, sending a chill down my spine.
『 A chance to play with Father just by ourselves…! 』
I should have known. I took a breath full of tension.