The preparations for war proceeded swiftly.
At the summons of the new Emperor Sylvia Verden, the nobles eagerly promised to support with knights and troops.
They felt the need to demonstrate their strength and loyalty.
‘Was this not an era of great change?’
They could fall in an instant, but they could also rise just as quickly.
Above all, this was a war waged immediately after the new emperor’s ascension.
It would receive thorough preparation and great attention, and those who distinguished themselves would surely be richly rewarded.
Among them, some houses even promised that their heads would personally serve as commanders.
The rumor had spread.
The Head of Black Fang, the Leader of the Black Mist Atawolf, had been grievously wounded by the Sword Saint during the last raid.
He had fled after suffering a severe defeat at the hands of the new Guardian Knight and the Sword Saint working together.
Now, word had it that both the Guardian Knight and the Sword Saint would participate in this expedition.
Therefore, within a few weeks, four legion-level forces had gathered.
A strength beyond expectation.
Most likely, they all shared similar thoughts.
This was an expedition with a high chance of victory.
A chance to make a mark before the emperor.
The Empire had set its mind to this—no matter how powerful Black Fang was, there was little they could do. So vast a force was gathering.
They only needed to put in a little effort to gain the title of participating in the Expeditionary Force to Eradicate Evil.
Of course, the leadership’s thoughts were very different.
After a grand send-off ceremony, the army marched out.
***
Black Fang had suddenly raided the Academy and slaughtered countless people.
And the legions had marched out to bring down Black Fang.
The Expeditionary Force to Eradicate Evil.
That was how history would record it.
So, whether knights or soldiers, all walked forward with their chests puffed out proudly.
They marched with flags held high and blew their horns boldly.
In truth, this was a showy parade, and the army actually assembled on the outskirts of the capital.
The Empire’s army saw no need to strain itself by marching from the capital to the south.
There was the presence of a large-scale teleportation user—Eos.
Although there was a limit to how many he could transport at once, and it took days, it still saved an incomparably large amount of time and resources.
The 1st Legion’s vanguard unit moved first to the designated southern location.
The next day followed the army’s leadership: Hio, the Sword Saint, and the commanders.
Four legions in total, led by four commanders.
At the helm, the overall commander was the Roberen Duke.
The head of a historic ducal family and a central figure of power in the Empire, the Roberen Duke had remained neutral during the imperial succession struggle but had become a loyal subject of Sylvia, appointed as the expedition’s overall commander.
He wasn’t chosen merely for his high rank.
His extensive war experience and his previous role as security chief under the late emperor also counted.
A battle-hardened veteran, a noble above nobles, he was the supreme commander of this expedition.
Inside the command post’s barracks.
Outside, the noise of soldiers building encampments and commanders shouting orders created a chaotic atmosphere.
Inside, however, it was unusually quiet.
Three people were present.
Hio, the Sword Saint Vitalianus, and the Roberen Duke sitting opposite Hio.
White-haired and stern-faced, his long white beard hung beneath his chin.
His mouth, seemingly stubborn just by sight, slowly opened.
His sharp eyes fixed squarely on Hio.
“I love you.”
At that, Hio’s expression twisted and he let out a sigh.
“Haaah…”
“I love you! Seeing you here just makes me feel that way even more.”
“How did you manage to make even the Roberen Duke say something like that?”
Occupying the body of the old Roberen Duke was an Airlights.
Sword Saint Vitalianus, watching carefully, drew his sword and aimed at the neck of the Airlights inhabiting the duke’s body.
“Who is this that’s taken over the duke’s body?”
The duke—or rather, the Airlights—smiled at Hio, unbothered by the blade against its throat.
“It’s an Airlights. One that infiltrated Black Fang. For now… you can trust it.”
For the moment, the Airlights was more useful than the Roberen Duke himself.
This war was no ordinary one—different in location and tactics.
Ultimately, it was a fight over whether they could defeat Atawolf or not.
At Hio’s words, Vitalianus sheathed his sword, and Hio looked the Airlights in the eyes.
“This isn’t the first time you’ve appeared suddenly like this.”
“First, tell me your ability clearly, Airlights. How did you manage to reach the Roberen Duke?”
The Roberen Duke was a key noble, with top-tier prestige, rank, and official position.
Naturally, he was an important figure within the palace, and as such, one of the first to have his soul modified by Sylvia.
‘How could an Airlights reach even such a highly guarded person?’
Without hesitation, the Airlights answered.
“My ability is like a highly contagious virus. Once infected, it spreads rapidly. Usually, there’s no sign of contamination. Then, when the opportunity comes, it spreads again… something like that. How’s that for charm?”
The Airlights’ skill was Charm.
As long as it made eye contact with a target, it could activate at any time.
If the target was of the opposite sex, the success rate rose drastically.
Without a high-level mental defense, one was defenseless against it.
Moreover, a charmed person’s body could be used to charm others—like an infectious disease.
“…What’s the weakness?”
“The charmed target can’t use their abilities properly, and my own power is weak. Just stats and some minor skills.”
Again, it answered without hesitation.
‘Who would reveal their skill and weaknesses so openly?’
“The more you say, the more suspicious I get.”
Despite the suspicion, the Airlights rested its chin on the desk and grinned.
“Lovers usually share everything like this, didn’t you know?”
“…Enough. Anything else to say?”
“Lots. So many things.”
The Airlights leaned closer to Hio.
“The forces gathered under Black Fang’s banner number just over four thousand. They’ve pulled in existing subordinate groups as well as gangs and criminal organizations from the west and south. Even the partially completed Ogres will be deployed.”
Though the strength of Black Fang conveyed through the Airlights was greater than expected, it was still within a manageable range.
Even if there were Ogres who turned into monsters instantly, this side was the Empire’s elite legions—overwhelming in quantity and quality.
“The parasites clinging to Black Fang won’t be joining.”
Those parasites were Bingijas—infamous souls who leech off Black Fang.
The Airlights whispered teasingly into Hio’s ear, aware of Vitalianus nearby.
“I spread a rumor that Jijoncheonma, Hio Pavlenko, came to deal with Atawolf. If they value their lives, they won’t side with Black Fang.”
***
After whispering, the Airlights pulled back and smiled again.
“How about that? Useful, right? Lovely, too?”
Yet Hio’s expression didn’t change at all.
The most important issue remained.
“And getting Atawolf out of Ba’al Forest?”
The dense fog surrounding Ba’al Forest.
The muddy swampland.
This fog disrupted friend-or-foe identification, and diminished direction sense and cognitive ability.
The deeper one went, the more intense the fog, causing mental confusion and complete loss of direction.
The farther into the center, the more one would lose their way.
Once inside, differences in strength became meaningless.
That fog was even infused with Atawolf’s power, making outside attacks ineffective—an impregnable fortress.
A natural fortress made absolute by Atawolf’s power and the Artifact.
This was why Black Fang had been struck but never fully wiped out.
So luring Atawolf out of Ba’al Forest was the best strategy… but the Airlights shook its head slightly.
“It failed. Sorry.”
“I thought so.”
Hio expected it wouldn’t be easy.
His hopes had been pinned on the Airlights’ ability, but it hadn’t worked on Atawolf.
“Still, there is a second option: removing the fog in Ba’al Forest.”
As if disappointed, the Airlights hurriedly continued.
“All you have to do is get me to the old castle in the center of Ba’al Forest, right? You know the location of the Artifact.”
In the heart of the vast Ba’al Forest stood an old castle where Atawolf resided.
There was an Artifact there.
It surrounded the entire forest with fog and caused all kinds of disruptive effects.
Empowered by Atawolf, the Artifact made these effects even stronger.
And in the game, the one who broke it and killed Atawolf directly was none other than Jijoncheonma.
The Airlights spoke because it knew this.
“I’ll take you there. You can remove the fog, and then the Empire’s forces can quickly wipe out Black Fang. A wounded, isolated Atawolf—then you and the Sword Saint can team up and finish him off quickly. How’s that?”
The Airlights gestured animatedly as it explained.
“You know it’s not easy, right? Atawolf isn’t an idiot who’ll just watch me go to the center.”
“Of course. We’ll have to make a show. The Empire’s forces will enter Ba’al Forest as planned. Atawolf will be actively resisting from the entrance. He wants to weaken the Sword Saint’s power as much as possible inside his territory.”
“So?”
“When Atawolf comes out to harass the Sword Saint directly, I’ll go with you.”
“You’re coming yourself? In your real body?”
The Airlights nodded with a playful smile.
“Yeah. I’ll go myself.”
The Airlights’ power became more terrifying the more it concealed its true location.
It had admitted its true power was insignificant.
“Why?”
Hio’s question was reasonable.
The Airlights’ smile grew wider.
“To meet you, Hio.”
Hio’s brows furrowed, having roughly guessed the meaning.
“…You mean you’ll use your power on me directly?”
“Yeah. We have to trick Atawolf.”
The Airlights smiled brightly, cradling its cheeks as if happy just imagining it.
The faint crimson light around it grew stronger.
“It means you’ll have no choice but to fall under my charm, Hio Pavlenko.”
They’d have to go to the center of Ba’al Forest with Hio under the influence of the Airlights’ power.
That way, they could avoid Atawolf’s suspicion and destroy the Artifact maintaining the fog.
“Do you think Atawolf will let that happen? If he knows I’m charmed, he’d kill me instantly.”
“Atawolf’s cornered enough that he needs my ability. For the future, even. He won’t reject me. And I only asked for one thing—he’ll definitely agree to it.”
“One thing?”
“Yeah. Curious? Want me to tell you?”
“…No, I think I already know.”
Leaning so close he was nearly lying on the desk, the Airlights looked up at Hio.
“My condition was to spare only Hio Pavlenko and hand me over. That’s all.”
Its cheeks were flushed bright red.
***
In five days, all the legions completed their movement.
It had taken just five days from the Empire’s capital, Imenia, to the southern Petrona region.
The soldiers were almost unwearied, and morale was high.
Most were already confident of victory.
They did not know the terror of Ba’al Forest.
Nor did they understand why Black Fang had been a symbol of fear for decades, or its true power.
“Advance!”
At the command, horns and drums sounded, banners were raised, and the procession began to move forward.
Spreading out gradually, they marched as if to encircle the vast Ba’al Forest.
Watching from horseback were Sword Saint Vitalianus, Royal Knights Damon and Melissa, and the mage Hio Pavlenko.
“Right. If you say so, I’ll trust you.”
They had decided to follow the Airlights’ plan.
The risk was significant, indeed.
But the potential rewards outweighed the danger.
Without this plan, they would have to slowly and painstakingly push through Ba’al Forest step by step, with unknown casualties and losses.
They had no idea how many would die in that process.
“Let’s do it.”
Even when inside Black Fang’s territory, as long as they kept their wits about them, they would survive.
It was that simple.
If only they could remove that lingering fog, victory would be easy.
If not, it would be a costly one.
The fog forest that had been visible in the distance now loomed right before them.