The Beginning of the Final Battle
The fortress is located west of the Emil Kingdom, near the border with the neighboring country. It was there that the Luine Kingdom and the Izrim Empire clashed once again. The Izrim Empire, which had been standing by and watching as the Luine Kingdom took over the Emil fortress, finally made its move.
Hiding in the occupied fortress were the Black Iron Knights of the Luine Kingdom. The Black Iron Knights, who had once been prisoners of war, were given a chance to redeem themselves. Against the Izrim Empire Army, the forces of the Emil Kingdom were the first to take the lead. It may be natural to say that they were going to retake their own fortress, but it was clear that they would have to make a lot of sacrifices. There is no sense of pride in the Emil Kingdom. They even resent the fact that they were forced to take on the toughest role.
However, once in the position of having deceived the Luine Kingdom, they cannot secede from the Izrim Empire. They have no choice but to fight with a willingness to sacrifice.
And that sacrifice will be beyond imagination not only for the Emil Kingdom but also for the Luine Kingdom.
"Let go! Keep the enemy away!"
The Emil Kingdom's army is attacking the fortress with such intensity that even the word [onslaught] isn't enough. The situation is that the Luine Kingdom army is desperately holding back its momentum.
"What's with the morale of the Emil Kingdom army?"
"Is it something that can be described by the word morale?"
"...That's right"
The Emil Kingdom Army is launching an assault like no other. Since it was originally their own fortress, they were aiming at a weak point in the defense, but the Luine Kingdom Army had already grasped the weak point of the fortress and had fortified the defense properly. It was not possible to break through the defenses by force alone. That should have been clear to them as soon as the battle began.
However, the tactics of the Emil kingdom have not changed. Not that it has not changed, but rather it does not exist. They are continuing to assault the enemy, even though there are many casualties.
"It would be nice if we could wear down the enemy like this."
A situation where enemy casualties increase is not a bad thing. But the momentum of the Emil Kingdom Army is such that they cannot honestly rejoice in it. It is as if they are fighting against mad warriors who do not fear death, and they even feel fear.
"Magic! Anti-magic defense!"
Magic was unleashed not from the Emil Kingdom army, but from the Fasimir Kingdom army that was positioned in the rear. Magic that one can tell is quite powerful just by looking at it. The Luine Kingdom Army determined that it was not the Fasimir Kingdom Army, but the main body of the Izrim Empire Army, probably the magic of the former heroes.
Defensive magic by mage units was deployed in front of the fortress. A dazzling light spreads across the sky. The light was caused by a magic collision.
"Second attack! Anti-magic defense! Hurry up!"
However, the magic attacks by the Izrim Empire Army did not end there. A second shot came towards the fortress.
"As I thought, it's the former heroes."
The magic that crushed the defensive magic deployed by several mages on the Luine Kingdom side with a single blow. The second blow was to the fortress. The only people who could use such magic would be the former heroes. The Luine Kingdom is well aware of the magic power of the Emil and Fasimir Kingdoms.
Light still covers the sky.
"......Here we go again."
"Front line! Prepare for the magic attacks!"
The anti-magic defense will not be ready in time. Hutton, the commander of the Black Iron Knights, decided so and gave instructions to the front line. The instructions were simply to withstand the magic attack. They can't do without sacrifice.
The impact shakes the fortress's walls. The anti-magic defenses on the walls themselves functioned, and the fortress did not collapse. It did not, however.
"Prevent the invasion! Form up!"
Part of the wall collapsed, and the Emil Kingdom Army invaded from there. The invasion was also a daredevil one. Even if the front falls, then the one after that, and the one after that, over the dead bodies of their allies, they will attack the army of the Luine Kingdom.
"......Against the army of the Emil Kingdom."
Allied knights and soldiers are swallowed by the army of the Emil Kingdom. It wasn't supposed to be like this. The quality of knights and soldiers is different between the Luine Kingdom army and the Emil Kingdom army. If they collided head-on, there should be a difference that wouldn't be surprising if the Luine Kingdom won an overwhelming victory.
"We're winning, right? For every one sacrifice on our side, the enemy's might be three, four, maybe more."
"...A sacrifice is a sacrifice"
Baat of the vampire race interrupted. Baat's calm words stimulate the feelings of Commander Hutton. He takes them as the words of an outsider who does not care about the sacrifices of his allies.
"I understand. And I know that when fear comes to rule their hearts and minds, that number can be reversed."
"...Our morale is high"
"No matter how high your morale is, if their allies are killed one after another, their feelings will be crushed. On the other hand, the enemy's morale will not change no matter how many allies die."
"What makes you say that? Why does the enemy's morale stay so high?"
Baat asserts, [The morale of the enemy does not change]. He didn't like it, but Commander Hutton did not take this as baseless nonsense. A man who disregards the opinions of others because of his feelings cannot be entrusted with the leadership of the Luine Kingdom Army.
"Because they are enchanted."
"Enchanted?"
"I believe they are under magic that affects their mind. I myself cannot believe it when I say this. We, the Vampires, have the power of mental effects, but we can't make thousands of people go mad at once."
The same magic is not available to Baat, nor to the other Vampires. They don't know what kind of magic it is. But they do know that the people in the Emil Kingdom Army are affected mentally.
"...No way... the former hero..."
Even Hutton, the Commander of the Black Iron Knights, doesn't know about such magic. A magic that neither the demons nor himself know. If one can use such a thing, he can only think of the former hero.
"A weak army turns into a strong army, a mad army is correct? Anyway, it's a nasty magic...... If it can make even armies that haven't entered the war yet go crazy...... we won't last long here, will we?"
"...Send a messenger. Tell His Majesty this information immediately!"
An enemy army that does not fear death. It is demonstrated in the field. Commander Hutton of the Black Iron Knights thought this way. Then, the Luine Kingdom Army would have to consider a change in tactics. The Luine Kingdom Army does not intend to fight a decisive battle in this fortress. Against the Izrim Empire Army with its powerful magic forces, they should not stay in one place and fight, no matter how many defensive walls they have. The battle at this fortress is an outpost battle to confirm this. The policy of the royal army of Luine is to settle the battle in the field, where they can deploy their forces in a wide area.
"...It looks like we're done here. The back line has moved."
The Fasimir Kingdom Army, which had been in the rear, began to advance. They are running as fast as they can, ignoring the formation. The fact that they are losing control as an army is a sign that they are under magic, Baat thought.
"......Retreat the front line. Retreat! Deploy the rear unit. Begin the retreat!"
"It doesn't look like it's going to be that easy, but... we'll join that unit."
"Are you sure?"
The rear unit for making allies retreat is a unit that is prepared to make sacrifices. It is a death squad with the risk of being wiped out. Baat said he would join them. For Hutton, the Commander of the Black Iron Knights, this is a surprising statement.
"We are allies. As allies, we will do our duty."
In order to protect their pride as demons, Baat has decided to fight together with the Luine Kingdom. Not only Baat, but all of the demons who have been working with him feel the same way. To not be ashamed of themselves the next time they appear in front of Ren. To qualify to go forward.
◆◆◆
Rin and the demons who work with her live in the [Forest of Confusion], or more precisely, in the mountains that separate the forest from the land where the humans live. There are no well-maintained roads, and no humans would ever set foot in this place. The space that was initially only slightly open has been expanded, buildings have been added, and it has now reached a scale where it can be called a town. It is a strange sight to see a town suddenly appear in the middle of a roadless mountain, but it is a comfortable place for the demons who live there. Life has settled down to such an extent that it seems so.
However, an event occurred that disturbed this lifestyle. An unwanted visitor appeared. The visitor was one of the demons who had been working with Baat. He arrived here with a serious injury.
"...As Mila-sama thinks, it seems that the opponent was a hero."
The demon brought the information that there was a terribly strong warrior in the Izrim Empire. He is so strong that he can overwhelm even multiple demons. The unit of the demons that were gathering information for the Luine Kingdom was destroyed by this person. The demons, who had managed to survive the unexpected strength of their opponent, had come here because they felt threatened by the battle ahead.
"Is it Yuya Kisaragi?"
If there were people that strong, only heroes could be considered. The heroes that Rin knew, except for Ren, must not have been as powerful as she had heard about, but their outward characteristics matched.
"Mila-sama... everyone's feelings are inclined to participate in the war."
The demons living here have blood relations with those who are fighting together with the Luine Kingdom. Although they have parted with them, they have not lost their feelings as a family. Originally, the demons were a race that values blood ties.
"There will be a lot of sacrifices. Is that okay?"
Rin does not have a high opinion of their own strength. They have trained reasonably well, but from her point of view, it is still not enough. The comparison is with Ren. She can't be satisfied.
"If we hesitate, the casualties of our companions will increase."
"Companions, huh..."
"Our blood families are at stake."
The demons do not have the nature to be afraid of sacrifices in battle. That is the weakness of the demons. Rin intends to have taught them that they need to recognize themselves as weak and make efforts to become stronger, but this idea does not apply in this regard. Rin can't tell them to abandon those they recognize as their companions.
"...Understood. Let's head to the battlefield."
"Rin-san!?"
Satoko was surprised at Rin's decision.
"Outsiders should keep their mouths shut."
A demon threw cold words at Satoko. She is not a participant in this meeting. She has no right to be. She is only here because she lives with Rin in the building where Rin lives. She certainly has no right to speak.
"If you want to fight, you can fight on your own."
But Satoko refuses to shut up. Although she is an outsider to the fight, she is not convinced by Rin's decision on other matters.
"What?"
"Rin-san created this place to keep you alive. If you wish to die instead of live, then you can leave on your own. Don't bring Rin-san into this."
"...Mila-sama... is our king."
They have no intention of accepting Satoko's complaints. Satoko is a former hero who is hateful to them. However, when she says, [Don't get Rin involved], their hearts are shaken. The demons fighting against the Izrim Empire are the enemy that killed the Vampires, including Rin's father. They want Rin to join the war in order to help that enemy.
"You guys made her the king without permission, right?"
"Mila-sama was originally from the royal family!"
Rin is a member of the Vampire royal family. This is true. But the demons here aren't just vampires.
"She has no intention of doing so!"
"You don't have the right to say that! Shut up! No, get out of here right now!"
In Rin's heart, the time spent together has increased, and the surroundings have come to understand. When Satoko pointed out the truth, the other person could only respond by yelling.
"Enough. I have decided to participate."
"Rin-san..."
"I have a responsibility to lead everyone here. I have a responsibility to stay with them until the end."
It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be this way. It's not what she was looking for. However, as her demon comrades increased in number and she was revered as king, the distance between her and Ren grew further and further. She began to think that the time would never come for her to return to Ren's side. She began to think like this.
"Then... at least contact Ren."
"…………"
Anguish appeared on Rin's expression. When Ren's name is mentioned, regrets inevitably spread in her heart.
"If it's for Rin-san, I'm sure Ren will do something. He'll help Rin-san."
If it was the previous Satoko, she wouldn't have thought of it like this. She didn't trust Ren. However, once the various feelings she had built up in herself were resolved, her view of Ren changed. Ren seems sincere to Rin. Just as he was to Kazuki.
"...This battle has nothing to do with Ren-sama."
"Rin-san!?"
"I can't let you get in our way!"
She doesn't want to talk about Ren anymore. She might not be able to push her true feelings aside and act for her comrades. Rin got up from her seat and walked straight out of the room.
"...Where's Ren?"
"What would you do if you knew that?"
"If these guys want to get in the way of the two of you's future, I'll get in your way. I'll definitely bring Ren with me."
She doesn't want her to be like her. She was sure that the two of them, unlike Jin and herself, really had feelings for each other. It's too frustrating for the two of them to end without being united.
"...With you."
There's no way she can bring Ren with her. Ren is a terrifying and great existence to the demons. Despite their resentment, the demons recognize Ren's power in bringing the Nord together.
"Then, tell me! Whether it's a demon, a king, a hero, or whatever! People have the right to be happy! Otherwise...... we wouldn't be able to live in this world!"
For Satoko, things have been hard ever since she came to this world. Even though there is temporary happiness, the suffering is greater than those memories. Why did they come to this world? Why did they have to come here? It seems like a punishment. Still, Satoko has no choice but to live in this world. For the sake of the light she has finally obtained and for the sake of her unborn child, she must survive in this world.
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