Chapter 144

The situation on the battlefield had improved slightly since I last saw it.

Perhaps they had succeeded in their extermination mission, as one Grave Devourer lay slumped, its head and limbs torn to pieces, while five experts were literally dismantling the remaining one.

The monster thrashed around violently, but its resistance was meaningless.

Each expert clung to a part of its body—head, arms, and legs—grinding its bones like a blender.

Every time a paladin swung their arm, a bolt of lightning struck like a spear, and a middle-aged man in an Imperial Knight Order uniform cleaved through the monster’s bones with his halberd.

A magician’s swirling flames wrapped around the monster’s arm, melting it away.

Nigel was steadily severing the monster’s legs, repeatedly thrusting and pulling out his spear like a sewing machine.

Though his speed was a bit slower compared to the other experts.

Admittedly, just thrusting would be tricky against such a large monster.

Nigel’s fighting style seemed specialized for one-on-one combat.

The man wielding dual swords was particularly impressive.

Standing atop the Grave Devourer’s massive skull, he let out a roar and swung his arms wildly.

The endless barrage of slashes sent bone fragments flying like a fountain.

I’d heard dual swords were a symbol of defeat, but he sure was fighting well.

“That side will be over soon… If you want to help, take care of the collapsed wall. If it’s like yesterday, they’ll retreat soon.”

“I heard from the prince, but are they really retreating? Why would creatures that don’t tire do that?”

“Perhaps they’re waiting for the Whisperer to bring reinforcements.”

That could be it.

With all the usable monsters already exterminated, it’d just be a meaningless war of attrition from their perspective.

After parting ways with Marquis Ludwig, I headed toward the rocky hill.

Priests I met along the way blessed me once more.

“Don’t fall back! They won’t last much longer before fleeing!”

As I approached the collapsed wall, Prince Leopold’s shouts gradually became audible.

An injured man who couldn’t even swing his sword properly was holding his ground at the center of the defensive line.

Though it was probably thanks to the escort knights guarding him, not his own ability.

Where’s Asha?

The half-human clad in heavy armor was nowhere to be seen on the front lines.

I thought she’d be holding her ground here since she couldn’t fly anymore.

“Knights! This way…!”

“Prince Leopold.”

“Ah, the princess. Shouldn’t you be resting a bit more?”

Leopold, who had been shouting at the top of his lungs, turned his head toward me and scanned me up and down.

All my minor wounds had healed, and my left arm, which had been pierced by a sword, was fine now, but I was still covered in blood… To others, I probably looked like a severely injured person.

“I’m fine. More importantly, do you know where Asha went? She’s not here.”

“Ah, Lady Asha? After asking the priests for blessings, she headed to the top of the wall. The blessings of the Elpinel Church are less effective on non-humans, but with two priests pouring their holy power into her, they managed to make it work.”

The top of the wall? That doesn’t mean she’s going to use a lance, does it…?

“Himmell’s technology is the beeeest on the surface! Taste the power of gunpowder!”

Just then, Asha’s voice echoed like a roar from high above.

And then.

– Ratatatatatat!

A rain of bullets poured down, accompanied by a series of explosive sounds.

The lance mounted on the wall was no longer a spear but more like a massive gun barrel.

The tip, now removed, continuously spewed flames.

The bullets, faintly imbued with holy power, caused the monsters to dance grotesquely before shattering into pieces.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Asha.

An old memory resurfaced, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

I never thought I’d hear the sound of a machine gun again, even in another world.

Its rate of fire, penetration, and range were all inferior to modern machine guns, but… it was still a terrifyingly effective weapon.

“Is that the power of the half-humans’ magical tool, the firearm? Its power and noise are truly astounding.”

Leopold muttered in admiration.

So, it’s known as a magical tool in the Empire.

Though in reality, it has nothing to do with magic.

Anyway, that side of the wall should be fine.

They’ll hold out well until they run out of bullets.

“Then I’ll go support the defensive line. Is that alright?”

“More than enough. This battle won’t end in one day, so don’t overexert yourself.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

After receiving the priests’ blessings, I drew Durandal.

The awakened oath sword. A blue aura began to shimmer around its sharp blade.

The engraved runes glowed faintly.

A strange sensation flowed through my fingertips.

No doubt about it.

This sword has some kind of power that affects the mind.

Not in a sinister way like Ice Blade, though.

A pure fighting spirit, resembling a sense of duty and mission, different from the madness of Life Force or instinctive combativeness.

A mental control that turns a person into a knight.

The twelve knights fought under the guidance of the sword, they said.

Is this what they meant by the guidance of the sword?

The reason it wasn’t an intense impulse like during the Great Fire is probably because I think it’s not my fault that things have come to this, but rather Leopold’s responsibility.

Anyway, thanks to that, I wasn’t consumed by a sense of duty.

“Build your karma. For a strong spirit that will never waver.”

Lacey’s advice flashed through my mind.

—

With sword in hand, I ran towards the defensive line.

A burning body, a faint sense of euphoria, a calm mind. It was the optimal state for a warrior entering battle. Enough to make a smile flow naturally.

Before reaching the soldiers, I leaped over their heads and moved forward. In the distance, I could see over a thousand monsters growling.

“What, what is that!”

“Someone from behind! Is it a knight?”

Some soldiers, startled by my figure flying over their heads, shouted.

The head of one monster came right up to my face. A mixed-up corpse. A monster swinging whip-like arms towards the holy legion building a shield wall.

I raised the longsword above my head. The gripped blade shone in the sunlight.

Perhaps thanks to the battles so far, I was confident that the karma I had built up, not Hersela’s, had become stronger than before.

“Haaaah!”

A blue flash struck like lightning. The monster, split in half, rolled around screaming its last.

—

“One strike to the mixed-up corpse…”

“That armor, from earlier…! Is it Sir Median?”

“It’s the Beastman Devourer! The Beastman Devourer is here!”

The knights and soldiers forming the defense line shouted in surprise. Eyes filled with fatigue, relief, expectation, and hope stabbed at my back.

Without answering, I turned to them and raised Durandal high in my right hand. With a cheer, morale boiled over. With this momentum, there’s no need to worry.

Seeing the effect, which was better than a hundred speeches, Leopold gave a wry smile.

I turned my body again. The dangerous enemies were the two isolated inside the castle, and there were no large or medium-sized monsters like Grave Devourers or Flesh Golems in sight.

At most, rotten soldiers and mixed-up corpses. If it weren’t for the surrounded situation, I was confident I could handle them.

They said they would retreat if we fought. I’ll trust that.

Standing firmly at the front of the defense line, I raised my sword towards the charging monsters.

—

Every time a blue arc cut through the air, severed limbs rolled on the ground. The body of the monster held in my left hand was torn to shreds.

The rotten soldier’s body, kicked with all my might, exploded and scattered rotten flesh behind.

There was no need to worry about the back or sides. Most enemies were concentrated in the front, and the monsters occasionally targeting the sides were being checked by the paladins and knights inside the defense line.

“Haaaaah!”

A slash with both hands, swung with all my might. The mixed-up corpse’s torso exploded and rolled away.

It had been about forty minutes since the battle started. In front of me, a mountain of corpses had piled up.

The blade still showed its sharpness, and whenever the holy light within me dimmed, new blessings flew in to boost my energy. Without even thinking about how many I had cut down or destroyed, I just kept fighting endlessly.

At some point, Durandal’s blade began to emit a vivid blue light, and the inscription also shone with a brilliant golden light. Endless vitality surged from the blade.

With this, I felt like I could keep fighting for dozens of hours.

Thanks to me holding off most of the enemies, the soldiers’ losses were also minimal. Though I couldn’t save all of them.

Mostly those stationed at the outermost edges were sacrificed. I didn’t have the leisure to run over and save them.

“Hold on a little longer! The enemy is starting to retreat!”

After fighting for another ten minutes or so, Prince Leopold shouted loudly.

Indeed, the front was still in fierce battle, but looking far behind, I could see the monsters slowly retreating.

…They’re really retreating. It was indeed a bizarre sight.