Chapter 307

“Alright, time to get up.”

Freide stopped her chit-chat and stood up just as the bright flames from the braziers scattered along the walls began to spread warmth.

“Are you really going to give a speech?”

“Yeah. Since the battle preparations are all done, I should say something.”

Freide brushed the dust off her clothes and let out a light sigh.

She looked like she was dying of embarrassment.

“Good luck. Do your best.”

I waved at her teasingly.

She said she’s not confident in speeches… but hey, practice makes perfect, right?

If I take this as a learning experience, I’ll do better next time.

“Good luck? Don’t talk like it’s someone else’s problem. You’re coming too.”

Huh?

Freide grinned, grabbed my shoulder, and forced me up.

“Wait, why me?”

“Honestly, it’s a bit ridiculous, but right now, you’re the hope of our soldiers, aren’t you? You think His Majesty can just hide in the back? We need you to shine a little light.”

I didn’t have a comeback for that, but it still felt a bit awkward.

I had no idea what nonsense she might spout next to me, given her lack of confidence in speeches.

“I’m not really feeling it. Can I say no?”

“Which do you prefer? A request from a friend or an order from the commander-in-chief?”

Guess I don’t have the right to refuse.

I clicked my tongue and nodded. After all the teasing, I owed her this much.

“Good call. Show me something reliable, okay?”

“Sigh…”

Freide, as if getting revenge for earlier, patted my back with a smug look and laughed.

…Though she’s probably just hurting her own hand. I’m wearing a fur coat with chainmail underneath.

—

Freide, Leonor, and I headed toward the command tower overlooking the soldiers on the walls.

A cold silence fell over the walls, with only the crackling of flames softly echoing.

The soldiers stationed in each area gripped their silver-plated spears, silently staring into the darkness beyond the horizon.

Their expressions were stiff, like statues, a mix of anxiety, hostility, fear, and pride.

Their bodies trembled slightly. Their breaths rose like white mist, then melted away.

They looked more like disaster survivors than proud warriors.

Freide, looking down at the soldiers, took a deep breath.

“Sons of the North, listen! And those who are not of the North, listen! I, Freide van Paleorn, the Iron Maiden of Paleorn, speak!”

Her shout echoed across the walls. The startled soldiers all turned their eyes to the command tower.

Freide flinched slightly. It was a perfect moment to tease her, but I decided to let it slide.

“Hundreds of years have passed since our ancestors fought with their lives to drive the vile beasts back to the frozen lands. For hundreds of years, we, their descendants, have fought endlessly to protect their legacy, the heritage of the North they left us. Even in defeat and exile, we have proven to those beasts who still see us as prey who the real hunters are! Though it was cold and harsh, was it not truly a glorious time?”

Huh, she’s doing better than I thought.

“And now, the time of trial has come again. Under the sky our ancestors watch over, before the beast that calls itself winter, the moment has come to prove ourselves with all our might! Will you be mere wastrels squandering the legacy of your ancestors? Or will you be the proud warriors who inherit their pride and courage!”

Freide spread her right arm to the side, taking another deep breath.

The hem of her coat fluttered like a cape.

“Fight to prove yourselves! Fight to be descendants they would not be ashamed of! If that’s not enough, then look there!”

The soldiers’ gazes followed the direction her finger pointed.

The inner fortress of Paleorn. The last refuge where the refugees huddled together, trembling in fear, praying to the gods.

“Think of the pitiful weaklings trembling in fear within those walls. Think of your parents, your wives, your lovers, your children. You know what will happen to them if you fail! If you lack the courage to fight for yourselves, then fight for them! Is that not reason enough to fight with your lives?”

There’s no motivation more certain than protecting one’s family.

The soldiers’ tense expressions cracked. Through the fissures of fear, a hardened resolve seeped out.

After finishing her speech, Freide glanced at me.

I was about to nod slightly to show she was doing better than expected, but…

“Uh, what now? I feel like I should say more, but I’ve run out of things to say.”

She whispered in a quiet voice, her lips trembling as if asking for help, her reddish-brown eyes darting around nervously.

…Of course. She never fails to meet my expectations. This is our Freide.

Leonor burst into clear laughter, seemingly amused.

“Well… I was just about to praise you. But I guess there’s no helping it. You grew up without friends, so it’s no wonder you’re not good with words. I’ll forgive you.”

“What…?!”

She pushed back the wolf-head hood covering her head, stepped forward with a smirk, and stood beside Freide, who was blushing and fuming.

Soon, the soldiers’ eyes focused on me.

Alright, what should I do now…?

Freide already gave them a reason to fight, so maybe I should give them the belief that they can win?

I took a deep breath, choosing my words.

“Now that we’ve become human, are we really going to be scared of a bunch of beast cubs?!”

A fierce roar that could shake the heavens.

The snow piled up beside the spire’s roof crumbled and scattered, cascading down.

Freide, with a disgusted expression, covered her ears.

“Even if they walk on two legs, they’re still just half-baked beasts! No different from livestock! There are ways to kill them, plenty stronger than them, so why fear mere prey? They were crushed centuries ago, crying and fleeing with their tails between their legs!”

Drawing upon the life force, flames erupted fiercely, engulfing her in a crimson glow that spread like wildfire, consuming the darkness.

“If we could defeat them back then, it’s only natural we can do it again! Winter wolves? Those white pups are nothing but meat in front of me! Watch this—!”

Her left arm raised towards the sky, the red energy of life force, nurtured by thousands of lives, coiled around frosty claws. With a sharp swipe of her life-force-infused nails, she struck the spire’s roof.

– Crash!

With a deafening roar, the roof exploded as if hit by a cannonball.

“What the hell are you doing, you crazy woman…!”

“Just watch. This kind of thing needs a good performance, right?”

Blocking Freide’s quiet protest with a smirk, she laughed. To boost morale, you need to show off some strength, right? This kind of performance should make even the doubtful believe.

The life force surged, wrapping around the debris, transforming from mist to tentacles, then to flames. The rising fire consumed all remnants, scattering ashes like a snowstorm into the sky.

“Unbelievable…”

The soldiers gaped at the spectacle, mouths wide open. The knights weren’t much different.

In one strike, the massive roof was blown away, turned to ashes in the next moment. It looked less like a human act and more like the work of some colossal monster.

[Should I call this bold or brutal…? Typical of you.]

Typical of me? Isn’t this more your style?

Ignoring Hersela’s ambiguous remark, she continued.

“Those wolf pups aren’t worth fearing! Winter? Just dinner to me! Tell me, who am I?!”

“The Beastman Devourer—!”

Some soldiers shouted. Or were they knights? Anyway.

Once a few started, others joined in, shouting at the top of their lungs.

Beastman Devourer.

Not exactly a favorite nickname, but you use what you can.

“That’s right! They’re just tasty prey to me! And the same goes for you! Skin them, chew their flesh! Roast their meat for tomorrow’s feast! Just as they did to you! Let’s show them who the real livestock is!”

Cheers and battle cries filled the night sky.

That should be enough to boost morale.

Once the blood starts flowing, things might change, but for now, they’ll fight well.

“How about that? Effective, right?”

She turned to Freide with a grin.

Freide, pointing at the gaping hole in the ceiling, looked like she wanted to argue but just sighed deeply.

“Quite a ladylike speech.”

“Right? Now let’s wait for our midnight snack.”

She patted Leonor’s shoulder and stepped back.

“Hey, miss. You’re not really planning to eat that, are you? The stench must be unbearable.”

[Why eat that when there’s good food around…]

Leonor aside, are you in any position to say that?

You, the crazy woman who eats people.

======[Ryurik]======

Ha-shal-leur’s shout and the soldiers’ battle cries disrupted the night’s tranquility, echoing beyond the horizon.

Even Ryurik’s advancing troops could faintly hear them.

The distance made the words unclear, but they could tell the humans’ morale was high.

“Quite the grand welcome. I’m looking forward to it.”

Ryurik and the great warriors bared their fangs and smiled.

Anticipating the upcoming blood and flesh festival, their eyes gleamed with bloodlust. Except for Nazar, whose expression darkened slightly.

“Reinforcements haven’t arrived yet… Their morale is higher than expected. They might have a plan to ensure victory.”

“Well, we’ll see when we fight. Let’s see what tricks these hairless monkeys have up their sleeves.”

One of the seven great warriors, the elephant beastman Victor Kaminski, snorted with a chuckle.

White steam burst from his trunk-like nose.

The human fortress was now thirty minutes away.

It was time to slow down, recover stamina, and prepare for battle.