Chapter 137

“Then, let’s deal with the Bone Serpent according to Marquis Ludwig’s strategy… but what about the ‘Whisperer’? If we let it live, won’t our fallen soldiers keep coming back as monsters?”

Leopold’s concern seemed valid at first glance.

The Whisperer is a notorious monster, not just for its strength but for the danger of its abilities. The veil of dark magic it casts revives the dead as rotting soldiers.

For every enemy killed, three allies fall, and immediately after, those three corpses rise as monsters. And then nine, twenty-seven, eighty-one. Death and rebirth continue endlessly, spreading like drops of wine on a tablecloth, turning the battlefield into a sea of monsters in an instant.

Just imagining it was chilling. The moment its power is unleashed, the frontlines would collapse without a doubt.

It was the worst-case scenario, but thankfully, Richard shook his head.

“Before the battle, I will bestow blessings upon everyone. At least for this battle, there should be no issues. As long as Elpinel’s blessing remains… even if they lose their lives, the dark magic won’t be able to penetrate for a while.”

Leopold slightly lowered his eyelids. It was somewhat reassuring, but not entirely comforting.

“So, you’re saying that if it becomes a prolonged battle, they’ll eventually turn into monsters?”

“We can purify the bodies with fire before that happens. It might be difficult during field battles, but if we’re defending a fortress, we should have enough time for that.”

“So, the first battle will be the biggest hurdle… I’ll trust you all.”

“Elpinel is watching over us. We will surely achieve victory.”

“Leave it to us.”

Marquis Ludwig also nodded.

Insufficient troops, a strategy that’s almost a gamble. Engaging in a battle with uncertain odds was always unsettling… but they understood the importance of this war.

After that, the three of them stayed on the ramparts for a while longer. There were still many issues to discuss.

—

About forty minutes later.

The horde of monsters had come close enough to be clearly visible to the soldiers.

All the prepared soldiers lined up below the ramparts.

Eight thousand Imperial troops, two thousand Holy Kingdom troops. Considering that the Holy Kingdom’s forces were fundamentally from the Holy Kingdom, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Holy Kingdom was showing even more sincerity than the Empire.

The Archbishop of the Elpinel Church had opposed the participation, but Lacey Staldorf had pushed through by emphasizing Elpinel’s doctrine.

A Saint Candidate is a symbol of the Church. The holy marks on them are proof of being chosen by the gods. Even the Archbishop couldn’t easily dismiss Lacey’s will, especially when she was advocating for a holy war with the doctrine in hand.

The morale of the Imperial troops was lower than ever. They had heard from their superiors that they would be fighting outside the walls.

“That crazy prince… Fighting on the walls isn’t enough, now we have to fight outside?”

“Didn’t you hear the knights? The walls will collapse if we don’t!”

“So, they’re telling us to fight the monsters that are breaking the walls?”

The whispers were quiet, but since they weren’t just one or two, a clear unrest spread throughout the army. Some knights shouted to control them, but the murmuring didn’t stop.

On the other hand, the Holy Kingdom troops were quite calm. They quietly muttered prayers or kissed their holy symbols, preparing for martyrdom. They were the elite among elites.

Of course. Once the Saint Candidate decided to participate, the Elpinel Church had no choice but to send their best troops. If she were to die in battle, it would be a stain on the Church’s name.

Thus, ten thousand troops gathered.

The knights also lined up in front of the soldiers, looking up at the ramparts. Their warhorses were left inside the fortress. They couldn’t fight mounted against these enemies.

Thirty knights from Landenburg, two hundred from the Imperial Knight Order, and about a hundred paladins. The most skilled knights were assigned as a reserve force to deal with the Bone Serpent, while the paladins planned to hold the frontlines with the Holy Kingdom troops.

In the end, about forty knights were assigned as reserves. Plus eight masters. It seemed like enough to take down the Bone Serpent before it could escape.

Most of the troops were lined up outside the fortress, but half of the eight thousand Imperial troops remained inside. They would climb the ramparts to cover the retreat of the troops who would fall back after defeating the Bone Serpent.

Since they wouldn’t be facing the enemies immediately, their expressions were somewhat brighter. But as their expressions brightened, the faces of the troops outside grew darker.

Leopold stood on the ramparts, looking down at them.

“Soldiers of the Empire, do you still remember!”

Leopold raised his voice to begin his speech. To boost morale, even if just a little.

The soldiers’ attention focused on the young prince.

—

“A thousand years ago, whose land—no, whose world was this? Do you remember!”

The sound echoed loudly.

The dignified appearance and resounding shout left a deep impression on the soldiers.

Since the current Emperor, Ferdinand II, had weakened, the majesty of the imperial family, unseen for so long, was present there.

“You must know. Everyone must have heard it since childhood! The world did not belong to humans. No, there was nothing that belonged to humans in that era!”

It was a story everyone knew.

The old tales parents told in childhood.

The teachings priests in the church spoke of.

The history of the past that superiors drilled into their ears after joining the Imperial Army.

“In those days, we humans were mere slaves. Even breathing required the master’s permission—pathetic creatures, no better than livestock!”

The soldiers listening were somewhat puzzled.

Certainly, the figure was majestic, but they couldn’t understand why he suddenly brought up history.

Leopold, too, inwardly doubted the effectiveness of his speech.

While he was accustomed to dealing with nobles, this was his first time addressing soldiers.

With every word he uttered, he felt no confidence.

But he had to pull it off somehow.

“Who was it that shattered that horrific era, the life of livestock? Who broke the chains of slavery and granted people the land, the rivers, even the right to live? You must not have forgotten!”

In everyone’s mind, the name of a hero surfaced.

The first Emperor of the Empire. Carolus.

—

Marquis Ludwig, who was listening, slightly furrowed his brow.

‘Invoking the glory of the Great Emperor won’t mean much at this point…’

Though the imperial lineage traced back to Emperor Carolus, he doubted that invoking the name of such an ancient hero would boost the soldiers’ morale now.

‘As expected, lacking in military strategy is unavoidable…’

As Marquis Ludwig thought, the soldiers’ reactions were lukewarm.

Sure, Emperor Carolus was great, and they knew the prince was of that lineage, but so what?

Was the ascended Emperor going to descend to help his descendants?

It was a meaningless story.

Was it just a ceremonial speech to emphasize the imperial lineage?

Everyone thought so.

“Do you think it’s Emperor Carolus? Do you think I’m speaking of old tales to establish authority?”

Up until now.

“Wrong! It’s not Emperor Carolus! Not the Twelve Knights! Not even the gods!!

It was you who saved humanity!!”

Leopold shouted at the top of his lungs.

Clenching his fists tightly, with all his might.

A lion-like roar echoed across the quiet plains.

“Ordinary soldiers. Knights whose names weren’t even recorded in history! Your ancestors were the true heroes who bestowed dignity upon humanity!”

Leopold swung his left arm roughly.

The prince’s words, seemingly denying the grace of the gods and the achievements of the ancestors, made everyone look at him in shock.

“Emperor Carolus and the Twelve Knights were merely catalysts. No matter how strong they were, just thirteen of them couldn’t have won against countless enemies! It was your ancestors, all of them united, wielding their swords, that humanity triumphed over the world!”

Leopold still lacked confidence.

But he shouted with all his might.

So much that his passion reached everyone listening.

“That is the strength of humanity! Each of us is but a weak being. Weaker than any race on this land!”

Lacey, who was listening to the speech, kissed the holy symbol.

Though the content, seemingly denying the grace of the gods, didn’t sit well with her, she knew what she had to do.

“But, it has been 800 years since your ancestors finally birthed the Empire. United, humanity has never been defeated!

Even now, and as long as we fight united, we shall remain undefeated forever!”

This was all Leopold wanted to say.

At that moment, a brilliant light poured over his head.

The holy light emitted by Lacey.

The prince, enveloped in the cascading pure white light, appeared sacred to the soldiers, like the return of a hero.

Leopold drew his sword.

“Draw your swords! Trust each other and fight as one! I will fight alongside you!

Each of you is a hero, and today is not the day we fall!”

The roar shook the plains.