The beastman legion that attacked Pailun Castle was ultimately repelled, but the damage they inflicted was immense.
Countless imperial knights lost their lives at the hands of pure-blooded warriors who rampaged fiercely, not even caring about the flames clinging to their bodies, until their regenerative abilities were exhausted. Even their commander, Silvan, fell.
The sacrifices of the soldiers were also significant. Out of the six thousand troops deployed in the wall battle, only four thousand remained, and even then, only three thousand were actually combat-ready, excluding the wounded.
In essence, two imperial legions were annihilated in a single massive assault. And these were the main forces. Without implementing conscription, such losses couldn’t be recovered in a short time.
The power of the Empire, the might of the royal family, was weaker than ever. It was welcome news for all non-humans. The eight-century-long golden age of humanity was finally coming to an end.
=====[Ha-shal-leur]=====
What woke me up after I had fallen asleep while chatting with Freide was a visit from her maid, Ellen.
“Miss, it’s time to wake up. Freide’s maid has come to see you.”
At Leonor’s whisper-like voice, I lifted my heavy eyelids and sat up. The fur blanket slid down my chest. My butt felt soft and cozy, as if I had been moved to the bedroom at some point.
“Ugh…”
Forcing myself to lift my waist, my whole body ached as if it had been thoroughly worked over. Especially my lower abdomen, which felt like it had been hammered. A faint groan escaped my lips.
Thinking about it, it’s no wonder. I fought recklessly, crashing into debris here and there. It’s actually surprising that I only feel this much pain. It seems like a healer must have visited while I was asleep.
“Are you okay? Priest Florence cast a healing miracle before leaving, but it seems it wasn’t enough for a full recovery.”
“Damn those wolf bastards… They really sent people flying left and right. My whole body’s sore. Are you okay? You fought a great warrior too.”
Though he didn’t seem that strong.
“Well, as you can see.”
My vision was blurry. Rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand, I looked at Leonor. She too seemed tired and injured from fighting the great warrior, wearing casual clothes instead of armor, with bandages wrapped around her exposed skin.
“…Seems like a tougher opponent than expected. That fox didn’t look particularly strong.”
“Ah, he definitely wasn’t that strong. The battle just dragged on because our fighting styles were similar. The real problem was the white tiger that appeared afterward. One swing of his axe sent people flying like balls. I almost fell off the wall.”
Are you talking about Oleg? He did seem exceptionally strong among the great warriors. No wonder he was the king of the beastmen in the original story.
“Weakling.”
Even so, if he had fought me, it would’ve been over in less than ten rounds.
Before he could even swing his sword, I’d have cut off his limbs. Only someone like Ryurik could fight so dirty. With the physical abilities of a great warrior, trying to do that would just mean my sword reaches him faster than he can cut off his own arm. Regenerating his whole body by pulling out his horn would just be suicide.
“No, you’re the monster here. Are you even human? You fought like two landslides colliding.”
Leonor grumbled.
“Did you feel the difference in strength?”
“Not strength, but the difference in species. From what I see, there must be some other race mixed into your bloodline. Like a dragon. You even breathe fire, don’t you?”
“……”
I had no response.
It was nonsense, but I could see why others might think that.
—-
After dressing my bandaged and bruised body in light clothing, Leonor let Ellen into the room.
Not me, Leonor.
I just stood there with my arms up until Leonor dressed me. My whole body ached, and I didn’t feel like moving much.
Leonor grumbled that this wasn’t a bodyguard’s job, but she didn’t refuse my request.
“Excuse me.”
As Leonor opened the door, Ellen bowed deeply and entered.
She too had participated in the battle, wearing the light armor typical of a mage. Her neck was bandaged, and shards of ice were embedded in her armor here and there. Did she fight by shooting ice spears?
“So, what’s the matter?”
“There will be a strategy meeting in the central conference room in forty minutes. His Highness the Grand Duke has requested your attendance, Count. He said it’s fine if you can’t attend due to discomfort… What would you like to do?”
A strategy meeting, huh. Probably to discuss how to deal with the beastmen who fled with their tails between their legs. Personally, I’d feel safer if we chased them down and wiped them out, but I’m not sure if that’s possible.
“Got it. Tell him I’ll be in the central conference room within thirty minutes.”
“Yes. I’ll inform His Highness the Grand Duke accordingly.”
“I’ll get to it. I apologize for the inconvenience during your exhaustion. And…”
Ellen bowed deeply once again, so politely that the top of her head was almost facing forward.
“Thank you for fighting for the north. If you hadn’t come, Pailoon would have fallen as well.”
Her gratitude was palpable.
Yeah, she’s not wrong. After fighting Ryurik directly, I realized. He’s practically a monster.
Even putting aside his physical abilities, his tactics were so extraordinary that they were downright bizarre.
Even I, who knows well about the regenerative abilities of Suin beyond the Great Warrior, was shocked by his fighting style.
I’ve never seen anyone fight by plucking their own head like pulling bean sprouts.
Even Isabella, in her mop-like state with her resurrection powers intact, probably wouldn’t do something like that.
Probably.
—
After tidying up my messy hair and washing my face, I headed to the central conference room with Leonor.
“You’re not asking to be carried, huh?”
“Even I have some dignity.”
With each step, I felt aches here and there, but it was just a mild pain, not enough to make me grimace.
Honestly, compared to being smashed to pieces within Isabella’s powers, this level of injury is nothing.
“By the way, who carried me and Freide to the bedroom? Was it you?”
“No. I only took off your armor scraps and bandaged you. It was Damien and Milia who found and brought you… Well, mostly Milia, to be precise.”
Leonor chuckled, denying my assumption.
“Milia?”
“Yeah. I heard she stopped Damien from trying to carry Princess Freide and you, and instead carried both of you on her shoulders all the way to the inner castle. Guess being an archer makes her pretty strong.”
…Typical Milia, I guess.
After the hot spring incident, Milia has been actively ‘managing’ Damien in a way she never did before.
She even caused quite a scene during the fight with the Great Warrior.
I could clearly hear Milia’s shouts even while fighting Ryurik.
It’s a good thing Damien isn’t the type to be swayed by other women. If he were like in the original story, juggling multiple women, one of them might have been split in half by now. Damien would be left with just his head.
Anyway, few women would dare approach Damien after hearing her threats. And it seems Damien is willing to take responsibility for Milia.
I guess this counts as achieving a pure love ending…?
There’s a huge gap between the childhood friend romance I vaguely envisioned and the reality that unfolded, like the difference between sugar and hydrochloric acid… But at least the risk of Milia falling into darkness has decreased.
…Has it decreased?
It has, right?
—
“Ah, Hasalleur! You’re awake! How are you feeling?”
“Just so-so. Nothing to worry about.”
As I entered the conference room, a familiar green-haired figure greeted me.
The intimidating aura she had when dealing with rivals was gone, replaced by her usual innocent smile.
Damien, sitting next to Milia, waved lightly.
Unlike Milia, who had been attacking from a distance and remained unscathed, Damien had bandages on his arm and shoulder. Judging by his complexion, it didn’t seem too serious.
I heard he also reached the master level.
Well, of course. My method must have worked.
This confirmed it: the more you beat Damien, the stronger he gets.
I’ll have to keep hammering him diligently.
I walked to the central table and plopped down on the chair Leonor pulled out for me.
Everyone who had arrived earlier turned to look at me.
Most were people who had returned with Duke Pailoon, faces I’d seen once or twice in Leopold’s expeditionary force. Notably, three of those who attended the last meeting were missing.
Flora, Noah, Silvan.
Flora, being a priestess, was likely occupied with treating the wounded rather than attending the military meeting. As for the other two, I heard they died in battle.
A real shame.
Even a high-ranking paladin of the Menes Church would be a force to reckon with against Suin, surpassing even a master. But luck wasn’t on their side.
Oleg was also a formidable opponent, surpassing the average Great Warrior.
