Chapter 374

After dinner, I returned to my room and had a conversation with Hersela.

From the side, it probably looked like I was sitting there blankly, smoking a cigarette by the open window.

‘How strong is Or-han exactly? Is he so strong that I can’t beat him?’

[Well. He’s never shown his full strength in front of me, so it’s hard to say. In the past, he couldn’t settle things with the Ghost Sword, but I doubt that’s still the case now.]

Unlike Valenstein, who had begun to age and whose abilities had greatly diminished, Or-han was still a warrior in his prime.

There was nearly a ten-year age gap between him and the Ghost Sword.

[Moreover, he’s started an expedition to unify the Great Plains, so who knows? He might have grown even stronger than before. Warriors grow through battle, after all.]

That was what worried me.

Unlike Valenstein, who died shortly after the level restrictions were lifted, Or-han was smoothly accumulating achievements by slaughtering his enemies.

‘This is ambiguous…’

Not knowing—that was the biggest problem.

In fact, the reason I’ve been stuck here for a month is precisely because I have no idea when Or-han might invade.

What I knew about Ka`har was limited to what I experienced during the early days of possession and some fragmented information about the forces that would appear years later in the original story.

None of that was particularly useful in the current situation.

In the original story, Ja-han, who fought fiercely against two heroes of equal standing, was now weak enough to lose one-on-one to Nigel.

Hersela at least knew a fair bit about Ka`har, but her information was also limited to before Or-han set out on his expedition.

How much stronger Or-han had become since then, whether the number of warriors under his command had increased or decreased—there was no way to know without seeing it for myself.

…Still, he probably hasn’t grown as fast as I have.

After all, defeating one strong enemy is far more helpful than defeating many weak ones.

—-

[The most dangerous thing is his ultimate technique, the Indestructible God. If you can’t break through that, there’s no chance of winning.]

The Indestructible God.

The foundation of Or-han’s invincibility in the eastern regions.

The Indestructible God was a simple ability for a hero’s power—it just made his body incredibly tough.

The problem was, the level of toughness was absurd.

They say even steel couldn’t compare.

‘You said he was cut by the Ghost Sword before. Couldn’t Durandal cut through it?’

[That was a long time ago. It’s a world of difference now. Besides, I heard the wound he received back then was barely a scratch.]

Hersela clicked her tongue as if to say it was impossible.

[Breaking through the current Indestructible God head-on is nearly impossible. He can withstand a Paladin’s lance charge or a direct hit from a fortress cannon without a scratch. I’ve even seen him remain unfazed after being set on fire.]

…At that point, isn’t he just invincible?

Even dragon scales couldn’t completely block a direct hit from a large cannon.

‘…How exactly were you planning to beat him?’

How did they win in the original story?

[Simple. The Indestructible God is indeed a near-invincible technique, but it’s still powered by martial energy. So, the plan was to wear him down in a war of attrition until he could no longer use it. By sowing discord among Targien, Sahalyan, and Amin’s factions, we aimed to divide them and eventually turn them all against Or-han. But since Mersin, who devised the plan, betrayed us, that’s no longer an option.]

So, there was a plan.

But it’s definitely not something I can use.

‘In short, you’re saying we just have to throw troops at him until he gets tired… That’s not easy.’

[I didn’t expect you to choose that method anyway.]

Hersela probably already guessed I wouldn’t go that route.

If we did, even if we managed to capture Or-han, Randenburg would suffer near-catastrophic losses.

In that case, winning wouldn’t really be winning.

‘By the way, wasn’t there someone named Blake? The first sword of Randenburg, who reached the realm of a hero. If two heroes teamed up, couldn’t we manage something?’

[I’ve never seen him, so how would I know? But I doubt the Indestructible God would break just because a sword got bigger.]

‘That’s true…’

If a bigger sword could break it, he would’ve at least been injured by a cannon shot.

[Rather than that, the technique you showed before would be more effective. The one that split space itself, not the Reverse Heaven Sword. Can’t you use that?]

Split space?

Ah, you mean Durandal’s power.

I probably can’t use that.

‘That’s not my power, it’s more like the sword’s ability… I’m not sure, but unless Or-han is a monster, it’s probably impossible.’

I glanced down at Durandal, hanging quietly at my waist.

What a stubbornly inflexible sword.

Back then, it seemed to acknowledge me as its master, but ever since, it’s been stingy about revealing its power, only doing so under strict conditions.

It was the same with Valenstein, Isabella, and even Ryu-rik.

It never showed the same level of power as it did back then.

Can’t it just help me out once?

Just once, couldn’t it close its eyes and go all out?

The first of the Twelve Knights must’ve had an easier time wielding this sword.

—-

In the end, I postponed thinking about how to counter the Indestructible God.

If I put my head together with Hersela for a month, maybe a good idea will come to me.

Next, we discussed the enemy’s total strength.

Hersela estimated Or-han’s forces to be at least thirty thousand, with a maximum of fifty thousand.

The exact number would depend on the losses from the expedition and the number of tribes he’d subjugated.

‘If it weren’t for the barrier, we’d have been wiped out long ago… So, how many Paladins are there?’

[Paladins? Let’s see… Since Havar and Jargal are dead, probably around seventeen.]

…Seventeen?

What the hell? That’s way too many.

Sure, Hersela in her prime had more under her command, but still…

‘Seventeen? That’s insane.’

It was an absurd number.

Even if you combined the Empire’s masters, Pailoon’s forces, and the high-ranking magicians from the Magic Tower, you’d barely reach thirty. Yet Or-han, who hasn’t even fully conquered the Great Plains, has seventeen under his command?

‘That’s way too many… I might have to call Leonor and Damien’s group once the enemy’s advance is confirmed.’

[Yes. Those four would make useful pieces. Especially that archer girl—she’d be quite effective against mounted Paladins.]

Calling her an archer girl is a bit harsh.

It’s not wrong, but couldn’t you phrase it more politely?

‘So, Randenburg’s forces are around three to four thousand… That means each soldier would have to face ten cavalrymen.’

That’s a death sentence.

One Ka`har cavalryman could slaughter ten infantrymen even while drunk, so asking one soldier to fight ten cavalrymen? That’s ridiculous.

Of course, if Or-han really attacks, the Empire will send reinforcements, but with the 1st and 2nd Legions wiped out, they won’t be able to send much.

[That’s why your role is more important than ever. Massacring the weak is your specialty, after all.]

‘Couldn’t you phrase that more nicely? Like, I’m skilled at handling large numbers or something.’

Honestly, she always picks the words I hate.

[Do I have to?]

Hersela smirked annoyingly.

‘Even for me, taking on that many troops at once is impossible.’

Back on the Jeren Plains, I overwhelmed tens of thousands of troops with the so-called “Heavenly Demon’s Descent,” but that was against conscripted soldiers, not proper troops.

I doubt the same technique would work against Ka`har’s soldiers.

‘…You might be able to pull it off, though.’

[Oh? That’s generous of you.]

It wasn’t exactly a compliment.

I just meant she’s more of a human slaughterer than I am.

In truth, handling large numbers of enemies was more Hersela’s specialty than mine.

I just imitated the techniques she unleashed with her martial energy.

When we fought in Isabella’s nightmare, I saw her spinning like a human blender, wrapped in martial energy.

I think the technique was called True Hell Wheel?

She shredded Isabella’s monsters like a saw blade pulled from hell.

Not to mention, the heroic tale Hersela showed in the original story was also a great technique for dealing with large numbers.

If I could use that, this difference in strength wouldn’t be a problem at all. But I can’t.

…I can’t, right?

Since it came to mind, I might as well ask.

‘Speaking of which, do you feel like you’re close to reaching beyond the Paladin realm? Like, understanding a heroic tale… or something like my Reverse Heaven technique? Honestly, with your current strength, calling yourself the “Heavenly Demon” feels a bit too weak.’

[…….]

Hersela fell silent for a while.

Guess it’s still too early.

If she could use it, she’d probably have bragged about it by now… but you never know.

I waited for her answer with a sliver of hope.

Maybe she’s hiding her heroic power, and I just hit the nail on the head.

[Hohoho… Well, who knows? Care to take a guess?]

…Nope. The fact that she’s bluffing means she can’t do it.

Weak. So weak.