Chapter 604

Alright, what should I do now?

I watched as the enemies closed the distance at a rapid pace and unwrapped the bandages around my legs. Wearing a short top and shorts that barely covered my groin, I was essentially just wearing armor over my underwear.

The Blessing of Invulnerability increases my defense the more I strip. To maximize its effect, it would be ideal to go completely naked, but… even in this situation, I honestly couldn’t bring myself to do that.

I understand that I’m in no position to be picky, but still, that’s just too much…

Fighting completely naked in front of thousands of savages whose heads are filled with nothing but murder, plunder, and rape? That’s basically sending the message, “Please, come and get me!”

My defense might increase, but the enemies’ strength would probably skyrocket from sheer excitement.

I don’t remember who said it, but there’s a saying that someone trying to commit rape gains seven times their normal strength.

If I keep fighting and eventually get overwhelmed, it wouldn’t be surprising if a joint wedding ceremony with thousands of husbands were held on the spot. Or-han might even officiate.

Anyway, for those reasons, this outfit is my absolute limit in terms of exposure.

—

While my allies were getting farther away, Ka`har’s cavalry was getting closer. The vibrations from thousands of hooves pounding the ground were starting to reach me.

“There she is! That half-breed bitch is over there!”

They must have noticed I was left alone, as they started shouting curses with bloodthirsty voices, charging even faster.

‘Seriously, there are way too many of them.’

Five thousand? Six thousand? Up close, it looked like that many. With that many troops, there must be at least five or six Paladins mixed in.

On top of that, Or-han, who exuded a mountainous aura so immense it could be felt even from this distance. If there were no barriers, that army alone could probably conquer Landenburg.

[What will you do?]

‘First… I need to keep their attention on me. If they split their forces and chase the Special Forces, holding out here would be pointless.’

If this were a narrow canyon, it would’ve been easier. But since it’s an open plain, blocking them using the terrain is impossible.

Even if I miraculously hold off most of the enemies, if just five Paladins and three hundred cavalry break away to chase my allies, everything would be for nothing.

‘So, let’s go all out.’

Make sure they don’t even think about anyone else.

—

======[Blue Army]======

Ha-shal-leur, who had broken away from the Empire’s ranks and turned her horse to stand alone in the middle of the plains, blocking the Blue Army.

It was such an irrational decision that it was suspicious, but the Blue Army’s warriors had no interest in why Ha-shal-leur had stopped.

For a warrior drawing their sword and charging, thinking was just a waste of time.

Their role was to fight, not to ponder. All thoughts and judgments were left to the commander. They just had to advance, retreat, and fight according to orders.

So, the task of figuring out why Ha-shal-leur had stopped fell to Or-han and the Paladins.

‘She stopped? Then we kill her!’

‘Tear her apart!’

But even the five Paladins in the pursuit squad had no thoughts beyond killing.

Of course, that was natural. Paladins were warriors who had reached their peak by emptying their minds and focusing solely on combat. Even if they reached the level of a Paladin, how could knowledge and wisdom enter minds that had thought of nothing but fighting for over a decade?

In the end, Or-han was the only one who pondered why Ha-shal-leur had stopped.

‘Standing alone against six thousand troops? Just to save a little over two hundred subordinates? …No way.’

Though actions change with circumstances, the Ha-shal-leur he remembered wasn’t the type to sacrifice herself to save her subordinates.

If anything, she’d set her subordinates on fire and send them charging into the enemy.

‘If she thought she could win alone, she wouldn’t have run this far… Is it a trap?’

Or-han narrowed his eyes and pondered. It definitely wasn’t an ambush. To hide troops in such an open space, the Empire would have to recruit an army of moles.

‘Then… she must be planning to regroup with the main force and counterattack. That’s the most likely scenario. She’s buying time until the retreating Special Forces can join the main force and march here.’

Or-han’s mind mapped out the enemy’s movements.

The original plan must have been to advance to where Ludwig’s main force was stationed and counterattack the Blue Army together.

But the Blue Army’s pursuit was faster than expected, and they were about to be annihilated before reaching the main force.

So, Ha-shal-leur stayed behind alone to hold off the Blue Army while the Special Forces delivered the news to the main force and marched here together.

In other words, if they delayed here, they would end up clashing head-on with Ludwig’s main force, which would have prepared thoroughly to take him down.

Or-han thought so. Unaware that his premise was wrong from the start.

He believed that ‘Ha-shal-leur’ wouldn’t recklessly sacrifice herself to save her subordinates, but the Ha-shal-leur he knew no longer existed.

‘Split the forces to chase the fleeing Special Forces? No. If she decided to hold off six thousand troops alone, the distance to the main force must not be too far. If it were too far, this would just be suicide.’

Splitting the forces risked being picked off one by one by the enemy’s main force.

‘To deal with Ludwig’s main force that will follow, the best course here is to focus all forces on subduing Ha-shal-leur. After that…’

After that?

‘……’

Or-han deliberately stopped thinking. What to do with Ha-shal-leur once captured was something even he couldn’t decide.

A traitor who betrayed Ai-shan and dabbled in sorcery. According to the laws of the grasslands, she had to be captured, subjected to every humiliation and pain, and then killed. Or-han knew well that every warrior of Ai-shan demanded this.

‘…Ai-mel-ra.’

But a name buried in his memories brought a moment of hesitation.

If Amin knew Or-han’s feelings now, he would’ve writhed in frustration at the blatant favoritism. Though he’s still writhing in the pigpen.

“What will you do?”

One of the Blue Army’s Paladins, Poi-si-ra, cautiously asked.

The distance to the traitor Ha-shal-leur was close enough for an arrow to reach. All the Blue Army’s warriors were holding their reins, waiting for Kagan’s command.

That question helped Or-han make his decision.

‘…There’s no other way.’

He was the Kagan of Ai-shan.

The ruler responsible for the entire Great Plains, standing above all warriors. He couldn’t act on personal emotions like he did in his youth.

Cutting off his hesitation, Or-han drew his Crescent Moon Blade and pointed it at Ha-shal-leur, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“…Blue Army! Fire a volley, then advance! Surround the traitor! Don’t let her escape anywhere!”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go!”

As if they had been waiting for that command, six thousand cavalrymen drew their bows and pulled the strings.

Six thousand arrows split the sky. The sky darkened as if a sudden downpour had arrived. The parabolic rain of steel flashed with sharp tips, pouring down relentlessly toward a single human.

And then,

“Kenaz!”

A pillar of fire shot into the sky, incinerating the arrow rain and scattering ashes.

—

======[Ha-shal-leur]======

Of course, the first move was arrows.

Since I expected it, countering was simple. I raised my hand toward the sky and summoned a pillar of fire to burn away the arrows heading my way.

I wouldn’t get hurt even if I took the arrow rain head-on, but this way was much better for drawing attention.

– Whoosh!

The rising pillar of fire swept through the arrow rain, incinerating it. Ashes swirled in the wind like a whirlwind. It was just a simple flame without any feats, but that was enough to burn wooden arrows.

The arrowheads were also caught in the updraft and flew off wildly.

“It’s the traitor’s sorcery! Arrows are useless!”

“That pillar of fire…! So, it was you who burned the entire grasslands!”

“A Paladin dabbling in sorcery?!”

The Blue Army’s warriors shouted curses filled with contempt as they charged. Their warhorses, seemingly resonating with their riders’ anger, seemed to move even faster.

‘Fight Or-han head-on later. That’s fine, right?’

Hersela’s Heroic Tale, the World of Mortality, could kill about a thousand, but… after that, I wouldn’t have the strength left to fight Or-han.

Hersela in her prime might’ve managed, but the current Hersela would deplete her Life Force Technique just maintaining the World of Mortality.

Hersela’s World of Mortality was undoubtedly a powerful Heroic Tale, but Hersela’s own proficiency was too low, so it wasn’t efficient yet.

The range was too narrow, and the energy consumption was massive.

Of course, that’s natural. Techniques grow stronger and more refined with use. My ‘Reversed Heaven’ was the same.

Now, after countless refinements, it’s on a completely different level from when I first used it, but back then, a single strike was just a bit faster.

So, unless the enemy was a small force of about five hundred, fighting with my own strength was several times more efficient against a large army of thousands.

[Do as you wish. If it’s about keeping distance, you’re better suited.]

Hersela, who also understood this well, agreed without complaint.

‘Alright. Let’s get started then.’

After exchanging opinions, I tugged on Cascador’s reins and lightly kicked its side. The horned white horse, which had been standing still waiting for my command, let out a long roar and began to gallop.