Chapter 657

======[ Peirus ]======

“Or-han has been defeated. And he left an arm behind. They say it was that woman’s doing.”

“That’s… surprising. I didn’t expect her to grow that much.”

Peirus was somewhat impressed by the Third Apostle’s report.

To cut through the indestructible body of a hero who pursued defense to its limits—it meant that no one in this era could withstand her strike head-on.

“Whether it’s the power of the sword or the power of variables, I don’t know… but if she can break the indestructible, she could even cut through dragon scales.”

It hadn’t even been a year since she reached the Realm of Heroes, and she was already at a level where she could discuss dragons. Her growth was unbelievably fast.

“At least it was just an arm. If it had been her neck, she would have died. That woman has grown stronger by feeding on Or-han’s death. Controlling her is out of the question, and stopping her is impossible.”

The Third Apostle’s voice was tinged with anxiety, and it was understandable.

“What are you going to do? There’s a limit to using your enemies. If we leave her alone, she’ll soon reach a level we can’t handle.”

“Hmm…”

Peirus understood the Third Apostle’s anxiety. Unlike Peirus, who operated in the shadows, the Third Apostle was in a position where she had no choice but to clash with the variable—Ha-shal-leur.

Once Or-han was gone, Ha-shal-leur would try to sweep across the Great Plains.

“Don’t worry. I already have a way to keep her from crossing the Great Plains. I assure you, once Or-han falls, she won’t even think about crossing the barrier. She’ll have to rush back to the capital.”

Peirus tried to reassure the Third Apostle. The Third Apostle urged Peirus to eliminate Ha-shal-leur before she grew any stronger, but Peirus couldn’t comply.

The variable had to stay alive.

Her feats would be the force that kept human civilization from collapsing until the Heavenly Barrier was completely destroyed, and her Life Force Technique would be the nourishment for the being within her.

“A means… If you’re trying to reassure me, such vague expressions won’t cut it.”

The Third Apostle’s voice was laced with sarcasm. Her life was on the line, and she wasn’t about to let Peirus brush it off like that.

‘…Her resentment is stronger than I thought. Was Or-han’s defeat that shocking?’

Peirus felt the need to explain further.

“In the underground of the capital, an ancient dragon lies dormant. The remains of Nidhogg, the dragon Isabella tried to control using insects. I infiltrated the capital and succeeded in controlling it.”

“…A dragon?”

The Third Apostle’s voice was filled with disbelief. She hadn’t expected the word “dragon” to come up.

“Yes. Though it’s an incomplete dragon, it’s more than enough to devastate the capital. The variable won’t even have time to look toward the Great Plains. Does that reassure you?”

“…Yes. If that’s the case. My apologies.”

After a moment of silence, the Third Apostle agreed and ended the communication. The mana light from the crystal sphere slowly faded.

======[ Third Apostle ]======

‘Peirus is untrustworthy.’

The Third Apostle frowned as she looked at the now-dim crystal sphere. Though she had agreed during the communication, her true feelings were filled with distrust.

Not because he had kept the power of the dragon a secret from the other apostles, but because he had revealed such a secret just to oppose the idea of eliminating that woman.

‘He has no intention of controlling or killing her. He’s just leaving her be. Even at the risk of the other apostles.’

The Third Apostle was certain. Peirus prioritized that woman’s survival over the lives of the other apostles. If she and Ha-shal-leur clashed, he would sacrifice her to keep Ha-shal-leur alive.

That was betrayal.

She had followed Peirus because of his proposal to make her the ruler of the Great Plains… but as long as Ha-shal-leur lived, that proposal would never come to fruition.

Once Ha-shal-leur, who was growing stronger at an unbelievable rate, gained the power to dominate the Great Plains, she would fly to Ordos and burn everyone suspicious, claiming to avenge her mother.

And the Third Apostle, unless she abandoned her public identity and went into hiding, would have no way to escape Ha-shal-leur’s blade.

‘If not now… someday, that woman who killed Or-han and even defeated a dragon will come for me.’

The Third Apostle swallowed hard. When that day came, not only she but her family and children would all be burned to ashes.

Perhaps she would even suffer a humiliation worse than Da-ha-mei and Amin, wishing she had just burned to death.

‘…Even if it means breaking with Peirus, that woman must be eliminated in this war. For my child’s sake.’

After much deliberation, the Third Apostle finally made a decision. No matter what Peirus said, she would remove Ha-shal-leur this time.

Rather than watch her son’s neck be torn out while Ha-shal-leur was left alive, it seemed better to oppose Peirus.

‘To do that… I’ll have to convince the Eighth Apostle.’

Her left hand, filled with mana, reached for the crystal sphere.

Not to contact Peirus again, but to convey her intentions to the Eighth Apostle, who was operating within Dane.

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

“They’re really leaving…”

I stood atop the watchtower of the barrier, watching the Ka`har forces slowly retreat.

Four days had passed since the defensive battle at the barrier, and they were pulling back their barracks just as Ludwig had predicted.

If they would just return to Ordos, that would be great… but that’s unlikely.

Seeing the cavalry scattered across the barrier regroup, it was clear they weren’t retreating to give up the war but to prepare for the next battle.

So, I couldn’t give the soldier who asked with eyes full of relief and joy the answer he wanted.

“…No, probably not.”

The bloodbath with Ka`har was just beginning.

“Huh…?”

The soldier tilted his head, not understanding my answer. I exhaled cigarette smoke and looked away.

No need to explain.

He’ll find out soon enough.

This was the last time we could fight under the protection of the barrier. From now on, we’d have to face the mounted Ka`har on the plains.

And he’ll realize why the Empire had to block the entire eastern border with a barrier dozens of meters high.

—

“Miss, the Lord of the Borderlands has requested your presence at the military meeting.”

As I was smoking out of frustration, Leonor soon came up to the watchtower and addressed me with formal etiquette. In front of others, her usually casual tone was replaced with stiff formality, which felt oddly out of place.

“Got it. I’ll go now.”

I stomped out my cigarette and followed her down from the watchtower. The makeshift beastman hide armor clattered with each step.

Steel scales on the hide of a paladin. It was far from the Winter Armor, not even as good as Boris’s hide armor, but it was passable as armor.

“That Ludwig guy, is he really planning to fight Ka`har on the plains? Even with you, the odds don’t look good.”

As soon as we were out of sight, Leonor reverted to her usual informal tone.

“It’s not that he wants to fight on the plains, it’s that Or-han is forcing us to. We don’t have a choice.”

“Well, maybe there’s another way. Like attacking Ka`har’s capital while Dane holds them off, or something like that.”

“Hmm…”

I lightly gripped my chin and thought for a moment before coming to a conclusion.

“Burning Ordos might be possible, but then we’d be crushed by the returning Ai-shan army. Once we’re crushed, Or-han will cross the barrier like it’s an open gate.”

Unless Dane was willing to sacrifice themselves to hold Ka`har back, the Imperial Army retreating to the barrier would be much slower than Or-han’s army returning.

In the end, the Imperial Army would face one of two outcomes: being annihilated while isolated in Ordos, or being annihilated in the middle of the Great Plains.

“Is that how it is…”

Leonor clicked her tongue in disappointment, as if she had come up with a brilliant strategy.

Her genuinely disappointed face made me chuckle.

What’s there to be disappointed about? You just suggested a strategy that would destroy the Empire in one go. Did Isabella in your bloodline tell you to do that?