Under the gloomy sky, the cemetery was filled with the scent of damp earth.
Countless white tombstones stood in silence, with a few bouquets of flowers placed before them. Amidst the deathly silence, there was a touch of warmth.
General Breno, filled with anger, found Saintess Selis sitting in front of a nameless tombstone.
He urgently revealed everything about the rumors and the investigation order, his tone agitated and his fists trembling from his tight grip.
To his astonishment, Selis remained exceptionally calm after hearing him out.
She didn’t even turn around, her gaze still fixed on the tombstones. Then, she slowly raised the Star Pendant in her hand.
Under the overcast sky, the pendant emitted a faint glow.
The starlight within the star-shaped gem was nearly full, seemingly needing only one last sliver to be completely replenished.
“Since General Gerald wants to protect Snow City Fortress, let him protect it. As for that investigator from the Empire, whatever orders he gives, you all only need to obey them.”
After a long while, she turned her head slightly, her gaze scanning over Breno with indifference.
Breno could hardly believe his ears. He took a step forward, his voice hoarse with urgency. “But, if we do that, Snow City Fortress…”
“If something happens to Snow City Fortress, aren’t you all here?”
Selis gently interrupted him. Her gaze fell back onto the nearly complete pendant, the corners of her mouth curling into a meaningful arc.
In an instant, Breno understood the meaning behind her words.
Because they were there, even if the demons breached the city, they could still save the entire fortress. This meant…
If General Gerald wanted to protect the fortress, then let him. If he failed to defend it, then instead of merit, the Empire would likely punish him and his territory severely.
As for the possibility of General Gerald actually holding the fortress…
Breno, who knew all too well how terrifying the demons were, did not think he could achieve it.
With the matter settled, Breno’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly. He looked deeply at the Saintess’s back and said solemnly, “…The Saintess is brilliant.”
This gentle and kind Saintess seemed far less simple than she appeared.
***
A few days later, the investigator sent by the Empire arrived at Snow City Fortress.
He was a Deputy from the Command Department whose rank was far higher than the General of Snow City Fortress. Surrounded by a group of elite soldiers, he rode into the fortress headquarters with an air of arrogance.
By the light of the fireplace, he let out a faint smile and then sat casually in the main seat that originally belonged to Breno. He spoke with a habitual bureaucratic tone:
“General Breno, you and the Rose Knights, as well as the Cross Knights, have performed a great service in defending Snow City Fortress. Now that the war is nearing its end, you can all take a rest.”
Breno stood before him, his posture still upright, but his brow furrowed as he spoke:
“Rest? If we step down, who will protect Snow City Fortress? The war is in its final stages, but it’s not over yet.”
A flash of impatience crossed the Deputy’s face, but it was quickly masked by a hypocritical smile.
“General Gerald can, can’t he? Breno, I know you’re worried about credit, but rest assured, when the war ends, I will report everything you’ve done one by one.”
Saying this, he leaned back in his chair, his tone carrying a faint hint of threat.
“Sometimes, being too stubborn isn’t a good thing. Breno, as the General of Snow City Fortress, don’t you understand this best?”
Breno’s eyes suddenly became sharp. He looked directly at the Deputy, a few hints of sarcasm appearing at the corners of his mouth.
“Do you think I came to this fortress because I offended some Lord and was demoted? If that’s what you think, I suggest you look into why I actually came here.”
Breno had originally been a Noble of the Empire.
For the sake of the Empire’s people, he had voluntarily given up his privileged aristocratic life to personally petition to come to the fortress and guard the Imperial borders.
In his eyes, guarding the frontier was an exceptionally glorious duty, not the thankless dirty work these Nobles perceived it to be.
Even within the same Empire, there was a massive gap between Nobles. A deep sense of exhaustion and disgust welled up in Breno’s heart. He stopped arguing and simply said coldly:
“I have nothing left to say to you. Your rank is higher than mine, so how the fortress is managed is your call. However, please remember, you cannot command the Rose Knights or the Cross Knights.”
After finishing, Breno didn’t give the Deputy another glance. He turned and strode out of the command room, leaving the empty room to the Deputy.
Watching his departing back, the muscles on the Deputy’s face twitched. He let out a contemptuous sneer and whispered a mockery to the attendant beside him:
“Hmph, acting so tough, yet he compromised in the end.”
Afterward, the self-satisfied Deputy found Leanna and Morton, who were resting in the camp. He straightened his back purposefully, a winner’s smile plastered on his face.
“You two…”
Just as he opened his mouth, Leanna seemed to already know about the matter. She didn’t even look at him, simply lowering her head to wipe her sword, interrupting him in a flat tone:
“No need for words. We’ll leave the fortress’s defense to you. We’re going to rest.”
No emotion could be heard in her voice, but that decisive abandonment made the Deputy’s heart skip a beat for some reason.
Beside her, Commander Morton crossed his arms and let out an ambiguous hum. At the same time, his weathered face was filled with unmasked doubt:
“The Cross Knights feel the same. Since your Excellency and General Gerald are so confident, the front line is in your hands. But… I hope you can actually hold this fortress.”
By the end, his voice was laced with sarcasm.
Irritated by their attitude, the Deputy tried to save face. He watched their departing backs and muttered to himself with feigned ease:
“What’s so hard about it? Do they really think those demons have some hidden trump card?”
It was the end of the war, and the Norwich Empire’s defeat was already sealed. How could they possibly have the means to counterattack?
Seeing Leanna and the others back down, a flash of wild joy crossed Gerald’s eyes, though he still feigned a calm and even somewhat worried expression.
“Lord Deputy, this…”
“Go on. I believe the soldiers of the Barnes Territory are brave and skilled in battle. They will repel the demons. When the time comes, I will put in a good word for you to the Imperial Command.”
Gerald finally couldn’t help but laugh, but he still hesitated slightly:
“Well, I heard that the Imperial Queen and the Saintess are very close. If the Saintess…”
The Deputy impatiently interrupted him, his tone certain:
“Very close? That’s Lady Isavel. The Saintess who came to the fortress this time is Lady Selis. Why would she be close to the Imperial Queen?”
“Besides, if she really wanted to act, she would have done so already. Her silence means she doesn’t want to interfere in such matters.”
Speaking of this, he patted Gerald’s shoulder and switched to an encouraging tone:
“General Gerald, this is a great opportunity for the Viscount Barnes, and for you personally, to achieve great things and make a name for yourselves in the Empire! Don’t let it go to waste!”
Hearing “achieve great things” and “make a name,” the hesitation in Gerald’s eyes was quickly replaced by greed and ambition. He puffed out his chest and struck his breastplate heavily with his right hand, making a dull thud.
“Please be at ease, Lord Deputy! The warriors of my Barnes Territory will never waste this chance! We will ensure those Abyssal bastards never return!”
***
Soon, the fortress began a rotation of forces.
The Rose Knights and the Cross Knights withdrew from the defense line in a coordinated manner, handing over the positions to the high-spirited soldiers of the Barnes Territory.
However, the gap between them was evident even during the handover.
The Rose Knights and the Cross Knights were more disciplined, while the soldiers of the Barnes Territory, though high-spirited, were laughing and talking throughout the changeover, resembling undisciplined mercenary bands.
The battlefield did not remain quiet for long. A few days later, a scout rushed into the command post, his face devoid of color and his voice distorted by extreme fear.
“General, General! A demon tide is attacking!”
Gerald, who had been fantasizing about his future military merits, was stunned for a moment.
Then, excitement appeared on his face. Grabbing the scout’s arm, he led him up the tower.
“Quickly, let me see how many demons there are!”
Ascending the tower and using Magic, Gerald saw the black tide slowly surging across the distant horizon like a wave of filth.
Not only was he not nervous, but he burst into loud laughter.
“What is this? With such small numbers, they dare to attack a human fortress?”
He drew his sword and pointed it out the window, his voice sharp with excitement.
“By my command, the first ten squads, attack! Tear them apart! The other units provide support. We’ll show these bastards from the Abyss who the true masters of this battlefield are!”
Under his command, the soldiers of the Barnes Territory summoned their courage and roared as they charged out of the relatively safe defense line.
However, the moment they actually collided with the demon tide, the situation instantly spiraled beyond Gerald’s imagination.
The bizarre nature of these demons far exceeded their imagination. The Beasts they had thought were powerful were utterly vulnerable before these demons.
The shields and armor held by the Barnes soldiers were instantly pierced, blood staining the ground.
The demons they managed to hack to death crawled back up from the ground, writhing, just moments later.
At the same time, countless black shadows, as fast as wolves, darted across the ground.
They ignored the swords in front of them, emerging eerily from beneath the soldiers’ feet or shadows to deliver fatal sneak attacks with sharp claws. It was impossible to defend against.
Even more terrifyingly, several monsters made of blackness appeared at the rear of the demon tide.
Their entire bodies were nothing but mouths, and they emitted invisible mental shocks.
Many soldiers were hit by the mental shocks and descended into chaos before even getting close to the demons, swinging their swords wildly at friend and foe alike.
In an instant, the battlefield turned into a one-sided slaughter!
The brave charge of the Barnes soldiers appeared so pale and weak against these demons with their bizarre abilities.
Their formations were cut and dispersed. Screams and wails replaced war cries. The demon tide that had initially seemed small now transformed into a deathly vortex devouring lives.
The excitement and contempt on Gerald’s face had long since vanished without a trace, replaced by extreme horror and disbelief.
He watched helplessly as the troops he had placed his hopes on collapsed within a mere dozen minutes, seeing his soldiers fall like stalks of wheat.
“Hold your ground! Anyone who retreats will be executed!”
He brandished his sword and roared in vain.
Unfortunately, his voice seemed so weak and ridiculous amidst the earth-shaking roars of the demons and the dying wails of humans.
The defense line was crumbling at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He gritted his teeth and shouted with a pale face, “All soldiers, hear my command! Hold the line! This is a death order!”
Under this order, soldiers who had merely been providing support gripped their weapons and surged onto the defense line to hold back the demons.
However, they ultimately fell prey to fear due to the demons’ bizarre nature, suffering massive casualties.
Fortunately, as time passed, the few demons were brought down.
Though they could continuously resurrect, multiple resurrections within a short time were enough to deplete the Abyssal Magic in their bodies.
The Barnes military relied on this single fact to defeat the demons.
However…
Gazing at the corpses strewn across the battlefield, the backs of countless deserters, and the remaining scattered wounded, Gerald trembled all over, his face ashen.
The dreams of Viscount Barnes and his own achievement of merit shattered completely in the face of this cruel reality, turning into icy fear and despair.
Not only that, it was only at this moment that he truly understood the depths of the ruinous situation Viscount Barnes and his foolish confidence had brought them into.