“Please reconsider.”
“…”
A desperate plea echoed in Flantsu’s voice.
But despite her heartfelt request, Kesar remained silent, simply gazing at her.
His silence was an unmistakable refusal.
Yet, Flantsu refused to back down.
“Please, I beg you! If nothing else… at least let me help! Please, give me the chance to protect you, even at the cost of my own life…!”
At that moment.
Before she could even finish speaking, Kesar gently placed his hand on her head.
The warmth of his touch silenced her, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Looking into her eyes, Kesar spoke in a calm, steady voice.
“…Do you really not understand why I’m doing this?”
“Kesar…”
“This isn’t about some meaningless victory or glory. I’ve told you before—there’s only one reason I fight. To protect the people I cherish.
So tell me, how could I ever throw you into such a dangerous battle?”
“I… I feel the same way! The reason I fight… it has always been for the one I love—for you, Kesar! So please…!”
Her voice trembled with emotion as she struggled to continue.
But before she could say another word, Kesar pulled her into his arms.
“…I will not die.”
“…!”
“I promise you—I will not die in this war.
So trust me… and follow my orders.”
“Ah…”
His declaration carried an unwavering resolve.
There was no hesitation, no doubt—only absolute confidence.
Flantsu’s heart pounded in her chest.
Women are naturally drawn to strong men.
And thinking back, it was that very strength that had first captured her heart.
She had always harbored feelings for Kesar—but at this moment, that admiration deepened into something far more profound.
Alongside it, a firm, unshakable trust in his words.
“…Understood. I… I believe you. Kesar. And in our victory.”
At her words, Kesar’s lips curled into a deep smile.
The same confident, breathtaking smile that always made her heart race.
Remaining Forces…
With just under 40,000 troops gathered, Hero Anor led his army forward.
Following behind him were two figures who had joined the war effort—General Iskal and Brutus the Mage.
However, neither of them looked particularly pleased.
Their expressions carried a storm of conflicting emotions.
The Demon Lord’s vanguard, which had advanced dangerously close to the Imperial capital, had been completely annihilated.
Not a single demon survived.
A staggering 10,000 enemy soldiers had fallen, among them the infamous Demon Lord Alexander himself.
A great victory, without question.
Yet, at the same time, the cost had been devastating.
25,000 Imperial soldiers had perished in the battle.
Most of them were hastily conscripted militia, but the sheer number of casualties made it a crippling loss.
Not only for the army, but for the Empire itself.
Yes, in terms of raw military losses, wiping out 10,000 elite enemy troops and a Demon Lord could be considered an equal or even favorable exchange.
But politically… this battle would undoubtedly have dire consequences.
“What should we do…? His Majesty may be silent for now, but he won’t let this go unpunished.”
“That’s exactly it. And the Hero, too—no matter how urgent the situation was, acting on his own like this…”
They both knew exactly what kind of Emperor Hiren III was.
A ruler who purged anyone who stepped out of line—without hesitation, without mercy.
And he did so in ways so subtle and calculated that no one would even realize they had been erased—just as he had done with Mari.
If this battle had angered the Emperor, what would happen next?
For now, nothing could be done—the war took priority.
But once the dust settled…
Both Anor and themselves might find their heads on the chopping block.
The thought of it was unbearable.
Especially for them—already tainted by past failures.
“We barely managed to escape punishment for our last defeat… If we fall out of His Majesty’s favor again, that’ll be the end for us.”
“Hmm… For now, we need to tread carefully. You made sure to handle what I asked, right?”
“Of course. His Majesty had already requested a detailed report on the situation here. I made sure to emphasize that this was entirely the Hero’s decision, taken without our consent.”
Desperately, they scrambled to find an escape route.
Having once shared the same fate during Mari’s purge, they were now bound to the same sinking ship.
And if it went down, they would drown together.
At this moment, they were each other’s only allies.
At that moment.
“Emergency! Emergency! Demons spotted ahead!”
“What?!”
“A large force of demons has taken formation. Judging by their numbers, it appears to be their main army!”
The report sent a ripple of unease through the ranks.
This was Golgotha, a vast plain so open that the horizon stretched endlessly in all directions.
It served as the dividing line between the central and western regions of the Empire.
And now, just beyond that plain.
The demon army stood in formation, awaiting battle.
Their appearance was sooner than expected, and the Imperial Army began to waver slightly.
But at that moment, the Hero Anor, leading the charge, raised his voice in command.
“Steady yourselves! Form ranks and prepare for battle!”
With those words, he drew the Holy Sword from his waist.
The blade radiated a fierce, otherworldly energy.
Far stronger than what had been seen before.
Even the ordinary soldiers, who were not sensitive to magic, could feel its overwhelming power.
The sheer presence of the Holy Sword ignited their spirits, pushing their morale to new heights.
“March forward and fight! Charge! I will lead the vanguard and cut down our enemies! We will purge these filthy demons and bring salvation to the Empire!”
“Uwaaaaaah!!!”
“Glory to the Hero!”
“For the Empire!”
The Imperial Army erupted in a deafening battle cry.
Watching this display, Iskal and Brutus, who had been preoccupied with their own concerns about the future, shifted their focus to the imminent battle.
Whatever happened later—they had to win here first.
Pushing aside their fears, they immediately began issuing orders, assuming their roles as commanders.
With their ranks solidified, the Imperial Army advanced toward the frontlines.
Soon, Anor and his troops could see their enemy clearly.
The demon army, standing firm in a disciplined battle formation.
“Their presence alone is overwhelming. We still outnumber them, but a direct confrontation may be too dangerous.”
Iskal spoke cautiously.
Previously, they had set traps, intentionally luring the enemy into an ambush.
Yet despite their efforts, 10,000 elite demons had utterly devastated the Imperial Army, leaving them powerless.
And now, they were about to face the demon army’s true might head-on.
The previous battle had already proven one undeniable fact—a direct confrontation was unwinnable.
For that reason, Anor initially suggested forming a tight defensive formation, focusing on countering the enemy’s attacks rather than charging recklessly.
But.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Not necessary? Do you have another plan?”
At Iskal’s question, Anor let out a sigh, as if irritated by the mere suggestion.
Then, his lips curled into a confident smirk as he gazed down at the Holy Sword Brynac in his hand.
“Just watch. No matter how strong they think they are, before the power of this sword, they’re nothing more than scarecrows.”
“Wait… You’re planning to attack them head-on?! Are you out of your mind?! You saw what happened last time! The enemy is—”
—Whoosh!
—BOOOOM!!
Before Iskal could finish his sentence, Anor swung the Holy Sword forward.
A crimson radiance erupted from the blade.
And in the next instant, a massive explosion engulfed the battlefield.
“T-This is…!”
The land ahead was scorched and obliterated, as if a Grand Mage’s ultimate spell had just been unleashed.
The distance between them and the demon forces was still significant, so the attack hadn’t reached them yet.
But Iskal had no trouble imagining what would have happened if this had been unleashed at close range.
“…Gulp.”
“Just stay back and hold the line. By the end of today, not a single demon will leave this place alive.”
“…A-Alright.”
With a trembling voice, Iskal nodded.
Then, without hesitation, he turned and hurried back to his formation.
Watching his retreating figure, Anor let out a cold, satisfied smile.
‘Honestly, they never believe it until I show them my power.’
If someone refused to be convinced, it only meant they lacked the strength to persuade them.
That was the absolute truth—and as Iskal reaffirmed this thought, his gaze returned to the demon army.
And then.
The moment the commanders confirmed that all ranks had been properly formed,
Anor slowly raised the Holy Sword high above his head.
“Attack!”
“Uwaaaaaaah!!!”
Riding his white warhorse, Anor charged forward.
And like a swarm of ants, the Imperial Army followed behind him, rushing into battle.
Their target.
The very center of the demon formation.
Arrows and spells rained down from the enemy’s side, but Anor weaved through them effortlessly.
Or cut them down midair, his unstoppable momentum carrying him straight toward the enemy lines.
And then.
“Die!!”
With a powerful swing of the Holy Sword, Anor unleashed Brynac’s devastating power.
With this one strike.
Hundreds of enemies would be eradicated in an instant.
—Clang!!
“…!?”
A heavy impact.
A sudden, jarring resistance.
His follow-up attack was completely cut off, leaving an unsettling and shocking sensation in his hands.
Anor’s eyes widened in disbelief.
And then.
A single figure came into view.
A demon—standing firm, holding a shield, his arm raised to deflect the attack.
His eyes locked onto Anor’s, unwavering.