ALL NOVEL Chapter 434
As news of the Cult’s offensive reached the Baron Family, everyone swallowed hard.
According to the intelligence operatives from the Central Fortress and Arael Fortress, this assault was predicted to be significantly different from the sporadic battles we had faced until now. The soldiers who had received news from Arael Fortress felt a palpable tension.
Thankfully, it seemed that despite the fear, they did not intend to avoid battle.
I took in the sight of everyone resolutely holding their ground and spoke up.
“Just because the offensive has begun doesn’t mean we need to move first. Our role as the Baron Family is to face the demons, not merely to hunt down cultists.”
Whether it be Shione’s Special Mission Team, stationed a bit further away, or myself, we were destined to conserve our strength as much as possible, ready to engage the demon immediately when it appeared. For now, we just needed to ensure that the cultists who had broken through this far were dealt with. Whether or not the demon would arrive was still uncertain, so there was no need to rush to the front lines and wear down our forces.
To prepare for the demon’s eventual arrival, I addressed the commanders.
“What’s the status of the Knights and Assault Brigade?”
“Our knights from the Baron Family have completed all their preparations and are waiting for your orders, My Lord. During our time at Arael Fortress, they learned the unique combat methods of the northern knights. Given today’s weather, they should be able to handle it much more skillfully than before.”
Hanelrn’s voice showed no sign of wavering.
It seems the preparation of the Knights is assured. At the very least, they should be able to perform their part adequately.
“…The Special Assault Brigade seems unlikely to display the same level of skill as before. The blizzard originating from Arael Fortress is growing larger by the moment, and at this rate, visibility will diminish, making it difficult to charge forward.”
The Special Assault Brigade was facing an environment where it was hard to demonstrate its abilities due to the terrible weather brought forth by the Old Dragon.
“That’s troublesome.”
Our objective for the Special Assault Brigade was to swiftly engage the enemy, obstructing the Gluttony’s path as much as possible. Using our superior mobility to draw its attention was of utmost importance.
“In that case, I’ll be joining the Assault Brigade myself.”
“My Lord, this time we’ll be facing a demon directly. If you were to be severely injured—”
“Didn’t you see how well I rode during the last encounter with Theia? There’s no need to worry. And if you charge ahead through this awful weather without me, it would be hard for any of the Assault Brigade to return alive.”
“……”
Normally, I would have considered staying in the formation with our knights to confront the demon, but as I resolved to join the Assault Brigade again, Dorothy lent me her support.
“In that case, the reserve squad of wizards will fully protect the Assault Brigade. In times of critical danger, they should be able to shine with their magic once or twice.”
“The wizard captain agrees.”
“Well, My Lord is indeed unyielding.”
I had felt it ever since we decided to charge into the Erosion Zone—it was truly going to be this intense.
As I mounted a horse, catching my breath, I noted the concerns of Theia, who fretted about potentially losing the Baron of her family. The reactions of the two commanders next to her seemed to express agreement.
With their responses, reflecting a semblance of real trust rather than mere feigned loyalty, I steeled myself.
Finally, we could reveal the kingdom’s main foe we had been waiting for.
“Message from Her Highness, the Princess! It has been reported that an entity identified as a Great Demon has appeared beyond the northeastern foothills! It seems the demon is quickly heading towards Arael Fortress!”
“I understand. What troops will be protecting the Assault Brigade on their way to the foothills?”
“By the order of Her Highness, the royal regular army will assist the Baron Family’s advance.”
“Let’s depart immediately. Hanelrn, Dorothy, I entrust the command of the main force to you.”
“Leave it to us. We will arrive without fail.”
Upon hearing the news of the Gluttony Demon’s appearance, the entire Assault Brigade sharpens their gaze.
Knights rode forth, trusting their mounts and weaponry, charging at the enemy to smash them down. Their aspirations for victory and desire to crush a greater foe would not wane, even before a demon that consumed dragons.
With the assistance from the spirits, we began our charge towards the foothills where the demon had emerged.
“The spirits of My Lord have cleared the blizzard! Everyone, forward!”
Though clearing the blizzard would consume a significant amount of our mana, I still had a decent amount of mana potions prepared.
Clenching the first bottle between my teeth, I communicated with the spirits who would play pivotal roles in this battle.
“Tania, Elvis. We’re up against the Gluttony demon again. You remember what it feels like, right?”
—You mean that gaunt wild dog? If we have enough mana, I’ll just burn it to ash.
—I… I don’t like it. I got eaten once and was forcefully summoned back, ugh…
“Fortunately, it seems you both remember well. We’ll need to stall until the demon hunting squad arrives, so keep an eye on it until Orna can pin it down securely.”
—Mya!
While Tania and Elvis grimaced at the mention of the Gluttony, Orna, who had yet to face it, responded confidently.
Even though it was a foe we had beaten before, the way they expressed confidence without treating it like an unbeatable enemy boosted my own confidence.
Riding on horseback, I readied my bow and arrows as I recalled past memories.
“From now on, we’ll engage at the foothills where the demon is closing in! Stalling for time is all we need, so let’s ensure there’s always an escape route!”
As the coniferous trees thinned out, a flat foothill emerged.
A frozen valley. Scattered dilapidated huts stood quietly across the vast land.
Even in freezing winter or lively summer, that foothill would certainly be a stunning sight. As I navigated through the biting cold winds, the demon’s presence finally began to wash over me.
“Royal regular army and the cavalry from other houses are also coming at the same time. It seems we’ve arrived first.”
“It’s because My Lord is with us. It would have taken much longer for the Assault Brigade to reach here without you.”
As I stood waiting for our cavalry to arrive while keeping a lookout ahead, I felt the ever-growing aura of the demon and grimaced.
‘It’s just like I remembered the Gluttony to be.’
Facing it before was no easy task as it attempted to gnaw at my very skin with its magic.
Even if I somehow managed to block it with mana, the feeling of numerous insects gnawing at my skin was utterly revolting.
But at the same time, there was something odd.
‘…There aren’t any cultists near the Gluttony. Did they set up a plan or something?’
Even if the soldiers who had been escorting us were doing their best to block any approaches from the cultists in the area, it was bizarre that there were unusually few fanatics near the demon.
I found myself thinking once again that the worshippers of the Gluttony were a very peculiar and eccentric group.
‘…A dead wind is blowing in.’
—A wind can’t die, you know? I’ve never heard of that before.
—Mya…
—Wait, are you saying you’re ignorant? I’m just more familiar with fire than wind! But… my flame is definitely flickering.
The demon’s magic, as it exists, destroys life itself and devours every environment. Spirits born from nature despise demons, and their reactions began to intensify.
Before meeting the demon, I shouted to all members of the Assault Brigade.
“Demon approaching! Surround yourselves with mana!”
“What are you all doing!? Didn’t My Lord say to surround yourselves with mana?!”
The battle with the demon was imminent.
With my familiar companions Shione and Diolia not by my side, and while the spirits were focusing on dispelling the storm and cold, the responsibility we held felt crucial, and tension surged within me.
—Father, over there!
At Elvis’s shout, I turned my head sharply. In the distance, wavering in the blizzard, was a faint red light. I could see its two eyes shining with a vicious glare, fixating on us.
“Ah.”
A sense of electricity shot through my entire body, making the hairs on my skin stand upright.
My instincts warned me. If we were to face off with the demon using just the Assault Brigade, I would become its snack.
“I see.”
Even back when I caught it in the dungeon.
It may have been easier to capture compared to other demons, but I had still felt threatened for my life against the considerable power it wielded.
“I’m losing my mind.”
I nocked an arrow to my bowstring and pulled back to enhance my vision.
The concealed form of the demon finally came into view.
‘It has proper weight on its body now.’
It was strikingly different from the gaunt shape I had faced previously.
Its ribs were no longer showing, and its legs no longer thin. The demon, once on the brink of starvation and resembling a wild dog, now had a silhouette resembling that of a tiger.
Could I really stall for time against it?
But even so, the bowstring, and my arrows, remained steady despite the intense blizzard.
“I’ve spotted the demon! Everyone, form up as we discussed beforehand!”
If I was going to lose my mind, I might as well be driven to madness against such a monster.
Demons and cultists needed to be terrified and hunted, and it was impossible to carry out such acts without losing a bit of sanity.
With a whoosh─!
The moment the arrow, imbued with the power of wind, left my hand, combat began.
“Spread out! The royal regular army led by Her Highness is rushing here along with cavalry from other houses! If we can hold on a little longer, the demon won’t be able to make its way to Arael Fortress! Surround it to distract its attention! Buy us time!”
As if unfurling their wings, the Special Assault Brigade began to widen their distances while advancing.
Essentially, the central main force would provoke the Gluttony, and when it was drawn to them, our forces surrounding it would attack to draw its attention and delay its advance as much as possible.
Although the absence of cultists had turned into a growing source of anxiety, we couldn’t avoid combat with the demon that had already been intent on hunting us.
“Hit!”
As soon as the projectile I sent out to indicate the demon’s location made contact and exploded, I readied my stance to meet it.
“My Lord!”
“From the start…!”
The sight of the Gluttony Demon charging madly from the explosion crack hit my vision.
Its speed, fueled by the ample energy it had stored, was incomprehensible compared to the gaunt creature it had been before.
Dashing as if the ground was folding beneath it, the technique was one I would only use when I desperately needed to take someone down before things became troublesome.
And maybe it had singled me out as its target from the onset.
Throwing myself from my horse against the fierce charge of the demon, I yelled.
“Orna, catch me!”
I left the impact of the fall to the spirit.
In an instant, I withdrew my secondary weapon, readying my sword for a counter. Maintaining my balance, I floated in the air in front, preparing to wield my sword.
The Gluttony was still fixated on me, gnawing at the unfortunate horse instead.
In that fleeting moment, gathering the wind in my sword, I slashed through the air, firing a sharp gust of wind towards it.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know that move?”
It was the same technique that had made Elvis temporarily disappear once before.
Our spirits, and myself, certainly weren’t soft enough to fall for the same trick again.