Volume 7 Chapter 6 The Strongest Vs The Fiercest
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Send word to my sister again. We are gaining the upper hand in this battle. If we retreat now, it will hurt our morale.”
”…I must respectfully advise against that. If you defy the orders issued by the Crown Prince, it will be seen as an act of rebellion. Are you certain you want to proceed?”
The courier, a young man from Dragonia, was once affiliated with the former Crown Prince and had recently grown close to Dracul’s second son, who was being favored as an aide.
It seemed my sister had given me the retreat order based on some political judgment.
”…Damn it, is this Dracul’s doing… How can we boast of the Black Dragon’s prowess if we don’t win the fight… Yet, I cannot go against my sister… I suppose I have no choice but to instruct our allies to withdraw…”
”I am grateful for your understanding.”
The courier gave a bow before stepping out from the command tent.
I immediately set about relaying instructions for our retreat.
The summoned aides dashed out of the tent to convey the message.
”We must also call Clayd back… It seems he has ventured quite far… Lookouts! Where is Clayd?”
One of the officers on lookout was scanning the battlefield with a spyglass, his eyes darting around.
Soon, a report came rushing in.
”Sir Clayd is engaged in battle near what appears to be the enemy’s main encampment! It looks quite precarious… Oh! The enemy still has their Magician!”
”Clayd is struggling… That’s absurd! He’s the man who strides through a den of Beast Monsters unscathed! Pay attention!”
”There’s no mistake. Sir Clayd is being pushed back. It seems he’s faltering under the enemy’s magic!”
Frustrated by the lookout’s report, I snatched the spyglass from him and peered in the direction he had been observing.
What I saw through the lenses was a rarely used large-scale spell: *Megid Explosion* poised to unleash its devastation.
”Is that what they’re casting…?”
When the magic landed, the area around Clayd was engulfed in white light.
As the brilliance subsided, it became clear that the man at the epicenter had not a single scratch upon him.
…What is that?
Is he a monster?
To emerge unscathed from Clayd’s full strength… a terrible foreboding arises within me.
”Quick, summon the Elite Troops from the Aerial Squadron. We’re launching a surprise attack on the enemy headquarters. The other units should start their withdrawal as planned. We escape before they catch on.”
As soon as I gave the order, about 20 Elite Troops from the Aerial Squadron gathered in no time.
”We’re going to rescue Clayd now. The headquarters is probably preoccupied with their battle against Clayd. If we strike with a surprise attack, they’re bound to panic. We’ll seize Clayd and retreat in the chaos. That’s all.”
””Roger!””
A concise, powerful response echoed back from the Elite Troops.
I immediately led the handpicked members into the sky.
* * *
After flying for a while, a massive explosion illuminated the area near Gertroud’s headquarters.
The explosion was even larger than the Megid Explosion Clayd had unleashed earlier.
A bad feeling grew, so I increased my speed and flew straight towards the headquarters.
Upon arrival, I found Clayd lying on the ground, one arm gone, the other pierced by a sword.
I instructed the troops to use their breath attacks on the man who was trying to stab Clayd with his enchanted staff.
Just as I thought our attacks had hit their mark, they were nullified by an invisible barrier.
”Vanished! Damn it! Secure Clayd!”
As one Dragonewt tackled the man to the ground, another succeeded in hooking Clayd’s waist with its claw.
”Scatter the breath attacks around. We’ve secured Clayd, so there’s no point in staying any longer. Let’s withdraw!”
Along with the rest of the Aerial Squadron, I unleashed multiple breath attacks around the man, creating a huge dust cloud.
Losing his vision in the dust, the man fled towards his allies in the rear.
The Dragonewts who had secured Clayd began their withdrawal first.
While chasing the retreating enemies with my breath attacks, I provided support for the withdrawal.
Once all our allies had confirmed their departure from above Gertroud’s headquarters, I decided to withdraw leisurely.
* * *
We returned to headquarters and when I saw Clayd, he was in critical condition.
I immediately called for a field healer and had them administer first aid.
Even as we retreated, the number of soldiers left at headquarters dwindled to 2 thousand.
The enemy army was in disarray because of the chaos in their own camp and couldn’t launch a counterattack.
The field healer came to tell me that Clayd had woken up.
I rushed to the field hospital.
”Ugh…Ugno…I almost died…I guess I wasn’t the strongest after all…”
Clayd, his entire body swathed in bandages, mumbled weakly.
The sword wound on his arm had been treated, but the other arm had been severed, and there wasn’t a healer capable of reconstructing it.
”So that man took Clayd’s arm…”
”Hold on, it’s not Gertrud…the inside is completely different. He calls himself Orphée Bleu. His magic knowledge is incredibly profound. He even uses forbidden techniques of the True Demon, and magic that I’ve never seen before.”
Clayd’s eyes, barely visible beneath the bandages, glinted with frustration.
This defeat was a huge blow to Clayd, who had trained his magic relentlessly to become the Kingdom’s strongest.
”Still, Gertrud being such a powerful magician…could it be that the real Demon Lord Orphée Bleu is inside him?”
”But he didn’t cast any magic himself. He used Living Dead magicians surrounding him to cast spells. He himself can’t use magic…”
”I see…I’ll report this to my elder sister. We should also begin our retreat.”
”Damn it! Total defeat!”
”No, our victory. The enemy has lost nearly 20 thousand soldiers. Our losses are far smaller. This is a strategic retreat, not a defeat.”
I gave my subordinates instructions for Clayd’s transport and then issued retreat orders to the remaining members of the airship squadron.
* * *
*Alonsa’s POV
”Alonsa, Sir Gertroud looks furious. What do we do? Do we continue towards the east as planned? Or do we ambush the Black Dragon from behind?”
Nokin, after meeting with Gertroud’s messenger, asked me.
Gertroud had instructed our detachment to attack the enemy from behind.
His orders were precise and highly efficient, but if we destroyed the Black Dragon army, we would likely end up as Living Dead ourselves.
A dog that’s no longer needed is killed…Nokin…you’re not a dog…you should stand as a wolf.
”Nokin…my mission is to make you Garuda’s King. You won’t shine under Gertroud. Now is the time to seize the east and establish the Garuda Dukedom, equal to the Kingdom. Gertroud will head to the Capital City and will be drained by the battle against the Black Dragon army. There’s no need to be tied to a man like that.”
”…Understood. I will follow Alonsa’s lead. Alright, my army will break away from Gertroud’s command and take independent action! Dispatch messengers to each unit, advance towards Vildestia!”
Messengers, who had been waiting patiently, rushed out of the tent to relay Nokin’s orders.
”Alonsa, you will be the first Queen Consort. And I need you to bear my children.”
”I’ll do my best if that is Nokin’s wish. I’ve already dedicated myself.”
When Nokin embraced me, he gently squeezed my chest.
I had been waiting for his touch, but time was of the essence, so I pulled away and spoke to encourage Nokin.
”Let’s do that after Nokin takes Vildestia. Speed is crucial in this operation.”
”Alright, I’ll save the pleasure for later…well, Alonsa. Let us leave immediately!”
Nokin embraced me again and mounted his horse, which was waiting outside the tent.
He then charged out of the bustling camp, ready to depart.
* * *
Nokin then led his 8 thousand troops, liberating the major territories along the eastern town streets.
Most territories lacked even a rudimentary defense force, with the castle guards numbering only in the dozens, or at most a hundred.
Faced with Nokin’s unmatched martial prowess, they surrendered one after another.
The liberated cities quickly became cooperative once Nokin’s forces freed the women who had been enslaved by the Demon God Emperor’s army.
Whispers of Nokin as a liberator from the Demon God Emperor’s rule spread throughout the east.
To solidify Nokin’s image as a liberator, I ordered my own troops, who were under his command, to free the women who had been enslaved.
I promised them titles and stipends in the newly founded Garuda Dukedom, and most agreed to free the women.
However, there were some who refused, and I had them executed as traitors.
This execution tightened discipline within the army, and no longer were there any soldiers who dared to wreak havoc on the liberated territories.
Nokin and I rallied our forces while traveling down the eastern town streets over 3 days, ultimately besieging the eastern metropolis of Vildestia with over ten thousand troops.
The Demon God Emperor’s army garrisoned within the city numbered less than a thousand.
They were caught off guard by our swift advance, forgot to close the city gates, and retreated into the inner castle in a blunder.
We successfully entered Vildestia thanks to the enemy’s mistakes.
”Alonsa… What should we do with the enemy entrenched within the city? Should we slaughter them all?”
Nokin, riding his horse, asked me from behind.
”Hmm… Let’s capture them and have them serve as scapegoats for the city’s ills. We could hold a public trial. But, I don’t want to be too aggressive. The inner castle is heavily fortified…”
As we entered the city on horseback, a woman who looked like a trader approached us.
She was also of the Garuda Clan and, like Nokin, a wolf-kin.
”Sir Nokin! My name is Porcha. I am a trader who travels by carriage throughout the kingdom. I was deeply impressed by Sir Nokin’s righteous actions and, despite my impudence, I wished to offer my assistance.”
The woman of the Wolf tribe had copper-red hair flowing down to her shoulders, tanned skin, and an intelligent expression on her dark features.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more than just an ordinary cart trader.
”Are you called Lady Porcha? I haven’t done anything worthy of such valor. I simply wanted to save the oppressed people of the East.”
Nokin, seemingly intrigued by Porcha, halted his horse and began to converse with her.
”That’s precisely what makes it an act of valor. What Sir Nokin did──what everyone feared to do in the face of Gertroud──speaks volumes about his character.”
”Until 3 days ago, I was a General in the Demon God Emperor’s country. Many Eastern nobles supported Gertroud by striking down their own.”
”And yet, you turned against Gertroud. Against that very Gertroud.”
The surrounding villagers, having overheard their exchange, were captivated by the two’s conversation.
Suddenly, I realized the intent behind her approach to Nokin in this place.
No way… could she also be plotting to make Nokin a king?
”I just want to protect the people of the East. That’s all. Besides, Gertroud assassinated Chief Garuda’s Def Goberg.”
A murmur of shock erupted among the villagers gathered near the castle gates at Nokin’s words.
To be specific, I had guided Gertroud into doing such a thing, but since he carried it out, the mastermind would ultimately be Gertroud.
”So, is Chief Garuda absent at the moment?!”
Porcha spoke up in a voice that seemed a bit exaggerated.
Watching her expression, it was clear she already grasped that Def Goberg was dead.
”Ah, what a loss. He cared most about the future of the Garuda Clan. There may not be another leader like him…”
Nokin replied earnestly, though there was a regal air about his demeanor.
Ever since he decided to become king, he had been rapidly expanding his presence, embodying the dignity of a conqueror.
Whispers arose among the villagers who heard Nokin’s words, murmuring that ‘Sir Nokin should be the next Chief.’
Gradually, the whispers grew louder, and the name ‘Nokin’ began to echo from the villagers gathered at the castle gate.
”Calm down. There’s no way someone like me, just a mere warrior, could ever be recognized as the chief of the Garuda clan.”
”Sir Nokin, please understand that this is the collective will of the people in the East. Only you can rebuild our weary land, ravaged by Gertroud’s plundering! I humbly plead for you to accept the position of chief of the Garuda clan!”
As Porcha bowed deeply, begging, the surrounding villagers began to follow suit, lowering themselves to the ground in supplication.
”Everyone, please raise your heads. This is a tradition that calls for a martial contest among the Eastern nobles to decide such matters. However, given the circumstances, I have no intention of refusing the position of temporary chief of the Garuda tribe for the sake of the East. Once stability returns, we can reconsider.”
The villagers responded to Nokin’s words with cheers and applause.
Dismounting, Nokin helped Porcha back to her feet.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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