Volume 9 Chapter 33 Day One, End (Hikari’s Struggle)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Gahaha! Nothing tastes better than the wine of victory!”
”Damn right. First day, and a crushing win.”
That night, the Black Flame General Grano and the Black Sword King Berhardt drank deep with their staff officers. They had pulled their armies back—not out of caution, but because they wanted to savor their triumph and toast it with liquor.
By normal standards, it was a flagrant breach of discipline. But the Ghost Army prized pleasure above order. Victories existed to be enjoyed. For-Elda, commander of the Fourth Army, had also ceased fire, claiming she needed to service and improve her cannons. To McGaref’s defenders, the lull was a godsend.
”I hear they were ranked.”
”Who?”
”Both of them. The commander you cut down in single combat at dusk… and that pretty little girl we captured alive.”
”The spearman. They called him Phantom Spear. His reach tricks were clever enough. But my sword was better.” Berhardt smirked.
”Most men are beneath you.”
”And the girl was strong too. But drained. Your ambush forced her to burn through her magic. By the time I fought her, she was wrung dry. Bit of a letdown.”
”They say she held the line so her comrades could escape. Cute face, guts of steel. Tomorrow, His Majesty will have his fill of her… then off goes her head.”
Kito Ginga had always been slight, almost feminine. Berhardt had mistaken him for a girl, sparing his life as a gift for the First Emperor. Had he known the truth, Ginga would have been cleaved in two on the spot. For now, ignorance was his one shred of luck.
”Still, Cartera went overboard. We could’ve enjoyed a proper battle against those two thousand Gonan soldiers.”
”Gahaha! And you, stuck loosing arrows all day—of course you’re bitter. But two ranked opponents in a single day? Don’t whine.”
”That’s just it. Tomorrow it’s more arrows for me, isn’t it?”
”Quit complaining. Storming a fortress is the real joy. Break the walls, shatter the barrier, flood the soldiers inside.”
Grano’s eyes gleamed with memory. Once, he had ridden beside the First Emperor when Quvar was nothing more than a petty duchy. Together with Cartera, they had expanded the empire’s reach across the continent. She slaughtered, he subdued. Nations that refused surrender were put to the sword and plundered. By the standards of that blood-soaked age, mere survival was mercy. McGaref itself had been annexed in those days.
”Yeah, yeah. But it’s always me doing the heavy lifting.”
”The strong carry the field. Kill everyone but the beauties, and stop griping.”
”…Then give me something more than liquor as a reward.”
Berhardt grumbled, but without bitterness. Grano had worked him like this even in life. And truthfully, he lived for strong opponents. That was his only desire, now that he had flesh again.
”Fine. Next strong one shows, I’ll let you know. Be patient.”
Neither of them yet knew that on the northern front, Asakura Chinatsu was cutting through the undead like a demon princess, rewriting the battlefield into legend.
* * *
”Shion-chan…”
”He’s alive. Ginga’s still alive.”
Even after hearing that Ginga had likely been captured by Berhardt’s unit, Shion’s voice was steady.
”This is war. Kanare’s dead. Suenaga-kun, Yoshizuka-kun—gone. Nothing is certain. I can’t afford to lose myself just because it’s my lover at stake.”
It was the first time since their teleportation that a classmate had truly fallen. But no one had the luxury to grieve. Shion stroked her stomach tenderly, whispering:
”But I can feel it. His magic lingers in me. It tells me he lives.”
Beneath the walls, Rira and I worked the relief stations. We cooked, treated the wounded, washed the blood from their clothes. Shiori’s medicine saved the worst cases. The women and non-combatants—Yawashi Jiro, Takada Honoka, and many more—did what we could.
”Shion-chan… does that mean—”
”Don’t ask me more. Please. If I lose him… I couldn’t go on.”
”We’re sorry. We’re useless.”
”Not useless. I’m the same. My only contribution is Magic Power Transfer. I’ll restore Scaya and Beria’s reserves, circulate their power before they collapse. That’s enough.”
She left, and Rira and I returned to our pallets. We needed every ounce of rest before the next assault.
”Hey, Rira,” I murmured. “Do you think… we should be like the courtesans?”
The courtesans not only cooked and cleaned. At night, they spread their legs for the soldiers. It was systematized, controlled—one release per man, no more. Still, the troops swarmed to them, desperate for solace in flesh. Service after service, like a ritualized gang r*pe, until every man had his turn.
Rira shook her head. “No. Leave it. We’re Takumi-kun’s slaves. We betray our Master, we’re nothing. Even Ms. Natalie… all she’s done is let them lay their heads in her lap. No sex.”
”Yeah. You’re right… but Rira, can I tell you something important?”
”What is it?”
”If McGaref falls. If things turn hopeless. We need to decide now who lives.”
Her face darkened. She knew where I was going.
”The Ring of Invisibility—you take it. If it comes to it, leave us. Hide. You have Divine Oracle. You’re the most important.”
”And you have Lucky Charm. You’re just as rare.”
”Then you’re first. I’m second. That’s what we decided, all of us—Rinko, Ouji, Honoka, Yawashi, Mido. You survive first.”
”You cut me out?”
”I’m sorry. I settled it without asking.”
Rira just stared. She knew me. She knew I could never abandon anyone. And yet here I was, proposing my own life beneath hers. That was how far I’d wrestled with this, how deep the fear ran.
”…Fine. But we fight to keep everyone alive. That’s what matters. Now sleep. Tomorrow we’ll be on the walls ourselves, shields in hand.”
I let it drop. But the weight of it stayed, heavy and cold.
(Takumi-kun… please save us. Yoshizuka-kun, Kanare-san, even Suenaga-kun—your friend—are already gone…)
And so the first day of McGaref’s defense ended, drowned in despair.
Notes:
• Grano – The Black Flame General, a legendary figure from Quvar’s past, now resurrected as part of the First Emperor’s ghostly host. Known for his ruthless tactics and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, Grano commands a significant portion of the undead army. He is disdainful of the living, particularly those who oppose the Emperor’s plans, and shows no mercy in battle. His presence, alongside other legendary generals like Belhart, underscores the immense threat posed by the Emperor’s forces. First mentioned in v9c7.
• McGaref – Fortress city, adventurer hub.
• Kito Ginga – 1st Division leader. Modest, respected.
• Cartera – Eternal Witch — The First Emperor’s mistress and a resurrected sorceress of immense power. Cruel and seductive, she takes pleasure in destruction and defilement. Her loyalty to the Emperor is absolute, and she shares his desire to end the world. First appears in v9c3.
• Chinatsu – White Wall — Black hair, B-cup. Adventurous, masochistic, Takumi’s first slave & lover. Master of Asakura-ryu Iaijutsu, wields cursed sword Chisame (blood-powered). 12th-ranked fighter, close to Hikari. First appears in v1c1 Prologue.
• Shion-chan – Ginga’s GF. Archery, healing.
• Shion – Ginga’s GF. Archery, healing.
• Suenaga-kun – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
• Suenaga – Classmate, Kahoru’s customer.
• Kanare – The stern battalion commander, who once led Chinatsu, shares a solemn mission, his eyes reflecting battlefield memories.
• Takada Honoka – 5th Army. Identifies edible herbs, works with Yawashi.
• Rira – A classmate and one of Takumi-kun’s harem members. She has J-cup breasts and short black hair, which she plans to dye blue. Rira enjoys playful and creative expressions of intimacy, including cosplay and affectionate physical affection. Rira is also known for her ‘Intuition’ skill, which has been evolving into something more advanced. She is a key figure in Takumi-kun’s life, offering both emotional and physical support. First appearance in v1c15.
• Scaya – The ‘Flame Witch,’ employed by the Dark Elves; captured after the battle where the Celon Dukedom army was defeated.
• Natalie – A famous courtesan and former noblewoman; platinum blonde, busty, and elegant; known as Natalie Barklem, daughter of the Duke of Lesta Kingdom.
• Rinko – She’s mentioned as the one who attempted to rescue Shion, but Ginga-kun protected her instead, leaving a scar on Shion’s abdomen.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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