Volume 10 Chapter 21 The Day Before the Star Fortress Defense
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”My Lord, good morning.”
”Ah, good morning. You’ve heard the news, I take it? We’re going into council now. If there are any arrangements you need to make, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
”Understood.”
As I called Suzette and the others to assemble, I returned to the chapel.
I lightly tapped Flavia’s back as we passed each other.
The Forestkin princess tilted her head. After a moment, she placed her hand on my back, mimicking my action.
”You don’t have to copy me,” I said, ruffling her hair.
During discussions, she tends to remain silent and observe. But today, I want her to actively offer her opinions.
She is a Forestkin, a long-lived race. She may be a sheltered princess, but she must have lived for one hundred and thirty years. If she possesses one hundred and thirty years of experience that I lack, then her knowledge cannot be dismissed.
Even if her response just now was childish, I’ll overlook it for now.
”My Lord, before the war council, may I ask one thing?”
”Hm?”
Just before the chapel entrance, Flavia stopped, blocking my path.
”If the source of information and the situation are clear, then at least issue the mobilization order. If the battle is tomorrow, we should have the soldiers prepare immediately. Even if preparations are already complete, we must inform them of the enemy’s approach and shift them into a wartime mindset.”
”I see. You’re right.”
It was early morning. I felt like letting everyone sleep soundly.
But there was no time for such leisurely thoughts. The enemy army was expected to reach here as early as tonight, or by dawn tomorrow.
Klock tolerates human laziness. Because Klock himself wants to slack off.
As a result, many soldiers have been slacking off until today.
It couldn’t be helped, as it had been nothing but peace. However, that relaxed attitude must not be carried onto tomorrow’s battlefield.
I must wake them up immediately, give them swords, and put them in their positions.
”Frankly speaking, we have no chance of winning.”
A loud bell rang outside.
Amidst the clamor of voices, the Forestkin princess’s clear voice cut through the air.
In the old chapel, a tense atmosphere flowed, as if it had regained its former majesty before decay.
”Normally speaking, we wouldn’t even stand a chance in this fight.”
”Yeah. Even if we fought with all our might, overcoming this predicament would be difficult.”
Following her words, the voices of my partner, dressed as a servant, and the Merfolk princess joined in.
The group, who had gathered much earlier than usual, wore grim expressions after receiving the situation report.
The war council began in the cold, damp air of dawn.
”…Well, normally speaking, that’s how it would be.”
”The enemy is a massive army of fifty thousand. We are barely three hundred. This is not a gap that can be bridged with petty tricks. We’ve made preparations until today, but the numbers are simply too overwhelming. This small castle cannot withstand such a force.”
”Even assuming we act in our best interest, it’s not a number we can handle. If we make a mistake, the outcome will be decided in an instant. If they break through into the castle, we won’t even be able to escape.”
Flavia sat upright in her seat, back straight.
Primlena sat on the back of her chair. Primrity stood beside her.
Despite the darkness outside, Suzette, already dressed in elegant formal wear, showed no signs of sleepiness.
All of them, from the start, had reached the same conclusion.
This battle was unwinnable.
”If possible, I’d like to face them head-on.”
That was the premise for being here in the first place.
It would be too wasteful to abandon the fortress, which we had invested so much money, effort, and time into renovating, without a single fight.
Considering the numerous disadvantages of fleeing, there was no other option but to fight.
However, I couldn’t deny what Flavia and the others were implying.
Normally, sieges are overwhelmingly advantageous for the defenders. Especially with many magic users, their defensive power increases dramatically.
But even that has its limits. The numerical disadvantage is simply too great. It was clear to everyone that the situation was dire.
”But, don’t we have a chance of winning?”
The voice belonged to someone who hadn’t been among this group until now.
All eyes turned to her.
She sat on a long bench, legs crossed but back straight, exuding an aura of pure innocence.
Despite the attention, she spoke with an unyielding posture.
”The preparations for this fortress are solid. We have sufficient supplies. The soldiers’ morale is high, and the fortress is in an easily defensible strategic location. We are at a disadvantage in numbers, yes, but I believe we can hold out.”
”Lady Fit.”
She was there, hair down, dressed casually without armor or a bow.
Fit of the Two Fangs. An A-rank adventurer and archer.
Also known as Ryona, her name meaning ‘lion.’ She was the fourth princess of the Kingdom of Crotopone.
”Large armies are very weak in prolonged warfare. With so many monsters, the Majin must be having trouble managing them. It will be difficult to continuously supply food and provisions for the monsters, so they will likely be forced to withdraw.”
Fit’s words brought a hush to the room.
She was a member who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Hero. Her words, spoken as she was welcomed into their war council, carried genuine weight.
”That was the original plan, you know. If we can hold them off for a certain period, they’ll have no choice but to retreat. We just need to put our all into the initial assault. The war won’t last for months, at least.”
An army of fearless monsters.
They seemed dangerous at first glance, but their greatest weakness was supply.
Due to their sheer numbers, they required vast amounts of food and provisions, and the monsters themselves lacked the ability to prepare them.
Monsters have no wisdom to prepare food like humans, nor hands to move skillfully.
If they cannot gather, produce, or stockpile food, how can they continue the war?
Therefore, the Demonkin who control them must handle their supply.
”They were stationed in Sanrid because they were devouring the nearby grain-producing areas. Once they move away from places they can eat, they will be forced to decide the battle quickly.”
”Most monsters are carnivores, aren’t they, my lord?”
That was likely on everyone’s mind.
Why would carnivorous monsters eat from grain fields?
”They seem to be eating plants, likely forced by the Lorelei’s song. Even if it’s not their usual diet, they’re consuming whatever they can.”
Well, that’s probably it.
Even carnivorous monsters are being forced to eat anything. Otherwise, there’s no way they could maintain their numbers.
I heard they even fed on the residents of Basselow.
It was a cruel and despicable act. However, it could also be evidence that they are struggling to sustain the monsters now.
”If they’re just beasts eating random weeds, there’s nothing to be afraid of. They’re probably weaker than monsters that eat meat. If we face them head-on, we might actually be able to mow them down.”
”With all due respect, I believe that way of thinking is naive.”
Flavia interrupted Klock’s confident words.
She, who seemed to be the most supportive of him, had just denied him outright.
Slightly surprised, Klock raised an eyebrow.
She was the one who had first stated that there was no chance of winning.
”Even against an enemy force of this magnitude, my lord, you would undoubtedly perform with unparalleled brilliance on the battlefield. Your wisdom and talent are beyond that of ordinary men. However, the enemy is a massive army of fifty thousand. To deal with them, we unfortunately lack allies.”
While praising him like a great hero, the Forestkin princess cautioned him with an opposing opinion.
”We lack soldiers, but the fortress is small, so too many wouldn’t help—”
”No. There is also the possibility of unforeseen circumstances behind us. What is worrying is that there are no lords who have pledged allegiance to you in our rear.”
”…Orrid?”
That was the biggest concern in this battle.
Would the regent of Orrid truly send reinforcements as planned?
That was likely what she meant.
”Our role is to be the front-line shield, taking the first strike and letting the main army exploit gaps—that was the plan, right?”
”Yes, but Orrid, our liege, isn’t trustworthy. What if they betray us? If the United Kingdoms’ army surrounds us and attacks for three days straight, what then? Without reinforcements, three hundred soldiers can’t hold out.”
”…Indeed.”
Before being stationed at the Fortress of Stars, I had attended the meeting in Orrid with Flavia.
She had stood behind me, her eyes calm, observing every noble in that gilded chamber. She had heard every false smile, every insult veiled as courtesy. She knew, better than anyone, that the men of Orrid could not be trusted.
”Allies can turn enemies overnight. The Borges family has many grudges. If the lords use you as a pawn, everyone here dies. It’ll be a massacre—only screams and smoke left.”
”…”
Everyone fell silent.
Their gazes focused on Klock.
He bit his lip, jaw tightening. She was right. Painfully right.
This siege depended entirely on reinforcements. Without them, the strategy collapsed. And if Orrid had already decided to abandon them… well, betrayal wasn’t unheard of among humans. Even in a war where all would perish together, spite and politics still found a way to rot the heart.
If they fought alone, Brigante would be annihilated. Staying here meant suicide. And yet… abandoning the fortress after all this preparation? That was its own kind of death.
He stared at the stone floor. “So it’s hopeless, huh.”
Three hundred against fifty thousand. The odds were obscene—a hundred to one. No trick could close that gap.
They had their trump cards—Meina, Primlena—but even that wouldn’t turn the tide. Unless the enemy divided their forces, unless reinforcements came, or unless by some miracle the horde ignored the fortress entirely, there was no real chance.
”Klock.”
He looked up. Primlena, who had been silent until now, lifted her chin.
”A warrior’s first battle,” she said softly, “is all pretence of calm.”
”First battle?”
”You see blades flash past your eyes. Arrows whistle over your head. Friends fall beside you. Your hands shake, your teeth chatter. You can’t think straight, can’t even speak because your throat’s gone dry.”
Her voice carried memory’s weight—perhaps her own first battle, long ago.
”I’m against it,” she said, eyes narrowing. “You’ve never fought a real war. Flavia’s right—the human armies can’t be trusted. Choosing this as your first battle is madness.”
He couldn’t argue. She was right again. He’d never fought. Not truly. Even a siege, usually the defender’s advantage, could easily drown him if he misstepped.
”But,” her voice softened, “I know why you fight. Because you stand beside the Hero.”
Klock’s throat tightened. That was it—the real reason he was here. He’d chosen this battlefield for her sake. For that girl who’d once been his childhood friend, now reborn into something greater. If she had to march into hell, then he would clear the path before her.
”I shouldn’t have suggested fleeing. Whatever you decide, I’ll follow. Fight or retreat, I’ll be with you. Hold your head high. Even a small ship blessed by the Merfolk won’t sink.”
Her voice rang with the heat of a knight’s oath, fierce and sincere. Klock blinked, caught off guard by her intensity.
”So if I say we fight, you’ll fight with me?”
”Of course,” she said, meeting his eyes. “I won’t abandon the man I’ve chosen.”
The word hit the room like thunder.
Even standing before the others, Primlena didn’t flinch. Her eyes burned—not with fear, but with fire. The kind that blazed before battle, before glory or death.
Damn. That’s supposed to be my line, he thought.
Not hers.
But with her saying it, how could he even think of running? What kind of man could look a woman like that in the eye and choose to flee?
Before he could speak, another voice rose.
”I disagree,” Flavia said. “This isn’t your war. You owe Orrid nothing. Don’t die for their schemes.”
”Flavia…”
The Forestkin princess’s beautiful face had gone completely still.
”Then let me ask again,” she said quietly. “Do you still mean to fight?”
”If I say yes?”
Flavia lowered her head, hair falling over her shoulders. “Then I’ll follow you. I swore to guard the Hero’s back. If it leads to hell, so be it.”
”So you’re not against it?”
”I am,” she said. “But my duty is to die in your place. If the enemy comes near, I’ll strike them down. Even in a storm, I’ll protect you.”
Every princess here seemed determined to outshine the men.
Klock laughed under his breath, torn between admiration and despair. “These princesses,” he muttered, “always outshine us.”
The White Cat Princess flashed in his mind—unshaken before an abyssal monster. Maybe all princesses were like that, raised on honor and sacrifice.
Klock had never wanted women to die for him. Hearing them now made dying feel impossible. Still, their words made him grin.
He had a knife at his side, gifted for this purpose. Turning away now would betray every expectation.
Suzette spoke. “You can’t gamble everything like this. You’ve lost your mind.”
Klock smiled crookedly. “Is it that bad?”
”I won’t stop you,” she said, cold but steady.
”Really? You’re not stopping me?”
She nodded.
Klock raised his hands, stunned. “Honestly thought you’d shut this down.”
”But,” Suzette said sharply, “if defeat’s certain, we break through and run.”
”Figured as much.”
”And you’ll leave the soldiers behind.”
”What—”
She wasn’t joking. No emotion on her face.
”In chaos, no time for sympathy. If we want to live, it’s just us—Primlena, Meina, and me. If things fall apart, abandon the fortress. We’ll drag you out if we have to.”
If they lost, every Brigante soldier would die—devoured alive, screams drowned by snarls. No clean death, just flesh tearing, bones snapping.
Could he watch that happen? That was Suzette’s real question.
”I’ll make it work,” he said, voice rough.
If they lost, the guilt would crush him. But he couldn’t run. Not if he hoped to catch up to Cianie.
”Sorry, Suzette,” he murmured. “I keep dragging you into this. Maybe this is the real test.”
Suzette sighed wearily. “Since I met you, Klock, how many times have we stood on the edge? How many times have I thought I chose the worst man?”
She exhaled, exhausted yet amused. Then she smiled—small, but real.
Relief filled him. She’d been with him through every storm. If she’d said no, he might’ve stopped. But she hadn’t.
So there was no reason not to fight.
”Everyone’s awake!”
The chapel doors burst open. Rachel’s voice filled the air. She stopped, eyes wide as heads turned. Seeing Suzette and the others, she shrank back. “Uh… hi…”
Klock chuckled.
”They’re gathering in the square,” Rachel added.
”Got it,” Klock said. “Let’s go.”
They’d decided and argued. Now they had to rally the three hundred.
This would demand everyone’s resolve.
”Fit,” he said.
”What?” she asked.
”Can I borrow your name?”
Fit tilted her head. “Sure. Will it help?”
”It will. Thanks.”
He turned to Suzette. “You’re going with her to Orrid.”
Suzette’s eyes widened. “What?”
”Go to the Golden Count. Ask for reinforcements. Tell him the Fortress shelters the fourth princess and Viscount Fennec’s daughter.”
”The report’s been sent, but we can’t rely on it. I need the Count persuaded now. Fast.”
”He’ll understand the value,” he said, clenching a fist.
Suzette’s expression hardened. “You’re asking me to leave?”
”I am. You’re the only one I trust. Please.”
He hated sending her, but no one else could do it. As commander, he couldn’t abandon the field.
”Understood,” she said, voice low. The frown remained, but she accepted.
He knew she understood but hated it. He felt guilty, but this was necessary. He wasn’t sending her to die, and he wouldn’t make her deliver bad news to Cianie.
”Fit, if the Count hesitates, talk to Ada. Convince her to side with us.”
”Got it. Leave it to me.”
”Thanks. Don’t mention the princess’s name. Just use the title.”
Then he straightened, voice shaking the chapel walls.
”I’m fighting for your honor. If we run, they’ll laugh at Cianie too. If there’s any chance of winning, we fight.”
Flavia and Primlena nodded, firm and fearless.
”Sorry,” he said softly. “It’ll be brutal. But stick with me.”
Flavia bowed. “Of course. Forgive my bluntness—I just wanted to hear your resolve.”
He grinned. “Yeah.”
”Then,” she said, “I’ll bloom like a falling flower, showing my pride and resolve.”
Then he sighed and chopped her head lightly.
”I said we’d retreat,” he muttered. “This isn’t the final war—it’s our first battle.”
”Right,” she murmured, cheeks red. “Then I’ll make sure you live.”
If she died, Isabella would haunt him. Better to run.
”I’ll be our cannon,” Primlena declared, smirking. “Leave it to me. I’ll crush every enemy.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. Primlena was one of their strongest assets, along with Meina, sleeping like a loaded bomb.
No open-field duels, no fancy tactics this time.
It was a siege from start to finish.
The plan was simple: let the enemy come and break them.
As morning light crept through the stained glass, Klock felt it—fear, but something sharper.
Resolve. The kind that burns before dawn.
Notes:
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Flavia – Younger Forestkin princess (132). Gentle yet resolute. Sent by Queen Isabella as marriage pledge to Klock, the Chain Binder, symbolizing the Void’s loyalty to the Goddess Teekua.
• Primlena – Orange-haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant | First v8c3 | Sister of Sea General Primjune, subordinate to Primrity | Once captured and violated by Klock, now obsessed with reclaiming honor | Commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, fights with trident | Seeks to drag Klock to Seabed Temple for marriage trial or execution | Unique note: revenge-driven siren bride who masks fury under ritual grace
• Primrity – Merfolk commander with rainbow-shattered fins and commanding amber eyes | First in v8c8 | Calm, strategic, and fiercely protective of her clan | Elder sister of Primlena | Led the Fishkin troops during the town uprising but ordered a full retreat upon realizing Hero Anna was present | Unique note: level-headed leader who will abandon even the Demon Lord’s orders to preserve her people’s future
• Fit – Solo archer adventurer; first appears at Barreith volunteer gathering, introduces herself to Klock and group, joining Brave Knight against Demon Lord’s Army
• Orrid – Southern pleasure town near Conro, known for its chaos and vice. Serves as Brigante’s next destination and Count Grasso’s sphere of influence. Rumored den of spies and mercenaries.
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Ada – Female. Ada the Wild Wind. An A-rank adventurer. Her appearance is striking, with black hair mixed with fiery red, multiple earrings, and an axe spear as tall as she is. She is incredibly strong and fast, with a Unique Skill called the ‘Blessing of the Wind’ that enhances her speed and agility. Ada is ruthless in combat but shows a surprising willingness to negotiate. She is highly respected in adventurer circles and feared by criminals. Her relationship with Klock is adversarial, as he stole from her and escaped using trickery.
• Isabella – Forestkin queen, appears after Klock meets the Phantasmal Beast. Leads peace talks with Humans. Mother of Avery, Flavia. Calm, strategic ruler.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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