“Krata agreed to return our Royal Knight.”
Tia’s words made Lilien widen her eyes in surprise.
“Krata did?”
“Yes.”
Until now, Krata had requisitioned Ezer’s Royal Knight under the guise of ‘temporary deployment’—yet never returned them.
They had used another nation’s elite knights as they pleased.
“They must’ve decided the Royal Knight would be necessary for our Holy War.”
“I see… That’s a relief.”
As Tia continued explaining, Lilien let out a quiet sigh.
At least this time they’re returning them…
Telling Ezer to fight a Holy War without returning their knights was absurd—but Krata had done far worse.
Even when Ezer had pleaded that its capital’s security was deteriorating without the Knight, Krata had turned a deaf ear.
Still… is this really good news?
The Royal Knight represented the cooperative alliance between Ezer and the Holy Alliance.
For Krata to suddenly return them so hastily… it was hard not to feel suspicious.
“You must be thinking the same as I am, Lilien.”
Tia observed Lilien’s expression and spoke softly.
“They’re sending our knights back, yet providing no aid of their own. Anyone can see—they’re ready to abandon us if things go south.”
“Your Majesty, we can’t just give Krata what it wants.”
“And if we don’t?”
At Tia’s question, Lilien swallowed hard.
“Well… that would just give them a reason to attack us outright.”
Ezer wasn’t the largest country within the Holy Alliance, but it had rich deposits of magic stones used in artifact crafting.
Not only were the stones high-grade, but Ezer’s refining techniques were cutting-edge—skills Krata had already absorbed by sending over their own engineers.
“They took our techniques, so now they might just want to take our mines too.”
“That’s…” Lilien gritted her teeth, “Your Majesty, we can’t just let this happen!”
“No. Whether we comply or refuse, we’re the only ones who suffer. That means it’s time we prepare a response.”
Tia’s expression darkened.
“Clay also went along with what they wanted…”
And in the end, it gained nothing. Not even a moment’s reprieve had been granted.
Scrrrk.
Her nails scraped the desk, leaving behind a harsh sound like a scream.
“Lilien.”
A sudden, suffocating emotion seized Tia. As if afraid, she rushed to speak.
“We can’t sit idly until the Royal Knight returns. There might be danger on their way back. I’m going to mobilize the Royal Guard—please begin preparations.”
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
Lilien looked startled as she saw Tia panting, pupils dilated.
But Tia ignored the concern and continued.
“The Royal Guard alone won’t be enough. I’ll find other ways to reinforce them.”
“Your Majesty…”
“That’s all. Please go.”
Tia raised her hand dismissively.
“…”
“Don’t just stand there. Go.”
Lilien stared at her trembling hand for a moment, then bowed.
“As you command. I’ll be ready. Please summon me at any time.”
Once Lilien had left, Tia, now alone, gasped for breath.
“Huff… Huff…”
She clutched her chest, lowering her head.
“…I had no choice.”
She murmured the words, as if to comfort herself. But the pounding in her chest wouldn’t stop.
Did Clay… really have to die?
If this was the result, maybe his death had meant nothing.
She asked herself the question, but found no answer. All she had was the fact that, back then, she had no other choice.
Could she have chosen differently, if given the chance to return to the past?
But even imagining that made her current pain unbearable.
“I…”
Her vision swam.
Crash!
Tia collapsed to the side.
♧
The Royal Knight of Ezer, now returning home, was passing through the jungle on the southern edge of Marfane.
Clink, clink.
The heavy armor worn by their horses clattered with every step.
Even moving is exhausting.
Captain Rexton sighed, watching his weary subordinates.
I wonder if Her Majesty is alright…
Krata’s seizure of a foreign Royal Knight had been unprecedented—and they hadn’t cared a bit for Tia’s safety.
With the Royal Knight gone, the nobles in the capital had only grown more ambitious. Rumors said they were secretly raising private armies behind the emperor’s back.
Was that really for the nation’s sake?
If it was to stabilize the capital’s security, weakened by the Knight’s absence, he could understand. But he doubted their motives were so pure.
No… For now, we just need to get through here.
The jungle served as a kind of outer wall between Krata and its neighboring countries. Not ideal for moving large forces—but it offered the fastest route back to Ezer.
That, and…
There shouldn’t be any enemies here.
Rumors of monsters in the jungle had circulated, but they were only that—rumors.
There were no enemies here.
Or so they believed.
Shhkk!
The moment the sound of air slicing rang out, a knight—his helmet off for a moment—clutched his throat and fell from his horse.
“Ambush!”
A shout rang out as a flurry of arrows descended from the trees.
“!”
Rexton drew his sword in an instant, knocking away an arrow flying straight at him.
What in the—?!
There was no time to be stunned. Swatting away the endless arrows, Rexton bellowed to his knights.
“Dismount and take cover behind your horses!”
They couldn’t pinpoint the source of the arrows. First, they needed to form up.
Thunk!
The knights jumped down and used their armored horses as shields.
Ting! Tiiing!
The heavy armor worn by the horses was enchanted—stronger than what the knights themselves wore. Arrows bounced off harmlessly.
“Archers!”
The Guard’s archer-cavalry quickly took position behind the horses.
“Form diamond formation!”
Under Rexton’s command, they pushed the horses to form a defensive diamond.
“Return fire!”
Crk!
The archers pulled back their bowstrings, infused them with aura, and fired.
FWAP!
Their arrows shot out like streaks of lightning.
Ugh!
“Gahhh!”
Hidden attackers in the brush screamed as the arrows struck.
Right side!
Rexton noticed the right flank had fewer screams.
“Break through on the right! Everyone else, triangle formation!”
The rest of the Guard mounted up and formed a wedge on the right.
“Charge!”
Spearhead.
Rexton led the tip of the triangle, charging ahead on horseback.
“Hyah!”
There they were.
He swung his sword.
Clang!
A soldier with a bow was struck, aura slicing his body and sending him flying.
“Haaah!”
Rexton pressed forward, cutting down every visible foe. The archers followed from behind, riding hard.
What the hell is going on?!
Even amid their momentum, Rexton’s eyes filled with disbelief.
Why are they wearing Yaphenon armor…?!
The soldiers he struck down wore the armor of Yaphenon.
Fearing a misunderstanding, Rexton shouted:
“We are the Royal Guard of Ezer! Soldiers of Yaphenon, cease fire immediately!”
His voice echoed through the chaos, loud enough to startle even small animals in the underbrush.
But the Yaphenon troops showed no reaction. They continued their assault, as if deaf to his plea.
What is happening—?!
And then—
Someone leapt toward him, swinging twin axes.
CLANG!
Rexton instinctively raised his sword, blocking both axes at once.
“Long time no see, Rexton.”
“!”
For an instant, suspended in the air, the man spoke casually—and Rexton recognized him.
Gagaro…!
In that moment, he realized—
This was no accident.
♧
Barungenia.
At the entrance to the forbidden Demon King’s Castle, a living legend set foot in the Black Gorge.
“…”
Nael.
She wrinkled her nose, then raised her head.
“It’s strong.”
The scent was thick.
But it wasn’t Clay’s.
It was a scorched, burning residue.
Clay’s trail ended here—replaced by something else.
Beatrice.
Nael knew the owner of that scent without needing confirmation.
She’d heard that Beatrice had taken Clay’s body. There was no room for doubt.
All she had now was certainty.
“?”
Suddenly, something flew toward her.
『That’s far enough.』
A swarm of gargoyles appeared. One with crimson wings hovered above.
『This place is restricted. Turn back the way you came.』
“Gargoyles?”
She furrowed her brow, ignoring their words.
“So you’re Beatrice’s lackeys?”
『I am Goë, gatekeeper of this place. I warn you again. Leave now—』
BOOM!
In a flash, Nael launched herself off the ground, flying right in front of Goë.
“Come down and say it. I can’t hear you up there.”
WHAM!
She kicked like a fired arrow.
『!?』
If Goë hadn’t dodged at the last second, that kick would’ve shattered his skull.
But even then—it wasn’t over.
The wind pressure from her attack brushed his wings, throwing him off balance.
As he flailed in the air, Nael shouted:
“I said get down!”
KRAAAAAA!
She lifted her leg high—and brought it crashing down.
The strike didn’t hit directly.
But the wind shifted violently.
A powerful air current swept downward—so strong it created a pressure vortex, pulling Goë from the sky like a moth caught in a storm.
THUD! THUD! THOOM!
Gargoyles slammed into the ground one after another.
Goë alone barely managed a landing—his pride wounded, but his form intact.
“So, you’re the leader.”
Nael stood waiting on the ground, fist raised.
“I’m not here for a lecture. So I’ll start by cracking your skull.”
She stepped forward to strike—
“Nael.”
An all-too-familiar voice rang out.
“That’s not where your fist should be aimed.”
Turning toward it, Nael saw someone who should’ve been a corpse—
Clay, standing tall, eyes burning with life.
(End of Chapter)