Chapter 467: Something Feels Off. (1)
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The catapult barrage was relentless. It was impossible to fathom how much stone they had prepared.
Despite being crushed and buried under the barrage of rocks, the Delfine forces charged at Ereneth with unyielding determination.
“Kill her!”
“All we need to do is kill the elf!”
“Don’t back down!”
The Delfine forces threw everything they had into killing Ereneth, abandoning their focus on the Northern Army altogether.
“Hm.”
Ereneth repelled the oncoming enemies with ease, her sharp gaze scanning the battlefield.
She had already summoned high-level spirits and expended significant energy fending off the barrage of their own catapults. The heavy falling stones struck with more force than most knights' attacks.
It was exhausting, but she was no stranger to such battles. She had led from the frontlines alongside her comrades in wars long ago.
As she surveyed the piles of corpses surrounding her, she muttered softly.
“This should be enough.”
She had gone far beyond what Claude had requested of her. There would be no room for complaints when she returned.
Though the Delfine forces abandoned their frontal assault to target Ereneth, she began to retreat, riding the wind to safety.
“Catch her! Hurry, don’t let her escape!”
Count Mathes screamed desperately. After incurring such losses, letting the elf escape was unthinkable.
The Delfine archers fired arrows wildly, but such an effort was insufficient to capture her.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The catapult attacks continued without pause, smashing the Delfine forces. Those at the vanguard, who had charged ahead, were already dead.
The formation was in complete disarray. Without Ereneth as their target, the soldiers didn’t know what to do.
Count Mathes stood there in disbelief, paralyzed by the crushing reality.
A bloodied adjutant shouted urgently.
“Commander! The elf has escaped!”
“……”
“Please give us an order!”
“……”
“Commander!”
“……Retreat.”
It was too late to mount another charge. The soldiers were demoralized, and they had no means of countering such a formidable opponent.
To charge again would only mean a senseless death.
More than half their forces had been lost at a glance. They hadn’t even accomplished anything, reduced to mere fodder.
“A hundred-thousand-strong army crumbling so pathetically…”
Despite all their preparation and reconnaissance, no one had grasped the true strength of the Northern Army.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The relentless catapult barrage made retreat difficult. The Delfine forces scrambled to escape, their broken formation in shambles as they dodged the incoming stones.
Watching them, Claude gestured to the person beside him.
“Ascon, let’s show them what true elven power is today! Go on, curse them with the tongue nature blessed you with!”
With a determined expression, Ascon stepped forward, aided by a mage, and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Hey, you morons! The ducal house sucks at fighting, huh? All that posturing about being the best in the kingdom, and look at you! Total losers, getting pounded into the ground as soon as you arrived! What can you even do, huh? Come at us again if you dare, you pathetic little weaklings!”
Mocking the defeated after a victory was one of life’s greatest pleasures, a timeless truth.
The Northern Army roared with laughter at Ascon’s taunts, while the retreating Delfine forces bore expressions of utter humiliation.
As Ereneth returned to camp, she heard Ascon’s words and silently turned her head, unable to suppress her shame.
To be of the same race as him was a source of profound embarrassment.
* * *
The battle ended in a flawless victory for the Northern Army.
Everyone had expected to win. The only question was how minimal their losses would be.
Yet, Ereneth’s remarkable performance surprised even herself, allowing them to achieve an unexpectedly swift and easy victory.
As the bloodied Ereneth removed her armor, it transformed into vines and sank into the ground. It would now recover on its own, nourished by the earth’s energy.
Ereneth turned to Claude and said, “Things went just as you planned. I’ll give you a bit of credit.”
“……”
Claude had no words. All he had asked of Ereneth was to scout the number of superhumans among the enemy, perhaps killing one if possible.
His plan had been to use the catapults to thin the ranks and have Tennant finish off the survivors.
But that step hadn’t even been necessary.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to go… This feels just like when I fought with Ghislain,” he thought.
The memory struck him back when Ghislain was at his side, there had been little for him to do as well.
The camp fell silent, the soldiers awestruck as they gazed at Ereneth as if she were a monster. The awkward atmosphere was finally broken by Alfoi.
“Chief! It’s me, Alfoi! You remember, right? The 5th-circle mage who defeated a god!”
Alfoi reintroduced himself enthusiastically, offering a jug of cool, purified water personally treated and chilled by a 5th-circle mage.
“……”
Ereneth accepted the glass of water with a deeply uneasy expression. Though she wasn’t easily affected by poison, it was hard to trust someone so dubious, which left her feeling unsettled.
Still, she couldn’t disregard the gesture entirely and took a sip. Alfoi, meanwhile, rubbed his hands together and offered with a grin, “Should I massage your shoulders?”
“…No need.”
“Hehe, call me anytime if you need me.”
Alfoi, still rubbing his hands like an insect, stepped back, unable to hide the grin forming at the thought of a new opportunity.
‘I’ll win over the Chieftain and escape this slave life!’
Anyone could see that Ereneth was stronger than most lords. If he played his cards right, he might get his slave contract annulled.
Despite Alfoi’s antics, the awkward atmosphere didn’t dissipate so easily.
Tenant clenched and unclenched his hands nervously several times.
‘The world truly is vast. I had no idea there were people like this besides Count Fenris.’
Though he had reached the realm of the superhuman, he couldn’t imagine fighting like that.
If it were him, he’d likely end up battered and barely standing after a one-on-one fight. Even if his techniques were superior, the sheer power of a high priest from the Salvation Church would overwhelm him.
Claude, who had been lounging arrogantly at the head seat, quickly scrambled down and offered, “Would you like to take this seat instead?”
“…No, thanks.”
“Oh, come on, you can sit here if you want.”
Claude tried flattering her, but unlike Alfoi, Kaor turned his head away, muttering to himself.
“Hmph… J-just wait. I’ll challenge you again later.”
He’d hoped to train further and request a rematch soon, but seeing her now, he realized he wouldn’t stand a chance even as a superhuman.
Though his pride burned, the thought of facing her again scared him. Yet, his stubborn pride wouldn’t let him openly admire her skills.
Ascon, who had been brazenly defying Ereneth earlier, couldn’t even meet her gaze now and turned his body away entirely. He muttered as if speaking to himself.
“Damn, she fights like a demon. Did she live her whole life hunting in the woods? She could conquer the world at this rate.”
Watching the antics of those around her, Ereneth shook her head in exasperation.
‘It feels like every frivolous person in the world has gathered here.’
What kind of person was Count Fenris to assemble such characters? It must have taken significant effort to gather such a peculiar group.
And yet, Count Fenris had achieved remarkable victories with these individuals. Truly a curious man.
Unlike the tense commanders, the northern soldiers couldn’t contain their joy over their flawless victory.
“Waaah! We did it!”
“The Delfine forces aren’t so tough after all!”
“Our Chieftain is incredible!”
The elves who had accompanied Ereneth wore expressions brimming with pride.
To them, Ereneth was akin to a deity. Just as Ghislain was the source of confidence for the northern soldiers, she was that figure for the elves.
Ereneth offered a small smile and waved at the soldiers.
Even someone who had spent most of her life in the forest had that much social grace.
“I think I’ll rest now.”
“Oh, in that case, let me heal you! I can help.”
Piote approached eagerly, but Ereneth shook her head.
“No need. Resting for a while will suffice.”
She hadn’t suffered any serious injuries, only expended a significant amount of energy.
Though divine power would speed up her recovery, she declined.
Ereneth had always felt uncomfortable with divine power, even though it wasn’t inherently antagonistic to her.
‘I don’t want to feel that energy any longer.’
The mere presence of divine power unsettled her. It reminded her of a long-lost comrade who had wielded it and the one responsible for creating this entire situation…
‘No, stop dwelling on the past.’
She shook her head firmly, trying to dispel her lingering thoughts.
Leaving Piote looking awkwardly crestfallen, Ereneth headed to her tent. For today, she wanted to rest without any distractions.
Her face appeared more weary and dark than usual, and it wasn’t solely due to the strain of battle.
Claude watched her retreating back, chuckling softly to himself.
When Wendy glanced at him, Claude held up three fingers and mouthed silently, “Thirty years.”
“…”
Claude was delighted at the thought of having such a powerful asset for the next thirty years.
Then, he suddenly remembered that Ereneth was an elf.
‘Ah… I should’ve said three hundred years.’
Realizing his mistake, he lamented inwardly. Thirty years was a span he’d likely survive. Ereneth would undoubtedly still be alive as well.
But would he still exist after thirty years, or would she reduce him to nothing with her fury?
“Oh well, whatever. I’ll deal with it then.”
Claude’s optimism kept him from worrying too much about the distant future.
Besides, who knew when he might die in the ongoing war? There would be time to consider such matters later like how to extend their contract. Perhaps turning her into a gambling addict would do the trick?
While Claude mused over his schemes, the northern forces returned to checking their supplies and strengthening their defenses.
Victory was no reason to let their guard down. Elsewhere, ducal forces continued their movements, and the kingdom’s situation remained precarious.
“Hm… Who knows how things will turn out?”
Claude scratched his head as he pored over the map.
This recent battle had only blocked one of the ducal forces’ routes of advance. There were two other areas whose statuses remained unknown. No results had come in from those fronts yet.
It was reported that the eastern army had managed to establish a defensive line, thanks to the hastily assembled coalition forces, after suffering repeated defeats and retreats.
While it was crucial to assess the situation and decide whether to provide reinforcements, reliable news from the other fronts had yet to arrive.
A few days later, Dark came to find Claude.
“Yo, Claude! You did it again, huh? I knew you’d pull it off!”
“…You’re here. What about the Lord?”
“He’s on his way. He sent me ahead to check the situation.”
“What about Ferdium?”
“It’s been handled splendidly, thanks to yours truly.”
Dark boasted, crediting himself for delivering Ereneth’s message to Ferdium and deeming it a significant accomplishment.
“Sure… Well, the rest will be up to the Lord to manage.”
Before long, Ghislain and his group arrived. He received a report on the battle’s progress and appeared deeply satisfied.
As expected, even in his absence, his forces had successfully held off the enemy’s attacks. Ereneth, in particular, had played a major role.
‘She truly is incredible.’
In his previous life, those hailed as the Seven Strongest on the Continent were truly exceptional. Ereneth had demonstrated why she deserved that title.
The ducal forces must now be scrambling to devise a new strategy after witnessing her capabilities. However, they likely had no idea that the Northern Army still had untapped potential.
Ghislain himself was close to creating five cores and regaining the strength he had in his previous life.
‘Of course, there’s no need to rush it just yet.’
Given the uncertainty of when he might have to face intense combat, expanding his cores recklessly was not an option.
For now, the war could be managed with three cores. With Dark’s amplification ability, he could temporarily unleash power equivalent to nearly five cores.
Still, he planned to seize any opportunity to attempt it.
“How’s the coalition doing?”
“They’re being sent to support the Royal forces and the eastern front, but… no decisive outcomes have been achieved yet.”
Since the coalition forces likely didn’t include the main troops from each kingdom, their combat power was limited.
Even so, sheer numbers were a form of strength, and they had enabled the establishment of defensive lines across various regions.
Claude cautiously shared his thoughts.
“The Delfine forces advancing eastward have been halted by the Kingdom’s forces and the coalition army. The other two armies should also be engaged with the Kingdom’s forces.”
“Hmm, I see. Send Dark to assess the situation. The lack of reports suggests something must have gone wrong.”
It was impossible to fend off ten with only one. Even though the Northern Army had triumphed here, a total collapse elsewhere would spell trouble.
If they diverted forces to aid one front, another could break through and seize the capital.
“What if we launch a direct assault on the south instead? Wasn’t that part of the original plan?”
Claude’s suggestion had merit. Ghislain had indeed intended for the Northern Army to launch a surprise attack on the south after repelling the initial assault.
That was, until he met Melchior.
Ghislain tapped his temple thoughtfully before replying, “No. That was the plan, but something feels off.”
“What feels off?”
“I don’t know. Just… something.”
“…”
Ghislain’s grand strategy had originally been as follows:
After stabilizing the situation, the Northern Army would launch a swift attack on the south to strike the ducal forces. This would force the return of the ducal armies from other regions to defend their territory.
At that point, the Kingdom’s forces, the coalition, and the Northern Army would join forces to encircle and crush them from above and below.
He had even secured a promise from the late Count of Mowbray to lend them a path for the attack.
But now, doubts about this strategy had crept in.
“I don’t think they’ll come back. Instead, I suspect they’ll use it as an opportunity to seize the capital.”
“But wouldn’t that ruin the ducal forces? Losing Duke Delfine wouldn’t be in their interest.”
“They must be confident that their final line of defense won’t fall. After all, neither the Kingdom’s strongest swordmaster nor the 7th-circle mage has moved.”
These two were the ducal forces’ ultimate safeguard, and so far, only the Salvation Church’s superhumans had participated in the war.
This was the source of Ghislain’s concern.
The ducal forces’ other armies likely had at least one superhuman from the Salvation Church embedded within them. Without superhuman reinforcements, the Kingdom’s forces and the coalition wouldn’t stand much of a chance.
“It would be difficult for the Kingdom’s forces or the coalition to handle their superhumans. Ultimately, it’ll fall to us to resolve the issue. The problem is that the ducal forces’ main strength is still stationed in the south, guarding Duke Delfine.”
“If we enter the south and become bogged down or take too long to occupy it… the other regions could fall.”
“Exactly. At first, I thought it wouldn’t matter. As long as we killed Duke Delfine, we could deal with the rest one by one afterward.”
Ghislain paused briefly before continuing.
“But now I think that’s the wrong approach.”
Perhaps the ducal forces and the Salvation Church wanted the Northern Army to invade the south. That way, the other armies could survive and capture the capital instead.