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Chapter 138
Source of Pride
The Crown Prince, Alexander Arken, was in a towering rage.
The reporting deputy commander stammered and answered once more.
"Th-that's right. The knight order tried to break their momentum by striking their flank, but ended up isolated instead......."
"Wh-what the......."
How could they have been beaten so stupidly?
W e ḃ ṅ о̀.v̊ е l Еn̂ ü mа
No matter how much Alexander thought about it, he couldn't understand.
The staff officers who heard those words muttered like this.
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"Tactics that even worked on the North's most ferocious barbarian warriors were helplessly crushed......."
"It should've been an operation with at least a 90% win rate......."
Staff officers giving off the vibe that it wasn't their fault.
Alexander spoke with an irritated face.
Wе b̈nо v̀ é l Ӗn ūm_a
"Enemy losses?"
"Estimated at 3,000. And even that, 2,500 are Melted."
"Still, that's a result, right? Isn't it?"
"......."
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"Why aren't you talking! Stop hemming and hawing and answer!"
"Th-that is...... Melted are practically just lumps of meat. The core combat power is the beast-type monsters, and......."
Е̌ n̆u ma
Killing things that are just lumps of meat is useless. The most important ones are the monsters in beast form, yet 80,000 are sacrificed while only 500 of them die.
It was enough to drive him crazy.
80,000 total including non-combatants. They sent a whole legion, and all of them swung at empty air—does that make sense?
It was a tactic discussed by the Empire's top brains gathered in the capital's depths, a result approved by every department.
But this result happened because they simply plugged the monster race into operations as slightly stronger monsters.
Above all, they sent over 4 times the numbers, 2.5 times in pure troops, so they naturally thought it would be a crushing victory.
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Alexander ground his teeth and said to the deputy commander.
"Send reinforcements. Push with numbers! Have the 2nd and 3rd Corps re-establish anti-monster tactics, and send reinforcements, I said!"
"As you command, we must prepare reinforcements, but......."
At the lukewarm response, Alexander's lid flipped.
He threw the chess piece in his hand at the deputy commander's head.
"What's the problem!? Huh!? There are 30 million in the Imperial Capital, you can't fill the numbers!?"
Е̄n̆ ûmå . і d
"Th-that is...... all the commanders to send as reinforcements are...... bedridden."
He was left speechless.
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"The commanders are all lying down!? Does that make sense!?"
"Upon hearing the annihilation news, they contacted us first....... They're all recuperating at home. Seems to be a going-around sickness, so entry to their homes is currently forbidden......."
They were laughing healthily just this morning, and suddenly caught a going-around sickness?
It's obvious.
En ů ḿ а̄ . їd
They heard the news that even 80,000 didn't work, and hid in their homes.
Because they don't want to die.
80,000 died—would they have any brilliant plan?
They're washing their hands of it.
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"Th-these...... these......."
What incompetent bastards!
E n̈ u m а̊
They acted all brave and blustered, but when actually needed, they pull this shit?
His face flushed red and blue, but he suppressed his anger as much as possible.
Getting heated would only be his loss right now.
He thought that, but the situation rolled cruelly for Alexander.
"News has come from the Far East unit."
"What're they doing there?"
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"They report eliminating 6 colossal monsters that breed monsters."
Six at once?
Alexander made a blank expression, but the messenger continued excitedly without reading the room.
"They struggled less than expected, so they're splitting forces again to pursue monsters spreading toward the small village."
"Pursuit too......?"
"And they ask us to relay that they'll eliminate the remaining 6 within three days."
Е̌ ň_um а̊. і̃ d́
"Within three days??"
An impossible situation.
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While elite legions were struggling, a ragtag army performing feats—it was a story Alexander couldn't accept.
"Th-there, how many casualties?"
Alexander calculated internally.
Roughly 2,000 soldiers moved, faced hundreds of monsters, so at least 50%, 1,000 should've died.
W̊.е̂b n̂ ӧ v̇ еl Еn̊ u.m̈à
If not, 20%, 400 would've died.
The messenger answered.
"50."
But the prediction missed spectacularly.
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He wondered if they'd omitted a hundred or thousand unit, but it wasn't that either.
"50? Just 50?"
E ṅ úm а̌
"Casualties are 50, of which only 10 are dead. Overall, they're fine. And......."
Crash!
He couldn't continue.
Alexander threw a crystal glass and smashed the messenger's head.
"Drag that damn bastard out!"
Catching the colossal monsters meant cutting off the monster supply.
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Yet it was news even more infuriating than 80,000 dying.
"If this keeps up...... if this keeps up......."
Everything becomes Alexander's responsibility.
Not just responsibility—public opinion boils that he's incompetent.
That was the problem.
Failure is possible, but incompetence is not allowed.
W_еb n о̃ v е̇ ľ .Е̊ n̂ um̊а̌
For Alexander, already branded as the incompetent Crown Prince, it was the worst situation.
Alexander tried to squeeze out every bit of wisdom he didn't have.
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Legion: crushing defeat.
Other army commanders who should send relief: all washing their hands.
Then this operation itself falls to the Second Prince.
Ureas, already colluding with mercenaries and gathering his own army, gains justification for his succession right.
Еn üm a. і̌d̆
The moment the incident ends and reckoning begins, his imperial lifespan ends too.
'Olivia.'
My damn sister, more beautiful than anyone.
You're trying to screw me over again like this.
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'The Empire.......'
Alexander clenched his fist tight.
Е̌ n̈ umа́
Nails dug into his palm, bright red blood dripping drop by drop.
Whatever it takes,
However it turns out,
'The Empire must become mine!'
That's why Alexander kicked off from his seat and stood.
If he could just resolve this crisis, he was ready to sell his soul to a demon too.
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"Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince, where are you going?"
Leaving behind those dumbfounded staff officers' voices, Alexander walked on.
Thus Alexander stood before a splendid door in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.
That door hadn't opened once in 15 years.
As if a demon were sealed within.
But what's inside isn't a demon.
Ӗ n ů m а̌
Something even more awe-inspiring than a demon—an existence even the Crown Prince's status can't handle.
Everyone takes him lightly, but he's absolutely not light.
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Alexander, who knew this more bone-deep than anyone, approached most cautiously and called to the door.
"Father."
The only one he could call Father was the Emperor, Godfrey Arken.
No answer came from beyond the door.
En̆ u̇m̄ а̄.id̄
"It's me. Your son, Alexander."
He bowed his head servilely and continued.
"Monsters are coming. I sent an army, but they report the army was annihilated and they're heading for the Empire."
"......."
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"And right now, no one will listen to me. If this continues, Ureas and Olivia will take everything."
"......."
Е n̈ u̇ m̈ a.ĭd
At the returning silence, Alexander choked up.
"Didn't Father always say? That Olivia is Father's best card. She's moving on her own now."
"......."
"She surely aims to seize political circles as Father said. Will you let that bastard run wild as he pleases?"
He appealed again and again, but at the returning silence, Alexander finally let go of his reason.
"You call yourself a father after that!?"
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He exploded and screamed at the top of his lungs.
"You never had interest in me since birth! You're old, when your son came of age you should've quietly passed the throne, but you've schemed to cling on for decades!?"
"......."
"My rebellion against you is ancient history now! Isn't tormenting me this much enough punishment for that crime? How much do you have to screw your son over to feel satisfied!? You won't live forever! This damn rotten......!"
Before he could even think to scream more, a note popped out from under the door.
A document with writing as short as the paper's area.
Е n ũm̄ а́
Alexander saw the paper's contents and trembled.
Inside, he muttered.
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'As expected, picking this damn bastard was the right answer.'
The world yaps about incompetence or whatever, but he's a human who shines when it matters.
Alexander grabbed the paper and ran.
The Crown Prince didn't even say thanks for that wisdom, and Emperor Godfrey Arken's bedchamber door remained firmly shut.
Ẅ еbñо̇v̀ е l Е̌ n̂ú m а̌
* * *
Around dawn, Ferda led the soldiers and moved.
The main operation was to split into two battalions, spread out, and preemptively enter the monsters' advance paths to wage defensive battles.
Hoofbeats drummed the ground like a drum.
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They'd barely make the first point if the horses didn't stop moving.
As a result of spurring them on, the first point came into view.
Е̌ n u̇ m а̌
Farmers who'd come out early to check their fields' condition wore bewildered faces.
Seeing Ferda's party's attire, they realized they were high-ranking people, removed their straw hats, and approached.
"You seem to be a high person, but what business brings you here......?"
"Anything happen here?"
"If you mean happen, there's nothing particular......?"
Seems we arrived earlier than scheduled.
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"Monster! Monsters are swarming!"
Correction, we arrived right on schedule.
Ferda commanded with amplification magic.
"All forces! Battle formation!"
Snap snap!
The sound of armor moving in perfect unison resonates in the chest.
Е́n̄ ù m a . і̂d̆
Growl growl!
The startled farmer and the wolves charging toward him.
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Wolf monsters had spotted him a while ago and were chasing.
An ordinary farmer's speed can't shake a wolf's speed.
Casualties occur before they even enter the battle formation formed by Ferda's battalion.
"Ruri."
Е núḿ ӓ
At the call of that name, Ruri's figure vanished.
She had jumped high into the sky.
Then she gripped a huge axe with both hands, swung it behind her head,
"Hup!"
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And hurled it straight down.
Thud!
E n u m̀ а
"Aaack!"
The farmer fell forward from the ground's vibration.
He looked back wondering what happened.
The area was completely overturned, and at the center lay a monster corpse bleeding purple.
A small frame descends onto the axe stuck in the ground.
She picks up that heavy axe like it's nothing and glances sidelong at the farmer.
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When those eerie silver eyes meet, a chill runs down his spine.
"Run quickly. Human."
"Y-yes, sir!"
The farmer ran again.
The wolf monsters can't move rashly.
Those things without the emotion of fear felt for the first time that they stood before a superior.
Е̊ nû.m̈ а
If she swings that axe, they're existences that would be cut down fleeting like autumn wheat fields.
But Ruri turned her feet and returned.
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The wolves didn't understand Ruri's action.
But such reason lasts only a moment; they soon return to their nature.
-Growl! Growl!
The wolves charged the knights forming the battle formation, leading to melee combat.
W_ӗb́n̂ о̀ v̆е̌l. Е n̂ú m̄а́
"Hold! Brothers! We're behind you!"
"Don't just stay behind, help a little!"
Knights holding firm reassuringly while shouting angrily.
The only one playing the mage's role is Ferda.
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But that alone was enough.
He used the three 3rd-Circle mages he brought as mana tanks, receiving mana bolts from them.
Е̃ nu m̄ а̇
Ferda aimed for the moment wolves tried to attack, restrained their movements, and created openings.
Just that, but just that was sufficient support.
They drove swords into every wolf monster's chest and finished them.
In the end, without relying on a mage's role, the knights alone succeeded in repelling all monsters.
"Waaaaah!"
"We've won!"
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They slap their plate armor and roar victory cheers.
Ferda's Pursuit 1st Battalion totaled 108.
Five young masters (yeong-sik) and their subordinates, plus the young ladies' (yeong-ae) forces moved together.
The 2nd Battalion was organized with 250, showing an overwhelming numerical difference of 142.
Numbers alone look strikingly imbalanced, but the 1st Battalion had no complaints.
They know Ruri's true worth.
Е̃nuḿ a. і̆d̊
Wearing a maid uniform, just a small frame—she looked like an ordinary girl, but seeing her carrying an axe far wider than her body's area on her shoulder, there was nothing more reassuring.
Even though she'd fallen back to the rear in danger, morale didn't drop.
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Because Ferda's command and support were timely and appropriate, and thanks to that, they succeeded in repelling monsters without a single casualty.
The young masters who'd fought on the battlefield swaggered with triumphant faces.
"I don't get how the Imperial Army got wiped out."
"Right? They're this easy."
Е nû ṁ а..і̆ d̀
"Of course, without Regent Ferda's command and support, it might've been impossible!"
It actually was impossible.
Making monsters hesitate with little mana like Ferda to open gaps isn't a technique ordinary people can do.
'I've fought alone trying to capture them alive several times.'
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He'd learned what weaknesses they show, and that learned knowledge remains unchanged across time.
Anyway, he'd protected the village without relying on a dragon spawn.
Ë nū m̈ӓ. і́d̄
That was the important point.
Villagers of the small village who'd nearly become monster food if they'd been a little late clasped hands and prayed.
"Oh my, thank you. Sir Knight!"
"May I dare ask your name?"
"Haha, of course! This body is Dmitri Nazarov, who will become the heir of the Count Nazarov family!"
Young masters spreading their names at this very moment.
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Even a small village, once a name spreads, greatly helps with advancement.
Ruri looks at them with a pathetic gaze and asks.
"Ferda-nim, you're not going to brag about your name among those foolish things?"
"Is there a need to?"
"If you won't even do that, why did you take on this dirty work?"
Ruri asked grumblingly.
Énu̇ṁā.і d
"I need bragging rights."
"Bragging rights, you say?"
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Ferda had thought this when he said they'd have to split into two again.
That sacrificing small villages was a matter of course.
Like the other young masters, no, he'd have been even less interested in sacrifice than them.
But inside, Valdrova's figure naturally came to mind.
W е́ ḃ_nӧv́ е̊ l̃ Е̇ nu m̊ а́
Would she calculate profit and loss in this situation?
Even if misunderstood as an evil dragon, protecting everyone—that was her reason for living, loving everyone despite it all.
That's why Ferda answered like this.
"She would never just stand by."
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Ferda came here to do what Valdrova couldn't.
That's why Ferda couldn't just leave it be either.
Е̌ nù m̈ а̃
At least when he talks with her again, he wanted to deliver even slightly good news.
That he saved many people with his own hands.
He wanted to receive that purely rejoicing emotion as a gift.
Such a pure desire moved Ferda.
"So all this was because you wanted to make bragging rights for Master."
"Yeah."
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"That's dog-like."
Ferda turned his head toward Ruri.
"Suddenly swearing?"
"You always tell me I'm dog-like, pig-dog-like, say it's not swearing, but when I do it, it's swearing?"
"I didn't normally think of you that way, did I?"
"I think of Ferda-nim as a masochist, so can I call you a masochist pervert?"
Ё n ũ m̄ ӑ . i d
"That's a no."
"Why not for me?"
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It wasn't true, just simple slander, and there was an even simpler reason.
"I'm the fiancé, and you're the attendant."
"......May I poke the spot Master's horn pierced one more time?"
Veins popping on her face, a ferocious expression.
Е n̂u m̂а́ . і̃ d
Those slender fingers aimed for Ferda's chest.
That was when.
"An unexpected situation has occurred."
One of the messenger soldiers serving as a mana tank spoke urgently.
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"What is it?"
"The spreading monsters' speed has changed. They're moving to the third point at full speed."
W̃ еb̆n̄ о v ël̄ Êñ u mӑ
Ferda's next destination was where Helus Povidas was.
He'd have to break through there and pass, and considering horse speed, by the time they arrived, it'd already be too late.
In times like this, there's nothing but to make the best choice.
"We'll have to modify the point and save the village behind it."
Abandon what can't be saved.
Cold, but unavoidable.
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The world can't be perfect in everything.
"That won't be necessary."
The one who cut in was Ruri.
Ruri slung her axe over her shoulder and said.
"I'll go there."
"You?"
Ĕ n̊_um̀ a
"I'm the only one who can get there at once, and I can handle it alone just fine, so no problem."
If Ruri steps up, the operation proceeds smoothly again.
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"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. This is for me."
"For you?"
"Ferda-nim wanted to show off to Master, didn't you?"
W e b no vе ĺ Ӗnů ṁа
Ruri snorting.
"I'll show off a bit in front of Master too."
Even as she said that, for Ruri it was actually an unnecessary task.
This was for Ferda.
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Consideration so that the story he'd tell wouldn't include having to abandon a small village.
He was grateful for her thoughtfulness.
Ӗ n̂ ŭ m̀ã
"Come back safe."
"You take care of Ferda-nim's body. If you get even a scratch, I'll scrub you raw."
He didn't get how getting a scratch led to scrubbing, but it didn't matter.
Because that meant Ruri also just wanted Ferda to be safe.
Ruri spread her hidden wings.
And with a single movement, her figure became a comet and flew off.
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"Wooow......."
"That's the Silver Dragon Spawn......!"
Since Ruri had never shown off horns or tail, the battalion members stared blankly at the path she'd passed, their souls gone.
Not a moment to delay. Ferda shouted looking at them.
"We move too!"
Over a hundred horses ran across the plains again.
W̆.éb n о́ v ё l̈ Ё n̂u̇ m̃ а̌
Thanks to running for about 2 hours, they approached before monsters entered.
But inside, an unexpected existence was waiting to greet them.
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