Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Trial by Combat
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* * *
“We have intelligence that the demons scattered throughout the Demon Lord’s territory are gathering in perfect coordination.”
A scout from the ‘Winter Watchers,’ a unit tasked with observing the enemy ahead of the Grand Demon Alliance's main force, delivered a report.
“That means they’ve detected the movement of our large-scale forces, and someone is giving them ‘orders’.”
This movement finally confirmed it: the presence of a high-ranking demon, a remnant of the Demon Lord’s army, within the territory.
Long ago, the Demon Lord Balor and his followers left the Demon Realm, embarking on a journey to find a new home. Though most were defeated by the ‘Hero from Another World’ and the Empire, not all of them were annihilated.
“……Does this mean a high-ranking demon is commanding the demon remnants in the Demon Lord’s territory?”
“Because they are the only ones who can unite the demons and command them with such perfect coordination.”
A high-ranking knight from the Lancaster side asked, and Dale nodded.
“Hmph. Ignorant demons who know not the Goddess’s mercy.”
Hearing this, the Master Templar spoke.
“As long as the Goddess is with us, we must tear down their fortress at once and bring the light of the Goddess to the land of these apostates.”
He recalled the ‘Pillar of Light’ he had once brought down upon the ghoul horde in this land.
“Nothing changes. We will move the army as planned, uproot those demon bastards, and shroud this land.”
At the Master Templar's words, the 7th-Circle white mage, Boreas, nodded.
“The war will begin.”
“It is a war the Goddess desires.”
Within the tents of the Imperial Army's Grand Demon Alliance, where dark intentions swirled… what the Master Templar harbored was not, at least, a dark heart.
It was a madness of pure, noble white, beyond all comparison.
* * *
The Grand Demon Alliance’s ‘Crusades’ were gradually advancing into the darkness of the Demon Lord’s territory.
And with every step they took into the frozen lands of the Demon Lord’s territory, an unknown sense of foreboding took root in Dale’s heart.
To put it bluntly, it was strategically reckless.
An operation that required a slow, deliberate approach had changed overnight into a directive to ‘gather the main force and break through,’ sending them into a dark land they hadn't even properly surveyed. Even if it was a large force composed of the Empire’s strongest, no… precisely because of that, he couldn't help but be more concerned.
Just then, he recalled the image of Modred, who was said to hold the Holy Sword as close as a ‘real father’.
‘……Huh?’
At that thought, Dale momentarily held his breath.
He thought Modred’s reckless and overly bold demeanor seemed incredibly familiar.
Only then did something click.
The stubborn behavior and utterly reckless strategic decisions shown by the Empire’s 7th Prince, Modred.
From top to bottom, they were a carbon copy of Phillip, the son of the Holy Sword, the undeniable genius of defeat.
Like two peas in a pod.
He hoped he was wrong.
* * *
In response to the Grand Demon Alliance’s movements, the demons scattered across the Demon Lord’s territory were gathering.
As if they had been an organization moving under a single command structure from the very beginning.
The demon hordes, which began to gather one after another, started to swell exponentially in number and began to carry out guerrilla tactics against the main force of the Grand Demon Alliance.
Strictly speaking, this was the enemy’s home turf; in other words, Dale and his troops were effectively isolated with no way to retreat.
* * *
“Form up! Don’t break formation!”
“Raise your shields! Hold them off until the mages’ barrage!”
The closer they got to their destination, the fiercer the demons’ resistance grew. Their sole purpose was to pin them down and keep them completely isolated.
It was relentlessly persistent guerrilla warfare.
* * *
“We’re pulling back the troops.”
At that moment, in the Imperial Army’s camp built upon the frozen lands of the Demon Lord’s territory.
There, where the leaders of the Grand Demon Alliance were gathered, Dale spoke.
“The situation is worse than we thought.”
“Retreat, after coming all this way?!”
Gasps were heard from all around. Following Prince Modred’s proposal, the main force of the Imperial Army had swiftly gathered and was advancing into the deepest part of the Demon Lord’s territory. To turn back now would be a decision that accomplished nothing.
Despite this, the ‘Black Prince’s’ decision did not change.
The factions here were, in a sense, potential enemies. He had thought that even if they were defeated, he had nothing to lose.
However, if that defeat meant a literal ‘annihilation,’ things were different. Political responsibility aside, Dale himself would not be exempt from being wiped out.
If they were isolated and utterly defeated in the deepest part of the Demon Lord’s territory, it was a situation where even Dale could not guarantee his life. It didn’t matter how many extraordinary powerhouses were gathered.
For he, more than anyone, knew the persistence and viciousness of the high-ranking demon, the shadowmancer.
“That’s right. Since we haven’t suffered any troop losses yet, we must withdraw the entire force immediately.”
“Finally, you reveal your wicked intentions, you apostate of Sachsen!”
At those words, the Master Templar finally raised his voice.
“Despite His Majesty the Emperor’s command to reclaim the Demon Lord’s territory, now I see why this cursed land still remains in the hands of those demon bastards!”
“If we advance the troops any further, we will suffer irreversible damage.”
Dale replied calmly.
“No one will make it back alive.”
“You……!”
*Shing.*
It was then. The Master Templar’s sword was already drawn, pointed straight at Dale’s neck. Yet, Dale’s expression remained unchanged.
“We who carry out the Goddess’s work will not turn our backs.”
“Oh, is that so? Well, my men will have to turn back, at least.”
“What did you just say, you damn bastard.”
At the same time, Prince Modred also spoke coldly.
“As the representative of Sachsen and a leader of the Grand Demon Alliance, I have decided that we cannot continue this battle any longer.”
“As a prince of the Empire, do you dare defy my command?”
‘Now I understand how Phillip’s knights must feel.’
Dale thought, as if it were someone else’s problem, and replied.
“I do.”
“Hah, this damn brat dares to defy an imperial order……!”
But Dale did not back down either. Making sacrifices for a goal was unavoidable. But that didn’t mean he would accept a pointless death.
“You are correct.”
Hearing Dale’s words, the Master Templar readjusted his grip on his sword hilt.
“The eldest son of House Sachsen and the ‘Black Prince’ has colluded with the demons to dismantle the Grand Demon Alliance from within, and furthermore, has attempted to commit treason by defying the prince’s command.”
“What ridiculous nonsense.”
Dale sneered coldly, and the air in the tent where the leaders were gathered grew taut.
“I am merely making the best decision to win this battle.”
“As long as the Goddess watches over us, do not dare to doubt our victory in this battle!”
“Is that so.”
At those words, Dale, as if not to be outdone, placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
“Perfect timing.”
After placing his hand there, Dale spoke.
“Then let’s settle this right here and see which of us the Goddess will listen to.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I am requesting a Trial by Combat.”
Two people would volunteer as martyrs and fight a duel with their lives on the line, and the Goddess would grant victory to the one with the ‘righteous claim.’ That was the simple rule of a Trial by Combat.
Simply put, it was a relic of archaic church law where the victor was deemed correct, but it was the perfect method to resolve a situation like this.
“Are you talking about a duel to the death?”
The Master Templar burst out laughing, as if in disbelief.
“Have you forgotten that there is no Champion of Sachsen here to fight in your stead?”
“You need not worry about that.”
In the tense atmosphere, Dale smiled.
“Because I will fight myself.”
“Ha, hahaha!”
At those words, the Master Templar burst out laughing again.
“How dare a whelp from Sachsen, so arrogant as to commit one of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’!”
“We’ll see who’s committing the deadly sin after the duel is over.”
Dale muttered calmly.
“Then let’s make our vows again to the witnesses of this duel.”
He turned his head toward the leaders of the Grand Demon Alliance within the tent. Toward Prince Modred, Lady Scarlet, and the high-ranking knights of Sachsen and Lancaster.
“If I win, we will agree that the Goddess does not watch over this battle, and we will withdraw the troops.”
But if the Master Templar won, the opposite would be true.
“Even if I am defeated and die here, my death will be a martyrdom to convey the Goddess’s will…… House Sachsen promises not to hold you accountable for this duel in any way.”
“Fine.”
“Now it is your turn.”
Just then, Dale spoke.
“Sir Lusignan, Master Templar. Promise that even if you are defeated and die in this duel, your death will be a martyrdom to convey the Goddess’s will, and you will not hold House Sachsen accountable in any way.”
“You dare……!”
Dale spoke as if he hadn’t even considered the possibility of his own defeat. At his words, the Master Templar’s expression froze once more.
A duel of martyrs, risking their lives to determine the ‘will of the Goddess’.
“How very interesting.”
Hearing this, Lady Scarlet of the Red Magic Tower finally spoke.
“What do you think, Prince Modred? Doesn’t their duel seem quite fascinating?”
“Hmph.”
At Scarlet’s words, Modred snorted as if it were none of his business.
“Fine. There’s no surer way to hear the Goddess’s voice than by cutting off a head.”
Modred said with a laugh.
“If I win, do you agree to withdraw the troops without question?”
“I give you my word.”
The Alliance leaders volunteered to witness the duel, and with their guarantee, Dale turned his head.
The Master Templar stood there, a blood-red cross emblazoned on his pure white surcoat.
Just as Dale was about to snap his fingers and overlay his world of a white, dark winter night…
“No, wait.”
Modred’s voice cut in, stopping the duel for a moment.
“Do you dare intend to unfold your world in the middle of a ‘Trial by Combat’?”
He said it with a knowing, bitter sneer.
“I am a mage. And it is only natural for a mage to unfold his world in order to fight.”
“True, but this duel is a sacred settlement to be held under our observation.”
Modred replied. The white mage Boreas, finally grasping the meaning, interjected.
“That’s right, Your Highness! Unless we can observe the entire process of the duel, there’s no telling what tricks Sachsen’s ‘Black Prince’ might use. This duel must be conducted with complete transparency. In other words……”
“It means either letting everyone here into your ‘world,’ or fighting without unfolding it at all.”
Lady Scarlet finished his sentence. Red and white surrounded him on all sides.
Amidst it all, Dale gave a wry smile, as if he’d expected this.
“Very well. If you insist, I have no choice.”
After smiling, Dale whispered softly.
“Shub.”
“……!”
In an instant, jet-black tentacles coiled around Dale’s body, scattering dark blood.
To prove his talent before them all, and to be reborn as an extraordinary powerhouse.
His silence ended here; it was a power he would have had to reveal eventually anyway.
“H-H-How……!”
The Master Templar and the other white mages gasped, unable to hide their astonishment. Even Prince Modred and Lady Scarlet of the Red Magic Tower were no exception.
Clad in armor of dark blood, the avatar of the Shadow Lord stood there.