Chapter 261: Staining the Great Plains
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 261: Staining the Great Plains
“The… the troops are falling back. It’s… it’s monsters. Monsters! The… the Ogre with a bounty, a Demon, and a Troll. Lady Hayuri!”
“I… can see them.”
Ha Yuri bit her lip and stared ahead. She had eyes of her own. An Ogre whose entire body was crimson, a Troll hurling a black spear, and a Demon slaughtering humans single-handedly, spraying fire and blood. She couldn’t comprehend why monsters were there.
“They… they’ve joined forces with the demons. You were right, Lady Hayuri. They’re bastards who shouldn’t be left alive.”
For now, she nodded. The moral high ground was certainly on their side. She didn’t know how or why the monsters had burst out from behind the ice wall, but justification wasn’t what mattered. If they couldn’t win the battle, such justifications were utterly useless.
The sight of the humans she had sent ahead to assault the wall being slaughtered felt surreal. It wasn’t that she was short on troops, but the battle was unfolding so differently from her expectations that her mind fell into a momentary state of confusion.
It was then.
“Is this going to be alright… Hayuri?”
The sight of the King of the South, sitting arrogantly like an old toad, made her temper flare for no reason.
“It seems the casualties will be higher than expected… Hoho. This situation was hard to predict… It appears the Witch of the East has cultivated some friendships with monsters. I’ve heard those are the monsters that reside in the East.”
“I also find it hard to believe those abominations are there. It seems the Witch of the East and the Barbarian of the North have finally abandoned their humanity.”
“Your ideals were worth listening to. And it’s true that they pose a threat. However, I’m a bit skeptical about whether there’s any point in continuing this battle when the situation has escalated to this degree.”
Old bastard.
The way he was beating around the bush felt like he was negotiating even in this situation. She unconsciously glanced at the King of the South’s son standing beside him and saw the young man’s expression harden.
He was a thug, just as rumored. The only reason she had spent so much time with the King of the South was to win the old man over. In fact, the Southwest Alliance had held together so well because she had maintained a certain level of friendship with his son.
Soon, the young man began to speak slowly.
“Father. It is for the greater good.”
Having him spout such bullshit from time to time was a great help. It couldn’t change the old southern king’s mind, but it at least created an opening for him to listen to her.
“No, Young Master. This is something I pushed for unreasonably. When such great losses are expected, it is only natural that there should be a commensurate reward. After the war is over, I will hand over all rights related to the East.”
“Hmm…”
He would probably accept. The fact that the old man was making passes at the Queen of the East was known to almost every human on the continent. If she showed him this kind of concession, he would surely take what he could get and then share the scraps.
She could tell that much just by looking at his naive son, who was gazing at her with an expression of awe. Even if he didn't give her anything, it didn't matter.
Because she had already decided that after this war, they were next.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but a large land is a burden to protect. The East is not a particularly pleasant place to live, and… ahem. I will gratefully accept your proposal. That should be enough. Let us share the East amicably. Of course, it will be what’s left after we’ve had our fill, but you won’t be disappointed. There’s no need for a verbal contract. I’ll trust you.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
“More importantly…”
“Ahem… It’s about time our Jaeyoung got married, you know…”
“F-Father! Th-that’s…”
“I will think about it slowly.”
“La-Lady Yuri…”
Looking at the moved expression on the toad-son’s face, Ha Yuri cursed a blue streak in her mind. She played along, but she had absolutely no intention of spending her life with a toad-like bastard like him. He called it marriage, but it was no different from telling her to become part of his family. The casual way he tossed out the words made it clear that this man harbored great ambition.
You bastards will also bow your heads to me and beg for your lives.
But her expression didn’t change. Ha Yuri smiled at the toad-son as if she were shy, and the King of the South, watching with satisfaction, slowly rose to his feet.
“It’s been a while since I’ve stood on a battlefield myself, but this should be worth it. A man has to do this much for his son. Yes, indeed.”
It’s to make the Witch of the East yours, you disgusting bastard.
“Which one should I kill first… The Ogre looks good. He’ll make for some very fine material.”
Ha Yuri nodded at the King of the South. Despite his repulsive appearance, he was a man whose skills were solid enough to claim dominion over a region. The monsters would likely no longer be a concern. The important thing was to bring down the Witch of the East and the Queen of the North. The ice wall had already suffered a massive wound. It could be repaired, but if they struck it more, it would fall.
“I will also prepare my troops immediately.”
“Hmm… Understood.”
While a fierce battle raged at the front, the rear was incredibly calm. The King of the South began to move his troops forward, and Ha Yuri slowly turned to her own soldiers and began to speak.
She believed that at a time like this, morale was crucial. These were soldiers who would risk their lives without a second thought, the very forces that would elevate her. She saw some who were flustered by the appearance of the monsters, and others whose faces were filled with terror. But the most common expression she saw was one of vengeance.
It was only natural to think that humans were truly strange creatures.
The people dying at the front were not family to the soldiers and commanders here, nor were they friends or brothers.
They had simply gathered to fight together.
And yet, their faces were etched with a thirst for revenge.
Thankfully, they considered those dying at the front to be their comrades. Ha Yuri didn’t bother using voice-amplifying magic. She simply infused her voice with mana and began to speak calmly.
“Do you wish to flee? They are monsters. The very same ones who have always been a threat, who have always destroyed our homes. Our enemies, who claimed to fight to live and live to survive, have sold their souls to demons to stay alive. The elites of the East and North have offered their own children and human slaves to the monsters you see before you. Their women may be suffering fates too vile to speak of at the hands of those filthy monsters.”
“This is a righteous fight. Our comrades who went ahead are dying. Those who wish to deny reality may turn their heads and walk away. It is alright. But I will advance.”
A righteous fight, a just fight, and a fight they could win. There were no words more thrilling to humans. Ha Yuri smiled faintly and opened her mouth.
“Let us go, my comrades.”
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Ha Yuri slowly drew her Holy Sword. An immense amount of divine power immediately began to pour out. It must have been an incredibly beautiful sight for others. Her body, enveloped in a golden light, would have been reminiscent of a goddess. Emotions slowly flowed into her from the soldiers watching her.
It was a feeling that always pleased her.
She raised her sword and pointed it toward the enemy. The cavalry on horseback, the elite troops of the Saint Knights Order holding halberds ready to charge at any moment, and countless other influential clans and guilds were all looking up to her, respecting her.
The Holy Sword trembled slightly. For a moment, she felt as if she had experienced the ultimate orgasm. But she couldn't show it. Right now, she was a goddess. The goddess they revered and looked up to. Hiding a cruel smile that no one else could see, Ha Yuri spoke.
“For the ideal!”
—Charge!
But the voice that erupted from the front of the wall made Ha Yuri frown.
*
—Charge!
A great voice echoed from behind. It was the voice of Jang Ye Ri, and also the voice of the Queen of the North, Han So-Hye.
An all-out war.
The ice wall shattered in an instant, its fragments raining down on the enemy. The magic wasn’t powerful enough to harm high-level summoners, but those who had been clinging to the wall must have taken significant damage.
But for the enemy, the collapse of the wall wasn't the real problem. The biggest problem appeared right after. Bursting through the ice fragments were none other than the Queen of the North, Han So-Hye, and the warriors of the North. As the massive ice crystals shattered, their figures were revealed, and the sight was almost beautiful.
“Let’s go!”
The North Knight with his shield and sword, and Seo Lee Ju. But at the very front was the Queen of the North, Han So-Hye, holding a long spear. Fortunately, it seemed Jang Ye Ri had decided to restrain herself, mindful of the child in her womb.
I knew they would charge out, but the timing was truly amusing. For them to appear just as the Southwest Alliance was getting into position felt like cheating. From their perspective, they had completely lost the initiative.
—All… all troops! Charge!
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The voice of the Sword Saint, Ha Yuri, rang out belatedly, but it was impossible to shake the feeling that she was a step too late.
I was well aware that the Queen of the North, Han So-Hye, was strong, something I had confirmed for myself. But the Han So-Hye I was seeing now was beyond anything I had imagined. The way she advanced, swinging her spear, was the very ideal of a warrior. There was no wasted movement. I found myself thinking that if the Green Skins’ god of the battlefield actually existed, they would probably look just like her.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Charge! Charge!”
“Fight! To survive!”
“For the ideal!”
Amidst it all, the voices continued to erupt. In front, the West and South; behind, the North and East. The powerful warriors of both sides were about to clash with all their might, seeking to kill one another.
Thanks to the Green Skins of the Brother’s Land, it didn’t take long for the forces of the North and East to reach our position. Contrary to my expectation that she would draw her bow to meet the enemy, the Queen of the North glanced at me and smiled as if telling me to follow.
“Let’s go, Kim Taesung.”
Choi Seulgi, who had moved behind me at some point, spoke up. She was covered in blood, looking as if she had been through a major brawl somewhere I couldn't see. When I looked at her without a word, she smiled at me again.
“Should we live together after this is all over? I want to live like a person now, too.”
I’d heard that somewhere before. As bad luck would have it, those were the words Choi Seulgi had said to me before she died. I let out a small, wry laugh and replied.
“Don’t say something so unlucky. That was a death flag last time.”
“What? You… fucker…”
Finding my answer amusing, she playfully tapped me with her fist, so I looked at Choi Seulgi and continued speaking.
My answer was the same as before.
“Yeah. Let’s live together. So don’t get hurt. We have to have kids and live like that. I’ll provide for you.”
She probably didn’t hear my answer. Choi Seulgi grinned and opened her mouth.
“Is that the answer you gave after I died?”
I nodded.
“Puhahahaha! Right, let’s live together. Though we have a few more family members than before…”
Choi Seulgi’s gaze shifted slightly to where Jung Ahyeon, Baek Ahyeon, Choi Eunju, Mev, and the other members of the Blood Dagger Clan were watching me. I nodded at them.
A deafening roar filled the air. I figured it was about time they clashed.
The Queen of the North, Han So-Hye, and the Sword Saint, Ha Yuri. The full might of the Southwest Alliance and the Northeast Alliance had finally collided.