Chapter 442: Festival Day
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 442: Festival Day
Lee Wanyong's provocations were evolving by the second. While it was a delightful sight for our allies, it must have been an agonizing time for our enemies.
In fact, with the voices urging Eliane to act growing louder, their situation was painfully obvious without needing a report.
I couldn't help but smile, thinking of the soldiers doubting their incompetent command and the commander who must be pouring all his energy into placating them.
‘Fools.’
I wondered how they would react if they knew this was all a play we had staged.
Even if it wasn't a trap, the outcome of this battle was clear. Even if our forces were evenly matched, their morale was already broken.
It might seem trivial, but morale is a crucial factor in war. It can turn the tide of a losing battle and allow soldiers to overcome their fear of death. With their already disadvantageous position compounded by plummeting morale, the chances of them inflicting any real damage on us were zero. Sitting on the Iron Throne, I watched the situation unfold and felt the corners of my mouth begin to rise.
The sight of the enemy camp hastily preparing to advance the moment the signal was given was just too amusing.
“Three hours?”
Only three hours had passed since Elisha sent them the signal.
Maria might think herself competent, but she was far from it. She didn't operate in the open like Ha Yuri, nor did she possess overwhelming power like the Fallen Prince.
She was the type of person who orchestrated things from behind the scenes.
The kind of person who gathers bits and pieces of information, steers the situation to her advantage as much as possible, and then takes what she wants. For such a person to not even realize she was caught in a spider's web… it was no wonder I was feeling so bored.
“It seems they aren’t suspicious. Their troops are already coming out.”
Elisha murmured, gazing at the enemy camp.
“They’re foolish humans. That type is so easy to deal with.”
Just as Elisha said, I could see their forces pouring out. It was a force so meager I wondered if they could have even properly defended a siege against us. And yet, here they were, willingly stepping outside their fortress, preparing to charge the ice wall.
My eyes caught Maria, who had not come down with her troops but was watching them from atop the fortress wall. She doesn't fight. It was a little disappointing, but nothing would be more regrettable than her dying to a stray arrow in this war. She needed to stay alive.
As I, Elisha, Han So-hye, Jang Ye Ri, and many others watched, Maria Trump slowly opened her mouth.
- I will give you a final warning. As you have shown no remorse for your sins and no intention of surrendering, our Alliance will henceforth fight and shed blood until your crimes are judged.
“Bullshit.”
I couldn't even muster a laugh.
- You have all endured these difficult times well. Though it was a trying period, I hope you will see it as a time of patience to achieve our great purpose. Just as they said, we have endured and waited. This was not a wait for the simple goal they value—to eat well and live well. It was a time of perseverance to create a better world. A time of hardship to rescue those whose fundamental rights have been trampled by monsters.
Her skill at dressing up her greed was extraordinary.
I couldn't understand why every enemy we fought felt the need to give such a long-winded speech about their great cause. I was certain that no one else there cared about anything other than eating and living well.
- Today's war will be recorded in history. The blood you and I shed will be forever remembered in the minds of the children who will lead the Alliance in the future.
She’ll be recorded as the worst leader in history.
- This is ambition. Not the kind of ambition that seeks to steal from our enemies, but the kind that seeks to build a better world.
“…”
- We are strong! Our Alliance is strong. This Alliance, formed by humans and dwarves, this Alliance that moves forward with the values of freedom and peace, will never fall. We will continue to fight until we obtain what we desire with our own blood!
- For freedom and peace!
“For freedom and peace!!!”
And with that, they slowly began to advance toward us. I glanced at Jang Ye Ri and spoke.
“Shouldn't our side say something too?”
“Hmm… How about, ‘The marbled beef just melts in your mouth’?”
“…”
“A joke.”
She muttered the joke with such a deadpan expression that for a moment, I thought she was serious. Seeing my reaction, Jang Ye Ri let out a small chuckle.
Of course, she did so after casting voice amplification magic.
- Show these moths flying into the flame what we have built. Carve into their very hearts who they have provoked, and what they have provoked.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!”
- Today is a day of festival.
Short and simple, yet a massive number of soldiers roared in response.
“For freedom and peace!”
“For freedom and peace!”
The enemy forces, who had been advancing slowly, began to run as they neared the ice wall. The ground trembled as countless soldiers pounded it, making the wall feel like it was vibrating, but I felt nothing. Elisha, Jang Ye Ri, and Han So-hye, however, impassively raised their hands and muttered.
“Fire.”
“Fire.”
In an instant, arrows and magic rained down.
Krrrr-crack!
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Chunks of the charging army were blown away. Some managed to escape the blast radius thanks to protective and holy magic, while others blocked arrows with their shields.
Giant cannons and enemy magic also began to pound the ice wall. The siege was about to begin in earnest. Interestingly, it was the elves who stood out.
“Block them!”
“Never give up!”
“For the Queen!”
“For the Kingdom!”
They understood. They knew that after today's war, the Eveluse Kingdom would also join the alliance of the North, the East, and the Green Skins. Seeing them fight so desperately stirred a strange feeling in me.
Elves were originally a people who did not know how to struggle, who yielded to nature and avoided conflict. I had thought they’d changed a little after Elisha became a Dark Elf, but this was a very positive transformation. I couldn't help but smile slightly when I saw Elisha, who seemed a bit nervous about how her people’s performance would appear to me.
They rained down spirits and arrows on the distant enemies and unleashed magic on those trying to scale the walls with giant siege engines.
“Aaaaaaaargh!!”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!”
“Die!”
“Support!”
The voices and screams mixing on the battlefield soon echoed across the entire area. Amidst the chaos, I slowly rose to my feet. I could see the battlefield beginning to split.
The right flank of the wall, defended by the elves, was being assaulted by what could be called the main human force, including their key figures. The center, defended by Han So-hye, faced the Dwarf King Bronze and his soldiers. The left flank, defended by Jang Ye Ri, was also being attacked by a mix of humans and dwarves.
From their perspective, attacking all three areas at once was likely their best option.
“I’m going.”
“It feels like a waste to tell you to be careful, but… you are my mate. I'd prefer it if you didn't get hurt.”
Jang Ye Ri nodded at my words, while Han So-hye fidgeted, looking like she wanted to say something but ultimately just bowed her head. Elisha did the same.
They probably wanted to come with me.
But…
“I’m better off alone.”
It would take quite some time to walk from the center of the wall to the right flank. But there was no need to rush.
“Jung Hayeon.”
“Yes, Taesung.”
At my call, Jung Hayeon, who had been on standby, began to move. I couldn't say whether walking atop a fortress wall during a battle was romantic or just comical, but the screams of the enemy were quite entertaining to me. It was probably the same for Jung Hayeon.
“Aaaaaaaaaargh!!!”
“Don’t let them climb up!”
“Fire!”
“Fire!!”
Looking down, I could see the overall state of the battle. The divided forces were shifting to the right, pounding on the gate that the elves were primarily defending. I could even see looks of frustration on the faces of the elves as they were pushed back.
They probably knew they couldn't stop the incoming humans with their own strength.
“They’ll get stronger.”
“Yes. I think so too.”
Jung Hayeon nodded in agreement. The elves would grow stronger from this war. I saw them being pushed back little by little by the humans. The plan was to proceed as soon as casualties occurred, so those who could retreat were likely already joining other fronts.
As the elves pulled back, the gate opened in an instant, just as promised.
“Woooooooooooooooooooooooooah!!!”
I almost laughed at the sight of them cheering in victory. Their forces poured into the fortress like a flood, and those who entered quickly reformed their ranks, preparing to advance to the left. As I arrived at the right wall, I naturally began to overhear their voices.
“It was true. Isn’t this a piece of cake?”
“Where are the elves who were supposed to provide support?”
“I don’t see them! Perhaps… opening the gate was all they could do…”
They were probably starting to feel that something was a little off. The elves who were supposed to act with them after they entered the right side of the fortress were nowhere to be seen. The strangely quiet atmosphere felt dangerous.
“A trap?”
“But there’s nothing…”
“For now, our priority is to move and support the other fronts.”
“Th-there…”
One of the trash soldiers still pouring onto the right wall began to point a finger at Jung Hayeon and me. He probably knew who I was. I was the only demon with giant horns and a tail.
“Blood Dagger?”
“Kill…”
“Why is he…”
With the elves gone, only I and the enemy remained. Confused by the incomprehensible situation, they all stared at me.
“Is everyone in?”
“Yes, Taesung. I think so…”
It wasn't a grand trap. The reason we went through the trouble of forcing them inside was to cull them. To be precise, it was to cut off the hands and feet of Maria, who was currently observing the situation from the wall.
It was obvious, given her personality, that she would send her own people to the location that seemed to have the least risk. In other words, the people here were Maria Trump’s elite. I even spotted a few members of the Western Clan Alliance, though I have no idea how they managed to pull strings to get here.
Seeing Jung Hayeon and me casually chatting amidst their countless numbers, the enemy soldiers still hadn't made a move. It could have been due to the immense presence I was exuding, or simply because the situation was so absurd.
“A trap?”
Someone muttered the same word again.
But his expression was one of disbelief. A trap where only one person was waiting for them… from their perspective, this situation was probably impossible to understand.
It didn't matter whether they understood or not. I simply raised the corners of my mouth and slowly drew my sword.
“Correct.”
“P-Prepare for battle!!!!!!”
“Prepare for battle!!!! Fire!! Fire!!!!!”
The massive crowd that had entered the fortress began to roar. Mana erupted from all directions, and I could see them aiming their weapons at me. They were in perfect combat readiness. I looked at Jung Hayeon and spoke.
“Block the entrance. And don't forget: let no one near.”
“Yes, Taesung.”
Jung Hayeon nodded, and I activated my unique ability.
[Weapon Integration]
[Target - Dainsleif]
- Kyahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Yesssssss!
It was a voice I hadn't heard in a long time.
Just as Jang Ye Ri had said, today was a day of festival.