Crushing the Demon King's Army (6)
"I've killed many humans."
The demon casually stroked the sword piercing halfway through its neck, its face impassive.
"So I accept that a human will kill me."
Beatrice channeled mana into the sword in her hand.
"But I never imagined it would end like this."
"Same here."
She slashed sideways with the blade wrapped in her Light Blessing. The sword cleanly slit the demon's throat.
The demon turned to ash.
Beatrice spun around immediately. Another demon had crept up silently, frozen mid-swing with its rusted blade raised in the air.
Or rather, something was holding it back. The demon strained desperately to move its sword even now.
"My sword... it won't move. Why?"
"...Honestly, I don't fully understand it myself."
Beatrice gazed toward the center of the battlefield.
"Ahaha!"
Sisilia rampaged through the field, giggling maniacally. She pierced demons with the shortest path and speed imaginable—grace incarnate.
But...
'Sca-scary...'
Even Beatrice found it terrifying. The demons must be petrified.
"That's the contract, apparently. Sisilia doesn't seem to take no for an answer, from what I can see."
"I see. A contract, then."
The demon realized the futility and lowered its sword.
A contract was absolute. An upper demon might defy one at the cost of its soul, but a lowly one like itself couldn't even dream of it.
The demon closed its eyes. A chill touch grazed its neck.
"D-Demons are fleeing!"
Meanwhile, atop the walls, the last forces of Ruenhardt watched it all unfold.
"Just two girls ended this war."
Unfamiliar faces, unfamiliar techniques. The battlefield was engulfed in light and wind, like the wrath of gods.
"...Beautiful."
He couldn't comprehend it. But the sight was the most overwhelming he'd ever witnessed.
Each swing of the light-clad girl's sword tore hundreds of demons apart with wind.
"Yet it's hard to accept."
So many had died on this land. The enemy was that formidable.
How strong were those two girls hunting them?
He couldn't even hazard a guess.
Commander Shepherd pondered. The Empire had isolated Liannen from the world in exchange for the northern lands.
But that was a mistake—an arrogance.
Perhaps Liannen had trapped the Empire in the world's vast well instead.
The world would change dramatically. The Empire no longer held hegemony, at least.
Bitter taste lingered in Shepherd's mouth.
But for now...
"This war is humanity's victory."
"Waaaaah—!"
They should give thanks for surviving.
Northern Fortress—Repeldown.
"Uahaha! I won the bet. Told you? Going on a mission with Sisilia is big luck."
"Hah—gonna blow this month's booze budget."
The soldiers chatted amiably in the stuffy fortress air—still properly manning their posts, of course—with contented smiles.
"Our Sword Princess handles missions solo anyway. Doesn't even brag about it, and she's gorgeous."
The soldier grinned at his neighbor, lip curling smugly.
"Your ignorance cost you."
"Was the Windsor Knight Order always like this? Damn!"
Of course not. Windsor Knights weren't just sword swingers. They seized command on arrival at most sites, so basic leadership was essential.
Windsor's mission difficulty factored in local forces too.
Usually, they bossed soldiers around and nagged endlessly on arrival.
Like Rihaton, inspecting the walls.
"Pardon the interruption. Does this mana cannon work properly?"
The two soldiers smirked.
"Newbie, huh? Smells like fresh cape."
"...Yeah, only rookies get sent here."
Rihaton turned awkwardly.
The soldiers, reminiscing their own newbie days, patted the floor.
"Sit. Let's chat."
"Ahem."
Rihaton plopped down beside them hesitantly. His rank was higher as a Windsor knight, but these were elite veterans who'd held the north for years. Their experience was gold.
...Still embarrassing, though.
The soldiers chuckled. One explained.
"No defensive barrier in Repeldown. Instead, we've got these mana cannons."
"...Replacing barriers for defense?"
"To kill demons. Defense, sorta."
The soldier placed a hand on the cannon. Blue light flared, complex runes spreading across the massive metal.
"...These indecipherable formulas—don't tell me."
"Her Majesty's ingenious invention."
Rihaton's trust in the mana cannon—and loyalty to the Queen—skyrocketed.
"Great thing. Even grunts like us, no magic knowledge or blessing mastery, can output high knight power."
"That impressive?"
"Told ya. Why so distrustful?"
Rihaton was stunned. But he side-eyed the soldier.
Why the casual tone...?
"Why'd Sisilia order these moved here, though? Demons are that way. You know, sir?"
"To target retreating demons, probably."
"Hmm, could do that anywhere, not just Repeldown. And how do two people rout a 100,000 demon army?"
Rihaton stayed silent. Knight's honor wanted an answer, but he had none.
'Mana cannons are amazing, sure. But original positions seem better...'
Rihaton and the dispatched Windsors saw Sisilia's plan as 'truce violation.' Attacking demons saved the Empire, but risked Demon King Castle response, sandwiching Repeldown.
At least reposition cannons properly.
"Doesn't make sense. These don't perform at full spec from this side anyway."
But Rihaton could reassure them.
"Vice-Captain has it figured out. Relax."
Whatever it was—even the spot from his newbie test throbbed—Sisilia was definitely 'off-spec.'
"Hey! That's the signal, right?!"
A soldier pointed skyward, yelling.
Sisilia gave Repeldown two orders: Stand by. Wait for signal.
"Y-Yeah! Vice-Captain's signal for sure! Prepare for battle—!"
Repeldown troops were already battle-ready. Chatting, but geared up anytime.
Rihaton smirked.
"I'll fetch the other knights. Trust you with this."
"Wait easy."
Rihaton dashed down the wall. Soldiers gazed skyward.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It's Sisilia."
"Oh, yeah."
The storm eye's wink was hilariously ominous, meaning unknown.
"Mana cannons loaded?"
"80% done!"
"L-Look! The mark changed...!"
Soldiers peered up. It had.
"One exclamation dropped!!!"
"Alert!! Only two left!"
First time seeing it, but they adapted smoothly. Weird, but intuitive.
"Demon King's army incoming!"
"Damn, where'd that horde come from?!"
"Wake everyone! Full battle stations!"
Distant sandstorm of demons approaching.
"Changed again!"
"Super urgent now!"
"No, getting dead serious! Load up!"
"Loading!"
"Ready to fire!"
"Hold! Fire on my signal! No activation till then!"
Ten Windsor knights climbed the walls, charging their deadliest techniques.
"Not yet! Hold!"
Demon army visible to naked eye now. But Repeldown's walls were tall—farther than it looked. Beyond cannon range.
But.
"Exclamations vanished! And it's scary-faced now!"
"Fire now!"
"B-But out of range!"
"Just bare ground!"
"Angle as Sisilia set! Fire!"
Sisilia hadn't delegated command. Just: I'll signal, move then.
This was her order, not the captain's.
"Screw it!"
"Fire—!"
As cannon barrels glowed blue—
KABOOM!
Earth-shaking roar deafened all as compressed mana orbs launched.
"Huh?"
"W-Wind."
"Down! Everyone down!"
Ferocious gale blinded them.
KABOOOOOM!
Wind died after cannon blasts. Heads rose to shattered demon frontlines.
Wind extended cannon range.
"There—Vice-Captain."
Rihaton pointed tensely ahead. Sharp-eyed knights spotted it.
Sisilia chased demons with sword beams.
"Th-Then those."
"Not attacking us... Fleeing her."
Like a thug—no, shepherd—herding sheep.
"100,000-strong army fleeing one person in fear."
"New signal!"
"Cannons reloaded?!"
"One more shot! Before they reach the walls!"
Rihaton's pupils shook hearing the soldiers.
"Herding the Demon King's army like that... only one reason."
He swallowed hard.
"She plans to end it here."
As Rihaton spoke—
A towering barrier rose behind Repeldown's forces.
"Wh-What?!"
"...That spot's definitely."
Rihaton recalled a question from arrival.
'Why leave just 1cm of territory to the Empire? Like drawing a border.'
Repeldown was still Empire land. The barrier: that 1cm strip.
"No way."
Rihaton felt something graspable yet elusive when—
"...A demon."
His head snapped. Something blurred past—naked-eye invisible, but demonic afterscent lingered.
"I'll pursue that demon! Rest, hold here!"
"Don't overdo it—call if stronger!"
"Of course!"
Rihaton chased full throttle.
'This speed—upper demon?!'
Tension gripped him, but he pressed on. Calling allies was last resort. Can't lose forces to one demon with hordes incoming.
"Stop!"
Rihaton landed, shouting. Looking up, he froze.
"Ah, aaah—"
One of the demons that hit the capital before. Liliana reached tearfully for the barrier—but repelled before touch.
"Why? Why can't I pass?!"
Liliana sobbed at Rihaton.
"Why here, sob, waaah."
Rihaton lowered then raised his sword, approaching slowly.
"Because that's Liannen Kingdom territory."