Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Counterattack (1)
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I made my way back to Rzhev through the forest, cracking the skulls of every monster I saw.
"There must have been a reason for them to use this forest to divert the wave. That's how desperate the Empire is."
On the way back to Rzhev. It didn't matter that I'd lost them. My reason for coming here was clear from the start.
"It's certain the monsters here are their main force. Does that mean there aren't enough monsters inland for them to draw from?"
I had only tried to catch them in case there was more information to be gleaned.
And the most important point: there were definitely no antennas in this area. I had checked beforehand.
Yet, the fact that the monsters were heading inland through this forest meant that they had a portable monster-gathering device.
"The Empire is truly something else. A portable monster-gathering device."
They should be spending their time figuring out how to better develop the Empire, not making crap like that.
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"Waaaaaaaaah-!!"
When I returned to Rzhev, the soldiers were standing atop the fallen monsters, letting out triumphant cheers.
A surge of emotion welled up inside me.
It was partly because they had panicked and diverted the monsters, but still, I—no, Rzhev—had done it.
We had overcome. We had overcome this damn monster wave.
Of course, if we could have blocked it completely, we might have been able to throw a bigger wrench in their plans, but for now, I was satisfied.
Thanks to this, I now had a clear picture of what they were after.
To drive the continent into fear and chaos through a massive false-flag operation and control it. And in the meantime, achieve some other objective they desired.
From now on, the state of the continent was certain to be very different from what I knew.
"We've won."
"We have."
Krain Rzhev, covered in steaming blood from having swung his sword on the front lines, wore a smile of pure elation. He pulled Kratos into a sudden hug and clapped him on the back.
"It's all thanks to you. All thanks to you."
"It's not over yet. It would be best to set up a tight perimeter. Those men I just saw were nimble. They're clearly no ordinary foes."
"Of course. The battle may be over, but the war is not."
Standing atop the highest pile of monster corpses, Krain Rzhev looked at the flushed, excited faces of his people one by one and raised his sword.
"We have survived! Rzhev has survived! Tonight, we drink! Let us be thankful we are alive! And of course, Kratos, you'll be paying for the beer, right?"
"Waaaaaah-! Kratos-! Kratos-!"
In response to the soldiers' shouts, I gave a slight nod and raised one hand in affirmation.
A cheer erupted, loud enough to shake the earth.
"Collect the bodies of our comrades! Take the mana stones and any necessary parts from the monsters, then burn the rest! Knights, form patrol teams! The battle is over, but the war is not! Failure in a mission can be tolerated, but failure in vigilance cannot!"
As Krain Rzhev's orders rang out, the soldiers, with bright faces, began to clear the monster carcasses.
"Kratos and Priest Gleb, I'll see you in the conference room."
It was likely to discuss our advance into the Demonic Realm. I met Gleb's eyes and followed Krain Rzhev.
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"When are you thinking of entering the Demonic Realm?"
After the long battle ended and the adrenaline that had filled his body subsided, a wave of belated fatigue washed over Krain Rzhev. He slumped into a chair, massaging the bridge of his nose.
"There's no need to drag it out. A day should be enough, wouldn't it?"
"You must consider the fatigue. Think about how many days and nights you and all of us have been fighting."
I'd be fine after a hearty meal and a little rest.
Of course, I'd have to check on the condition of the other members.
"The Holy Kingdom has no issues. We only participated in one of the many battles."
"It will be more dangerous than you think. The level of danger inside the Demonic Realm is incomparably higher than at the entrance."
I knew that just as well as Krain Rzhev. I was the one who had advanced with him almost to the deepest parts.
I could never forget that memory. The soldiers, infected with fear and demonic energy before we could even react. The endless onslaught of monsters.
How could I forget that desperate situation, where we were forced to retreat in less than a day?
"As long as God is with us, no vile energy will be able to corrupt us."
Of course, it wasn't that there were no priests there at the time, but by the same token, I wasn't there either.
We would advance steadily, not hastily. And then we would grab them by the collar and hold a dagger to their throats.
***
"I heard you applied for a personal trial."
After the brief meeting ended, Gleb met with Niceta. He had already heard about Niceta's trial from His Holiness. It must have been a difficult decision.
It was a path of hardship, one where she would receive no support from the Holy Kingdom. She would have to overcome all tribulations with her own abilities alone.
That was why, even though reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom had arrived, Niceta had kept her distance, silently carrying out her own mission.
"It seems to have been a great success."
Judging from her recent battles, her expression, and her actions, it was clear she had grown, even in such a short time.
For one, she hadn't become overly agitated in this battle, unlike in the past. The Niceta who had nearly jeopardized missions with her temper time and time again.
"Not... not yet. I have only achieved a very small success so far."
"I am glad. It seems you have gained much enlightenment. As His Holiness said, the wide continent suits you better than the confines of the Holy Kingdom."
"No-! The Holy Kingdom is my home."
Uttering words she had never said before, Niceta hesitantly presented the sword from her back.
"I apologize for this. I took it without permission, so I believe it is right to return it."
At this sight, Gleb smiled benevolently. Back in the Holy Kingdom, Niceta's discipline had been his responsibility.
He had always been worried about her, as she couldn't easily get along with others, perhaps because the scars of her past had not yet healed.
She was the sole survivor of that massacre, after all. She might have even thought it was her fault.
How could he not feel proud seeing her grow like this?
"Didn't His Holiness tell you to use it? I hope that by the time your trial is over, you will have imbued that sword with your own story, Priest Niceta. After all, a weapon is made to be used."
He was curious as to what kind of mercenary this Kratos was, to have not only earned a positive assessment from His Holiness, who was so critical of others, but to have also changed Niceta.
And neither of them had even known Kratos for that long. Although His Holiness did have the connection through Prometheus.
"We will be going to the Demonic Realm. Prepare yourself well."
"I have been... prepared since the moment I first entered and came out of the Demonic Realm."
For a fleeting moment, a deep anger flickered across her expression.
***
A few days later, at the entrance to the Demonic Realm. Demonic energy roiled as if ready to invade the land at any moment.
Kratos stood before the people and spoke slowly, enunciating each word. Gleb had already said a few words, but he reiterated them for emphasis.
The command of this mission was his. It was an order from His Holiness, and he himself would be the first to follow that order.
"This will be a long battle. We don't even know when it will end."
Hundreds of soldiers stood ready for deployment, their tension mounting. The carts were laden with food, and their inventories were also filled to the brim with water and provisions.
Nothing could be self-sustained in there. Not even common drinking water.
"But we will push forward to the core, no matter what. We will advance and tear off at least one of the arms of the Empire that calls itself a god."
There was so much information I hadn't revealed, but it had all turned to crap in the end.
Just as the saying goes, 'save something for too long and it goes to waste.' That was exactly the case. It wasn't completely useless, but its impact would be less than it would have been at its peak value.
I would use it all later. When the truth eventually came out, it was more than enough material to send the Empire's prestige plummeting through the floor and into the abyss.
"The demonic energy of the Demonic Realm will be no threat."
I approached the Demonic Realm and fiercely circulated my spiritual power. The demonic energy churned violently in response to the movement of my spiritual power, and my spiritual power moved even more fiercely, as if devouring it.
As the spiritual power purified the demonic energy, the dark aura on the ground began to fade, and the land started to regain its original color.
Because the land had been steeped in demonic energy for so long, it wasn't perfect, but at this level, the priests could purify it with a little effort.
A strange light appeared in the eyes of the paladins and priests. They had heard the news, but this was the first time they were seeing it for themselves.
Moreover, the most dangerous and frightening aspect of the Demonic Realm was its endless supply of demonic energy, but with an ability like this, there was nothing to fear.
Their bodies tensed with strength, filled with the conviction that they could do it.
"No matter what dangers we face in there, there is nothing we cannot overcome. Absolutely nothing. We will purify the Demonic Realm and end the suffering. Everyone, advance-!"
The soldiers took a step into the Demonic Realm, now free from the encroachment of demonic energy.
"Priests, purify the demonic energy! Paladins, maintain the perimeter! Slowly, but surely! We move with caution!"
"Yes, sir-!"
Following Gleb's command, the priests moved busily, while the members of Unit 3, with little else to do, stood guard over Kratos, who was completely focused on purifying the demonic energy.
The dark land regained its earthy hue, and the people took one step after another. Deeper, and deeper inside.
Of course, Kratos had a grin plastered from ear to ear, unable to contain his joy at purifying an endless stream of pure demonic energy.
The chance to legally purify so much demonic energy and absorb it as spiritual power without being pressed for time was not one that came easily.
"How can he be so happy?"
"That incident at the breeding ground must have been quite a shock. Maybe that's why he's happy? Because he can finally put an end to all that suffering."
"Hah... just what kind of sense of duty must a person have to be able to smile like that even in such a difficult moment?"
"That's why he has the trust of His Holiness. Why else would he give command of this expedition to someone who isn't even part of the Holy Kingdom?"
"It's truly noble. This can't be an easy task. I heard it was the same in Granok. Really. That man is the very embodiment of God's teachings. It's almost shameful."
It seemed certain that the people accompanying him into the Demonic Realm were under a great deal of misunderstanding.
***
"Men entering the Demonic Realm?"
"Yes. The report states about a hundred priests and paladins from the Holy Kingdom."
"Damn those Holy Kingdom bastards!"
Ludwig Brandt raised his voice at the report from the Umber Team.
Why would they be entering the Demonic Realm at a time like this? They must have heard something.
From those damn bastards who destroyed the breeding ground.
Because of them, things had gotten this twisted.
"Kill them all! The Holy Kingdom is nothing but heretics now anyway!"
"I will relay the message to Umber Team 0."
Originally, far more preparation was needed to deify His Majesty the Emperor.
It was a task that required a great deal of effort, but things had gone completely awry.
Not just the breeding ground, but rumors were spreading everywhere that the Empire was connected to demonic energy.
The current method was the best option the Empire could choose.
"The Demonic Realm must be protected at all costs. Tell those Umber bastards not to even think about coming back if they can't stop them."
"Understood."
The White Mercenary Corps, the Holy Kingdom, and Rzhev.
"Such troublesome pests. It's about time we got started on our end, too."
He had to shatter their three-pronged alliance.