Episode 15: Insane Empire's Emperor Balthazar (1)
Episode 15: Insane Empire's Emperor Walterzar (1)
A peaceful morning with warm sunlight blinding the eyes.
Even though it was an unfamiliar bed, I was able to sleep soundly for the first time in a long while.
Feeling refreshed, I lifted the blanket slightly, and there was Priscilla-nim hiding inside, sleeping curled up.
Seeing this sight after so long, a smile formed on my face without me realizing it.
"Priscilla-nim, it's morning. Time to wake up."
"Wake me up when breakfast is ready~"
Priscilla-nim burrowed back under the blanket.
"This isn't the mansion, and I'm not making it. Get up."
Just as I was about to pull Priscilla-nim out again,
-Knock knock
-Creeeak
With a knocking sound, the bedroom door opened gently.
"Ban, did you sleep well? Let's have breakfast togeth... Ah!"
The person who entered the room was Fishel, a comrade who had journeyed with me, even if for a short time.
Fishel saw my exposed upper body and hurriedly covered her face with her hands, but...
For some reason, she spread her fingers slightly and was staring intently at me through the gaps.
"So Ban sleeps naked... I see..."
Fishel mumbled, seemingly awkward.
-Rustle
Just then, perhaps hearing another person's voice, Priscilla-nim, who had been hiding under the blanket, peeked out just her face.
"Mmm... What? Oh! It's Fishel. Hello, did you sleep well?"
"Ah! Priscilla-nim is here too... Then that means..."
Fishel's face turned red as if it would explode.
"If it's not an imposition, next time it's my turn..."
"Hmm~ I'll have to think about it a bit. My internal Ban quota isn't fully charged yet. I still need more of his scent."
The two of them continued their meaningful conversation.
"Wait, what kind of conversation are you having?"
"Ban, you popular guy. How many have you been charming while I was gone?"
Priscilla-nim looked at me with a giggle.
"I haven't done anything."
"Be careful. That face and body, just standing next to you is enough to attract women."
"No... That's... Let's just go have breakfast."
Inside a terrace within the Papacy.
Ban was quietly looking at the clear sky.
"It's a peaceful sky. Great Warrior Ban-nim, it's all thanks to you."
Quietly, from outside the terrace, Saintess Charlotte approached Ban.
"It's thanks to everyone's efforts..."
Ban said in a voice that had finally relaxed after a long time, and looked back at the sky.
Seeing this, Charlotte stealthily moved to Ban's side and also looked up at the sky.
"What are your plans going forward, Ban-nim?"
"First, I need to go back home with Priscilla-nim. I'll think about what's next when the time comes."
Ban said with a smile.
"If it's not too much trouble, perhaps you and Priscilla-nim could stay here..."
Just then, the sound of someone rushing in from outside could be heard.
"Charlotte-nim!! Ban-nim!!"
The person running in, panting heavily, was the Saintess's follower, Evelyn.
"What's the matter, Evelyn?"
Charlotte comforted the panting Evelyn and asked.
"The Empire... The Empire's army is said to be marching toward this place!"
Hearing the report, Ban's expression hardened again.
Charlotte also sensed the severity and made a grave expression.
"I expected them to come, but this is fast..."
"Yes. They are hastily preparing all available forces and advancing, and Emperor Balthazar is said to be at the vanguard."
"I see..."
Having received Evelyn's full report, Charlotte looked at Ban and said.
"Ban-nim, please leave this place with Priscilla-nim and Fishel-nim."
"I refuse."
"We've already received too much help. From here on, we'll handle it ourselves."
"Why not abandon the Papacy?"
Hesitating, Evelyn spoke up instead of Charlotte.
"We have nowhere else to go anyway, and escaping Balthazar's grasp would be difficult. It's better to hold out inside the fortress of the Papacy and widely spread the Saintess's will."
Ban looked outside for a moment as if thinking.
"I'll stay too."
"No, Great Warrior-nim. It will surely become a battlefield where you must risk your life. We cannot let you do such a thing for our sake."
Charlotte gently took Ban's hand and said.
"No. He's the one who imprisoned Priscilla-nim and even endangered her life. I was planning to face him anyway."
By then, Priscilla and Fishel had approached the terrace where the three were talking.
"If Ban is staying, then I should stay too. I have things to pay back to that bastard Balthazar~"
"Priscilla-nim, please return to the mansion."
Ban reached out his hand as if worried and tried to dissuade her.
"Don't worry, Ban. My mana is gradually recovering."
"Then at the very least, please provide support from a safe location."
"Alright~ If that's what Ban wants, I'll do that."
Priscilla smiled brightly and leaned against Ban's arm.
"I... I'll stay too."
Fishel also quietly approached Ban's side and spoke.
"Balthazar is the kingdom's enemy anyway... and... I want to fight alongside Ban too."
Fishel smiled at Ban.
"Fishel... you don't need to risk your life. If it's dangerous, prioritize survival."
Ban emphasized, gripping Fishel's shoulders.
"Don't get your face so close!! It's embarrassing... I get it. I'll fight carefully."
Seeing the resolve of the two, Charlotte shed tears.
"Everyone... thank you..."
"Great! Now that it's decided, let's prepare to welcome Balthazar."
With the sound of Priscilla's clapping, preparations to face Balthazar in the fortress of the Papacy began.
**
The Papacy, led by the Saintess, quickly entered a state of war.
Using her knightly experience, Fishel commanded Charlotte's followers, setting up barricades and organizing formations.
Evelyn activated every hidden defensive magic she knew of inside the Papacy.
And Priscilla, positioned in the safest rear tower, began layering massive interception magic circles in the air as soon as her mana recovered.
"Good luck to everyone..."
With the prayer-filled cry of Saintess Charlotte, resolve filled the eyes of the followers.
And not long after.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!
With heavy footsteps that shook the earth, the Empire's army, covering the ground in black, filled the plains before the Papacy.
Behind the soldiers lined up in ranks were magic catapults and weapons spewing ominous mana, and knights who had become terribly transformed, much like Wilhelm.
At the vanguard of that massive army.
On a gorgeous and overwhelming chariot, Emperor Balthazar looked down at the Papacy with arrogant eyes.
"Did you think you could stop my army with just those slum rabble."
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
Along with Balthazar's voice, the sound of massive drums echoed as if an attack was imminent.
"Capture the witch and Saintess alive, bring me the head of that bastard named Ban. Crush all the rest into minced meat!"
From atop the ramparts, Ban, who was looking down at the scene, took a step forward, resting his Great Sword on his shoulder.
"So he's the mastermind behind everything... He talks a lot."
Ban said with an indifferent expression, looking down at Balthazar.
"No need to waste time. All forces, advance."
Soon, the Emperor's command was given, and as the Imperial army was about to roar and charge toward the Papacy.
Just as everyone was tensely preparing for the clash.
-Bwoooooo!!!
A massive, majestic trumpet sound that tore through the battlefield's air resounded from the side of the plains.
The bewildered Imperial formation wavered as they turned their heads.
Balthazar also frowned and turned his gaze.
There, kicking up enormous clouds of dust and crossing the horizon, came tens of thousands of troops.
A coalition led by the Rohim Kingdom, with countless flags bearing the kingdom's emblems fluttering.
"What in the world..."
Ban on the ramparts turned his head to check.
A girl radiant in silver armor riding a warhorse, and a noble girl dressed as if she had come out for a stroll, completely mismatched.
They were strangely familiar girls to Ban.
"I finally found you!! My prince!! Support the Great Warrior Ban-nim!! Don't let a single Imperial soldier escape alive!"
"My fated one!!! It took so long to find you!!"
Their identities were Elysia and Alusia.
The girls who had formed connections with Ban in the past had led the coalition and, true to their promise, had found Ban.
And with intense flames, crossing the sky, more formidable figures appeared in succession.
"Finally, the battle has arrived!!! Priscilla!! Ban!!! This one has arrived!!"
Katarina, the Witch of Fire.
Then, the sky suddenly grew dark, and a purple, universe-like aura blotted out the sun.
In the sky, dozens of witches were floating in the air.
"Ban... To think you really would rescue Priscilla before us. Now I understand why Valentine said you were cool."
"Right? I told you it seemed like Ban would succeed."
Among them, Celestia, the Witch of Celestial Bodies, and Valentine, the Witch of Flowers, were leading the witches and holding their position.
"The... The Witch Council?!"
The Imperial soldiers screamed in astonishment.
To ordinary soldiers, witches and mages were no different from calamity.
"Oh my!! Guys!!! Long time no see!!"
From atop the tower, Priscilla saw the sight and cried out happily.
"Ban-nim, who on earth are they..."
Charlotte could not close her mouth upon seeing the massive scale of reinforcements.
"They're people I know... Now there's no need to face them from inside the fortress anymore."
As soon as Ban finished speaking, he jumped down from the Papacy fortress.
-Thud!!
The ground rumbled as Ban landed on the surface with a great sandstorm.
"Then... shall we go and face that bastard called Balthazar."
A single Great Warrior, Ban, approaches before the countless armies.
And as he drew his Great Sword, as if it were a signal, a unified war cry announced the start of the battle.