The Hero (1)
Two weeks had passed since the Saintess and the mercenary arrived at the temporary settlement. Reconstruction showed no signs of progress. It felt easier to simply pretend Vaktins had never existed in the first place.
Reconstruction of the port had not even reached its foundational stage. They had to clear the debris of the collapsed city and build an entirely new one from scratch. Even with mages mobilized, clearing the ruins of the devastated Vaktins was a grueling, time-consuming process.
Isis took charge of treating the refugees. Much like the endless ruins of Vaktins, patients streamed in without end, appearing from every corner of the camp. For every person she saved, another died elsewhere. Wounds swarmed with bacteria, and the sweltering air rotted the flesh.
"Saintess... please save me, Saintess..." a boy groaned, holding out his severed arm. He was her twentieth patient of the day. The mother who had brought him limped beside him, her own leg wrapped in crude bandages.
Isis poured her mana into him. Without the severed limb present, she could not reattach it, and regrowing a lost arm from nothing was impossible. The most she could do was soothe the phantom pain wracking the boy's small frame.
"Please save me..." No matter how much mana she channeled, the boy continued to writhe in agony. The Saintess's mana depleted rapidly, shaved away in massive chunks. She poured nearly all of her remaining strength into them. Breaking into a cold sweat, Isis turned her attention to the mother's leg. The fractured bone slowly mended, knitting back into place.
"Thank you," the woman whispered. Yet her eyes remained fixed solely on her son, completely indifferent to the miracle that had just mended her own limb.
Isis watched the mother and son leave the makeshift medical tent. Through the flapping canvas entrance, the low, anxious murmur of the crowd outside drifted in.
"Please conserve your mana, Saintess," a soldier assisting her urged. Isis shook her head. She tried to force her remaining mana to circulate to call the next patient, but her vision spun, and she collapsed forward.
The next person waiting outside was a patient with half of his face wrapped in bloody bandages. The soldier guarding the entrance blocked him from stepping inside. Through the slit in the canvas, the patient's single remaining eye stared at the Saintess with desperate longing.
"Let him in."
"We cannot, Saintess. If you collapse, you won't be able to save the countless others who need you. Surely he can wait until tomorrow." The soldier spoke firmly, but Isis refused to yield.
"Let him in..."
"Do you have a death wish, Isis?" Aryen caught her from behind just as her knees buckled. Isis tried to shake off his grip, but her body refused to cooperate. She stumbled and sank weakly to the ground.
"That's enough for today. The sun is already setting."
"I can't... do that."
"Stop being stubborn, Isis. Your body is at its limit." Aryen lifted her easily—she was light, devoid of any strength to resist—and carried her to a nearby cot. The watching priests let out heavy sighs.
"I never imagined the aftermath of a Calamity would be this devastating. They don't say these things can destroy the world for nothing."
"It only made landfall briefly, and yet the damage is this catastrophic. What would have happened had it marched past Vaktins and deeper into the kingdom?" The priests' hushed voices drifted over her. Isis closed her eyes, unable to escape the memories of that fateful day.
'If you want to kill everyone in Vaktins, go ahead.' Back then, those words had felt so distant. It was the first time she had hovered on the brink of death, watching her own demise pass her by. Her own death had felt so close, while the deaths of others had seemed so far away. The Hero who marched to the front lines seeking only his own end had seemed reckless and irresponsible, while the mercenary who secured their survival by dealing death to the enemy had seemed rational and strong.
"Aaaagh!" "Uuugh..." "Please bear with it, even if it hurts. We have to disinfect the wound." "Don't die! Stay with me!" Screams and groans echoed without pause. Whenever she closed her eyes, those agonizing sounds only grew louder. Under the scorching summer sun, the stench of festering, rotting flesh overpowered the sharp scent of medicine.
What was she? What did it mean to be a Saintess, and what was this duty she carried? What had they done wrong back then? Why had the bishop look at her with such silent reproach? Did she regret her choice that day? Isis clenched her fists, desperately clinging to her fading consciousness. Suddenly, urgent footsteps shattered the heavy atmosphere. The tent flap was thrown open, and a soldier drenched in sweat burst inside.
"What is the matter?" the priest sitting beside Isis asked, rising to meet him. The soldier panted heavily, struggling to get the words out.
"The fourth Calamity is approaching! The enemy forces are reportedly far larger than anticipated. It is so dire that Grand Duke Stroft of Evernode has sent an urgent request for reinforcements to the Royal Capital... But..." He swallowed hard. "They say the Evernode army, including the Hero, has no intention of retreating." The soldier's words rang like a death knell in Isis's mind.
On the night the Boundary Line crept to their very doorstep, and the towering silhouette of the Giant began to loom beyond the snowy veil, Grand Duke Quenor Stroft convened an emergency council. The meeting room now required torches and lanterns to pierce the gloom. Amidst the flickering, dancing shadows, the Grand Duke's expression was darker than the night itself.
"The fourth Calamity is drawing near," Grand Duke Quenor began. The heavy atmosphere in the room plummeted further at his words. The Grand Duke rested his forearms on the map of the North spread across the table and exhaled a long, weary breath.
"And we still have a long wait before reinforcements arrive." A response to their plea would mean troops. Since the fate of the kingdom, the continent, and perhaps the entire world hung in the balance, reinforcements would undoubtedly come. But even if they rode day and night without rest, it would take time to reach Evernode. While holding off the monsters alone was manageable, the moment the Giant itself stepped onto the battlefield, the rules of engagement would change entirely.
"The Boundary Line has already swallowed the forest. Its freezing influence is beginning to creep up our very walls." The sky was no longer as bright as it once was. The sun was a mere pale smudge behind a dense shroud of clouds, and the heavy snow clouds filtered the light into a perpetual, gloomy twilight. Soldiers who had fought without coats just the day before were now wrapping themselves in blankets and heavy furs. A sudden, biting wind battered the ramparts, howling like a chorus of weeping ghosts.
"Monsters suffer nothing from this bitter weather, but we do. Our combat effectiveness will plummet. Starting tomorrow, our casualties will spike. If those Legion Commanders still have significant forces in reserve, holding the line will become incredibly difficult. Evernode has no shortage of exceptional knights, but we have no way of knowing how much strength those damn beasts are holding back."
Grand Duke Quenor tapped his finger on the illustration of the Evernode fortress on the map. My eyes drifted to the labels written beyond it: 'The Forest Beyond', 'The Boundary Line', 'The Great Canyon'. Evernode stood as the final bastion guarding the passage to the rest of the continent.
"I believe we do not have many options," the Grand Duke said. "So, before I present my strategy, I would like to hear your thoughts. Reese." The Grand Duke turned his gaze to Reese, who was staring intently at the map where Quenor's finger rested. "What is your assessment?"
"It matters not how many of them swarm us. Our duty is to defend Evernode," Reese replied, his voice ringing with absolute resolve. "I will do as I have always done—stand my ground here and slaughter every monster that dares approach." The Grand Duke did not verbally agree, offering only a slow nod.
"Next, Hemil."
"My stance is the same as Reese's," Hemil said. "For a knight born and raised in this land, what other choice could there possibly be?" The knights of Evernode offered identical answers. Even though he knew exactly what they would say, Grand Duke Quenor looked each man in the eye as he asked, as if testing and sealing their resolve. The vassals and the chief chamberlain were no different.
"...Very well. Then let us hear from our guests." The Grand Duke's piercing blue eyes turned to me. I couldn't read his thoughts. "We could abandon this fortress and fall back, Hero Elroy. We could evacuate one of the southern cities, consolidate our forces with the crown's army there, and launch a counteroffensive. Wouldn't you say that offers a higher probability of slaying the Giant?"
"That is the one thing we absolutely cannot do. Evernode must be held at all costs," I answered without a moment's hesitation. Evernode was not just the front line; it was the final line of defense. In the original novel, they had failed to stop the Giant, losing the entirety of Evernode. Grand Duke Quenor and countless knights had perished alongside the fortress, allowing the monsters to flood the continent and spread terror across the world.
"And why do you believe so, Elroy?"
I furrowed my brow and spoke. "If the Giant breaches this fortress, the Boundary Line will sweep forward and freeze the entire world. The Giant will trample every city and nation on this continent simply by taking a step." I habitually rested my hand on the hilt of my sword, calmly outlining the impending catastrophe. The faces of those gathered around the table grew increasingly grim.
"Even if we retreat, there is no guarantee of a second chance. The Calamity and its horde will not halt to reorganize just because they have taken this fortress, nor will they sit idly by. They will march relentlessly until the world is utterly destroyed, freezing mountains, rivers, lakes, and oceans in their wake."
I wondered what Aryen would have thought. He had always chosen the path of confronting the Calamities head-on. In the original novel, the fall of Evernode had been depicted as an unavoidable tragedy. People blamed the Hero for failing to slay the Giant in time. But was that really the truth?
"Furthermore, we will be powerless to stop the monsters from spreading. Once they bypass Evernode, the entire continent lies open to them." The Grand Duke nodded, his expression seeming to lighten slightly. "Indeed. Thank you for speaking so plainly. And what of the rest of the Hero's party?"
I felt Georg's gaze on me. His expression was incredibly complex. "I... agree with the Hero," Georg muttered, offering nothing more. Marianne and Daphne nodded in silent agreement, offering no objections.
Having heard the counsel of everyone in the room, Grand Duke Quenor closed his eyes. In the heavy silence of the chamber, only the crackle and hiss of the dancing torchlight could be heard.
"We will proceed as follows," the Grand Duke said, opening his eyes. "We will split our forces. One division will remain to defend Evernode, while the other will march out of the gates to strike directly at the heart of the enemy." My eyes widened in surprise.
"We will engage in hit-and-run tactics to delay the main army's advance and chip away at their numbers. Once the reinforcements from the Royal Capital arrive, we will hand over the defense of the fortress to them and march out to slay the fourth Calamity."
Grand Duke Quenor turned his gaze to me. "I will lead the vanguard to delay their march. Hero Elroy, I ask that you oversee the defense of Evernode alongside Reese."
"...If you pierce the enemy's vanguard, the pressure on our walls will be significantly reduced," I said, a sudden, inexplicable anxiety tightening in my chest. "It would be better if I accompanied you to help delay the Giant." Although the original novel mentioned that the Grand Duke had successfully delayed the Giant's advance several times on his own, I could no longer blindly trust the original narrative.
But Grand Duke Quenor shook his head. "We do not need a large force to slip through the enemy lines. More importantly, a siege defense requires a central pillar of support. If not you, who will rally the soldiers and save them when crisis strikes?"
The Grand Duke placed immense trust in me. Yet, I was terrified of leaving him to face a Calamity alone. I could no longer rely on the safety net of the original plot. "If we wish to save Evernode, there is no other way, Elroy," the Grand Duke continued gently. "We must buy time until we can face them at full strength. Besides, I am strong enough that I won't be needing your help."
I bit my lip. There was no viable alternative. I could have protested and forced my way into his vanguard, but then, as he said, the fortress and its defenders would be left without a core commander.
"Understood. But," I said, holding up a single finger, "you must promise me one thing. Do not get greedy and try to slay the Giant. If you find yourself in danger, you must retreat immediately. No exceptions."
"Of course, I promise," Grand Duke Quenor chuckled. "Unlike a certain young Hero I know, I have no desire to hog all the glory." The knights of Evernode let out collective chuckles, and the icy tension that had gripped the room finally began to thaw.
"The strike force to delay the Giant will consist of a small, elite group. No more than twenty men. The Hero's party, Reese, and Serin will remain here. Hemil, you will ride with me. Hans, Adrian, Tyron—you will join us as well."
Grand Duke Quenor swiftly organized the roster. After careful deliberation, he selected a total of fifteen men. Holding the list, the Grand Duke brought the council to a close.
"We depart tomorrow morning before the main battle begins. Go and rest for the night." The Grand Duke was the first to rise. His footsteps as he left the chamber seemed heavier than usual. The heavy doors opened and shut. A sudden draft through the gap caused the torches to flicker and die, leaving the room hazy with drifting smoke.
"We should return by tomorrow morning," Grand Duke Quenor said from atop his steed the following dawn. "If we still have the stamina, we might even pinch the monsters from behind." I stood beside him at the outer gate, gripping the Holy Sword, ready to clear a path for their departure.
"May fortune favor you, Grand Duke. Please return safely."
"You should worry about yourself rather than me. Leave the worrying to others and make sure this fortress holds."
"Open the gates!" Clank, clank. The heavy iron portcullis ground upward. Outside, a horde of monsters bared their fangs, waiting for us. I unleashed the first stage of the Holy Sword, raising it into a starting stance. The Grand Duke caught sight of my posture and grinned.
"Excellent. Don't hold back your strength at a time like this. Let them have it."
"Just focus on the task at hand," I retorted dryly, channeling my mana. As the pure white, sacred light of the Holy Sword flared, the monsters began to hesitate, shrinking back. I swung the blade in a sweeping arc. A brilliant wave of energy tore through the horde, obliterating everything in its path and carving a wide, open road. The Grand Duke immediately spurred his horse forward.
"We shall return."
"I will keep the fortress safe." I watched the figures of the Grand Duke and his knights shrink into distant specks before the massive gates finally groaned shut. Returning to the ramparts, I noticed that the number of monsters assaulting the walls was unusually small that day. Rather than feeling relieved by the lull, the soldiers grew even more anxious. A day of suffocating tension passed, and night fell once more. I spent the entire night wide awake, staring into the dark.
The next day. The sun rose, and the monsters resumed their relentless battering of the gates. But the knights had still not returned.