Chapter 95

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 95

Chapter Title: Humanity's Betrayer (2)

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The ground shakes.

Soon, thousands of bones burst out onto the surface—

Poisonous fingertips clawing at the sky.

It was like a scene straight out of a horror movie.

"Hurry up, you betrayers."

But the high-ranking demon, Balram, remained utterly calm.

As if he felt no fear whatsoever.

He barked coldly at the corpses.

Instead, the corpses were the ones gripped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by terror.

Clack, clatter—

The sound of bones trembling like aspen leaves.

The skeletons scrambled to raise their bodies.

Among them, far stronger specimens—monsters with rotten flesh stitched onto their frames. Death Knights.

Even the Knights of Death were no exception.

Their armor converged on Balram.

Soon, the vast army knelt before him.

"……."

'Tsk, even in death, they're still afraid of me.'

Balram didn't like the sight one bit.

It was unbecoming of the man who'd transformed an entire territorial army into one-man armies of monsters.

Unexpectedly, Salleos pouted her lips.

"Why are they chattering their bones like that? Because they can't measure up to Citri?"

"They're not foolish enough to compare themselves to the bitch who devoured Bune, the demon realm's greatest necromancer."

"Then why?"

"Because I hate it. These honorless betrayers, and even me for ultimately defecting. All of it."

"It's inevitable, isn't it? Because of your 'blessing'."

"What blessing? It's a curse."

Balram grumbled unusually.

His voice edged with irritation, unlike him.

As much as he loathed the current situation...

"...Enemy forces confirmed—additional! Over five thousand!"

'We're screwed!!'

Yi Hyun, watching from within the territory.

To him, it looked plenty horrific.

A scream escaped him involuntarily.

"Skeleton elite troops? Anyway, strong-looking ones numbering five thousand, plus two hundred Death Knights! And they might multiply even more!!"

"Yes!?"

"What the hell does that mean!!"

"It's true!! You can see them from beyond the walls too!?"

Yi Hyun wasn't the only one terrified.

Even the Imperial 2nd Knight Order couldn't help but quail before that horde.

You could tell just from Hilde's ears drooping limply after she'd dashed back panting.

"...Mass monster outbreak. Beyond what the territorial army can handle."

"Hilde, how strong are they?"

"Two or three boneheads could take down one apprentice knight, I'd say."

"And there are five thousand of those, plus Death Knights."

Blanc's face grew grave too.

The skeleton elites alone were a force the 2nd Knight Order would need to throw everything at.

Two hundred Death Knights to boot—things even knights might struggle against one-on-one.

And finally, two high demons.

The 2nd Knight Order, meanwhile?

Knight numbers fell far short of two hundred.

Their forces were hopelessly outmatched.

-Gulp.

'At this rate.'

Annihilation.

The word hovered before everyone's eyes.

For all its gravity...

-Swish.

"Sigh, no helping it."

"……!!?"

But in that instant.

One woman stepped forward.

Finally tossing back her mantle's hood.

Red hair tumbled down.

It was Minerva.

"No, you."

"No helping it, right? Things turned out this way~."

Blanc, frozen in shock.

Minerva, though, stayed nonchalant.

Or rather, she had to.

'If we charge into battle like this, what's the knight order's force reduction from morale drop?'

'Any more drop here, and we're in danger. No choice—this Minerva's gotta step up.'

Her blue eyes sparkled with cunning.

Now that she'd stepped forward—no problem.

To reassure them like that.

"Su-Supervisor? We're in deep shit right now..."

"Not supervisor—call me Sage Minerva."

"...Sage!?"

"A Sage is with us!?"

"No wonder the mantle never came off."

"She blocked the carriage too!"

The mood flipped on the spot.

Minerva grinned mischievously,

then jabbed Yi Hyun's side.

"See, Hyun? Told you—no need for such detailed plans."

"No way I could've predicted this."

"Life never goes to plan unless you force it~?"

"That's the fun part... wait, no."

That snapped Yi Hyun back to reality.

He nearly reflexively mimicked some androgynous witch but caught himself.

Snapped his head toward Minerva.

"You mean?"

"Situation changed—new plan! Everyone, make way~."

Soon Minerva pushed to the crowd's center.

Stood beside Blanc, the knight order captain.

Nod—Blanc's silent approval.

The sage spoke.

"Basically like Hyun said. Splits on whether Salleos sides with us or not..."

Quick explanation followed.

Very concise.

If Salleos betrays the demons.

Ask her to fight Balram.

Then somehow drag him to the walls,

"Hit him with the empire's strongest holy spell. Done."

Wrap with Lumine's 'Holy Spear'.

Minus Salleos joining, same as original plan.

"Strongest... the Saintess?!"

"She's here? Didn't she vanish with the Hero?"

"I heard she died—the temple mourned her."

"But the strongest holy spell..."

By now, everyone twigged to Lumine,

but Minerva ignored it.

Petty secrecy wasn't the priority.

"Second case: Salleos fakes cooperating with humanity, then betrays."

"Right. How do we..."

"———Abandon Eisenhardt."

Salleos smirked slyly—

then went dead serious.

"...Pardon? Minerva, what—"

"Capital's far more defensible. Lots die there too, sure."

"Then this territory?"

"Ends up like Zaksen."

"What!!"

Zaksen, the undead-infested ruin.

Hilde cried out in horror.

That day's atrocities still burned in her mind.

"Saying that in front of him? Hey!?"

"R-right!! Even for a Sage, mind your words, you sword!!"

"She's correct. Yi Hyun's from Zaksen—that was wildly inappropriate. Apologize."

The other knights fumed too.

Silpi, Blanc, every woman.

Revealing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yi Hyun's image in the order.

And Minerva...

"Whoa, easy~ Haven't finished yet?"

Playful smile, like nothing happened.

Glanced at Yi Hyun.

"Ultimate wildcard—this plan ignores Hyun!"

Yi Hyun, irregular beyond even her blessing's gauge.

He'd overturn this tragedy.

Minerva believed it.

'Like our Hero.'

"So, Hyun? Good ideas?"

All gazes—Minerva's included—locked on him.

Yi Hyun stood at the center.

"……."

'Got one, but will it fly?'

Yi Hyun's face twisted.

Claims 190 IQ himself—actually sub-average 2.

Pushed to limit, deep in thought.

Looked heroic from outside,

'National-power dick might pull it off?'

Business as usual: peak 'Yi Hyun' mode.

Plotting the unthinkable for mortals.

Suddenly, his eyes flashed wide.

'First, let's fuck!'

"So if Salleos really ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠betrays demons, we're good?"

"Right? Though that's outta our hands..."

"What if we make her betray?"

"...Huh?"

Minerva choked on air.

Never-crossed-her-mind flip.

If Salleos's betrayal's the crux, force it.

Proposal too outlandish.

Yi Hyun dead serious, though.

"Like before—parchment letter. Tell her attack Balram."

"Work?"

"Dunno, might? Send a 'gift' with it."

His thinking:

Salleos's sincerity unknown, but

'She's jonesing hard for my cock taste.'

Sensations remotely pumped via Clara.

Had enslaved her to pleasure.

This, he knew for sure.

"My cum-stained underwear too! My scent'll make her betray uncontrollably!"

"Uh, um."

"Tell Salleos: Behave, get 'thanks' like Clara..."

"……."

"Huh? Why the faces?"

Only then Yi Hyun looked around.

Blanc beet-red.

Hilde tail over face.

Silpi eyes elsewhere.

"Minerva, decent idea, right?"

"Don't drag me in, Hyun. Mortifying."

Even mighty Minerva lost composure.

History-making plan this crass?

Too embarrassing.

"Eh, lame?"

"...Didn't say no."

"Worth a shot, yes."

Shame aside.

Those who'd fucked Yi Hyun agreed.

Vulgar, lowbrow scheme.

Somehow... it'll work.

"Captain, for real?"

"Th-the Sage said it too! Why only side-eye me!!"

"Sage? This legit?"

"Don't ask me? History records this, I cry."

"Uh, um."

Knights unscathed by Yi Hyun's mojo.

They just thought,

'Huh, that's his caliber.'

Nothing more.

Near Eisenhardt's outskirts park.

The undead horde camped.

By Salleos's will—not Balram's, their raiser.

"Here, drink up~."

"...Pointless feeding booze to Death Knights."

"Come on! My toasting knights deserve this much."

Before ragtag flesh-patched knights.

Salleos poured nonstop.

True to her boozehound rep, all premium vintages.

"Balram, you too."

"Sorry, pass. Never drank in life."

"Really? No other reason?"

"Oath needed?"

"Tch, fine."

'Easier if he drank.'

Salleos scheming,

Balram clueless.

His jawbone clicked satisfied.

'Thought her venomous—my mistake.'

Knights rallied for beauty.

Her pouring drinks.

Knightly scene, no?

Knights monster-stitched, beauty demon spawn.

New for Balram regardless.

His curse lifetime-loner'd him.

So craving enjoyment natural...

-Thud thud!

"Hold—someone's coming."

Ground-pounding echoed.

One knight approaching.

"Eisenhardt scout?"

"Mood-killer. Your move, Balram?"

"Ignore... hm?"

Then swish—

Hurls a box at Salleos.

Golden afterimage trailed as she dashed.

Rosenthal blood blessing, 'Superacceleration'.

Blanc moonlighting courier.

Her speed momentarily dazed Balram, but...

-Creak.

"……!!!"

'Wh-what?!'

Thus Balram missed it.

Salleos snatching the box.

Her face twisting wildly.

Forced smile gone, eyes bloodshot opening it.

Soon, parchment scrap spotted.

The inscription.

Betrayal-inciting order,

"……♡"

The long-awaited signal.

Salleos reached carefully.

Box's cloth scrap—underwear gooey with white fluff.

Lifted it to her mouth.

"……Ah♡"

"Salleos? What're you... that?"

"He, hehehe, hehehehehehe♡"

Fishy reek stuffed her nose.

Her master's semen, craved endlessly.

"Ahahahahahaha♡ Th-this... this is it♡"

Salleos's eyes blazed red.

Mad cackle erupted.

"What's wrong!? Poison!?"

"P-poison♡ Dumbass moron, fucking retard♡"

Balram's worried stare.

She leered back crookedly,

"———Poisoned one's you."

-Clap.

Hands smacked.

Whoosh—demonic qi storm whipped up.

"……What!?"

'Death Knights!!'

Death Knights' flesh glowed.

Like Clara's belly once.

Eerie pink runes etched in.

Two hundred Death Knights charged.

Rotten-flesh cocks mimicked.

Erect like swords.

-Thud thud!!

Skeleton elites fled.

Bone clashes screamed like wails.

Terror eclipsing his own curse—Balram panicked.

"What the hell!!"

"Tickled the walls a bit♡ Now boners drive 'em berserk?"

"Why—to your saviors!!!"

Shing—sword drawn.

Aimed at his would-be savee.

'Figure it out yourself, retard♡'

Salleos shed her mantle.

True colors bare.

"Hero once ditched by humans? Betrayed by us too—how's it feel?"

"Salleoooooooos!!!!!!!!"

Skull knight's bellow shook the plains.

"...Pfft!"

'Fun twist? Who wins~ Salleos looks tasty.'

Far overhead, beyond Lumine's probe—cloudtops.

Bow-wielding woman's scoff.

Yet unheard by all.