Chapter 138: Something to Brag About
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 138: Something to Brag About
Crown Prince Alexander Arken was in a seething, towering rage.
The adjutant who had delivered the report trembled, his voice shaking as he repeated himself.
“T-that is correct, Your Highness. The knights attempted to break their momentum by striking the flank, but they ended up isolated instead…”
“How… how could they be so pathetically outmaneuvered?”
No matter how much he turned it over in his mind, Alexander couldn't fathom it.
Upon hearing this, the advisors huddled together, muttering in low, anxious tones.
“To think the tactics that worked even against the fiercest barbarians of the North would be so utterly useless…”
“The operation’s projected success rate was over ninety percent…”
The advisors spoke with subtle shifts in tone, carefully implying that none of this was their fault.
Alexander’s face twisted in irritation. “Enemy losses?”
“Estimated at… three thousand. However, two thousand five hundred of those were Melted.”
“So there was some progress, wasn't there? Right?”
“…”
“Why are you silent! Stop hesitating and answer me!”
“W-well… the Melted are essentially nothing more than lumps of flesh. The core strength of their army lies in the beast-type monsters…”
Killing things that were little more than mindless meat was pointless. The primary targets were the beast-type monsters, yet eighty thousand men had been sacrificed while only five hundred of those beasts were slain.
It was enough to drive him to the brink of madness.
A total of eighty thousand people, including non-combat personnel. He had deployed an entire legion; it made no sense for every single one of them to fail so miserably. These were tactics discussed and refined by the greatest minds in the heart of the Empire, with results approved by every relevant department.
However, this disaster occurred because they had formulated their strategy by treating the "monsters" as nothing more than slightly stronger versions of common creatures. Above all, they had assumed an overwhelming victory simply because they had sent four times the numbers—and two and a half times the pure military force.
Alexander grit his teeth and barked at the adjutant.
“Send reinforcements! Push them back with sheer numbers! Tell the 2nd and 3rd Legions to redefine their anti-monster tactics and deploy the follow-up troops immediately!”
“We must prepare the reinforcements as you say, but…”
The lukewarm response made Alexander snap. He hurled the game piece he was holding directly at the adjutant’s head.
“What is the problem now?! Huh?! There are thirty million people in the Imperial Capital, and you’re telling me we can’t fill those ranks?!”
“It’s just that… the commanders who were supposed to lead the reinforcements are all… confined to their sickbeds.”
Alexander was momentarily speechless.
“The commanders are all bedridden?! Does that even make sense?!”
“I contacted them as soon as I heard news of the annihilation… but they all claim to be recuperating at home. They say it appears to be a contagious outbreak, so they have barred all entry to their estates…”
People who had been laughing healthily just this morning had suddenly caught a plague?
It was obvious.
They had heard the news that even an army of eighty thousand was ineffective and had gone into hiding. They didn't want to die. If eighty thousand had perished, what chance did they have? They were washing their hands of the entire affair.
“These… these…”
Incompetent bastards!
They acted so brave and full of bravado, yet this was how they behaved when they were actually needed?
His face flushed with fury, but he did his best to stifle his temper. Getting angry now would only be to his own detriment. Despite his efforts to stay calm, the situation continued to spiral cruelly for Alexander.
“News has arrived from the Far East units.”
“What are they doing?”
“They report that they have eliminated six super-sized monsters that were breeding more of their kind.”
Six of them at once?
While Alexander stood there with a dazed expression, the messenger continued excitedly, oblivious to the Prince's darkening mood.
“They said it was unexpectedly easy, so they are splitting their forces again to hunt down the monsters spreading toward the small villages.”
“They’re even going on the hunt…?”
“And they asked me to relay that they will eliminate the remaining six within three days.”
“Within three days?!”
The situation was absurd. It was unthinkable to Alexander that a ragtag army could achieve such feats while the elite legions were struggling.
“H-how many casualties did they take?”
Alexander calculated rapidly. Roughly two thousand soldiers had moved out and confronted hundreds of monsters. At least fifty percent—a thousand men—should be dead. Even at best, twenty percent, or four hundred men, should have fallen.
The messenger replied.
“Fifty.”
His prediction was spectacularly wrong. He thought the messenger might have forgotten to add 'hundred' or 'thousand' at the end, but that wasn't it.
“Fifty? Only fifty?”
“There are fifty casualties, but only ten of those are fatalities. They say the rest are generally fine. And…”
Crash!
The messenger couldn't finish. Alexander had shattered a crystal glass against the man's head.
“Drag this damn bastard out of here!”
Taking down the super-sized monsters meant they had cut off the supply of new monsters. Yet, this news was even more irritating than the report of eighty thousand soldiers dying.
“If this continues… if this continues…”
Everything would be blamed on Alexander. It wasn't just about taking responsibility; public opinion would boil over with claims of his incompetence.
That was the problem. Failure could be tolerated, but incompetence could not. For Alexander, who was already branded as an incompetent Crown Prince, this was the worst possible scenario.
Alexander tried to squeeze every drop of wisdom from his mind.
The legion had suffered a crushing defeat. The commanders of the other armies who should be handling the cleanup were all feigning illness. If this continued, the entire operation would fall into the hands of the 2nd Prince.
The 2nd Prince, who was already joining hands with mercenaries and gathering his own army, would gain a legitimate claim to the succession. The moment the incident concluded and the final accounting began, Alexander’s life in the Imperial family would be over.
‘Olivia.’
My beautiful, wretched sister. You’re trying to screw me over again.
‘The Empire…’
Alexander clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms, and crimson blood dripped down. No matter what it took, no matter what happened…
‘The Empire must be mine!’
With that thought, Alexander bolted upright. He was ready to sell his soul to the devil if it meant resolving this crisis.
“Y-Your Highness, where are you going?”
Leaving the voices of his dazed advisors behind, Alexander marched away. He eventually stood before a magnificent door in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.
That door had not been opened even once in fifteen years. It was as if a demon were sealed inside.
However, what lay within was not a demon. It was something far more awe-inspiring than a demon—a being that even the Crown Prince could not control. Everyone looked down on him, but he was never one to be underestimated.
Alexander, who knew this more painfully than anyone, approached the door with the utmost caution and called out.
“Father.”
The only person he could call father was the Emperor, Godfrey Arken. There was no answer from beyond the door.
“It is I. Your son, Alexander.”
He continued, bowing his head submissively.
“The monsters are coming. I sent an army, but they were annihilated, and the monsters are heading toward the heart of the Empire.”
“…”
“And now, no one will listen to me. If this continues, Ureas and Olivia will take everything.”
“…”
Alexander felt a surge of emotion at the returning silence.
“Didn’t you always say? That Olivia was the best card you held. That card is now moving on its own.”
“…”
“She is undoubtedly planning to seize political power, just as you said. Are you going to let her run wild as she pleases?”
He appealed several times, but the silence eventually caused Alexander to lose his grip on reason.
“Are you even a father?!” he exploded, screaming at the top of his lungs. “You’ve had no interest in me since the day I was born! You’re old, and your son is of age; you should have quietly handed over the throne! Do you plan to hog it for decades more?!”
“…”
“My rebellion against you is a thing of the past! If this was my punishment, haven't you tormented me enough? How much more do you have to screw over your own son to be satisfied?! It’s not like you’re going to live forever! You old bastard…!”
Just as he was about to scream more, a small slip of paper slid out from under the door. It was a short document, no larger than the paper itself.
Alexander trembled as he read the contents. He muttered to himself inwardly.
‘I knew choosing this old man was the right answer.’
The world babbled on about him being incompetent, but he was a man who shone in critical moments. Alexander grabbed the paper and hurried away.
The Crown Prince didn't even say thank you for the wisdom, and the door to Emperor Godfrey Arken’s bedchamber remained tightly shut.
* * *
At dawn, Ferda moved out with his soldiers.
The plan was to split into two battalions and intercept the monsters' path to conduct a defensive battle. The sound of horse hooves drummed against the ground. The horses had to move without rest to reach the first point in time.
As a result of their haste, the first point came into view.
The farmers who had come out early to check their fields looked bewildered. Realizing from the group's attire that they were people of high status, they took off their straw hats and approached.
“You look like people of high standing… what brings you here?”
“Has nothing happened here?”
“If you mean trouble, not particularly…?”
It seemed they had arrived earlier than scheduled.
“Monster! A monster is coming!”
Correction: they had arrived exactly on time.
Ferda commanded using amplification magic.
“All troops! Form a phalanx!”
Clang! Clang!
The sound of armor moving in perfect unison vibrated in their chests.
Bark! Bark!
A terrified farmer scrambled away as a wolf lunged toward him. A wolf monster had spotted him long ago and was in pursuit. A normal farmer’s speed could not outrun a wolf. A sacrifice would occur before he could reach the safety of Ferda’s battalion.
“Ruri.”
The moment he called her name, Ruri’s figure vanished. She had leaped high into the air. Gripping a massive axe with both hands, she swung it behind her head and—
“Hah!”
She threw it straight down.
Thoom!
“Agh!”
The farmer fell forward from the vibration of the ground. He turned around to see what had happened. The entire area was completely overturned, and at the center lay the corpse of a monster bleeding purple blood.
A small figure landed on the axe embedded in the ground. She picked up the heavy weapon as if it were nothing and glanced toward the farmer. When her chilling silver eyes met his, a shiver ran down his spine.
“Run faster, human.”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
The farmer started running again. The wolf monsters couldn't bring themselves to move recklessly. These creatures, which lacked the emotion of fear, felt for the first time that they were standing before a superior power. If she swung her axe, they would be nothing more than wheat stalks in autumn, cut down effortlessly.
However, Ruri turned and walked back. The wolves couldn't understand her actions. But their brief moment of reason was soon overtaken by instinct.
—Bark! Bark!
The wolves charged at the knights forming the phalanx, leading to a brutal melee.
“Hold the line, brothers! We are right behind you!”
“Don't just stay behind us, help out!”
The knights shouted back while holding firm. Ferda was the only one acting as a mage. However, that was enough. Using the three 3rd Circle mages he had brought as mana batteries, he received a steady supply of Mana Bolts.
Ferda aimed for the moments they were about to attack, hindering the wolf monsters' movements and creating openings. It was simple, but it was more than enough support. The knights finished them off by plunging their swords into the chests of every wolf monster.
In the end, without relying on the mages for the kills, the knights succeeded in repelling all the monsters.
“Wooooo!”
“Victory is ours!”
They let out victory cries, pounding on their plate armor. The 1st Pursuit Battalion, led by Ferda, consisted of 108 people. Five young nobles and their subordinates, along with the troops from the noble ladies' side, were moving together.
The 2nd Battalion was composed of 250 people, showing an overwhelming numerical difference of 142. Looking at the numbers alone, it was a glaring imbalance, but the 1st Battalion had no complaints. They knew Ruri’s true power.
In her maid uniform and small stature, she looked like a typical young girl, but seeing her carry an axe much wider than her own body on her shoulder made them feel incredibly secure. Even though she had stepped back to the rear, their morale didn't waver. Ferda’s command and support were perfectly timed, and thanks to that, they had succeeded in repelling the monsters without a single casualty.
The young nobles who had fought on the front lines puffed out their chests with pride.
“I don't understand how the Imperial Army could have been annihilated.”
“I agree. These things are so easy.”
“Of course, it might have been impossible without Regent Ferda’s command and support!”
In reality, it would have been impossible. Using a small amount of mana to make a monster flinch and open a gap, as Ferda did, was not a skill ordinary people possessed.
‘I’ve fought them alone many times to try and capture them alive.’
He had learned exactly where their weaknesses were, and that knowledge remained unchanged even across time. Regardless, they had protected the village without relying on the Dragon Spawn. That was the important point.
The residents of the small village, who would have become monster food if they had been just a little later, clasped their hands in prayer.
“Oh, thank you so much, Sir Knights!”
“May we ask for your names?”
“Haha, of course! I am Dmitri Nazarov, the future successor of the House of Nazarov!”
The young nobles took this opportunity to spread their names. Even in a small village, once a name started to spread, it could be a great help to one's career.
Ruri watched them with a look of disdain and asked, “Are you not going to join those fools and brag about your name, Lord Ferda?”
“Is there a need?”
“If you weren't going to do that, why did you take on such a troublesome task?” Ruri asked grumpily.
“I need something to brag about.”
“Something to brag about?”
Ferda had thought about it when he said they needed to split into two groups. He knew that sacrificing small villages was a common occurrence. Like the other nobles—no, even more than them—he wouldn't have cared about the sacrifices.
However, the image of Valdrova kept surfacing in his mind. Would she weigh the profits and losses in a situation like this? Even if she were misunderstood as an Evil Dragon, protecting everyone and loving everyone was her reason for living.
That was why Ferda replied, “Because she would never just stand by.”
Ferda had come here to do what Valdrova could not. Therefore, he couldn't just stand by either. At the very least, when he spoke with her again, he wanted to give her some good news. He wanted to tell her that he had saved many people with his own hands. He wanted to receive the gift of her pure happiness. That simple desire was what moved him.
“So in the end, you did all this because you wanted something to brag about to the Mistress.”
“Yes.”
“That’s nauseating.”
Ferda turned his head toward Ruri. “Suddenly insulting me?”
“You always call me a dog or a pig and then claim it’s not an insult, so why is it an insult when I say it?”
“Isn't it because you don't usually think of me that way?”
“I think of you as a masochist, Lord Ferda. So can I call you a masochistic pervert?”
“No, you can't.”
“Why not me?”
Besides the fact that it was baseless slander, there was a much simpler reason.
“I am the fiancé, and you are the attendant.”
“…Can I poke the spot where the Mistress’s horn stabbed you just one more time?”
Veins popped on her face, making her expression look menacing. Her slender fingers aimed for Ferda’s chest.
It was then.
“An unexpected situation has occurred.”
One of the messengers acting as a mana battery spoke urgently.
“What is it?”
“There has been a change in the speed of the spreading monsters. They are reportedly running at full strength toward the third point.”
Ferda’s next destination was where Helus Fobidas, the primary target, was located. Not only did they have to pass through there, but considering the speed of the horses, by the time they arrived, it would already be too late. In such a case, there was only one choice.
“We have no choice but to adjust the point and save the village behind it.”
Abandon what cannot be saved. It was cold, but unavoidable. Nothing in the world could be perfect.
“There’s no need for that.”
It was Ruri who interrupted. She hoisted her axe onto her shoulder and said, “I will go there.”
“You?”
“I’m the only one who can get there in time anyway, and I can handle it alone, so there’s no problem.”
If Ruri stepped up, the operation would proceed smoothly again.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. I’m doing this for myself.”
“For yourself?”
Ruri snorted. “Didn't you say you wanted to act cool for the Mistress? I’m going to act a bit cool in front of her too.”
Even though she said that, it wasn't actually necessary for Ruri. This was for Ferda. It was a consideration to ensure that in the story he would tell, he wouldn't have to mention abandoning a single village. He was grateful for her thoughtfulness.
“Return safely.”
“Take care of your own body, Lord Ferda. If you get even a scratch, I’ll make sure your next bath is a very painful one.”
He didn't quite understand why a scratch would lead to a painful bath, but it didn't matter. It was Ruri’s way of saying she hoped he would be safe.
Ruri unfurled her hidden wings. With a single movement, her figure became a comet and flew away.
“Whoa…”
“So that’s a Silver Dragon Spawn…!”
Since Ruri had never flaunted her horns or tail, the battalion members were mesmerized by the sight and stared blankly at the path she had taken.
They couldn't afford to delay for even a moment. Ferda shouted at them.
“We move too!”
Over a hundred horses galloped across the plains once more. Thanks to their two-hour ride, they arrived before the monsters could enter.
However, inside, an unexpected presence was waiting for them.