Chapter 572: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (59)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 572: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (59)
Seeing my daughters in their strange poses from a distance, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.
So this is what Ha-young wanted the fireworks for yesterday?
My daughters, wearing masks and striking odd poses, introduced themselves with bizarre names. Watching their clumsy performance, I felt the urge to shake my head.
Well, as long as the kids are having fun.
What mattered wasn't their true identities, but the situation itself. The mere fact that unidentified enemies had appeared in the middle of a royal funeral was enough to sow chaos.
“All units, prepare for battle!”
At Duke Baran’s cry, the royal knights drew their swords in unison. Infantrymen with shields formed the front line, while spearmen behind them extended their long spears.
“Protect His Highness the Crown Prince and the princesses!”
“Move the Queen to safety!”
The nobles hid inside their carriages, trembling, some even lying flat on the floor.
Amidst the chaos, the three sisters were still holding their awkward poses, glancing at each other uncertainly.
Those rascals. They don't know what to do next.
Sighing inwardly, I sent a look to Marienne.
“Marienne, proceed as we discussed.”
“Yes, Master.”
Marienne pulled her helmet down firmly and drew her sword. Then, she charged toward my daughters.
I too stepped out of the carriage, drawing my own sword. At the same time, Riette and Aaren’s group ran toward me.
Riette’s eyes glinted sharply.
“Marquis… something’s strange. They call themselves the Demon King’s Army, but I don’t sense any demonic energy from them.”
I replied nonchalantly.
“They could just be minions. Perhaps they’re humans who follow the Demon King, like black magicians.”
“That’s possible, but…”
Riette narrowed her eyes, staring at my daughters as if trying to see right through them.
“They’re here with a different objective.”
As expected of the former hero’s companion. Her intuition is sharp.
Just then, Aaren placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and interjected urgently.
“Shouldn’t we be helping Lady Marienne right now?”
I shook my head.
“Our first priority is to ensure the royal family and the nobles retreat safely. The knights led by Marienne and Duke Baran are more than capable of buying time.”
“But…!”
“If you’re so eager to jump in, do as you please. I won’t stop you.”
“…Understood.”
“Hey, Aaren! Wait!”
Riette reached out to stop him, but Aaren had already stepped forward.
“Come to me! Holy Sword!”
Particles of light gathered in the air, materializing into the Holy Sword in Aaren’s hand.
As the sword took form, the eyes of the royal knights all fell on him.
“The Hero Aaren will join the battle!”
At his shout, the surprised knights parted to make way for him. He stood proudly before the three sisters and raised the Holy Sword high.
The problem was… his thoughtless charge had slightly disrupted the royal knights’ formation.
Stupid bastard.
At that moment, the corners of Lucy’s mouth curled into a sharp smile beneath her mask as she slowly raised her hand.
“──Scarlet Moonlight.”
A massive red moon rose above Lucy’s head. A blood-red trajectory was carved into the sky, and the moonlight flowed down like a boiling liquid, dyeing the surroundings in darkness and blood.
“Like I’d let you!”
Aaren charged at Lucy with his Holy Sword. But in an instant, a heavy shadow blocked his path.
Clang!
With a shock that shook the earth, a massive greatsword parried Aaren’s Holy Sword.
“The first of the Demon King’s Army…!”
Aaren gritted his teeth.
“Tremor of the Black Ox, descend.”
Sora muttered in a low voice, hoisting the greatsword onto her shoulder. An ominous energy radiated from the blade, spreading out and cracking the ground.
“I won’t let you interfere with my sister.”
“Aaren! You’re no match for her! Fall back!”
“But!”
“You think I’ll let you run?”
Sora’s greatsword swung in a wide arc. Riette, coating her mithril gauntlets in mana, barely managed to block it, but a searing pain shot through her arm as if it would tear apart.
Clang!
Simultaneously, Ha-young’s arm stretched out, transforming into a scythe and blocking Marienne’s path.
“Then I guess I’ll play with the other hero~”
Killing intent clashed with killing intent, and the air grew heavy.
But in that instant—
“Weep, you humans—!”
The blood-red moon was slowly descending.
“Grrgh…!”
Duke Baran gritted his teeth and unleashed an Aura Blade, slashing at the moon, but he couldn't even leave a scratch.
“Everyone, get back!!”
Duke Baran’s roar echoed, but it was too late.
KRA-BOOOOM!!
The red moonlight crashed down in an explosion of energy. The earth trembled, and screams erupted from all around.
Watching the scene, I immediately threw myself toward the princesses and the queen.
The princes?
I couldn't care less about them.
The bloody shockwave washed over us, crushing shields and armor and blowing apart parts of the carriages. I wrapped my arms around the queen and princesses.
“M-Marquis… are you alright?!” the queen cried out, her face pale with fear.
“Yes… I’m fine. Is everyone unharmed?”
“Yes… we’re safe. But, your body, Marquis…!”
My arms and clothes were stained with blood, and my breathing was ragged. I had intentionally taken the full force of Lucy’s attack, so my body was a wreck.
Putting on an act, I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand straight.
“Don’t worry about me. The safety of Your Majesty and the princesses is the top priority.”
I shot a cold glare at the knights and gave my command.
“What are you knights doing! Escort the queen and the princesses at once!”
“Yes, Marquis!!”
The knights quickly surrounded the queen and princesses and began to move. Amidst the battlefield thick with blood and dust, I gripped my sword and looked out at the fray once more.
Lucy was clashing with Duke Baran.
Clang! Clang!
Each time their spear and sword met, a storm-like shockwave spread out.
As expected… he’s worthy of being called the strongest sword in the Kingdom of Sibern.
Lucy’s presence was overwhelming, but Duke Baran wasn’t being pushed back in the slightest. In fact, he even managed to read Lucy’s trajectory a few times and attempt a counterattack. It was clear his title as the Sword of the Kingdom was no empty boast.
On the other side, however, the situation was different.
Sora was swinging her massive greatsword, taking on both Aaren and Riette at the same time. Aaren was repeatedly pushed back by the heavy blows, barely managing to hold on, while Riette couldn't find an opening to break through.
“Aaren! Match my movements!”
“I know! But her strength is just too…!”
Aaren’s clumsy movements were only getting in Riette’s way.
With that idiot around, Riette can’t use her full strength either.
And in the other corner—
The fight between Ha-young and Marienne, despite its ferocious appearance, was somewhat awkward.
Clang! Shing!
Sparks flew as sword and scythe clashed, but there was a distinct lack of force in their exchange. Ha-young would intentionally reveal an opening only to cover it again, and Marienne, while seeming to press her attack relentlessly, would pull back her strength to match her.
The battlefield was filled with chaos, but to my eyes, everything was proceeding according to the script.
I immediately sent a telepathic message.
‘Girls, play with them for a bit longer, then start hitting and running while destroying the kingdom.’
In an instant, the eyes of all three daughters glinted.
During her fight with Duke Baran, Lucy suddenly pulled back and laughed.
“That was fun, old man. But we have another objective.”
“Stop!”
Duke Baran ground his teeth and tried to give chase, but Lucy had already shot up into the sky. The moment she raised her hand—
Vwooom…!
Bloody mana swirled and gathered. Soon, hundreds of spears, swords, and axes materialized in the air and rained down mercilessly upon the royal capital.
The crimson weapons fell like a torrential downpour, instantly devastating the capital’s streets. Screams and shrieks erupted from every direction.
“Magic corps, stop that demon!”
Dozens of court mages simultaneously cast magic circles aimed at Lucy. But in that moment—
KRA-BOOOOM!!
Sora slammed her greatsword into the ground. With an ear-splitting crash, the earth shattered, and a shockwave rippled out like a tidal wave. The ground split open, and a heap of rubble erupted from below, burying the mages.
‘Marienne, it’s your turn now.’
At my telepathic message, Marienne nodded. She gripped her sword and stepped forward.
But just as she was about to do something—
Thump…!
The air grew heavy, as if being crushed.
RUUUUMMMBLE…!!
The sky distorted, and a colossal magic circle was etched into the air. A vibration that sounded like the world tearing itself apart shook the earth.
And from that rift, a massive shadow emerged—
A magnificent body covered in jet-black scales coiled in the air. The moment its wings unfurled, the sky above the royal castle was instantly blotted out.
A gale-force wind whipped through, shaking the castle walls. Its body was like a mountain range, and the moment its golden eyes looked down—
A suffocating killing intent blanketed the battlefield.
“A d-dragon…?!”
The words escaped the royal knights’ trembling lips. The hands gripping their spears shook uncontrollably as their bodies froze.
The being slowly raised its head, looking down upon every living creature beneath the sky. A single glance was enough to send a pressure that felt like it could freeze the heart.
And then—
“What an interesting gathering of creatures.”
A low voice rumbled. Just from hearing it, the ordinary humans and knights collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolling back in their heads without even a chance to scream.
“Nerzaka?”
At my indifferent mutter, the golden eyes flashed.
“Are you Jin Alcladion?”
“And you… are you the lizard called Nerzaka?”
At those words, the killing intent and pressure intensified.
“How dare you… a mere mortal, call me a lizard… Insolent.”
“For a lizard, you bark quite well. To think you’d crawl out here yourself to be hunted by a human.”
“Grrrrrrrrr.”
A low, ominous growl erupted from deep within Nerzaka’s throat. The very air vibrated, sending a pressure that pierced to the bone.
“M-Marquis! If you provoke the dragon like that—!”
Duke Baran’s urgent shout came from a distance, but I ignored it.
This damn lizard just had to ruin the script I so carefully prepared with the kids.
My lips slowly twisted into a sneer as a thick killing intent began to rise from within me.
In that instant—
Fwoosh!
Three shadows appeared above Nerzaka’s head. Sora, Lucy, and Ha-young. The three daughters landed simultaneously and shouted nonchalantly.
“Lizard! You’re late!”
“Yeah! Hurry up and wipe out the kingdom with your breath!”
“Get on with it!”
In a flash, the three sisters leaped onto the dragon’s massive head. Lucy wove the bloody chains she had created and wrapped them tightly around Nerzaka’s neck.
“…How dare you!”
Nerzaka’s golden eyes flashed, and hundreds of magic circles appeared around it. Space itself distorted in red and black, looking as if an explosion of magic was about to be unleashed at any moment.
Just then—
“Who said a pet could act on its own!”
BAM!!
Sora’s fist slammed into Nerzaka’s massive head.
“KRAAAAAK!!”
The jet-black scales rippled, and Nerzaka’s killing intent momentarily faltered.
Even I was so dumbfounded that I froze for a second.
Just then, my eyes met Ha-young’s from a distance. She smiled playfully, as if pulling a prank, and gave me a thumbs-up.
Seeing that, I sent a telepathic message to Marienne, who was looking around in confusion.
‘Marienne, the plan’s gone sideways… but now’s the time.’
From afar, she nodded. Then, drawing on the hero’s power from her entire body, she raised her sword to the sky.