Chapter 347: Bread and Dagger (45)
Chapter 347: Bread and Dagger (45)
Yuren and I continued our escape without hindrance.
If the Snow Leopard Majin had been able to sprint at full power, it might have been a different story, but he was currently burdened with a multitude of Elves draped over his hands and shoulders. Naturally, running on all fours was out of the question.
In other words, he couldn't possibly catch up to us.
I raised my voice to prevent further casualties.
"Retreat! We’re retreating!"
To the soldiers in the heat of clashing blades, my words were baffling. This was especially true for the Yurdina troops.
By all appearances, the tide of battle was leaning heavily in Yurdina’s favor.
The Elves were poorly equipped, and to make matters worse, Senior Elsie and the Princess were holding the rear. Furthermore, the Saintess’s presence had a massive impact on the Yurdina army's morale.
Even if they were wounded, they knew they would likely survive.
Because of this, the combat had been particularly aggressive. It seemed clear as day that the Elves’ defeat was only a matter of time.
Yet, out of nowhere, they were being told to retreat.
Since the order came from me, however, they couldn't simply ignore it. The North respected the strong, and the heroic deeds I had accumulated had become a source of authority.
The Elves’ reaction, however, was slightly different.
Though initially startled, their expressions soon hardened with grim resolve. From that moment on, the Elves’ offensive became even more desperate.
It was as if they no longer cared for their own lives.
Some Elves even shouted with bloodshot eyes.
"For liberation!"
It was obvious what that 'liberation' entailed.
While the front lines wavered, I spotted Sir Alex, who had been slaughtering enemies at the very front. His armor, like mine, was drenched in blood.
Slash! The old knight’s sword split an Elven soldier in half.
He silently endured the downpour of blood as if he were used to it. He merely took a breath to steady himself and wiped his blood-stained forehead.
Sir Alex’s experienced eyes turned toward me.
He, too, must have heard the commotion I caused.
"Young Master, care to explain? Why must we show our backs to these Elves…?"
"It’s the dark sorcery of the Dark Cult."
At my words, Sir Alex immediately fell silent.
In truth, I wasn't entirely sure what kind of magic the Elves were using. However, as far as I knew, the Dark Cult was the only organization that routinely traded lives for destruction.
More importantly, persuading Sir Alex was the immediate priority.
The term 'dark sorcery' was a favorite of old, stubborn knights. It was a phrase usually used when our side was being pushed back, and the nuance was important.
We are at a disadvantage.
It implied that the tide of battle had shifted due to an unidentified power. Sir Alex was a brave Northern knight, but he was no fool of a commander.
His hesitation was brief.
He clicked his tongue and asked, "If we retreat, how far?"
"Just back to the camp. We’ll regroup with the others supporting from the rear and slay the Elf using the dark sorcery."
"I shall do as you say, Young Master."
Immediately after, Sir Alex silently raised his hand.
Soon, the sound of a horn echoed from the distance, and the soldiers began to reform their lines and gradually pull back.
Sir Alex said to me, "In the North, a commander must always be with his soldiers."
"I know… We’ll handle this with just our group. If Sir Alex were to suffer a heavy injury, the chain of command would collapse."
It was a fact I knew all too well.
Sir Alex nodded with a somewhat dissatisfied expression. He knew in his head that he had to leave, but he seemed disappointed that he couldn't fight alongside us.
But there was no time left for complaints.
Sir Alex immediately returned to the rear to gather the group. As the soldiers systematically withdrew their lines, Yuren and I took turns cutting down the Elven soldiers.
They were the ones who would launch a pincer attack once the Snow Leopard Majin arrived anyway.
It was best to reduce their numbers in advance.
Fortunately, the rest of the group arrived before the Snow Leopard Majin did.
I didn't even have time to give them a detailed explanation.
"The Majin is using powerful magic by sacrificing the Elves. So, if an Elf is thrown, dodge it and provide support from the rear."
It was a woefully inadequate explanation.
But it was the best I could do.
Though they looked bewildered, the group nodded. I was so wary of the Snow Leopard Majin that Senior Neris and even Avian were standing right by my side.
Senior Neris looked a bit reluctant.
Understandably so, as she had been suddenly called to the front lines and was now expected to display her hidden skills. But right now, we needed every bit of help we could get.
Of course, I didn't expect much help from Avian.
This was a battle against her own kin, and she had long since turned pale at the sight of the blood-stained battlefield.
I just hoped she would stay close behind Senior Neris.
If I or Senior Neris weren't near Avian, the collar installed on her would activate, leading to her death.
It was just after I had managed to organize the chaos.
"Humans!"
The cry of a wounded beast echoed across the battlefield.
The group’s faces hardened as they identified the source. It was only natural, as the voice belonged to an intelligent being, but the body was that of a demonic beast.
A Majin—one who had made a contract with the Evil God.
With this, the relationship between the Elves and the Dark Cult was practically confirmed.
Regardless, the Snow Leopard Majin continued his desperate outcry.
"You are the ones who drove us here! We were prepared to die in this place, but you gave us a life more miserable than death! Therefore, we shall sacrifice our lives to liberate ourselves!"
"……Let’s go."
As I signaled Yuren and Senior Neris, three shadows tore through the air.
The speed of the three charging in different directions was fierce. Yuren even looked impressed by Senior Neris’s leg power.
After all, Senior Neris was already a seasoned Expert.
It was then that two Elves soared into the sky.
They had their eyes closed with expressions of resignation. Judging by their trajectory, they were falling toward me and the group in the rear.
But we weren't unprepared.
"……B-Banquet of Stars!"
Perhaps because the aftereffects of her first kill hadn't passed, her voice stammered slightly.
Nevertheless, the effect was certain.
Dozens of light bombs lined up and immediately struck the Elves flying through the air. Every time an Elven corpse was brutally dismantled, I could sense the Princess covering her mouth again.
It was pitiful, but it couldn't be helped.
If you didn't want to lose your life, you had to take one.
For a moment, I regretted bringing the Princess to this cold North. No matter what the future 'me' intended, the Princess was still too young.
Regardless of that, her performance was brilliant.
The Elven corpses, struck by dozens of light bombs in succession, exploded. The aftershock alone made my body stagger for a moment.
If I had to take that power head-on, how long could I last?
Two hits?
No, it might end in a single strike. I moved forward, being as cautious as possible.
Before I knew it, the distance between us and the Snow Leopard Majin had closed significantly.
As if refusing to give up, Elves were scattered into the air once more.
Again, there were two. It was a natural result, as the Majin only had two hands.
In that case, there was no need to worry.
Not only the Princess but also Senior Elsie was already on standby to intercept. No matter how fast he threw the Elves, the two women would be faster.
As if proving my prediction, two of Her Highness's spears flew in, drawing pale blue arcs.
Crack! Crack!
Like a skilled magician, there was no waste. Each spear targeted one Elf, and the electrocuted Elves screamed as they exploded.
Now, the distance to the Snow Leopard was such that it could be closed with a couple of leaps.
But as always, combat was never that easy.
Centering on the shattered Elven corpses, a terrifying amount of liquid sprayed out.
One was transparent, and the other was a murky black.
I had no choice but to retreat in surprise. I had to leap several times over a short distance just to get out of the range.
Fortunately, I wasn't in the middle of that area.
Senior Neris and Yuren, however, found themselves right in the center of the spraying liquid before they could react. Yuren jumped around, dodging the puddles of murky black liquid.
Senior Neris did the same.
The true nature of the two liquids was revealed shortly after.
From the transparent liquid, ice spikes began to surge upward.
There were countless of them. It wasn't something that could be avoided just by stepping slightly away from the puddles.
Senior Neris bit her lip and immediately kicked off the air. The way she moved among the slippery ice spikes was like a swan on a lake.
Yuren was equally busy evading.
The black liquid was sizzling as it melted the ground. Consequently, the puddles grew wider, gradually encroaching on the space where Yuren stood.
I could hear him spitting out curses.
Right, that was it.
It seemed the power each Elf could produce by sacrificing themselves varied. And the types weren't limited to mere explosions.
It was a bone-chilling realization.
If so, there was only one answer.