Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Extinction of Evil (??), Advent (3)
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The most critical terrain on the northern front was undoubtedly the Yunha Canal, which flowed alongside the Ravière Mountains and Greenwood Forest.
The waterway, fed from the source of the Sen River and Lake Senrir, had originally been used merely for the daily water needs of locals and soldiers.
But not anymore. The canal's birth dated back a little further into the past.
As the war intensified, and with high nobles and the Helzev forces setting foot in enemy territory to sow chaos among knightly orders, a small rumor began to circulate.
A suicide squad had pierced the front lines to take the Demon King's head.
Once it became known that Terra Ernisten and Whitelett Barencopf were part of that squad, people's anxiety swiftly turned to hope.
Everyone thought the war was finally coming to an end.
But a long time passed after that. No word came from the suicide squad, and people gradually grew weary.
The demon invasion only grew fiercer. Penheim Kingdom pulled every last resource it had left toward the Ravière Mountains. Displaced civilians flocked northward as well.
The birth of the 108 Alliance. And total war.
The war was entering its final countdown. But it was simply a matter of when the mountain defenses would be breached.
Two of the grand dukes had lost their lives, and the remaining one could barely maneuver. The Holy Kingdom's finest force, the Holy Light Knights, had been reborn as the Death Legion under one of the Four Evils, the monstrous Izarez (??).
Day after day, corpses piled upon corpses upon corpses. Hope seemed utterly vanished.
And on the day half the flags fluttering atop the walls came crashing down, a torrential downpour drenched the entire continent.
"This is the canal. Doesn't have a proper name! As you can see, it's no ordinary stream!"
Paris raised his voice over the deafening roar of water close by, a sound that threatened to burst eardrums. It was the magic that had swept away half of Greenwood Forest and redirected it toward the demon realm, utterly reshaping the northern landscape.
Even now, with the rains no longer falling as before, the rapids showed no sign of slowing. Attempts to build levees were utterly futile.
"We can't block this waterway, but neither can they! Thanks to it, their offensives have weakened a lot lately."
A few ignorant of magic hailed it as a miracle from the gods or aid from Edenberry, rejoicing.
On the other hand, mages who could sense mana flows had been stunned since the downpour began. It was far beyond what the Snow Duke, who had only just awakened her unique magic circuit, could achieve.
Liv, too, felt dizzy at the sight of the dense spells and mana concentration unfolding before her. She yearned to uncover the hidden magic circles beneath the riverbed or on the surface and grasp their principles.
If the current had been even a bit calmer, who knows how many would have thrown themselves into the canal. Fortunately, no one had mustered the courage yet.
"Anyway, get your drinking water from around here and remember that! Unless you plan to drift all the way to Helzev, stay far away!"
Liv followed Paris as he retreated, hiding her regret and pulling away from the canal. But Louis showed no sign of leaving the water's edge, which seemed ready to overflow at any moment.
"Lou, Louis...! Get over here quick!"
Even as Liv awkwardly called his name from afar, he didn't turn around.
For a long while, he stood there blankly, staring in the direction the current flowed.
Seeing him look as if he might surrender to the torrent and vanish any second, Liv felt a twinge of unease.
On the front lines, battle was daily life, and war was existence itself.
Environment changes people. Even if I'm a harsh man, I'd forgive Adella swiping a loaf of bread at the canteen. But in war, human hearts turn petty.
— Hey, that's our spot. Get to another camp.
— Didn't your numbers halve in the last battle? Can't you yield a bit and get along?
— What!? You filthy bastards...!
With more people than trees in the forest, harmony was impossible. Especially among these folks, homes and families lost, nerves frayed to the breaking point.
Doppelgangers or witches' familiars might lurk among the soldiers. The mountainside atmosphere was a powder keg.
Yet in such chaos, some shine brighter.
"What's the problem, Gregory?"
"Hey, Paris! Listen to this! Those guys said...!"
Paris Greenwood. Well, not a noble yet, so just Paris. This was my first time seeing him in person.
He wielded sword, bow, and staff alike—a perfect everyman, no exceptional talent for a commoner.
The polar opposite of Liv, hailed as a genius even at the academy.
But his true value lay not in combat.
"Come over here first. No fighting right now. Hedrick! You too!"
"Paris, I..."
"Just got some fine Azar liquor via the supply caravan. Won't drink?"
"Tch..."
Paris was the one exerting leadership to unite all remaining in Greenwood Forest. As part of the Ravière defense line, the alliance recognized him as the sole figure capable of leading the de facto militia.
Watching her father earn the respect of the masses, a faint smile spread across Liv's face. Her complexion brightened. It was the first time she'd shown such joy.
"Lou, Louis. Shall we go eat too?"
War didn't suit her, but the forest did.
Naturally sharing a meal with me, Liv peppered me with questions. Oddly, not about my past, but the future.
"What will you do when the war ends?"
"Me? Haven't thought much about it..."
"Do you have savings?"
"A bit."
"Why not open a shop then? Not here. Somewhere peaceful like Pharenchia—land's cheap."
Her transparent coaxing was obvious, but I mumbled replies anyway, feeling embarrassed. If this was all an illusion, words wouldn't change the future, so why was she so earnest?
"Oh, and never forgive kids who steal bread. Don't even let them near."
North Sea folk were sly and black-hearted, quick to hurl spells at any slight—hot-blooded types.
"Got it?"
She nearly picked a fight with some passing Edenberry mercenaries right then.
Nights in the northern mountains were always cold. As chill dew rolled into her small tent on the wind, Liv stirred from shallow sleep and opened her eyes.
"Ugh...!"
Liv had left home at just six. Memories faded, but old Greenwood Forest hadn't felt this oppressive.
Probably the war's embers riding the breeze. The sky hung dark and dead.
Throwing on an outer garment, she stepped out and glanced at Louis's tent next door. He was likely asleep.
As she headed for the latrine, she noticed no shoes outside his tent.
A sudden foreboding gripped her.
"Louis?"
No chirping insects, only silent wind.
"M-Mr. Owner...?"
No reply. Cautiously lifting the flap, she found it empty. Suddenly, she recalled Louis standing by the canal earlier.
Grabbing a nearby small torch from the camp, she hurried to the canal. As wind hushed and water's roar grew, so did her anxiety.
And there, in the exact same spot, Louis stared at the river.
"Hah, huff...! L-Louis!"
Whoosh—the roar drowned her shouts. Barefoot in haste, oblivious to her slipped shoe, Liv dashed to him and desperately grabbed his collar.
"Get away from there! It's dangerous!"
"Baroness Liv?"
"Now!!"
Finally dragging him from the edge, Liv sighed in relief. Then, with a hint of reproach, she yelled.
"Get swept away and you'll flow straight to the demon realm! Why stand there?"
"...Just reminiscing a bit."
"Reminiscing?"
"Yeah. Everyone has a past they regret."
A regrettable... past?
"Don't you, Baroness?"
Liv hesitated. The regret that sprang to mind wasn't something she could share with him now.
"I... have one, but..."
"What kind?"
"It's... hard to say."
"If you tell me, I'll share mine."
Louis's story. Despite our long time together, he rarely spoke of himself.
How he'd mastered ancient tongues and runes. What led him to open the canteen.
And—
—What does that have to do with the baroness?
How he saw me.
"I... broke someone else's precious possession..."
Stammering, Liv confessed the unresolved sin from before her magic training.
Powerlessness and guilt over leaving without proper apology poured out once she started.
"Why'd you break it?"
Gently hearing her out despite incomprehension, Louis prompted. Liv whispered faintly.
"An accident. Couldn't control my emotions."
"What emotions?"
"I... don't know exactly. But probably..."
I liked that person so much, I didn't want anyone taking them away.
The roar likely drowned it.
Shadows flickering in the torch's dance. Liv slyly lifted her gaze from it.
"Don't worry."
Back to the canal, Louis wore an incredibly gentle smile.
"He probably understands."
Those words melted the weight in her heart like snow.
"It's cold. Wear this."
Her heart raced at this past Louis's kindness.
'No... can't...'
Was this betraying Louis too? A strange guilt. But to the sweet illusion before her, Liv stepped deeper in.
Oh, right.
"So why were you here?"
"Hm? Oh, that..."
Dong-dong-dong-dong-dong—!!!
A massive bell tolled from the summit watchtower. Simultaneously, Louis yanked Liv close.
"Eek!? W-Wait...!"
Startled by his arm around her waist, her torch flew from her hand with a clack!
The flame snuffed out on the canal. An eerie chill followed.
— Enemy attack! Archers to positions!!
— Demons!!
— Light the fires!
"They're here."
Louis's murmur came from the pitch darkness.
"Baroness."
"Yes?"
"Did you bring your staff?"
"Ah...!"
Liv realized her mistake too late. This was the battlefield—the front lines where lives hung by threads.
"From now on, never go anywhere without it on you."
His stern reprimand made her shoulders shrink instinctively. Perhaps because his hand around her waist tightened in tension.
"Guess it's come to this... You'll have a lot to learn."
The familiar touch felt oddly routine, but probably just her imagination?