Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Extinction Evil (??), Arrival (7)
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The end came abruptly. It had barely been a few hours since he'd revealed her father's death to Liv.
Clang clang clang clang clang!!!
The alarm bell echoed throughout the entire mountain range. We bolted upright from our tents—we'd hardly slept a wink anyway.
"……."
"……."
She must have agonized over it for hours. Exhaustion shadowed her once-delicate features.
"Owner……."
"Louis! Baroness Liv! Could you come here a moment!?"
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Paris came rushing up in a panic. Seeing the letter in his hand, I steeled myself.
"We'll head over right away. Baroness? We'll talk later."
"Yes……."
We hadn't even washed up, but there was no time for that. We ascended the mountain range to the command post. Even before dawn, the small tent was packed with people.
There was no noise.
Because Adalbert, seated at the head, had a face twisted in such fury it was terrifying.
Confirming Paris and me entering, he spoke in a grave tone.
"……Looks like everyone's here, so let's get started. We're pulling out of the mountains now. All personnel, take only minimal supplies and retreat from the defensive line."
"Yes—!?"
The shocking declaration sent murmurs rippling through the tent. A knight spoke up, unable to comprehend.
"What in the world happened? The Ravière Defense Line has never once retreated!"
"That's exactly why."
Thud!
Silence fell as Adalbert's scabbard struck the ground.
"We've never retreated before. We've only ever been breached."
"You don't mean……!"
"That's right. The scouts confirmed the Demon Lord's army advancing. And……one of the Four Greatest Evils was with them."
The Four Greatest Evils. At those words, blood drained from many faces.
"Couldn't it have been a mistake……."
"No. It was too big to misidentify."
At Kundra's remark, I immediately pictured one of them: Karbius the Extinction Evil.
Its epithet……the last dragon of the apocalyptic era (??) remaining on the continent.
The Ravière Mountains had been breached only once. When one of the Four Greatest Evils, Izales the Extreme Evil, had personally led the army of the dead.
Knowing another high-ranking Demon Lord's officer had appeared, Adalbert had decided on retreat early.
I glanced at his trembling hand. It must be infuriating. But it was unavoidable.
How could the people gathered here defeat one of the Four Greatest Evils, which even the Grand Duke struggled against alone? Dragon scales repelled all magic, besides.
"We can't do that."
But one man voiced opposition. All eyes turned to Paris.
"Why?"
"Because their reason for coming is right here."
Paris handed Adalbert the paper in his hand. The man widened his eyes, scrutinizing the contents for a long moment.
Then he burned it with magic and addressed the assembled.
"Prepare to retreat. Everyone out."
"""Yes, sir!"""
"Captain……!"
As if they'd been waiting, people filed out swiftly. Closing the door against the clamor outside left only seven behind.
The most relaxed, Valerie, twirled his red beard as he asked.
"What'd it say to get you like that?"
"Word from Whitelett."
"What? No way, for real!?"
"Yeah. They're moving along the canal."
The glares at Paris stung me too, standing beside him.
Whitelett's master…… Could that man kill Karbius?
Impossible.
I shook my head. Liv tensely watched the Alliance leaders—figures who could be called heavyweights.
Even after reading the letter we'd sent in the past, they'd been preparing to withdraw their forces.
"Listen, Paris."
"Yes."
"Even if we're certain they're targeting that canal, we can't just sacrifice every soldier in these mountains for it."
"……."
"We don't even know when this letter was written or if its writers have already arrived."
"But they might not have arrived yet."
Yes, the issue was whether defending that canal would truly help the strike team. They might have already reached the Demon Lord's castle by now. Or they could desperately be awaiting aid.
With no way to contact them, those remaining in the mountains had no choice but to decide.
And any commander, a hundred times out of a hundred, would choose as Adalbert had.
Retreat.
"If the strike team fails, what happens to the war?"
But no one could answer Paris's question. Because they already knew the outcome.
"Even if we don't retreat now, holding the front line is nearing its limit. We're critically short on food and weapons. Sooner or later, the line will break against lesser demons, not even the Four Greatest Evils. If that happens, does humanity have any chance of victory?"
"……."
His conviction was also right. That's why the Demon Lord's army, even with the hero party advancing to their doorstep, had sent one of the Four Greatest Evils to destroy the [Grand Canal] magic.
The kingdoms judged there'd be no second chance if we failed; the Demon Lord's forces saw they couldn't stop the hero's march to devastate the demon realm otherwise.
As history decreed, the result was utterly tragic.
"Will your men follow you? Into certain death?"
"I won't deceive them. If they leave……I'll take up the sword alone."
Paris gave a light salute and exited. Liv followed right after.
Adalbert stared at the door for a long while before sighing and asking the black-eyed man beside him.
"Mateus. Can you get a reply from the capital?"
"Thessalon? The magic towers aren't functioning, so I'd have to go in person. The enemies are half a day's march away—I can't guarantee anything gets there first."
"Go anyway. They might offer some help."
As if the capital had any spare resources left…… At those words, one person sprang to my mind.
"Hold on."
"Hm?"
"You?"
I rummaged in my pocket and handed the Goliath leader a palm-sized iron shard wrapped in cloth.
"One favor?"
"Who're you?"
"Mateus, wait…… What favor?"
"Nothing big. On your way to Thessalon, deliver this."
"This……? To whom?"
History doesn't change. But perhaps, just this once, we could show a different future.
"Reincarnation Duke."
By afternoon, the entire mountain range buzzed with activity. Word that the Alliance was withdrawing from the defensive line had already reached the vigilante groups below.
Amid the unrest, Paris ascended the platform. Before all his followers gathered in Greenwood Forest, he boldly pointed at the mountains.
His voice was calm, yet it commanded the crowd.
"You've all heard the news. The Alliance has chosen retreat. Tonight, the kingdom will face a second wave of war."
A breached defensive line meant the entire north ravaged by the Demon Lord's army. Fury flickered in the eyes of men clutching rusted swords and helmets.
"Their target is the canal. Their numbers are beyond counting, including Demon Lord army elites."
A battle with no chance of victory. Like a mantis raising its arms before an elephant—utter recklessness.
"Beyond this canal sails our last hope to end the war. If we delay them even a little, they might fell the Demon Lord."
Everything he said was hypothetical. If victory were certain……no, if there were even a sliver of hope, the Alliance troops wouldn't be fleeing the mountains in droves.
"Only those who wish to die, stay! Arm yourselves only if you're so free of regrets you'll vanish nameless in ashes, unremembered by history!"
No cheers rose. Staying meant death. Paris quietly drew his bow and said.
"I'll wait at the canal."
The northern sun set quickly. Beneath the sunset, the massive exodus of troops and supplies was a sight to behold.
Liv watched from a low hill overlooking the canal as Paris checked his bowstring.
Before she could speak, her father's back replied.
"You should leave, Baroness Liv."
"……."
"Unlike the likes of us, you're a mage. There's a more worthy life than dying like a dog here."
"Don't you think it's reckless……."
Twang!
Turning as he plucked the string, his face showed no hesitation. He ground the arrowhead against a rock twice more, then stood, gazing at the darkening sky.
"Reckless, yes. Even in death, no recognition. Disobeying orders—and even if ordered, a commander who sends soldiers to die can never reclaim honor."
She knew. Because Liv came from the future he'd foreseen. The soldiers who stayed had all perished, in vast numbers. The royals couldn't package tens of thousands of lives as a "valuable sacrifice."
That's why she wanted to stop her father.
But—
"We have little to begin with. When the first defensive line fell, we lost everything."
As tiny sparks along the dark water multiplied one by one, tears welled in her eyes too.
"Families, friends, homes, and houses—all burned by demons without mercy. That's why they've gathered in the forest: to ensure those left behind never suffer the same pain again."
"Ah, ah……."
Countless flames filled the riverbank. Those who'd chosen to defend the canal, steeling themselves for death to buy just hours—or minutes—more time.
"Baroness. If it's not too much trouble, a small request?"
"What……request."
"Deliver this to my daughter."
Paris offered Liv a short staff snapped in half. Made of the same yageum wood (???) as hers.
"I gave her the other half in case we met again, but……it seems I won't make it."
"……."
"Please deliver it for me. Oh, her name is……."
"I know."
"Pardon?"
Liv swallowed her sobs, smiling at Paris.
"I'll……hic……definitely deliver it."
"Thank you. Then please……."
As her tears threatened to spill while he looked puzzled, someone suddenly appeared beside them.
"Haa, fucking hell……."
Startled, Paris nocked an arrow, but the white-haired mage down to her waist glared and shouted.
"Hey, you!"
"Who are you……?"
"The Chairman? That form……."
"Who're you calling Chairman!? I'm Peck, the Merak Magic Tower Master—!"
Unlike in Liv's memory, she appeared strikingly mature. From her bosom, she pulled two identical medals and thrust one before Liv and Paris each.
With utmost irritation, she sighed and asked.
"Which one of you sent this to me? Where the hell are they now?"