Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Extermination of Evil (??), Arrival (8)
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"Ha, so. You want me to believe you right now?"
The Lehel of the past was incredibly short-tempered. Well, she had just barely dealt with the demons swarming the capital and was in the middle of recuperating when war came knocking again, so it was understandable.
But I was certain she would understand the current situation.
Lehel already knew about the Reincarnation Duke's unique magic.
She herself had repeated endless reincarnations.
And she wasn't stupid enough to avert her eyes from the evidence shoved right in front of her.
"I don't expect much. Just protect the people in the canal."
"That's the same as telling me to fight the demons! Ha, seriously. I can't believe it. Suddenly saying this world is fake or that you can defeat the Demon Exterminator."
A sharp gaze fixed on me.
"Even if everything's true, why should I listen to you?"
She'd gotten quite cocky in the time I hadn't seen her. No, it was because we hadn't met yet from my perspective.
If I had just a bit more time and budget, I'd hop on a carriage to the Peckda Magic Tower and yank out a horn from the still-infant Grand Kenian.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury right now.
"There is a reason."
So, with no other choice, I decided to play my last hidden card. It wasn't like we'd see each other twice anyway, so no hesitation in going all-in.
"Because I'm your lover."
"Pfft—! W-wait a second! What, what!?"
Lehel spectacularly spat out the tea she was drinking. Ignoring that, I had no more time to spare with the demon horde starting to reveal itself from over there.
"Think about it. I have your medal, and I came all this way looking for you. Doesn't that make sense?"
"...You could've won it gambling."
She was like this even back then.
"I promised to quit gambling too. This is real."
"Crazy... Me?"
She lifted her robe as if checking if her wrist had been cut off. I thought she'd believe me by now, but the younger—or rather, older—Lehel, with at least twice Adella's intelligence, didn't fall for it easily.
"I can't believe it. I've never had a life partner even once."
"Really?"
"Yeah. What if I'm left alone in the next life? How would I endure that? So your words are pure lies."
Indeed, the original Lehel from that world had apologized to me, mentioning her lifespan.
But then, I remembered what she had whispered to me alone when returning from Sandalphonia.
"Sacra Dragon's Nest."
"...!!"
"That's your cradle."
"Ah, no. How do you...!"
Panic was evident on her face. Lehel clutched her head repeatedly, muttering, Really? Me with a guy like that?
And finally—
"Haa... Hey, you."
"Yeah."
"Listen well."
Her hand reached across the table and grabbed my collar. The rather ample chest revealed beneath the loose robe swayed.
"You know the price of my unique magic."
"Lifespan."
"Right. So I'm investing my remaining half-life in you, enduring the futility of this one."
The blazing look in her eyes was an emotion hard to find in the current, bored Lehel.
"Cheat on me, and you're dead."
"...Got it."
"Ha, tsk. I was gonna gamble my fill after the war."
She kicked open the door and stormed out, grumbling about needing to prepare for the cradle. At the same time, horn signals announcing the enemies' appearance echoed from outside.
I looked up at the darkening sky and pocketed the returned medal before standing.
"Whew, alright then..."
As the setting sun dipped below the horizon to the west, thick twilight took root from the demon realm. The sky was dark. Cold winds shifted unpredictably, as if a storm was imminent, making the torches gathered along the riverbank flicker uneasily.
Since their goal was the canal, the people positioned at the base of the mountains couldn't even leverage geographic advantages. Instead, the trees in the obstructing forest only amplified the fear.
A pale boy gripped his spear with trembling hands, rubbing his toes against the ground to relieve the tickling itch. But as the sensation worsened instead of improving, he instinctively realized the earth beneath him was shaking.
Earth-shaking footsteps. Unpleasant things were approaching between the dark sky and black ground.
Demons. Humanity's enemies.
Devils from hell, carrying black mana, raising rotten corpses, commanded by their lord to exterminate mankind.
Tension hung over the battlefield. And at the very end, atop the mountains, were those watching the enemies.
"What will you do? Really not joining and abandoning them?"
Valerie subtly asked the leaders of the twelve institutions. He was the first to speak, but even he didn't seem thrilled.
Though 108 allied knight orders and mages remained in the rear, it was these leaders who decided their participation.
Without hesitation, Matthias cast his opposing vote first.
"Even with the Reincarnation Duke joining, we can't win against the Demon Exterminator. Goliath won't budge."
Seeing him, Kundra casually raised his hand.
"We don't fight unwinnable battles either. We barely have any numbers left as it is."
The 2nd and 4th institutions declared non-participation. Adalbert, glaring at them enviously, asked the blonde archer beside him.
"What about the archers, Mirve?"
"Rear support is possible. Squeezing out the last of our mana for a few magic arrows into the field isn't hard."
"I'm all for it. Fleeing with the wounded in front goes against the spirit Hela's followers should have."
The 5th and 6th institutions voted yes. Afterward, representatives from each institution voiced opinions, splitting roughly half and half. Unexpectedly, the Reincarnation Duke had declared participation, so all harbored silent expectations.
Lehel Darad. The grand duke who saved Thessalon and laid the foundation for reversal when the first Raviel defense line fell.
"What will you do, Adalbert?"
At Valerie's words, all eyes turned to the Hooksclo captain. In truth, if he decided to join, many would follow.
The kingdom's greatest swordsman, teacher to the White Knight Whitelett. The commander who hadn't retreated a single step from Penheim's front lines since the great war broke out.
"Choose wisely. Tens of thousands of lives hang on the decision of an old man like me about to enter his coffin."
"..."
Adalbert silently surveyed the meeting room, his eyes meeting Valerie's. The other old swordsman and mage, itching to devour each other, always made others uneasy about their thoughts.
After a long silence, Adalbert finally acted.
Shing.
As he drew the sword at his waist, Valerie stood as well.
"Hooksclo! Prepare for battle!!"
"Gellerhert—!!!"
No sooner had the words ended than those in the meeting room rushed out, signaling the retreating forces to turn back. Countless horn signals resounded, and lowered banners began rising one by one.
Valerie handed a communication crystal to a boy who rushed in from outside waiting.
"Relay to the combat mage unit! Start synced with the Reincarnation Duke's magic!"
"Y-yes, sir!!"
"And you!"
"Y-yes?"
"Come to Bluemoon after the war. I'll talk to the Alcide Tower Lord for you."
"M-me!?"
"Yes! You came here, so you've grabbed a rare opportunity hard to find anywhere. You have to pay the price!"
"An opportunity, you say..."
"Idiot!"
Grabbing Gellerhert by the scruff, Valerie roughly pointed out the window with his calloused hand. The white-haired mage standing alone at the mountain base.
"An chance to see the grand duke's magic up close."
Valerie's eyes gazing at her burned fiercely as well.
"Aigoo~ Aigoo, I'm dying. What kinda hardship is this in my old age."
In front of the demon horde swarming like dogs, Lehel stretched her stiff body and sighed deeply. Her shabby appearance—rusty Four-Leaf Medal and filthy robe—would make anyone seeing her think homeless or suicidal.
"Ha, jeez. Romance, me in romance... Should I like this or not? It's not even my business to begin with."
Yet facing countless enemies, she calmly unwound the rosary from her hand and muttered.
"Guess this is my fate too. Haa, tsk. If you're gonna catch me, pick a decent guy, not one as hopeless-looking as me... Ah, whatever."
Chrrrrrk—!!
"Gotta clear these first and think later."
Beads made from dragon bones scattered into the sky, emitting light.
The most crucial canvas for casting magic, the Pram Mobile. The stars reflected within are recognized as luminari light sources, soon forming the hierarchy of magic.
"Now."
Lehel, embedding dozens of stars atop the celestial sphere, declared coldly toward the charging demons.
"Time to end this life."
As if the universe had split open, immense vibrations and heat descended from the night sky, shaking the mountains. It took only an instant for the meteors pouring from the heavens to crash atop the demons' heads.
Boom! Kaboom! Kabaam—!!
Dust clouds bloomed so thick vision was obscured, and the roar buried even screams from those nearby. Looking up, the open field where enemies had charged moments ago was now pocked with countless craters.
Yet many comrades still willingly threw themselves into the death fields where not even corpses remained. Even the necromancers in the rear chanted spells—crack! crack!—and white hands rose from the earth.
Is this all?
As a thread of disappointment bloomed in my heart, suddenly the entire ground rumbled. Some mages cried out in shock.
Rrrrrumble—!!
"Impossible..."
"To think I'd witness this with my own eyes."
Centered on the deep pits, sand and rocks from the surface clumped into massive spheres. The spheres heated up, flew toward the sky, shrinking to twinkling points.
Kaaaaboom!!!
And moments later, they fell as identical meteors.
Boom! Kaboom! Kabaam, boom—!!
Again and again. Dozens of meteors rising and carpet-bombing down simultaneously—it was as if a curtain of heat, light, and rock had descended from the heavens.
Sensing the black presence gradually approaching from beyond that celestial veil, I slowly drew a deep breath.
After gesturing with my hands several times, I turned to see Liv looking anxious.
"Boss..."
By now, she must have realized. Where I'd been. And why I said her father's death was my fault.
"Louis, take care of Baron Lev."
He fought bravely even without that incredible magic support. Nocking an arrow, he resembled an elf archer from a fantasy movie I'd seen long ago.
Of course, there are no elves in this world.
"Paris."
"What is it...?"
And from today, there won't be need for one.
"I need a sword."