No More Humiliation
The sight of Galilee Fortress finally came into view. Staring at it, Amelda and the hundred or so soldiers following her let out a small sigh of relief.
‘We faced several dangerous moments on the way here, but… thankfully, nothing serious happened.’
‘The demons’ defenses were surprisingly lax. They barely patrolled the main roads or areas outside the fortress.’
The demons seemed completely unconcerned with small-scale movements that weren’t part of a large army. Amelda and the soldiers speculated that the demons must have grown complacent after their recent victory, their vigilance loosened.
‘After all, what could a few scattered stragglers possibly change about the tide of war?’
‘It also feels like they might simply be short on manpower… but no, that probably isn’t it…’
Of course, they had no way to be certain. And despite the somewhat relaxed defenses, there had been several close calls. Throughout the entire march, they had never once let their guard down.
But now, having finally arrived at a spot where Galilee Fortress could be seen with only a single mountain between them, they automatically felt a slight release of tension and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Though there was still quite a distance, they could clearly see the flag of the Allied Races fluttering in the wind. They couldn’t say for certain, but it was highly likely that Galilee Fortress had not yet fallen into the demons’ hands.
“Thank goodness. It looks like it’s still safe.”
“Wait… just to be sure, we should observe the situation first before moving. There’s always the chance it could be an enemy deception.”
“Ah… yes.”
“Understood, Lady Amelda.”
Though the possibility was low, Amelda continued to exercise extreme caution until the very end. The soldiers agreed with her, thinking it certainly wouldn’t hurt to remain careful even now that they had come this far.
“Very well. Then I will go and check myself.”
“What? Lady Amelda, you personally?”
“Wouldn’t that be dangerous? If that really is an enemy trap…”
The soldiers spoke with clear concern in their voices. However, Amelda looked at them calmly and replied,
“It’s fine. This is something I was prepared for from the moment we set out. Besides, if something does happen, it would be best for the one with the highest combat ability among us—me—to handle it.”
“Hmm…”
“That is true, but…”
As a former member of the Hero Party, Amelda’s skill was more than enough to turn the tables on any trap they might have set. The close calls they had faced on the way here would have been nearly impossible to overcome without her abilities.
Having decided to respect her wishes, the soldiers watched as Amelda spoke in a serious tone.
“If I do not return within two hours, assume something has gone wrong.”
“Understood. We will wait here until then.”
“Good. Then I’ll be off. If anything happens, retreat immediately.”
“Understood, Lady Amelda.”
Thus, Amelda left to gather clear information while the soldiers remained behind to wait. Though they were only waiting, the effects of running a considerable distance without rest left them visibly exhausted, forcing them to take a brief moment of rest.
“Hah… We somehow made it this far.”
“Indeed. All that’s left now is to join up with the soldiers at Galilee and head back. Honestly, that’s where the real hardship will begin.”
Galilee Fortress was originally supposed to be garrisoned by nearly a thousand troops. Even if battles had reduced their numbers, it was highly likely that several hundred soldiers still remained. Retreating with that many people would undoubtedly be far more difficult than the journey they had just completed.
As the elven soldiers rested, they began to feel growing anxiety about what was to come.
At that moment…
-Snap!
“!”
“Huh?”
The next instant, a small but distinct sound reached their ears. The noise of something like a tree branch being broken in the underbrush made the soldiers urgently raise their weapons.
“Enemies…?”
“P-probably…”
“Damn it… of all times…”
Though they couldn’t see anything clearly, the sound pierced their ears. And thanks to the elves’ naturally keen senses, they could feel the presence even more distinctly.
They knew. At this very moment, someone was nearby.
Their enemies were here.
“W-what do we do? It feels like they’re right in front of us…”
“Stay calm. Acting rashly now will only put us at a disadvantage.”
The elven soldiers tried to comfort one another and maintain composure despite their fear. Yet even so, the hundred or so elves gathered here felt their entire bodies stiffen, unable to take any action.
If they had been ordinary humans, it might have been different. But for elves accustomed to sensing enemies in the forest, the presence of foes nearby was painfully clear.
The movements of countless enemies radiating killing intent—hundreds, perhaps even thousands. Within that vivid sensation, the elves gripped their weapons tighter, becoming increasingly trapped by unbearable tension.
‘Damn it… Was it really a trap?’
‘This is bad. Their encirclement is getting thicker. If this continues…’
Then—
“! Hey. You felt that too, right?”
“!... Y-yes!”
The next moment, the enemy movements their senses had clearly detected caused the elven soldiers’ gazes to snap toward one spot.
The ‘enemies’ that had seemed to surround them from all directions just moments ago, though invisible, began to thin out slightly in one particular direction.
It was as if, in the process of trying to tighten the net even further, a hole had accidentally formed in the encirclement.
The quicker-thinking soldiers immediately shouted to their comrades.
“Run!”
“W-what?”
“I said run! This is our only chance!”
“Ah!”
Together with those words, one elven soldier burst through the underbrush, leaping over trees and sprinting forward. The rest immediately followed.
They fled as swiftly as a flock of birds escaping through a hole in their cage, racing ahead with desperate speed.
They moved so frantically that branches scraped their bodies and some even twisted their ankles. But at this moment, the elven soldiers had no time to worry about such minor things or think of anything else.
Behind them, they could still feel the savage, bloodthirsty presence of their enemies. The encirclement was closing in at a terrifying pace, as if ready to swallow them whole at any second.
For now, escaping the jaws of this demonic trap was the only correct choice.
And shortly after—after running for what felt like an immeasurable amount of time—the elves finally came to a stop.
Fortunately, they no longer sensed the same presence around them. But in exchange, they began to realize they had completely left the territory of their intended destination, Galilee Fortress.
And there was one more thing. A fact they only noticed a step too late.
It was—
“W-wait! What about Lady Amelda?”
“! Ugh…”
From the shadow at her feet, a blade pressed coldly against the nape of her neck.
A girl with silver hair and gleaming red eyes emerged, half-fused with the darkness itself.
“Kuh…”
Amelda was completely surrounded by demons. And from her own shadow rose a female demon pressing a blade to her throat.
The girl, who appeared to be in her teens with silver hair and crimson eyes, smiled coldly as she looked at Amelda.
“It’s been a while. Judging by how much worse you look, it seems you’ve had quite the hard time.”
“Y-you… Don’t tell me… You’re the one from the Demon King’s Castle back then…”
Still half-merged with the shadow, the girl held up the familiar greenish dagger. Seeing it, Amelda instantly recognized who held her life in her hands.
One of the Demon King’s executives she had briefly clashed with at the Demon King’s Castle. Though their fight had been short, Amelda had realized at the time that she held the upper hand in power and could even seize victory.
But now, even she had no choice but to admit it.
Demons aiming weapons at her from every direction. And most critically, the blade of this demon girl at her throat—ready to take her head the instant she so much as twitched a finger.
In this situation, even as one of the highest-ranking holy knights, she had no options left.
“Damn it…”
-Clang.
Overwhelmed by intense fury, Amelda had no choice but to drop her sword. Her knees were then forcibly driven to the ground, and from her lips flowed a single sentence filled with deep despair.
“…Kill me. I have no desire to cling pathetically to life.”
Amelda’s words were resolute. However, instead of swinging her dagger, the demon girl looked at her subordinates and nodded.
At once—
“! W-what are you doing? Stop! Don’t humiliate me any further—just kill me already!”
Amelda shouted in a desperate voice. Completely ignoring her, the demon soldiers began binding her body tightly.
The demon girl looked down at her with an ominous gaze. Amelda instinctively realized that something terrible was about to happen.
And at the same time, a profoundly dark smile spread across the lips of that girl—Elisa.
It was the smile of a snake right before swallowing its prey.
A smile so chilling it defied description.