Heavenly Wrath Descends
As soon as the morning sun rose, we realized we couldn't stay here any longer. The text transmitter was exploding with messages, vibrating nonstop. They were similar to the ones I'd seen at the New Year's ball—endless alerts popping up one after another.
"Time to head back."
I sent a messenger to Antonio, who was commanding the rear lines, telling him to hold out. But even he might not be able to handle whatever was coming. If a horde of high-grade monsters like the ones that had attacked the base swarmed in, it would be too much for him alone.
"Thanks for everything, High Priest."
"……."
"……."
The high priest glanced back and forth between me and Ian, falling silent for a moment. His gaze on Ian was as cold and still as a winter lake. It was far too heartless for a father looking at his son, who had barely clawed his way back from death. But it was still better than outright blaming him for coming back to life.
I turned to Sian, who looked like he'd just woken up from a deep sleep.
"How's your condition?"
"Mm."
Sian shook his head gently, then focused his eyes on me.
"I'm fine."
"Good?"
Now that he seemed back to his senses, Sian switched to formal speech with me again. For some reason, it felt a bit disappointing. He could've kept up that unhinged informal tone from yesterday, but honestly, he'd probably freak out if I suggested it. I chuckled inwardly and looked at Ren.
"Ren, let's go."
"Ah, yes."
But moments later, Ren shook his head with a troubled expression.
"Huh? Magic doesn't work here either?"
"No."
We all turned puzzled looks toward the high priest. He nodded impassively.
"Yes, this place blocks mana too."
"Why on earth?"
"It's Niv's policy. I'm not entirely sure myself…."
Ah, I should've talked to Niv more. There seemed to be all sorts of hidden stories in the North that I didn't know about. But right now, getting back to the base was the priority.
"Is there a fast way to get back?"
"There is."
With that, the high priest led us to the temple's underground. We entered through a secret door in the floor and descended into a space that felt like the depths of a deep cave. Strangely, though, it wasn't dark at all inside. Curious, I looked around and saw the cave walls embedded with densely packed gems that emitted a soft glow. And I could feel mana emanating from them.
I whipped around to the high priest in surprise.
"Mana stones?"
"Yes."
A mana stone mine buried beneath the Northern temple! I asked in astonishment,
"Does my father know about this?"
"He does."
"Ha…."
I'd only ever seen refined mana stones before—this was my first time seeing raw ones embedded in the walls, sparkling in various colors. As I admired them, I asked another question.
"You don't mine them?"
"It's a special place, so we don't."
"What a shame."
Mana stones were unique to the North and fetched a high price. Mining them could fund a grander temple and draw more followers. Ah, but it's near monster territory, so people probably avoid it. Thinking of the reclusive Northern temple, I descended even deeper.
"This is…."
At the bottom was a glowing magic circle etched into the floor. Mana similar to that of the mana stones flowed from it. Ren furrowed his brow slightly, sensing it was different from Southern circles.
"A warp portal magic circle?"
"Something like that."
I shot a glare at the high priest for his vague answer, but he ignored it and approached the circle.
"So that's how you got to the ducal residence so quickly before."
"Yes."
The high priest nodded and sprinkled some suspicious black powder onto the circle.
"What's that?"
It looked so shady that I had to ask, though I didn't expect a straight answer. But to my surprise, he replied earnestly.
"This warp circle has been here for a thousand years. Even before the Magic Tower was built in the South."
"What?"
"That's why it works differently from Southern ones. I don't know exactly what the powder is."
Then, in a quiet voice, the high priest muttered something strange—probably an ancient Northern tongue. If Xavier were here, he'd be losing his mind with excitement, eyes gleaming. He might even be able to interpret some of it. I had even more to tell Xavier now.
"Can you set the destination?"
"Anywhere in the North."
"Then, Airi Village."
"The village?"
"Yeah."
The text transmitter didn't mention Volta Base, which meant it was holding steady. Instead, nearby Airi Village was listed. The monsters must have bypassed the base and were overrunning the village. I watched the magic circle activate more clearly and said,
"Everyone, get ready. We'll be jumping straight into the battlefield."
"Yes."
And then a black misty light enveloped us.
* * *
Slash.
Antonio Parma felled a boar-headed monster and let out a ragged breath.
"Huff."
The monsters slain by Antonio and his knights had already piled up into small mountains. Yet more kept coming endlessly. Even the high-spirited Black Lion knights were starting to tire.
"Urgh!"
"Ugh, damn it."
Dodging an attack from a monster swinging a crude weapon, Antonio thrust his sword forward. He barely repelled it, but another monster charged at him right away.
"Kuh!"
"Margrave!"
Jerome, captain of the Black Lion Knights, slashed the monster lunging at Antonio and rushed to his side. The two pressed their backs together, panting heavily.
"Haa… You need to retreat, sir."
"Hah, no."
Antonio shook his head at Jerome's words. Falling back now would doom not just Airi Village but all the surrounding ones to ruin. They had to hold until the villagers finished evacuating.
"Your life matters more to me than that."
"I figured."
He understood his loyal vassal's heart well. But Antonio couldn't abandon the villagers and run.
She would never flee.
She had shone from the moment he first saw her. To him now, she was like a goddess. She had awakened his foolish self and given him new life. Just like the base holding firm, Abigail would never turn her back on monsters and run. Of course, Antonio could never be like her. No matter how hard he tried, he'd never even reach the tip of her toes. Still, he wanted to struggle to the end. At least to be a vassal she could be proud of.
As Antonio gripped his sword with renewed resolve, it happened.
"…What the?"
Beyond the encircling monsters, a brilliant burst of light erupted. Antonio frowned at the sight of the monsters parting. Through the gap rode a man on horseback—golden hair and blue eyes unseen in the North. It was none other than the imperial crown prince, the empire's pride.
Antonio stared at him in shock.
"Crown Prince?"
"It's been a while, Marquis Parma."
They'd only exchanged brief greetings when Michael Lux Rampas passed through the rear base on his way North, yet he remembered Antonio clearly. Antonio realized Michael had come from the direction of the base.
"Is support coming from the base?"
He asked with hope, but surveying the surroundings revealed a different picture. The paladins fighting with flashes of light far off might help, but the rest were useless. Northern knights would have bolstered their forces properly.
Michael, grasping the implication, replied with a stiff smile.
"No, this is all the support there is."
Faint prayers from the priests reached their ears. The exhausted Black Lion knights regained some strength from the holy power, but the endless monsters would wear them down or injure them again soon enough. Antonio gritted his teeth and snarled,
"Why aren't the other knights…! Ack!"
Monsters hurled themselves bodily at the knights' solid defenses. It was chaotic brawling with no tactics. Antonio cut one down and turned back to Michael, who had slain another in the meantime. Their eyes met.
"They can't come. Just like the little duchess isn't here."
"Kuh."
Antonio's face twisted as he scanned the battlefield. The limits were showing. Even with the crown prince's aid, it was the same. Like someone who'd hoped in vain and now faced disappointment, the light faded from his eyes.
"Order the retreat, Marquis."
Michael commanded the withdrawal with a hardened expression. Since the Black Lions made up most of the field, he directed it at their lord, Antonio. The Northerners wouldn't heed him anyway.
But the Northerner before him was just as stubborn.
"I can't. The villagers' evacuation isn't finished yet."
"That's unfortunate, but…."
Michael trailed off, unable to finish. Ordering retreat meant abandoning countless villagers to the monsters. Yet as crown prince, he had to assess coldly. Better than letting knights die here. Holy power could heal wounds but not resurrect the dead. Death was final.
"I cannot retreat!"
"Marquis Parma!"
Michael shouted, glaring at the obstinate Antonio. Northerners were all so pigheaded. They just wouldn't listen. Didn't they see annihilation loomed? Without a miracle from the heavens, victory was impossible.
"Just a little longer—just until the evacuation ends."
"…Hm."
He understood the margrave's feelings. Northern nobles had immense attachment to their people. It was inevitable; their history was an endless chain of battles. Fights to protect others. Northerners were used to that. Michael bit his lip, feeling like an intruder.
Kuuuung.
Suddenly, a thunderclap from the sky shook the battlefield. Gasping knights looked up.
"…What now?"
Michael and Antonio also gazed at the abruptly darkening sky. More monsters would overwhelm them completely. In despair, they spotted a single point of light piercing the gloom.
"Up there—people!"
"People?"
At the shout, Antonio and Michael narrowed their eyes. Tiny figures hovered in the sky. Then, terrifying lightning crashed down.
Kwaaang! Boom!
The bolts struck only the monsters precisely. The crowd roared in awe.
"Heaven's punishment! God's messengers!"
Cheers erupted toward those who had instantly turned the tide of battle.