204
Tick. Tock.
Clear footsteps echoed in the very center of the main camp of the Demon King Army 1st Legion.
“Hmm-hmm~.”
Along with it came a humming sound.
Jophi, an operations staff officer from the 2nd Legion, was heading somewhere while swaying her uniquely small yet slender body.
Although the legion that had been winning battle after battle had just tasted its first defeat, she showed not even the slightest sign of displeasure on her face as an operations officer.
Rather, she was hoping that Raygle would launch a counterattack.
‘That way, more data will pile up, right?’
She had come to the 1st Legion as an operations officer, but her true purpose was to test a certain magic created by the 2nd Legion Commander and record its results.
Rustle—
Pulling aside the tent curtain, Jophi entered the legion commander’s tent located at the innermost part of the camp.
“Isn’t that right, Legion Commander?”
“Haa… haa……”
Inside the pitch-dark tent without even a single candle.
Rowen sat within, breathing roughly.
Soon, Jophi lit a spark in her hand.
“Oh dear… you seem to be in a lot of pain. But it cannot be helped, since this is the price for saving your life, Legion Commander.”
Using the space stone embedded in the greatsword she used, she had forcibly moved across a great distance.
As the price, Rowen had to endure the agony of her entire body being torn apart while space folded during the movement.
“Still, it is truly fortunate, isn’t it, Legion Commander? If not for Lord Kacherto’s insight, you would have died by that human’s hand by now.”
Looking down at the broken greatsword lying near Rowen’s feet, Jophi curled up the corners of her lips.
“……Ugh… you…….”
“Ah… how could you break the sword I lent you? If this happens, you will return to your old frustrating self again, Legion Commander.”
“How dare you… do this… to me……!”
Rowen’s red eyes shone faintly yet clearly within the darkness.
“Ahaha. Legion Commander, when you glare at me like that, it gives me chills down my spine.”
“The sword… my brother’s sword…… give it back…….”
“Not right now.”
Jophi approached Rowen and held her cheeks with both hands, meeting her gaze.
Rowen glared sharply at her, but perhaps because of the aftereffects of the spatial movement and magic, her body would not move as she wished.
“I know. You are frustrated, right? You lost to an opponent you should have defeated easily. But do not worry.”
Suddenly, Jophi snapped her fingers.
Dark magic swirled above her shoulder, and soon a sword appeared.
Though its decorations were crude, anyone could tell at a glance that it was a masterpiece just by looking at its elegant blade.
However, the pure white blade, wrapped in a sticky violet substance, was slowly turning black from the tip.
“If you wait just a little longer, I will return your completed sword, Legion Commander.”
“You… what… are you… doing…!”
“I told you at the beginning. It is Lord Kacherto’s gift, something that can draw out even more of your power.”
Rowen stretched out her hand toward her beloved sword with desperate eyes, while Jophi watched her with a devilish smile.
“The situation was so one-sided that I was sad there was no chance to use it. But I am truly happy that such an opportunity has finally come. You feel the same, right, Legion Commander?”
“I… won’t… forgive you…….”
“Pfft… yes. It seems you want revenge quickly as well. Please fight well. That way, the records will turn out nicely.”
Excitement filled her at the thought that with a single magic, she could handle the woman known as the strongest swordsman among the demon race like this.
If she loosened the tension at the corners of her lips even slightly, she would burst into mad laughter.
‘Are you watching, Lord Kacherto? Your magic is this magnificent.’
Pushing the overflowing joy from her mouth into her eyes, Jophi continuously praised her true master in her heart.
Completely unaware that a certain demon man, whom she had never even glanced at, was watching the entire situation from between the tents.
The day after Glen appeared in Raygle Territory and drove away the Demon King Army.
Lord Palador, together with Sir Leorn, led the White Whale Knights and headed early in the morning toward the southern part of the territory.
Some felt anxious seeing the two strongest forces of the territory leave together, but most believed the war situation would improve because of Glen’s presence.
Amid tension and unease, Glen’s schedule in Raygle Territory entered its first day.
After Palador departed south and afternoon arrived, Glen first went to the meeting room and met the retainers who had remained behind.
“My name is Jeren Polkas. And this is Sir Roman, who commands the city and mansion guards. And….”
An old retainer who had served the Raygle Marquis family for decades and three or four 6-Star Holy Knights.
Only the bare minimum forces had been left behind, to the point it almost seemed excessive.
However, this had actually been something Glen himself had suggested to Palador.
Since he remained behind, Palador’s side needed to be solidly reinforced.
‘If we sent half-hearted forces and they were wiped out by a Demon King Army division, that would be a disaster.’
Of course, there were other reasons as well, but those would be discussed after his schedule in Raygle ended.
Glen listened as Jeren Polkas reported the remaining troops and the city’s strength.
As expected of one of the top noble families within the Papal Holy Nation, Raygle’s capital city was excellently fortified.
The tall walls surrounding the city and the defensive facilities were obvious enough.
Even inside the city, wooden barricades and traps were installed throughout the alleys to guide enemy movement, and evacuation shelters connected to underground waterways had been prepared for civilians in case of urban warfare.
If Obenu Fortress was a natural stronghold using narrow paths and rugged terrain, then Raygle’s capital was a city fortress boasting pure sturdiness without any exaggeration.
“With sufficient stored food, if conditions are right, this fortress could theoretically endure for hundreds of days. Of course, there were even opinions suggesting abandoning this place because of the existence of a 9-Star Magic Swordsman.”
Sir Jeren, who had worn a bitter expression, glanced at Glen with a faint smile.
“But now that the Saint has come, this place will be able to fulfill its role.”
“That certainly seems possible.”
If Glen’s party could just stop Rowen, the legion commander, the rest of the enemy forces could somehow be held back.
Although recalling yesterday suggested there might be another 8-Star Magic Swordsman besides Rowen, it would not be a problem.
Indeed, Palador’s proposal from the previous day had been the best possible move Raygle could make under the current circumstances.
“However.”
