abcnovels
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
———
Chapter 18: Imperial Visit (5)
“Report on the situation!”
Duke Vert rushed out of the mansion upon hearing the fireworks.
Eulken, the guardian knight nearby, immediately ran up to report.
“Numerous demons have appeared near the camp! Estimated to be at least the size of a battalion!”
“The types of demons?”
“Mostly low to intermediate-level ones like slimes, swamp toads, moss golems, but judging by the magic sense we’re getting, it seems that…”
“It appears high-level demons have also shown up.”
Following behind the duke, Emperor Dionne also revealed himself.
The emperor was already armed, including his sword.
“These creatures seem to have caught wind of something extraordinary. They must have sensed the appearance of a rare delicacy.”
Perhaps due to the effects of alcohol, the emperor’s face was slightly flushed.
“Do not worry, Your Majesty! Please, quickly evacuate outside the barrier!”
Despite the duke’s urgent plea, the emperor paid no heed.
Instead, he raised a hand high and began casting a spell.
“The brilliant light of guidance shall illuminate the darkness…”
A large sphere formed above the emperor’s palm.
The sphere ascended into the sky, illuminating the previously restricted visibility with its radiance, thanks to the gusty winds.
This made it much easier for the knights to prepare for battle.
“I’m still in one piece.”
The emperor’s face exuded more tranquility than before.
-Thud! Thud!
Unidentified vibrations were felt from beneath the ground.
It felt akin to the footsteps of a giant creature.
“Well, I joked about it earlier, but it’s not common for demons to come all the way to human strongholds, is it?”
“It’s not just uncommon; it’s almost unheard of.”
demon exterminations mostly took place from the outskirts of the Lemea Valley and its surrounding areas.
Once they crossed the established boundary, it was deemed to affect human territory, triggering immediate countermeasures.
The location of the duke and the emperor was a rear camp near the barrier gate.
It was somewhat distant from the camp near the valley where the demons appeared.
While they hadn’t reached the rear yet, this was likely the first time they directly infiltrated human strongholds.
“The entire army will swiftly complete their preparations and head to the camp. Non-combatants should evacuate beyond the barrier gate as soon as possible!”
With the duke’s orders, the knights moved without hesitation.
There couldn’t be a single second wasted to support the knights at the camp, where the battle might have already begun.
Above all, the duke’s son was still there.
“Wasn’t your son there as well?”
The emperor asked, subtly aware of it, but the duke didn’t show any signs.
“He must learn to protect himself. Our focus should be on the demons, not my son, Your Majesty.”
The emperor nodded at the resolute response.
“You’re indeed a tough one.”
Yet, he also issued orders to his own knights.
“Royal knights, listen up! From now on, we’ll join the frontline knights to exterminate the demons! Spare not a single one!”
The emperor himself was ready to lead the military in the battle against the demons.
“Oh, by the way, shouldn’t the princess evacuate quickly?”
“Your Majesty!”
A knight from the royal army hurried over from the other side of the camp, his face showing urgency.
“What’s the matter?”
“I apologize for the intrusion, Your Majesty. It’s been reported that the princess is currently at the camp!”
The faces of the emperor and the duke changed abruptly.
“What do you mean? Why is the princess there?”
With the princess supposed to be at the rear camp, her sudden presence at the front left the emperor at a loss.
“There’s someone she wanted to meet personally. About 30 minutes ago, she went with the guards. It seems she might have gone while you were conversing, Your Majesty…”
The emperor was incredulous.
“Who could she possibly want to meet in this dangerous place?”
“Kuueeek!”
A chilling scream hit their ears like a warning from the demons, as if telling them not to waste time with unnecessary discussions.
Now was not the time to worry about his daughter’s safety.
After calming his mind, the emperor promptly gave orders to the knight.
“As the emperor, I command it. Mobilize all the royal forces immediately and head to the camp! Exterminate any demons encountered, but ensure the safety of the princess at all costs!”
“I receive the emperor’s command!”
The knight who received the imperial order quickly departed.
The emperor drew his sword with a meaningful expression.
“We need to sort out the situation quickly, Willius.”
An iridescent light emanated from the emperor’s sword.
The tip of his sword pointed towards the camp where the princess headed.
* * *
Somewhere in the forest, not far from the camp.
Although it was a detour, they had no choice but to go back to avoid the appearing demons.
Their goal was the rear camp located below the mountain.
Prioritizing the safety of the princess, they fled with the guardian knights.
[Is it okay to run like this?]
Kaeram, floating in the air, asked with doubt.
“There’s no point in fighting openly, and we’d only be a hindrance.” .
[Can’t you handle those faraway ones?]
“Even if they’re high-level demons,they can’t take on the knights at the frontlines alone. Once reinforcements from the rear camp arrive, we can easily defeat them.”
“Why do you keep muttering to yourself, My Lord?”
Emily, who was leading the way, turned around and asked.
I gestured for her to not worry and to keep moving forward.
With battalion-level forces of demons approaching, we couldn’t afford to sit idly behind closed doors in the mansion.
Given the potential for widespread destruction once full-scale combat began, it was logical to minimize non-combatants as much as possible.
“Are the knights at the camp okay?”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness! The guardian knights will take care of those ugly demons in no time!”
As clueless as the maid might seem, her presence was oddly comforting in such dire and urgent circumstances.
“Your Highness must be very worried, right? If only you stayed in the rear, none of this would have happened…”
“Not at all, Your Highness! It’s, um, you know? Sometimes it’s good to have a little nighttime exercise. Well! The knights here also feel the same way, don’t they?”
Contrary to Emily’s words, the expressions of the guardian knights were full of concern.
If anything were to happen to the princess because of her carelessness, it could cost them their lives, and could a mere nighttime exercise excuse such a risk?
Sometimes, her lack of awareness was a problem.
-Thud!
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the dimness.
Everyone froze in place upon hearing the sound.
-Thud! Thud!
As the footsteps drew closer, the knights drew their swords.
“A… a demon…?”
Pushing the stiffened princess behind me, I stepped forward.
Emily had long since hidden herself in the back.
“I-It’s okay! It’s… probably just some insignificant low-level demons…!”
Low-level demons?
The sound of these heavy footsteps couldn’t possibly belong to anything but at least intermediate-level demons.
With such a loud noise, it had to be a high-level demon.
“Grroooar…”
Through the dense trees, the figure of a demon emerged.
Standing at least 3 meters tall, its size doubled that of an average adult male.
Its skin was dyed in a greenish hue, covered in thick slime.
A giant high-level demonic creature, a ‘troll’, dwelling in the damp marsh, had revealed itself.
“A h-high-level demon?”
Princess Arin, Emily, and even the knights of the royal army couldn’t hide their astonishment.
They had thought it was only at most an ogre-level threat, but unexpectedly, a high-level demon had appeared.
Moreover, these were guardian knights of the royal army, not frontline soldiers.
That meant they had almost no experience in combat against demons.
The troll faced us with a pupil-less, charred gaze.
It seemed to be staring right through me.
Was it just my imagination?
“Kuwaack!”
With a loud roar, the troll charged at us at incredible speed.
“Protect the princess!”
The knights quickly deployed their defensive formation, but such conventional tactics were ineffective against a high-level demon.
-Thud!
Easily brushing aside the knights, the troll continued its advance towards me.
Quickly, I pushed the princess and Emily to the side and threw myself in the opposite direction.
-Thud!
The ground caved in under the troll’s hefty fist.
If an ordinary human were inside, their bones would have been shattered.
“Grrrr…”
The troll still had its eyes fixed on me.
[It seems even that big lump can smell you, huh?]
Kaeram, observing the troll’s state, chuckled and remarked.
“Do I need to wear cologne or something…?”
Among the demons that appeared, I doubted this troll was the only one targeting me.
Some of the demons at the camp probably had me as their target too.
If we don’t resolve this quickly, it’s only going to get more troublesome.
“Emily! Take the princess and run!”
“What?!”
“This demon, for some reason, seems to be targeting me right now! While I distract it, quickly evacuate with the princess to the rear!”
“Oh, okay. My lord!”
Her response was immediate, without a moment’s hesitation.
As much as I appreciated her obedience, there was an inexplicable bitterness creeping in.
“What are you saying? What are you trying to do!”
Still, it seems this stubborn princess won’t accept it.
While her concern is appreciated, it’s essentially just unnecessary meddling.
“I told you, didn’t I? If you can’t help, at least don’t be a hindrance. Right now, the best help you can give me is to run away with all your might!”
“But, still…”
As the hesitant princess hesitated, Emily swiftly lifted her up.
“Running away comes first, Your Highness! My master will find a way to survive somehow!”
“Does that even make sense? How do you expect to survive against that demon?”
“I’ll figure it out! Take care of yourself, Your Highness!”
Although I said it, why do I hope I don’t stumble here?
The knights, too, quickly caught on and started fleeing with the princess.
I also turned and began fleeing in the opposite direction.
In response, the troll let out a loud roar and chased after me.
“Cyyyy-aaannn!”
It sounded like someone’s desperate call, but I didn’t pay much attention.
“That should do it.”
Just as I thought I had put some distance between us, I stopped fleeing and faced the creature.
[How about it? Shall I lend you a hand this time too?]
“I won’t fall for your tricks twice.”
While with the Death Worm, I might have played along just to stall, there was no need for that this time.
After catching my breath, I guided the mana dormant within me to empower Kaeram.
-Sparkle
A brief black light flashed from the blade.
Preparation to cleave the troll’s body was complete.
“Shall we taste the blood of a high-level demon?”
The troll raised its hefty fist menacingly once again.
It would take just a second for that fist to hit the ground from the air.
But of course, it didn’t remain intact even a second later.
-Splatter
-Thud
Contrary to its bold stance, the troll’s fist fell weakly.
Its grim gaze gradually lowered.
The fist embedded in the ground, and the copious amount of blood flowing from its end.
At the sight of that gruesome scene, the troll’s face contorted in agony.
“Aaaargh!”
The troll thrashed wildly in pain as its arm was severed.
Pain is the only way to forget.
Amidst the relentless downpour of the rain, the enchanting dance of the dark blade continued without respite.
———