Chapter 19

He grinned and, without giving the Head of the Guard a chance to refuse, rolled up his sleeve.

On the inside of his white right arm, various vivid lines were neatly etched, numbering at least ten at a glance.

The Head of the Guard, eyes wide with shock, asked, "What is this...?"

"This side has the most. There are also some inside my body."

Despite knowing it wasn't the right time, he couldn't help but ask out of sheer curiosity, "How many in total?"

"I haven't counted since seventy."

More than seventy oaths.

Having met various strong individuals from all corners of the continent and experienced countless battles, even I found this number absurd. A genuine exclamation of amazement escaped me.

'I knew he wasn't ordinary, but...'

I pondered again today.

'Just who is this guy, anyway?'

Roo, as if to comfort the Head of the Guard, who was sitting with his mouth agape, said, "Don't be too surprised. It's also a sign that I keep my promises well. If I had ever broken an oath and let slip even once, I wouldn't be here."

"Mr. Roo, I understand what you're saying, but..."

"Well, if necessary, I can make even stronger oaths. Like, if someone tries to extract information, I'll kill them or torture them. Any condition will do."

A gentle but irresistible voice said, "Let me see that, too."

It seemed the Head of the Guard had no other choice.

"After the inspection, I'll help Miss Daisy with her disguise."

That's why I hate perceptive people.

* * *

Thud, thud.

At the same time, a man slowly advanced down a long, quiet corridor, illuminated by a lantern.

The artificial light from the refined stone, imbued with the power of a demon, was twice as bright and clear as a candle, as if it could dispel all the darkness within the villa.

The man slowly crossed the corridor and stopped in front of the bedroom, his destination.

He lightly knocked on the door, but received no answer. After waiting for a moment, and with no sound after 20 seconds, he cautiously opened the door.

The room was dark.

The man turned off the lantern and stepped into the bedroom. Noticing the empty bed, he turned his gaze to the sofa, where a particularly tall and sturdy figure was leaning back with his eyes closed.

It was his superior, the most powerful man in the Pen Rota Empire, Duke Raphael de Pen Rota.

The man, Dscherro, let out a silent sigh of relief.

'Finally, he's asleep.'

Covering the Duke with a blanket would be too much of a disturbance, given the preciousness of his rest.

It was his first sleep in four days. After staring at his precarious silhouette, which resembled a sheer cliff, Dscherro silently closed the door and left.

The raging storm battered the windows, embracing the darkness of the villa. If the sound of the rain could be a lullaby, it would be nice.

Please, may his hero not have nightmares tonight.

* * *

But Dscherro's wish did not come true.

Thud, thud.

Listening to the irregular rhythm, Raphael looked up at the blurry light flickering below the ceiling and thought,

'That damn dream again.'

His breath, which had been rapid with passion, gradually calmed. As his vision cleared, he recognized the face at the edge of his sight.

His secretary and excellent warrior, Dscherro, let out a sigh of relief with bloodshot eyes.

[General, the effects of the "Compassion Grass" seem to be kicking in. Your breathing and pulse will return to normal over the next two hours, and you will enter a *coma-like state.]

* A state where physiological functions are weakened, appearing dead but still alive.

This is a dream.

It was also the hell he experienced four years ago.

In the dream, he was merely an observer, powerless to do anything but watch his mouth move involuntarily.

Raphael took a deep breath and asked Dscherro, who stood beside him,

[How many "Compassion Grass" pills are left?]

His voice was hoarse and rough, almost unfamiliar to himself.

[The pill we just used was the last one.]

"Compassion Grass" is a type of powerful hallucinogen. When refined, it can be used as a painkiller, making it a precious drug on the battlefield.

The fact that there were no more of these drugs left was significant.

[Then we must predict and solve all obstacles within the next two hours.]

Dscherro nodded solemnly.

He had been severely injured during the process of breaking the enemy's lines, hovering between life and death for two days before finally opening his eyes this morning.

Perhaps due to the magical injuries, his recovery was unusually slow. The fever was so high that it almost blinded and deafened him, making it difficult to even leave the bed, let alone command.

[What has happened in the past two days?]

[The supply lines have been destroyed one after another, effectively cutting off our supply routes. Other than that, there are no major casualties, and the morale of the soldiers is not bad. I have gathered all the commanders 30 minutes ago as per your orders.]

With the commander down and the supply lines cut, the situation couldn't be worse.

They were now right in front of the enemy's base. They had overcome numerous obstacles to reach this island of Queen.

If they could just cross the mountain of demons, they would reach Mephisto, the archmage and the enemy of humanity.

Just one mountain.

If they could just cross it.

While his calloused hand gripped the fabric, the weary discussions of the commanders in the connected tent could be heard.

[The General's recovery is taking a long time. The magical aura emanating from the mage city seems to be significantly reducing his natural healing ability. Duke Raphael needs to focus on recovery for at least a week.]

[A week? Are you serious? Do you think that demon will sit idly by? The remaining supplies are far from enough to sustain the 100,000 soldiers here for a week!]

[If we need a week, then we don't need to worry about supplies. The soldiers will continue to advance. The number of soldiers will decrease faster than the supplies run out...]

[Shut up, you bastard! Are you suggesting sacrificing 100,000 lives like that?]

It was not a pleasant feeling to watch the动摇 of the allied forces.

Raphael, supported by Dscherro, slowly rose from the makeshift bed.

[Wouldn't it be better to rest a bit more before moving?]

[You know better than anyone that we don't have the time.]

Ten years. It had been a ten-year war.

The endless war had given wings to the hero, who was merely a chess piece.

Ironically, the more the allied forces were brutally defeated and the front lines pushed back, the more powerful his influence over the mage alliance became.

He was now known as the Supreme Commander of the mage alliance.

Supreme Commander Raphael.

The hero of humanity.

The emperor commanding the battlefield.

Raphael's presence had a profound impact on the army.

Therefore, he had to quickly conclude the meeting within two hours and show his face to the soldiers to boost their morale and bring them one step closer to victory.

From beyond the tent, a slightly calmer voice could be heard.

[We have no choice but to use the cliff of the gorge.]

[Are you talking about the cliff that connects to the underground of Mephisto's castle? How can we use a path that only one person can barely pass through? Besides, there are a few gargoyles guarding it, making it impossible to cross.]

[It's not the army that will cross. It's just one person.]

[What? Are you suggesting assassinating Mephisto?]

[Who could possibly assassinate that demon? It's enough to draw Mephisto's attention. While the one who strikes from behind buys time, we will advance to the bottom of the hill and push the front lines...]

Raphael quietly entered the tent.

The first thing he saw was a broad back.

The owner of the back, standing at the head of the table, was listening intently to the serious discussions going back and forth.

Two soldiers standing on either side were speaking non-stop with pale faces.

This was the position he should have been in. Only this man could replace Supreme Commander Raphael when he couldn't hold his position.

Andert.

He was Raphael's sword and his only partner.

[It's worth a try.]

Andert nodded.

[But anyone who isn't a top-tier fighter will die on the cliff. It's a risky plan, and it's too much to send such an excellent person...]

[...Supreme Commander?]

Twelve pairs of eyes turned to Raphael.

Some were relieved, some were worried, but Raphael's attention did not linger on them. He walked without hesitation to stand in front of his partner.

The man known as the Emperor's Sword.

One of the commanders of the mage alliance, and a dear friend who had endured this hell with him for ten years. A brother, a family, a partner, and a missing half.

[Andert.]

Andert turned to face him.