Chapter 34

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

After deflecting the sudden 'red light' that attacked, I looked in the direction it came from.

There, visible were the vast numbers of people that filled the eastern plains, revealed by Rin's [Concealment Removal]. A group of people, armed with large 'swords' and 'shields,' were marching in formation toward us.

"What is that? The number is quite significant..."

"The Imperial Army must have mobilized. There could be thousands, no, given the scale, it might exceed ten thousand. I can no longer estimate the size of their forces—"

Rin's voice, answering my question, was low, and her face was pale.

...The Imperial Army?

Why would such a force be here?

I can't make sense of the situation...

"By the way, I haven't seen anyone around. What's going on?"

Everything has been strange since this morning.

Despite the city being bustling with people until early morning, we haven't seen a single person other than ourselves.

The capital itself feels like a hollow shell.

"I met one of my brother's subordinates on the way here and heard a bit about the situation... numerous monsters appeared in the city, so everyone evacuated to the relatively safer western area. I think the capital's soldiers are dealing with the monsters and guiding the citizens."

"I see. That's why there are no people around."

Monsters appearing in the city—what exactly is happening in the capital?

"But they must have noticed the strong light just now. They will likely send forces this way, but it will take some time. Even when they arrive, with the capital's forces, it will be difficult to handle that number—"

As Rin, who was looking at the armed group on the horizon, was speaking, Ines called out to her.

"Rinneburg. That's enough—let's run. We can't handle that scale of forces alone."

"–Yes, let's do that. We will retreat and join my brother... What about you, sir?"

"Me? ...Why are you asking? Given the situation, it's obvious, isn't it?"

Rin asked me what I would do... but of course, I intend to run with them.

In this situation, there's no other choice, but why is she asking?

What does she think of me...?

"You're right. I shouldn't have asked... It was a foolish question."

Rin smiled at me. It seems she understood.

–Did she understand?

I'm still uneasy, so I'll confirm it out loud.

"Yeah, I'll definitely run—"

"Something's coming from over there—!!"

Suddenly, Ines shouted. Looking in the direction she was pointing, I saw a large number of magical projectiles raining down from the sky.

"It's the enemy's attack! Behind my 'Shield'—!!"

Ines immediately deployed a 'Light Shield' to block the storm of magical attacks. Thanks to her, the enemy's attacks didn't reach us. But—

"Damn... We can't run now."

Magical projectiles kept raining down from the sky, quickly gouging the ground around us. We can't move at all. If I were alone, I could dodge and run, but I can't leave the three of them behind. I made a mistake. I should have run as soon as I saw that army.

As I was wondering what to do, Roro spoke up.

"...Over there...!! ...Something's glowing again—!!"

Looking in the direction Roro was pointing, I saw a large, black tube-like object with complex patterns, emitting a red light.

"The next one is coming—!"

Rin, looking at the red light in the distance, had a pale face. If left unchecked, that intense light that brought down the giant dragon would come again.

"–There's no other choice."

I made up my mind and took a step forward. The black sword I have can apparently deflect that light. Though I'm hesitant, in this situation, I have to step forward.

"Sir, what are you—?"

"I'll buy time—use this chance to run."

"But, sir—!"

Fortunately, I'm confident in my ability to run. Even when surrounded by wolves, bears, or swarms of bees in the mountains, I could always escape. If I run at full speed, I can dodge the rain of magical attacks.

I don't think I can fight that army. The most I can do is draw their attention and buy time.

But it's worth a try. If we can buy enough time, as Rin said, the capital's army might come to help. It might be overly optimistic, but it's the only hope we have.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless—I'll come back. Don't worry."

"–I understand."

Rin gently placed her hand on my back.

"Then, I'm going—brace yourself for the impact."

–Huh?

Going—?

–Impact?

"Rin, don't tell me—?"

"It's okay. I'll control the power—"

Rin smiled at me.

–No, that's not it.

At this angle, it will definitely send me straight into that army. I don't intend to make a suicidal charge. I just want to run around, draw their attention, and disperse their attacks. But it seems she didn't understand my intention—

"Wait—"

"【Wind Blast】"

Ignoring my confusion, Rin's magic activated.

–Not good.

I was holding the sword normally. If I took Rin's magic directly without the 'black sword,' I would die. Thinking this, I kicked off the ground and moved forward. I activated [Body Enhancement] to the max, taking a step, then another, and the delayed blast pushed me even further.

–Phew.

I managed to avoid instant death. But then, Ines's 'Light Shield' blocking the magical projectiles from above was right in front of me.

–I'll hit it—!

I lowered my posture and slipped through, moving forward. Then, the storm of magical attacks hit me.

With the momentum I had, the projectiles came at me at an incredible speed. I dodged them by reflex, reading their trajectories, but there was a limit. If I charged into a dense barrage, I wouldn't be able to avoid them all—

I instinctively swung the black sword horizontally.

"Parry"

The countless magical projectiles in front of me were deflected.

–Phew.

But as I thought, the black sword can deflect magic. It deflected the dragon's 'light' and the red 'light' just now. I don't understand the logic, but it seems to work.

But the 'black sword' can only deflect a few at a time. It can't handle the massive barrage coming at me.

What should I do?

Am I just going to charge in and self-destruct?

...No, really?

For years, I've been training to deflect wooden swords. I can deflect a thousand wooden swords in one breath. But with a slightly heavier weapon, it felt completely different. With a heavy sword, I couldn't do it like with the wooden sword. I could barely deflect a few logs thrown by goblins.

–But, I'm getting used to it.

The more I swung the sword, the more it felt natural in my hand. I got used to the speed from being blown away by Rin multiple times.

And it seems the magical projectiles have no weight. It's much easier than deflecting logs.

Then—

"Parry"

I swung the sword with all my might, and hundreds of magical projectiles were deflected and disappeared simultaneously.

–I can do this.

I swung the sword and took a step forward, accelerating. I can still do more. I'm getting used to the speed and weight. My body is tired, but I feel good.

–I'll do what I can.

If I keep this course, I'll charge into the enemy army. I can't adjust my trajectory now. But—this is fine. I'll cause chaos from within.

Fortunately, I'm confident in my running. When I sense danger, I'll run at full speed. Even if I'm surrounded, I'll escape.

I made up my mind and accelerated, shattering the ground. The space around me distorted. It felt like I was in another world.

In no time, I reached the front of the enemy formation.

The first one—wearing heavy armor, holding a sword and shield.

"Parry"

I swung the sword with all my might. The large sword in his hand was deflected without any resistance.

–Good.

Despite his heavy armor, he moved like an amateur—slower than a goblin. From my perspective, he was almost standing still. The other soldiers also seemed slow.

–Then.

"Parry"

I deflected dozens at once.

I still had room to spare.

Then—hundreds.

I still didn't feel much resistance.

Then—two hundred, three hundred.

I increased it to four hundred, then five hundred.

It was a strange feeling.

I still had room to spare.

Maybe it's because of the heavy sword. The weight of the enemy's swords felt like feathers.

Then—

I swung the sword with all my might, and a thousand weapons were deflected into the air simultaneously.

–What.

It's nothing special.

It's the same as deflecting wooden swords in the mountains. I can deflect up to a thousand in one breath—easily.

So I decided to keep deflecting with all my strength and stamina.

I stopped thinking about unnecessary things and focused all my nerves on deflecting.

–Just deflect.

My role is to buy time, after all.

---

At that moment—

A silver wave appeared in the sky. It undulated like a living thing, drew elegant arcs like a bird in flight, and slowly rotated as it fell to the ground.

The soldiers were initially confused.

The 'Magical Swords' granted by the emperor, which were supposed to give them the power of a thousand men, disappeared from their hands in an instant—and they saw them floating in the air.

Many soldiers, in a state of near-panic, raised their 'Magical Shields' in the other hand to block the silver, magic-infused swords that were falling from the sky, reflecting the silver light and slicing through iron.

Fortunately, the shields' power deflected the falling blades, creating another silver wave in the sky.

The soldiers were relieved for a moment.

But it was short-lived.

This time, the 'Shields' disappeared.

Just like the swords, they vanished without warning. Naturally, the soldiers looked up at the sky. There they were, the shields that were supposed to grant them invincibility, elegantly spinning high above where they had deflected the swords.

The silver blades that had been deflected once again rained down on the soldiers, who were now defenseless.

–A scene of chaos and terror.

The 'Magical Swords' that were supposed to cut down the enemy were now impaling the ground, the soldiers' arms, shoulders, legs—any part of the body for the unlucky ones.

The soldiers screamed and ran in panic. The more determined ones picked up their swords again, trying to prepare for the unknown enemy's attack, but their swords were once again sent flying into the sky.

The soldiers saw nothing.

They felt nothing.

Yet, their weapons vanished again.

–All the soldiers were terrified.

They finally understood the fragility of what they believed to be an invincible army.

The sudden, unknown attack.

They didn't know where it was coming from or what was happening.

The scene was in utter chaos.

Friendly fire from terrified soldiers.

Soldiers throwing down their weapons and crying, praying to their gods, begging for help, covered in blood—despair and horror filled the air. Even the strong-willed ones who picked up their weapons again were broken by the repeated strange phenomena.

Amidst the rapidly fading morale, the soldiers suddenly saw a large, black shadow soaring high into the sky.

–First, four large cylindrical objects.

–Then, three large cross-shaped objects.

These objects seemed familiar to all the soldiers.

More specifically, they looked like the Imperial Army's decisive weapons, the 'Light Spears' (four) and the all-defending magical devices, the 'Hero's Shields' (three).

These were the symbols of the Imperial Army's glory, the promise of victory, and the pinnacle of the nation's magical science.

All the soldiers who looked up at the sky wondered.

–Why are they there?

The seven objects, slowly rotating, plunged into the ground with a loud noise, and the soldiers' morale plummeted again.

The massive cylindrical weapons, the 'Light Spears,' were deeply embedded in the ground by their weight, and the cross-shaped defensive magical devices, the 'Hero's Shields,' were cruelly twisted and broken, losing all the magical light etched into their intricate circuits.

It was clear to everyone that they were no longer usable.

Losing their main weapons, the 'swords' and 'shields,' and the decisive weapons, the 'Light Spears' and 'Hero's Shields'—

This meant the failure of the campaign.

Almost everyone understood this.

There were a few who didn't give in to the situation.

The brave ones who picked up their swords again, searching for the enemy to fight.

But their spirits were quickly broken.

It didn't take long for their raised swords to be shattered like glass by the unseen "something."

"–What is this? What exactly is happening—?"

The general in command of the entire army could only mutter this.

The battlefield, once filled with the spirit of conquering the capital, was now dominated by helplessness, fear, and despair.

No one even tried to pick up their swords anymore.

As the silver wave made seven rounds and became sparse, the morale of all the soldiers was lost—

The army of ten thousand, without a single casualty, was almost completely destroyed.