Chapter 24

"Truly, thank you."

After the treatment had a moment's respite, multiple heads bowed towards us. They were the knights, led by the female knight Resliza. They must be important people.

"If it weren't for your efforts, there would have been thousands of casualties. Your work deserves the highest commendation. We will all ensure that this achievement reaches His Majesty's ears."

After Resliza said this in one breath,

"......"

She then seemed to feel something was lacking and took action. She removed the iron mask she had stubbornly refused to take off.

"Huh?"

The face that emerged from beneath it was, as expected, a woman's face. Moreover, she was incredibly beautiful. Her face was as elegant as a noblewoman's, with the splendor of a rose.

'What? I thought it would be ugly because she was hiding it, but it's a face that can be shown in public, how boring.'

Abinion, who witnessed it with me, let out an indifferent comment.

"Princess!... No, Lord Resliza! Showing your true face here...!?"

The elderly generals standing behind her suddenly panicked.

"These people saved the lives of the soldiers. A masked bow would lack sincerity. I want to show them the utmost respect."

'But what a beautiful face. Wouldn't you look better in a dress at a ball?'

"And, I have made my resolve."

Resliza threw the iron mask she had taken off somewhere, as if it was no longer needed.

"The soldiers they saved will, if left as is, soon lose their lives again. What about the demon attack?"

"Yes. They seem to be in a playful mood and are retreating for now. However, they will surely attack again."

"So they are toying with us."

Resliza, who had revealed her true face, frowned with clear disgust.

"Then there is no time to hesitate. Gentlemen, I will hand you the order from the King."

Saying this, Resliza took out a piece of parchment from her pocket. The generals, upon receiving and reading it, were...!?

"Impossible! Are you serious!?"

"You will transfer your command authority to me. From this moment on, I am the supreme commander of this army."

"Indeed, the order states that...! But...!"

"Of course, this is not a measure to exclude you. I believe you are aware of my skills."

I see.

Resliza's skill, "General's Benevolent Virtue Slash," increases the power of her subordinates by 20% per person. Moreover, it is a broken skill with no upper limit.

"By placing the 7,000 soldiers on this battlefield under my command, I will convert their power into the skill's power. No matter how powerful the demons are, they will not stand a chance against my skill, which is empowered by 7,000 people. ...I will use this as the trump card in this battle!"

"Wait a moment!! Is it that simple!?"

The generals, who were anxious, protested. Their attitude seemed more concerned about her than themselves.

"No matter how powerful the skill is, it is used by a human! It is common for the user to be unable to handle the skill's power!"

"If I can harness the power of 7,000 people, that would be...!?"

"1,400 times."

"Yes, 1,400 times! Can your body withstand such power!?"

Everything has a reaction. Just as a punch causes pain, aggressive actions always have an impact on the one who performs them.

"Human beings can only exert the power their bodies can handle. 1,400 times that power might shatter your body the moment you use it!"

"I am prepared for that."

Resliza said this without averting her gaze.

"I am a knight. Knights dedicate their lives to protect the country. And there is a threat right in front of me. If there is a way to repel it, I cannot think about the value of my life."

"But!"

"The King entrusted me with the final decision to issue this order. He said it could remain hidden in my pocket until the end. But many soldiers who were on the brink of death in battle were saved by Lord Ryuuya and Lord Noem. I want to ensure that the soldiers who were saved will return alive!"

To do that, she was willing to put herself in danger.

"When the battle resumes, I will use the 'General's Benevolent Virtue Slash' against the demons. Consider this a one-time opportunity. I will leave the rest to you, gentlemen."

"Princess...!"

The generals were shedding tears.

"Please wait a moment."

I couldn't just stand by and do nothing, so I intervened.

"I understand Resliza's strategy, but it's a shame that I'm not included at all. That doesn't do justice to my position as someone hired by the King for a high reward."

"Lord Ryuuya, you have already made great efforts to save the soldiers. That alone is a first-class achievement."

"I joined to fight. I haven't even started my job yet."

However, I had no intention of stealing Resliza's moment. I am a modest man.

To support Resliza's resolve and find a way to contribute...

◆

"Are you serious!? Will everything be resolved with this!?"

"It should be theoretically possible."

Resliza and I were hugging. To be precise, Resliza was leaning her back against me, and we were in a position like a piggyback ride, though we weren't wearing a piggyback.

In this close embrace, my hand was placed on her sword, near the hilt, and her hand was behind mine.

"This way, Resliza can use her skill while I absorb the backlash. Leave all the dangerous parts to me."

"Is it really that convenient? Even if all the backlash goes to you, you will just shatter in my place, won't you?"

"If that happens, I'll just shatter."

At least I will die before her. It would be cool to risk my life for a beautiful woman.

"I just want to respond to your resolve. Not just me, but the hearts of the 7,000 soldiers and generals are in this sword."

Your skill is that kind of skill. Only those who admire you and entrust their lives to you can give power to your skill.

Truly, it is a skill of a benevolent general. No one on this battlefield is unnecessary. We are all fighting together, thanks to your skill.

"My role is to make you the main character in this victorious battle. That's what the King requested."

"That person...!?"

It seems the conversation has to end here. Something was moving on the distant horizon.

"Finally, the demons are here?"

Dust was rising in the distance, and it was growing larger and larger.

"Huh?"

Then I noticed something odd. That dust was unusually large. It couldn't be raised by anything less than a large army.

How many demons are there?

By the time I thought that, they were close enough to confirm.

An overwhelming number of monsters, covering the ground!

"What the...!?"

Monsters, monsters, a horde of monsters!

There were large boars and wolves among the beast-type monsters, as well as skeletons and zombies among the undead. Orcs, goblins, lizardmen, slimes, and giant bats.

It was like a monster bazaar!

"Why!? Weren't the enemies the demons!?"

'Oh, did you not know, Master?'

Abinion was standing beside me.

'Demons control and manipulate monsters.'

"What!?"

'Monsters are lower beings that cannot even become transcenders, and they are the livestock of the demons. When facing a group of humans, demons sometimes use monsters to overwhelm them with numbers.'

So the demons, who already overpower humans with their abilities, can also control monsters to gain a military advantage.

"The number of those monsters...?"

'About 30,000, I'd say.'

"Thirty thousand!?"

The kingdom's army would be crushed. The battle against the demons was this severe.

At that moment, a voice echoed across the battlefield from somewhere.

'How about this? I replenished the monsters during the break. Since you all worked so hard, I gathered even more. Will they dance more pitifully now?'

It was a voice that belittled humans, filled with contempt.