Chapter 30

Asaria, who had been floating in mid-air, landed on the ground and bowed gracefully in greeting.

"Duke Mikhail Hol Modenes. Due to the emergency, I will omit formalities. Please leave this to me."

"Asaria Gil Spencer, why are you here? No, more importantly, I can't just leave it to you alone!"

While it was a relief that she had come, this was a stronghold that the Modenes family should protect. It wouldn't do to leave it to just the daughter of the Spencer Duke.

"I appreciate your concern, but it's fine. As you know, and as you can see... my magic has a high potential to involve allies."

As Asaria snapped her fingers, the wall of flames intensified and began to attack the beasts relentlessly. The moment the beasts touched the wall of flames, they were instantly engulfed and turned into charred remains.

Alexis, seeing this, felt that it would be no joke to recklessly step forward and be hit by that flame.

(But even so, to face over a thousand beasts alone...? What is that shadow?)

The flames were defeating the beasts in front of the stronghold, but in the deeper areas, there was a shadow moving swiftly at the center where many beasts were gathered.

(Is that a person? A knight? No, isn't that too fast?)

The shadow was moving so quickly that it was difficult to recognize it as a person from a distance.

"I didn't come alone; I brought my personal knight."

"Personal knight... could it be the one in the rumors?"

"Yes, his name is Lauro. He is my personal knight and the strongest knight."

The beasts in the area where the shadow moved were being defeated one after another. Alexis had heard the rumors, but for a commoner to become a knight and achieve such strength in a short time...

What kind of talent would it take to become so strong in such a short period?

"Lauro is really a monster. He followed my high-speed movement for an hour, and in battle, he moves even faster. What does that mean?"

Asaria muttered this softly, but Alexis didn't hear it. Instead, he was fixated on her back and profile as she controlled the flames, defeating the beasts one after another.

(What a strong and beautiful woman...)

He had thought it was over. When his long-admired father died, he had resigned himself to that fate.

But she overturned it so easily.

Alexis had never seen such a noble and beautiful flame.

"Amazing, the beasts are decreasing rapidly...!"

"I thought it was over, but this is incredible...!"

The knights watching from behind were also saying this, and their morale, which had been completely lost, was rising. Asaria glanced back to confirm this.

"...Phew. Duke Modenes, I'm sorry. I came here with high spirits, but I seem to have used too much magic to get here."

Asaria sighed slightly, as if she were tired. Alexis immediately knew it was a lie.

Indeed, she must have used magic to get here quickly, but to be tired after using such a powerful spell was clearly a lie.

Mikhail, hearing this, widened his eyes and smiled.

"I see... then please leave the rest to us. There are only about two hundred beasts left, so Mikhail and Alexis's magic should be enough."

The moment Mikhail said this, Alexis realized Asaria's intention. If Asaria and her personal knight, Lauro, defeated all the beasts, the knights fighting at the eastern stronghold might abandon the Modenes family and join the Spencer family.

While Asaria and Lauro probably had the ability to defeat all the beasts, they were considering the situation and guiding Mikhail and himself to fight.

"Thank you, Duke Modenes. Can my knight step back?"

"Yes, leave the rest to Mikhail and Alexis. We are grateful, Asaria Gil Spencer."

Mikhail's words made Asaria smile and bow.

Then, Asaria turned to the beasts and extinguished the flames.

"Lauro, come here."

The shadow, still far away and still defeating beasts, seemed to be addressed, but the voice was too small.

Alexis thought this, but suddenly a man appeared in front of him.

"Asaria-sama, did you call?"

"It's enough now. You must be tired, so leave the rest to the Modenes family."

"As you wish."

The knight, Lauro, obeyed Asaria's command and stepped back.

"Let's go, Alexis. It's our turn now."

"...Yes, Father!"

As Alexis stepped forward, he turned to Asaria and Lauro, who were standing back.

He met Asaria's gaze and smiled and bowed lightly, filled with the greatest gratitude.

Asaria also smiled and nodded in return.

Although Lauro, the knight standing behind, glared at him, Alexis ignored it and stepped forward with Mikhail.

"Father, let's do it."

"Yes, Alexis. Let's go."

Mikhail and Alexis simultaneously released a large amount of water, which quickly engulfed the remaining beasts. The massive water mass floated in the air, containing over two hundred beasts struggling to escape.

The water mass gradually shrank, and the two hundred beasts were crushed and compressed within the water.

In the end, all the beasts were crushed, and the water mass turned red.

Like the flames, it was a very spectacular magic.

As the water disappeared from the air, cheers erupted from the knights.

The abnormal situation with the beast horde was over.