Chapter 52

The slope, where two armies had once vied to plant their banners on the land of Orzérica, was now desolate, even including the cut-throughs and flat areas. The battlefield stood sparse, with the byproducts of the struggle scattered everywhere. Worm called out to the soldiers as he navigated through the gaps between the dead bodies.

"Take a quick breath and then move. I want to rest too, but we haven't won yet. Follow the orders of your superiors."

The listless fatigue that follows a passionate encounter, or perhaps the intoxication of warm blood, had now completely dissipated. They stood there in a daze, discarded their helmets, and sat on the ground. If this had been a decisive victory, they could have fully enjoyed their leisure, but it was just one of the six entrances to Zerebes, and they had only repelled the enemy from the vanguard position.

"Huh? Ah, yes, Guardian Commander. I apologize. I just lost all my strength."

"Let's go, Gaston."

With a hesitant gait, they headed towards Moïse, who was in charge of the left wing. Surrounded by several subordinates reporting, he was issuing orders to treat the wounded and to maintain vigilance over the earthworks.

"...We've passed the critical point."

Without even wiping the blood from his face, he rallied the remaining soldiers, a truly reliable figure. However, the luxury of rejoicing in the growth of the young and indulging in personal thoughts was something the imperial knights could not afford.

"Worm, over here."

"Yogim, you look well."

Responding to the wave and call, Worm walked alongside him. With a gentle tone that seemed out of place, they crossed the now-graveyard-like flat area, interspersing small talk.

"Heh, I thought I was going to die many times. It's been a while since I danced with death alongside my wife."

Despite his exhausted appearance and weak voice, his eyes still gleamed with unquenched excitement. Indeed, if the wife is such, the husband must be too, the imperial knight thought, impressed. If so, their relationship must be good.

"I'm glad to see your enthusiasm... So, how many survivors are there?"

"The remaining soldiers, including the wounded, make up about one and a half squads. If we reorganize, we might be able to form two platoons at best."

After suffering heavy losses and receiving reinforcements, the defense force, though not reaching the scale of an enhanced company, had a surplus even when fully manned. The fact that the number of combat-ready soldiers had been reduced to two platoons—Worm suppressed a sigh and a curse as he continued to assess the situation.

"Reduced that much, huh."

"Even if we all defend the earthworks, the line could be broken with a single thrust."

"Abandoning it is reasonable. With the company and reinforcements in a state of collapse, the rear command won't order us to hold the position."

The training company had not received an order to defend to the death. On the slopes of Orzérica, the local commander had the discretion to allow retreat. They had ended up in this situation of thorough resistance due to the enemy's relentless attacks, which did not allow for an orderly retreat.

"It's strange that there hasn't been a second wave of attacks immediately after the first."

"I've been worried about that all along. I still can't shake the feeling."

If the losses were ignored, the numerically superior attackers' wave attacks were an extremely effective strategy. The imperial knight was on edge, wondering when the training company, busy evacuating the wounded, would be attacked.

"We can only pretend to be fine and prepare for the retreat while our hearts are pounding."

"Truly, one shouldn't become a commander."

The blood flowing from his mouth, cut in battle, tasted bitter. There were limits to what could be achieved by shuffling the limited cards. The proof of his regret was spread at his feet. The empty eyes of the fallen soldiers glared at the imperial knight with resentment. Yet, he never averted his gaze, out of duty and regret to those who had fought and died.

"...Indeed. By the way, after the rout, the Yarukku soldiers seem to have carried away the body of their old general."

"It would have been troublesome if he had been killed in action."

The Yarukku soldiers, who worship Latu, would have been even more formidable if they had become desperate. In that case, the imperial knights would have had to sink Orzérica Slope in blue flames, regardless of friend or foe. The only ones who would lament such an incomplete and unsatisfactory outcome would be the demons.

"Carrying away a body from the enemy lines means he was respected as a person."

"Well, it seems our commander couldn't do the same."

"You guys are chatting too much. The guest is about to die."

Deborah, with her arms crossed and indignant, pointed to the target. The man lying there helplessly was a pitiful sight. His armor, stripped of its fastenings, revealed countless internal hemorrhages and lacerations. His limbs were either hacked or crushed, and half his face was torn away. Yet, the slight rise and fall of his chest faintly indicated his survival.

"A big catch. The deputy commander of the Rehazen Knights, Silance, right? I want to take him as a prisoner."

"Impossible. He overdid it. And this emaciated body..."

Deborah kicked several small bottles with her shoe. Most were empty, but some contained liquid. The smell of medicinal drugs. The imperial knight recognized the items.

"Tranquilizers?"

"Not that fancy. Secret potions, and potent ones at that."

The cause was not the fatal wounds or the blood loss. Something more fundamental had created this pathologically emaciated body and deathly appearance.

"Did you come to the front lines with a body ravaged by disease?"

He shouldn't have been heard of in the decisive battle at Sarevo Fortress. He must have been unable to fight due to illness, not because of preparations in the homeland. This couple would not have needlessly inflicted pain on their enemies. They had to destroy the body to the point of incapacitation. The secret potions must have temporarily enhanced physical abilities, heightened mental excitement, and numbed pain, Worm deduced. With such resolve, torture would be a waste of time.

"Training Commander, is there anything you want to ask?"

"Nothing. He just wants to talk to the commanders, so I'm holding off on the final blow."

"Speak, if you have any last words, I'll listen."

"Far from a triumph, but a good morning to die."

The imperial knight, suspecting that Silance was delirious, saw that his eyes still held intelligence. It wasn't out of spite. There was just a chill. He was truly enjoying the last morning before his death. His waist moved slightly.

"It's dawn. I've fulfilled my duty. Everyone fought and died well. It was a fitting battlefield for the Yarukku old general and for me, ravaged by disease."

"What do you mean?"

"That is—"

"Training Commander! Guardian Commander, where are you!!"

The sound of horse hooves and a voice filled with anxiety and anger drowned out Silance's weak voice.

"Training Commander and Guardian Commander are over here!!"

Yogim had summoned them immediately. It was no wonder. The messenger was on a fast horse, a rare and valuable means of communication that replaced the insufficient number of magical communication devices. The imperial knight, spotting the approaching riders, recognized the anomaly.

"No, wait. That's not the messenger we sent from Orzérica Slope. It's a fast horse from the fort."

"So, it seems the rear fort sent a messenger first."

The messenger, dismounting as if rolling off the horse, panted and shouted.

"The enemy's main force has invaded the Celta Peninsula!! We've been routed!!"

The imperial knight gasped at the information. The more he processed the words, the more he was speechless at the dire situation.

"Are you kidding? They've taken all six entrances in such a short time!?"

"This is a place that even withstood a massive rampage."

Even if the three great heroes of the Kingdom of Creist were concentrated, the multiple choke points, positions, and reserve forces of Orzérica Slope would have prevented such an outcome. Worm's mind raced, trying to make sense of the chaos. This could be a false report, a strategy to cause panic and force the front-line troops to retreat. But he dismissed this idea. The Orzérica Slope, ravaged by fierce attacks and having lost its core defense force, had no such value. It would be more logical to prevent the withdrawal of the remaining forces.

"Which entrance was breached, Tarmakane? Asarina!?"

"The enemy—"

As the messenger reported the location of the enemy's main force, Worm noticed that Silance had died. Like Latu, he had achieved his goal in death. However, the nature of his smile was the opposite. It was a mocking grin directed at the flustered imperial knight, filled with sticky malice and pleasure.