Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 36

Johanna, a knight of the Crest Kingdom’s army, was exasperated by the fruitless exchanges.

“Our army should lead the vanguard―”

“No, the reclaiming of the territory is our mission in Felius. Leave the suppression of the cavalry to us.”

“Considering firepower, Crest, with its three heroes, is more fitting.”

The moon had long since passed its zenith. Inside the room, a lamp powered by a magic stone was suspended, sufficiently illuminating the map set in the center of the room.

Before tomorrow’s major offensive, the decision on which army would undertake the assault on the cavalry was about to be made, but it was not straightforward. Johanna could understand each nation’s eagerness to be the spearhead – it was not just a matter of personal pride, but also foresaw the future of their nations. Which country contributed most in defeating the Highserk Empire would significantly influence their standing within the Four Nations Alliance. Hence, no nation was willing to concede. The only exception was the Duchy of Mayard, who had lost significant land forces.

In the military council attended by generals, commanders, and their proxies, only Mayard was represented by its national leader, Rita Mayard, clearly illustrating the power dynamics among the nations. Johanna surmised that the decision would likely fall to either the Libertoa Trade Federation or the Kingdom of Felius.

The Crest Kingdom, having defeated the Highserk Empire’s elite Reglia Battalion during the capture of the third rampart and occupied it, had considerable achievements. Furthermore, they had supported with the magic of the three heroes in the capture of the crucial sixth rampart, making their military achievements stand out significantly more than other countries.

Johanna knew that the kingdom’s military strategist was negotiating persistently to sell the favor of conceding the vanguard. Regardless of the outcome, the discussion to decide the seemingly unattainable vanguard was, frankly, a waste, and Johanna wished to voice her complaints to the knight commander who had opted out of attending.

“Why not just decide it with a draw?”

“What nonsense are you spouting, Lady Johanna?”

“Indeed. Please refrain from such irresponsible remarks.”

Johanna’s spontaneous comment, born from the lack of progress, did not escape the representatives of various countries, who promptly pursued her for the gaffe.

“My apologies. It was a thoughtless remark.”

Seeing Johanna apologize, the discussion returned to its original topic. The only one who showed any sympathy for Johanna was Rita Mayard, who was also part of the futile military council. Johanna would rather have spent this pointless time training Yuuto and Makoto or preparing for tomorrow. The deadlock was broken by an uproar from outside and a thunderous sound that changed the atmosphere.

“What’s going on?!”

“Is this magic?”

While the inexperienced bureaucrats were slow to comprehend the situation, Johanna, having experienced combat, recognized it as the sound of battle, specifically magical in nature. In the room, military officers and guards also sensed the ongoing battle outside.

“It’s likely sabotage by a spy.”

A brigade commander of the Libertoa Trade Federation suggested, and several nodded in agreement.

“A diversion for an assassination attempt on a key figure is also possible.”

“Staying here and waiting for information seems wise.”

Johanna disagreed with the idea of blindly evacuating but couldn’t help feeling a chill down her spine. The drifting magical power felt eerily familiar. The disturbance was not subsiding but rather expanding, with the distance seemingly closing in.

“This doesn’t seem like mere sabotage.”

“What do you mean―”

Before Johanna could respond to a Felius’s question, a soldier burst into the room, interrupting her.

“Enemy attack! Undead from the third rampart!”

The soldier belonged to the Libertoa forces responsible for guarding the sixth rampart.

“Calm down. How many of the undead?”

The brigade commander of the Libertoa Trade Federation, acting as the representative for the foreign minister Hugo, inquired during the military council.

“Just one. The user of Demon Fire, who should have been killed, is crossing the Crest Kingdom’s camp and heading straight for this command post!”

“Impossible!!”

Johanna exclaimed. She had confirmed, from the closest distance, that the demon had been showered with magic so dense that even the word ‘intense’ would be an understatement. The ground had been gouged out, and the dust rose as high as a dragon’s stature. Even if it had turned into an undead, it was inconceivable that its body remained after the torrent of destruction.

“It’s just one undead, crush it! Where is it now?!”

“Right up to――”

In the room where no wind should blow, a gust swept through, scattering the maps. Sweat covered Johanna’s whole body. She kicked the desk away, pushed the strategist into the shadows, and covered him with her cloak. As flames danced into the room, they instantly enveloped it. Those who were slow to react or in a bad position let out short screams before falling to the ground.

Johanna struck the void with a Strong Strike, blowing away the approaching blue flames. When the blue flames weakened, only seven people remained standing in the room. Representatives from Mayard and their guards, three including the brigade commander of the Libertoa Trade Federation, and the strategist Johanna had protected. Everyone from Felius, being in a bad position, had burned to death. The remaining were tossed around on the ground, engulfed in the blast wave and flames. Johanna tried to help extinguish the fire but was interrupted when an extended halberd skewered a Libertoa soldier.

“Aaaaahh!!”

As fire erupted from within, black smoke and blue flames spewed from his throat. The user of the Demon Fire skill had caused flames to burst forth from within the wound.

“You monster!!”

The brigade commander, who had drawn his longsword, was bisected up to the waist along with his sword when the halberd glowed with magical power. The last one, who hadn’t drawn his longsword yet, had his insides seared by the halberd and stopped moving after a violent convulsion. Johanna, who had heard that the Demon Fire user was a long-range fighter, realized how terribly wrong her understanding was.

Frankly, Johanna was only equipped with the bare minimum. As she questioned herself how long she could last, the Demon Fire user, with a twisted and crooked left finger, unmistakably pointed at Johanna. She felt death, a thick murderous intent, even from behind the mask. The enemy, who twisted his broken finger, spewing blue flames from his body, and turning into an incarnation of fire, attacked Johanna. Their Strong Strikes collided, and Johanna’s hand became severely numb.

Standing alone was enough to have her magic barrier thoroughly scraped away. All the fingers of the left hand holding the halberd of the Demon Fire user were crushed. Despite this, Johanna was being overpowered by the sword pressure. They pushed each other’s blades away in the clash, but blue flames followed at the moment of separation. The ice wall Johanna momentarily created dispersed into hot steam and vanished.

Johanna, even through the mask, locked eyes with the Demon Fire user and realized that despite being consumed by madness, he had not lost his intellect. He was a far more dangerous opponent than when he had been operated by the battalion. There were no friendly forces within range, so the restrictions had been unleashed. Johanna suddenly realized. The Reglia Battalion at the third rampart had been defeated. There were no more comrades to protect. The mad, lone assault on the central part seemed to be driven by a desire for revenge.

“Your resistance is futile! The Reglia Battalion was annihilated!!”

“……”

The response came in the form of Demon Fire. The moment the Demon Fire began to swell again, Johanna braced herself, but it was thwarted by a blade that slid in from the side.

“Ugh, Uhh…”

It was a honed strike by an old knight from the Duchy of Mayard.

◆

Rita Mayard, who had been participating in the military council, was unable to keep up with the unfolding attack and defense in front of her. She thought she had gained experience from numerous encounters during the war, from the Battle of Aidenberg to the escape route to the aquatic city of Selta. Yet, none of that seemed to matter here. Over twenty people had attended the military council, but now only a handful remained.

“Lady Rita, please step back!”

A literal side thrust from her own guard, Ratouidge, forced a longsword through the gap in the armor, causing the demon fire user to bleed from the abdomen.

“A disgraceful side thrust. I will make no excuses.”

The demon fire user, employing both ‘Strong Strike’ and ‘Demon Fire’, lunged at Lutwidge, but Johanna flanked him, preventing a quick resolution. Still, the demon fire user did not falter. He responded to the frontal attack with ‘Strong Strike’ and filled the sides and blind spots with azure flames. Rita could only retreat to the wall, careful not to get caught in the crossfire.

How many times had she cursed her own powerlessness? Rita’s eyes momentarily met those of the demon fire user. His intense breath and the heat bore down on her. The demon fire user, attempting to switch his attack to Rita, was forcefully redirected by Lutwidge.

“I should have killed you.”

“Ah…”

A few minutes of exchange, yet Rita vividly remembered their conversation and the taste of the food they shared while fleeing. The seemingly kind smile was gone, replaced by eyes wide with fury and hatred.

An invader and a benefactor, the man who was fundamentally kind-hearted had been driven to madness by the war, and Rita, as a leader of one of the four nation alliance, bit her cheek in guilt. How weak was her resolve, made for the sake of her country and people, weighing the unlikely mercy for him against his potential influence, even feeling disgust at herself.

The two knights braced for defense against the swelling magical power. The room was swept by demon fire, but its wielder was no longer there.

“Lady Rita, are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. …but he…”

“Yes, he’s from Aidenberg… but now, we must forget him.”

In the presence of foreign delegates, Rita couldn’t afford to lose her composure. She took a secret breath to calm herself and called out to the military strategist of Crest, who was lying amidst the debris of the table.

“Are you alright?”

The Crest strategist rose from the debris, glanced around the room, and responded to Rita.

“Uh, I can move on my own. It seems it’s just us now. It’s quite different from just hearing about it. We underestimated him. His danger level alone surpasses even the three heroes.”

“Yes… Let’s regroup with our troops for now. We also need to find Lord Gran. The surroundings are still dangerous. Lady Mayard, please evacuate with us.”

“Thank you.”

Rita agreed to the Rehazen knight’s suggestion. There was no need to be stubborn and take unnecessary risks. They had been attacked at the campsite, then at the command post, and next could be—Rita couldn’t predict where the madness-stricken soldier would head next.