There’s a saying: “Caught in a dilemma.”
It literally means that both advancing and retreating are equally difficult.
And right now, the state of the Holy Empire Army was just that.
The Holy Empire Army, thrown into chaos by unexpected circumstances.
In the front lines, enemies were still raining bullets and cannon fire, while in the rear, the main base of our forces was visibly ablaze in real-time.
And now.
The Commander Wallenstein, who was supposed to lead them, was just as lost as the others in this chaos.
“C-Commander! What should we do?”
“Ah… should we advance? Or should we fall back to the main base…”
“Hmm…”
Even with his subordinates’ questions, he couldn’t make a decision easily.
With the main base burning behind them, the soldiers were on edge; a hasty advance could lead to disastrous consequences.
However, to retreat was also dangerous; in this situation, where the scale of the enemies ahead was unknown, looking back carelessly was a risk.
At that moment, while they were dawdling…
“How about we retreat?”
“!”
“Chancellor Senel, but that’s…”
Senel spoke calmly.
Although Wallenstein expressed concern, Senel continued earnestly.
“If we lose the main base completely like this, even if we win here, we won’t be able to continue the battle. It would be best to retreat for now.”
“Hmm…”
Chancellor Senel spoke rationally.
Currently, the main base was stocked with weapons, ammunition, and supplies, including food.
Losing those would mean the 60,000 soldiers would essentially lose their combat ability.
They had already suffered considerable damage from the rising flames, but to prevent more losses, retreating for now was the best course of action.
“We’ll retreat. First, we need to drive off the enemies that have infiltrated the main base.”
“Understood, Commander.”
And so, Commander Wallenstein began to turn around to retreat.
At that moment, he suddenly realized something.
“Chancellor Senel?”
“Let’s retreat. I will stay here to fend off the enemies trying to flank our army.”
“! Are… are you sure?”
“If you could do that for us, we would be incredibly grateful…”
“Go now; we don’t have much time.”
Senel’s selfless decision to protect the rear of their forces moved Wallenstein and the commanders of the Holy Empire.
Senel, who was usually a political rival who made things difficult for them, had dedicated herself to the Empire’s victory throughout the war, and now she was volunteering for the dangerous task of covering their retreat.
‘Unlike politics… it seems everyone is an ally now… truly… in any case, her essence is that of a courtier of the Holy Empire like us…’
A being who willingly extends a hand, even to a political rival for the nation’s future.
Reflecting on the extent of Senel’s character, which exceeded his expectations, Wallenstein decided to graciously accept her kindness.
Moreover, he thought he would repay this debt in some way later…
Behind them, the Holy Empire Army retreated.
However, in that moment, she…
Chancellor Senel had neither the thought of them nor their retreat in her mind.
Despite her words being wrapped in suitable phrases, the reason she remained here was different.
That was… the presence of a single person slowly approaching from that direction.
A man radiating powerful golden magical energy, revealing himself among the enemies.
The moment she saw him, Senel understood.
This was the one who had previously blocked her Circle of Magical Power.
A person, like her,
Who had reached the sublime realm of Grade 12.
The moment she laid eyes on him, a deep smile spread across her face as she spoke in a solemn voice.
“Is it you? The one who blocked my Circle of Magical Power.”
“That’s right. You’re the Chancellor Senel who dared to peek at our base, aren’t you?”
“Peeking? That’s rather hurtful. I merely attempted reconnaissance as a necessary participant in this war.”
“Haha, a necessary endeavor indeed. In that case…”
Along with those words, the man intensified the magical energy flowing from him, making it even denser.
“Today, I will deal with you here as well. It’s merely doing what’s needed on the battlefield.”
“…Heh, is that how it’s going to be?”
The man, clearly showcasing the will for battle.
In response, Senel smiled broadly and said,
“Well, that’s fine. Either way, since you’ve revealed yourself, my purpose has been practically achieved.”
“Purpose?”
The man showed slight curiosity at her words.
Seeing this, Senel unleashed violence like blood from her entire body and drew her sword.
“You know, being a Grade 12, you understand, right? Since reaching that realm… it’s hard to find someone worthy to fight.”
Her words made it clear what her intentions were.
And then…
Upon hearing that, the man began to smile broadly.
“True. That statement isn’t wrong. This is also a fate that a strong person must bear.”
With a hint of mutual understanding in that statement,
Both of them, like Senel, began to increase the amount of magical power they were casually releasing in an instant.
The sheer magnitude of their magical energies was overwhelming, as if gazing at an immense ocean.
As their powers clashed…
A tremendous wave of force began to ripple between them.
“Then… allow me to enjoy this a bit.”
“Back at you.”
And…
-BOOM!!!!!
With crimson flames condensing, Franklin raised her kitchen knife.
Without taking her eyes off the two Black Warriors in front of her, she spoke coldly.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“No problem. This is nothing…”
“Eek… it was scary, Leader…”
To be honest, it had been a bit touch-and-go, but, until Franklin arrived, they had managed to hold their own without major issues and were beginning to prepare for battle once more.
“Two of you can handle one, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… it feels a bit risky, but I’ll give it a shot.”
With one foe assigned, Franklin slowly moved forward towards the Black Warrior in front of her.
Radiating blazing flames… Franklin advanced.
In response, the warrior in black armor also stepped forward, wielding a sword dripping with blood-red magical power.
And…
“HAH!!!”
“…”
-CRACK!!!
The sharp clash of their attacks.
The size and weight of the sword favored the enemy.
However, in this clash, it was actually Franklin who held the advantage.
Perhaps having lost strength to the fierce flames, the blood-like power quickly dissipated in an instant.
Simultaneously, the warrior in black armor staggered tremendously.
It felt unnatural, not merely being burnt by flames.
The warrior seemed to be desperately trying to avoid the flames.
Seeing this, suspicion flashed across Franklin’s face for a moment.
‘What’s going on? This guy seems to be avoiding even getting close to fire…’
It felt as if it wasn’t just a simple case of elemental weakness.
Still, while the power itself felt comparable, his desperate attempts to back away caused Franklin to wield her sword even more fiercely.
‘Something’s off… for a Grade 10, something feels wrong…’
An incomprehensible situation.
However, regardless of that, it was a good opportunity for Franklin.
Even now, the Duke Ocleang was cautiously trying to escape.
In order not to lose track of him, she needed to finish off the Black Warrior quickly, making this moment of weakness a big chance.
“HAH!!!”
In an instant, she increased her magical energy output and pushed forward even harder.
As the intense flames surged, the enemy’s movements began to slow.
And…
Taking advantage of this opening,
Franklin struck true.
-THWACK!!!
She severed the warrior’s neck.
With the head cleanly separated, the warrior collapsed to the ground.
‘Alright… got him!’
A rather anticlimactic end for a Grade 10 warrior.
However, Franklin didn’t have the luxury to care about that at the moment.
Even now, Magellan and Elkana were likely battling fiercely against enemies on one side.
It was crucial not to let anything happen to them, so Franklin quickly turned her steps around.
-Clank.
“…?”
At that moment.
-CLANG!!!!
“!!!?”
Reacting instantly to the sudden hostile intent, Franklin rapidly turned her head.
Right after,
She narrowly managed to block a great sword that was falling towards her head.
“What… what is this?”
Instinctively, her body moved at the sense of danger.
But thereafter, observing the situation, she was engulfed in deep confusion.
The one who had swung the sword at her,
It was… the Black Warrior she had just beheaded…
Or, more accurately… it was something that resembled the form of a warrior.
-SHHHHH…
