I hurriedly teleported to the fortress’s watchtower using a teleportation spell. Aslin was already causing quite a spectacle.
The thunderous display she had shown during the battle against the assassin group from the League, who came from the Western Continent to Sylvantrium in the Central Continent, was now unfolding on a battlefield much grander than the narrow alleys of Blood Haven. Even from afar, her lightning illuminated the sky, changing the tide of battle in an instant.
Despite the thought that this defense had already ended swiftly, I considered slowing down my galloping black horse, but then—
Boom! Rumble!
Seeing Aslin’s lightning strike twice more after the first, I gripped the reins tighter and urged the horse forward even faster. I remembered how exhausted she looked when she unleashed a smaller lightning bolt before. If even that had worn her out, then unleashing such powerful lightning three times in a row must have drained her immensely. This battle was dire indeed.
Though the blue lightning no longer burst through the dark clouds overhead, it wasn’t because the battle was over; it was clear that Aslin simply lacked the energy to produce more.
“Go!”
I spurred the horse, which had never felt the whip until now, and it charged forward with renewed vigor. The Bright Wing Knights’ marching backs had seemed distant, but the beast I rode surged past them, reaching the fortress entrance in no time.
Aslin stood on the watchtower, and the dust cloud from the approaching Bright Wing Knights was visible from afar. The massive gate of the Frostmoor Fortress was wide open, welcoming us. Despite my somewhat unusual attire, I didn’t face much resistance entering the fortress.
While we were ascending from below, those stationed above seemed to have noticed Aslin and me conversing as we climbed up, judging by their watchful gazes.
Thanks to the black horse, which responded to my desire to help Aslin, we both managed to enter the Frostmoor Fortress after her.
Dismounting immediately upon entering, I patted the horse gently, expressing gratitude. Then—
“Aslin!”
I rushed towards the watchtower, calling out urgently. From up there, I could see Aslin, visibly weary, leaning against the watchtower floor with a tired expression, the Caladborg Dukedom flag planted beside her.
She seemed fine except for her fatigue.
“Andi,”
Her eyes, heavy with exhaustion, turned towards me as she struggled to speak. Her voice, weak yet filled with sorrow, touched me deeply.
“You’ve done well.”
I offered her my shoulder to support herself as I gave her the simplest yet heartfelt encouragement.
We were about to defend the fortress against an invasion force composed of demons and barbarians.
…If only I had been able to embrace her and say “Well done” when I first saw her, but I decided to do so once this successful defense was over.
—
To assault a fortress defended by a small number of troops, one needs overwhelming numbers and intelligence to utilize those numbers effectively.
In that sense, Aslin’s decision to shoot lightning at the twin-headed ogre the moment she spotted its appearance, making it retreat, was wise. This was because the strict order and control of the demons, a core force in this unprecedented invasion, had completely collapsed.
Even though the twin-headed ogre was merely a slightly stronger demon with an additional head, it was a formidable presence in this central continent where dragons and behemoths had virtually vanished. It was the only entity capable of intimidating other demons with its power and intellect.
With intuitive talent for elemental magic that even ordinary human mages found difficult to emulate, overwhelming physical strength that could crush lesser kin, and unparalleled intellect accompanying its intuitive handling of magic—
When the twin-headed ogre, displaying all these traits, was successfully targeted by Aslin’s lightning and reduced to ashes, it was clear that the long march through harsh terrain had been worth it.
What remained was dealing with the barbarians, who had avoided Aslin’s lightning by getting closer to the fortress.
They seemed more numerous than when I fought them in Failord County, but they didn’t seem as daunting.
“Ughaaa!”
A barbarian warrior, brandishing a finely honed greatsword, charged at me with a guttural roar.
Swoosh!
It was as simple as cutting through with the Failord.
Aslin, exhausted from casting lightning, had been placed in a comfortable spot on the watchtower to oversee the battle and give orders. Initially, I thought eliminating the barbarians rushing into the fortress with the Bright Wing Knights would be challenging.
But by the time fifteen minutes had passed, that thought slowly shifted to a conclusion.
Ah, this is a complete victory.
From afar, I had been intimidated by their numbers, but up close, I realized they were much weaker compared to when we faced them at the border of the Failord County.
Is it just me feeling this way?
“Haa! These guys feel like the ones we always fight with the Young Master. It feels like slicing through bamboo.”
Elshimer, who was diligently fulfilling his role as a guard, sliced through the barbarians beside me.
“Today, I agree with Sir Elshimer. These barbarians are far weaker than the demons we often encounter.”
Katarina, wiping the blood from her blade, also agreed with the assessment that the barbarians were weak.
Considering their experience fighting both barbarians and demons, they couldn’t help but feel incredulous at how feeble the barbarians seemed compared to their previous encounters.
While it made sense, having lived short lives, I knew that moments like these were always dangerous.
“Don’t let your guard down. Demons, once the atmosphere calms, remain unchanged until the end, but these barbarians are different. With just one trigger, they can change instantly.”
I raised the tension between the two, who were starting to relax, with a stern voice.
“Young Master, do you really think I’m someone who would let their guard down?”
“If you’re not going to let your guard down, why act tough in front of people you want to impress?”
“Ugh!”
Elshimer’s light protest was easily silenced with a single dismissive remark.
“St-st-st!”
A wild barbarian warrior, swinging a giant axe the size of his body, charged at me, shouting incoherently.
Even without understanding the words, I could tell he was trying to kill me from his ferocious expression and raw rage.
“You die first.”
With a terse response, I swung the Failord with all my might.
Whoosh!
The barbarian’s body, larger than Elshimer’s, split instantly, sending his honor and achievements to be judged in a higher realm.
Unlike his fierce charge earlier, all that remained was the sound of the giant axe falling and the thud of his collapsing body.
“How anticlimactic.”
Despite my warning not to let our guard down, dealing with these weakened foes made me feel complacent.
