Chapter 22 – 《 Attack on Royal Capital》– (1)
(I)
The nation of Ermaile had been annihilated by the Progenitor Vampire.
This shocking news, difficult to believe, spread across the Avilia Kingdom through messenger pigeons. The capital, Lexia, was no exception.
“M-Minister!”
A soldier clad in full silver armor burst into the public office of the royal palace, his entire body rattling with each hurried step. His armor clinked loudly, conveying the urgency of the situation.
“What’s going on?”
Mizael, the Chancellor of the Avilia Kingdom, her plum-colored hair neatly braided, turned to face the soldier.
Despite the late hour, Mizael’s desk was still laden with paperwork, a pen in her hand, and a softly glowing magic stone lantern illuminating the room.
“Why such haste? What is the matter?”
Sensing something unusual in the soldier’s demeanor, she paused her work and asked. The soldier’s trembling voice echoed from within his metal helm.
“Urgent news! Ermaile has been utterly annihilated!”
“E-Ermaile has been destroyed?!”
Mizael’s face stiffened at the news of the destruction of Ermaile, the great city representing the western part of the Avilia Kingdom.
“Th-That’s impossible! Who could have done such a thing?”
Ermaile was nearly as large as the capital itself and boasted a formidable military to protect it. With numerous S-rank adventurers and the headquarters of the mercenary guild Stormhound located nearby, it had always been considered impenetrable.
The idea that such a powerful city could be obliterated by an invasion, let alone annihilated, was unfathomable.
“Are you sure this is accurate? Who reported this?”
Mizael, having witnessed Ermaile’s strength firsthand, struggled to believe the news. Her voice was laced with doubt, and the soldier, despite his quivering state, nodded.
“The information came directly from Ermaile. It’s confirmed.”
“…”
The soldier’s resolute response drained the color from Mizael’s face. Her mind raced, forgetting entirely about her previous tasks.
‘Ermaile, destroyed? By whom? Humans? Demons? Monsters?’
Who could have been capable of such devastation?
It couldn’t have been humans. Since the beginning of the Era of Peace, warfare between humans had been implicitly forbidden.
The demons, a potential enemy, resided far to the north and were too distant to have attacked so suddenly. Moreover, Ermaile was well outside their usual territory.
As for monsters, the adventurers within the city could have easily handled them. There was no plausible explanation.
Then, what creature could have annihilated Ermaile?
Were there any such dangerous entities residing near Ermaile?
“Could it be…?”
Suddenly, a dreadful thought flashed through Mizael’s mind.
Yes, there was one such entity near Ermaile capable of such destruction.
The Progenitor Vampire.
The ancient catastrophe that had been sealed away a thousand years ago.
Just two days prior, there had been reports from the Labyrinth’s Deepest Chamber near Ermaile that the Progenitor Vampire, the one from legend, had awakened.
At that time, the lord of the region had requested reinforcements, and a battalion was being prepared to send to their aid. Could it be that they had fallen to this vampire?
“…Indeed. The Progenitor Vampire invaded the city and ravaged it beyond recognition.”
“…”
The soldier’s words confirmed Mizael’s worst fears. Bowing her head in sorrow, she listened as the soldier continued his report in a rush.
“B-But that’s not the main issue. The vampire has seized control of Ermaile’s Teleportation Hub, meaning it’s possible the creature may come here—to the capital—at any moment.”
“…!!”
Mizael’s eyes widened in shock.
“The hub has been captured?”
“Yes, the first thing the vampire did upon invading the city was to seize control of the Teleportation Hub. It’s believed that the attack on Ermaile was for the purpose of using the hub to travel to other cities.”
“This is grave.”
If the vampire had control of the hub, it could appear inside any city instantly.
“When exactly did you receive this report from Ermaile?”
“Approximately seven minutes ago.”
“Seven minutes?!”
Seven minutes might not seem like a long time, but it was more than enough for the Teleportation Hub to be activated and for the vampire to transport to another location.
It was possible that even now, the vampire was on its way to the capital.
“Does the Prime Minister, Lilianel Greenfield, know about this?”
Mizael wiped the cold sweat from her brow, her mind racing. She needed to know if Lilianel, the true power behind the kingdom, was aware of the impending crisis. However, the soldier shook his head.
“No… I went to the Prime Minister’s quarters first, but I was turned away under the excuse that she was unwell.”
“That wretched old elf…”
Unwell, more like uninterested.
It was typical of Lilianel, who had long been negligent of her duties. She frequently left all matters to Mizael and avoided responsibility whenever she could. Now, in the face of such an urgent crisis, she had once again turned away, leaving Mizael to deal with it alone.
Mizael clenched her teeth in frustration, imagining the carefree smile that Lilianel must have worn as she dismissed the soldier.
“…We don’t have time for this.”
Regardless, time was of the essence. The Progenitor Vampire could be on its way to the capital right now. If Lilianel wasn’t going to act, then as the next highest authority in the kingdom, Mizael had no choice but to take control of the situation.
She quickly gave the soldier her orders.
“Send word to the soldiers guarding the Teleportation Hub. Tell them to shut it down immediately.”
It might already be too late, but the first priority was to prevent the vampire from entering the capital through the hub.
“Next, issue an emergency evacuation order. All citizens within the third wall must be moved inside the second wall.”
The capital of Lexia was surrounded by three defensive walls, with the Teleportation Hub located within the outermost, the third wall. If the vampire were to arrive, it would appear there first, so the people in that area needed to be evacuated as quickly as possible.
“The safety of the people is the top priority. Time is of the essence.”
In a kingdom plagued by corruption, where selfish nobles and greedy officials only cared about their own survival, Mizael was different. She could not abandon the people. As the Chancellor of Avilia, it was her duty to protect them.
“Summon the army. Place the elite troops in the front lines and the regular soldiers in the rear at the third wall. Station mages and archers along the second wall for support, and send a group of assassins to flank the vampire.”
“Understood!”
“…Our frontline will be Fortress No. 3. If that monster breaks through and enters Fortress No. 2, where the largest population resides, the damage will be catastrophic. We must somehow stop it at Fortress No. 3.”
Fortress No. 3 in the capital housed the fields, farms, and various production facilities, while Fortress No. 2 was home to the common people, and Fortress No. 1 sheltered the nobles and royal family.
If the Progenitor Vampire broke through Fortress No. 2’s walls and entered the highly populated Fortress No. 2, not only would the civilian casualties be devastating, but chaotic urban warfare would also erupt.
They had to stop the monster at Fortress No. 3, where the population was lower and the surrounding land was vast.
Fortunately, soldiers had already been mobilized as reinforcements to be sent from Ermaile, so gathering them and dispatching them to Fortress No. 3 wouldn’t take long.
“By the way, are any of the hero’s companions still in the capital?”
At that moment, Mizael asked the soldier, as if something had suddenly crossed his mind.
The hero, Vellius Grandius, and his companions were stronger than even S-rank adventurers. Though Vellius himself was in the northern frontlines fending off the invading demons, if even one of his companions remained in the capital, their help would be invaluable.
After a moment of thought, the soldier nodded.
“Yes, the Sword Maiden, Maiden Alice, stayed in the capital due to illness.”
“Alice is here!”
Mizael’s face lit up with hope.
Maiden Alice, known as the Sword Maiden, was highly regarded for her exceptional leadership and swordsmanship, even considered as the future leader of the Knights of the Kingdom.
With her leading the troops, the soldiers of the capital could unlock double their potential and power.
“Then, place her in command of the entire unit. If you manage to cut off the teleportation hub before the vampire arrives, keep the troops stationed at Fortress No. 3.”
“Yes, sir!”
“We have no time. Quickly send word to the other soldiers through the messenger birds and relay these orders.”
“Do not worry, sir!”
The soldier saluted Mizael with respect. Mizael returned the gesture with a solemn nod, leaving him with one last grave warning.
“…We don’t have precise records, as the vampire was sealed a thousand years ago, but the fact that it destroyed Ermaile shows how powerful it is. Never let your guard down or become overconfident.”
Ermaile, no doubt, had gathered S-rank adventurers and even mercenaries from the Stormhounds for their defense, but the Progenitor Vampire had defeated them all.
One might as well consider the vampire as an entire army by itself.
Even the forces of Avilia, known as the strongest on the continent, would face defeat if they succumbed to arrogance or carelessness.
“Just remember your mission. Always remind yourselves of the families you are protecting behind you, and fight cautiously with all your strength.”
“…Understood.”
“Then, may luck be on your side.”
Mizael clenched his fists, praying that the unexpected, unwelcome incident would be resolved safely.
Whispering a quiet prayer to herself, she murmured:
“…Great ancestors, we will carry out your righteous will.”
************
(II)
“Hurry! We must cut off the hub now!”
…The legendary calamity, the Progenitor Vampire, was about to use the Teleportation Hub to reach the capital.
The soldiers at Fortress No. 3, having received orders from Mizael, rushed to sever the hub’s power source. Outside, the sounds of hooves from the capital’s elite troops could be heard approaching.
“Hurry! Cut the mana supply now!”
Fortunately, the hub had not yet shown any reaction. The soldiers reached the hub and began severing its power source as quickly as possible.
If they managed to cut off the mana supply, the vampire wouldn’t be able to teleport directly to the capital, sparing the most populated areas from immediate danger.
But alas, time was not on their side.
“Huh…?”
Just seconds before the complete cut-off of the hub’s power, the once-dormant hub suddenly began to emit a golden light.
The hub was activating.
“The hub….”
“It’s working….”
And at such a forbidden time of the night, there could only be one being using it.
The Progenitor Vampire.
“The vampire is coming!!”
“Everyone, fall back!!”
Despite their desperate sprint upon receiving the command via messenger bird, they had failed by mere seconds to prevent the arrival of the legendary creature.
“Quick, outside!”
“Join up with Alice’s forces!”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the soldiers did not hesitate to flee the building. Just before they fully exited, their eyes caught sight of three figures.
An elderly butler dressed in a refined, sophisticated suit.
A blue-skinned undead maid, hefting a massive sword on her back.
“That’s….”
And a beautiful girl with ashen hair.
************
(III)
“…I’m back.”
A thousand years, bound in the goddess’s chains, miserably sealed away. At last, I could return to the capital. As if this air carried a familiar, bittersweet memory, the surroundings felt nostalgic.
“…”
I stepped outside the building where the hub was located. Judging by the mess, someone had clearly been here moments before.
“…Refreshing.”
The wind outside was crisp and refreshing. Though the atmosphere had changed greatly over a millennium, the underlying energy flowing from the land felt the same, bringing me comfort.
The weather was pleasant, and the moon hanging in the night sky was beautiful. The sounds of the crickets’ symphony were soothing, and even the expansive fields around me felt serene.
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but it seemed as though everything was welcoming my return to the capital after being freed from my seal.
— ‘Progenitor Vampire!’
“…”
…Except for the massive army standing across from me, led by that blonde knight.
“Sigh…”
I let out a sigh. I had hurried as much as possible, but news must have reached the capital already. They had gathered an army of nearly 80,000, standing ready on the other side of the Teleportation Hub.
“Master, there are several magic soldiers and archers concealed along the fortress walls.”
“…I also sense several hidden assassins using ‘Invisibility’ to mask their presence.”
Both Tina and Alfred chimed in.
Just as they had observed, it wasn’t just the visible army ahead; magic soldiers, archers on the walls, and hidden assassins were scattered throughout. Their numbers were no small matter, either, as if they were prepared to wage a full-blown war.
To have mobilized such forces in such a short time—indeed, the capital’s military system was not to be underestimated.
“…This takes me back.”
Facing me were the amassed troops.
Torches ablaze.
And the full moon hanging overhead.
The scene was eerily reminiscent of the battlefield a thousand years ago, when I fought Varius’s army. I chuckled at the nostalgic sight. Was even this part of Avilia Kingdom’s thoughtful event to stimulate my memories?
— Progenitor Vampire! I am Maiden Alice, a knight of the Avilia Kingdom!
“…”
The blonde knight leading the army shouted at me. From her firm tone and polished demeanor, it was clear she was a highly trained soldier.
She drew her sword and pointed it at me, declaring:
— Surrender now and kneel! Otherwise, there will only be destruction!
Despite having likely heard the news of how I laid waste to Ermaile, she stood unwavering and boldly offered me a chance to surrender.
Was her confidence stemming from the sheer size of her army? The soldiers she commanded also wore expressions of calm assurance.
“…Now I’m pissed.”
Their smug expressions, as if they were looking down on me, irked me. I glared at them coldly and shouted in a frosty voice:
“Shut up and get lost while I’m still being nice.”
— Uh…?!
The knight trembled slightly upon hearing the killing intent in my voice. But she quickly regained her composure, speaking to me in an even more resolute tone than before:
— That will not happen! It is you who must surrender, ancient monster!
“….”
The persistent demand for surrender.
I smiled and asked back, “What if I refuse?”
—”Only death awaits.”
“Shall we see how a war would go?”
—”If you do not surrender, then yes.”
The female knight pointed her sharp blade at me with a stern expression. By the look on her face, it was clear that words wouldn’t easily persuade her to move aside.
“Sigh….”
I exhaled deeply.
Sure, I didn’t expect to be greeted by an army right upon arrival, but either way, I planned to thoroughly wreck the Royal Capital.
In fact, it was a welcome surprise that they had brought their first-priority battle forces to me. It only made things easier.
With my eyes blazing, I spoke to the knight.
“I hope you don’t regret your words.”
…At that moment, a black magic circle began to spread from my feet, expanding far and wide.
—”A m-magic circle…?”
—”It’s way too large.”
—”Is this size even possible…?”
The enemies were taken aback by the sheer scale of the magic circle they were witnessing for the first time. Yet, the circle showed no signs of stopping its expansion, continuing to grow.
It finally stopped only after covering half of the fortress.
“Good.”
I confirmed that the skill was ready and then reached out towards the sky, murmuring softly.
“…Summon Legion.”
<Advanced Skill: Immortal Army>
From the magic circle emerged an army of skeletal soldiers, their numbers overwhelming the 80,000-strong enemy forces. However, these weren’t ordinary skeleton soldiers.
Each was clad in full armor, wielding fine swords and strong shields. They were elite ‘knights’ in every sense of the word, a force composed entirely of upper-tier monsters—a true ‘army’ of the finest undead.
—Kiiiiiiiiiieeeck!!
—Kyaaaargh!!
The undead soldiers, summoned from the magic circle, roared toward the moonlight. Their numbers seemed to easily exceed 100,000. As the enormous army of the undead suddenly rose from the ground, the face of the female knight darkened drastically.
—”Impossible… How can there be this many at once?”
“Hmph.”
I looked at her, amused.
Did she really not expect a necromancer of my level to summon an army like this? The shock and confusion were evident on the faces of all the enemies.
…This was all because of Lilianel Greenfield leaving nothing but nonsense in her records about me. If she had left detailed information, the enemies might have been better prepared.
“…It’s your choice. Don’t regret it.”
I spoke coldly, having summoned an army of skeletons in an instant. I had given her a chance to make her choice, and in the end, she had chosen to fight.
Since they initiated the battle, I had no intention of backing down.
“…This really reminds me of the past.”
With my army summoned, a nostalgic feeling surged within me.
Not a memory of joy or triumph,
but a bitter reminder of betrayal and humiliation.
“….”
Back then, I lost a certain victory because of a fake hostage. But now, I wouldn’t fall for such tricks again.
I no longer trust the living.
As the Necromancer Lord, the only ones I, Elzerba, could trust were the dead.
The dead may lack emotions, but at least they don’t lie.
There would be no more defeats in my life.
—”…You’re even more formidable than I had heard.”
The female knight, witnessing the skeletal army, muttered with a stunned smile. Still, rather than fleeing, she gripped her reins tightly, preparing to charge at me.
—”But I am a knight. I have no intention of running away.”
The blonde knight, who introduced herself as Maiden Alice, pointed her sword at me, shouting with a voice that seemed to reach the moon in the night sky.
—All of you! Show your pride! Destroy these wraiths! Strike them down! All troops, charge!!
—We are the childrens of Avilia!!
—We can do this!!
—Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!!
“….”
In the end, the enemies charged at us with terrifying speed, kicking up clouds of dust. I merely watched them with a smile.
Yes, this is more like it.
A battle like this, with blood spilling, is what makes it a true celebration.
“….”
Without a word, I extended my hand forward.
At that moment, the skeleton soldiers, their joints creaking as they moved, ignited their blue glowing eyes and charged towards the enemy.
—Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!!
—Clatter, clatter.
The prideful shouts of the living and the silent roars of the dead mingled, echoing through the Royal Capital. Soon, in the center of the fortress, the two armies clashed, crossing blades.
“….”
The next thing to emerge was nothing but the red blood and screams of the living.
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