Chapter 115
“What’s the matter?”
“Sss. It’s nothing.”
Although I told Addy it was nothing, it was still bothering me.
The conversation with Elaine ended well.
Rushing to move so suddenly had caused an unintended situation, but oh well.
“Jacqueline and I are finished talking too. We can leave now.”
“Okay.”
As I pulled the mask from inside my coat and put it back on, I muttered.
Things had gotten complicated, but in some ways, this worked out better.
‘It should be fine.’
Clenching Addy’s hand tightly, I reminded myself.
Though I was worried, my experience told me Elaine was a trustworthy person.
I had no doubt she’d do as I asked and keep my identity safe.
Wooong—
It was time to focus on the task at hand.
The signal Erica was sending had been consistent from the very beginning. Its location had not changed.
The Flora Kingdom’s royal palace.
“It’s been a while.”
Addy murmured this as soon as we arrived, running her fingers through her hair after putting on her uniform.
I wasn’t sure what exactly Addy meant by “it’s been a while.”
Maybe it had been a while since she last came to this villa, or since she last wore her uniform.
It had likely also been a long time since she last worked in the field.
“Where’s Jacqueline?”
“I told her to come here—oh, there she is.”
“It’s been a while.”
As Addy and I arrived at the front of the mansion, Jacqueline appeared from the distant forest as if she’d been waiting.
Jacqueline looked exactly as I remembered her.
Her gray hair was still long, partially covering one eye in a way that seemed stuffy.
Her signature monotone voice and emotionless expression hadn’t changed either.
“Yeah. It’s been a while.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, I turned away.
Now that Jacqueline was here, there was no need to delay.
In the short time since arriving, Addy had already formulated a plan. All that was left was to execute it.
“Well then—”
“Wait a second.”
“Hm?”
“There’s something I need to take care of first.”
“Something you need to take care of?”
Just as I was about to proceed, Jacqueline interrupted me.
Her expression remained unchanged as she stated that there was something she had to do, looking directly at me and Addy.
“There’s a battlefield under my command. If I leave, the allied forces in the area might be wiped out.”
“Uh…”
Not knowing Jacqueline’s circumstances, her words left me stunned. Addy seemed equally caught off guard. It appeared this was news to her too.
“Before we go rescue Erica, I need to wrap things up there.”
“How long do you think it’ll take?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll finish as quickly as I can.”
“Well, uh…”
Jacqueline’s unexpected statement left Addy too flustered to respond.
Glancing at Jacqueline, it was clear she had no intention of bending her will.
“Erica isn’t someone who’d go down easily.”
Jacqueline continued speaking calmly, almost nonchalantly.
Of course, she was right.
While I was worried, I knew very well that Erica wasn’t someone who’d easily fall.
“And Erica told me to hold my ground here. If I leave the battlefield without explanation, I’ll likely be branded a traitor.”
Jacqueline’s composed voice delivered one fact after another.
Both Addy and I, caught up in our eagerness to rescue Erica, hadn’t considered these points.
We had naturally assumed that once Jacqueline joined us, we’d charge straight toward rescuing Erica.
“Then.”
Before Addy could respond, I stepped in.
From Jacqueline’s tone and expression, it was clear she wouldn’t budge.
Leaving her behind while Addy and I went to the Flora Kingdom’s palace alone posed too high a risk.
Taking Addy without Jacqueline was far too dangerous.
If it were just me infiltrating, it would be much simpler, but Addy was here too.
“We’ll handle it together and then leave.”
“…Fine.”
“…Huh?”
Jacqueline nodded immediately, but Addy looked at me in shock, as though she hadn’t expected me to say that.
“We’re short on time, so let’s get moving.”
“Alright. It’ll end faster with your help.”
“Wait, hold on—”
“Addy.”
“…”
I cut off Addy before she could argue. I understood how she felt, but in my view, this was the safest and quickest option.
“This is the most efficient and secure way right now.”
“…”
Meeting Addy’s eyes, I spoke with sincerity.
Hearing me say this, Addy frowned slightly but didn’t argue further. With a short sigh, she nodded.
“Alright then. Let’s get moving. Jacqueline, lead the way.”
“Okay. This way.”
Wooong— Thud—
“…Huh?”
As Jacqueline turned to run, she opened a spatial gateway.
It was the first time I saw an expression change on Jacqueline’s face since we’d met. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the being emerging from the space.
Despite the urgency of the situation, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.
Grrrrng—
Yongyong, who had worked so hard yesterday, emerged from the spatial gateway with a far calmer demeanor than before.
“Let’s ride this. It was the plan all along.”
“Wow.”
Jacqueline’s eyes grew even wider, her gaze now sparkling with amazement.
Wooong—
Taking Addy and Jacqueline by the hands, I moved us to Yongyong’s head.
“Lead the way now.”
“Woahhh!”
Jacqueline, now seated on Yongyong’s head, seemed as delighted as a child.
I had to remind her we needed her to guide us.
***
‘Today’s battle is a turning point.’
Hans thought this as he finished preparing to head out.
The war that had dragged on for weeks remained at a stalemate.
However, Hans believed today’s battle might be the first time they gained the upper hand.
Although they’d been on the defensive initially, the tide of the battlefield had gradually shifted in recent days.
The soldiers had grown accustomed to fighting the creatures, and the allied forces arriving from across the world had begun to uncover effective countermeasures.
Still, the overall situation remained evenly matched.
‘If we can force them to retreat today, we’ll secure space to set up the large magic circle.’
This was why Hans considered today’s battle critical.
A barrier capable of blocking both black magic and creatures born from black magic.
Winning today’s battle and installing the circle would force the Flora Kingdom to feel the pressure.
“Is everyone ready?”
“Well…”
“Hm?”
“We can’t find Jacqueline, who was assigned to the front lines.”
“What?”
Hans felt a sense of unease at his subordinate’s report.
Jacqueline was arguably the strongest force within the allied army.
She had delivered extraordinary results on the battlefield time and time again.
“She was assigned to lead a breakthrough on one of the front lines today as well.”
“Have you searched thoroughly?”
“Yes, we’ve scoured everywhere, but she’s nowhere to be found.”
“Tch.”
It was certainly a troubling situation, but there was nothing Hans could do about it right now.
Jacqueline was a mercenary and an ally, not Hans’s subordinate.
Frankly, desertions were common, with hundreds of soldiers fleeing after seeing the creatures each day.
Losing one person wasn’t entirely unusual in the grand scheme of things.
“Of all times…”
“What should we do?”
“…I’ll take Jacqueline’s position on the front line. It’s just one person missing. It won’t change much.”
Hans spoke confidently, though unease lingered in his mind. Jacqueline may have been just “one person,” but her contributions to the battlefield had been nothing short of phenomenal.
She had destroyed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of creatures on her own.
“Move out immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
Hans mounted his horse and led his men toward the front lines.
“Waaaah—!!”
As Hans took the lead, a thunderous cheer erupted from behind.
‘Hmm.’
Feeling an unfamiliar sense of unease, Hans arrived at the brink of confrontation with the Flora Kingdom’s forces. He drew his sword.
To boost the morale of the allied forces behind him, he had to demonstrate fearless action on the front lines.
“Commander!”
“Hm?”
Whoooosh—
Just as Hans prepared to charge at a black golem, a subordinate shouted from behind. Hans felt a massive shadow brush past him, prompting him to instinctively look upward.
“What… what is that?”
Hans squinted, doubting what he was seeing.
Soaring majestically through the air with massive wings was a wyvern made entirely of bone. And it was far larger than any ordinary wyvern.
“What is that?”
“A new creature?!”
“No! It came from our side…!”
Hans ignored the murmurs of his soldiers and kept a wary eye on the wyvern’s actions. He remained ready to fight at a moment’s notice.
Crash—
“Huh?”
“What…?”
“Is it… on our side?!”
“Woooahhh!!”
‘What on earth is that?’
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the undead wyvern charged straight into the Flora Kingdom’s forces. Its body, being made of bones, appeared to show no fear of damage as it barreled through, scattering the enemy ranks in an instant.
“There! That’s Jacqueline!”
The distinctive features were unmistakable, even from a distance.
Her rare long gray hair and unique spiked weapon were clearly visible. Jacqueline leaped from the undead wyvern’s head and drew her weapon.
“Who are those people?”
“Wait… is that the Black Shadow Corps?!”
‘What?!’
Flanking Jacqueline were two figures dressed in the black uniforms of the Black Shadow Corps. Several soldiers shouted in recognition.
‘Why is the Black Shadow Corps here…?’
“Now’s the time! Everyone, charge!”
Despite his confusion, Hans instinctively shouted. Whatever the reason, now was the perfect moment to strike.
Hans’s instincts told him so.
“Waaaah!!”
As the soldiers roared and charged forward, Hans rushed ahead as well.
He resolved to speak to Jacqueline later, no matter what.
—
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