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The stench of decay swept through the wind and infiltrated the city.

“Guhhh…!”

“Thud, thud!”

[Screeeeech!]

The sound of rotting vocal cords colliding with bone, mixed with the eerie wails of evil spirits, resonated together like a grotesque march.

As if this was merely a prelude, countless undead marched toward the city, reminiscent of a massive tsunami. The parallel of furious waves sweeping away everything in their path was unmistakable.

There was no stopping it, no avoiding it.

Whether seasoned soldiers, experienced adventurers, or anyone from the Master Class, surviving against such numbers was impossible. In this moment, everyone watching the spectacle was equally reminded of death.

But not Elizabeth.

While others fell into despair, she calmly analyzed the situation.

“…If survival is the priority, maybe about half a day?”

That was assuming she was willing to sacrifice everything else for survival.

Using soldiers and adventurers as meat shields to buy time, tossing all the city’s citizens as bait, and finding a suitable building to fortify might allow them to last that long. After all, reducing the city to ashes would also require time.

What if they just fought? Hmm. Perhaps they would be completely wiped out within an hour.

A ruler for all is a fantasy that exists only in fairy tales. Elizabeth learned from a young age to let go of the small for the sake of the greater good, rather than cherishing and loving every one of her subjects.

In this case, the greater good were the academy students who would one day become assets for the Empire, specifically the students of the Opal Black Class. The small, of course, were the countless citizens living in Schwarzheim.

Talent varies, status differs, and the weight of life is not the same. According to her values, it was wrong for Elizabeth to put students in danger for the sake of citizens. The balance of the scales was clearly off.

Yet here they were, she and just seven others attempting a gamble that was almost a suicide mission to save the city.

Why on earth? Did they believe it was possible?

…Perhaps because of a tiny glimmer of hope.

Humans always want to cling to hope when it exists.

Inappropriately for the situation, Elizabeth briefly slipped into another train of thought. It was about a man who had come to rescue her on the burning airship.

If she expected the same this time… it was surely too greedy.

Still, when that man who had seen countless wars and deaths arrived in the city, he should see not blood and death, but rather the struggling figures of those who managed to hold on. Additionally, she had to ensure none of his students died, which only added to Elizabeth’s burden.

What could she do? All she could do was hold on with all her might.

“Osnia. Can you hear me?”

[Yes.]

“How many more times can you use that magic from earlier?”

[Twice. If I pace myself, maybe three times.]

“Really? I’ll do my best to buy time.”

Sadly, the most crucial force in this city right now was not the remaining 10,000 troops or the Master Class, but Osnia alone.

Of course, that didn’t mean Osnia was stronger than the Master Class. It was simply the difference between a wizard and a warrior.

Unless one was an outlier like a Grand Master, wizards typically had much more they could do in large-scale wars than swordsmen.

‘…Or is it more accurate to say she’s stronger?’

Even if the Imperial Palace’s mage corps were here, could they cast spells like that one as quickly? The fact that Osnia was able to do it alone meant her skills had already surpassed that of a student.

But the opponent was the Undying Legion Commander. To effectively stall for time, every force must be deployed without a single gap in their placement.

She was familiar with orchestrating the battlefield. With Osnia’s help, she began connecting everyone with telepathy, one by one.

“Everyone, can you move as I instruct from now on?”

*

It’s basic knowledge that defense is more advantageous than offense. However, when the disparity in numbers exceeds a hundredfold, such statements become meaningless.

The city walls of Schwarzheim collapsed almost instantly, and the battle soon transitioned into urban warfare.

Gwen and Louis successfully led the soldiers in retreat. Batar took command of the remaining tribes’ adventurers, playing the role of guerilla fighters. Schurz and Saladin guided the evacuation of citizens.

Marian’s golem intentionally toppled a few buildings to block the path, luring the undead into narrow passages. Invariably, Osnia’s magic rained down wherever bottlenecks appeared.

Each soldier used sturdy stone buildings like fortresses to block openings and hold their ground. Sometimes, with a small number of troops, they lured as many undead into the buildings as possible before setting them ablaze.

Despite the operation verging on suicide, numerous people stepped forward to lend their support.

Elizabeth knew. She understood why the adventurers couldn’t leave the city.

Because they were aware they lived as grave robbers reviled for feasting on corpses, yet this place was built by the hands of adventurers from the moment Schwarzheim had nothing left.

It was no coincidence it was called the City of Adventurers. Even though they received royal support, it was the adventurers who personally rebuilt this war-ravaged land, and for them, this city was like a second hometown. Elizabeth thoroughly exploited that sentiment.

Countless souls had sacrificed themselves like dust in an unresisting despair. For her, they were merely pawns on a chessboard, but for someone, they were sons, daughters, parents, and children.

As a result, they endured three times longer than expected. They successfully mounted a meaningful resistance for nearly three hours.

And now, half the city was ablaze.

Eventually, the Undying Legion Commander reached City Hall.

At his feet lay the remains of the adventurers who had resisted to the last. Some survivors remained, yet most were utterly subdued, rolling on the ground, devoid of will.

The students of the Opal Black Class were no exception. They had barely managed to retreat to City Hall after continuous fighting, but Gwen was propping himself up on a broken sword, and Batar had a hole in his abdomen, lodged against a wall. Schurz and Saladin were unconscious, while Marian was in decent shape, but her golem had been completely dismantled, reduced to mere rocks.

Most critical was Osnia. Having exhausted her magic beyond her limits, she was bleeding from every orifice, yet her consciousness remained intact as her bright eyes fixated on the Undying Legion Commander. Even though there was no longer any energy to cast spells.

There were no remaining forces to fight.

Instructor Ion still hadn’t arrived.

Then, they had no choice but to stall for time another way.

Elizabeth stepped forward towards the Undying Legion Commander. Everyone gasped at the sight of the Imperial Princess approaching the enemy leader without fear, but no one could stop her.

The Undying Legion Commander brushed his chin with his bony hand and spoke.

[That hair, those eyes… You are of royal blood?]

“Yes. And you must be the Undying Legion Commander?”

[Even a mere bug should know who it is they’re dying to. Yes, I am the Undying Legion Commander.]

He opened his mouth to clearly express his disdain.

[Consider it an honor. This place has withstood longer than any city I’ve toppled before. I had to intervene personally because of the size of this measly force.]

“Congratulations. The name Schwarzheim will be added to the many cities the Undying Legion has destroyed. But wasn’t that a bit reckless?”

[Hah, reckless…? Does half of them being lizards mean the others lack intelligence? Do you not grasp who you’re addressing?]

From his hand, a deep black dark magic began to swirl ominously. She understood that a gesture from him would mean her immediate death. Knowing this, Elizabeth didn’t stop her words.

“You may conquer this city. But the war is over. The Imperial Army is rushing to provide support, and the other seven heroes are available. No matter how much of an Undying Legion Commander you are, could you withstand the Continental Alliance alone? Surely there’s no Demon King left now.”

Elizabeth’s seemingly reasonable words were, in fact, close to lies. Ironically, because the war was over, other nations were less likely to lend their hands. The Empire’s power was too formidable, its authority having already entered the realm of threat and containment for other nations.

But there was no need to inform the newly resurrected Undying Legion Commander of that. Still, the commander displayed a somewhat confident demeanor.

[Hahaha! No Demon King, you say? Humans always yap with their shallow knowledge, unaware.]

“What did you say…?”

[Is that all there is to it? It doesn’t matter. As long as the ritual succeeds, I’ll have what I need. The Seven Heroes? Continental alliance? Come if you dare. I’ve risen to a level where I can transcend even the Demon King, becoming an Eldritch being!]

The Undying Legion Commander’s overinflated bravado resonated, leaving many in confusion. However, when Osnia heard the term Eldritch, her expression turned cold.

“Elidrich…? I thought that was just a tale from legends… You intend to become such a being?”

[Yes! I’ve prepared for decades for this moment! If I hadn’t been interrupted by that bastard just before the ritual’s completion, I would have already become an Eldritch being! Hah, it doesn’t matter now. I only need a bit more sacrifice. There are plenty of quality souls here, including yours. I can feel an abundance of tantalizing talent. If I offer all the humans in this city as living sacrifices, there will be none left to stand against me in the human realm, including The Faceless Hero!]

The Undying Legion Commander’s self-absorbed mania echoed loudly.

In that moment, Elizabeth’s eyes elongated like a serpent, glowing a bright red.

“Leave.”

[What…!?]

“Depart from this city, at once.”

Commands are most effective when the eyes of the speakers meet and especially when the listener is complacent. Elizabeth felt that he was looking at her, yet in a way that suggested he couldn’t care less.

What she really wanted was to order him to take his own life, but commands that invoke resistance are often met with backlash.

The Undying Legion Commander clutched his head, staggering, resisting Elizabeth’s command.

In the end, he broke her spell and, with rage, gripped Elizabeth’s throat. Though his arms were now nothing but bones, it was enough to lift her delicate frame.

“Gah, urk…!”

[How dare you! Did you think a half-breed lizard could overpower me? Not even the command of the Black Dragon Kaenax has made me submit!]

In her fading consciousness, Elizabeth pondered.

…Well, it was worth a try.

She had done all she could. If this still wasn’t enough, then perhaps her fate had merely reached its end.

That was the moment. The grip of the Undying Legion Commander around Elizabeth’s neck loosened.

“Cough, cough!”

Had he shown her mercy? As he lifted his head, the expression of the Undying Legion Commander behind his robe came into view.

He looked horrified.

[Titania…?]

At the front of City Hall, Titania was walking over, leaning against Instructor Rilya. Titania appeared weak but shouted in a bright voice.

“I’m back.”

At first, Elizabeth couldn’t comprehend her words.

But soon, she recognized the thunderous noise approaching from a distance.

“You’ve returned!”

A sound that seemed like it was about to demolish the building drew closer, and soon the piercing sound of arrows flying spread through the air.

[…The Faceless Hero! That wretched being!!]

A man clad in black armor descended from the sky, engulfed in flames.

The red spear clutched in his hand pierced through the head of the Undying Legion Commander.

 

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