Chapter 186
Chapter 186. The Pride of the Kingdom
In the Defteros Kingdom, in the capital Evaroti, within a certain room of the royal castle—
It was a heavily secured conference room. The walls were adorned with intricately embroidered tapestries that depicted portraits of the royal family throughout the ages, and there were no windows. This was to avoid attacks from the Demon Lord’s army or sniper shots from the Bow Saint.
The luxurious chandelier on the ceiling was illuminated with magical light, casting its glow on a massive conference table made of inlaid wood. Every piece of furniture in the room was meticulously crafted, showcasing the excellent craftsmanship of high-quality items. The space exuded a sense of the kingdom’s history and pride in its superior culture.
Yet—contrary to such splendor, the atmosphere in the conference room was heavy.
Important figures of the kingdom and allied military personnel had gathered, yet all wore solemn expressions. Among them, the elderly man seated in the highest position appeared particularly haggard. His disheveled white hair, sunken eyes, pale wrinkled face, and skeletal fingers gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.
He was none other than King of Defteros.
Osshimaier XIII.
As his name suggested, he was the rightful heir of the Defteros royal family, continuing the lineage from the first to the thirteenth. However, the glorious history of the kingdom now flickered like a waning flame—
“I can’t believe it only lasted a day…”
The king muttered in a daze, his words echoing in the quiet conference room.
With the rare branches of the Holy Great Tree provided by the Holy Great Tree Alliance distributed to the six fortresses surrounding the capital, a large-scale barrier magic was activated. It was expected to hold out for at least a week, causing considerable damage to the Demon Lord’s army—
But.
Only a few hours after the Demon Lord’s army began their attack, the Sheeban Fortress fell. The news of the Light Tree’s disappearance, so visually impactful, shook the entire army.
That was probably the turning point.
A few hours later, the neighboring Goban Fortress fell, and shortly after, the Lockburn Fortress fell. The demon forces infiltrated the city, and the defense troops were overwhelmed. With precious battle forces diverted to handle that, morale dwindled as the barriers from the disappearing Holy Great Trees went down, leading to the fall of the Sanburn Fortress.
And just as the dawn was about to break…
“The Icchibaan Fortress has also fallen…”
The nation’s military minister with a beaked nose groaned.
Now, only the westernmost Niban Fortress remained out of the six. Ironically, the only fortress believed to become the site of the fiercest battle was the one still holding on.
“Surely it is thanks to the guides…”
The high priest of the Holy Church sighed as he sipped the now lukewarm tea.
As night fell, the demon warriors and Night Elf Soldiers pulled back, but the Niban Fortress was still surrounded by a day-fighting force composed of Beastmen, Ogres, and Demon Soldiers. The demon army’s day brigades were continuously pouring into the urban area, seemingly preparing their positions for an assault on the royal castle.
Tonight— it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the fate of the kingdom would be decided.
However, it was evident from the weary state of the kingdom’s dignitaries, and even the king himself, that there was not even a one-in-ten-thousand chance for a turnabout. Their only reliable fortress had fallen, and the elite units had sustained heavy losses in the urban battles.
While there was some general fighting force remaining, the losses of high-ranked combatants like the Sword Saints and Heroes were devastating. If the outer wall of the royal castle separating the urban and noble districts was breached, all that would be left would be refugees, ordinary citizens with nowhere to run, and relatives of the noble families.
If they could hold out a little longer, they might have hoped for further reinforcements from neighboring countries—but now, with the kingdom cornered, Defteros Kingdom would be deemed utterly ruined and each would conserve their forces for the defense of their own lands.
…Just as Defteros Kingdom had done when the fate of the neighboring country was on the line.
Understanding this acutely, the kingdom’s dignitaries could do nothing but remain silent.
“…So what shall we do about the Niban Fortress?”
Breaking the silence was a stocky man with a muscular build. As indicated by his magnificent beard, he was the representative of the Dwarf Race.
“We can’t just leave it be. Personally, I believe we should rescue the remaining forces while there is still daylight.”
“I agree,”
nodded the Forest Elf representative sitting opposite him. The fact that the normally squabbling Forest Elves and Dwarves found common ground without hesitation spoke volumes about the seriousness of the situation.
“Your Majesty, I too align with them,”
stood up a stocky middle-aged man, his broad shoulders exuding a robust demeanor as he forcefully addressed the king.
His name was Osshimaier XIV.
Naturally, he was the son of Osshimaier XIII. Sometimes referred to as Little Osshimaier to distinguish him from the current king, he was originally the next in line for the throne, yet in this critical moment for the nation’s survival, he was eager to take command at the frontline.
In fact, as a commander, he was quite capable and had earned significant respect.
“Should I receive your command, I shall lead the Royal Guards and rescue the valiant warriors at the fortress!”
“…If we abandon the fortress, what will happen to the barrier?”
The king stared intently at his son before shifting his gaze to the Forest Elf.
“…It would require a considerable effort, but for a time, we can remove the branches and relocate the barrier.”
The Forest Elf responded hesitantly.
“However, in that case, the guides would likely be rendered ineffective. If they are exhausted, moving the barrier itself might be impossible. The branches… will have to be discarded along with the fortress.”
“…I see.”
Osshimaier XIII nodded faintly and began staring at the conference table.
—A table where the map of the entire Defteros Kingdom was intricately inlaid.
The rich granary region sprawled to the west. The mountains and forests scattered from the north to the east provided various resources such as medicinal herbs and beast meat. Trade utilizing the great river that sliced through the southern border brought immense wealth, consolidating these profits and fostering a flourishing capital of artistry and technology—that was the capital Evaroti—
But now, the west had been entirely seized by the Demon Lord’s army.
The capital was becoming a mountainous pile of rubble, with flames rising, while citizens who lost their homes crowded in the eastern part of the kingdom.
(Why… in my generation…)
An esteemed kingdom facing such calamity. I cannot face my ancestors with this—tears streamed down the cheeks of Osshimaier, whose eyes resembled those of a wax figurine.
“Your Majesty,”
Osshimaier XIV’s tone became resolute. It was time to stop crying.
Looking up from the strong gaze of his father, the king—his back naturally straightened.
“…Send out the Royal Guards. We will rescue the brave souls at Niban Fortress who have fought valiantly to defend the capital.”
“Understood! I shall—”
“That will not do. The commander will be the leader of the Royal Guards.”
The king declared firmly.
“I hereby retire from the throne.”
He proclaimed to his courtiers.
“I designate my son, Osshimaier XIV, as my successor. In light of the kingdom’s mortal crisis, we will forgo the formalities of the royal ascension.”
He then turned his gaze to the two representatives of the Forest Elves and Dwarves.
“I request that you two serve as witnesses as allies of my nation.”
“…Indeed.”
“I have certainly heard you.”
The two long-lived species stood and bowed respectfully.
“Osshimaier XIV,”
“…Yes.”
Little Osshimaier, who had been half in a daze, stood straight and tall.
The former king, with a slightly sad yet affectionate smile, narrowed his eyes at his son.
“—Reorganize the fighting force. Once the Royal Guards return from Niban Fortress, we will form an escape army for the capital.”
“…That means we will abandon Evaroti.”
The former king said that.
“The fall of the capital is now unavoidable. However, we will not go down without a fight. We will utilize every means necessary to strike back at the Demon Lord’s army until the end.”
But—after a brief pause.
“…We cannot jeopardize the futures of the young. Among the nobles remaining in the capital, the heirs of each house will be compelled to escape. Also, all children under the age of twelve will be evacuated, regardless of nationality. One parent may accompany them. Furthermore, soldiers and militia with children will be prioritized for the evacuation army and allowed to rest until tomorrow morning.”
“So that means the evacuation will be…”
“In the morning, as soon as the demon warriors retreat, we will act. Supply means will be gathered at the drill ground, and we will breach the encirclement and escape to the east through the East City Gate. The troops defending the capital will provide full support.”
The words “troops defending the capital” rolling off his tongue, Osshimaier XIII appeared as though he had regained his vibrant spirit, as if he had been resurrected from the dead, completely shedding the haggardness seen moments ago.
“Osshimaier XIV. You shall lead the noble people of the illustrious Defteros Kingdom as its fourteenth king.”
“…Yes.”
“Evaroti will likely fall. But Defteros Kingdom shall not perish. You are to revive it. No matter how difficult it gets, endure and survive for now. And once more, raise the royal banner in this land, in Evaroti—”
Osshimaier XIII spoke passionately before suddenly coughing, leaning wearily back against his chair.
“This is… my last hope.”
“Yes…! I would trade my life for this!”
“Did I not tell you to survive?”
The son bowed deeply, and the former king couldn’t help but interject, leading the courtiers to chuckle, causing the atmosphere to lighten just a little.
“…To you all, I apologize, but you must remain with this old fool.”
Looking around at the dignitaries in the conference room one by one, the former king.
The courtiers smiled wryly. “We were already planning to stay,” “Even if we wanted to run, my back hurts too much to flee” they exchanged light-hearted banter.
—They were no ordinary humans. Being nobles, they held magically greater power than ordinary citizens. Although they might fall short compared to professionals, they were still combat-ready.
In a siege battle like this—
They would indeed show their noble prowess.
“And I request that the allies of the Holy Great Tree Alliance and the Dwarf Alliance support Osshimaier XIV.”
Switching expressions, the former king made his request. He wanted them to escape with the evacuation army and protect the citizens.
The Forest Elf nodded quietly, while the Dwarf grimaced as if biting into a sour fruit.
—That was typical treatment for dwarves. Cherished as smiths in the rear, but when the enemy invaded, they were prioritized for evacuation. While they appreciated being taken care of, many Dwarves were both blacksmiths and warriors.
The warrior group, clad in their ancestral “true essence,” wielded fearsome power in siege and defense battles.
Yet—
This was always the cycle. What meaning did an axe that was never swung, a hammer hung up, or armor decorated but never worn hold? The longer-lived the Dwarves, the more they likely found themselves in similar situations, forced to retreat while leaving acquaintances and friends behind. Each time, they must have felt that frustrating pang in their hearts.
But…
“I have received your request.”
Supporting the evacuation army was also an important mission.
In any case, Dwarves were slow-moving. They decided internally that they would serve as the rearguard.
“Now, everyone. We have much to do. We must rescue the forces at Niban Fortress, and by tomorrow morning, we must be fully prepared to weather this night.”
“That’s crucial. We can’t do this without a reward,”
one of the ministers said playfully.
“I possess some secret liquor in my chamber.”
With his hands clasped over his knees, Osshimaier XIII chuckled.
“—Let us all raise a toast in the morning.”
†††
Afterward, a heavily armed unit led by the Royal Guards deployed from the royal castle and launched an assault on the Demon Lord’s army surrounding Niban Fortress.
Clad in magical armor, the Royal Guards made short work of Beastmen soldiers and Ogres, as well as even Demon Soldiers, ensuring a safe exit. Despite suffering considerable damage during their counterattack, they successfully returned all the brave warriors from the fortress, leaving no injured behind.
During this time, the Light Tree of Niban Fortress vanished without a trace—
In the evening, as twilight began to set in,
a glowing giant tree rose within the royal castle, deploying a powerful barrier.
A beautiful shimmering aurora-like membrane danced in the crimson sky—
But as if to compress that light, the veil of night began to descend.
No night goes unbroken, someone had said.
But one should also say this.
—The night will surely come.
