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The massive human spider stood grandly, so large that it could be seen from afar. Its long, thin legs towered over us, casting an imposing shadow as it looked down. The sight of its viscous saliva dripping and pooling with blood on the wall was far more grotesque than I had anticipated.

However, I could call it a silver lining that there was one new fact salvaged from this dire situation.

‘The illusion haunting the castle wall is shared by all present here.’

Unlike the Marquis, who was fighting the phantoms alone, everyone here was trapped in the same shared illusion. If Abel hadn’t been fighting an invisible monster, it would have seemed to me like he was merely dancing in thin air. Thanks to that, I could catch a glimpse of his determination to resist till the end.

If the illusions affected everyone, it would be better to deal with the bizarre monster quickly.

I drew my secondary weapon, a sword, instead of my familiar bow.

‘A bow isn’t a great choice against an illusion.’

Unless you weave some more sophisticated spells, illusions are ultimately just intangible afterimages.

Feeling physical attacks working doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt. Discovering the monster is also part of the tricks conjured by the demon’s magic. It would be quite troublesome if I shot an arrow at it from this narrow wall and accidentally hit one of my allies behind it.

Still, the illusions used by the nightmare and deceitful demon I faced till now were all unique cases that dealt physical damage. Since things had come to this, it wouldn’t hurt to be careful until everything was clearly sorted out.

“Up ahead…! Its leg!!”

Unlike Bronte, who spoke with a nasally whine, Abel’s heavy voice alerted me.

Just as he shouted, the monster raised one of its long forelegs high, aiming directly at my head.

I brought my sword up in defense, angled it, and redirected the attack. The blade traced a diagonal line as I brought it down, avoiding its strike that pressed down right next to me.

“Next attack coming!”

Despite me fighting, it felt like Abel was the one who was more anxious from behind.

As the next leg came crashing down, my sword traced a crescent arc, cutting cleanly through the air.

Swish—!

One leg cleanly severed.

‘Looks like this much is enough.’

Although five legs remained, I could gauge the level of the illusion with just one defense and one attack.

‘The illusion isn’t completely finished yet.’

After slaying the monster Abel was fighting, I decided not to use much mana in this attack, just in case. Although it was an expensive sword, the rampart was already filled with discarded weapons, and as I was confident no follow-up attack would hit me, I could afford the carelessness.

Thanks to that, I realized that my attacks were landing well even without using much mana.

‘Most of the mana comprising the illusion is likely focused on displaying a ‘shared appearance’ to many people.’

The illusion that had covered the rampart. No matter how the demon flies high, unless the head demon physically descends, such massive manipulations cannot be perfected.

In reality, the demon of nightmares and deceit had not descended in this world. The result was that the quality of this illusion seemed just enough to confuse our troops. With willpower and minimal mana, it was possible to slay enemies within the hallucination.

‘But that doesn’t mean to let my guard down.’

If the illusion ever wavers, it might exploit a gap to deceive senses. Even if physically unharmed, one could still experience strong illusions suggesting injury.

With the defenders unprepared for such tactics, it was understandable that morale would plummet upon the sudden appearance of the monster.

‘Orna, lend me your aid.’

I summoned a small wind spirit to enhance my agility. This way, I could dart through and avoid the monster’s unpredictable attacks.

My blade danced. My motions were less about elegance and more about being neat and straightforward. With the spirit’s assistance, I could wield the sword smoothly; however, it wouldn’t be as deceptive as creating an illusory blade. Still, the straightforward strikes were enough to subdue the enemy.

As I thrust the sword, infused with mana, into its brow, it turned to dust and vanished.

“Did you… manage that by yourself?”

Abel stared at me as though witnessing a miracle. Yet within his subdued gaze, I sensed the holiness of a fervent disciple of the divine.

But there was no time for praise, so I continued quickly.

“It’s dangerous up here on the rampart. You need to go down below.”

However, he shook his head.

“Most of the soldiers are still battling on the rampart. If I go down, many knights would have to follow suit.”

“And right now, the ones who can discern and eliminate actual enemies mixed within these illusions are extremely few. A knight says, to my eyes, the soldiers seem to suddenly become afraid and faint from pain…”

“If just one of them disappears from the rampart, the gap would be too great. The soldiers exposed to the enemy without defenses would likely suffer double the losses, caught off-guard.”

That was a valid point. Yet, there was still a flaw.

Generally, the role mages play in a defensive battle is to unleash widespread attacks before the enemy reaches the castle. When the assault reaches a distance threatening the ramparts, or direct combat breaks out, they would retreat to replenish mana. He, being a mage rather than a knight, could adequately protect himself.

Moreover, as the third son of the Marquis family, he would understand the distinct significance of his position compared to others. For someone like him to stay on the rampart prioritizing soldiers’ safety implies acting without regard for future consequences.

As a slight frustration arose, Abel quickly scanned the situation on the rampart and added:

“Moreover, I’m currently the overall commander of the defenders. Up here on the rampart, it’s a situation so urgent that those below wouldn’t be able to keep up. Seeing the illusions but maintaining composure thanks to trustworthy knights, I can lead the charge far better myself. And—”

“…”

“If a man like me stays to resist, wouldn’t that encourage everyone to fight till the end?”

At that moment, the voices of women rushing towards the rampart echoed loudly.

Shione Shianella and her elite knights were charging, hunting down the real enemies atop the wall. The spots she reached briefly saw the illusions evaporate, allowing the priests and soldiers to treat the fallen and carry them away.

The waves generated by their march would soon reach us.

“However, I wish I had the strength to eliminate those illusions.”

Abel, relieved at the sight of Shione, whispered as he scanned the rampart where the illusions still loomed.

Despite being of lesser power than anyone above the rampart, he was still a knight.

“You, Sir Abel Kalia, can also surely slay them.”

“…I lack mana. I haven’t even practiced what it means to gain merits.”

“Of course, it would be tough to slay those monsters without mana, but as the knights say, they are merely illusions.”

“…”

“Even if they’re persistent illusions, if you grasp a pillar that doesn’t waver in its essence, you can strike hard against such wavering visions without being pulled. That alone should allow you to land significant blows.”

The act of accumulating merits.

I had learned about it from fighting on the ramparts of the Shianella Count’s walls in the past.

It seemed that the people in this world knew about it through legacy, alongside the status window.

I hinted some information to him, who appeared earnest and ambitious.

“The cut that severed the leg just now was an attack infused with no mana.”

“…You mean it didn’t have mana?”

“Even without something as massive as that, by facing several illusions and stacking small victories… could that not also be seen as accumulating merits?”

“Ah.”

Abel appeared to have come to some revelation.

Yet perhaps I had said too much, as a wave of unease washed over me, prompting me to add:

“Of course, it’s wise to act only under circumstances where you, Sir Abel Kalia, can protect yourself.”

People may dismiss what I said knowing I’m of lowly slave birth.

But as I was also a servant to the noble family, I couldn’t simply perform menial tasks. Therefore, I had to serve a role resembling that of a secretary; thus, this level of audacity should be excusable.

Or else, I could tell Shione how scary I thought he was.

“Ray!”

Finally, Shione arrived at the position where I was.

Having received Orna’s aid beforehand, I reached Abel faster than anyone; still, Shione’s speed at clearing the rampart was truly impressive.

The rampart was once more under control. However, the lingering energy of the nightmare hadn’t yet vanished, so towers were erected in places where illusions did not spread, allowing careful monitoring of the rampart and beyond. Exceptional knights and priests formed teams to guard the rampart’s periphery.

“Now, we can finally rest a bit.”

“Indeed.”

“Shall we sleep for ten minutes?”

“Honestly, should we not sleep for at least thirty? Who knows when they might swarm in again?”

“…Don’t say such ominous things.”

At long last, we were able to enjoy a brief, sweet respite.

 

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