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Kwoong-

With a loud noise, smoke rose from the city walls. Screams and shouts echoed from all directions.

“Lady Laura! You must evacuate immediately!”

“No. The safety of the citizens comes first.”

Despite the knight’s urgent plea, Laura Elsink shook her head firmly.

It had only been a day since the heroes’ invasion began. Across the empire, battles large and small were being fought against them. However, the relentless onslaught of the heroes had already overwhelmed several outer cities, leaving no time to react.

Given the situation, a steady stream of refugees was fleeing from the cities on the outskirts of the empire. The same was true for the Elsink Family’s territory, which bordered the frontier. Just as the citizens were hurriedly evacuating, the heroes began their assault on the city.

“Lady Laura! There’s no more time!”

“Shut up. What kind of lord would I be if I evacuated first? What are you trying to say?”

“But Lady Laura, you must preserve yourself…”

“You’re telling me to abandon our citizens and run away, aren’t you? No way.”

“But… if you don’t evacuate now, it’s dangerous!”

The knight wasn’t wrong. The situation was utterly hopeless. Despite their desperate efforts to hold the line, the heroes were on the verge of breaking through. It was clear that the city was doomed.

Yet Laura Elsink, the lord of this city and one of the empire’s Seven Stars, had no intention of retreating.

“Our Elsink Family has always been a pillar and protector of this nation. For us to abandon our citizens and flee is unthinkable.”

“But…”

“If you’re a knight of our family, stop trying to persuade me and think about how to stop the heroes with me.”

“…I apologize.”

At Laura’s sharp words, the knight finally bowed his head.

“My thoughts were too narrow…”

“I don’t plan to just sit back and take this. We just need to buy time until all the citizens have evacuated. Once their safety is confirmed, I’ll retreat to the rear as well.”

“I… will stay with Lady Laura until the end.”

“Good. That’s what an Elsink knight should be like.”

With a faint smile, Laura equipped her mage’s gear and headed to the command post on the city walls. Though she acted composed, she knew just how dire and hopeless the situation was. But she wasn’t weak enough to show that in front of her subordinates.

The Elsink Family had produced many great mages since the empire’s founding and had always fought at the forefront during times of crisis. And Laura was the current head of this honorable family. For the sake of her family’s dignity, Laura couldn’t falter.

“The northern side is being pushed back! Send 200 archers from the east to the northern walls! Hurry!”

“What? But that will leave the eastern walls vulnerable!”

“It doesn’t matter! The heroes are focusing their attack on the north! If the northern walls fall, it’s over!”

In the command post, knight captains were shouting and frantically moving troops. When they noticed Laura, they all bowed their heads.

“Lady Laura?! What brings you here…?”

“What do you mean? I’m here to defend my city. Got a problem with that?”

“Ah, no… That’s not it…”

The knight captains were about to ask why she hadn’t evacuated, but they stopped themselves, knowing what kind of person Laura was. Despite her youthful appearance, Laura had a strong, almost warlike personality. She valued loyalty and honor above all else. It was unthinkable for her to evacuate before her citizens.

“…Enough. How’s the evacuation going?”

“Ah… well…”

“Rector. Be honest. How many have evacuated?”

The white-haired knight captain, Rector, opened his mouth heavily.

“…A little over half have evacuated.”

“…Hmm.”

Laura had expected as much, but the evacuation was progressing too slowly. Seeing Laura’s brow twitch, Rector bowed his head in shame. As the Elsink Family’s first knight captain and the longest-serving retainer, he felt deeply responsible for not being able to evacuate all the citizens.

“It’s all my fault, Lady Laura. I’m truly sorry.”

“Fault? What fault? You prioritized evacuating the elderly, women, and children first. Of course, it’s slow.”

Laura looked out at the city walls where the battle was raging. While the front lines were holding back the heroes, the citizens were evacuating from the rear. They were moving as fast as they could, but it was still too slow. Of course, the heroes’ relentless assault was the bigger problem. Never before had so many enemies attacked the city at once.

The number of heroes attacking the city was around 10,000. Far exceeding the city’s defensive capacity. This city wasn’t built as a fortress. The fact that they had held out this long was nothing short of a miracle.

In the end, Laura had no choice but to make a decision.

“You all know it, but this city is lost.”

The knights’ faces darkened. They had known it, but hearing it from Laura, their lord, made it all the more real. The place they had lived and protected for so long was about to fall into the hands of strangers. The Elsink knights couldn’t hide their despair. Yet Laura didn’t mince her words.

“So from now on, we’ll keep only the minimum number of troops to hold the line and have the rest protect the citizens as they retreat. Our top priority isn’t this city, but the citizens. So…”

Laura declared to the knights.

“From now on, I’ll head to the northern walls to fight the heroes.”

“Lady Laura?!”

“That should buy us enough time to evacuate the citizens.”

“No! If something happens to you…!”

“That’s right! There’s no need for you to go that far! We’ll handle this…!”

The knights, who had served the Elsink Family for a long time, all protested. But…

“Have you forgotten who I am?”

“Huh?”

“I, Laura Elsink, am one of the empire’s Seven Stars and a disciple of the Sage Myohail. No matter how many heroes there are, they’re all just a bunch of amateurs. Do you really think they can harm me? Not a chance. They’re not even worth my time.”

Once, Laura had been praised as one of the closest to becoming a Sage, alongside Mondri of the Cremont Family. Though she chose the path of the Elsink Family’s head instead of the Sage’s path, her abilities still far surpassed those of active mages. Many still remembered her by the title “Ice Witch.”

“What you should be worrying about isn’t me, but the citizens. Got it? Now get them evacuated.”

“Lady Laura…!”

“I won’t say it twice. Move.”

Knowing Laura’s stubbornness, the knights eventually gave in. They exchanged glances and nodded.

“Understood. I’ll give the orders to the troops immediately.”

“Good. Then…”

“But Lady Laura.”

“Huh?”

Rector stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Laura.

“Can’t we stay and fight with you?”

“Huh?”

“We, the knights of Elsink, have a duty to protect the citizens, but we also have a responsibility to protect our lord… We want to fight alongside you.”

Following Rector’s lead, the other knight captains also knelt on one knee before her. Their eyes, like Rector’s, were filled with resolve.

“You all…”

“We, the captains, will stay and fight with you to the end.”

Laura, who had been about to snap at them, was left speechless. Just as Laura had her honor as the family head to uphold, they too had their honor as knights. A knight’s honor was to serve their family to the end. To share their lord’s fate. Even if that fate was death.

No matter how much she tried to dissuade them, they were determined to follow her. Seeing their resolve, Laura let out a deep sigh.

“…You’re all beyond saving…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Rector. You’re old. Shouldn’t you be evacuating the citizens?”

“Lady Laura. Please don’t say such hurtful things. Age doesn’t matter to a knight.”

“Bullshit.”

“Besides, Lady Laura, you’re older than…”

“Shut up.”

“Yep.”

Rector scratched his head with an awkward smile. When he first began serving Laura, she had been a young girl. Now, looking at Rector’s wrinkled face, Laura clicked her tongue.

“So you all want to die as Elsink knights to the end? For honor?”

“No. We want to remain as your knights, not just as Elsink knights.”

“Ugh! That’s so cringy! Where did you learn to say that?!”

“Sorry.”

“Sigh… You guys… What’s so great about having a foul-tempered lord like me…”

“Sorry…”

Laura struggled to hold back tears. Such emotions didn’t suit her.

“Fine! Do whatever you want! If you’re so eager to die, follow me or don’t!”

“Thank you, Lady Laura.”

“Hurry and tell the knights below. Take the remaining citizens and get out of the city.”

“Understood.”

“And… the rest of you, don’t hold me back. Got it?”

“Yes!”

As Laura strode toward the city gates, the knight captains, led by Rector, followed behind her. A sense of solemnity emanated from them.

Laura thought.

How much time could they buy?

The enemy was self-proclaimed heroes.

They weren’t real heroes, and individually, their abilities weren’t impressive. Of course, there were exceptions, but on average, they were no better than untrained recruits.

What made them truly dangerous was their sheer numbers. From the city walls, the horizon was filled with their forces. Even if Laura poured all her magic into the fight, she couldn’t possibly defeat them all.

Moreover, the heroes didn’t stay dead. According to reports, when they died, they turned to dust and disappeared, only to be reborn elsewhere. In other words, they were beings that couldn’t be permanently killed.

And now, Laura and her knights had to fight these beings.

-Laura. Listen carefully.

At that moment, a man’s face flashed in Laura’s mind. A month ago, he had suddenly visited her territory and warned her. He told her to prepare for a possible attack by monsters and demons.

-What are you talking about? Why would monsters attack my territory?

-It’s not just your territory. This entire nation could be in danger at any moment.

-Sigh… What kind of nonsense is this? Hey, Count.

The man who had warned Laura was Count Tristan Ruelberta. He had come all the way from his territory to hers and bluntly told her.

-Are you here to meddle in my territory’s affairs?

-It’s not meddling. It’s advice.

-It’s the same thing. Count, it hasn’t even been that long since the northern expedition ended. Why are you talking about monsters now?

-Don’t let your guard down. The period after an expedition is the most dangerous. Be thoroughly prepared.

-I don’t get it. You were the one who led the charge to form an alliance with the Demon Lord, and now you’re telling me to prepare for a monster attack?

Tristan nodded.

-An alliance is an alliance, and preparation is preparation. Just as there are no eternal enemies, there are no eternal allies. That’s why you need to be prepared, especially now. Laura, your territory is on the empire’s outermost edge. If an attack comes, you and your territory will be the first to fall.

-Stop talking nonsense. Sure, this place is remote, but it’s far from the northern regions or the monsters’ habitats. There’s no way monsters would attack my territory.

-There’s always a possibility.

-There’s no possibility.

-I knew you’d say that.

-Huh?

Tristan stood up, as if he had no more business here. He even put on his coat, ready to leave.

-What’s this?

-I’m leaving.

-Count… Did you really come all this way just to tell me that?

-It wasn’t just one thing.

-Ugh! You’re impossible. Did you come all this way just to say one thing?!

-Yes.

-…You’re really crazy, aren’t you?

Ignoring Laura’s disbelief, Tristan lightly flicked his finger. Then, his attendants, who had been waiting in the back, grunted as they brought something over and placed it before Laura.

-?? What’s this?

-Take it.

Unwrapping the cloth revealed a marble sculpture. Or so it seemed, but upon closer inspection, it was a circular gate-like object with a hole in the middle. Just by reading the magic formula inscribed on its edges, Laura realized what it was.

-A gate…?

-An evacuation gate.

-…I don’t need it. Take it back.

Unlike others, Laura didn’t want to owe Tristan anything and flatly refused. But Tristan chuckled.

-Don’t dismiss my goodwill.

-Goodwill? Take it back now.

-It’s too heavy to carry back.

-Don’t be ridiculous. Use magic or load it onto a carriage.

-I’m leaving.

-Hey! Didn’t you hear me?! Take it back!!

-Alright. I’ll come back for it in a month.

-What? A month? Are you crazy? Why leave it here?!

-Keep it safe until then.

-Hey! Wait!

-Laura.

Laura, who had been about to grab Tristan, froze at his low voice.

-I know you hate me. I hate you too. But…

Tristan spoke without turning back.

-I want you to survive until the end.

-Huh?

-I won’t let ‘you all’ die.

With those final words, Tristan got into his carriage and left. By all rights, Laura should have been angry at being treated like someone about to die. But strangely, she couldn’t bring herself to be angry. She didn’t know why. If she had to put it into words, it was because Tristan had seemed… sorrowful when he said that.

“This is either him trying to look cool or pitiful…”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. It’s not directed at you, so don’t worry about it.”

“Ah, okay…”

Exactly one month had passed since then. Thinking about it now, Tristan’s words had been half right. There had been no monster attack, but there had been an attack by heroes.

‘Should I have listened to the Count…?’

Now that things had come to this, Laura couldn’t help but regret. If she had prepared for a monster attack as Tristan had suggested, maybe they wouldn’t have been so easily overwhelmed by the heroes. Maybe they could have bought enough time to evacuate all the citizens.

“Sigh…”

Laura let out a bitter smile. What good was regret now? Even if she thought about it again, Tristan’s claims had been baseless, and there had been no reason to follow his advice. After all, it wasn’t a monster attack as he had said. This was just a coincidence. Yes, a coincidence. Just an incredibly unlucky coincidence.

-I’ll come back for it in a month.

Suddenly, Tristan’s words echoed in Laura’s mind. The mention of “a month” seemed significant. There had been no monster attack, but could he really have predicted the exact date?

“Really, just a coincidence…”

“Prepare to open the gates!”

Just as Laura was lost in thought, the Elsink knights lined up before the city gates. Ready to open the gates and charge into the enemy lines, they drew their swords.

“For Elsink!”

“Glory to Lady Laura!”

“Wait.”

As the knight captains shouted to boost morale, Laura interrupted them.

“Rector. Be quiet for a moment.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Don’t you hear that?”

“Hear what…?”

At Laura’s prompting, the first knight captain, Rector, listened carefully. Then…

Knock knock.

“Huh?”

Knock knock.

“I, I hear it!”

A knocking sound, as if someone was knocking on a door. Of course, it wasn’t coming from the city gates. If it were, the sound would have been much louder, like the gates were being smashed. But this knocking was polite and rhythmic.

Knock knock.

The knocking grew louder. Laura focused intently, trying to locate the source.

“…It’s coming from over there.”

The sound was coming from the dusty marble sculpture left in front of the city gates… the gate Tristan had practically forced upon her.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the gate. Then, the magic formulas inscribed on the gate suddenly glowed. The bright light forced the knights to shield their eyes.

“Excuse me!”

A cheerful voice rang out from within the light. As Laura and the knights’ eyes adjusted, they saw the silhouette of the voice’s owner.

“Who, who are you?!”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Puring!”

Before the knights stood a girl in a shabby dress. The sudden activation of the gate and the appearance of a person from within it left them no choice but to be on guard.

“Pu…ring?!”

“That’s right! Puring is Puring! Sorry for the suddenness, but please step back!”

“Huh?”

“The gate is functioning normally! You can come in now!”

“Whoa?!”

The gate glowed again, spewing out several more silhouettes.

“That, that’s…”

From the gate emerged about ten knights clad in black armor. The flag they carried bore the emblem of a black lion. Unless they were mistaken, that emblem represented the…

“Ruelberta?!”

“Then they’re Aslan?!”

“How did the Ruelberta Family’s private soldiers get here?!”

Before them stood Aslan, the knight order known as the empire’s strongest and the private soldiers of the Ruelberta Family.

“Could they be reinforcements…?”

Rector muttered beside her. Laura had the same thought, but the number of reinforcements was far too few. Even if they were the empire’s strongest knight order, Aslan, such a small force couldn’t possibly turn the tide of battle.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Laura.”

From among the black-clad knights emerged a young woman dressed in a black frilly apron. She bowed politely to Laura, who was still in shock.

“I am Muiry, a maid serving Count Ruelberta.”

“What brings you here?”

“We have come under the Count’s orders.”

“…Tristan sent you?”

“Yes. We are here to fulfill the promise the Count made a month ago.”

Finally, Laura understood why they had appeared and let out a hollow laugh.

“So… you’re here to retrieve the gate? At this timing?”

“Yes.”

“Ugh… Are you all insane? You came all this way just for a promise?”

“Sorry, but the Count didn’t make just one promise.”

“Huh?”

“Our Count made a promise. He promised not to let you die.”

“La, Lady Laura! Look over there!”

At that moment, an Elsink knight pointed behind Muiry and Aslan, shouting. Unlike ordinary shadows, these were pitch-black shadows that seemed to absorb all light. The shadows were splitting into multiple forms on the ground. The eerie sight made the Elsink knights wary as they moved to protect Laura.

But Muiry simply smiled gently.

“Don’t be alarmed. As I said, we are here to fulfill the Count’s promise, not to harm Lady Laura or her citizens. However, we realized that our strength alone wouldn’t be enough to assist you, so we brought some

 

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