Chapter 96
Alter took a full day to rest before sensing a subtle change.
The monsters had already retreated, and the remaining minions did not make an appearance.
However, the alien and intense aura that reached him made it impossible to doubt.
'... Is the dragon coming?'
The war was now reaching its final phase.
If they defeated Benelrode the Incandescent, peace would be restored, but if they failed, the eastern front would surely be breached.
Therefore, unless they wished to endure a final, desperate engagement, they had to stop the dragon at the frontlines.
'Our chances aren't nonexistent, but the Knight of True Flame is still alive.'
Benelrode the Incandescent had already lost a wing and had received critical damage near his heart.
Because of that, if he, Brillie, the Sword Saint, and the Great Mage joined forces, they'd somehow be able to endure.
However, if the Knight of True Flame were to intervene, even that might become impossible.
'He seems to have a purpose.'
Alter had kept a constant watch on the Knight of True Flame ever since he realized who he was.
The reason for becoming a dragon's minion, his draw against the Sword Saint, his massacre of the Eastern Army as a monster, his clashes with himself and Brillie...
Considering all of this, it seemed as if he was deliberately imitating a monster.
'He must have received magic power from the dragon in order to become stronger. But unable to do nothing, he fought the Eastern Army.'
Benelrode the Incandescent likely approached the Knight of True Flame first.
After much deliberation, the Knight of True Flame must have accepted the proposal and gained much greater power.
Ultimately, it seemed he'd chosen to become a monster, believing he could no longer live as a human.
'He kept seeking out fights to test just how much stronger he'd become.'
In any case, he could still claim credit with Benelrode the Incandescent.
After all, it could be seen as an act to eliminate the strong among the humans.
But he couldn't afford to rouse suspicion, so he was compelled to kill the soldiers of the Eastern Army.
'With Brillie and me... it must be personal. Is that why he came after us?'
The Knight of True Flame couldn't erase his past as a human.
That's why he'd approached targets connected to his past first.
Of course, it was also possible that he was simply obsessed with dueling—one could only treat that as a possibility for now.
'What is he thinking? Can it truly satisfy him just to have become stronger?'
The Knight of True Flame had always pursued the heights of swordsmanship, which was why he'd become the next Sword Saint.
That is, if he used methods other than the sword, he would have to discard even the last vestiges of his pride.
Moreover, having become the dragon's subordinate, his humanity was virtually lost.
'He gave up being human, and yet he's acting like a human. If he's moving according to a plan...'
Possibly, the Knight of True Flame was even more dangerous than Benelrode the Incandescent.
A monster expresses only pure malice, but a human can insidiously infiltrate even that malice.
If the evil was sly and subtle, it could eventually cause great calamity in the future.
'Does this kind of cruelty really stem from failing to obtain love? No—there must be something else...'
"Alter, do you think the dragon is coming?"
"The signs match the dragon. This kind of magic power is rare."
"..."
Brillie was silent for a moment, then turned to sense the direction in which the aura was spreading.
Since the being was suddenly revealing its presence, it must have meant to declare its intent to participate directly.
The dragon was surely advancing even now, so they would probably face it in a day or two.
"This will be the final battle at the frontlines. If we can't end it here, we'll sustain great losses."
"Are you considering the possibility that we might lose or have to retreat?"
"There's no guarantee we'll win. We must consider other possibilities, don't you think?"
If they failed to hold the front, the territory of the Agnes Empire would be swept away in an instant.
Even if they managed to eliminate the enemy as it advanced, the accumulated damage would not disappear.
That was why even the imperial family sought to end the war at the front if at all possible.
"Even if it's weakened... it's still a dragon, isn't it? It won't be an easy opponent."
"That's why you, me, the Sword Saint, and the Great Mage are all gathered here. It takes at least this much to bring down a dragon, don't you think?"
"... Aren't you afraid?"
Without thinking, Brillie revealed her true feelings.
For her, fear was nothing new since she always had to stand at the fore with her sword.
But Alter was only exceptionally talented at magic; he had little actual battle experience.
Therefore, when faced with a life-or-death battle, he could not help but be emotionally shaken.
"I'm dispelling my fear with faith. And you, Brillie, are part of that faith."
Since escaping the curse, Alter could feel his magic power density rise.
With this, he had erased the remnants of the Frost Witch and overcome the calamity his mother had foreseen.
Having already proven his potential as a mage, even the terror of the dragon felt faint.
"What do you believe in?"
"First of all, I believe in the Sword Saint and the Great Mage. Their skills are extraordinary, aren't they? And the strength of the Eastern Army can't be ignored. Most importantly... I believe in myself."
"..."
Brillie agreed with his words, yet could not shake her lack of self-trust.
Had she not been protected by the dagger's chill, she surely would have been cut down by the Knight of True Flame.
Even if the opponent had grown stronger by the dragon's magic power, she hadn't expected herself to reveal such a gaping weakness.
'Was I too agitated? Or is it that my own skills weren't enough?'
If Alter had not kept the Knight of True Flame in check, she would not have held out in their duel.
She had been fiercely angry because of the Knight of True Flame, and there was a difference in swordsmanship level as well.
Could someone like her really stand against a dragon?
'The dragon will be stronger than the Knight of True Flame. Even if we have the Sword Saint and the Great Mage...'
Though clouded by uneasy emotions, Brillie was gradually calming down.
In any case, a dragon was a monster no one could face alone.
Even the Sword Saint had said it would be hard to deal with the Knight of True Flame, so she shouldn't devalue herself.
Right now, she needed to steel her will and lead this war to victory.
'I can't waver here. I'll focus on one thing.'
She couldn't remain bound to the next Sword Saint forever.
There were things she had to protect, and she had not yet realized the small wish in her heart.
If they failed to defeat the dragon, all of that would be lost.
'We're not at a disadvantage. We just have to win. The Knight of True Flame won't step in right away, either.'
* * *
The Knight of True Flame completed his hasty treatment and began pursuit.
The surface wounds had mostly healed, but inside, everything was only barely holding together.
Besides, after his fall, the impact had left a slight ache all over his body.
'... Maybe I was arrogant. I didn't expect to be hit like this.'
Thinking back on his bout with her, the Knight of True Flame let out a slight chuckle.
He hadn't been particularly enraged by her, nor did he even think of revenge.
He just found himself admiring her considerable skill.
'Maybe this is a chance. At this rate, I could try as well.'
The Knight of True Flame even considered his injuries as useful tools.
He never truly sided with Benelrode the Incandescent—he merely needed the power to reach the summit.
If he and the other minions were disposed of, blazing Benelrode himself would have no choice but to intervene.
'There are said to be seven dragons. The Agnes Empire has already killed two.'
The Knight of True Flame set his sights on the remaining five.
Now it was only Benelrode the Incandescent who had appeared, but later, more dragons would show up.
Especially since Benelrode the Incandescent was so weakened, there would be even bigger opportunities to exploit.
'This is just the beginning. If I get used to it, then someday...'
The Knight of True Flame knew full well how unrealistic his plan was.
Yet, he had already adapted to the dragon's magic power and could not escape its craving.
He was certain that he would never give up until the day he died.
'Do your best. Just this once, I'll help you.'
The Knight of True Flame did trust the abilities of those four.
Within the empire, they were some of the greatest warriors, having taken down the dragon's minions in an instant.
If all of them banded together, not even a dragon would dare advance.
'It just needs to be for a moment. Just give me an opening for a short while...'
* * *
All elite forces were gathered at one castle on the frontlines.
The regular soldiers were relocated to other castles, leaving the commanders of the Eastern Army to simply watch in silence.
After all, only those assembled could face a dragon.
"I will say this once more. I am to be at the vanguard—under no circumstances are you to move ahead of me. Especially you, keep that in mind."
"Yes, I understand what you mean."
"It is not an insult to you. It's a matter of seniority between us."
"Yes. That's why you're taking the dangerous role, aren't you?"
Brillie had no desire to go against Berhan's orders.
He already held the position of Sword Saint, and even in terms of combat experience, she could not compare.
Moreover, he had positioned himself to back her up—in effect, he was personally bearing the brunt of the monster onslaught.
"If it's a dragon, destroying the castle wall won't be much trouble. If the situation turns urgent, be ready to move at once."
"And you intend to fight in earnest from that point?"
"We can't hold a siege, so we must lure it in, mustn't we? Even if the castle is destroyed, that can't be helped."
"The Marquis of the East also agreed to that strategy. Castles can be rebuilt, but lost soldiers cannot be revived, can they? Still, it's hard to be sure the plan will proceed as we intended."
Of course, Alraune was preparing for other possibilities as well.
Benelrode the Incandescent had no reason to limit himself to close combat.
On the contrary, he might use magic to wage ranged attacks.
"I believe the Great Mage will handle that side well."
"As I said before, it won't be easy. If the castle collapses while the monsters are swarming in, we'll be too busy just trying to defend, won't we?"
"That's why we have extra troops lying in ambush nearby... Hm?"
Sensing a torrent of magic power, Berhan instinctively turned his head.
Alraune wore a grave expression as he immediately unleashed his magic power.
Even in that tense moment, Alter calmly spread frost as if he'd anticipated it all along.
'An attack as soon as it arrives.'
From the front, flames surged and started to rain down toward the castle.
They were too numerous to count, each filled with dense magic power.
Benelrode the Incandescent finally revealed himself belatedly, intent on observing the situation.
'Tiksa... You won't fall from something this trivial. You will pay for getting in my way!'