Chapter 197 : Chapter 197
Chapter 197 : Demon King (2)
“Expedition Leader, please take care of yourself.”
“I am sorry to be leaving first!”
“Please fight for our share as well. And please, you must return alive.”
Those who would go out of Myeolji with Lady Hike were selected.
Although they no longer had to fight while risking their lives, those being transported seemed full of regret.
There were those who hugged the comrades they had fought with for a long time, and those who shed tears out of sorrow.
“I should have stayed together until the end……. I am ashamed.”
“No. Go home quickly. And when your body heals, please stop by my house too. Make sure to tell my son how hard I am fighting!”
I also exchanged greetings with the wounded who couldn't hide their regret, and comforted them.
“Sob…….”
Among the wounded, there were those who refused transport, saying they came prepared to risk death.
However, the wounded eventually had to admit the fact that they could no longer participate in the Expedition.
Only those who suffered injuries that could not be healed by potions or Heals were included in the list of wounded.
Most were those who had suffered physical loss or needed long-term treatment.
If we continued the expedition embracing them, the Expedition also would have faced many problems.
‘Because the marching speed could be slowed down, or people could get hurt while trying to help the injured pointlessly. Anyway…… It is fortunate that Lady Hike is leading the escort.’
Sending the wounded to the rear would be a loss of combat power for the Expedition, but I was more worried about drawing personnel to safely send the Expedition out of Myeolji.
Although we had already achieved victory against many Demons, it made no sense to send out only the wounded.
In this situation, Lady Hike, who was entrusted with a special mission, was a reliable guide.
“Lady Hike, please take good care of them.”
“Yes, I will lead them so they can return home safely. It would be better if no one gets hurt if possible, but I will handle the next guidance alone as well, so do not worry.”
Lady Hike spoke reliably and shouted to the wounded.
“Now, let’s go back to our hometowns.”
“Yes, Lady Hike!”
There were not a few who followed behind Lady Hike while limping.
I sincerely hoped that they could safely escape Myeolji under Lady Hike’s guidance.
“Remaining Expedition members, let’s advance again.”
“Yes!”
With a thunderous answer and the sound of the horn, the Expedition advanced into the depths of Myeolji.
***
“Expedition Leader, powerful Demons are advancing from three directions!”
As we went deep into Myeolji, occasions to deal with strong Demons naturally increased.
No matter how strong the enemies were, we could defeat them one by one, but it wasn't easy when Demons started swarming from various directions at once.
“I am New Demon Army Rank 12, Orseda! Who will face me!”
“New Demon Army Rank 15, Parsephal. Receive my spear, you worms.”
“Rank 20, Soolla. You bastards won’t be able to take a single step forward from here.”
The Demons advancing from the left, center, and right respectively revealed their ranks and shouted threateningly.
“Sigh, those bastards always attack while stating their ranks and names.”
Someone made a grumbling sound.
However, the Expedition members who had come this far were already sick and tired of fighting.
“Haha, aren’t we the ones invading? So, Expedition Leader! Who will block them this time?”
They were approaching while emitting powerful Demonic Energy freely, but the Expedition’s morale did not break.
It was because all Expedition members, including myself, were gradually growing as we repeated battles.
However, the number of Expedition members belonging to the main unit was gradually decreasing.
Not everyone was injured or dead.
Unlike the main unit that continued to advance with the Demon King’s Castle as the starting point, we advanced while dividing troops to deal with Demons advancing from various directions.
“We will block the 12th Rank.”
The Empire’s First Prince, Dinaus, volunteered first. Dinaus was playing a big role in the Expedition as well, leading the Empire’s knights, the Rosamund Knights.
At first, I even dissuaded his participation in the Expedition.
It was because Dinaus’s own power was not incredibly outstanding.
But perhaps it was because the Imperial blood flowed in him.
He established distinguished merits by skillfully commanding the Imperial Knights.
I nodded toward Dinaus.
Then, other volunteers also appeared.
“The Western Tribe, Bear Tribe, and Wolf Tribe will block the 20th Rank Demon. We will handle not only them but all the bastards coming from that direction and join the main unit.”
“Yes, I would appreciate it if you did so.”
Those separating from the main unit from now on would not return to the main unit immediately just because they finished one battle.
They would continue to advance in the split direction to reduce the battles the main unit had to fight.
The expedition was getting long, and it was difficult to expect additional supplies.
So the Expedition decided to increase speed after the commanders’ discussion.
After all, it ends only when we finish all the Demons, but we believed the process would be easier once we cut the Demon King’s neck.
I shook hands with those whom I would find difficult to see for a while, no, perhaps until the expedition ended.
“Prince Dinaus, I leave it to you.”
“No. I know that going deeper is impossible with my skills now. The Rosamund Knights will do their best so that the Expedition can go comfortably until the end.”
“It was a great help to the Expedition because Prince Dinaus was here all this time.”
“Haha, I am happy that you say so. Finish the expedition well, and let’s meet outside Myeolji. You must come to play at the Imperial Capital.”
“Yes, I will do so. I will wrap this up well so you can sit on the Golden Throne with peace of mind.”
And I also shook hands with Pakar, who was once counted as one of the Five Morning Stars like me and whom I had faced in the Knight Competition.
“Please take care of Prince Dinaus.”
“Of course. Expedition Leader, please take care of yourself too. After killing the Demon King, please be sure to stop by with your saga.”
Smiling brightly, I exchanged greetings with Pakar too.
Then I exchanged greetings with the Beastkin Kings of the Western Tribe, Bear Tribe, and Wolf Tribe.
The Bear King, Goldin, extended a large hand. I firmly grasped his hand.
“King of the Inoe. We will definitely return to the main unit. Let’s shake hands again then.”
“Understood. Lord Goldin, your wounds are already deep, so please be careful. If you get hurt too severely, retreat outside Myeolji.”
“This much heals quickly if I just sleep and wake up.”
There was already a large wound on Goldin’s shoulder blade, but he didn't care.
The Expedition advanced in three paths.
The main unit also had to fight the Demon who introduced himself as Rank 15.
I spoke to the separate unit members while moving forward.
“Before we knew it, the number of people in the main unit had decreased a lot.”
At my words, Blaze and Sierin chimed in immediately.
“Indeed. Now only the Remnant, Crows, Paladin Order, and Mana Research Department are left.”
“You shouldn’t leave out the White Dragon Knights! Still, since even the Northern knights left, it feels very empty, right?”
As we were chatting ahead of the battle, I felt a piercing gaze.
The one freely emitting presence was none other than Northern Archduke Evernite.
“Be quiet. If the Archduke is here, it is practically the same as more than half of the Northern forces being with us.”
Eidon admonished his family juniors.
His voice was exceptionally loud, seeming to have spoken loudly on purpose so Evernite could hear.
“I am the North.”
Evernite spoke in a low voice and ran toward the Demons.
“That is correct! Where Lord Evernite is, is the North!”
Keldric chimed in with a loud voice behind Evernite.
Evernite’s expression wasn't visible, but the look of him being pleased was vivid in my mind.
“He said something similar to Lord Baden.”
“……Indeed, Lord Baden also said the place where he is, is the High Dragon’s Nest.”
When Bea and Kiyot added a word each, Eidon and Keldric waved their hands sending a signal to be quiet.
I smiled subtly looking at those separate unit members.
The arduous journey of continuing the expedition in Myeolji.
Even amidst that, there were quite a few things to laugh about.
“Well, thanks to that, this fight will go easily.”
Fwoosh!
As if he was in a good mood, Evernite ran into the enemy lines alone.
As he thrust his spear, all the Demons standing in front of him scattered without leaving a trace.
The excited Evernite could not be stopped by an army led by merely Rank 15 Demons.
***
“Expedition Leader, I am Itilus. It seems the Paladin Order and Crows will find it difficult to advance any further. We will block the bastards advancing now.”
“Yes, Lord Itilus. You have worked hard all this while. And…….”
I couldn't finish my sentence.
It was because someone shouted his rank and name with a loud voice from the enemy lines.
“New Demon Army Rank 5, Sakabou. It is the name of the one who will kill you, so memorize it.”
The Rank 5 Demon and his subordinate Demons stood aloofly and waited for us.
The Demonic Energy felt from them was terribly fierce.
However, Itilus grinned, approached me closely, and whispered.
“Do not worry about Tayon. He is not a weak man to be worried about by a junior of the family who is still wet behind the ears.”
Itilus had used honorifics to me ever since participating in the Expedition, but at the moment of parting, he showed dignity as an elder of the family.
I liked even that appearance.
“Yes, Lord Itilus, I leave it to you until the end.”
“For the Apostle to make a request to me, as a Paladin serving the God of Peace, where would there be a greater glory than this.”
Laughing heartily, Itilus advanced to face the Rank 5 Demon together with the Paladin Order and Crows.
Before leaving, Tayon stared at me.
Tayon had worried until the end about my decision to kill the Demon King, but he kept the secret I asked him to keep and said not a word about it.
‘Thanks to Lord Tayon, I was able to form the Expedition. Please take care of yourself.’
It was difficult for Tayon and I to meet again, but we couldn't even shake hands once when parting.
However, Tayon’s heart was conveyed well.
Even while going out to fight a powerful enemy, he couldn't easily take his steps, looking back at me continuously.
I bowed to such Tayon as well.
Tayon nodded, then pressed down his crow mask. He raised his sword and shot a blue Blue Moon toward the enemy lines.
Kwa-ang!
***
“It seems a new guest has entered my floating castle.”
Bitelleanus muttered while looking at the appearance of his cherished floating castle being half-destroyed.
Inside there, too, those harboring powerful Demonic Energy were packed.
They must certainly be high-ranking Demons.
They looked rather more dangerous than the guys who revealed their rank and name suggesting a bout.
“The Remnant will head to the floating castle. Expedition Leader, you must achieve your heart’s desire.”
“Yes, I will cut the neck of the new Demon King.”
Bitelleanus just smirked and fingered the soil.
***
The one who blocked the few remaining Expedition members was a single Demon.
Since he stood alone, the main unit advanced slowly while being wary.
However, no matter how much we approached the Demon who was just standing still, it was impossible to get close.
Bea shot a Light Arrow toward the bastard.
The arrow flew at a high speed but didn't reach the Demon easily.
The arrow, which even had a homing function, was failing to hit the Demon standing still at all.
“He must be using some strange Authority.”
Pasion spoke as if nervous.
It seemed a way to deal with an enemy whose distance couldn't be narrowed didn't come to mind easily.
That was the same for me, so I was contemplating, but at that moment Labella stepped forward.
“The Mana Research Department will analyze the Authority and fight.”
Labella spoke as if it was no big deal.
However, unlike her calm tone, Labella was breathing heavily.
Since magic couldn't be used easily in Myeolji, mages found it difficult to use their own power properly.
However, the Mana Research Department came deep into Myeolji and were still fighting together.
We couldn't send only the Mana Research Department in this situation.
So just as I was about to dissuade her, Pasion nodded and spoke.
“Indeed, there is no need for all of us to deal with him. The White Dragon Knights will stand in the vanguard and protect the Mana Research Department.”
“……It would be helpful if you did so.”
Labella didn't insist pointlessly either.
“In the end, no one could return to the main unit. But everyone will be fighting hard in their respective places. We will do so as well, so Lord Polarin, please care only about killing the Demon King.”
“Yes, I will definitely kill the Demon King.”
Like that, even the White Dragon Knights and Mana Research Department left.
All that remained were the separate units including myself, Keldric, Bea, Everchen, Kiyot, Sierin, Blaze, etc., and Evernite.
Like Labella’s words, we had to use all our nerves on killing the Demon King.
We had no choice but to trust that the Gallajio forces we hadn't met even once in Myeolji, or the Expedition members who left the main unit, were continuing their own fights.
The main unit, advancing without any more chatter or laughter, stopped.
It was because a towering wall was visible in front of our eyes and behind the wall, a tremendous aura of Demonic Energy was lurking.
“The Demon King’s Castle must be behind that wall.”
When I spoke, everyone nodded.