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Chapter 87
“Lord Eric… are you sure this will be all right?”
A tall fortress wall.
Eric and his companions stood atop it, facing the massive armies of the Rat Demon King and the Goat Demon King that were descending from the mountain ranges toward the fortress.
Looking down at the swarming rats and goats that had halted just beyond the range of magic—while the sun had not yet fully set—Eric answered Lillian’s uneasy voice quietly.
“Don’t worry. We’ve gathered as many troops as they have. We won’t be pushed back that easily. Besides, we’ve got the fortress walls on our side—it’ll make up for some of the difference in power.”
Indeed, even though the Great War had yet to begin, the fact that two Demon Kings were attacking together made this invasion dangerously severe.
But that didn’t mean their side was hopeless.
Although the eastern front, even after rescuing Saint Devotio, hadn’t completely driven out the Demon Lord’s army—making it impossible to rely on aid from the east or the central territories—the North itself was far from weak.
‘Of course, it’s not quite like the late-game, when all the soldiers and heroes were over-leveled after the Great War began. But still, we’ve got two trump cards that can completely upset the Demon Kings’ plans.’
Even if they couldn’t afford to pull all the border troops here, and were outnumbered, raw strength alone didn’t decide every battle.
Just the fact that Gregory, who the Demon Kings believed was still being held by the Holy See thanks to Impietas’s schemes, was present—was a huge factor that could change everything.
“It’s been a while, Hero.”
As Eric glanced down into the fortress interior, where Gregory and the rear guard waited out of the Demon Kings’ sight, a soft voice whispered beside him.
He flinched and turned.
‘Isabella…’
The sixth finger of the Goddess.
Isabella Ravenclaw.
“I’ve heard of your exploits, Hero. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d do this well. Thanks to you, I can finally stand tall before those old men in the Holy See.”
Unlike their first meeting at the inn below Mount Nibosus, her tone was familiar now—light, confident.
Facing Isabella’s bright, teasing smile, Eric stiffened slightly.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She might truly be grateful, and perhaps she was smiling sincerely, but that didn’t mean he could relax.
If he slipped up even once before her—no matter how well this battle went—he’d never escape the Church’s “Raven’s pursuit.”
Still, for now, her presence was a relief.
‘Having Isabella here is a blessing.’
Though she added pressure in some ways, she was undeniably a huge advantage in this war.
‘She’s not on Gregory’s level in large-scale battles, but her personal power is something no one can ignore.’
There were only three Inquisitors in the entire Church—positions not earned through talk or luck.
A faith as unshakable as steel, and strength powerful enough to purge heresy single-handedly—those were the requirements.
She surpassed most heroes, even Virga, the commander of the Shadow Knights.
In one-on-one combat, Isabella was so dangerous that even the other Inquisitors wouldn’t dare challenge her.
‘She can’t take on a Demon King alone, of course—but she can probably take down someone like Squallor.’
With two Demon Kings leading their armies, every bit of strength counted.
Just her presence gave the defenders a sliver of breathing room.
“Lord Eric. They’re coming.”
At Leona’s call, Eric tore his gaze from Isabella and looked down at the enemy’s advancing forces.
“Then, I’ll be expecting another brilliant performance from you, Hero.”
Leaving those words behind, Isabella vanished into the fortress.
As the Demon Kings’ armies began to move under the fading light, Eric rested his hand on his sword hilt.
“Light the fires!”
“Light the fires!”
With Austin’s order, shouts rang out across the battlements.
Fwoosh—Fwoosh!
Soldiers lit the torches hanging along the wall, illuminating the hordes of rats already crawling dangerously close.
“Magicians, target the ones heading for the gates! Knights and soldiers, stop anything climbing the walls!”
The commanders along the wall bellowed their orders, and the troops moved with trained precision.
While the magicians chanted, the soldiers and knights swung their blades at the first rats scrambling over the parapets.
Squeak!
Screee!
Whoosh—Slash!
‘Damn rats. We must’ve killed tens of thousands of these things at Castrum Fortress, and they still keep coming.’
The gray tide surged endlessly.
While cutting down the ones the soldiers missed, Eric spotted Lillian preparing her magic with the other sorcerers.
“Sir Lillian, hold on a moment.”
“Eh? But—”
“The others can handle the front for now. Step back and wait for my signal.”
There were many rats, yes—but they had plenty of magicians too.
Lillian’s spells were far stronger than the others’, and if she unleashed one right into the middle of the horde, it would do serious damage—but Eric had other plans.
‘Better to save her magic for the real threats later. No point wasting it on these mobs.’
This wasn’t a fight that would end after a few blasts anyway.
If they wasted her power cutting down cannon fodder, they’d regret it when something stronger appeared.
Her magic could even hurt a Demon King—if she landed a direct hit.
“Hah… haah… I can’t go on! Someone take over—”
Squeak!
Screech!
“Urgh! Damn it—”
Thud!
“Watch out!”
“Th-thank you, Lord Eric!”
Even as he helped the exhausted soldiers, Eric kept his gaze on the enemy’s main forces, which hadn’t moved for nearly fifteen minutes now.
‘Strange. They should’ve started advancing by now…’
Then—
Fwoom!
From the center of the enemy camp, a powerful wave of mana burst outward.
A soft, pink light spread across the battlefield.
“W-what’s that?”
“Light from below…”
“It’s from the Goat Demon King’s army! Shields up! Now!”
Slowly—very slowly—something began to float up the wall.
‘No… that’s not just light.’
Seeing soldiers nervously raising shields, Eric suddenly turned and shouted down.
“Sir Gregory!”
A weary voice answered.
“Honestly… you humans always assume every spell is dangerous.”
The Goat Demon King, hands raised high, exuded radiant pink magic that climbed the walls like a wave.
She sighed softly, her face almost sorrowful.
“No need to be so tense, my darlings. It won’t hurt one bit. Just close your eyes for a little nap—and when you wake, it’ll all be over.
Of course… you won’t actually wake.”
Her voice wouldn’t carry to the wall, but her sweet tone hung in the air nonetheless.
“W-what is that…?”
“Are those… butterflies?”
The soldiers blinked in confusion as tiny pink butterflies fluttered gently toward them.
They had braced for some deadly spell—only to be met with a delicate swarm of light.
“Don’t be fooled by how they look! Stay alert! We don’t know what this is—uhm…”
“Yaaawn…”
“I… feel so sleepy… can’t… sleep now….”
Thud.
“Damn it! Don’t let them touch you! Drive them away!”
“O-our attacks aren’t working!”
The butterflies landed softly on the nearest soldiers, whose eyes drooped instantly.
Blades passed harmlessly through the magical forms as the glowing insects clung tighter.
Squeak!
Screech!
“The rats—they’re climbing!”
The rodents poured over the walls while the guards slumped into enchanted sleep.
“Move the sleepers back! The rest of you, hold the line! Don’t let a single rat—urk!”
Within thirty minutes of battle, the fortress was on the verge of being overrun.
Then—
“Holy Communion of the Goddess.”
SHWAAAA—!
A brilliant light burst from within the fortress, washing over the battlements.
The pink butterflies dissolved instantly into shimmering dust, leaving no trace behind.
