Chapter: 281
“Is this the end?”
Elizaveta quickly analyzed the situation amidst the chaos. There was no longer any room to endure. The casualties were severe enough to warrant a declaration of annihilation if this were merely a war of ordinary humans.
With no supplies left, all firearms had been discarded. Swords and spears were broken, and the number of healthy soldiers was dwindling. Everyone had fought through gritted teeth, nursing numerous injuries.
“Prepare for retreat. Send a signal to the Dwarves.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Thirty-six hours. They had held on for a long time. If there was any greed, she would have liked to stretch the time a bit more, but still, they had achieved the minimum target.
They had displayed obvious traps, tying the Seven Dragon Lords’ feet for a day and a half. They had managed to halt the demon army that had ravaged the entire country.
From here to the vast plains was a day’s distance via underground tunnels. If they began to retreat quickly while collapsing the rear tunnels simultaneously, the enemy would have to cross the surface on foot, and it would surely take more than two days for such a force to move in this season.
Yes, it was precarious, but this could be considered a mission accomplished.
She sighed as she looked at the soldiers beginning to lower their weapons in fear.
How many had died? The bravest men of this country, the finest warriors, had fallen in countless numbers.
After this battle ends, it would take a very long time for Krasilov to gather such a force again.
‘No, once this battle concludes, there will no longer be a need to maintain such a large army.’
If they toppled the Seven Dragon Lords, the demon race would be divided, and it would take centuries for them to invade the United Kingdom again. The demons’ own attrition would not be insignificant either.
The other dynasties of the United Kingdom could not dare to raise an army. They had already suffered too much from the war to be able to divert their resources into a wartime economy needed to stabilize the domestic situation.
If that is the case, then her reign would be peaceful. The Counterintelligence Command was intact, so there was no need to worry about the domestic situation. Though busy, a tranquil future awaited her as she laid the foundations for her child’s future.
Just a little longer, yes. They only needed to hold out a little longer. It was just that level of trial….
Crack!
Suddenly, the earth behind her collapsed. From the rear of the encampment, along the riverbank where the enemy had not yet surged, soil was washed away with a loud noise.
This made Elizaveta frown. She had not yet commanded it; how hasty of them.
“Have they already opened the retreat? Retreat should happen in an orderly manner. How can they be so rash?”
“Ah, no, Your Majesty. We haven’t… we haven’t contacted the Dwarves yet….”
“What…? Then this is…?”
Elizaveta’s gaze shifted to the rear. It was the direction where the severely wounded lay, unable to continue fighting. Beyond the provisional tent, at the edge of the washed-out soil, a small metal weapon suddenly rose.
And soon, glowing red eyes appeared within the dark tunnel.
More and more. Dense.
“Goblins.”
[Ha ha ha… Ah ha ha ha!!! Human King, did you truly think I wouldn’t know?!]
From the darkness, the monsters emerged. More and more, they increased in number, casting their bodies down towards the sunlight.
Each one was a trivial creature. But within their numbers, and amidst the surrounding encirclement of monsters, the rear line of life began to close in.
The state of the soldiers was insufficient to push through and fend off the goblin assault from the dark tunnel.
A divine voice reached Elizaveta’s ears.
[I have joined hands with the Dwarves beneath the mountains. Until now, I have escaped by borrowing their strength! Since you are engaging in combat on the surface, would it not be expected that I have laid a trap for your life under the ground?]
“Your Majesty… I shall clear the way.”
[The divine does not deceive. Your death is a certainty, and your struggles are already in my grasp. Uwahaha, ha ha ha!!]
A sigh escaped Elizaveta’s lips.
The goblins were charging in. The guards and knights had already stepped forward, but their number was far too great. No matter how superhuman they were, their flesh was still human. Even goblin swords and spears would surely tear through flesh if they made contact.
Even if they could hold them back, what good would it do? They were surrounded, and the Seven Dragon Lords were drawing closer. Even if they entered the tunnel, how long could they flee while continuously bearing the assault of the small-statured monsters, who could burrow through underground passages with such ease?
Had the Dwarves failed…?
They had made the best choices. They had never made mistakes. No matter how difficult and lonely it had become, they never gave up. Every decision had been rational.
Yet this felt as if the world had abandoned this country.
Elizaveta smiled sadly and drew her sword, turning her body.
“I’m sorry.”
“Your Majesty….”
“But at least you will not die alone. Someone will remember us. Even if this is our last, it will never be the last for this country… for us humans.”
At her words, the guards quietly bowed their heads.
“Will you stand with me? Will you resist toward death? Before our ancestors, let us fight for our homeland, so that we can proudly say we lived meaningfully and died worthily.”
“I will fight for Your Majesty and reach for death with my sword.”
“Then it is good. Sons of Krasilov, let us at least break beautifully before Mother Krasilov.”
At Elizaveta’s words, the guards and knights raised their weapons high. Under the furious laughter of the divine, before the densely packed demonic forces, the knights prepared for their final battle.
At the very least, the world would remember this day.
So they vowed.
The noonday sun hid behind the clouds. Long shadows covered the battlefield.
Underneath, the eyes of the monsters surged from all around and charged.
*
“It’s on time.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Wait a moment, everyone. Is this really the best option?”
“Are you afraid? Just so you know, I’m not afraid.”
“This plan… no, should we even call this a plan… Lord Protector, do you also agree with this?”
“Those who want to do it will do it, and those who want to back out will back out.”
“Damn.”
Click.
The visor comes down.
The vision narrowed, and sounds hummed. The rough wind filled the helmet and swirled around. Her head spun.
Beyond her limited sight, a young man holding Etarique’s sword smiled as he donned his helmet.
“Knights of Tylesse.”
Rather than large, it was vast. That’s how it should be expressed on the deck.
Under the blue sky, above the white clouds. In the space where that rough wind roared.
“Let us show why the United Kingdom is united. All hands, spear!”
“All hands, spear!!!”
The knights raised their spears. The entwined deer antlers and Etarique’s crest fluttered in the wind, swaying as if ready to break.
With a flag in one hand and a sword in the other, the young Lord Protector placed one foot on the edge of the bulwark.
Smiling without a hint of fear, he joked.
“If you make a mistake, you die. If anyone looks like they’re going to make a mistake, they can stay behind. Would it be a bit embarrassing if the Eastern Knights died during the charge from abroad?”
As the knights clenched their jaws in silence, glaring at him, the young man laughed heartily and stepped onto the bulwark—
“For the glory of Tylesse!!”
And jumped right off the deck.
At the same time, all the knights at the site charged across the deck. Damn, this is insane. Who would call this a charge? It’s suicide.
Suicide? Are they thinking of dying? That’s too bad; they should have trained a bit more usually.
Exchanging such banter, biting their teeth, kicking off from the bulwark together.
“For the glory of Etarique!!”
Gripping the spear tightly beneath their arms, they aimed with the firmly braced spear tips.
Since everyone present was superhuman, it didn’t matter how far away they were; the enemy’s position was clear.
From the deck of the airship, death descends from the sky.
Whether horizontally or vertically, as long as the impact of the charge can be concentrated on the spear tip, that should be counted as a spear charge, they endeavored to believe.
Furthermore, when it came to spear charges, at least none of those present, nor any other country, could be compared to them.
A trans-temporal aerial assault was about to unfold.
*
[…What…?]
The divine gazed at the sky, muttering silently. Her consciousness struggled to catch up with the phenomena beyond her comprehension.
All the monsters froze. No, everyone at this site, including the humans.
Dumbfounded, they gazed upward, watching the falling dots with vacant stares.
“Ha ha, ah ha ha…!!”
Elizaveta burst into laughter at the sight.
“I know who you learned this from. This is your karma. Ah ha ha… Banka, your disciple truly resembles you!!”
The airship tore through the clouds, revealing itself, while the guns at the bow began to aim at the ground.
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