I had forgotten. This place is a world of adult games.
Well, considering Hans, who has seen the legendary shell dance that supposedly cheers up men in CG, thought that being bare-naked and prostrated was a better option. It just came out too suddenly.
Anyway, at least it was clear that Cluna and Clara were genuinely remorseful. Plus, it also made sense that one of the causes of this situation was Hans’s own attitude. Hans let out a sigh.
They are knights who have spent their lives on the battlefield. Naturally, they would be quick to pick up on things. In fact, Hans himself had dropped hints that he wanted to leave every time. At least, that was how he thought about it.
Of course, that doesn’t justify their actions. Manipulating someone else’s mind without permission is an outrageous act beyond imagination. It’s certainly not pleasant for the one being controlled either.
It’s just that he understood that it could have happened. But if you asked him if he could forgive them right away, Hans found it hard to answer. After some concern, he spoke up.
“I understand your sincerity. But I can’t forgive you right away.”
“I know.”
“I want to prove it through actions.”
“If that’s the case…”
Hans viewed their aspirations positively. Three years from now, if they continued to stay together, perhaps someday he would be able to genuinely forgive them. But first, it was about Bayard.
“So, do you really think that Bayard, the leader of the Twelve Tribes, will return to me?”
“Of course, right?”
“Maybe he’s just dying to get away immediately.”
“Still, he acts as the leader of the Twelve Tribes?”
“Yeah… in a way, he might be forced to.”
Bayard is the vanguard of the Royal Knights, breaking the enemy’s front lines to boost morale. However, that doesn’t imply abandoning the main force. Just when Bayard was having a blast rampaging around, Commander Hans was attacked and killed by the Blood Demons. How much guilt, anger, and sadness would Bayard feel upon realizing that? Just thinking about it made Hans click his tongue.
Moreover, Hans didn’t harbor any bad feelings towards Bayard. Could it be because he often saw him humbly lowering himself? He felt more like a hamster than a bear.
‘It’s hard to believe that Bayard is a tyrant.’
It’s not that he didn’t trust Cluna, but the image lodged in his mind didn’t evoke that at all. Bayard as a tyrant? No way. It’s sort of how he felt.
“I have to contact Bayard somehow.”
“I have one method for that.”
“A method?”
“Yes, actually, after this is over, we arranged to meet Bayard briefly. To discuss future plans.”
“Plans for the future… are you talking about annihilating the Blood Demons?”
At Hans’s question, Cluna nodded gravely. The ones who charged forward, fueled by the strongest hatred, were Cluna and Clara, but that didn’t mean Bayard was okay either.
In fact, among the members of the Royal Knights, Bayard had undergone the most drastic change, so for now, nothing could be guaranteed. Just like what Cluna just mentioned about annihilating the Blood Demons.
No one knew exactly what he was planning, but Cluna said that Bayard was quickly organizing Orcs and then plotting to annihilate all the Blood Demons.
Annihilation of the Blood Demons… it looked like a rather abnormal plan. Of course, Bayard wouldn’t go overboard, but you can know a hundred things in the water, but you can’t know a single thing in someone’s heart.
“When and where are we supposed to meet?”
“If we run at full speed for three days, we’ll reach the Thunder Hammer, a frontline fortress made by the Dwarven Republic. We were supposed to meet there.”
“Are we collaborating with the Dwarves?”
“It’s true that they historically didn’t get along very well, but they’re not an enemy to the extent that we should completely exclude them like the Orcs.”
That meant the plan was so huge that they would negotiate with the not-so-pleasant Dwarves, but for some reason, the more he uncovered, the more he felt that the situation was worsening.
“Let’s set off right away.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Hey, you there, kid. Make sure to keep up so you don’t get left behind.”
“Are you talking about me?”
“Yeah, you, of course.”
Clara pointed at Lua. When Lua made a disgruntled face, a vein appeared on Clara’s forehead. She was worried, so why this?
“It seems you don’t grasp the situation. An Elf running at full speed in the forest is like a fish frolicking in water. Do you really think you can keep up? You?”
“Mind your own business.”
Clara’s words were half true. Catching up with Elves in the forest was nearly impossible unless you were a skilled commander. Of course, the remaining half was full of intention to keep her in check.
“….”
The one who was truly in trouble was Hans, whom they didn’t know about.
*
Usually, saying that it takes three days meant they would rest along the way. It didn’t indicate arriving at full speed like this. At least, that’s what Hans thought.
Has everyone become a monster consumed by revenge? Or are they subtly messing with him? He never imagined they would arrive after running nonstop for three days without even a proper nap.
Thanks to that, Hans was on the verge of death, but the Elf mother and daughter were watching him instead. Because to outsiders, he appeared to be unpleasantly tired.
“It seems the commander has a lot on his mind.”
“That’s true. Since Bayard has become a tyrant.”
“How kind of him to feel guilty for us. What a gentle soul.”
In reality, Hans was just exhausted and dying. He could barely match their speed, using Time Stop and even Time Acceleration.
‘Is it just me, or is the penalty significantly alleviated?’
Importantly, the condition of searing pain in his insides with Time Acceleration was bad, but this time it hurt, but not to that extent. If he had to express it, it was similar in intensity to a stomachache.
Compared to the pain he had previously experienced, it was definitely manageable. Managing himself, Hans lifted his head. What awaited him was the grand steel fortress proudly standing in front of him.
Uniquely, the fortress resembled a lightning symbol. How did he know that? He had seen it directly when he dove off a cliff earlier. Hans glared at the Elf mother and daughter.
“Do you have something to say?”
“I was just going to ask if that is the place.”
“Yes, that is the place.”
Hans nodded. After all that effort, it better be right. But tiredness aside, they really did arrive exactly on the morning of the third day. At least, he wasn’t lying.
To build a fortress like that in just three years… It’s hard to say it’s just the Dwarves’ territory. It’s the Demon’s territory; it’s simply impressive. Unless they used Iron Men to make it themselves.
Just looking at it made Hans feel an inexplicable sense of nostalgia. To construct such a massive fortress openly in the Demon’s territory, his previous hardships weren’t in vain after all.
“They’re coming over there.”
“Are you talking about the Demons?”
“No, it’s the envoy from the Twelve Tribes.”
“An envoy? That?”
In the direction Cluna pointed, there was no denying that those approaching were marching like an army. Hans clicked his tongue. Someone might think they were attacking the fortress.
As the commander of the Royal Knights, Hans had encountered many delegations. And if there was one characteristic of an envoy, it was maintaining solemnity while not being excessively threatening.
Of course, they had to show some strength to prevent being looked down upon, but since envoys came to talk, they wouldn’t impose unnecessary threats.
That is, as long as it was a normal envoy. No matter what, it wasn’t typical for an envoy to bring siege weapons, right? What’s more, that siege weapon looked familiar.
“What’s that…?”
“It’s a new weapon commissioned from the Dwarven Republic by the Twelve Tribes. It’s called Steel Lightning.”
“Steel Lightning?”
“Yes, it’s named because it drops steel lightning onto the enemy.”
Hans stared at the imposing Steel Lightning with a stunned expression, diverting his gaze away from Cluna. It was massive and grand, featuring a cylindrical shape with a hole in the middle.
Below its steel body were wheels, and it was being dragged by hundreds of Beastmen. In simpler terms, it could be said to be a fantasy version of a self-propelled artillery piece.
Only, it was way too big to simply call it artillery. Hans was dumbfounded. He had thought the annihilation of the Blood Demons was some grand plan, but now they were creating a massive cannon. Could it be?
“Is that the core of the Blood Demon annihilation plan?”
“Yes, it seems like the plan is to launch ‘lightning’ and strike the Demon territory, turning it into a sea of flame.”
That’s just an incendiary bomb.
Having thought that far, Hans tilted his head. No way would those damned monstrous Blood Demons die just from such incendiary bombs. Just then, Cluna spoke with a grave tone.
“It’s the ultimate weapon crafted using all the technology left behind in the Purgatory Workshop to target the Blood Demons. They said its power could burn down half the continent, and even we wouldn’t be safe.”
“….”
No, it’s even more than that.
Hans shook his head vigorously.
What the hell, is this even an adult game?
