***Arc 8 One Who Spread Death, Chapter 197 Indigo and Purple***
Starlight and a small amount of torch――the left wing of the Keithriton army, the main camp of Tekrea Lemin.
He would no longer be able to stand up.
The fallen man who appeared to be the enemy commander was still breathing, but his entire body had been pierced by a spear.
A spear pierced his abdomen, and his left arm was nearly shredded.
This man's outstanding subordinates――the enemy's assault force had also largely been taken care of.
"It was a brilliant battle. I take back what I said about the barbarians. ......At least, all of you are worthy to be called warriors."
Placing down her steel shield, she raised her wrath visor and carried her longsword over her right shoulder.
Tekrea Lemin honestly praises the man.
Was it because of the young man's retreat or was it his stubbornness?
Whatever the case, the man had no intention of returning alive.
He was a small number of soldiers, but everyone fought like a dead soldier――despite her superiority, he was so strong that Tekrea felt that he was in danger.
"Did you say Bez? I respect your bravery. Is there anything you want to say?"
"...No..thing. ...It's not a bad way to die."
The man said.
Tekrea nodded with a slightly soft expression on her dauntless face for a woman.
"Gallant. I don't know much about your faith, but..."
She took the sword that was lying around and put it in the man's hand.
Elderant――It was once one of the beliefs widely spread in Alberan.
When a warrior dies, a weapon in their hands.
That way, they will travel to the afterlife as a heroic spirit.
"Die as a warrior. At least you are a man who deserves to die that way."
"...My gratitude."
Hearing those words, she thrust her long sword into the neck of the fallen man.
She delivered the final blow and brushed off the blood.
In this situation, there was no need to make a show of his head.
"We've made it through for the time being. Your command was splendid, Ojou-sama."
"Stop me with Ojou-sama. How old do you think I’m, Milcarz?"
Tekrea was already 40 years old. She was long past the age of being called Ojou-sama.
The old adjutant,Milcarz, laughed happily.
"I vowed that I would call Ojou-sama this way until Ojou-sama settles down."
"A joke oath is invalid. Carlea gave birth to three boys. Even if I don't give birth to a child now, someone will inherit Lemin's house. Just give up already."
Looking exasperated and displeased.
Milcarz said as he looked at Tekrea with even more amusement.
"If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have taught Ojou-sama swords. To think the Ojou-sama who wouldn’t even kill insects become like this...how sad."
"Everyone has things they’re good at and not good at. You're probably the only person in this world who'd like me dancing in a dress."
Replying to Milcarz’s lighthearted words, she turned her gaze towards the enemy's main camp――beyond the forest.
The army of the Meeklea tribe that had been deployed to the south had begun to be completely routed.
According to the messenger's report, Alberinea stormed the Meeklea main camp and killed the enemy general in one breath.
And almost immediately after that, an explosion occurred in the enemy's main camp.
She doesn't know what Alberinea did. However, there was no doubt that it was caused by her.
It was just as Eluga expected――she was even surprised at how fast it happened.
She remembered well the face of the girl sitting at the meeting.
The marshal showed an incredible calm considering her age――and the girl sitting next to her had no vigor and was just as her look suggested.
To be honest, just a few days ago, she felt nothing but anxiety.
That girl alone would be responsible for the fate of the Alberan Kingdom.
Naturally, the strategic plan was built around her.
It was all based on the premise of her victory, and it's so convenient that it was not a sane situation.
She was persuaded by the same central general, Gokhals, and in the situation of an invasion from three countries――she had no choice but to cling to the straws, but she never expected that such a situation would arise as a result.
Half a month has passed since the start of the war, and Alberinea was already trying to defeat not only Gulshan but also Elderant.
‘As long as you guys can last for some time until Krische goes around the kingdom and destroys the enemy army, it will be fine. Krische is busy with various things like helping out at the estate, so Krische'd like to finish everything in about a month...hmm, even if it stretches out, Krische'd like to finish it all in about two months.’
She doubted her sanity, when she told everyone that so calmly.
However, the reason why no one publicly raised their voices against it was probably because everyone felt the same way.
It was a feeling that could not be expressed in words.
The jewel-like purple color peeking out from her beautiful silver hair.
She said that as if just informing them of tomorrow's schedule, something in it didn’t permit any objection――now she understood..
"...Reason and common sense got in the way. However, she is someone who made a pact with the Holy Spirit. In reality, I might have known from the beginning."
"Ojou-sama?"
"When I saw the appearance of the Holy Spirit appearing in the capital, I immediately understood that I could not win even if I led an army."
At that time, Tekrea was also at the training ground.
A gigantic body that rivaled even the royal castle, with its rock-like scales peeling off――it had magical power that could warp even the atmosphere just by being there.
A girl descended from its back with Suiko following her.
An unrealistic scene that looked like something out of a painting.
"I thought that even if we poured all the power of the nation, we wouldn’t be able to defeat something like that――but Alberinea was the only one who challenged a being that could be called a god."
Ostensibly, it was an audience.
But Alberinea had bandages wrapped around her entire body, and like the dragon, she was covered in wounds.
And the light that pierced the sky the day before. Diplomatic relations with Kreisharana were suddenly restored. The unmistakable respect they had for the Holy Spirit and valor.
Various rumors and speculations were circulating in the royal capital about the dragon's visit.
But only those who were there would have been able to understand which was true.
An assassination attempt on the queen――a servant caught up in the assassination attempt.
The countless great nobles who were killed in retaliation were most likely due to her hand.
Alberinea challenged the Holy Spirit just to save one of her beloved servants, and she accomplished that goal.
"Someone so talented that she could twist even a country with a single will――that is precisely the very Son of God, Alberan. The Heaven Sword was probably the title of someone who can reach even the Holy Spirit with the body of a human."
In her rational mind, she felt that this battle was too reckless.
Alberan didn't seem to have any motivation, especially when she looked at the girl in the conference room.
However, the sight that Tekrea saw was deeply etched in her mind.
More or less, that must be the reason why the central generals were thinking positively about this war.
"It's like having the Holy Spirit on your side. It's reassuring knowing that, but...it's also scary."
She saw a girl hugging her servant, her tears overflowing.
She closed her eyes, thinking of everything that would have happened in the process.
Born into a ducal family with royal bloodline.
She was aware of the vice the Cursed Child of the royal family, but she didn't believe it.
However, it was a power that was too strong for an individual to possess――she could understand why someone like her was called a Cursed Child.
If there was an individual who feared not even God, that would be the ultimate unreasonableness for many people.
No matter how sincere the wish or desire, she would .
An individual who could obtain everything they desired, their existence themselves was tantamount to a natural disaster.
"It is useless even if I think about it huh. …I can only pray that that sword will be wielded only for the sake of protecting the country."
However, if the only person who can be subjected to such unreasonableness was their enemies.
Tekrea thought that humans were really creatures of convenience.
The place was the main camp of the left wing of the Veeze army, in the forest with a bonfire shining brightly.
Currently, there were no extra reserves in the central Elderant army, the Veeze army.
East――a fierce attack from Keithriton’s army, who launched a night attack from the front.
The right, center and left were all doing their best to defend this.
Shelna could only escape from one of these options, and the enemy came from the south and west――it was inevitable that they would head towards the army of Kirs, a brute from the tribe affiliated with Veeze, who was in charge of the far left flank.
"Aaron! Immediately move the battle line towards the main camp in the south. We will meet up with Arkaz in the north and retreat from here immediately."
Out of breath, only Shelna, Zuren, and a small number of the elite members led the way.
Leaving the rear to Head Priest Zigret, she took only those with magic possessor who were fast and joined the main camp of the 7000 army led by Aaron Kyrus.
The tall warrior chief, Aaron Kyrus, looked down at Shelna with confusion on his face.
His tattooed, muscular upper body was exposed, and his only armor was the gauntlets.
Perhaps because it was a night attack, they were even more lightly armored than Sherna, who only wore her breastplate and gauntlets.
"...Just when I thought I heard a strange sound, did you abandon your headquarters and come here?"
"It was an emergency. An army-sized enemy who defeated Gulshan is approaching from the south. The enemy is an elite group with Kreisharana’s griffin, and the main reserve was destroyed by the exploding magic crystal."
She let out a sigh as she spoke in rapid succession.
"...If we don't move quickly, we'll be pursued not only by the enemy who launched a surprise attack, but also by the enemy's main army."
"...Have you gone crazy? No matter how much you've been attacked by surprise, you're too disordered. In this situation, I can't believe you're abandoning your headquarters and suddenly retreating..."
Shelna pulls out her sword and thrusts it at him.
"Aaron, we don't have time for questions. Just shut up and obey."
"...If not, it's a duel huh."
Scratching his head in frustration, Aron looked at the men behind him.
Kirs soldiers were in a frenzied mood and were grabbing what they could find.
"It's true that I’m afraid I can't beat the Sword Princess of Veeze, but do you really think they're going to follow you by killing me here? I don't deny that it is your right to give orders without explaining, but I think it would be wise to consider the situation."
Aron stared at Shelna but did not draw his sword.
This was because there was no legitimacy in cutting down an opponent who was not even ready with a sword without any questions asked.
It's not a duel according to the law, just a simple murder.
"Only a pet dog would follow someone who had abandoned their headquarters and turned their back on himself, asking if he was willing to do so. That doesn’t make sense. I’m not Ledo, can you at least have a rational discussion?"
"...I'll talk about it as much as you want later. Time of the essence. Please, just shut up and obey."
"Ha, after threats, now you're asking me for a favor?"
"...Aaron
Zuren, a huge man, comes forward with blood flowing from his injured left arm.
Then he kneel both knees and bowed his head.
Shelna and the others called out to him, but he remained silent and pressed his forehead against the ground.
"What are you imitating, Zuren? I don't even have the hobby of taking pleasure in making a bastard bow his head "
"It's urgent. Just for now. Please obey Shelna-sama quietly for now. If you are still dissatisfied with it after that, you can tear me to pieces."
Aron watched Zuren bow his head and scratch his head.
Then he clicked his tongue and glared at Shelna.
"...This is Kirs's loan to Veeze. You don’t mind that right?"
"...Yeah. That's fine."
"I'm feeling down. I'll just shut up and obey... Zuren, don't forget what you said."
"I swear...My thanks."
Aaron looked behind him,
"Tell the vanguard! Get ready to roll your ass right away, meet up with Arkaz. All reserves are to the rear――!?"
The moment I was about to give that instruction, only a few of the people present jumped.
A gust of wind pierces through the place where Aaron was standing a moment ago, and breaks the huge tree in front of it.
――That was not a human, but a giant beast.
The warriors instantly understood what it was,
"――A Suiko!?"
"That's not all! Avoid it!!"
And Shelna, who was the first to realize that it was not just a single magical beast, shouted.
What did that mean――Aron realized it too late, jumped, and immediately pulled out a large curved sword in the air and wielded it.
What the sword hit was an arrow.
But that's all he was able to do right away.
The swinging body was Suiko's right arm, who had completed a flip and leap by breaking a huge tree-――before the body that was in the air could even touch its feet, it was slammed straight into the ground.
And the small figure that jumped on top of him flexed his short bow, much too easily.
――The arrow that was shot pierced the skull, killing Aron, the Kirs Chief Warrior.
"Aaron-sama――ah!?"
The arrows seemed to be scattered indiscriminately.
The skull of the adjutant covered with fat was shot through, and seven arrows were fired after that.
3 people avoided it and 4 soldiers died from it.
"Hmm, quite a few avoided it. Even though Krische've been doing pretty well so far."
Throwing away her bow and empty quiver, the girl picked up a large curved sword that had fallen by her side and looked at it.
She was dressed in a black cloak, wearing her own gauntlets and boots.
A one-piece dress unsuitable for the battlefield peek through the gap in her cloak.
Her pure white skin sparkles in the bonfire, and her silver hair splits into two, resembling a tail.
And those endlessly inorganic, freezing purple eyes.
"...Well, it's fine. Gururun, you can't play around here."
The Suiko purred at her, nuzzling herself into the little girl.
The atmosphere in this place, illuminated by the bonfire, suddenly became cold.
Even Shelna gasped and stiffened for a moment.
Among all the warriors in this place, she was the only one who could understand who the girl in front of her was.
But everyone understood what kind of person this girl was.
The strangeness of a girl standing calmly and alone in the middle of enemy territory.
It made their sense of reality fade from their consciousness, depriving them of the will to turn their blades and step forward.
Only one person was able to move.
"You...!"
Shelna Veeze drew her sword, her chestnut hair flying in the wind.
Keeping her posture low and reaching top speed in one breath.
It was like a gale, and everyone could hardly believe their eyes.
The girl on the other side glanced at her and twisted her body,
"――!?"
At that moment, a flash of light was released that seemed to split the space.
The large curved sword of Aron Kirs, the chief warrior, had already changed its master.
The trajectory and speed of the sword was so smooth that it cannot be caught even by those watching from a distance.
Only Shelna's indigo eyes caught it.
It was a surprise blow that should have hit the target.
However, the girl picked up the sword and swung it easily, aiming at Shelna's neck with unerring accuracy.
The acceleration that slips through the gap in the opponent's consciousness――the step of the swordswoman who is called "Violent Gale (Reppu)".
The irreversible inertia that occurs there.
The girl's purple eyes saw through it easily, and the counterattack was released at the moment when it could never be dodged.
Shelna realized the foolishness of her forcibly charging in, turning her long sword into a shield.
Her beloved sword was naturally cut in two, and she used the moment she barely had to move backward.
Indigo and purple eyes crossed――the superiority was already obvious.
Veeze's sword princess, the treasured sword she wielded was snapped off with just a single stroke.
In contrast, there wasn't even a single dent in Kirs's curved sword.
In response to the step that made everyone doubt their eyes, there was not even a trace of shock on the face of the girl who was accompanying Suiko――not even a hint of surprise.
"Hmm, it's not a bad shape, but it's a little heavy which isn't good."
‘Krische failed to kill her,’ she said, as if troubled.
With her fingertips wrapped in the leather of her gauntlet, she traced her cherry-red lips.
Looking at Aron's curved sword, she spun it around in her hand.
She was so beautiful that she looked out of place on the battlefield, and she had no hostility――she had killed several, but the way she stood was as if it’s a flower garden.
The girl looked mad to all intents and purposes, and in contrast.
Shelna Veeze’s heart jumped as if it were about to burst.
Sweat trickled down her chin and a chill ran down her spine.
"......,this is Alberinea."
The girl――Krische Christand tilted her head at the words she heard.
There was a distortion like that of a doll,
"...? How surprising. Is there a leak from somewhere?"
Her wide-open eyes were fixed squarely on Shelna Veeze.
The purple color shimmering and shining in the bonfire.
It was probably the first time since she was a child encountering a Suiko.
――It was a fear of predators that she had long forgotten.
"Krische would like to hear it, for future reference, but well, it doesn’t matter huh. .…This is the end of Elderant."
"Hg..."
South, thrown from the forest that Sherna and her friends had come through, what was it that rolled.
The face of a familiar old man.
It was the head of the head priest, Zigret.
A stir spread through the air.
She suddenly realized that there were signs of enemies not only in the south, but also in the west and north.
She didn't know what kind of magic it was. Was it the advance by those griffins――no, there were too many of them and too fast for that.
Most of the 7,000 left wing to the east were being eaten up by the Keithriton forces in front of them, and they could not return in this short time.
This place was surrounded from three sides at this moment.
The only reason she showed up alone was to stall them until then.
It was to complete the siege.
And she was far superior to Sherna, at least with the sword.
The choice was to flee――or fight.
"......Now the west is at peace. Krische will be able to return to the estate."
Ignoring Shelna's hesitation, the girl smiled and put her left hand up.
And that was probably the signal.
"Tch, Scatter!
――A storm of countless arrows and spears pierced the place.
