Chapter 295

Chapter 295 - Advent (4)

Before heading to the Onkalo Monastery, Eugene persuaded the leadership and took out one insurance. It was requesting support from the new king who would be in the capital.

"I did not know there would be a more cautious commander than me. It is also surprising that it is the count."

Duke Leray laughed. In fact, it was something he had also thought of, but considering the knights' face, he could not carelessly bring it up. Because the military fOrce gathered here was so mighty, it might seem like they were not trusted.

In this kind of situation, if the most powerful knight takes the lead and requests support, the knights' dissatisfaction can be minimized.

"Following the rise of the pagan army, a king who gave his body to an Outer God has appeared. Since unpredictable situations continue to happen, it would be wise to do everything we can to prepare."

"Honestly, no matter what is in there, I do not think the count will lose. Am I being too careless?"

"I also have no intention of losing. Thank you for evaluating me highly."

"Still, the rumor that the king and the legion will support from behind was appropriate. Since the soldiers are mustering courage even after seeing that place stained with wickedness."

To the new king who lived as a religious person and just entered the capital, there was no particular military fOrce. The king's support was the same as the Shadow Legion's support.

"The king will not refuse, but do not expect the legion to arrive early. It is an unavoidable fact that they helped one axis of the civil war. Those with great responsibility will be politically purged. There will inevitably be disruptions in operation."

At the point of accepting the king's recommendation to surrender, the Shadow Legion must have been prepared for even this part. However, it could not be helped that confusion was expected.

"It is certain that the former king is inside there!"

The summoners pointed at the Onkalo Monastery. They had just used the catalysts or summons they each made for Gaius's treatment. Tracking that scent was not difficult.

"Everyone, prepare to perfection! The battle you will fight today will put an end to Roman's civil war! It is an honor to fight togAether!"

At a certain old knight's shout, all knights regardless of affiliation responded with burning passion. Both the Allied nobles and the former Emperor's army were the elite among elites. There was no mutual doubt in terms of skill.

"Looking at it positively, Gaius will settle the discord a little, even if just a very little bit, at the end."

"Wow. You are looking at it really positively."

Valda was dumbfounded while packing combat rations into Eugene's belt.

"Are there no tribes as simple and ignorant as knights? The rift created by the long civil war is deep. But if they unite and fight against the demons here, it will be sealed quite a bit."

"There is indeed no better prescription for reconciling knights than having them fight as comrades in arms."

Valda, who meticulously checked whAether even a single leather strap was loose, kissed Eugene's cheek.

The military priests divided by religious order and created temporary places of worship. Those participating in the operation gathered according to their respective faiths.

"In the name of God, your sins shall be forgiven, so all that remains now is courage and a sense of justice to face evil. Dear God, if this noble knight falls, into Your embrace..."

Even knights who had not lived so faithfully now harbored passionate faith in their hearts.

"It is holy water personally blessed by the Archbishop. It will protect you from the curses of wicked beings."

Holy water that was hard to obtain even when great lords paid many donations was unsparingly sprinkled on the knights' faces.

"O Mitra. Bestow courage upon me. I want to fight so as not to be shameful to the honorable knights gathered here."

Squires also engaged in prayer in their own ways.

Amidst various faiths crossing, the most conspicuous one was indeed the Banas order. The characteristic of all being Dark Elf priestesses drew the eyes of even mercenaries who had no interest in faith.

"Faithful knights. The Goddess's divine protection will be togAether with you. The Guardian Knight guides you, so return safely to the embrace of your families. Return to the embrace of the Goddess."

The fact that it was the only target the strongest knight of this era would kneel both knees to. That also gathered the interest of various knights and nobles.

Now all preparations were finished. Close to 100 heavily armed knights and an equal number of squires, along with handpicked heavy infantrymen, stepped into the Onkalo Monastery.

* * *

"Here is Onkalo."

"A monastery that even the king cannot carelessly enter."

As they charged inside, the knights whispered in low voices. A place that even lords whose status was far higher than theirs could not step on. Everyone felt a sense of pride at this moment permitted only to brave fighters.

"It is a unique structure."

A knight who had profound knowledge in fortification marvelled. A fortified monastery is similar to a castle, so it is a structure advantageous for defending against external attacks. However, this place was the opposite.

"The dungeon being sealed here is bigger and more dangerous than the one at Rasta Monastery. It is a building built with wicked beings popping out as a constant."

An accompanying Holy Warrior of the Apostolic State said.

Structures and pillars designed to be used as substitutes for barricades were arranged everywhere. If the enemies coming up from hell were too strong, shelters to temporarily evacuate also existed here and there.

"Brothers..."

The Holy Warrior discovered armed priests dead about 20m ahead. Around them, demon corpses that seemed to be 2 to 3 times as many were scattered.

"It has not been that long since they died."

"Let us avenge them with our swords."

While the Holy Warrior offered a prayer, the knights laid the priests straight and closed their eyes. WhAether they stubbornly resisted until the last person, there was not a single corpse with a face soaked in fear.

In the meantime, the heavy infantrymen struck the necks of the demon corpses to perform a complete confirmed kill.

"Sir Knights. The demons are all imps."

"The wicked god has just now occupied a body. There is a limit to the authority it can exert in the present world. If given more time, it will call forth even more terrible demons."

The Holy Warrior compared demon summoning to catching a person falling from a high place. Saying that when the catcher's body is frail, a child is the limit, but if it becomes stronger, a sturdy adult can also be caught.

Passing the outer garden and entering the inside of the monastery, several passages appeared. Now it was time to part ways by group.

"We will advance along the central path like this."

"I will pray for your good fortune in war, Your Excellency the Count."

"May God's divine protection follow you all as well."

The monastery was wide and the number of subjugation fOrces that entered was also large. If they advanced as one mass, the majority would end up just watching from behind anyway.

It was better to apply pressure simultaneously from several routes. Because they should not give Gaius more spare time.

* * *

Eugene, who was advancing cautiously, once again discovered the corpses of the Onkalo priesthood.

Smack smack.

Munch munch.

The sound of imps ravenously craving bones and flesh rang out. Among them, there was a black dog the size of a tiger. Unfortunately, it seemed the Outer God that occupied the king's body was slowly gaining strength.

Crunch!

The dog, which tore off one whole leg of a priestess with its large mouth, met eyes with Eugene.

Drop.

The leg it was holding in its mouth fell, and jet-black teeth were revealed. The tongue licking between them was as red as blood.

"Hellhound!"

Marbas, who tagged along as a magic countermeasure, warned.

Khyar-!

As the Hellhound opened its mouth, an ominous light flickered from the jet-black hole.

"Be careful. Because that bastard spews fire from its mouth."

The tribal knights immediately raised their shields and blocked the front of Eugene.

"Then I must stand at the front line even more."

Eugene pushed the knights away and personally stood at the vanguard. Right after, the Hellhound spewed flames, but Eugene's shield was far too large and sturdy. It was even in a state of having received Banas's blessing before sorting out.

Fwoosh!

The Hellhound showed signs of bewilderment at the knight who did not budge even after taking all of its flames. Homi's large crossbow was aimed at that bastard.

Thwack!

A solid silver-plated bolt pierced the Hellhound's robust chest. The short gap created by that pain and injury was enough.

Slash!

A silver flash glinted from the hand of Eugene, who closed in in an instant. The large dog head fell to the ground.

"⬛⬛⬛! ⬛⬛!"

Only then did the imps stop their meal and rush at the intruders.

Eugene conTrolled his strength and kicked the Hellhound's head. Several imps collided with the head flying at tremendous speed and collapsed in a heap.

In the meantime, Eugene's knights went around to both sides and cut them down randomly. Eugene also swung his rectangular shield like a hammer from the front and beat down the imps.

"Are there any injured?"

"It is a disgrace to the Mayer family to fall from this much!"

The border knight Henri shouted boldly. Imp blood was pooled on his twin swords.

"Do not act arrogant. Rookie. Are you at the rank to run your mouth during an operation?"

"I apologize!"

At a certain tribal knight's threat, Henri immediately shrank back.

The world of knights is also a place where people live. Even if seniority is not absent, in principle everyone is a semi-noble. They maintain their own horizontal relationships.

However, Eugene's army was extremely strict about wartime military discipline. Acting like the same knight and talking back to seniors resulted in having their faces instantly shoved into the dirt.

A situation where the recklessness of knights ruins operations or causes soldiers who do not need to die to be killed. Because Eugene terribly hated this kind of thing, it was a culture settled as a necessary evil.

Twitch.

Twitch.

The tribal knights' ears moved. As Eugene reflexively raised his shield, the tribal knights shook their heads.

"It is not a sound from the front. It seems an engagement has broken out in another area."

"Are we winning?"

"As to that..."

Eugene patted the shoulder of the tribal knight who was smiling awkwardly. And then he discovered other knights flawlessly blocking his front.

"I felt this since earlier, but it seems like you keep pushing me back?"

"My Lord. Originally, it is rare for a general commander and monarch to stand at the vanguard. Taking the initiative in every matter is truly honorable, though."

Hind spoke as if pleased yet troubled.

"We have our own way. I have always stood in front until now, so why bring it up now."

"..."

The tribal knights glanced sideways at Hind. They had something they wanted to say, but it seemed they were burdened to dare say it to Eugene. The one they relied on at times like this was Hind.

The first vassal knight, chief of staff, and Eugene's right arm. He was in the position to offer the most direct advice within the castle.

"To speak honestly, there are many castle residents who are anxious."

"Anxious? About what?"

"It has already been 4 years since the entire clan settled in the Moving Castle. It will be impossible for all the tribe members to return to their previous lives."

The little kids born and raised in the castle freaked out when they heard their parents' nomadic life stories.

'Blegh.'

'What, a bath once every 2 weeks? Is that how people live?'

Hind licked his lips. Because from now on, it was a topic that even he was tense to bring out.

"The deeper the attachment to the current living system grows, the greater the fear of when it disappears also grows. Since there is still no child between you, My Lord, and the princess..."

Hind, who gauged Eugene's mood for a moment, continued speaking.

"Until you see an heir, everyone's anxiety is bound to grow. This will be even more so as the years go by."

"Right. Thank you for speaking properly."

Eugene shrugged.

"Both Valda and I are working hard."

"There is no one who does not know that."

The camaraderie of adventuring togAether. The affection as husband and wife. The duty as monarch and royalty. They were two people in whom these three harmonized. That perfect marital harmony was already famous even in the Allied fOrces.

'Everyone, worship Valda. She is the only existence who can inflict an injury on the strongest knight.'

The women of the Moving Castle would also chatter jokingly pointing at the red marks appearing on Eugene's neck or chest.

"Being a Half-Elf is more difficult than imagined. The medicinal herbs Valda raised with devotion do not seem to have an effect either."

"How about asking for help from the Elves of the great Northern forest? If it is them, detailed records about Half-Elves of the 1st Era should remain."

Eugene expressed disapproval at Marbas's advice.

"The vested interests there will find Valda immensely uncomfortable."

"Elves are those who value tradition the most in the world. Surely they would not treat royal blood poorly?"

Eugene worried that arrows would fly, but Marbas reacted as if it made no sense.

"Castle Lord. If they do not hand it over willingly, we just need to take it by fOrce. What would your army be for?"

"Calm down, all of you. The great Elf forest is such a heavily guarded place."

Excessive tension dulls the body. They were in the middle of a combat mission, but it was not a bad conversation. The knights further hardened their fighting spirit while thinking of the lord's child who would be born someday.

"Should I send a whole bunch of other people's children to the nAetherworld just to see one child of my own."

Eugene, who was speaking with a smile, was suddenly taken aback.

"Hmm?"

The presence, breathing sounds, and sounds of armor brushing against each other of his subordinates that touched his senses disappeared all at once.

"Homi? Hind?"

The figures of his subordinates who were togAether with him just until now were nowhere to be found. Eugene was standing alone in the darkness filled only with unpleasant silence.

Grrr-.

Splish splash.

Unpleasant sounds approaching from the end of that silence.

"..."

Eugene tightened his grip on his sword and shield. It seemed he had fallen into a trap prepared by the Outer God.

* * *

"Castle Lord! Castle Lord! Please answer!"

"What on earth is this?!"

The ones astonished were Eugene's subordinates as well. They were blocked by a barrier that suddenly appeared in the passage. Their master alone completely vanished from sight beyond the grayish-white smoke that blocked the path like a wall.

"Move aside! I will smash it!"

The Dwarves held hammers and struck the smoke barrier but were bounced off just like that.

"Wh-what? This feeling?"

Wood, metal, or stone. The feel of the strike was different from any of those. It was a bizarre feeling of hitting something that does not exist in the world.

"Summoner! Do you have a method!"

Everyone's eyes gathered on the last hope. However, the expression of Marbas, who put both hands against the smoke barrier, was not bright.

'It is an Outer God's barrier.'

The gods residing in otherworlds are diverse. For convenience, wicked beings are grouped togAether and called evil gods, but that does not mean they have a good relationship with each other either.

Rather, they are close to enemies competing over precious nourishment in the same domain. In the first place, even the dimensions they reside in are all different. Except for special situations, communicating with each other is impossible.

Therefore, several evil gods did not even know of his existence right until they were banished by Eugene. Should it be called a privilege to be able to launch a surprise attack every time?

However, the god that occupied Gaius's body was different. Having read the host's memories to some extent, it knew well the danger of the pursuing enemy.

"The count has fallen into a trap. Go outside and bring all the summoners on standby! Because we will need 10 or more summoners to break this barrier."

At Marbas's command, Homi, whose feet were the fastest, dashed out.

"To consume this much divine power to kidnap one knight."

Marbas stared at the barrier with an absurd face.

"Then the Castle Lord will not be in danger either, right? Given the Outer God used that much power."

Marbas, who pondered for a moment at the quick-witted Hind's question, shook his head.

"Come to think of it, this was a place that sealed a dungeon. It is sufficient for the Outer God to use power only on detaching the count. As for attacking him..."

"It will leave it to the monsters that will come up from hell."

The situation was worse than imagined. A possibility they had only vaguely imagined at least once. The knights' faces distorted at the sensation that they might lose Eugene.

* * *

And his subordinates' prediction was accurate. Eugene, isolated beyond the barrier, was fighting a fierce desperate struggle with the surging demons.

"Kyaruk-!"

"Kyaaak-!"

Last Autumn flashed dazzlingly and chopped the imps to pieces. However, more imps flocked while stepping on the fallen corpses.

The skull-like faces were full of thirst for Eugene's blood and flesh. The wickedly sprouted teeth seemed as if the wicked god designed them stitch by stitch. To inflict the maximum pain on the victim so as to savor that scream.

The imps also kicked off the ground or their kin, leaped up, and lunged with their whole bodies.

"Kieeek-!"

Slam!

Eugene struck the imp flying in from the upper left with his shield. That bastard plummeted spilling brains after its head was shoved into the ceiling.

Against the bastard lunging from the upper right aiming for that gap, he drove his sword into its face.

"Kkeruruk-."

Because it was a bastard that pounced in a posture like a flying squirrel, the sword penetrated in a straight line from the nose through the neck and chest. That bastard gnawed on the gauntlet for the few seconds until its breath ceased.

As Eugene beat about two bastards with the sword that became an imp skewer, the split corpse fell away.

For now, Eugene was overwhelmingly slaughtering them, but it was by no means a good situation.

'They are guys to whom fear does not spread.'

In an ordinary army, the atmosphere changes the moment Eugene slices up about 10 people. Passing fear to each other like an infectious disease, the entire army ends up in a state of falling into a swamp.

However, the demon army had absolutely none of that. Even drug-injected fanatics could not be this fierce.

Fwooosh!

Flames filling the front and lunging came into Eugene's eyes. 3 Hellhounds spewed fire at Eugene while roasting even their own side.

Sizzle sizzle, the disgusting sound and smell of demons' flesh burning. The shield blocked the flames, but as the heated air filled the surroundings, Eugene's breath choked as well.

As he took several large leaps backwards and widened the distance, the demons pursued. It felt like he had killed over 50 of them by now, but it rather felt like the number had increased.

Eugene, who was retreating, struck out with his shield in a surprise attack.

Crash!

Three or four imps rolled over clutching broken ribs. However, they were obscured by the imps stepping over them and rushing in.

[⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛.]

[The religious order is detestable. They deceived me. I will kill everyone.]

Furthermore, even Death Knights dressed as Holy Warriors revealed themselves, and two of them at that.

"No, fuck."

Heavily outnumbered.

Even if it was Eugene, curses came out naturally in a situation with no answer.

"The Outer God prepared very solidly, didn't it?"

The retreating Eugene reached the same hypothesis as Marbas. The current Onkalo Monastery was in a state split into two due to the barrier spread by the Outer God.

The subjugation fOrce would be dealing with minor demons outside the barrier. On the other hand, Eugene was in a situation where he had to face the real-deal demon army alone.

Swooosh!

Eugene, who was running, reflexively defended his rear.

Clang!

Clang!

2 javelins thrown by the Death Knights pierced through the shield. A considerable shock sharply rang Eugene's arm.

Not only that, a terrible cold explosively sprang up from the spears. Just as Banas blessed Eugene's shield, the wicked god had also just blessed these spears.

Thud!

Eugene, who discarded his shield, retreated once again. In his left hand, he drew King's Agony. The problem was that a flock of demons also appeared at the end of the direction he was escaping.

Behind the imps, a large demon close to 4m was seen. That bastard had pitch-black fur covering its whole body and held a sword even larger than Eugene with one hand.

"Damn it!"

To avoid being surrounded, Eugene changed direction to the only passage without demons. It was a path giving off a thick smell of blood, so he wanted to avoid it, but there was no retreat route other than there.

"Kyaaaa-!"

"⬛⬛⬛."

"Grrr-."

A chorus screamed by all sorts of wicked beings mixing togAether poured onto Eugene's back.

The place he arrived like that was the slaughterhouse. The Onkalo Monastery had many personnel and a trend of valuing military fOrce, so the facilities were also large.

Eugene blockaded the door and laid down obstacles indiscriminately to build supports. As expected of a place sealing a dungeon, did they consider using the slaughterhouse as a sit-in spot in case of emergency too? The door was built incredibly sturdy.

Boom!

However, it shook noisily as the demons slammed their bodies against it.

Boom!

Boom!

The door held up somehow, but he could not be relieved. Because at this rate, he was a rat caught in a trap.

Thuuuud!

After a brief silence, a much larger shock overtook the door. Perhaps the 4m large species had stepped forward.

"Alright then. Let's see it through to the end whAether I die today or you bastards die."

It was a disadvantageous situation, but Eugene did not give up. Right now, a large army was arrayed outside, and only magicians and summoners were serving in the military in double digits.

Even at this moment, they must be striving to break the barrier made by the Outer God. This was a battle of endurance. If he held out until his allies came to save him, he won.

Boom!

Cracks formed on the door from the repeated shocks.

Crack!

Splinter!

The swords thrust by the Death Knights wedged in through those cracks. The time the door could block would be a mere 1 to 2 minutes going forward.

Thuuuud!

The shock trying to break the door transmitted into the slaughterhouse. Dead deer, cows, and pigs shook back and forth. The fully extruded tongue and empty gaze of a deer stared at Eugene.

Craaack!

Finally, a small hole was pierced in the thick door. The gazes of countless demons glared at Eugene from beyond it.

[There is no retreat.]

A voice like boiling lava crashed into the slaughterhouse.

[No one can stand against it.]

The voice of the Outer God that occupied Gaius's body dug into Eugene's ears.

[In the darkness. The sound of tearing your flesh will echo. No one. May no one be able to save you.]

The sensation felt when a carefully achieved plan succeeds. Satisfaction overflowed from the wicked god's voice.

However, there was a part that neither Eugene nor the Outer God that occupied Gaius's body thought of.

A third entity that could enter this disconnected space. That there was one more of that.

Eugene felt the Bloodletting Dagger worn at his waist vibrating while emitting intense mystery. As he drew it out, Kalash's voice rang out.

[He. Is not. Alone.]

Because it was inside the barrier of another god, noise was mixed into Kalash's voice.

[Great knight. In the meantime. You have. Splendidly. Treated me.]

The mystery emitted by the Bloodletting Dagger grew endlessly stronger, and finally formed a physical shape.

Flash!

Kalash's power, clumped like pomegranate seeds, wrapped around the dagger in a spiral structure. It was a mysterious sight as if looking at a DNA chain.

[My warriors. Will support. You.]

Eugene's gaze turned to the dead livestock scattered about.

Rumbbble.

Hell's life fOrce swirled explosively from the Bloodletting Dagger. As if asking to be quickly guided to bodies where they could run wild.

Eugene approached the nearest livestock as if possessed. It was a deer with splendid horns, sticking its tongue out.