Chapter 215

Operation Jormungandr Repulsion, One Day Before Execution.

Essentially, all possible preparations had been completed.

The heroes had finished their training, and ample quantities of picks, hammers, and other equipment crafted by Kellibey had been secured. The ordinary soldiers had also completed their formation drills.

The citizens were prepared for evacuation, and shelters had been set up in the northeastern part of the city.

And so, on the evening before the operation was to commence, I ordered all the hero characters to rest.

They would face a brutal three days ahead. I hoped they would spend their last evening in relative comfort.

"...That's why I ordered everyone to rest."

I clicked my tongue as I saw Lucas, the knight who had been sticking close to me as my bodyguard.

"Do you have to follow me even when I told you to rest? Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Lucas promptly replied, "No!"

"You're wasting your youthful years, Lucas..."

How did you end up being my bodyguard and spending such a dull 24 hours? I feel sorry for you, kid.

"I appreciate your concern, My Lord, but I regulate my own rest and leisure."

"Like I believe that..."

He's been following me all day, and even when I sleep, he stands guard outside the door. Does this guy even sleep properly?

"Come with me."

I led Lucas through a winding path to the garden of the lord's mansion.

In a courtyard that overlooked the city were a few dust-covered sunbeds.

I casually plopped down on one of them and rested my chin on my hand.

"Sit down."

"Huh?"

"Let's soak in the evening sun together."

"But I have to protect you—"

"Tsk!"

When I made a clicking sound with my tongue, Lucas reluctantly sat next to me.

I brought him here because if I rest, maybe he will too.

I stretched out comfortably on the sunbed, while Lucas awkwardly tried to mimic me.

From this yard, the cityscape of Crossroad was in full view. Lucas and I spent some time silently looking over the city as it bathed in the light of the setting sun.

"Lucas."

"Yes, My Lord?"

"Why do you protect this city?"

I asked out of the blue, and an obvious answer came back.

"Because you are here, My Lord."

"..."

This guy really needs to develop some unpredictability... His repertoire is way too predictable. Every time he opens his mouth, it's 'My Lord, My Lord,' all unwavering loyalty.

"And..."

Then Lucas added something. I blinked and looked at him. Huh?

"Because there are other comrades as well."

"..."

"Evangeline, Damien, Junior, Lilly, Saintess Margarita... the Shadow Squad, and many other comrades are here as well."

Lucas scratched the back of his head, awkwardly.

"I've come to care about them. ...So, I want to protect them."

"..."

I looked at Lucas' profile and chuckled.

"You've grown, too."

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes. You've grown."

Originally, Lucas was the main character of this game— the commanding officer on the Southern Front.

A knight with the virtues of a leader, caring for his subordinates with a broad perspective.

However, unlike the game, I had maintained my position as the commander, and Lucas had become someone who blindly followed and protected only me.

I had secretly worried that I was stifling Lucas' growth.

Fortunately, it appears that was just my own insecurity.

Lucas was growing in his own way, and not just him; I had come to value my other comrades as well.

Grinning, I lightly patted Lucas on the back.

"Let's keep up the hard work tomorrow, Lucas."

Lucas grinned back and replied, "I'll gladly follow you, my Lord. I will protect you with my life."

'Huh... Despite his growth, it seems like his stale dialogue repertoire will never change... I have a feeling...'

***

South-east from Crossroad, the Margrave of Cross's orchard.

Evangeline stood in front of her parents' graves.

"I'm here, Father. Mother."

Holding a bouquet of flowers, Evangeline laid them in front of the gravestones and smiled faintly.

"You're not mad that I don't visit often, right? I've been incredibly busy, you know."

Still, the cemetery felt unfamiliar, right down to her parents' names etched on the gravestones.

Evangeline briefly thought that she would never get used to this place.

"...The monster coming this time is said to be a giant snake."

Squatting down in front of the gravestone, Evangeline started to sob, her hands cupping her cheeks.

"Crossroad itself might be destroyed, the seniors are evacuating the citizens and preparing for refuge. It's a bit nerve-wracking since we've never faced a monster like this before."

Evangeline glanced at her father's gravestone.

"I wonder how you would have faced this monster, Dad?"

Then she stared intently at her mother's gravestone.

"And what words of encouragement would you have offered, Mom?"

Laughing softly at her pointless musings, Evangeline said, "I'll go now."

Dusting off her knees, she stood up and whispered, "I will protect it. Our family's village."

Looking at her parents' graves, the girl made a vow.

"I will protect this path that you both risked your lives for, the memories I've had with both of you."

A gust of wind blew across the meadow, messing up her bright platinum hair. Evangeline clenched a small fist in front of her chest.

"Because I am Evangeline Cross."

She would fight.

As the successor of the Cross family.

And thus, she would prove.

That the struggles of the Cross family throughout the generations were not in vain.

Clenching her fist tight, she declared, "Because I am the future Margrave of Cross."

Evangeline's emerald eyes sparkled with resolute determination.

***

Crossroad downtown, the barracks. Reina's room.

A party of five mages sent as reinforcements from the Imperial Capital were holding a quiet meeting.

"Could it really be the Jormungandr from the myths?"

"If it's as dangerous as the Third Prince fears, we should respond from the Imperial Capital level—"

"We are that 'Imperial Capital level response'."

Reina coldly cut off her subordinates' worries.

"From the beginning, the Imperial Capital has been too busy focusing on other fronts. Even if a god of evil were to descend here, they probably wouldn't care."

"..."

"If it truly poses a threat to the Empire, it's our responsibility to deal with it on our front."

"But Reina, we didn't come here to hunt monsters. Our primary mission is—"

Reina silenced her subordinate by raising her hand.

"Any element that poses a threat to the peace of the Empire must be eliminated. That's our purpose."

"..."

"If Jormungand is truly as dangerous a monster as they say, then its elimination should take precedence over other missions."

It was then.

"Lady Reina."

One of the party members, who had been standing guard at the entrance, cautiously approached Reina and reported.

"A guest has arrived. It's that young mage."

"..."

With a wave of her hand, Reina signaled, and her subordinates promptly exited the room.

Once they had all left, Junior peeked her head into the room.

"Um, did I interrupt? Were you in the middle of an important discussion?"

"Not at all. We had just finished our meeting."

Reina spread her arms to both sides and gestured for her to enter.

"So, what brings you here today, Jupiter's daughter? I'm pleased you came to see me first."

"...I came to receive another 'spell' before the battle."

Junior hesitated, pursed her lips, and finally spoke softly.

"I also want to talk a little more about my mother."

Reina grinned and beckoned her inside.

"Come in. Let's have a chat."

Junior entered the room nervously, and Reina immediately asked her.

"By the way, have you eaten?"

"Uh? No, I haven't..."

"After the spell, let's have a meal and continue our conversation. There are some surprisingly good places to eat even in this remote area."

Expertly inviting her to a meal, Reina began preparing for the spell. Junior watched Reina's back intently, exhaling a dubious breath.

***

The Temple.

Kuilan entered his brother's sickroom with a lively smile.

"Kureha! I'm here!"

"...Kuilan."

Sitting on the bed and busy with some paperwork, Kureha greeted Kuilan with a happy smile. Kuilan tilted his head.

"What are you doing? Weren't you supposed to be recuperating? What are these papers?"

"It's some backlog of administrative work for the temple... I felt guilty for only receiving help, so I've been assisting with the work here. Fortunately, even with my leg like this, I still have a role to play."

"..."

Kuilan glanced somberly at his brother's damaged left leg. Kureha shifted the topic with a light smile.

"How about you? I heard the Penal Squad has been giving you a hard time lately. Are you okay?"

It seemed the rumor of Lucas disciplining the Penal Squad had spread throughout the city. Kuilan raised his hands in frustration.

"Ugh, don't even mention it. That knight, he practically tormented us like he wanted to eat us alive. Does he hate me that much? Well, he's pretty hateful, and I hate him too. Damn it."

Grumbling, Kuilan soon nodded.

"...But I have to admit, I've definitely improved because of it."

Kureha blinked at the noticeably different attitude of his younger brother.

"During the last defense battle, I was more inclined to do just enough and then flee."

Kuilan clenched his fists and thumped them against his chest.

"But this defense battle feels different. If I don't stop that monster, you and our homeland up north... the thought of them being swallowed whole by the monster comes first."

"..."

"Now I think I somewhat understand why people here risk their lives to stand on the walls."

Kuilan broke into a grin and patted his older brother on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, whether giant snakes attack or monsters swarm in like a pack of dogs, I've got you, bro."

"...I'm always sorry, Kuilan."

"Bro, you have nothing to be sorry for. You protected me back then. Now it's my turn."

"..."

"Heh, it's only natural for a younger brother to protect his older brother, right?"

Kuilan grinned and extended a fist.

"Share some of your awesome luck with me."

"Gladly."

The two brothers lightly bumped their fists together.

Kureha looked at his younger brother, who was twice his size, and smiled bitterly.

"Go on, Kuilan the Miracle Maker."

***

Damien sat in the darkness.

Despite the complete absence of the accursed aura from the Black Queen, Damien's complexion remained dark, as if he were still engulfed by that ominous energy.

'I am...'

Damien looked down at his empty hands.

'Why was I fighting? What was it for?'

After laying down his weapons and being excluded from the party, Damien lost the inertia of battle. He finally had a moment to reflect on himself.

'I've already lost half of what matters... what else am I trying to protect, suffering like this?'

Perhaps it was because the nightmares shown by the Black Queen over the past few weeks had been too vivid. 

The faces of the people he had lost were almost tangible, crystal clear. 

Their smiles, their deaths. 

That's why it hurt more.

'I miss you...'

Damien hunched over even more.

'I miss you...'

He no longer wanted to fight.

He didn't want to stand in front of terrifying monsters, acting tough.

In this hellish world, he didn't want to do anything anymore.

He just wanted to remain... submerged in the darkness.

***

The next day. Dawn.

The southernmost point of the world. The Black Lake.

Bubbling...

Breaking through the surface of the murky lake.

Whoosh...!

The massive head of a snake, flickering in a silvery hue, emerged.

The boss monster of STAGE 9.

The World Serpent, Jormungandr, finally revealed itself to the outside world.