Dandole Part
Please be advised that the perspective will change.
Having evaded the attack from Amor and the Second Order of Knights, Margrave Dandole, Feld, and the others were able to rush into a mansion on the outskirts of the Royal Capital.
“Secure the gates! Amor and the rebels will be here soon! Prepare for battle!”
“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!!”
Due to the report from Roakwell, who had gone ahead, the Dandole knights, who had been warily watching for the enemy despite their confusion, immediately cast aside all their doubts upon the order of the arrived Commander-in-Chief of the Knights and began to act as knights.
This high level of training was Dandole’s strength, and also a part where they lacked flexibility.
The Melrose Family, his friends, had compensated for that, and Dandole had supplied the military strength that the Melrose side lacked, but they were currently separated and under simultaneous attack.
“That Amor… He may seem to have lost his mind, but he pulls off such impudent tricks.”
Margrave Dandole bit his lip in frustration while giving orders to his subordinates.
Even if he seemed to have gone mad, Amor knew that the two Margrave families should not be allowed to cooperate, even in peacetime.
But that was only natural for a member of the royalty who had received an education. Precisely because he knew the origins of the Kingdom of Claydale, he viewed Dandole and Melrose as dangerous.
In the first place, the Amor that the Margrave knew was by no means incompetent. It was just that, because he was compared to the previous king’s younger brother—who was capable and had died an early death—his self-esteem was terribly low.
Because of that, he became introverted and had developed a somewhat servile personality, but he shouldn’t have been that foolish.
He had already obtained permission from the Royal Family to subjugate Amor, but Margrave Dandole intended to strike Amor down even without it. However, the unknown enemy known as the Undead… Amor, who had obtained the Divine Protection (Gift) that created them, was probably no longer human, he thought.
The current strength on Dandole’s side was: fifty elite members of the First Order of Knights whom the Margrave himself had brought from the castle. A little over thirty Dandole knights. There were also knights who had been conducting drills here.
Numerically, there wasn’t much difference from the army Amor led. In anti-personnel combat, Dandole, with its extensive battle experience, would likely have the advantage.
However, those who had been drilling were young knights instructed by the Dandole Family’s knights, and if they fought the Undead, there would be many casualties. Considering that the enemy was Undead, even for the other knights, it was clear they would be at a disadvantage even if they had three times the numbers.
To overcome that—
(Is it them…?)
The stalwart man wielding a black greatsword—Feld Tungs. He had heard that Feld had left his family and his surname had changed, but he was still a member of the Count Tungs Family, possessing noble status.
From a young age, his outstanding swordsmanship and physical abilities were famous. If not for the family feud, he might even have been entrusted with the command of a knight order.
(If only he didn’t have that power, would he still be living as a noble now…?)
While the Margrave thought this, he was grateful that Feld, a Rank 5 and one of the Dragon Slayers, was present.
“Feld-dono, I thank you again for coming. We will gather the key personnel to discuss how to deal with the rebels, would you be able to join us?”
“Of course. However, Your Excellency…”
“Ah…”
Following Feld’s gaze, who had frowned slightly, the Margrave also looked at “her” and made a similar expression.
The daughter of the Count Lester Family, one of the Crown Prince’s fiancées, Karla Lester.
Despite still being a girl not yet of age, she already stood alongside her father, the Rank 5 Head Court Magician, and was known as one of the foremost Magicians in the kingdom.
But reality is sometimes crueler than rumors. Many viewed her as dangerous, but those who investigated her were astonished by the truth.
She had enhanced her power by continuously delving into Dungeons alone since childhood, and during the Royal Family’s Dungeon conquest, she participated as one of the Crown Prince’s fiancées and obtained a Divine Protection (Gift).
As a simple measure of combat strength, Karla was already regarded as the strongest Magician in this country, surpassing her father, and was one of the kingdom’s greatest assets, alongside the Dragon Slayer girl.
However, her mentality was extremely dangerous, and even if this became known, if they carelessly accused her of a crime and she retaliated, it was unknown how much damage would spread. Those who failed to realize this and crossed her had all met gruesome deaths.
There was no doubt she was the greatest fighting force here as well. But if Karla were to act freely, their own knights would also suffer casualties. It was necessary to have some sort of understanding with her beforehand.
“…Oh my, what is it, Commander-in-Chief of the Knights?”
When the Margrave and Feld went to Karla, Karla, who had been watching the knights’ movements with a bored expression, glanced at Feld for a moment, then immediately spoke to Margrave Dandole.
“Lady Lester, thank you for your assistance earlier.”
In terms of noble rank, Dandole was higher than the Lester Family, but Karla, as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, held a position akin to royalty, and was someone he had to bow his head to.
“It’s quite all right. They must be quite a handful for mere humans, aren’t they? I wouldn’t mind taking care of all of them myself, you know?”
There was no malice in Karla’s words. She probably simply considered ordinary humans a hindrance.
In response, Margrave Dandole paused for a moment and then let out a quiet breath.
“…No, that won’t be necessary.”
In this case, it might be correct to unleash Karla on the enemy like a bomb. He didn’t know what kind of powerful magic Karla could use, but as long as they didn’t send the knights forward, casualties should be minimized.
But—
“We are knights of the kingdom. We have a duty to protect this country, and that includes you, Lady Lester.”
“Oh…?”
Karla’s eyes narrowed slightly at Margrave Dandole’s words.
No matter how strong Karla was, she was still a young girl, and one of the royalty the knight order was sworn to protect. Besides…
“Lady Lester… are you not overexerting yourself?”
“…”
Just as the Margrave pointed out, Karla’s complexion was worse than when she first appeared, looking more like a corpse than an actual dead person.
Dandole was also an old noble involved in the central affairs of the kingdom. He knew the price of a Divine Protection (Gift). The reason she probably hadn’t used her Divine Protection (Gift) in the previous battle was likely due to such reasons.
Karla, who smiled faintly at the Margrave’s observation, suddenly turned her gaze to Feld.
“Speaking of which, you over there… what happened to that little ‘kitty’?”
Feld, who had refrained from speaking so as not to interrupt the conversation between high-ranking nobles, frowned when Karla suddenly spoke to him, but still answered dutifully.
“…You mean Nero? He’s outside. Doesn’t seem like he plans on getting friendly with humans. Except for Aria, that is. And I plan to stand on the front lines with him.”
At this point, there was no need for the formal speech used between nobles. She was the same age as Aria, and a girl said to possess combat power equal to or greater than Aria’s, but he felt that, even more so than with Aria, formalities were unnecessary with her.
Even so, he felt that Karla and Aria, though not friends, seemed to understand each other. Perhaps because of that, while he was pressured by Karla’s oozing “killing intent,” he didn’t feel any more fear towards her than necessary.
“I see…”
Though their words were different, to the two who were implicitly warning her, ‘Don’t do anything unnecessary,’ Karla smiled, the corners of her lips turning up, then swished her robe and sat down on the stone steps leading to the mansion.
“In that case, I’ll leave it to you. I just hope it doesn’t come to a point where I have to step in.”
“…”
As Karla averted her gaze elsewhere, as if signaling the conversation was over, the Margrave and Feld also gave a nod and turned away.
They couldn’t determine Karla’s motive for siding with them. It might have been a mere whim, or perhaps because Aria was involved.
But Feld, from the impression he had heard from Aria and the feeling of facing Karla directly, sensed that Karla had her own agenda. And the fact that Karla had retreated once without pursuing Amor was turning his suspicion into conviction.
“Enemy forces sighted!!”
Just then, a voice echoed from the watchtower, and Feld and the Margrave exchanged glances.
“So there wasn’t even time to discuss… Feld-dono, may I borrow your strength?”
“Yes, that’s why I came. Both me and the one outside.”
“…That’s as reassuring as it gets.”
For the Margrave, the idea of a Rank 5 Phantasmal Beast siding with humans was something he couldn’t fully bring himself to believe.
The same was true for Nero; he fundamentally didn’t trust any humans other than Aria. While he held a certain degree of respect for those involved with Aria, Aria was the only one he wished to be with.
“Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!!”
Nero, who was outside the castle walls, heightened his fighting spirit to fulfill his promise to Aria.
Ordinarily, Nero would have been by Aria’s side no matter the situation. Although it was Aria’s wish, his reason for fighting to protect these unfamiliar humans was his belief that his own strength was insufficient.
Nero had not seen humans as a threat, considering them fragile creatures. No matter how much they trained, their bodies were mere beings that his claws could easily tear apart.
However, Aria, after battling a Rank 7 dragon, had acquired power surpassing even Nero.
And that human named Karla also possessed power exceeding Nero’s.
As Nero was now, he couldn’t stop either of them. He couldn’t even intervene in their battle. If he wished to be with Aria, he realized he needed enough power to stop them.
Because he knew better than anyone the solitude that came with being strong…
It was the same for Feld. Aria, who had continuously sought power to fight against fate, had become one of the most powerful individuals on this continent, and those who could stop her were exceedingly few.
He believed that after Aria settled things with Karla, who possessed comparable power, no matter how Aria chose to live, she shouldn’t be left alone because of that strength.
For that reason, Feld gripped the hilt of the Dragon Horn Greatsword his companion had given him, a weapon he still hadn’t mastered, determined to at least become able to wield it freely.
“Well… shall we go?”
Muttering this softly, Feld rushed up the castle wall after the Margrave, only to find Amor’s army already gathered before the wall, their weapons pointed towards them.
“Dandole! You despicable inheritors of ancient blood! The time has come for I, Amor, to bring down the hammer of judgment, and for the kingdom to be reborn with new blood!”
“Have you lost even your pride as royalty, Amor! By the covenant of the ancient blood you speak of, I, Dandole, shall eliminate the enemies who disrupt the royal family!”
Margrave Dandole retorted from atop the castle wall to Amor, who was delivering his battle cry.
The covenant by which the former Kingdom of Claydale had peacefully united the two duchies of Dandole and Melrose—
It was precisely because of this covenant, which stipulated that even the royal family could be struck down if it fell into disarray, that the two Margrave houses were entrusted with the two key positions of Commander of the Knight Orders and Prime Minister.
At the word “eliminate,” Amor’s eyebrows shot up as he glared at the Margrave.
“Men, take Dandole’s head!!”
At Amor’s voice, the knights of the Second Order of Knights began to move, and from the castle walls, Dandole’s knights loosed their arrows.
But even when those arrows struck their heads or chests, the Second Order of Knights did not stop.
“Uwooooooooooooooooooh!!”
DOOOM!!
Several knights carrying a giant log, despite taking countless arrows, slammed into the main gate, the battering ram echoing with a deafening roar.
“You think I’ll let you!!”
In response, Feld leaped from the castle wall and drew the greatsword from his back.
“—Grand Slash—!”
A single flash—and with just that, the giant battering ram shattered, tearing apart several knights who had been carrying it.
Even so, the Undead writhed, trying to regenerate. Upon them, those on the castle wall who could use magic launched Fire Arrow spells.
“Gah—”
However, an arrow loosed by the Second Order of Knights pierced that Magician’s neck, and the Second Order, who had been holding back due to their limited arrow supply, began to fire arrows at the castle wall without regard for appearances.
“Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
A jet-black beast leaped in, its massive body and whip-like whiskers deflecting arrows, and crushed the regenerating knights with its claws.
“Nero!”
“Graaaah!”
Nero responded to Feld’s voice, and from among the knights terrified by its roar, Undead devoid of will leaped at Nero, but Feld’s greatsword bisected those knights, armor and all.
“Follow Feld-dono!!”
Skilled knights from atop the castle wall leaped down, formed a defensive line before the castle gate with their greatshields, and crushed the regenerating knights with the maces in their hands.
“Damn you, a mere adventurer and a beast!!”
Seeing his forces gradually being whittled down, Amor leaped out, sword in hand.
Kiiin!!
“Amor!”
“Feld!!”
Their swords clashed, sending crimson sparks flying and echoing with sound.
Amor and Feld had been classmates at the academy, and though they had never spoken directly, they knew of each other. But this was not entirely in a good way.
“You too shall learn the extent of my power!”
“What did you say!”
Feld, with his blessed physique and outstanding swordsmanship, was admired by everyone. Because of that power, he had to leave the academy midway, and while Amor pitied him for it, he hated the look of sympathy that such a man directed at him, a prince.
The thought that the unfortunate Feld considered him even more pitiful had left a small scar on Amor’s heart.
Amor had sought “a power that cannot lose” from the Dungeon spirit.
The power of a hero from a story, who rises again and again no matter how many times they fall, ultimately achieving victory.
But the Dungeon spirit had seen through to the source of this desire: a servility born from a heart continually wounded by comparisons since childhood.
The Dungeon spirit loved humans. Like giving as much candy as a crying child wants, the spirit responded to their requests with compassion.
A boy named Nasanitar, to protect the girl he loved… to repel the Pink-Haired Girl who killed people as if disregarding the gods, sought the power to deliver divine judgment.
But when the spirit realized this was impossible no matter the price, instead of a Divine Protection (Gift), it summoned a “demon” that met his desired conditions optimally, and introduced (・・) it to him out of goodwill (・・).
And for Amor, intending to grant him the elements possessed by the heroes of this world, it had the summoned demon give him parasitic worms from the demon world that would turn him into a dead man, and through a compassionate Divine Protection (Gift), remade his mind so that he would feel no anxiety whatsoever.
A strong Divine Protection (Gift) leads to self-destruction.
Nasanitar should have wished for holy magic to protect someone.
Amor should have wished only for the mental strength to overcome his servility.
Knowing that strong wishes lead to self-destruction, that girl—Licia—did not tell them this, and instead incited them further, making them take the Divine Protection (Gift) they desired.
“I have been reborn! I’m different from you, who ran away!”
“Kuh!”
Feld parried the sword swung with inhuman strength.
Feld’s swordsmanship was superior.
Feld’s greatsword slashed Amor’s body many times, but each time he had to dodge the parasites mixed with the splattering blood and flesh, and during that time, the regenerating Amor gradually began to overwhelm Feld.
“Graaaah!”
But Feld was not alone either.
Nero, having defeated the surrounding Undead, saw an opening and slammed his claws into Amor.
“Guoh… You beast!!”
Amor rolled sideways, his attention diverted to Nero. And Feld had no reason to overlook this.
“—Slash—!”
“Guooooooooooooh!?”
Finally, Feld’s Battle Art caught Amor, slicing off his upper body as if gouging out his heart from under the armpit.
What will be the outcome of Amor and Feld’s battle? What is Nero’s resolve?
And what are Karla’s intentions?
Oh, right… It seems the 5th chapter of the comic adaptation will be updated on the 27th. (whispering)