“We must leave him here and march out. We have to empty the castle.”
“Does everyone have to go?”
“If they can wield a sword, even the youngest child must be scraped up and taken. That’s the situation with the monsters in the northwest.”
It was the first time I had seen such fear in the lieutenant’s face.
“Ogres as big as castles swinging clubs, which are no less than trees. The Caligaris become invisible, and in that state, their nails tear human flesh like paper. The Northern Army is right at the walls, but they’re just the defense force. Beyond them lies a large town.”
Then, countless bells resounded throughout the castle.
Arcadia sprinted towards the tower, and I followed.
At the top, we saw blue flames rising from the snowy peaks in the northwest.
“Magic-created flames, it’s Adrian. That means the walls could fall.”
I couldn’t help but ask.
“Lieutenant, is His Highness the Grand Duke going too?”
“Esdel, the position of Grand Duke of the North isn’t like in the South, just a place to nibble on meats and fruits.”
His words were sharp.
I finally grasped the reality.
The destiny of risking lives in the North. The weight of being the Empire’s shield.
‘The Grand Duke leads the charge into the battlefield.’
What should I do now?
“Lieutenant, please go ahead. I’ll oversee the Red Caterpillar and follow.”
“Leave it to me.”
I hurried down from the tower.
Two skilled knights to guard the dungeon, one apprentice knight to guard Lady Nugent’s room, five reserve knights for castle security.
All other knights, totaling about three hundred, excluding those guarding the extreme north and northeast borders, assembled in front of the castle.
Meanwhile, I was looking for Steward Luewine Axel.
She was busily preparing supplies for the knights, checking every corner of the castle.
“Steward.”
“What is it?”
Catching her breath, she asked.
I handed her the letter and brooch from Butler Hans of the Axel family.
“Quality assurance and a seal.”
Her gaze deepened as she looked at me.
“I don’t know the contents of the letter. Butler Hans told me to give these to you when I needed to find trust.”
“Our brother always loved the dramatic.”
Luewine opened the letter.
“It’s quite brief.”
She looked at me.
“Steward, you know about the southern spy we captured?”
“Yes, the Red Caterpillar.”
“I have an important request.”
I offered her Ventus’ video stone.
Arcadia secretly hid one of the North’s transmission stones in the dungeon, next to the unconscious Red Caterpillar.
The stone would transmit the Caterpillar’s every move to Arcadia on the battlefield until our return.
I asked Arcadia to leave Yora behind at the castle.
“Will he be of use?”
I nodded.
“Yora trained with me. He harbors a grudge against the Red Caterpillar. He’ll be our last line of defense. Right, Yora?”
“I’ll protect not just him but the entire castle. Don’t worry.”
Yora, who had grown to detest swords, took the one I offered with firm resolve.
Standing before Yora, Infidel Nugent also embraced his sister, Arcadia.
“Don’t worry about the castle. And don’t die, Arcadia.”
“I’m a phoenix. Take care of the Red Caterpillar and Julia, alright?”
“Okay.”
“Return safely, Esdel.”
Yora spoke to me.
I embraced Yora tightly, and he reciprocated the hug.
Meanwhile, at the top floor of the main castle.
A place where no vassals or knights could enter without permission, Sion Belphegor stood before it.
The Belphegor Shrine, accessible only to those of his bloodline, holding the room of the Blue Sapphire.
Sion opened the door and slowly entered.
In the highest part of the wall, where the sunlight slanted in, the holy sword Lapis lazuli was hanging, or more precisely, floating.
The empire’s holy sword, hovering over a blue silver shelf, was an artifact of the god Belphegor, revealing the true nature of those it pierced.
Along with the Holy Sword Lucella of the Imperial Palace, it was one of the three holy swords spread across the continent.
Sion knelt under the sword.
‘Lapis, please protect my people, my knights, and my loved ones.’
He always bid farewell to the holy sword before going to battle, but this time was different.
‘May everyone return together, oh god Belphegor. I hope no one dies.’
Sion prayed silently.
“Soldiers, annihilate the enemy! Protect the citizens! And above all, survive!”
Uwaaaaaaaah!
At the Grand Duke’s command, everyone roared loudly.
I became a reserve knight in the first battalion commanded by the Grand Duke. Arcadia was the commander of the second battalion, with Bran also in the second battalion.
“Hey, Southerner.”
Bran approached me.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Survive and I’ll call you Esdel. We have to duel again.”
I looked at him and smiled.
“Sure. Make sure you survive too.”
It was sincere. I no longer wished to see anyone I knew die.
“Of course!”
Bran forcefully patted his armor, trying to dispel any fear.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
