The Northern Army that discovered us blew a horn trumpet on top of the city wall.

As we rode our horses down into the ravine, the monsters of the northwest that we had only heard about began to come into view.

The smallest were about ten times the size of a human, while the largest orcs were as big as fortresses, filling the area in front of the massive city wall that was thousands of times their own size. Roughly estimating, there were over a hundred of them.

Behind them, about a thousand relatively smaller monsters were throwing large rocks toward the city wall.

As the knights approached right in front of the city wall, a yellow aurora spread wider and enveloped us.

‘So this is the power of the magician Adrian.’

I was newly impressed.

“Everyone, do not leave the aurora! We’ll stop them from within this!”

The Grand Duke shouted.

‘Grand Duke. Why are you approaching the orcs so closely while saying that!’

I rode my horse towards the Grand Duke.

An orc as big as a house fell to the Grand Duke’s long silver sword that he swung outside the aurora.

The Grand Duke turned to look at me and shouted.

“Get inside the aurora!”

“I can fight well too!”

‘Perhaps even better than you.’

At that moment, another orc charged towards me. The surprised Grand Duke shouted.

“The legs! Their weakness is their weak legs!”

The orc, cunningly outside the aurora, swung a huge tree trunk towards me.

I jumped off my horse onto the tree trunk, then leapt down and sliced the trunk in half with my sword.

But the returning Grand Duke cut off the legs of the orc that had attacked me. The beast fell helplessly with both legs severed.

‘This guy says he’s fine!’

“Are you alright?”

He asks.

‘If I leave it like this, things won’t work out.’

I have no choice but to show him.

Another orc charged towards the Grand Duke with a thunderous scream.

The Grand Duke avoided the club it swung while cutting off its arm. As it retreated bleeding, another orc rushed in.

I dismounted my horse, then ran towards that orc. And lowering my body, I cut off both its legs in one stroke.

And then the legs of another orc that was standing behind bleeding.

Two of them collapsed simultaneously before my eyes. The bodies of those that touched the aurora began to burn.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

The Grand Duke stared blankly at me for a moment, then grinned.

“Keep going.”

I sent my horse inside the barrier, and ran on my two feet while cutting down orcs. It was much more comfortable on the ground than on horseback.

When I had taken down about fifteen orcs.

Once again, an eardrum-piercing horn trumpet sound came from atop the city wall.

“Everyone, stick to the city wall!”

As soon as we stuck to the wall, hot oil poured down on the monsters. Rocks also flew, blowing away the smaller monsters.

The horde of monsters slowly began to move away from the city wall.

That’s when it happened.

“Fire!!!”

Beyond the monster horde, in the distant place where darkness had begun to settle, red flames could be seen rising.

Since the barrier I stood in front of was on high ground, that place was clearly visible.

Thanks to the light emitted by the flames, I could tell that it was a vast ‘forest’.

The monsters that had moved away from the city wall all turned to look back at their burning forest.

– Grooooooowl!

They began to howl in rage.

And after a while, the beasts that had lost their place to return turned back towards the city wall.

[This is the timeline separator]

The monsters had stopped attacking, but they did not retreat from the city wall either.

The fortunate thing was that the area between the monsters’ forest and the city wall was a muddy swamp, so the fire wouldn’t spread.

As the tedious standoff continued, the knights entered through a small door in the city wall.

It was when we entered the Northern Army command room that overlooked the area below the city wall.

“Grand Duke, Your Highness!!!”

A boy called out to the Grand Duke desperately, flailing as he ran.

“Adrian.”

“Your Highness!!! Why did you come only now!”

A boy who looked like he might burst into tears at any moment.

‘Is this person Adrian Eodel?’

He was a boy who had not yet shed his boyish charm, no, just a young boy.

Though he wore a silver robe with a magician’s insignia, without that robe, no one would know he was a magician – a boy with clear eyes.

‘I vaguely thought he would be older, but he’s probably only about sixteen.’

Short wavy blonde hair, rare pink-looking eyes, a slender figure like a girl’s, height just slightly taller than me.

‘This boy is the Empire’s strongest magician.’

At that moment, the boy who had come to the Grand Duke’s side whining looked at me. His eyes widened as they met mine.

‘What is it?’

But then.

“What is this?”

Adrian said.

“What is this, I’ve never seen anything like it before. But it’s not unfamiliar?”

The boy approached me with his round eyes wide open, not even blinking.

Then he brought his face close to mine, almost touching noses. Like a puppy coming to sniff.

“……”

“Sister, what is it?”

To suddenly ask ‘what is it?’ And to call me sister, no less.

“What do you mean, Magician?”

“It’s powerful black magic, inside the mask.”

“!”

“But it’s strange. It’s not unfamiliar.”

“You mean me?”

“No, no. The magic clinging to you.”

Black magic clinging to me.

My heart sank cold at this unexpected situation. Just then, the Grand Duke called the boy.

“Adrian, that trainee knight’s name is Esther. For now, we have urgent matters, so let’s focus on that first.”

“Ah! Yes!”

Adrian returned to the Grand Duke’s side with a face that seemed reluctant. As he did so, he muttered.

“But for a trainee knight, I saw her fighting amazingly well earlier. It seemed even better than Vice Captain Arcadia.”

“What did you say?”

Arcadia, who was leaning against the wall, grumbled back.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

The boy waved his hands, taking back what he had said.

‘Oh dear.’

“Haha. Miss Esther really does fight exceptionally well. It was like seeing the previous Grand Duke in his prime… Ah, is that comparison a bit much? Anyway, I was really surprised.”

Major Moby, who had joined the expedition, spoke while leaning on his giant axe that was twice his height. Everyone except Bran nodded.

Feeling embarrassed, I opened my mouth.

“It’s thanks to everyone’s help.”

“Not just Esther, but everyone fought really well. However, how long this standoff will last…”

Everyone’s faces darkened at the Grand Duke’s words.

“Major Moby, was there ever a fire in the monsters’ forest during the previous generation’s time?”

The major answered the Grand Duke’s question.

“No, this is the first time. At least as far as I know, there has never been anything like this. The spring in this region is humid, so the possibility of natural ignition is also low.”

“That’s right. Fire belongs to humans.”

“Are you saying there’s a possibility that humans started the fire, Your Highness?”

I asked without realizing.

The Grand Duke’s voice sank heavily.

“We can’t rule out that possibility.”

“Could it be that the North has made enemies with someone? Did we do something wrong?”

Adrian Eodel retorted as if he really didn’t understand.

‘!’

Enemies.

Why does Medeia’s face suddenly come to mind at this moment?

Could it be……

“That too cannot be ruled out.”

The Grand Duke said.

It was then. Arcadia, who had been leaning in a corner of the room, hastily stood up. Everyone turned to look at him at that momentum.

Arcadia’s face had turned pale.

“What’s the matter, Lord Nugent?”

“Grand Duke, Your Highness.”

“Speak.”

“The Red Caterpillar is not in the cell.”

“What?”

Arcadia stared intently at the transfer stone he had brought from the Grand Duke’s castle. Then he gritted his teeth.

“It’s really not there!”

“Has it escaped?”

I asked in surprise.

We must not lose it. It is crucial evidence to bring down Lahert and Medeia.

But at that moment, an even more chilling fear brushed past the nape of my neck.

‘Has something happened to the castle?’

“Arcadia, return to the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“Your Highness.”

“It’s an order. The Red Caterpillar matter is as important as the war. Take two more knights from the 2nd unit with you.”

The Grand Duke’s voice was sincerely worried.

“Understood. I’ll return quickly.”

Arcadia bowed his head. Then he left like the wind.

‘I hope nothing has happened.’

I tried hard to suppress the ominous premonition that kept arising.

The meeting continued even after Arcadia left.

But how much time had passed?

It was when the pitch-black night had already settled.

– Caw!

– Caw!

Bizarre sounds, louder and sharper than during the orcs’ attack, began to be heard from the direction of the city wall.

Major Moby suddenly lowered his head.

Everyone turned to look at the city wall without a word.

“Caligari.”

The Grand Duke murmured.

Caligari.

I remembered what Arcadia had told me.

[Those Caligari creatures, their bodies become transparent. In that state, their claws tear through human bodies like paper.]

Is this the sound of their claws tearing the city wall? Are their claws made of steel?

“Gentlemen. It will be a long night. Are you prepared to survive?”

“Yes!!!”

Everyone answered in unison to the Grand Duke’s words.

But I saw it. Adrian’s face turning pale as he answered ‘yes’.

I sensed it.

That these Caligari creatures were incomparably stronger than the orcs.

The Grand Duke’s words meant ‘please don’t die’.

I looked around at the dozens of elite knights gathered in this command room.

And I recalled the faces of the hundreds of knights in the order who would be resting briefly inside the barrier, one by one.

I don’t want anyone to die.

Lastly, I looked at the Grand Duke. His blue eyes met mine in the air. He opened his mouth while looking at me.

“The Caligari have incredibly fast speed. They’re as big as orcs, and they can make their bodies transparent to hide themselves while moving. Then they suddenly reveal themselves from thin air when attacking.”

“!”

Just earlier, the fight with the orcs was nothing to me. I didn’t even need to use my sword techniques as a Sword Master.

Anyone with top-class sword skills can cut down anything larger than themselves in a single stroke.

But, monsters that become transparent and only reveal themselves suddenly when attacking.

Perhaps……

‘Tonight, I may have to reveal that I am a Sword Master.’

[This is the timeline separator]

A few hours earlier.

Julia, who had entered through the secret passage, headed straight for the underground prison.

The passage was directly connected to the inside of the prison, so she didn’t have to encounter the two elite knights guarding the front of the prison.

Entering the prison, she sat in front of Drake, who was curled up alone in the darkness. Face to face through the bars.

The Red Caterpillar, recognizing her before she did him, raised his head.

“Ah…… My lady! You’ve come.”

The Red Caterpillar sobbed in a low voice.

“Drake. No, Red Caterpillar. Did you really deceive me?”

The lady spoke in a voice tinged with blood, getting straight to the point.

“I really don’t know what’s going on either. I feel so wronged, my lady. I was only trying to warn you about the danger of that spy.”

“Spy……”

“Yes, it’s true. After you left that day, my lady, that woman suddenly appeared and attacked me. She had been following you. As if it had been planned in advance.”

“!”

Those words shook Julia again.

Her mother, who passed away right after giving birth so she had never seen her face. Her father, who gave her boundless love in place of her mother. But that father died too. After that, she thought.

The world was too cruel to her alone.

“Dare to follow me……”

“My lady, please help me. I don’t want to die like this when I’ve just gained my freedom.”

She sat in front of the Red Caterpillar with the bars between them.

“But you’ve been targeting me since you were on the island. You met that wench you called a spy, the one you were told to get close to, at the tavern. I saw it all on video. And you say you’re not on that wench’s side?”

The lady looked at the frozen Drake, waiting for his words. Even at that moment, hoping that Drake would present evidence of his innocence.

Finally, he opened his mouth.

“That was because I disliked that woman…… I just spoke badly. Lady Medeia, you only found out that woman was a spy after that.”

Drake collapsed in front of the bars.

“You don’t believe me. I see……”

He sobbed bitterly. That crying shook the lady’s heart.

She too had cried like this man before her eyes. Countless times. So she knows. This crying is too heartbreaking.

“If you’re truthful to me, show me one more time. What you did to me back then.”

“My lady, that…”

“I’ll make my judgment after that. Just one more time, let me be with my mother and father.”

A few days after they met, Drake had let her smell a nice fragrance, saying it was a technique to recall memories.

At that time, Julia fell asleep and reunited with her mother and father in her dream. She chatted with them for a very long time, had meals together, and went for walks.

She couldn’t forget that happy memory.

“When you wake up, your body might feel very weak. I only learned this technique clumsily from my master.”

“Don’t worry about me, Drake.”

Drake……

She still trusts me deep down.

The Red Caterpillar inwardly laughed a sardonic laugh.

“Then…… I have no choice. I’ll do it, for the young lady.”

The Red Caterpillar called Drake showed his index finger in front of the lady.

The lady looks at his finger.

He slowly waved his finger in front of her eyes, and after a moment.

“Mother……”

Calling for her mother, the woman closed her eyes.

“Open your eyes.”

At the Red Caterpillar’s command, she opened her eyes.

“Julia Nugent, who am I?”

“My friend.”

“Yes, you foolish girl.”

“I am a foolish girl.”

“That’s right. Now get rid of that face and let’s go find my transfer stone.”