A messenger brought Gillian’s request for military reinforcement.

Military reinforcement?

Bianca felt her vision darken at Rafin’s words.

“Is, is this how it usually is? Do they normally send additional reinforcements?”

Bianca almost collapsed, her strength sapped in an instant.

Rafin managed to catch her just in time; otherwise, she would have disgracefully tumbled to the ground.

“It’s not typical, but it’s not unprecedented either.”

Despite Bianca’s surprised expression, Rafin politely responded without a change in his demeanor.

“May I support you for a moment?”

Right now, he was supporting her by the elbows.

It was a minimal touch, hardly enough to be considered helping an adult woman.

He was a knight of sincerity and manners, so he did not touch Bianca indiscriminately.

However, he couldn’t move her without her permission.

“Okay.”

With her response, Rafin lifted Bianca up.

Julie, who had always been jealous of Rafin, seemed to think something was amiss and quickly prepared some tea.

Within a short time, Bianca was able to receive warm tea while partially leaning on a plush sofa.

But it did not calm her down.

“How bad is the situation?”

“The scale of this wave is larger than expected.”

“And?”

“Some parts of the seventh fortress have vanished, and they’re currently managing the situation from the sixth fortress.”

She had not visited all the fortresses yet, but she had heard each one was constructed with as much effort as the main fortress.

Especially the seventh fortress, adjacent to the ice wall, had received extra attention.

“Casualties…?”

Is Gillian alright?

She couldn’t bring herself to ask that question which had risen to the back of her throat.

Requesting for troops was the leader’s prerogative.

And if something unfortunate had happened to him, the news would have been far graver.

The question she had barely managed to restrain trembled within her.

“Some knights have been caught under the debris as the fortress collapsed. Their conditions are critical, but as far as I know, no one has lost their life.”

“That’s fortunate.”

It was indeed fortunate that there were no casualties.

Bianca let out a long sigh of relief.

“What about the Duke?”

Bianca suddenly closed her mouth as if she’d made a mistake.

However, the question didn’t come from her but seemed to have been from Julie.

Rafin’s eyes met Julie’s.

“Aren’t you curious about the Duke, my lady?”

“There was no particular mention of him.”

“I suppose he’s unhurt then. That’s fortunate. My lady, Rafin is often oblivious to the most important matters.”

“It really is a relief.”

Bianca clenched the teacup with her trembling hands.

Hooking a finger through the handle or gripping the cup tightly was strictly prohibited by etiquette, but her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

Her palms warmed up and her trembling body gradually began to calm down.

“So, is there any more news?”

Julie followed her sip of tea with a jab.

Although she should have been offended, Rafin nodded or responded, keeping his mild expression.

“All I know is they are managing the situation from the sixth fortress.”

Julie asked the question, but he was answering to Bianca.

Despite being scolded for his lack of tact, Rafin seemed to understand her feelings, showing no sign of irritation as he tried to recall any additional news.

“What does ‘managing the situation’ mean?”

Julie, who had grown up here, couldn’t possibly not understand that.

Therefore, the question was meant for Bianca, the outsider.

Maybe that’s why.

Bianca felt as if the tea had warmed not just her stomach, but deep down in her heart as well.

Her body, shaking with tension, slowly began to relax, and her blanched mind also began to recover.

“The seventh fortress collapsed at the onset of the wave, and they are now dealing with the monsters at the sixth fortress. The request for additional troops is to replace the knights who were swept away when the fortress collapsed.”

“If you’d said that from the start, I wouldn’t have been so surprised.”
“I wasn’t surprised at all…”

“Ah, no, I was surprised.”

Julie said, laughing.

“How far along are you with the situation?”

“About halfway?”

Hearing that, it felt like a breath had been freed.

Ah…

I wondered how hard it must have been, and my heart ached, but at the same time, I was thrilled.

It felt like the day of his return was rapidly approaching.

Thankfully.

“Are you alright?”

Blat pointed at Gillian Barlock’s left shoulder, which was wrapped in bandages, with just a glance.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Your shoulder is halfway torn off, yet you’re so composed. Truly impressive.”

Blat twisted his lips maliciously at Gillian’s serene words.

This wave was truly horrific.

Thanks to the vigilant knights, rapid response was possible, but the number pouring out from beyond the ice wall was no joke.

Bang!

Just as I thought the ice wall was cracking, a massive wave of monsters burst through.

It was literally a wave.

A huge wave of monsters rushed in like a tide.

That was when the seventh fortress crumbled.