Outer Suppression Front,

It was the coastal cliff on the outskirts of Poputa. The demon beast’s corpse split, cleaved in half. The mercenary band gripped their swords and wiped their cheeks.

Demon beasts swarmed, crowding the path. The captain of the outer mercenary band shouldered his greatsword and muttered as if lamenting.

“Send an urgent report to the Imperial City.”

The demon beast corpses mingled with the dirt. Feet sank deep into the slushy mud.

“Tell them the beasts have gone berserk.”

“R-right below here is the harbor.”

“Block them. Guard the patrol ships with your lives! If this line breaks, everything below will be razed!”

It was as if they were buried under a tomb of dead demon beasts. The beasts’ bones formed a mound, and their corpses fouled the earth.

“They were quiet all this time, only to charge in all at once to die together, it seems.”

A dead basilisk lay sprawled nearby. Demon beast corpses were mired in the mud.

As the mercenary band burned the bodies one by one, acrid smoke hung thick in the air.

“Is that lightning?”

The horizon was dark. The sun had just set, turning the sky increasingly red, but the seawater was murky with poisonous energy. Storm clouds gathered and lightning struck.

The mercenary band standing on the coastal cliff walked to the edge. The soldiers removed their helmets one by one. Sweat-soaked hair clung to their skin.

-Crack

-Crack

-Crackle

Lightning struck the horizon. A flash of light gleamed and the murky seawater rippled.

Soon the waters parted and a sea dragon raised its head. What is that? A dragon? A sea dragon? Why is it so endlessly long?

-Screech

As it cried out and slammed its body down, the waters split, and unconscious low-level demon beasts floated to the surface. It grabbed them in its mouth and tore them apart alive.

Long whiskers hung from the sea dragon’s snout, and horns protruded from its body.

The mercenary band was speechless. There were no words to add to this sight.

“It seems the end times may be upon us.”

“I-I’ll send more urgent reports.”

“Draw your swords. This may become our grave, but if we die, let us die here.”

The sea dragon sank back into the depths.

“What about that unidentified body?”

“Is identification impossible?”

“The body is dead and decayed. The skin rotted from poison before death, but the clothing is that of a servant. In the end, the skin turned black, and it seems they offered their body as a sacrifice and exploded before death… It must be one of their clan.”

The low-ranking mercenary glanced warily at the pile of demon beast corpses strewn across the path.

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Charlotte stepped back, pulling her shoulders back.

The blade stuck into the ground.

Her grip turned pale, and the tendons in her wrist tensed tightly.

“Raise your arm!”

Charlotte swung her arm to guard her center.

When the sword stops, the body opens.

Such an amateurish opening would expose her body to the enemy, as if offering her neck to be cut.

Clang!

The wooden practice sword reinforced with metal struck the air, bursting the air barrier.

“Look straight at the sword tip! You must read the sword’s path to know whether to block or deflect!”

The metal-reinforced wooden sword twisted to the side.

“That should be deflected, not blocked!”

Her shoulder bent backwards.

The wooden sword struck the blade furiously.

“Your body is open!”

Charlotte stepped back.

“Your wrist is loose. How many times have I told you about a wayward blade that doesn’t know what it’s cutting!”

A cloud of dust rose.

Pale dirt settled on her shoulders.

Charlotte shook out her hair. Her throat itched, perhaps from the dust on her body. Recognizing her, Fedlin lowered his arm.

A servant brought a damp cloth and water. After wiping her cheeks with the cloth, she cooled her body with the cold water.

“Drinking cold water quickly is not good.”

“You’re so harsh at times, yet so gentle at others.”

“Your respiratory system is weak, isn’t it? The imperial physician at the medical center recited a long list of precautions. Though this old man has forgotten most of them due to age.”

Fedlin ended the afternoon training session.

“… Sir Fedlin! There’s an urgent imperial summons to the conference room!”

An adjutant from the mercenary corps hurriedly sought him out.

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The staff hurried across the imperial palace.

Those in armor knocked on the conference room door. A map of Poputa was spread out. Red flags were stuck into the map showing the cliffs with their contours. These marked the points where the mercenary corps had completed suppression, and where additional vigilance was needed.

“Additionally, a sea dragon was sighted at the suppression site. The suppression team spotted it at a length of up to 3m before it disappeared into the depths.”

Benjamin smoothed his red uniform. On the side table lay an urgent report sent from the suppression front.

[It circled near our warships. Its scales were thick, horns protruded from its body black as ink, and lightning struck when it raised its neck. Afterwards, it took demon beasts in its mouth and sank into the depths.]

Sea dragons went extinct in ancient times. By the ancient pact, all dragon clans had hidden their traces, and sea dragons were among the ancient demon beasts that were driven out. Dragons have been extinct for hundreds of millions of years.

“What of the unidentified deceased?”

“Based on examining the clothing, it seems to be one of the missing Tutea servants. The family crest was almost completely worn away, but a bit remained on the shoulder.”

There are limits to what can be conveyed through text.

Benjamin pressed hard on his temples. His vision was blurry and throbbing, which was frustrating.

The black clan had trespassed on forbidden ground, and demon beasts had mixed into forbidden areas.

The power of the pact had run its course. He had felt the power of the ancient pact starting to fade in the past as well.

“Has Duncan arrived?”

“It seems a swordsman’s fate is to go to the suppression front and swing his sword. Where should he be deployed?”

“The third outer coastal cliff. It’s where the basilisk’s nest used to be. Have him ascertain the fate of those who sent the urgent report.”

Fedlin touched his greatsword.

“I’ll depart at once.”

Fedlin left the conference room.

“Have the rest prepare to leave as well.”

Additional suppression teams were deployed to the suppression front.

.

.

“Are you going to the suppression front yourself?”

It was Charlotte who first brought this up.

Benjamin answered as he took off his outer coat.

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“You’ve always been at the center of the suppression fronts, haven’t you?”

“It would be more accurate to say that Poputa is the center of the suppression system, and I established Poputa’s system.”

His lips were dry and parched. Shadows had formed under his eyes from the late night meeting. But he didn’t look refreshed.

This was enough to guess.

‘Things didn’t go as planned.’

His expression was bland.

“Come back safely.”

“I’m still hesitant to leave you here alone.”

“You watch me like a child by the water. Well, I’ve always been in unexpected forms outside your sight, haven’t I?”

Benjamin put his outer coat down on the side table and unbuttoned the top of his shirt.

“Will you wait for me?”

“I’ve always waited, haven’t I?”

“It’s dangerous for you outside. Stay here only.”

Like leaving a child by the water.

“Don’t go outside, don’t leave the imperial palace.”

“Do you want to confine me?”

“If I could confine you, I’d like to tie your steps here.”

Benjamin changed the subject.

“How was your sword training with Fedlin?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I hear you learn swordplay quickly but have a bad habit. Didn’t you learn techniques to protect your body?”

“Yes, I learned them.”

“I heard you’re clumsy at protecting yourself. Are you deliberately leaving openings?”

Ah, it must be because of that time I exposed my arm and struck a vital point.

“I was a bit clumsy.”

“If you’re clumsy twice, your arm will be cut off.”

“…”

“If you’re going to aim the sword tip carelessly, don’t grip the hilt.”

Charlotte smiled faintly.

“I’ll be careful.”

Benjamin answered, ruffling his short hair.

“I think I’ll have to be away.”

“Are you going to the suppression front?”

“If it’s truly an ancient demon beast, we need to reorganize the suppression system.”

Ancient demon beasts were different from recent ones. Sea dragons were the leaders among demon beasts. It’s not that demon beasts had ranks and hierarchy like human society. Instead, the law of the jungle was absolute.

“Leaving you alone makes me this uneasy.”

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War horses left the imperial palace. Suppression teams were dispatched, followed by imperial intelligence officers accompanying the emperor. The emperor wore a red outer coat over his shoulders, blending in with his entourage.

As the suppression team left the city gates, dust clouds rose along the path to the imperial palace.

Charlotte stood on the imperial palace spire, a shawl draped over her shoulders, looking down.

“Everyone has left.”

“Yes. They’ve just left the palace, so they’ll soon arrive at the internal suppression front in Poputa.”

Catarina stood by Charlotte’s side.

“Take care of yourself. His Majesty was very worried even as he left for the suppression front.”

“…I’m fine now.”

“I say this out of concern.”

“Having always been by my side, I understand your desire to worry about me.”

“It’s only natural, as you are a precious person who deserves protection.”

The fur shawl weighed heavily on her shoulders.

“Everyone is worried about injuries. Please understand the feelings of those who want to embrace and protect you a little more.”

Charlotte simply nodded.

“The weather is cold. Let’s go back now.”

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The imperial palace gates opened in the middle of the night.

Riders on war horses passed through the gates. The guards saluted, showing proper respect.

Additional suppression teams were dispatched to Poputa, and black war horses roughly pounded the road.

The suppression team, cloaked in black robes, melted into the darkness.

Those in armor exuded a heavy aura. Dust clouds rose behind the war horses.

Among the suppression team’s horses was also the emperor’s mount.

“Even Your Majesty is the same in being unable to let go when they get involved.”

Rosquella approached, gripping his horse’s reins.

“Trust that you’ve left reliable people in the imperial city.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust them.”

The suppression team passed through the path leading to Poputa. With the imperial city adjacent to Poputa and the path neatly paved, the suppression team soon arrived at their destination.

The imperial intelligence officers who had been dispatched to Poputa first came out to greet the emperor.

“We’ll dispense with other formalities.”

Benjamin tightened his grip on his horse’s reins and asked.

“The admiral?”

“The commander has led the warships to the alert zone. The outer suppression front is being handled by Sir Fedlin Duncan and his mercenary corps, who are carrying out suppression operations.”

“The scale?”

“The defense line had collapsed. Casualties were minimized with Duncan’s arrival, but one small mercenary unit was annihilated.”

It’s difficult for one suppression team to be responsible for all areas of Poputa. Such deficiencies were filled by mercenary corps from various regions.

The imperial house hired mercenary corps to guard the suppression fronts in each area.

Fedlin Duncan was the central figure leading these mercenary corps.

“Draw your swords.”

The path opened up. The suppression front stretched out before them.

Basilisks had made their nests.

The suppression team drew their swords in unison.

The beasts’ scales were hard, and the snake hunt began.

Benjamin twisted his sword hilt and swung the blade.

With a single sword stroke, the beasts’ heads fell.

“Don’t act clumsily. Aim for the neck to kill and clear the area.”

A suffocating stillness followed.