CH 60

Chapter 60 The fallen, and the ones about to fall

There was a fog surrounding the Glenstadt castle which did not let the humans come close. I carefully walked closer to the castle.

Fortunately, it looked like the castle was still safe. The guards saw my face and immediately opened up the gate.

However, the moment I stepped inside the castle, I realized all over again that the 2nd division was annihilated.

There were demons and giants resting their body on the courtyard. Most of them were not injured.

At a glance, it looked like the damage was low but that was probably not the case.

Most likely, the ones who had been injured could not return alive.

Their decreased number and pensive expressions indicated that quite clearly.

As I was going through them, I asked about the situation.

In the 2nd division, the ones I feel most comfortable talking with are the small demons. They have a small build, so-so magical mana and somewhat good intellect. They are quite weak.

In other words, the goblins.

“I came rushing after I heard that Tiberit division leader had died in battle. Tell me the whole situation.”

As I said that, they looked at each other and replied,

“Boss, died… Killed by one human. After that, a lot more human came. Killed many comrades.”

“What was the human who killed the division leader like?”

“Normal human. He was a man. Wearing normal clothes, with a sword and shield.”

I do not understand.

However, I did understand how they did not want to stand out like the fake hero.

“Is everyone here all that is left of the 2nd division?”

“I do not know. Holy mother used fog magic. Everyone got separated. Thanks to holy mother’s helmet, I was able to come back.”

When I looked at him carefully, I noticed he was wearing the helmet master had made. They called it the ‘Spirit of the war dead helmet’ in the 2nd division.

“Zuku, Gyobel, Gubuf…. and a lot other died. I could hear the voice of the dead. I ran towards it. And met red dragonoids. They saved me.”

The Crimson Knights’ Order of the 1st division, I see. So they were able to assist the retreat as planned.

As I watched over the situation in the courtyard, I noticed they were sitting as groups differentiated by their tribe. And among them, there were a few wearing that helmet.

It looks like the helmet master made helped them to escape through the fog.

But if I assume the ones in the courtyard to be everyone remaining, then the 2nd division can not function anymore.

Even the largest group of Yokai troop only had a few hundred remaining. If I am not wrong, they had close to two to three thousand members at the beginning of the war.

The giants or large-scale demons, who take retreat as an insult, were at an even tragic state. The giants only had a few members remaining so they also cannot work as a troop anymore.

Which reminds me, I did not see the beast tribe.

“Oi, where is the beast troop? You know, the one with Dogg. The self-proclaimed genius.”

As I asked them, they looked down sadly and said,

“Dogg-sama, is not here anymore…”

“What did you say?”

“ He said ‘Protecting the weak is theresponsibility of the strong’. He fought with the humans. I couldn’t see him in the fog. And then it became silent.”

It seems like the goblins knew what happened afterwards.

They sat silently, among them there were a few who were sobbing.

I see. So he had that kind of a part to him as well….

It would be cruel to ask them further questions.

“I understand. The 1st division is protecting this place. Rest well.”

“Thank you, Vaito-sama.”

Looking at how disheartened they are, it would be impossible to expect them to participate in any more battles.

It would be better if I consider the whole 2nd division unable to fight when strategizing hereafter.

As I hurriedly entered the castle, a Crimson Scaled Knight came rushing toward me. It was Shure.

“Vaito-dono, thank you for coming.”

“I am glad that you are safe, Shure-dono.”

That is good, I should inform Aide Bartz later.  It seemed like he was worrying quite a lot.

I asked her about the situation while walking.

It seems like the Miraldia army rushed into the castle gates of Behhen after Tiberit division leader was defeated by the hero.

The Behhen castle walls were repaired but as the 2nd division did not know anything about castle siege battles, their strategy was full of flaws.

Even if they tried holding the castle, the hero was already inside.

Everyone in the 2nd division did try to retreat with the help of the fog but, the unfortunate ones who had encountered the hero or the Miraldia army were annihilated.

“The fog had surrounded Behhen but there were a few troops who came chasing the 2nd division. My squad exterminated them and escorted the remaining member of the 2nd division to Glenstadt.”

“Well done. If it weren’t for Shure-dono, the 2nd division might have been completely destroyed by now.”

When I praised her efforts, she shook her head and said with a regretting tone,

“No… I could do nothing but retreat with the 2nd division. Against the terrifying fighting spirit of hero’s army, we could not afford to stand and fight. If they advance onto here, we can not avoid having a hard fight.”

I do understand her concerns but, it is highly unlikely they will be able to pin down this location.

The Glenstadt castle is deep inside the forest. Unlike the time when the castle was under humans, no roads remain which lead here.

And on top of all that, there is the thick fog. Not only does this fog obstruct their vision, it also eats into human bodies. The effect was not as high in Behhen but if the humans walk in this fog even for half a day, they will surely collapse.

The problem is the hero.

If it is the real hero, I doubt even master’s magic would have any kind of effect.

“I am a magician so I know that it will be difficult for the humans to be in this fog for a long period of time. The hero singlehandedly will be the threat.”

After I told her that, Aide Shure pondered for a while and agreed,

“I understand. I will have the Knights’ Order patrol the area in squads. I will order them to avoid battle completely.”

Maybe because she had gone through that battle and saw the 2nd division’s condition up close, she had become even more cautious.

Feeling relieved, I said to her,

“I understand. I shall lend a hand as well.”

After bidding Aide Shure farewell, I went to meet the demon king.

As always, the demon king was in the office, looking deep in thought.

“Vaito, you went to the trouble of coming here.”

“It’s a serious matter for the demon king, after all.”

“You should have just devoted yourself to Rune Height’s domestic affairs without needlessly worrying about me. Well, you did well coming here.”

The demon king said while wearing a bitter smile, offering me a chair.

I had worried the demon king would be depressed after Tiberit, one who has been member of the demon king army since it’s creation, died in battle. But it looks like the demon king is holding up.

“So Tiberit has also departed for the afterworld, eh….. He was once an outlaw, laying waste in the dragonoid’s territory.” the demon king said, staring at one point of the desk lost in thought.

“But when I went to subjugate him, he surrendered without even fighting. He looked like a man with a short temper but he could also catch onto the true nature of things.”

Ah, this is bad.

The demon king has indeed, taken quite some damage.

“With this, the only one remaining alive from the starting of the demon king army is Gomoviroa.. I must live for their part as well.”

“Yes, please guide the demon king army, for the ones who have departed, as well for the ones remaining.”

I encouraged the demon king, and continued,

“Even a hero could not possibly find Glenstadt castle that easily. Please, in this period, finish up the preparations.”

After staring at my face for a while, the demon king murmured,

“Not asking to strengthen the defence… that is very much like you.”

“After all, it would be useless no matter how many of us went up against him.”

The one called the demon king, is equal to the sun which appears above the land. There is no way a normal human can win.

And similarly, the hero as well, is a being of completely different nature than the normal human. It would have been a different matter if the hero was in the middle of his growth but, otherwise, normal demons cannot stand up against him.

Of course, I do not plan on fighting the hero head on. I will be able to buy some time but I will definitely get killed.

If that is the case then I might as well buy time in different way to help the demon king finish the preparations.

My job would probably be to provide medical treatment after the fight is over.

If both of them fought, surely the winning party would not be left unscathed.