Chapter 124

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Ares’ Bridge.

A pathway and fortress built where the headwaters of the Beckden Mountain range converged, forming the lower reaches of the river.

Once a symbol of the kingdom’s prosperity, it now stood as a mocking reminder of humanity’s defeat, its fortified entrance blocking the way, its blade pointed towards the kingdom.

Whether due to the demons’ twisted preferences or a complete lack of aesthetic sense, Ares’ Bridge was covered in unidentifiable flesh and blood.

Hans, observing from afar, grimaced.

He had witnessed countless horrors, but the gore decorating Ares’ Bridge surpassed them all, inducing nausea.

He forced himself to endure.

The Commander of the Royal Knights couldn’t afford to show weakness. While he couldn’t prevent his expression from twisting in disgust, fortunately, his unit members misinterpreted it.

‘Even the Commander finds this sight horrific.’

‘He must be thinking of the victims.’

‘As you wish, Teacher… I will…!’

‘I feel sick.’

Hans and his unit members’ thoughts were starkly contrasting, but they shared a common goal, to slay the Mud Guardian and reclaim the fortress.

A month later, the joint expedition of the Human Kingdom and the Royal Knights commenced.

While the distance wasn’t great, the kingdom’s army moved first, deploying catapults and ballistae with practiced efficiency.

Massive rocks launched from the catapults slammed into Ares’ Bridge, sending fragments scattering.

Perhaps provoked by the attack on their lair, monsters poured out of Ares’ Bridge, charging towards them.

The kingdom’s army responded swiftly, raising their shields in a unified defense.

‘They’re well-trained for ordinary soldiers.’

‘They must have been preparing for this.’

‘Indeed… the Human King is a formidable ally.’

Training soldiers to this level wasn’t easy.

It implied constant, realistic training, and indeed, they had extensive experience in monster subjugation.

‘They’re proving more useful than I expected. A pleasant surprise.’

‘And the Royal Guard seem quite competent as well.’

‘Captain Melissa, was it? Not a bad fighter.’

Though she had been overwhelmed by Bayard’s aura, Melissa was the Captain of the Royal Guard. Even Yuren acknowledged her skill.

Initially, things went smoothly.

While not perfect, the battle progressed according to plan. The well-trained soldiers slaughtered the monsters without suffering significant casualties.

It was going well, until something else emerged from Ares’ Bridge. Something fell among the ranks of the soldiers.

Viscera.

“W-What is this?!”

“The entrails are moving?!”

“Aaaaagh!”

Even the most disciplined soldiers would struggle to maintain their composure under a rain of writhing entrails.

Their training and initial success had kept their formation intact, but their morale was faltering. If this continued, their lines would break.

Hans clicked his tongue.

He had wanted to assess the enemy’s strength, but there was no point in delaying further.

He caught Yuren’s eye, and she nodded, leaping into the air.

Her form shifted into that of a massive dragon, large enough to blot out the sky. She opened her maw and unleashed a torrent of flames.

Dragon breath slammed into the fortress.

‘Not a bad start.’

‘Few can withstand dragon breath.’

“Now’s our chance! Press the attack!”

Yuren’s breath attack had turned the tide. The soldiers, seeing the dragon on their side, were reinvigorated.

Melissa seized the opportunity, urging her troops forward.

She was a capable knight, leading from the front rather than simply observing from behind. While it wasn’t ideal for a commander to be in the thick of battle, Melissa had her reasons.

She was confident in her ability to protect herself while commanding her troops. That was why she was the Captain of the Royal Guard. And she was performing her role admirably.

Soldiers quickly crossed the bridge and reached the fortress, preparing to scale the walls with ladders.

Hans, observing from a ship in the distance, nodded and called out to Yuren.

“It’s time. We’re infiltrating.”

[Gladly.]

“Let’s go.”

While the soldiers assaulted the fortress from the front, the Royal Knights would infiltrate and attack from within. Yuren would facilitate their entry.

The unit members mounted the dragon.

Yuren soared into the sky. Even from this height, they could see the soldiers fighting fiercely below. Sacrifice was inevitable in war.

That’s why they had to win.

To honor the sacrifices of their comrades. The dragon, like a meteor, descended towards Ares’ Bridge.

Hans was momentarily startled.

‘What’s going on? Why are we doing this?’

The plan had been to fly in and infiltrate, not plummet like a cannonball. But his surprise was short-lived.

Yuren crashed into the ground.

“Is everyone alright?”

“This is nothing!”

“You think this is enough to stop me?!”

“Hmm! The training paid off.”

“…”

‘What kind of training did they even do?’

Hans almost blurted out, but he swallowed the words, focusing on hiding his trembling legs.

The unit members, seemingly unfazed, took their positions.

Hans looked up.

The interior of the fortress was even more grotesque. It felt less like a fortress and more like the inside of a living organism.

He had expected something unsettling after seeing the writhing entrails, but he hadn’t imagined the fortress itself was alive.

He frowned.

‘If that’s the case, one of the seven hearts must be within this fortress…’

“Commander, what are you thinking?”

“This is going to be more troublesome than I thought.”

“Did you discover something?”

“This fortress is alive. That means the seven hearts are likely scattered somewhere within it.”

Hans’s conclusion stemmed from his experience.

The game had featured maps with similar mechanics, requiring players to destroy pulsating flesh.

Ares’ Bridge felt similar.

“That’s not entirely unreasonable.”

“Indeed.”

“Should we split up and search?”

“…That’s our best option.”

Hans hesitated for a moment.

‘Should I really send them off like this? Or should I use Time Stop now?’

He ultimately reached a decision.

“Go. Locate the seven hearts.”

Using Time Stop to find the hearts would be nearly impossible. The penalty aside, the enemy wouldn’t expose such a vital weakness unless engaged in combat.

Vwoom!

The sword at his hip vibrated intensely, but in the urgency of the moment, Hans didn’t notice.

His unit members, upon receiving his command, dispersed into the fortress.

“We’ll have to divide our forces.”

“I’ll take Helia with me.”

🚨 Important Notice 🚨

); }

“…I don’t want to admit it, but it can’t be helped.”

“Clara, Ruby. I believe it’s time you proved yourselves. Don’t you agree?”

“Yeah! Leave it to us!”

There were seven hearts and seven unit members.

However, he couldn’t entrust Helia, still young, with this task alone.

Yuren would accompany her.

With Yuren’s power, she could easily support Helia from a distance. Clara and Ruby were embarking on their first solo mission.

They had gained experience and proven their strength through training, earning Yuren and Cluna’s approval.

Hans, however, wore a grim expression.

He, too, would have to act alone.

‘I’m weaker than Helia right now. Damn it.’

He had witnessed Helia’s newly developed swordsmanship. It had surpassed the fictional Thunder Dragon Swordsmanship, reaching a new level.

She had even managed a conditional victory against Yuren in a spar.

While Yuren had been holding back, it was a feat that even Clara and Ruby hadn’t achieved.

Helia had been the first.

Unaware of his concerns, the unit members dispersed into the fortress without hesitation.

Hans, left alone, could only stare after them with a bewildered expression.

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[Translator Notes]