Chapter 64: Decisive Battle

Yu was lying on the ground.

He no longer felt pain, whether due to the excessive bleeding or some other reason.

—Clark-sama, I’ll be with you in a moment.

He had killed his lord with his own hands.

The wish entrusted to him at that moment was to protect the Tact Territory and Lauren.

He had remained as the governor of a town at the foot of the mountains, obeying his lord’s words that the Empire would attack from beyond the Kuron Mountains.

However, Yu himself didn’t believe those words.

He wasn’t the only one.

No one believed those words.

But now, it had become reality.

It would take at least a week for their own forces to gather and reach the Tact Territory.

By the time the army arrived, the Tact Territory would have disappeared from the map.

And every last person in the territory would have been taken away by the Empire.

For anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of military matters, it was clear they should quickly abandon the Tact Territory and focus on establishing a defensive base.

Sooner or later, the Tact Territory’s demise was confirmed the moment the Imperial army crossed the Kuron Mountains. Just as their former lord had said.

Once the capital fell, the Eastern region would be finished.

—This world is nothing but despair.

Amidst the tragedy, or perhaps it was comedy, laughter welled up within him.

—Why was I even born?

He couldn’t bring himself to mock the pointlessness of his own life.

Still, he fought to save as many of the citizens as possible.

And of course, to buy time for Lauren to escape.

What needed to be done now wasn’t a defensive battle, but a retreat.

The new lord, Lady Olivia, was intelligent. She might not be knowledgeable about military strategy, but she could understand her vassals’ advice and might decide on a retreat.

She might have already made the decision.

However, within the realm of military strategy, retreats were considered difficult.

Naturally, morale was easily lost, and retreats were decided when the difference in strength and the outcome were clear. Moreover, they had to evacuate a large number of civilians who couldn’t fight.

Viscount Clark had performed the [Bestowal of Magic Rite] multiple times to save as many of the citizens as possible.

So, Yu had to do the same.

Not that he had any intention of surviving from the start.

—Lucius.

A lingering regret.

He wished Lucius had escaped if possible.

Thinking about it, Lucius was a peculiar child.

Despite his young age, he showed thoughtfulness beyond his years, yet he could also be recklessly impulsive like a child.

He seemed mature in some ways, and at the same time, innocent. It was as if two personalities coexisted within him.

—I wish he had lived.

He could no longer lift his arm.

“Viscount… Clark… I’m… so sorry.”

He apologized for not being able to fulfill the promise with his lord.

He mustered his strength to at least see things through to the end, forcing his eyes open.

Just above his line of sight, something like a giant bird grazed it.

Without even needing to look around, he saw a vast number of red-black wyverns soaring in the sky.

“What…?”

He was puzzled.

Why were wyverns here?

Just then, a familiar voice resounded.

“It’s over!”

He tilted his head slightly towards the direction of the voice.

“Luc…ius…”

Something huge was striking the War Emperor with a shining sword.

A knight in black armor riding a three-headed dragon.

It took a moment for him to realize that the voice’s owner was Lucius.

Incredibly, the War Emperor was at a disadvantage.

The War Emperor retreated without taking a hit from Lucius’s attack.

Its left and right heads breathed flames like exhalation.

Crimson, searing flames crossed in an intersection.

The War Emperor just barely evaded it.

The scorching heat that passed by the war Emperor swallowed up countless beastmen, forming a bubbling lava pool.

The beastmen, unable to even self-destruct, quietly crumbled away.

—The power is increasing.

The central head shoots jet-black breath at the war emperor, who dodges and ducks.

A black line surged like it had sliced through space.

It sucked in Imperial and beastmen soldiers, and the gouged earth came into view.

The War Emperor’s left hand, which couldn’t evade, was swallowed up.

—Did he do it?

The War Emperor shortened the grip on his spear and unhesitatingly severed his left arm from the shoulder after pulling back from Lucius’s attack.

The armor itself seemed to have hemostatic capabilities, as not much blood spurted out, and he swiftly distanced itself from the pitch-black breath.

A breath is taken, compressed to the extreme, and then expelled with the shock of self-destruction, and a streak of explosions runs through the battlefield.

—Incredible.

Faced with the pressing deathly pressure, the War Emperor’s evasive options shrank.

The War Emperor’s expression clouded.

For the first time, he showed signs of panic.

Lucius, who had been waiting ahead, still mounted on the three-headed dragon, swung his sword down.

The trajectory of his strike told the tale – it was unmistakably Lucius.

There was no room for misinterpretation. He had seen him every day for the past two years.

“Faster!”

Lucius shouted, and their two blades crossed.

After four clashes, the outcome was finally decided.

The War Emperor’s spear was struck down.

“I got it!”

Lucius swung a sword enveloped in light.

Just as Lucius was about to bring down the War Emperor with his strike, something intervened.

It was General Fury, who had given up on healing.

He held his massive sword like a shield and threw his body forward.

A group of Imperial Guards gathered and several shields restrained Lucius’s sword.

“Your Majesty, please step back!”

Despite that, Lucius’s slashing didn’t come to a complete stop.

The blade was gradually pushed forward.

Sparks flew from the shields, and cracks appeared on the greatsword.

The three Royal Guards discarded their shields and surrounded the War Emperor.

Among them was the injured Bridgett.

At the same time, the War Emperor raised his voice in anger.

“Lend me a hand!”

By sacrificing his greatsword, General Fury pulled back from the close combat against Lucius, allowing him to approach the Emperor.

“Take care of yourself for now!”

“No, now is the perfect opportunity. The longer we wait, the more difficult it will become.”

While the Imperial Guards were bewildered, General Fury’s eyes revealed his determination.

“Forgive me.”

General Fury stabbed something into the Emperor’s side.

Instantly, the War Emperor collapsed.

“What!?”

Injured Bridgett immediately supported the War Emperor.

“Bridgett, you must take His Majesty the Emperor. We cannot afford to lose him now.”

Understanding his intent, Bridget nodded slightly.

Then, Lucius, riding the giant dragon, approached.

“Do you think I’ll let you do that?”

Lucius aimed the tip of his sword, infused with magic energy.

“…I’ll take care of it. Bridgett, Royal Guards, quickly take His Majesty—”

Before he could finish speaking, the evil dragon lunged.

General Fury blocked the dragon’s fangs with his broken sword, but a part of his shoulder was blown away.

Despite the attacks of the evil dragon’s breath, General Fury continued to defend, quite literally risking his life.

In contrast, the Imperial Guards mounted the War Emperor on a horse with wings and took off immediately.

“Don’t… run…”

A once-in-a-lifetime chance.

He wanted to chase after them immediately, but his body no longer obeyed him at all.

He couldn’t even stand up; all he could do was glare at the shrinking figure of the winged horse carrying the Emperor.

He had let the enemy’s commander-in-chief escape.

However, at the same time, Yu was certain.

—We won.

An existence once pursued by his master.

Various coincidences converged, bringing forth a glimmer of true hope.

—It wasn’t in vain… everything.

He felt that way.

Death would soon engulf him.

Yet, his consciousness was filled with a sense of relief.

With a feeling of relief, Yu’s consciousness, which had barely held on, was severed.

◆ ◆ ◆

Lucius mustered his final reserves of magil power and urged the evil dragon forward.

He was no longer wearing the black armor.

In one hand, he held Joseph’s brain, taken back from Fury.

Behind him was the gravely wounded Yu.

Together with the evil dragon, he incinerated the Imperial soldiers, and the remaining Imperial soldiers boarded the last airship and retreated deep into the Kuron Mountains.

The head of the Empire was right there.

It might be better to chase them down and eliminate them, but the beastmen were obstructing his path, and he couldn’t predict what kind of traps lay ahead.

Above all, Lucius wanted to help Yu as quickly as possible.

“Yu-san! Just a little longer!!”

No matter how many times he called out, there was no response.

Rikugo, who had transformed from the land dragon into his human form, was covered in severe wounds.

When activating the ritual, most of the wounds were taken care of by the ritual itself.

Rikugo had an incredible regenerative power that far surpassed that of a human; most wounds would heal within a few days.

However, it seemed like even Rikugo couldn’t shield Yu from the extent of these wounds.

Flying at the speed limit to avoid worsening Yu’s condition, they passed through the Lord’s town and were on their way to the capital city along the highway when a crowd of people came into view.

As soon as he spotted them, Lucius immediately directed the evil dragon towards the rear of the crowd, where Olivia was likely to be.

Upon landing on the ground, the evil dragon turned into black particles and disappeared.

“Olivia!! Find someone who can perform healing magic!”

Lucius shouted loudly towards Olivia, who was not even in his field of vision.

Immediately, Olivia pushed through the crowd and appeared. Behind her were Lady Lilinths and Captain Karan.

Seeing Yu’s condition, she must have guessed the situation and quickly arranged for her servants to help.

While they waited, Olivia bombarded Lucius with rapid questions.

“Lucius, what’s the situation?! The Empire seemed to be retreating, but do you have any information?!”

All the nobles and knights turned their attention to Lucius at once.

Meanwhile, the Tact soldiers were watching Yu’s condition attentively.

“The Imperial forces have already retreated. I don’t think they’ll come back.”

Murmurs of astonishment spread through the crowd.

Olivia immediately stood up and gave orders.

“Send more scouts to the foothills village to gather more information! Have someone go to the front and slow down the pace! Prioritize the treatment of the injured and sick!”

When Olivia gave precise instructions, a middle-aged woman pushed through the crowd and appeared. She seemed to be able to use healing magic.

Having treated numerous individuals, she already appeared pale.

Scales started growing on the woman’s body, and her eyes narrowed to become slits, resembling those of a snake.

The woman with an appearance resembling a white snake beastman approached Yu, who lay on the ground, and placed her hands over him, letting magic flow into him.

“Ugh…”

Yu’s eyes opened slightly.

“Yu-san! I’m so relieved.”

The relief was short-lived.

The white snake woman shook her head.

“I cannot heal this. His internal injuries are too severe.”

The words didn’t sink in.

“Please, I beg you… Please, do your best… He’s someone very important.”

Lucius clung to the woman’s hand, pleading desperately.

“Impossible things are impossible.”

“…Lauren… Luci…us…”

Yu’s lips moved like a murmur.

“Here! Yu-san, hold on! You will definitely be saved.”

Yu’s lips moved slightly, but he couldn’t form words.

The desperate white snake woman tried to withdraw her hand from Yu.

“Wait!”

Lucius stopped her.

—Absolutely not now.

“Lauren! Lauren!! It’s me, Lucius! Hurry and come here! Right now!”

Lucius raised his voice as much as he could.

Soon after, the crowd of villagers split into two.

A girl running through the gap.

It was Lauren.

“Lauren! Hurry!”

The girl, breathing heavily, made her way to the two of them.

“Yu-san… Yu-san…”

Lauren held Yu’s hand and called out.

“Yu-san! I’m here!”

When Lucius spoke to him and Lauren simultaneously, Yu’s eyes opened slightly.

He had a vacant look in his eyes.

“Tha…nk…yo…u…”

With his last strength, Yu managed to utter those words, then his body slumped.

He had a very serene expression.

“…That’s a lie.”

Particles rose from Yu’s forehead, forming Rikugo, the land dragon.

Rikugo, the tiger-like land dragon, was covered in wounds all over its body.

Rikugo held Yu’s lifeless body as if it were a precious infant.

The emotions hidden in Rikugo’s tiger eyes were complex and unreadable.

“Please… don’t take Yu-san… away…”

Lauren clung to Rikugo, her face in a mess, begging him.

“Lauren!”

Rikugo was no longer in its dragon form.

It was a creature of magic.

As Lucius tried to run to Lauren, Rikugo gently removed Lauren’s hand with a kind gaze.

Then, casting one last glance at Lucius, Rikugo disappeared into the shadows, still carrying Yu’s lifeless form.

Nothing was left in its wake.

“Really… Even his corpse… disappear.”

The words slipped out softly.

Yet, Lucius remembered everything vividly.

That voice. That warmth.

Amidst the joy of victory, while the surroundings were celebrating, Lucius hugged the sobbing Lauren tightly.

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