33 – The Lost Ones
Bang!
With a tremendous sound, the walls of the Kaorelden Empire crumbled. At the same time, several magical devices were activated, initiating indiscriminate attacks. The invasion prevention system had been activated.
“Step back.”
As MacDeras stepped forward and reached out his hand, a massive barrier sprung out of the red sphere in the air and slammed into the ground. The overwhelming vibration shook the surrounding area, causing people to stagger, but they quickly regained their balance.
Regardless, MacDeras remained focused on what was in front of him. He used his magic to breach the defensive system of the barrier, blocking any physical attacks, and at the same time, he detected the main component of the system.
“It seems like they tried to hide it, but it’s meaningless.”
The magic circle that countless sorcerers had modified for years was easily bypassed by MacDeras. He had discovered the location of the core component that activated the defensive system.
As MacDeras swung his hand, a long spear emerged from the red sphere. The spear tore through the air and charged forward.
With a crackling sound, the main component of the hidden defensive system, protected by layers of concealment magic and defensive spells, was shattered. No more attacks came.
“Advance.”
As MacDeras finished speaking, the troops behind him charged forward in unison. The remaining forces of the Kaorelden Empire tried their best to resist, but it was futile against the overwhelming numbers. Most of the knights either died or fled.
“To think that the defense system of the Kaorelden Empire could be destroyed so easily…”
The commander of the Phibron Empire’s knights, Tekeloman, was astonished.
The reason they had been unable to retaliate even once despite being under attack was because of the existence of the defense system within the enemy territory. The defense system was spread all around, its power immense. Not only was it difficult to locate the control tower responsible for its operation, but it also required an incredible amount of mana to destroy and forcibly deactivate. Therefore, the option of conquering it in reverse didn’t exist.
On the other hand, the man in front of them had single-handedly dismantled it from its inception to destruction, without a moment’s hesitation. The defense system of the once formidable Kaorelden Empire had been reduced to useless scrap metal by just one person.
Every time the defense system appeared, MacDeras effortlessly destroyed it and continued his advance. Tekeloman briefly imagined what would have happened if this man had been their enemy.
“We would surely have perished.”
If this man had sided with the Kaorelden Empire, the Phibron Empire would not have escaped complete annihilation.
Commander Tekeloman.
From Noble mtl dot com
The reason he saved the Holy Maiden Flimia was because he wanted to protect his knightly pride. At the same time, he couldn’t bear to see the devoted maiden, who had sacrificed herself for the sake of their allies, being abandoned. That’s why he chose to save Flimia instead of killing the enemy.
As MacDeras said, he had come here at Flimia’s request to rescue the innocent civilians of the Kaorelden Empire from the war and the ruling class.
“If I had made a different choice back then…”
The plea of Fleamia… Tecloman imagines himself saying those words. If he hadn’t upheld his honor as a knight and spared the life of the saint, instead of killing around 500 enemies and the saint, he could have found himself facing this calamity-like internal strife as an enemy.
“Perhaps… I really don’t know if the goddess Luastra exists.”
Tecloman, the leader of the knights, no longer believed in the goddess Luastra as he watched countless people die in this damn war. But now, as he observed the current situation, he questioned whether there truly was no god.
If the goddess Luastra really does exist, then the red sphere floating in the sky is most likely a divine punishment meant to execute retribution.
“Charge!”
“Do not harm civilians, no matter what! Even if they are knights, spare those who have no will to fight. And if there are those who seek to kill us, do not hesitate to annihilate them!”
In the battlefield where brutal slaughter occurred regardless of whether they were civilians or knights, ironically, a priority was established with mercy at its core.
“My son… Please, at least spare my son…”
“Step aside. We do not kill civilians.”
“Are… Are you really… going to spare me…?”
“Do not make me repeat myself.”
The civilian of the Kaorelden Empire, a middle-aged woman who hadn’t managed to evacuate, ran towards the back while clutching her son. Of course, there were no Phebron Empire knights chasing after her. Unlike the knights of the Phebron Empire, they did not commit mass slaughter of civilians.
Of course, she, too, was a citizen of the Kaorelden Empire who had invaded without justification. Even if she hadn’t participated in the battle, it was inevitable that the Phebron Empire knights who were invaded would feel the urge to kill her immediately. However, no one carried out a massacre against those who couldn’t resist.
Was it because they were knights? Perhaps that was the case, but the sole reason they suppressed their anger and didn’t designate enemy civilians as prisoners or targets for slaughter was because of Macderas’ orders.
Macderas held immense power and dominated the battlefield. The fact that his order was to prohibit the slaughter of civilians, after he had massacred over a million people in the blink of an eye, was alienating. But there were no objections.
“Surely, he said that.”
Tecloman recalls Macderas’ words.
“To bring an end to the war and find peace, there are those who must be killed. And there are also those who need not be killed. We will mercilessly thrust our swords into those who must be killed, without any shred of mercy, but we will not carry out slaughter against those who need not be killed. That is the justification I call this operation a conquest, not an invasion.”
If invasion simply means entering another country and attacking, the definition of conquest is more specific than that.
To strike down the guilty.
To wield force, judging by the presence or absence of guilt. Of course, the criteria may be highly subjective. But there are few who can uphold such beliefs on the battlefield.
If highly trained knights or killers masquerade as civilians? If spies infiltrate under the guise of refugees and extract information? Each of these risks, when the forces are inferior or equal, results in significant losses. That is why on the battlefield, killing without distinction between civilians and soldiers is common. If one lets go of a little belief, there is no need to bear the risk.
But now, in the Phevron Empire, there is Macderas. A powerful being with the absolute ability to kill hundreds of thousands, maybe even more, with a single gesture.
Tekeloman feels bone-chilling once again.
To achieve even a little true peace, immense power is necessary.
Macderas is not just an ordinary killer. He truly befits a monarch.
As Tekeloman looks on, Macderas asks from the frontlines.
“How much longer until we reach the imperial palace of Kaorelden?”
“According to the information we have, we only need to advance for another two hours.”
“Soon enough.”
In less than three hours, the city walls collapsed, and the enemy’s defense systems malfunctioned. The imposing fortress they had built over hundreds of years crumbled in just one day.
Soon enough. What other expression could be used besides those words?
“Everyone, stop.”
Macderas halted his troops while advancing. It was because he sensed the presence of living beings nearby.
It was not strange for there to be a reaction from living beings since they had invaded an enemy territory where people lived. However, all the civilians in this area had evacuated, and the knights who tried to withstand them had mostly died and retreated. All that remained were desolate houses. But someone was still breathing inside.
And they were emitting a thick aura.
Tekeloman spoke with an impassive voice.
“If you thought you could hide, you were mistaken. Come out. Or I’ll blow up the building.”
Due to his dark complexion, I naturally thought he was an enemy soldier, but the person who came out of the building was an unexpected figure.
The person who came out of the building was a boy of about ten years old.
The boy was trembling, clutching a sword much larger than his own hand.
“Stay back.”
As McDelas commanded, the soldiers all stopped in unison. The boy who came out of the building aimed his sword at McDelas, as if he had recognized who the leader was.
“I will… I will protect my mother… I will never… never let her go…”
As McDelas deployed his detection magic, he felt a faint response from a weak life form behind the boy. It was a presence that he had not thought was human, so much so that it resembled a dying light.
‘Perhaps he is someone who is dying from illness.’
“Run away. I won’t chase you or kill you.”
The boy revealed his intention to fight, holding up his sword. According to McDelas’ principles, the boy was included in the targets for slaughter. However, naturally, McDelas chose to spare him. The reason the boy held up his sword was to protect his parents who were behind him.
However, the boy had no choice. Even though he heard that he could run away, the boy was blocking the entrance of the building with his entire body, as if his legs had stiffened.
Only then was it deduced. The dying faint light of a weak life. And the boy who was unable to leave this place even in the midst of confusion.
“It seems that the mother is in an immobile situation.”
The boy’s pupils trembled. His body began to shake, and he broke out in cold sweat. As McDelas approached him, the boy gripped his sword even tighter and shouted.
“Get away… get away from here! You murderers!”
When the boy shouted, the expressions of the Phibron Empire knights around him noticeably twisted. They had been the ones being slaughtered just a while ago, by the Kaorelden Empire knights. From the perspective of the Phibron Empire knights, even the desperate cries of the boy could barely be heard.
Ignoring their reaction, McDelas stood in front of the boy and looked down at him as he spoke.
“Do you want to live, or do you want to protect?”
The boy didn’t answer. McDelas once again forced the boy to make a choice.
“If you want to live, turn around and run away. I promise that I won’t chase you, and I’ll stake my honor on it. But if you want to protect, raise your sword and attack me. Even if you succeed in attacking me just once… I will spare both you and your mother.”
The boy raised his sword without hesitation and rushed towards Macduras.
Swish.
The boy’s clumsy sword struck Macduras’ cheek, causing red blood to flow.
It was his first time entering the battlefield. A shallow wound appeared on Macduras’ cheek, who had not even flinched in the face of millions of knights.
Philemia couldn’t bear to look at the sight and covered her eyes. She thought Macduras might just decapitate the boy.
But when she opened her eyes after a while, Macduras. His eyes were devoid of any emotion as he looked down at the boy.
“This is the result of your choice.”
Macduras began to walk towards the boy. The knights around him held their breath and watched Macduras. Everyone was focused on what decision the boy would make.