Chapter 327: Unexpected Magic

“……!”

It was already a gloomy, rainy day. What else could cause a flash of light other than lightning, if not magic?

Deon, sensing artificial light, quickly turned his head to check the source, but he was already too late.

Magic surged towards the mad dogs. It was as if someone had deliberately aimed for the clustered targets; the power was immense.

A powerful stream of energy tore through the grass on the ground, shooting in a straight line towards them. It shattered the thin barrier Lirinel reflexively threw up as if it were a cookie, and continued towards the mad dogs.

Though the explanation is lengthy, all of this happened in an instant. Would it be easier to understand if I said it was like ‘flash’ then ‘shatter’?

My mind went blank.

‘No… No……!’

At the limit of a Hero’s reaction speed, I reached out as far as I could. Even a Hero cannot regenerate lost limbs, and I knew my arm would be cut off if I did this. But I’m a Hero. Losing an arm or two wouldn’t be too much of a hindrance.

…Actually, my body reacted before I even thought about it.

But that’s only possible if I can reach it.

If I had just a little more time to prepare, if I had been as close to the mad dogs as usual, if I had even a moment to throw myself… I could have used this damn sturdy body to block it.

“Please…!”

Gritting my teeth, a sound that was somewhere between a scream and a groan leaked out. When the light finally grazed me, Deon dropped his outstretched hand and squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t want to see what would happen next. But even closed eyes couldn’t block out the presence of this terrifying light; it was useless.

In an instant, the beam of light vanished, and darkness returned under my eyelids.

“…….”

“…….”

It was as if the magic that had been unleashed had torn apart even sound. An eerie silence descended.

What kind of result could have caused this? Driven by the compulsion to grasp the situation and the impossibility of keeping my eyes closed forever in a place swarming with enemies, Deon took a short, deep breath and opened his eyes. And what came into view was…

“You guys…?”

“Yes?”

“Huh?”

“Yes?”

“?”

Why… are they unharmed?

There stood the Lofty Knights, completely unscathed. Was the silence just now from their confusion? Deon met their blank stares, his eyes scanning their bodies as he stammered.

“Are… are you… are you guys okay?”

“……Huh? Oh, crap, why are we still alive?!”

Something that looked like magic definitely flew at us!

The guys belatedly seemed to realize the situation, patting themselves down. Seeing them pinching each other’s cheeks to check if it was a dream, Deon finally let out a sigh of relief and looked at Lirinel.

She silently shook her head.

‘It wasn’t Lirinel who blocked it….’

Indeed, her thin barrier had broken so easily. I saw it clearly myself.

Then what on earth was it? Narrowing his eyes, he watched them for a moment, before his red pupils, landing on the epaulets attached to their shoulders, lit up with realization.

‘Ah, right. Charms were embedded in the epaulets.’

Something I had prepared just in case.

One was a charm prepared for when clashing with demons in the Demon Realm, a type that imposed the same restrictions on the demon opponent as when they crossed the border into the Human Realm. The other, if I remember correctly, was a charm to suppress enemy magic.

It seems the latter charm was the one that took effect this time.

‘……Thank goodness.’

Deon quietly clenched his faintly trembling fingertips. Despite the immediate relief, his heart remained chillingly cold.

‘I need to send them back now.’

I have to send them back before it’s too late. This incident has solidified my conviction.

‘The opponent is a legion commander.’

Legion commanders have arrived here. Though I don’t know for sure, judging from their shouts and the chaotic situation when they first arrived, they seem to have recognized me as the enemy. They’re bloodshot with intent to kill ‘Deon Hart,’ and these guys, who are both my weakness and also the enemy.

A surprise attack I can’t block might come again, just like now. This time, it was a magic attack, so we got through it safely thanks to the charm I had. But if the next time, it’s not magic but thrown weapons that come flying as a surprise attack, they’ll really die without even a chance to react. I absolutely don’t want to see that.

Therefore, Deon spoke the name of someone who could immediately extract these men from the battlefield.

“Lirinel.”

“Yes, Sir Deon.”

“……I have a favor to ask.”

I know that every ounce of magic power is precious, but I have a favor to ask.

Asking for another favor when I’ve already asked for a bigger one… Even as I spoke, I knew I was being shameless, unable to meet her eyes and lowering my gaze.

A light voice returned, as if telling me not to worry about it.

“Just say the word.”

“…….”

As if to show his intentions through action rather than words, Deon turned around and faced the Lofty Knights.

‘……Was the charm’s range 2 meters or 3 meters in radius?’

I know that by using these guys, I can deploy a temporary magic suppression array against the legion commanders. But if I do that, these guys will surely die.

So then….

“I’ll give you an order.”

“Yes, sir!”

Deon commanded firmly.

“Take off your epaulets.”

“……Captain?”

“I said take off your epaulets. I clearly said it’s an order.”

“…….”

The Lofty Knights, startled and looking at Deon for a moment, silently removed their epaulets at the word ‘order.’

Epaulets thudded to the ground, and gazes that seemed to ask for the next order landed on me. Deon looked back at Lirinel, who had approached nearby and was watching the situation.

Muffled words struggled out from between gritted teeth.

“……Please.”

“Leave it to me.”

She didn’t even need to ask what I was asking. Lirinel, having grasped what he wanted from the situation, immediately nodded and reached out her hand towards the Lofty Knights.

Charms are only effective when worn. A strange magic circle formed beneath the feet of the Lofty Knights who had removed their epaulets.

Their faces paled at the sight of the pattern, which they had seen once before.

“No, Captain! This is!”

This was the type that was spread under the feet of demons in the Demon Realm when they were dispatched through space-time magic.

In other words, the Captain and the 11th Corps Commander are trying to send us somewhere else! To a safe place far from this battlefield!

“There are enemies all around, what is the meaning of this!”

“You’ve done well so far.”

Deon forced the corner of his lips up into a smile towards his resisting knights.

There was no time for lengthy explanations, and I didn’t want to waste unnecessary emotions by speaking at length. He simply spat out a short farewell.

“Let’s not meet again.”

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

“How did we get all the way h─”

Flash. Along with a flash of light, they vanished.

Lirinel quietly watched Deon, who was just staring at the spot where they had disappeared. Being nearby, she could hear the last words Deon left behind before they vanished.

[You must survive.]

It was a curse.

The kindest and most cruel curse in the world.

They probably heard it too. That must be why they wore such bewildered expressions right before they were moved.

‘Sir Deon, you are so cruel.’

Tearing our hearts apart with just a few words.

“……Did you send them far away?”

“Yes, I sent them to the most peaceful place in the Human Realm. Even if they depart immediately to return, it will take at least a week to arrive.”

“Good job. And….”

Eyes that had sunk darkly took on a strange light and turned towards Lirinel.

…A legion commander whose main strength is magic, moved the entire group of the Lofty ‘Knights’ with only her own magic power at an unexpected request. And to a distant place that would take at least a week to reach.

I don’t know much about magic since I’m not a demon, but I could tell that an incredible amount of magic power was used. That’s why I have to say it.

“……Thank you.”

Eyes that had widened as if hearing unexpected words soon curved into a bright smile.

“You’re welcome!”

“…….”

Deon turned his head.

The guys who had been watching me with murderous intent, as if searching for an opening, relaxed their expressions when our eyes met, pretending like nothing was wrong. Some even smirked.

Deon scanned the faces of the legion commanders, counted their numbers in his head, and then said quietly.

“Not a single one has died yet.”

Although the legion members have decreased a lot.

“…….”

“Anyway, your being here means you’ve captured the castle, right.”

The 0th Legion members wouldn’t have let them in easily, so their presence here must mean that they are dead, right?

No, maybe they just fought them off for a while and then pretended to retreat, unable to win. They might have abandoned their incompetent superior’s orders and run away long ago. Either way, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect much from the start.

Still, I opened my mouth to confirm.

“The 0th Legion members were guarding it, though.”

“Of course, we killed them all. It didn’t seem like they would let us through without killing them.”

Develania replied as if she had been waiting for the question.

“They were quite tenacious, I’d like to ask how you trained them. Can you see how much our legion members have decreased? It’s all because of those bastards-.”

“…….”

……So they died after all.

They could have just fought moderately and run away, but what was it about my orders….

The blood was churning without a moment of calm. Deon stared down at it, and Lirinel hurriedly gave a belated report of achievements as if sensing his unease.

“As Sir Deon predicted, the conquest of Rweche is complete. The king set fire to his palace and died together, so there’s no clear evidence, but the city gates were opened and demons went in and overturned everything, so you can consider it finished.”

As if waiting for Lirinel’s words to end, Derniban and Jaykar’s reports followed suit, gauging the atmosphere.

“The conquest of Sanguo is also complete. The king’s head would have been a hindrance for rapid movement, so I didn’t bring it, but I personally beheaded the king, so there are no variables.”

“The Empire has at least opened its city gates. We came here before completely cleaning up, but before leaving, we saw a rebellion break out, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”

Whether the Emperor dies in the rebellion or not, with the final city gate opened and even a rebellion breaking out, the Empire cannot be revived. Even if it is revived, it will take a considerable amount of time, so it’s practically as good as destroyed.

That’s enough. Deon nodded.

How many people died to cross the city walls, and how many more did they kill after crossing them? Every time I heard a report, the blood churned madly, but I didn’t particularly care.

Instead, I calmly looked around at the three legion commanders.

“I have somewhere to go, so I want to leave the cleanup here to you.”

“Wasn’t that my role from the beginning?”

“Leave it to me!”

Jaykar casually accepted, and Lirinel replied enthusiastically. Derniban silently nodded, and Trober, the 9th Corps Commander, who was hesitatingly standing nearby….

“If it’s an order……”

“……?”

Huh, is he on my side?

Deon tilted his head to one side.

“Why you? I don’t particularly remember having any significant conversations with you.”

“If you mean special conversations… I had one with Dan.”

When he mentioned Dan’s name, my teeth gritted. Judging by the look of it, it doesn’t seem like he got involved here for good reasons… Did he make some kind of contract?

Come to think of it, I once saw Dan holding a gambling… like card game against the legion commanders when a banquet was held before. I also heard talk of wish tickets being at stake.

[I won, didn’t I? Wish tickets were at stake in this game, right?]

[……Damn it.]

But he was imprisoned and died not long after that, so there was no time to use the wish tickets….

‘Ah.’

Suddenly, Deon recalled the Demon King bringing the 9th Corps Commander down to the underground dungeon where Dan was.

‘It was then.’

I was out of my mind back then, so I just brushed it off, but thinking about it, it was strange. There’s no way he would have brought the 9th Corps Commander along for no reason. Moreover, the 9th Corps Commander is a random demon who had nothing to do with the incident at the time. Surely, Dan’s influence was involved.

The wish ticket, which had no particular use, must have been used here.

“……Dan.”

I finally buried everything, but he resurfaces like this.

What should I do with you? Deon spoke that name after a long time.