# 128
128
After receiving treatment once more, Einfried headed to the throne room with a clean appearance.
The sentries blocking the entrance to the throne room saw him and opened the door with courtesy.
It takes a while to take a few heavy steps.
“It is an honor to see you again, great Empress.”
Einfried got down on one knee and bowed his head deeply toward the throne.
Sitting on a throne erected high up was a beautiful woman wearing a bright red evening dress.
Envette Rosen, the empress and saint who rules the sole empire of Plomaria.
Einfried lowered his head deeply and only moved his lips.
“We sincerely congratulate you on your return from frozen time.”
“It’s something for everyone to celebrate. “Not just me, but the entire empire was trapped in frozen time.”
One day, the Lando tribe was suddenly invaded by Heaven and had to be trapped in ice for eons while remaining conscious.
They called those years of suffering ‘frozen time.’
Envette Rosen spoke while caressing a staff decorated with red jewels.
“You received my message, but I heard you failed in your mission. “Explain to me what has happened.”
“That…”
Einfried’s voice trailed off, filled with various emotions, including anger, shame, and regret.
Einfried lowered his head even further, as if he had no shame, and explained everything he had experienced in Korea.
“It’s a decisive battle…”
Envette Rosen smoothed her chin, which was smooth and flawless.
“What a disaster. “For some reason, the cause is unknown, but somehow the continent got a chance to get back on its feet, but I wonder if that might end up in vain.”
“….”
Einfried almost raised his head, which had been lowered inadvertently.
This is because the nuance of the Empress’s words made it sound as if she did not trust herself.
“Empress, I am confident of victory. Please believe me. Tomorrow, this time, I will definitely offer that damn head to the Empress.”
“How can I trust you when you couldn’t even prevent the death of your friend? And that’s against just one enemy.”
“It is no longer the case, but since receiving the trust, I have maintained an undefeated record for 500 years.”
“I’m more worried because he was an undefeated master.”
Einfried carefully raised his head and looked up at the Empress.
Empress Envette Rosen sighed with a bored expression and rested her chin. Although she is said to have lived for well over 5,000 years, she looked young and attractive, as if she had just had a coming-of-age ceremony.
“The defeat there must have been quite bitter. “It was a complete defeat among complete defeats that even forced your friend Sizef to leave.”
“….”
“First experiences are always imprinted deep in your bones. Moreover, that experience was defeat in battle and the death of a friend… Will you, who has lived your life without knowing that you will ever lose, be able to put that shock behind you and fully face tomorrow’s decisive battle?”
You must answer that you can do it. Here, you have to answer like that.
But I couldn’t open my mouth. The reason is obvious. Because what the Empress said is right.
No matter how flashy a lie you tried to tell, the moment you first acknowledged that it was a lie, you had no choice but to become speechless.
“You should rest for a while. “For tomorrow’s decisive battle, I will request support from the lords of other territories.”
Envet Rosen was about to wave his hand to tell him to go away.
Sreung-!
The magic sword Hield was pulled out from the scabbard hanging on Einfried’s waist. He was the only man in the empire who could wear a sword and have an audience with the Empress.
He was a man with such qualifications, and his pride was high.
“…!”
As soon as the sound of the blade sliding through the scabbard rang out, the guards in the throne room grabbed their spears and tried to aim at him.
Suddenly!
That is, until Einfried cut off his little finger with a magic sword.
Inside the throne room, which was decorated in pure white, there was a hint of blood mixed in.
“Please generously forgive me for daring to show blood in front of the Empress.”
Einfried added, exhaling heavily like a galloping wild horse.
“It’s hard to hold a sword without a thumb, so I’ll use a thumb instead.”
“….”
“If I lose in tomorrow’s decisive battle, I will sacrifice not only my thumb but also my head.”
Although it was not visible because it was hidden by the helmet, the faces of the guards who saw the scene were all disgusted.
Only Einfried, who cut off his finger, and the Empress, who looked down at him with a subtle smile, were not embarrassed.
“Seeing that level of determination gives me a little confidence.”
“Are you allowing me to participate?”
As Einfried asked, the Empress stood up from the throne and slowly walked down the stairs, one by one.
Soon she was standing in front of Einfried, and the hem of her dress covered her little finger, which was staining the marble floor with blood.
As if he would accept the will to die.
“The fate of the nation is in your hands.”
The Empress’s gentle touch wiped away the cold sweat that covered Einfried’s cheeks.
The Empress said with a smile.
“Follow me. If you want to win tomorrow, you must first go to God and pray.”
***
The back of the royal palace was covered in shadows, and not even a ray of cold moonlight penetrated.
Hiding in the darkness, Sonia rubbed her hands and blew out her breath. Unlike Plomaria, where it was warm all year round, the Earth in October was as cold as winter even though it was fall.
“Sonia.”
Soon, low footsteps echoed along with a familiar voice.
Sonia, who was shivering from the cold, smiled brightly as if she had never done that before and turned to look in the direction from which the sound came.
“Ain? It’s late. “For waiting-.”
The rarely welcomed moonlight passed behind the Asrai Palace this time.
So Sonia was able to clearly see Einfried’s face, which had been hidden in the darkness.
“Ah, your face…?”
“….”
Sonia swallowed in vain and looked at him wondering what was going on, but Einfried remained silent.
There wasn’t enough time to tell you in detail.
“Sonia you have to go now.”
“But…”
A light kiss interrupted Sonia’s words. She lovingly accepted Ain no matter what he looked like.
Lips parted, and moist eyes stared at Einfried.
Ain said while gently stroking her cheek.
“When we enter a new era, let’s have a wedding. This world seems to have a lot of oceans. “I would be very happy if I could buy a house on the coast colored by the sunset.”
Sonia nodded, looking like she was about to burst into tears.
Einfried swallowed his regret and tore open the scroll he was carrying in his arms.
Book of Summoning.
As soon as the small lantern burned all the scrolls, a small griffon appeared.
Although it was small, it was big enough to easily carry an adult woman.
“I’ll go.”
“See you later.”
The couple said goodbye and promised to meet again. Sonia waved as she climbed onto Gryphon’s back.
Unlike Einfried, Sonia, who did not have the confidence to endure her regret, kept looking back. After repeating this about five times, she reached the sky high enough that she could no longer see her lover.
‘As soon as we arrive at the territory, we must tell Count Ha’Tok to send reinforcements.’
I can’t be a woman who keeps worrying about short breakups forever.
As she crossed the clouds, Sonia mentally organized what she had to do next.
‘If Count Hartok would be willing-.’
But the thoughts could not continue.
Grumbling-!
Kiheeing-?!
A ray of white light flew out of nowhere and passed through the top of the griffon’s head.
“Wow…?!”
The griffon, with its head completely gone, fell towards the ground at high speed.
Sonia, who had nothing to hold on to except the Gryphon, desperately strengthened her arms.
When she was less than 100 meters above the surface, she used her magic and wrapped an improvised shield around her entire body.
thud-!
“Kuh…?!”
The moment it collided with the ground, there was an enormous shock. The griffon, which had no shield or anything, had its entire flesh exploded.
The ribs were misaligned. As I fell, my knee bent backwards and I couldn’t even stand up.
Sonia crawled on the floor, tears streaming down her face from the terrible pain.
“What is it…?”
It wasn’t lightning. It had rained a few hours ago, but it was a brief shower. In fact, even now, no lightning strikes in the night sky.
While my body was screaming in pain and my mind was filled with questions and confusion.
Squeak-. Squeak-.
Crackling-. Scrap-.
A noise whose identity was difficult to guess penetrated my ears.
Startled, Sonia turned her head to the source of the sound with wide eyes.
At the same moment, the moon broke away from the clouds. The clear moonlight cleared away the darkness that had encroached on the surrounding area.
“….”
When Sonia saw the darkness disappear and the scene revealed, she couldn’t believe her own eyes.
Crack!
The messy, protruding fangs crushed the hard skull. Two rotten hands rummaged around in my stomach. The foul-smelling fluid tangled with blood and fell to the floor.
Sonia muttered, her voice shaking.
“Old ghoul….”
No.
It’s a little different from a ghoul. Ghouls are not that tall. Ghouls don’t wear armor and walk around naked.
Mysterious monsters were devouring corpses lined up along the roadside.
All Earthlings who originally lived in New Mexico were imprisoned in the Empire’s underground detention camps.
This means that the corpse is a citizen of Plomaria.
Faced with an unpredictable situation from beginning to end, Sonia became meditative.
That was when fear began to overwhelm the pain.
“Witnesses should be eliminated.”
Sonia, barely able to resist fainting, looked behind her where she heard the sound.
Cheolgruguk-. Cheolgruguk-.
A skeleton knight wearing a crown of thorns.
Commander Dolph emerged from the darkness, holding an electrified polearm.
A weapon coated with orihalcone. In some cases, it is also possible to emit light rays.
It was originally used by low-ranking soldiers, but he had no choice but to step forward himself to intercept griffons flying at high altitudes.
“Black…? Huh huh…?”
“Don’t cry. “You are not a witness, so there is no need to die.”
Dozens of command soldiers appeared one after another through the darkness.
They gritted their teeth and glared at Sonia.
“It is an offering that must be offered to the lord.”
Tears flowed uncontrollably down my pale cheeks.
Sonia wondered if she had fallen into hell rather than earth.
***
A legion numbering nearly 20,000 people gathered in the wide wasteland outside the city of New Mexico.
A solemn cloud of war hung among the soldiers who lined up neatly.
“….”
The adjutant standing in the vanguard swallowed his saliva and glanced at Commander Einfried next to him.
The innocent-looking blond young man who aroused the favor of others was not there.
Horns reminiscent of those of a mountain goat sprouted from its temples. The whites of the eyes became red and bloodshot, and the once blue eyes turned a dull gray color.
Even his body, which had a reasonable amount of muscle, was now bloated like a rock.
‘What happened to you yesterday?’
It was a question that occurred not only to the adjutant but also to the soldiers lined up in the rear, but no one dared to say it out loud.
Not only was it due to its monstrous appearance, but it was also because the deadly force rushing from Einfried’s entire body seemed to be strangling the vocal cords of those who saw it.
Instead, the adjutant asked another question.
“It is only 100 sects from here to the royal capital. “It’s close.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wouldn’t the location be a little… dangerous? Besides, wasn’t this a place he personally chose? “I’m worried that there might be some kind of scheming…”
“I’m worried for no reason, Adjutant. Rather, it has to be here.”
“What do you mean?”
“You will find out soon.”
It was at that time that the adjutant, who did not understand, narrowed his eyes.
A man was walking from afar. The first person to discover it was Einfried.
Afterwards, the adjutant caught the man in his eyes and his expression hardened, and one after another the soldiers grabbed their weapons tightly again.
That man was Daesung.
‘We must first assess the enemy’s forces.’
All the soldiers that could be selected from the knights were selected. The number is 20,000.
One enemy may have brought a larger army than that. Whether it is more than 20,000 or less, if the army is directly led by that man, it will be qualitatively different from the minnows we have seen so far.
“huh?”
However, immediately after, such foolish sounds came out of the mouths of everyone present, including Einfried. This is because
even though Daeseong walked and the distance narrowed,
the ‘corps’ that was on guard could not be seen.