LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Saving the Capital
Chapter 80: Saving the Capital
As we arrived at the gates of the capital, the residents who had been flowing out one after another stopped in their tracks, watching us enter the capital with hopeful eyes.
“From what I’ve heard on the way, the vicinity of the Grand Temple is the epicenter. Let’s head there, with determination!”
Hearing the spirited response from my subordinates behind me, I spurred my beloved horse and headed towards the Grand Temple. Everywhere, one could see the corpses of monsters strewn about, indicating the intense battles that had taken place.
Apparently, the commoner district was almost unscathed, which meant that only commoners were fleeing. The nobles’ district seemed unable to escape due to the presence of monsters. As we approached the Grand Temple, we could hear the growls, roars, and angry shouts of the knights.
“Those injured, step back!! Vice Captain Luminar and his team will be here to relieve us soon, so hold on until then!”
Whether it was splattered blood or his own, Ernest, covered in fresh blood, encouraged the knights. However, his steps were unsteady, and it seemed like he could collapse at any moment. At that moment, I saw a herd of Red Boars charging towards us.
“Jest, stay away from Eleanor for a moment.”
I jumped off from my beloved horse and ran to Ernest. My subordinates followed suit and dismounted. It would be fine if it were just small animals, but if it were Red Boars, the horses would not come out unscathed.
Unfortunately, we didn’t make it in time, and Ernest was hit by the Red Boars and blown towards us. I caught Ernest, and my subordinates rushed to engage the Red Boars in support.
“Ah… Vandière, Captain of the Knights… I’m sorry… because of me…”
Seeing Ernest up close, I could tell he was quite injured. With a face on the verge of tears, he apologized to me, showing signs of considerable emotional weakness. Seeing this expression, I realized once again that he was younger than me.
“It’s clear that you’ve been fighting desperately. You’ve endured well. Leave it to us here and take a rest.”
I patted Ernest’s head gently and stood up.
“Jest! Take the Crown Prince on Eleanor and go a bit further away!”
“Got it~! Eleanor, let’s go to Justin’s side!”
As if understanding Jest’s words, Eleanor came up to us.
“Huh? Eleanor…? That child… named Jest…”
“I’ll explain later. Ask Jest during the trip. Come on, I’ll lift you up.”
“Ah… the fountain in front of the Grand Temple…”
I took Ernest’s hand as he looked bewildered, and with enhanced physical abilities, I lifted him up and put him on Eleanor.
“Eleanor, I’m counting on you.”
With a pat on her rear, Eleanor neighed as if to say, “Leave it to me,” and galloped away. As if in exchange for Eleanor, Orel and his team appeared.
“The captain have arrived! We will now operate under the command of the captain! We will eradicate the monsters this time!”
At Orel’s clear voice, the expressions of the subordinates who had traveled with us brightened. Ernest mentioned something about a fountain in front of the Grand Temple earlier; perhaps there was something like a fragment of the evil god there.
From here on, it was a routine extermination mission for us. Each squad, including the elite of the Third Knight Order, coordinated to sweep through the area.
“Push them back to the square in front of the Grand Temple!”
As my squad and Elliot’s squad, which had gone to the mountains, were composed of elite members of the Third Knight Order, the monsters fell as if they were playing a game. Cheers gradually began to fly out of the windows of buildings higher up. With each monster that fell, cheers could be heard from above.
The residents near the Grand Temple and the nobles’ district had been unable to go outside for several days, enduring anxious days. After about two hours of fighting, when we got closer to where we could see the fountain, we could see monsters appearing from the shimmering air like a mirage.
“There it is…!”
Thanks to the support of my subordinates, I arrived at the fountain using body reinforcement and saw ominous red decorations sinking into the fountain.
The sword is in tatters and I don’t know how many monsters it has killed, but I’m sure it can at least destroy the ornament.
I thrust the sword charged with magic into the underwater ornament, and black mist erupted. Sensing a disturbing presence in the clinging mist, I recoiled.
“Hehehe… looks like it ends here this time. Well, that was quite enjoyable, savoring the pleasant malevolence. With this, the revival of the evil god draws nearer,” said the man in the black robe, who had transformed from the gathering black mist. I recognized him from a novel’s illustration. He was supposed to be one of the evil god’s minions, one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Why is he here of all places!? Fighting him in my current exhausted state is the last thing I want.
“Who are you?!” Simon shouted at the man, who then lifted his head as if just noticing us.
“Who… am I. I am the right hand of the evil god, Damian… let’s go with that,” he said.
“What did you say!?”
“The evil god’s revival is imminent. Enjoy your brief respite until then! Hahahaha!”
The man turned into black mist again and disappeared. Ah, the convenience of novels. When the protagonist can be defeated with one blow, the antagonist inexplicably vanish, allowing the protagonist to grow later. Well, it saved us, so hooray for convenience.
“For now… let’s defeat the monsters remaining in the royal capital and rest! Don’t let your guard down until we confirm total elimination!!”
“Woohoo! Delicious sake awaits!”
“Let’s finish them off quickly!”
“If they don’t increase anymore, we’re good!”
“Oh, there, they’re still fighting over there!”
Despite their injuries, my subordinates still seemed energetic. Later, we’d report that the fountain in front of the Grand Temple was cracked due to monsters.