novelzi Chapter 164 : Chapter 164
Chapter 164 : Chapter 164
The pit beneath the Ness Plains.From the bottom of that deep, dark pit, the sound of 'rain' could be heard.
To be precise, it was a sound duller than raindrops, with what sounded like chunks of iron occasionally falling.
It was the sound of monsters falling into the pit.
Tutututututu—!
—Keoheok......!
—Eugh.......
—Heok...... eugh.......
Deep down in the pit where not even light properly reached.
The monsters that had fallen below twitched like crushed insects. A considerable number had died, but there were survivors.
—Eugh...... a-a trap like this......!
—Cowardly human bastards.......
—It was the same as the southern fortress......!
But being alive didn't mean they were truly living. None of them could even get up properly.
Unfortunately, since most of the monsters Krokas had led to the Ness Plains were large, the impact of falling into the trap was even greater.
At least the Trolls, with their exceptional regenerative abilities, began to come to their senses and stand up one by one. Of course, they weren't entirely unharmed either. Some Trolls had their vital organs damaged and died instantly.
No matter how strong a Troll was, it couldn't regenerate if its heart or brain was destroyed.
Swoosh—!
Just then, an arm shot out from a pile of monster corpses.
A muscular black arm. Various scars and tattoos.
It was Krokas's arm.
"Ugh...... Uwaaaaaaah!!"
Krokas, having completely emerged from the pile of corpses, clenched both fists.
He roared toward the sky above the pit.
"King of humans!! I'll kill you!!! I'll kill you!!! I'll capture every human on this land, forcibly hold that bastard's eyes open, and kill them one by one!! I'll tear them apart and eat them alive, make knives from the bones of the dead to slice and eat others, and make children kill their mothers! And mothers kill their children!!!"
—.......
—.......
—.......
"And at the very end, at the very, very end, I'll gouge out that bastard's two eyes and hang them in his destroyed kingdom!! For him to watch forever, for his entire life, until they rot away!!!"
Should one say it was just like Krokas?
Despite falling into this pit, Krokas appeared to be unscathed.
Actually, he didn't look completely unscathed. One side of his face was safely crushed, and the fists he clenched were trembling uncomfortably.
His legs weren't sound either. Krokas's right knee was twisted.
Yet, to be able to shout so strongly...... perhaps his rage was acting as a natural painkiller.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
Krokas roared once more.
Monsters gathered around Krokas one by one. It was an instinct to be drawn to the strong.
"......Krokas, let's regroup. Since the humans made this trap, we can escape it once we recover. Even if we have to crawl our way up!"
"We must. Of course, we must!!"
At Krokas's words spoken through gritted teeth, the monsters saw hope.
Hope that even if they couldn't win this war, they could one day get their revenge.
Krokas took a deep breath and spoke.
Hoo—.
"For now, those who can move, get out those who can't. And Trolls, I'll need you to make a sacrifice."
"A sacrifice? What do you mean?"
"Let them drink your blood. Isn't it the best recovery potion?"
Krokas spoke as if it were a matter of course.
But the Troll who heard him couldn't help but be a little taken aback.
'If it were one or two monsters, maybe, but if I share my blood with this many monsters...... I could die.'
"Krokas, our race is also badly injured. We cannot share our blood until we have fully recovered."
"What? Are you saying you'll disobey my command?"
Chiiiiiiik.......
Krokas threatened in a low voice, snorting through his nose. At that, the Troll got a little scared and took half a step back, then stepped forward again.
"'Command'? Don't speak in such a way. The situation is different now. You and the Black Orc race are injured and weak, and the surviving Trolls have almost finished recovering."
"......"
"Our race will no longer listen to your commands. We are the strongest now, so according to the law of the jungle, we Trolls will now rule!!"
At the Troll's words, the surviving monsters stirred.
It was only natural, as what the Troll had just declared was rebellion and war.
Rebellion against Krokas and the Black Orcs, and war.
"......The Trolls are the strongest? Ha."
Krokas said, as if it were absurd.
Grrk—.
He picked up his weapon, a giant hammer-cum-greatsword, from the pile of corpses and pointed it at the Troll.
"Fine, let's settle who is stronger according to the laws of the monsters. But if you fail to defeat me, the Troll race will live as slaves to the other monsters for the rest of their lives."
"......"
"If you are confident enough to take that responsibility, then raise your weapon—."
Just as Krokas was speaking menacingly.
Chwaaaaaak—!!
Piercing through the mountain-like pile of corpses.
A giant 'snake' shot out.
It was an Anakros.
—U-uaaaaak!
—Ambush! It's an ambush!!
—I-it's an Anakros!!
—The traitors! The traitors are attacking us!!
Krokas and the Troll simultaneously looked in that direction. A new enemy had appeared, so this was not the time to be fighting.
Krokas ground his teeth.
'Anakros...... yes, now I understand. How the humans prepared this trap! This could only be a trap made by the Anakros!!'
Krokas felt as if not blood, but rage was now flowing through his veins.
That rage seeped out of his body. A black energy enveloped Krokas's body.
Ssssss-.
Then, the black energy began to heal Krokas's wounds. Strength returned to his arm, which he couldn't properly put force into, and its muscles grew larger. His twisted knee also returned to its proper place.
'Power...... is returning?'
Krokas felt it too. He hadn't fully regained his strength or become stronger yet, but his body was clearly recovering.
Evolution.
A change where a monster, whose limits to becoming stronger are set from birth, ascends to a new stage and becomes even more powerful.
He was experiencing it.
But just then.
「"......We would have been in big trouble if we were any later."」
A voice was heard in Krokas's mind.
It wasn't a voice he was hearing for the first time.
It was none other than—
"Risilbak!!!"
Krokas looked around, searching for the Anakros elder who had to be somewhere. A bloody battle was already unfolding between the Anakros and the monsters on all sides, but Krokas paid it no mind.
Right now, his attention was solely focused on the traitor.
"Risilbak!! Come out! I'll kill you!! I'll tear off your skin and make new armor!!"
Krokas spewed out his rage. His body had not yet fully recovered, so facing Risilbak would be a foolish act, but right now, Krokas was incapable of rational thought.
However, even if Krokas hadn't shouted like that.
Risilbak also intended to fight Krokas.
Because now was when Krokas was at his weakest. Now, while Krokas was suffering from several serious injuries and was in the middle of evolving.
Chwaaaaaaak—!
Risilbak shot up from the ground beneath Krokas.
He struck Krokas upward with his head, throwing him into the air.
"......?!"
Krokas, who had not expected a surprise attack from under the ground.
If his body had been in a normal state, he would have somehow balanced himself and grabbed Risilbak—
But since his body was not in a normal state now, he couldn't even put up much resistance and was thrown into the air.
Jjeok—!
And below him, he saw Risilbak with his maw wide open.
The inside of Risilbak's maw looked like another black pit.
"......Damn it! Damnnnnn!!"
A scream, a roar, a bellow, and so on.
With a monstrous cry mixed with all of that as his last, Krokas disappeared into Risilbak's mouth.
Kkwak—!
It was the end of a monster who had the potential to threaten not only the Plank Kingdom but the entire continent.
It was a final moment that was certainly brilliant rather than shabby.
***
Phyooooo—!
The Alpha Gryphon I was riding on its back cried out cheerfully. It seemed truly happy to have fulfilled its duty and properly assisted me, its master.
'......I don't even know how that all happened.'
I had lured the monsters into the trap just as Peralta had planned, no, even more perfectly than that.
I had lured them in so precariously that I was on the verge of being captured.
I can still hear it in my ears and see it before my eyes. The scene of vicious monsters chasing me with bloodshot eyes.
The tension made my heart beat so strongly it hurt.
'Still, it went well. It went really well.'
Flying on the Gryphon, I looked down at the Ness Plains from the sky. The black pit, larger than a soccer field, stood out the most.
'It seems the Anakros are cleaning up well too.'
The 'pit below' as seen from the sky was truly a hell. Tens of thousands of monsters that had fallen into the trap lay dead, and the few survivors were being devoured by the snakes—the Anakros.
If the ones being preyed upon down there were humans instead of monsters...... it might truly be a scene from hell.
'So...... what should I do now?'
The original strategy was to trap the monster army and then return to the royal capital for a defensive battle.
But the situation now was a bit strange.
'It seems like the monsters don't know what to do.'
The monsters that hadn't fallen into the trap.
Their numbers were considerable, but they seemed to have no intention of bypassing the pit to attack my army.
They all seemed to be hesitating, either looking down into the pit or glancing at the other monsters.
There was no sign of them moving toward the Ness Plains.
'The monsters' morale seems to have plummeted.'
On the other hand, my army.
They were all in formation, awaiting my command. Everyone was looking at me and the Gryphon Knight Order around me.
My army's morale was high. Truly. A morale that would never be defeated.
That being said.
'......Do I really need to attack the monsters? It feels like this war is already over.'
Of course, I still didn't know what had happened with the battles at the northern and southern fortresses of the Monster Mountains.
But since we had achieved a perfect victory on the most important battlefield, the 'Ness Plains', it was clear that we had already seized the momentum for victory in the war itself.
'So isn't it right to just let the monsters run away? If I needlessly order an attack here...... even if we win the battle, someone will die, won't they?'
If this were a game, I would have ordered an attack without hesitation.
Because if a knight or a soldier dies, I can just 'produce' them again.
But the knights and soldiers here were living beings. They were someone's father, husband, son, brother, friend, and so on.
'The life of each and every one of my soldiers is precious. If they don't have to die, it's right that they don't. Of course...... yes, of course.'
But thinking about it another way.
This was a golden opportunity. A good opportunity to wipe out the monster population from the Plank Kingdom.
If I succeeded in that, this kingdom would become truly safe in the future.
I could save the lives and livelihoods of far more people than the number of knights and soldiers who would die in this battle.
'Yes...... that might be true. But is it right for one person to sacrifice themselves now to save a hundred people in the future?'
Is it right to sacrifice the people of today for the people of the future?
A philosophical thought came to me for no reason.
I, at this very moment, didn't know what decision to make.
......If I knew it would be like this, I should have brought the
'Should I attack or not. I have to decide now.'
As I was contemplating.
Yoanna, who was held in my arms, spoke in a faint voice.
"......Y-Your Highness? I think the situation has settled down a bit now, so I would be grateful if you could l-let me down......!"
I had forgotten. That I had rescued Yoanna after she was abducted by the Gargoyle and had been with her ever since.
"Ah, right. I'm sorry. I'll let you down."
"N-no! I liked it...... I mean, thank you. For saving me."
It seemed like she was about to say something else, but Yoanna changed her words.
I was curious about what Yoanna was about to say. But right now, the dilemma of 'should I attack, or should I just let the monsters retreat' was greater.
'......What decision should I make.'
Phyooooo—!
For now, I steered the Gryphon toward where my army was gathered. To let Yoanna down.
The worries continued to spin in circles.
If I attack, someone, whether a knight or a soldier, will die. It's a regrettable and unjust thing.
But if I completely annihilate the monsters now, this kingdom will become truly safe in the future. If that happens, far more citizens than the number who would die on this battlefield will be able to live safely and happily.
—Those two thoughts kept tormenting my mind.
Thud—!
The Gryphon quickly landed on the ground.
Yoanna got down from my arms as if fleeing and bowed to me repeatedly.
"Y-Your Highness. Thank you for saving me!"
"......"
"A-and please excuse me! For me to be in Your Highness's arms......!"
I couldn't focus well on Yoanna's words. It was because my worries continued.
'......It seems I can't make the decision. The person named 'Seo Jae-yoon' cannot make such a heavy decision. The lives of the knights and soldiers are as precious as my own.'
Therefore, it seemed I had to make a decision that a person other than 'Seo Jae-yoon' would make.
A decision that someone else would make.
''Kings'...... they would have surely made this decision. 'Leonardo' would have done so too.'
Ching—!
I drew my sword and raised it high. Despite having cut down quite a lot of monsters, the sword had not a single drop of blood on it, as if proving it was a famed sword.
It was a clean, pure white sword.
"As you all know, our original plan was to trap the enemy and retreat to the royal capital for a defensive battle."
—.......
"But look at the enemy! Right now, the enemy is afraid. They want to run away, and they don't have the guts to attack the royal capital! They will surely flee. It is our victory!!"
—Waaaaaaah!!
—Blessings upon the great king!
—Honor!
—We survived! We survived!!
At my words, the knights and soldiers cheered.
But I'm sorry to say, I, no, the selfish man named 'Leonardo', planned to silence their cheers.
"But my men! I do not wish to stop here. I intend to pursue those monsters who attacked our peace to the very end and completely annihilate them!"
—.......
"Even against an enemy whose morale has fallen, there will be casualties if we fight. There might even be deaths! But if we miss this opportunity now, the monsters will one day attack our kingdom again! I do not wish to let that happen!!"
—.......
"I do not want to miss this opportunity. For the future of this kingdom, I ask for your sacrifice!"
Hwik—!
I turned to the other side. I finished my speech by addressing the knights and soldiers standing there.
"Let's fight! Let's crush the weakened enemy! Of course, I will be the first to fight, more dangerously than anyone else! So follow me!!"
Unintentionally, a lot of power went into my voice.
Having experienced a fierce battle, a moment between life and death, it seemed my adrenaline had kicked in.
Thanks to the adrenaline, my voice was strong. However, the speech itself was not very coherent.
'......Should I have organized my words before speaking.'
Just as I was feeling a slight regret.
—Let's go!
—Let's fight!
—For the king! For our families!
—Waaaaaaaaaah!!!
—We can't let a single one of those bastards escape alive!!
—The monsters that killed my daughter! I will definitely kill them!!
—For the future of the kingdom!!
—The king says to fight! Let's fight!!
To the point where my worries felt foolish.
My army was truly ready to fight. Even more so than me, who knew I would absolutely not die.
It's not something to say in this situation, but...... honestly, my heart was overwhelmed.
I couldn't miss this timing, so I immediately shouted.
"The Gryphon Knight Order will drop Madans on the enemy's escape route! The rest of the knights and soldiers will bypass the pit and chase the bastards to the end! Mages will follow Seria's instructions!"
—Yes, we understand!
"Death to the enemy!"
As I spoke and mounted the Gryphon.
A thunderous roar covering the Ness Plains spread out as a single voice.
—Death!!!