Chapter 33
The dark mages were performing the Demon King’s Descent Ritual inside an abandoned castle halfway up Mount Malfren.
Since the place had once been used as a fortress to defend the region, there was only one narrow path leading up from the last village, which had been used as a supply point.
The barrier covering the mountainside hadn’t existed during the first expedition.
Back then, they had managed to reach the castle gates without difficulty, but without the Empire’s cooperation, the expedition alone couldn’t break through the gate — or so the report said.
That was why Castian had paid particular attention to organizing the imperial forces and preparing the siege this time.
But when they arrived, Mount Malfren was enveloped in a barrier, and beyond it, the mountain swarmed with monsters.
The first to attack the expedition were hundreds of Bemings.
They were rat-like beasts about the size of small children — not very powerful individually, but dangerous in swarms.
However, the real problem wasn’t the Bemings.
A gargoyle flying out from the castle flapped its leathery wings high above the expedition.
While everyone’s attention was drawn upward, Commander Hamil, who was fighting at the front, shouted:
“Duke, a basilisk is approaching!”
When Castian looked in the direction Hamil pointed, a massive blue-scaled monster was charging toward them, swinging its heavy tail.
Like the gargoyle, the basilisk was a venomous and petrifying beast — troublesome to deal with.
Without taking his eyes off the gargoyle, Castian issued his orders.
“All knights except archers, handle the basilisk. Hamil, take the priests with you.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hamil led the Bernstein Knights forward toward the massive blue creature, followed by three high-ranking priests for support.
Castian shouted to the archers and mages who were frozen in awe of the gargoyle.
“Archers, draw its attention! Mages, pull it down with magic!”
At his command, archers readied their arrows and mages began their casting.
Castian tightened his grip on his sword and glanced back.
Lydia’s carriage had just entered the barrier.
Seeing the imperial soldiers regroup quickly after being startled by the Beming swarm, Castian turned away.
They needed to take down the gargoyle first — it was fast, and Lydia’s safety depended on it.
A blue aura began to glow along Castian’s silver blade.
Arrows from the Bernstein archers and Castian’s aura-infused slash struck the gargoyle simultaneously.
The creature deflected the arrows with its wings but couldn’t avoid Castian’s strike — a wound opened across its chest.
“Kraaagh!”
The enraged gargoyle let out a furious roar, glaring down at Castian.
He unleashed another slash and charged forward — luring it away from Lydia.
Taking the bait, the gargoyle flapped its wings and followed him.
While Castian, the expedition, and the knights fought the gargoyle and basilisk, the imperial soldiers were struggling as well.
“Eden, are you all right?”
“Stay inside the carriage!”
Eden yelled as he cut down a Beming with his crimson aura blade.
Marcus pulled Lydia back inside and shut the window.
Outside, Eden and the imperial troops were defending the carriage — and the gap in the barrier — from the advancing monsters.
“Push them back! Don’t let a single one get past the barrier!”
Hearing Eden’s shout, Lydia clasped her trembling hands together.
There was nothing she could do.
Swarms of rat-like beasts surrounded them, and massive creatures soared above — even praying felt meaningless.
After all, God would hardly listen to a dark mage’s prayer.
Marcus looked at Lydia, who pressed her joined hands to her forehead and bowed her head.
“It’ll be fine, don’t worry too much.”
“How can I not worry? You saw the gargoyle yourself!”
“If it were truly dangerous, Duke Bernstein would have ordered a retreat. He’d be here already.”
Marcus spoke with confidence — not to comfort her, but because he truly believed it.
If Castian had chosen to face the gargoyle, it was because he judged it manageable.
If he hadn’t called for aid, it was because he trusted Eden and the imperial troops to hold the line.
He was not the kind of man who would leave Lydia in danger.
And indeed, Eden and the imperial troops were steadily cutting down the Bemings.
Unbeknownst to Lydia and Marcus, at that very moment, Castian’s sword had just ripped one of the gargoyle’s wings to shreds.
As Marcus had predicted, the expedition soon overcame the monsters’ assault.
The gargoyle was torn apart by Castian’s blade, the basilisk was dismembered, and the Beming swarms were annihilated.
After confirming the area was secure, Eden opened the carriage door.
“You can come out now.”
“Is it over? What about Castian?”
“There are some wounded, but everyone’s fine. The Duke is safe as well.”
Lydia sighed in relief as Marcus groaned and stood up.
“I suppose it’s my turn now.”
Stepping out of the carriage, Marcus went to tend to the injured.
The imperial troops had minimal losses, but the knights who fought the basilisk suffered casualties.
Wounds could be healed, but for those whose bodies and souls were destroyed — even Marcus could do nothing.
He could only watch as the knights gathered their fallen comrades with solemn faces.
Castian looked down grimly at the bodies of his men, covered with cloaks.
He had accepted these sacrifices the moment he’d obeyed the emperor’s orders.
But accepting it didn’t make the pain any less sharp.
He spoke heavily to his knights:
“No one stays behind. We all return together.”
The Bernstein Knights bowed their heads to their lord.
Castian, Marcus, the expedition, and the knights all turned to look toward the distant Malfren Castle.
Gargoyles and basilisks were advanced monsters — difficult to summon. Who knew what else the dark mages had prepared? Charging in blindly would be reckless.
If even one remaining monster escaped through the barrier, it would be disastrous.
“We start by clearing the outside of the castle. Until it’s secure, the imperial troops will stay here. Half of the knights remain as well.
Hamil, you’re in command until I return.”
“Understood, my lord.”
“Ralph, you stay too. If anything happens, retreat beyond the barrier and seal the entrance.”
The mage Ralph asked, alarmed:
“Then what about you and the others, my lord?”
“We’ll break through the barrier again when it’s time.”
Ralph hesitated, glancing at the others, but eventually nodded.
Even though the archers and mages had supported him earlier, Castian had practically defeated the gargoyle alone.
Without him, the expedition would already have failed.
They had no choice but to trust him.
After a brief discussion, Castian turned to head back toward the barrier where Lydia and the imperial troops waited — but Marcus spoke up.
“My lord, I’ll go with you.”
Castian looked at him silently.
There was reluctance in those blue eyes, but Marcus stood firm.
He wanted to save lives.
He had once been consumed by duty and passion when he first discovered his gift for healing — and had since forgotten it.
If not for Lydia — if not for joining this expedition because of her — he might still be a useless man turning his back on the world.
Marcus spoke firmly again.
“What if someone is critically wounded? I must go with you.”
Castian wanted Marcus to stay by Lydia’s side.
If the worst happened and only one person could live, it had to be Lydia.
He could hear the fierce voice of his emotions shouting inside him — but as a commander, he couldn’t reject Marcus’s reasoning.
“Very well.”
Castian replied in a low, steady voice and turned away.
Eden, craning his neck to look, suddenly froze mid-sentence.
“Here he comes, Lady Lydia! The Duke is—”
From the direction he was pointing, Castian was approaching.
Lydia’s face brightened instinctively — but she quickly realized why Eden had fallen silent.
Behind Castian, the Bernstein Knights were returning, carrying the bodies of their fallen comrades.
Lydia froze, not knowing what to do, while Eden bit his lip and murmured:
“I’ll be right back.”
She couldn’t think of a single word to say.
All she could do was nod dumbly and let him go.
Eden ran off, his cloak billowing, and as he passed, Castian came toward her.
“Lydia.”
“My lord…”
“Are you all right? You’re not hurt?”
Facing Castian’s blue eyes — filled with worry for her — there was only one thing she could do.
Lydia ran to him and wrapped him tightly in her arms.
