For Luciana, demons were an evil presence worse than mindless monsters.
“They have coveted our lands for centuries, plundering life and property. What need is there for mercy?”
And when she watched them from atop the walls, the rage boiling within her felt entirely justified.
“Argh!”
“Jack! Snap out of it!”
“Maintain formation! Never yield the high ground to these human scum!”
…But now, she wasn’t so sure.
Clashing with the knights, and facing the swords of her ancestors, the screams of those falling… didn’t seem all that different from humans.
“Foolish. If death frightens you so, why invade our lands?”
No reply came to the quietly muttered question.
Luciana’s eyes grew heavy with resignation.
The faces reflected in her sword did not belong to determined warriors, but showed fear more fitting of ordinary villagers.
“Pff, what nonsense,” she scoffed.
Of course, not all were like that.
-Crash-
Levain, armored head to toe in steel, trampled over those felled by his sword.
“Do not doubt. Simply offer your blood.”
He stood before her, breathing heavily through the slit of his helm, a warrior prepared for death just like her knights, revealing the bare minimum required to stand on the battlefield.
“We act as commanded by the True Dragon.”
However, she couldn’t help but frown upon hearing his reason.
“Is that all there is to it? Even if it is for you, those fallen around you might not think the same.”
“Hmph. Whether it’s those weaklings or myself, the will of the True Dragon is our will. It’s an instinct we cannot defy.”
Spouting what seemed like nonsensical gibberish, he then raised a greatsword as large as himself.
“My duty is to defend this place. Be prepared to die if you wish to cross.”
He was standing in front of a red tent, already knowing who was inside.
-According to a deserter’s testimony, there are prisoners in a differently colored tent at the center of the enemy camp.
That’s why she had taken the risk to come here.
“What do the demons plan to do with human prisoners?”
“…I have no obligation to answer you.”
“Well, fine. Just as you have, I will take what I want by force.”
Facing an opponent armed with heavy armor and a greatsword, she transformed her weapon into a rapier for a more agile response.
“That sword. I covet it.”
-Bang!-
At first glance, it seemed slow, but its heaviness was laden with a dark aura aiming straight for her head.
Normally, she would have parried it.
But.
“Clashing is not the only way.”
Gentle weakness overcomes rigid strength.
She had learned this painful lesson well during her sparring sessions with Hans.
Therefore, she angled her blade diagonally and leaped to the side.
Bang!
In the moment the greatsword that missed her plunged into the ground, she counterattacked twice, ducked to dodge another swing of the greatsword, and then retreated.
“I tried imitating Hans. It seems more doable than I thought.”
She understood why he preferred lighter armor.
Though the full plate armor she usually wore was enchanted to be lighter, the switch to thinner, leather armor made it much easier to move and dodge attacks.
“Indeed, a knight! Good. You’ll make a fine opponent to conclude this battle!”
A voice filled with the fervor of battle echoed from within the helmet across the snowy field.
“Come at me, young human knight!”
“Don’t rush me. I’ll fight you on your terms.”
Luciana replied as such, but she clicked her tongue at the challenge before her.
It was like a steel wall.
There was seemingly no gap in his thick armor.
The two counterattacks had also failed to make an impact.
‘The seams of the armor must be the target.’
While more difficult, it wasn’t impossible.
Just as she fixed her gaze on the small grooves connecting each forearm and was about to thrust her sword,
-Clatter-
Suddenly, the armor on the forearm she had been focusing on fell to the ground at the seams.
“What is this…!”
That was just the beginning.
Then the legs, helmet, and chest plate, one by one.
Like bricks being removed from a wall causing the entire structure to collapse, all parts of the armor fell, revealing the demon’s bare flesh.
“He’s here.”
She immediately knew whose handiwork it was.
And she wasn’t about to waste the opportunity he created.
-Thwack-
A swift, fluid strike pierced through the elite demon warrior Levain’s vital spot.
“Argh!”
He fell to his knees and soon after, silence ensued.
“That was timely help.”
“Huff, huff… You flatter me. Are you injured anywhere?”
Such unnecessary worry.
“Do you think I’d let these fools best me? As you can see, I’m fine.”
Despite her assurances, the shadow of concern didn’t leave her loyal servant’s face.
***
“Really? I trust you’re not hiding any injuries.”
“…Now you’re really sounding like the steward. How many times must I say it? I’m fine.”
Despite her assurances, and although she appeared unscathed on the outside, the unease lingered.
[Luciana’s Demise Progress]
[30% -> 35%]
While on my way to find her, for some reason, the system displayed her demise progress with a loud warning sound.
Though it was a slight increase, I hadn’t expected it to rise suddenly in such a place.
The forgotten threat to her life sent a chill down my spine.
‘Could it be the appearance of a higher entity like Bathory?’
With that worrisome thought, I hurried towards Luciana.
…Well, it seems she’s safe, at least.
The giant that Luciana had taken down was certainly among the elite of the Levain soldiers, but by no means a higher entity.
Even without my help, she could have surely handled him alone.
“So why exactly did the demise progress increase?”
“Is something the matter with you? You look troubled.”
“Oh, no! It’s truly a relief if nothing is wrong with you. Really!”
While making excuses to shake off the awkwardness of the moment, I didn’t let my guard down.
‘The status window can’t be wrong.’
Whether it’s a Bathory appearance, a guardian’s rampage, or Camilla’s scheming, the changes in the status window have always been accurate amidst numerous variables.
“Let’s not worry about that now. We’re about to rescue our allies. If you show such unease, that fear might spread.”
“Ahaha… I’ll do just that.”
Ouch.
It’s as if her gaze had physical force.
“…Well, you might have something on your mind, but it’s also a problem to brood over it alone. Feel free to share with me later.”
I remained silent in response.
After looking at me intently for a while, she finally concluded.
“Rescuing our allies comes first. We’re short on hands; will you help?”
“Of course. Leave it to me.”
Truly my favorite, wise and infinitely kind. I can’t help but admire her for considering even the silence of her subordinate and moving on.
She stepped forward to lead the way.
In such times, I can’t let Luciana take the lead.
Normally, a servant follows their master, but it’s different in dangerous places.
“Huh.”
“Is there a problem?”
“There are no more Levain to deal with. But that doesn’t mean there’s no issue.”
A group was found bound and unconscious.
Among them, Luciana quickly approached the ones lying in the front.
“Marc, Nazar!”
“Do you know them?”
“They’re part of the guerrilla unit. I even sparred with them when I was young.”
-It’s rare for a noble to remember the names of ordinary citizens,
Especially from just one sparring session.
It made me realize anew how much Luciana cares about the people around her.
“Fortunately, neither of them seems to have serious injuries. We should support them quickly.”
“Wait! Please rest easy, my lady. I will carry them.”
Then a questioning voice came.
“You’re going to support two at once?”
I know. It’s inefficient.
But what can I do.
[Luciana’s Demise Progress]
[35% -> 36%]
As you get closer to them, an unidentified threat seems to approach as well.
“Anyway, there are others here, so it’s not like you’ll only need to make one or two trips. I’ll help out as well.”
“No, leave tasks like supporting them to me. Please, protect us from any remaining Levain stragglers that might appear.”
Luciana nodded without much objection, accepting the convenient excuse.
“I could take on the supporting role, and you could cover me.”
“Ah! After such a strenuous battle, you should rest a bit.”
Politely but firmly, I refused, hiding my desperate resolve behind a loyal facade.
Now is not the time for me to be coddled!
“Ha-ha, alright. I’ll make sure not a single hair on your head is touched.”
Seemingly satisfied with my reasoning, she readily gripped her sword.
“Then I’m in your debt.”
“Don’t worry. My tactical acumen may still be developing, but I’m not so naive as to be oblivious to our current situation.”
Indeed, she’s right.
Though it’s framed as protection, the reality is that the situation has largely swung in our favor.
“It was practically over the moment the duke overwhelmed their leader and broke through.”
No doubt, the Levain, being one of the most formidable among demons and having honed their skills in internal conflicts, are formidable.
But now, without a commander and being picked off one by one, the situation has essentially been resolved.
Soon, preparations for a victorious return will likely begin.
I heaved the slumped prisoner’s body back up.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I supported one? You seem to be struggling.”
“Ugh, no, it’s fine. There’s still the risk of remaining enemies.”
But the good news gave me the strength to carry on with the hefty task of transporting two guerrilla members.
[Luciana’s Demise Progress]
[35% -> 33%]
Fortunately, these two, connected to Luciana, do not seem to be a cause of her demise.
“Your face has brightened again. See, that lively expression suits you best. Always keep it in front of me.”
“I’ll try.”
Yet, despite her wish, my expression gradually became harder to maintain.
[33% -> 35%]
[35% -> 32%]
The status window fluctuated even as I moved the soldiers.
It felt like monitoring stock trades in real-time.
‘Why has the always reliable status window suddenly become so erratic?’
If there was a clear cause, it might be different, but the uncertainty made it even more frustrating.
“Are you sure you don’t need help? Now that the battlefield is nearly cleared, we could ask another knight.”
“Heave, ho. No! You are currently of knightly status, my lady. Asking someone else would surely incur a debt. Better that I handle it.”
Honestly, that’s nonsense.
I can hardly believe what I just said.
Just one last person to save.
Once we rescue the man tied to the stake at the very back of the tent, the campaign against the Levain tribe will have successfully concluded.
[35% -> 38%]
But somehow, as I got closer to the guy,
[38% -> 40%]
the alarm bells in my heart rang louder.
“…It was him.”
“Hans…? Why are you acting like this? He should be our comrade, yet you’re so guarded.”
“…Ha-ha. I’m just naturally cautious.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard lately. Where else would you find someone who opens up to strangers as easily as you do?”
Unlike me, who hesitated, Luciana was all in on the rescue.
“Wait a moment!”
Before I could stop her, she approached him.
“…Please, save me. I need water…”
“Don’t just stand there. We need to save him first, don’t we?”
She carefully poured water from the flask she carried into his mouth.
“Ugh. Where am I?”
“Are you alright? Who are you? Name and affiliation, now.”
Dressed in the uniform of the northern army, he stuttered out his name in response to Luciana’s inquiry.
“I am the squad leader of the 4th Guerrilla Unit, Freedman…”
“Alright, I understand. You’ve had a tough time being captured by the enemy. We’ll arrange for you to return to
your unit soon.”
She attempted to support the now unconscious man again, in a show of camaraderie.
“Ah! Let me handle the supporting. Such menial tasks should be left to the servant.”
Though, to be precise, it was because I couldn’t trust him.
“Always making a fuss. Fine, but don’t overdo it.”
A bitter taste lingered in my mouth.
Partly from exhaustion,
‘Freedman, was it? I don’t recall hearing that name in the original story. Should I cut the problem off at its root right now?’
For a moment, I entertained such a drastic option.
The situation was clearly critical.
Since the message in the status window was always right, it was clear that he was the cause of the increase in the demise progress.
Ending his life would presumably return things to normal.
‘No, that’s too hasty.’
Considering the guerrilla unit and the fortress knights who value their comrades,
And the risk of plummeting Luciana’s favorability,
…It seemed I had to observe a bit longer.
The body heat felt through the shoulder I supported was uncomfortably irksome.
Cliche Novel 