How much time had passed since then?
The outcome of the war had almost been decided.

Which side was going to win, the Royal Army or the Demon God of Ice...

It was hard to believe, but even with all the damage they had sustained, the Ice Demons still had the upper hand.

As the battle progressed, the most elite knights of the Kingdom's army fell one by one, one after the other, and were forced into a state of combat incapacity one after the other.

Most of the mortally wounded knights survived thanks to the miraculous skills of the squire priests, but there were some who died without any chance of healing.

In addition, the miracle of Cure Serious Wounds performed by the squire priests could heal fatal wounds and save lives, but it could not bring them back to the front immediately.

Therefore, it is inevitable that the number of those who can fight will steadily decrease.

As a side note, while the fierce battle was going on, there were so many people who were seriously injured and falling that the squire priests could not keep up with them.

The squires were frustrated by the untenable situation.
They wondered if they could do nothing more than to let several knights lose their lives.

But then, something truly miraculous happened.

A priestess appeared in a dashing manner and saved the lives of the knights one after another by using her priestly miracle skills.

It was a priestess named Cyril who had been brought by Princess Irene, but the squire priests could not hide their surprise at the fact that a beautiful girl of no more than 20 years old could perform priestly miracles.

One priest even said that she looked like a goddess herself.

However, aside from these offstage events, the big picture continued to move in the wrong direction.

While the knights of the kingdom's army were falling one after another, the ice demon that they were desperately trying to damage showed no signs of slowing down.

On the contrary, it even seemed to be gradually recovering its strength.

In the middle of the battle, the princess knight Irene and a swordsman from another country named Satsuki, who she had brought with her, also participated, but that did not move the situation.

And so the number of warriors in the kingdom's army continued to dwindle.
Now there were only about ten warriors in total, including King Andrew, Knight Commander Dylan, Princess Irene, and the exotic swordsman Satsuki, surrounding the Ice Demon from afar.

In the midst of this, Satsuki, who was holding her sword and breathing on her shoulder, blurted out to Irene.



I was just thinking the same thing. I was just thinking the same thing.

'Because, I feel like it's a different level than the Rockworm's master, which Will said was about B+ rank.

'I also don't think it's as hopeless as this if we took on about ten Orc Emperors at the same time. What's the meaning of this, Your Majesty?

King Andrew, who was asked a question by his beloved daughter, replied while looking a little uncomfortable.

'Oh, it's just that he ate his friends and got more powerful. It wasn't that bad when I sealed it with the Pearl of Extreme Hell.

Dylan, the Knight Commander, interrupted.

'Besides, the S rank is just a rating that lumps together everything that doesn't fall under the A rank.

'That's right. If you think of it as a double rule of strength in terms of the difference in rank, you have to put it at SSSS rank to make it count.

'Haha, I wish inflation would be moderate.

Irene laughed, but her eyes were not smiling at all.

She wiped the disgusting sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her dress, but she could not rid herself of the sticky feeling of despair that clung to her.

Everyone in the room, including Irene, was forcing herself to smile.
If we don't, our hearts will break with despair.

What will happen if we all fall?
It's clear as day.

Everyone on this battlefield will be killed.
And when that happens, millions of other people in this country will have no choice but to be cruelly slaughtered.

That's why we can't lose...

Irene looked at the now grotesque figure of the Ice Demon God, with many tentacles sprouting from the left half of its body and the right half of its body melted into mush.

Irene, along with the knights, challenged it and swung her sword again and again.
And she was repeatedly defeated and dodged.

On the other hand, there was one time when she had to defend herself against a monster.

On the other hand, I was horrified when a counterattack came at me once.

The tentacles slashed at me with blinding speed, and I dodged them with reflexes that surprised even me at the time, but there is no doubt that if I had been even a moment too late, my chest would have been gouged out and I would have sunk into a sea of blood.

So... even though I could imagine myself being bludgeoned to death by that thing.
I can't imagine a single way to defeat it.

The dragon (Ildora) that had been my best hope survived thanks to Cyril's miracle, but it was impossible for her to return to the front line.

However, other than her fire breath, she can't do more damage than that demon god's powerful defense and regeneration ability.

So now it's just a matter of time until it's my turn to be killed.

I'd like to let Satsuki and Cyril go, but I don't think they'll give up if I tell them to run.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to do anything about it.

(Will...... sorry,...... me......)

Irene's mind was now filled with the image of a young man.
Her beloved, childhood friend, the wizard.

(Hey Will ......, did I make a mistake ......? (Will ...... was I wrong?) My path ends here, with Satsuki and Cyril involved,......)

The guilt that swirled in Irene's chest was a feeling of desolation that exceeded it many times over.
She felt sadness, love, and pity.

It's not just the knight's feelings for the people he needs to protect that come to mind at the end, but the girl's feelings for her loved ones, and Irene is a little confused.

(Hmm, I see,......, I'm really like that, aren't I? But I should have at least ...... said 'I love you', seriously at least. Then maybe Will would have seen me as a girl. ......?)

Such regret. And sadness.
The inexplicable sadness that I'll never see my beloved again.

When I thought about it, I couldn't stop feeling...

(No, ...... me, I don't want to do that. ...... Will ......!)

(No! I don't want to do that! Will!) With feelings and tears welling up in her eyes, Irene looks up at the sky even though she is in the middle of a battle.



And then...

And then, she saw a giant eagle flying under the cloudy sky.



The eagle flies toward Irene and her friends, carrying the blue sky that can be seen behind the dark clouds.

(What? ......?)

Irene had a feeling that she had seen that eagle before.
It reminded her of the night forest, orcs, elves.

And then...

A moment later, Irene thought of it, and with tears in her eyes, she shouted its name with all her heart.