A city in the north of Torias



"Voaaaaaahhhh!

　The ogre, clad in a full body of Yoloi, waved its arms in the air.
　The huge club shattered the house and sent pieces flying.

　This is a town in the north of Torrias territory.
　The lord had received reports of anomalies near the border and was preparing to investigate in this town.

　Right now, his daughter Natasha has gone to King's Landing to seek help.
　As soon as the people arrive from the capital, they were supposed to start investigating the border area in earnest, but...

I didn't expect the Armed Ogre to invade my town...

　Count Torrius and his daughter Ofelia entered the town this morning.
　They brought Ofelia with them in order to calm the anxious inhabitants and soldiers with her song.

　But as if to anticipate this, armor-clad demons appear.
　There were six of them.
　They are twice as tall as adults and have thick arms. They are armed with clubs in their hands.
　It was definitely the 'armed ogre' that Yuki-Grossaria and the others had mentioned. The only difference is that he only has a club in his hand and he doesn't have a shield.

　No matter how strong they are, there are six of them. They are slow-moving demons.
　They can be defeated by closing the gates and using the city walls as a shield. That's common sense.

　As long as the gates aren't breached from the inside by red armor-clad monsters.


''Uooooooooooooo!


　I heard another howl.
　It's been happening for a while now. An unseen monster is hiding near the town.

　Only once, a soldier on guard witnessed the figure.
　It was a red figure with a beast-like appearance. Wearing a strange armor, it appears like a beast and quickly hides itself.
　And then──when he screamed, the demon would turn violent (berserk).


"Urooooooooooooooo!


　Even now, a howl can be heard.
　Hearing that voice, the 'armed ogre' and others raised their arms in unison and began to shout.

''Guh-ooh-ooh!
"Guh-o! "Woo-hoo-hoo!

　The ground shakes.
　The six 'armed ogres' begin to advance down the main street of the town with a look of their own accord.

"──Oh shit. It's happening again!
"The demons are going 'berserk'!　Everybody, get behind the barricades!

　The soldiers hid behind piles of lumber and wagons.
　As soon as the gates were opened, the barricades were built at the count's direction.
　A number of them were set up throughout the town.

　The soldiers held their spears and waited for the 'Armed Ogre' to approach.
　Even these demons are not capable of fighting indefinitely.
　If you keep damaging them over and over again, they will eventually run out of power and fall. I had no choice but to believe that and fight.

''Vo!　Vuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

　In front of the barricade, 'Armed Ogre' shouted out.
　The demons formed a line and started running in unison.

''Ki, come on!
You know, there was a sorcerer who defeated you and your friends without batting an eye. You're not invincible, either!

　The soldiers shouted.
　Right in front of them, the 'Armed Ogre' slams into the barricade.
　There is a crunching sound and the barricade shatters.
　Fragments of the pile of lumber and carriages splatter onto the streets of the town.
　Even so, they were still able to prevent the demons from rushing in.

''Everyone, attack!　Then, get back to the next barricade!
'Oh, oh, oh, oh!'

　The soldiers' spears thrust into the torso of the 'Armed Ogre' as it stopped moving.
　Blood gushed out from the cracks in the armor and the soldiers cheered.

''Release──!

　Furthermore, at a signal from Count Torrius, the soldiers who were waiting behind him fired arrows at once.

''──'Fire Bullet (Fire Bullet)!
The Stone Bullet!

　Continuing on, the flanks of the demons were hit by the normal magic of fire magic and stone bullets.
　The 'Armed Ogre' fell to his knees after receiving a series of spears and arrows and more magic attacks.

It's working. The Armed Ogre should aim at the side. That man was right.
"'Now!　All at once!

　The Armed Ogre has stopped moving and the soldiers are rushing in.

''Wow...........

　With a thud, one of the armed ogres went down.
　There are only five left.
　If this continues, we should be able to take it down.

'So the residents are gathered in the meeting hall!

　Count Torrius looked back at the soldiers behind him and shouted.

''Ha, yes. The evacuation of the town's people is already complete!

　The female soldier acting as a messenger shouts out in a panic.
　The inhabitants are taking refuge in the opposite side of the demon - the south side of the assembly hall.
　The wall of the meeting place is solid, and it is equipped with a watchtower so that they can stand and fight in case of an emergency. There are dozens of soldiers on guard. We should be safe for now," he said.

It's a good thing they're not panicking. I'm surprised you didn't panic and follow orders under these circumstances.
Oh, you see. The Count, sir.
The inhabitants were calmed by my song.

　Ofelia appeared from behind the female soldier who was acting as a messenger.

''Ofelia!　How did you get here!
"I shall be obliged to receive my hero.

　Ofelia turned to her father and gave him a formal nobleman's bow.

'Now that I have asked for that man's help, I have a duty to see this battle through.
"...are you talking about your mother's family, the legend?
Yes, sir. Father.
Well. I don't want you to go back to the hall. Stay close to me.

　Count Torrius grimaced, sword in hand.
　''I'm sure Ofelia was helpful.
　She is known as the 'Diva of the Torrias Domain'. When Ofelia sang with a 'carefree' look on her face, the inhabitants would somehow feel at ease.
　Right now, I was thankful for that.

'And the reason you're so calm is because you believe in the legend, isn't it?　Then you can tell that to your soldiers. Anything that can inspire the soldiers. Not in this dangerous situation.
Yes, Father. Father.
Do you think it's a dangerous situation?

　At the Count's words, the female soldier of the transmission order asked back.

'The demons are being subdued, though. Still?''
The red beast is out there somewhere. As long as we don't know who he is, we won't feel safe.

　When Count Torrius said that, a howl sounded again.





It's him!　We're close!
'Father. Please look. On the walls....

　The destination that Ofelia was pointing at - on top of the city walls, there was a strange monster.


"Urooooooooooooo!
"Vuuoaoaoaoaoao!
"Goooooooooooooh!

　The demons, who had been flinching from the magic attack, screamed back.
　They are reacting to that monster's voice.

''WOOHOOOOOO!!!''

　Ignoring the flames and stone debris that pounded his body, the 'Armed Ogre' waved his arms.
　The log-like club dug into the carriage that served as a barricade, crushing it. The club also crashed through a pile of logs, where it broke.
　Still, the 'Armed Ogre' did not stop.
　It continued to swing its bloody arms and pound the logs, the carriage, and even the stone wall.

''What the hell are these guys?
He's gotten more violent, huh?
I'm getting hit by a barrage of magic and I'm not stopping!

　Finally, the barricade was shattered.
The Armed Ogre crushes the wreckage of the carriage and logs - leaving behind bloodstained footprints as it runs towards the soldiers.

"Retreat...!

　Count Torrius shouted.

''Don't waste your life. ' 'Don't waste your life. Get back to the next barricade!　Even demons have physical limits!　No need to fight in vain!　You must hold on!

　The soldiers respond to the Count's shout.
　As the soldiers are about to retreat...



"My foolish lord.



　The red beast on top of the ramparts jumped.
　It kicked the wall like a wild animal and spun once in the air.
　As it was, the beast - literally moved like a cat, landing on the roof of the building.

"....Fast. This is ridiculous. What speed, even though it's clad in armor!

　Count Torrius is convinced that this is the one who has entered the castle and opened the gates from the inside.
　I knew it was him, he thought, the one who had gotten inside the castle and opened the gates from the inside.

　But why?
　Why did you do such a far-fetched thing as bringing in a demon while doing so?
　If they could get past the city walls, they could have raided the whole town.



''─I must let the people know that the true king has returned.



　The Red Beast said.
　He ran through the roof of the main street where the 'Armed Ogre' is located and comes to the center of the town.

　On the roof of the road leading to the assembly hall, where the inhabitants were taking refuge, on the roof.
　From there, a red beast looked down on Count Torrius and his soldiers.

　Whether he was a man or a beast, it was impossible to tell.
　He looks like a man himself, but he is crouched down, arms on the ground, staring at the castle.
　On its head and back, it has an ornament that looks like a stave, which glows in the setting sun. He even has what looks like a tail on the back of his armor.
　He shook his crimson helmet and looked like he was laughing.



I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get away with it. You have defrauded our land.



　The red-armored monster said.



''This was originally the land of the Gelast Kingdom, which vilified the Sanctuary Church. Taking advantage of the fact that the 'Sanctuary Church' has temporarily withdrawn from this country, the lord of Torrius has taken the land!''
That's not true!

　Suddenly, Ofelia spoke up.

''When this land was ravaged by the 'Eight Kings War', the 'Sanctuary Church' fled without taking responsibility. At that time, the people of this land were saved by my ancestors and your father's ancestors. That's why the kingdom made this place the land of Count Torrius.......
"Oh, you unfortunate 'sanctuary church'

　The red-armored monster shook its mane and shook its head.

The ignorant people were persecuted and exiled because they did not listen to what they were told. If they had listened to the "Sanctuary Church", the world would have been a more progressive place!
You are... of the... 'Sanctuary Church'...!

　At the sound of Ofelia's voice, Count Torrius and the female soldier stop moving for a moment.
　Because it was the first time they had seen her raise her voice.

''You killed the legendary Lord of the ... 'Sanctuary Church'!
You don't know!　All I have to do is set the record straight!　With this Beast of Beasts, we will reclaim our lands and reclaim Elysian, the capital of ancient magical civilization, which is administered by a corrupt guild!

　The monster in red armor, 'Beast King (Lord of) Beasts', howled.
　The huge red body bounced like a beast and flew through the air.
　And so it landed on the roof of the house right next to Ofelia and the others.

''──The 'Royal Horseman (Lord)'?''

　Count Torrias defends Ofelia behind his back.

The "Lord's Armor" is a tactical grade armor with formidable power discovered by the Sanctuary Church in the past.
　I'm sure Count Torrius knows the name at least.
　It is the strongest armor that the kings were supposed to use in the abominable Eight Kings War. The most powerful armor that the kings were supposed to use in the abominable Eight King's War, and that it was the 'Lord's Armor'.

I'm sure you're not sure if this is the real "King's Horseman"?　No, it would be a fake!
"Foolish lord to the end!

　The crimson 'Beast King (Lord-Of) Horseman' (Beast) jumped.
　It jumped over the heads of Count Torrius and Ofelia and pounced on the soldiers.
　The soldiers reflexively hold up their shields.

　─ ─ But.

''Guaaaaaahhhh!

The claws of the Beast King's Horseman easily tore through the soldiers' shields.
　As it was, the Beast King's Horseman kicked several soldiers in one go.

　I was moving too fast.
The Beast King's Horseman is a crimson armor that covers a person's entire body.
　And yet, even the lightly armed soldiers were unable to catch its movements.

''Don't force the fight!　Retreat!　Retreat, boys!

　In response to Count Torrius' shout, the soldiers leave the 'Beast King's Horseman'.

''........What is your purpose?　"He who calls himself 'The King's Rider,'
"Of course it's about reclaiming territory, isn't it? Foolish lord.

　The 'Beast King Rider' replied as if to spit out.

''Of course, this is the territory of the 'Gelast Kingdom'. It was only taken away by you guys. Then you will have to take it back in turn. That's all.''
Soon we'll have troops from King's Landing. They can't just take this town and keep it.
'Then I shall take a hostage. If you can make your people experiments in magic, I'm sure the King himself will change his mind. First we shall claim the girl.

The Beast King Rider pointed at Ofelia.

''There's technology in the Sanctuary Church that you don't know about. Just like you control demons, you have the skill to control people.... We'll remake it. The world as it is now... everything!
Ofelia!　Run!

　Count Torrius pushed Ofelia away.
　At the same time, the 'Beast King Rider' jumped.
　It moved like a beast in the air, aimed at Ofelia, and raised its arm to the ground...



"Don't touch my child.



　─ The black shadow that flew in from right beside me, and I was bounced away.

''Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

　Screaming, the crimson 'Beast King Rider' flies through the air.
　The black shadow chases it. I caught up with it in the air and grabbed the arm of the Beast King Horseman with my claw.
　The black shadow continues to slam the Beast King's Horseman into the building. The stone walls were shattered and the Beast King's Horseman also screamed out.

　Even so, the black shadow does not stop.
It jumped up high in the air with its grip on the Beast King's Horseman - a sudden drop.


　The black shadow continued to fall with the momentum of the fall - it slammed the Beast King's Horseman to the ground.



''───Guguugu!　Gahhhh!
"Don't shout. You're scaring my kid.



　In front of Ofelia's eyes, a black shadow rises up.
　The shadow looked like a dragon (dragon).
　However, its body is completely humanoid. The entire body is covered with jet-black armor, and huge wings sprout from its back. The face is invisible. He has a face that is hidden by a jet-black helmet. I'm sure you'll find twisted horns extending from the back of the helmet. I'm sure that's why it looks like a dragon.
　However, Ofelia couldn't help but be dazzled by its appearance.
　Even though his entire body, all black, looks like an evil dragon.
　You can find a number of different types of shoes in the market.

It's not a good idea. I am the 'Geralt Kingdom'....... This "Lord of Beasts" is...!

　The crimson "Beast King Rider" jumped, beeping, beeping.

''─You, what........what is that power?
"Shut up.

　The figure in jet-black armor said: ''Don't speak the name of the country that was destroyed in conjunction with the Sanctuary Church.

I'm not going to say the name of the country that was destroyed in conjunction with the "Sanctuary Church". It's not a good idea to scare my child away from the name of the foolish organization that has been running around so wildly.
What... what's going on with that plane?
The Lord of Nosferatu (tentative)

　The person told him.

"You don't have to remember that. You will be gone from the human world in 10 years. This is that kind of plane.