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It’s treated as a fact like a sun is hot or ice is cold. By the standards of everyone, the Northern Archduke was powerful. Anyone who has crossed swords with him will tell the same thing. It’s like facing a huge, insurmountable mountain. A giant iceberg that shrugs you off when you hit it and prevents anyone from climbing above.

However, who knew he would feel those emotions as well? The fight between Elroy and the Giant was extraordinary. Beyond the white veil of the horizon, he could see the battle of man against myth. The Giant swings a fist bigger than the peak of Mount Tai, and a comet of silver and white stands to meet it.

The Giant’s hand, trying to stamp out the comet, rose higher and higher. Quenor opened his mouth in disbelief as Elroy forced the Giant away. He was pushing his limits even now. Minute by minute, moment by moment, with the world on his shoulders, he was still accomplishing things he had never been able to do. The Hero did not back down even after eating the Giant’s fist and plowing through a mountain. The unbreakable Holy Sword would be destroyed before his will to fight.

Arrogant.

Quenor thought there was no way up. He thought there could be no higher level, that he was the one walking at the head, and that the limits he faced were the limits of the world.

His world was shattered then. He felt he could see the world beyond the walls he thought were the end. Like a snake shedding its skin, the coat of mana shattered. What he thought was common sense was turned upside down.

Quenor Stroff was never the same swordsman after that day.

***

“Looks like quite the expedition, Archduke.”

Rhys said jokingly as Quenor climbed onto his horse. A smile spread across Quenor’s face. With his newfound wisdom, he looked even younger. It wasn’t that he didn’t worry when he locked the doors to his mansion and meditated for days on end, but after all that, he looked more cheerful than ever.

“That’s right. The time to pay our debts is upon us.”

Rhys felt the immense pressure that Quenor exuded. He wondered what those who had fought Quenor would think if they saw the current Archduke. They would want to see how much farther he has reached.

“It’s a beautiful day.”

Quenor leaned back and took a deep breath. The warm, humid northern summer air went deep into his lungs, circling every pore of his body, awakening him. Quenor’s senses sharpened, and at the same time, his stomach dropped. Quenor felt the soil part as the horse stood on the soil. Soft, not gritty. It was a good time for a long journey.

“Since the Disaster’s defeat, there have been quite a few fewer monsters, and while there have been reports of them moving in groups, few seem to be a threat. A few crawlers would be the only threat to knights who can’t use aura.”

Rhys wiped the smile off his face and reported. Quenor, whose eyes were still closed, nodded.

“But…The other cities are a different story. In particular, there are reports of a spike in monster activity near the Capital. With their current movements, we can assume a powerful, intelligent monster is gathering them. I wouldn’t be surprised if things blow up sooner or later.”

“So what do you think will happen?”

Quenor asked with his eyes still closed.

“…What happened to Evernode and Bactins will happen to the entire continent. A wave of evil will sweep the continent on a scale the world has never seen before. If intelligent entities are at the helm, it will be a wave that will sweep across the entire continent, though I believe they will have their main forces head for the Crown.

At that point, even if the Kingdom is protected by its sturdy walls, it will crumble.

“And the north?”

“If we focus on defense, we should be able to hold out without losing a single Lord. The Giant no longer controls the monster, and no legionnaires follow. The Evernode will be impenetrable, even if they attack with everything they have.”

Rhys affirmed. If they focused on defense, Evernode could survive. But the Kingdom cannot survive without help from the North. It was apparent what Quenor must do.

“Rhys, what did you say we should consider before sending reinforcements?”

“…We need to leave enough personnel to protect the citadel.”

A question that came out of nowhere. A faint smile tugged at the corners of the Archduke’s mouth as Rhys answered. Then Quenor opened his eyes, frozen blue and burning with intent. The reins were loose, but the hand that gripped them was dripping with blood. The Archduke turned the horse’s head and spoke.

“We must face the seed of Disaster near the north.”

Rhys raised an eyebrow at the Archduke’s words. Archduke Quenor chuckled aloud, amused by Rhys’s reaction.

“You mean to tell me that you, a warrior of the North by birthright, would hunker down in a castle for fear of a weaker foe? Have you never heard of what the best defense is?”

“That is true, but…”

The Archduke’s hand rested on Rhys’s shoulder as he hesitated.

“Do not be alarmed; we are discussing something we should consider before sending reinforcements.”

“…So you want to ensure our position first, then send our troops to march to the Capital?”

“I’m sure they could hold for a bit. They have the Queen, the rest of the Hero’s Party, Laura and her mages…”

Quenor stood up.

“But they don’t have me.”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Elroy believes in men like me, so he has gone into meditation. If so, we have a duty to honor his faith. The North owes him our lives.”

“Well, if that’s what you say, then I must say the same: he saved me when we went on patrol and when he defeated the Giant.

Rhys snapped his fingers, and the Quenor narrowed his eyes at him. Rhys shrugged his shoulders, unfazed by the stare.

“I’ll leave you to gather troops and lead basic training. Promote the existing experienced soldiers, and roll the new ones to death.”

“That’s my specialty; leave it to me. I’ll have them trained by the day we leave.”

Rhys gave a wry smile and nodded.

“I will organize a patrol with Luke to rid the north of the creatures. We’ll ensure those bastards never roam the Evernode and the North again.”

And so the war in the North began before the Kingdom. Quenor took it upon himself to slaughter the fiends of the North. To the south of Evernode, Luke’s army. To the north, Quenor and a few knights killed every monster. Small, large, strong, or weak. Evernode’s armies did not discriminate. The beasts gathered in the north were crushed beneath the hooves of Evernord’s horses.

“We’re going south.”

“Isn’t that what we’ve been preparing for?”

It was a day when the northern forests had dried up, when they could roam the woods all day and find no trace of monsters. Quenor stood on the Hill of the Fallen, looked down at Evernode, and said.

“Evernode will be fine, Father, don’t worry too much.”

Luke’s qualities were exceptional. ‘I’m lucky I can entrust my son with Evernode.’ It was a flattering thought.

“You’re coming back, aren’t you?”

Karin tugged at the hem of Quenor’s robe. He looked down at her and nodded. She’d grown, though she didn’t show it. Though he felt it was too fast.

“I’m going to go help you.”

Karin’s face flushed with color at the Hero’s words. The lasting impression Elroy had left on her was still fresh in her mind. It would probably stay with her for the rest of her life.

“Will I be able to see the Hero when the fight ends?”

The Archduke looked into Karin’s sparkling eyes, unable to say no.

“I will ask him.”

And with that, the Protector of the North began his descent into the south.

***

“They must have been preparing for this.”

The knight said in a hushed voice. Agnes could only nod in agreement. The Archduke and the northern army advanced toward the Capital.

“Evernode…! Archduke Stroff of Evernode is here!!!”

Someone shouted excitedly from the ramparts. Agnes nodded her head very slowly. The monsters only received the order to attack the Capital and lacked critical thinking when another force entered the battle. The demons were being crushed to death between the walls and the northern blizzard.

And at the head of it all, a blue flash bellowed.

“For Kairos! For Evernode!”

The swords of the northern warriors echoed in response.

“Are the monsters we face any weaker than this!”

“No!”

“Was the fierce blizzard of the horizon weaker than this!”

“No!”

They sounded like bloodthirsty berserkers. The knights swung their swords with a feral gleam in their eyes. Rhys had a ferocious grin, and Serene slashed three demons in one fell swoop while Quenor approached Agnes.

“Climb aboard.”

Quenor said, handing the reins of another horse to Agnes.

“The North can’t lose to beasts like these.”

At Quenor’s words, Agnes’s eyes lit with newfound strength.

“You said you came to repay a debt to the Hero. It seems you have returned stronger for it.”

“Thanks to Elroy. I wanted to show him my new form.”

Quenor smiled and held up his sword. An aura that Agnes had never seen before wrapped around the Archduke’s sword.

“…It will be a while before I can catch up.”

“Your Majesty, I’m sure you’ll catch up in time.”

Agnes laughed bitterly and leaped up onto the horse. The northern horse was not confused despite the barrels of war and the tens of thousands of creatures buzzing about. Agnes looked out over the battlefield. They could win. They could destroy them.

“I’ll go first.”

Agnes said and spurred her horse on. Quenor nodded with a smile.

“To Her Majesty the Queen.”

Hope was born from despair. The roar of allied troops was growing. The soldiers of the Capital scrambled to join the armies of the north. The gates were being lowered, and organized reinforcements were coming out.

“We’re coming too!”

“How long will we stay within the walls and defend?”

Despair, too, was born from hope.

“No!”

A piercing scream rang out. Quenor turned around, his eyes shaking.

“…What the hell.”

No soldiers stepped forward to help. No, they had all been cut to pieces and scattered across the battlefield. It had suddenly appeared there, encompassing Quenor’s surroundings.

A golden lion stared down at its next prey.