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Chapter 158.

"You guys get along well,” Glont said. He was wearing heavy armor in place of his usual deep v-neck. He looked so much like a handsome knight, I wondered if it was the same person and doubted my eyes for a moment.

"Loyalty. You’re here."I got up from my seat and saluted.

Guild Director Glont laughed and shook my hand as usual. "Ohohoho, it’s not even an official occasion, so you don’t have to be so stiff."

Normally, I would have been casual, but the person who accompanied Guild Director Glont was the problem.

I stared at the blonde beauty standing behind Guild Director Glont, and he introduced her with a smile. "Oh, I see. Rosellis may know her, but this is General Orphina-nim, who leads the main unit of the imperial army."

Orphina blushed, embarrassed at Guild Director Glont’s introduction. "Nim is too excessive of a title. Please speak more informally."

Somehow, she gave off the opposite impression of what had been written in Uncle Bloody’s letter. The letter clearly stated that she was supercilious, strict, and rude.

Rosellis said to Orphina, dissatisfaction clearly showing on her face, "It’s up to the Guild Director what he wants to call you, ahjumma." [1]

Orphina replied with a light smile at the growling Rosellis, "I was just saying it because I thought I was too lacking to be called ’nim’ by Glont-nim... little one."

Huh? What’s going on here? Suddenly, the atmosphere seemed to have become that of a morning drama.

In the war of nerves between the two women, I sneaked up to Guild Director Glont and asked him, "What’s going on right now?"

"Ahh, when Rosellis was still inexperienced, she was horrible to Orphina...” Guild Director Glont answered. He smiled and shrugged when Rosellis glared at him. "Well, they’ve always been like cats and dogs. I don’t know either, hohoho!"

Acting consistent with his feigned ignorance, Guild Director Glont turned his head away from the war of nerves. It seemed a little too late, but it was still a wise decision. Nothing good would come from getting in between a cat and dog.

Considering that Rosellis was a former knight of the Black Water Buffalo Knights, I thought that her relationship with Orphina had probably been formed during that time.

Well, to be honest, it was none of my business whether they were on good terms or not.

Guild Director Glont put his hand on my shoulder and asked, "By the way, how’s it going? Are you getting used to the adventurer’s guild?"

"Well, I don’t know. Not long after I was assigned, I went on a business trip to the ruins, and now there’s a war breaking out, so truthfully, things are hectic."

Guild Director Glont laughed at my answer. "Ohohoho, how eventful. It’s usually not that exciting.”

"But you sent me to the ruins, Guild Director." I opened my eyes wide and spoke.

Guild Director Glont responded skillfully, "It was a good experience, wasn’t it?"

"Well, let’s just say it was. By the way, you must be busy preparing for your departure, so what are you doing here?"

"They said Dane Walker was here."

"Oh, Mr. Dane Walker will probably be behind the inn." I pointed to where Dane Walker was.

Guild Director Glont nodded. Then, he gave Lisbon a once over, looking at him like prey, and headed toward the back of the inn while smiling. Lisbon was still frozen by Orphina’s sudden appearance and didn’t seem to notice Guild Director Glont’s gaze.

I didn’t see anything. Of course, of course.

When Orphina followed Guild Director Glont, Rosellis stuck her tongue out at Orphina.

But anyway, for what reason had the commander of the main forces and the commander of the reserve adventurer’s unit come to see Dane Walker in person?

I had a feeling that something was going to be annoying.

***

Orphina walked beside Glont as they headed for the back of the inn. She looked back and asked, "The young blonde man seemed to be to your liking, didn’t he?"

Glont grinned softly at Orphina’s question. "Yeah. It was like seeing myself in my youth, so my gaze was drawn to it.” After saying so, he began to think he was growing old.

"But he didn’t look very strong."

"Ohohoho, I was weak when I was young, too."

Orphina looked disbelievingly at Glont. In her eyes, his power was no less than that of the battle races. Perhaps that was why, but the fact that he’d been weak at some point felt awkward to her.

"He’s going to become strong,” Glont remarked.

"For his age, I think he’s strong, but I don’t think it’s at a high enough level for Mr. Glont to say that."

Glont smiled at Orphina. "Of course it’ll take a long time. It might not be possible even after ten or twenty years. But he’s going to become strong. He’s like me."

When Glont had first seen Lisbon during the middle rank knight school entrance exam, he’d been happy, as if he’d found a gem. He’d thought to contact Lisbon someday, but had never done so, as it didn’t seem like the right time.

Instead, it seemed fortunate that he had a close relationship with Den and Rosellis, which would make approaching him later easier.

Orphina didn’t agree much with Glont, but she didn’t deny it.

Dane Walker, who had been meditating behind the inn, got up from his seat at Glont and Orphina’s arrival.

"How do you feel? Have you gotten used to the level yet?" Glont asked.

Dane Walker smiled awkwardly. "Ahahaha! It’s so-so. I think it’ll take half a year to get used to it properly. I’ll be a halfpenny until then."

In response to Dane Walker’s answer, Glont laughed along and said, "Among the old knight adages, there’s a saying like this: To die, or to be strong. Decide."

Dane Walker’s expression hardened. "Is the situation on the front lines that bad?"

Glont’s adage was often used in situations where one couldn’t survive unless one became strong. Saying such an adage to Dane Walker, who still hadn’t adapted properly to his level, also meant that he would dispatch him to the front line immediately.

"Yes." Glont nodded.

Dane Walker bit his lips. "Damn, I knew I was anxious for a reason when the main unit suddenly arrived and said we were going up to the front lines in less than a day."

"I didn’t announce it out of consideration for morale, but one of the four great demons, the Turtle Carrying a Mountain, is currently heading south towards the empire."

Dane Walker felt faint. "Has the expected arrival time been announced?" he asked.

Glont answered calmly, “According to William’s calculations, it should be around midnight tomorrow.”

"Have they tried intercepting it in the middle?”

"About three times. One of the divisions was wiped out.”

After hearing the answer, Dane Walker closed his eyes for a moment to think. ‘It must be a secret that I’m going, considering that two busy people came here secretly after ditching their aides.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand. If it became accidentally known that a great demon was moving south, it would be a huge blow to morale. They had to move as covertly as possible.

"Yes, the only ones who know you’re leaving are Orphina, Roseland, and me. Other than that, I’m thinking of dropping hints to just Rosellis and Ruin."

"I doubt I’m going alone. Who’s going with me?"

Orphina answered Dane Walker’s question, "Half of the Red Dragon Knights and the Battle Magician Corps."

It could be said that this was the key force of the imperial army’s main unit.

"I’m guessing I’ll be in command of the Battle Magician Corps?”

In the past, when Dane Walker had been a member of the court magician division, he was a part of the Battle Magician Corps, so he was well aware of the chain of command.

The chain of command in the Battle Magician Corps was uniquely determined not by rank, but by magic level. This system had been created because the magicians’ spirit made them ignore those with lower magic power, no matter how experienced they were.

“That’s right. You’re the most suitable, in the absence of William or old man Kermin-nim."

"Haha, if I knew you were going to do this, I would have crossed the Wall of the Magic Way a little later." Dane Walker laughed bitterly at himself. "I assume I won’t be going to Warrant, but to the heart of the demon territory.”

Even if they sent the vanguard unit to Warrant first, it would only be a few hours earlier than the main unit, so it was meaningless.

At Dane Walker’s assumption, Glont nodded and handed over a document with an overview of the operation. "You will attack the great demon as the captain of the 4th Intercept unit."

“The goal is to alter its course, right?”

“Yes.”

There was no need for a long explanation because the two had been working together for a long time.

“We’ll probably fail," Dane Walker said. He wouldn’t necessarily be able to succeed in an operation that had already failed three times just because he was the captain now. Glont was also well aware of this fact.

"I know. Just buy some time."

Dane Walker laughed. "I’ll try to delay it by three hours."

Tying up the feet of a great demon for three hours was no different from saying he was prepared to lose his life.

"I’m sorry."

"It’s okay. Just please prepare a hefty compensation for me."

Orphina handed Dane Walker a red baton. "This is the baton of the Red Dragon Knights. I’ll leave this in your hands for a while."

When Dane Walker received the baton from Orphina, he thought it was unexpected. The fact that Orphina, who was famous for her strong pride, had transferred a part of her authority to him also meant that she acknowledged him.

Knowing the weight of the baton, Dane Walker nodded heavily.

***

Outside the gate of Asterium, four corps of the imperial army and one Adventurer’s Reserve corps gathered. The sight of about 50,000 soldiers waiting in rank and file gave off a feeling of intimidation, but also of majesty.

I was also part of a large group of people who were standing in line with each other. I was standing in the front row of the adventurer’s reserve forces, where those associated with headquarters were located.

"Uuugh, my legs hurt." Demuir, who had been standing next to me for a long time, wore a tearful expression as he whispered quietly.

Organ glared at him reproachfully. "Shh. Be quiet."

"Tch, how come you only tell me off..."

Right when Organ was about to nag at Demuir’s grumbling, a soldier wearing a colorful cape appeared in front of the soldiers on horseback. I couldn’t tell what group he was associated with, but he was a lieutenant general based on the rank on his cape collar.

"All troops! Attention!" The lieutenant general infused his shout with mana, and all of the 50,000 soldiers stood at attention.

Koong! As the large group of people stomped their feet, the ground shook as if there were an earthquake. Orphina then descended from the sky on her dragon and landed in front of the soldiers.

When the dragon came to a complete stop, the lieutenant general got off the horse and shouted, again infused with mana, "All troops! Salute to the Commander-in-Chief!"

The soldiers saluted in unison, "Loyalty!"

After the deafening salute, the lieutenant general turned in the direction of Orphina and saluted. "Loyalty!"

Orphina accepted the lieutenant general’s salute ceremoniously, and began her speech with mana infused into her voice so the whole army could hear. "Proud imperial soldiers! We’re heading to the front lines of the demon territory tonight. It’s a dirty place, full of screams, where lives are threatened every minute. Likely, some of you standing here will lose your life. You’ll inevitably lose your comrades! That’s the kind of place we’re going to!"

Orphina rose from the saddle and climbed onto the dragon’s head. "But we have to go there. Do you know why? To protect the proud empire? To be loyal to the glorious Emperor? No! The imperial army isn’t headed for the demon territory for such ambiguous reasons!"

Then she drew her sword and pointed it up. "What you are protecting are your parents, your siblings, and your friends! Think about it! What will happen if you can’t stop the tide of demons from the demon territory?! Your family and friends will be violated! Let me put it bluntly, the demons will treat your family as food! They’ll cruelly treat them as playthings before taking their lives! Is that okay with all of you?"

"No!"

"Your voices are too quiet! Is that okay with all of you?!"

"NO!”

Hearing the soldiers shout with all their might, Orphina smiled with a look of satisfaction. "Good! We’re entering hell tonight! Is anyone scared?"

"No!"

The soldiers shouted with all their might, bearing grim expressions as they fell to mob mentality. In my past life, I would have thought that they were just struggling to curry favor, but they seemed to be shouting sincerely.

"Wow, aaahhh." Small citizens like me liked to follow the common trend, so I pretended to shout like those around me. Actually screaming would hurt my throat, and it was too much of a bother.

"All troops! We’re departing!" The entire army began marching to Warrant at Orphina’s command.

1. Ahjumma is the female equivalent of ahjussi. It’s what people call a middle aged woman, not quite “old lady/woman” yet, but older than just “lady” or “miss”. Usually people on the younger side of the age range will take offence at being called “old”.