IYAMD: Episode 44

Marsilia steadied the knights who flinched as if they were about to charge forward and quietly commanded,

“Wait. It is not yet time.”

When the leading Minotaur finally reached the formation, Marsilia swung his sword through the air. At some point, a deep green aura had gathered along the blade, and that aura stretched out like a crescent moon, slicing through the air and flying forward.

“Grooooh!”

The first Minotaur charging ahead took the strike directly to its face and collapsed, causing the knights to erupt into cheers.

Cutting through their cheers, Marsilia roared like a lion.

“First and second lines! Hold your ground! They’re coming!”

Another Minotaur trampled over the fallen one and lunged forward. It threw itself against the tightly formed shields and barriers, picking up axes that had been previously thrown and swinging them wildly.

Whenever a barrier shattered, the shields moved forward to cover the gap, and in that brief moment, the priests and Marsilia restored the defenses. Meanwhile, the knights thrust their spears at the Minotaurs’ legs.

In that short exchange, knights who were struck by the Minotaurs’ overwhelming strength were either knocked down or thrown back. Whenever gaps formed in the ranks, fallen knights were pulled out while others swiftly took their place.

Those injured were quickly healed by the divine power enveloping the battlefield, allowing them to find another opening in the front lines and rejoin the fight.

In just moments, chaos erupted. A Minotaur rammed through a weakened barrier with its horns, breaking through and trampling over the formation.

Jaha, assessing the battlefield, immediately launched himself toward the intruding Minotaur.

The disrupted formation was quickly restored, but the shields, dented and crushed by axes and horns, no longer seemed reliable.

The moment Jaha drew his sword, he infused it with inner energy. A pale, hazy aura enveloped the blade, and without hesitation, he leaped into the air, swinging his sword toward the Minotaur’s eyes.

The strike landed, piercing the beast’s eye, making it stagger. Seizing the moment, the knights roared and pushed against its legs.

Those who had held shields now picked up spears and struck at its legs. Within moments, the Minotaur had sustained multiple wounds and collapsed onto its knees.

Jaha then leaped onto the Minotaur’s head and slashed repeatedly. Though its thick hide was torn, spilling bodily fluids, the wounds were not fatal.

Descending, Jaha placed his middle and index fingers along the blade’s edge, channeling a concentrated burst of inner energy into it.

The sword aura extended several times the length of the blade. With that, Jaha stepped onto a shield and propelled himself upward, driving his sword into the kneeling Minotaur’s throat.

The Minotaur raised its hand in a desperate attempt to block, but the extended aura pierced through its palm and plunged deep into its neck.

Then, Jaha detonated the sword aura within the Minotaur’s throat.

Thud.

With a gruesome sound, the Minotaur’s head exploded, and its massive body slowly toppled backward.

“Hooray!”

The knights cheered and fought with renewed vigor.

Jaha glanced at Marsilia, who was busy with maintaining divine power. After confirming his safety, Jaha immediately leaped toward another battlefront.

Thus began the long, grueling night.

Amid the battlefield’s chaos, Baron Odette Hill swallowed dryly as he observed the emperor and the adjutant.

The Archduke had ordered him to monitor the emperor’s relationship with his adjutant. If the opportunity arose, he was even given tacit permission to assassinate the emperor during the battle.

But even the Archduke likely didn’t expect Odette to actually succeed.

The emperor was one of only two Sword Masters in the empire—possibly the strongest swordsman of all. Someone like Odette, still only a mid-tier Sword Expert, would be no match even if a hundred of him attacked at once.

Moreover, the emperor’s divine power was said to rival that of the founding emperor. Even if he were caught off guard, the odds of Odette landing a fatal strike were nearly nonexistent.

Besides, even if a chance did present itself, killing the emperor now would spell doom for every knight on this battlefield. Odette himself would surely be gored by a Minotaur’s horn or cleaved by an axe.

Grinding his teeth, Odette focused on the battle.

Then, seeing a shadow dart through the air, his jaw dropped.

A lean figure, exuding lethal energy, moved as if he were stepping on invisible footholds, soaring through the air like a bird.

Even though Odette had seen this before in daylight, he still couldn’t comprehend it.

It wasn’t magic. The man simply moved as though there were stepping stones in the air, defying common sense.

The airborne swordsman slashed through Minotaurs as effortlessly as slicing cheese, his cold blade gleaming like moonlight.

He cut down Minotaurs that broke through the barriers, one by one, without even losing his breath, flitting across the battlefield like a specter.

Watching the man leap again, Odette inwardly prayed to the goddess.

And they expect me to assassinate the emperor with this monster at his side?

Even if the emperor weren’t a Sword Master, the mission was practically impossible.

The knights cheered at the inhuman feats of their ally, but Odette sighed, realizing his mission had failed.

But in the next moment, a new thought arose—I might actually survive this.

Failing his mission meant he could be demoted or, in the worst case, executed upon return.

But at least the knights he had led would live.

The emperor’s divine power healed wounds before the blood could even reach the ground, and his adjutant was crushing enemies wherever the line faltered.

For now, Odette abandoned the Archduke’s orders and focused solely on survival.

With a bellow, he rallied the knights and swung his sword.

“Do not retreat! Hold the line! His Majesty is with us! The goddess watches over us!”

Though he had pledged allegiance to the Archduke, at this moment, he, too, placed his faith in the emperor.

The emperor would win.

Just as he had in every campaign before—he would return victorious once more.

….

Marsilia did not hold back his divine power. While casting Forest of Healing broadly, he also focused on continuously maintaining the barrier.

His head spun, and his heart pounded loudly. It was only natural that such side effects followed when he exerted his power so intensely.

However, Marsilia endured it without changing his expression. Compared to when he had saved Jaha, this was nothing.

Back then, the divine power he had unleashed in a single burst must have been over a hundred times what he was using now. If anything, he still had room to spare. If this dragged on longer, he couldn’t guarantee anything, but for now, he could endure.

As the enemies that had charged ahead all fell, the Minotaur horde momentarily retreated. It seemed there was something or someone commanding them.

Otherwise, their nighttime ambush and the way they moved in an organized group like this wouldn’t make sense. And now, seeing them retreating based on the situation?

Marsilia ground his teeth as he watched them withdraw.

Around him, cheers erupted. As if they had already won completely, the knights raised their weapons high toward the sky.

Even though more than fifty Minotaurs still remained, hope filled the knights’ faces.

Marsilia quickly realized the reason. He saw the respect and fear in the eyes of the knights surrounding the man who had just descended from the air.

Jaha pushed through the knights encircling him, his loosely tied hair swaying gently as he approached. His sharp eyes gleamed more vividly than ever as he furrowed his brows at Marsilia.

“I’m fine, Jaha.”

Before Jaha could open his mouth, Marsilia lowered his head and whispered into his ear.

Suppressing the urge to lean on Jaha’s shoulder, Marsilia lifted his head.

“And you? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Since his divine power was still in effect, any injuries would have healed quickly. Even so, Marsilia felt his mouth go dry as he awaited Jaha’s response.

Jaha lifted his gaze to the cascade of light falling from the sky. Then he looked back at Marsilia—as if to say, With that here, do you think I could possibly be injured?

Marsilia smiled faintly at his unspoken answer and finally withdrew his divine power. Then, he searched for the commanders to assess the situation.

Dawn was already breaking, casting a pale light over the battlefield. The retreating Minotaurs had moved beyond arrow range, yet they still watched this way, snorting heavily as if they might charge again at any moment.

“Report the number of casualties.”

“There are no casualties in the Crimson Knights, Your Majesty.”

“The Black Knights as well, Your Majesty.”

Finally, Odette Hill, who had led the Archduke’s knights, took a deep breath and placed a hand over his chest.

“There are no casualties among the Doton Knights either, Your Majesty.”

Hearing the overly formal report, Marsilia raised an eyebrow. Why is he acting like this? He had been wary that Odette might attempt an ambush during the battle, yet here he was, speaking so properly.

After finishing their reports to Marsilia, the knights turned their gazes toward Jaha.

General Des clasped both hands together and bowed his head.

“Sir Dandelion, we are grateful for your efforts. Thanks to you, the damage was minimal.”

Jaha returned the gesture in silence, simply giving a small nod. Then, he looked back at Marsilia with a faint smile.

In his eyes, a brilliant vitality had taken root. Gone was the dull, lifeless gaze he had once held, the eyes of a man who wanted to die.

His pale yellow eyes sparkled. The man with round, soft features bit his lower lip as if slightly embarrassed.

But somehow, it also seemed as if he were acting a little smug.

Marsilia felt as though he could hear Jaha’s voice even though he hadn’t spoken.

‘See? I’m quite useful too.’

Indeed.

Marsilia couldn’t take his eyes off him.

His shining eyes were too beautiful, the life radiating from him too precious.

He stood frozen for a long while, gazing at Jaha’s face in silence.