Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Redius Argenta was Dielo's uncle and his only remaining blood relative.
His death would naturally have a significant impact on Dielo, and subsequently on the battles to come.
As a member of the Argenta main family, Redius Argenta was a major asset to Argenta.
"...What was the extent of the troop support you mentioned?"
The knight replied to my question.
"They said the battle is taking longer than expected, so the cleanup will take a while. They said to send enough troops to quickly handle the situation."
"Ah."
Pielle seemed relieved.
Hearing that, it didn't seem like a big deal.
"..."
I narrowed my eyes.
But what I knew was different.
It was clear that the situation on the ground hadn't escalated to a critical point yet.
The reason why the experienced commander Redius had to die, even with support from the head of the family, Dielo.
He gathered all his strength and used the blazing 'Rampage' to block the water magic used by the sea monster.
He sensed something was amiss and requested Dielo's dispatch, but neither he nor Dielo could have known.
That a monster using 'water magic' would appear, something that had never happened in Argenta history.
I can't let it flow that way.
Even if it's a contractual marriage, I didn't want to stand by and watch a tragedy unfold, knowing the future.
Of course, it wasn't some foolish heroic impulse.
Redius Argenta would continue to be a major force in Argenta even after the real Pero arrived.
This is also for my future.
—Thump.
Having finished my thoughts, I jumped up from my seat.
"Send support troops as quickly as possible. The troop size..."
Originally, this would be a matter for Pielle or other knights of the royal guard to decide.
But they didn't know about the existence of the water mage monster.
I can't tell them about the monster either.
I can't say I saw it in a book, or I'll be treated as a suspicious person in an instant.
A way to bring as many troops as possible in the most natural way.
And the most... efficient way to block water magic.
"Wouldn't it be better for the knights to decide than me?"
The knight who was reporting and Pielle bowed in unison at my words.
To them, I pulled out my trump card.
"Instead, assign personnel to escort me as well."
"Yes?"
Pielle raised her head sharply. She seemed surprised too.
"It's a waterside, and I'm an Alloze."
I spread out my hand.
—Whirr!
The ink and even the water in the vase nearby reacted to my fingertips and moved.
The knight and Pielle stared at the sight with wide eyes.
"If it's a battlefield that needs manpower even after Dielo leaves, my abilities will be helpful."
No, my abilities will save not only Redius but many people.
I was sure of it.
I hate the sea.
Dielo murmured.
Hundreds of years ago, for some reason, the Endless Sea was created, and the monsters there constantly threatened the land.
The Argenta mansion, which vowed to protect the land from the Endless Sea, was built in a location overlooking the sea.
Thanks to that, what he always saw was this terrible sea.
From a distance, the sparkling appearance in the sunlight looks endlessly beautiful, but to him, it only looked like the entrance to hell.
Most of the people Dielo Argenta had known since childhood had been devoured by that Endless Sea.
'Many people want the head of the family to fall. Become stronger.'
'If you can't, at least you must get used to sacrifice, head of the family.'
'Look at the entire Argenta, not just the individual Argenta.'
If his teacher, who taught him that and was his last blood relative, hadn't guided him, the young Dielo might have collapsed.
'To survive, you must become numb.'
The words of his teacher, Redius Argenta, were engraved in Dielo's heart every time he came to the sea.
"..."
The reason he was thinking about it so much today was probably because he had been dispatched to the field where Redius Argenta was the commander.
—Kuaaaa!
When Dielo first arrived at the coast of the Endless Sea's Fourth District, half of the coast was monsters.
As soon as Dielo arrived at the battlefield, he drew his sword without hesitation.
—Paaaat!
The powerful flames that flowed along the tip of his sword stretched out like sword energy and burned the monsters.
The monsters of the Endless Sea, who didn't even flinch at ordinary flames, reacted only to Argenta's flames.
Like paper soaked in oil.
There was no way the monsters that were burning even with the abilities of an ordinary Argenta could withstand the fire of the head of the family.
—Chiijijik!
The seawater flowing from the monsters' bodies, as well as the water nearby, instantly evaporated, and the surroundings became hazy and hot.
"The head of the family has arrived!"
"Waaaaaa!"
The Argenta knights, who had been pushed back, completely reversed the tide of the battle.
It was only half a day ago that he thought it would be quickly resolved.
The situation on the ground had changed completely in the opposite direction.
'At this rate, many Argenta will die.'
Dielo frowned.
A few hours ago.
He thought more and more monsters were coming, but at some point, instead of monsters, a huge wave covered the coast.
'What, what is that!'
Amidst the shouts of the panicked Argenta knights, Dielo evaporated most of the incoming seawater, but there was a limit to that.
Waves crashing down again and again.
The beach quickly turned into a scene of chaos because of the monsters mixed in with the waves.
"..."
Dielo glared at the monster controlling the water far out in the middle of the sea.
Even if he sent Argenta's flames, it was difficult to stop it because it was blocked by a thick wall of seawater every time.
He had sent a support request to the mansion earlier, but he had only asked for enough support troops to quickly handle the aftermath.
He didn't expect the battlefield to change so suddenly.
—Swaaaaa!
The Endless Sea that Argenta had to defend.
Most of the monsters that came out of there were just mutated marine creatures with low intelligence.
But no one thought that a monster that could suddenly control the waves would appear in the middle of it.
A monster powerful enough to turn the tide of the battle.
"I heard that a monster using fire magic appeared in the desert guarded by Kartiel recently..."
Dielo narrowed his eyes.
Kartiel was a family that controlled the wind, and their abilities were said to have struggled because the wind spread the enemy's flames.
But the head of Kartiel had already met Pero and bloomed, and was Siete Kartiel, who was considered the strongest head of the family in history.
It was said that the problem was solved without any problems when the head of the family stepped forward himself.
"..."
But the real Pero has not yet appeared here.
Dielo narrowed his eyes.
This was virtually a natural disaster.
"I requested support troops from the mansion, but I don't think it will make a meaningful change on the battlefield."
Dielo quickly assessed the situation.
Redius, the field commander next to him, bowed his head.
"It's my fault. Please, head of the family, take cover for now."
Redius requested the head of the family's help because 'it seemed like more monsters were coming, so he requested it to reduce the damage to Argenta.'
But the situation on the battlefield changed with the appearance of mutant monsters.
Argenta, who controlled fire, was helpless against the waves that were rushing in like a disaster.
If Dielo Argenta had been the head of the family who had properly 'bloomed' after meeting Pero, the situation on the battlefield would have been different.
Not only Dielo Argenta himself, but also the vassals who received his power would have been able to use power that was incomparable to what they had now.
But without Pero, all he could do was block it.
No, it was a miracle that those under the head of the family who had not bloomed were blocking these many monsters.
So, to block them cleanly, sacrifice was needed.
"I will Rampage to stop them."
Just like Roa in the Third District, he was going to explode all of his abilities as an Argenta at once to stop the monsters.
Dielo frowned.
Another sacrifice following Roa a while ago.
But Redius's choice was the best choice for Argenta.
As long as Dielo himself was the head of the family who had not bloomed, it was impossible to get the flames to reach the monster so far away in the middle of the water.
If someone were to Rampage, and if Redius, who had Argenta's blood, were to Rampage, he would be able to break through the spray and kill the monster in question.
"..."
However, unlike Roa, Redius had fulfilled his duties as a commander.
Even so, he was going to Rampage for the sake of Argenta, to minimize the damage because there were many enemies.
There was no choice to reduce further damage.
As the head of the family, it was something he had to approve of.
Even if Redius Argenta was his teacher.
And the one who taught him this was Redius Argenta, his uncle and last blood relative, who was in front of him.
"Head of the family, permission."
Redius bowed his head.
He didn't add any more words because it was a battlefield, not a private setting.
And at this rate, that would be Redius Argenta's last words.
"Terrible Argenta."
Dielo muttered lowly.
It was time to make a ruthless but fair choice.
He had to order.
To burn himself to stop that, just like Roa did.
That was right.
That was the answer.
That was how Argenta had been maintained as a family.
Dielo, who bit his lip without realizing it, was about to open his mouth.
—Tatatak! Tatak!
The sound of chaotic hooves was heard in the distance.
Dielo paused.
Even from a distance, it wasn't the sound of a small number of knights coming.
"?"
Dielo, who turned around without thinking, widened his eyes.
"What is that...?"
Redius, who was preparing for Rampage with a determined heart, also stopped moving.
More than twice as many knights as expected were rushing towards them.
"Waaaaaa!"
But what caught Dielo and Redius's attention more than them was the person at the head of the royal guard.
The purplish-blue hair that was swept back because of the horse's speed.
The purple eyes revealed between them were too unexpected for Dielo.
"...Krua Alloze?"
The moment he widened his eyes, a blue aura stretched out from the hand of Krua Alloze, who was at the head.
The ability of Alloze, which controls water.
