It was a devastating scene. Everywhere one looked, the corpses of monsters and knights were mixed together indistinguishably, and the dull, lifeless gazes of the dead seemed to linger. The pungent smell of blood, the muddy ground, and the heavy, stale air filled the atmosphere. The surviving knights, still caught up in the excitement of the battle, struggled with the pain of injuries they hadn’t yet acknowledged.

The resolve to fight for their fallen comrades had been crushed by the looming worry and fear of the greater battle ahead. The sounds of groaning from all directions and sobs from those unable to bear the separation from their close comrades could be heard.

Ector, Moritol, and Cadel tried to hide their unease as they looked around at their comrades, more than half of whom had been lost.

“At this point, entering the Demon Realm would hardly lead to any meaningful battle. At best, we’ll only buy some more time. We should wait for the healers to arrive, fully recover, and then move out.”

At Moritol’s calm words, Ector raised his voice.

“We’ll all be dead before the allied forces who went to the Demon Realm first. After they’re all killed, what can we do when we barely have half our forces left? Whether we live or die, we have to go down.”

“Can’t you see the state of the knights right now? Wouldn’t it be better to survive and find another way rather than going down together to die?”

“If the allied forces are wiped out, there’s no hope for the Human Realm. Our mission is to retrieve the last Stone of Peace, not to survive and plan for the future!”

“Do you want to die a meaningless death just to feel better? Think of the subordinates right in front of you!”

“Even if we all die here, if the last one standing finds the Stone of Peace, the mission will be complete. This is a war where nothing can be achieved without risking our lives!”

As their opinions clashed, the atmosphere between Ector and Moritol grew increasingly hostile. With their bodies not fully healed, getting worked up would only worsen their condition. Cadel, who had been listening to their argument, stepped between them to intervene.

“Both of you, enough. We are the commanders. If the leaders raise their voices and argue where our comrades have fallen, any remaining will to fight will be shattered.”

At Cadel’s intervention, Ector and Moritol took a few deep breaths to calm themselves. Both of their stances were understandable. Moritol didn’t want to lead their forces to a senseless death, while Ector firmly believed that, even if they were to perish, the mission must be accomplished.

It wasn’t simply a matter of winning or losing. This was a critical battle that determined the survival of the Human Realm, so it was natural for Ector to be so stubborn.

After a brief moment of silence, Cadel spoke calmly.

“We need to go down now.”

“Of course.”

“Is Sir Cadel saying that too?”

Between Moritol, who was horrified, and Ector, who nodded as though relieved, Cadel continued speaking calmly.

“The Twilight Knight Order is down there. If we lose them, the momentum will shift beyond our control. If we can reach them, the knights who aren’t severely injured will be able to receive healing immediately.”

“What about the severely injured knights? They won’t even be able to swing their swords and will die.”

“The severely injured knights will stay here, waiting for the healers. As Sir Moritol suggested, after they’ve fully recovered, they can join us.”

Cadel’s suggestion was to take the less-injured knights and move to the Demon Realm first. It was almost like dividing the already dwindled forces further. Moritol, and even Ector, who had initially agreed, both responded with reluctance.

“With so few people moving, even stalling will be difficult. We’ll likely be more of a burden than help for the allies who are already cornered.”

“I will take charge of the battle.”

“But wasn’t your plan to draw on the power of the Scarlet Dragon?”

“I’ll have to postpone that plan until the allies are stabilized.”

The exploration had initially been planned after securing a certain level of probability for success. If he pushed forward with the exploration under such unfavorable circumstances, he would likely fail without even completing the main quest.

“Even if I take the lead, I won’t be able to turn the tide in an instant. A battle in the heart of enemy territory isn’t going to be easily resolved.”

Cadel’s gaze shifted beyond Ector and Moritol to a familiar blonde figure.

“Therefore, once again, we must rely on the aid of the fairy race. We have no choice but to hope that they will continue fighting alongside us in the Demon Realm.”