* * *

“Attacking and stealing the souls of those pierced by the attack, and then using those stolen souls to devour even more souls, it was a monster of a creature. Many of our members lost their lives. If I had also lost my soul, our forces would have suffered irreparable damage, and the only option was to flee. ……In the end, it kept chasing me, and I nearly died.” 

Modeleine, having regained consciousness, couldn’t hide the despair as he relayed the horrifying situation on the battlefield. According to him, more than half of the Twilight Knight Order who were sent into battle had died, and only those waiting near the portal had survived intact.

“……”

Garuel bowed his head deeply at Modeleine’s words. Cadel, noticing this, gently grabbed Garuel’s hand and squeezed it.

“We need to join up quickly. If we lose any more knights from the Twilight Knight Order, our survival rate in the Demon Realm will drop to zero.”

Ector frowned, clearly displeased by the whole situation. The demons had already divided the human forces from the start and were steadily thinning their numbers. If they couldn’t stop this flow, the annihilation of their army was only a matter of time.

Everyone understood this fact. Modeleine, having finished his healing, rose and spoke.

“I remember the way back. If we join up now, we can save at least a few more of our allies.”

Tearing off the tattered remnants of his cloak, Modeleine looked around at the gathered Imperial troops.

“Wounded soldiers, gather here. I’ll treat you as best I can before we join up.”

In Garuel’s case, unless the injuries were severe, he did not perform any healing. Due to the energy constraints, his role was to manage the troops during the battle and help them fight as long as possible. Therefore, soldiers with minor wounds immediately gathered around Modeleine for treatment.

While Modeleine conducted his healing with full sincerity, the rest of the group began scouting the nearby area.

“You’re supposed to stay with Lord Hyron.” 

“No way! I want to stay by Cadel’s side.” 

Lydon ignored Cadel’s order to stay with Hyron and opted to scout with him instead. He nestled right next to Cadel and showered him with affection, but Cadel’s expression only grew darker.

Noticing the obvious difference in reaction, Lydon pouted and said.

“Do you not want to be with me?”

“……It’s not that.”

“Then why do you look so upset? Did someone bother you?”

Cadel’s heart was heavy with the looming trials ahead. Yet, Hyron, being the father of the fairy he loved and the one to whom he had promised freedom, couldn’t be abandoned, not even in the face of such a great burden. Cadel couldn’t bear to simply give up on Hyron’s well-being.

When Cadel remained silent, avoiding the question, Lydon, with a serious expression, grabbed his hand.

“What’s wrong, Cadel? What can I do to cheer you up?”

Cadel briefly considered whether it might be a good idea to persuade Hyron to return. If it was a request from his beloved son, perhaps he would return willingly. As he thought this, he moved his stiff lips to speak.

“That’s enough. The healing is done. Come back now, Cadel. Lydon, you too.”

Hyron, who had somehow followed them without being noticed, spoke up, stepping between them. Lydon, who had been watching Cadel’s expression, paused, then, as if resigned, turned away. Hyron slowly shook his head as he looked at Cadel.

“Don’t break your promise a second time.”

He whispered softly, then began walking, pulling Lydon along with him. It was a clear warning. As the two of them walked away, Cadel’s face contorted with painful confusion.

“I don’t know what to do.”

At the back of the procession, distanced from the advancing knights, Kunra, who had responded to Cadel’s call, stood by his side.

Kunra listened to Cadel’s troubled voice, his gaze fixed ahead. What he saw was Hyron, the Fairy King, fluttering his wings hurriedly in the sky above the front lines.

“……Removal.”

After hearing the explanation about the new system prompt, Kunra felt a deep unease. It wasn’t because he was worried about the Fairy King’s safety. It was the system’s prompt to ‘remove’ something it hadn’t authorized. That was no different than a declaration from the world’s god to eliminate any variables created by an unwelcome outsider during the final battle.

‘I have even fewer variables I can interact with than I thought. To be so focused on the Fairy King just for killing one High Demon……’

Whether the word ‘removal’ simply means expulsion from the Demon Realm or complete elimination from this world was unclear, as Cadel suggested. But no matter which interpretation was true, it was not good news for Kunra.

“‘Removal’ might actually be a somewhat positive term. At least it doesn’t have the extreme expression like ‘obliteration’ that it could have used.”

“Removal is still a pretty extreme term.”

“Moreover, the Fairy King has ignored your warning and decided to stay with you until the end. There’s nothing more you can do here.”

“If I inform Lydon, Lord Hyron won’t be able to endure much longer and will leave.”

Kunra slowly turned his head and looked down at Cadel. There was a deep worry in Cadel’s expression as he watched Hyron. In such a critical situation, to be more concerned about the survival of a man who is not even his father was absurd, yet entirely characteristic of Cadel. Kunra, pretending to be resolute, scolded him.

“Stop it.”

“Why? Lord Hyron is surely an important asset, but I don’t want to push his family into danger. I don’t want to sacrifice them in this war. And……”

“The Fairy King’s will is as steadfast as yours. The resolve to die for someone isn’t something that can be made so easily. You of all people should know that.”

Finally, Cadel fell silent, unable to find a response. He lowered his head, and beside him, Kunra gently ruffled his hair.

“I’ll find a way to prevent the Fairy King from being removed. For now, put your worries aside and focus on the battle.”

Cadel slowly nodded, and Kunra disappeared into the shadows once again.