Chapter 109
Andras was discovered not far from This Place.
The Knight Order, on a Regular Patrol as usual, unexpectedly detected a woman with owl wings beyond the Plains.
Upon confirming this fact, the Scout Team immediately fled without hesitation.
After all, fighting would only lead to sacrifices, and approaching any closer risked being detected by Andras.
Moreover, observing her movements, it was clear she was heading towards this Territory.
Upon receiving the report, Odelia immediately convened an Emergency Meeting.
“Immediately, evacuate the People and Prepare for Battle.”
Naturally, we were also summoned to that Emergency Meeting. Although not officially part of the Knight Order, we shared the same objective: Andras.
Odelia, with a serious expression, began to Command her Knight Order.
Her demeanor was starkly different from the way she usually flirted with Young Men, swaggering like a Neighborhood ruffian.
“Perfect timing. I was getting bored, having already charmed almost all the Young Men in the vicinity recently.”
Incidentally, here too, she once again proved her reputation.
Day after day, she would bring a *Man* back to the Inn where she was staying, and they would “conduct important business” every night.
Truly befitting *Welldone Vujji*, who always maintains her warmth...
Anyway, upon hearing the news, I also began to Prepare for Battle.
“What do we do... are we all going to die?”
“Calm down, child, it’s alright...”
“Everyone, calm down and follow our Control!”
“We’ve set up Barracks outside the Territory! For now, evacuate there!”
A commotion echoed from outside the Inn. Chaos erupted everywhere, as if yesterday’s peace had been a lie.
Still, I thought it was fortunate. At least the Scout Team had discovered the Demon, giving us time to evacuate.
Though, it seemed that time was now running short.
“S-she’s here!”
Soon after, a Knight shouted, and screams spread everywhere.
Hearing that, I finished my preparations and headed out of the Inn.
It was time to meet this new Demon, Andras.
*
“Tell me, Human. Do you happen to know where Flauros is?”
“H-h-heek?!”
At the southwestern edge of the Territory, a woman stood holding a sword.
Her beautiful appearance might lead one to believe she was merely a high-ranking lady.
However, the owl wings on her back and her chilling, emotionless expression denied her humanity.
She was the Demon of legend.
The Man who hadn't managed to evacuate realized this, trembling in terror the moment he saw her.
Regardless, Andras simply continued speaking.
“No, I asked the wrong question. A Human wouldn’t know him... Do you perhaps know of an Everburning Tree or a similar Place nearby? We certainly promised to leave a marker in the Demon Realm.”
“Please save me... please save me...”
“Answer me.”
*CRUNCH!*
The fiend suddenly stabbed the Man in the side with her sword.
The trembling Man screamed in agony as the pain overwhelmed him.
“Kuaaaagh!”
“I have very little patience. Even speaking with you disgusting Humans right now requires immense self-control. So, if you wish to die peacefully without pain, answer quickly.”
The Man hesitated for a moment. From her words, it seemed she had no intention of letting him live.
So, was it right to answer, or to endure and buy time?
Surprisingly, he knew what the *Everburning Tree* was.
For anyone born and raised in this small Territory, it was a legend they had heard at least once.
However, the Man’s deliberation did not last long.
*Sizzle!*
Suddenly, flames erupted from the sword, beginning to burn the Man’s side.
Among the pains a Human can feel, the number one is none other than searing pain (searing pain).
Moreover, this cruel Demon was slowly moving the sword upwards towards his torso.
“W-West! It’s to the West...!”
In the end, the Man could only struggle and reveal the Place.
“To the West... Ah, is my companion there? Wait for me, Flauros... I will retrieve you soon.”
Andras, muttering to herself, raised her sword high.
At the very least, she intended to grant him a peaceful end as promised. Seeing the brilliantly burning sword, the Man squeezed his eyes shut.
And then.
*CLANG!*
Suddenly, a Humanoid Figure Charged forward and blocked Andras’s sword.
Blood-red hair, fluttering like crimson. A greatsword, larger and heavier than a typical longsword.
Odelia. As a Commander who grasped the flow of battle, she was the first to hear the news and rush to This Place.
With a serious expression, she gave orders to her Subordinate Knights.
“Take the victim here to a safe Place and provide Healing.”
At her dramatic appearance, the Man almost forgot his pain and was nearly captivated.
“Well, well... a whole crowd of disgusting Humans.”
As People gradually began to gather, Andras frowned.
“I truly despise Humans. Their stench is so repulsive it makes me want to vomit.”
*WHOOSH!*
The flames from Andras’s sword intensified.
“Rather than smelling that stench, I’d prefer the smell of burning. I’ll incinerate you all.”
Immediately after, her sword and Odelia’s clashed. At the first impact, Odelia couldn’t help but frown.
*“She”s strong...!’*
The heat emanating from the sword was incredibly intense. One wrong move, and her skin might be scorched.
Yet, it wasn’t as if the Sword Strike itself was light.
Among the Knight Commanders, Odelia was known for her considerable strength. She had even focused her Swordsmanship on greatswords to leverage this advantage.
But for her to be pushed back, even for a moment, indicated just how heavy Andras’s Sword Strike was.
*“Still... it”s manageable.’*
It seemed as though Sword Aura was layered over the flames, but it was still possible to block.
Of course, if asked whether she could win, she might hesitate slightly... but fortunately, she wasn’t alone here.
“I’ll join in!”
The Knight Order had been incredibly busy recently. Since the appearance of the Otherworlders, no fewer than five Demons had emerged.
Naturally, Demons had become a familiar foe, and the Knight Order’s accumulated experience was considerable.
Immediately after, Andras’s sword lunged towards Odelia’s Temple.
Seeing the slow speed of the heavy greatsword, she aimed for an opening. But the sword did not Hit her.
*CLANG!*
Before it could, other Knights were quicker to block the Demon.
Perhaps due to the holy water coating, the Knights’ swords gleamed with a subtle luster.
Odelia calmly gave orders to her Knights.
“Naria, Mary. You two block her sword from my left. Focus only on defense.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Florence, Edith. The same goes for you, take care of the right flank.”
“As you command.”
“Meanwhile, I will aim for her neck.”
It was a type of combined formation. Every Demon that had appeared so far was Commander-level or even stronger.
Therefore, tactics for dealing with such Powerful Individuals also had to evolve.
Sometimes a pincer movement, sometimes a combined formation. Their experience, accumulated from countless Battlefields, was not to be underestimated.
“These annoying pests...”
Andras’s expression tightened into a deep frown.
The battle continued in a similar vein.
Odelia and Andras exchanged Sword Strikes at the center, with the Knight Order providing support nearby.
However, they unfortunately couldn’t easily seize the advantage.
*“...No.”*
It seemed they were even being pushed back slightly. The more the battle progressed, the hotter the flames clinging to her sword became.
The Flame wasn’t spreading or growing larger. It still subtly lingered on her sword. However, its density was gradually increasing.
The fire gathered and compressed, emitting an immense heat.
It was so hot, it felt as if the swords might melt.
Around that time, Andras spoke.
“I am the Demon of Searing Heat (Searing Heat). Just as iron heats up when forged in fire, the temperature of my sword rises endlessly.”
That was certainly unwelcome news.
Andras grinned and said,
“The warm-up is almost complete. That means your end is approaching.”
*Sizzle!*
With an eerie sound, one Knight’s sword began to melt.
They were still managing to hold on, but enduring much longer without Sword Aura was a distant hope.
Odelia frowned.
*“This isn”t good...’*
It seemed this Demon was quite high-ranked. So much so that the holy water they had applied was proving useless. Or perhaps the excessive heat was causing the holy water to Evaporate before it could even make contact.
In many ways, their compatibility was poor.
However, fortunately, this situation didn’t last much longer.
Reinforcements arrived shortly.
“...So this is the one.”
A Man holding a spear arrived before the Knight Order. It was, of course, Yor.
Despite facing a Demon, his demeanor was no different from usual.
At his appearance, Odelia’s expression brightened for a moment.
First, she warned Yor.
“Be careful! Her sword melts even iron weapons! If it touches you carelessly, you could be severely harmed!”
“Hmm... indeed. That does look quite hot. Hey.”
Yor frowned for a moment.
Even with his Regenerative Ability, he was still clearly a Human who felt pain.
Having his body burned by fire... even for someone who fought as aggressively as he did, it was something he slightly recoiled from.
“No matter how many more join, the outcome will be the same. I’m in a hurry, so I’ll burn you all quickly.”
Of course, he had no intention of backing down. He would just fight with a bit more caution.
He stepped past the Knight Order, moving one pace forward.
*Pishit!*
Then, taking out a dagger, he deliberately cut his own palm quite deeply. Bright red blood flowed from the gash in his skin.
Yor, as always, coated the spearhead with his blood. In addition, he now added his more proficient Sword Aura.
After being countered by holy water last time, this Double Enhancement had become his standard armament.
Having completed his preparations, he immediately thrust his spear forward. His most confident attack: the Thrust.
It was the simplest and most straightforward, yet simultaneously the most threatening Attack, as it allowed him to concentrate all his power into a single point.
“...”
Andras, perhaps sensing the threat from his stance, quietly adopted a Counterattack posture.
*CLANG!*
Immediately after, his Strike and Andras’s Strike collided. Despite the heat that could melt even metal, his spear showed no Transformation.
No, rather, in that state, he continued to perform a Blood Transfusion on the spear, gradually increasing the size of its tip.
“Kugh...!”
At that, Andras’s expression began to contort into a frown.
The Demon who had been relentlessly pushing back the Knight Order was now being forced back by a single Man.
Ultimately, it was she who was thrown back first.
As her burning sword was repelled.
*Whoosh!*
The spear tip grazed her left elbow.
“Kuh...!”
Bright red blood dripped down her left arm.
Seeing this, Yor said with a refreshed expression,
“See, it’s much easier without that damn holy water.”
“...Hah.”
Odelia let out a short, hollow laugh.
It was good that their Ally was strong, but... she felt a little insignificant.