Chapter 745: Chapter 745: Guide (2)

Unlike the cozy wardrobe, the street was soaked with death flags, heavy with an ominous chill.

Through that, he ran. And ran again.

Riris Marone.

The woman whose name he still didn’t know.

And even the child, quietly enduring without crying in the midst of all this.

Three people in total, carried on his back.

Tatadadat—

As he ran, his head didn’t empty—just filled with all sorts of thoughts.

Surprisingly petty, trivial ones.

Running was awkward with both hands tied up.

His back felt stiff from crouching in the wardrobe for so long.

He craved strawberries—ones straight out of the fridge, cold and sweet.

Why didn’t the Goddess ever grant movement-related abilities to her paladins?

'...If only I had [Giant Form].'

Then he could’ve seated all three on his shoulders and dashed with ease.

There were definitely a lot of strange abilities among Essences, weren’t there?

The envy flared up again—but what could he do?

Religious users of ‘Divine Power’ couldn’t carve Essences into their souls like mages.

'...How does that even work?'

The church said it was because their souls belonged to the Goddess and thus couldn’t bear other imprints.

But who could possibly believe such—

“...Everyone quiet.”

Sven Parab whispered, coming to a halt.

Then he swiftly tucked himself into the gap between buildings.

The situation was simple.

They were now less than five minutes from the eastern fire zone.

“It looks like the Royal Army and Noark forces are fighting.”

“How about finding another path? Maybe if we take a detour, it’ll be safer?”

“To reach the eastern branch the lady mentioned, cutting through there is the fastest route.”

A detour would take at least three times longer—and with fire all around, there was no guarantee they’d even find a proper path.

“Neither side seems to have the upper hand yet. Why don’t we use this gap to break through quickly?”

After hearing Riris Marone’s words, Sven Parab hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes. It’s a bit dangerous, but all things considered, it’s probably the safest option.”

And that’s how the decision was made after their quick discussion.

Fwoo...

Sven Parab took a deep breath, then stepped out of the alley and charged toward the battlefield in full swing.

Both of his hands were still occupied with the people he carried.

“Please take care of it...!”

Thus, all defense was left to Riris Marone. It was nerve-wracking to entrust their fate to someone else, but there was no other way.

He considered just shutting his eyes and charging ahead...

'But really, would that be okay?'

In the end, Sven Parab kept his eyes wide open as he plunged into the battlefield where hot wind and blood surged.

“...Who are they?”

“Are they enemies?”

At first, both sides were too confused by the sudden appearance to attack, unable to tell if they were friend or foe.

But that confusion didn’t last long.

“Riris Marone!”

“Sven Parab!”

“They’re with Yandel!”

“Kill them!”

Noark forces recognized them and opened fire, while the Royal Army rushed in to support them.

With fervor.

“They’re Yandel’s allies! The royal family must be up to something! Kill them here and now!”

“...If they’re coming at us that obsessively, there must be a good reason! All forces, protect them with everything you’ve got!”

They had planned to slip through the chaos—but this wasn’t the scenario they expected at all.

Still...

'Guess it balances out either way.'

So there was no need to worry too deeply.

He just focused on carving a path forward.

Kwaaaang—!

“Aaargh!”

Pook—!

A Royal Mage intercepted incoming spells.

A soldier deflected a blade that had been aiming for his gut.

Other attacks that couldn’t be stopped were barely blocked by Riris Marone’s mana barrier.

It all happened in a blur of near-death moments.

But—

Fwooooosh—!

In the end, they broke through the battle and reached the burning eastern zone.

Even then, people behind them were still fighting—some to kill, others to protect.

But oh well. They probably wouldn’t chase them into the fire.

[Sven Parab has cast Prayer of Protection.]

Sven Parab executed the plan and cast a divine spell.

All four people, linked by Marone’s magic, immediately saw a thick veil of energy coat their skin.

Then, they entered the flames.

“...Huh?”

“Why are they going in there...?”

Both enemies and allies mumbled, dazed.

Fwoooosh—!

Within moments, Sven was sprinting through the fire.

It was hard to see through the smoke and flames, but the path was a straight line—no problem.

How much time passed like that?

“There! Over there!”

Off in the distance, the eastern branch of the Church of Reatlas came into view.

To Sven Parab, the small shrine was unmistakable, a familiar statue of the Goddess standing at the entrance.

Perhaps the woman’s husband really had been an explorer—because the shrine, unlike the burning ruins around it, was perfectly intact.

Shhhhhaaaaa—!

The flames couldn’t touch it, blocked by a dimly glowing, translucent barrier.

Sven stepped into the barrier and pushed the front door.

It wasn’t locked—it opened smoothly.

But to his surprise...

“...Wh-Who are you?”

There were people inside the shrine.

Quite a lot, in fact.

“How did you get through those flames...?”

“They don’t look like Noark people...”

“...Stay close behind me.”

As he entered, wary refugees pulled back and eyed him with suspicion.

'One, two, three, four, five, six...'

Thirty-seven people in total.

Of course, it wasn’t too strange that some had managed to flee here from the war and fire.

They themselves had come because it was supposedly safe.

But the problem was...

“Mom...”

“It’s... it’s okay... we’ll be fine...”

Sven Parab felt it instantly.

Thump—

This place wasn’t safe either.

***

“Hmm? Ah! If you’re looking for the Chief, I saw him over there, by the forest! He was smashing in the heads of corpses—said some might be playing dead!”

“Is that so? But... isn’t this whole area technically forest...?”

“What, were you not listening? Over there! That part of the forest!”

“Um, I’m kind of busy right now, so... would you mind going there and telling Mr. Yandel for me? That we’ve finished clearing out the enemies inside the Sanctuary, so if he could head this way...”

“Got it!!”

With that, the warrior—probably in his late twenties—bolted back the way he came at full speed.

'How does someone with a face that rough look so genuinely innocent and kind...'

Smiling faintly at the man’s retreating figure, Versil Gowland quickly resumed clearing the battlefield.

They had only just finished a single round of fighting, yet there was still far too much left to do.

First, there was the chance that the enemy might try to retake the area—so someone needed to stay posted atop the wall to keep watch.

And then, of course, the mountain of corpses had to be dealt with.

Leave it much longer, and the stench would be unbearable—not to mention the hygiene risk.

“He’s one of the Noark scum, right? Just toss him anywhere!”

“I’m telling you, it’s hard to tell just by looking!”

“Sigh... fine. Then we’ll sort out the Noark ones. You lot just gather up the barbarians.”

“Oh, that works!”

Even though no one gave detailed instructions, the work steadily became more efficient as time went on.

The treatment of the bodies, however, was starkly divided.

The remains of allies were respectfully arranged and laid to rest.

The enemy’s corpses were flung aside like trash and piled up like a mountain.

“Gowland—no, Deputy Commander. What should we do with the Noark corpses? We’ve separated out the loot as ordered, and stacked the bodies... but...”

At the subordinate’s question, Versil gave a curt answer.

“Burn them all. We’re not about to build graves for people whose names we don’t even know.”

“What about the keepsakes found on the soldiers and explorers? What should we do with those?”

“Set them neatly by the bodies. Once we’re mostly done, I’ll cast a preservation spell. After identification, we’ll return them to the families. Make sure no one touches them.”

“...No one here would ever dare, but I’ll tell them to be extra careful.”

Standing atop the wall, looking down at the scene below, Versil let out a bitter smile.

From up here, the contrast between the corpses was even starker.

And because of that, she was reminded again why they had to win this war—no matter what.

If Noark had won, it would’ve been the exact opposite—

“Behell—raaaaaaaaah!!”

“Behell—raaaaaaaaah!!”

Just as she was lost in thought, a sudden uproar broke out below.

It was obvious who it was.

“The mightiest warrior on the continent!!!”

“The Guardian of the Sanctuary has returned!!”

There was only one person those warriors would shout about with such reverence.

“The Chief!! It’s the Chief!!!”

Leaving the wall’s watch duties to the sharp-eyed James Carla, Versil descended.

“Are you really not hurt anywhere, sir? I was seriously worried...”

“I’m fine. I was worried about you too.”

“...Really?”

“Hm? Of course.”

“Hehe... O-Of course you were... right?”

Elwen, clinging to him like a cicada, chatted away, clearly overjoyed to see him again.

And Yandel, standing there with a tired look in his eyes.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Ah, you too. I’m sure it’s been a hard position in many ways.”

It was a short word of encouragement—but for some reason, she couldn’t respond right away.

Because she felt the full weight of the words “a hard position.”

It wasn’t her first time acting as the clan’s deputy commander, but this time had been entirely different.

There was no war back then. The bonds between members hadn’t been nearly this tight.

'So this man... he’s been doing this kind of thing every day.'

For the first time in a while, she truly felt just how much hardship this seemingly simple-minded barbarian must’ve endured.

“I want a full report on what’s happened.”

“Ah, yes.”

Versil calmly began recounting everything that had taken place.

But strangely, her explanation kept slipping into emotion.

At times, she found herself grumbling.

At others, her voice trembled with frustration—like a child telling their parents about something bad that happened at school.

“I see.”

Once she was done, the barbarian paused to gather his thoughts, then gave orders as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Versil. Gather all the clan members. I have something to say.”

Strangely, those words filled her with a deep sense of relief.

An unusual feeling, given her proactive nature.

To follow someone else’s orders, to leave the responsibility behind—was it always this comforting?

“I’ll gather them right away.”

She obeyed without a word.

The question came afterward.

“But... what are you planning to say to them?”

“I’m just going to ask if they want to come fight with me. I heard they’re pretty skilled?”

“Their skills... yes... But I think they’d rather stay here where it’s safe.”

Versil spoke carefully, but the barbarian smiled, as if saying there was no need to worry.

“Oh, that? Don’t worry about that.”

Then, as if encouraging her, he patted her shoulder and stepped out in front of the others.

“Nice to meet you all. I heard you’ve been staying in the Sanctuary with our deputy commander while I ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) was away?”

“Y-Yes... thank you, Baron Yandel.”

“Yes, you should be thankful. That’s what people do.”

He made no mention of having risked his life defending the Sanctuary.

Only the grace they’d received.

And then he continued.

“The reason I called you all here is simple.”

“What is it?”

“Oh, it’s nothing big. I’m heading out to fight now, and I was hoping you’d help.”

“...You mean us?”

A noble title. The fame of a giant.

Crushed by both, they didn’t dare voice it—but their eyes clearly asked: Why should we?

But he was experienced.

“Yes. Or would you prefer to be thrown out of the Sanctuary?”

The kind of threat only a barbarian, free from pretension, could make.

“...Saying we’ll be expelled if we don’t listen—isn’t that a bit much?”

“Rebels have risen up and started a war, and you’re thinking only of your own safety? Is that how a proud citizen of Lafdonia should behave?”

“......”

The moment he invoked the royal name, the explorers fell silent—unable to say a word.

But what came next was truly shocking.

“Don’t worry too much. This is a chance to earn merit.”

“Merit... as in...?”

As soon as the topic turned to gain, their eyes lit up.

“You’ve been holed up here, so you probably didn’t hear—but thanks to my request, the army in District 5 has entered District 7. They’re pushing from the north.”

“......”

“And I lit fires on the way here, so the eastern front is in chaos. If we hit them now from the south—”

“That would form a pincer attack!”

“Exactly. Why do you think they retreated with so many forces still intact? You really think they backed down just because you knocked down a wall? No—they’re panicking from attacks in the rear!”

“Ah...! So that’s what was happening...!”

“I was wondering, but now it makes sense!”

He started with the whip—and now came the carrot.

Enthralled, the explorers hung onto his every word.

It didn’t take long for them to cave.

“So, I’m about to lead every available fighter out to District 7...”

Versil Gowland’s jaw dropped.

The sight before her was simply too hard to believe.

'...Are these even the same people?'

When she was deputy commander, they scrambled for excuses—anything to avoid risking their lives.

Now their eyes sparkled with resolve.

“Anyone still thinking of sitting this out?”

As if the thought of failure had never once crossed his mind.