I Became the Husband of a Sword Demon

Through the repulsion of the barbarian tribe and the rescue of Asulin.

And over four days, meticulously planned was the thwarting of Dominus, who sought to incarnate an unknown deity onto this land to fulfill his twisted desires.

As time passed, the momentum of the attackers trying to breach the fortress dwindled.

Thanks to the additional forces from the existing garrison and the cream of the Bright Wing Knights from across the Caladborg dukedom joining the fray, sufficient numbers were amassed to repulse the barbarians.

With just the combined strength of the fortress’s garrison and the Bright Wing Knights, the barbarians could be handled without much difficulty.

But the reinforcements made the situation so overwhelming that the barbarians’ safety was momentarily worrisome.

The sword that once protected the Ascalon imperial house, which had been unrivaled even before the empire’s birth in its mastery of swordsmanship, now stood as the guardian of the empire.

Furthermore, the elite members of the Royal Knights, who protect the nation, emerged, making the situation even more favorable.

While these troops were seasoned in battling demons, the unfamiliarity with fighting barbarians still lingered.

However, their overwhelming skill and the sheer number of reinforcements meant they wouldn’t face the same difficulties as when they first arrived at the fortress.

Separately from the efforts to repel the barbarians, the selection of those sent to rescue Asulin was also completed.

Facing the barbarians, who live by a confused sense of survival and combat, was less perilous than countering the group plotting to incarnate an unknown deity.

Selecting those to be deployed against this threat was no easy task.

Despite repeated attempts to weed out the overly enthusiastic, it was necessary to choose from among them.

Young knights, proud of their skills, often volunteered for the mission to rescue Asulin, but their zeal alone wasn’t enough to justify sending them into such a dangerous situation.

Their loyalty and passion, despite their youth, were commendable, but they couldn’t be blindly thrown into chaos.

Thus, they were all redirected to the task of repelling the barbarians.

Recalling the weaponless man’s words, if I had known everything he knew, I would have realized that far more dangerous things awaited Asulin in that place.

I didn’t want to send those people into such a perilous situation where their survival rate would plummet.

Even if I couldn’t reveal everything, I tried to persuade them with suitable reasons.

The more people sent to rescue Asulin, the easier it would be for them to be noticed by our enemies, making the rescue difficult.

I told them that by engaging the enemy head-on, we could force them to fight harder, making it easier to save Asulin.

Although simple, this logic was hard to refute.

Most young knights understood and withdrew after hearing my explanation.

Yet, there were stubborn young knights who refused to back down, especially those from the Royal Knights.

Though they respected the authority I held in Asulin’s absence, they were influenced by the strong sense of hierarchy.

They demanded to see proof of my ability before being convinced.

So, I demonstrated my prowess.

Even though I didn’t use renowned swords like Failord or Weaponless, my compressed hostility overwhelmed the young knights, who couldn’t even block my strikes.

Unintentionally, I displayed overwhelming skill to the point where not a single challenger could withstand my blow.

Despite the lingering effects of the injury caused by Weaponless, my movements became more agile, and I could confidently subdue the skilled young knights.

Though I wasn’t fully healed, the fatigue accumulated during movement was inevitable, yet the prideful Royal Knights accepted my command without issue.

I hadn’t considered the influential position of the junior duke, but the combination of my unarmed prowess and the honor of being the target’s husband allowed me to suppress any opposition within the fortress.

Thus, I managed to finalize the selection of those to be sent to rescue Asulin before the planned four days.

Initially, I planned for Catherine, experienced in such matters, to lead the large-scale maneuver to lure the barbarians away while I, along with Elshimer and two swords, would handle the rescue.

But the unexpected arrival of these distinguished knights changed the plan, allowing us to gather the minimum required personnel more easily.

It was surprising how such distinguished figures gathered at this border fortress.

Reflecting on their presence made it understandable.

“Son-in-law, you’ve worked hard. I heard you suffered a wound from the wicked black sword while trying to save my daughter.”

“Thank you for your concern. And I apologize. No matter what happened, I should have protected Asulin…”

“The trials faced by those chosen by Caladborg are common. There’s no need for you to feel overly guilty; calm yourself.”

The father-in-law, Duke Carthas Blatt Caladborg, came from the Central Region to rescue his daughter.

“I’m glad the northern air is better than expected, even if it’s not ideal for prolonged enjoyment.”

“Arnet, don’t overdo it. This cold air isn’t good for your health. It’s not too late to return home. I and your son-in-law can manage here.”

“Oh, I’d rather endure the cold air than see something happen to Asulin. That would be worse for my health.”

“…I understand.”

“Though I wish to destroy the barbarian camp completely, I must refrain to avoid disrupting the plan.”

Even the mother-in-law, despite her poor health, moved with heavy steps to aid in rescuing Asulin.

Seeing these capable individuals, there was no reason to complain about a lack of manpower.

Previously, I heard that the mother-in-law was once a renowned mage and adventurer in her youth.

At first, I was skeptical, but seeing her powerful aura despite her pale complexion confirmed her strength.

“…She’s incredibly powerful.”

– Agreed.

Given our combined experience, it felt almost realistic that she could handle the situation alone.

The appearance of these two powerful figures on the second day of planning provided significant support for repelling the barbarians, rescuing Asulin, and thwarting Dominus.

Though the plan was well-executed, the unprecedented mental burden and fatigue were felt.

“Before performing the rites, I recall serving on the front lines with the former emperor.”

The Duke, standing by the windowsill, keenly observing the barbarian camp, and reminiscing about old times, contrasted sharply with Arnet’s reaction.

“Don’t bring up old stories in front of the children.”

“But Arnet, in moments of tension, listening to the experiences of others can help you forget your worries.”

“You’re right, but you always look for alcohol when you talk about the past…”

“Cough! Son-in-law, though time is short, don’t worry too much.”

Watching the mother-in-law confrontingly question the Duke and the Duke struggling to respond made me think.

– Ugh, they’re like a serious pair of fools.

Despite disliking their tone, I couldn’t hide a smile, reflecting on their affectionate relationship.

Seeing their loving interaction bolstered my resolve to rescue Asulin, alleviating the burden.

As I spent time overcoming this burden, the moment to initiate the rescue operation finally approached.

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