Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

131.

The central hub of the north and one of the frontlines blocking the monsters: Devalleta Castle.

Amidst the hurried footsteps and shouts chaotically mixing on the castle wall, Pesaha Devalleta extended her left hand towards the source of the great noise.

Pssht—

Five threads of blue light shot out from her delicate fingertips. The threads, filled with intense cold, split the air, causing frost to settle around them.

The azure threads fearlessly stretched beyond the castle walls, plunging toward a wave of darkness.

The advancing army of distorted creatures froze instantly upon touching the snowy plains.

“…Yet.”

The vibrations transmitted through her feet.

The roaring in her ears.

The monster’s charge had not ended.

Pesaha twisted her wrist to deal with the remaining monsters, causing the blue threads to ripple in accordance with her hand movements.

Cha-aak!

The threads slashed against the monsters’ bodies like a whip.

With every ripple of the threads, the tremors in the ground lessened, and the terrifying roars echoing through the sky began to fade.

Dozens of pillars of ice scattered like rain with a flick of her wrist, the sensation at her fingertips gradually fading.

Dozens of monsters leaping against the castle walls were frozen solid.

Now, her fingers wouldn’t move.

Finally, when the surrounding area of the castle walls was filled only with human voices rather than monster roars,

Pesaha realized her left hand had reached its limits.

Thud.

She extended her right hand as naturally as possible, catching her left hand before it could drop helplessly.

Even though she could no longer feel her left hand, the blue threads were still functioning.

Moreover, the distorted army continued to charge toward the castle walls.

Pesaha controlled her labored breathing and made her decision.

Swish.

Her body rose as if pushed by something, her feet kicking off the castle wall. Her body shot up to just below the clouds, rough winds violently whipping her thick robe and hair.

Finally, as the sensation of something pulling her body began and she began falling toward the ground,

Pesaha swung her frozen left hand with her right. The direction was toward where the intense vibrations and roaring were coming from. The blue threads fearlessly extended into the sky, above the oncoming army.

She poured all of her remaining strength into the threads.

Crack. Crack.

A burst of ice crystals bloomed around the threads, spreading like a spider’s web and forming a massive net across the skies.

“Huff!”

Pesaha severed her connection with the threads and her fingers.

Whoosh…

A cascade of blue rain descended onto the distorted army.

—!

Everything it touched froze instantly.

The thin streams of ice falling from the sky. The monsters desperately tried to move to avoid the terrible storm, but there was no place to hide on the snowy plains.

Thud.

Pesaha immediately descended the castle wall upon returning to the ground.

The results needed no confirmation.

There were no more vibrations or roars to feel. What mattered now was the state of her left hand.

She naturally moved her left hand into her trouser pocket. This way, it wouldn’t look strange on the surface.

“…Anyway, it’ll be exposed soon enough.”

It was important to at least calm the surroundings for a moment.

The Duchess of Devalleta.

The ruler of the north was a symbol of steadfastness. The more she showed signs of wounds, the more the belief of the northerners would waver.

An ordinary person required unwavering will to combat the distorted monsters. Thus, the northerners held blind loyalty. They believed without doubt that their ruler would hold back the army even if they themselves fell.

Loyalty burning away fear, melting their frozen hearts.

Therefore, the Duchess of Devalleta must remain steadfast as a noble ruler.

“…”

She endured.

It might indeed be a terrifying duty.

Pesaha recalled Reios heading toward the polar regions.

Her father, who had embraced an eternal slumber, left Devalleta Castle looking like a walking corpse.

Thanks to the superhuman strength of a mana exponent, they had gained a brief reprieve, but it was only temporary.

Reios, looking down at his decayed arm, left behind a calm testament.

“Pesaha. I entrust you with the duchy. I’m sorry.”

At the time, she didn’t understand what the apology meant.

But now, she did.

It must have been his regret at transferring the responsibilities of the duchy to his young daughter. Or perhaps the sorrow of leaving his child behind.

The lonely silhouette of her father, walking through the snowy plains, unable to see ahead, stumbling forward.

Pesaha unconsciously bit her lips.

Her own image replaced that of her father in her memory.

Moving forward helplessly through the dark, snow-covered plains where nothing could be seen.

Thud.

Familiar metallic scraping sounds caused Pesaha’s twisted expression to relax.

It seemed like an intentional movement to not obstruct her journey—an approaching step, taken with care. It was the commander of the Winterwood Knights Order.

“Your Majesty. I will escort you to the castle.”

“…Thank you, Reinbight. How is the situation outside the castle walls?”

“The army has been annihilated. Everyone is praising Your Majesty’s feat and reorganizing.”

“Since we have until the next major assault, everyone should rest… Ugh.”

Suddenly, pain surged through Pesaha’s body, causing her to stagger. Her balance was thrown off, her foot slipped, and her body began to fall.

Just as Pesaha was about to fall helplessly to the ground,

Reinbight, noticing the abnormality in his lord, quickly caught her.

Thud.

With great effort, Pesaha pushed Reinbight away with her right hand.

“Your Majesty…! I will support you to the castle.”

“I appreciate you catching me. But let’s skip the support. If the entire castle finds out, it’ll be a problem.”

“But…”

Pesaha shook her head firmly.

Unnecessary help only created suspicion about the Duchess’s condition.

Few within the castle knew the extent of her physical state. The knowledge that she could not see was shared only with Erika and the Winterwood Knights Order.

“‘I should also consider my left hand now.'”

With a sigh, Pesaha continued walking.

Her back remained straight while her head slightly lowered. Her pace was neither too fast nor too slow, cautious not to trip on stones or other obstacles.

It had become routine for her to convincingly pretend to walk normally.

While ordinary people might find it difficult to hide the signs of blindness, fortunately, it wasn’t difficult for Pesaha.

Without any special training, she assumed it might be due to her elven blood.

“‘…The gift of the eternal lineage.'”

A power whose mysteries even the user herself didn’t fully understand. If she were a true elf, she wondered if they’d know precisely what this power was.

Pesaha continued walking, lost in thought.

Although walking had become a practiced skill, she still didn’t like moving through the darkness. It often led to unwanted negative thoughts.

When the mind falters, the body soon follows. She needed to clear her mind by focusing on tasks or plans.

“Knight Reinbight. Has Knight Conderrick, who was sent to Vulkon, returned?”

“If there are no other incidents, he should be approaching the castle about now.”

“Good. Let’s hope nothing unusual happens.”

Communication from Vulkon had been cut off for several days.

The faintly felt vibrations were also unsettling, and the strange phenomenon prompted her to dispatch a mana exponent for reconnaissance.

“It unnervingly lingers.”

Whenever Vulkon came to her mind, her heart raced.

Was the elven blood warning her of something?

Her chest tightened on occasion as if a dangerous situation was approaching.

The worst scenario would be the collapse of the city itself.

A little while later,

Pesaha received Conderrick’s report in the audience chamber after his reconnaissance mission.

“Vulkon… reduced to ruins?”

“Yes. The castle walls were shattered beyond recognition, and only remains of the city’s buildings were left.”

“What about the residents? Barons Milled and the other knights…?”

“…No one. There was none.”

Thud.

The mug of ale in her hand fell.

“Everyone… dead? Then, where are the monsters…?”

The distorted army relentlessly marched forward, attacking anything blocking its path. The army that broke through Vulkon must have continued moving southward.

If that was the case, it was likely that the distorted army was heading toward Yelkin.

Or rather, it was almost certain.

Pesaha heard more about the situation in Vulkon. The sights of the devastated city, the traces left behind by the monsters, blood clotted and buried in heaps of snow.

And the marks resembling human eyes as if drawn on the ruins of the city.

“…”

She felt something was off.

Vulkon was one of the key frontlines of the north, the most important locations, heavily supported and supplied.

Not an easy place to fall.

Emergency plans were also in place.

Yet, it suddenly collapsed without any prior contact.

“Such an abrupt collapse?”

Wentra still regularly reported that the frontline was safe.

Only Vulkon had abruptly collapsed.

The traces left behind on the ruins were unsettling. This needed confirmation.

There was no guarantee that what happened in Vulkon couldn’t happen in Wentra or Devalleta.

“Knight Conderrick. Ask the commander of the knights to come to the audience chamber.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And, inform the nobles within the castle to strengthen their defenses. I will visit Vulkon with the commander.”

“Excuse me? Vulkon?”

Conderrick, who had been quietly listening, jumped.

“It’s dangerous! Vulkon is already in ruins, and there is no telling how the distorted monsters might move. Even with Knight Reinbight by your side… Considering Your Majesty’s physical condition…”

“Knight, it is fine.”

“Rather, please move with the knights! It’s too dangerous.”

“The knights must focus on defending the castle. Don’t worry. Besides, it’s easier to move around in smaller groups. We can hide more effectively.”

With a gentle dismissal, Pesaha left the audience chamber despite Conderrick’s protest.

Although the sudden leave announcement was unexpected, Reinbight prepared his arms silently upon hearing Pesaha’s explanation.

The two, having made quick preparations, headed towards the southern castle walls of Devalleta Castle.

Beyond the castle gate, the vast white world stretched. Reinbight spoke to Conderrick, who had bid them farewell alone.

“If you detect anything suspicious, deal with it immediately.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“There’s a traitor within.”

A fortress can be destroyed by attacking from within.

Someone with ill intentions had slipped into Devalleta.

Conderrick’s expression hardened at the suffocating revelation.

Reinbight was correct.

Being cautious wouldn’t hurt.

Pesaha fumbled her hand for the hood of the robe hanging on the chair and pulled it over her head.

Even though it was only partial, thanks to the elves’ affinity with nature, navigating the snowy plains without sight came easily to her, unlike the Devalleta Castle walls touched by human hands.

“The distance is short. I can return before the next major assault.”

Leaving the castle required careful consideration. It would be safer to entrust the investigation only to Reinbight.

But for some reason…

Since the moment she decided to investigate Vulkon, her heart had been thumping. It was different from the instinct warning her of danger, a warm and gentle feeling.

“…Something is leading me.”

Cradling a complicated feeling, Pesaha stepped forward toward the snowy plains.

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