The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 99

The decision of the Ami to advance with their forces divided into three units ultimately led to a not entirely unfavorable outcome.

Helion’s large-scale unique magic.

The unit at the forefront, which had been decimated due to the brilliant light descending from the sky, could be considered virtually wiped out.

Given the extensive range, if the gap between units had been slightly narrower, the priest-class Altefes would have suffered complete annihilation.

Kwoongkwoong⎯!

As their formation crumbled and the Ami forces reached right up to the city wall, they clashed with the warriors.

The warriors on the city wall shot arrows and cast spells, mobilizing all their firepower to repel them.

Warriors using swords and spears push their blades directly into the heart of Altif in front of the fortress.

Blood gushes like a flood from the bodies of the crimson monsters.

Warriors struck by this transformation become almost unrecognizable as Altif or human.

The battlefield is filled with the stench of blood and disgusting internal organ smells.

Their intense heat and shouts saturate the air.

“Krraaah—!”

Regardless of their race, each one screams their own battle cry.

Though their goals differ, it fuels their state. Their muscles tense as they sharply aim at the enemy.

Altif’s forces remaining: Archbishops 1, Bishops 8, Priests 2,000.

In contrast, the personnel guarding the fortress total only 31.

Unlike the warriors, the ordinary soldiers of Durtemund do not participate in the battle.

The most troublesome aspect of priest-level individuals is their ability to reproduce by using humans as hosts, but the ordinary soldiers standing in line only end up being a hindrance or inadvertently increasing the enemy’s numbers.

In the end, a single warrior must take down at least 50 opponents.

【Kraaash—!】

Toylen Troisfin.

Having enrolled in the prestigious Academia despite his lackluster record, he was at the forefront of the massive fortress, taking down one priest-level individual after another.

Troisfin was well aware that his skills were inferior to anyone here. Hence, he calmly thrust his sword into the priest-level opponents he could handle without overexerting himself.

Though he harbored a desire to engage in combat with bishops at least once and to be a great help to the warriors, he refrained.

Due to the possibility of his mistakes causing harm to others.

Their mission is simply to kill Altif and defend Durtemund.

*Squelch.*

Troisfin bends the neck of a priest-level Altif.

He repeats this action.

However, life doesn’t always go as planned.

An anomaly.

Among them, a hybrid of horse and human, a centaur, forms his arm into a spear and charges at Troisfin.

Although belonging to the priest level, anomalies like this centaur possess several times the power compared to the standard form.

To Troisfin, this opponent is far from easy.

Troisfin calmly raises his sword.

“……”

The surrounding noise fades away.

Only the approaching cavalry and Troisfin remain, creating an eerie silence.

With only his skill and strength, it’s challenging for Troisfin to penetrate the enemy in one go.

Inherently, he knew.

But that doesn’t mean he runs away.

If his abilities fall short, he can use the force coming at him to his advantage. The more threatening the enemy’s attack, the better a weapon it becomes to exploit.

*Thud!*

The anomaly closes in.

Just as the centaur’s spear is about to touch Troisfin.

He swiftly steps back, dodges the strike, and swings his sword. His target is not the distant neck of the opponent but the leg equivalent to the horse’s part.

When Pin cut off the forelegs of the creature, it lost balance and collapsed to the ground.

Success!

Now, all that was left was to slit its throat for victory…

“Xin. Just catching one peculiar being doesn’t warrant celebration.”

As the head of the peculiar being fell by Pin’s sword, a man nearby who was slaughtering Altifp mocked Pin.

He was Kshanoll, a warrior boasting unmatched strength after Hailion in this battlefield.

Around him were the bodies of numerous peculiar beings cleanly cut down by his blade, contrasting the dirty and chaotic battlefield.

Pin continued the fight without uttering a word.

It wasn’t that he was trying to ignore him. Kshanoll was dismissing Pin by not giving him attention and focusing on slaughtering the elite.

Pin, the least skilled among the warriors, was positioned beside Kshanoll, the second in command, to prevent any gaps in the battlefield.

The place where Pin and Kshanoll stood was on the right side of the battlefield.

The front line was still holding strong without collapsing.

“Cough… cough.”

After gazing at the battlefield for a moment, Pin realized he was more exhausted than he thought.

He hadn’t noticed due to the excessive adrenaline secretion. His breathing was rough.

Pin gritted his teeth and began to move efficiently. This was not a battlefield where he could stand still and relax; there was no time to rest.

He caught glimpses of Kshanoll’s movements in his peripheral vision.

He was truly elegant.

Not in the sense of dance, but each of Kshanoll’s movements felt beautiful.

And effective.

Destructive.

As his sword struck, he spoke.

“Hey, novice. This is a battlefield. If you keep focusing on just one guy like that, soon enough your head will be rolling on the ground.”

Kshanoll clicked his tongue in annoyance. The criticism continued.

“Tsk. What can you do if you don’t even know that? Idiot.”

As Kshanoll kept his distance and cut down enemies, Pin listened intently to his words.

He was entirely right.

It wasn’t a time to rejoice over catching one peculiar being. Such enemies were scattered throughout the battlefield.

In the recent battle, Pin had only momentarily ‘immersed’ himself in one guy. He didn’t grasp the surrounding situation.

This was a mistake.

Instead of being pleased with catching a peculiar being for the first time, it should be viewed pessimistically.

He knew the theory but failed to apply it in practice.

There was no room for amateurs, as he said.

In the midst of self-blame, he continued the lonely battle. He sensed the collision of two massive mana.

Extremely ominous mana and excessively pure mana.

Undoubtedly belonging to Hailion and Archbishop Ami. There was no one else in this battlefield emitting such formidable energy.

In the midst of the battlefield, a duel between two individuals is taking place.

Compared to their energy, the surrounding chaos seems nothing more than a mere backdrop.

“Argh!”

As Pin swung his sword, a priest-class Altepf questioned his moves. Fortunately, he was able to swiftly thrust his sword into the attacker’s eyes and evade, but blood flowed freely.

There was a hole in the chainmail Pin was wearing.

He quickly cast a healing spell on himself to stop the bleeding.

Although not completely healed, it wouldn’t hinder his swordplay.

【Clang, clang!】

Sensing Pin’s momentum waning, a group of priest-class foes added pressure.

Pin, showing no sign of pain, immediately adjusted his stance.

He must protect.

It’s not just his own issue.

If they falter here, the right flank’s formation will crumble, leading to Altepf reinforcements from Durtmund. They’ll quickly bolster their forces.

It’s akin to a terrible disaster.

He must block.

No matter what it takes…!

Gripping his weakening resolve tightly along with his sword, he fights on.

Even as fatigue sets in and wounds, big and small, multiply.

Thinking of Bargan on the opposite side, who is guarding the left flank like himself, he ignites a flickering resolve.

***

On the opposite side of Pin, Bargan stands on the left flank.

Here, Bargan surveys the battlefield’s flow and continues the fight. Using high-level magic consecutively, he shows no sign of fatigue.

He dispatches enemies gracefully without a single drop of blood or flesh being splattered.

‘The battlefield’s situation isn’t bad.’

Bargan compares the two battlefields.

The situation described in the novel and the current battlefield can be considered quite different.

Without aiding Frickanrisk and choosing to subdue, the original work might have been a dire situation.

Inside Durtmund, Frickanrisk raged in an attempt to reclaim his son, while externally, Ami’s forces were closing in.

Due to this, the Church falsely concluded that Frickanrisk and Ami had joined forces, but in reality, it wasn’t so.

Taking advantage of Frickanrisk being ensnared by the hero Crain and Ami’s trap, Ami attacked from the outside.

Naturally, the already insufficient heroes would have divided into two groups to try to cover the situation, leading to the Haleion group being overwhelmed.

Thus, even with just this point, it can be said that the war has drastically turned in favor. The heroes can now focus entirely on defense, making the situation stable.

However.

Bargan’s assessment that the current situation isn’t bad is not solely based on this.

Turning his head slightly and freezing all Altepf around him with a grand gesture, he gazes at the deity who overlooks everything with a majestic air.

Resembling a dragon, exuding grandeur, the deity who freezes everything in sight, Frickanrisk. The dragon’s surroundings are particularly cold.

By the terms of the “Chugiyeong Contract,” she was tasked with protecting Durtmund in this war. …To be exact, she had to protect Bargan, but it’s essentially the same.

Frickanrisk is a reliable ally, an insurance.

This war is expected to lead to victory.

What Varugan pursues is not just a simple victory, but a perfect victory. Even if she is not present, the story could progress without any harm if it continues as it is.

However, this episode is not over yet.

Variables could arise.

Varugan predicted this and specified the terms of the contract with the powerful Frickan Risk, ensuring that they could demand substantial compensation from the church in return.

It is only natural that any disturbance would occur, considering that the Twelve Gods have helped humans.

While pondering over such thoughts.

Varugan witnessed a being rapidly approaching her.

Kwoong─!

A creature that descended like a storm, hitting the ground with a thud. Resembling a furious wild boar, its body was swollen with hardened muscles.

Though Varugan saw him for the first time, she had a suspicion about what kind of being he was.

Bishop-class. Among them, one of the higher ranks.

He evoked an evolutionary form beyond that of a typical priest.

His entire body was rugged, with only his face being pale.

Although he had wings like those made of leather attached, considering other bishops who resembled humans to some extent, his appearance could be likened to that of a priest.

One of Ami’s subordinates.

Bishop, Groifen.

Varugan stood quietly in front of Groifen. Observing his formidable presence, she spoke.

Completely calm.

“Has there been no change so far?”

He did not address Groifen as a change-sue. He did not consider him to be a monster of such magnitude.

“Do not blame me, human. This is all your fault for provoking Ami─!”

Groifen, who had no idea how Varugan evaluated him. His life was under a time limit, making the situation urgent.

He emitted a sound resembling a race car’s exhaust. His already rough body grew even larger.

He immediately thrust down a massive fist.

The pressure and size were greater and faster than the hero Yarnik, reminiscent of a bear.

Thud─!

Snow piled around exploded like dust. Varugan’s figure was obscured by the white particles, making it hard to see clearly. There was no sense of overwhelming the opponent. It felt like she had dodged.

Varugan’s voice reached his ears.

“Your power and speed are not bad. Even as a rookie hero, you could kill with a single blow.”

Varugan continued analyzing Groifen. Although not clearly visible yet, there seemed to be no damage. Where is he?

As Groifen continued down that line of thought, he sensed a movement behind him. Swiftly, he swung his fist backward to strike, turning his body.

“But, that’s all there is. Don’t bother me and disappear.”

Varugan was not behind him, but directly in front of him.

When did it happen? That question was not important. The area where Varugan’s outstretched hand reached. The change visible on Groifen’s chest told him everything.

“Corruption is truly dreadful.”

Grophen did not scream.

There was no room for that.

The curse of corruption that fell right in the center of his chest swiftly engulfed his entire body, proving the difference between Vargan and Grophen, taking it away.

What remained was not Grophen, but a decaying corpse.

Vargan, mimicking Ami’s power, cast a curse spell for the first time to confirm its effectiveness, then turns his head. This battlefield is a good experimental ground for him.

“What shall we do next…?”

It was also a place to obtain fresh experimental materials.