「Only the riderless horse came back?」
「Yes. It’s definitely the horse Argusta-sama rode out on from here.」
The guards at the castle gate grab the reins and try to calm it, but the horse keeps thrashing wildly, refusing to settle.
Something unexpected has definitely happened.
「General Schuzere. As part of the suppression operation against enemy agents, I order the royal army to act.」
「Yes!」
「Wipe them all out. This is a strict command from His Majesty.」
「This Schuzere… will carry it out even at the cost of my life.」
The great general bows deeply to the young prime minister and orders the 100 waiting soldiers to march.
Leading the vanguard is the trustworthy subordinate he has already decided to name as his successor.
「Schuzere. Do you think Halfren’s plan has gone off track?」
「……If we assume the enemy is the Empire, then even with some margin of error, Argusta-sama being captured should have been impossible. We monitor all entries and exits of people and goods from the Empire strictly. No reckless fool would cross through wilderness and mountains off the main roads. Only one person in this country could pull off such a suicidal act.」
「True enough.」
Dragons nest and settle in the wild hills and forests, making unauthorized entry from another country nearly impossible under normal circumstances.
Infiltrating as merchants for espionage or small-scale sabotage is one thing, but abducting a heavily guarded VIP from an enemy nation should be out of the question.
「Still, something must have shifted the plan. Schuzere.」
「Yes.」
「You might harbor resentment toward Arg, but I ask you to rescue him with everything you have.」
The elderly grand general lets out a deep breath and scratches his head.
「……Schnitt-sama. I, at least, do not think of Argusta-sama as someone I 『hate』.」
「Oh?」
「……The incident ten years ago is still a nightmare that haunts the hearts of everyone who was active back then. We all suspected their actions but ultimately did nothing. How could we possibly condemn the one who pointed out our sin?」
「I see.」
「He is righteous… and he loves his wife. We old men are the ones who should fade away while nurturing the young sapling. If this old body can serve as nourishment for that growth, I will gladly offer it.」
「……」
He understands.
The generals are seeking a chance for atonement.
Perhaps they see this moment as that chance.
「But Schuzere. It’s still too early for you to fade away.」
「Wha?」
「More than that… Arg would never forgive you for it.」
With an uncharacteristic smile, Schnitt turns his gaze toward the road ahead.
「He’s a kind-hearted fool. If anyone said 『I’ll die to atone』, he’d get angry for sure.」
「……」
「He’d probably give the harshest order of all: 『Live and atone』.」
「Is that so? Then I’ll do my best once more to obey that unreasonable command.」
The great general hurries toward the assembling main force, urging them to move faster.
-0-
The white flash closes in right in front of the giant’s face and unleashes a merciless right straight.
Straight to the center of her body… right where those cracked abs are clearly visible.
「Guh! …Nice. That actually rang my bell!」
The ogre twists her torso and swings a heavy fist in return.
Noie pulls her arm back… only to realize her fist is trapped between the rock-hard abs, unable to withdraw.
She immediately turns her left hand toward the incoming punch.
The mass of magic power collides with the fist…..and Noie is blown backward, tumbling across the ground.
「Ahaha! This is it… this is exactly what I’ve been craving!」
The ogre roars, her blood and flesh boiling with excitement.
With that bellow, her body swells another size larger.
Noie calmly watches it happen, then rises lightly with no visible recoil.
She finally realizes the opponent isn’t “human”.
「Hard.」
She shakes her trembling right hand and mutters in dissatisfaction.
Her wrist bones are completely shattered, but they visibly heal in seconds and return to normal.
The giantess, baring her fang-like teeth in a grin, charges straight at her target without hesitation.
「Hah haaah～!」
「!」
Noie kicks off the ground, twisting her body to deliver a spinning kick to the laughing “enemy”.
But the ogre drops low with surprising agility for her size, letting the attack pass harmlessly overhead.
「Noie!!」
His voice rises in desperation, blood in his throat, but she can’t react.
A thick arm shoots up from beneath her like growing vines and clamps around her torso.
「Let…guh!」
「Ahaha! Get crushed like this!」
‘Creak creak’, her armor and ribs scream in protest.
Sensing the danger, Noie gathers magic power in her hand and swings it down toward the ogre’s face.
Her killing blow that has slain countless dragons… but the ogre lets her face get smashed, then sinks her fang-like teeth into Noie’s neck.
「Agh!」
‘Crunch’… ‘pssh!’
Blood sprays into the air as the white neck is torn open.
「Firm and tasty meat, huh!」
Blood drips from her mouth as the ogre laughs.
「Kah!」
Noie presses a hand to the bitten neck and swings her leg up, slamming her heel into the ogre’s face.
Taking advantage of the momentary loosening grip, she drives her left fist into the monster’s face… and finally slips free from the vise-like hold.
「Ahaha… perfect. That’s more like it!」
She spits out the chunk of flesh from her mouth and raises her fist again.
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