Arc 3 Chapter 31 : Lunaria Angevin

[Ariel POV]

Ughhh... My head is spinning...

I slowly opened my eyes.

The sky had already turned orange, signaling that the night had finally come to an end and dawn had arrived.

After looking around, I realized that I was lying on a boat, asleep on top of an old blanket.

Several children were enjoying the scenery as the river carried us downstream.

"Ah! Sister Ariel is awake!"

One of the children noticed that I had woken up, and soon, all of them gathered around me.

"That's right... What happened to me?"

My memories of last night were rather hazy.

Perhaps I needed to get plenty of rest.

However, the moment one of the children began telling me about what had happened yesterday, everything suddenly came rushing back.

I had saved the villagers from the monsters attacking their village by holding the creatures back until everyone managed to escape from the dock aboard the boats.

"Sister Ariel was so cool last night!"

"Yeah, yeah! Sister caught all those monsters and crushed their bodies without mercy!"

They looked incredibly excited as they recounted everything I had done.

Is this what it feels like to have fans who idolize you?

"That masked guy was just as cool, you know!"

Huh?

The masked guy?

Come to think of it, I had suffered Mana Exhaustion while trying to hold back those monsters.

Weren't there still countless monsters approaching when I lost consciousness?

Then who had carried me onto the boat and fought against that horde of monsters?

"You're right. After Sister Ariel passed out, he caught you before you hit the ground and fought the monsters. Then he carried you onto the boat," one of the children said.

"I hate to admit it, but that man looked really cool carrying Sister Ariel while swinging his sword and keeping the monsters away."

"Wait a moment. What color were the masked man's hair and eyes?" I asked the children.

"Ummm... If I remember correctly, the masked man had white hair and green eyes," one of them answered.

White hair and green eyes...?

So it really was him.

The man who saved me was the same man again.

The very same man who had saved Brian and me from the bear monster and the assassins during the survival Trial.

Why does he always appear whenever I desperately need help?

Why does he keep saving me?

Isn't he supposed to be one of the Heretics who should be killing people like me?

"Then where is the masked man now?" I asked the children.

"I don't know, Sister. After carrying you onto the boat, the mysterious man suddenly left without saying a single word," one of the children replied.

As usual, he never said anything after saving me.

He simply disappeared.

Next time we meet, I'll ask him for his real name...

And I'll ask him why he keeps saving my life.

After sailing downstream for several hours, we finally arrived at a dock not far from Cataluna Fortress City.

After we explained what had happened, the guards at the dock escorted the villagers into the Fortress City, where they would be placed in temporary shelters following the monster attack.

Meanwhile, I headed to the Temple so I could rest and recover.

Because I had suffered Mana Exhaustion, I wouldn't be able to use magic for several days.

The thought frustrated me.

There were still so many victims who needed the healing magic I possessed, yet I could do nothing to help them.

For the rest of the day, all I could do was lie in bed and wait for my Mana to recover.

[Raul POV]

Following the monster attacks that had occurred in several villages the previous night, Marquis Fran summoned all the companies that had been dispatched throughout the region to receive their operation reports.

I was currently at the military complex in Cataluna Fortress City, attending a meeting regarding the incident.

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When I entered the meeting room, several Captains who had led troops to villages throughout the Margraviate of Cataluna were already present.

All of Marquis Fran's direct subordinates had also gathered.

"The military governor of the Empire's Northeastern Territories—Marquis Fran de Cataluna—has arrived!"

Suddenly, the guard stationed at the entrance announced the Marquis's arrival.

Everyone in the room immediately stood at attention to show their respect for the ruler of this territory.

The Marquis entered the room accompanied by one of his assistants.

He took his seat at the table prepared at the front of the room before looking over everyone who had gathered.

"Very well. Let us begin the meeting regarding last night's monster attacks," the Marquis said before turning toward his assistant. "Rolo, you may begin reading the summary of last night's reports."

"Thank you, Marquis."

The assistant opened the meeting.

"Last night, eight villages within the Margraviate of Cataluna came under attack by monsters," he reported. "As a result, nearly all of the residents of Zamora Village, Neumar Village, and Clemente Village were slaughtered by the monsters."

The soldiers stationed in the villages had been completely overwhelmed by the sudden attacks and the sheer number of monsters.

As a result, several villages could not be reached in time, even after reinforcements were dispatched.

"Approximately 340 civilians were killed, 149 soldiers lost their lives, and thousands of civilians had to be evacuated into this city," the assistant continued. "Several eyewitnesses also reported seeing Vampires among the attackers, leading us to suspect that the Demons may be behind these monster attacks."

The assistant also stated that the estimated number of monsters involved in the attacks was around ten thousand.

At that number, it seemed the soldiers stationed throughout the Margraviate of Cataluna would never be able to withstand the monsters' assault on their own.

"We have already requested assistance from the Central Government and contacted a Grand Espada to deal with these Demons," Marquis Fran said. "The Central Government has dispatched several battalions of troops here. They will arrive in ten days."

He paused briefly.

"As for the Grand Espada, Knight Danilo said that he will wait for another Grand Espada to arrive before confronting the Demons."

Ten days...?

If we waited that long, the Demons would already have taken control of this territory.

Besides, it seemed Grand Espada Danilo was afraid of suffering the same fate as Grand Espada Liana, who had once fought a Noble Demon alone.

He didn't want to die young like the strongest female Knight in the history of the Empire.

"According to reports from our patrol units, the monster hordes are currently heading this way."

Marquis Fran's words immediately caused everyone in the room to grow uneasy.

On top of that, we had no idea when the Noble Demon would appear and attack the city.

"Today, I want all of you to prepare the troops under your respective commands in case they launch an attack tonight," Marquis Fran ordered. "We will hold them back until reinforcements arrive, then launch a counterattack against the Demons and their monsters!"

After planning the city's defensive strategy, the meeting finally came to an end.

I then went to gather all the members under my command and relay the mission Marquis Fran had assigned to the academy students.

It seemed a major battle was waiting just beyond the city's walls.

And tomorrow was Blessing Night—the night when the Saint would be chosen.

Would Ariel succeed?

[Brian POV]

I was currently on my way to Grenaut City, specifically to the residence of Duke Reyes de Cavelina—the ruler of the Duchy of Grenaut—to meet my new Mentor, one of the Holy Knights of the Temple Authority of Goddess Diana.

After the new Fool killed Holy Knight Remilio in their duel, the higher-ups of the Temple had begun actively selecting Senior Inquisitors to fill the position of Holy Knight left vacant by Knight Remilio.

Upon arriving at the main gate of Duke Reyes's residence, I showed the guards the Sword Excalibur.

They looked absolutely amazed to see the legendary sword that had been wielded by the heroes of humanity.

Not long afterward, a servant arrived to escort me into the Duke's residence.

"Lord Brian, Lady Lunaria is currently at the Cavelina family's training grounds. She is an honored guest of this residence," the servant explained.

Holy Knight Lunaria Angevin—the First Princess of the Kingdom of Britonia.

She was the youngest Holy Knight in the history of this world.

Since the age of seven, she had already displayed extraordinary talent with the sword, combining her swordsmanship with her unique magic.

At the age of fourteen, Lunaria became the youngest Inquisitor in history.

Five years later, she was selected as a new Holy Knight, replacing a member who had been killed while fighting Heretics.

Not long afterward, we arrived at the training grounds.

There, I saw a pink-haired woman performing a series of sword combos.

Her movements were graceful and mesmerizing, while her body seemed to glow like the full moon illuminating the night sky.

Noticing our presence, she turned toward us.

Her blue eyes sparkled like beautiful jewels.

My heart began beating faster as the pink-haired female Knight approached us.

"Are you the one named Brian?"

"Ye-yes! It is an honor to become your new Squire, Princess Lunaria!" I replied somewhat nervously.

"I see. So you're the chosen Hero..." Holy Knight Lunaria murmured.

"Could you show me the Holy Sword Excalibur?"

I followed her instructions and drew the Holy Sword.

Holy Knight Lunaria then took Excalibur from me.

She carefully examined the Rune engravings carved into the blade.

"Hey, Brian. Do you know where this Holy Sword came from?" Holy Knight Lunaria asked.

"Wasn't it summoned by the Legendary Hero Pendragon?" I replied with a question of my own.

"You're right. The Legendary Hero Pendragon was the one capable of summoning this sword after it had disappeared for hundreds of years," Holy Knight Lunaria explained.

"However, this sword was originally forged in the Kingdom of Britonia long ago."

After examining the sword for several moments, Holy Knight Lunaria handed it back to me.

"I want to bring this Holy Sword back to the land where it was created," the Holy Knight said while looking into my eyes.

"But unfortunately, I am not the one chosen by this Holy Sword."

To be honest, I wasn't the one chosen by this Holy Sword either.

Its true Master was that masked man.

But I couldn't tell her that.

Everything would descend into chaos if the public discovered that a Heretic was the one who had summoned the Holy Sword.

"Well, I was assigned here to pick you up, Brian," Holy Knight Lunaria said. "The Temple Authority has ordered me to take you to the Holy City of Notredame, where you will undergo training under my guidance."

"I see. Then... should I start calling you Master from now on?" I asked her.

"Since we're not that far apart in age, you can just call me Sister Lunaria. How does that sound?"

She smiled gently.

If I remembered correctly, she was only twenty years old.

She was just two years older than me.

I suppose it made more sense to call her Sister rather than Master.

"All right, Sister Lunaria," I said.

"Then, are we leaving for the Holy City of Notredame immediately?"

"I don't think so. I just received word that the Margraviate of Cataluna, which isn't far from here, is currently under attack by hordes of Demons and monsters," Sister Lunaria replied. "Tomorrow, we may head there as reinforcements while waiting for assistance from the Central Government."

That meant...

Would I meet Ariel there?

I hope she's all right.

I tightened my grip around Excalibur.

With my newfound strength, I'll make Ariel proud.

She'll surely be amazed when she sees me.

After all, I had officially become one of the chosen Heroes of this world.

[Noble Vampire Vilmore]

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

The attacks carried out by the monsters summoned by Nuna had forced the villagers to flee toward their main city.

It was only a matter of time before the Hero left that heavily guarded city and came here to help eliminate these monsters.

If he still refused to appear, I would launch an even larger attack and increase the number of human casualties.

"Nuna, are the preparations for the attack complete?" I asked her.

"Everything is ready, My Lord. If you give the order, we can launch the attack tomorrow night."

"Very well. You will lead the attack tomorrow, while I will continue searching for the Hero when he arrives in this territory."