Chapter 114 - 41: Not a Single Step Back

Chapter 114: Chapter 41: Not a Single Step Back

BANG!

The door to the reception room was thrown open.

The effortless composure Belmont had feigned in front of Lilia was completely gone. His thick, dark eyebrows were knitted tightly together.

He saw that the important figures had all arrived, while a Knight in Silver Armor stood at the door, his head lowered like a cowering quail.

He plopped down in the main seat, his voice tense. "What in the world is going on?"

"What do you mean Demons are attacking?!"

Belmont nearly shouted the words, the noble image he usually worked so hard to maintain vanishing in an instant.

He wasn’t the only one; the other nobles and gentry were the same.

Some stared blankly, unable to believe what was happening. Others gripped their armrests nervously, perching on the edges of their seats as if ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

"You!"

Belmont pointed at the Knight. "Tell me everything again, from the beginning, in detail!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Knight complied and began his account.

He was one of the men sent to tail Victor.

Victor was a Great Mage, after all, and immensely powerful. While tailing him, they never dared get too close, mostly keeping a safe distance behind him.

For the past two days, Victor’s movements had been routine. After reaching the Valgipps Mountain Range, he had stayed in one fixed location, though they didn’t know what he was doing.

To avoid being discovered, they would have one person lie in wait at a distance to keep watch, while the others... the others, out of boredom, would wander around to pass the time.

Since they were on a mission, most wouldn’t return to town even during their free time, choosing instead to wander the mountains in groups.

Because the Valgipps were barren, with no signs of life, the common people had always considered them extremely dangerous. The men had thought so, too.

But the past few days had been uneventful, causing them to lower their guard somewhat.

So, today, they had wandered to a ridge. When they looked down, they saw them in the distance: a marching army of Demons!

The word "Demons" alone was enough to make the nobles jump out of their skins, let alone...

"What do you mean, a marching army of Demons?!"

Viscount Belmont’s tone was now laced with horror.

In his experience, Low-level Demons acted mostly on instinct. They were completely incapable of an organized, disciplined action like marching.

’If what this man says is true...’

’Doesn’t that mean there’s a High-level Demon leading them?!’

He wasn’t the only one who realized this; the other nobles quickly caught on as well.

"A High-level Demon! Could it be that a High-level Demon is coming?!"

"How is that possible! Weren’t the Demons wiped out? How could they appear in Navia!"

"What are we going to do?"

"What else can we do? Run! Are you suggesting we stay here and fight to the death with Demons?!"

"Can we even get away? I don’t want to die!"

"..."

The reception room descended into chaos.

Viscount Belmont clenched his fists.

Listening to the wails around him, his breathing grew ragged.

He barely managed to cling to his reason. "We... we can’t run!"

He was the Lord of Navia, and his entire fortune was in Navia County!

If he left, his assets would be slashed by more than half!

But if they didn’t run, given their current military strength, the Demons would level everything once they arrived!

The other nobles had thought of this too. "Of course we want to stay, but the consequence of staying is total annihilation!"

"Rather than be buried alongside those slaves and peasants, it’s better to grab our valuables and leave immediately! As long as we’re alive, we can always make more money!"

Belmont clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and let out a soft breath.

’It seems... this is the only way.’

He had considered asking Victor for help, but firstly, if there truly was a High-level Demon in the marching army, one Great Mage could at best fight it to a standstill. They would still have to deal with the rest of the Demons themselves.

And in their current state, they were completely unequipped to handle a Demon Army.

Secondly, Mages, especially High-level ones, were notoriously self-centered.

Judging by Victor’s behavior these past few days, he wouldn’t necessarily follow Belmont’s orders and risk his life to protect them.

’So...’

’There’s no other choice. We have to leave.’

’As for the other townspeople...’

’Once they leave, they’ll become refugees. I can’t support them on the run.’

’Besides, just as one of the nobles said, leaving them behind might slow the Demons down a little...’

Belmont made up his mind. He ordered everyone to return home and pack as quickly as possible.

With a leader to follow, the nobles immediately calmed down.

Belmont was the first to rise. He walked to the entrance and pulled open the door, only to see a familiar figure standing outside.

He froze for a second. "Princess Lilia?"

Only then did he remember that such a person was in Navia Town.

Belmont wrestled with his thoughts for a moment.

’If I take this Little Princess with me, her spoiled and willful personality could cause trouble on the road.’

’But she has Mages under her command who could be a great help during our escape. And her status as a Princess would help us establish ourselves elsewhere...’

He quickly weighed the pros and cons, concluding that the benefits of taking Lilia along were greater. So, before Lilia could speak, he explained, "Princess Lilia, the situation is urgent, there’s no time to talk! Please return and pack your things immediately. I’ll send someone to fetch you in two hours!"

Hearing his words, the girl showed no reaction. Even the smile on her face didn’t change in the slightest.

Belmont thought she hadn’t understood and repeated with a frown, "Princess Lilia, I know you must have many questions, but there’s no time to explain."

"I will explain everything to you on the road. For now, listen to me. Go back and pack immediately. Don’t waste any more of our time!"

"Viscount Belmont."

Lilia finally spoke.

The girl’s dark eyes were fixed on him. Her voice was soft, yet it carried the unique authority of the Royal Family. "Are you planning to desert?"

Belmont’s pupils contracted.

"You know everything?!"

The words slipped out before he quickly recovered. "Since you already know, then you should understand better than anyone that this situation is far beyond what you or I can handle!"

"If we don’t flee, we’re just sticking our necks out for those Evil Spirits to chop off! It’s throwing our lives away for nothing!"

"Only a fool would make that decision!"

He raised his voice, wanting nothing more than to grab Lilia’s shoulders and shake some sense into the Little Princess, who had lived her life in an Ivory Tower.

Unfortunately, Lilia wasn’t buying any of it.

"What a coincidence."

The girl’s voice had turned chillingly cold. "That’s what deserters think, too."

"Navia County is your domain. The people here look to you for support, and you are supposed to protect them."

"Jonas Belmont, Viscount."

Lilia’s smile vanished completely. "If you dare take a single step out of here today, I will have you executed on the spot for treason."

"Protecting your domain is a Lord’s duty."

"No matter what happens—be it Demons or Evil Spirits."

"No one... is to take a single step back!"