## Chapter 980 – Ancient Valkyrie
––Flash! Flash!
The armor of the kingdom’s knights, lined up in formation, gleamed.
The kingdom’s best serial killers, fully armed, stood in a strict, disciplined array. These were the selected few chosen to subjugate the Valkyrie today. Just looking at their armor inspired confidence.
Military carriages were parked nearby. These rather luxurious vehicles existed to quickly transport the knights to their destination. While knights could arguably just run, that would result in a loss of combat power.
Knights get tired too.
It was better to use vehicles before a battle.
––Grumble…
––Grunt! Grunt!
More than anything, the beasts pulling the carriages looked unusual. They appeared to be unholy hybrids of muscular horses and bulls, with heads resembling those of raptors. Meaning, they had beaks.
Their massive torsos likely housed enormous hearts and lungs, and their extremely developed leg muscles radiated an unwavering conviction to dedicate their entire lives to the task of transporting knights.
Above all, their nostrils were huge.
Truly masters of respiration.
Creatures like that must eat a ton. Still, their strength and stamina were excellent, making them perfect for the knights to handle. These guys were using good equipment.
But no matter how you looked at it, it was like a Two-and-a-Half-Ton truck.
Damn it.
Next to them stood a group of mages.
These haughty sorcerers, I thought, would use some innovative means of transportation other than carriages. Riding a magic carpet was a bit much… but still, wasn’t flying on a carpet the rule and expectation for high-level mages? As far as I knew, it was probably mandated by UN international law. As for brooms, those were for low-level scrubs.
High-level mages definitely had to have magic carpets and crystal balls.
But they were just using expensive-looking carriages. Still, one notable point was that there wasn’t a single white-haired old mage among them. They all looked reasonably young. I could believe their average age was in their mid-30s, but since they were said to be high-level mages, their actual ages were likely more than double that.
In this world, the younger you looked for your age, the stronger you were rumored to be.
But judging by their attire, there weren’t many genuine high-level mages. It was probably a procession consisting of a few high-level mages and numerous assistants. A lot of preparation was said to be needed to use large-scale military magic.
It was generally magnificent.
The kingdom’s knights and high-level mages were joining forces to subjugate the Valkyrie. Moreover, the paladin order was likely preparing to deploy from another location, and the royal army had already departed.
Civilians eager to meet the Valkyrie would also follow the procession.
It would be a very long procession.
“Look at all those bastards,”
Karin said, observing the scene.
“That’s all money. I wonder how much they’ve spent… A lot of the budget is going toward this one Valkyrie.”
“They’re pouring so much money into everything they do,”
Liztina and Winia said, nodding in agreement.
They agreed.
“Right. I feel like there will be more of this in the future.”
Just because one Valkyrie had deployed, a tremendous amount of money and manpower was being mobilized. Humanity was so weak in the face of transcendent beings. But was it similar to modern Korea? If even one armed deserter appeared among those hundreds of thousands of soldiers, equipment and manpower would be mobilized in a similar fashion.
It was roughly that kind of feeling.
“With this much, wouldn’t subjugation be quite easy?”
“I agree! The Valkyrie won’t stand a chance!”
I wasn’t worried either.
“Hmph… So it’s subjugation rather than combat after all. I might not get a chance to show off Katt’s skills? That would be a shame.”
Claudie said, grabbing my shoulder.
I placed my hand over hers.
“It’s okay. I’m not fighting to show anyone. All that matters is that we kill the Valkyrie.”
“But Katt won’t stand out. I don’t like that.”
“Hehehe, is that so? Then what should we do? Let’s try to make you stand out.”
If Claudie wanted that, I’d have to oblige.
In any case, since we knew the destination, let’s head out first.
It would be nice to go with the paladin order, but there was no real need to.
I realized that I needed to completely separate myself from the paladins. I shouldn’t be obsessed with or dependent on them. The paladins were just my companions. Not true brothers in any real sense.
“Hmm?”
Just as I was about to depart, something occurred to me.
So I immediately asked Winia.
“Winia. Didn’t you say something about airships? Those flying things.”
“Huh?”
I had heard about them when I first came to the capital a long time ago. About flying ships. I felt quite a bit of culture shock when I heard about them, but I had never actually seen one.
I think they were military weapons.
“They do exist. But would we be able to use something like that to fight a Valkyrie? They said it’s a crazy bastard that flies at high speed and easily destroys buildings. What if it gets blown up if we bring it along?”
“I see.”
So that’s why we weren’t taking one.
“In the first place, we didn’t make it with our own technology. It was made by restoring ancient technology from excavated relics, so we can’t make a new one if it gets destroyed.”
It had to be treated like a sacred object.
“I wanted to see one, but that’s a shame.”
“Father. Let’s get going soon.”
“Alright. Let’s go.”
I immediately boarded the carriage.
* * *
We arrived at the border region.
Of course, not the area where the otherworld’s palace had appeared. Further down. So, a place that purely bordered the Mercudia Kingdom. Elven Forest and Mirkesha land weren’t nearby.
Since we had departed separately from the procession, we were able to secure a spot in the city with ease. This city was the gathering point. For now, we’d settle down here and wait for them while leisurely getting ourselves in shape, since we didn’t know when the construction or whatever would start.
* * *
After the main force arrived, the operation began immediately.
The kingdom’s knights quickly received updated information from the Mercudia envoys across the border, and the paladins and other laborers began constructing temporary sanctuaries and churches at breakneck speed.
The operation itself had already been planned out by the kingdom’s knight headquarters, the mages, and the Saintess. Since smart people had gathered and made the strategy, those below them just had to trust and follow their orders.
The mages also took their positions near the constructed sanctuaries and began preparing to deploy military-grade high-level magic. Several of them gathered to draw magic circles, burn incense, build altars, and chant spells.
It was quite a magnificent sight.
The laborers moved busily, and the royal soldiers guarded against the theft of the deployed mana stones and magic scrolls.
It was truly perfect preparation.
If they lured the Valkyrie to this sanctuary, poured high-level magic on her, and the knights overwhelmed her, it seemed certain that even the God’s assassin would fall. And if I, Claudie, Karin, and Liztina supported the knights?
Then it was over.
One day, while the operation was progressing smoothly like that…
“The Valkyrie has crossed the border!!!”
It seemed the Valkyrie had finally crossed the border. The knight serving as a messenger shouted the urgent report, causing the personnel to move swiftly as if a full-scale war had broken out.
“The Valkyrie is finally coming…!”
Hilde cried out nervously.
Of course, I was also extremely tense.
“Don’t worry. This place is practically a fortress. We’ll kill her quickly.”
The high-level mages preparing their magic. The deployed knights. And the paladins supporting them. The regular soldiers had retreated to the rear at this point. They would now be responsible for transporting the wounded or procuring supplies.
“I hope so!!”
“I’m still pretty nervous, though. Unlike a demon, it’s a Valkyrie? I still can’t believe it.”
––Crack.
Karin said, turning her neck.
“I feel the same way. But I don’t think it’s as strange as the Sea God?”
“Is that so?”
“Honestly, it’s stranger that something like that appeared in the water.”
That’s what I thought.
Anyway, we also took a position in an appropriate place, one that wouldn’t interfere with others, and watched the developments. According to the plan, the Valkyrie, having crossed the border, would destroy the deployed sanctuaries and churches one by one as she came this way.
This place was an open area.
If the Valkyrie appeared, we’d be able to see her clearly.
Let’s just focus on that.
––How much time had passed?
“Valkyrie appearance!!!!! Valkyrie appearance!!!!! Valkyrie appearaaaaance!!!!”
Someone shouted at the top of their lungs.
––Zhiiiing!
––Zhiiiing!
––Zhiiiing!
With that, the massive magic circle spread out in the distance began to activate, and the altar burst into flames. At the same time, numerous magic circles that had devoured the large quantities of mana stones and magic scrolls deployed in various locations bloomed and were embroidered in the sky.
“Hoo… Indeed. As expected of magic that was properly prepared, I can feel an enormous amount of magic power.”
“I agree… It’s more than I expected.”
The two mages nodded and marveled. Even I, who had no particular magical aptitude, felt my chest burn just from watching.
Soon after.
––Screeeeeeeeeech!!!
It flew in like a meteor.
The first thing visible was a halo. Gliding without moving its wings, it was truly worthy of being called God’s vanguard.
“Leheeeng…”
The Valkyrie.
With her orange hair fluttering, a divine halo bestowed by an unknown god was visible behind her. The white full plate armor exposed to that light seemed invincible, and the red sword she held burned as if she had legally been transferred the authority of destruction from God.
Above her head was a brilliant ring like an angel’s.
“Oh my, you little shit.”
As if she wasn’t blinded by the light, the Valkyrie indifferently kept her eyes open and simply glided toward the sanctuary with her sword pointed forward.
Ignoring all the magic circles.
“Is it recklessness… or…”
Ari said.
“Does she not care about the magic at all?”
“Crazy.”
To not even care about the magic.
––Zhiiiiiiiiiing!!!
Soon, large-scale high-level magic was unleashed. ––Crackle!! ––Kwagagagagaang!!! With a roar like bombs exploding, the magic circles emitted intense light and struck the Valkyrie. It was truly overwhelming violence.
I heard they were simultaneously using binding magic and destruction magic. Whether that was true or not, the Valkyrie’s figure, which had suddenly stopped in mid-air amidst the chaos, was clearly visible.
“She’ll evaporate if that continues?”
Karin, gripping her sword, said that.
The Valkyrie, frozen in mid-air, was wavering precariously within the seemingly infinite magical rays. The sky was practically filled with magical rays and magic circles. Could it be that they were really going to one-shot her like this? Would our mage bastards achieve such a feat?
––Shatter!!!!
Everyone has a plan.
Until they get punched in the mouth.
––Kugugugugugung!!!
When I heard the sound of glass breaking, I instinctively knew we were screwed. But then I heard an explosion right away. This was a sound that foreshadowed a kind of despair. Yeah, if everything went right at once, that wouldn’t be a plan. It’d be a prophecy.
“I’m going to lose my mind.”
––All kinds of magic circles vanished.
The Valkyrie was still floating in the air.
Very quietly.
Without a single scratch.
Even the halo was still there.
Now the kingdom’s knights would put on a fantastic shitshow while trying to attack that thing. We’d just piggyback on that and fight. I checked my women’s faces. When they nodded, I felt strength surge within me.
Good.
The Heavenly Demon never flinches.
Feeling the surging fighting spirit, I looked at the Valkyrie again.
“…”
The frozen Valkyrie was looking around.
She would probably charge toward the sanctuary soon.
If only an attack order would be given before that…
“Valkyrie-samaaaaaaaa!!!”
That’s when it happened.
“Great and holy Valkyrie-samaaaaaaa!!!”
“Please hear our voices!!!!!”
A booming voice was heard.
“What…?”
I looked toward the source of the sound.
The paladins, who had agreed to assist the combatants, instantly stepped on each other’s shoulders like trained circus performers, creating a stable high-rise human pyramid. Then, they unfolded placards and flags that I didn’t know where they had prepared, and shouted.
“Valkyrie-sama!!! We are believers who worship the Verdant God!!”
“Please do not attack!!!!”
“You must come to your senses!!!”
“Please stop your destructive actions!!!”
“This is not the right thing to do!!!”
The placards had things like “♡Valkyrie♡” and “Stop the Attack!” and the righteous doctrines of the Brass Celestial Angel Society written on them in very large letters.
…What the hell are these bastards?
As I was gaping in disbelief, the Valkyrie turned her head and looked down at the paladins, as if their crazy shouts and demands had worked.
“…”
No, seriously?
Really?
Holy fucking shit, did it actually have an effect?
“…”
“…”
“…”
As if they felt the same thing as me, the mages and the entire kingdom’s knight order froze and stared at the scene. My women were the same.
“Oh, holy Valkyrie-sama!!! Have you heard our words!!!!”
At the very top of the human pyramid.
So, in Christmas tree terms, the old knight in the star position cried out while shedding copious tears. On closer inspection, it was the old knight I had seen at the cathedral. He was wailing with a sincerely moved expression.
Could it really be…?
––Tilt.
At that moment, the Valkyrie tilted her head.
And lightly extended her hand.
––Was it a sign of peace?
I thought that for exactly 0.1 seconds, no lie.
––Zhiiiiiing!!!!
An enormous beam was fired from that white palm.
––Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooong!!!!!
A massive explosion occurred.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
“Waaaaaaaah!!”
“Oeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooo!!!”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
“Miyoooooooooooooong!!!”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!”
“Hororororororororororong!!!”
“Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooack!!!”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!”
“Throoooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!!!”
“Tseuryaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!”
“Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooo!!!”
…How powerless a pyramid built by mere humans could be.
The paladins, struck by the beam, flew away like bowling pins hit by a missile, scattering in complete disarray. The bursting frenzy of screams was a kind of bonus. This was the cruelest betrayal and heartbreak.
Good.
“I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Let’s scream.
“Ichi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ichikakushikakudechyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I tore at my hair.
