Academy’s Strongest Concession Stand Man 77

Chapter 77 – Destruction, Coming (7)

The end came suddenly. It was only a few hours after she revealed to Liv about her father’s death.

Ding ding ding ding ding!!!

A warning bell rings throughout the mountain range. We barely got any sleep so we got out of the tent right away.

“…”
“…”

I probably thought about it for hours. There was deep fatigue on his once elegant face.

“President…”
“Louis! Baron Lev! “Can you come for a moment!?”

Just as she was about to open her mouth, Paris rushed over. When I saw the letter in his hand, I mentally prepared myself.

“It’s an enemy attack. “The federation has convened a meeting.”
“I’ll be going soon. Baron? “We’ll talk a little later.”
“Yes…”

I couldn’t wash, but I didn’t have time to do so. We climbed the mountain range and headed to the command center. Even before the sun rose, many people were crowded into the small barracks.

There was no noise.
Because Adalbert’s face, sitting at the head of the table, was crumpled to the point of being scary.
After confirming that Paris and I had entered, he opened his mouth in a serious tone.

“… I think we’re almost there, so let’s get started right away. From now on, we will clear the mountain range. “All personnel to retreat from the defense line with only the minimum amount of supplies.”
“Yes——!!?”

The room was shaken by the shocking statement. One of the knights opened his mouth as if he didn’t understand.

“What the hell is going on? Until now, the Ravier defense line has never once decided to retreat!”
“That’s exactly why.”

Thud!

As Adalbert’s scabbard struck the ground, silence settled in.

“So far we have never backed down. “It’s just that it was breached.”
“That doesn’t mean… !”
“Okay. The scouting party confirmed the advance of the Demon King’s army. And… “The four worst are also included.”

The four worst. There were several people whose faces lost color the moment they heard those words.

“I could have seen it wrong…”
“Doesn’t exist. “It wasn’t the wrong size.”

Kundra’s words immediately reminded me of one of them. Carvius of Destruction.

Tinnitus… The last remaining dragon on the continent, a dragon of destruction.

The Ravier Mountains were breached only once. When the evil Izareth, one of the four worst, personally brought the army of death.
Adalbert decided to retreat early on when he realized that the same demon king’s army executives were appearing this time.

I saw his hands shaking. You must be angry. But it was an inevitable choice.
How can those gathered here defeat the four worst enemies that even the Archduke would find difficult to defeat on his own? Even magic did not work on the dragon’s scales.

“That can’t be possible.”

However, there was one person in particular who shouted opposition. Everyone’s eyes were focused on Paris.

“The reason is?”
“The reason they are attacking is because they are here.”

Paris handed the paper in his hand to Adalbert. After checking it, he opened his eyes wide and checked the written information for a long time.
Eventually, he burned the paper with magic and spoke to those gathered in the barracks.

“Prepare to retreat. “Everyone go out.”
“””Ancient!!”””
“Captain… !”

People left the rainwater as if they had been waiting. After closing the door due to the commotion coming from outside, there were only seven people left.
Valerie, who was the most relaxed, asked, twisting her red beard.

“What is it about?”
“This is news from the Hubblet guy.”
“What? “No, really!?”
“Okay. “They said it was traveling on the canal.”

The gaze glaring at Paris made me, who was next to him, feel a tingle.
Hubblet’s teacher… If the author helps, will he be able to kill Carvius?

‘That doesn’t make sense.’

I shook my head. Liv looked nervously at the owners of the alliance, who could be considered giants in their own right.
They were preparing to withdraw their troops even after reading the letter we sent in the past.

“Look at you, Paris.”
“Yes.”
“Even if we are certain that they are targeting that canal, we cannot drive all the soldiers in the mountain range to their deaths with that alone.”
“…”
“What’s more, I don’t even know when this letter was written or whether the people who wrote it have already arrived.”
“But it might not have arrived yet.”

Yes, the question was whether the choice to protect that canal would actually be helpful to the death squad. Maybe they have already arrived at the Demon King’s Castle. Or, you may be desperately waiting for help.
Because there was no contact, those who remained in the mountains ultimately had no choice but to make a choice.
And out of a hundred, any commander would have chosen the same side as Adalbert.

Retreat.

“If the death squad fails, what happens to the war?”

But no one could answer Paris’ question. Because we already know the outcome.

“Even if we don’t retreat now, maintaining the front line is close to our limit. There is a severe shortage of food and weapons. Soon, the defense line may be breached by demons other than the four worst. “If that happens, does humanity have any chance of winning?”
“…”

His conviction was also correct. That’s why the Demon Lord’s army also tried to destroy the 〈 Grand Canal 〉 magic by directly sending one of the four worst forces while the hero party was advancing right in front of them.

The kingdom decided that there would be no second chance if we failed, and the Demon King’s army decided that if things continued like this, they would not be able to stop the advance of the hero who would lay waste to the demon world.
As is the course of history, the results were extremely disastrous.

“Will your men follow what you say? Are you telling me to go out on a limb and die?”
“I won’t lie to you. If you leave… “Even if I am alone, I will carry the sword.”

Paris said hello briefly and then went out. Liv immediately followed him.
Adalbert, who had been staring at the door he left through for a long time, sighed and asked the man wearing a black eyepatch next to him.

“Mateus. “Can you get an answer from the royal capital?”
“Thessalon? The magic tower is not functioning properly, so I have to go there in person. “The enemy is at most half a day away, and I can’t guarantee they’ll come before then.”
“Let’s go first. “I don’t know if I can give you any help.”

I wonder if such power will remain in the royal capital. The moment I heard those words, there was one person that came to mind.

“For a moment.”
“Huh?”
“What about you?”

I reached into my pocket and handed Goliath’s leader a piece of iron the size of a palm, wrapped in a small cloth.

“Can you do me a favor?”
“What are you?”
“Mateus, wait… “What are you asking?”
“It’s no big deal. “I want you to give me this on your way to Thessalon.”
“This… ? To whom?”

History doesn’t change. But maybe this time, we can show a different future.

“Yunhoegong.”

***

In the afternoon, the entire mountain range became bustling. Rumors that the Federation was withdrawing from its defense line had already reached the vigilantes below.

Amid the commotion, Paris stood on the podium. And in front of all his followers gathered in Greenwood Forest, he proudly pointed to the mountain range.
His voice was calm, but it had the power to sway his audience.

“Everyone has probably heard the news. The Federation chose to retreat. “Perhaps tonight the kingdom will be struck by a second call.”

Breaking through the defense line meant that at least the entire northern part would be devastated by the devil’s army. There was anger in the eyes of several men wearing rusty swords and helmets.

“Their goal is canal. “The scale of the enemy is immeasurable, and among them are the leading figures of the Demon King’s army.”

An unwinnable fight. It was a reckless act akin to a praying mantis raising both hands in front of an elephant.

“Now beyond this canal lies the last hope of ending the war. “If it takes them just a little longer to destroy this, they might take down the demon lord.”

Everything he said was subjunctive. If victory was certain… No, if there had been any chance, the Federation soldiers would not have hastily left the mountain range.

“Only those who want to die remain! In a heap of ashes where not even a body can be found, only those who are so foolish that they cannot even leave their names in history should take up arms!”

There was no cheering. Remaining meant death. Paris also quietly took out his bow and spoke.

“I’ll wait at the canal.”

***

The northern days were short. The sight of an enormous number of people and materials moving under the sunset was a sight to behold.
Liv watched for a while as Paris inspected the bowstring from a low hill overlooking the canal.
Before she could say anything, her father’s back spoke.

“You’d better leave. “Baron Lev.”
“…”
“Unlike us, the Baron is a wizard, isn’t he? “There must be a more valuable life than being killed here.”
“It’s reckless… “Don’t you think so?”

Ting!

There was no trace of regret on his face as he flicked his bow and looked back. Finally, after sharpening the tip of the arrowhead on the rock a couple of times, he stood up and raised his head toward the darkening sky.

“It’s reckless. Even if you die, you won’t be recognized. “The order was not followed, and even if it was an order, a commander who sends a soldier to his death can never regain his honor.”

I knew it. Because Liv came from the future predicted by Paris. All the soldiers who volunteered to stay were killed, and their number was enormous. It was impossible for the royal family to present the lives of tens of thousands of people as a ‘valuable sacrifice.’
That’s why he wanted to stop his father.
But–

“To begin with, we didn’t have much. “When the first defense line was breached, we lost everything.”

As the number of small embers illuminating the dark waters increased one by one, tears formed in her eyes.

“People gathered in the forest, their families, friends, hometowns, and clans all burned to the ground by the demons. “With the sole intention of never making those left behind experience the same pain again.”
“Ah…”

Numerous fireworks filled the riverside. These were people who risked death and chose to protect the canal to gain just a few more hours or minutes.

“Baron. “If you don’t mind, could I ask you a small favor?”
“What… “Please.”
“I want you to pass this on to my daughter.”

Paris held out her short staff, broken in half, to Liv. She was an object made of the same metallurgical wood that she had.

“I gave the other half to her daughter in case we ever meet again, but I don’t think we can.”
“…”
“I want you to tell the Baron. Oh, her daughter’s name is…”
“I know.”
“Yes?”

Liv swallowed her tears and smiled at Paris.

“I must, huff! “Tell me, I’ll give it to you.”
“Thank you. Then please…”

Just as she was about to shed tears as she looked at Paris, who looked puzzled, someone suddenly appeared next to her.

〈Baekmado: Transfer Gate ⌜Warp Gate⌟〉

“Ha, fuck…”

Paris, startled, aimed her bow, but the sorceress, with her white hair hanging down to her waist, glared at him and shouted:

“Hey you!”
“Who are you… ?”
“Chairman? That look…”
“Who is the chairman of the board!? “I am the owner of the Pekda Magic Tower—!”

Unlike Liv’s memory, she looked very mature, took out two identical medals from her arms and held them out in front of Liv and Paris respectively.
Then, with extreme annoyance, she sighed and asked:

“You bastard sent this to me. “Where are you now?”