Simon explained everything to the Grand Duke.
"What you saw must have been an individual on the level of the Three Brothers," she said, her voice grim. It was impossible to know if the Northern God had always possessed a ’fourth’ or if it had hastily created one after the others fell. Still, one thing was certain: just as she had concealed the true range of the Bow of Gale, the Northern God had several hidden cards of its own.
"I was careless." Her lips twisted, her fists clenched so tightly they could have crumbled stone. "I should have taken more time, prepared for a longer battle."
"N-No! I think you made the best possible decision in that situation, Grand Duke," Simon insisted.
[So,] Pier interjected, crossing his arms. [What is your plan now, Legion Commanders? It is time to choose.]
The Grand Duke closed her eyes, lost in deep thought. The fourth one was attacking a nearly defenseless Vilkenos. The Northern God’s true lair was several mountain ranges away. Which would she choose?
The deliberation stretched on. She tilted her head back, paced in a tight circle, and gritted her teeth. Every second was precious, but the fate of the entire North rested on this single decision. She had no choice but to consider every possibility.
Finally, she spoke.
"I have decided." Her lips parted. "We return to Vilkenos."
"W-Wait a minute!" Simon’s eyes widened. "We sacrificed so much to get here! You’re just going to turn back now?"
"If we leave the fourth one alone, we will suffer losses incomparable to what we have already endured."
Currently, Vilkenos was protected only by a small defense force led by Godric. In preparation for the undead hordes running rampant after the Northern God’s fall, most of the North’s population had taken refuge there. If the fourth one stormed the city now, it would be a massacre.
"My duty is not to eliminate the Northern God, but to protect the North," she said, her eyes closing. "Even if we succeed, what is the point if there are no people left to live in these lands? I cannot turn away from my duty."
Erzebet, who had been listening quietly, shrugged. [What about a plan where all our forces advance quickly and eliminate the Northern God?]
"That is also impossible, Ancient Undead." The state of the Northern Army was, without a doubt, dire. They had mobilized in a hurry, and their food and winter supplies were nearly depleted. They had brought just enough to reach the Frost Field, defeat the god, and return. But to lead the exhausted army over treacherous mountain ranges and into another battle?
"We would be annihilated. Even if we win, we won’t be able to make it back." The Grand Duke slowly raised her arm, connecting to the minds of the undead above the Abyss. "A blizzard is raging. The Northern God can control the weather. In such conditions, we can expect no communication, no teleportation, and no outside support." Lowering her hand, she smiled bitterly. "It’s checkmate. I hate to admit it, but this sortie was a failure. The Northern God was several moves ahead of us. That is all."
"...Grand Duke."
She turned her back, her cape fluttering. "We retreat. I will have Great General Ganiro gather the troops and withdraw in sequence. I will ride ahead to Vilkenos with Hate and the Phantom Knights."
"In the end, I too will have failed to slay the beast, remaining just another Grand Duke who only reached the Frost Field."
Just then, Simon took a step forward. "No."
His voice was firm. "I will strike the Northern God. The 7th Legion, alone."
She stopped, turning to look at him with wide, surprised eyes. The other Ancient Undead all focused their attention on him. Simon was also a Legion Commander. Though he had been following her lead, he ultimately had the authority to act independently.
"Insolent one. Do you even know what you are saying?"
"Yes."
Simon understood her position perfectly. For her, protecting the North came before slaying its god. Even if they joined forces and quickly destroyed the Northern God, the fourth one wouldn’t stop. As a hive-linked entity like the Three Brothers, it could think and act on its own. Vilkenos would be annihilated. Therefore...
"I’m saying the 7th Legion will strike alone."
"That’s reckless!" She strode forward and gripped his shoulders. "How do you plan to cross the treacherous mountains of the Frost Field?"
Simon grinned and pointed to his side. "With Herseva’s ’Geheim’."
Beside him, the sand woman perched on her staff chuckled and waved. Simon quickly explained Herseva’s newly unlocked ability.
The Grand Duke’s gaze grew serious. "But you said the Abyss has ten maws. Can your legion alone conquer all of them?"
"Of course," Simon nodded confidently. "The legion I inherited from my father has many Ancient Undead. This time, I will be the one to free the North."
Her pupils trembled. ’Yona.’ The name was an unspoken memory. The man who had come to the North, annihilated the god’s forces, and saved her. She bit her lip hard, then a small smile touched her lips. "Is your strategy solely reliant on your Ancient Undead?"
"I will be relying on the Grand Duke and the Northern Army as well."
"What did you say?"
Simon held out his palm. "You said the Northern God reacts sensitively to your Jet-Black, correct? If you leave to capture the ’fourth one’ and the Northern Army begins to retreat, how will the Northern God react?"
She answered without a moment’s hesitation. "It will strike our retreating backs. It has always employed such tactics."
"Yes. It will send a portion of its defensive forces. It’s a golden opportunity to annihilate the Northern Army. And most importantly," Simon pointed to the ground, "we are not caught in a trap right now. We have successfully ’conquered’ this Abyss. It’s a fact that we have depleted a great deal of the Northern God’s forces." He clenched his fist. "Crisis is opportunity. I believe the best chance to strike the Northern God’s true heart is right now."
The Grand Duke quietly closed her eyes, lost in thought. Then, she opened them. "I’m still not convinced."
Simon, who had been striking a fighting pose, flinched and slowly lowered his hands. "A-Are you not giving your permission?"
"We are Legion Commanders of equal standing. If you have decided to sortie, I cannot stop you. However—" The Grand Duke turned her head. "Pluto, go with him."
[Huh? Babysitting duty? Myon?]
"This is important. Follow the 7th Legion’s orders."
[Can’t be helped. Myon myon!] Pluto hopped over and landed neatly on Simon’s shoulder. [Pleased to be working with you! Myon!]
Simon’s eyes widened. "...Are you sure it’s okay to send Pluto with me?"
"Of course. Hate and I are more than enough to handle the fourth one. And." ’Fwoosh!’ She opened her subspace and pulled something out. Simon’s eyes widened further. It was a golden banner, like those used by the knights of the North, but it was somehow different.
"I still have one last move left." She planted the banner on the ground.
"Th-This is?"
"Half of my power." She raised the Bow of Gale. Hate immediately moved, its essence enveloping her body and the bow. "I will use it here."
’FWHOOOOOOOOOOSH!’
She aimed the Bow of Gale at the sky of the Abyss and fired. The raging aftershock forced not only Simon but all the surrounding Ancient Undead to fall back.
’Whoa...!’ Simon broke out in a cold sweat. It was the most powerful arrow he had ever seen her unleash. Fired from the Abyss, it flew to the ends of the sky before twinkling and vanishing from sight.
"When you are in crisis, use this flag," she said, pulling the banner from the ground and handing it to him. "Whether it’s the Northern God or any other powerful enemy, you will be able to destroy them if you use this flag."
Simon respectfully accepted it. She had sent her ace, Pluto, and now she had given him half of her power. She had done everything she possibly could for him. As he took the flag, he felt her will transfer to him.
"Simon Polentia. I hereby appoint you an honorary knight of the North."
Holding the golden banner, Simon smiled, his eyes filled with resolve. "I will not disappoint you!"
’Thud.’ She suddenly stepped forward and pressed her forehead against his. Simon was startled, but seeing her grave expression, he held his ground.
"...Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. A myriad of emotions flowed between them: the frustration of having to retreat with her enemy in sight, the sorrow for her fallen soldiers, her worry for him, and above all, an immense gratitude that he would step forward when she could not.
Simon fought to control his own emotional voice and smiled bravely. "Leave it to me."
At Vilkenos.
"Emergency! We’re under attack!"
"Keep running! Take the children to the shelter!"
With the sudden assault of the ’fourth one’, Vilkenos was thrown into chaos. Screams erupted everywhere. People rushed from their homes, fleeing towards the shelters, clogging the narrow path to the Grand Duke’s castle. Warriors grabbed their weapons and sprinted toward the city walls.
’THUD—! THUD—! THUD—!’
The city wall shuddered under a violent assault. The fourth one was ramming its head against the stone.
’Crumble—’
The wall shook precariously. The creature looked like a malformed infant that had grown to a giant’s size, with underdeveloped arms, slender legs, and an abnormally large head. Fortunately, its physical abilities seemed too poor to climb the wall, but it was clearly trying to smash it down with sheer force.
"Hold it back! Hold it back no matter what!" the warriors roared, rushing to the ramparts and loosing a volley of arrows. Most bounced harmlessly off its skin, but the creature seemed to feel a stinging pain as it jerked its short arms back and forth.
"That thing doesn’t seem like much, for all its size."
"Yeah, looks like a failed experiment."
’Thump.’ Just then, the fourth one grabbed its oversized face.
Its head began to pulse like a heart. On its hairless scalp, veins stood out, and the shape of a brain became faintly visible.
Jet-Black flowed from its body, forming a complex magic circle. The warriors, sensing something was terribly wrong, backed away.
"Wh-What’s happening?"
"Look behind you! Th-The city!"
’CREEEEAK!’
’CRACK!’ Houses in the center of Vilkenos were ripped from their foundations and shot into the sky. Countless buildings hung suspended in mid-air for a moment.
"It’s falling!"
Then, all the fragments came crashing down. A catastrophe in the heart of the North’s largest city. People ran for their lives, but some were too late.
’KRAAAAAAAASH—!’
At that moment, a red wave surged forth.
The crimson tide, moving as if alive, swept away the largest pieces of falling debris. It spread out like umbrellas over the heads of the scattered people, plucking them from harm’s way.
"Are you okay?" A girl with light purple hair dropped from the red wave. "Hurry and escape while you can!"
"Th-Thank you!"
The warriors stared, dumbfounded. She shrouded her body in blood, then leaped onto the pillar of a collapsed building and fixed her gaze on the fourth one.
"Stop it," she declared, her eyes blazing with determination. "I won’t forgive you for hurting any more people!"
However, the creature simply activated its black magic again, preparing to tear more buildings into the air. Kamibarez placed a hand on her abdomen and activated a magic circle of her own—the fruit of her special class. Her pupils began to glow, turning a deep, bloody red.
"If you’re going to keep hurting people...!"
There was one thing the Northern God had overlooked.
"Then I will fight for the North and for Simon, too!"
Vilkenos had a vampire.

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