Episode 112. There's an Ending
Leline was overcome with a sense of justice.
Saying it out loud, she felt certain it could really happen.
Leline could save Laxus from this palace.
Laxus was the Emperor.
And the current heir was just a baby.
If Laxus were safe, this danger could be overcome, no matter what.
Count Flans, Duke Cloud, and countless others would help.
Who could stop the rightful Emperor from taking his place?
'When that time comes, I could become Empress!'
Leline's desire burned.
She had also heard something from Count Flans.
Judging all the circumstances, the mastermind behind this chaos was Renisha.
It was clear that Hiloshine and Lottera had staged a rebellion.
Capturing the traitor would lead to the failure of the rebellion, and with Renisha gone, Leline was the leading candidate for Empress!
The child born to Leline would become the next Emperor.
Leline swallowed.
“No matter how much I think about it, it seems we’d be in danger without His Majesty the Emperor.”
The concubines wore trembling expressions. Why bother bringing Laxus with them when it was hard enough to escape on their own?
Leline didn’t know, but they’d never even seen Laxus’ face properly.
Leline sensed their hesitation.
“Would everyone be happy if we left without His Majesty? Have you forgotten that we’ve already been sold to the Emperor? Besides, our families outside have already boarded the same boat as the Emperor. Do you truly not understand what that means?”
Leline raised her voice.
“That’s true.”
“Father wouldn’t welcome me either.”
The concubines agreed.
“Then we’ll finish preparing and gather here.”
Leline and the concubines nodded.
A great sense of duty enveloped them.
The fate of this empire rested in their hands.
Haylin stood on the watchtower and gazed down.
A fiery red forest came into view.
Kassius had created that forest in the once-wasteland of Hiloshine.
With Kassius and Renisha, they could reclaim it.
Nothing would be too much to defend Hiloshine Castle.
Strategy was crucial to winning a battle against overwhelming odds.
Haylin prepared her fire arrows.
Hiloshine's air was dry.
The growth of trees was entirely due to the power of the serpent god.
Haylin's fire arrows were enough to ignite the withered trunks.
The forest quickly caught fire, and the fire consumed the Emperor's army.
There must have been much life within.
With the forest, moss grew and fruit formed.
Birds and small animals would have fed on it, and larger beasts would have found a home in pursuit.
Haylin seemed to hear their screams.
Haylin tried to ignore it and turned around.
The fire was dying down.
The remaining soldiers would climb over the walls of Hiloshine.
Haylin said to Therion,
“We must use the terrain of the city to win this war. An all-out war is no solution.”
“I agree. We’re outnumbered and undertrained, so we’re a ragtag bunch. And we can’t trust all the knights.”
“Gather the Yi tribesmen and the Hiloshine knights together and form groups... and deploy the others. Divide the districts into five and send them out. With the help of the residents, have them dig traps according to the terrain of the city. Now is the only chance. While they’re disorganized and reorganizing!”
“Yes, Lady Haylin!”
Haylin replied in an agitated voice.
Haylin wasn’t some kind of greenhouse lady.
She had a lot on her mind to protect Hiloshine.
Another layer of Haylin’s worries was lifted.
"...We must not only defend Hiloshine, but also protect Renisha's rear. We must end this war and quickly advance to the island."
"You can do that."
They've already sent reinforcements, including Meteo, but that won't be enough.
This was a rebellion that shook the very foundations of Hientri.
There would undoubtedly be opposing forces, and there would be those who would seek to displace Renisha and take her place.
As with fires, early suppression was crucial.
They had to show them the insurmountable power gap.
To do so, Hiloshine's support was needed.
Renisha had trusted Haylin and Therion, entrusting Haylin to them, and it was time for them to repay her trust.
Haylin donned armor instead of a dress.
Instead of digging up black scales with hoes, the women of Hiloshine stood guard, boiling hot water to create a sticky flour paste.
Farmers gathered thorns to set traps in the streets.
They gathered large stones and hid on rooftops.
The hardened knights of Kassius and the warriors of the Yi tribe were with them.
Hiloshine was ready.
"Are you crazy? To really set fire to the forest!"
One knight complained, brushing the ash off his body.
"What are our casualties?"
Count Flans asked in a somber voice.
"...Out of 4,000 knights, we lost 800. And there are many wounded. Who would have thought those madmen would set fire to the forest!"
It was clear that this wasn't a tactic he'd often employ.
Who would set fire to their own property?
Good wood could be sold for a high price.
Besides, there must have been residents who made a living by gathering and hunting in the forest.
Hiloshine had given up without a second thought.
"That must mean they desperately want it."
Count Flans muttered.
No matter how much he thought about it, he felt like he'd taken the wrong hand.
If he hadn't disembarked from Renisha's ship as planned, he might have been well fed and warm by now.
He regretted taking Laxus' hand, drawn like a moth to a flame by the dazzling flames.
Hiloshine himself, immersed in the silence, looked like a coiled, breathless black snake.
It was a particularly black castle, built of something.
Upon inspection, he found it harder than ordinary stone, unlikely to collapse easily.
"...We have no choice but to climb up and over the castle."
"I'll prepare a rope."
Count Flans nodded.
A fear, like a dying man seeking refuge, rose to the very tip of his throat.
He'd thought he'd prepared himself for death when he was pushed by the Emperor to Hiloshine.
Perhaps his lingering regrets still lingered.
Count Flans chuckled.
"There's no turning back, so we must advance. We'll keep the wounded behind us and cross the castle. Anyone who deserts will face death. Once we begin to crumble, it's over. We have the numerical advantage, so we have a chance. Certainly."
"Yes, Count."
The sun was sinking beyond the horizon.
Night would soon fall on Hiloshine.
That was the moment Count Flans had in mind.
Clink.
With a shattering sound, a solid hook was fastened to the castle wall.
Starting with one rope, several others were attached to the wall, and the knights began to climb up.
Therion held his breath and waited for them to reach the right position.
Cold sweat trickled down his temples.
'One, two, three...'
"Now!!"
Terion's voice cut through the darkness.
The knights who had been hiding cut the ropes.
Arrows rained down from below.
Therion picked up the arrows that had fallen to the ground and drew his bow.
“Aaaaah!”
“Advance! Climb the walls and open the gates!!”
The air was filled with the stench of ash and iron.
Therion tightened his grip on his sword.
He must hold them off until the last breath.
If even one man can hold his ground...!
“Stop them from breaching the castle!”
A sword swept past Therion’s head.
“Sir Therion!!!”
Therion bent down, and a massive longsword flew from behind.
The enemy charging at him collapsed, spewing hot blood.
Therion wiped the blood from his face.
He checked the signal from the city.
In the meantime, he kicked away the sword that had rushed toward his leg and stabbed the sword in his hand.
“Ugh!”
Therion kicked the corpse away and stared back at the city.
Leline was overcome with a sense of justice.
Saying it out loud, she felt certain it could really happen.
Leline could save Laxus from this palace.
Laxus was the Emperor.
And the current heir was just a baby.
If Laxus were safe, this danger could be overcome, no matter what.
Count Flans, Duke Cloud, and countless others would help.
Who could stop the rightful Emperor from taking his place?
'When that time comes, I could become Empress!'
Leline's desire burned.
She had also heard something from Count Flans.
Judging all the circumstances, the mastermind behind this chaos was Renisha.
It was clear that Hiloshine and Lottera had staged a rebellion.
Capturing the traitor would lead to the failure of the rebellion, and with Renisha gone, Leline was the leading candidate for Empress!
The child born to Leline would become the next Emperor.
Leline swallowed.
“No matter how much I think about it, it seems we’d be in danger without His Majesty the Emperor.”
The concubines wore trembling expressions. Why bother bringing Laxus with them when it was hard enough to escape on their own?
Leline didn’t know, but they’d never even seen Laxus’ face properly.
Leline sensed their hesitation.
“Would everyone be happy if we left without His Majesty? Have you forgotten that we’ve already been sold to the Emperor? Besides, our families outside have already boarded the same boat as the Emperor. Do you truly not understand what that means?”
Leline raised her voice.
“That’s true.”
“Father wouldn’t welcome me either.”
The concubines agreed.
“Then we’ll finish preparing and gather here.”
Leline and the concubines nodded.
A great sense of duty enveloped them.
The fate of this empire rested in their hands.
***
Haylin stood on the watchtower and gazed down.
A fiery red forest came into view.
Kassius had created that forest in the once-wasteland of Hiloshine.
With Kassius and Renisha, they could reclaim it.
Nothing would be too much to defend Hiloshine Castle.
Strategy was crucial to winning a battle against overwhelming odds.
Haylin prepared her fire arrows.
Hiloshine's air was dry.
The growth of trees was entirely due to the power of the serpent god.
Haylin's fire arrows were enough to ignite the withered trunks.
The forest quickly caught fire, and the fire consumed the Emperor's army.
There must have been much life within.
With the forest, moss grew and fruit formed.
Birds and small animals would have fed on it, and larger beasts would have found a home in pursuit.
Haylin seemed to hear their screams.
Haylin tried to ignore it and turned around.
The fire was dying down.
The remaining soldiers would climb over the walls of Hiloshine.
Haylin said to Therion,
“We must use the terrain of the city to win this war. An all-out war is no solution.”
“I agree. We’re outnumbered and undertrained, so we’re a ragtag bunch. And we can’t trust all the knights.”
“Gather the Yi tribesmen and the Hiloshine knights together and form groups... and deploy the others. Divide the districts into five and send them out. With the help of the residents, have them dig traps according to the terrain of the city. Now is the only chance. While they’re disorganized and reorganizing!”
“Yes, Lady Haylin!”
Haylin replied in an agitated voice.
Haylin wasn’t some kind of greenhouse lady.
She had a lot on her mind to protect Hiloshine.
Another layer of Haylin’s worries was lifted.
"...We must not only defend Hiloshine, but also protect Renisha's rear. We must end this war and quickly advance to the island."
"You can do that."
They've already sent reinforcements, including Meteo, but that won't be enough.
This was a rebellion that shook the very foundations of Hientri.
There would undoubtedly be opposing forces, and there would be those who would seek to displace Renisha and take her place.
As with fires, early suppression was crucial.
They had to show them the insurmountable power gap.
To do so, Hiloshine's support was needed.
Renisha had trusted Haylin and Therion, entrusting Haylin to them, and it was time for them to repay her trust.
Haylin donned armor instead of a dress.
Instead of digging up black scales with hoes, the women of Hiloshine stood guard, boiling hot water to create a sticky flour paste.
Farmers gathered thorns to set traps in the streets.
They gathered large stones and hid on rooftops.
The hardened knights of Kassius and the warriors of the Yi tribe were with them.
Hiloshine was ready.
***
"Are you crazy? To really set fire to the forest!"
One knight complained, brushing the ash off his body.
"What are our casualties?"
Count Flans asked in a somber voice.
"...Out of 4,000 knights, we lost 800. And there are many wounded. Who would have thought those madmen would set fire to the forest!"
It was clear that this wasn't a tactic he'd often employ.
Who would set fire to their own property?
Good wood could be sold for a high price.
Besides, there must have been residents who made a living by gathering and hunting in the forest.
Hiloshine had given up without a second thought.
"That must mean they desperately want it."
Count Flans muttered.
No matter how much he thought about it, he felt like he'd taken the wrong hand.
If he hadn't disembarked from Renisha's ship as planned, he might have been well fed and warm by now.
He regretted taking Laxus' hand, drawn like a moth to a flame by the dazzling flames.
Hiloshine himself, immersed in the silence, looked like a coiled, breathless black snake.
It was a particularly black castle, built of something.
Upon inspection, he found it harder than ordinary stone, unlikely to collapse easily.
"...We have no choice but to climb up and over the castle."
"I'll prepare a rope."
Count Flans nodded.
A fear, like a dying man seeking refuge, rose to the very tip of his throat.
He'd thought he'd prepared himself for death when he was pushed by the Emperor to Hiloshine.
Perhaps his lingering regrets still lingered.
Count Flans chuckled.
"There's no turning back, so we must advance. We'll keep the wounded behind us and cross the castle. Anyone who deserts will face death. Once we begin to crumble, it's over. We have the numerical advantage, so we have a chance. Certainly."
"Yes, Count."
The sun was sinking beyond the horizon.
Night would soon fall on Hiloshine.
That was the moment Count Flans had in mind.
***
Clink.
With a shattering sound, a solid hook was fastened to the castle wall.
Starting with one rope, several others were attached to the wall, and the knights began to climb up.
Therion held his breath and waited for them to reach the right position.
Cold sweat trickled down his temples.
'One, two, three...'
"Now!!"
Terion's voice cut through the darkness.
The knights who had been hiding cut the ropes.
Arrows rained down from below.
Therion picked up the arrows that had fallen to the ground and drew his bow.
“Aaaaah!”
“Advance! Climb the walls and open the gates!!”
The air was filled with the stench of ash and iron.
Therion tightened his grip on his sword.
He must hold them off until the last breath.
If even one man can hold his ground...!
“Stop them from breaching the castle!”
A sword swept past Therion’s head.
“Sir Therion!!!”
Therion bent down, and a massive longsword flew from behind.
The enemy charging at him collapsed, spewing hot blood.
Therion wiped the blood from his face.
He checked the signal from the city.
In the meantime, he kicked away the sword that had rushed toward his leg and stabbed the sword in his hand.
“Ugh!”
Therion kicked the corpse away and stared back at the city.
“Enough..."
The signal came up. Everything was ready.
Therion raised his voice.
“Retreat!!! Retreat now!!!”
Therion grabbed the wounded soldier by the scruff of his neck and lifted him up.
He carried him down the ramparts, shouting.
A horn blew.
The knights, recognizing his signal, fled down the ramparts.
Blood mixed with Therion's flowed down his face.
Therion's shoulders felt heavy.
His comrade's hot breathing was gradually fading.
"Sir Therion..."
"Don't give up. You saved me. Now it's my turn to save you!"
Therion's voice crackled.
Laxus pushed them back and sent them to Chorpa Plain.
Cut off from support, the war continued in despair.
Their victory could only be described as a miracle.
But how had Laxus treated them?
No proper rewards, no proper treatment.
He pushed them back to Hiloshine.
Naturally, there was no respect for the dead.
Therion had decided to follow Renisha because she was different from Laxus.
Renisha erected a monument on Chorpa Plain.
It was a tombstone to commemorate the souls of the dead.
Written on it were the names of the Duke of Lottera and a prayer.
The names of the dead were buried in the ground.
Since she couldn't know everything, Renisha did the best she could.
Renisha wasn't one to forget those who had sacrificed themselves for her.
Therion was captivated by Renisha's humanity.
She quietly worked for no one, even though no one noticed.
Therion gritted his teeth and ran.
"Don't die! At least see your daughter before you die!"
"Haha... That's too much for an unmarried bachelor."
A ray of hope was approaching.
"Lady Haylin...!"
The face revealed in the torchlight was Haylin.
After handing over his injured comrade to the medical team, Therion collapsed like a horse at the end of a race.
Haylin patted him on the shoulder.
"Rest for a moment. We'll handle the rest."
Renisha swallowed her breath, her muscles aching.
"We're here."
Luna, who had been pushing Renisha from behind, spoke in a hoarse voice.
Luna was equally tired.
Renisha reached the top of the stairs and extended her hand to Luna.
Luna stared at it with a fresh face.
“Are you trying to push me?”
“There’s no way,”
Renisha replied with a smile.
Luna took her hand and climbed the last step.
A black door stood before her.
“Laxus will be inside, Luna.”
Luna drew the sword at her waist.
Renisha snatched it.
Therion raised his voice.
“Retreat!!! Retreat now!!!”
Therion grabbed the wounded soldier by the scruff of his neck and lifted him up.
He carried him down the ramparts, shouting.
A horn blew.
The knights, recognizing his signal, fled down the ramparts.
Blood mixed with Therion's flowed down his face.
Therion's shoulders felt heavy.
His comrade's hot breathing was gradually fading.
"Sir Therion..."
"Don't give up. You saved me. Now it's my turn to save you!"
Therion's voice crackled.
Laxus pushed them back and sent them to Chorpa Plain.
Cut off from support, the war continued in despair.
Their victory could only be described as a miracle.
But how had Laxus treated them?
No proper rewards, no proper treatment.
He pushed them back to Hiloshine.
Naturally, there was no respect for the dead.
Therion had decided to follow Renisha because she was different from Laxus.
Renisha erected a monument on Chorpa Plain.
It was a tombstone to commemorate the souls of the dead.
Written on it were the names of the Duke of Lottera and a prayer.
The names of the dead were buried in the ground.
Since she couldn't know everything, Renisha did the best she could.
Renisha wasn't one to forget those who had sacrificed themselves for her.
Therion was captivated by Renisha's humanity.
She quietly worked for no one, even though no one noticed.
Therion gritted his teeth and ran.
"Don't die! At least see your daughter before you die!"
"Haha... That's too much for an unmarried bachelor."
A ray of hope was approaching.
"Lady Haylin...!"
The face revealed in the torchlight was Haylin.
After handing over his injured comrade to the medical team, Therion collapsed like a horse at the end of a race.
Haylin patted him on the shoulder.
"Rest for a moment. We'll handle the rest."
***
Renisha swallowed her breath, her muscles aching.
"We're here."
Luna, who had been pushing Renisha from behind, spoke in a hoarse voice.
Luna was equally tired.
Renisha reached the top of the stairs and extended her hand to Luna.
Luna stared at it with a fresh face.
“Are you trying to push me?”
“There’s no way,”
Renisha replied with a smile.
Luna took her hand and climbed the last step.
A black door stood before her.
“Laxus will be inside, Luna.”
Luna drew the sword at her waist.
Renisha snatched it.
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