Chapter 62: Sortie

We did it!

Now the Alliance Army... can cross the border safely.

Passing off an Earth Dragon's claw as the Death Dragon's...

That's Ethan, all right.

When it comes to crafty plans, you're the world's best.

It's not crafty, it's strategy.

Already forgot?

Without the Grail in the Cornwall War, the casualties would've been much worse.

That's how important momentum is.

...Ethan is right.

I don't think deceiving the people is noble...

But if my lie can be someone's hope, I won't hesitate.

Exactly. This isn't the time to quibble over methods.

Not that I plan to stoop to Vortigern's cruelty...

Heh. Well done, everyone.

Guinevere? How are you... here?

Right after you left to find the Death Dragon, I deliberately leaked some info.

That Elizabeth's party was aiming for the Empire's supply lines...

They'd been burned before, so they reacted immediately.

Meanwhile we slipped past their eyes and secured the Alliance's supply routes.

The others will arrive by tomorrow morning.

So we can move right away?

Of course. Preparations are complete.

And according to Mordred's intel...

Rowena and Vortigern have had a clash of opinions.

At a time like this... those two?

We don't know the details... but it's important.

A rift between them is practically a rift between the Britannia Empire and the Titania Empire.

So we've got a chance to defeat both factions at once...

Elizabeth. What do you think?

I say we move as fast as possible.

I feel the same as Ethan.

People feared Vortigern because...

of the Church of Tiamat behind him.

Heh. Just as I expected.

Then let's prepare the departure ceremony at once.

The reason we stand here today...

Vortigern. All of us have lost loved ones to his greed.

He joined hands with heretics and massacred countless citizens.

No more innocent blood for his throne!

Woooo!!!

Ethan. Please say a few words too.

Me?

Yes. The soldiers want to hear your encouragement.

I'm not good at this...

Heh. Don't overthink it.

Even a simple comfort will help them a lot right now.

...All right. But no laughing at me, okay?

Remember the Cornwall War?

They scoffed that we couldn't win, yet we protected Cornwall.

Since then, we haven't missed a single victory report.

The plan is simple!

As always, we'll take the vanguard.

So don't worry too much!

Whatever enemy appears, we'll beat them!

Woooo!!!

Kgh...!

You've already... crossed a line you can't come back from.

How could you...!

As expected... Her Highness knows nothing of the real world.

Human life isn't that expensive.

The souls of the unchosen... are no different from the stones rolling over there.

Aren't they lucky, in a way?

At least... they can be of use to 'them'!

......!

Are you all right?

You're...

Your Majesty. I'll handle this.

Please go check the other supply routes.

I'm grateful you saved my life... but this is reckless!

I'll bring reinforcements, so...

The longer we stall, the worse it gets for us.

Go.

Before the Apostles arrive.

......

Thank you.

I will never forget... your devotion and your courage.

Pfft! You think that will change anything?

Even if you die here... no one will remember you.

In this rotten war, a single line of your name is all you'll leave.

Call it sacrifice all you want, at the end, it's a dog's death.

I don't call it a sacrifice.

And I'm not planning to die in a place like this...

Because the outcome is already decided.

...You're dumber than you look.

You really think you can win?

The king protects the people...

and the knight protects the king's noble ideal.

What choice my lord made... that doesn't matter.

I'll prove that choice was right.

Halt.

You will go... no further.

Ethan. Is he...

...Yeah. A victim of human experimentation.

Unbelievable...

How could anyone do something so horrible to another human...!

And he's... far stronger than last time.

Everyone, be careful!

We meet again, Swordbringer.

Did you like the gift I prepared...?

Yeah. Unforgettable, really.

I almost died a dog's death in the middle of nowhere.

Heh. Then my hard work paid off.

......So we brought a return gift, too.

Morgana!!!

This is... a control spell.

Like it?

You won't be running away like last time.

This is the last day you get to rampage.

Heh... ahahahaha!!!

You never fail... to surprise me.

To grow this fast... that prophecy of 'theirs' is never wrong.

Yeah. Laugh it up while you can.

Because your schemes end here...

GROOOAAAR!!!!!

...Unbelievable.

Who the hell is watching your back to pull off nonsense like this!

All for... Britannia's future.

I wonder.

Can you... defy fate again?

Gaaah-!!!

Ethan!!!

Hm... that's odd?

I heard you'd slain the Death Dragon...

Yet you can barely handle a single dragon.

......

Come now, try a little harder.

Or will you admit it here and now?

That the Death Dragon story... was a lie.

So... you already knew.

Of course. If the Death Dragon were so easy to find...

we'd have found her first.

I don't know where you dug up that claw...

but it was a good stratagem.

Thanks to you... I've lost His Majesty's trust completely.

So I'll return the favor... in kind.

Heh. I'm already excited.

If Princess Elizabeth, chosen by the Red Dragon, is surrounded by dragons and meets her end...

what faces will the Alliance soldiers make?

How noisy.

Ria...?

The rampaging dragons have gone quiet.

Don't tell me... because of you?

......

I'm sure I told you before.

I refuse to owe you anything.

It's been a while, Morgan.

This time, I will be the one to protect you.