The largest Amatol charged at the ghouls attacking the group.

[Krgrgrgrgrk─!]

One ghoul, bitten on the neck, howled in pain, and the horde of ghouls retaliated with murderous intent toward the Amatol.

The Amatol that had attacked the ghoul was torn to shreds by another ghoul.

Then, another Amatol...

“A monster attacking from both sides to pit the two groups against each other?”

A noble watching the screen widened their eyes.

“Such cleverness is beyond words...”

“It’s only been a few minutes since the coordinated attack began! They judged quickly and acted in that short time!”

The nobles shouted excitedly.

Invited guests from foreign countries also took deep breaths.

“How old did they say Erilot Astra is?”

“Ten years old, Your Grace.”

“Impressive.”

The young princes and nobles from other royal families focused on the screen.

“Clever, indeed... truly remarkable.”

Mercedes, the prince of the Eastern Empire Laontra, narrowed his eyes.

Velein, the crown prince of Aligiosa, chuckled.

“A pity for the royal heirs. That child has been expected to perform from the start.”

Salvatore, watching with Empress Oceletia, gave a dry laugh.

“Indeed, she’s crafty.”

Oceletia glanced around.

“A child who knows how to raise her value. See how the eyes of those with sons have changed.”

The Duke Astra’s most beloved granddaughter.

The girl who had a dragon.

And above all, wisdom surpassing even adults.

The nobles with sons whispered as Erilot’s words came true.

“She reminds me of the Veiled Empress (the 5th Empress Isabella).”

“The Veiled Empress Isabella, who elevated the frail youngest prince to the throne as a former central elite troop?”

“Yes, Isabella started in the Western Army and rose to become a central elite troop.”

She was called the ‘Veiled Empress’—an empress above the emperor.

“That’s why, since Empress Isabella, such sayings have emerged.”

“What kind of saying...?”

“That ‘If loved by a Western woman, a worm becomes a dragon and ascends.’”

“Oh.”

A noblewoman giggled.

“That must be referring to Erilot Astra. Even calling her a ‘dragon.’”

Truly so.

‘Wait. Erilot Astra is ten, so the age difference between her and my son is...’

‘My son is twelve. Our family’s status rivals Astra’s. Aren’t they a well-matched pair?’

‘Though my son is only six, a four-year difference isn’t much...’

Nobles with sons looked at Daymond with passionate eyes.

The dukes glanced sideways at Duke Astra.

Duke Jermo said,

“Truly, it’s said Erilot is the sum of all Astra education. Wonderful. Truly wonderful.”

Duke Isiron chuckled.

“Yes, it’s amazing. If only my grandchildren weren’t grown, I’d want such training for them.”

Duke Jermo nodded, smiling.

“Yes, a pity.”

“I have no chance anymore, but you should consider requesting training from Astra.”

Other dukes’ eyes sharpened.

‘That cunning old snake mocks us like this.’

‘What a big mouth...’

‘I don’t care.’

‘What’s this Astra family education? Isn’t Erilot Astra the only outstanding one?’

Duke Biferi, rival to Duke Astra, twisted his mouth.

“You’re quite lucky.”

“Lucky in what?”

Duke Astra said with a grim face.

Duke Biferi snorted.

Though he had many children, most were failures.

But Daymond has been rising, and now that granddaughter too...

Having spent a lifetime watching Duke Astra, I see right through him.

‘Pretending not to be proud though dying of pride. What a sly old fox.’

Duke Biferi said sharply,

“You have a grandson who’s nothing like you.”

“Nonsense.”

Duke Jermo laughed heartily.

“You’re too modest. He’s clearly a talent sent from heaven. Isn’t that right─”

“Erilot takes after me exactly.”

Duke Astra growled.

“......”

“......”

“......”

When other dukes lost words, Duke Astra continued arrogantly.

“Sometimes, when I see Erilot, I’m surprised because she reminds me of my childhood. That blonde hair─”

“You had platinum blonde hair, not that honey shade.”

“Those eyes─”

“Your granddaughter’s are more like translucent ruby red. Yours were closer to dark crimson.”

“Quit nitpicking. They’re both blonde with red eyes anyway.”

Ridiculous.

In looks, Erilot took after Daymond.

The dazzling appearance, too.

Daymond clenched his fist, watching the screen.

Duke Jermo thought,

‘If Daymond becomes our Kassian’s father-in-law, I’ll support him...’

Parents with sons were imagining a private meeting.

“Western Army is gone!”

“What? Gone?”

Everyone turned their attention to the screen again.

“Ugh, gasping, ugh...!”

Two Western Army magic soldiers collapsed looking near death.

“You did well.”

“Ugh, ugh....”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh...”

They couldn’t answer.

‘That’s because so many soldiers were made invisible.’

Using tiny but insanely expensive blessing stones.

And it wouldn’t have worked without Isez amplifying magic with .

Isez asked,

“Invisibility blessing stones are the trump card of this hunt. Can we use them this early?”

“If you save a trump card, it’s useless.”

Han Ji-hyuk, a game enthusiast in his past life, said,

“Don’t hoard magic in the palace, or it will all go to waste.”

“But using it at the start...”

“It’s a melee between ghouls, Amatol, and elite troops. We’ll let them weaken each other, then pick off the ghouls one by one.”

The Western Army soldiers shouted, “Yes!”

“Where’s the map?”

The cavalry captain appointed as deputy commander for this battle hurriedly brought a map.

They checked the Azolde Plateau map.

“There’s something strange...”

I murmured, and the cavalry captain agreed.

“Yes. It’s odd that ghouls reached the entrance where the swearing ceremony takes place.”

“Right, ghouls live in darkness, so why would they come to a sunny, tree-less entrance?”

Even the temporary cooperation with Amatol was strange.

“It’s like they have Isez’s intelligence...”

My expression stiffened, and the knights spoke.

“Among ancient monsters, very few have intelligence like Isez.”

“Yes, that’s unlikely.”

“Probably...”

But something was bothering me.

“First, let’s go to the ghouls’ territory.”

“What about the other elite troops?”

“If they’re in danger of annihilation, we’ll help, but this is a competitive mission. We gain by letting their strength drain.”

“Yes.”

We headed to , the ghouls’ territory.

“Grrrgrgrgrgrk─!”

The closer we got, the more ghouls appeared.

Not huge hordes like at the entrance, but enough to handle.

I looked at the floating magic tool.

[Western Army: 6]

That’s the number of ghouls we’d defeated.

‘What about the other armies...?’

[Eastern Army: 15]

[Southern Army: 14]

[Northern Army: 9]

And,

[Central Army: 28]

‘As expected, the Central Army’s faster at clearing because they have more sacred knights.’

Our soldiers looked uneasy seeing the numbers.

“The Central Army’s score is overwhelmingly higher...”

“If the gap grows further...”

I walked silently.

“Don’t focus on numbers.”

“But...”

“During a melee, it’s natural that one side has more kills.”

But as time passed, we’d get the upper hand.

They’d be too exhausted to recover.

Meanwhile, the Western Army would pick off ghouls one by one leisurely.

“I have to keep the soldiers calm.”

That was my role.

“Trust me. As long as I’m here, we won’t lose.”

In a firm tone, like my father to Daymond’s soldiers.

“You’re quite confident.”

“Are the Astra direct descendants always this relaxed?”

Though astonished, the soldiers’ breathing grew calmer.

“Yes! Whatever happens, our elite troop will sweep them away like a dragon!”

The cavalry captain, newly appointed deputy commander, laughed heartily.

The soldiers laughed along.

‘He’s good at setting the mood.’

That’s why he was appointed deputy commander.

Our kill count rose steadily.

[Western Army: 7]

[Western Army: 8]

.

.

[Western Army: 14]

Soon, the other armies’ numbers stopped rising.

‘The melee is over.’

The monsters and soldiers would rest briefly.

“Speed up. Move quickly...!”

Silin grit her teeth staring at the floating magic tool.

[Western Army: 20]

‘Only 12 behind now.’

We had overtaken the Eastern, Southern, and Northern armies, now right behind the Central Army.

“What are you doing? Move faster!”

Silin shouted sharply.

She saw the magic tool transmitting video and quickly changed her tone.

“The ghouls are stronger than expected. We must exert ourselves to help others since we have many sacred knights.”

The Central Army’s commander Jowik said,

“But our soldiers need rest.”

They faced ghouls and Amatol simultaneously.

Some soldiers had dropped out after being bitten by Amatol, so others had to fill their place.

They had no magic or stamina left.

“What good are sacred knights if they don’t recover soldiers? Have the sacred knights restore them.”

“That will weaken their sacred power, risking losing to the ghouls─”

“Some risk is inevitable. That’s battle.”

“......”

Silin’s gaze was sharp.

‘Persuasion won’t work.’

She had ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) already been marked a traitor.

If not for this mission, she’d be fired immediately.

Her words would only deepen the resentment.

Jowik gestured to the deputy commander of the sacred knights.

The sacred knights began restoring the Central Army.

Their faces grew more strained, but the Central Army had no choice but to push on.

The Northern and Southern armies watched.

A Northern elite whispered to a Southern elite.

“Should we also move out?”

“We must.”

“But our soldiers...”

“The score gap is too wide. We’d end up last together if we don’t.”

“......”

The Northern elite hesitated.

‘So frustrating.’

The Southern elite shouted,

“We’re moving out now!”

“But, elite troop!”

Southern deputy commander Kazin blocked.

“We cannot go.”

“What? Are you going to disobey?”

The shout stirred crows into flight.

The Northern elite stepped back.

Southern elite Rika Delpre roughly tore off Kazin’s armband from his left arm.

“Disobedience will be punished after the hunt, Marky!”

“Huh? Y-Yes! Elite troop!”

“You’ll be deputy commander now.”

Marky hurried over, glancing at Kazin.

‘Stubborn as ever.’

Rika Delpre was always compared to Kazin before becoming Southern elite.

Now she pushed Kazin aside and became deputy commander.

Marky grinned and accepted the armband.

The Northern elite glanced at their commander.

“Let’s move out too...”

“Yes!”

“Try to stop me...”

“We have to win this mission and make the Northern Army’s reputation known!”

“Ugh...”

All other armies had moved out.

The Eastern Army’s commander approached Sebastia.

“What about us?”

“...We must move.”

‘Seems even she can’t avoid it.’

The Eastern commander bowed with a gloomy face.

Then Sebastia looked into the empty air.

“Can we contact the Western Army?”

“The Western Army deputy commander is a close friend. We know the comm codes.”

“Let’s avoid the ghouls and meet on the Western Army’s side.”

“Yes?”

“If we cooperate with them, we can eliminate ghouls while preserving our soldiers’ stamina and magic.”

“...!”

The Eastern commander and troops brightened.

“Yes! We’ll contact them immediately... But why the Western Army?”

The Central Army had the most sacred knights.

The Northern Army also had many soldiers familiar with ghouls.

“My grandfather always said...”

“...Yes?”

“The Biferi family became one of the empire’s six pillars through their keen perception.”

“...?”

From the Biferi family’s heavily inherited intuition,

‘I think this battle depends on Erilot.’

I furrowed my brow.

“Elite troops, why so few?”

The deputy commander asked.

“We’re near the ghouls’ zone, but the numbers are too small.”

“Yes?”

In my first life, I was assigned to hunt ghouls.

‘Not in this area, though.’

Ghouls are monsters living in packs.

If the number is this low near their zone...

‘Could it be─?’

I flinched and raised the comm stone...