North of the advance base, in the open fields, a decoy unit was deployed.
"We can't hold them off any longer, Senior!"
At the head of the party, Evangeline, who had been crushing goblins with her shield, cried out in urgency.
"They're starting to pour out in full force! If we don't start retreating soon, we'll be surrounded too!"
"...!"
I gritted my teeth and surveyed our surroundings.
We had to draw the attention of the goblin legion as much as possible for the rescue squads, and as a result, our decoy unit had to push much further forward than originally planned.
Goblins were already swarming all around us.
The heroes at the vanguard had been crossing swords with the creatures for some time now.
"My liege!"
After slashing through the goblins with a flashing sword strike, Lucas yelled out.
"We must retreat!"
"..."
I knew that.
I knew it, but the reason I couldn't easily order a retreat was simple.
At the center of the advance base, on the artillery platform.
Just moments ago, I had seen the heroes who had climbed up for escape plummet down with the collapse of the platform.
There had been an accident, and to ensure their survival, we needed to buy them as much time as possible.
But there was a limit. The goblin legion, set to obliterate us, was slowly encircling.
If things continued this way, we would be surrounded and devoured.
After glaring at the goblins swarming from all sides like bees, I turned to look at Damien.
"Damien, can you see what's happening inside the advance base?"
"The inside of the artillery platform is out of sight, so I can't be sure..."
Damien's round brown eyes were ringed with dark circles, probably from overexertion.
But without a single complaint of pain, he calmly reported.
"...They're still fighting. I can see the goblins pouring their attacks toward the collapsed platform."
"My liege!"
Lucas cried out once more.
"If this continues, even the rescue squads will be annihilated! We must retreat now!"
"..."
Closing my eyes tightly, then reopening them, I commanded.
"After laying down our last fire support, we all break away! Junior Party, prepare for the magical bombardment!"
"Got it!"
"And... Anti-air! Give us a big one!"
"Oorah!"
Despite being drained to their limits of magic power, the Junior Party's mages cast their joint spell without complaint.
At the same time, Dusk Bringar drew a deep breath.
Flash-!
BOOM!
The Junior Party's magical bombardment and Dusk Bringar's Dragon Breath consecutively struck down into the heart of the advance base.
Hundreds of goblins assaulting the platform were shredded by the attack.
All I could hope was that this assault would provide even a bit of help to the rescue squads.
"That's it!"
I turned my mount around.
"We're retreating! Head back to the gate—!"
"Retreat!"
"Retreat—!"
Evangeline's party, Lucas's party, the Dragonblood Knights, and the Penal Squad took the four directions of the decoy unit.
We began to run back the way we came, smashing through the goblins as we went.
I took one last glance back at the advance base.
Survive.
Miracles are welcome. Flukes are fine. Even if it's the most ridiculous coincidence upon coincidence, it can go in the trash for all I care.
Sometimes reality is more dramatic than drama, isn't it?
Please survive.
Repeating this to myself, I spurred my horse forward.
Goblins were teeming all around already, indicating that our decoy unit's retreat would not be smooth.
Commanding the heroes, I continued to chant inwardly until the last moment.
Please, my people.
Survive...
***
At the advance base. The collapsed artillery platform.
"Will you marry me?"
Right after Godhand proposed to Lilly.
Flash-!
BOOM!
Magical bombardment and Dragon Breath rained down around the platform.
The encroaching goblins were hit directly, and a terrible explosion and wave of heat swept through the area.
The two, embracing each other for protection, lifted their heads to scan the surroundings as the explosions subsided.
The aftermath of the explosions had turned everything around them into a sea of flames, and since both the magic explosions and dragon breath were attacks accompanied by Magic Power, a distinctive luminescence lingered in the air.
Blinded by the soaring flames and the dazzling Magic Power, the goblins were momentarily disoriented, plunged into chaos.
Now was their only chance to escape.
"Let's go!"
Lilly said, and Godhand effortlessly picked her up and charged into the flames.
Lilly absorbed the flames, allowing Godhand to dash safely through the burning forward base.
But—to where?
They were running, but there was nowhere to flee. If they left the base, they'd be chased down and killed, and inside there was nowhere to hide...
"Let's head underground! There's a place we can hide there!"
At Lilly's words, Godhand turned their path downward without a moment's hesitation.
'Underground' was just below the surface base, in a stone foundation resembling a storage cave.
Fortunately, there were no goblins guarding this place—they were all out on deployment.
Upon entering the underground, Lilly quickly manipulated a hidden mechanism in the stone wall. A secret stone door opened, revealing a cramped space.
"Get inside, Godhand."
"What is this place...?"
"When they repaired the forward base, the guild leaders built this emergency facility. It's meant for commanders to take refuge in case of an emergency..."
Ash had been there during the inspection of the forward base repairs, and Lilly had been at his side. That's how she knew of this room's existence.
It was only after stepping into that cramped space that Godhand realized.
The space was meant for one person.
With him inside, it was filled to capacity. It was impossible for two to enter. Godhand turned around, puzzled.
"Lilly, this place is..."
Godhand stopped mid-sentence.
Lilly was outside, smiling. One hand still rested on the stone door's mechanism.
"It's tight, isn't it? It can't be helped. It's an emergency shelter built for a commander, using whatever little space was left."
"..."
"Just hide here for a few days. His Majesty will come to rescue you."
Godhand realized that if he made even the slightest move, Lilly would close the mechanism.
Carefully, he gestured her inside.
"Come in with me, Lilly. We'll embrace and stay here for days."
"If we both disappear, the goblins will search for us. It's less suspicious if at least one of us draws their attention."
Lilly's hand, which was on the mechanism, tensed up. With a simple twist, the stone door would close again.
"Thank you for your proposal, Godhand. I truly was happy. But... it just can't be."
Lilly smiled bitterly.
"Elves love only one person for their entire life. I'm not worthy of such love. In the long span of your life, I was just a brief smudge that passed by. That's enough for me."
"...Lilly."
"Just remember me from time to time. Remember there was a woman in that battlefront. We fought often, loved a little... and even considered marriage for a moment. Remember with a smile."
"..."
In silence, Godhand extended his hand.
"Alright, Lilly. But... may I hold your hand one last time?"
Hesitant, Lilly extended her unoccupied hand.
Godhand gently took her hand and brought it to his nose, breathing in its scent.
"Lilly. Do you know something?"
"What?"
"You are far more incredible than you think."
Suddenly, Godhand pulled Lilly's hand toward him.
Unable to steady her lower body, Lilly was sucked inside with a gasp, and as they spun around, their positions were reversed.
"Godhand! Don't do this..."
Lilly, trying to leave in a huff, realized that one of her hands was tied inside the escape area.
Godhand had secretly transformed his prosthetic arm and shackled Lilly's hand inside the facility with cuffs.
With one prosthetic arm gone, Godhand smiled softly. Lilly shook her head violently as she struggled to break the cuffs.
"Please don't do this, Godhand. Don't make me more miserable...!"
"My name isn't Godhand. It's just a codename the special forces gave me."
For the first time since the fall of the Elf Kingdom.
Godhand revealed his real name.
"My real name is Kalail. It means 'Chaser of Light' in Elvish."
"Kalail..."
As Lilly murmured, Godhand—no, Kalail—smiled gently and bowed towards her.
"Say my name once more."
"Kalail."
"One more time."
"Kalail..."
Their lips met.
The kiss felt eternal and yet fleeting. As they slowly parted, Godhand caressed Lilly's red hair softly.
"In a life full of lies, my feelings for you were the only truth."
"No, Kalail, you can't... you just can't..."
"You're not just a passing scorch in my life. You are the sun that shone upon it."
Kalail's eyes crinkled with a slight smile.
"And Elves look only at their sun for a lifetime."
Like sunflowers.
"Live a wonderful life, Lilly. Don't give up and keep challenging yourself. Meet many people, love, laugh. And sometimes, think of me."
"..."
"Don't worry. No matter how you live, you will shine brighter than anyone else in the world."
The shouts of goblins were getting closer.
The brief respite was coming to an end. Kalail stepped back and placed his hand on the control device. Lilly, holding back tears, spoke.
"Promise me you'll come back."
"What?"
"Tell me this isn't the end, that you'll come back alive... Please..."
Kalail looked at the weeping Lilly and nodded readily.
"I'll return. I promise, I will come back."
"When will you come back...?"
After a moment's hesitation, Kalail said,
"Before the end of winter, for sure."
With that, Kalail operated the control device, and the stone door began to close.
Until the door was fully shut, Kalail was smiling.
Thud—
The door closed.
"Liar."
Leaning her forehead against the closed door, Lilly sobbed.
"Liar..."
***
"You've fought well."
Beside the ruined battery.
Kali-Alexander spoke as he received the report on the battle's outcome.
The Goblin Legion had incurred an additional loss of 1,500. In contrast, the humans had no additional deaths.
But Kali-Alexander knew well.
The humans who had fought were the cream of the crop, and many of them had sustained injuries that would be hard to recover from during the remaining battles.
1,500 lives spent as bullets was not too bad an outcome.
"But still, it's a bit disappointing... where's the rat that's hidden here?"
"Kyrick, yes! We're narrowing the search now! We'll find it soon—"
Goblin Amir, reporting, was unable to finish his sentence.
Swoosh!
An Elf running along the collapsed building suddenly leaped towards Kali-Alexander.
"Found you!"
"It's that Elf!"
"Kill him!"
The goblins immediately responded, their spears and swords aimed at him, but Kalail didn't care.
His eyes were fixed on the enemy commander from the start.
Sssk!
The remaining prosthetic on Kalail's hand transformed into a long iron spear. He let out a mighty yell and thrust the spear with all his strength.
And the tip of the spear finally pierced the body of the Goblin God-King.
The Goblin God-King fell from his mount, blood spraying. Standing before him, Kalail smiled with relief.
His prosthetic arms, now gone, were empty.
It didn't matter.
He was no longer the Godhand.
He was just Kalail, an ordinary elf who loved an ordinary human woman.
Kalail looked up to the sky. The afternoon sun bathed warmly over his head.
Basking in the sunlight, Kalail slowly closed his eyes.
Around him, spears and swords of goblins rained down.
***
Snow began to fall.
Upon the collapsed stone walls, atop the fiery emplacements, even over the lavish death below, the snow fell impartially.
It was the last snow of the winter.