Which place on the continent knows well about monsters?
Some will choose the Empire's Magic Tower, and others will choose the Grotas Kingdom in the East.
It wasn't an incorrect statement.
They were places that had been researching monsters for a long time.
However, if you were to choose the place that knows about monsters the 'best,' everyone would choose one place.
The Kingdom of Sion.
They had been waging war against monsters for centuries without a break, and the information they had accumulated over time surpassed any other nation on the continent.
In the Massive Guardian, when new recruits arrive, the first thing they do is provide monster encyclopedias.
Moreover, in Sion, they knew a lot about the demihumans as well.
The relationship between monsters and those tainted by demonic energy was inseparable.
Though it might not be apparent these days, just a decade ago, the Massive Guardian had been in danger due to followers of the Demon King.
So, the one who understood the current situation better than anyone here was Sion's knight, Irene.
"What does that mean?"
Enormous damage?
While the number of goblins might be more than expected, with the current strength, they could handle a war against even a medium-sized country.
"I think a whole Dark Elf tribe is involved. Otherwise, it wouldn't be possible to control that many goblins."
A Dark Elf tribe usually consists of around 100 to 200 members.
Additionally, it is said that each and every Dark Elf warrior is as strong as a high-ranking knight.
What if the entire tribe is here as Eileen said?
'This is serious.'
There are elite friends, and he is confident, so he could somehow win if he fought.
But the knights?
Could knights, mostly ranging from low to intermediate levels, withstand the Dark Elves' attack while defending against the venomous stings of one thousand five hundred goblins?
"It's going to be difficult."
Seo Woojin realized that Irene didn't bring up such words without reason.
It wasn't a matter of winning or losing; it was a matter of survival.
"But why are they like that?"
"It seems they are determined to carry out the attack."
"Are they crazy?"
Seo Woojin stared at the knights as if he couldn't believe it.
"Don't you need to talk to them? If they attack like this, they will all die."
"They've already closed their ears."
They were not even considering the idea of listening to Irene's words.
"Even if we have to retreat, we should at least achieve some small victories, right?"
Because that was the pride of a knight.
For Irene, who risked her life every year to carry out the subjugation, it was something she could never understand.
"Then shouldn't we retreat?"
They were not comrades who fought together at Massive Guardian.
So, Seo Woojin had no reason to worry about their lives.
Just taking care of Lee Ji-ah and Kim Da-hye…
"Oh no, we're too late."
Ssssh-.
The wind blew.
It wasn't as cold as the north wind or as warm as the empire.
It was just filled with an intense aura that made one's skin tingle.
"Duck!"
Seo Woojin quickly warned and grabbed Irene, leaping away.
Boom!
A massive explosion occurred.
* * *
"Commander!"
Cruciel's senior informant, Vedas, burst into the commander's office.
It was an action that could not even be considered polite, but rather than blaming the subordinate, Agna held out her hand first.
"This is red information!"
As if to prove his words, the paper Vedas handed over was red.
"Hmm…."
Agna quickly read the contents of the paper.
"It's a headache."
The information was delivered too late.
'Those damn bastards!'
The Demon King's descent was not far away, and they seemed to be running wild with excitement.
"How reliable is the information?"
"I'm 99% sure."
"So you're saying there are at least 150 dark elves in the subjugation zone?"
It was a figure far beyond their expectations.
"But the knights there can stop it…"
Kwaang-!
"Director!"
Once again, the door to the commander's office was smashed open
This time, Agna held out her hand and took the red paper.
"Shit."
Her face contorted.
She didn't make this expression even when receiving information about the Dark Elves.
"Raise the alert to black. Contact the territory near the punitive force. Immediately dispatch knights and soldiers. And also convey this to 'him.'"
"Understood!"
The informant, who came in late, without catching his breath, rushed back outside.
"W-what's going on?"
To him, 150 Dark Elves seemed trouble enough.
But it seemed like there was an even bigger problem.
"Gerald has appeared in the subjugation area."
* * *
"Damn, what is this?"
Seo Woojin was more shocked than expected and swore.
'What is this? Magic?'
Not only Seo Woojin but also the knights around him were blown away with destructive power enough to sweep them all away.
Naturally, one could only think it was magic.
However, when Seo Woojin raised his head, he couldn't help but doubt his own eyes.
"…An axe?"
In the epicenter of the explosion that had just occurred, a large axe was embedded.
'It's not magic, it's just a shock wave caused by an axe flying in?'
Is such a thing possible?
As Seo Woojin stared at the axe with a look that seemed to express disbelief, Irene grabbed his arm tightly.
"We need to run."
Her hand was trembling.
'Run? Did Irene just say to run?'
Of course, he had considered retreating just now.
But running and retreating carry different weights of meaning.
Coming from the proud Irene, a knight filled with pride, the word 'run' sounded unbelievable.
"What in the world is that axe?"
Seo Woojin asked, lifting Irene.
"You seem to know me and you still look young. Ah, a knight of Sion."
Suddenly, a voice was heard from behind.
No, can this even be called a voice?
It was a discomforting, scraping sound, accompanied by a metallic smell.
Seo Woojin instinctively drew his black sword and swung it towards the back.
Swish!
It was a clean strike that cut through the air.
However…
"Oh, are you the summoned Hero this time? Quite formidable, I must say."
The blade didn't make contact.
Thanks to that, Seo Woojin could see the figure.
Black skin and eyes that shone yellow.
And pointed ears that stood tall.
"…Dark Elf?"
He had an appearance worthy of his name.
A face so beautiful that you couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, and a well proportioned body.
"Gerald."
Irene spat out the words while gritting her teeth.
It seemed to be the name of the being.
"How dare a filthy minion of the Demon King reveal itself."
Harsh words escaped Irene's lips.
'A named monster!'
Thanks to that, Seo Woojin could make some guesses about the presence before him.
Without a doubt, Gerald was one of the formidable Dark Elves.
"Ugh."
"What is this…?"
At that moment, the knights who had been thrown into the air regained their senses.
Then they noticed Gerald's axe stuck in the ground.
"Crazy, Gerald…!"
The knight's neck, who was the first to realize its identity, floated in the air.
Unbeknownst to them, Gerald, who had moved in an instant, had cleanly severed the head with the blade of his hand.
"This body originally prefers quietness. So, please be quiet."
With the sound of scraping metal, the surroundings became silent.
They now realized who the person in front of them was.
Did he like that silence?
Geralt quietly smiled.
"Are you the only Hero here?"
He tilted his head, as if finding it strange.
"Well, it doesn't matter."
Geralt walked confidently towards his axe.
It was an axe that looked twice as large as his own body, but he effortlessly lifted it.
"Since everyone is going to die anyway."
A sticky energy began to seep from the axe.
'Magic? No, it's magi!'
Seo Woojin had heard about magi.
It is a dark, unpleasant force that devours the human spirit.
But…
'It feels warm?'
Like the warm embrace he felt when leveling up.
A warmth like his mother's embrace.
However, it seemed different for others.
"Ugh!"
Irene grimaced.
She tried to raise mana to resist the magi, but being only an intermediate knight, she fell short.
The same applied to other knights.
Here, only Seo Woojin was unaffected by magi.
'What should I do?'
Seo Woojin pretended to be in pain first.
He couldn't afford to draw unnecessary attention to himself.
Nevertheless, he continued to ponder.
'Should I attack?'
No, he couldn't. Gerald seemed to be a monster of at least B-rank.
Even with all his magic and skills, he couldn't inflict significant damage on him.
At most, a few scratches would be the end result.
Attacking in such a situation would be nothing short of suicidal.
'But I can't just stand still!'
It was a time when Seo Woojin was deep in thought.
Swaaah!
A sword flew out.
No, to be precise, it was an 'Aura' in the shape of a sword.
"Hmm?"
Gerald, who was reveling in superiority as he looked down on those writhing in pain, raised his axe.
Clang!
The 'Aura' clashed with the axe and disappeared too easily.
However, it wasn't entirely fruitless.
Gerald, who hadn't entirely recovered from the shock, was pushed back a few steps.
"Well, well. Looks like there was another Hero."
"Stop!"
What was revealed was a group of elite friends.
A subtle light lingered around their bodies.
Thanks to that, it seemed like they were not affected by the magic.
"…A Saint?"
As if surprised, Gerald's eyes widened.
"I heard the summoning this time was a great success, but I never thought there would be a Saint."
Gerald's gaze focused directly on Seong Yura.
"It's a good thing I came in person. I almost ruined the plan."
With that, he swung his axe.
It was a gesture that seemed like child's play, but the result was not.
Kwagwagwagwagwa-!
The ground turned over and black mass poured out.
It was a vicious and powerful aura that could not be compared to the 'Aura' created by Seo Woojin.
"Where!"
At that time, Baek Si-woo stepped forward and extended his sword.
In contrast to Gerald's, a bright 'Aura' emanated.
Kwaaaang-!
The black aura that seemed unstoppable disappeared without a trace.
"Ha, these Heroes are indeed impressive. They haven't even properly grown yet, but they managed to block my attacks."
Gerald looked at Baek Siwoo with a more surprised expression than when he discovered Sung Yura.
"Well then, let's see if you can block this too."
Once again, Gerald's axe cut through the air.
And at that moment,
Seo Woojin moved.