In response to the Imperial army’s attack, I pushed back the dragoon’s sword and dealt with it using only my left hand.
I deflected only the bullets that were coming directly at me.
However, it wasn’t just the magic bullets that were approaching.
Artillery shells were also coming.
The distance made the aim rough.
But eventually, they would hit.
The dragoon who had been holding me back had been caught in the crossfire and had already retreated.
There was no reason for me to stay here either.
I released my grip from the sword embedded in Bachstein’s body, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and moved away from the spot.
Then, an artillery shell landed where I had been.
A cloud of dust rose, and the Imperial army’s gunfire and artillery fire ceased.
“No matter how great a sword saint you are… you had no choice but to flee…”
Bachstein laughed, spitting blood.
He probably judged that their attacks were effective.
Without responding to him, I pulled my sword out of Bachstein.
Blood spurted out, and Bachstein staggered back.
But he did not fall.
“You are not invincible… even you, sword saint…”
“Indeed, you are right.”
“If you cut him, he will die… if you shoot him, he will die… Imperial army!! Stand strong!! The undefeated sword saint of white… today, we shall end him!!!!”
Responding to the dying general’s call, the Imperial army roared from beyond the dust cloud.
And the Imperial army began to advance, step by step.
Furthermore.
“Oh my…”
Monsters began to appear one after another around the advancing Imperial army.
Looking closer, the demon I had stabbed earlier, Kralvine, was getting back up.
Judging by his pained expression, there was no doubt he was severely wounded.
Even so, he stood up and summoned countless monsters, plus another dragoon.
A last-ditch effort before death, perhaps.
Seeing this, the morale of the Imperial army rose even higher.
In the back, large monsters also began to advance.
A sense of momentum, a belief that they could achieve victory, spread among them.
“The capital of the Grand Duchy is regrettable, but… the head of the sword saint would be more beneficial to the Empire.”
“I’ve been curious, why do you serve the Empire so loyally?”
“You wouldn’t understand… born in a land with little food… we had no choice but to go out… His Majesty took on the stigma of being an invader for the sake of the Empire’s citizens…”
“That’s admirable. But it doesn’t justify continued invasion. The Empire is already rich enough.”
“A nation in motion cannot stop… if we conquer one country, we will take another… until we have brought all nations under our control… the Empire will not stop…”
“You have your reasons, I see. I won’t argue about justice or evil, but… we have the right to resist.”
I slowly raised my sword with my right hand.
If the Grand Duchy fell here, its people would be used as pawns to attack the Kingdom and the Empire.
That was the reason they could not stop.
To avoid the hatred being directed at themselves, they created more enemies.
If they stopped, everything could collapse.
The Empire should stop, but the current emperor wouldn’t do that.
Having ascended to the throne at a young age, the current emperor knew nothing but war.
Whether it was personal greed or some other reason, I didn’t know.
But.
“A nation that can be halted by an individual is not worthy of conquering the continent. It will eventually fall to rebellion. Stop here.”
“That’s why… we must… defeat you!!”
Bachstein, whose body could barely move, mustered his strength and raised his fist at me.
I stepped back and dodged, then spoke to the staggering Bachstein.
“I acknowledge your spirit. As a parting gift to the underworld, I’ll show you my magic sword.”
I infused my sword with magical power.
And then I quietly spoke.
“Magic Sword—Zekkū (Absolute Void).”
My sword transformed into a jet-black blade.
At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary double-edged one-handed sword.
I swung it once.
Bachstein closed his eyes as he was hit by the slash, but nothing happened.
Bachstein laughed at this.
“The sword saint’s magic sword is dull…”
“Indeed, it might be dull. It is somewhat unfit to be called a magic sword.”
Behind Bachstein.
The advancing Imperial army and the countless summoned monsters.
A black fissure appeared among them.
As it gradually widened, it began to swallow everything around it.
Realizing the anomaly, Bachstein turned to look back.
“What, is this…?”
“A sword that cleaves space. There’s no swordsmanship to it. I don’t really favor it.”
The fissure voraciously sucked in everything around it.
The Imperial army couldn’t withstand it and was swallowed up, screaming.
The same happened to the large monsters.
Even though they tried to hold their ground, they couldn’t resist and were drawn into the fissure.
Somehow, even the massive monsters, which should have been larger than the fissure, were sucked in.
Anything goes, it seems.
Watching this in disbelief, Bachstein fell to his knees.
And Bachstein, whose strength had run out, was also drawn into the fissure.
The only one barely holding on was the demon Kralvine, supported by the two dragoons.
But it was only a matter of time.
They were being gradually sucked in.
“What… are you…? How can a human… have such power…!?”
“Did you come here without knowing? I’ll tell you. I am the White Sword Saint. The guardian deity of the Kingdom of Albios.”
I swung Zekkū once more.
With that alone, the two dragoons were sliced in half.
With a sword that cleaves space, defense is meaningless. Distance too.
As long as they’re within my sight, everything is within one-hit kill range.
“Impossible… impossible!!!!”
Kralvine screamed as he was swallowed by the fissure.
The countless monsters, the Imperial army, the large monsters.
Confirming that everything had been sucked into the fissure, I used Zekkū’s power to close it.
This should take care of the entire infiltration force of the Imperial army.
I sheathed my sword and headed towards the academy’s main gate.
And then.
“I have fulfilled my pact. I must take my leave. I have a report for His Majesty.”
With that said, I quickly left the place.
There was much to be done.
Reporting to the king as the Sword Saint.
Explaining to the Emperor, who had been neglected, as the Great Sage.
And returning to the academy as Roy to continue my studies.
“What a hassle, truly.”
Muttering this, I headed towards the kingdom.
