Not being able to use magic was more troublesome than I had thought.
I had no magic sword, and all I could rely on was my body and some meager weapons.
This feeling was familiar. It reminded me of when I was a fledgling adventurer.
Still, I didn’t recognize this city. Nor the armor I was wearing.
I spotted the flag of the country being attacked, but it was one I had never seen before.
It would be great if I could understand what this so-called Trial of the Angel was trying to make me do…
But, no matter how you slice it, this war and pillaging are brutal.
Once the plundering was over, places were burned, and there was no mercy shown to women or children.
It didn’t seem like the goal was to occupy the area; it was more like they wanted to annihilate it.
I spotted a few soldiers roughing up a woman again.
I approached from behind and slashed at the middle soldier with my sword, then quickly struck down another while they were still shocked.
One idiot, caught with his pants down, scrambled to pick up his weapon from the ground, so I finished him off right there.
It’s much easier to fight if you take care of them before they can draw their weapons.
The corpses disappeared.
The woman, who seemed to be barely alive, thanked me with her last breath before she, too, passed away.
Even though this is the fate of the defeated, it’s not something pleasant to witness.
It seems one of the soldiers had been carrying a flag.
The flag was propped up against the wall.
It appeared to have a sun motif, but I didn’t recognize this flag either.
If only I knew where I was…
The castle was now just ahead.
I tried to leave this city before, but I couldn’t, so it seems the castle, the center of this city, is my destination.
The castle gates had already been breached, and I could see soldiers pouring inside.
Every soldier’s eyes were bloodshot.
There was no sense of order among them.
The soldiers will probably forget their mission and start looting the castle, searching for valuables and women.
I was dressed like these scum, so moving around unnoticed was easy.
Inside the castle, there were still sounds of resistance, but it was gradually quieting down.
I had a gut feeling that when the castle completely fell, that would be the end of it.
I wasn’t sure if I needed to stop that or do something else entirely.
If stopping it was the goal, it would be troublesome. I’d have to take out the commander.
If I die in this world, do I die in reality too?
That’s something I’d like to know.
I started searching the rooms one by one.
If I didn’t find a clue, time would just keep slipping away.
Then, I overheard some soldiers talking as they ransacked a room.
“Hey, wasn’t there supposed to be a princess in this country?”
“Yeah. Her room’s probably just ahead. I’ve heard she’s a beauty, can’t wait to see her.”
“We can’t lay a hand on royalty unless it’s a time like this. Even the invincible Ashen King isn’t here now.”
“I can’t believe the ambush went so well. That’s all thanks to the Apostle.”
I strained to hear their conversation.
The Ashen King… I didn’t recognize that name either.
But I had heard of Apostles before.
They were, essentially, God’s messengers.
Long ago, Apostles appeared in this world, demonstrating the power of the gods and guiding people.
But that was all in the past.
I didn’t know much about the details, but it was said there were no longer any Apostles in this world.
It was apparently related to the events that led to the appearance of angels and demons.
I recall Cardinal Keller saying something about it… that the god the current priests worship is the last remaining god in this world.
If that’s true, then maybe this is some country from the past.
The soldiers prioritized their looting, so I ignored them and moved deeper inside.
Then, I heard the sound of swords clashing.
It was coming from the innermost room.
Inside a somewhat lavish room, a knight was fighting valiantly, as if protecting a young girl with ash-colored hair, who was dressed in finery.
Several corpses lay scattered across the floor.
It seems that in this world, the bodies don’t disappear if they’re from the same world.
The knight was strong, but he was vastly outnumbered.
With each soldier he cut down, his wounds multiplied.
The girl in fine clothes, probably the princess, was crying and shouting the knight’s name.
But the knight’s limit was approaching.
I drew my sword and approached the fight.
I’m not a knight, so I don’t hold any chivalrous ideals, but I don’t dislike people who risk their lives to protect something.
The soldiers probably thought I was reinforcements.
They were licking their lips, likely thinking of how they would take the princess.
I raised my sword high and swung it in a wide arc.
Two soldiers’ heads rolled, but the cheap sword I was using was ruined by the blood and fat.
If I had my Flame Sword, I could have taken care of them all at once.
Using a cheap sword as a bludgeon quickly breaks it, but I had no choice.
I swung the now dull sword at the remaining soldiers, who were still surprised.
When facing multiple enemies, you have to act before they regain their composure, or you’ll be at a disadvantage.
Especially since this body isn’t my true one. Even though it’s somewhat trained, I don’t have any magic, so I have to act fast.
The knight, though surprised, realized I wasn’t one of the soldiers and quickly joined in the counterattack.
The seven or eight soldiers were all defeated.
But if I stayed here, more would definitely come.
“Thank you… You’re not one of the soldiers from the Kingdom of the Sun, are you?”
“The Kingdom of the Sun? I’ll just say I’m not with these scum.”
“I see… cough. I have a request. I can no longer move. Please, take the princess and get her out of here.”
The knight’s wounds were fatal.
It was a miracle he had been able to move until now.
I nodded, and he finally collapsed.
He had probably been standing by sheer will to protect the princess.
“Guentafer… I’m sorry. Thank you.”
The princess spoke, but the knight had already passed away.
“This place is dangerous for now. Is there a way out of this castle?”
“There is. What should I call you?”
As expected of a princess.
Even in the face of her protector’s death, she maintained her composure.
“I am… Ahavain.”
This was nothing more than an experience created by the Angel’s Trial. There should be no harm in using my real name.
“Ahavain… I am Liese Ruindheim, princess of the Ashen Kingdom.”
The girl with the resolute eyes introduced herself.
