The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 76

Chapter 76: The Battle with Pluina

Thud… My body felt heavy, and simultaneously, the fierce ringing of a bell that pierced the night’s silence jolted me awake from the bed. Just as I donned my cloak and strapped on my sword, August called out from outside the tent.

“Sir, Pluina has appeared.”

“I’ll be out immediately.”

Since I sleep in my leather armor and keep my shoes on, I can take action right away. When I stepped out of the tent, the camp was already bustling with soldiers donning their gear and forming ranks.

Since the first appearance of Sasurika, Pluina usually shows up within a few days. Although the camp is set up a bit away from the appearance site, this magical pressure is intense.

It seems that this year, it has appeared slightly closer than usual.

“Appearing in the middle of the night, we’re quite unlucky.”

“The only good thing is that the moon is out.”

Unlike beasts or humans, monsters do not choose between day and night. It’s most desirable for them to appear during the day when visibility is good, and the temperature is relatively high. It would be unfortunate if they showed up at dusk on a moonless night.

“They say that in the past, Pluina always appeared on nights with a full moon. Do you think that’s true?”

“Who knows?”

Even Alexis, who has been fighting Pluina for nearly ten years, feels dizzy and nauseous from the sheer strength of the released magic at this time, but August’s somewhat aloof tone remains unchanged.

This “unchanged” demeanor helps him regain his composure.

To the west, he saw a white mist spreading.

Magic is usually invisible to anyone other than magicians with special eyes, but the four great demonic beasts, known as the Four Stars of the East, West, South, and North, have magic so strong that it interferes with physical phenomena, making them visible.

Pluina’s magic manifests as an icy cold that freezes everything just by getting close.

“Light the fires immediately.”

Firestarters were thrown one after another onto the oil-soaked logs piled high around the camp. When Pluina appears, a large number of Sasurika also emerge, so they work while keeping watch for them.

Soon, the flames began to paint the moonlit wilderness red, and in the flickering light of the fire, Pluina’s bizarre form emerged.

Like its minions, the Sasurika, Pluina looks very much like a monkey. It stands less than six meters tall, with round, restless eyes that are a red-black color, and fur on its upper body that is as white as snow.

From the waist down, it is a gray snake, and lacking hind legs, it moves with only its forelegs. Although it lacks the agility of the Sasurika, its violently thrashing tail can send a human flying and kill them instantly if it hits, making close combat nearly impossible due to the magical pressure it exudes.

“Kishaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Pluina’s roar pins everyone to the spot. The intense pressure is far more formidable than the intimidation from the Sasurika.

The surrounding soldiers tremble, with many even bleeding from their noses.

“Don’t falter!”

Bruno’s commanding shout resonates, causing a few of the frozen soldiers to shiver.

“There are Sasurika all around! If you don’t want to die, stop being spineless! Remember, behind us are the northern villages! The city! The people!”

“Uoooooooooooooooooo!”

Following Bruno’s roar, a collective roar of response rises. The previously subdued morale is visibly revitalized.

Bruno is the oldest among the Oldrand Knights and has been involved in many battles against Pluina.

“Lord Bruno, it seems you’re better suited for the nagging old man role than as a human shield!”

“Be quiet, you young brat! It’s because you’re unreliable that I can’t retire!”

“Oh, so scary. Lord Bruno is so terrifying that Pluina seems insignificant by comparison!”

Although there isn’t enough leeway to laugh, the soldiers’ tension slightly eases as it shifts from an almost explosive tightness, allowing them to face Pluina again.

“Spread out in groups and take down the Sasurika individually! Never get isolated from your group!”

The soldiers act in groups of five, with knights reducing the number of Sasurika while accompanied by shield-bearing attendants.

Skilled knights can perform the work of several soldiers on their own. Many possess magical power and can use some magic. Sasurika perceive anything that moves as prey, attacking regardless of their strength or number. Knights and soldiers can end up as live bait.

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Alexis, too, cuts down the attacking Sasurika while letting out a harsh roar. If the blood from his enemies touches his skin, it will freeze and burn off, so if an enemy attacks from above head height, it’s standard practice to slam them to the ground with the belly of his sword before crushing their head.

Pluina, apparently annoyed by the approaching humans, lets out another fierce roar. The moment its tail sweeps away the blazing campfire, a pure white smoke rises amidst the flames.

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

In the center of the campfire is a mass of iron. When the heated iron comes into contact with Pluina’s cold magic-enveloped body, it produces white smoke like water boiling in the dead of winter.

As the smoke cleared, it became apparent that part of Pluina’s tail was missing. Although Pluina is a powerful monster, it, like its minions, the Sasurika, lacks intelligence. Whether this monster feels pain is unknown, but its red-black eyes clearly show rage.

“Geh!”

One of the nearby soldiers convulsed violently and vomited. Red-black vomit dripped onto the barren ground.

A short distance away, some soldiers, screaming in a frenzy, collapsed and flailed their limbs.

Excessively strong magic is toxic to the human body. The resistance varies from person to person, and exceeding the tolerance can inflict severe physical and mental damage. Those who faint or become disoriented are dragged away from the front lines by their sane comrades.

“Those affected by the magic, fall back! You’re a hindrance!”

Bruno roared loudly and sliced through a Sasurika with his beloved sword. A dozen or so soldiers withdrew, and the others, forming a protective circle around their fallen comrades, readied their swords.

If a body is left on the battlefield, it will be devoured completely, leaving no bones behind. Even if it means losing lives, one must preserve their dignity to honor their fallen comrades.

While cutting down the Sasurika, Alexis carefully observed Pluina, who, in its fury, continued to batter the campfire, gradually chipping away at its own form. As the number of Sasurika decreased, Pluina’s tail had been worn down to the point where only a tenuous connection remained between its body and tip.

In battles where time seems to stand still, this was nothing new. The moon was already beginning to tilt as the battle dragged on.

“Fire the flaming arrows!”

The archers stationed in the rear nocked their bows and released. The blazing tips of the arrows arced through the night sky, falling like rain from Pluina’s head to its upper body.

Kiiiiiiiiii!

White smoke rose from the points where the arrows struck, quickly being carried away by the wind.

Each flaming arrow alone is not very powerful. While Pluina still has sufficient magic, the ice forming over the wounds would heal them. Thus, the strategy is to weaken and exhaust Pluina with the campfire, then rain arrows down like a storm to gradually wear it down.

“Don’t stop! Shoot quickly!”

With every available arrow fired, the rising white smoke obscured their view. The other soldiers engaged the remaining Sasurika.

Eventually, when the arrows were finally exhausted, Pluina stood there like a white snow statue, revealed when the wind blew away the smoke.

“August, a new sword.”

August, who was always by his side, drew a sword from his back and knelt on one knee. Alexis received the new sword from August, discarding the dulled one he had been using while continuing to cut down the Sasurika.

“Stop the arrows! The sir is moving!”

The closer I get to Pluina, the harder it feels under my military boots as the frost is crushed. Even in its near-death state, the strong magic emanating from it makes my skin tingle.

As long as the core is not extracted from its body, the monster can revive repeatedly. Only a few people from noble families, including those from the Oldrand house, have the magic resistance to engage Pluina up close.

Humans born with strong magic often face developmental challenges and spend their childhood in weak physical condition. Many do not survive long enough to develop a body resistant to that magic.

The Oldrand family is relatively more likely to produce children with strong magic resistance. Only those who survive can deliver the final blow to Pluina.

Kiiiii Kiiiii

Even as it nears death, Pluina’s magic continues to intimidate, striking my body like gravel. The taste of iron spreads in my mouth, and I spit it out along with my saliva.

—”Have children, Alexis. Do you think Margaret is here for nothing?”

My mother, Merry Jane von Oldrand’s words resurface like a curse.

Though it was a long time ago, it feels as if she’s whispering in my ear right now.

For those with low resistance, the magic alone can cause confusion even from a distance. With such close proximity, even someone with strong resistance like Alexis is affected.

—”For the Oldrand family, for the northern region. No, it’s for you.”

I grit my teeth to endure the blurring of my vision. I brace my sword, kick the ground, and slice off the arm supporting Pluina’s body from an overhead diagonal strike. The sensation coming through the sword feels more like shattering ice than living flesh.

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

“Sink!”

With its arm severed, I bring the sword down onto Pluina’s head as it falls to the ground. I crush its head and then leap backward as cold air mixed with magic bursts out.

When the air clears, Pluina’s massive body has vanished, leaving only a deep red orb behind.

Unlike its minions, the Sasurika, and other monsters, Pluina does not leave behind a corpse. It disappears, leaving only its core.

The core cannot be used as a magic stone even if purified, so it will be stored in the temple and sanctified.

“Sir, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Just a bit of an issue with my eyes.”

“That doesn’t sound like just a bit!”

“I’m not blind. It’s just a little blurry.”

I pick up Pluina’s core, place it in a leather pouch I kept in my pocket, and seal it.

With that, the threat of Pluina for the year has finally come to an end.

“Pluina has been defeated! Let’s raise our victory cry!”

“Uooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!”

As I hear the human voices resonating through the ground, I cough violently. I spit out blood mixed with saliva and look up at the sky.

“Did you see anything bad again?”

At August’s concerned voice, I shake my head. There is no time for sentimentality. I need to assess the damage, finish treating the injured and those still disoriented, and then build graves for the knights and soldiers who sacrificed their lives.

“It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t the worst either. …Let’s head back.”

“Shall I lend a hand?”

“No need.”

In truth, although my vision is blurry, it doesn’t hinder my walking. The pain seems muted, probably due to the magic-induced intoxication.

—It wasn’t the worst.

Alexis repeats this to himself in his heart.

This year, he did not hear his brother Christoph’s voice.