The trees of the Demon Realm couldn't be simplified as mere conifers—they required a far more detailed description.
Their black leaves were hard and sharp almost like blades, their trunks so sturdy that even a decent axe couldn't attempt to fell them, and occasionally they moved, trying to grab any living being that passed.
They were closer to carnivorous animals than plants. It would be more accurate to consider them demons disguised as trees.
And the fastest way to traverse such a forest wasn't to cautiously avoid touching them while moving carefully.
"CRACK!!"
"AAAHHH!! Die! Die! Die!!"
It was to run recklessly across the branches, sprinting over the treetops.
Isabelle cut off a branch that was wrapping around her ankle and hurriedly chased after Ivan.
Ivan silently took the lead. Clinging to his shoulder was Yu-ri, her face looking like she might vomit as she pointed ahead.
"Over... there."
"Mm."
Following Yu-ri's direction, Ivan kicked roughly against a branch. The impact shook the tree, which then stretched its branches toward Ivan's vanishing trail.
Soon, the others followed, stepping precisely where he had stepped.
"Yu-jin, take one step to the right."
"Huh, yes, sir!"
The carnivorous trees of the Northern Demon Realm had distinct "safe branches" and "dangerous branches." It was nearly impossible to distinguish them by sight alone, but one could detect them by observing their subtle movements.
These plants moved in ways very similar to animal species. In other words, they possessed something like pseudo-neural networks. While these nerves were sensitive enough to react to even the slightest breeze, the safe branches had relatively weaker neural networks.
This meant that if you stepped on branches that swayed in the same direction as the wind, you could traverse the trees relatively safely.
Of course, finding and stepping only on sluggish branches was nearly impossible. In a dense forest, on a cloudy night, accurately identifying the swaying of branches while running at full speed was an extraordinary feat.
But it was precisely this acrobatic ability that had allowed him to serve as a scout for the Hero Party. The depths of the Demon Realm, near the Seven Dragon Generals' stronghold, had been an even more terrifying magical landscape.
"There, a light!"
"I see it."
Dismissing Asidis's comment, Ivan glanced at Yu-ri. She nodded at his look.
Ivan didn't question her. Once he trusted someone, he trusted them completely. If he believed in a conclusion, no matter how strange, there was no need to question it.
With a swish, he drew his axe, tossed Yu-ri like a bundle, and using that momentum, leapt forward.
Since this was already the third time, the group quickly caught Yu-ri and retreated to a safe area.
"BOOM!!"
"UWAAARGH!!"
"KRUHK?!"
Explosions erupted one after another from the direction of the light beyond the thicket. Isabelle sighed with a tired face.
"Why not just let us join you? Seriously."
"If we had to fight too, we'd definitely collapse from exhaustion while moving."
"I know, shut up, Yu-jin."
"Yes, ma'am."
Still, she couldn't help feeling disappointed. To be treated this way after being declared part of the same party.
It was embarrassing to claim they stood on equal ground. Whenever there was fighting to be done, Ivan would always charge ahead alone and handle everything himself.
How could they be called companions when he focused entirely on navigating dangerous terrain, controlled each of their mistakes one by one, optimized their movements, and took on all the fighting alone?
Weren't they just "escorted targets" rather than comrades?
While Isabelle was lost in thought, fingering the hilt of her sword, the thicket parted and Ivan walked back through. His breathing was rough. Even he was feeling the fatigue.
Blood dripped from his axe blade. Through the parted thicket, the demons looked as if they had been put through a grinder.
"Are you okay?"
"This much is nothing."
Ivan answered briefly as he walked past Isabelle. He pulled up Yu-ri, who had been sitting and resting, carried her on his back, and quietly said:
"Next."
"Oh, this direction."
"Distance."
"Not far, not far at all. But this direction is..."
"It's not south. Not your concern."
Without even a moment's rest, Ivan began sprinting in the direction Yu-ri had indicated. The others hurried to follow him.
This was the third engagement. And all three times, they had targeted demon army camps located somewhat away from the direct southern route.
And all three times, they had been "command posts" with at least a hundred-commander level of troops. During the second raid, they had even torn apart a corps commander.
Ivan loosened his stiffening shoulders slightly as he thought:
'The victory condition isn't to break through at maximum speed.'
He mechanically stepped on tree trunks and leapt upward as he continued his train of thought.
'Yu-ri's "victory confirmation" has already proven reliable. Even with the troop mobilization in Droan, the range is certain.'
He had confirmed that Yu-ri's "victory confirmation" worked precisely and without error, even when considering the entire nation as its range.
Without her ability, it would have been impossible, even with a miracle, to rally the southern territories of Droan and have them converge on the front line without any time lag.
So it was reasonable to assume that her instinct was indicating the "victory conditions." Even at the cost of some delay, she intended for them to eliminate the demon realm's "follow-up forces."
'There's no Dragon General in this area.'
If a Dragon General were present, the demon army wouldn't disintegrate just from destroying command posts. Even if they captured several corps commanders, as long as a Dragon General remained intact, the demons could regroup without much trouble.
So these instructions to assassinate corps commanders suggested that no Dragon General existed in this area. If that was the case, then the Dragon General... that is, "The Golden Nekinnon," must be in the south now.
Beyond the Great Gate, in the northern territories of Krasilov.
Rushing to stop him immediately wasn't a "victory condition"... that's how it had to be interpreted. Did that mean there was a way to stop the Dragon General and Maximillian in Krasilov?
Or, in the worst-case scenario—one he didn't even want to consider:
'The continued existence of Krasilov might not be included in the victory conditions of the national strategy...'
It might be considered a victory if the demons could be stopped, even if Krasilov perished.
At that terrible thought, Ivan unconsciously tightened his grip on his axe. He violently destroyed a branch that appeared before him.
The sturdy branch was crushed in an instant, scattering fragments. Ivan roughly brushed the fragments away with his fingertips and continued running.
This world had always forced him to make binary choices.
Live and die as a tenant farmer, or risk his life on the battlefield.
Be satisfied with promotion, or be commissioned into the Royal Guard, which would be dispatched to battlefields with no chance of victory.
Remain in the Royal Guard and die with the king, or voluntarily enter the terrible Demon Realm.
Disobey orders and disappear, or obey and challenge the Dragon General.
Avenge fallen comrades, or remain loyal to the country and retire.
Save an old friend, or save Tilles.
Save the world.
Or save his former superior, lover, and lord—who loved him and shared his past memories—who might be the last one.
Must I give up something in this choice too?
Ivan's movements remained as emotionless as before, but inside, a storm of thoughts was raging.
If my choice is wrong.
If my choice causes me to lose someone again.
What meaning is there in saving a world where nothing remains?
This thought never left his mind.
His vows to save someone had never been fulfilled. Only his vows to kill someone had never failed.
He ran, praying this would be the last time. That it wouldn't be too late, that this was the best course, that at the end of this path would not be ruins but his homeland, standing again and rebuilding.
The next light appeared. A military tent. Judging by the size and type of the camp and the patterns of armed troops, this was another corps commander-level target.
They were operating their corps with the same level of security as before. Breaking through their inadequate guards wasn't difficult.
Ivan tossed Yu-ri aside again and charged forward without a word.
Gunfire, the smell of gunpowder, bones and muscles being ground by axe blades, the screams of enemies, the smell of blood, and the acrid smell of burning tents as fire spread from overturned braziers.
War.
Yes, this was the environment he was most familiar with. No allies, dim chances of victory, an uncertain future, and enemies too numerous to count.
In this sense of déjà vu, Ivan rampaged like a wounded beast, and once again returned with a blood-covered axe.
"Direct our next course, Yu-ri."
"Y-yes..."
Oswald stroked his stubble, which had begun to grow unevenly, as he surveyed below the bow. The clouds were quickly receding behind them.
The night sea of the Elf Ocean in late summer was eerily quiet.
"You'll fall in if you're not careful, child."
"Master."
An elf wearing an eye patch walked onto the deck with a grin. She loosened her neck slightly and raised her head with her hand resting on her sword hilt.
"The sky is clear, Elfi. How does it look to you?"
"Favorable."
Elfihera's eyes looked up at the distant sky dotted with stars. She narrowed her eyes, pondered for a moment, then spoke again.
"It's becoming more and more favorable."
"Good. Can you read my fortune as well?"
"Human fortunes no longer appear in the heavenly signs."
"Yes, even that is favorable."
The sharp-eyed elf grinned and turned her head toward the stern.
Above the bright sky of the night sea, a massive shadow was following her ship.
"The heavenly signs are tangled."
Through melting gold, red eyes looked up at the sky and growled.
At the power in that voice, the demons trembled, kneeling or offering prayers. There was no need to pay attention to such trash. It shook itself and slowly rose.
Liquefied gold poured down like a waterfall. Goblins rushed to collect it and poured the remelted gold back onto it.
"Tell the false king. I will delay no longer."
"Yes, yes, my lord!!"
"Let those fools be used as soldiers and die... I will be different. Maximillian."
It began to move with a hissing sound. Toward the sticky, humid, unpleasant world.
Toward the cesspool of a land where human screams and the smell of flesh provided insufficient entertainment.
The Golden Nekinnon revealed itself at the front lines. That day, two cities disappeared, buried in ashes.