I Was Abandoned by the Demon King I Served for 10 Years

Chapter 32

The two armies faced each other across a stone bridge stretched over the river.

Beyond the massive stream of ice dividing the Central and the North, the demons' desire for war was palpable. Durin's Central Army, supported by the rear fortress, prepared to draw their swords.

At the vanguard stood the Throne Successor, Serphin. The nobles, hungry for authority, were eager to spill the soldiers' blood. The shadow of the golden tower they sought to ascend loomed before their eyes.

As the Grand Duke's daughter, her shouts, filled with as much dignity as she could muster, relentlessly spurred the soldiers forward.

"We will conquer those damned barbarians. They are insolent rebels who have raised their banner against the Central!"

"If the Central and the East unite and draw their swords, we can defeat those who consort with Demon Beasts. Do not be afraid!"

"I will stand with you."

Of course, most of them let her words pass by. Despite the covert support from the Grand Duke and Durin, her own power was far too weak. The Eastern Army, sent by the Grand Duke, followed Serphin's orders relatively well. However, the rest of the forces, organized by various Central warlords, were indifferent.

"Weren't we supposed to fight alongside the Regent, Your Excellency?"

"Who knows? That kid might sit on the throne someday. That's probably why she's personally here."

"Does she have any war experience?"

"They say she's never even seen a barbarian, let alone an angel."

Among the nearly ten thousand soldiers following her, respect was hard to find. Most of them had been dragged along simply because their lords had sworn loyalty to the child. The only thing maintaining the formation was the steadfast Dullahans from the fortress.

If Serphin had led the army into war alone, it was likely the army would have collapsed before even engaging in battle. Recognizing this, Alberto's struggles to hold things together became a tale for later.

Regardless, Serphin had thrown her gauntlet, and Durin watched them from the high ground.

An irreversible decision had led them to the battlefield.

Victory or defeat.

The gods deciding their fate must be laughing in delight.

"Your Excellency. It's the Great Warrior's army."

Under the watchful eyes of the Scout Demon Beast observed by Durin, a dark mass appeared.

As the Legion advanced, the other side matched their movements. From the North's perspective, this was a stroke of fortune. In a situation where they could only wither away if they stayed still, the enemy was willingly crossing the river.

The seasoned Great Warrior maintained a measured distance, waiting for Serphin's army to approach. Once a sufficient number crossed, he would immediately strike the Eastern Army. If the swift cavalry attacked before their formation was complete, resistance would be futile.

It was as if they were willingly walking into the battlefield the enemy had prepared. It was then that Rudmila, standing with her arms crossed, began to show a puzzled expression.

"Hmm. No matter how I look at it, it seems like they'll take a heavy beating and retreat."

"Once the Great Warrior's cavalry starts to disrupt them, chaos will ensue. Retreating might even be considered a blessing in such a situation."

"The Dullahans might hold out for a while, allowing them to retreat with their lives intact."

"This isn't a position where they're meant to die."

"It's a spot arranged for them to personally experience the might of the Northern cavalry. Still, I can't help but worry a little."

The reason why the North had never been fully subjugated, despite the efforts of past Demon Kings.

Those who witnessed it with their own eyes could plan for the future.

"Your Excellency! The Eastern Army has begun their advance!"

Amid their calm conversation, a soldier's shout signaled the awaited war.

The Legion extended their spears forward. Serphin's army, arranged in a parade formation, crossed the northern boundary and stepped onto the Demon Beast's land. They marched resolutely toward the impending war.

They continued to walk slowly into the jaws of the patient Great Warrior.

"Hurry up and prepare! The Great Warrior might charge in!"

"Lay down the obstacles first! Throw the Horse Barriers ahead!"

It was a stone bridge built a thousand years ago by the First Demon King to foster goodwill with the North. The sound of hooves echoed solidly with each step. He had hoped for a united front across the continent against the angels, but reality had turned out differently.

When the angels turned their attention to the Human Realm due to the Demon King's crossing, the factions, as if waiting for the opportunity, began to tear each other apart. The Central nobles fought over the throne, while the regional warlords clashed to reclaim their lost freedoms.

It was a lamentable state of affairs. Though conflict was in their nature, when had they started fighting like this, ignoring their true enemies?

As Serphin del Istria advanced to the battlefield, she made a vow. Like the powerful Demon Kings of the previous dynasty, she would resolve all disputes and drew her sword. She would become a mighty ruler and reign over a unified demon race.

To emphasize once more, she dreamed of a "unified" demon race, not focusing on the petty desire to dominate.

"My Lady. Cavalry ahead!"

Lost in thought, she quickly crossed to the other side. Gripping her reins, Serphin looked where her secretary, Alberto, pointed, and saw a cloud of dust rising.

The bright sun and hazy sky revealed the movements of the distant army. The Demon Beast Cavalry, said to number a hundred thousand and capable of posing a great threat to the Central, were now facing Serphin. Their power, which had maintained a divided regime for over a thousand years, was now confronting her.

"Hurry! The Great Warrior is near!"

"Once the Horse Barriers are set, fall back! Form the defensive line!"

At the shouts of the seasoned sergeants, the soldiers moved. The Demon King's Castle army, centered around the Dullahans, swiftly formed their formation. If the cavalry charged in, they would devour them whole.

However, the problem lay with the noble soldiers from the Central who were stationed with Serphin in the main army, rather than the Undead Legion protecting the flanks.

"W-what? Are we really going to fight like this?"

"There's a river behind us. How are we supposed to retreat if things go south?"

"No, we can't even retreat in the first place. We're fighting cavalry on open ground."

The private soldiers from the Central, who had expected to swear loyalty and return home, began to panic. They had trudged all the way to this freezing land due to orders, only to now face an actual battle.

It was natural for demons, who sought honor in victory, to feel fear in the face of a seemingly inevitable defeat. Even Durin, desperate for troops, had avoided including the Central in his plans, despite enlisting the Eastern Army.

Fweeeet—

Yet the signal for the start of the war was fired into the sky.

The enemies, once just a cloud of dust, began to approach rapidly. The cries of hundreds, thousands of Demon Beasts echoed, shaking the ground. The obstacles planted to stop them seemed pitifully inadequate against the terrifying sound.

"Raise your shields! They always send the Light Cavalry first!"

Bwooo—

Serphin's army responded in kind.

As some of the approaching Demon Beast Cavalry fired arrows, they blocked them with their shields. They aimed to showcase their sturdiness with solid formations and the high-quality equipment of the fortress.

Each growl from the wolf-like Demon Beasts produced a sharp sound. Most were blocked by shields, creating faint metallic noises, but a few found their way through the gaps.

Ugh!

Aagh—!

"Quickly pull the wounded back! The formation must not collapse!"

With every scream, Alberto and the sergeants busied themselves. Their master, Serphin, must not sense any unease. If the Eastern Army showed signs of faltering compared to the unwavering Demon King's army, it could undermine her credibility when she ascended the throne.

The East could not remain merely a supporting force. To revive the glory of the Istria era, they needed to demonstrate more of their strength.

"Hmm. They're struggling against a small number of cavalry."

But her concerns soon began to materialize. The current state of the battle was far from satisfactory for someone with little war experience.

The cavalry lightly deployed by the Great Warrior numbered around five hundred. Despite Serphin's main army boasting nearly eight thousand troops, they were immobilized by the arrows flying from all directions. Their turtle-like stance, with shields raised and heads tucked in, was far from honorable.

"Alberto. Why can't we properly confront them?"

"You must not underestimate the cavalry. Right now, they are testing us by firing arrows."

"Testing us?"

"Yes. If we lose our temper and break formation, they will immediately charge in with their medium cavalry."

"But we have the Undead from the Demon King's Castle and, above all, the loyal Eastern Army. If we maintain our formation and fight, can't we drive the cavalry back?"

"My lady. Solid infantry can hold off cavalry, but the Demon Beasts of the North are sharper spears than that. They are not opponents to be taken lightly."

"We can't afford to be delayed like this...."

Serphin glanced back. On the distant hill, Durin would be watching her. Serphin del Istria, who had boldly stepped onto the battlefield after declaring she would prove her worth as a future ruler.

However, if the situation dragged on like this, contrary to her confident words, it would undoubtedly be seen in a negative light.

A force of ten thousand being swayed by a mere five hundred? It was a clear display of incompetence.

"This won't do. We must act as aggressively as possible and drive them out."

"My lady. First, we should finish forming our ranks and then advance slowly...."

"I don't have much time. We are a legion meant to fight angels, not to be toyed with by these barbarians."

Serphin gripped the reins. She urged her warhorse forward. The surrounding staff tried to stop her, but the Guard Unit protecting the Grand Duke's daughter had already moved to the front lines.

"Prepare to advance, everyone! Do not be swayed by such flies; march forward steadily and take the Great Chieftain's head!"

A delicate voice echoed across the battlefield filled with flying arrows. The soldiers' gazes converged on one spot. Amid the rain of arrows pounding on their shields, Serphin stood boldly and shouted toward the front.

"Fire arrows and respond actively! Do not be afraid! I am here!"

The commander stepped forward. Seeing this, the soldiers gained morale and repelled the enemy's attacks.

It was a scene often depicted in stories, but here, the situation was different. The one they were supposed to protect had suddenly stepped forward and started taking action, startling the frontline sergeants, who rushed to her.

"It's dangerous! Please return at once!"

"It's fine. How could I leave you behind and retreat?"

"But...."

"Enough! Don't worry about me and return to your positions. How could you leave your subordinates and come all the way here?"

-If an errant arrow were to harm her, it would be the end of the Eastern Army that very day!

The sergeant, unable to voice the words that had risen to his throat, bowed his head and returned to his position. Since the enemy's offensive had not yet fully begun, they could still protect her.

In any case, this attack by the Great Warrior was merely a test. They must have wanted to gauge our resilience.

The real battlefield would be on the plains a little further ahead. As long as we maintained our formation like now, there would be no issues....

Beeeep—

A sharp sound that cut through thoughts rang out in the sky. It was the signal of the North. A foreboding cry announcing the start of an attack.

The soldiers tensed up. The light cavalry retreated in sync with the signal but did not let go of the reins. The withdrawal of their scouts meant one of two things.

The end of the attack, or the beginning of a gruesome battlefield.

Unfortunately, the Great Warrior chose the latter.

Thud-thud-thud-thud—

The sound of hooves was incomparably more intense than before. The size of the dust cloud was abnormally large. The momentum of the Demon Beasts broke through the distant gap in an instant, striking fear directly into the soldiers' hearts.

"Ugh..."

"Ah, ah...."

Everyone except the Undead soldiers froze. The hands holding the shields began to tremble uncontrollably.

Fear spread throughout the ranks. It enveloped Serphin as well.

"A-all troops...."

The young demon's voice trembled. She tried to command confidently as before, but she couldn't shake off her fear. Until the Undead from the Demon King's Castle and the Eastern Army's Guard Unit formed their defensive line, she could do nothing.

That meant nearly eight thousand troops were exposed to the cavalry without command. That fleeting gap shifted the flow of the battlefield.

Beeeep—

The signal cried out sharply once more. But this time, it wasn't just a signal. Following it, a rain of arrows descended upon Serphin's army.

Thwack-thwack-thwack—

This time, there were no screams. The bows used by the North were powerful enough to pierce the hides of Demon Beasts. The Demon Tribe soldiers, clad in mere armor, could not withstand the destructive force. Their bodies were left with gaping holes as they collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

The casualties, consisting solely of the dead, swept through the army in an instant. The soldiers fell like autumn leaves, instilling even greater fear in the Eastern Army. It reminded them of the history they had momentarily forgotten.

"The Lion of the North...."

During the chaos of rebellion and turmoil, the North was the one region no other warlord dared to invade.

There was a single Great Warrior who defended that land, defeating all challenges from gladiators of prestigious Central families and creating a world separate from the fortress.

"S-stop them. We must stop them. Reform the ranks!"

Alberto struggled alone, but it was in vain. His efforts to restore the broken formation and build a solid wall quickly crumbled.

It was already too late. With the warriors unable to properly grip their spears, the cavalry had already closed in.

It was a situation where they had no choice but to collide head-on.

"Kiiyaaah!"

With bizarre battle cries, the Northern Warriors drove the Demon Beasts forward. They thrust their spears into the exposed underbellies of the Eastern Army.

Boom—!

"Kill them!"

"H-hold the line!"

The triumphant shouts and pitiful screams mingled.

A gruesome battlefield Serphin had not anticipated unfolded before her eyes.