Tale of the Fake Hero

Chapter 10

A paralyzing fear, as if the blood flowing through his head had turned into a cold, leaden weight.

"M-madness..."

"Almighty Terbel, from the azure skies, with the light of the heavens, save us, save us, save us..."

The soldiers of humanity, all stepping backward together, stared at the nightmarish scene before them—something not of this world.

"Ra, Rabi? Sisi? Boring, boring, boring!"

An enormous, grotesque figure.

A pair of impossibly large claws, so massive they seemed unreal. Five human soldiers were skewered on those iron talons, dying in agony.

This wasn’t a battle—it was a massacre.

"And you call yourselves Otous? Warriors? Warriors?"

The 5,800 riflemen defending Fortress 22 along the Inferno Line were annihilated in an instant.

By this single Uruk.

When the other Uruk killed half of them, this monster had slaughtered the rest on his own.

"I am Kishun? Kishun Giolovepe!"

The Uruk war chieftain, his body drenched in human blood and bits of flesh, clumsily spoke human language, declaring his name.

"Where is the Fae, the greatest warrior of humanity? Where are the Feiquaria?"

***

"Kaisen, you brat. Can’t you act a bit more polite with Lady Camilla?"

Long Rifle Jin spoke.

Jin was a man in his thirties, always chewing on a toothpick, his speech as lazy as his demeanor.

"Why should I?"

"You idiot, if she hadn’t taken you in back then, you’d be dead by now."

"You never know. Maybe I’d have met someone slightly more normal, like Sharon Alter Tas’alpo."

Under the dim sky, Aquitaine was lively and vibrant.

It had been a long time since they had visited the city...

Every inn was lit up, and tavern workers and courtesans flirted with the mercenaries, both men and women.

"Hey there, handsome. Care to spend some time with me?"

"Whew~! You’ve got good taste, lady. But I’ve got a prior engagement."

Jin, who was a master with women, bantered with the approaching woman before turning back to Kaisen.

"Kaisen, did you know that Lady Camilla asks about you after every battle?"

"…?"

"Us lowly mercenaries? We’re just numbers. When she says ten casualties, we’re just part of that ten. Nothing more."

That... was true.

Thinking about it deeply brought confusion. Kaisen shook his head, clearing his mind.

"Camilla and I aren’t close. We don’t care for or respect each other. We’re just bound by a contract."

"Man, you’re still such a kid. You really don’t know anything about the world."

"If you’re picking a fight, I’ll take you up on it."

Kaisen was on his way to the supply shop. His military boots were rotting away, and he needed new ones.

"Whoa."

As they reached their destination, Jin whistled lecherously and slapped Kaisen’s back.

"Good luck, you virgin. This cool uncle Jin knows when to make himself scarce."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Kaisen tried to grab him, but Jin twisted away like a slippery eel, cackling as he vanished into the night.

"What’s with him?"

He stared at Jin’s back before turning forward, and then he understood.

Flowing golden hair, dampened elegantly in the twilight.

It was Lia Riley.

Were all noblewomen so beautiful? Her wide eyes looked as if they had been painted with exquisite care.

Kaisen narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you staring? Want to fight again?"

Lia Riley cleared her throat, feigning seriousness, and shook her head.

"You misunderstand. The Riley family doesn’t dwell on past victories and losses."

"Yeah?"

"I apologize for my misunderstanding earlier. I had no idea you were Lady Camilla’s disciple. I mean, you’re a man, and you didn’t even know the Origin of the Sword."

Lia Riley.

In the years to come, Kaisen would realize just how remarkable a noble she was.

Few nobles he met later would admit their mistakes and apologize first.

"I’m not Camilla’s disciple."

When he replied, then turned to enter the supply shop to look for boots, Lia followed him, looking incredulous.

"Not her disciple? What do you mean? You use the Tenfold Cross Blade."

"It’s true. Hey, sir, how much for these?"

"Ah, you have a good eye. Have you heard of the Manja Alliance?"

"Manja Alliance?"

As Kaisen tilted his head, Lia Riley took the chance, clearing her throat to draw attention before answering.

"They’re a famous military supply union in the Western Holy Human Empire."

"Indeed. The Manja Alliance is a premium military supplier, crafted through collaboration between the Dwarven Lorad Federation and the Magi of the Magic Covenant."

"I’m from the Republic, so I didn’t know. And?"

"These boots are one of their creations—imbued with magic for durability and ventilation. They’re not just boots; they’re magic items. They cost 25 silver coins."

25 silver coins...

The boots were meticulously crafted with dark brown leather, reinforced with enchanted metal plates around the ankle and heel—truly durable.

"Too expensive. Got anything under 3 coins?"

There was a hint of disappointment in Kaisen’s voice as he set the boots back down. Lia grabbed his shoulder.

"Too expensive? You said you’re not a disciple but a soldier. You must’ve been paid well recently. The Feiquaria Corps' pay is generous."

"I’m not officially part of the corps, so I don’t get paid."

"?"

"It’s complicated. If I need something, Wolf buys it for me... but I can’t rely on him forever. Sir, do you have anything cheaper?"

"If you’re looking for budget options, please follow me."

Just as Kaisen was about to follow the shopkeeper inside—

"Ahem, ahem!"

Lia’s face wore a peculiar look of satisfaction as she coughed deliberately. Kaisen glared at her.

"Got something in your throat?"

"Are these boots really that expensive? Kaisen, get his shoe size. I’ll cover the cost."

Kaisen, who had long learned there was no such thing as free kindness, instinctively stepped back, wary.

"What are you plotting?"

"Plotting? I’m just repaying you for not taking my wrist earlier."

"Repaying?"

Lia Riley.

A hero who would later be recorded as a brilliant general leading the Era of Heroes. But for now, she was just a mischievous girl.

Born into a strict noble family, and becoming a Feiquaria disciple early on, she rarely had a chance to befriend those her age.

Her approach to others was both straightforward and awkward—playful yet stiff.

"If you’ve received a favor, repay it double. That’s what my master always said."

Did that mean free happiness?

Once his mental calculations were done, a faint flush spread across Kaisen’s face as he grabbed both of Lia’s shoulders.

"So you’re actually a good person?"

"Feel free to praise me more. I deserve it. No one will think it strange."

"You’re the best."

"Hehe, you can do better than that."

Their youthful expressions, her confident nod and his delighted smile, were almost endearing.

My dear friend, Lia Riley...

The boy never forgot that pure laughter he heard that day—not until the day he died.

“Damn it, that thieving bastard.”

“Wishing you happiness, my lady.”

“Hey, you don’t have to worry about that Kaisen. He’s such a clueless sap, he wouldn’t even bat an eye unless it was a female Uruk.”

“Ugh, what a complete lunatic.”

As the soldiers from both corps peeked into the supply shop and whispered, Jin wore a satisfied smile.

Kaisen, that kid... So he can make a face like that when he's with a girl his age.

For Jin, who had been Kaisen’s squad leader before he was assigned to Camilla’s reserve unit, this scene struck a deep chord.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, a strange scream and the sound of something breaking through the air burst from the sky.

“What, what the hell?!”

The mercenaries scattered in panic as a massive flying creature crashed, tearing up the stone-paved street.

“What kind of madman...?”

“A catapult? Are we under attack?”

“No, look! That’s a griffin!”

Not only the griffin, but its rider was also drenched in blood, so much so that he looked monstrous.

There’s a particular kind of aura only fresh blood can exude.

In that moment, everyone present was struck by a nameless tension, their hearts gripped by an unshakable fear.

“W-where am I...?”

“This is Aquitaine. Hey, are you okay? Should I help you down?”

“The Grand Marshal... is he here...?”

“Yeah. Hey, help me out. Let’s get this guy off.”

“No, th-this letter... It must... reach him... quickly...”

“Hey, what’s going on? Why are you in such a rush?”

“The Inferno, the Inferno Line... it’s been breached...!”

Even the rowdiest mercenaries, who had just been gambling and laughing, fell silent, their eyes blinking slowly as if reality had become sluggish.

The Inferno Line, the lifeline of humanity.

It had been breached?

A mercenary, who had been rolling dice moments before, clasped his hands and muttered blankly.

“I suppose... we should pray.”

***

By order of Grand Marshal Krauzan, all officers stationed in Aquitaine were summoned to the temporary headquarters set up in the city hall.

“No way... The Inferno Line, breached?”

On the elevator heading to the mayor’s office, Wolf muttered as if struggling to accept the truth.

“It was just a matter of time. Its structural flaws were always there.”

Camilla’s voice was flat. Sharon sighed in agreement.

“Yeah. Once a single fortress fell, the others were bound to collapse like dominoes.”

“Those fools in the Old Republic... Instead of wasting astronomical sums on this defensive line, they should’ve built a professional military.”

“They say that back in the day, rogue martial artists and witches defended the Republic together. Technology advanced too much, and now the witches are completely secularized, and the rogue warriors have faded into history.”

There was a time when elite martial arts sects, known as the Six Great Clans, maintained the Republic’s order.

“But then guns made martial training obsolete.”

“And the Republic’s obsession with freedom didn’t help. The Empire and the Kingdom can enforce military training, but here, the citizens cherish their freedom too much. They never wanted mandatory service.”

Fifty years ago, the last of the Six Great Clans, the Suwun Clan, disbanded. The rogues vanished into history.

“Eltoram, how’s the logistics supply?”

“Perfect. We’re ready to move out anytime. We just didn’t have time to select new recruits.”

“The departure might be sooner than expected, but it can’t be helped. The Papacy will handle the payments. Get everyone to the west gate by noon tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

When the elevator reached the fourth floor, they walked down the hallway to the mayor’s office.

The city’s emblem, adorned with lavish gold leaf, meant nothing now under the emergency system. They should have melted down every bit of that gold to strengthen their forces.

Seated at the head of the table, Grand Marshal Krauzan spoke directly.

“The Camilla Corps will join with the Sharon Corps and lead the vanguard in the Aristapo rescue mission.”

Aristapo.

A major port city in the Old Republic’s west and one of the Seven Great Cities of old.

A historic metropolis and a strategic coastal point built on a bay that led deep into the continent from the southern sea.

“Aristapo is critical. If it falls, this isn’t just the Inferno Line breaking—it’s the collapse of humanity’s southern frontier.”

“What’s the current situation in Aristapo?”

“It’s under attack by a coalition of 31 Uruk clans. There are about 160,000 Uruk warriors. The total demonic forces are estimated at 850,000.”

“What about the defenders?”

“Not quite 200,000.”

“850,000... Who’s leading that many Uruk?”

“The chief of the Kiral Clan has taken the role of Grand Chief.”

Kiral Clan...

Even just uttering those two syllables painted a shadow of despair in the officers' eyes.

“Of all things, the High Tark's top clan...”

High Tark.

The name for the top 21 Uruk clans, where the hierarchy was determined solely by strength.

“No, the current top clan is the Valkrush Clan. Kiral is a traditional powerhouse, but they’ve been pushed back.”

“The rise of Valkrush is strange. An unknown clan rising to the top in just four years?”

“Enough. Valkrush is an issue for the eastern front. Our concern is Kiral.”

“But the Uruk aren’t known for siege warfare, are they? They lack the strategic ability.”

“It would be foolish to assume so. The other six demonic armies are already gathering to join them.”

“If Aristapo falls, we’ll be giving them a foothold for invasion. It’ll be a hellish battle.”

Wolf sighed.

Camilla, staring silently at the map, quietly examined her own state. Her strength, her life force—both were waning.

Was this to be her final battle?

‘Then this is my deathbed.’

The vague realization that the long race of life was nearing its end brought a sharp pang to her heart.

‘Master...’

I’ve taught him everything I could. So now, I’ll come to meet you.

“We depart at dawn.”