Chapter: 240

The Hero Party had been together for over ten years. Traveling through the depths of the Demon Realm, where no help could be expected from anyone, they grew to understand each other more deeply than their own parents.

They had to complement each other’s weaknesses and break through obstacles. Even if each one was a powerful hero, none could be without flaws.

Enrique was vulnerable in direct confrontations, and Patricia lacked combat abilities. Einar was recklessly bold, while Veolgrin was excessively cautious, and Jill Ber lacked flexibility.

And Maximilian, well—

In Ivan’s memory, Maximilian had no deficiencies at all. Despite being more attentive to him than anyone else.

During those times, Ivan acted as the scout for the Hero Party, while also functioning as a spy conveying intelligence back to his homeland, analyzing their weaknesses.

If the Hero Party completed all their goals and disbanded, that is, if they defeated the Demon King and returned home, they would become the most powerful and influential individuals in the world. Even foreign nobility.

Thus, as an agent of Krasilov, Ivan had the duty to analyze the weaknesses of these potential threats. So for the years he spent with them, he was absorbed in finding the hero’s weaknesses.

He found none.

Even when the party was in despair, when they were extremely sensitive in the harsh environment of the Demon Realm, the hero would smile and calmly comfort the party.

It was perfection that even jealousy couldn’t touch.

“Mmm, splendid. You’ve got skill as well.”

As Ivan stood guard, smiling while having the energy bars roasted over the fire, he used to praise him just like the late king did.

Ivan didn’t envy him. He only admired him. He was the most perfect and most personable madman in the world.

So now, at this moment—

“If I were Maximilian….”

The Hero Party had been together for over ten years. They survived while understanding each other more deeply than their parents. Even at the world’s end, in the most dreadful environments. Even before the most formidable adversary.

They moved forward, complementing each other’s weaknesses. And conversely, that meant—

They understood each other’s weaknesses more clearly than anyone else.

“At this point, we strike Frechenkaya.”

Ivan said slowly to Isabelle from the swaying military camp.

Now was the only opportunity when Enrique had to defend the city perimeter alone. An opportunity to push one pillar of the Hero Party out. If Enrique fell, then only Einar would remain from the former Hero Party.

“But, um… Sir. Professor Enrique is a vampire, isn’t he? An Elder Vampire. He can operate even under the sun….”

If she intended to hide within the city, no one could catch her. Maximilian had already tried and failed long ago.

So if they wanted to take her down, they needed an army. They would require an elite force capable of encircling and tightening around her, blocking her every movement.

Just sneaking in with Maximilian wouldn’t be able to take down Enrique. She was nearly invincible within Frechenkaya. It meant she was no different than the Seven Dragon Lords stationed in the capital. The entire underground of the city was her nest.

So, what followed is speculation territory.

The tendencies inherent in the current world were clear. The incapacitation of the former Hero Party. Starting with Jill Ber, Veolgrin disappeared, and Patricia lost her strength.

Now only Einar and Enrique remained, and coincidence had it that Enrique had to defend the most vulnerable city alone at this moment.

Thus, to derive a conclusion, excluding means, reasons, and purposes—there was no way other than to strike Enrique now.

In such a situation, the world could not help but move clichés. [The predecessors fall, passing down their strength to the present through heroic efforts and sacrifices.] A cliché that had repeated three times already. If it were this typical, a trained agent wouldn’t miss it.

Naturally, this time would be no different. If a conclusion had been drawn, it was sufficient to infer the process. What methods could Maximilian possibly have to take down Enrique?

“There’s not no weakness in Enrique.”

Ivan had been analyzing the weaknesses of the Hero Party for ten years. Enrique was no exception.

“All vampires cannot refuse an Elder’s command. The curse of the bloodline is her only weakness.”

“But, Sir. Isn’t Professor Enrique the Elder? I heard she’s the only Elder Vampire in Krasilov.”

“Right. In Krasilov.”

There lay older bloodlines in the Demon Realm.

The Elder who bit Enrique had died at her hands over two hundred years ago, but that Elder wasn’t some being that fell from the sky.

Ivan scanned the retreating legion with dry eyes. A combined army of Dwarves and humans, specifically an artillery unit. Armies typically slow down in movement and speed as size increases arithmetically. That would still apply even when using underground tunnels.

So three weeks. Though this was an astonishing speed, it wasn’t sufficiently satisfying. Given three weeks, Ivan could turn Frechenkaya into ruins. The same would hold true for Maximilian.

Thus, they needed to arrive even faster. Even now, sentries with watchful eyes were stationed beyond the barracks. The surveillance set by Elizaveta.

Ivan gave a light nod to the sentries and whispered to Isabelle.

“Isn’t it the duty of a minister to secure safety before the king enters the city?”

“Are you trying to persuade me?”

“You’re persuading me.”

Ivan silently closed the barracks and spoke.

“Bring two horses. Isabelle.”

“Two horses, and just the two of us? Only ‘we’ two!”

“Mmm.”

“Leave it all to me. The hero’s coming!”

Isabelle grinned and dashed out of the barracks.

EP39. 39. Polar Night, Frechenkaya.

At this time, Frechenkaya was bustling with activity. It was summer, the only ‘warm season’ in Krasilov. Hence, trade was frequent, and the influx of people surged.

They were preparing for winter, which would begin in a couple of months. Every train station in Frechenkaya buzzed with hurried pedestrians.

And a large population meant it was a perfect environment for foreign spies to operate, so Enrique was diligently pouring both day and night into checking her intelligence network.

“Why am I really going through such trouble….”

She wasn’t part of the Counterintelligence Command, or even a member of the Krasilov bureaucracy. She was clearly a civilian.

But what could she do? The Queen had taken the main forces of the Counterintelligence Command and the Capital Defense Army for a southern expedition. Currently, there was scarcely a proper military force in this vast city.

Considering such a military void was possible due to Enrique’s presence. Even sitting in her cradle in a dark underground tunnel, she could survey the entirety of the city.

The Elder Vampire. Commanding all the vampires and bats, as well as the swarms of rats in Frechenkaya. In place of the insufficient agents, the rats in the tunnels during the day and the bats underneath the eaves at night became her eyes and ears.

Pressing her weary eyes, she stared at the blood pack she was sucking down, soon frowning and turning her gaze.

At the very edge of her detection range, a carriage was dashing toward the city gate.

“A carriage… in this season?”

Krasilov was only warm during summer. In other words, all seasons outside of summer were winter. Simply put, it meant that most of the roads during the year would be frozen.

Thus, in summer, the roads that had been frozen all season thawed, and the paths filled with snow and rain turned muddy. This is referred to as Rasputitsa.

Most unmaintained roads in this season would turn into swamps. So, it was inappropriate to travel in summer through any transport other than trains.

Yet, a carriage is coming from the north in this season?

This was clearly suspicious. Enrique hastily gestured for the rats. Her will spread through the small souls of the rodents across the city’s perimeter.

The rats near the northern gate began to raise their heads and gather, glaring with their red eyes at the carriage’s path.

Soon, the carriage reached the city gate.

A gaunt coachman tipped his hat and bowing to the gate guards. Stumbling, he dismounted from the carriage and retrieved documents from his coat.

Only then did the guards nod as they confirmed the seal hanging beyond the driver’s seat. The gate opened, and the carriage rumbled into the city.

The carriage emblazoned with the seal of the Northern Army Headquarters passed through the city center.

Elizaveta anxiously tapped the table and suddenly asked.

“How long has it been? How much time has passed?”

“About two hours, Your Majesty.”

“What on earth have two grown men and women been doing in that barrack for two hours! I can’t stand it anymore!!”

She yelled, suddenly standing. It had been two hours since she had left to briefly sort out operation plans to connect with the Hero Party.

Moreover, that girl Isabelle had flirted with Ivan right in front of her. She couldn’t interject, as it was about the Hero Party. The Hero Party should be guaranteed independence even before the lords, but… that is tradition!

Isn’t it also tradition for a grown man with a partner not to be left alone with another woman in a backroom? Elizaveta huffed as she stood up.

She then strode across the camp toward the barracks where Ivan and Isabelle were. The officials she had sent for surveillance bowed as they spotted her.

“Are they inside?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Didn’t they show any suspicious signs?”

At this time, suspicious signs would naturally imply severe matters that were inappropriate for daylight.

The officials solemnly shook their heads.

“They seemed to be quietly conversing, though there were no such signs.”

“Right, Bancka wouldn’t do that. That woodhead wouldn’t.”

Elizaveta nodded in satisfaction and strode toward the barracks. Taking a deep breath, she harshly pushed open the barracks.

“Bancka, it’s time to eat! You can’t be satisfied if you keep waiting without eating—”

The barracks were empty. Elizaveta stared blankly around the inside of the barracks. It was as if no one had ever stayed there, perfectly tidied up.

She turned her head in confusion. She saw the same expression on the officials’ faces.

“Isn’t this the right place…?”

“Y-yes. It is, Your Majesty.”

“Then… why? Why…?”

“That… I’m also not entirely sure.”

Elizaveta turned her head back inside the barracks again.

“Bancka? Stop playing around and come out. Are you waiting for me to get mad before showing your face? Hmm?”

“….”

“Bancka. Even now, just say it was a joke and come out. Hurry.”

“….”

Elizaveta murmured while standing in the barracks, then lightly nodded. Hmm, no one is here. Truly, no one is here. Astonishingly, there is no one.

This means she had vanished with another woman while leaving his pregnant wife behind.

“Dmitri.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Form a pursuit team.”

“Uh, um. Your Majesty, I’m dreadfully sorry, but… if the senior truly retreated with intent, pursuing them would be nearly impossible…”

“I won’t say it twice.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will follow your orders.”

Dmitri disappeared with a shuffling sound. Elizaveta watched his back and let out a hollow laugh.

“The Dwarven prosthetics are quite nice. They wouldn’t interfere with daily life…. And how convenient that I only need to attach them when needed?”

The sentries simply bowed their heads quietly, waiting for the king’s wrath to dissipate.

“Finally—!!”

“Really… so much has happened to me…. I’m exhausted.”

Ecdysis sobbed and wiped her tears. After passing through vast forests, they had finally reached the plains. In the distance, the familiar scenery of the city unfolded.

Lucia helped the Saint make the sign of the cross. As Divine Power had now faded, no matter how much she made the sign, the vampire wouldn’t burn. It meant that she could freely practice her faith. (Additionally, now that she could drink the Saint’s blood, her insides wouldn’t twist any longer.)

At the head of the group, Oscar smiled faintly.

“Finally back. This time was really tough.”

“I don’t think I can bet on anything anymore. I can’t feel my legs.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere near the stables for a while either.”

Oscar smirked and guided his horse. Frechenkaya was right before them.

“Let’s head on ahead and wait for Count Yeremov.”

It had already been several weeks since they had rushed to request deployment from Krasilov. During that time, they had even heard the news that the Papal Enclave had become ruins and the Seven Dragon Lords had perished.

So they might as well consider joining Ivan, but there were only rumors that he moved through the underground tunnels. It was already too far to return to Ovidis and crossing paths would just waste time.

Therefore, they decided to head straight to Frechenkaya. In any case, Ivan would return to Frechenkaya. The claim from Elpheira that they should check on the orphanage also contributed to it.

“Let’s just rest entirely for a few days. We can meet up after a week. I really feel like I’m going to die.”

“I also need to report to my master. Let’s meet in a week then.”

Passing through the city gate, the group scattered.

After crossing several perilous paths, they had barely returned. For the time being, they didn’t want to do anything at all.

Five days later, before the disappearance of daylight in Frechenkaya—

An extraordinary polar night began.