She Who Became Immortal

"What in the world is this!? Why are beasts, not beastfolk, swarming here!?"

The commander roared, but it was futile to expect the soldier who came for a report to understand.

Regalo peered out the window, directing his gaze beyond the village. Whether it was luck or misfortune, they were headed in the right direction. From the south, several beastfolk could be seen sprinting towards them. Their numbers weren't few, yet not overwhelming.

More than ten, less than thirty―or so it seemed.

They were closing in within visible distance.

There was no moment to spare.

Withdrawing his head from the window, Regalo calculated inwardly. The beastfolk nearing the village appeared to be around twenty-five in number. Regalo, serving as the commander's aide for the pursuit unit, counted a total of fifty-four members. Originally fifty-eight, but six were sent for reconnaissance and ended up as corpses.

Among them, there were three mages including Regalo himself, with the rest being knights and soldiers. Having crossed the forest, they lacked horses and most were without spears.

Conclusion―it was impossible.

They would undoubtedly be annihilated.

"Repel them! Inform all soldiers, charge head-on! Let those disdainful beasts taste the terror of the Spade territory soldiers!"

The commander's utterance went awry when Regalo employed 'Explosive Pressure' magic near his head.

At this critical juncture, there was no room for incompetence.

As the commander slumped unconscious on the ground, Regalo nudged him lightly with his foot before turning towards the reporting soldier.

"We're retreating. It seems the commander became disoriented and fainted due to a rush of blood to the head. However, we shall respect his noble intention. Use the commander and a few others as decoys, while the rest of us cross the forest and return to Spade territory."

"B-But—"

"What? Do you have any other strategy? There's truly no time. Move quickly. Occupying the village was a mistake. Negotiating with the beastfolk seems unlikely, but we must somehow buy time. Blast, I forgot my liquor... Oh well, someone, bring the commander downstairs."

Having conveyed this much to the reporting soldier, Regalo hastened to notify the unit.

Though, he could easily slip away alone if he wanted to escape. Yet, abandoning dozens of lives to save himself alone would likely embitter the remainder of his existence. If bitterness was all he tasted, he might as well not drink at all.

Exiting the house seized as the operational headquarters, Regalo found the entire pursuit unit gathered in front. The space in front of the village chief's house served as a plaza, presumably where the beastfolk who originally used this village would gather for any communication.

"This pursuit has become infeasible due to the commander's blunder. You all must understand, the beastfolk are currently charging straight towards this village. There's absolutely no time. Therefore, as the commander's aide, I command," Regalo addressed.

What in the world was I saying?

Suppressing the self-interrogation bubbling in his chest with a wry smile, Regalo pointed out several bewildered soldiers in the front row.

"Sorry, but you there, and you over there, also the one who came for the report earlier, and the commander who's foolishly fainted, leave the rest of us behind. The rest of you, retreat. No need for preparation or orders. Just run straight into the forest. You'll likely be attacked by the beastfolk once you're in, but please try to make it back to Spade territory. And make sure someone is informed of the situation. Responsibility lies with the commander. And probably, he won't be speaking anymore. That's all. Go!"

He said so, yet everyone remained bewildered.

As expected, Regalo unleashed 'Explosive Pressure' magic into the air. More concerned with its grandeur than its power.

The bursting sound and the heat wave reaching them.

"Go! There's not a moment to spare! Run, run, run! Use the little time we bought at the risk of our lives to create distance! Go!"

Finally, the unit began to move.

Well, calling it a unit might not be accurate. What was once a unit now fragmented, each individual running on their own. Yet, perhaps, that would increase the chances of survival. Acting as a unit would only slow them down.

As cliché as it sounded for human invaders into the beastfolk's land, like hares fleeing, Regalo couldn't care less.

The first thing to do, with a wry smile, was to inform the messenger who came dragging the commander out of the house about the situation.

"What...? Wait a moment. Why are you heading over there...?"

Dragging the commander alongside three decoys, Regalo finally reached the southern side of the village, what could be considered the entrance. By then, the situation became clear.

About ten of the missing unit members were engaged in combat with beastfolk.

"Hey hey hey hey! Why would you do something like this...?! You fools! You're just going to die...! Is there any meaning in risking lives for such a mission!?"

Such words flowed incessantly from Regalo's mouth, but they wouldn't reach. Moreover, it seemed futile even as a means of buying time.

The legs of the beastfolk rushing towards them showed no signs of halting. With an annoying roughness, the soldiers were being mowed down like weeds.

And now, the beastfolk were practically at arm's reach.

"Is there anyone who can communicate?"

Reluctantly, he shouted desperately.

Escaping from this situation was impossible anyway. Fighting as a warrior would only result in being easily killed by the beastfolk.

So, he made the only choice left: to buy some time.

Naturally, the beastfolk charging at the forefront―likely some kind of cat beastfolk―didn't even hear Regalo's loud voice. The other beastfolk following behind were the same. They simply had no ears to listen.

He craved liquor. Even some cheap booze would suffice, but he truly messed up.

"Damn it."

A click of his tongue. Then, rolling the incantation in his mouth, Regalo directed 'Explosive Pressure' magic towards the open space ahead—activating it.

It was practically the only magic Regalo could cast instantly. He focused it to only push the pressure towards the opposite side.

The heat and air pressure caused by the magic. Some of the charging beastfolk were blown away, though it likely didn't cause any fatalities. The aim was to push back the enemies with a wide range.

"Is there anyone who can communicate?! I want to explain this situation! I need an explanation about this situation! Does anyone know what's going on!?"

Persistently—no, half-resignedly—raising his voice.

Though some were blown away, it was like trying to put out a fire with a bucket of water. A squad member stepped forward to shield Regalo, but the moment he recognized it, the squad member was knocked flying by some incomprehensible beastfolk's charge.

Meanwhile, the commander remained unconscious at their feet.

The next moment, another one was sent flying. It was better than having their necks twisted. Without an incantation, Regalo activated 'Explosive Pressure' magic again, instantly. This time, involving himself as well.

Together with the commander at his feet, they were sent backwards.

And the charging beastfolk ahead were sent in the opposite direction.

Rolling on the ground, stirring up dust, Regalo attempted to deploy 'Explosive Pressure' magic again—tried, but failed.

Because there was a spear tip right in front of his eyes.

Surely, he had cast 'Explosive Pressure' magic and been blown backward. At the same time, he confirmed that the charging beastfolk were blown in the opposite direction.

Yet—there was a spear, right in front of him.

"You wanted to talk, didn't you?"

A clear, piercing voice reached his ears.

From the tip of the spear, to the shaft, to the slender hand gripping it, to the supple, faintly purple arm...with each glance, a strong sense of unease washed over him.

A woman. Slim, slightly tall.

Her roughly cut black hair around shoulder height reflected light, emitting a strange gloss, while her well-defined features formed a challenging smile.

However, her skin was darker than that of a corpse.

He knew her from reports.

They often clashed in the Escard borderlands.

A demon.

A demon woman, hiding among the beastfolk, right there.

"It's for capturing prisoners. Isn't it simple?"

The smile, once challenging, now crumbled from profound joy.

He couldn't help but think.

Beautiful.