The Guardian’s Stand

“The city gate barrier over there can’t hold back monsters of that magnitude!”

Mula declared, her words punctuated by the rustle as she opened her pack, beginning to prepare specialized arrows.

The Council had accumulated decades of experience in countering the Demon Lord’s army invasions.

Their Transmigrators, those under the Council’s command, were never individuals who haphazardly stumbled into this world only to become legendary, immensely powerful heroes.

Instead, they underwent extensive training and cultural education before earning the right to appear as ‘Adventurers’.

The training and knowledge they received were solely for the defense of this world’s inhabitants; this was the very essence of the Council’s existence.

These Otherworld Travelers, possessing knowledge and abilities generally superior to the native residents, were thus entrusted with greater responsibilities.

“We can retreat to the final defensive perimeter here.”

Tikka called from below, “Mula, clear out any enemies threatening our retreat.”

“Understood, already on it.”

From atop the bell tower, Mula’s arrows relentlessly sniped at the ghouls pursuing the fleeing soldiers.

However, their numbers were like a surging tide, rendering her precise attacks a mere drop in the ocean.

Worse still, a mountain-like abomination was already lumbering towards them.

“Is there any way for us to deal with that thing?”

The villagers, too, had spotted the clearly oppressive, mountain-like entity.

Tikka, his gaze fixed on the monstrosity, then called up to Mula on the bell tower:

“How many arrows for heavy units did you bring?”

“Who knew we’d be dealing with something like that? I thought you were taking me on a work-funded vacation.”

Mula rummaged through her pack before finally stating:

“Against an abomination, armor-piercing arrows are practically useless.

I do have two demolition arrows, typically used for breaching fortifications, but I’m uncertain if they’ll be effective against this.”

The Council, by its very nature, lacked the divine blessings of Holy Light, much like any standard royal army.

Nevertheless, to diminish the continent’s reliance on the Papacy, they had, through countless battles, developed their own advanced theories for combating the Demon Lord’s army.

The answer was simple: overwhelming firepower, relentless magical bombardments, and high-explosive incendiary shells ensured these mindless, terrifying corpses would never rise again.

This hard-won experience, accumulated over years, had proven to be their most effective strategy, and they took immense pride in it.

“Use them.”

Tikka stated, “Annihilation will likely be difficult, but merely impeding their advance will be enough.”

“You’d better think this through!”

Mula retorted, “These two are my absolute last resort, saved for our final retreat.

They’re meant to carve a path for us to escape before we’re swallowed by the tide of corpses.

If we actually use them, we’ll probably be joining their ranks by nightfall.”

“…”

“Do you still wish to leave this place?”

Tikka inquired at that moment, prompting Mula to clench her jaw. “I’m not planning to sacrifice my life for people I don’t even know.”

“Then try one,”

Tikka suggested, “and save the other for your backup plan.”

He continued:

“I will remain here. You, go find reinforcements.”

“…Are you thinking I’m selfish for still only thinking of myself at a time like this?”

Mula asked, to which Tikka, after a moment of thought, replied, “No, forcing you to stay and die would be the true wrong.

You’re right; we have no inherent responsibility to die for strangers.

However, what we call duty and mission are not things we are born with.

Duty and mission… are the demands we place upon ourselves.”

“Fire one at that thing. I’ll see if I can get up there and deal with it. After that, you can retreat.”

As Tikka spoke, a conflicted expression settled upon Mula’s face.

Given her own choice, she would have departed without a second thought.

No, given her personality, she wouldn’t even be engaging in such a hopeless defensive battle here at all.

Her sole reason for being here was Tikka’s decision to stay.

The Otherworld Travelers’ teaching method was a master-apprentice system, where seniors guided juniors in understanding the world and provided daily instruction.

And for Tikka, the first person she had formed a bond with after arriving in this world, she held a certain degree of affection.

All her arguments were merely an attempt to persuade Tikka to her point of view, but as it turned out, that was a formidable task.

“Always like this… *sigh*, a bleeding-heart (TL Note: A colloquial Chinese term referring to someone who is excessively kind or tries to please everyone, often to their own detriment or inconvenience.) who doesn’t listen to reason and just piles trouble onto himself…”

Mula sighed, glancing at the mountain of corpses and sea of undead before them:

“Wouldn’t it be better to live an easier life? Living like this, it must be exhausting.

What makes these people worth such sacrifice…?

Fine, if you’re determined to die, I won’t stop you. Consider this blast arrow your glorious funeral.”

“…One day, you will understand why I do this.”

Tikka replied naturally at that moment, “All of this is worthwhile, for a common goal.

The duty of a guardian must be borne by someone.”

“Now, I’m going to charge.”

Tikka declared, gripping the longsword in his hand, “Help me clear a path.”

“Understood.”

From atop the high tower, Mula drew her greatbow, and with a masterful aim and technique, an arrow, tipped with a specialized warhead, erupted with light as it streaked towards the mountain-like shadow.

Then, accompanied by a flash bright enough to illuminate the entire sky, the colossal figure was revealed in a brilliant burst before Tikka.

The monster, a grotesque amalgamation of twisted corpses, stood before them, its upper body shattered by the attack, exposing a glowing blue core within.

“Just the right amount of power.”

Tikka smiled, then plunged without hesitation into the legion of ghouls.

His longsword swept through their brittle forms, sending them toppling even as the swordsman relentlessly pushed forward.

He darted into the terrifying horde like a shadow, and reaching the colossal corpse-mountain, he launched himself upward, aiming his descent to stab directly into the exposed blue core below—

“This power… truly, Otherworld Travelers are monsters disguised in human skin…”

“It’s not right to call them that.”

The Village Chief interrupted them at that moment, “They are also human; they are simply a little different from us, but fundamentally the same.

As long as this power isn’t abused by certain individuals, it will always be our greatest aid.”

“In this era, where faith has been lost due to immense calamity, they are our sole heroes, our protectors.”

The longsword pierced the core, and the formidable swordsman leaped down from the towering figure.

The colossal corpse-mountain disintegrated at that instant, yet at the same time, Tikka found himself formally trapped.

While he possessed the strength to penetrate and achieve such a kill, he lacked the residual power to fight his way out of the sea of corpses.

Now, he was completely surrounded; even though Mula continuously fired precise arrows at the monsters closing in on him, and even as he continued to wield his longsword, the encroaching tide of corpses threatened to engulf him.

It was at this critical moment that a brilliant light appeared.

A figure burst into the fray, shielding Tikka’s exposed back.

“…A Knight?”

Tikka sensed the presence behind him: a figure with long pink hair.

The rose cross emblem on her heavy armor immediately revealed her identity:

“A Rose Knight,”

the figure replied, “You sent for aid, so I came… I hope, not too late.”

“Not too late at all; perfectly timed, in fact.”

Tikka gasped, catching his breath. “I never imagined I’d have the chance to fight alongside a Rose Knight of the Northern Church. I thought you had already relocated… Knight, what is your name?”

“…I am Ilivy.”

The latter responded with a natural grace, having recognized the village guardian’s identity:

“It is an honor to share this glory with a Council armed operative. What you just accomplished was remarkable. Rest for a moment; I will clear the path.”