Target—The Territory of Evernight (with Vivian sketch included)

“Truly surprising, Lord Garen.”

Bishop Lester’s voice pierced through the background roars, maintaining a deliberate, perfectly measured gentleness.

“To think that you, having just clashed with the 【Demon Lord of Rot】, would still have the strength to participate in our expedition against the 【Demon Lord of Evernight】… It is truly a blessing for the Holy Church to have a blade as sharp as you.”

“…”

Garen’s reply did not come immediately.

On his handsome yet cold face, like a marble sculpture, there was no flicker of emotion.

Only his blond hair stirred slightly in the wind blowing across the square.

“The clash with the Demon Lord of Rot was nothing.

The subjugation of the Demon Lord of Evernight is the most important matter.”

Garen took a deep breath, only responding slowly after a moment.

“I cannot allow Lucia to have been killed by that insidious viper.

I need the truth.

I need her head to pay tribute to Lucia’s heroic spirit!

Therefore, for any action against Vivian, I will be there in person, even if it means ten thousand deaths!”

“Your sincerity is moving, Lord Hero.”

Bishop Lester gripped his cross tightly, as if suppressing his own anger.

“I very much agree with your view, Lord Hero.

That insidious and cunning Demon Lord of Evernight is far beyond our imagination!

She even destroyed the main keep of Faro Fortress before she escaped.

An entire squad of the Holy Church’s Gospel Holy Knights and the city lord died heroically.

She even caused the Gilded Hero to be forced away from the front lines.”

With that, Bishop Lester paused, an expression of loathing evil and deep grief appearing on his face.

“Vivian, the Demon Lord of Evernight!

She is absolutely our human race’s number one enemy in recent years!

This creature is both brutal and incredibly cunning.

To this day, we still do not know why Lady Lucia spared her life—that witch must have used some extremely evil and bizarre demonic secret art to bewitch the holy Lady Lucia!

Only then could such a tragedy have occurred!”

“This was no accident!

Nor was it a result of Lady Lucia’s mercy or error!”

“…That’s right.

It must have been that damned demon.

She must have used some unknown, sneaky means to confuse Lucia!”

After hearing Bishop Lester’s words, Garen seemed to become even more convinced of his own thoughts, speaking with a more certain tone.

Bishop Lester’s explanation provided a perfect outlet for a tragedy he couldn’t comprehend, a target onto which he could pour all his hatred.

During the period when Lucia was declared dead, Garen, who appeared as cold as a mountain on the surface, was in fact suffering immense pain inwardly.

And now, all the anger, pain, and powerlessness would be poured onto that one, specific, must-be-destroyed target—Vivian, the Demon Lord of Evernight.

Their conversation paused briefly amidst the fanatical background noise.

Garen’s gaze once again turned to Lucia’s statue in the distance, his cold facade hiding incredibly complex thoughts.

Bishop Lester, however, lowered his eyes, his fingertips stroking the cold gemstone on his cross, the compassionate curve of his lips seeming to deepen a fraction.

Garen’s reaction was entirely within his expectations and guidance.

This powerful Hero, this sharpest sword of the Holy Church, the direction its edge pointed was now firmly locked onto the Demon Lord of Evernight.

“However, for this subjugation of the Demon Lord, I still hope that you, Lord Garen, can properly mentor the younger generation.”

After a pause, Bishop Lester changed the subject, his gaze also shifting to a spot not far away.

Hearing Lester’s words, Garen also turned his head and looked to the side.

Five figures stood there, looking particularly young and reserved compared to the fanatical veterans around them.

They wore brand-new sets of regulation armor that shimmered with a faint magical light, and on their chests were badges symbolizing their status as apprentice Heroes—a sharp sword piercing through thorns.

This was the new Hero party that would be joining this epic subjugation—the “Dawn’s Blade” party.

Surprisingly, within this party, there was even a pair of elf sisters.

“Are these the new generation of Heroes?”

Garen murmured, looking at the five somewhat green youths.

“Yes, these five are the most promising among the new generation of Hero candidates.

They have great potential, and I hope you will mentor them well, Lord Garen.”

With that, Bishop Lester made the sign of the cross on his chest, his expression utterly sincere.

“May the Holy Light protect them.

May these new blades, under the guidance of a legend like you, sever the sins of darkness and be tempered into true sharpness.”

“May the new blades sever the sins of darkness.”

Garen also offered his blessing to the new Hero party.

On the other side, although the members of the Hero party seemed a little awkward due to their inexperience, they could not hide their excitement.

“Finally… finally! We’re finally going to begin the subjugation of the demons!”

“All these years of leveling up and training will finally be put to use!”

“We must go home! We must!”

Although the Heroes were trembling slightly from facing a real war for the first time, they were still encouraging each other.

“Big Sister Serra… I-I’m a little nervous…”

The mage among the elf twins, the younger sister Mira, whispered to her older sister, her fingers anxiously twisting the tassels on her staff.

“Don’t be afraid, Mira.”

Although her sister Serra’s voice also carried a hint of tension, it was noticeably much calmer.

“Haven’t we trained for so many years for this very moment?

For… going home.”

She spoke the last few words with exceptional firmness.

“That’s right.

For… going home.”

The other three male Heroes, hearing the elf sisters’ conversation, looked at each other, their gazes exceptionally resolute.

The new Hero party whispered among themselves, and neither Bishop Lester nor the Hero Garen paid any mind to their commotion, simply treating it as them encouraging each other.

“It’s about time.”

Garen took a deep breath, then turned and strode back onto the high platform, drawing his sword—the Radiant Blade!

On the ancient longsword he held high, the blade’s edge instantly reflected a dazzling cold light!

He no longer needed any inflammatory words.

At this moment, he himself was a battle flag, a god of vengeance!

He used all his strength to let out a roar, filled with cold killing intent and immense fighting spirit, that exploded over the fortress like a thunderclap—

“In the name of the Holy Light—!!!”

“In the name of the Holy Light!!”

The roars of tens of thousands of people once again tore through the sky.

“Target—the Territory of Evernight!”

“Subjugate the Demon Lord!”

“Purify the darkness!”

“March out!”

“Wuuu—!!!”

A shrill and mighty war horn, like the roar of a great beast, resounded through the sky.

One after another, it rang out in a relay from the city walls to the outside, announcing the start of the holy war’s iron wheel!

The heavy city gates slowly opened with the groaning of winches, emitting a tooth-grinding scraping sound.

Then, the torrent of metal began to move slowly.

Along the roadside, townspeople tossed flower petals, sending off the departing warriors with their blessings.

The chanting of the battle priests, the war cries of the fanatics, the creaking of supply wagons rolling over the road, the neighing of warhorses… all sounds converged into a deafening death march, a symbol of destruction and conquest.

They march out.

Target—the Territory of Evernight.