The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 100.1

Chapter 100.1: A Small Hand’s Prayer (2)

Crashhh——

A pitch-black river bisected the Elven Forest.

The torrent was relentless, and Olivia’s Northern Expeditionary Force was stationed by the riverbank.

“Fetch water.”

Some fetched water.

Some transported water.

And still others distributed the water of the surging Elivagar River into their respective canteens.

“We shall proceed upstream, but according to the records of the 3rd expedition, the Elves once prevented us from crossing with magic. So be sure to secure your own water.”

The knights followed the order in unison.

Olivia, dressed in full armor, continued to give meticulous instructions.

“For food, pack as much dry food as possible. If you pack food with high moisture content, we may suffer from the curse of spoilage like in the 8th expedition.”

“Yes!”

Olivia had analyzed the Elves by reviewing all the previous Northern Expeditions and the records of the Airian Civil War.

Although she became the commander-in-chief with the power of the two marquises, McLoud and Ross, she had no intention of staying as a mere puppet.

“Leave your siege weapons here. The Elven Forest is too dense for long weapons. Instead, bring shields.”

“Understood!”

Elves lived much longer than humans, and most were much stronger thanks to the blessings of magic.

As Airian’s origin began with the struggle against the Elves, humans had pooled their knowledge.

How could weak humans defeat strong Elves?

The answer was in the records.

“The Elves are stupid!”

Every single battle against the elves had been recorded.

From the Civil War to the 11 Northern Expeditions that had taken place so far, everything about the Elves was recorded and analyzed in detail.

“They’re senile and rotten. How can we live with such trash over our heads!”

“That’s right!”

A history of defeat written in blood.

The more the humans were defeated, the more they changed.

During the Civil War, they brought all the ordinary soldiers to fight, intending to win by sheer numbers.

However, most of them collapsed due to the hallucinatory fog that permeated the Elven Forest.

After that, they formed an elite force centered on knights and wizards who could withstand the hallucinations of the forest.

Like that.

1st, 2nd… 10th.

Through trial and error, they figured out how to efficiently kill the arrogant Elves who tried to invade the south while lurking in the forest.

In the most recent 11th Northern Expedition, under Edmund’s command, they had reached the very edge of the ‘Barrier of the Great Forest’ that protected ‘Deep Forest.’

But that was it.

No magic could remove the ‘Barrier of the Great Forest’ that protected ‘Deep Forest.’

With no way to catch the Elves who had hidden deep in the forest after throwing out their scapegoats, the 11th Northern Expedition ended like that.

“Now we have taken another step forward!”

Olivia shouted, her voice amplified by magic.

“We have found a way to remove the ‘Barrier of the Great Forest’!”

Waaaaaaaah——

Marquis McLoud had brought with him a hundred and twenty knights, including those from the Wareham and Bradley noble houses.

They cheered in unison.

On the other hand, Marquis Ross participated in the expedition alone, without the support of the three counts of Lamaring, Crowl, and Ethelred.

Thud.

However, their numbers were still much larger than the knights brought by Marquis McLoud.

As if to prove that they belonged to different factions, unlike McLoud’s knights who cheered, Ross’s knights looked at her with icy expressions.

It was an expeditionary force that seemed to be a mixture of spring and winter.

“Tell them to at least clap.”

Marquis McLoud said, patting Marquis Ross on the arm.

“I didn’t promise that.”

Marquis Ross replied coldly, and Marquis McLoud let out a short sigh.

“He doesn’t know what service is. He’s the one who broke the law by bringing all the knights he’s been hiding in his territory.”

Marquis McLoud criticized Heatherward in a rapid tone after his sigh.

He, who had been listening silently, glanced at Marquis McLoud.

“If Your Grace had brought the knights that you have hidden on your estate, the chances of success for today’s expedition would have been even higher.”

“I don’t raise trash like some people.”

Marquis McLoud said no with a meaningful smile. But anyone could tell that he was lying.

“Let’s say that’s true. But if Olivia, who is not the rightful heir, is to succeed to the throne, she must be above reproach.”

Marquis McLoud was the greatest patron of the 2nd Princess Olivia, and as her maternal grandfather, he was practically treated as one with her.

Therefore, he should not have done anything that violated the national law, even if he had to turn a blind eye.

“A sly old fox. You know everything and still.”

Marquis Ross, on the other hand, was merely a collaborator, not one and the same as her. Therefore, Ross’s actions and Olivia’s reputation were not linked.

It was the difference between a relationship that could be severed at any time and one that could not.

“Your Grace was the first to say that.”

“There has to be some leeway for the elderly!”

“……”

Marquis Ross clenched and unclenched his fists.

He had felt it for a long time, but he and Marquis McLoud were really not a good match.

He even thought that Edmund would be better.

Of course, if he thought about it a little more, he would conclude that Marquis McLoud was still much better.

Hooowooo——

The wind blew.

It was a cold wind blowing from the north of Airian, which was not even recorded.

Moreover, it contained the humid moisture of the dense forest.

Those who had experienced the Elven Forest during the 11th expedition instinctively frowned.

“The founding king said. There are no good Elves in the forest, so where would they be?”

Although it was the height of spring in the south.

Spring had not yet come to the northern battlefield where dark clouds swallowed the sunlight.

“I don’t know.”

Marquis Ross shook his head.

Marquis McLoud’s bangs fluttered in the wind. When his bangs settled down, he continued to speak.

“In the afterlife or in the city. You can only trust Elves who are dead or wandering.”

“……”

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