**A/N: I didn't notice this chapter wasn't released for Webnovel but it was for RoyalRoad. Sorry everyone...**
After a month of continuous invasions and villages reduced to ash by demihuman raids, the Theocracy's generals made the call to consolidate their forces. Garrisons were pulled back from the outlying territories to defend key positions — fortified strongholds built along the trade routes and border walls, as well as castles that many of the high-ranking officials owned. Each was chosen for its tactical value, a bulwark meant to buy time until the kingdom's main forces could strike back at the biggest threats.
But even that plan was far from perfect.
The Juliar Theocracy's finest commanders and their private armies had already been dispatched to the frontlines where the largest demihuman tribes gathered. That left the smaller strongholds undermanned, commanded by lesser nobles and career officers who lacked the firepower or resources to hold their positions for long.
Within a week of moving in, most of these strongholds had been overrun. Those that still stood did so by bleeding men every night, holding out behind walls that shook with every assault.
..
For the short time she had been here, Adavire hadn't been getting a lot of sleep. It wasn't the noise keeping her up, but rather something else. Something others would probably feel ashamed of.
Elna brought her here with a few other students under the guise of a knight program. Initially, they were only supposed to stay in the Theocracy where the majority of the nobility and warlords were coming up with strategies and providing intel to the battlefield but Elna couldn't get much useful information out of them so she came to the frontlines
Cannon fire boomed all throughout the night until morning. Due to the scale of the demihuman army, they had to use heavy magic weaponry to even the odds. As these weaponry needs only mana to recover, there were different shifts of magician to fill it each time.
While the Inquisition and holy knights handled the Lords' armies, the regular humans and magicians stayed to defend this strategic point from the Rakeshi tribe known for possessing a large part of the mountain territory.
--Adavire was standing atop the walls of one of those strongholds, her bare feet touching the cold cobblestone.
A cold wind knocked the warmth out of her.
Her faintly shaking pupils stared beyond the walls.
The sea of demihumans stretched endlessly beyond the outer walls—thousands upon thousands of them, their roars shaking the very air as they fell one after the other. Torches dotted the plain like a second horizon of fire. Their massive wooden towers crawled forward through the smoke, pushed by hulking beastmen in order to climb these walls. Ballista bolts whistled through the night sky, and every impact sent tremors through the stone beneath her feet.
Cannon fire thundered from the ramparts, tearing through ranks of demihumans, but for every one that fell, ten more surged forward. The smell of gunpowder and blood filled the air, mingling with the acrid stench of burning oil.
The soldiers were laughing and boasting about who could kill the most demihumans, awarding each other money depending on who wins.
Adavire gripped the cold stone of the wall, her knuckles white.
Those people were being slaughtered like animals.
It's a massacre.
She hated it.
She wanted to do something to make this all stop.
But, what can she do alone? She may be a genius born once every hundred years, or so she's told, but she doesn't have the strength to end this war—
No one does.
The Testaments joined the war effort but even they struggled when the Beast Lords came onto the frontlines. But that was happening elsewhere and the suffering before her was happening right in front of her.
And yet she could do nothing. Going down there in all that chaos will just get her torn apart.
Below her, soldiers shouted orders, mages chanted barrier spells, and healers dragged the wounded back from the edge of death.
The first day she arrived here, Adavire began to understand what true war was—something no academy lecture could ever prepare her for.
"—Lady Verith, your emperor would admonish us if you were injured in the conflict. Please take shelter inside."
A man's voice came from behind her. He was a short fat middle-aged noble who was in charge of this fiefdom.
Marius Greyth Solave, one of the dukes of this kingdom and the wealthiest around. He's not just a duke but also a friend of the Pope.
He put a blanket over Adavire's shoulders, giving her back the warmth the night air took from her.
"…I appreciate your concern but… I need to be here. One day, I will be in your position as well…"
'But I hope I don't have to resort to the same… measures…'
Marius chuckled, a deep, indulgent sound. "Hoh hoh, that is true. A fine sentiment, my lady. But you mustn't forget—though they are savages, the chances of a demihuman's arrow finding you are never zero."
He leaned on the battlement beside her, staring out toward the dark plains where fires dotted the horizon. "They are like coyotes," he continued casually, "thieves who creep from their holes to steal chickens from their betters. It's in their blood to be such savages."
Adavire frowned slightly, gazing beyond the fortress walls and the marching demihumans. The demihuman campfires flickered like stars fallen to earth atop the hills. Even from here, she could hear faint, rhythmic drums—it was a fast-paced beat that almost mimicked a heartbeat during an intense battle.
"They're fighting for land they once lived on," she said softly. "For them, perhaps this isn't thievery. Perhaps it's… reclamation."
Marius laughed, waving a jeweled hand as though dismissing the thought. "My dear, compassion suits you, but you must not let it dull your reason. Mercy for beasts only teaches them to bite the hand that feeds them."
He turned his gaze on her then—lingering a little too long, his eyes gleaming with both admiration and something unspoken.
"You remind me so much of my wife at that age," he said, voice lowering to a purr. "The same noble spirit, the same radiance… though perhaps even fairer."
Adavire blinked, uncertain how to respond. She offered a polite, uneasy smile. "You flatter me, my lord. I—"
A distant explosion cut her off. The ramparts shook, and shouts erupted along the wall. Soldiers hurried past, calling orders into the night. Marius stepped back, his face twisting into annoyance rather than fear.
Marius clicked his tongue. "Persistent filth," he muttered. "They never learn. You'd think they'd tire of dying for ashes and dirt. What will they have once they reclaim the land? Most of it is dominated by settlements and farmland. And even the wild animals were driven out into the mountains so what will they hunt here? Domesticated cattle and monsters?"
Adavire didn't reply. She found herself staring at the carnage below again, her stomach twisting. Each blast scattered lives like petals in the wind.
"Tell me, Lady Verith," Marius said, stepping closer, his voice dropping to something almost conspiratorial. "What do you think of those beasts baring their fangs at us?"
She hesitated. "I… don't know what to think. All I see are people dying."
He laughed quietly. "Spoken like someone who has yet to understand power. Mercy is a luxury only victors can afford." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "But that innocence" she felt his hand brush her arm, "—it's refreshing. It reminds men like me why we fight at all."
Before Adavire could respond, a messenger sprinted up the stairs to the battlement, saluting sharply. "My lord! The eastern gate has fallen! The beasts breached the lower wall as you have predicted once we pulled our forces away from there!"
"Kahahaha! The animals took the bait! Trap them and keep a dozen alive. Cull the rest!"
"As you wish!" the soldier quickly left.
A commotion came from somewhere within the fortress. Most of the soldiers rushed down to the courtyard. Only the magicians and archers stayed behind on the walls.
Hearing that bizarre order, Adavire looked dumbfounded at Marius, "What? We've not had entertainment in a month."
"…Entertainment? I do not understand…"
"Dear me, your sponsors haven't been very good at their job of teaching you about the world. Slaves fighting to the death—that is the kind of entertainment the wealthy would pay good money for! I would know since I sponsor a coliseum where such fights take place!"
He laughed boisterously again, "Please do get some sleep, Lady Verith. The sun is due to come up in four hours. I shall do my best to keep my cheering to a teensy whisper, kukuku!"
He then walked down the stairs to the inner bailey. She wouldn't be able to have a wink of sleep without knowing what they are about to do.
As such, she rushed after him.
A pained roar echoed across the castle grounds. She quickened her pace upon hearing that.
She might not have any authority but there was someone else in this castle who she could turn to for help.
"Miss Elna!" Adavire spotted Elna silently staring down at the bailey from the curtain wall.
"Adavire? Why aren't you asleep?" there was a tiredness in both her eyes and voice.
She had been working tirelessly even in this chaos to ensure she has something worthwhile to report.
"How can I with what's happening…?" she asked, incredulous that she would be asked that.
"I left sleeping potions by each of your bedside tables so the noise must not be the reason you're up."
"…Yes."
"You have nothing to worry about," Elna reassured, "I will place my life on the line, not just to finish my mission but also to protect you all."
"That's not… what worries me so…"
The sound of a whip striking the air caught her attention, making her look down at the same scene Elna was staring at earlier.
There in the bailey was a crowd of knights surrounding nine demihumans—all chained and forced to kneel in the mud. There were also a few young beastlings among them, all wearing war paint (an indication they were part of the army).
Their ears twitched, their fur matted with blood and ash. One tried to raise his head, only for a mailed fist to slam it back down.
"They were no match for fifty soldiers so they were subdued quite easily." Elna gave that passing comment with no emotion for the enemy's suffering.
The commander, serving directly under Marius, barked an order.
"Separate the beastlings! Don't kill them too quickly — let the pups watch first as their elders fight to the death!"
The knights jeered, dragging one of the men to the center of the yard. He roared in defiance, his voice carrying the raw, guttural sound of pain and fury that no human throat could match. The lash cracked again. Blood spattered the stone.
Adavire froze in place, her hands trembling as she watched the scene unfold. "Why… why are they doing this…?"
Elna's eyes never left the courtyard. "They call it discipline."
"That's not discipline!" Adavire's voice cracked. "That's butchery!"
Below, laughter rang out. The knights took turns whipping the demihumans.
"Stop it…" Adavire whispered, "Please, make them stop…"
Elna said nothing.
Another cry echoed across the yard.
"Now if you don't want to taste that pain again, you will fight to the death. Since there are seven of you, that means one of you will get ganged up on, kukuku." Marius twisted his mustache with a chuckle.
The soldiers cackled and unsheathed their weapons—a clear warning that "if you try to run, you will be cut down".
"Stop it!!"
Adavire's scream cut through the courtyard like a bell. For a brief instant, every sword and whip froze in the air. Dozens of eyes turned toward the battlements where she stood — her white nightgown rippling in the cold wind, her hair disheveled, her face pale and tear-streaked.
The silence was suffocating.
Then Marius' voice boomed up from below, a mocking laugh chasing his words.
"Ah, Lady Verith! Our little angel graces us with her sympathy! Tell me, dear, would you rather we let these beasts tear out our throats next time they storm our gates?"
Adavire couldn't speak. The words she wanted to shout tangled in her throat.
Marius spread his arms theatrically, smirking. "No? Then you should watch closely, my lady. This is what mercy brings."
He gestured with a snap of his fingers. The knights pointed their weapons at the demihumans, a signal for them to start killing each other.
In an instant, comrades began to rip each other's flesh with claws and fangs they once vowed to use to protect each other.
Adavire stumbled back from the wall, hands clutched over her mouth as the screams echoed endlessly in her ears.
Elna finally looked at her, eyes soft but resigned. "This is war, Adavire. Not even a genius can save everyone."
**
The conflict had died down a little. It was a completely one-sided massacre since one side had advanced magic weapons while the other only had amateur steel weapons and arrows.
They did not dare approach the fortress to collect the bodies of their comrades.
Marius grew bored of their hesitation to fight so he came to the dining room to stuff himself full of food to maintain that pudgy physique of his.
Adavire couldn't go to sleep after what she just witnessed.
--She stormed into the dining room and slammed her hands on the table, making the Duke's wine almost spill on him.
"Please allow me to negotiate with the Rakeshi tribe in the mountain!" she laid her intentions bare as Marius cut into his medium rare steak and took a bite.
Chewing for a bit, he spoke up, "I think I've grasped what kind of girl you are, lady Adavire. My wife just can't shut up about her books so now most of her favorite character archetypes …are bleeding hearts just like you," Marius finished with a smirk, dabbing his lips with a napkin. "Always believing they can change the world with a few kind words and a smile."
Adavire didn't waver, putting her hand to her chest and proclaiming:
"If speaking can prevent another massacre, then I'll gladly play the fool."
"Massacre? Hmm, whatever could you mean~?"
"You raided an outpost filled with women and children while the men were away fighting after you used your men as a distraction! That's sick!"
He had intended to raid one of their outposts to destroy their food supply, using a small band of soldiers as a distraction to keep the male demihumans busy while another team destroys their supplies. But what they found were the women and children who could not fight.
This… ended in a massacre. It might have forced that one specific tribe to flee but it was like a raindrop in the sea that was outside these walls.
"Oh? You've heard of it?" He leaned back, swirling the wine in his glass lazily. "Truly a pity. You weren't meant to. That sort of spectacle is reserved for men who understand necessity."
Her voice shook, but not from fear. "You call that necessity? They were defenseless!"
Marius chuckled, low and derisive. "Defenseless beasts. Do not romanticize them, my lady. They raid our supply lines, burn our farms, and slaughter children in their sleep. They understand only power. A show of mercy to them is a sign of weakness."
"That's not true… They fight because we drove them from their lands centuries ago."
The Duke paused mid-sip, eyeing her curiously. Then, softly he said, "You've never seen what they do to a man when they catch him alive, have you?"
Adavire's lips parted, but no words came out.
He smiled faintly, pleased by her silence. "That's what separates dreamers from rulers. We do what must be done, no matter how it looks to those with gentle hearts."
"I'm not asking you to stop fighting," she said quietly. "Only to let me try speaking to them. Just once. If it fails, you lose nothing. If it works, you save lives."
Marius chuckled, shaking his head. "You truly are my wife's kind of heroine."
Then, placing down his fork, he leaned forward — the candlelight catching the cruel amusement in his eyes. "But tell me, Lady Adavire… when you stand before one of those beastmen, and he bears his fangs at you — will you still believe your words hold more weight than his hunger and hatred?"
Her gaze was firm and resolute, lacking no hesitation.
A moment passed. Marius leaned back, finally letting out a long sigh. "You're either very brave or very stupid. Fine. I'll grant you your little parley. But when they tear you apart, remember — it was your idea."
Adavire bowed her head slightly, hiding the determined fire in her eyes. "Thank you, my lord. I will make sure it's a decision you won't regret."
"But you have seen the chaos beyond my castle walls. We cannot even stock up our supplies without our comrades being ripped to shreds. Until we open up a path to allow safe passage to both our supply lines and make it safe for you to have your audience with the tribe chiefs on the opposing side, I suggest you stay put and not interfere with our battle."
"…How long will that take?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure. They're swarming us from all sides and I've sent a request to the capital to bring heavy weaponry to aid us. The journey is short but with that heavy machinery, it might take up to two weeks for them to safely bring it to us. Let's say about three weeks, at least."
Adavire clenched her fists. What he said makes sense so she can't be upset for it to take that long to parley.
"Oh, please do not give me that face, Lady Verith. It pains my heart. Tell you what, we will employ the least lethal methods to stop the opposing force—throwing burning logs over the gates and dropping stones on their heads, kakakaka! That will make them hesitant to attack us and reconsider their barbaric attack formations. I do hope that eases your worries somewhat. Remember, one of the lethal methods we have been using thus far is striking them with long metal pikes laced with goblin dung, ensuring they die from infection if the wound doesn't kill them first. The survival ratio is significantly higher with the less extreme measures. While I understand your concern for these… savages, if it looks like we're weak and show compassion, they will swarm us endlessly and sacrifice each other just so that one of them may get the chance to take my head."
A suicide approach basically. Climbing on top of your fallen brethren and using their bodies as shields in order to strike down the commander and take this castle, further strengthening their power in this region.
"…I understand… Thank you for taking it into consideration."
She didn't push too far since he had been kind enough to listen to her.
Three weeks… That's how long it will take for her meet with the demihuman leaders.
She's never been much of a negotiator but perhaps if she speaks logically, convincing them that bloodshed will never end because humans are relentless and they should instead negotiate peace deals, they will surely listen to reason.
Even if you are a mere beast, you should understand that humans are the strongest race in this world and when fighting together, they can crush anything. If the empire decides to join this war then the demihumans will have no choice but to retreat back into the mountains.
What would the fighting have been for, exactly? They could have sat together at a table and discussed how to share and preserve the land that was taken from the demihumans, together.
As she turned to leave, Marius raised his glass. "Do let me know if you need my assistance."
"…Yes, thank you very much. Please excuse me."
"Mm. Goodnight."
The promise of assistance comforted her only slightly. The amusement behind it did not.
The thought of 'what does he want from her to agree to her request so readily' lingered in her mind for only a moment as she left the dining room.
This will be her first mission as a knight looking to carry on Guinevere's legacy.
Question is, will she succeed?