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Before the war began, while preparing Eramenia’s defense posture, Margaret’s first concern was not the installation or use of defensive magic devices. There were quite a few types of weapons that could be retrieved from Eramenia’s old underground storage. Ranging from basic anti-aircraft weapons like large crossbows to stealth fortresses, reconnaissance hot air balloons, and flying gliders, the storage was filled with weaponry to deal with aerial enemies. Most of these were items developed during the civil war among the elves, which had become unnecessary and were left in the palace basement.

However, having received full authority from Richard to establish a defense plan, Margaret concluded that there was no need to bring out these peculiar weapons. With just the rain of arrows from the well-equipped Eramenia army, they could form a sufficient net to bring down dragons and focused on the installation of other magical devices.

The Short-range Communication Magic Device, unique to Eramenia, made it possible for elite units to establish strongholds throughout the forest to bolster their defenses. Margaret executed a large-scale defensive preparation plan to install the communication devices that had been stored in each stronghold.

This would consume an immense amount of the forest’s magic, and at the same time, it was a task that could not lead to a significant enhancement of firepower. Still, Princess Margaret insisted that she had to utilize the forest’s mana to the fullest, even if it meant exerting herself, in order to ensure immediate communication between the defensive bases.

“Even if we might not have enough time to set up the crossbows due to focusing on communication, it will soon become evident how crucial it is to detect the dragons’ positions and movements in real-time.”

With this kind of declaration, Margaret prepared the defense plan. Jeongjae could not help but acknowledge that there was some truth in her claim. In a rapidly changing battlefield, accurate and swift transmission of information was extremely important. Considering that Eramenia’s magical devices were precise even compared to modern military tools and posed no risk of information theft, it was not an error for Margaret to prioritize spreading the Short-range Communication devices in preparing for the large-scale defense.

Finally, when the dragon descended, the defense line crumbled, and the battle began, Margaret was able to give orders amid the flood of short-range transmissions, directly commanding the battle situation as the rear command center.

“Frontline fortress destroyed! Estimated 1300 dead!”

An Eramenia officer conveyed the latest transmission directly to Margaret, who grimaced at the awful news but instructed Jeongjae in a calm voice.

“Wizard, mark the destruction on the base map. I’d appreciate it if you could also update the loss tally.”

Jeongjae, who was systematically marking the forest map that had been magically implemented at Margaret’s side, silently made an ‘X’ to indicate that Eramenia’s stealth fortress had been destroyed. In one corner of the map, the total forces on both sides and the current losses were displayed.

‘Dragons: Total forces 10. Dead: 1 Critical: 0 Minor: 3 (estimated)’

‘Eramenia Army: Total forces 200,000. Dead: 3800 Critical: 250 Minor: 8000 (estimated)’

Just looking at the directly estimated total forces of the fairy legion due to Margaret’s orders revealed the elves’ mindset towards this fight. Eramenia was the only country that could truly adopt the strategy of ‘fighting until the last person’ on the ground. Even if all citizens took up arms, society would not collapse, and even if everyone donned armor, everyone could still contribute their share.

A force equivalent to one legion had already been lost, and even more soldiers sustained various injuries during the battle, retreating back into the forest. Margaret noted that some of the retreating soldiers had joined other hidden fortresses, and while currently wounded soldiers were suspected to have fled back to the forest, she checked diligently how many had yet to join other bases before issuing orders to each stronghold.

Jeongjae thought she seemed like a gamer playing a remarkably intricate RTS game. However, he couldn’t shake off the thought of how comforting it would be if the current situation truly was a game viewable on a map.

“It appears that the dragons have begun to scatter from this point. Seems they’ve noticed that those gathered together are directly affected by the fire net.”

“One dragon has already fallen. Furthermore, from here on out, crossbows have begun to be deployed. When under the influence of the forest’s magic, they will have no choice but to be aware.”

Margaret and Jeongjae exchanged opinions while pointing at the map. The dragons were advancing thoroughly, fulfilling their mission of burning the forest, and Eramenia had no choice but to allow the dragons’ merciless destruction, even if it brought them to tears. Because dragon breath consumed both magical energy and stamina, the more fire they spit as they approached, the greater the likelihood for retaliating forces.

Moreover, with Great King Richard focusing all his energy on maintaining the throne in the royal palace, no matter how powerful the dragons were, they could not simply ignore the large crossbow bolts.

The forest magic slowed the dragons’ flight speed and reduced the power of their breath, binding and restraining them in various ways, but the greatest quantity of mana was consumed in suppressing the dragons’ flight altitude.

The Great King, even at this moment, was firmly suppressing the dragons who were trying to rise higher to evade arrows, and those dragons within the influence of Eramenia’s magic had to fly with acute awareness of the fire net constructed by the elven soldiers or the crossbow attacks capable of bringing them down in a single shot.

As the short-range transmissions flew in, it became increasingly apparent that the dragons were spreading out to the sides, trying to approach the center gradually. After keenly scrutinizing the rapidly updating coordinates of the dragons, Margaret banged the table with her fist and shouted with determination.

“Follow me, Wizard. I will personally take on the interception.”

“Interception? What interception?”

“I’ve placed seven high-speed gliders near the tower where the Black Dragon Pecadia is approaching. The dragons’ speed has yet to diminish. If we don’t stop them here, it could be dangerous. But without your support, my life would be at risk.”

Although Jeongjae wanted to ask, ‘Is it really necessary to go that far?’ resisting the elven lord who was exercising absolute authority and command in this war was not an easy task for him either. Especially in a situation like this, where high-ranking elven generals were positioned around Margaret.

Margaret quickly scanned her surroundings and pointed to an officer wearing a silver helmet, passing over the command staff she held.

“General Veluk Hambo Polio. You will temporarily take command in my stead. Read all reports that pass to the royal command center carefully and respond appropriately.”

The general, upon receiving the command staff from Margaret, bowed his head in surprise. With a look showing he could not hide his fluster, General Hambo Polio asked.

“In case of an urgent situation, should I report directly to Your Highness, or may I act on my own discretion?”

“Do you think I am a god? I don’t have all the answers to every problem. Even if it’s not an urgent matter, don’t feel compelled to send me reports. Just handle it as you see fit. This is not a staff I’m loaning you so that you can just ask me every little thing and follow along.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

The general at last seemed to have gained some confidence and moved to stand in the center of the command hub where Margaret originally was. After confirming that Margaret was properly equipped with two swords at her waist, three daggers, a quiver, and bow, she smiled reassuringly as she patted Jeongjae on the back.

“Let’s go, Park Jeongjae. While we hesitate, the dragons are not resting. But it’s unlikely they can continue flying forever either.”

“Y-Yeah.”

Jeongjae was nearly dragged forward into the underbrush by Margaret. As usual, Margaret spoke to Jeongjae, who was following behind through the trees.

“To be honest, it’s tough.”

“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“I, as a fairy, have hardly cried even in front of my father. It feels like it’s been decades since I’ve ever sulked to my mother. Even though I was not a child decades ago, being over three hundred years old, my mother now has to prioritize raising my younger sister over me.”

“Are you saying you’re troubled because your younger sibling was born and your parents’ attention is diverted?”

Jeongjae blinked in surprise at what sounded like the complaint of an elementary school student under ten. Margaret chuckled once, shaking her head as she touched the trees with her hand.

“I’ve long since changed from being the one relying on others to being someone who’s relied upon. Humanity, including our fairies, lives relying on one another and being relied upon. I believe the curve formed by such affection and trust in interpersonal relationships is the most beautiful picture in the world. So what I want to say is…”

As Margaret continued her rambling but did not stop walking, Jeongjae listened quietly to her, carefully following her to keep from losing sight of her.

“The number of us fairies who cannot rely on anyone and find ourselves standing alone, and at the same time need to be supported by everyone, is quite limited. Other than me and our father, of course.”

It seemed like the fairy princess felt something as she placed her hand on the shrub before her and suddenly stopped. Jeongjae halted his steps and stood stiffly next to her.

“Uninformed fairies claim that humans, who live less than a hundred years, must inevitably be inferior to elves. They declare that even if some humans are born with great talent, decades is still too short a time for that talent to mature. Perhaps there was a time when I thought that as well. However, the two heroes I first encountered outside the forest completely shattered that notion.”

“Walter and Rose?”

“Yes. Those two were shining great heroes who emitted light, as if believing that there was no being greater than themselves under the sky. I thought that if anyone understood the loneliness I feel, it might be them, who possess a brilliance unmatched by any human or elf. In some respects, I was right. Walter Hellhound seemed all too aware of the feeling of carrying the weight of the world upon himself, and he suffered immensely because of it. Perhaps he is still enduring that suffering now.”

“Walter is a sensitive guy. Sometimes, I feel sorry to say he got that sword.”

“But when I observed them for just a brief moment, I realized that they were desperately clinging to one another and relying on each other. It was as if they knew that the only ones suitable to each other were themselves, pouring all their desires onto one another. And now, I think…”

As Margaret grasped the leaves of a shrub as if to clear her path, she said.

“The solitude you and I feel may be different, but perhaps it’s also similar. If you and I can rely on one another as if there are only the two of us in this world, that would be nice.”

Jeongjae seemed to be about to say something, his lips twitching, but Margaret raised her hand to stop him.

“Don’t answer. It wouldn’t matter anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“Above all, the dragon is roaring. And now, I will clear this shrub.”

And with that, Margaret waved her arm and parted the shrub before her.

The serene atmosphere from just moments ago felt like a lie. It was hard to believe that just one shrub could perfectly block a secret passage in the forest and the tower.

Beyond the shrub that Margaret revealed stood a large white tower, soaring about 15 meters high, and at the top of that tower, a black dragon was overlooking the ground while letting out a terrifying roar.

Margaret’s words were indeed true. As long as that roar resonated through the air, Jeongjae could not possibly hear any answer he might have provided. It wasn’t that he couldn’t hear; it was that he was simply pretending not to. The high elf with the most sensitive ears among the elves could not fail to distinguish between the dragon’s roar and the voice of someone she cared about.

Yet, Margaret could not suppress her desire to convey her feelings, fearing once again to hear a refusal from Jeongjae’s lips. If there were no fear, she wouldn’t have chosen to extend such a nerve-wracking moment while the dragon was about to swallow the tower.

The direct attack on Eramenia was seriously wearing down the elven princess. Margaret was obsessively concentrating to avoid revealing her worn-out aspect, but in that process, she showed more and more weaknesses to the one person she wanted to rely on and found herself growing fragile.

All the elves would see only the appearance of a great hero in Margaret on the battlefield. When she spoke, when she commanded, when she took up arms to lead, she seemed like a godly being from an entirely different world compared to even the most excellent elves. But to that one person, Park Jeongjae, right now, she looked like a fragile ice lake in a transitional season that would shatter at the slightest touch.

Margaret, too, seemed to sense some worry in Jeongjae’s expression. The elven princess, alternating her gaze between the black dragon in the sky and Jeongjae, looked down at the ground with a pained expression and said.

“I’m sorry. I want to trust you, but I fear that it’s impossible for me right now.”

“I trust you, Margaret. Even if one day you show up intoxicated on grape wine, claiming you’ll head to the battlefield wielding a rotten branch instead of a sword, I will trust your judgment.”

“At that point, you should probably stop me.”

“Then climb the tower. Go up and ride the glider.”

Jeongjae gave a serious nudge to the elven princess’s back. The dragon, having likely sensed Margaret’s presence suddenly springing from the shrub, glared down at the elven lord with shining eyes. Jeongjae, revealing himself from the shrub, began to chant powerful defensive magic rituals capable of blocking dragon breath without issue.

“During that time, I will assist you from the ground.”

 

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