The Battlefield
Amidst the slow progress of our investigation, I was summoned by Prince Carlos.
(What does he need?)
Thinking that, I headed to his private chambers and found him clad in the same black armor he had worn when we first met.
“You came. It seems the demons haven’t invaded our territory since then. Perhaps they’ve caught wind of our movements.”
“Yes, Solon mentioned that they might be on high alert as well.”
“Likely so. But in exchange, there’s been movement near the border. The Demon King’s army has launched an attack for the first time in a long while. I’ll be heading there now. You’re coming with me.”
The prince beckoned me with a gauntleted hand.
“Me? Why?”
“You’re the Hero. You’ll be fighting the Demon King’s forces countless times from now on. So, it’d do you good to witness the battlefield and learn more about them. This experience will serve you well someday.”
Now that he mentioned it, I knew nothing of war. Our kingdom had always repelled the Demon King’s invasions. If I was to call myself the Hero, then seeing the enemy firsthand was probably wise.
Still, I hesitated at the thought of leaving without telling my companions.
“Then I should at least inform Solon and the others—”
“I’ll have someone notify them later. If we told them now, they’d all insist on coming. They care deeply for you—that’s not a bad thing, but if this continues, you won’t grow. I’ve seen your battles once before, and it looked to me like you, the Hero, were being dragged along by your stronger comrades.”
“That’s—”
His words struck a nerve, leaving me speechless. Prince Carlos narrowed his eyes and smirked.
“You should act alone sometimes. Your swordsmanship isn’t bad at all. You lack natural talent, but I can see the traces of grueling training in your movements. And that’s precisely why you’re painfully aware of how far behind you are compared to your friends, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
I nodded honestly. I’d never surpass Leon with a sword, Solon in offensive magic, or Maria in healing. Without a doubt, I was the weakest.
“Awareness is good. But letting it discourage you is bad. Though words alone won’t make you understand—so just follow me.”
With that, Prince Carlos strode forward, his bearing sharp and confident.
Without thinking, I followed his back.
※ ※ ※
The plains near the border, not far from Ludonia’s capital, were where the kingdom’s army had gathered. In the distance, I could see thousands—no, tens of thousands—of demons. At the very least, they outnumbered Ludonia’s forces twofold.
Mounted on a borrowed horse, I tensed before my first large-scale battle.
“Ares, stay close to me. Observe Ludonia’s way of war.”
Prince Carlos, still on horseback, gave the order.
Hearing this, his aide Felip rode closer.
“Your Highness, why bring a foreigner onto the battlefield? This is no place for spectators.”
“Obviously, Felip. The demons will come charging straight for my head. There’s no room for bystanders. Ares will fight as one of our knights.”
Though his face was hidden behind his black helmet, his voice carried amusement.
“But if the Hero were to die, it could cause problems later,”
said Elliot, the other aide, his tone calm. He wasn’t so much concerned for me as he was wary of the political fallout for the prince.
“If he dies here, he’d never have stood a chance against the Demon King anyway.”
With that, Prince Carlos drew his sword and raised it high.
“Archers, forward!”
The archers advanced ahead of the cavalry, arrows nocked.
The demons were closing in, the distance shrinking rapidly. The prince kept his sword raised, as if measuring the perfect moment.
They drew nearer—close enough to make out their terrifying visages.
(Why isn’t he giving the order yet?! My heart pounded like a frantic drum.
“Fire!”
The instant the prince swung his sword down, countless arrows split the sky, raining upon the demon horde.
“Ready!”
Without waiting to assess the damage, he ordered another volley, then another. By the third, the Demon King’s army had lost much of its momentum.
“Charge!”
Prince Carlos spurred his horse forward, cutting through the ranks of archers. The knights followed, and I hurriedly urged my own mount after them.
The Ludonian knights roared as they plunged like a spear into the heart of the demon swarm. Even weakened, sturdy hobgoblins fought back despite being riddled with arrows. And the enemy still held numerical superiority.
From both sides, the Demon King’s forces closed in, threatening to envelop the knights.
Demons attacked relentlessly. I swung my sword desperately, blocked frantically with my shield—lost in the frenzy. At some point, I realized I’d dismounted.
Though I wasn’t alone—Prince Carlos’ elite knights surrounded me—the sheer number of demons made it impossible to let my guard down.
Prince Carlos, Felip, and Elliot all fought brilliantly, but Elliot stood out the most. His skill might have been second only to the prince’s.
I’d worried Felip might target me mid-battle, but he showed no such inclination, fighting fiercely instead. He didn’t seem like someone colluding with the enemy at all.
Ludonia held the advantage. But as the battle raged, I spotted a group of ogres advancing—fresh and numerous. They were likely aiming for the prince.
(We might not hold them off—)
I tried to warn him, but Prince Carlos, still mounted, was already surveying the field. Of course, he’d noticed. Raising his voice, he commanded the mages waiting at the rear.
“Prepare magic!”
At his order, the mages began chanting. Just as they finished, the prince pointed his sword at the ogres.
“Fire!”
Explosions of magic erupted amidst the ogres.
Even their fearsome resilience couldn’t withstand such power. One by one, they fell.
(Why not use magic more often?)
For a moment, I wondered—but the mages looked utterly drained.
Being around Solon had made me forget: magic wasn’t endless. Casting large-scale spells took immense energy, leaving mages incapacitated for a long time.
In other words, they could only be used at critical moments.
And Prince Carlos had judged this to be one.
But it wasn’t over. The demon commander’s goal was likely to grind Ludonia’s forces down—physically and mentally. More demons poured in without pause.
From horseback, Prince Carlos kept rallying his men—
declaring his presence, assuring them of their advantage.
The battle wore on. By the time I noticed, many of the Ludonian knights around me had fallen—or more accurately, the lines had blurred into chaos.
Amidst it all, I cut down a hobgoblin. The tough fight left me momentarily relieved—so much so that I failed to notice the ogre approaching from the side.
Its massive sickle swung down—but my arms wouldn’t move in time.
Then came the dull sound of flesh being cleaved.
The ogre targeting me collapsed, blood gushing from its neck.
Prince Carlos had ridden in and struck it down mid-gallop.
“Ares, you can use healing magic, can’t you? Mind easing my fatigue?”
He didn’t boast about saving me—just called out casually from his saddle.
“Your Highness…”
I prayed as asked. While I did, the prince kept fighting, shielding me.
A faint light enveloped him. Since it was fatigue recovery, the effect wasn’t visible.
“Convenient thing, being a Hero.”
His voice sounded pleased, so it must’ve worked.
“Fighting on the front lines, wielding attack magic and healing. Every kingdom—no, every knight order—could use one of you.”
After the joke, he rode off again.
“Ares, if you ever write a memoir, be sure to include, ‘Saved by the Prince of Ludonia.’ Thanks to him, the Demon King was defeated.’”
He added with a laugh.
※ ※ ※
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
How much time had passed? It had been noon when we started, yet the sun now hung low.
Finally, the Demon King’s army began retreating.
Pursuit? Impossible. Ludonia’s forces were spent. Even I was exhausted, my grip barely strong enough to hold my sword.
Prince Carlos roared—both a warning to the enemy and a proclamation of victory.
The knights and soldiers joined in. So did I. There was an indescribable exhilaration—and a hollowness.
The battlefield was littered with demon corpses… and fewer, but still far too many, Ludonian soldiers. Among them were knights who’d fought beside me moments ago.
I’d seen death before—but never on this scale.
“You held your own. As expected of the Hero.”
Prince Carlos approached, helmet removed, wearing a disarmingly friendly smile.
“Your Highness… your command was flawless. Even so, losses were inevitable…”
“That was truly magnificent fighting. I see now why they call you the Hero of Ludonia.”
“What are you talking about? ‘flawless’ doesn’t exist.”
“Huh?”
I couldn’t help but stare at the prince, taken aback. His face had gone completely expressionless.
“Nothing in this world is flawless. When I loosed my arrows, when I ordered the charge, when I cast my spells—looking back, there might’ve been better moments. A second sooner, a second later, the outcome could’ve been greater. Fewer soldiers and knights might’ve died. After every battle, I keep thinking about it. Over and over. Do you know why?”
“No…”
How could I possibly understand? These were the burdens of those above me.
“Because it’s my duty. Ares—Hero—you must not fear yours. The reason you hesitate to give your comrades orders is because you’re afraid. Afraid things might go wrong because of you. Afraid your allies might get hurt. It’s easier to leave it to others. Maybe they’ll do better. But listen, Ares.”
The prince’s expression hardened.
“Don’t you think what makes a Hero a Hero is their resolve? A reckless resolve, some might say. Because you’re carrying the weight of people’s futures—something no ordinary person could bear. Doesn’t that sound right?”
“That’s…”
Maybe he was correct. I’d thought that if I could just defeat the Demon King, everything would be fine. That if I just pushed myself hard enough, I could manage alone. But I was wrong.
My eyes traced the gruesome aftermath—the piles of corpses. I was heading into the Demon King’s domain to end this war. And for that, my strength alone would never be enough.
“Though don’t take it too seriously. You seem like the earnest type.”
The prince’s expression softened slightly.
“But mark my words, Ares. Steel yourself. The path ahead isn’t as simple as you think. It’s not a wish you can fulfill just by throwing your life away. Any fool can find the resolve to die—even the weakest of hearts. A Hero is the opposite. You must resolve to live, no matter what. You must become a light for others, carrying their lives on your back. It’s a painful road—one that’ll make you want to run.”
Do you understand? His tone was gentle, almost lecturing.
I had no answer. It felt like a blade pressed against my throat.
“If you ever find yourself wavering, just say the word. I’ll gladly become the Hero in your place.”
With a joking smile, Prince Carlos let out a quiet laugh.
TLNOTE:
Because of that volume 1 and 2 fan translation in this site will be removed in the near future
otherwise check the internet archive
As usual, please consider reading other novels written by Daken sensei listed below :
- Monster Meat Led Me to the Throne
- The Wicked Princess and 12 Eyes – The Strongest Squires and the Legendary Evil Woman, the Second Time in Her Life
- The Castle of Canaan ~ The Lost Kingdom’s Princess, the World’s Hidden Treasure, and the Grand Adventure of the Mightiest Band of Thieves Versus an Empire ~
- The Suspects of Necromancy
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
- The Last Magic (translated by my friend narwhal)
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
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