I’m an Appraiser, But What the Heck is a [Divine Eye]? ~I Want to Live Freely as the World’s Best Beginner Class~ - Episode 112: War 3

Episode 112: War 3

The army of the Kingdom of Shriden, led by Maria, was now face-to-face with the main forces of the Kingdom of Rodgrul. The battle had already begun, and both sides had suffered significant casualties.

Amid the chaos, it was Ena and the other advanced-class warriors who were demonstrating incredible valor. On the other hand, Kouya had been held in reserve. But the moment had come for him to finally enter the fray.

“Clear the front lines! If you step into the firing line, consider yourself dead!”

With the captain’s command, the order to retreat was swiftly relayed through the ranks, and the various unit leaders began organizing the withdrawal. The forces of Rodgrul, who had been engaged in a back-and-forth struggle, were perplexed by the sudden retreat of the Shriden army.

“Don’t panic! This is an opportunity! Advance and pursue them!”

As the captain of the Rodgrul forces shouted his order, the troops began to charge forward. However, only a few units were able to respond quickly to the sudden advance command. In contrast, the Shriden army had already planned the deployment of Kouya for this battle the day before, allowing them to retreat with great speed.

As a result, Shriden managed to secure the firing line with minimal casualties.

“Now, let’s put an end to this!”

Standing at the opening of the firing line was, of course, Kouya. He raised both hands above his head and activated his Hero skill, gathering a golden light in his palms. At first, the light simply formed a sphere. But it soon began to stretch upward—one meter….three meters…..ten meters….

“What… what is that?”

The ever-growing golden light could be seen not only from the Rodgrul army’s headquarters but also from within their royal capital beyond the walls. All the citizens of Rodgrul turned their eyes toward it.

“Purify everything and erase it from existence! Maximum power—Saint Sword!”

The final length of the Saint Sword was unknown even to Kouya, as its tip seemed to stretch toward the clouds. With a swift, direct motion, Kouya brought the Saint Sword down in a single stroke. The beam cut through the air. And the target was, of course, the Rodgrul army.

“R-retreat! Retreat! Get away from the light right now—!”

But it was too late. The golden light of the Saint Sword began to obliterate everything it touched in an act of purification. The true nature of the Saint Sword was a massive concentration of high-density magic. The magic was so intense that it surpassed the heat of fire magic, instantly igniting anything it came into contact with. It turned them to ash, and even vaporized the carbonized remains.

The battlefield, already a desolate wasteland from previous skirmishes, was left even more devastated. The sheer destruction caused by the Saint Sword shattered the morale of the surviving Rodgrul soldiers who had narrowly escaped its range.

“Now! Let’s finish this! We will secure victory for Maria-sama!”

“””“OOOOOOOOHHHH!””””

Rallying under Kouya’s triumphant cry, the morale of the Shriden army surged. With a mighty roar, they charged forward, slashing at the demoralized Rodgrul soldiers and casting spells. Some Rodgrul soldiers fell without resistance, while others attempted to fight back but were swiftly cut down.

Under normal circumstances, the battle wouldn’t have been so one-sided. However, after witnessing the Saint Sword, only a few in the Rodgrul army retained the will to fight.

“No, I don’t want to die!”

“Run! I’m getting out of here!”

“I surrender! Please spare me!”

Screams of despair echoed from the Rodgrul army as they began to beg for their lives. Some even offered to surrender. But the Shriden army, following orders, mercilessly slaughtered them. It was a scene of madness, all under the command of Maria.

“…Phew.”

“Well done, Kouya-sama.”

Unaware of the horrific state of the battlefield, Kouya wiped the sweat from his brow and stood beside Maria, as if his task was complete.

“I really wanted to be on the front lines, fighting with everyone.”

“You are the Hero, Kouya-sama. When the time comes for you to stand at the pinnacle of the world, you will take center stage.”

“Of course. But if Maria-sama is ever in danger, I’ll always draw my sword to protect you!”

“Hehe. Thank you, my brave hero.”

Maria gave Kouya a light kiss on the cheek, completely unconcerned that other soldiers were watching. At this point, Maria had fully captured Kouya’s heart—not through her Magic Eyes, but purely by winning him over.

“After we’ve destroyed Rodgrul, why don’t we take a bit of a break?”

“Yes, of course. And…”

Maria agreed with Kouya’s suggestion, but her words faltered at the end.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s take our time. We can send word ahead to my father and the others.”

Even though Maria believed deep down that the place they would return to was already destroyed, she smiled warmly. She kept that thought hidden from both her face and her words.

Half a day had passed since the Saint Sword was unleashed—Rodgrul had raised the white flag, confirming Shriden’s victory.