Rumble…
From behind Heim City, a deafening explosion echoed from the depths of the Great Black Mountain.
Immediately after, the entire city began to shake violently, as if the heavens and earth themselves were collapsing.
Whether it was Hel and her soldiers atop the city walls or the common folk within the city, everyone felt the same intense tremor at once.
Panic spread like wildfire — people rushed out of their homes, shouting things like "Earthquake! Run!"
Even though the priests of the Church tried their best to maintain order, their efforts were like a drop in the ocean.
Then, a beam of battle aura shot up into the sky.
"Everyone, quiet!"
The one who spoke was a man in his thirties. His long, dark brown hair hung loosely over his shoulders, giving him a disheveled, almost careless look.
"I am Blake, captain of the city guard. I swear on my life that this is not an earthquake.
It's merely a defensive measure Lord Hel has unleashed to stop the beastmen.
The city is completely safe. Our soldiers are fighting for their lives on the front lines — I will not tolerate anyone causing chaos in the rear.
So, please, for my sake, return to your homes."
As he spoke, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.
The name "Captain Blake" carried significant weight within Heim City. In the past, he and Knight Benn had balanced each other's power,
but ever since Benn's disappearance, all of the city's defensive forces had fallen under Blake's command. The lord trusted him deeply.
Known for his iron discipline and sense of justice, Blake's reputation preceded him. Even as a mere soldier in his youth, he had dared to punish the wayward sons of nobles.
Now, with command of the guard, his authority was unquestionable.
Because of that, the citizens slowly began to calm down. Order returned as they dispersed and went back to their homes.
Seeing this, Blake exhaled in relief.
Hel had warned him beforehand to ensure stability within the city today. If a large-scale riot had broken out, he would have failed her trust — something he would never allow.
As a true knight, he would rather die than betray the faith his lord placed in him.
Thinking this, he looked toward the city walls, worry flickering in his eyes.
Though his duty lay here, he couldn't help but wish he could be the one standing before Hel, shielding her from danger.
"Let's hope the lord's plan goes smoothly…" he murmured.
Meanwhile, atop the city walls, Hel stood high above, gazing down at the beastman army below. She waited in silence.
Her eyes drifted toward the northwest, to the Great Black Mountain.
There, a massive, muddy wave roared forth, carrying boulders and dead trees in its surge, rushing toward Heim City.
The towering wall of water — tens of meters high — looked like a monstrous maw, ready to swallow the beastman army whole.
The flood smashed through the beastmen's proud battle formations and drowned countless soldiers' dreams of ever eating another meal.
In mere moments, the floodwaters from the mountain engulfed everything, turning the plains before Heim City into a vast sea.
Some of the surviving beastmen tried desperately to grab onto floating debris, struggling to keep themselves alive,
but as wave after wave crashed over them, they were dragged beneath the surface once more.
"Life is so fragile before the power of nature, isn't it?" Hel murmured as she watched the scene unfold below.
Beside her, Vivian stared in shock, her mouth slightly open.
"Th-this is…?"
"There's a heavenly lake atop the Great Black Mountain," Hel explained, her eyes still fixed on the flood.
"The Heim River that runs through the city — and the Black Mountain River that separates our lands from others — both originate from that lake.
It just so happened that it rained a few days ago, so the water levels were high.
Originally, I intended to have my men dig a channel to release the lake's water.
But then I discovered a hidden underground conduit sealed by a magical barrier.
And the key to unlocking that seal turned out to be an heirloom passed down through the Heim family for generations.
Once the seal was broken… well, you can see the result.
The waters from the lake came crashing down instantly, wiping out the enemy in one blow.
It seems the founders of Heim City chose this location with great foresight — the power of this flood is truly terrifying."
Hel shook her head, half amused, half awed.
"I thought I was being clever by coming up with this plan myself…
Turns out, my ancestors already had the same idea. I suppose… great minds think alike."
"I—I see…"
Vivian couldn't help but feel a shiver of fear toward Hel.
First, she had burned tens of thousands of beastmen alive.
Now, she had drowned another army of over a hundred thousand.
This twelve-year-old girl — this little lord — harbored the mind of a demon.
She always found the most efficient, decisive, and devastating ways to end her enemies.
But soon, Vivian forced herself to calm down.
After all, everything Hel had done was for the sake of protecting Heim City.
Why should she feel pity for the invading beastmen?
And so, with her heart steady once more, Vivian felt a mixture of admiration… and a faint ache of compassion for the young lord who bore such a heavy burden.
"My lord, you could…"
She wanted to tell Hel that she should trust her subordinates more — to delegate, to rest, to stop overworking herself.
But the words caught in her throat.
She knew the situation in Heim City too well.
She knew Hel's position, her pressures.
She had no right to say such things.
"What?" Hel asked, turning to her.
"N-nothing," Vivian quickly replied, shaking her head.
Hel gave her a puzzled look, staring for a long moment before turning back toward the horizon.
For some reason, she had glimpsed something strange in Vivian's expression — something that looked almost like…
Motherly affection?
What in the world…?
Hel blinked, completely thrown off by the thought.
At that moment, several bluebirds landed on the city wall.
They chirped angrily, as if complaining that the sudden flood had ruined their hunt.
Then Vivian's face suddenly went pale.
She rushed to Hel's side and cried out,
"My lord! A beastman aerial unit is approaching from the north!"