How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 275

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 276

Chapter 65: The Decisive Battle

‘Only one chance.’

Those were Kerwyn’s words.

Her meaning was clear: I had to create the perfect battlefield. If Nebiros suspected anything and tried to escape, this hard-won opportunity would vanish like a bubble.

That’s why I waited for Nebiros to reveal himself first. Furthermore, anything blocking his path had to appear as a hastily made plan. I had to eliminate even the slightest hint of suspicion.

They say you must deceive your allies to deceive the enemy. Nebiros, witnessing the seemingly unplanned response of the group that appeared without prior knowledge, finally played his most important card: the Unholy Knights. The opportunity had finally arrived.

“Kerwyn!”

The sky responded to my shout. Kerwyn, who had been flying in using transparent magic, revealed herself.

Dressed in a pure white robe, her silver hair fluttering, she raised her hand atop a ghostly horse with fur as white as her attire.

Then, a translucent barrier formed in front of the advancing Griffin.

Kaaah!

At the same time, the Griffin let out a ferocious cry and flew towards the Drake.

The Drake, which had been attacking the illusions, belatedly noticed the Griffin’s approach and opened its jaws. A blazing flame erupted, and a breath of fire rushed straight toward it.

“I’m not asking for much! Just dodge it once!”

I conveyed my strong will to the Griffin, which instinctively sensed the danger, bristled its feathers, and cried out. Simultaneously, I gathered mana. Gripping Aphen tightly in both hands, I smiled as I looked into the eyes of the approaching Drake.

“Long time no see, you bastard.”

The barrier Kerwyn deployed blocked the breath for a brief moment.

That was enough. The Griffin, gracefully arcing through the air to dodge the flames, descended again and brushed past the Drake’s side.

Instantly, the sword I swung tore the Drake’s wings to shreds. Blood gushed out like a burst dam and scattered in the air, and the Drake began to fall, wailing.

However, Nebiros, still riding the Drake, stared at Kerwyn without moving and spoke.

“Kerwyn.”

Nebiros’s call. Because of the distance, only I, who was nearby, could hear his voice, but Kerwyn somehow understood and replied.

“Nebiros.”

“Until now, you’ve been hiding, clinging to your meager life. Why reveal yourself now?”

“As you said, it’s a meager life, but I made a promise.”

Kerwyn answered Nebiros’s question with a smile—a beautiful smile that cast off all worries and anguish.

“A promise to protect the kingdom he created, the moment to finally fulfill that promise.”

After speaking, Kerwyn gently closed her eyes. At the same time, her body began to glow blue.

Nebiros kept his gaze fixed on her until the end, slowly falling with the Drake.

‘It has begun.’

Confirming Kerwyn’s appearance, I immediately steered the Griffin to chase after the falling Drake.

Far away, the Unholy Knights on Wyverns were fiercely pursuing us, but the Sky Knights blocked their path, sacrificing their lives. A fierce aerial battle unfolded.

“Young Lord!”

Turning my head at the sound of someone calling me, I saw Luth on a giant crow. Lordain, riding the crow with Luth, pointed at the Drake.

“Hey kid! Nebiros is over there!”

“I know.”

I glanced at the fierce battle unfolding on the ground. Giant treants [tree-like creatures] were rampaging through the monster horde, and a knight was seen cutting down monsters alongside the Beastmen.

“Who is that knight?”

“It’s Master Graham!”

“He came with us? That’s a relief.”

Then, I turned my head and looked toward Windnest. As the attack on the castle subsided, Count Lindayer personally led the knights and troops out of the castle gates to join the battle.

“What are you going to do, kid!”

At Lordain’s call, I nodded.

“I will finish Nebiros, but I need time. Lordain, will you protect me?”

“You? That guy?”

Lordain, who seemed doubtful for a moment, soon shook his head.

“Damn it, you must have a plan. Alright! I’ll take the lead.”

“I will join you too!”

At the same time, Ilia, riding a Hippogriff [a creature with the front half of an eagle and the back half of a horse] next to me, shouted. Redran was riding behind Ilia, and he growled at me.

“You haven’t shown your face since the Northern Expedition, and now you’re trying to give us this situation as a gift?”

“Yeah, you bastard. If you’re not going to help, don’t get in the way.”

“……I want to interfere, but I can’t because of the woman in front of me.”

Ilia glared at Redran with a fierce expression, and he clicked his tongue and nodded.

“Anyway, I’ll help.”

“Good, let’s go!”

As I shouted confidently and chased after the falling Drake, my companions followed behind me.

Koo-oong!

The Drake crashed into the ground, crushing hundreds of monsters beneath it. Since only its wings were damaged, the Drake writhed a few times and then stood up again, letting out a cry.

“Fear!”

The Fear that echoed across the plains caused the monsters to react immediately. They stopped fighting and began to run toward the Drake.

“Damn it!”

It affected all beings, including humans and monsters, causing both Hippogriffs and Wyverns to lose strength and stagger.

“Enough.”

It was then.

Nebiros, who slowly walked out and stood tall on the Drake’s head, gave an order. Miraculously, the Drake stopped roaring and bowed its head.

“Noisy.”

Nebiros, who stood tall and simply subdued the Drake, looked directly at me and spoke.

“Cain Arphen.”

Even though the distance was quite far, his voice was heard clearly. It was an alien sensation, as if it was being embedded directly into my head rather than being heard by my ears.

I grinned at him.

“You know me?”

“I have you in my memory.”

“It wouldn’t be a good memory.”

“Yes. That’s right. Anger is rising. An unpleasant feeling.”

“Does a Demon Lord also get swayed by such trivial emotions?”

“Because the vessel isn’t properly polished. I am Nebiros, the great Demon Lord of Hell, and also the owner of this body.”

“An incomplete descent?”

“You’re insightful.”

“Then I’ll send you back to hell as you are.”

“How?”

Nebiros questioned. He raised his head for a moment and looked at Kerwyn.

“Are you preparing some kind of magic?”

Nebiros lowered his head again and laughed—a terribly cold laugh. An abyss seemed to emanate from his laughter.

“I hope you try your best.”

The conversation ended there. The gathered monsters began to block the way. At the same time, the Wyverns and Unholy Knights, who had shaken off the Sky Knights, landed in front of Nebiros.

‘Where’s Kerwyn?’

When I raised my head, Kerwyn’s body, which had been glowing blue, was now burning white.

Lordain, who saw the same sight, twitched his eyebrows.

“What is this energy… what is that woman’s identity?”

“It’s Kerwyn.”

“Damn it. That magician Kerwyn I know?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t she help sooner?”

“The time allotted to her ended a long time ago. That’s just the last flame burning with her remaining will.”

“I don’t know what you mean, but I know she’s preparing something enormous.”

“This is the first and last chance.”

“Alright, I got it. I’ll protect you.”

Lordain stepped forward. At the same time, Luth, Ilia, and Redran also assisted Lordain, fighting off the rushing monsters.

Seeing that, I slowly drew Aphen. Then, I gripped it in reverse and plunged it into the ground in front of me. The amber jewel embedded in the guard began to glow and vibrate.

It starts now.

I slowly knelt on one knee and folded my hands on the hilt, a posture as if a knight was being knighted.

The preparation was over. Everything else will be decided by Kerwyn and the group gathered here.

“Count Cain!”

Graham, who had discovered the falling Drake and rushed here, found me and called out.

“Master Graham.”

“Is that him?”

“Yes. It’s the Demon Lord Nebiros.”

“I knew there was an ominous energy. Do I just have to defeat him?”

“You just need to protect me. Will you help me?”

“As much as you need.”

Graham rushed toward Nebiros with a firm face and began to mercilessly cut down the monsters blocking the way.

At the same time, Rahenna, who had turned into a giant white wolf, and the Beastmen following him finally broke through and arrived.

Rahenna, who quickly turned back into human form, stood next to me and looked up at Kerwyn.

“Is that Kerwyn?”

“Yes.”

“A noble woman. She was like that hundreds of years ago, and she still is.”

Rahenna, remembering her actions of saving the Druids during the Tribal War, quietly bowed her head to honor Kerwyn.

Then, she slowly took out her pipe and put it in her mouth, looking around. As she exhaled smoke, the monsters that were rushing in ferociously began to growl and bite each other. It seems she cast an illusion spell.

“Cain!”

Blau, the leader of the Dark Elves, and Kuhn, the leader of the Beastmen, followed Rahenna. They were covered in blood, proving they had come through a bloody path.

“We can finally repay our debt from the Northern Expedition.”

“Thank you for coming.”

“We have only done what we should have done.”

They nodded firmly and led the Elves and Beastmen who came with them back into battle.

On the other hand, Glorian, who had driven out the monsters with the treants and approached, had an uncomfortable look. It must be because he saw the Dark Elves fighting on the battlefield.

The two tribes were entangled in a long-standing feud, but Glorian, like a wise Elf, did not antagonize them even in this situation.

“Glorian.”

“It’s good to see you.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“Lordain was right. This is not just a human matter. The entire continent is in danger, so it is natural to participate. How can I help?”

“Will you protect me?”

At my words, Glorian pointed to Aphen stuck in the ground.

“Is it related to that?”

“Yes.”

“I understand. Sentinels! Seize the sky!”

At Glorian’s shout, the Elves raised their bows and began to snipe at the Wyverns floating in the sky.

“Cain!”

This time it was Count Lindayer and his Wind Knights. Count Lindayer, cutting down an ogre, rushed over and shouted at me.

“You stupid bastard! What are you doing, suddenly digging into the middle of this enemy territory! How dangerous!”

‘Is he still my son?’ Even though he was angry, I couldn’t help but smile at the relief in his eyes.

“I heard the situation from Princess Bashrun. Is that the cause of all this?”

“Yes.”

“I heard you know how to defeat him.”

“That’s right, but I need time. Will you protect me?”

“Of course! With our lives! Knights, protect Cain!”

A small number of Wind Knights, including Rihas and Gillaine, stood behind me and straightened their swords. Gillaine nodded at me, and Rihas smiled.

“The wind will protect you.”

“Count Cain, it is an honor to fight with you again.”

Count Lindayer, hearing the firm resolve of the two, nodded at me and immediately followed Graham, who was heading toward Nebiros.

Finally, Fleta, who flew in with them on the Phantom Steed, landed next to me and asked urgently.

“Count Cain, what is that shining woman? The energy I feel is unusual.”

“Fleta.”

“Yes?”

“You can be happy. You will see the most beautiful end of a great archmage.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the pure white light that had been shining on Kerwyn began to spread out in all directions like an explosion.