CHAPTER 14: The Countess and Her Troubles Part 1

The whole county was thrown into unprecedented panic. Under normal circumstances, it would still take a few weeks before another wave of monster assaults came back. Unfortunately, in just two days, it did come all without any prior warning. The troops' morale was still low due to their last defeat, the weapons were limited at the moment, the families of the deceased were still in midst of mourning, and the county was scheduled to hold a yearly festival tonight. In other words, the whole populace was not in the condition to fight anytime soon. Worst case, several skilled members in the troops were still suffering from some injury or two in the last battle.

Lavish preparations for the festival took many different forms in the whole county's several sites. The people were forming several flocks all over the land. The disorderly condition of everything made abrupt evacuation hard to be implemented in just a few hours. In just an hour, the monsters would already reach the gates. In other words, they were doomed.

A maturely beautiful woman, with long platinum gray hair, attractive bangs, silver eyes, and a very seductive figure was sitting in her table writing some important documents since early this morning. It was no other than Countess Clea Michelle Meinsfield, the current lady of the territory. She had been too busy ever since the influx of monsters had become more frequent these days.

While looking at the windows for a break, two urgent messenger birds suddenly arrived. They collectively came from the leaders of the Orders. After reading the content of the letter, her eyes were all agape in shock. It said that there was another monster assault. Like any other person, she was thrown into panic. She wanted to convince herself that this might not be the case, that the letter might just be a jest or something, but there were signatures of the three Order leaders at the bottommost part of the paper. She could not think of any way out of the difficult situation.

As she held the envelope from the first bird in her hands, she took another one from the second bird which came right after. She was so familiar with the second bird when she looked closely at it. It was from a person she knew very well.

"F-From Edward…? Now, what is it this time, huh?" She opened the second envelop from Edward. "I hope this isn't something nonsensical again."

She opened it with a heavy sigh. The points of the second letter said: "…Listen carefully, Lady Countess. You must flee from here as soon as possible. This assault is like no other. About 30 D-ranked minotaurs and about 200 E-ranked snakes are approaching. Plus, I suggest you outright cancel the festival and evacuate the people at the opposite side. We'll give you 6 hours to do that even if it'd cost us our lives… If you don't adhere with me, speak with Sir Condor and you'll understand… If it's for your safety, I wouldn't mind offering my own life. This might be my last, Godspeed, Milady!" The second letter did not have any good resolution to issue; it merely advised her to flee. Well, just like the first one.

"W-What an idiot… that boy. Of course, evacuating the people on the other side of the river is the only course possible but that would take 6 hours, at least, to do. But can they really hold the monsters that long…? This is suicide… Does he really want to throw his life that way? What a foolish boy…"

She calmed herself down and tried thinking of other ways. But no matter how she racked her brain, there was not any other option.

"C-Condor! Are you there!?" She fervently called someone outside of her very deluxe office. In just a few seconds, an old man in suit who looked like a seasoned butler, arrived.

"What is it, Milady…? How may I help you?"

"P-Please read this…" She proffered the first letter to him. "A hundred monsters are approaching. Do you have any suggestions…?"

Condor, the long-time adviser of the Meinsfield House which could be traced back from the time of her father, read the letter in a speed that rightly befitted on the time of crisis. This man had served this mansion even back at the time of her predecessors — thus a seasoned man in the field. However, it turned out that even the smartest adviser in this territory had nothing to give in this situation. He spouted the same words as that of Edward's.

"I think holding out the monsters in six hours is doable for the soldiers…" Condor calmly stated as if it was something natural. "That's my proposal."

"But that'd be suicidal, right?"

"That doesn't matter, Milady! All the three Orders had pledged their absolute loyalty to you and to this county. Sacrificing their lives is nothing but a natural thing…"

"N-No way…!"

"Now, please pardon me. I'll initiate the evacuation of the citizens. And I humbly ask that you prepare your things as well for your departure, Milady…"