The Demon King's Paladin Part 2. All Out War.

Chapter 501. Western Border

                                                                John Ericsson's Point Of View

" Who goes there!?"

" Marquess Matthew Drake! Reporting for Combat Duty by order of King Warrick!"

/ Rumble! Creak!/

With my answering of the guard's question, the giant, shining, metal gate to the Western Border has begun to open. It's been 2 months since Warrick and Aqua woke Sarah, Anna and I up while we were trying to sleep after I got back from Darkheim. The journey took 4 weeks in all to get from one border to the next, granted, that was due to the road I made between Paradise and Blackstone. Not just that, but the road from Blackstone and the Western Border was actually in pretty good shape. To the point where I was almost jealous. Comparing the ride we took to get here with the ride to Paradise when we first arrived would be unfair. Granted, the road now is great because of Gil's magic, but it's still vexing.

" They're pretending like they wouldn't know we were here? Today is the deadline for our arrival!"

While the ride to Paradise 2 years ago was actually somewhat relaxing as Sarah, Anna and I treated it as a long honeymoon road trip, this ride was a bit different.

" Seriously... Are they led by clowns or fools?"

Sarah was the first to complain about the guards, then Anna also joined in. To be fair about the whole trip, they decided to treat it almost like a sequel to our trip to Paradise, until our destination was ever mentioned. Then they began to crinkle their noses and sigh so deeply that it almost sounds like their growling. I felt bad for the people that are traveling with us since they didn't really know how to deal with Sarah and Anna's bad mood. Usually the answer would be to just grab me and throw me at them like antient tribes of Humans committing Human Sacrifice to appease their Gods. Granted, their method of calming My Wives has had a 100% success rate so far... I can't help but feel like I'm being treated like an emotional support stuffed animal for some emotional kids. Granted, it's My Cute Wives, so I've yet to mind it... Except for when I was in the middle of using the bathroom, but those moments were few and far between...

" Come on now you 2, you've been in a bad mood ever since the Border has entered our sights. Whether you like it or not, we're here now. We need to suck it up and deal with it."

" Ruby, that would mean a lot more coming from someone glaring at the opening gates."

" Well, it's not like I'm a big fan of all of this either Flare."

" I think it's time we start acting like we want to be here everyone."

" Okay..."

The 5 other people here all groaned out an " okay" to my request. Those 5 people around me were Sarah, Anna, Ruby, Flare and Edmon. We were all currently on horseback. Along with the 6 of us, I've brought 500 warriors from Paradise to work as my army that I was commanded to bring. This was the bare minimum that Warrick told me would be expected of me. I thought that would be the end of any problems... But it turns out the ole Paradise Tradition held true... When it was announced that i would be needing to head to the Western Border along with an army of 500 to defend it from the Elves, the crowd became... I guess " spirited" would be a good explanation of it? Either way... A lottery was made and 500 happy Demons were chosen. The eventual duels that came about because of gloating and the subsequent banning of duels for the soldiers of the army is a seperate story that won't be getting included in any official reports.

" You may enter!"

With the doors fully opened, the guard on duty directed us to enter the giant fort that acted as the main base of the Western Border. We did as we were told and made our way into the tunnel that led to the main building of the Border. The building itself looked like it was a sturdy looking castle-like structure. I say castle-like since it looks as if where a Palace would be was instead a place with a giant structure made of stone and metal. If I had to guess it was where the Chief Of Staff and his council for managing the Border would have their meetings and always have an immediate view on any pressing situations that were at hand... However there were also places that served a more immediate strategic purpose than just letting the Chief Of Staff of the Western Border see what's happening on the ground. There were many look-outs and perches where officers were stationed with bows and arrows... And I could even see some Dark Elves around. They all looked quite worn down. It was like a real-life commentary on the state of the Border Personnel that have been in a stalemate with the attempted Elf invasion. Looking at them it was easy to tell that no one here serving on the Border has had an easy time of it. Lot's of deep, dark circles around their eyes. It looks like no one has been able to sleep in quite some time. Though this is all from simply taking a look at the one's I could see before heading into the tunnel.

" It's quite different compared to the Northern Border."

" Yes, there's different weather conditions and wild life at the 4 main Borders of Diablos, to accommodate that, Diablos and our carpenters worked tirelessly to make sure that the main buildings would stay standing for millennia." 

/ THOOOM! RUMBLE! CRACK! BANG!/

Just as Edmon excitedly explained why the architecture was different between the Borders, something seemed to have struck the Border and caused everything to shake. It was like a ballistic missile just hit something really close to us. We all quickly rushed out of the tunnel as fast as we could along with the 2 guards who were acting as guides for us. Once we made it out of the tunnel in record time we had all spilled out into a large inner field that seemed to act as a training ground judging by the dummies and what looked like blunted sparring weapons. But none of that was of particular interest right now. We all looked around to see what it was that got hit. After looking around for a minute, we couldn't find any damage that had been done. It was then that the 2 guards who ran with us began to speak with a relieved tone in their voices.

" The Barrier held up."

" Those Dark Elves have been a life saver!"

The guards looked as if the world was ending for a moment, but now, it was like they found out they were getting bonus pay or something.

" Are you saying that the Dark Elves have put up a Barrier around the Western Border, you two?"

I asked a question to try and confirm what they both said, but they looked at me like I just said the sky was falling.

" Both of you! A Marquess and the Vice-Chief Of The Logistics of the Coalition Army asked you a question! Do I need to bring up any more for you to understand that you need to answer your Superior Officer's questions!?"

" Oh! No! It's not that! We were just relieved that the enemy's attack had failed! To answer Marquess Drake's question, yes, the first thing the Dark Elves did when they arrived is use a Magical Device to create a fully automated Barrier spell to cover this section of the Western Border! It's because of that, that we've been able to cause a stalemate for so long! Sir! Uhm... Ma'am!"

The soldiers eventually answered my question... But it took Ruby yelling at them to make it happen... I wonder if I should sound more authoritative when I'm speaking to the grunts? I mean... Would it even make sense to though? I am a novice when it comes to Military Affairs. I've really only been involved with the Hero Party invasion. Other than that, I've more or less have just stuck to Paradise and the Roselands? Maybe it's better to think on this more later? For now, I still need a bit more information. I'm sure there's been a lot of changes in the war while we've been traveling here... But the most important thing for now is the next question I have.

" Say, by chance, have the Elves been launching magic attacks like that all the time?"

" Huh? Ah! Yes Sir! Every hour on the hour! If it wasn't for Chief Sharp, we'd all probably would've been eliminated by now."

The guards spoke and I was surprised by the name they said... Sharp? Why do I recognize that name?

" Hey! What are you idiots doing!? Get back to your post!"

Just as I felt like I was about to remember something important, a harsh voice like an old car's engine yelled out at the guards and broke my train of thoughts. An older-looking Demon had begun to walk over to us, he was purple-skinned with long turquoise hair falling all the way down his back. He seemed to be as tall as Ruby, so he must be sitting at around 7 and half feet tall. Once he made his way up here, he began to speak again.

" I'll handle the Marquess from here! Now get back to guard duty! Your roles are important!"

With a shout, the guards quickly followed his orders and ran. Once they left, the old man looked at me and wore a smile that made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. I waited to see what he would do and he began to speak in a much softer voice than before.

" Hello, Marquess Drake, I'm Lieutenant Anros Dagna. It's a pleasure to meet you."

His name... I remember it... He's one of the ones in cahoots with the little alliance of Nobles that are pissed at me... Now how do I want to go about playing him?

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And how do I stop Sarah and Anna leaking so much killing intent?