My Husband Has Changed - Chapter 160



Only Noblemtl

#160. 2 years later
2024.03.08.

“Saint.”

“The Saint of Reichenau has returned.”

“God has not abandoned us… … .”

“Long live Ansgar!”

“Please save us… … .”

Countless joys and wishes burst out like a tidal wave and reached her feet.

Adele stood up from where she had been kneeling, dumbfounded. She was just staring at the people who had begun to believe that she was a saint.

Suddenly, she felt a tingling pain in her palm. Blood was flowing again from the wound that had been torn in the cave.

‘This.’

A new crimson pattern was engraved over the original wound, covering it up.

A circle and a piercing line. It was the symbol of Morrig.

Regardless of how horrible it felt to her, the benefit of the stigmata was clear.

Now, she could truly act as a saint. No longer having to hide your powers without worrying about being branded a witch.

‘But who on earth would do something like this?’

At that moment, it seemed as if someone was laughing from afar.

Said. I’ll give you a gift… … .

* * *

Two years later.

“I can’t take this anymore.”

The interior of the barracks, which had sunk into a gloomy state, was as dark as its atmosphere.

The faces of the people sitting around a round table barely lit by a few candles were stained with fatigue and frustration like indelible stains.

The person who had spoken first shook his head and continued.

“The casualties of the Allied forces are over seventy percent. We’ve been short on supplies and support for a long time. If we continue to hold out like this, we’ll all be annihilated.”

“So.”

“We have to abandon Witzleben. At least Schleicher, Linzingen, and the northern part of Ansgar.”

There was an uproar at that radical proposal. Most of it was harsh criticism. Someone slammed their fists on the round table and shouted,

“You can’t do that! Abandon Witzleben? Even if we do that, once we leave the forest, there’s only plains. How are we going to stop the monsters in a place with no shelter?”

“Isn’t there Ingrida’s Wall?”

The murmurs grew louder. The words they uttered to get their point across clashed sharply.

“Nonsense!”

“And what if Ingrida’s Wall is breached?”

“Then we’re all just waiting to die here?”

“Death! The saint who is here… … .”

“It’s already been two years since the saint manifested the power of Morrig!”

The one who had initially insisted on abandoning Witzleben shouted again, raising his voice.

At those words, the eyes of those sitting at the round table turned to Adelheid.

She sat quietly on one side, maintaining an indifferent expression despite the arrows being returned to her. The man’s voice grew louder and more confident.

“But look at us now. Have we achieved

any significant results in the past few months?” “Are you going to hold the saint responsible for the current situation? You who wiped out all the soldiers every time you went out?”

The face of the man who had been advocating a retreat instantly turned red at someone’s sarcasm. He continued, hesitating.

“Of course, the saint has been a help to our forces all this time… … This is a fact that no one here can deny.”

Several people burst out laughing at the malicious disparagement.

Since Saint Adelheid manifested the power of the gods, she has led the knights and taken the lead in every battle, big or small. She has

dropped fireballs from the sky, split the ground with earthquakes, and mercilessly cut off the heads of monsters with blades imbued with the power of the gods.

It was impossible to simply refer to such power as ‘helpful.’

If the monsters’ power hadn’t increased explosively like it was now, this war would have been decided by humans long ago. Just by her, Adelheid’s existence alone.

“I’m not trying to deny that the saintess has done great things so far. However, haven’t we all experienced it so far? It’s impossible for a single person to handle all the monsters that are coming at us. No matter how great that power is.”

“So. Are you saying that if we throw away this barrier, there will be hope where there was none?”

“Count, that’s not what I meant… … .”

“It sounds like that’s what you meant. If you’re going to talk nonsense, then keep your mouth shut.”

“Can’t you even speak as you wish? Even His Highness the Crown Prince has remained silent!”

“Right now… … .”

“Enough.”

The one who calmed down the escalating argument was Mikhail.

He tilted his chin and looked around at the people sitting at the round table. The young commander’s face was filled with tired weariness.

“I understand what you are saying. First, remember that we have already retreated three times since abandoning Nassau Castle. If we are pushed back here, we may never set foot on northern soil again.”

“… … .”

“Your Majesty, answer. Do you still have to abandon this place?”

“May I be honest with you?”

The knight who had been sitting quietly the whole time spoke up.

When Mikhail nodded, he stood up. Looking around the room, he slowly opened his mouth.

“The outcome of this war is already decided. There are no more young men to take up arms and fight, and the farmland is drying up. It is clear that we humans will be the losers.”

“… … .”

“A week, maybe a month… … If we are very lucky, we may hold out for half a year. But the fall is inevitable.”

This time, no one spoke hastily.

The fact that the situation was going terribly was something that everyone here could feel.

However, they could not retreat and were just holding on. They were the last defense of humanity.

“Let’s build Ingrida’s Wall as the last defense. It’s all just empty talk. Someday, even that will be breached. There are monsters digging tunnels underground and flying in the sky.”

“… … .”

“If you ask me if I want to retreat to Ingrida’s Wall, yes. I want to. To be more honest, I don’t want to waste any more time on meaningless things.”

“… … .”

“There is no future for humanity anymore. I want to go back and spend my last moments with my family.”

An eerie silence continued even after the knight sat down again. Everyone agreed with the content, although there were differences in degree.

The crudely built defense wall made of wooden planks could collapse at any moment, and the monsters surging beyond it were dense as if black sea water had surged in.

Even at first glance, the overwhelming difference in power was felt.

If it weren’t for the saint’s power, it would have been difficult to even hold out until now.

“I agree, but… … .”

“There is a danger… … .”

One by one, those who agreed with the middle-aged knight’s words began to murmur and express their opinions.

Adele quietly waited for the meeting to end with her eyelids closed.

She felt someone’s hot gaze on her face, but she didn’t move an inch.

“Then I understand that we will sort it out tonight and return tomorrow morning.”

“We should also issue an evacuation order to Ansgar, Küchler, and some residents of Linzingen Territory.”

“If the saint has no objections… … .”

“No.”

Adele answered firmly and stood up from where she was sitting.

She hurriedly left the barracks while receiving a few greetings from a few people. She tried to pretend to be indifferent, but her heart kept getting impatient.

‘I’ve waited too long. I’ve been waiting for this day to come… … .’

Even though she had awakened the power of the gods, the vessel that held the power was the human soul from the beginning.

No matter how much she filled it, it was always insufficient and insufficient to protect all of the humans.

If she hadn’t been there, the front line would have collapsed even faster. The hordes of monsters that had surged in would have swallowed up all of the human lands.

However, if everyone returned to Ingrida’s defenses.

If they held out there as their last line of defense, they would be able to hold out for at least a year. Then, in the meantime, I… …

“Adelheid.”

Adel stopped her busy steps abruptly.

The man blocking her way was a familiar face. Adel glanced at the man with cold eyes and reluctantly bent and straightened her knees.

“… … Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“What are you going to do from now on?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“You’d rather fool someone else. Would I not know you?”

He quickly approached her with a snicker. Then, as if she were trying to run away, he grabbed her wrist as if pulling it.

“You are thinking dangerous thoughts right now.”

“Your Majesty.”

Adele grabbed Mikhail’s hand and forcefully dropped it to his wrist.

Then she continued coldly.

“I know I told you last time. Please don’t approach me like this. It’s unpleasant.”

Adele thought he might get angry this time. But Mikhail just shrugged.

“The last defense of humanity has collapsed. Where do you plan to go now?”

“There is no reason to tell Your Majesty about my plans.”

“Your power? You still have no intention of handing it over to me?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Wouldn’t that be more helpful to the humans you love so much?”

“Even without my power, haven’t you been using what Valentin has scattered so well?”

“How cruel.”

“I’m busy, so if you don’t have any business, please step aside.”

He narrowed his eyes and let out a weak exclamation as if he realized something.

“I understand now. You’re trying to abandon us now.”

Adele raised her dry eyes and looked straight at Mikhail. The man’s thin lips tilted.

“Are you going to Valentin? After passing through all of those monsters’ lands?”
　

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