Fled Without Realizing I Had Prevented the Apocalypse

The walls of Winter Forest are thick.
Originally, this was a figurative meaning, but five years ago, when the walls were completely destroyed in the war started by the Khan of the North, it became a reality.

Crisis into opportunity.
Don’t settle for the moment when crisis approaches, but turn it into an opportunity and develop further.
‘Since the wall is broken anyway, why not just build it even stronger? The previous wall was so old that it was difficult to repair anyway.’

This was the result of the current Count putting into practice the family motto that has been passed down through generations in the Forest Count family.
The Forest Count family is basically affiliated with the Empire, but because they played the role of a gateway blocking the North, other countries besides the Empire willingly provided talented individuals.
The walls of Winter Forest created in this way were so solid that they wouldn’t even get a scratch unless a superhuman directly threw their body at it.
“……”

Therefore, when I saw the huge hole in the wall, I couldn’t say anything.
The hole, as if a large meteor had fallen, was so big that I couldn’t even guess what had happened to Winter Forest.
However, I could grasp that the barbarians I had just swept away were not the end.

“It’s been a while since we met.”
As I was looking at the gaping hole, someone walked out as the tightly closed castle gate opened.

Long dark green hair falling down her back and blue eyes that seemed to contain a vast sea not seen in Winter Forest.

A woman embodying two colors that can’t be seen in Winter Forest.
I slowly opened my mouth towards that woman.
“Elaine.”
“……”
“No, should I call you the Forest Margrave now?”
I slightly raised the corner of my mouth as I mentioned her title.
Of course, I didn’t show a smile because I was wearing a mask, but as if realizing that I was teasing her, Elaine let out a deep sigh as if used to it.
“Call me whatever you like. It’s not like you’ll listen to what I say anyway. You’re not the type to observe etiquette.”
“I’m a bit hurt if you think that way. Are you seeing me as someone who habitually disrespects nobles as high as a Margrave?”
“That, that’s…”
“Ah, I was thinking of calling you Forest Margrave if Elaine just asked. But since you said to call you whatever I like, I guess I have no choice…”
As I gently teased, Elaine’s eyes trembled slightly.
A small growling sound could be heard, and Elaine’s expression changed in an instant. A completely different appearance from the nobles or merchants of the capital I had seen so far.
Seeing her innocent face that couldn’t manage her expression at all, I desperately held back my laughter.
And.
“Will you… really listen?”
The moment that innocence was reflected in her eyes, I couldn’t hold back my laughter at all.
“Yes, Elaine.”
At my answer full of laughter, Elaine’s face instantly lit up.
It’s because she didn’t immediately realize that I was teasing her.
However, after pondering my answer for a moment, Elaine soon realized that I was teasing her and frowned.
“You…!”
“Puhahahahat-!”
Seeing Elaine with her cheeks puffed up like that, I burst into laughter for a while.
After seeing the nobles of the Empire who are versed in politics and schemes, looking at the woman in front of me feels rather healing.
After laughing to my heart’s content for a while like that, I naturally moved on to the main point.
“So, what’s that hole about? Forest Margrave.”
Right now, I’m here as the Heavenly Thunder, not Kyle Amalan.
And the Heavenly Thunder has been directly recognized by the Emperor of the Empire as above a Count.
Of course, in reality, the Margrave holds a higher position than a Count, but that’s all derived from authority.
The actual rank was the same as a Count, so there’s no problem with me calling her like this.
Of course, it wouldn’t have mattered much even if I didn’t call her that.
“…There’s a lot to talk about regarding that hole.”
“I thought as much.”
Although I didn’t participate in building the walls of Winter Forest, I know to some extent how thick those walls are.
At least, it’s not something that can be pierced by the 6th rank wolf beast-man I just swept away.
Of course, if they keep attacking one spot continuously, a hole like that could be made, but that huge hole wasn’t created in that way.
‘It would be correct to assume that something flew in and pierced that wall in one shot.’
Of course, I don’t know what flew in, but it’s accurate to assume that something flew in and broke this huge castle wall.
And to create a hole of that level, even being generous, it would have to be at least the extreme of 6th rank.
Or it would have to be around 7th rank, able to unfold their mental image.

And those around 7th rank were not easily seen even in the North.
“The Khan’s limbs. Or warriors at the level of tribal chiefs have come down directly?”
The warriors of the North are generally strong, but there aren’t an abundance of warriors who have reached 7th rank.

If that were the case from the beginning, the continent wouldn’t have had any chance of victory in the war against the North.
At least a warrior with enough power to command one tribe, or a direct subordinate of the Khan with a position equivalent to the Emperor of the Empire in continental terms, would be at the 7th rank position.
Of course, it might not always be like that, but considering that they stood at the vanguard in this war, most would be like that.
“You’re still a ghost.”
And as if confirming my guess, Elaine shook her head with a pale expression.
If it’s confirmed that there’s a 7th rank warrior, not just anyone else, it’s fully understandable why she personally sent a request for support to the Empire.
The gap between ranks is originally large, but the difference between having and not having mental image manifestation is insurmountable.
“Let’s talk about the details inside, for now, let’s go in.”
“Sure.”
We can’t keep the castle gate open forever.
I followed Elaine and passed through the gates of Winter Forest after a long time.
“Waaaaaah-!”

And faced cheers that erupted as if the castle would fly away.
**
“Ah…”
In front of the enormous cheers that would make even a superhuman cover their ears, Elaine Forest pressed her hood down even deeper.
The cheers that had erupted since lightning struck from the clear sky reached their peak volume the moment the Heavenly Thunder, who struck down the lightning and swept away the vanguard of the barbarians, entered the castle.
It’s not just the soldiers on the Forest walls shouting, but even the superhumans staying inside the castle joined in shouting, so the volume isn’t something that can be blocked just by covering your ears.
“Waaaaaah-!”
For the Forest Margrave, whose ears were already sensitive, such loud cheers were a cause of stress, but she didn’t particularly try to stop those cheers.
It’s because she knew those cheers came from sweet victory.
These were people whose morale had been lowered since the walls of Winter Forest were suddenly breached.
So naturally, they would show such behavior when they saw their ally who appeared while completely annihilating the enemy’s vanguard.
No, rather, she would have thought it fortunate if it ended with just this.
“Heavenly Thunder!”
“……”
“Are you really that Heavenly Thunder?”
However, the world never moves according to her wishes.
Seeing a 6th rank magician who stepped forward holding a staff with a magic stone in one hand, Elaine let out a deep sigh.
“I don’t know what meaning there is in asking a question when you already know the answer.”
The Heavenly Thunder’s response that followed.
“But if you want an answer, yes. I am that Heavenly Thunder.”
At the appearance of the transcendent revealing himself as the Heavenly Thunder, the superhumans let out even louder cheers.
Because in this North, the name Heavenly Thunder holds that much value.
A war hero who achieved numerous merits in the war started by the Khan five years ago.

The crazy magician who made the warriors of the North run away in fright just at the strike of lightning.
The legend of a one-man army who alone faced an army of ten thousand.
That was the value held by the Heavenly Thunder in front of them.
“Is that so, you’re really the Heavenly Thunder, you say.”
At the Heavenly Thunder’s words, the magician who slightly raised the corner of his mouth continued.
“But don’t you feel that the trust between us is too lacking to believe that you are the Heavenly Thunder?”

It’s a statement with clear intentions.
Why is their trust needed to prove that the Heavenly Thunder is the Heavenly Thunder?
However.
“Is that so.”
The Heavenly Thunder didn’t brush off their words.
He spoke with a voice full of interest.
“What’s needed to fill the trust between us?”
At the Heavenly Thunder’s question, the magician struck his staff once as if it were obvious.
“A duel!”
“A match!”
“A fight!”
Starting with the magician’s words, the superhumans shout their own words.
Different words, but sharing the same meaning.
What they wanted was only one thing.
“Those crazy duel maniacs…”
A duel with the Heavenly Thunder.
Elaine let out a deep sigh as she looked at the superhumans whose bodies had heated up.
To begin with, the superhumans gathered here came to build up their realm and find honor.
Such people wouldn’t pass up the chance to fight with the Heavenly Thunder, who is at least 7th rank, a war hero, and at the same time a living legend.
“I accept.”
The Heavenly Thunder also accepted their proposal, knowing this fact.
“But, there’s a condition.”

However, the Heavenly Thunder that Elaine knew wasn’t a person who would simply accept duel requests.
If he had been such an easy-going person, he wouldn’t have gotten the title of crazy magician in the first place.
As if confirming her expectation, the Heavenly Thunder declared with a voice full of laughter.
“Everyone, come at once.”
He would fight all the superhumans stationed here at once.