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Chapter 103: Gamble (One)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Frightening war cries shot up from more than two thousand Eckstedtian's throats. They charged towards the Constellatiates, who were like a lonely boat caught in a raging ocean.

Thales' first experience of a large-scale battle came while he completely did not expect it.

The sword-and-shield troops of the Fury Guards were at the frontline. They used the long swords in their hands to shield the comrades beside them, turning their bodies to the side to form a battle formation.

Arracca had already dismounted from his horse. He used his hands to raise a large, frightening sword which was almost as tall as a person. Eyes burning with the fiery desire for war, he took large strides forward.

Taking the initiative on their own, the soldiers in front made room for their commander. The space was enough to fit three people.

"First charge!" Arracca looked around and spoke loudly, "Hold up the defense line!"

The enemies charged over like flood water and closed in on them.

Right in the middle of the battle array, Wya immediately pulled Thales down from the eye-catching battle steed. He placed Thales in the middle of a circle formed by six soldiers for firm protection. He then joined Aida, Putray and Ralf in guarding the four corners of this tiny battle formation.

"Go and help the frontline!" Thales urged them, "If they collapse, you all won't be able to protect me either!"

However, his mind was in an extreme state of chaos. He could not fathom why he faced such a situation when making a diplomatic trip to Eckstedt.

'What on earth is happening?'

Wya and Ralf looked at each other. After Putray nodded, they approached the frontline.

On the hand, Aida exhaled and spoke to Putray in a low voice, "This is a real battlefield, and even supreme class elites must be extremely careful.

"And a battle with such a great disparity in strength…

"If you all have any ways to prevent the battle, immediately tell me!

"If there is none, immediately think of one!"

Thales gritted his teeth while watching the enemies who charged towards them from all directions—those six large troops of Eckstedtians.

'The enemies, there are… too many of them.

'We are surrounded tightly.

'We don't have enough military strength at all… No, more appropriately, we did not prepare for battle at all!

'What should I do?

'Shout my identity out loud?

'However, those people don't seem to care about it at all.'

Facing the impending battle, a lot of Constellation soldiers exhaled, gripped their weapons tightly, secured their shields and looked at the fierce soldiers of Eckstedt with a grim gaze.

Roaring furiously, the first Eckstedt infantryman charged towards them.

*Boom!*

His shield crashed hard against the shield of a shield and sword soldier.

With the help of the comrades beside and behind him, the shield and sword soldier of Constellation gritted his teeth and endured the impact from this tall and lofty opponent. He then waved his sword to block off the opponent's axe, which swung towards him from the air.

However, more Eckstedt soldiers charged towards the Constellation diplomat group's battle array.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The Eckstedt soldiers were all howling furiously. They continuously crashed into the battle array of those from Constellation from all directions!

"Kill them!"

"Hold them back!"

Amid the furious roars of the soldiers from both sides, the clashing of shields and the sounds of weapons meeting mingled together. It was as though thunder crackled endlessly from the ground.

Genard and two soldiers from the Fury Guards stood at the frontline. He resisted the shield with all his might using his shoulders.

A swinging spiked mace pounded hard on the shield. Genard's entire body trembled and almost fell backwards.

The comrade behind him supported his back and helped him steady his body.

Genard, whose face was distorted, vehemently resisted the impact.

'Damn it!' he thought in pain.

'These Eckstedtians… They are way stronger than those rebels from the southwest, both in terms of strength and built.'

A sword came thrusting towards him aiming for his forearm, Genard moved slightly and let his comrades take care of it. The veteran himself pushed the spiked mace away and kicked its owner's knees hard, making the man stagger. He then thrust his sword into the man's totally unprotected neck.

Blood splattered out. His opponent fell face-up while mumbling.

'Fortunately… They are not very agile either.'

Having just thought that, a longspear grazed pass Genard's ear and pierced through the stomach of a soldier on his left. Screaming, the latter crumpled onto the ground.

Roaring furiously, Genard took the position of the dead person within the battle array. He cleaved the longspear and blocked a blade that was trying to attack through the gap. A soldier behind Genard rapidly filled in the empty space left behind.

Such a scene appeared at various points of the frontline.

Furious roars and miserable screams were still interweaved with the clashing of metals and the striking of weapons. Eckstedt's light infantrymen pounced again and again, as though they were fearless towards death. They were then warded off or even killed by the members of the Fury Guards and the diplomat group again and again, leaving behind many dead bodies. However, on Constellation's side, people were also falling continuously. The snow-covered ground was gradually dyed red with blood.

However, the veterans from the Fury Guards at the frontline continue relying on their rich experiences and skills to forcefully maintain the frontline so that the terrified Thales would not see everything around him, where thousands of people intermingled with each other in the battlefield.

Blood that splattered everywhere.

Roars that can never be forgotten.

Corpses that kept increasing in number.

The battlefield before Thales' eyes was undoubtedly more shocking than the one with the Sacred Blood Army earlier.

Commander Arracca was also standing at the frontline with an unpleasant expression, guarding a gap that could fit three people by himself.

He did not show any flashy and splendid supreme class fighting skills. Instead, he repeated the same simple and rudimentary battle moves.

However, not a single person could take advantage of him.

During the first charge, Arracca's two-handed great sword swerved through the air, producing a shriek of death. He swung the sword horizontally and chopped off a head.

Then, using the momentum of the swing, he cleaved a second citizen of Eckstedt's shield, chest and abdomen. Amid the splattering blood, he rapidly parried a longsword that was thrust towards him. Before his opponent could react, he thrust his large sword into his opponent's chest.

However, beside him, a soldier from the Fury Guards had his skull chopped open by an axe. He fell powerlessly onto the ground.

'Those Eckstedt bastards.'

Arracca exhaled through gritted teeth. His face was fierce and hideous. He turned and with the handle of his sword, made the enemy stagger.

"Observe the situation at the back, and watch out for an opportunity to break out of the encirclement and return to the fortress!" While waving his sword and lowering his head to dodge an axe, Arracca, whose face was covered in blood, shouted the order.

"I'm afraid that it would be very hard!" A military officer from the Fury Guards tried his best to block off a fierce citizen of Eckstedt. He replied, "More than half of the enemies are blocking us behind!"

"Persist! They are only relying on the morale of having made the first charge!"

Gritting his teeth, Arracca kicked a shield down and thrust a sword at its owner's hideous and fierce face. He waved his left hand at the right time and used his forearm to block off a longspear. The friction produced some blood.

However, at the same time, the blade of an axe swerved towards his head. Arracca steadily lowered his head to dodge it. The blade of the axe cut some of his hair.

Wya, who was holding his single-edge sword arrived. He waved his long sword, activated the Edge of No Return and cut open his opponent's throat with a reverse swing. However, his ribs were injured by the blade of an axe. He winced in pain.

Beside Wya, a comrade had his head smashed to pieces by a hammer while trying to save Wya. Red and white substances splattered out.

"Don't use those silly sword styles, and cut that beautiful posture of yours out!" Arracca used his sword to block off a straight blade that was swerving towards Wya. He roared loudly and furiously, "In the battlefield, supreme class elites are not that much better than normal people!

"We just have to stand for a couple of dozen more minutes, and kill a few more meagre soldiers!

"Every time you attack, reserve some energy and leave room for dodging. Thrust your weapon and dodge attacks without playing any tricks!"

An infantryman's weapon was struck out of his hand. Snarling, he tried to charge forward and tackle Arracca. Without hesitating, Arracca held his sword with one hand and punched his face. Arracca then violently elbowed him and made him retreat. The sound of his ribs cracking could vaguely be heard.

"Or else, retreat to the back. Don't be a burden!"

Wya, whose old wound had not yet healed and was injured again, could only grit his teeth and retreated in embarrassment.

A strange gust of wind suddenly blew and swept up snow. A few Eckstedt infantrymen who stepped forward to replace fallen ones could not help but raise their hands to shield their eyes.

Snarling, Arracca swung his sword with both hands and cut open someone's shield and chest at the perfect time. He then thrust his sword into another person's stomach.

"Your psionic ability isn't bad though…" Arracca wiped off the blood on his face and furrowed his brows as he looked at Ralf's single-handed hidden blade, "However, can that thing even be used in the battlefield?"

The mute Ralf, who had one fractured arm, could not make anything out. However, he did indeed feel that his hidden blade was useless in the battlefield. Due to a lack of a knuckle-guard, he faced the risk of losing his arm every time he swung his blade.

He could only provide assistance with his psionic ability and only use the hidden blade to defend himself.

On the other side of the formation, Willow Ken hid behind a sword-and-shield soldier. He blocked off a sword attack with his left hand. He then extended his right hand out of the shield and thrust his pike into the side of the opponent's face.

A soldier's right hand was chopped off. Holding his shield, he gritted his teeth and stepped backwards. However, when he took the first step, a flying axe cut into his chest and stomach.

Another person replaced his position.

"You are a doctor. At least do something!" Willow shouted anxiously at Ramon, who was cowering behind him.

"I am not a military doctor!" Ramon glanced at the enemies around them. He hugged his head and shouted, "And that prince did not say that this would happen!"

"We should had brought some pikemen along!" Aida, who was guarding Thales near him, looked at the situation around her, sighed, and spoke.

Her machete, which had no defensive properties at all, was only suitable for small-scale battles. Unless it hit the opponents' vital parts, it was not even enough to put a scratch in their armors. Besides, it was impossible for her to dodge to her greatest abilities in the crowded battlefield.

'If I had known earlier, I would have brought along father's two-handed machete that was said to be able to break through armor… That was the standard equipment of the security guards of the Ancient Elf Kingdom.

"No one predicted that there would be this battle!" So far, no enemy had breached anywhere further than the second row. However, Putray still turned his head back in worry and glanced at Thales. He shouted anxiously, "This is not logical!"

"Nothing is illogical in the battlefield!" At the front of the battle array, Arracca frenziedly waved his large sword. There was another wound on his body, "Surviving is the only logic!"

"Block off the first charge. There will come a time when their attack weakens. Find an opportunity to break out of the encirclement!

"Or else we will all exhaust ourselves to death here!"

Right in the middle of the battle array, Thales laid with his face down and hid among the soldiers. He breathed rapidly.

His mind was in extreme confusion.

Thales wanted to calm his hands, which were buried in the snow, so that they would stop shuddering.

However, amid the deafening battle cries and the clashing of weapons, his forearms were like wild horses that lost control and ran wild. They ignored their owner's will and trembled amid the endless battle cries.

Damn it.

Thales' teeth chattered and his lips trembled. He was incredibly embarrassed by his performance in his first battle.

'I have to calm down quickly.'

However, no one seemed to pay attention to him. The soldiers beside him were looking at his surroundings nervously, afraid that someone would break through the layers of defense around them from any direction.

A scream of pain travelled into the air. That was the sound from a Constellation soldier who had his waist cut in half.

As he trembled, Thales closed his eyes.

'Calm down!'

At that moment, that familiar fluctuation spread out in his heart.

The world around him seemed to have become quiet.

Thales instantly gained control over his entire body. He could clearly just which part of his muscles were trembling.

With the help of the fluctuations, he started breathing deeply in a rhythmic manner.

He placated those muscles of his and finally calmed down those instinctive trembles.

His heartbeat and breathing calmed down as well.

However, this was not enough.

Thales turned his head around incredibly slowly, and as if time had been slowed down as well, he began thinking rapidly in his mind.

'How do we get out of this predicament?

'No, I don't understand military affairs at all, this is Arracca and Sonia's specialty.

'I can only think about this in an even more comprehensive and fundamental area…

'Such as…

'Why Lampard wants to kill me.

'No.

'I should think about this in another angle.

'If I die here… What is Lampard's goal? What sort of benefits would he gain?

'I have to think of his motives and the benefits he would gain.

'Impossible.

'Killing Constellation's diplomat group and Constellation's heir...

'...will bring him no benefits whatsoever!

'So what exactly is Lampard trying to do?

'Did someone bribe him?'

At that moment, the memories of his past life, which had been absent in his life for quite some time, appeared in his head once again.

"War is social conflict that is incredibly complicated and is something that would about a great amount of changes, but we have been ignoring it for a long period of time from our course…

"The results many academicians obtained from their research are just a response to Clausewitz's classic analysis…

"Malevich suggested that structure, organization, and legal ideologies in war are the prerequisites for large-scale collective violence...

"Weber had never clearly infused this particular social phenomenon into his theory, but he did mention it in his definition of modern countries. The forces of power controlling a nation will monopolize the legal use of violence over the territory they declare as their own…"

Thales fought against the memories flashing in his head with much difficulty to try and focus on the emergency before his eyes.

'Damn it.

'On the territory they declare as their own...

'Wait!'

Thales' pupils narrowed.

'Perhaps it isn't that complicated.

'War is never aimed to kill.

'Territory…

'Lampard's original aim was to seize the Northern Territory.

'That's why…'

The fluctuation left, and it was as though the flow of time returned to normal. The sounds of massacre and death once again rang beside his ears.

Thales laid face-down on the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

He found the root to this conflict.

'Now… I must solve it!'

"No!" An Eckstedt infantryman watched in fear as Arracca cut open his throat, "You are… you are…"

However, he was not able to finish his words.

"Take my position!" Gritting his teeth, Arracca cut down a rough-looking man wielding a hammer. Roaring furiously, he retreated. Two sword-and-shield soldiers filled in his position in the defense line with determined expressions.

"Their momentum to this charge has almost been completely whittled down." Panting, Arracca dragged his great sword and walked to the middle of the battle array. He spoke to Aida, "Have some rear guards stay back. Take the prince with you. I will open a path back to the fortress!"

 "Wait!"

Thales could not care about resting. He anxiously lifted his head and shouted, attracting Putray and Arracca's attention, "Lampard!

"Lampard's army!

"He did not send heavy swordsmen, cavaliers, and even archers! He only sent these light infantrymen whom he enlisted temporarily." Thales anxiously recalled what little knowledge he had on warfare. "They do not intend to defeat us within a short period of time!"

"That is why you want to stay here to repay him?" Arracca turned around and mocked him, "To repay Lampard's kindness for letting us live for another quarter of an hour?"

"He wants hold us back here for a quarter of an hour, not killing us as soon as possible!" Thales refused Aida trying to support him and stood up with much difficulty. "Lampard is taking a gamble! He's betting on his opponent's choice!"

"Our choice?" By the side, Wya thrust his sword forward from behind a shield, then forced an axe back.

Before Wya was struck in his face by a longsword, Ralf dragged the powerless man right on time. Wya spoke while panting, "He's betting whether we will breakthrough or defend till our deaths?"

"No." Thales widened his eyes and stared intently at Arracca. "Lampard is taking a risk with us."

"No!" Putray instantly understood, and his face turned pale, "He would absolutely not dare to use your life to…"

Thales said anxiously, "Archduke Lampard is betting on the Broken Dragon Fortress behind us!

"He's betting on Lady Sonia Sasere's choice.

"Gambling on whether she will send reinforcements to save us!"

Arracca's pupils narrowed.

"His gamble," Thales roared, "Is my life and his future!"

Comments (32)
AlephTav
AlephTav
Me: *Nudges Thales* com'on do the thing Thales: What thing? Me: you know, the heart removing thing Thales: ....*Proceeds to never do it or even talk about it for chapters and chapters* Me: * Single tear drops*

DemonKingWave
DemonKingWave
Release free 500 chapters then make it premium and take all my spirit stones haha

broken_noodle
broken_noodle
Hey killing Thales is a part of his enemies' 'kingdom building' 😎

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Chapter 104: Gamble (Two)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Far off, the Archduke of Black Sand, Chapman Lampard sat fully equipped on his horse.

Protected by countless infantry and cavalry troops, he gazed into the distance with an air of cool detachment.

Amid the deafening battle cries, the two Constellation flags, which were a distance away fluttered under the encirclement of more than two thousand extra light, Eckstedt infantrymen. These men were divided into six large troops.

Archduke Lampard touched the sword on his waist.

It was the sword he used to kill his elder brother during the duel. He had not been apart from it for more than ten years.

"It has begun." Behind him, Count Levan said softly, "They will break out of the encirclement very soon and retreat towards the fortress. We only have to wait for Sasere to dispatch reinforcement troops."

His most trusted advisor, Viscount Kentvida also nodded.

"The light cavalry and mounted infantry on both sides of the battlefield are already prepared. We will be able to rapidly flank any troops that come to their aid from the fortress.

"The knights and three hundred heavy cavalry have already unloaded half of their load. They will be able to charge even faster… Even if all three thousand people in the fortress hold each other's hands and surge out, we can at least utterly defeat their vanguards immediately. That is, if they do not retreat within five minutes.

"Five hundred heavy swordsmen and eight hundred heavy-armor axemen are awaiting orders. They can follow…

"The archers, the Mystic Gun unit and the remaining normal recruits can also launch an attack.

"When they start to break out of the encirclement, we can take the opportunity and advance. The heavy infantry can start off before the others."

However, at this moment, Chapman Lampard raised his hand and halted Kentvida's report with a serious expression on his face.

"No, make everyone stay put and wait for orders. No one is allowed to approach the battlefield arbitrarily.

"Let the light infantry continue fighting.

"We should give the Fortress Flower some time to contemplate whether to dispatch troops to the rescue."

Next to Archduke Lampard, Lord Tolja's expression became stern after hearing his words.

"If they break out of the encirclement towards the fortress' direction, it is better if we let our main forces follow up appropriately." Familiar with battle affairs, he furrowed his brows and said, "If the distance is too big, even if our cavalier stall Sasere's reinforcement troops, the heavy infantry will not be able to catch up. Forget about annihilating her opponents in a field operation. With her abilities, she can totally seize their prince back in time.

"In the event that happens, it will not matter if we take the opportunity to lay siege to the city, or deplete their forces through field operation, our plan would lose its meaning."

Watching the situation of the battle from afar, Lampard shook his head slightly.

"Sasere is a cautious person." Archduke Lampard looked at the Broken Dragon Fortress, looking perplexed. He said slowly, "To lure her to dispatch troops, we must take the risk and give her some hope. If she does not dispatch her troops, their prince will definitely perish in the battlefield. If she dispatches her troops, there might be a fifty percent chance of seizing back their prince.

"And as the prince breaks out of the encirclement from the back and become increasingly near to the fortress, the chances of seizing back the prince will become higher…

"When she sees that there is more hope, plus the likelihood of success is getting higher, Sonia Sasere will not be able to help it and be wavered. Even people more cautious and rational than her would be tempted."

Lampard's eyes flashed with an unprecedented desire for a challenge. His gaze was focused on Broken Dragon Fortress' flag of Constellation, the Double Cross-Shaped Stars Flag.

"Now, we will see what our old rival, the Fortress Flower chooses.

"Sonia Sasere, will you dispatch reinforcements to rescue your only prince? Or, will you watch helplessly as the heir to Constellation perishes in battle?"

…

"What is going on?" Standing on the tall fortress wall, Sonia watched the chaotic battle taking place on the plains from afar. She gritted her teeth and punched the wall of the Broken Dragon Fortress hard. "Does Lampard want to murder His Highness here in public?"

"There are only about two thousand and three hundred light infantrymen surrounding the prince. With the Fury Guards there, they may be able to hold up for a while.

"However, there is after all, too big a difference in the number of people." Observing the enemy's situation on the plains, she furrowed her brows and said, "Lampard's other main forces are very far away. If Baron Murkh can break out of the encirclement with the prince in tow and withdraw some distance away, we should be able to dispatch reinforcements in time to tear apart the light infantry's encirclement and bring the prince back."

Turning her head, Miranda said to Sonia, "I can launch an attack. I need a thousand people, including elites who can break through the enemy's formation like the Starlight Brigade.

"The Starlight Brigade can go on horseback. The opponent only consists of some light infantry. If we are only to break through the blockade and rescue His Highness—"

"No way!" Sonia looked at the stalemated battlefield in anger and said with difficulty, "The prince's diplomat group is not his main target…

"For us to dispatch our only city defense elites to rescue the prince… this is what Lampard wants!

"I dare guarantee that his cavaliers are prepared to gallop at full speed to intercept our reinforcements at all costs. They would even brave the attack of the forts' arrows with no regard for casualties in order to break into the fortress' gate. And then, attack us on a massive scale…"

"They would at least be able to annihilate our reinforcement troops…

"If the former happens, the fortress faces the risk of falling into their hands. If the latter happens, he can also deplete a lot of the fortress' forces and pave the way for him to lay siege to the city after this.

Sonia clenched her fists tightly. "We must not act according to the enemy's thought process."

Miranda raised her eyebrows and remained silent for a while.

A distance away, the sounds of fighting continued.

"However, that is the second prince, and also Constellation's only heir," Miranda contemplated for a while and said quietly, "If the fortress does not dispatch troops, it is very possible for him to perish in the battle. His Majesty…"

Gritting her teeth, Sonia shut her eyes and let out a long sigh. "This is Lampard's aim. He is waiting for my choice, between the fortress and the prince's safety, between military affairs and politics. He wants me to choose one between the two.

"This is a very obvious trap.

"It seemed impossible for Lampard to seize the fortress in the beginning. Who would have thought that he somehow found an opportunity… Lampard's boldness truly exceeds my imagination!"

Grasping the sword at her waist tightly, Miranda raised her head and said, "Perhaps with Baron Murkh's ability, he would be able to bring the prince nearer to us after breaking out of the encirclement. He may even bring the prince within the forts' area of protection?

"We will try our best to fight a quick battle and bring the prince to safety before their follow-up forces arrive…"

"Be careful!" Sonia abruptly opened her eyes. Her gaze was full of caution. "This is exactly how Lampard wants us to think. The fortress is our biggest support. You have no idea how much he yearns for our troops to leave the fortress and fall into the rhythm of a chaotic battle with him.

"Everything he does is so that he can smoothly seize Broken Dragon Fortress by paying the smallest price!"

Miranda was stunned. "But, does he really dare to have the crime of murdering the Prince of Constellation over his head as a stake?"

…

"What if the Prince of Constellation really dies in the battlefield?" Watching the battle from afar, Lord Tolja said hesitantly, "Everything is possible in the battlefield."

"Then, we will see whether the Sunset Goddess gives us her blessings, and how loyal Sonia Sasere is towards the Jadestar Royal Family," Archduke Lampard spoke in a low voice, "If we win this gamble, we will open the door to Constellation's Northern Territory. If we lose… hmph."

He did not speak any further.

"I am afraid that the prince's life and death has nothing to do with luck, but with our choice," Viscount Kentvida pondered and said.

"If Sasere refuses to dispatch troops, and would rather defend the fortress and watch as their prince's army is totally wiped out… Are we really going to kill everyone in the prince's diplomat group?"

"Not necessarily." Count Levan shook his head. "The ones we dispatched are only light infantrymen. Based on the situation on the battlefield right now, the Constellatiates can at least hold up for more than fifteen minutes… If it really comes to that, it will not be too late for us to sound the horn to withdraw our troops."

"And then invite the prince in and tell him that everything, including the death of so many people was just a misunderstanding?" Tolja furrowed his brows and answered.

Their archduke raised the reins and took a few steps forward on his horse to see the situation more clearly.

"If Sasere still cowers like a turtle and refuses to dispatch her troops, it does not matter." Archduke Lampard looked at the large fortress with an indifferent expression.

Then he tightened the sword belt around his waist and inhaled a mouthful of air that was exclusive to the cold winter. "If it really gets to that, we will slaughter every single person in that diplomat group and leave only the little seven-year-old rascal alive.

"And then...

"Everyone in the fortress will see how we strip their only prince naked and tie him up on a flagpole. We will then attack the fortress with their heir hoisted up… Let us see how great of an ordeal the Constellatiates can take with their morale.

"Of course, whether we succeed or not, that poor little rascal will live and be sent to Dragon Clouds City later as a sign of our respect and loyalty towards King Nuven. I will not stain myself with the Jadestar Royal Family's blood. Ever since the era of the Empire, that family's blood has been abound with curses and misfortune.

"Under such a situation, as long as he does not die, the Constellatiates will only see the humiliation their prince has brought upon them instead of their enmity towards the Lampard Family."

Hearing this, Tolja could not help but furrow his brows tightly.

"He is only a seven-year-old child."

The unsmiling Archduke Lampard was silent.

A flashback of his younger self fighting with his brother for fun crossed his mind.

However, the others did not know what he was thinking.

The next moment, Chapman Lampard raised his gaze and said in a chilly tone, "He is a prince.

"From the time he was born, it has been impossible for him to go through this stage known as 'childhood'.

"This is their privilege, and also a price they have to pay."

Tolja looked at Archduke Lampard in a daze, as though he wanted to say something. However, in the end, he just lowered his head and sighed.

Viscount Kentvida furrowed his brows.

"That child will detest you. When he is crowned as king in the future—"

However, he was cut off by the archduke.

"He will be afraid of me!" Lampard said with curt finality.

"Even if he becomes the King of Constellation, wears the Nine-Pointed Star Royal Crown on his head and holds the Constellation Staff…

"I will still make him remember this day clearly; the most humiliating, scary and terrifying day of his life!"

…

*Clang!*

Genard raised his shield and blocked a heavy mace. He could not help but lower his body from the large force.

However, the veteran cleverly took the opportunity to wave his sword and split his opponent's knee cap. He then ended his opponent's life when the latter fell onto the ground.

But then, a sword, which came at an angle that was difficult to block, pierced through Genard's left shoulder blade. Enduring the pain, he trembled as he retreated to the second row.

Nevertheless, the soldier who replaced his position obviously did not have enough experience. The moment he went forward, his thigh was wounded by a sword.

Genard could only grit his teeth and go forward again, holding up the enemy's sword so that his injured comrade could retreat.

The veteran could feel that the Eckstedt infantry's offensive frequency was reducing.

'It seems like the time to break out of the encirclement has arrived.'

However, at this moment, Genard sighed.

In the battlefield, the new recruits with poor skills would all die first. The veterans who survived were all tough like iron. They were clever and valiant.

'What follows will be a tough battle indeed.'

"So, the key to the battlefield lies in Sasere's choice." In the middle of the battle array, Thales gasped for breath as he spoke to Putray, who was nodding slightly, and Arracca, whose face was hideous and covered in blood.

"And no matter what choice she makes, Lampard most probably has his own corresponding tactic. To attack and occupy the fortress, to weaken our military forces, or to capture me in a humiliating manner and use me as a chip to attack."

"Regardless of what she chooses, we will be in a predicament." Putray furrowed his brows. "These light infantrymen of Lampard are enough to put us in a fix. The soldiers will not be able to go on for too long."

Aracca chuckled coldly as he looked around at his dead and wounded subordinates who were lying on top of each other, feeling extremely angry. "If you have any ideas, you better spit it out before the Eckstedtians turn us into minced meat and conveniently hang you up."

Thales paid no heed to Arracca's disrespect. He raised his head and glanced at the Lampard Family's Iron Fist Flag not far away.

He exhaled and said slowly, "No matter what Sonia chooses, it will be a predicament.

"Therefore, we cannot let her choose."

Thales' gaze became cold. Amid Putray and Arracca's different expressions, he clenched his fists.

"We can only choose for Lady Sasere.

"To eliminate her indecisiveness and hesitance.

"Prepare to break out of the encirclement," the second prince said sternly.

Arracca curled up the corners of his lips.

…

"It seems like they are going to start breaking out of the encirclement." Looking at the battle situation from afar, Miranda said hesitantly, "Are we really not dispatching reinforcements?

"Even if they really break through the tight encirclement and approach the fortress?"

Sonia shut her eyes in agony.

'No.

'My biggest responsibility is to guard.

'I have failed once… This time, I cannot fail again.'

"No." Gritting her teeth, Sonia lowered her head and supported herself on the fortress wall with both hands. With difficulty, she said, "It would be impossible to save them if we only dispatch a small number of troops. However, if we dispatch all our elites, it would suit Lampard's desire.

"Guard our fortress well… We cannot give him even the slightest chance.

"As for His Majesty, I will answer to him."

Miranda did not say anything. There was silence atop the fortress wall for quite a while.

However, the silence was soon broken.

The sounds of battle rang from afar again.

"Commanding officer!"

In shock, Miranda looked at the chaotic battlefield. "They have started to break out of the encirclement!

"But it is very strange…"

Miranda's face was full of disbelief.

'Hmm?'

Sonia opened her eyes, puzzled.

…

Tolja anxiously rode his horse over from afar "Sir! There is news from the light cavalry!

"They have started to break out of the encirclement!"

Archduke Lampard opened his eyes and looked towards the two Constellation flags.

"Very good," he opened his mouth and said, "now, we will wait for Sasere…"

Lampard narrowed his eyes.

'The fluttering of the flags…

'It is not quite right.'

He immediately noticed that something was amiss.

'It cannot be.'

Archduke Lampard widened his eyes and opened his mouth in shock. "Could it be that…"

"Yes sir, we have to revise our plan immediately!" Tolja said loudly and nervously.

"And according to the light cavalry's report, there has been more than one accident!"

Lampard suppressed the irritation in his heart and threw Tolja a questioning glance.

Sitting on horseback, Tolja gritted his teeth and said, "There is someone together with that prince."

Furrowing his brows tightly, Archduke Lampard watched as Tolja proceeded to speak. The words he said made the expressions of all the vassals around him change abruptly.

"It is him!

"It is that man carrying that bow!"

…

With a stony expression, Arracca bound Thales tightly on his back. Thales was pressed close against Arracca's large metal bow. It had silver and black stripes on it.

"Is it really safe to stay on this fella's back?" Aida asked furiously, "I keep feeling like I have lost my job."

Thales smiled at her. "Just take it as a break… Even authors take breaks from writing their stories sometimes."

"This is very risky. It means that we are also gambling," Putray said worriedly, "We are betting on the enemy's choice."

Thales inhaled deeply and smiled at Putray.

"Yes, Lampard and I are betting on one another.

"It is a game of 'do you dare'."

"Little prince, I am asking you for the last time..." Seeing that most of the Fury Guards in the first row were either dead or injured, Arracca suppressed the rage in his heart. He spoke in a chilly tone, "Are you sure that you want to do this?"

"This is the only way," Thales said as he smiled bitterly.

Arracca did not say anything.

"And are you really as great as the rumors say?" Gritting his teeth, Thales laid face down on Arracca's back. He adjusted his stomach, which was pressed against the big bow and forced a smile. "Please, prove it to me."

Arracca still did not speak.

Thales shut his eyes slowly and opened them with determination. His gaze was sharp.

"The most valiant warrior in Constellation…

"Arracca Murkh."

He exhaled softly and shouted the nickname that everyone in Constellation knew, "The Kingdom's Wrath."

The moment these words were spoken, those who were in a predicament had an inspired look. It was as if even the atmosphere around him had changed.

The next moment, Arracca turned his head and chuckled coldly at Thales.

"A long time ago, in a hopeless situation, a Jadestar once told me that…"

Thales could not help but feel stunned.

Arracca pulled out his two-handed greatsword from the ground. He waved it a few times and walked forward.

The others such as Putray, Wya and Ralf followed them from behind. Some had determined expressions whereas some were weighed down with worry.

Arracca stepped onto the stirrup with a stride. His gaze was fierce.

Aida nimbly followed their horse from behind.

Arracca continued to speak in a chilly tone, "He said…

"'Since there is no way to retreat.

"'Why not charge forward with all your might?'"

Thales did not know how to react.

The next moment, the man known as the Kingdom's Wrath, Arracca Murkh rode his horse forward with a fierce expression. He overtook his squad of guards.

"Fury Guards, assault formation!"

The Kingdom's Wrath pointed his greatsword towards the Iron Fist Flag that fluttered high in the distance. He roared furiously.

"The target is… north!

"We are going to Lampard!"



Comments (41)
saigen
saigen
Hi Shin unit is on kill mode

Seink
Seink
When they started talking about iron bow and breaking through I somehow imagined Thales being shot as an arrow by a huge iron bow to escape the encirclement XD Thanks for the translation!

Freakazoid
Freakazoid
politics, intrigue, war, knights, love, hate, revenge.... this novel has it all

Rate this chapter

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Chapter 105: The Kingdom’s Wrath
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

An Eckstedt light infantryman gripped the hammer in his hand tightly. Breathing steadily, he knocked the thick wooden shield in his left hand rhythmically and followed the footsteps of the teammate in front of him closely.

As one of more than ten unit leaders under Liroque's military unit, he was over thirty years old and this was not his first time in the battlefield.

The men of Northland were born to wield swords and battle. It did not matter if they were farmers, hunters, craftsmen or woodcutters. Sometimes, it was so for women too.

To shed blood in the battlefield and slug it out with the most powerful enemies; the survivors would then swig the wine of victory to their heart's content. How satisfying and glorious was that?

He would get even more elated and excited each time he swung his hammer. He savored the vague sounds of cracking bones in his enemies' bodies.

An example would be now, as the unit leader over thirty years old, he roared joyfully and stepped forward to catch up with his comrade. He forcefully knocked his hammer into the crown of a Constellatiate who could not dodge in time.

Roaring furiously, he pulled out his hammer and blood splattered on his face.

The next moment, the unit leader pounced on another citizen of Constellation, who went forward as replacement without hesitation.

'They… these Constellatiates are truly tough.' Having thought of that, he swung his shield at his opponent and made the person stagger.

'With such casualties, normal troops would have lost their morale a long time ago, scattering themselves and fleeing.

'Unless, they are elites.

'Unless, they have a competent commander who was just as firm.'

With agility as well as experience, the unit leader dodged his opponent's sudden and dangerous sword thrust. The sword's blade grazed past the left side of his forehead.

"Hey, you are a veteran."

The unit leader laughed out loud and swung his hammer, causing the enemy to retreat.

*Clip clop!*

*Clang!*

 *Slash!*

Various sounds rang from the side—of hooves, clashing, and sword blades splitting armors in half.

A solid and fierce, male voice rang from a battle steed. "We are looking for Lampard!"

The Constellatiates, who were in a defensive formation, had their spirits lifted at the same time. They shouted and strode forward, trailing the knights on the battle steeds as they charged at the Eckstedtians.

The unit leader's expression changed. 'They are breaking out of the encirclement.

'But, why are they going north?

'Although the encirclement is indeed a little weaker on the northern side compared to the side of Broken Dragon Fortress… But even if they break through, they would only face the archduke's military camp and other, even more elite troops, right?

'And… what about that knight who charged out of the battle formation?'

It was a menacing man who swung his greatsword with force. With a swing of his sword, he chopped off someone's head and sent blood as well as flesh splattering everywhere. Meanwhile, the battle steed beneath him sent two men flying.

A child was tied to his back alongside a large bow with silver and black stripes…

"Wait!"

The unit leader narrowed his eyes.

'Is it… that bow?

Shortly after, he shouted.

"Him!

"It's him!"

The unit leader of Eckstedt's light infantry roared loudly. He was in a frenzy like he had found the most rewarding war booty. He paid no further attention to the panting Constellation veteran in front of him.

Grinding his teeth in excitement, he charged towards the steed without hesitation.

The unit leader shouted deliriously.

"The Kingdom's Wrath!

Many of the Eckstedtians trembled and turned their heads towards the man on the horse.

The unit leader raised his shield over his head to protect himself from the man's greatsword. He swung the hammer in his hand into the steed's belly.

However, the greatsword did not swerve over. It was not deflected by his shield as he had expected.

Instead, the greatsword quivered in the man's hand and it was thrust downwards.

The unit leader could only feel his right collarbone becoming cold. He then felt a surge of extreme pain.

The battle steed grazed past him. His knees buckled and blood flowed out from his shoulder.

Despite that, he still swung his weapon with all his might.

The hammer scratched the steed's belly, inflicting another injury on the battle steed, which was already covered in wounds.

The battle steed let out a sad cry and collapsed along with the man in front of the unit leader.

'Hehe, at least… I stopped the steed of the Kingdom's Wrath,' the unit leader thought, with much effort.

His shield fell out of his hand. Pressing onto the bleeding wound on his shoulder, he felt the pain that pierced deep into his lungs. The unit leader then raised his hammer with all his might. He wanted to swing it towards the man, who was climbing up from the ground, as well as the boy behind his back.

'My last blow… will kill the Kingdom's Wrath…' he thought.

However, as soon as this thought appeared, a petite figure wearing a cloak rushed over from the back. She swung her machete rapidly and sliced off the unit leader's right hand.

"Argh!"

The unit leader roared in indignation.

At the very next moment, Genard also rushed over from the back, and chopped off the unit leader's head with his blade.

"You are right." Panting, Genard told the dead body, "I am a veteran."

The soldiers of the Fury Guards risked their life and charged forward one by one. They pushed aside the enemies in their way and tried their best to scramble to Arracca Murkh's side.

At this point, Putray and the others were only just catching up to Arracca.

The battlefield became chaotic because the soldiers of Constellation broke the encirclement.

"The Kingdom's Wrath! He is here!" many of Eckstedt's soldiers shouted with excitement and the news spread rapidly throughout the battlefield.

Like sharks who smelled blood, countless soldiers of Eckstedt charged towards Arracca and Thales. They snarled savagely as they approached from the front, the sides and the back.

"Really?" Behind them, Wya spoke in dissatisfaction, "He is like a target! He is even piggybacking His Highness!"

"Do not doubt your commander!" Putray fell down from his steed as well. He rapidly advanced forward within the triangular battle formation used by the soldiers for assault. "At least believe in the prestige of the Kingdom's Wrath. His Highness' safety is best assured by his side!"

Thales anxiously lay face-down on Arracca's back and suppressed the dizziness he felt from falling down the steed earlier. "What do we do now?"

Arracca held his sword calmly with both hands and split open the light armor of an enemy to his left. He just left the man there, lying on the ground and wailing.

He looked at the Iron Fist Flag, which was a distance away. He then looked at the countless number of enemies that were charging towards them. The soldiers filled the fan-shaped area in front of Arracca as well as Thales and surrounded them. In a cold tone, he said, "The steeds could only bring us until here."

"Assault formation!" Arracca shouted loudly, and his whole body trembled. Pressed against Arracca, Thales could clearly feel that Arracca's heart rate was increasing and that his body was heating up. His muscles were also expanding and trembling rhythmically.

He was like a predatorial wild beast who was prepared to start hunting.

Thales immediately realized that this was Arracca's Power of Eradication. In his field of vision, Arracca was like a raging volcano. Explosive, ominuous, and terrifying fluctuations emitted ceaselessly from the inside of Arracca's body.

Arracca gritted his teeth. He held his sword in his right hand and gripped the leather covering on the ridge of the sword with his left hand. Dragging his weapon behind him, he charged towards a large number of enemies in front of him.

As if by a conditioned reflex, the surviving soldiers of the Fury Guards caught up to him on both sides. They followed their commander and charged towards the opponents without hesitation.

Arracca was at the forefront, like the cutting edge of a knife.

At the frontline, five blades whizzed towards him at the same time. Three were aimed at his head and chest, while the other two were aimed respectively at both his sides.

A furious roar erupted from Arracca's throat. He thrust his feet into the ground, lowered his body, and charged at these soldiers!

Being tightly bound, Thales tried his best to bend his head and press it closely against Arracca's shoulders. Even so, he could still feel at least three blades grazing past the top of his head.

Arracca shouted explosively. All of a sudden, the blood vessels on his arms expanded and transmitted an explosive force. He swung his massive two-handed sword fiercely and created a bloody arc in the air!

*Slash...*

Three of the soldiers' blades along with their forearms broke away from their control and fell powerlessly onto the ground.

Blood splattered down onto Thales' forehead. He gritted his teeth and furrowed his brows.

'Does it have to be so bloody every time?'

Arracca did not even care about the soldiers who attacked him from both sides. Howling, he crashed into the chest of the light infantryman in front of him. That man was holding his right hand and wailing miserably when it happened. Arracca fiercely elbowed him and made him fall.

The Fury Guards on both sides were only a bit slower than Arracca. Similarly, they roared furiously and charged. They stopped the two soldiers whom Arracca had missed before they could plunge their blades into his vital organs.

The Fury Guard on the left successfully thrust his sword into the opponent's lower abdomen. He then pushed off the opponent, who was shrieking in pain. Ignoring what happened next, he continued to follow Arracca. They proceeded to assault the second row of enemies.

As for the Fury Guard on the right, he was unfortunately pierced by the Eckstedt soldier's blade. However, he continued to charge forward without any regard for danger. He pounced on the enemy and brought him to the ground. Another soldier walked over the two individuals, who were grappling with each other on the ground without even looking. He reinforced the triangular-shaped assault formation and continued to move forward.

In a little more than a second, at the tip of the formation, the fierce Arracca advanced and broke through the first row of enemies.

Without reducing his speed, he continued charging forward.

However, within his close proximity, a squad formed by five experienced veterans attacked head-on. Three of them were wielding shields and blades, while the other two were holding axes. They stared vigilantly at Arracca.

"The Kingdom's Wrath," the person in the middle said in a deep voice, "you shall not pass—ugh!"

Before he could finish his words, Arracca ferociously thrust his sword and pierced it straight into his shield. With his frightening force as well as the momentum of the impact, the sword's blade came out from the other side and pierced into the enemy's chest.

However, the blade was stuck between the shield and the enemy's chest bone.

Groaning in pain, the enemy still did what he could to hold Arracca's greatsword in place. He put in a lot of effort so that the three people around him could take Arracca's life before he died.

The blade of an axe was the first one to whizz over!

Without any hesitation, Arracca threw out his left fist with a rabid expression on his face. With an alarming force, he punched the middle of the greatsword's blade!

And with a clank, the greatsword broke!

Arracca howled and charged forward. He kicked the second shield-wielding veteran onto the ground. He then extended his left wrist and moved it to the side of the axe's blade, diverting it away from his head.

Under the enemies' shocked gazes, the axe slid past Arracca's forearm, taking with it a piece of skin and flesh.

The broken sword in Arracca's hand was thrust into the axe-wielder's neck before he could react.

Roaring furiously, the last two enemies charged towards Arracca. However, the latter did not even look at them. He was fully focused on dashing forward!

Just as before, the Fury Guards on both of his sides trailed behind him. They risked their lives and pounced forward, eliminating the threat of the two remaining people on his behalf. This time, both of them were not as lucky and they lost their lives. However, the rest of the Fury Guards behind them still pounced forward without any regard for their lives. They maintained the formation and eliminated the dangers that came from both sides.

Thales suddenly realized something.

The sword-and-shield soldiers of the Fury Guards were shielding both of Arracca's sides with their lives. This was so that the latter could break through the enemy line in front of him and get to the center without any disturbances. This would ensure that the momentum of his unstoppable and frightening force was always at its highest.

In a little over two seconds, Arracca had broken through the second row.

The next batch of enemies appeared before him.

Two individuals in front of him were holding longspears. The tip of the spears were aimed straight at Arracca's heart. They were determined to force Arracca into retreating with the tip of their spears, no matter how Arracca was charging forward.

Another three shielded the sides of these two people's body closely.

However, Arracca did not give them such a chance.

He shouted at the top of his lungs, and the Power of Eradication, which came in the form of an explosive fluctuation, surged into his right arm. Like an erupting volcano, he threw the broken sword in his hand, which was extremely battered.

The whizz of death lasted for a couple of seconds. The tip of the blade, which still had remnants of blood and flesh on it pierced into one of the men's faces.

He quivered and the longspear in his hand, which was pointed towards Arracca, fell powerlessly.

"No! Brother!" the other spearman beside him cried out in sadness.

Arracca's expression was ferocious. He grabbed the front part of the falling longspear and took it into his hand. He then thrust the longspear forward fiercely!

His Power of Eradication was activated again. As Arracca howled like a maniac, the other spearman was hit in the chest by a force that was akin to that of a siege hammer. Groaning, he could not take it anymore and fell onto the ground. After that, the howling stopped abruptly.

The longspear was again retrieved by Arracca. He then used it as a rod. Waving it with force, he swept it towards the lower bodies of the remaining three people!

Without changing his expression, Arracca turned the spear and stabbed one of the three people on the ground to death. He then continued charging forward without looking back.

The Fury Guards on both sides again caught up and got rid of the remaining two people.

"How long can you keep this up?" Thales looked at the dense mass of enemies in front of him, and then at the Iron Fist Flag far away. Calculating the time and distance in his mind, he asked Arracca.

"Long enough," Arracca spoke in a deep voice and dashed towards a sword-wielding infantryman, "As long as the Fury Guards are still around."

Within five seconds, Arracca had broken through the third row.

Under Thales' stunned gaze, Arracca flung the longspear steadily. It pierced into the thigh of someone attacking them head-on.

Totally unarmed, the Kingdom's Wrath dashed forward with all his might, dodging a sword in the process. However, it left a wound on his right arm.

The Fury Guards pounced forward fiercely as always, getting rid of the enemies on both sides with their bravery and sacrifice.

Amid the frenzied and furious roars, the blade of an axe came attacking. The Kingdom's Wrath dashed two steps forward without a glance. He grabbed the longspear by its pole and threw it. It caused the enemy, who was holding his thigh and gritting his teeth to fall. At the same time, Arracca nimbly turned around and blocked the blade of the axe with the longspear's pole.

*Snap!*

The pole broke and as if it was all planned beforehand, Arracca held the broken pole. With the broken piece, he turned his body and hit the axe-wielder hard on the bridge of his nose!

As the axe-wielder groaned and shut his eyes, the Kingdom's Wrath ditched the broken longspear and grabbed the handle of the axe, which was between the axe-wielder's hands. He did so with accuracy and pulled it towards himself. Arracca headbutted his opponent's already injured nose in a fearsome and violent manner. As his opponent fell to the ground dizzily, he snatched the axe.

Arracca overtook him and the other fellow, who was panting and holding his pierced thigh. Arracca continued his assault.

Within eight seconds, Arracca had broken through the enemies' fourth row. However, one of the Fury Guards was killed.

Within eleven seconds, Arracca had cracked open the heads of two soldiers with the axe and broke through the fifth row. Two of his Fury Guards died.

During the sixteenth second, two infantrymen, who were obviously military officers in chain armor, approached them. Arracca made a shield soldier retreat with the axe and he spent some time to snatch a short sword. He pierced it into the two military officer's unprotected eyes and throat, after which he broke through the sixth row.

During the nineteenth second, Arracca pierced a person's dominant hand easily by thrusting the sword. He then used his enemy as a shield. He seized the axes of two soldiers and twisted their necks. He then used one of the axes to cut open the fourth person's chest. He had now broken into the seventh row. Another one of the Fury Guards died.

Thales watched all of this with his eyes wide and mouth agape. He watched as the bare-handed Arracca snatched an enemy's blade with bold momentum as well as instinctive battle skills, and broke through the interception of countless opponents.

'Could it be… This is the "Knight of Honor" that the deceased from my past life talked about?'

Amid the assault of the Kingdom's Wrath, the Eckstedt light infantry's line of battle was like a thin piece of paper. It was rapidly being penetrated by Arracca. It was the type of speed one had when training for a run.

"Damn it! Does he never get tired?" Gasping for breath behind Arracca, Wya slit the throat of an enemy who was wailing in distress on the ground. He watched Arracca's assault in shock. "We have been running all the way and we have not stopped at all!"

"Is this the first time you have heard of his nickname?" Putray snorted softly.

Next to them, Aida pursed her lips. 'His movements when he faces a large number of enemies and his multiple blows are even smoother than they were five years ago.'

Within a matter of minutes, they had broken through more than twenty lines of defense.

However, the members of the Fury Guards on both sides were still continuously sacrificing themselves.

In his anxiousness, Thales noticed something. 'Arracca is gritting his teeth harder and harder.

'He is also gasping more and more for breath.

'How long can he hold up his… physical strength?'

With a cold expression, Arracca thrust a hammer into its original owner's face. Pushing away the enemy, who was wailing miserably, he roared and charged at the next person.

It was a fully-armored military officer. He had a frightening double-sided greataxe in his hand.

He was giving out some orders loudly.

'He seems to be a commander.' Listening to the military officer's orders, Thales furrowed his brows and thought to himself.

The Kingdom's Wrath was a legend.

All of Eckstedt's soldiers had heard of his nickname, and all legends of the battlefield were related to him.

The body of this frightening man contained the fire and fury of the entire of Constellation.

No one had ever been able to block his assaults.

At least, this was what Liroque heard as the commander of Eckstedt's light infantry military unit.

Until he too, saw it with his own eyes that day.

Liroque was a Northlander who was six and a half feet in height, and at that moment, he furrowed his brows tightly. Watching Arracca break through half of his military unit like there was no one there at all, Liroque gently stroked his double-sided greataxe. He licked his teeth and looked eagerly at Arracca, who was in front of him.

With Liroque's supra class abilities, he could have been the leader of a heavy-armored axemen unit. However, those damn heavy armors were just too expensive. Besides... he preferred being a commander.

Many warriors would lose their reason when driven by blood lust. Only madness would be left. They neglected to defend themselves and lacked resourcefulness.

However, this would not happen to him. Layork knew very well that the truth of the battlefield was not to kill and injure, but to survive.

Liroque took a deep breath and inhaled a mouthful of cold air. He looked at Arracca, who was charging at him, and Thales, who was on Arracca's back. He then looked at the Fury Guards on both of Arracca's sides and flashed a little smile.

'I have found your weakness.

'The Kingdom's Wrath.'

Comments (50)
Flemeth
Flemeth
What a satisfying chapter, this is what I want when reading action novel. Not just naming some move and throw it to your enemy face

LazyCloud
LazyCloud
i'll just stop reading this novel for now, and come back when there are enough chapters...

TheRocGoddess
TheRocGoddess
That's why i love this story

Rate this chapter

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Chapter 106: The Failed Bet
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Liroque yelled and took a few steps back in an urgent manner to avoid Arracca's offensive move.

Under his command, the dozens of Eckstedt infrantrymen beside Liroque neither formed a formation nor retreated. Instead, they pounced directly at the Fury Guards flanking Arracca. Arracca's expression darkened.

In the midst of the angry roaring and sounds of collisons, Eckstedt's soldiers tenaciously wrapped themselves around the Fury Guards.

Standing at the forefront, Arracca was left alone in an instant with no one shielding and protecting him on either side. Seven or eight of Eckstedt's warriors surrounded him with vicious expressions on their faces.

Thales's expression changed drastically.

'Oh no.'

Arracca relied heavily on the sacrifice and protection of the guards by his sides to maintain his absolute advantage in front to fight the enemies without a worry. Otherwise, maybe after Arracca had killed up to ten people, his speed would decrease and he would be caught up in the impenetrable encirclement once again.

Even a skilled supreme class elite would have died after such a huge consumption of energy.

Also, to face countless enemies, various types of attacks, and many weapons all at the same time on the battlefield… like Aida said, even a supreme class elite could never be entirely unscathed. Just like Arracca's current situation, the gradual accumulation of injuries and the increasing consumption of energy…

Arracca stared at the situation before him as he panted slightly.

"Cover him!" Aida agilely made her way through the three well-coordinated Eckstedt infantries, but it was obvious that she was not used to the rhythm of the battlefield what with the swords coming from all directions, so she could not free herself for a moment.

"Cover Arracca!" she yelled exasperatedly, "Otherwise, they would drag us back into their tight encirclement once again!"

Wya was held back by two enemies. He could not escape swiftly from battle due to him being injured, but it was clear that since Putray did not possess the same skills as they did, he could shake off his enemies calmly and easily to protect Arracca.

Because Arracca's Conical Attack Formation helped him to break through very quickly, the numerous Eckstedt soldiers that fell behind them ran and pursued after them once again.

Ralf widened his eyes and a gust of strong wind hurriedly raged and blocked the first few rows of Eckstedt's soldiers by using the scattering snowflakes as a barrier.

"Those soldiers carrying the Fury Guards' equipment with them are all held back!" Putray was having a lot of trouble dealing with a fierce and violent infantryman's attacks. "And it is obvious that our diplomat group, including you, have never fought in a war before—we are unable to break through!"

"Are there any more people other than the Fury Guards and the diplomat group?" Wya used his sword to fight his enemy, but with very slow efficiency. "As long as we can break away from this encirclement, we can reach to the prince's side!"

A young soldier, and a veteran who held a sword and shield, suddenly turned around amid the fierce battle.

…..

If Arracca had the soldiers of the Fury Guards by his side, he would not have to consider the threats beside and behind him at all. He would only have to face his enemy from the front. But now, he had to face the threats from all around him.

*Clang!*

Liroque aimed and swung his greataxe sturdily onto Arracca's newly-snatched nail hammer! Arracca bellowed like a beast in a low voice. Even Thales could feel the oppressive atmosphere.

Then, the Kingdom's Wrath could be seen with both of his eyes red. The nail hammer that was hooked onto the greataxe suddenly trembled as the power from his body exploded in an instant.

*Clang!*

As the flame and sparks flickered, Liroque clenched his teeth and retreated in a disheveled state.

"Behind—" Thales anxiously yelled.

But before Thales could finish yelling, Arracca had turned his head back in an instant. He struck the sword attack away from his back while he roared furiously, to ensure that Thales would not be hit.

The figure of the Kingdom's Wrath whirled around soon after and avoided the tip of a spear that attacked at the same instant. He had already thrown out the nail hammer in his hand as he was turning back and pierced through the chest of the swordsman behind.

Without others to shield and cover him, Arracca was unable to continue attacking. He limped with slowed footsteps as he retreated. He managed to dodge the blade that was aimed for the vital organs in his left side, but his waist was still cut open and blood bled from the wound.

"Maybe we should retreat and meet with the guards!" Thales yelled in pain due to an earlier injury to his back.

The beastly man did not pay attention to the prince. He turned around and roared in a low voice. With a shoulder slam that exerted a force as strong as a volcano's eruption, he knocked over the blade and shield soldier who could not put away his blade in time with the shield was wedged between them.

*Rip!*

Arracca forcefully seized the opponent's blade and sliced open his throat. The blood splattered all over Arracca's body.

Without any time to rest in between, the Kingdom's Wrath lowered his waist as he swiftly turned around. The broad sword that attacked laterally from behind could only cut into his shoulder slightly.

Arracca immediately aimed a low-angle kick right onto the opponent's knee. The latter grunted and lost his balance after he heard the sound of his bone fracturing. The blade of the Kingdom's Wrath sliced through his neck, and caught his falling sword in a smooth motion.

The wind howled right at this very moment!

*Dang!*

A tremendous noise made Thales' eardrums vibrate with pain.

Arracca was seen raising the blade and the sword over his head while his feet sank into the ground. With an unwavering force, Arracca resisted the greataxe by Liroque that forcefully hacked downwards.

"You have meticulous control, so your energy is always just right and never wasted... is that not so, the Kingdom's Wrath of the supreme class?" Liroque exhaled sinisterly, "Even though we attacked at the same time, you still managed to kill three of us."

A longspear charged towards Arracca's heart. The Kingdom's Wrath used both his hands to fend off the greataxe. With unimaginable skill, he managed to turn his chest around to avoid the sharp tip of the spear and forcefully pinned the attacking longspear between his torso and his left underarm.

Another longspear attacked from nowhere. Arracca unleashed his Power of Eradication in an instant and avoided the spear tip. Then, he stomped on the attacking longspear ferociously with his foot.

Thales felt his skin crawl when he watched Arracca firmly hold and block the two spearmen back. The spearmen were clenching their teeth strenuously and their faces were flushed red from the exertion of trying to kill Arracca.

'This is not good.'

As expected, the enemy did not give him any chance to breathe. Two Eckstedt soldiers, along with their two longswords, attacked Arracca's torso and head.

Arracca spared no effort as he deflected the sword aimed for his chest, then he firmly held on to the other sword to stop it from attacking.

*Whoosh…*

A howling sound came when the greataxe swung down again.

"But this is a battlefield! The battle has never been just one-to-one!" The commander of the enemy laughed sinisterly. He swung his greataxe in a wide arc to attack. "Supreme class elites also have limits!"

The few of Eckstedt's infantrymen howled in anger. They appeared from behind Liroque and surrounded Arracca.

Thales hovered his hand over his dagger in shock as he yelled, "Be careful!"

In the next second, the sound of an axe piercing into flesh and a fear-inducing clanging sound of the weapons rang through the air!

*Splash!*

*Clang!*

Thales felt shivers down his spine and his eardrums were in excruciating pain. 'No...'

The prince panted and, with his widened eyes, he witnessed the blade of the greataxe firmly chop into Arracca's left shoulder. The greataxe broke through the breastplate and cut open Arracca's flesh before it stopped between Arracca's shoulder blades and clavicle.

The greataxe was only an inch away from Thales' shoulder.

Arracca panted heavily while blood flowed out of his wound and soaked through Thales' shoulder.

The sword in the right hand of the Kingdom's Wrath had already disappeared without a trace. With just one hand, he blocked Liroque's greataxe by the hilt. His whole body trembled as he was engaged in a life-and-death battle with the enemy's commander.

But he was not alone.

Before the edge of the axe, a black-haired, brown-eyed young soldier of Constellation knelt on one knee beside Arracca. He clenched his teeth tightly and raised both his hands over his head. He held a pair of even-length pikes in each hand as he used all his strength to withstand the axe blade that had hacked into Arracca's left shoulder.

"Damned bastard!" Liroque's eyes strained with redness while his Power of Eradication burst out. He gradually pressed down on the axe blade in his hands.

At the same time, the two spearmen who wrestled with Arracca had also exerted themselves, hoping to kill the Kingdom's Wrath here. "Don't even think about it…"

Willow Ken's hands trembled as he held the twin pikes with all of his strength to withstand the greataxe above him—under gravity's pressure and Liroque's strength—to ease Arracca's burden.

Arracca was panting hard and he was in excruciating pain while he stared at Willow with a complicated gaze.

Strong wind howled in the air when Ralf's figure glided towards them. Ralf swept past the Eckstedtians' weapons with great effort. He brought along two Constellation soldiers dressed in the apparel of the fortress' soldiers to fight with Liroque's subordinates—who were preparing to enter the battlefield.

A sturdy veteran of Constellation abruptly dashed over. With his shield, he knocked the Eckstedt soldiers who were fighting with Arracca just now onto the ground.

Genard, the veteran from the Starlight Brigade, held down his madly struggling enemy. The both of them held each other's sword hand and competed against each other with their strength and stamina, wanting to bury their swords into each other's vital organs before the other does.

"Is there anyone else?" Thales asked anxiously while he pulled out his dagger with great effort. He hesitated on whether he should cut the rope that fastened him behind Arracca.

"There are only a few of us left. The Fury Guards and your subordinates are all being entangled!" Genard yelled as if his life depended on it while he wrestled with his opponent, "You had better be useful, you twin pike wielding army deserter!"

Willow's face was flushed red and his hands shook continuously as they withstood the greataxe.

"I said this before…"

The Eckstedt infantryman whose longspear was wedged between Arracca's left arm and torso roared as he threw down his longspear. The infantryman pulled out a dirk from his back and charged at Arracca who was caught in a deadlock. Arracca loosened his left arm and held on to Liroque's greataxe with both hands. His eyes were burning with rage.

 "I am not an army deserter!" Willow spat out those few words through clenched teeth.

The soldier charged frantically at Arracca and Thales with his dirk in hand. Thales trembled as he cut the rope.

Willow pulled back his right arm that was holding a pike while he withstood Liroque's greataxe with his left hand laboriously. He yelled desperately, "Also… I really know how to use… twin pikes!"

Willow's right hand suddenly lashed out! The Eckstedt soldier, dirk in his hand, stepped away from Willow's single pike.

Thales had a cold feeling in his chest. 'This is bad. He missed the target.'

But Willow's hand suddenly trembled. The spear tip flashed while the pike shaft flew from his hand.

*Rip!*

The Eckstedtian lowered his head in shock and the dirk fell from his hand.

Willow's pike was no longer in his hand. The tip of the spear was already lodged in the soldier's throat.

Thales exhaled a long breath and his mind began to unwind and relax. 'What a close call.'

With all his strength already used up, Willow panted while his left pike trembled and dropped from resisting the greataxe. He then collapsed onto the floor, exhausted.

But Liroque's greataxe did not come down.

Once more, Thales felt newborn power explode from the body of the man carrying him.

Liroque stared at his own greataxe in surprise as the Kingdom's Wrath lifted his axe up inch by inch with his arms.

The beast-like man slowly stood from the ground like a volcano at the point of eruption.

"Did your commanding officer not tell you?" Arracca breathed heavily and he trembled like a beast. A scary strength exploded once again from his arms and pushed the greataxe forward. Liroque stumbled and almost fell to the ground, but his subordinate was there in time to support him from behind.

"If you have a chance to kill me, it is best that you kill me in one strike. If you do not manage kill me… Heh…" Arracca sneered through clenched teeth as his countenance suddenly changed.

Filled up to his eyes with the fluctuations, Thales watched in surprise as the previously stirring ripples and explosions within Arracca's body start to boil vigorously like lava!

Liroque furrowed his brows and stared at the faint red light shining from Arracca's eyes. The muscles on his injured shoulder began to contract and block his wound to stop the bleeding.

'What is that?' He recalled the legend of the Kingdom's Wrath again. 'No… Impossible. He is only human after all, isn't he?'

In the surrounding noise of carnage, Liroque roared angrily. He used all the strength in his body and charged at Arracca with his few most trusted subordinates. Seven or eight weapons thrust out at the same time.

…..

Count Levan asked the military courier before him in surprise as his face was filled with disbelief, "Four minutes? That man charged at the forefront alone… and he used only four minutes to break through our battle formation?" The count grabbed the courier's collar in one swift motion as he angrily yelled, "Impossible! Those are six military units! Almost two thousand and five hundred people! Flanking from all directions!"

"It- it has yet to break through completely." The military courier gasped for breath and it seemed as if he, too, was extremely irreconcilable. He could be heard hatefully saying through clenched teeth, "Soldiers from the other directions are also trying to fill in the gap… We-we can drive him to death by exhaustion…"

He did not continue to speak. For a valiant Northland Soldier like him, saying the phrase "driving him to death by exhaustion" was already close to disgrace.

"Do not be surprised." From the side, Viscount Kentvida walked forward, placed his hand above the count's hand and sighed. "We have been looking forward to meeting the Kingdom's Wrath for a long time. Even the White Blade Guards could not hold back his beast-like frontal attack."

"But… four minutes…" Count Levan had a solemn look on his face. "This is too…"

"Arracca Murkh and his strength was originally part of our plan." A steady voice from behind was heard. Both Kentvida and Levan bowed down. "If he takes the lead in attacking, he can certainly break through even further on with Constellation's prince."

On his warhorse, Archduke Lampard stared at the distant battle and sighed. "If they want to break through to the direction of the fortress, the psychological shock delivered to the fortress will be stronger… Then the chances of success for our plan in luring Sasere will probably become higher. By that time, the fortress' morale would not depend on whether Sasere wants to send her troops out or not.

"What a shame. Whose idea it was that actually made them face north instead of the fortress and attack in the opposite direction—it is unknown." Archduke Lampard shook his head with an abnormally regretful look on his face.

Count Levan resumed his calm state and said with his brows furrowed together, "Does the seven-year-old prince also agree to court death like this?"

"There is no point in overthinking." Lampard steeled his expression and shook his head resolutely. "It is already impossible for us to take back the fortress."

"There is another problem. So long as Murkh brings along his bow, it will be very hard for the infantries to exhaust his physical strength through sheer numbers." Viscount Kentvida furrowed his brows and pondered. "The infantry's encirclement on the north side is not as tight as the south side. There is a large possibility that he might rush out until he stands before us. That would be very awkward. How should we handle Murkh and that prince?"

"If the light infantry cannot surround and stop him..." Count Levan's eyes sparkled and he said in a serious tone, "But he still has a baggage with him, and he cannot enter or leave the battlefield at will! Let the light infantry continue holding the others back and transfer the main force prepared to attack the fortress back here. Regardless of whether it is the Doppelsöldners's attack or the heavy cavaliers' long-distance indiscriminate charge, either one can easily kill them all... including Murkh."

"It is not like we do not have any experience before. Based on the battlefield skills of Kingdom Wrath's, his efficiency in killing light infantry and Doppelsöldners are the same." Viscount Kentvida shook his head. "And even if we succeed, it is very likely for us to kill the Constellation's prince along with him. This is not a good choice… I am afraid we have to come up with another plan."

"Please, let ME go, Your Grace." Behind Lampard, Lord Tolja held a peculiarly shaped saber, and bowed down slightly from his horse. His eyes were glinting with an unlimited desire to fight. "From Murkh's dead body, I will surely seize back the bow that belongs to Eckstedt. If we cannot dispatch our main force… Then I am the only person here who can confront Murkh." Tolja stared at the archduke with his burning gaze. "Let the Rising Sun Saber confront the Motionless Bow."

Lampard caressed the sword at his waist as he thought carefully. After more than ten seconds, Lampard slowly shook his head and declined. "No, I do not wish for any accident to happen to you. Even if Murkh does not bring along that bow, he is still too valiant."

Disappointment flashed across Tolja's eyes.

"After all, he must already be covered all over with cuts and bruises since he has fought for around eight minutes. This will make him even more dangerous." Viscount Kentvida vigilantly continued the archduke's speech.

"We all know the legend of that man. I heard the Tower of Eradication specifically gave his mutated Power of Eradication another name?"

Lampard lifted his head and sighed faintly, "Yes, the Wrath of the Dark Sky—the Power of Eradication that was born for the battlefield."

Tolja clenched the knife tightly in his hand. The archduke was heard saying faintly, "The more he fights, the more injuries he will have. The more injuries he has, the stronger he will become."

…..

When Thales regained his sense, he watched in surprise as Arracca charged at full speed towards the seven or eight people in front of them.

Without any protection by his side, he started his breakthrough once more. Faced with the opponents' blades, Arracca's body suddenly moved in a peculiar motion. The movement seemed to have brought a fluctuation in the air. On his back, Thales suddenly felt dizzy.

A sword sliced through Arracca's breastplate and left a deep wound between his ribs. A hammer-and-chain brushed past his raised right leg and tore away a piece of flesh. Countless sparks burst out when a saber was deflected by the gauntlet on his right hand.

On the other hand, Liroque's greataxe swung past Arracca's head when he suddenly turned his head around and the motion of the axe blew a wind past his ear. A longspear missed and slid over his thigh by a few centimeters. Finally, a knife cut into his unprotected left bicep, but not much blood gushed out.

It seemed as if Arracca only moved slightly, avoiding all attacks to his vital organs during the attack from all the weapons in an instant. But Thales knew that this was definitely not a simple, slight movement.

Arracca appeared as if he did not care how many wounds were added to his body. He only rushed forward and attacked with a feverish look on his face... Until he barged right in between his enemies.

"Kill him!" Liroque retracted his greataxe and commanded in exasperation.

But it was obvious that the somewhat frenetic Eckstedtians could not keep up with Arracca's rhythm anymore.

In the next second, Arracca unleashed a furious roar that could shake the skies. An astonishing heatwave exploded from his right fist and he punched that fist into the face of a swordsman. A clear sound of bone breaking was heard. The Eckstedtian howled frantically.

Arracca laughed heartily when the Power of Eradication erupted violently and exploded from his body. With a zealous power, Arracca used his shoulder to knock into the shield of the hammer-and-chain wielder. The latter let out a miserable shriek as he flew backwards.

The Kingdom's Wrath grabbed the hammer-and-chain released by the opponent in one swift motion. With the hammer-and-chain, he turned around and slammed it into the saber aimed for the back of his head and sent the saber flying into the air. The hammer-and-chain flew around without slowing its momentum, until it slammed into an enemy's skull.

Red and white fluids splattered in all directions. Arracca made another turn and accurately used the chain to lock a knife, then pulling his next enemy to him. He then used the enemy's lower abdomen to block a longsword that had immediately followed afterwards.

The swordsman that accidently killed his own comrade was stunned for a second before Arracca grabbed his clothing and pulled him closer to crush his trachea.

All five Eckstedt soldiers fell at Arracca's feet in an instant. Liroque roared furiously as he swung his axe downwards!

Arracca immediately retreated with an astonishing speed and avoided the axe's arc with precision. Thales was already dizzy from the battle that involved rapid left and right movements, he almost passed out when Arracca retreated.

But then, an astonishing explosion was heard from the body of the Kingdom's Wrath.

That force from the explosion instantly rose up and, like a swallow that suddenly turned around and darts back, that force rushed towards Liroque, who could not pull back his axe in time!

Thales could see stars and his vision blurred. Both of Arracca's hands pressed on the long hilt of the greataxe.

"I like your axe."

Thales vaguely heard the hearty laugh from Kingdom's Wrath, and Liroque's angry howl of despair.

When he raised his head again, he could see Arracca waving Liroque's double-sided axe valiantly, then slammed it into the face of its original owner.

The latter flew off like a kite with a broken string.

With his face covered in blood, Arracca brandished the greataxe and yelled at the comrades behind of him, "Follow me!"

Arracca waved the double-sided axe and barged into the crowd before him like a fierce beast, slaughtering a bloody path through.

Everywhere he went, the blood splattered in all directions and body parts flew in the air. The surrounding Eckstedtians began to become chaotic after witnessing their commander's death and the ferocious anger of the Kingdom's Wrath.

But in the next second, the body of the Kingdom's Wrath suddenly swayed!

He planted his axe on the ground and glared at the Eckstedtians before him while he panted. The Eckstedtians still stood in their orderly rows with hesitation on their faces.

Thales was quite shocked. "Hey… Baron Murkh, are you still strong enough to hold on?"

"This is only an attack at a formation of light infantry," Arracca panted laboriously and replied with dissatisfaction, "I have to go so far as to use this toy. If only I was ten years… no, five years younger…"

Thales was momentarily stunned.

Right at this very moment, a cold metallic sensation… one so cold he had never felt it before, went through his senses.

It was the bow. The bow Arracca carried on his back!

Following Arracca's words, the great, silver-black bow pressed against Thales' skin suddenly began to vibrate. The boy quivered.

In that instant, Thales suddenly felt a burning sensation erupt from within his body—just like the greatbow that suddenly had a faint electric current passing through it. As if it was repelling his touch.

In the next instant, the exhausted Arracca took a deep breath and his entire frame started to shake.

Eckstedt's infantrymen stared at the Kingdom's Wrath in disbelief when he slowly stood up and waved the greataxe with ease, as if his energy was once again replenished.

"Let them reminisce the good old days." Arracca revealed a scary smile as he stared at his enemies, who wore complicated emotions on their faces.

That uncomfortable feeling that was like an electric shock slowly disappeared from Thales' body. Thales endured the uncomfortable feeling caused by the greatbow and asked, "What is this?"

Arracca exercised his neck and, once more, revealed his murderous spirit to the enemy.

"This is the most unbelievable weapon in the entire world," he grinned as he said, "Each weapon will bestow its user their corresponding powers."

Thales was surprised, then he scrutinized that silver-black, metallic greatbow again.

"The legendary anti-mystic equipment?" He suddenly realized that this bow did not have a bowstring.

"Right." The Kingdom's Wrath nodded. "Motionless Bow."

"Then... what is its ability?" Thales asked in puzzlement, even though he already had the answer in his head while watching Arracca's physical strength return to him like a phoenix rising from ashes.

He only heard Arracca snorting. "Perpetual motion."

Thales was slightly stunned. After he understood the meaning of this word, his expression changed drastically.

'Perpetual motion? If it is the literal meaning… That is too ridiculous!'

Memories from the past suddenly emerged in his mind...

"Archers always die? Hey, what does that mean?"

"Oh, oh, oh! Master Qiren—who only has the heart to study the Four Books and Five Classics [1]—is going to join the world of anime, too?! Come here, I have an amazing piece that I want to introduce to you because of what you said just now… It is a story about the love-hate relationship between a Master and his Servant [2]…"

"Eh, I'm just a little curious after reading this post… Hey- you- don't snatch my mouse from me!"

Thales shook his head and forcefully suppressed the flickering memories, as well as the nausea caused by the smell of blood on the battlefield, back inside himself.

Genard finished off his opponent and pulled up the exhausted Willow. Each of them stood on either side of Arracca. Ralf followed behind them with a complicated expression on his face.

Liroque's death brought chaos to this large Eckstedtian troop. The Fury Guards also finally broke from the infantry's entanglement.

"Hey, the brat with the twin pikes." Arracca suddenly turned his head around and looked at Willow.

Willow shuddered suddenly. Three days ago, this man wanted to send him up to the scaffold.

"It seems that you truly are not an army deserter." Arracca snorted lightly.

Willow's face became joyful.

"But your skills in dual-wielding pikes are rubbish."

Willow's expression froze.

"Do not mind it." Thales gave him a smile from behind Arracca. "This is his way of saying 'thank you'."

Arracca snorted coolly as he swung the greataxe and walked forward with large, quick strides.

"Next time you should switch to a long pike and a short one." the Kingdom's Wrath voice came from the front. "Even-length pikes… are much too foolish."

Willow was stunned, but a smile immediately spread across his face. He followed them immediately.

Already, the Eckstedtians before them were not as dense as before.

Lampard's military camp was just a small distance away.

…..

A member of the Fury Guards howled in anger as he stabbed his sword into the body of a soldier of Eckstedt who was beside Arracca. At the same time, he pulled an axe out from his lower abdomen. He panted twice before he glanced at Arracca powerlessly, then fell to the ground.

Arracca trembled slightly, but he still broke through the last line of enemies without looking back.

The surviving Fury Guards and members of the diplomat group finally made their way out of the siege.

It was as if the light infantrymen behind them had received some command and did not pursue them anymore once they managed to break through the encirclement.

They could already see the thick mass of the Lampard Family's army before their eyes. Thales had hardly recovered from his shock when he raised his head.

 Arracca threw Liroque's axe from his hand, and ripped the rope that was fastened around Thales when he asked quietly, "Are you sure that this is our chance?"

"We must make a bet." Thales landed on the ground and felt the change in his balance. He retched for a moment. "Bet that Lampard does not dare to kill me. The stake is my life."

However, he was immediately lifted up by Arracca and placed back on Arracca's back. Arracca then continued to move forward.

Putray's body was covered entirely in blood when he hurried to them from behind. He rushed as he said exhaustedly, "At least Lady Sasere does not have to hesitate between you and the fortress anymore, Your Highness."

Thales grasped Arracca's shoulders and nodded. He turned his head around and suddenly saw Ramon, who was still in the troop.

"He is still alive?" Thales furrowed his brows.

"Yes, even though I saw him in grave danger a few times. But each time, his luck had been pretty good," Putray said with an apologetic expression on his face.

Thales exhaled and stared at Ramon, whose face showed that he still had lingering fear from earlier.

'I knew it.'

Putray continued. "But the Fury Guards have had substantial damage, and almost half of the diplomat group's veterans were sacrificed…"

Thales' face darkened. He suddenly felt Arracca's body tremble while carrying him.

"You had better be right, young prince," Arracca's tone was shaky as he spoke in a low and deep voice, "Because of you alone…"

He turned his head around with an ill expression on his face and looked at the scarred soldiers and the numerous corpses behind them.

Thales also turned his head around and stared at the path Arracca had broken through. From there to here, there was an almost straight line of the dead bodies of the Fury Guards.

Three days ago, they held their sword hilts with serious expressions on their faces in a tense confrontation with Sonia and her Starlight Brigade at the fortress.

Three days later, they will never return.

"You want me to prove to you that I am the most valiant warrior of Constellation?" Arracca said in a low voice. Thales was stupefied.

Arracca furrowed his brows and his breathing sped up. "This is the proof... I was never the Kingdom's Wrath, there was only the Fury Guards and their sacrifices."

Arracca turned his head around and continued to carry the stunned Thales onwards. The Iron Fist Flag was just a short distance away from them.

"Dunn, Losa, Gillian, Perland!" Arracca shouted one name after another through clenched teeth. "Without them, I would have already died ten thousand times.

"They… since the past, the present, and the future, all the members of the guards who gave up their lives… THEY are the true Kingdom's Wrath."

Thales lowered his head with a complicated expression. Right at this very moment—

"Wait!" Arracca suddenly yelled!

Thales was startled and immediately raised his head.

From one side of Eckstedt's military camp, a troop of soldiers—with very few members but were armed heavily—were seen walking out in an orderly manner ahead of them. Everyone also raised their heads to look in front.

The survivors from Constellation suddenly burst into an uproar; almost everyone was shocked.

"Damn it!" Aida punched her fist at Putray and said angrily, "What exactly did you do?"

"Do what? No." Putray stared at the troop in bewilderment. "Everything that happened today is not right! It should not be like this!"

Ramon screamed and threw himself onto the ground. "I knew it! To follow this prince... is simply…"

Wya was terror-stricken and rushed towards Thales. "Your Highness, please seek cover immediately!"

Ralf was nervous and seemingly out of his wits. He kept shaking his head.

In the crowd, Willow poked Genard beside him with a strange expression on his face. "What is that?"

"What is that?!" Genard also furrowed his brows while he harshly replied, "The ferrymen of Hell's River!"

Willow shook his head with a dumbfounded look on his face.

On the other hand, Thales looked at everyone with a confused expression on his face, 'What is going on? That troop of sparse soldiers…'

"Arched light shield!" Arracca placed Thales down and roared frantically, "Form a formation immediately! Adjust the angle of deviation!"

Every soldier of Constellation began moving frantically. The Fury Guards and the fortress' veterans rapidly took the shields from their backs, especially the shields that glinted with a metallic sheen.

The soldiers arranged themselves into a battle array with different layers, they then raised their shields in front of themselves.

Even though it was tradition to use the infantry battle formation that Constellation had inherited from the empire, it was different from the usual array. This time, the battle formation was particularly concentrated. There was only one row where the soldiers were either squatting or standing. They stuck tightly together while facing the direction of the small, peculiar troop of Eckstedt soldiers.

While he watched the situation, Thales asked aloud because he was unaware, "What is happening? Who exactly… are those soldiers?"

Everyone suddenly fell silent.

Arracca broke the silence and asked through clenched teeth, "You said you bet that Lampard does not dare to kill you?"

Thales looked at Arracca's complexion in bewilderment.

"It seems that this is a failed gamble." Arracca wore an angry expression on his face as he pointed at the troop of soldiers in the distance. "Do you see the ones coming to greet us?"

Thales narrowed his eyes. He suddenly realized that the soldiers were holding peculiar but heavy long strips in their hands. They placed one hand on the front and another on the back as they aimed one end of the long strip at them.

'This position…' His heart suddenly trembled!

He could hear Arracca's low roar as the man forcefully suppressed his anger.

"That is… the Mystic Gun unit."

Translator's Note:

1. Four Books and Five Classics: The authoritative books of Confucianism in China. For more information, please go to this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Books_and_Five_Classics

2. Master and Servants: From the Fate/Stay series, all of them.

Comments (41)
Chiq
Chiq
A few things have been an established that may answer your questions. 1. PoE is not a unique power. Most people have 1 of the several derivative superpowers. 2. Some people have special PoE, or superpowers. These are closer to the original superpowers but tend to be unique to the person. 3. Anti-mystic weapons grant users unique superpowers as long as they are equipped to the person. 4. Psionics are not numerous. It so happens that the leaders in the gangs are mostly psionics pr have super powers. 5. Using super powers weakens the user. After some time, users get tired. 6. Supreme class elites are only able to show off their great power in one on one battles; in one on many they have to attack and defend many people at the same time. 7. Lastly, This is the first time we have seen a supreme class elite fight with many people at one time, and not die. All the other fights that have been told of that nature ended in death of the elite.

Mzku
Mzku
i know its a bit late in the game to point this out and totally irrelevant to the story but, you think thales still wets the bed? i mean he's 7 and grew up in essentially a hole.

WingTongDingDong
WingTongDingDong
Where are all the people with special powers, if gangs can have dozens of them why are there none in the armies, also the power levels make no sense how is a supreme warrior one of the best in the nation getting cut by riff raff soldiers just because there are a lot of them, what happened to flying, the shadow realm thing cratering the ground so on, now its just an unstoppable soldier and where are all these eradication powers. Its like this story is always swapping between fantasy and medieval sword fighting but not properly joining them.

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Chapter 107: Mystic Gun
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

"Prepare to hoist the guns!"

A man with the left half of his face burnt, shouted loudly.

As the training officer of Black Sand Region's Mystic Gun unit, Hadel watched his subordinates in satisfaction. There were almost thirty strong and elite soldiers. They were wearing heat insulation gloves as well as glass goggles, and were divided into groups of three. They opened the maintenance box and steadily took out ten streamlined Iron Ash Mystic Guns.

Although they were not the best Mystic Gunmen he had ever trained, in a place like Eckstedt, which generally looked down on the usage of Mystic Guns, these men that belonged to the Black Sand Archduke were considered rare professionals.

This reminded Hadel of his first time touching an old-fashioned and depleted Siegel 5 Mystic Gun as a new recruit.

'But look at these young men.' Hadel sighed, filled with emotions. 'Look at those playthings in their hands.'

The Siegel 7 Mystic Gun's sturdy frame was smelted by skilled dwarves in the Eastern Peninsula's Iron Ash Hill. Its barrel was forged with carefully selected Crystal Drop Ores from the Snake Belly Mountain Range, which was situated at the intersection of Hanbol Dynasty and Liegdern Union. Its oil storage tank was made of dark copper extracted from Crystal Jade City's seabed. It was also filled to the brim with high quality Eternal Whale Oil harvested by the Trade Federation from the Southern Sea of Eradication. Not to mention, there was also a sealed-up core of mysterious origins inserted inside.

The body of the gun was sturdy and wearproof. Plus, the barrel could withstand high temperatures. It had a high focal power and was easy to aim with. Even the rate in which the core depleted was only half of its preceding model, the Siegel 6, which came out twenty years ago. Its mystic energy could cover two hundred meters without dispersing. It could also be fired twice within half an hour, and only needed two hours to cool down. Apart from the fact that its net weight was still exasperatingly heavy and that it had a problem with leaking heat, it was virtually perfect in Hadel's eyes.

Low quality Mystic Guns would be smuggled dubiously into the underground black market from the Kingdom's Firearm Trade, but they lack maintenance and upkeep. Additionally, their core would deplete after a few months. Compared to this, it was virtually a comparison between wooden sticks and steel swords.

"The target is within our vision. Prepare to aim!"

A well-built hoister kneeled on one knee and lifted the heat insulation base at the front part of the gun with his shoulder, which was clad in special armor.

A sagacious aimer quickly calculated the direction and distance they were working with. He turned the knob on the side of the gun, adjusting the focal point and the degree of energy.

Then, a resolute operator skillfully checked the condition of the gun. After ensuring that the core was stable, he opened the safety latch and grabbed onto the firing handle.

'One day…' Hadel thought quietly, 'it will not be heavy anymore. And two people, or even one person would be able to carry it by hand.

'It will not be complicated anymore either. One person would be enough to aim accurately and fire.

'It will also not be dangerous anymore. The core will no longer be a ticking time bomb that could endanger the gunman's life at any moment.

'It will not be expensive anymore, and every soldier will be equipped with it in the battlefield, instead of having the need for it to wielded by a unit consisting of dozens of people.

'It will not be mysterious anymore. The core will no longer be a mysterious item, which can only be replenished through special channels. Every single person will know its origins and the principles behind it.

'One day…' Hadel looked gently at the Mystic Gun next to him, which was in firing mode. He subconsciously ran his hand over his severed left arm. Feeling the left side of his face, which was throbbing in slight pain, he thought to himself.

'It will become the king of battles and take away the glory of the Powers of Eradication. It will completely eliminate metal weapons and hand-to-hand combat from the world.

'Even in the Northland.

'It will show people the high price they have to pay for war, and how precious peace is.

'Unfortunately, I will not be able to see it anymore.'

"Get into attacking position!"

Hadel raised his right hand solemnly and yelled out the penultimate call.

The ten gunmen put forth their strength and pulled the handles, which were attached to internal springs. The mysterious core behind the frame of the gun started to emit unsettling vibrations and noises.

Hadel looked at the Constellatiates in front of him, who just broke out of the light infantry's encirclement.

'It is said that their newfound prince is in there.

'Is he?'

Hadel flashed a smile.

'Lucy, my daughter.

'Your mother and I will always be proud of you.

'No matter how hopeless the situation gets, you must live on with strength.'

This man had gone through the many vicissitudes of life and on top of that, he only had half a face. At the very next moment, he thumped his right arm with force. And with a distorted expression, he roared furiously.

"Fire!"

…

The soldiers formed a dense shield formation and blocked most of Thales' field of vision. All the remaining people hid behind the shield formation.

"Distribute the arched light shield evenly!" Arracca roared furiously, "Do not leave any area uncovered!"

On the other hand, Thales was pressed onto the ground while he was under Putray. He could not raise his head at all.

"No matter what, hide yourself behind other people," Putray said with a stiff expression, "Lampard must have gone crazy!"

Gritting his teeth, Thales could not suppress the curiosity inside his heart.

'Are those… Mystic Guns?'

He remembered that not long ago, Morris from the Brotherhood obtained two of those guns from the army with a high price… However, they were proven as "unrealistic playthings".

At least, that was what Layork said.

Thales had always assumed that apart from the fact that it used a mysterious source of energy, the Mystic Gun was a weapon similar to that of his past life; one that could be pointed and shot at the enemy.

'However, seeing them now, they seemed to be more complicated.

'Gauging from Arracca's expression and the other's, at least. They look like they are facing an arch enemy. It probably—'

"They have fired!" At this moment, Arracca shouted in a frenzy.

All the soldiers gritted their teeth and trembled, grasping the metallic arch light shields in their hands even tighter.

A blood-red light shone from the front!

The light pierced through the shield formation.

The weather was very cold. However, at this moment, a gentle warmth enveloped them, as if they were basking in the sun.

"Endure and disperse it—" Before Arracca could finish his words, there was an odd change in their surroundings.

*Sizzle…*

The moment the snow-covered ground beside them touched the red light, the snow melted into water and evaporated into the air!

Thales furrowed his brows… 'What is this?'

The red light spread to a tiny tree on the snow-covered ground.

Thales' eyes widened and his jaw dropped as every inch of the tree turned black in the blink of an eye, bursting into flames.

Shortly after, the tiny tree exploded abruptly and countless sparks flew everywhere.

*Boom!*

The spattering sparks hit the crowd and many of the soldiers wailed in pain. The shield formation immediately shook.

"Persist!" Arracca roared, "Ten seconds would roughly be enough!"

Panicking, Thales felt the air around him continuously increasing in temperature.

It was getting hotter and hotter!

To the point where the warmth became a merciless, blazing heat!

His body temperature was also rising along with it.

'What is happening?' Thales thought in a panic.

'What on earth are Mystic Guns? Why do they have such an effect?'

"We can't… The heat from the shield…" A veteran of the Fury Guards blocked the light with his shield. The clothes on his shoulder where the shield was being held up had started to blacken and crimple, emitting smoke.

He shut his eyes tightly and said as he trembled, "At least five are firing at us at the same time! We do not have enough anti-mystic equipment… the arch light shields!"

"You must persist!" Arracca roared loudly and removed the Motionless Bow from his back. It was a bow without strings. "I will fend off the extra attacks!"

Just then, the hand of one of the soldiers holding an arch light shield suddenly burst into flames!

He started to shout in agony and took a step back under Arracca's shocked gaze.

His shield swayed, and the red light shone on his body through the gap in the shield formation.

"No—" Before Arracca could finish, the soldier started to wail miserably.

"Arghhh!"

Within a few seconds, the soldier began to tremble tremendously. His clothes were the first to sizzle with smoke.

The red light shone onto the area beneath his legs, and the snow there evaporated into gas in the blink of an eye!

Feeling his skin crawl, Thales watched as the soldier's skin started to melt. The next moment, the soldier's entire body burst into flames.

After another second, just like the tiny tree, the soldier's entire body exploded and released numerous sparks!

*Boom!*

Thales watched in horror as the soldier's life ended.

Only a dried, dead body was left of the soldier.

However, his death brought about irredeemable consequences.

"Cover the gap—" Before Arracca could finish yelling, the scorching fragments of the dead body splattered around within the shield formation and lit many of the shield-wielding soldiers on fire.

"Argh!"

"No!"

"Endure!"

"It's so hot…"

Cries of pain rang out one after another!

The shield formation scattered immediately.

Then, the red light shone into the crowd without any barriers.

The temperature increased abruptly and quickly!

And so, the snow began to evaporate inch by inch.

A chill ran down Thales' spine.

'No.

'Sh*t.'

At that moment, Arracca stood up as he roared furiously. He dashed forward and shielded everyone behind him.

With the sound of an explosion, his hair caught fire instantly.

The Kingdom's Wrath raised his Motionless Bow towards the source of the red light, where a small group of Eckstedt soldiers stood.

The Motionless Bow shook a little.

It then emitted a strong, silver light, which was nothing less than the Mystic Gun's firing attack!

Meeting with the silver light, the red light from the Mystic Gun weakened and scattered all over its surroundings.

It was as if the silver light had blocked the path of the Mystic Gun's red light.

Arracca roared. Smoke started to emanate from his right hand, which was holding the Motionless Bow.

Despite that, he still persisted.

However, the surface area of the silver light was not big enough and Arracca could only shield the people who were at the center. There were still many soldiers at his periphery who were being hit by the red light.

*Boom!*

A second soldier turned into a large fireball and exploded.

"No, no, no… !"

*Boom!*

A third one exploded.

"Argh, argh, argh!"

Genard held his right shoulder, which had been hit by the red light. He was dragged towards the silver light's area of protection by Willow. In the process, the Willow's short pike abruptly burst into numerous fiery sparks.

"He will not be able to keep going for much longer!" Gritting her teeth, Aida yelled.

"I cannot die here!" Ramon said.

"Take His Highness and get out!" Wya said while drenched in sweat.

"No, there are too many Mystic Guns! We cannot get out!" Putray said with difficulty,

Everyone was caught up in a chaotic mess and no one noticed that the Second Prince of Constellation was in a peculiar state.

The moment the silver light emanated from the Motionless Bow, Thales felt the electric sensation again.

And it was more severe than what he felt when he was on Arracca's back moments earlier. It was as if the metallic bow repelled every inch of his body.

Lying face down on the snow-covered ground, Thales quivered with a distorted expression.

'No… Does the legendary anti-mystic equipment… really repel me this much?'

The silver light weakened suddenly.

Arracca's right hand started combusting.

The Kingdom's Wrath gritted his teeth, enduring the endless heat and the high temperature.

A few slivers of red light snuck through and shone on Thales' body.

At that moment, Thales suddenly trembled and his clothes began to smoke.

He could only feel the cells in his body increasing in temperature.

'It is so hot.

'As if I am burning from the inside out.'

The familiar fluctuation surged throughout his entire body and it was like time had slowed down again.

Via the field of vision he obtained through the fluctuation, the red light and the silver light looked like two garroting enemies that were swallowing each other up. However, apart from the places where the two lights converged, the silver light obviously had the upper hand. It was just that there was more red light.

But at the same time, Thales could only feel the inside of his body getting hotter and hotter.

'No.

'It's so hot.'

Feeling the heat that was almost burning him up, Thales shut his eyes in despair and screamed with his mouth wide open.

He flailed his arms and wailed miserably.

'Argh, it's too hot!'

Just then, his heart suddenly jumped.

*Dubb!*

He felt a very new sensation.

That time, Thales only noticed that his vision had transcended normal distances. He saw the red light's point of departure—the Mystic Guns those soldiers were holding.

There was a core that emitted yellow light and rotated continuously behind each of one of those guns.

'That is the essence of the Mystic Gun.

'But…

'This d*mned red light… please, disappear quickly.

'It's so hot!

'At least…

'Stay farther away from me!'

He pondered about it for a moment. Shortly after, with the vision he obtained through the mysterious fluctuation, he suddenly saw something that would shake his world!

In his field of vision, which others could not see, the blood-red light of the Mystic Gun suddenly dispersed as if it had gained consciousness. It avoided the Constellatiates and shone at the area behind their backs.

*Sizzle, Sizzle*

On the ground a few hundred meters behind the Constellatiates, the snow evaporated in the blink of an eye!

Next, the red light fired by the Mystic Guns disappeared from everyone's vision.

Arracca kneeled on the ground with a thud. However, he still had his right hand raised as it was on fire. He extinguished the flames on the top of his hand and on his hand.

The Constellatiates heaved a sigh of relief and plopped to the ground.

Amid the blazing air, many soldiers had become charred dead bodies while some were burned alive.

Gritting his teeth, Arracca got up from the ground and said, "The first round of attack has ended. It seemed like their aim was not very accurate, but if they are using the Siegel 7—"

At this moment, a shrill trumpet sound rang through the air!

*Toot*

Arracca furrowed his brows.

Putray and the other veterans shivered all of a sudden!

"We have lived!" Putray, who just survived the disaster shut his eyes tightly. His lips were quivering.

"This is… This is Eckstedt's retreat bugle!"

Rapid sounds of hooves rang from afar.

A knight wearing a grey helmet hurried over.

"Enough! The Kingdom's Wrath, there has already been enough battles and deaths!" the knight with the grey helmet shouted from afar.

Arracca raised his head and laughed in a mocking tone. "Tolja, the Fire Knight!

"Come!" He raised his almost charred right hand with the Motionless Bow in its grasp. The bow was almost brand new. Clenching his teeth, he said, "Come and get it! Over my dead body!

"Come and get the Motionless Bow I snatched from all of you twelve years ago!"

"The battle between us had ended!" The grim looking Lord Tolja sat on his steed and said with dissatisfaction, "One of Eckstedt's ten joint rulers, the honorable Archduke of the Black Sand Region, Sir Chapman Lampard has invited the Second Prince of Constellation, Thales Jadestar for a visit!"

Arracca was stunned. "Is this a joke?"

At this moment, Putray screamed in shock, "Your Highness!"

Thales did not know what happened after that.

He only felt one thing.

Pain.

A numbing pain.

It was so painful that he felt numb!

This was an aftereffect of the previous time he 'lost control'. It had returned.

The intense pain exploded throughout his entire body in waves.

It was more severe than the previous time!

It felt like every single particle in his body was splitting and disintegrating, passing on the pain to every nerve.

"What is happening to him?"

Thales tried his best to open his eyes. He saw a knight wearing a gray helmet a distance away, as well as Arracca, who was in front of him, and had on a vigilant expression.

"Maybe he has run out of strength. After such a journey…" Putray said anxiously.

"Oh God, His Highness is bleeding… No, no, his breathing is getting faint!" Wya panicked.

"Where is that doctor? Ask him to come!"

Before Thales lost consciousness, the last thing he saw was Ralf, who was dashing anxiously towards him and Ramon, who was being dragged over by Aida.

…

'Those two voices again… It feels like I am dreaming,' Thales thought in a daze.

'Perhaps, I will forget this after I wake up?'

"Oh, it's this one again? How long has it even been? A few minutes? Oh nevermind, it can finally stay here this time, can't it?"

"Hmm, although the buoyancy of the soul is still strong, I can feel that the human body is almost collapsing… Wait! Someone up there is stimulating the potential within its body and mending its life… And it appears that its vitality is very exuberant, too exuberant."

"This cannot be. When was the last time we met such a tough fellow? A few thousand years ago? A few hundred years ago? Or was it a couple of dozen years ago? I cannot remember clearly. I think it was that arrogant knight cum wizard? Eh, what does mother think?"

"... Mother is still not willing to take it in."

"I can only say that it is a good thing to have an exuberant vitality… Even mother allowed it to slip through the net…"

"There is no use in thinking too much. Mother has her own plans."

"Speaking of vitality, do you still remember the Deep Pool Sovereign? It even had three of its hearts destroyed continuously by that calamity… Ack, that screech, even we could hear it clearly from the bottom most floor. Mother actually wanted to take it in. Turns out it struggled and climbed back up…"

"Silence! Prepare to open the counter-current gate… It is rising back up."

"Haih, hopefully the next time it comes down, it won't rise back up again…"

…

In a dingy grove of an unknown location.

A delicate maiden slowly rose from under a tree.

"I thought Hellen would be the one to arrive first." The Blood Mystic, Giza Streelman flashed a smile. She spoke in a soft voice without turning her head back. "After all, I created such a huge commotion.

"After so many years, it appears that she has become lazy."

As soon as she finished talking, a man walked out slowly from the grove behind her.

"Do you know who I am?" Giza smiled adorably and stroked her hair.

The man did not say a word.

"If you know, why would you dare to follow me all the way here?"

Giza smiled and turned.

The man was still silent, as if he did not hear her.

He was an extremely plain man, no matter which angle you looked at him from.

He had a plain appearance, plain attire, plain built and a plain aura.

It was very hard for him to leave an impression on anyone.

That is, apart from what was on the left side of his waist.

Two weapons were tied onto his belt.

One of the weapons was wrapped in an old sackcloth and seemed to be cylindrical in shape.

Giza furrowed her brows slightly.

She could feel a detestable vice under the sackcloth.

And the man's other weapon looked like a sword.

It was just that its shape was quite irregular.

The man was still expressionless.

However, he began to move. He held the uneven sword at his waist in a backhanded manner...

And took it out slowly.

"Are you sure you want to use a sword to fight against me?"

Giza exhaled softly. "You do not look like the civilians around here…"

The man still did not say anything.

He just raised his sword without changing his expression.

It was like he was doing the most insignificant thing ever.

Giza smiled slightly.

The next moment, she saw the sword in the man's hand clearly.

'That sword.'

The Blood Mystic's face became slightly grim.

It was a strange sword.

More importantly...

It was a strange sword that was entirely black...

From its hilt all the way to its blade.

Comments (55)
ZeroCultivation
ZeroCultivation
I hope everyone complaining from the last few chapters abt how "weak" an "useless" Thales is will stfu and go read their standard OP arrogant young master shit. I, for one, am HERE for this. The fight scenes are realistic. Characters fleshed out. World building superb. To be called a webnovel is a disservice, this book has potential for high fantasy. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to get out and read a REAL book.

Nomorevtr
Nomorevtr
So true man reading this is like reading what would happen to most normal guys in a ****ed world like that ;)

Flemeth
Flemeth
Damn microwave gun lol

Rate this chapter

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Chapter 108: Chapman Lampard
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

"Alright, he's awake…"

Thales woke up among the chaotic crowd, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Ramon's huge nose.

'What happened just now?

'The Mystic Gun shot me…

'And I "lost control" again?'

He panted. Ramon was pushed out of his field of vision, after which Putray's thin face, Wya's anxious expression, and Aida's cloaked face squeezed into his field of vision.

"What is wrong?" Thales asked, without any hint of strength in his voice.

"Move! Move! Respect the doctor!" Ramon's annoyed voice travelled into his ears from the side. "Give us some space! His Highness still needs further inspection!"

The three faces in his field of vision disappeared, and Ramon's huge nose reappeared in front of his eyes again.

"What happened to me?" Thales regained his senses over his entire body and asked softly.

"You are currently in great condition. Truthfully, a normal person would not have your vitality and regenerative abilities…" The dishevelled looking Ramon frowned and said. "But, your body—"

"Alright," Thales cut him off and struggled to sit up. He exercised his right shoulder and observed his surroundings. "This is not the time for us to say such things."

Ramon had clearly sensed the abnormalities in his body… but, how could they talk about it in this place?

However, Ramon did not seem like he wanted to give up on it, and his next words caused Thales to clench his fists tightly.

As Ramon dressed his shoulder, which he had injured during the chaotic battle, he hissed with his teeth clenched, "Listen, Your Highness, others may not know, but I can sense it. Those Mystic Guns did not miss their target… but you did something to make them miss…"

'What?'

Thales did his best to control his shock so that he would not appear to be too surprised.

'What does he know?'

Thales retorted brusquely, "I do not know what you are talking about. I should get up now… Tell them their prince is fine."

However, Ramon continued chattering away with a displeased expression on his face. "It does not matter if it was a psionic ability or not… Judging from their expressions, I guess this is not something the others know. But no matter, I am not interested in your secret. Just one thing…"

He lowered his head and said in a fierce tone, "When we reach the border, let me go. I will not join you in your damn journey anymore, or else…"

"Or else what?" Thales turned his head around swiftly and glared at him. "You will use that resurrective power of yours to deal with me?"

Ramon was slightly taken aback.

Thales hissed coldly, "You are not a doctor, Ramon. That's right. I know about this very clearly. You used another power to cure people…

"I assume this is something not everyone knows about as well, am I right?" He looked at the disbelieving expression on Ramon's face and tapped his forehead.

"We shall talk about this later."

Thales stood up, leaving behind Ramon, who was completely stupefied.

The Mystic Gun unit in the distance had already withdrawn. The Fury Guards were cleaning up the battlefield and binding the corpses of their comrades with ropes. Grief and anger appeared on each and every single one of their faces.

'Damn it.'

Thales sighed and clenched his fist. 'If this is the sort of thing I have to face in the future...

'Damn it.'

He lifted his head. Lampard's military camp was right before his eyes.

"What happened?" Thales walked up to Putray with much difficulty and gestured with his hand to signal that he was fine.

"After their first failure, they withdrew." Putray frowned and looked at Thales. "Are you sure you are well?"

"I am fine, just a little weak… I feel fine now," Thales answered with a tone that left no room for any argument.

"Just what are Mystic Guns?" Thales held his chest and asked with fear lingering in his heart.

"A powerful weapon for attacking and defending cities." Putray shook his head. "However, the price for the materials needed to produce every single shot is incredibly expensive. In addition, those materials are hard to get as well. It has low efficiency."

'No. That is not right.

'It is not that simple… I can tell just based on its strange name and its mysterious working principles,' Thales thought to himself.

"Pardon me for being frank, Your Highness, but are you really alright? You stopped breathing just now—" Wya shook his head in worry and walked to his side.

"I told you, I am fine." Thales cut him off coldly. "We have more important things to do."

Wya frowned.

'This is a secret I have to keep.

'I'm sorry.'

With regret in his heart for his actions towards Wya, Thales lifted his head and looked ahead.

"Who is that?" Thales narrowed his eyes.

Not too far away was Arracca, covered in wounds from head to toe. He was glaring at a knight who was wearing a grey helmet and riding on a horse.

Putray said with a wary tone, "One of Eckstedt's 'Five War Generals', the Fire Knight, Romel Tolja, wielder of the legendary anti-mystic equipment—Rising Sun Saber.

"Lampard sent him alone here. It seems like he is here to make peace." Putray shook his head. "If Lampard had truly gone mad and wanted to kill us all, why did he give up halfway?"

'That's right.

'In the end, Lampard has no reason to kill me.

'Then, why…'

Putray said slowly, "Nonetheless, we have already progressed up to this point. We cannot turn back."

Thales nodded slightly.

"You are Prince Thales?" Tolja saw Thales from the distance.

The knight in the grey helmet cast a wary look at Arracca while he spoke slowly, "I am Romel Tolja. Sir Chapman Lampard has extended an invitation to meet with you."

Thales sighed and strode over.

"The Archduke of Black Sand… I originally thought that he would be more amicable." Thales looked around and saw the burnt corpses as well as injured soldiers and members of the diplomat group covered in wounds. As he looked at them, he forced down the displeasure in his heart. "I did not expect him to kill most of our people and then put up a farce by extending an invitation to us."

Tolja raised his head and cast a glance at Broken Dragon Fortress, located in the distance.

"If you have any opinions regarding this matter, you can bring them up to the archduke." The Fire Knight's eyes were sharp and profound under his grey helmet. "I am only responsible of bringing you to him."

Thales gritted his teeth and exhaled.

Right at that moment, the ferocious Arracca stormed towards Tolja. "Have you forgotten something, Eckstedtian?"

There was anger in the words spoken by the Kingdom's Wrath.

"As for you, Arracca, you are not included. Go back." Tolja looked at the hostile Kingdom's Wrath and steered his horse into another direction. "The archduke does not welcome you… Neither you, nor your guards.

"You are only here to escort the prince, no?"

Arracca hissed furiously. "Lampard does not welcome me? What a joke. His brother died in his hands, and his father died in my hands. With this similarity between us, we should be able to get along very well."

Thales frowned.

Arracca said with a freezing tone, "Especially since I killed so many of his soldiers and he killed so many of mine… We would surely become 'good friends'."

"The battle has ended, and you cannot change the results," Tolja responded nonchalantly, as if he was already used to Arracca's provocations. "Those who died in battle should be remembered, true, but those who are alive should not forget their mission.

"What is your mission, Arracca?"

Arracca lowered his head and looked at a burnt corpse not too far away, bound by a tow rope made on the spot. He clenched his fists even harder.

"All of you fought very courageously, but you have already completed your duty." Tolja looked at his opponent coldly. "You should be grateful we did not use this chance to seize the Motionless Bow."

"Why don't you try?" Arracca grabbed the Motionless Bow in one fierce move and slammed one end of the bow in the snow. "After all, you brought that saber along, didn't you?"

"One of these days, I will." A brilliant glare shone in Tolja's eyes. He shook his head. "But now is not the time."

He continued slowly, "One of these days, we will clear all the blood debts between us."

Arracca glared at him, then let out a cold chuckle, which made others uneasy.

"Your Highness?" Tolja did not look at Arracca any longer. He gave Thales a brief nod on his horse and extended his arm in the direction of the military camp.

Thales looked at Putray and the latter gave him a supportive glance.

"I suppose we do not have a choice, do we?" Thales looked at the knight in the grey helmet with the latter giving him a faint smile.

"Alright." Thales looked at the disorganized battlefield and exhaled before he took a step forward. "Let us meet the organizer of this welcoming party."

Thales cast a glance at Arracca, whose expression was difficult to read at this point. "Thank you, Baron Murkh.

"And all of you as well… all of the Kingdom's Wrath." Thales added after a moment of hesitation.

Arracca did not answer. He only watched his guards as they cleaned up the battlefield silently.

Thales sighed and shook his head. He then turned around and walked towards the military camp.

Putray was the first to follow Thales. Wya and Ralf followed closely behind, and as for Aida, she cast a glance at the corpses around her before she walked at the back of the group.

Willow supported Genard and followed suit. As for Ramon, after being pushed and shoved by a few soldiers, he followed them in displeasure.

"Boy!"

Thales turned his head around in surprise.

Right before his eyes, he saw Arracca dipping his head down and placing the Motionless Bow on his back.

The Kingdom's Wrath said quietly, "Most of the soldiers under my command and your diplomat group have died, just so that we could send you here."

Arracca Murkh lifted his head, and he displayed an emotion that Thales could not read.

"Do not let them die in vain."

Thales was stunned.

However, the Kingdom's Wrath had already turned around.

Arracca grabbed a length of rope and dragged the corpses of five of his soldiers, trudging back on the path he used to come to this place without turning back.

The remaining Fury Guards followed behind him, along with their comrades' corpses, which were dragged along the snow-covered ground. Some were complete while some were incomplete.

Their backs were filled with a desolate air.

…

Eckstedt's military camp was boorish and crude. The walls of the camp were made with trees from the pine forest and it was done up in a simple fashion. The tents where the soldiers rested were made using thick branches. Yet compared to these, what left a deep impression in Thales, were the soldiers of Eckstedt.

They were simply too "passionate".

Thales even suspected that if it was not for Tolja leading with his horse in front of the group to show them the way, those soldiers from Eckstedt would have pounced on them.

The Eckstedt soldiers on garrison duty cast a hostile glance at the group from Constellation, and a sentinel even spat fiercely at his feet.

A group of cavaliers who just returned to the camp passed by them. When they saw the Constellation flags lifted high above their heads, they cackled provocatively at the group.

An Eckstedt soldier carrying a suit of heavy armor and a greatsword shouted hatefully at the diplomat group. "Go back, you Southerners! The Northland does not welcome the people of the Empire!"

"Keep on living in your dreams of the Empire!" A half-naked man thumped his chest and roared. He was sitting by a fire while whetting his greataxe. "But first, give us back our territory! The Northland only belongs to Northerners!"

"They killed our prince, but asked a child to make peace!" There was a group of soldiers sitting in a circle to their left as they walked by. The leader of the group pointed at the diplomat group and shouted, "This is how shameless the Empire is!"

The people around them voiced their agreements in anger and glared at them.

That soldier shouted, "Do you know why?! Because all their men in their country were killed by us twelve years ago!"

The people by his side roared in laughter and chimed in. "They should have sent a princess here!"

A soldier mocked, "A boy would do just as well, as long as he's pretty enough. We don't mind the holes in front or at the back!"

Another loud burst of laughter rang in the air.

Thales lifted his head and sighed, "Should I be surprised? Or is this how the citizens of Eckstedt 'greet' those from Constellation?"

"Do not be surprised, Your Highness." said Putray in a relaxed manner to Thales, whose expression had gone stiff.

"Constellation and Eckstedt's relationship has been bad over the past six hundred years, ever since we built our countries. It does not matter if it is the Empire's history or the fight over the Western Peninsula, each is reason enough to turn us into enemies. We seized the Cold Castle from Eckstedt's hands four hundred years ago.

"The earliest periods of our history brewed our hatred of each other, and that hate continued to write history."

Putray sighed.

"Only the Peninsular War could make us temporarily forget our opinions of each other and fight together, an occasion that is rarely seen. During the Third Peninsular War, Chara the Hero and the Oath Keeper Midier were bosom friends. Together with Camus Union's Kaplan the Prophet, they fought together with a united heart against the expeditionary forces from the Eastern Peninsula. But alas, in the end, they became enemies and an excellent chance for the Dragon and Constellation to repair their relationship was lost, just like that.

"But this is a military camp. It will be much better in other places. Plenty of Northlanders do not care about these insubstantial things." Wya nodded. "The civilians who are busy earning their living are different from soldiers who have their hands stained with blood."

"Why did they call us 'people from the Empire'?" Thales frowned. "Is the Final Empire not a historical relic from an age more than six hundred years ago? Even if we truly have a grudge against each other, do we have to trace it back to the Ancient Empire more than one thousand years ago?"

Putray shook his head and said with a complicated expression, "This is their way of mocking us. Constellatiates have always been proud of our legacy and of having the blood of the Empire flowing in our veins, but alas, the Empire did not leave a good impression on the world.

"This is not just limited to the Northlanders. Alumbia of the Land of Thorns and Anlenzo Dukedom of Dragon's Kiss Basin have bad impressions of us too. This is because for example, every single time we need to go to war, we would play up and exaggerate the ancient friendship between us, which lasted for generations. This is more effective than increasing the rewards for the soldiers."

'The Empire. People from the Empire.'

Thales sighed and stored that piece of information in his mind.

"Speaking of which, mobilizing about ten thousand soldiers seems to be the Archduke of Black Sand's limit." Putray looked at the densely packed military camp. "I believe Lampard has a lot of difficulty dealing with restocking and expenditures. Black Sand Region is not a place that is rich in resources.

"For the Northern Territory, they must have planned this for a long time and spent a lot of money on this as well."

The Constellatiates finally arrived before a huge tent as they followed Tolja.

A tall noble dressed in military uniform had been waiting in front of the tent. He walked towards them and nodded slightly at Tolja.

The tall noble bowed before Thales and said, "This must be Prince Thales. A pleasure to meet you, I am Lazaar Kentvida.

"A viscount of Eckstedt, and my fiefdom is the City of Halting Light, located within Black Sand Region.

"Members of the diplomat group, please come with me to rest. As for you, Your Highness"—Viscount Kentvida nodded towards them, then looked at Thales—"the archduke is waiting for you."

Thales lifted his eyebrow.

Kentvida looked at Thales with brightly shining eyes. "This is a private meeting between the Archduke of Black Sand and the Prince of Constellation.

"Do not worry." Viscount Kentvida lifted his hand and stopped Putray and Wya from speaking. His voice was firm. "His Highness is already here. At least, before he reaches Dragon Clouds City to pay a formal visit to His Majesty, no harm will come to him."

Thales sighed softly and produced a smile on his lips. "I believe we still do not have much of a choice, do we?"

Putray whispered softly and a brilliant light shone in his eyes. "You know, Your Highness, I suddenly came to a realization. Lampard is not mad."

A thought occurred in Thales' heart.

Kentvida frowned and gestured to Thales, motioning him to go forward.

…

The archduke's tent was incredibly tall and wide, but it was not bright. There was a thick carpet placed on the ground, and the picture of a strong iron fist was embroidered on it.

On one side of a thick, square table, filled with food was a boorish man. He was in his forties and had grey hair as well as blue eyes. His jaw was covered in a stubble, and he wore a meticulous chain armor made of ring hoops. He was eating from a plate of roasted meat on the table.

A metal brazier was burning brightly by the side, illuminating the man's face. It gave him an even more mysterious look.

Thales noticed that a saber with a leather scabbard was placed horizontally on the table. The scabbard had been polished to the point where it shone.

He calmly watched the actual ruler of Black Sand Region—Archduke Chapman Lampard.

While Lampard brought another piece of roasted meat to his mouth, he fixed his eyes on Thales, causing him to feel uncomfortable.

"You are calmer than I thought you would be," the archduke remarked slowly.

Thales sighed.

"Perhaps." He walked to the table and climbed up a chair before he sat down. "But in the face of my enemy who has formed a blood debt of several hundreds of lives, I truly cannot think of any other expression to show you… Even anger seems excessive."

Lampard picked up a wooden wine goblet and chugged the contents down his throat. His Adam's apple continued to move as he gulped down the wine.

The archduke put down the goblet and used his left hand to wipe off the wine that had flowed out. He then seized a drumstick to take a bite from it.

"Based on the news spreading around Constellation… you are truly not like a seven-year-old child."

"When you have a difficult life, you learn how to be mature at an earlier age." Thales shrugged.

"Eat. This is high quality venison." Lampard pushed a plate of roasted meat towards him. "The Prince of Constellation cannot die of starvation in my military camp."

Thales looked at the crude looking plate of roasted meat and frowned.

"You have guts. Breaking through in the opposite direction was indeed out of my expectations," Lampard said coldly.

"Who made this decision? Perhaps I should reward him for causing the plan I have concocted for years to be ruined in a day."

"You." Thales pulled the plate in front of him, and without even lifting his head, he brought out his dagger and started cutting into the meat.

Lampard lifted his brows.

Thales cut into the venison and said calmly. "It was your decision, Your Grace. On the first day I stepped into Eckstedt's borders, you killed half of my men… You forced us to choose a path that was the most disadvantageous to you.

"How long have you been standing around and watching the fortress across you? Two weeks? Three weeks?

"Let me take a guess, the money for supplies, and to keep ten thousand something men well-fed as well as have a room over their heads is not that easy to maintain." Thales shrugged. "I am truly worried over Black Sand Region's financial situation."

He picked up a piece of venison that he had cut into the size of a thumb and delivered it to his mouth.

The taste was good.

Lampard no longer continued eating or drinking. He looked at Thales intently, and his gaze was fierce.

The archduke said slowly, "Did you know that I originally intended to let you live and only kill those around you?"

Thales frowned.

He did not cut the venison properly.

Thales let out a cold harrumph, and started cutting another piece of meat "However, we ran into the Mystic Gun unit… With that level of attack, you were aiming for my life, am I right?"

"That was an accident," Lampard answered faintly.

"An accident…" Thales was so angry that he let out a bark of laughter. He put down the dagger in his hand. "Your Mystic Gun…"

Nonetheless, Thales hesitated at the next moment.

'Wait. Putray said that Lampard isn't mad.

'Then…'

Thales looked at Lampard with a dumbfounded gaze.

'Could it be..?'

"That was an accident?" Thales asked in disbelief.

"An accident." Lampard placed his arms on the table, and his eyes shone brightly.

Thales closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

After some time...

"You did not send out the Mystic Gun unit," Thales opened his eyes and said with certainty.

"I did not." Lampard put down the wine goblet and shook his head slowly.

"You also did not intend to kill me," Thales continued.

"I did not." Lampard's eyes sparkled.

Thales clenched his teeth.

"I see." He exhaled and started laughing. "Someone else instructed the Mystic Gun unit to attack me."

'Right from the start, Lampard had no reason to kill me.

'The Mystic Gun unit is an anti-personnel weapon that cannot be controlled… No matter how dumb he was, he would not have used that type of weapon to attack me.'

Thales sighed.

Lampard seized the wooden plate where the venison was and dragged it before him. He then took a piece of venison.

"You are much smarter than I had imagined." Lampard's expression was as dark as thunderclouds. He put the venison in his mouth and narrowed his eyes a little. "You understand the reason behind our meeting here, yes?"

"Indeed. I understand now." Thales used his sleeve to wipe his dagger and put it back by his waist. He sighed again. "But I truly never expected that the famous Black Sand Archduke would have his right of command over his Mystic Gun unit easily taken away by others."

Lampard forced down his anger. "That officer's name is Hadel. He was tasked to train my Mystic Gun unit three years ago. The unit's commander was bedridden this morning, and he was only acting as a temporary commander."

"What happened to him?" Thales asked quietly.

Lampard said with a dark tone. "Once the call to retreat was sounded, he still sent the order for the second round of attack, but right then, there were soldiers who got suspicious of his orders. Hadel then slit his own throat without any hesitation… We are still unable to find the person who pulled the strings behind him."

Thales said with a cold sneer, "This also explains why you sounded the call to retreat so swiftly after the first round of attack. Even your commands did not work properly… I am sorry, I truly do not know what sort of response I should be giving you right now."

Lampard pursed his lips and did not say a single word.

"Their goal was probably to kill me by using you, or perhaps to use my death to scheme against you." Thales sneered. "I think the latter is more likely. My enemies are all in my own country."

Lampard said quietly, "The higher you stand, the more enemies you will gain."

"That is why this sudden accident made you cancel your plans." Thales snorted. "Did you originally want to capture me and put me in a humiliating situation, just to see whether the fortress would be shaken?"

There was silence.

Lampard uncorked a bottle of rye wine and filled his empty cup.

Archduke Lampard said quietly. "I hate to say it, but King Kessel has made a good move. He sent you out. The moment you stepped into my military camp, it became impossible for me to seize the fortress and the Northern Territory anymore."

Lampard picked up his goblet and said quietly, "And his oath in Renaissance Palace was equivalent to him forming an armor for you with his royal power. If you die in Eckstedt, it would not matter who's responsible. Black Sand Region will suffer, because we are neighbors."

"That is why once you discovered that you could not seize Broken Dragon Fortress, and there were actually other people eyeing you with hostility, you immediately changed your stance. After that, you intended to draw me to your side?" Thales asked with a cold voice.

Lampard took a big gulp from his goblet with an expressionless face and said, "Kessel's oath caused a group of people to give up on the idea of wanting your life, but caused another group of people to gain the ambition of killing you.

"That Mystic Gun today is just a beginning. We have a common enemy lurking in the shadows right now, be it those who are aiming for Eckstedt's throne or Constellation's." Archduke Lampard's voice was steady and stern. "The moment you stepped into Eckstedt and the Northland, our interests have been tied together."

"That is true." Thales lowered his head. His voice was steady and indifferent. "If I die in Eckstedt, it will not be good for the both of us."

"I will dispatch two thousand people. Kentvida, my most trusted subordinate will lead the army and escort you to Dragon Clouds City." Archduke Lampard's expression became gentler. "You will arrive straight in Walton Family's territory, and the king's envoys will be waiting for you there."

"But my people died in the battlefield. They stood in front of me and acted as my shields. They were pierced through by blades, swords, and longspears." Thales lifted his head. His expression was dark. "We have also killed plenty of your men."

Lampard closed his eyes and remained silent for a while.

Thales looked at him, expressionless.

"Those warriors… be it my soldiers or your subordinates, will not understand the reason why they died." Lampard opened his eyes. "It is precisely because of their sacrifice that we have understood each other and are able to sit here to make a decision for our countries' futures… even though it will be incredibly difficult."

Lampard said softly. "We were never enemies to begin with, and us fighting against each other on the battlefield was just due to forced circumstances. For our future and the end of meaningless bloodshed like the one today, we should cast off our past enmity. This is only logical.

"War has always been to achieve something, has it not?"

Thales suddenly laughed.

"Well said, Your Grace." He chuckled softly with an indecipherable expression. "There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

"It is just as you said. From now on, there is no reason for us to be enemies." The archduke nodded and lifted his goblet. "You ate my venison. Based on Northland tradition, you are my guest.

"This is high-quality rye wine." Lampard pushed his wine goblet over. His gaze was profound. "Based on Northland tradition, once we drink from the same cup, we will be allies.

"I will provide you with all the access to manpower, information, resources, and finances in Eckstedt. Our enemies will not have a chance to strike"—Archduke Lampard nodded—"until you leave Eckstedt and return to Constellation."

A strange light flashed across Lampard's eyes. "In fact, they will not be able to attack you… until you are crowned king."

There was silence once again.

The same indecipherable smile materialized on Thales' lips again.

The prince exhaled softly, and his smile did not diminish. "Did you say the same thing to Northern Territory's Duke Arunde, Your Grace? For Constellation and the Dragon's thrones?"

"He was the one who came to me." Chapman Lampard's gaze was profound. "Val Arunde is a hero with vision and responsibility. He dared to take the step many people did not, no matter how much that path was not understood by others.

"We… Constellation and the Dragon have been enemies for many years. The Blade and Shield should not have this sort of relationship." Lampard leaned back against his chair. The light from the fire illuminated his firm and cold face. "The Hero, Raikaru the First and the 'King of Renaissance', Tormund the First were originally good friends. Chara the Hero and the Oath Keeper Midier the Fourth were brothers who trusted each other with their lives. If Eckstedt and Constellation worked together, we will definitely be able to put an end to these meaningless wars and conflicts."

'Work together... to put an end to war and conflict?'

The image of the war appeared in Thales' eyes.

The warriors of Eckstedt and Constellation rushed at each other like wild beasts.

Arracca roared furiously as he killed layers upon layers of enemies, and left them on the ground, screaming in pain.

Countless Fury Guards rushed to Arracca's flank without hesitation.

Plenty of soldiers had their bodies pierced through by sharp blades and fell to the ground helplessly.

And right at the end, when Arracca dragged his subordinates' corpses and left with the survivors, the back of the Kingdom's Wrath stooped low in desolation.

"No."

Thales lifted his head and said coldly.

A surprised look appeared on the archduke's face. He raised his brow and fixed his eyes on Thales.

"Val Arunde is not a hero. He is just a pitiful bug living in his own imagination." The second prince was expressionless. "War cannot bring peace. The deaths of others cannot compensate for someone else's life.

"And hatred as well as anger will not disappear because of the coronation of two kings."

The archduke placed his hands together with no changes to his expression. "What do you mean?"

Thales continued, completely unbothered, "What I mean to say is that everything from your mouth is a load of bull."

Archduke Lampard's face became grim.

The archduke asked with a sullen expression. "Do you realize that you are embarking on a dangerous journey? What you are doing right now is refusing a powerful ally, who will bring you great benefits and ensure your safety, even your throne."

"My experiences tell me that I should be careful with those who want to become my ally, no matter how sweet their words are and how sincere they appear to be." Thales looked at Lampard, and as he watched his expression grow increasingly sullen, he continued softly, "And I cannot trust you, Archduke Chapman Lampard."

"Why?" Chapman leaned forward. Due to the illumination of the swaying light from the fire, he looked even more temperamental. "Is it just because many of your people died?"

"That is not the only reason."

Thales said coldly, "It is also because you showed complete indifference as well as callousness towards your subordinates' deaths and sacrifice. Forming an alliance with you will mean that we are destined to face betrayal. Compared to the benefits I may receive if I form an alliance with you, I can say with certainty that when the alliance fails, the losses I would suffer will far surpass the benefits.

"I know this very well."

Lampard's gaze started to become terrifyingly cold.

"Also, I despise what you said." Thales remembered Arracca's desolate back. He then gritted his teeth and shook his head. "The people on the battlefield… died because of your selfish desires.

"And you can keep that nonsense of 'dying a worthy death' as well as 'the goal for war is peace' to yourself," Thales picked up the wine goblet and said with a cold sneer.

Silence.

Lampard let out a cold snort and said with a biting tone, "I originally thought that you were mature and level-headed, and that you possessed intelligence that surpassed your age. You are currently behaving like a child."

"You are right," Thales retorted coldly.

He turned over the goblet, spilling its contents. Then, he spoke to the sullen Archduke Lampard.

"And children are not supposed to drink wine."

Thales jumped off his chair and left the tent without turning back.

Comments (63)
dustyruss
dustyruss
It boggles the mind how this novel isnt ranked higher-up.

Tiag0
Tiag0
That's because most of these app readers are used to brainless, full of plot armor, kind of novels. Novels like this one, with depth and actual character development, is fairly rare and could survive even in a book format.

Stew
Stew
I like the way he refused to drink the wine. What an absolute mad lad.

Rate this chapter

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Chapter 109: Remnants of Magic
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Night.

"I'm still not at ease about that strange doctor being together with His Highness." Beside a bonfire, Wya looked at another bonfire from afar with a cranky expression. There were only two figures sitting around that particular bonfire; one large and one small.

This was the third night since they arrived in Lampard's military camp. Ramon said that he wanted to check Thales' injury privately and strangely, the prince agreed to it.

"He is a prince. He can do whatever he wants." Smoking his tobacco pipe, Putray blew a puff of smoke, which made Wya's expression turn sour. "Just relax. Ramon's fear towards His Highness is not fake.

"And there are so many of Eckstedt's sergeants on guard here. His Highness' safety is guaranteed." Putray glanced at the Eckstedt soldiers around them, who were either standing sentry or patrolling. They all had unpleasant expressions on their faces. Putray then glanced at Aida, who was not far away and slowly said, "Also, if Ramon really is an assassin, he had too many opportunities to kill the prince in the battlefield before this… Don't forget, he was the one who rescued His Highness."

Recalling the incidents in the battlefield, Wya's heart jolted slightly.

The young attendant asked worriedly, "Speaking of…? What is going on with His Highness? That time, he wasn't even breathing…"

Looking at Wya, whose face was filled with suspicion, Putray narrowed his eyes.

The gaunt vice diplomat asked in amusement, "Have you been thinking about that incident?"

"Not just that." Wya furrowed his brows. He recalled the incident with a grave expression on his face, trying his best to give voice to the puzzlement in his heart. "His Highness' physique is very good… Honestly, it is so good that it exceeds my imagination. No matter how severe his injury is, he recovers in a matter of days…"

'Is this not even more suspicious?'

"And the psionic ability that His Highness said he learned from the Black Prophet… I cannot disregard that." Wya lowered his head. His gaze swept past the single-edged sword in his hand. "After all, that is the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department. Although His Highness is… At the end of the day, he is still a child and it is not a good thing for him to mingle too much with the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department."

'The Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department… Hmph.'

With a perplexed expression, Putray raised his head and blew a puff of smoke in the direction of the moon in the sky.

"You think that the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department is a scary place?" The vice diplomat did not look at Wya.

Wya pursed his lips and nodded.

The young attendant pulled out his blade. His voice was filled with uncertainty. "I have heard quite a number of stories about that place. Some are absurd, some are very strange while some completely illogical, but it is undeniable that the mysteriousness of the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department and the reputation of the Black Prophet are both frightening."

"I thought that you would not have heard much about the Black Prophet at your age." Putray laughed mysteriously. "You have to know that Morat has been in control of the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department for over thirty years. I suspect that Morat was already working in the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department when young Aydi the Second was crowned."

Wiping his sword, Wya shrugged.

"While training in the Tower of Eradication, I heard a joke. Something happened in each of the four main secret intelligence agencies in the world. The Red Witch broke a teacup into pieces. The White Ritual Master burnt an oil lamp. The Green Lieutenant wore a uniform until it became old. The Black Prophet slept on a pillowcase until it became torn… Guess which incident led to the most severe consequences?"

Putray inhaled a puff of tobacco and curled up the corner of his lips. "Perhaps there is one more incident, the Grey Sword Guard had worn out a sword sheath."

Wya and Putray chuckled at the same time.

"Great Master Shao is not as unreasonable and frightening as the rumors say. It is just that as the Tower of Eradication's tower master, he has to be more level-headed and cautious." There was a yearning look on Way's face. He nodded and said, "And apart from his hair and beard, nothing is grey."

After joking around, Putray said slowly with a severe expression, "Wya, as an attendant, it is a good thing to show concern for the prince you are attending. However…"

He looked at Wya Caso with a levelled gaze. "Would you like to hear some advice?"

Wya raised his brows and implied that he was all ears.

"Every single Jadestar prince is like a Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department. They all store plenty of secrets," Putray said with a profound gaze. "It would be enough to only show concern for those that you need to know."

Wya furrowed his brows.

"Do not make your life too difficult." Putray sighed. "You need to know that the lives of the princes themselves are already hard enough."

'Especially because… they are from the Jadestar Family.'

Putray thought in silence.

That figure from the past appeared in his mind.

Wya looked at the cackling bonfire, confused.

Wya turned his weapon over and said quietly, "Sir Putray, I still remember your words that day in the birch tree forest. Were you also an attendant?"

Putray's tobacco pipe had stopped emitting smoke.

The vice diplomat took the tip of the tobacco out of his mouth and looked at Wya.

The latter raised his gaze and asked with a plain expression, "Then… which prince did you attend to?"

Putray's gaze, which was focused on the bonfire froze, for a moment.

A few seconds later, he spoke slowly, "Just like… your father."

"Just that I had more experience, and left the prince's side earlier."

Wya gazed straight at him. His hand, which had been wiping his weapon unwittingly stopped moving.

"Is that so? An attendant…" The young attendant's expression was complicated, and his gaze was deep. "Then, do you have a family?"

Putray turned and glanced profoundly at Wya.

'Hilarious,' he thought silently.

'The renowned "Cunning Fox" of Constellation, the person who played a leading role and was the signatory of the 'Fortress Treaty' cannot even manage his own family well.'

However, his gaze immediately dimmed.

'I am not that much better myself.'

"Listen here, Wya." The vice diplomat gently stroked the tobacco pipe in his hand, which was slowly cooling down. His tone was more solemn than usual.

"Gilbert was a competent and outstanding attendant. He was orderly and meticulous, loyal to his ideals, and aimed high from beginning to the end. He has his own principles."

Wya slowly gripped the tip of his sword tightly.

The young attendant asked faintly, "Even if sometimes, those principles are so callous?"

"Callous?" Putray snorted softly.

"Sometimes, you must make a choice no matter how hard it is."

Before Wya could respond, an unpleasant voice interrupted their conversation out of nowhere.

"Good night, my two distinguished guests from Constellation." Wearing a thick attire exclusive to the Northland, Black Sand Archduke's subordinate and most trusted advisor, Viscount Kentvida walked over from afar.

"I hope that I did not interrupt all of you!"

Smiling, Kentvida sat down across Putray, who had a ruminating gaze and Wya, who had an unpleasant expression.

"You have indeed interrupted us." Wya looked at Kentvida in an unfriendly manner and flicked the tip of his sword, producing a cool rattle.

"Very good. This means that I have garnered all of your attention." Kentvida took off his gloves nonchalantly and heated it atop the fire. "Why are you all not staying in the tents? The weather is very cold, and this is the Northland."

"We like the outdoors and the open field," Putray poured out all the ashes inside his tobacco pipe and answered coldly. The light from the flames flickered on his face. "A splendid scenery, a fine view."

"Do not worry." Kentvida smiled slightly, seeing through their thoughts. "All of you are in Eckstedt, and Eckstedtians do not have the habit of eavesdropping beside tents."

He turned his head and looked at the prince of Constellation as well as his doctor in the distance. "The prince is very safe here."

Kentvida narrowed his eyes. "He is such a special prince, is he not?"

'Or else, the archduke would not have given such an appraisal.'

Wya snorted in disdain.

Putray furrowed his brows.

'They have started to pay attention to the prince. That child probably said some strange things in Lampard's tent a few days ago.

'This is not a good sign.'

The vice diplomat took out his tobacco bag and grabbed a handful of tobacco. He spoke faintly, "It appears that we will have to depart tomorrow."

Wya raised his brows.

On the other hand, Kentvida's expression froze. He looked vigilantly at Putray. "You knew?"

Putray nonchalantly picked up a burning tree branch from the bonfire and reignited his tobacco pipe "It is written on your face. Also, those sergeants have been going back and forth all night… And is this not the reason you came?

"To convey your master's intention?"

There was silence.

Kentvida stared earnestly at Putray, as if he wanted to observe him once more properly.

"Yes," the Viscount of the Black Sand Region said calmly. "We are departing tomorrow. The Fire Knight, Lord Tolja, an army of two thousand soldiers led by me, including five hundred cavaliers, will be escorting His Highness directly to Dragon Clouds City. We will not be resting in any suzerain and noble's castle or town on the way. At most, we will be camping in the fields."

Putray chuckled and said, "Two thousand soldiers, and circumnavigating castles? Is it to ensure that no one will find an opportunity to plot against all of you? I am seriously worried for your master… It appears that Lampard has also been driven into a corner, with no clue about the hidden masterminds that are plotting against him."

Kentvida's expression changed ever so slightly.

In the midst of inhaling and exhaling puffs of smoke, Putray asked in a soft voice, "I thought that it was a glorious and proud Northland tradition to keep one's words and be staunchly loyal, but look at this military camp now. Every corner is filled with the smell of conspiracies and cunning schemes. Is there still anyone that all of you can still trust completely?"

Kentvida's expression gradually stiffened.

"Do you know what this is called?" Putray snorted lightly. "If a leader sets a bad example, it will be followed by his subordinates… Regardless of whether it's King Nuven or your master."

Kentvida grabbed a handful of snow from the ground, softly kneading them in his hand. He watched as they slipped through his fingers and fell on the ground.

The viscount said in a cold voice, "Do not be overly critical of Northland's internal affairs, citizens of the Empire. At least, on Black Sand Region's soil, accidents will not happen anymore."

Wya put his sword back into its sheath. He felt that something was not quite right about the atmosphere.

"Accident? That Mystic Gun unit's training officer may have a different opinion." Putray put down his tobacco pipe and laughed. "Let me give you a suggestion, my clueless viscount."

Kentvida's eyes fluttered. "What do you know?"

"Do not investigate the relationship between that Officer Hadel and the archdukes or suzerains anymore. It is bound to be a waste of effort." Frowning, Putray tested the temperature of his tobacco pipe. He was unsure if it was burning well. "Why don't all of you look at the downline of his business? Starting from the Mystic Guns that have been reported as unserviceable but appeared in the black market…"

Kentvida looked puzzled. "Black market?"

"Ah, Northlander who looks down on Mystic Guns." Putray sneered. "Compared to directly purchasing Mystic Guns from the Sovereign State, the training required to use them is the most expensive part. There is an inverse relationship between how whole the cores are and how new the parts are with the dexterity of the soldiers operating them."

Kentvida appeared to be pondering about it deeply.

Beside them, Wya was extremely confused.

"The Archduke of Black Sand's Mystic Gun unit is very skilled, and during the salvo, their aim was also very accurate." Putray glanced at Kentvida and tapped the metal tube of his tobacco pipe. "According to my experience, unless Archduke Lampard was willing to scrape half of his knights and heavy cavaliers as well as allocate large amounts of funds every month to support the training for his Mystic Gun unit, it would have been impossible to produce such a unit within three years."

Kentvida was absorbed in his thoughts. "He has to find adequate economic sources so that he can maintain such a unit by giving them a large amount of training. That way, they can be of use during vital moments…

Putray licked some tobacco as he taunted, "Fortunately, it has only been three years, and there is only one training officer. After these three years, those gunmen will probably be able to carry out orders such as 'turn around and fire at the archduke' scrupulously."

Kentvida paid no heed to Putray's taunts. He continued talking, enunciating each word, "So, he must have found connections in the black market. He obtained money, spare parts as well as Eternal Oil, and even bribed purchase officers who travel to the Sovereign State to buy cores. In exchange for all these, he provides Mystic Guns that were supposed to be destroyed according to their agreement."

Putray shrugged and lit his tobacco pipe again. "I guarantee you that his contact person in the black market understands him a lot more than those careless soldiers."

Kentvida exhaled and immediately asked, "Why can't the mastermind cum funder be the one directly giving him financial support?"

Putray asked in disdain, "If so, all of you would have found clues of him interacting with other powers early on. Would it have dragged on until now?"

Kentvida's face turned red. For the past few days, he had been deeply troubled by this matter, to the point that his basic judgement was affected.

Wya furrowed his brows. He did not really understand the two people's conversation.

There was silence.

Upon realizing something, Viscount Kentvida spoke slowly, "Lord Putray, the 'Secret Room' once provided information about you. I am starting to believe what they told me."

"Oh? What an honor." Putray inhaled a puff of tobacco with an intoxicated expression. "What did the Secret Room say about me?"

"They only have information about you before you left the palace. But it is already interesting enough." Immense interest could be seen in Kentvida's gaze.

"Putray Nemain, the plotter within the palace walls, the calm and collected schemer."

Wya looked at Putray with a surprised and bewildered expression.

'This man…'

Putray turned his head and laughed, "Ha! The Red Witch's subordinates really think highly of me!"

Kentvida's expression was a contemplative one. "No, on the contrary, I feel that it is time that they update their information."

Viscount Kentvida curled up the corners of his lips and put on his gloves once again. "People within the palace walls may be good at observing speech patterns and behavioral patterns, as well as being the masterminds of various schemes, but certain wisdom only comes with experience."

Putray made some weird sounds with his nostrils and exhaled a puff of smoke at the same time.

Kentvida stood up and flashed a smile. "And another thing, Lord Putray Nemain, former Viscount of Constellation, that decision to charge in the opposite direction on the battlefield was brave and resolute."

'Very good.'

Putray glanced profoundly at Thales and Ramon from afar.

'They like me more than you now.'

…..

"We have entered the borders of Eckstedt… This was not part of our deal!" Ramon stared at Thales with an angry gaze.

"The Eckstedtians are not willing to let anyone related to Constellation's diplomat group go." Thales took a tree branch and stirred the bonfire, pouting the soldiers of Eckstedt around them. He sighed and said, "I am only a Prince of Constellation with no rights and power. What can I do?"

"You cannot be like this." Ramon gritted his teeth. "I saved your life. Hurry up and find a way to get me out of this place!"

"You did not save my life!" Thales furrowed his brows. "Remember, I was just drained, and in the battlefield, all you did was—"

"We all know that's a lie!" Ramon laughed in exasperation. "I do not know what you did, but most of the organs in your body had already collapsed that day. No matter how strong your body is, it would have been useless… Even the strongest steeds cannot pull carriages with no wheels. I was the one who did everything I could to stimulate your life's potential…"

*Snap!*

Thales broke the tree branch in his hand with force.

"Well, it is a good thing that my body is strong. On the contrary, you better lower your voice, as you do not need to talk to check your patient's body," Thales said coldly, "If you do not want your pathetic little secret to be found out by others…'Doctor' Ramon."

He placed an emphasis on the word "doctor".

Ramon looked around and said with an unsettled expression, "Speaking of… Fine, at least find me a messenger raven…"

Thales snorted through his nose.

"No worries, doctor." Thales drew upon the memories that appeared in his mind during the past few days, such as those block-shaped words, which looked like pictures. "The people from the gangs will not dare to provoke well-trained troops. You do not have to worry about Blood Bottle Gang.

"In the end, gangs are just gangs."

"Ha! Your Highness, do you really think so?" Ramon turned his head and flashed a taunting smile.

Although Thales was expressionless, his heart sank.

'Actually, Ramon's words are not without reason.

'Those two gangs are perhaps not so simple.

'Especially Blood Bottle Gang, which is supported by Asda and Giza—those two lunatics… The gang is supported by the calamities.

'It's so strange.

'Even though Blood Bottle Gang often does dirty jobs on behalf of nobles who are in a position of power, the threat of Mystics cannot be ignored, can it?

'Why would Constellation allow such a gang to entrench Eternal Star City? Are they confident enough in the legendary anti-mystic equipment in their hands, and think that they can control the Mystics?

'How is that possible…?' Thales remembered Giza and chuckled to himself in self-deprecation.

'Although Asda behaved like he did not care about Blood Bottle Gang's fate at all, why would someone as powerful as him meddle in the territorial scrabble between gangs, which does not concern him? Isn't Red Street Market only a Red Light District?

'And Black Street Brotherhood… They actually dared to shelter people from the Charleton Family, the "regicide family", in the capital city. They can even firmly control Blood Bottle Gang, and the latter is even backed by both the Mystics as well as powerful nobles.

Thales could not help but recall his five years in the Brotherhood. 'Those two gangs have too many questionable points regarding them.

'And one of them is in front of me.'

Thales looked at the strange doctor with his big nose. The latter was staring at him amid the light of the fire.

'Ramon himself is a doctor who harbors secrets. He goes back and forth between the two kingdoms, and is at the center of the conflict between Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood…'

Thales flashed a smile.

"A prince is not someone who can simply agree to other people's request." The second prince of Constellation looked at Ramon with interest. "Since you have a request, let us make a deal. You can give me something valuable as an exchange."

Ramon was stunned.

"For instance, the origins of those powers of yours. I think that it is very interesting." Thales pretended that he did not care and stretched his body. "As an exchange, I will do my best to negotiate with them… At least, you will be able to use a messenger crow to contact your friends in the Brotherhood. There may be other benefits too…"

Ramon looked at Thales in a daze.

'He still cares about that?

'A prince?

'Wait, if…'

After quite a while, Ramon spoke with much difficulty.

"You are Constellation's Prince and you have shady relations with Morat Hansen." Ramon gritted his teeth, deliberating his words and the tone of his voice. "I am not as stupid as to tell you my secret.

"Besides… have you not learnt the ability to read minds from the Black Prophet?" Ramon snorted coldly.

"Oh, enough of that. I do not feel like digging through your brain for secrets anymore." Thales shook his head. "That ability hurts the head a lot… your head, that is."

Ramon stared at Thales. There was a strange look in his eyes. "Although you are only a child, you do not look like you care very much about my health."

Thales did not say anything. He only stared back at Ramon quietly.

Thales said, enunciating each word, "I do have some guesses. I have seen the divine Arts, and I know how the process is like. However, you do not seem like you have communicated with the gods…

"That power that you use to cure diseases and save people…

"It is magic, am I right?"

Ramon was expressionless. He did not admit or deny it.

Thales knew the answer.

'Magic.'

Thales exhaled softly.

This was a term he had never heard since he came into this world until that night at Red Street Market, which changed his destiny.

"A long time ago, there was only magic and no mystic energy."

This was Asda's words.

"So, you do not even know the connection between mystic energy and magic."

This was Giza's words.

It was true that Eckstedtians did not allow anyone in the diplomat group to leave. However, Thales was no matter what, the Prince of Constellation. If he insisted, it would not be impossible to make Lampard relent and allow the irrelevant Ramon to leave.

However, Thales did not do that.

Because Ramon could possibly have something that he wanted.

Thales needed to exhaust all means to figure out everything related to himself.

Such as his mystic abilities… and magic, which was closely related to it.

Ramon giggled until Thales began to furrow his eyebrows impatiently.

The strange doctor stopped laughing and asked slowly, "You are not that close to the Black Prophet, and you are not his student, are you? Or else it would be impossible for you not to know all of this."

An idea appeared in Thales' head.

He figured out the crux of the problem.

Thales looked at the soldiers of Eckstedt around him. He then glanced at the bored Aida sitting at the entrance of the tent, before shifting his gaze to Putray as well as Wya, who were a distance away. He asked faintly, "So, is magic a secret that unsettles even the Black Prophet?"

Ramon did not say anything. He only fixed his eyes on Thales.

Thales suddenly laughed.

The second prince said, "I am a prince, and he is my father's vassal. He sometimes agrees to my requests. That is all… he does not tell me too many things."

"This is truly very interesting." Ramon widened his eyes. His expression was strange and passionate, as though he had just met Thales for the first time. "The new Prince of Constellation is actually interested in such things… This is truly very fascinating."

Thales furrowed his brows.

'What does he mean?

'Is this something I shouldn't know?'

"In return, I will need to use your messenger crow to send a message to a secret location… But let me ask you one more time, do you really want to know?"

Ramon widened his eyes and clicked his tongue. "Morat will not be happy."

Thales clenched his fist softly.

"I am Constellation's future supreme king." When he said the word "king", Thales felt his own voice trembling slightly.

"Do you think that I care if he is happy?"

"Very good, very good. To explain magic to the Prince of Constellation, a descendant of the Empire..." Ramon flashed a strange smile. He shook his head, shut his eyes and said, "This is not a bad deal, and I can have plenty of enjoyment from it."

Thales narrowed his eyes.

The prince asked slowly, "Then, shall we begin?"

Ramon opened his eyes swiftly.

"How are your history lessons, Your Highness?" Ramon asked slowly.

"I am talking about how humans fought against the ancient orcs and utterly defeated them in the Holiness Exorcism Campaign, along with how they made peace with the ancient elves as well as the ancient dwarves in the Battle of Survival, then eventually making a name for themselves in the world's history."

Thales' face turned red.

From the time he was brought to Mindis Hall, he actually did not have much time to read up on history.

Thales said slowly, "Not very well, but I know that in the process of fighting against the orcs, humans awakened their superpowers, which is known today as the Power of Eradication. The first batch of knights—"

However, Ramon cut him off.

"So your lack of knowledge is not just limited to magic." Brimming with energy and vitality, the strange doctor looked at Thales. "You do not even know about the history of wizards and the magic towers, do you?"

Thales furrowed his brow.

Ramon laughed mischievously. "So just like most people in the world, you live in this big web of confusing and unsettling fears that is also made of self-deceiving lies? Take the Kingdom of Gods and the Seven Layers of Hell for instance."

'Lies? Fear?'

"Those history books all mention these things, right? That the knights and the Powers of Eradication brought about the rise of humankind, and that the longswords of warriors and the neighs of battle steeds freed us from the oppression as well as the threat of the ancient orcs?" Ramon asked meaningfully.

Thales recalled the knowledge he learned from Gilbert in Mindis Hall.

However, before Thales could reply, Ramon firmly uttered a word with a hateful expression.

"Lies! Disgraceful lies. Downright lies."

Thales was stunned.

'Lies?'

Ramon spoke with an excited expression, "Knights, superpowers or Powers of Eradication did not allow humans to defeat the orcs, wizards did."

With a passionate expression, Ramon extended his hands and clenched his fists softly in the air.

"It was magic."

Thales furrowed his brows a little.

The second prince asked in great doubt, "Do you mean to say that the superpowers, the Northland Military Sword Style, the knights—all of them are fake? That they actually did not stand a chance against the orcs? And that the only things that brought about victory in the frontlines of battlefields are wizards and the magic they use?

"Their magic… is an even stronger power than the Power of Eradication?" While pondering over this, Thales asked the second part of his question slowly.

"Ha, comparing magic with the Power of Eradication. You are just like those ignorant people one thousand years ago." It appeared that Ramon was not really used to being cut off. He snorted in disdain. "Open that narrow mind of yours, Your Highness!

"Magic is not a power. It is not on the same level as the Power of Eradication." Ramon shook his head. His eyes were filled with longing and respect.

"It is something higher, deeper and mightier."

"Not a power?" Thales put on a puzzled expression. "Then what on earth is magic? A curse? An energy? Knowledge? A factor? An element? A mentality? An extraordinary psionic ability? A destructive force?"

Ramon looked at Thales in silence. His gaze was filled with a combination of contradicting and strange emotions such as respect, idolization, arrogance, modesty, and enchantment.

Thales had never seen such a gaze from anyone in this world before.

'No…' Thales suddenly came to a realization. Perhaps, he had seen it before.

In that dim chess room.

That figure in a blue shirt.

"Magic…" Ramon raised his hands and slowly extended them, like a devotee who was praying to the gods. He was so excited that he was shivering.

"Magic is a meaning, an attitude, a belief, and a principle of life." The strange doctor gazed at the sky, as though it held the place that he belonged to, along with his dreams.

"Wizards are the practitioners of this principle.

"They believe that everything in this world is meaningful. Everything can be analyzed and should be recognized. In the process of this perception, humans can become more perfect, mightier, improve themselves and become closer to the truth.

"From the regular patterns of the sun's movements and the mystery of the origins of life; to human attitudes and principles, and the progress as well as development of history, everything is in the domain of magic… Magic is the sum of all acquisition of knowledge, discoveries and truths. The advancement of magic will bring us a more glorious future."

Thales furrowed his brows deeply, trying his best to understand Ramon's words, which sounded rather insane.

"For this, they once entered the tent of the Ancient Chauvinistic Tribe and designed the first political system in history—the Ancient Chauvinistic Country.

"They once stood beside Takmukh, the deceased King of the North and warned him about our relationship with the orcs.

"They once stood behind the Iron Blood King, and with their knowledge as well as experience, they designed and supervised the completion of 'Mankind's Final Defensive Line'.

"They once relentlessly improvised their weapons and skills amid sacrifices and defeat. They summed up the experiences and skills of every knight by themselves, perfecting the first set of standardized 'Northland Military Sword Style' in history.

"They once noticed the potential within the human body too. They researched day and night for those powers to be born and developed, naming them 'superpowers'.

"They once spared no effort to charge forward in battlefields filled with blood and fire. They tried their best to develop lethal skills while they improved their healing techniques as well.

"They once studied iron and steel intensively; forging stirrups and saddles, as well as establishing the first cavalier unit. This allowed the knights to possess speed and an offensive force comparable to the orcs' for the first time in history.

"Of course, they also developed their own powers. They unearthed the truth behind materials, interrogated the truth behind consciousness, stirred up natural energy for their own usage and converted the world's resources so that they could be of service to humans. The power in my hands is only a small and insignificant part of it.

"They once launched an attack together with the knights on the layers of ice in Glacier Quiquer. After countless assaults, with no regard for the sacrifices made, they utterly eradicated the myth that it was impossible to defeat the orc's large heavy infantry formation. It made the Holiness Exorcism Campaign the most magnificent and glorious scene in human history.

"They once even questioned the existence of the gods and challenged the emperor's authority.

"At one time, the Three Great Magic Towers were the wisest and most advanced existence in the world. They were detached and independent from the world. Even the supreme emperor and the head priest of Bright God Church, who were extremely influential, had to show their respect to the three towers.

"There was a time where the existence of wizards made many people believe that in this world, power and status were not the only things worth chasing after. There was also truth."

Ramon inhaled deeply and slowly put down his hands. The corners of his eyes were already glistening with tears at this point.

He clenched his fists, trembling as he said in a choked voice, "These are wizards. This is magic. The most important, magnificent and precious chapter in the rise of human history. Yet, they have been forgotten by everyone."

Ramon lowered his head and said desolately, "And now, no one remembers magic and knows about wizards anymore.

"There are only people like me, who are unfortunate and fortunate at the same time. While struggling with our feeble existences… we burn the embers of what remains of magic through books and scrolls written about them."

Thales stared absentmindedly at Ramon.

He did not even realize that the tree branch in his hand was burning.

He could not believe everything that he just heard.

He could only widen his eyes and drop his jaw.

'Magic? Wizards?'

This was different from any version of magic he had heard of in his past life. It did not consist of sizzling fireballs, muttering curses to control elements, using one's self as a trove of unlimited mental power, conducting ceremonies to communicate with another existence, and the learning of psionic abilities or powers that were formidable for the sake of being formidable.

Magic was a meaning.

A belief.

A principle.

Thales was completely taken aback. At this moment, Asda's words kept playing in his mind.

"Wizards pursued the truths of the world. They used all kinds of ingenious methods and wisdom to take advantage of the natural resources and energies in the world, to create an even more beautiful world."

'Is that so?'

Comments (56)
Stew
Stew
So magic is basically the study of everything. From science, psychology, cosmology etc. And mystics are people who had reached the highest threshold of knowledge in any branch of study. Another theory I guess

PassedBy
PassedBy
Thales: "Then what on earth is magic? A curse? An energy? Knowledge? A factor? An element? A mentality? An extraordinary psionic ability? A destructive force?" Ramon: Magic is... everlasting VIRGINITY!

SpicyChickenNo1
SpicyChickenNo1
A wizard need high int Well, if i transported to another world, i absolutely must not choose wizard as my job. Some job like Beserker, Tank, or Assassin are the only choice for me. Melee combat is a synonym of cannon fodder. I will only end up ad a cannon fodder if i transported to another world 😂😂😅

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Chapter 110: Paid Homage
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Eckstedt. The road to Dragon Clouds City from Black Sand Region.

"Here, I will still give you a piece of advice, Your Highness. Put those two flags away… especially the Constellation national flag—the Double Cross-Shaped Stars Flag." Amid a troop of advancing Northland soldiers, Viscount Kentvida held the reins in his hands as he rode to Thales' side, even though Thales was tightly protected from all sides. Kentvida ignored Putray and Wya's extremely unhappy looks from the side while he spoke to the second prince, "Although we have two thousand well-trained Northland elite soldiers, many of them being the regular troops by the archduke's side, it is obviously still not the best choice to let everyone on this journey know that the Prince of Constellation is here."

Thales was not at all in the mood to pay attention to the snowy scenery on both sides, as well as the faintly discernible mountain range and occasional wisps of smoke far away in front of him. The reason why he ignored the Northland's majestic scenery of snow-covered mountains was partly because he was still pondering on what Ramon said to him two days ago, another part was because of the horse under him.

He currently rode alone, and he controlled the horse under him very carefully in case the horse decided to fling him off its back from time to time. Ralf anxiously followed beside Thales and he was prepared to support and hold up his young employer using his wind power at any time.

Although Jines and Gilbert had already taught him almost every horse-riding trick during his one month in Mindis Hall, it still seemed that Thales could not get along with horses naturally. Regardless of whether it was the little pony in Mindis Hall, or the usually docile and obedient Northland noble's horse he had borrowed from Archduke Lampard—which had been specifically equipped with child saddle—it was obvious that both horses did not want him to ride or even approach them.

'Oh, right. Saddle… Did Ramon not say that this is also a wizard's invention? So, is magic a science of this world? And wizards are a group of people who are committed to the study and exploration of the truth? Then what is the mystic energy about? How did magic disappear?

'It's a shame that our conversation that day was quickly interrupted by Kentvida. It seems that I have to find another chance next time.'

Thales panicked when he watched the horse beneath him cross over an uneven snow pit, then he released a breath of relief.

"I thought, for a diplomat group to show off their flag to indicate their identity, that it should be for an international convention." Thales turned his head around and looked at Kentvida helplessly. At the same time, he paid careful attention to the saddled horse under him, which chewed its mouth in dissatisfaction. "Also, we have an army of two thousand people that forms a continuous line of several hundred meters from beginning to end. With such large movements, even if I do not erect my flag, will the people really be unaware that the Prince of Constellation has set foot on Eckstedt territory?

"Or rather, it is Archduke Lampard who feels that there is actually no benefit in showing the people that he is far too close to the Prince of Constellation?"

Kentvida offered him a smile. "Your Highness, please believe in the archduke's—"

But Putray cut him off, "Since he had no choice but to send out two thousand soldiers to ensure that the prince will not perish in his territory but still has to display an appropriate hostility towards Constellation for the citizens of his own country to see. Archduke Lampard's circumstance is actually quite difficult… Excluding the cost it took to mobilize the territory, for all the money he spent, he was still unable to acquire Broken Dragon Fortress… it is also really too arduous for him." Putray slowly smoked his tobacco pipe and gave Kentvida a sneer.

Kentvida's expression became a little sour.

It was not reflected in the previous journey and battle, but Thales had a feeling that once Putray started to have contact with people, it seems that the vice diplomat would return to his most comfortable state on the battlefield. Kentvida had come to Thales' side a few times during the journey and intentionally brought up political topics, but Putray had answered back—sometimes with humor or sometimes with words that would cause someone embarrassment.

"Regardless of what the Archduke of Black Sand's motives are, whether it is beneficial to you… You should communicate directly with King Nuven and not an adviser working under the Archduke of Black Sand." This was Putray's calm, discreet explanation.

Lampard had officially withdrawn his troops two days ago, and the diplomat group had also departed at the same time.

On the backs of the jolting horses, they would leave the Northern Plains today and enter the Sighing Hills. The southwest section of the hill was still part of Black Sand Region, but northeast of the hills was the territory under the jurisdiction of Eckstedt's Archduke of the Reformation Tower, the Trentida Family.

Even though Thales had rejected Lampard's goodwill and suggestion of an alliance without any sign of hesitation, Archduke Lampard still generously allocated two thousand soldiers to Thales. Of the two thousand people, the regular soldiers would protect Thales on the journey, whereas the recruits would gradually disband and return home.

Thales also did not know if he should say that the archduke was generous, hypocritical, or both at the same time.

At this very moment, a knight with a gray helmet separated from the infantry formation in front and rode his way to their side.

Thales could feel that Aida's state slowly changed from boredom to anxiety when she rode her horse behind him. In fact, after Thales was soaked by that fluctuation, it seemed as if all of Thales' organs had some minute but real alleviation.

It seemed as if the fluctuation was not only something to rely on during emergencies, yet its presence also gradually altered Thales' body… But it was exactly what Thales was most worried about.

He could not really remember how he 'died' when Serena strangled his neck. Or rather, he had no memory of what happened during that time when he was temporarily unconscious. But Thales always felt that he had experienced something important, and that fluctuation appeared after he awoke.

"Rayman Pass is just up ahead." The knight with the gray helmet that came from the front was a supreme class elite who had previously confronted Arracca on the battlefield. The Fire Knight, Tolja, solemnly reined his horse in and rode with Thales in the same direction, he gravely said, "There is a village where we can rest and eat. We will continue our journey in the afternoon, and let the scouts go forward to make discreet inquiries at the same time. After all, we will reach the Archduke of Reformation Tower's area of jurisdiction soon."

Thales keenly noticed that both Putray and Wya's expression darkened slightly after Tolja finished saying the phrase 'Rayman Pass', whereas Kentvida curved his lips into a smile.

"What do you think about this, Your Highness?" Without waiting for anyone else to speak up, Kentvida gave Thales a smile and said, "Regardless of whether it is a practical or personal reason, I recommend you to stop and take a rest at Rayman Pass so that you can touch up or pay homage."

'Personal reason? Pay homage?'

During Thales' uncertainty, Putray rode to his side and sighed deeply, "Rayman Pass is the southwest starting point of the Sighing Hills. It is also the only road entering the hills from the Northland Plains." The slim vice diplomat extinguished his tobacco pipe and furrowed his brows, whereas beside him, Wya turned his head.

"But that is also the final place where the former Second Prince of Constellation, Prince Horace, had perished during the Bloody Year." Putray said without any hesitation on his face.

Thales' face changed when he understood the reason behind everyone else's change in expression.

Obviously, Kentvida found a topic that Thales had no choice but to answer. Alas, it concerned the war between Eckstedt and Constellation. As the Prince of Constellation, Thales lowered his eyelids at the appropriate time and sighed, "Of course, Horace was also my blood relative."

Kentvida laughed as he nodded, but Thales was also secretly muttering in his heart, 'The Swordsman of Eradication praised by Kessel, and the general from the royal family with the strict military regulations praised by Sonia… died here...

'But this is also an opportunity to gain further understanding about the truth of the Bloody Year.'

He turned to Putray. "What is the prince's cause of death?"

Putray sighed in the face of Thales' question. He was the first person to answer, "It was the end of the Bloody Year. That winter was abnormally warm. King Nuven gathered an army of almost ten thousand people from the seven archdukes. They had abundant food and weapons when they attacked the fortress with weak military strength from all sides.

"At that time, the Southwest Battlefield had reached the juncture of its final battle in Constellation. Duke John cornered the last main force of the rebel army at Blade's Gap. The victory of the Rebellion War was approaching, but that also meant that they were unable to head north to help. Reinforcements for Broken Dragon Fortress was far in the indefinite future." Putray shook his head and put away his tobacco pipe. He then continued with a complicated gaze in his eyes. "Trebuchets, ballistae, Mystic Guns and numerous City Infiltration Units… They faced uninterrupted onslaught and were never bothered by any sacrifices. Prince Horace believed that it was only a matter of time before Broken Dragon Fortress would be breached by the enemy, so he took the risk to attack. He brought a few units to secretly cross the Pine Forest and suddenly infiltrated Eckstedt's supply line from behind."

Wya sighed deeply.

The next person who took over the conversation was the Eckstedt commander. "That was a risky decision," Kentvida chuckled, "Obviously, this was Constellation's miscalculation. Horace lost his bet, and paid the price for his decision…"

Wya glared indignantly at him.

"That was a good decision, at least it went straight for your crucial territories," Putray snorted coldly as he replied.

Thales furrowed his brows and he did not know what to say in that moment.

It was best for him to keep quiet at that moment because of his identity. He had heard about the royal family's tragedy during the Bloody Year from Gilbert. In his story, it was Horace who stepped into the Eckstedtians' trap.

And Gilbert's statement of saying that "There was no reinforcements during those three hours" seemed like he was hinting to Thales that Horace's death was the same as the other royal family members'—that they died because someone had set them up.

But according to Putray and Kentvida, it seemed as if it was Horace himself who took the risk to attack, and he brought the consequences upon himself?

And since the place was so far away from Constellation's border, did the phrase "no reinforcements during those three hours" not seem extremely normal?

He needed to know more.

Beside them, Tolja spoke up at this moment, "That was indeed a sensible decision."

After he heard Tolja's view, Kentvida's expression became unhappy when he looked at the Fire Knight. Tolja's solemn voice made Thales furrow his brows in an instant.

"Horace succeeded half of his plan. He managed to burn and destroy almost a quarter of our supplies. Our supply line was too long and too fragile, and his move at least bought quite some time for Broken Dragon Fortress," Tolja said in a deep voice. He sounded like he was defending Horace against an unjust accusation. "If we had not detected it earlier, and if King Nuven did not stop attacking the city, had the frontline main forces withdraw, and did not set an ambush on the way back to the fortress…"

"Yes, we blocked Horace on his way back from Pine Forest and forced him to the plains." Viscount Kentvida snorted. He seemed as if he was quite dissatisfied. "Just like how we capture a fox."

Putray's expression fell. Thales also felt very awkward, whereas Wya had an indignant look on his face.

Any Constellatiate would be unhappy when they listen to an Eckstedtian tell the story of how they killed a Prince of Constellation.

But Lord Tolja once again opened his mouth to speak, "It is unfair of you to put it this way. After all, he only had a little over a thousand people," he was heard saying seriously, "We used an army that was almost twenty times larger than his and firmly surrounded Horace on the plains. But his warriors were all rare elites with willpower as strong as Northlanders. Under their counter-attack, the Archduke of Elaphure City's troops faced serious casualties, the Archduke of Beacon Illumination City and the Archduke of Prestige Orchid's war flags even, at one time, faltered and retreated.

"King Nuven had no choice but to use the resting soldiers and sent the elite White Blade Guards under him to block the gap. Only then did he manage to stabilize the battle line. The battlefield was extremely disastrous, even the rising black smoke was visible to the fortress… If Broken Dragon Fortress sent reinforcements at that time and made a sudden attack from the side of the chaotic battlefield, they might have stood a chance to save your prince."

Putray grasped his reins tighter in his hands. Thales was momentarily stunned.

"But they did not dispatch the army?" Thales recalled the scene from a few days ago when he had encountered the besiegement below the fortress, and asked in puzzlement, "The fortress did not send out the army?"

"No, I still remember that from afternoon till night, the people in the fortress watched Horace's troops collapse one after another in the plains…" Tolja said indifferently.

Thales recalled what Gilbert said and he furrowed his brows together. "There were no reinforcements during those three hours…"

"Regarding this point. There was certainly a reason behind the fortress' choice," Putray said with a stiff face,

"Oh, come on." Kentvida snorted coldly. "Even Eckstedtians felt bitterly disappointed when we witnessed how they turned away a dying man."

'Turned away a dying man?'

Thales held the reins tightly in his hands and clenched his teeth as he endured another jolt from his horse.

Kentvida glanced at Thales with a slightly meaningful gaze. "Of course, maybe they were as cautious and careful as the Fortress Flower two days ago."

"So, who was it?" Thales turned around and asked in confusion, "Who was the person who guarded the Broken Dragon Fortress when Horace brought his troops out to attack?"

Putray had a worried expression on his face when he turned his gaze upon Thales.

"Go on." Kentvida chuckled. "Tell your prince who was responsible for Horace's death… This is not some secret anyway."

Thales suddenly realized that it was quite inappropriate to discuss the matter in front of an Eckstedtian.

Putray glared at Kentvida in dissatisfaction, but he still sighed and answered, "The Northern Territory was in a crisis at that time. The previous king ordered the surrounding nobles to go forward and provide help, and reinforcements of the largest scale came from Land of Cliffs Region… the closest dukedom of Constellation to the Northern Territory."

Putray worriedly observed Thales' expression until he was sure that the boy's emotions did not change drastically. While he did that, he said, "And after Horace left, the commander of Broken Dragon Fortress was naturally the person with the second highest rank at the time."

Thales was slightly stunned. Putray furrowed his brows but he still continued, "That was the current Duke of the Land of Cliffs Region, 'One-Eyed Dragon' Koshder Nanchester's older brother, Rudolf Nanchester. Later when the Broken Dragon Fortress had been breached, he was held captive by Eckstedt, and in the end, died in prison."

Thales jolted right after Putray finished speaking, 'The former Duke Nanchester who was also the current Duke Nanchester's brother… Could he be related to the suspiciously strange death of Horace?

'At least, when Horace was surrounded, the One-Eyed Dragon's older brother did not lend a hand. He did not even save him and watched him die, right…? More importantly, had Kessel also thought of it this way? What about the One-Eyed Dragon? What does he think of it? What does he feel about Kessel's perception on the matter? And the One-Eyed Dragon's brother whom had already died… Was it really…?

'Also, what the One-Eyed Dragon told me before I departed from Eternal Star City…"The Land of Cliffs Region did not want to resign itself to death." That was what he said back then.'

As Thales pondered about the relations in this matter, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

Putray patted Thales' saddle and shook his head at Thales.

'Do not think too much…' Thales felt that this was what he meant.

"At that time, Horace probably felt like there was already no hope in returning to the fortress." The Fire Knight, Tolja caressed a sheathed sword on his saddle. He seemed to be recalling the past when he said with a bitter smile, "He made a decision that nobody had expected."

Putray shook his head. His face showed his desolation.

Thales raised his brow. "He-What did Horace do?"

"He did not break through towards the direction of the fortress anymore," Tolja put on a respectful smile on his face, "Just like you, Horace turned around and broke out of the encirclement in the opposite direction, all the way to the north."

A thought appeared in Thales' heart. 'Just like us?'

Thales recalled what the man, once known as the Kingdom's Wrath, had said to him a few days ago on the battlefield, before they broke towards the direction of Lampard's flag.

"Long, long ago, a Jadestar once told me during an impasse…'If we are unable to retreat, then why do we not go forward with all our strength?'"

So… what Arracca had said was…

"For a whole day and night, they escaped to this place. We, the army of Black Sand Region also pursued them to this place." Tolja had a complicated expression on his face. He raised his hand and pointed at the snow-covered hills that had just started to appear in front of them. Thales turned his gaze towards them.

They had reached to the end of the plains. Black mountains half covered in snow began to appear in front of them.

Between the two low mountains, there was a narrow entrance that was only as wide as the road. The advancing speed of the Eckstedt troops slowed until it came to a stop.

"We have arrived," Viscount Kentvida said faintly, "This is Rayman Pass."

….

Thales looked at the cluster of strange stones in front of him that were covered in snow while he asked Tolja with an odd feeling in his heart. "This is the battlefield of that year?"

"We cornered them, and once again, had them surrounded tightly. Horace's remaining troops held their positions beside those stones," Tolja nodded and said with a deep gaze in his eyes, "The former Archduke of Black Sand lit a torch and personally led his guards to assault continuously from all sides. He also commanded his guards not to use their bows. He wanted the glory of capturing a Prince of Constellation alive.

"On the other hand, Horace defended his position under the Nine-Pointed Star war flag, he personally held his sword while clad in his black armor. Regardless of how the people around him fell one by one under the axes, he never took a step backwards.

"The best warriors of both parties pounced at one another while they roared in anger, and then one by one, they fell in between the stones. Although we had the advantage of a great force that night, all four supreme class experts from our side were injured, one of them even lost his life here."

The Fire Knight seemed quite rueful when he talked about the history of the battlefield, whereas Kentvida chose to keep quiet as he stared at Tolja with his brows furrowed together.

"Horace's sword pierced through my chest with a single strike. Before he could strike a second time, I was yanked down by someone behind me." Tolja sighed and touched his right chest.

Thales furrowed his brows, 'Was that the Sword of Reversing Light?'

"Prince Horace learned his sword style from the Tower of Eradication, and he also had experience from the army and the battlefield. Only the 'Enemy of the Wolves' could compare to his brave name in the Jadestar Royal Family's history," Putray said slowly. His face had a profound expression when he stared at the cluster of strange stones before his eyes. Thales heard Aida snort lightly behind him.

"The old Archduke of Black Sand gave up on his motive. He realized that his intention of capturing Horace alive will only result in more casualties on our side. In the final, fierce battle, Horace beheaded the Unending Fire, Terende, despite suffering more than ten wounds on his body. Then, his heart was pierced through by a sword." Tolja prompted his horse to move forward and he stared at a stone that was half the height of an average man, as if he had returned to that night twelve years ago, the night where swords shone and the shadows of blades were everywhere due to war.

"A prince lost his life here." Kentvida shook his head. "This place will probably become memorial spot for sightseeing in the future."

Wya glared fiercely at him without any mercy.

"Yes," Putray replied sarcastically, "You should build a statue for Prince Horace… to commemorate his bravery and fearlessness, as well as his skills in killing the enemy."

Thales sighed, closed his eyes, then bowed deeply towards the land filled with the strange stones stood. They were yet another group of unfortunate people who died during battle.

"The last of his soldiers also lost their fighting spirit when they saw Horace collapse. And when we thought that everything was going to end here, a soldier by Horace's side managed to snatch the bow left by Terende in the middle of the chaos," Tolja continued to say faintly.

Kentvida's expression suddenly changed.

Thales raised his brow and said with some surprise in his voice, "You are saying…"

Tolja gazed towards the south, and he exhaled a long breath, "That soldier carried Horace's corpse, took the bow, roared like a deranged man with arrows sticking out of him and while covered head to toe in injuries. He led the last remaining few soldiers and rushed out of the encirclement. For some unknown reason, we could not stop him. He continued charging until he reached the old Archduke of Black Sand, and then…"

Tolja revealed a meaningful smile that was difficult to understand and he snorted lightly. "That soldier disappeared into the night amid of the chaos. Thenceforth, Arracca Murkh has been known as the 'Kingdom's Wrath' by the people."

Tolja caressed his sword, an unending desire to fight glinted in his eyes.

Thales took a deep breath and gazed at the cluster of strange stones from afar. But he could not tell that twelve years ago, numerous warriors and a prince lost their lives at this place, and another legend had since then become famous.

'No, there are still some doubts...' Thales turned over towards Tolja.

"So, Lord Tolja, you personally experienced the war between the two countries twelve years ago? Including how the Broken Dragon Fortress was breached?"

"I had participated in that war." The Fire Knight nodded. "But as I had mentioned just now, thanks to Prince Horace's sword, I was injured in the early stage of the war. By the time I entered the battlefield again, a few months had already passed and it was the late stage of the war. At that time, Sonia Sasere led her Starlight Brigade and took in disabled soldiers as well as disgraced warriors… including Murkh, and they headed north to fight a few battles with us."

"Oh." Thales had a realization. "You battled against the Fortress Flower before?"

'I should say that he was truly one of the Eckstedt's "Five War Generals".'

"No, I did not have a chance to fight against her." Tolja furrowed his brows. "Because of a despicable rat."

"Despicable rat?" Thales was slightly stunned. "Who?"

"I do not know." Viscount Kentvida laughed. "Constellation's little trick… Tolja took it to his heart all this while."

'Do not know who it was? Took it to heart?'

Eckstedt's Fire Knight was heard giving out a cold snort. "On the battlefield, a damned fellow disguised himself as one of us and hid himself behind my back. He waited until I breached the enemy lines, and when I was just about to attack the core of the Starlight Brigade's battle formation, that despicable fellow attacked me from behind… I was seriously injured once again and did not manage to get the chance to directly confront Sasere or Murkh."

Tolja furrowed his brows and said through clenched teeth, "I still remember to this day that the damned, despicable assassin ducking out of sight as he escaped. He hid himself behind a strange, purple mask and he used a gray short sword. He appeared and disappeared unpredictably, and was extremely fast."

Thales emitted an "oh" with a strange expression on his face and scratched his head.

'Disguised as someone else. Attacked the enemy from the back. Purple mask. Gray short sword. Appeared and disappeared unpredictably, extremely fast speed…

'These traits and habits… Where have I heard about it from?'

Behind him, Aida lightly snorted again.

"Is that so?" Thales furrowed his brows as he stared at Tolja's cold eyes. He nodded sternly and said, "Such an act is indeed despicable!"

Comments (29)
NeverBurnout
NeverBurnout
Hehe when you have to insult your old bodyguard...

Stew
Stew
Have to temporarily stop my rewatch marathon of game of thrones for this. Worth it.

Ku0401
Ku0401
I realized the translation deleted the name of Rudolph Nanchester, who was 'One-Eyed Dragon' Koshder Nanchester's older brother. Although he's not an important character here.

Rate this chapter

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Chapter 111: Kaslan’s Tavern
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

"The land you see rising and falling before you is the Sighing Hills. The hills located at the border to the east of Sighing Mountains. Look, the snow-covered summits in the distance going straight into the clouds are the Sighing Mountains." As he rode on his horse, Putray pointed towards the mountains in the distance, which towered into the clouds as far as they could see. He was providing information regarding the geography of the Northland to Thales.

Thales raised his head and expanded his field of vision. He then let out a puff of warm air in the biting, cold environment.

"The Sighing Mountains were once the tallest mountains during the age of the Ancient Empire. The range was connected to Glacier Quiquer to the north and travelled south through the Northland Province as well as Eastern Southland Province, which separated the Empire's northern region. It is currently Constellation's Eastern Sea Hill, and also Duke Cullen's fiefdom. The dangers in the Sighing Mountains and the difficulties faced when climbing them caused travellers to stop in their footsteps whenever they see it. They were only able to bow their heads and sigh. That is how this place obtained its name." Putray put down the tobacco pipe in his hand and lowered his head as well to sigh, as if he was responding to his own words.

"When the Ancient Empire was still around, this was an infamous spot where criminals were banished to. This was a chaotic place. When the Empire was destroyed, more unrest occurred. It lasted until a branch of the elves moved to this place and stayed here for nearly three hundred years. They moved around freely in the mountain, and when they reached the height of their power, they built their own kingdom… After the Battle of Eradication, the northwest section of the Sighing Mountains was owned by the Western Peninsula, and the southeast section of the mountains belonged to Eastern Peninsula's Hanbol."

'Elves in the Sighing Mountains? Wait, "Battle of Eradication Chronicles: The World's Destruction" seemed to have mentioned this before?

Speaking of 'elves', Thales could not help but cast a glance at Aida, who was behind him.

"What is it?" Aida noticed Thales' gaze and spread her hands in a frustrated manner. "I don't know which generation of my relatives lived there either. My history's bad!"

Thales shook his head and turned his head around to continue listening to Putray's explanations.

He could not rely on that elf, who could not even remember his name.

Even if she was in supreme class.

"...The dangerously steep northwest section of the Sighing Mountains runs through the eastern part of Eckstedt and Constellation. Archduke Trentida's Reformation Tower and the Lonely Old Tower of Constellation's Friess Family are respectively located on two different mountains with a valley between them. Both are incredibly wary of each other. Nonetheless, both are spots that are easy to fend against, but difficult to attack.

"Further north of the mountain range is Eckstedt's Elaphure City, which is the fiefdom of the archduke there, and further south of the mountain range is Constellation's Land of Cliffs Region, which is also the fiefdom of the guardian duke stationed there. However, it is precisely because of the steep cliffs in the Sighing Mountains and the weather in the north, that Eckstedt's Elaphure City as well as Constellation's Land of Cliffs Region ended up near the Sea of Eradication. The number of ports are very few too, and the few that they have are situated in odd locations by the edge of the cliff…"

Putray smoked his tobacco and looked at the mountain range in the distance with a fascinated expression on his face.

"During the First and Second Peninsular War, the allied forces from the Eastern Peninsula traversed the Sea of Eradication and landed on either Constellation's Eastern Sea Hill or South Coast Hill. This was because Constellation's Land of Cliffs Region and Eckstedt's East Bank Port owned the natural sea cliff. It was easy to defend but difficult to attack due to its steep walls. In addition, it was bestowed upon them by the Sighing Mountains… During the Third Peninsular War, the Eastern Peninsula Army pretended to attack Constellation's Eastern Sea Port, but launched a surprise attack on Eckstedt's coastlines. With a small number of soldiers, they attacked the sea cliff and obtained astonishing results. In the end, they broke through Elaphure City and entered Eckstedt's heart…"

'Peninsular War?'

Another question popped up in Thales' heart.

"The war started due to the conflict between the two peninsulas—for example, on the diminishing whales in the Sea of Eradication. After the Battle of Eradication, we found that the Eternal Oil within them was the best fuel, and it was even better than charcoal." Putray provided an answer to his question.

"The rights to hunt them, the quotient, the hunting regions and seasons where we were not allowed to hunt the whales; these were constantly the main focus of the argument between these countries located on the two coasts… This was the main topic of discussion during the four Peninsular Wars. Of course, after the Third Peninsular War, the political situation in the two coasts changed too much. Our relationship with Eckstedt turned completely sour, and Mane et Nox was engaged in a fight with Hanbol for absolute dominance in the Eastern Peninsula. In the end, under the Virtuous King, Midier the Third's policy, we formed an alliance with Mane et Nox, while Eckstedt grew closer to Hanbol…

"This caused the Fourth Peninsular War, which happened in Year 468 of the Calendar of Eradication, turning things into a true world war. The flames of war were no longer restricted to one faction of power traversing the sea to invade another faction of power, instead it reached every corner of the world."

Thales remembered the middle-aged king who held a staff and had a smile on his face. He was one of the three Kings of Constellation in Mindis Hall. The portrait of his head was engraved on the country's silver coins and burnt onto Thales' chest. Then, he remembered the Corleone Sisters and the so-called 'Starlit Night Alliance'.

Thales shook his head and chased all of these thoughts out of his head.

"You do not agree to Mindis' policy for diplomacy?" the prince asked curiously.

"That is not the case." Putray shook his head. "Forming an alliance with Mane et Nox was something that happened naturally due to the progression of events. The Far Easterners have an ancient proverb that goes like this, 'Form a good relationship with your allies in the distance, and attack your close enemies.'

"The Fourth Peninsular War was on an incredibly large scale and the results were devastating," Putray was immersed in his thoughts as he slowly spoke, "but to me, the new political situation also strengthened the ties and relationships between the two peninsulas. The reasons behind the start of a world war were destroyed by the increasingly complicated linkages between the countries, such as the conflict between ourselves and the Western Peninsula. Since the Fourth Peninsular War, we have not gone to war with the peninsulas for two centuries. We have enjoyed more than two hundred years of peace… Before this, the two peninsulas would wage war against each other due to the conflicts between us accumulating so much that they reached a boiling point almost every single century."

Thales frowned. He still believed that with the country's productivity levels and its political system, this so-called Peninsular War was a little strange.

Traversing the sea to launch an expedition on another peninsular… How much manpower and supplies were needed? Were the repercussions and sufferings caused as a result of these wars really something that a little Eternal Oil could compensate for?

They continued to move forward as the soldiers by their sides continued to glance at them. Soon, a village materialized before their eyes.

Thales listed his head. He noticed that there were ropes tied around the trees beyond the village. There were quite a large number of food items bound there such as jerky, bread and other items. There were even prey like deer, foxes and rabbits.

'Is this Northland's custom?'

"My soldiers have already confirmed the safety of this village." At that moment, the vassal under Archduke Lampard, Viscount Kentivida, went up to them from the back of the group. He moved past the crowd and proceeded into the village before he dismounted and handed the reins to a soldier. "We will dismiss a portion of the enlisted soldiers from the villages around the area. You can search for an inn here to rest for a while and enjoy some lunch."

With Ralf's help, Thales got off his steed and let out a long sigh for being able to temporarily get off his horse. Then, he lifted his head in excitement to observe the village, which was located beside Rayman Pass.

The place was supposed to be a small, peaceful village that did not even have a wall. But at that moment, it was surrounded by strong, burly men dressed entirely in armor. Even though most of the army escorts were stationed outside the village to rest, Thales could tell with just one glance that there were Northland soldiers who were moving about. They were engaged in activity under the single-storey houses built from bricks, earth and stone.

Yet curiously, these soldiers did not seem to disturb the peace and quiet within the village. They integrated themselves with the men and women in the village, who were dressed in sackcloth. The village square was already filled with soldiers as well as villagers sitting around and drinking from their mugs. Their laughter shook the skies.

"This time, I'm going to win against you in drinking, Craydon!" There were two people sitting at a huge table, which seemed to be usually used for displaying goods for sale. The table was filled with mugs and a villager was pounding his fist against it. He was looking at the soldier sitting across him, refusing to back down. "I can drink ten pints within a minute!"

"We'll know right away if you're just bluffing." The soldier threw down his axe, took off his chest plate and pounded the table with his fist in a similar manner, refusing to show weakness. "The person who wins is the only one who can get Arosa's flower crown!"

There was a group of onlookers surrounding them, enthusiastically causing a clamor. One of them was a young lady holding a flower basket. She was laughing loudly.

"What a load of bull!" She put down the flower basket and boldly lifted her skirt to sit down, joining in the drinking contest at the table. "The person who can outdrink me is the one who will get my flower crown!"

Thales could not help but chuckle softly. During that instant, he had even slightly forgotten that these Eckstedt soldiers had clashed with his guards on the battlefield, trying to kill each other.

This was different compared to the well-behaved civilians Thales came into contact with in Constellation's Eternal Star City; a different society from the city, which had distinct social class boundaries. The rhythm in this Eckstedt village was wild and lively, the atmosphere was relaxed and full of enthusiasm. The villagers were basically tall and well-built Northlanders. They had bold appearances and their laughter was hearty.

"Hey, Tolja, how long are we staying here?" A soldier with a full-grown beard shouted loudly in their direction. He seemed like a mid-rank officer and he was carrying a warhammer as well as a wooden mug in his other hand. "Come on, please tell me we're staying overnight!"

"We're leaving by noon," Tolja replied loudly with displeasure, "Before that, tighten your pants around your waist, Metalhead Crocer!"

"Pity." The officer with the beard took a big swig in his disappointment. Wine flowed down his beard as he mumbled, "I remember that Hero Tavern has a beautiful cook…"

Thales did not bother about the soldiers and villagers who were pointing at him as they whispered among themselves. He did not bother about their disdainful and malicious gazes either. He followed Kentvida and Tolja, moving forward. Behind him were the members of the diplomat group.

"Are you certain that the safest way is for the soldiers to enter the village and drink with the villagers?" A Northland soldier was swinging his arm over the villagers' shoulders and laughing boisterously as the duo walked past them. The prince's young attendant, Wya Caso saw this and cautiously pressed down on the sword by his waist. With a tone that showed he did not truly approve of this, he said, "If I was an assassin, I could blend in with the villagers."

"Don't be too nervous. This is not Constellation, it's Eckstedt!" Viscount Kentvida laughed loudly. "Most of the people in the village are veterans who have been released from military service. They can be trusted… In truth, due to their honor and dignity, the prince, who is a guest here, will be even safer in their midst."

Wya shrugged, curling his lips to express his doubts.

"Do not worry." Thales nodded at his attendant. "The soldiers have already dispersed and blended into the village. Even assassins will have to think about the possibilities and consequences of an assassination."

"This is Mountain Pass Village, right?" Putray looked around him in fond nostalgia. "I recall there is a tavern here whose owner is very famous…"

"Hero Tavern. It was opened twenty years ago by a retired veteran," Tolja said faintly by the side, "The rye wine in the tavern is well-known far and wide."

Thales, who was curiously taking in the sights around him, followed Kentvida and Tolja into a larger stone building. A large sign of a wine mug was hung on the door. The Fire Knight pushed open the two doors and walked into the noisy Hero Tavern.

Thales followed him and stepped into the warm stone building. Once the chill in his body was chased away, he noticed that the guests filling the tavern suddenly fell silent. Plenty of people cast their gazes on Thales. He recognized that some of the guests were Northland Soldiers, and it was clear that they had just arrived.

However, several seconds later, the lively atmosphere returned to the tavern, as if the people who came in were just a couple of normal people.

"You did not clear the tavern," Wya frowned and said, "Then, His Highness'—"

A bold and crude old voice rose into the air like an explosion.

"Boy, this is my tavern." A burly old man with silver hair and a face full of wrinkles placed his elbows on the wooden bar counter.

With a condescending expression, he said, "It doesn't matter if it's the king, a priest, a foreigner, or even a god. No one can chase away my customers here!"

Wya frowned.

The old man then narrowed his eyes and lowered his head to look at Thales. A strange expression appeared on his face. "You sure have a lot of people… I only serve customers who can pay to buy wine."

Thales smiled at him.

The prince could not help but notice that the old man in front of his eyes may be quite ripe in his age, probably at least sixty years old. However, his biceps and triceps were still well-toned, his waist was thick and he stood up straight. His gaze was direct and fierce.

"Kaslan! Don't worry about the numbers or the problem about money!" Kentvida laughed. He sat down without reservation in front of the bar counter before he dug out a money pouch. "We have plenty of golden circular pieces that have Raikaru's head portrait on them… Let me tell you something else, the Archduke of Black Sand asked me to send you his regards and greet Madam Talia!"

The old man threw him a deep look.

A thought appeared in Thales' head. 'He's just a retired veteran and a normal owner of a tavern, yet the Archduke of Black Sand has taken personal interest in him?'

But Kentvida did not obtain the response he should have gotten.

"Each mug of rye wine is six Eckstedt bronze coins and the price of each mug for nobles is sixty." The owner of the tavern, the old Kaslan, cast a glance at the money pouch with an aloof expression. He then pushed it back before he let out a cold harrumph. "Also, I don't accept gold coins.

"Especially gold coins from Lampard, who killed his own family."

Kentvida's expression instantly froze.

Thales was also shocked. 'Killed his own family?'

Kentvida spread his hands towards Tolja, who was behind him, and put on a resigned expression.

"That was a battle of inheritance. It is an ancient ceremony." Tolja walked forward and brought out a pouch full of Eckstedt bronze and silver coins. Without batting an eyelid, he continued to speak flatly, "The archduke defeated his older brother, that is all… His death was just an accident."

"He can argue however he wants. He killed his family and that's that!" The old Kaslan received the money pouch in disdain. "As for that so called ancient ceremonial battle… That's something in the past, and what the citizens of the Empire used to make us kill each other."

'The Archduke of Black Sand killed his older brother, won his right of inheritance, and adhered to a ceremonial battle that seemingly came from the Ancient Empire?'

Thales quietly stored that information in his heart.

He then cast a glance at the boorish old man. 'Additionally… this tavern owner does not have an ordinary background. He does not seem to be on the same side as Lampard.

'Perhaps I can obtain some information from him?'

"So there's one, two, three… six, seven, eight…" Kaslan weighed the money pouch in his hand and counted the number of people in front of him.

"Wait!" An idea suddenly struck Thales and he spoke in the nick of time, "Let them pay with the Archduke of Black Sand's money, but we will pay with our own money… We have, er… about a dozen people…"

Kaslan's eyes moved and noticed Thales, who was not even at the height of the bar counter.

Kentvida frowned and looked at Thales, as if he had something in his mind.

Thales nodded in Putray's direction. The latter raised his brows, then walked forward and brought out a few silver coins as well as bronze coins.

"Ah, I recognize this head portrait… The Oath Keeper Midier, yes?" Kaslan took the silver coins and threw them away casually. Instead, he picked the bronze coin with Midier's head portrait engraved on it. He scrutinized the picture on it before he lifted his head and laughed, revealing a mouth full of yellowing teeth. "The lot of you are from the Empire?"

Thales smiled and shook his head. "No, we come from Constellation."

By his side, Wya's expression changed, and Putray looked like he was thinking of something.

"I get it, brat. You're the Prince of Constellation… the one who has come to apologize." Kaslan stared at him straight. "You have a long and arduous journey ahead of you."

Thales shrugged.

"Alright." Kaslan snorted. "Constellation's silver coins are even more valuable than our silver coins. There's no reason for me to not receive your money."

"Hey!" Kentvida protested. "Is Archduke Lampard's gold coin not money now?"

"Hmph, Brian!" Hero Tavern's owner ignored the viscount. He shouted at the top of his lungs and tapped the wooden window behind him. "Twenty mugs of rye wine… The normal one will do!"

A tall man with black hair and in his thirties walked out from behind the counter. There was a scar from a burn on the left side of his face. He let out a cold harrumph.

In a bad mood, the tavern assistant lifted a thin wooden stick and turned towards the wooden cabinet behind him. Then, with a shake of his arm, he hooked the ears of a dozen something wooden mugs with great proficiency and pulled them over, having them lined on the wooden stick like a kebab.

He shook his arm again, and the dozen something mugs fell on the bar counter. Brian nimbly extracted the wooden stick and lifted a huge, wooden wine barrel. As he poured the wine into the mugs, he looked at the group with a hostile expression. He even glared at Thales in the process.

"This isn't something that can be done with regular arm strength." Wya looked at the assistant's movements and his expression changed. He spoke in a low tone, "I can bet that he's an expert with the sword."

"Don't mind him." Kaslan laughed boisterously. "My assistants here are all crude men who were once soldiers…"

Tolja said flatly, "Of course. Hero Tavern is the gathering and also parting place for retired Northland soldiers."

Thales discovered dejectedly that he could not even haul himself up the chair by the bar counter. He was just not tall enough. If he had spoken up while the crowd was watching him, it would have been incredibly awkward.

At this moment, a guard who knew sign language was incredibly important.

Ralf picked Thales up and placed him on the bar counter's high stool (The attendant, Wya, who discovered that he did not managed to perform his duty once more, frowned again). Kentvida and Putray sat down by his side. As for the citizens of Constellation and Eckstedt, they were split into two very distinct groups. They sat down on two round tables, and their soldiers glared at each other.

"Oh, heavens." Willow looked at the noisy Northland customers around him. Brimming with spirit, he said, "I have never drunk in a place so far away before."

"Keep those two pikes of yours close to your side." The veteran, Genard spoke with a frown, "They may pounce on us at any moment."

Thales' lips curled up as he brought out his skills of engaging in small talk with others. It had been lying dormant in his memories. "Mister Kaslan, when did you open Hero Tavern? Why did you name it as such?"

"It's been twenty years since I opened it." Kaslan watched as Brian filled the mugs with a lackadaisical expression and brought three of them to the bar counter. He had Brian bring the other mugs to the others on a tray. "I got injured and I retired. Then, I returned to my hometown to open a tavern… As to why I called it Hero Tavern, heh, my wife was the one who gave it such a boring name."

Thales touched the wooden mug, which was half the size of his head, then rationally decided not to touch it. "Oh, by the way, when I entered the village, I noticed that there were all sorts of food tied on the trees near the entrance. What is that for?"

"The Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter is about to arrive." Kaslan yawned and brought them a few plates of black bread. The bread did not stir up any form of appetite in the others when they saw it. "That is a present to the mountains."

Accustomed to the black bread, Tolja and Kentvida picked it up and ate it as they drank the rye wine. The latter was even looking at the distressed Wya, who did not know how to eat the bread. He was looking at Wya as if he was watching a good show.

"It's best that you eat some of it," Kentvida said flatly, "We have to press on in the afternoon… and we'll only set up camp at night."

'Constellatiates who have lived comfortable lives…' Kentvida laughed at them mockingly in his heart. 'This is Hero Tavern's signature dish and a Northland village staple made from common coarse grain.'

Wya stared at the black bread in front of him with a frown.

Putray sighed and picked up the bread. 'Looks like this is our food for today's lunch.

'Perhaps Kentvida is doing this intentionally. He's either testing the prince's attitude, or perhaps, taking revenge on the prince for giving him the cold shoulder. It's one of the two.'

Yet soon, everyone discovered to their surprise that the noble Second Prince of Constellation, Prince Thales Jadestar grabbed a thick and hard piece of black bread...

And bit down on it without any hesitation.

It made it seem like he was not eating something that was difficult to swallow, but...

"Present for the mountains?" Thales chewed on the tough bread and asked curiously in a muffled tone, "The Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter?"

'Mm… the taste is not bad. I can actually bite through just by chewing on it… It's not like the black bread from the Brotherhood. When it gets really bad, we even have to use fire to roast it.'

Kaslan's expression changed. He looked at Thales, and his gaze was increasingly filled with interest.

"The Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter is a natural phenomenon unique to the Northland. At this time, the Northland will welcome the coldest time of the year. Daytime will be drastically cut short. The people who venture out must wear incredibly thick, fur-lined jackets and have enough materials to keep the fire going, and they cannot leave too far into the distance. The time where they can work outdoors will be limited to three hours." Putray observed with a strange expression on his face as Thales ate with gusto.

'I have been wandering outside all this while, and gotten myself a hard set of teeth as well as an iron stomach due to my adventures… but His Highness…'

Wya ate the bread with a long face, and only felt like hurling. However, when he saw that Ralf was enjoying the bread, he gained his appetite once more as his competitive spirit was instantly lit up.

"The Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter will last for several weeks if it's short; one month if it's long," Putray continued saying, "As for the presents to the mountains…"

"Those are gifts for the gods." The tavern's owner, the old Kaslan grinned and continued, "We will hang the first game we obtain during the day or the first food we touch on the tree. It will belong entirely to the gods… Only the travellers who are forced to venture out during the Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter can partake of it, because it is by the gods' grace."

"Gods…" Thales swallowed the bread. "Which God is it? Sunset? Bright Moon? Dark Night?"

In his memories, the more popular gods who had their own temples in Eternal Star City were these three.

But Kaslan grinned. "Not them. What we commemorate is the god that has been worshipped since the ancient times in Northland and even the world. He takes care of the land and the mountain ranges, and he is a generous god that protects travelers in the wild.

"The people call him…

"The Master of Mountains."

…

Constellation, Eternal Star City's Western District, Entrance to Western City Police Station.

"I'm sorry, Captain Kohen Karabeyan has applied for a month's leave." Western City Police Station's secretary, Miss Jorah, looked coldly at the young brunette with short hair who was standing in front of her. "I mean, at least a month."

'She's taller than me.

'Her legs are longer than mine.

'Her a** is bigger than mine.'

Miss Jorah thought furiously.

'Thankfully, my chest is bigger than hers.'

Then, Miss Jorah straightened her figure, which she was proud of. She twirled her long, red hair, and said proudly, "If you're looking for him, you can leave a message… I see him often, I can deliver your message to him."

'And, she isn't as feminine as I am.

'She looks like a boy.'

Miss Jorah sized up the brunette with a disapproving stare.

The woman furrowed her brows slowly and said, "Is that so? He's not around…?"

'Yes, and she speaks in such a crude manner… She doesn't seem like a woman at all.'

As Miss Jorah thought about this, her mood instantly became better.

'Yup, that is the voice of a drake…' She would absolutely not admit that it sounded heroic.

The brunette remained silent for a moment as she looked at Miss Jorah.

Miss Jorah felt a little embarrassed.

Shortly after, the brunette lowered her head and looked at the Sword of the Twin Towers emblem on her right hand. Her lips then curled up into a smile.

"Very well. Please pass this message to him." The brunette looked at Miss Jorah's expression and said with a teasing tone. "Just say…"

Under the secretary's impatient gaze, the brunette licked her lips.

"The woman who laid in his bosom that day in Red Street Market misses him."

Miss Jorah's expression changed, as if she had been struck by lightning.

'Red Street Market…

'Lay…

'In his bosom…

'Woman…

'Misses him…'

Miss Jorah glared at the woman in disbelief. She frowned while her expression continued to changed.

'How could it be?

'This woman?

'With the handsome Captain Kohen…

'They…'

Jala Charleton immediately snickered.

"Hahaha…"

"Alright, I was just joking." Under the secretary's murderous gaze, the descendant of the Assassin's Flower laughed while she clutched her abdomen and waved her hand. "I only met… that blond co… police officer once."

'And saved his life.'

"You like him, have a crush on him, you love him so much that you could die, you want to have his children, yada yada." As the secretary once again gave her a strange look, Jala shook her head. "I don't care about that… I don't want to become your competitor or your rival in love either. I'm just here to ask him for help."

"Don't worry… He isn't my type." The former bartender put on a bright smile.

In a rare show, the secretary blushed.

She looked at Jala's sincere gaze and was speechless. She suddenly blanked out and did not know what to do at that moment.

They remained silent for about ten seconds or more.

"Alright." Miss Jorah turned her head away in embarrassment. The red flush on her cheeks had yet to disappear. She spoke resignedly, "The truth is, Captain Kohen… has returned to the Tower of Eradication. We can use messenger pigeons to communicate with him. You can write him a letter, and then—"

Jala laughed.

"Alright, I'll write him a letter." The young, former bartender nodded, as though she was thinking of something. "Thank you, Miss Jorah."

"Honestly, if it isn't anything too troublesome," the secretary said in slight embarrassment, "perhaps, I can help you. After all, you're Kohen's friend as well…"

"...Even though I'm just a secretary in the police station, I know plenty of people… My brother works for the Royal Family, and he gets in touch with plenty of important people…"

'Then, you won't have to look for Captain Kohen.'

Miss Jorah clenched her fist in her heart. 'Did you think that it would end just because you said you didn't like him?

'What a joke…

'Don't underestimate a woman's obsession, whether it's her own or that of her rival in love!'

Jala looked at Jorah in surprise, then she cracked a smile.

"You won't be able to help me with this." Jala shook her head resignedly. "You're still too…"

Jala suddenly stopped speaking. It looked as if she had thought of something.

Miss Jorah had on an expectant expression.

"Perhaps, you can actually help me," she said slowly, "Jorah, you're the secretary of the police station. You can see all the files, bounties and information in there. Could you help me keep an eye out on some information?"

Miss Jorah smiled and nodded. "Of course, if it isn't something top secret… What do you want to know?"

Jala let out a long sigh and said in a low tone, "I want to check out the location where weapons are smuggled from Constellation to other countries for the past few years… especially those related to Black Street Brotherhood… and a man named Roda…"

Miss Jorah took out a pen and paper.

"Also…" Jala hesitated, but in the end, she said these words, "I want to find three children… They have very distinct characteristics and they may have been kidnapped by the Brotherhood. But, they are not in Eternal Star City…"

Miss Jorah lifted her head in curiosity.

"One of them is a ten-year-old boy called Sinti. He's slightly larger than the average child.

"Another one is a small girl with a round scar left from a burn on her face. She's Coria, about four or five years old.

"And one more is a seven or eight-year-old named Ryan. He doesn't have a right arm."

"Is that all?" Miss Jorah nodded. "I'll go back and see whether there are any notices or reports regarding cracks on human traffickers…"

"Wait," Jala lifted her head and said with a serious expression, "I'm also looking for another boy.

"He went missing near Red Street Market and could have possibly fallen into the hands of Blood Bottle Gang.

"He has black hair, grey eyes, and is about seven to eight years old."

Jala's eyes dimmed. "He is a-a boy that doesn't seem like a normal boy."

Miss Jorah lifted her head in surprise.

"He's a little too smart and mature," Jala lowered her eyes and continued explaining.

"Is that so? A mature child, hmm?" The secretary shrugged and continued taking notes.

"My brother says that he has seen children like that before; a boy and a girl.

"Anyway, I'll keep an eye out for you."

Comments (45)
BarbatosTheYonko
BarbatosTheYonko
I don't know what's funnier. Thale needing help of the horse, Thale and Ralf enjoying black bread like it's nobody's business, or the heated love ******** between a secretary, baby killer, and a cop.

MistaRed
MistaRed
Thales and the awkward moments we remember he's seven years old and can't get on top of a stool without help

jay320
jay320
Thales and his betrayals

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Chapter 112: Constellation, the Dragon, and the Long Gone Empire
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

"The Master of Mountains?"

Thales was stunned. "Why have I not heard of this before?"

Chuckling, Putray explained, "Because this god does not have a spokesperson in the human world. Hence, it does not have a temple or a church. Even records of the manifestation of its presence or power are scanty. It only exists in stories and folktales passed down orally by the people. For travellers who traverse the mountains and plains, worshipping the Master of Mountains enables them to keep their mind at ease as well as stay safe when travelling far away from home. So, the act of gifting to the mountains is more of a ceremony, a means of helping travellers to overcome the severe cold."

"Passed down orally?"

"During the era of the Ancient Empire, the Master of Mountains was once a shared belief among all human beings. Not just among us Northlanders, but also all of you—the Rudollians in the middle of the world who built the Empire, the Calunsians in the Southwestern Thornland and Dragon-Kissed Land, the Barren Bone people in the Great Desert, the 'bandits' in the Near East—the Nedanese, the Seles who pasture in the Eastern Plains, those dark-skinned Crimson Earthlings in the Extreme South as well as the Kassaians who navigate the islands with great ease. Apart from the Far Easterners, almost all humans knew and acknowledged the existence of the Master of Mountains." The old Kaslan swigged a mouthful of ale and spoke with much emotion from behind the bar counter.

"Now however, apart from the countryside in Northland where people are plain and honest, and where these simple beliefs are still visible… the name of the Master of Mountains has pretty much disappeared; just like countless other precious Northlandic traditions. Only large temples enshrined in power and money are left."

"The Rudollians and Northlanders?" Thales lowered his head in curiosity and started to eat another piece of bread. "I remember the title of the Supreme King of Constellation included—"

"Yes, we all know." Archduke Lampard's adviser, Viscount Kentvida laughed mischievously and tauntingly. He then said, "He is the suzerain of the Rudollians and Northlanders in the Western Peninsula. But I sincerely suggest that you omit that second part in Eckstedt. Northlanders have never acknowledged your rulership over us."

"From my knowledge, two thirds of the Northland Province during the Ancient Empire's era was within the borders of Eckstedt, while the remaining one third was in the Northern Territory of Constellation. Those Constellatiates called themselves Northlanders and acknowledged the rulership of the supreme king." Putray sharply refuted.

"That's where the problem lies." Viscount Kentvida tapped the bar counter in contemplation. "Northland belongs to the Northlanders. Why should they be under the rule of Constellation and under the rule of a Rudollian king?"

Thales suddenly realized that 'Northland' stood for the Northland Province from a thousand years ago during the era of the Ancient Empire. It was a geographical concept. 'Northlanders' was a concept that existed even before the Empire was established and it referred to the humans who lived on that land. As for Eckstedt, which was only established after the Battle of Eradication, that concept was far less important compared to Northland, and it even much less so for the concept of Northlanders.

It was just like Constellation—a kingdom that only existed after the Battle of Eradication. In truth, the people who lived on the land that Constellation was built on were known as the 'Rudollians' thousands of year ago. It appeared that they were the main race of the Ancient Empire.

Today, Northlanders and the Rudollians were scattered throughout both the Black Sand Region of Eckstedt and the Northern Territory of Constellation.

Thales lowered his head and casually looked at the wheat residue that settled at the bottom of his glass. He was suddenly reminded of Sunset Pub in the underground market of Eternal Star City. Jala the cheeky, female bartender, the plump and fierce-looking cook, Edmund and the owner of the pub who had only appeared once or twice when Thales was there.

"Why? Because of history," Putray said faintly, "Presently, whether it is in Black Sand Region or the Northern Territory, the Rudollians and Northlanders have lived together for many years. They no longer create any distinction among themselves."

"Hmph, it's because all of you seized the land and people from Northland," Kentvida refuted, "You seized Cold Castle four hundred years ago and the Lonely Old Tower two hundred years ago from us. Your Northern Territory is our Southern Land!"

Listening to the argument between Kentvida and Putray, Kaslan, the owner of the tavern could not help but let out a laughter that perplexed those around him.

A chill ran down Thales' spine as he heard their conversation. 'So, this is what the Eckstedtians think?'

He thought about the soldiers' manner and attitude towards them when they first entered Lampard's military camp. He finally understood why.

Constellation wanted to defend its land in the North, while Eckstedt wanted to recapture the territory, which belonged to the Northlanders.

Both parties were battling for their own justice, and it was ironic indeed.

These were all things he would not have been able to hear within Constellation.

Putray chuckled. "If you really want to talk about how 'Northland only belongs to the Northlanders', then we have the Arunde Family in Constellation's Northern Territory, who once ruled the entire Northland Province on the emperor's behalf…"

"Hmph, the senseless arrogance of Constellatiates." Viscount Kentvida snorted coldly. "In the end, the lot of you still go back to talking about the Ancient Empire, don't you? It perished a long time ago. Are you still hung up on the supreme power and glory of the Pegasus Throne? Do you miss those emperors who controlled the entire world with the wave of their sleeves? Do you miss that era where the map of the kingdom spread from one end of the room to another?"

"The Empire was the most precious legacy, the most glorious page, and the most powerful existence in human history. There is no doubt about that," Putray answered coldly, "Even though it does not exist anymore, its splendor never faded and is still cherished today."

"Ha! I almost forgot!" Kentvida raised both of his hands and laughed at Thales in a taunting manner. "'The Empire shall last, so long as the stars remain.' Is that so, Your Highness?"

Thales shrugged and smiled at him.

"Do not joke about the royal family," Putray spoke in a cold tone, "His bloodline was once at the top of the world, witnessing the rise and fall of the human race."

"Bloodline?" Kentvida snorted.

"Northlanders do not believe in bloodlines. Heroes who can bear the weight of the kingdom and its people automatically become king." The next moment, the Viscount of Eckstedt narrowed his eyes and spoke in a serious tone, "Your Highness, listen up. The Empire ruled by the so-called imperial family you were born in left the world with nothing but an extremely chaotic nightmare!"

"Umm, thank you for your advice." Thales scratched his head awkwardly and gave a hollow laugh. "That's certainly a new point of view."

"New?" Kentvida stared at him and said plainly, "Have you heard the story of Quiso Lampard, Your Highness?"

"Quiso Lampard? An ancestor of the Lampard family? The Revolutionary King?" Thales answered enthusiastically.

"You don't have to hear about it from the subordinate of an archduke—" Putray was about to speak when he realized that Thales was raising his hand to stop him from speaking.

"Please continue, Viscount Kentvida." Thales said, smiling. "I am very interested in all knowledge."

Putray and Kentvida glanced at Thales in surprise.

"Do you know about Archduke Trentida from the Reformation Tower? He's one of Eckstedt's ten archdukes," Kentvida said softly after ruminating for a while, "The Reformation Tower neighbors the Lonely Old Tower of your kingdom. It is ruled by a family of knights who are famous in Northland history, the Trentida Family. Their family's symbol is a blade radiating bright light."

"I don't really know about him. Sorry, I am only seven years old." Thales shook his head in embarrassment. "But I am very willing to listen to your story. What happened to the Trentida Family? How is it related to Quiso Lampard?"

"It has nothing to do with the Trentida Family, but more to do with their territory—the Reformation Tower and its periphery," Kentvida sighed and said, "That was Northland's Far Eastern Land and also one of the Sighing Mountains' entrances. During the era of the Ancient Empire, before the peninsulas were separated, the Reformation Tower was once the epitome of barbaric acts and chaos. Do you know how the Reformation Tower got its name?"

Thales shook his head in cooperation.

"During the age of the Ancient Empire, that place was once a prison for those in exile, and it also acted as an execution field. Everyone who went there needed to be 'reformed'," Kentvida shook his head and said, "Reformation Tower… Unfortunately, most of the prisoners there did not leave the place alive to reform their lives."

Thales nodded his head, deep in thought.

"And in that time, they once put a famous person behind the prison's bars—Quiso Lampard."

Upon hearing that, Thales furrowed his brows slightly.

Quiso Lampard.

He knew about this person when Gilbert filled him in on the world's history—Quiso Lampard was the 'Reformation King' of Northland.

He was the man who started the first ever internal rife in the Ancient Empire.

However, according to the books, he was a bandit who roamed freely across the Northern Pine Forest in Northland. In a robbery, he accidentally killed a government official of the Empire, and was hence captured by the Empire. His accomplices then raided the execution field and rescued him.

Driven into a corner, Quiso knew that he would not be able to escape the Empire's pursuit and capture for his entire life. As a result, he went all out in retaliation. He acted on the dissatisfaction of the Northlanders towards Duke Arunde's harsh governance and spread rumors to divide Northland. This threw Northland into great chaos. After that, he embarked on a journey to rebel against the Empire. In the end however, his rebellion was easily wiped out by the Empire's army next to the Lonely Old Tower.

The Empire's first ever internal rife started because of this and things became increasingly violent.

But today, Kentvida was telling him a completely different story.

Kentvida faintly said, "Rumor has it that the Lampard Family is the descendant of Takmukh, the deceased king of the North from the Barbaric Era, which was before the orcs invaded.

"And over a thousand five hundred years ago, Quiso Lampard was only an ordinary woodcutter in the Ancient Empire's Northland Province. However, he had excellent skills, he was bold as well as righteous, and he provided help to the poor and weak. He was renowned in the area. Even the Duke of the Northland Province, Arunde knew about his existence.

"This was the Empire's most glorious era or so it was called. The elves compromised with the Empire and the dwarves became craftsmen, the orcs fled behind the glaciers and the dragons became extinct; only the Far East was not conquered.

"So, when the battle to conquer the Far East was going strong, Quiso was enlisted into the army. He headed into the battlefield joyfully as he was filled with glorious purpose and pride to be battling for the Empire. Due to Quiso's unmatched bravery, fighting capabilities, and prestige among the Northlanders, he moved all the way up until the Empire sealed him as a count and appointed him as the general of the Northland army."

A chill ran down Thales' spine.

This story was completely different from what he remembered.

"Under the great efforts of Quiso and other army groups, the Far Easterners were steadily losing ground and becoming entrenched in a besieged city. There was only the Kirin Holy Capital left, but its army was decimated and its food supply was depleted. It was basically lifeless and on the verge of falling into the Empire's hands. The Empire's heroic undertaking to unite the world was almost becoming a reality.

"Because of this, the emperor was immersed in paramount supremacy. His desire became more and more undue and his demands were almost endless. He never stopped drafting forced laborers, and tax charges increased with each passing day. As the best source of troops, the Northland Province was the first to bear the brunt.

"At one point, the Northlanders could not take it anymore. They started refusing to pay their taxes and escaping military services, they chased away the emperor's tax collectors and started treating the Empire's authority with fury, they treated the Empire with verbal abuse instead of devotion and obedience.

"And Duke Arunde, the emperor's slave could not collect enough taxes or draft enough forced laborers anymore. Not to mention, there were numerous tax evasion incidents. Even the Arunde Family's soldiers were often sour-faced due to this.

"Hence, the emperor's slaves thought of a solution: look for Northland's most renowned person—the Northland army's commander, Quiso—to talk to his own townsfolk. He was having days off and recuperating at home at that time."

Kaslan sighed and Putray remained silent.

Kentvida on the other hand, continued talking.

"They urged Quiso to become their colleague and join them in pressing for taxes as well as drafting forced laborers. However, Quiso did not agree. They then urged him to make a declaration to convince the Northlanders to submit to the Empire. Quiso still did not agree. They then ordered the general to help them find the protesters from Northland in the name of the Empire. But Quiso did not agree either.

"This is what Quiso said, 'I am loyal to the Empire, but I am a Northlander.'

"In the end, the emperor found out about this incident.

"The emperor issued an edict and there were two words written on it."

Kentvida's gaze became extremely icy as he plainly said, "'Choose one.'"

Thales could only feel a chill running down his spine.

'Choose one.

'The Empire.

'Northland.

'Choose one.'

"The next thing the Northlanders knew, Quiso was banished to the Reformation Tower until he proved his loyalty towards the Empire once again. The emperor could not face the fact that his own general could not do this.

"However, a whole year passed and Quiso did not relent. At the same time, the Northlanders who learned about his imprisonment were boiling with resentment.

"In the end, hearing reports about his people's discontent every day and having to endure the duke's apology for not collecting enough taxes made the emperor fed up with Quiso's stubbornness. He decided to make an example out of him and deter the people of Northland using punishment as well as terror to reiterate the dignity of the Empire.

"Consequently, Quiso Lampard was brought to the execution field.

"There, he watched helplessly as his son was beheaded, his wife garroted, his daughter hung, and his friends flogged to death… All of this just because Quiso was unwilling to respond to the emperor's edict!

"Finally, when it was Quiso's turn, the furious Northlanders and Quiso's subordinates broke into the Reformation Tower and charged into the execution field. They killed the Empire's soldiers and rescued Quiso.

"When news broke out, the entire of Northland was shaken. The people picked up their weapons again as they donned their armor and gathered beside Quiso, who was on the verge of death. But this time, it was not to enlist in the Empire's army, they were going to rebel against the ruthless ruling of the Empire.

"I'm sure you know what happened next…"

Thales pondered about the story. 'This is so much different compared to what the books in Constellation say.'

Contemplating, Thales said quietly, "Yes. The Reformation King battled until the end, and with his last remaining three hundred people—"

However, when it came to the end of the story, Kentvida still gave Thales a surprise.

"There is one small difference," Kentvida cut Thales off as his eyes shone brightly. "He did not battle until the end."

Thales was stunned.

"Quiso did not have plans to engage in battle at all. From the very beginning, he dismissed most of the rebel soldiers. He only led the last three hundred people who refused to leave and launched a last assault on the three main armies from Lonely Old Peak. That was the only battle in Quiso's so-called reformation.

"It was more of a silent protest towards the emperor, and not a rebellion towards the Empire, which he had been loyal to all his life, was it not?

"After Quiso died, every single family in Northland lit candles and honored him as king according to ancient traditions from the era of the feudal kings. The Reformation King was probably a title Quiso was unwilling to bear even till his death.

"This is the true story of Quiso Lampard, the Reformation King… Many Eckstedtians are very familiar with it.

"Do you understand now, descendant of the Empire?" Kentvida said plainly, "Do you see what the Empire has actually left for Northland?"

Kaslan watched Thales' reaction with considerable interest.

Fortunately, everyone else were sitting at round tables a few meters away from them. Or else, Thales reckoned that there would soon be another pub fight between the Constellatiates and the Eckstedtians.

"An elaborately modified story." Putray snorted and laughed. "I wonder though, how do you know the emperor's edict so well down to every single word?"

"Go ahead and be sarcastic, citizen of the Empire. The only thing on your mind is the Empire's glory anyway." Kentvida's gaze was filled with hatred.

He continued speaking, "What did the Empire give to the world? Years of military service, battle expeditions without rest and heavy taxes that knew no limits. From the West Billow Cliff to the Crimson Soil, and the Thornland to the Far East, everyone knows about the Empire's ruthlessness and harshness.

"Greedy, degenerate officials of various ranks and folly ruled in a cruel as well as pressing manner. The so-called mighty people of the Empire had long since become decadent and rotten from top to bottom, from the inside out, from the Pegasus Throne to the expedition troops, and from the Praetorian Guards to the City Gate Officials.

"Racial conflicts turned into increasingly violent, ugly and dark religious oppression. How many people died from utterly unjustifiable and cruel torture courtesy of the Empire's Secret Forces? And how many people died for heresy under the Bright God Church? Did you know that ancient beliefs such as the Master of Mountains, the Maiden Guardian of the Ocean and the Prairie Godfather disappeared because they were banned by the Ancient Empire? All of this happened amid conspiracies that were jointly plotted by the emperor and the Bright God Church.

"Then there was the Northern Temple of Knights, which was forcibly demolished by the emperor a thousand years ago… It was the cradle and holy land where knights originated. It was the legendary place where humankind worked together to fight against the ancient orcs!"

Kentvida drank a mouthful of ale and sneered. "Citizen of the Empire, stop basking in past glories. You excite yourselves with false prosperity, but all of you have no idea how hideous your position in history is."

"You can continue with your own thoughts. However, history cannot be changed, even until now," Putray said in disdain.

"I can only see your carriages speeding on the driveways built by the Empire. There are no exceptions from when the king goes out on trips to when the people leave their homes.

"Your currency follows the gold, silver and copper standard set by the Empire. These little coins are stabilizing your kingdom's economy and your people's livelihood, preventing your kingdom from falling back to how it was in the era of the feudal kings.

"No matter how much of the northern accent and styles are in your language and texts, they still originated from the Empire's ancient or common language. From birth to death, what all of you mutter is part of the Empire's culture and tradition.

"Your art, poetry and music are influenced by the Empire's glory. No matter how hopeless the Eckstedtians are known to be in terms of culture, all of you have to admit to this.

"Not only that, your military force is still following the systems established by the Empire. You still divide soldiers into brigades, battalions, guards and squads. You divide nobles according to the Empire's style, into dukes, counts, viscounts, barons and lords… Without the Empire, Northland would probably still be in a state of disunity—backwards and savage!"

"What does that prove?" Kentvida rudely cut him off. "If you want to label the things that the Empire forced upon us as favors, and feel self-satisfied over it—"

"Forced?" Putray seemed to feel provoked. "The feudal king's knights in Northland went under the command of Great Emperor Kamelot Carlose almost at the same time as the corps of the Ancient Chauvinistic Country's feudal king. All of you were the earliest supporters of the Great Emperor and the most active ones in the establishment of the Empire!

"Very well," Kentvida snorted coldly and said, "Now, we, the children of Northern Wind and Dragon no longer need that diabolical Empire. We rely on our own efforts. Please throw away your arrogance, citizens of the Empire."

"I have seen the northern wind plenty of times," Putray said faintly, "As for dragons, if you are referring to the one embroidered on Eckstedt's flag… hmph, the material is quite good."

"The meaning of the dragon on Eckstedt's flag does not lie in its existence. After all, we do not rely on a legendary beast to protect this kingdom," Kentvida said solemnly.

He then glanced at the Constellatiates as he raised his glass and took a large swig, smiling meaningfully. "It symbolizes the beliefs and qualities the Eckstedtians had when they established the kingdom. They are teachings that Raikaru, the Northland Hero taught us during the Battle of Eradication—force, patience, strength, tenacity, pride, persistence and… never surrender… even in the face of a huge monster like the Empire.

"What do all of you have left?" Kentvida sneered and said, "Constellation is only an antique. It does not have any meaning of existence in itself. It only exists as proof of a bygone history, calling back spirits of the dead from a kingdom that has long perished."

"If you want to label the act of carrying the torch of humanity's most precious past as 'calling back spirits of the dead', go ahead." Putray shook his head mockingly. "At least, we care about these things. What does Northland have left? You condemn the Empire for dismantling the Temple of Knights, but the truth is, Eckstedt and the so-called Northland have even lost the mastery of the Northland Military Sword Style!"

Kentvida was about to reply when Thales heaved a long sigh.

Kentvida and Putray turned towards the Second Prince of Constellation at the same time.

"Did all of you know that even though Putray and Viscount Kentvida are from Constellation and Eckstedt respectively, I have found two of your biggest similarities through this unpleasant encounter between the both of you."

Putray and Kentvida were both stunned.

"So, what are they?"

Kaslan, the owner of the tavern had been watching the entire affair and he was the one who spoke. He tapped his chin with profound interest and asked Thales, "What are the similarities?"

Thales raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

"While both of you are speaking on behalf of your respective stands, there is only one thing on your minds.

"It is something very cliché."

Putray revealed a puzzled expression on his face whereas Kentvida furrowed his brows slightly.

"The Empire," Thales said softly.

He then ate the last mouthful of bread.

Putray and Kentvida froze at the same time.

Kaslan clapped and laughed out loud. "Hahaha… such an interesting conclusion. What about the second similarity?"

"The second one… umm," Chewing the rye bread, Thales muttered, "even though both of them said so many things about the Empire...

"None of them have actually seen the Empire with their own eyes, whether it's the Last Empire from six hundred years ago, or the Ancient Empire from over a thousand years ago."

Kaslan's laughter became increasingly louder.

Putray and Kentvida's expressions on the other hand, darkened.

"Well said, Second Prince of Constellation!" Kaslan jubilantly smacked his hand on the table as he laughed loudly and looked at Thales. "They have never seen the Empire!"

"Thank you for the support." Thales shrugged. "On one hand, this shows that the Empire's influence is indeed profound and lasting."

He looked at the two men. "On the other hand… the both of you were arguing with points based on your imagination…"

Putray and Kentvida froze again.

"Both of you were debating over what each of you imagined the Empire to be like." Thales spread his hands. "Both of you presumably built your imagination of the Empire based on your own reality like your feelings right now, your opinions on the Empire, and your views on history."

The two men who were arguing looked at each other and turned away.

"Get over it, lads."

Kaslan, the old man shook his head. "Apart from pompous families and loathsome scholars, no one remembers these ancient legends, glorious pasts, lost history and sacred traditions anymore." He pointed out the door. "However, this thing… these gifts to the mountains prevent the youngsters who are outside in this bitter cold winter from freezing and starving to death… And that's enough. As long as it is useful to humans, it's existence is meaningful. The Master of Mountains did not disappear. He lives on within the slits of every Day before the Bitter Cold Winter and within the gratitude of travelers who take the food from the trees.

"The same goes for the Dragon and the Empire." Kaslan sneered.

Putray and Kentvida did not speak anymore. However, they had unpleasant expressions on their faces.

Thales broke into bright smile.

*Click!*

Kaslan snapped his fingers.

*Bang!*

Brian, the tavern worker with a burn scar on his face appeared. As usual, he had an unpleasant expression and looked as if everyone owed him money for their alcohol. Under his boss' signal, he rudely slammed a glass of alcohol onto the counter and pushed it towards Thales. The alcohol was obviously colored differently than the rest.

He stared fiercely at Thales before turning and going back into the scullery.

Thales raised his head in shock.

"Top-notch rye wine, specially supplied by Hero Tavern!" the old man said cheekily under Thales' astonished gaze. "It's supplied by an old comrade-in-arms from Prestige Orchid Region. There is only a limited quantity every day.

"It's different from those low-quality alcohol they're drinking. This is for what you said earlier!"

Thales widened his eyes and looked at the old man with white hair. He then lowered his head and looked at the alcohol inside the glass.

"Don't hesitate, lad! Drink it all up!" Kaslan flashed the strong, powerful muscle on his right arm, which showed no signs of aging at all. "There are two sets of criteria in judging whether a man is good. One, whether they wave their axes with enough force; two, whether they drink with enough briskness!"

"Uh… man? I am only seven years old…" Looking at the wine glass, which was as big as his head, Thales widened his eyes and awkwardly repeated what he said when dealing with the Archduke of Black Sand, "You know children cannot drink alcohol. It's bad for health…"

"That is bullshit!" Kaslan flicked his wrist in a dismissive gesture and bared his yellow teeth.

Under Putray's extremely unamused expression, the old man slapped Thales on the shoulder. His totally unrestrained force made the latter stagger. "Being seven is all the more reason for you to drink!

"Child, you will never grow up if you don't drink!"

Comments (43)
Ku0401
Ku0401
Asda, the Air Mystic has mentioned The Master of Mountains and the Mainden Guardian of the Ocean were mentioned at Chapter 21. The author hid the information too early that sometimes it would be hard for the translator team to understand in early chapters. Asda said to Taurus "You are the one that killed the people of the mountains and ocean! You are the one that started the war! " What he said in Chinese is "You are the one that killed The Master of Mountains and The Guardian of Ocean! "

Lessa001
Lessa001
What Thales said is so true. We tend to look at history based on our own beliefs. Thales is shaping to be a great king in the future. Can't wait to see his journey

broken_noodle
broken_noodle
Skyrim belongs to the NORD! Begone Imperials!

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Chapter 113: The Intersection of Fate
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Under old Kaslan's extremely pitying gaze, Thales sighed in relief after he had wriggled his way out of drinking that cup of the rye wine using every possible tactic.

They rested for fifteen minutes before Viscount Kentvida turned his head around and gave the Fire Knight, Tolja, a nod as a signal.

"Make your preparations!" Tolja ordered at his soldiers, "We are going to depart! We must reach to the Prestige Orchid Region before tomorrow night!"

Eckstedt's military officers and soldiers all stood up after they heard their commanding officer's words. They left some money for the wine and walked out of the tavern.

On the other hand, the Constellatiates looked to Thales. The boy glanced at Putray and shrugged before he jumped off the bar counter.

But just as he waved at the old Kaslan and was ready to leave—

"Wait, little brat!" Kaslan left the bar counter and walked up to Thales.

Thales only noticed that this old man, Kaslan had an extremely tall build; he was almost seven feet tall. Thales had no choice but to strain his neck to its limit so that he could to look up at him.

Fortunately, Kaslan crouched down before Thales.

"You're going to apologize before King Nuven, right?" the old Kaslan said slowly, "I have also heard that you are going to repay the misfortune Prince Moriah faced in Constellation."

"Yes," Thales heaved a sigh, "To see if King Nuven will have any interest in my intellect."

The emotions in Kaslan's eyes shifted slightly when he looked at Thales.

"When I was your age," the old man sighed, "I would only follow behind my older brother and chase sparrows."

Thales smiled a little.

But before Thales could say anything, Kaslan had started talking to himself, "Damned nobles and their hideous mess of political conspiracies. They would never be sparing and merciful, right? Whether you're seven years old or seventeen years old… God knows how Prince Moriah died… Such a shame. That was a good, young lad."

"This…" A surprised expression appeared on Thales' face, "Thank you for your understanding… Sir Kaslan…"

Kaslan stared intently at him, until Thales put on an awkward expression and pointed at the door.

"Listen," old Kaslan said faintly, "I once served in the army under Nuven. To a certain extent, I am kind of familiar with him."

'This tavern owner knows King Nuven?!' Thales was slightly stunned. He turned around and looked at Kentvida, who was not far from him, 'Why do they want to bring me here? Is it really to rest midway?'

Kaslan sighed gently, "He was a good king when he was young, the epitome of a sturdy Walton man. I still remember the scene where Nuven Walton stood on the Thirty-Eighth Sentry Grounds, and waved his hammer-and-chain at the attacking orcs. He was forthright, generous, lenient, and fair at the time. He would use his body as a shield to protect a nameless soldier before an orc's axe. Every warrior was proud to die for him."

"Oh?" Thales' eyes brightened, "This is very good. At least it seems he is not a king who would simply order that my head be chopped off."

"But people change." The old Kaslan exhaled a breath and his gaze started to blur and drift off. "Nuven is also human, he can grow old; and can also be confused by slanderous talk, and sex. There will also be a day when he becomes influenced by desire and impulse.

"Although Raikaru Eckstedt's blood flowed through his veins, he is, after all, not a perfect dragon or hero. Especially… since he is still a father who has lost his son."

Thales could not help but to stare blankly at him. Kaslan lowered his head and gazed intently at Thales, "Be careful, Second Prince of Constellation.

"Eckstedt has the Great Dragon as its flag, but in the past six hundred years, we have only worshipped the greatness of the Great Dragon. We have learned of the arrogance of the Great Dragon, but have thrown the Great Dragon's wisdom and sagacity to the back of our heads. We might call ourselves the children of the Northern Wind and the Dragon, but the shackles of the Empire on us is no lesser than what the Constellatiates have."

"What do you mean?" Thales widened his eyes. "Do you mean that the internal circumstances of Eckstedt may be even worse than we imagined?"

"Take care of yourself, kid." Kaslan only shook his head and lightly put his hand onto Thales' shoulder. "Since you have paid for the wine but did not drink it, consider this little advice a gift from me to you."

Thales could only spread his hands. "Thank you for your advice…"

At any rate, he still had to face Nuven the Seventh. 'What a pity it is not that useful. What will come, will come.'

"Oh, right." Kaslan hesitated for a moment and suddenly exhaled a breath. He laughed. "If you run into a dangerous situation that you cannot resolve no matter what in Eckstedt... a problem so great that even King Nuven cannot save you..."

'King Nuven would also be unable to save me?'

Suspicion grew in Thales' heart. 'What does it mean?'

"In Dragon Clouds City, there is a butcher's shop with a dagger on its signboard, on West-Express Avenue." Kaslan snorted in laughter. At Thales' furrowed brows, he lowered his voice and said, "The owner is a Far Easterner with the last name Gu. He owes me a favor from years ago. That really audacious fellow will always dare to do some things that are against the law. If you want to seek his help, all you have to say is just 'six-fifty'."

Under Thales' surprised gaze, old Kaslan once again forcefully slapped his shoulder! The second prince staggered again.

While grimacing, Thales saw the old man in front of him slowly stand up and gave a hearty laugh boldly as he said, "Come again next time! Remember to drink my rye wine! That is the only true sign of a man!"

Before Putray could show his murderous gaze, Thales had left with an awkward smile on his face. Kentvida furrowed his brows as he let his gaze follow Thales and the Eckstedtian until they disappeared into the distance.

Then he slowly walked to the bar counter and turned to the old Kaslan.

"You've seen for yourself; the future King of Constellation," Kentvida's eyes were glinting coldly. "Look at how different he is from the other children, how mature and shrewd he is… What were we doing when we were just seven years old? What was King Nuven doing when he was seven years old?"

"Hmm," the old Kaslan stared at the tavern door while he slowly said, "The gaze of this child is indeed different from the others." He could not see any sign of reverence or nervousness in that child's eyes. There was only interest and curiosity filled within them.

There were also an enigmatic confidence and resoluteness in his eyes, as if he had never been wavered before. This was not the gaze a terrified child thousands of miles away from home should have.

"This is the opponent Eckstedt must face next… I am almost certain that when he grows up, he will definitely become a powerful enemy of Eckstedt." Kentvida curved his lips and tapped the counter. "But unfortunately, the archduke cannot attack him directly."

"Since when have we Northlanders become cowards who are afraid of seven-year-old children and scheme against them?" Kaslan said disdainfully in a deep voice, "To maintain a country in conspiracy and fear… This is something only the Empire would do when it is in turmoil."

"Of course," Archduke Lampard's adviser said softly, "For this, we need a better king, not an old, incompetent person who takes credit without doing anything, and not a hot-blooded youngster still wet behind the ears either."

"Hmph." Kaslan snatched up two wine glasses and placed them in the window to the back kitchen. "So Chapman Lampard is really a good candidate?"

"I believe you love Eckstedt, the Dragon nation, very much." Kentvida gazed intently at him. "Even though King Nuven removed you from the White Blade Guards."

"Hey!" The old man seemed particularly displeased with that statement, "Nuven did not remove me! I was the one who chose to leave!"

Kentvida stayed quiet and only stared at the old man.

'Is that true?'

After a few seconds, he slowly asked, "So, do you still disagree?"

"Ha!" Kaslan shook his head in derision. "I am only a tavern owner, what matter can I agree to?"

"'Ground-Shaker Kaslan', as the previous leader of the White Blade Guards, your reputation is still spread among them. Your story is still being sung and passed around the Thirty-Eighth Sentry Ground to this day," Kentvida said languidly, "We only need one word from you…"

"Why? You want me to use my influence and contacts to convince my former subordinates to side with Chapman?" Kaslan gave out a snort of laughter in disdain.

"I believe you will make the choice that benefits Eckstedt most." Kentvida had a calm expression on his face, but his gaze was sharp and penetrating when he stared at the old Kaslan with fixed eyes. "Kaslan Lampard… You are, after all, the archduke's uncle."

Kaslan raised his head abruptly.

"You are also the White Blade Guards' most famous commander since Eckstedt was established," Kentvida said faintly.

"In the approaching storm, it is inevitable that you will be unable to retain your values and righteousness."

'Of course, maybe not only to 'convince your former subordinates', maybe you will need to take it a step further,' Kentvida thought to himself, 'After all, the White Blade Guards are the king's personal guards, and they are in tasked with safety of the Common-Elected King of Eckstedt—'

"Do you know what this reminds me of?" Kaslan interrupted his thoughts.

Kentvida curved his lips up politely and gave him a smile. The old man stared back at him coldly.

"Quiso Lampard was asked by the empire to convince the people of his hometown to cooperate with the empire, to pay their taxes obediently, and to not resist anymore. If I say no, is that Chapman brat going to banish me to the Reformation Tower as well?"

Kentvida furrowed his brows.

"Just go back and tell my nephew," Kaslan said slowly but resolutely, "F*ck Lampard."

"Alright," Kentvida sighed and shook his head, unsurprised. "Then, you should at least be able to help with the second favor."

Kaslan snorted coldly. "All you always care about is interest, right?"

"This time," Kentvida narrowed his eyes, "It is about that prince."

Kaslan put away a few more glasses again without paying any attention to the viscount.

"There is someone who wants to assassinate that prince in Eckstedt. Regardless of whether it is to frame the archduke by it, or to disrupt the situation," Kentvida's face darkened as he said, "They even began using a military spy lurking in our Mystic Gun unit."

Kaslan lifted his head and said impolitely, "You know I hate dirty politics the most. I do not want to know any—"

"The following matter is relevant to you," Kentvida interrupted in a stern voice, "The archduke sent a letter yesterday. We managed to investigate and find some clues about the military spy from the black market but we got cut off halfway by someone."

"Does it concern me?" Kaslan said roughly.

"Those people who cut off our clues were using Tower of Eradication's sword style, and a very different type of Power of Eradication!" Kentvida said in a low voice, as if he was talking about a secret. "But they were definitely not people from the Tower of Eradication."

Kaslan was stunned.

"Go on." The old man was becoming serious. "What Power of Eradication?"

"I knew you would be concerned about this," Kentvida said sharply, "This is what you had mentioned a very long time ago—that hysterical and uncontrollable Power of Eradication. I remember that you are still working for the Tower of Eradication..."

"Only to return a favor to Shao," Kaslan revealed a reminiscence in his gaze, "After all, I have already graduated years ago..."

But he immediately stared seriously at Kentvida. "What else?"

"The supra class Swordswoman of Eradication who works under us, Kroesch… do you still remember her? She is the daughter of your comrade, that strong young girl… She was seriously injured by their hand and she almost lost her life.

"She was the only one who escaped and returned."

Kaslan clenched his hands tightly.

"The trail that we tracked down was cut off. The only lead we had left was about the strange Powers of Eradication…" Kentvida said sincerely, "We need your help... Even if it is for the Tower of Eradication and not for Lampard.

"The person who is as famous as the 'Gray Sword Guard', the pride of the White Blade Guards and the Tower of Eradication—'Ground-Shaker' Kaslan Lampard."

…..

A few days later in the Tower of Eradication. The House of Scions lounge.

"We can be certain that the Disaster Swords have not completely inherited the Northland Military Sword Style." One of the supreme class scions, Zedi Taffner, sat on the table and said to his student, "Even if it is very old-fashioned, it is still a sword style numerous swordsman and wizards have carefully researched… and the House of Scions has the most complete archive preservation system.

"We can start from here…"

"Alright… you can continue searching for the book here, Zedi."

Kohen Karabeyan looked exhausted as he leaned against the table, tapped against the table leg and rubbed his red eyes, "I can't stand this anyway… But I will remember this wonderful time—the days I sneaked into the Truth Library with my teacher every single night…"

Zedi's face darkened suddenly.

"You are going to give up?" his teacher said moodily, "Give up on the investigation of the Disaster Sword?"

"I'm not giving up." The blond police, Kohen, replied sourly, "But do you know how many books there are in the Truth Library? Then, I received a letter from a beautiful lady yesterday…" Kohen ignore Zedi's sour expression and yawned, "I have to return a favor."

'Jala. This is her name...' Kohen touched the letter at his bosom and curved his lips up into a smile. 'That cool dual sword-wielding girl.'

But right at that moment, a strict and cold, old voice came from behind the teacher-and-student pair. "Zedi Taffner. Kohen Karabeyan."

Both Zedi and Kohen jolted at the same time!

*Plop!*

Zedi leaped off the table awkwardly, stumbled, and fell gracelessly on the ground gracelessly.

Kohen sprang from the ground nervously and hit his head on the table.

The two of them were flustered. One rubbed his knee with his face scrunched up, while another touched his scalp and grimaced.

They stood up with much difficulty and tried their best to stand straight. They showed their most submissive and friendly smiles as they looked towards the gray-haired old man from the Far East who appeared out of nowhere, a sword hanging from his waist, and an ice-cold expression on his face.

"Ah! Shao! When did you return? They all said that you went to the Sharp Blade Valley to inspect…" Zedi Taffner had a huge smile on his face as he bowed respectfully with clasped hands.

"Great Master Shao! Master Shao! Ah, I planned to see you first for during this visit. I even brought some of Constellation's local specialties, just for you…" the Constellation police officer and captain of the city defense team, Kohen Karabeyan, was rubbing his hands with an obsequious look on his face. But the gray-haired old man, Shao, ignored their smiles.

"The table in the lounge is not for dancing." Shao glared at Zedi and his ingratiating expression. Zedi's smile became increasingly awkward because of Shao's cold and strict tone, "A scion must set a good example!"

"Of course, of course." Zedi Taffner nodded with modest sincerity.

Then, he turned towards Kohen. The latter was trembling because he was frightened by Shao's stern face. "Since there is a chair, you do not have to sit on the ground."

"Yes, yes, yes." Kohen listened seriously and solemnly to his instruction.

Both Zedi and Kohen continuously nodded with a smile on their faces, and they appeared to be very respectful.

What a joke, this was the tower master of the Tower of Eradication owner, the Gray Sword Guard!

His lightest punishment for his students was a one-handed handstand for ten hours!

And the offense that deserved the lightest punishment was something like: walking with strides that were too big that showed bad deportment!

The Gray Sword Guard stared at them coldly. Zedi and Kohen stood ramrod straight.

Fortunately, in the end, Shao only snorted and did not say anything else.

The two of them secretly let out a breath of relief.

Until Shao said the next sentence slowly, "I heard that during these past few days, the two of you secretly broke into the Truth Library… many times?"

Zedi and Kohen froze in their original positions at the same time.

"Erm... hear me out," Zedi laughed awkwardly, "Err... you were not around, you know, and Kohen found some traces about the Disaster Swords, so..."

"We are doing this for the Tower of Eradication and for the 'Purgers'." Kohen used the diction he had learnt from the police station and patted his chest in a righteous and rigorous manner. "We are doing this for the 'Disaster Sword'—"

But Shao's serious and deep voice slowly rose and interrupted them. "Very good." The Gray Sword Guard looked serious. "Kohen Karabeyan."

Kohen immediately straightened solemnly, his chest sticking out and his head raised.

"Make a trip to Eckstedt immediately," Shao said unhurriedly, "There is an old friend named Kaslan who requires some help."

"Huh? Kaslan?" It was Zedi who spoke up. He stared at Shao in astonishment. "Do you mean that Northland drunkard who used his sword like an axe?"

Shao turned to him. His chilly gaze forced Zedi to stay quiet.

"But…" Kohen rubbed his head awkwardly. "I have to go back to Constellation to help my friend first…"

"Do you remember Kroesch? She was in the same year as you," Shao said in a deep voice, "She was hurt by the Disaster Sword… there is a huge possibility that she might never be able to use a sword for the rest of her life."

Kohen lifted his head with a stupefied expression. 'Kroesch…'

An image appeared in his mind of a Northland girl with a buzz cut, holding her sword while clenching her teeth under a scorching sun.

And her mouth filled with white teeth.

"Alright," the police turned around without hesitation when he resolutely said to the two scions, "I will prepare immediately. How serious is the situation? Do I need to bring my family's private army with me?"

"Bringing a Constellation noble's private army into Eckstedt," Zedi said sternly, "Is there something wrong with your brain?"

Kohen nodded in a daze.

In a deep voice, Shao said, "You are not the only one, there will be a person who will meet with you on the way there… She just recently joined the 'Purgers'."

Kohen was at once mystified.

…..

Broken Dragon Fortress. The Northern Portcullis.

"Be careful on your journey. Even though Lampard has withdrawn his army, and war has not erupted… It is still Eckstedt, after all." The Fortress Flower, Sonia Sasere, looked at the fully equipped Miranda Arunde and chuckled. "Even though I really want to recommend for you to bring along the private army of the Arunde Family…"

"This is the border between the two countries," Miranda said softly, "it is impossible to bring troops across it."

'Not to mention... Arunde…'

Miranda squeezed her black gloves, and at the same time, clenched tightly on the white eagle symbol on her sleeve.

The Fortress Flower saw her subordinate's look and sighed. "It is also a good thing to hide away for some time. After all, your uncles and brothers from the Arunde Family are really annoying…"

Miranda bit her lip and said nothing.

"I am not doing this to hide," she said faintly.

Sonia held her subordinate's shoulders helplessly. "Alright, you are doing this to help a friend, right?"

Miranda patted the white sword hilt at her waist lightly and nodded.

Kroesch. That girl who would never give up.

"We studied under the same teacher," the daughter of Duke Arunde said quietly, "When times are difficult for her, I must be by her side."

'I already have very few things left in the world. I have to treasure them properly.'

Miranda recalled from her memory that brisk and bright figure dressed in white with his endlessly happy and optimistic tone.

Her lips curved up into a smile involuntarily. She turned around and stepped on the stirrup.

"Do not be worry, commanding officer, I am not some helpless kitten. Also, I am not fighting alone. An old friend will go with me. I will return once the matter is resolved." Miranda Arunde sat astride on the horse and nodded to Sonia

She swung her steed and rode it out through the fortress' portcullis.

Sonia watched Miranda's disappearing figure, and the faintly discernible white eagle symbol on her back. She then sighed, 'Are you really not doing this to hide?'

Comments (17)
Cortz003
Cortz003
First! Thanks for the chapter :D

Lebrew
Lebrew
If only the code word for the butcher shop was "three-fifty", then Kaslan would be aquainted with the Loch Ness monster, cant help but sigh at the lost opportunity.

Maldivian_Troll
Maldivian_Troll
captain kohen for the win. my fav character 🤗