Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Life Is Always a One-Shot Gamble
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"Kayer Highway?"
"That's right. Surprisingly, a proper highway stretches from the border all the way to Denfos, the heart of Neruman."
"Isn't it just a gravel road at best?"
"No, sir. It's a perfect road that lets carriages travel several times faster."
"Incredible. Word is that until just recently, the place was crawling with monsters... And you—you're a new face. Who might you be?"
"Your Excellency Supreme Commander, Sir Lukens here was the de facto acting lord who ruled Neruman until this Kayer fellow appeared."
In a large command tent, the Raviter Imperial Army's strategy meeting was underway.
Supreme Commander Duke Yanobis was leading the session, joined by the 3rd Legion Commander, the 7th Legion Commander, and over a hundred mid- and low-ranking nobles involved in the battle.
At that moment, Lukens, who had been standing behind the 3rd Legion Commander, provided detailed information on Neruman.
"Is that so? But how did you come by this intel? Even the Imperial Intelligence Bureau couldn't uncover it."
"Kayer's a sly one, far craftier than his age suggests. He only recently allowed even a single visit from the Rubis Merchant Guild, the ones with the most trade ties to Neruman. And under the pretext of safety, he strictly controls access for mercenaries and ordinary merchants. But I have loyal plants inside Neruman. They passed along the information."
"Haha, I see. Lucky for us we got it now. Anything else besides that?"
Lukens, the former acting lord of Neruman, suddenly revealed.
His gaunt build and the scar above his right eye spoke of a hardened warrior.
"Surveillance is tight, so details are scarce, but their main forces are concentrated in Gadein—my old castle—and Denfos. The rest are scattered across defensive positions in Ciallis and Orak Castle, former Bazran Imperial fortresses."
"Haha, what fools. When they should be pooling every ounce of strength, they're spreading out forces weaker than an orc's tail?"
"Your Excellency, if I may overstep—don't underestimate him."
Viscount Lukens had lost his domain to Kayer.
He had thrown his lot in with the 3rd Legion of the Raviter Empire, with whom he had long-standing ties.
And now, revenge was within reach.
"You think he could actually beat the Imperial Army?"
Duke Yanobis eyed Lukens with keen interest.
The surrounding nobles glared at him with displeasure.
It was a precarious moment.
Lukens swallowed dryly and spoke.
"In under a year, he tamed a wyvern through beast hybridization, swallowed up Neruman, earned a Bazran earldom, commands over a hundred wyverns, a knight order in the thousands, and has the hearts of Neruman's people in his grip. And as you nobles know, just recently he devoured 250 wyverns and 50,000 troops from the Habis Kingdom's elite nobles in a single stroke. That's not all. My sources say he's the one who annihilated the Luen Dukedom after they invaded Habis."
"What?!"
"Urgh..."
As Lukens finished, the imperial nobles groaned in shock.
They had dismissed the rumors swirling across the continent about Neruman's infamous lord as exaggeration—but they were woefully understated.
Who here could achieve such feats in a single year?
"He's at least a 6th-circle magic swordsman. And a spiritist who can summon high-grade spirits, to boot."
"What did you say? A magic swordsman and a high-grade spiritist?!"
"Absurd! How could a magic user summon spirits?!"
"Hmph! You expect us to swallow that lie?"
These were battle-hardened noble knights from every military branch.
They bristled in disbelief at Lukens's words.
"It's all easily verified with a little effort. And that's not even the half of it. The new weapons he's developed have unimaginable power. Blast Spears with a 3-kilometer effective range, giant ballistae for wyverns and infantry, and most of his troops armed with dwarf-forged gear. Still think he's a joke?"
"..."
Lukens's voice echoed quietly through the tent.
This time, no one replied.
They had never dreamed Neruman's Kayer was such a figure.
"Dwarf-forged weapons for regular soldiers? Impressive. Even our guardsmen can't equip them, yet his grunts wield them. Hahaha! Astonishing! Astonishing!"
Supreme Commander Yanobis laughed heartily, proclaiming his amazement.
But his expression betrayed no surprise.
"Lukens, was it?"
"Y-Yes? Yes, Your Excellency!"
Duke Yanobis fixed him with his famously mad eyes.
"What do you think of the Imperial Army?"
"W-Well..."
"I'm asking if you lump us in with the trash troops from Habis or other kingdoms."
"No, sir! How could I dare doubt the prowess of Raviter's brave elite regulars?"
"That's the right answer. How could His Majesty's loyal, valiant regulars—who crush monsters for sport—be compared to Neruman's rabble? And this Kayer's a 6th-circle magic swordsman and spiritist? Heh heh, no one blocks arrows from all sides with one hand. He may be strong, but he's one man. We have dozens—no, hundreds—of powerhouses in the Imperial Army. Even now, do you think he can touch us?"
His tone dripped with offense, though phrased as a question.
"N-No, sir! I misspoke. Not him—no kingdom on the continent could halt Your Excellency and the Raviter troops!"
Lukens's face paled as he hastily fawned.
"Haha, now you're thinking straight."
Duke Yanobis roared with laughter at Lukens's words.
"My lords, have no fear. For this campaign, the Imperial Magic Tower secretly supplied us with new-model Blast Spears. And you knights—His Majesty's loyal blades—and our soldiers are knights among knights, soldiers among soldiers, fearless of death. Trust in me and follow. That puny Neruman will be crushed in a fortnight!"
"Chuuung!"
Duke Yanobis's declaration brimmed with confidence.
The noble knights in the tent shouted their cheers, hearts ablaze.
The Mad Dog Yanobis, Supreme Commander.
His legendary feat: leading a hundred Sky Knights from his ducal house in a night raid on Perkan Castle, surrounding the king.
These noble knights, raised on tales of that legend, had no choice but to believe.
'Fools... They'll beat their chests in regret soon enough.'
Kayer had grown beyond what Lukens could handle alone.
To kill him, Lukens had sided with the Raviter Empire—and now sneered inwardly.
He could never forget the man's cunning and power.
The Raviter forces were in for a scorching lesson this campaign, he thought.
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"Kayer..."
"Russell..."
Drawn to the highest rampart in Denfos by the news that the Raviter Imperial Army had crossed into the territory, my mind in turmoil.
The soldiers had caught my mood and cleared out—then Russell appeared.
We'd been too swamped all winter to properly catch up(?).
She approached quietly and stood beside me.
"Nice spot."
"Hm?"
"This place. I love it."
She gazed out at the vast, open plains stretching before us.
"You like it?"
"Yeah. Love it."
"Then stay forever. You're always welcome if you're here."
Memories of Russell from our knight academy dorm days.
Unforgettable.
I'd groped her endlessly, clueless she was a woman in disguise.
"I can?"
"Of course. I'm the lord—who'd dare stop you? Just trust me."
"Hehe, thanks."
Russell laughed.
Her blue hair fell to her shoulders—a bit shorter now.
Her first girlish giggle, cute and feminine.
My tension melted away.
"I thought about you sometimes."
"Pfft, I thought of you every day."
Russell, who only showed her feminine side to me.
She stuck out her tongue, feigning grievance.
"But you're still pretending to be a guy? Time to drop the mask."
"Countess Irene knows. But I wanna keep it this way. She said being a woman is exhausting."
'Irene's got such a quirky personality.'
Lately, she didn't even call me a flirt anymore.
A slight glare from me, and her face flushed.
Now an instructor for Aegis and the little prince's flight training, I barely saw her.
"Call her once."
"Who?"
"Your little minion."
"You're probably the only one in the world who calls a spirit a 'minion,' Kayer."
Her affectionate "you," far warmer than "countess" or "liege."
No one but Russell would dare use it with me.
But it never bothered me—never angered me.
I'd allowed only my friend Russell to speak casually to me.
She was my friend first, woman second.
"Shuriel~!"
Fwaaah.
"Quick on the uptake!"
The silver eagle spirit appeared the instant Russell called her name.
Piriiriiriiring.
It hovered ten meters ahead in midair, flapping wind wings, awaiting orders.
"But you're a spiritist too, Kayer! Hmph! You tricked me... Too far!"
The high wind spirit I'd summoned to rescue the princess and prince's group.
Russell pouted angrily.
"You tricked me too."
"W-What?"
Whoosh.
"Eek!"
As I answered her "what," my arms wrapped around her.
The highest rampart in Denfos.
A perfect spot—no one but the sky could see.
I hugged Russell tight.
'Damn this Air Plate of hers!'
But her rigid Air Plate ruined my long-awaited fun.
"W-Why, Kayer..."
Her voice squeaked like she wanted to crawl into a hole.
"I missed you, I said."
"..."
My blatant playboy tone.
Her silver eyes sparkled at those words.
'Any girl who stamps my lips is mine—all mine!'
My ironclad possessiveness(?).
Sssslip.
Drawn by the pounding of my heart, my lips met her moist ones.
"Mm..."
She closed her eyes as if she'd been waiting, accepting my kiss.
A sweet moan escaped her, carried on the wind.
'What're you staring at, birdbrain? Look away or else!'
Shuriel, abruptly summoned to witness this R-rated scene.
Kkioooo!
Screeching at a glare from me—her contractor, the top wind spirit—she fled back to the spirit realm.
'Acting all innocent...'
Even amid the chaos, my disdain for birds flared up.
Lecherous Bebeto and Shuriel were worlds apart, yet to me, both were just horny featherbrains.
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Clack-clack-clack-clack.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Kkioooo!
The Raviter Imperial Army poured into Neruman territory from Habis Kingdom.
They marched vigorously along the straight Kayer Highway.
'Impressive.'
The difference between hearing of the Kayer Highway and seeing it.
Duke Yanobis, flying slowly over Neruman on wyvernback, marveled inwardly.
Wide enough for three carriages side by side.
It cut across the plains endlessly.
'How did he build a road like that?'
Even in the Raviter Empire, paved roads only extended 10 kilometers from the capital.
And those had taken immense effort for imperial prestige.
Yet Neruman's—named after its lord Kayer—dwarfed them.
Not crudely packed gravel, but flawlessly flat and smooth—somehow.
Supply wagons glided along effortlessly.
'Capture him alive. His talents are too valuable.'
The more he thought, the more impressed he was.
Attack mages who fought in battle were worlds apart from item-crafting ones.
Knights and soldiers favored combat mages, but the Magic Tower and Empire prized crafters more.
Combat mages were one-tricks; crafters served endlessly in peace and war.
'Good thing His Highness is back to his old self.'
To avoid Habis nobles' fate, he'd already analyzed Neruman tactics.
Thus, he kept over 200 wyverns aloft at all times, shielding the army.
At their center.
Raviter's prince Alskane proudly rode a gold wyvern.
'Come, Neruman's lord Kayer.'
Duke Yanobis's heart had raced since Lukens's warning.
Thirty years ago: his night raid with ducal Sky Knights on Perkan Castle, a bloodbath encircling the king.
Had that crippled king's royal air squadron not appeared for his escape, total annihilation.
But Yanobis survived—and became a war hero.
Now, he yearned to proclaim it again.
Yanobis von Bermoyan was still alive...
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"They're thorough. Textbook defensive maneuvers."
"Vicious bastards. They show no openings—ignore every provocation, hold formation, and advance slowly."
"Thanks to the Kayer Highway, they'll reach Gadein Castle by noon tomorrow."
In the command office, the knights gathered.
Back from patrol flights, they clicked their tongues at the Raviter Empire's meticulous strategy.
"My lord, at this rate, it'll be a full frontal at Gadein Castle."
Derbal and the knights eyed me as I silently studied the Neruman map.
"Withdraw."
"Yes?"
"W-Withdraw?!"
"Move all troops and vital equipment from Gadein Castle to Denfos tonight."
"Gasp!"
"My lord!"
The knights gasped in shock.
They'd seen Gadein as the final line—unthinkable.
"Follow my orders. It's all planned."
I'd dispatched forces to Gadein to confirm their strategy.
And it was confirmed.
They'd learned from Habis nobles' defeat.
"Understood!"
They saluted at "planned."
They didn't know the full plan yet.
'They trust me, but Neruman has too many eyes.'
Something felt off.
I'd tightly controlled info on Neruman, yet the Raviter dogs knew everything.
Reports said they still blockaded Ciallis Fortress without slacking rear guards.
And their strategy: seize and occupy every new small fortress we'd built in hiding.
Gadein wasn't their real target anyway.
Concentrate there, and they'd bypass to sack Denfos.
"Sir Shailt, have you instructed the troops and civilians not to panic if the enemy appears?"
"As ordered."
"Derbal, any movement from the Kobiran Mountains?"
"None."
'Good—at least that.'
Worst fear: pincer attack.
Wyverns over Kobiran pinning Denfos—we'd bleed out in stalemate.
But they were so confident of victory, they didn't split forces.
"Then aid Gadein's withdrawal immediately. Use wyverns to shift the giant ballistae to designated walls. The rest retreat swiftly by wagon!"
"Understood!"
Questions aplenty, but they trusted and moved.
They'd see soon enough.
What their lord was made of.
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"W-War, Your Majesty?!"
"Why? Any reason I shouldn't? If I let that Crantz scum—who dared insult me, Emperor of this Empire—go, the other kingdoms and the world will mock me as a cripple! Better to teach them a sharp lesson first!"
"Y-Your Majesty, but Crantz Kingdom is allied with the other three. War risks escalation beyond our control."
"Heh heh, since when did our Empire bow to those pissant kingdoms? If they thrash about, we crush them flat. Uncle, you've grown too timid lately. 'The more you have, the more cautious you become'..."
Duke Omer shuddered at Emperor Poltviran's manic gaze.
'He's changed. This isn't the Poltviran I knew.'
Reports from Alma: Poltviran nitpicking Crantz envoys.
Crantz had shown the most goodwill among the four surrounding kingdoms.
Yet Poltviran forced an issue to vent twisted desires.
And in front of gathered nobles, he called him "uncle"—unusual—and flung that pointed proverb.
"What say you, my lords? Must I, Emperor of Greater Bazran, swallow this insult? Or for Empire and my honor, shall we annihilate Crantz Kingdom!"
Poltviran started mild, but grew impassioned.
'No way—it's because of that incident!'
Duke Omer's head throbbed at Poltviran's lunacy.
A memory from ten years ago surfaced.
Crown Prince Poltviran, just hitting puberty.
Rumors swirled he'd already bedded a maid—mad for girls, reaching Duke Omer's ears.
Then, Crantz Kingdom's twin princesses visited with envoys.
Thirteen-ish, but famed beauties resembling their stunning queen.
Staying in the palace per custom, they met the crown prince.
Disaster struck.
Pubescent prince, smitten, sneaked into their room for assault.
Ministers caught him; it ended in attempt. He got a harsh imperial scolding and six months confined.
'Damn... He wasn't bluffing.'
Duke Omer had visited to console him then.
Poltviran had gnashed his teeth: first act as emperor, raze Crantz capital.
"As Your Majesty wills!"
Eyeing Duke Omer's silence, the nobles bowed.
"Then prepare for war. My first as emperor—I'll lead personally! Hahahahahahahaha!"
Tyrant Poltviran's triumphant laugh echoed through the grand hall.
Thus, a kingdom's fate was sealed.
By a rabid dog repaying grudge with evil...
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Shwaaaaaaaa!
Bebeto soared over low clouds threatening spring rain.
Ground below: pitch-black void.
But peeking above clouds: starry heaven blessed by a bright haloed moon.
Bebeto, master of air currents, spread wings wide and gulped the wind.
'This is why we fly!'
Narmias's elven Air Plate gift hugged his face.
Through the snug helm's slit, he drank the sky's rapture.
If not for war, he'd fly with Armis tonight.
Instead, solo sortie on Bebeto.
'Getting wilder and sexier by the day.'
Bebeto, stringing along the air wing's females like candy.
His deepening golden stripes? Even I found them hot.
'Gadein Castle should be theirs by now.'
Slow-marching infantry steadily claimed territory.
Now forming up wide for Denfos advance, I heard.
'All or nothing now!'
A brutal showdown in days.
Shiiiing.
Bebeto dove swiftly along my reins toward the ground.
Ssssh.
Dense clouds seemed to seep through mithril armor.
'Heh, gotcha!'
Shaviltree Grand Bridge ahead.
Imperial banners fluttered from its defensive fortress.
'For ruining my memories with Armis! Double payback!'
Sss.
Mana core activated, charging the Blast Spear in hand.
"Go!"
Pop!
The spear rocketed toward the bridge's center.
Packed with my fury-mana, it streaked like a meteor.
Kwaaaaang!
Shaviltree Grand Bridge, forced to eat a Destruction Spear by their tight strategy.
Overloaded defensive magic circle mana detonated—massive explosion.
"Heh heh..."
No retreat for them now.
I'd sortie tonight to smash every bridge.
All or nothing!
Life is always a one-shot gamble.