Chapter 153
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: A Splendid Hell
"It's the Lord!"
The Sky Corps soldiers who had spotted Bebeto came running out, shouting with vigorous energy.
The Sky Corps guards maintaining their usual duty posture, oblivious to the fact that the Laviter Empire's army had already crossed the Kobiran Mountains and was right on their doorstep.
They were welcoming my landing at the Sky Corps base, as I had told them I would be residing at Orak Castle for a while and patrolling the territory.
*This is serious.*
My expression soured involuntarily.
Fortunately, the empire's full-scale assault hadn't begun yet, but the top-secret communication hadn't gotten through.
Just thinking about what might have happened if I hadn't returned made my blood run cold.
*I specifically ordered them to maintain communication at all times...*
I had given Derbal special instructions.
With the territory in peril, never neglect communications.
Yet the communication that was meant for such a dire moment had failed them.
Even as Bebeto landed, my mind was a whirlwind of complexity.
A territory on the brink of crisis, with no idea how far the enemy had advanced.
Tadadak.
As Bebeto flapped its wings and touched down in the Sky Corps clearing, several knights came rushing over.
"Loyalty!"
The knights saluting crisply.
"Where is Sir Derbal?"
I asked for him as if nothing was amiss.
Uncertain who the spy was, I had to keep my composure.
*Damn it.*
It grated on me to have to suspect these knights gazing at me with eyes full of loyalty.
"He's at the castle construction site. I'll summon him right away."
"No need. By the way, is there a problem with the communication magic? I called on the way here, but got no response."
"The communication magic circle broke down yesterday evening and hasn't been fixed."
"Broke down?"
It was absurd.
The communication magic circle etched into the mithril alloy plate was something I had crafted with utmost care.
It wouldn't break even if smashed with a brick.
"The mages couldn't find the cause either."
"Hmm..."
It was the chief knight in charge of Sky Corps security, so I had no choice but to accept it.
"Who was on guard duty at the communication magic room yesterday?"
Because it was crucial, command-level knights took turns managing the communication room.
I tossed the question casually as I walked toward the command office.
"Sir Berkes has been responsible for security in the communication magic room these past few days."
*Berkes...*
A Skyknight born in Neruman under Baron Zenis.
One of the early members who overcame hardships alongside me, highly favored as a result.
"Summon Sir Hasipot and the Skyknights under him to the communication magic room."
"Understood!"
With no choice, I would have to root out the spy with my trusted allies.
*Whoever it is, I won't forgive them!*
I kept my face impassive, but inside, flames of fury blazed.
A traitor selling out Neruman for personal gain.
No matter who it was, I could never forgive them.
"Hmm..."
The communication magic room located underground in the Exotic Sky Corps base.
To protect it maximally from external attacks, it had originally been a prison but was now a comfortable and secure facility thanks to various convenience magic circles.
Yet a groan escaped me at the sight of the communication magic circle.
*Scratched it clean with mana.*
Definitely the work of a knight.
The mithril alloy plate impervious to scratches from ordinary soldiers' spears or swords.
I spotted a cunning knife mark that other mages had missed.
One of the strokes in the ancient runes used to extend communication range had been gouged out.
*No time to repair the magic circle.*
It would take hours of focused concentration to restore it.
But time was short.
I couldn't leisurely fix the circle with enemies possibly charging in at any moment.
Step, step.
Creak.
"You called for me, Master?"
Even the guards had been sent outside the communication magic room.
The beastkin appeared.
"I have one request."
"Speak it, Master."
I needed to buy time.
The number of wyverns left at the Sky Corps base was less than a hundred, give or take.
Most of them ridden by riders with only basic flight training.
They couldn't face veteran Skyknights with such forces.
I needed to gather the territory's Skyknights.
And I needed time.
"Fly to the spot I designate now, and you'll find a flock of insane birds heading toward Neruman. Hit each of them with a spell and give them a tour of the territory until the moon is central in the sky, then bring them back."
"Understood."
The words were easy.
The response simple.
Five hundred wyverns of the Laviter Empire treated like a flock of birds.
Wyverns comparable to a kingdom's full strength, yet the beastkin didn't question it at length.
They would likely cast spells as ordered and herd the flock back.
And in that time, I would prepare a single decisive strike.
*The Lord is back already?*
The delicious soup was ready, but now it was like snot dripping in unexpectedly—the Lord's sudden appearance.
He had casually done a patrol flight and returned to the Sky Corps clearing, where a crossbred wyvern symbolizing the Lord dozed tiredly.
*Heh heh heh. Rest all you want. You'll never rest again.*
Once confirming the Lord had left, he had immediately sent a Lumicar to Count Lukens.
The smallest but fastest new breed among Lumicars.
Sent from a remote house, no one knew.
Flap, flap, flap flap.
The wyvern's wings beat furiously as it landed at the Sky Corps base.
Following it, the wyverns of his subordinate Skyknights returning from patrol landed.
"Salute!"
The waiting soldiers saluted toward the landed one.
"Good work."
A man dismounting leisurely from the wyvern after unhooking the safety harness.
His horse-like long face.
A broad smile plastered on his lips.
After tonight, Neruman's new master.
He had no doubt his true master would arrive.
"Do you hear Siaris Fortress?"
"This is Siaris Fortress. Who is the communicator?"
"It's the Lord."
"Salute!"
*What the hell.*
I had a rough idea who the spy was.
Someone who could sabotage the communication magic room away from the eyes of the regular knights on standby.
Investigation revealed he had been alone in the room during the knights' mealtime.
Soon after, the communication orb malfunctioned.
With me absent, there was little need for prior contact, so the breakdown was discovered late.
"Relay an immediate order to Sir Raiker. Have him lead all wyverns from Denfos to Gadein Castle where communication is possible, right now. Especially order them to maintain absolute communication security en route!"
"Salute!"
Suspicious of him as the spy, I used patrol as an excuse to fly Bebeto near Siaris Fortress.
It was something any Lord interested in his territory would do naturally, so he harbored no suspicion.
He had flown here somehow to a communication-enabled area.
*They'll hold off attacking while the sun is up. Their goal is a surprise raid.*
Having tasted the heat of my new weapon once, they wouldn't attack rashly.
Any enemy with brains would avoid large ballistae and aim for evening chaos to slaughter wyverns in melee.
Just them not bringing infantry was enough to guess their intent.
Moreover, striking while I was away confirmed they targeted paralyzing Denfos, Neruman's heart.
They knew full well that even if the country survived, it couldn't recover if Denfos with all its concentrated forces fell.
*Hasipot should be handling it well.*
If I could pick up the special forces' communication from sea distance, the enemies were surely attacking from the northernmost Kobiran Mountains.
And toward those foes flew the beastkin as my kamikaze squad.
If they followed orders, a fierce skirmish would erupt soon.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Flash.
Kwarung kwang kwang kwang!
"Krraaaack!"
Kueeeee!
A magical storm whipped up like a bolt from a clear sky.
The imperial gold wyverns flying from the Hwangseong (Imperial Capital) side? Wait, Hwangseong side – Imperial side.
Gold wyverns from the imperial side flying in.
As gold wyverns from the Laviter Empire appeared toward those taking final rest before battle, some of the 50 wyverns on aerial patrol approached to greet them—then suddenly lightning-fast magic erupted, sending over a dozen wyverns plummeting to the ground.
High-circle magic above 5th circle neutralizing wyvern armor.
Not just one or two, but chain lightning, wind, and sonic boom spells overwhelmed them.
"Enemies!"
"Enemies appeared!"
"All wyverns, take off!"
Skyknights who had raided the orc village to feed their wyverns well and rest.
They hurriedly mounted their wyverns.
*Those bastards!*
Lukens was just as flustered.
They hadn't appeared in large numbers, so he hadn't mistaken them for foes.
Yet these gutsy enemies with merely five wyverns unleashed reckless attacks, then turned tail toward Neruman.
*Did our attack plan leak somehow?*
An ominous thought flashed through his mind.
Shiiiik.
Boom boom boom boom!
"Uwaaaak!"
"Chase them! Catch those bastards!"
Before Lukens could issue chase orders, startled Skyknights hurriedly took off.
Letting those who unleashed second-wave magic like a death knell escape wounded knightly pride.
Flap flap flap flap, flap flap flap flap.
In an instant, 500 Laviter Empire wyverns darkened the sky.
They flew at full speed, pursuing the gold wyverns.
*No Lord in Neruman anyway. Might as well launch the attack.*
The knights chasing without his orders irked him, but Lukens, resolved to attack, mounted his wyvern and followed.
Oblivious that Neruman's master had returned, vigorously flapping wyvern wings...
Ding ding ding!
"Battle stations! Battle stations!"
Defense troops swiftly moving to positions at the sudden emergency battle order.
On the walls defending Denfos, large ballistae swiveled toward wyvern threats, knights and soldiers bustling about.
Elves had retreated to their village in my absence, dwarves to safe underground.
From the sky, I watched approvingly as knights and soldiers responded swiftly to my orders.
Having endured two large-scale wars already, their actions were quick.
*Wyverns from Orak Castle garrison and Siaris Fortress are all gathered. Once the enemy flocks in, it's over.*
I wanted to fly in personally for a fireworks show, but the timing wasn't right.
These scum daring to burgle the empty house while the master was away.
I wanted to make them like mangy dogs beaten with clubs on the hottest day for the master's health.
*But first, deal with the traitor.*
99% sure of the traitor's identity.
Before flying to gather Skyknights, I ordered Derbal.
Search the suspected traitor's house for evidence.
By now, evidence should be collected.
The traitor exposed more easily than expected.
Unaware, he would have been a bigger headache later.
*Wh-what!*
Ding ding ding.
"Battle stations! Battle stations!"
Startled by the clamorous bells and frantic footsteps of defenders, Berkes burst out of his hangar.
"No wyverns take off until further orders! Laviter Empire wyverns just crossed Kobiran Mountains! All Skyknights stand ready by your hangars for immediate takeoff!"
The order blared through the Sky Corps mana amplifiers.
Until moments ago, planning to flee the territory under patrol pretense at dusk, Berkes felt cold sweat trickle down his back.
The empire attack not to be known until sunset.
Even if the Lord knew, with wyverns patrolling normally and under a hundred at Denfos, it would be a massacre.
But with full forces on alert like this, the situation changed.
*Ah, must inform. That Kayer knows.*
Moreover, in Neruman, the invincible Lord Kayer reigned as sky emperor.
If he knew of the empire attack, it must be reported.
Tadadak.
Skyknights rushed to stand ready by their wyverns.
No chance to flee.
Nor send Lumicar, unsure of Lukens' location.
Crackle.
*Huh?*
And that wasn't all.
Dozens of knights silently surrounding his hangar.
Blest Spears in their hands.
Numbers enough to honeycomb a wyvern mid-takeoff.
Such knights encircled Berkes' hangar.
Gulp.
Dry swallow from Berkes' throat unbidden.
He realized something had gone terribly wrong.
*K... Kayer...*
And the name Kayer came to mind.
Young yet ruling Neruman and commanding the continent, Lord Kayer.
He was far more terrifying than imagined.
*Those bastards!*
Five gold wyverns flying just beyond precarious effective range, teasing capture.
The sun now barely tipped the horizon, expending its last rays; Laviter Empire Skyknights pursuing in trained formation had entered Neruman Plains.
*Something's off.*
Lukens wasn't a fool.
Though robbed of Neruman by the brat Kayer, once a strategist dominating it.
An ominous something seeped into his mind.
Elusive, yet his head burned.
*Can't turn back. Miss this chance, no second opportunity.*
Total commander post thanks to emperor's full backing.
Return empty-handed, head rolls for sure.
Live or die, must wreck Neruman core Denfos.
He bit his lip, shaking off foreboding.
*Neruman soon.*
Panting sun vanished, twilight dusk blending black omens rolled in.
Chasing enemy wyverns, no regrets.
Arrival time, only moon and stars greet.
In darkness, 500 Skyknights' Blest Spears would surely shatter Denfos.
"M-my Lord."
The man bowed tensely as I appeared.
Wielding mana, he sensed the foul mood.
"Good work, Sir Berkes."
"G-good... work, you say?"
I grinned, tossing "good work," and he panicked.
His horse-face seemed especially long today.
"Good work indeed. Must rack your brains tirelessly for your Lord's sake—how exhausting."
"..."
His face paled at my barbed tone laced with thorns.
Even in dimming deep-blue sunset, Berkes' ashen face gleamed.
"A year already since we met."
First arriving Neruman, scurrying about, sharing drinks with Zenis and his knights.
Their figures willingly toasting my lonely self flashed like a panorama.
"Won't ask why."
No time for roundabout talk.
Moments ago, Hasipot's voice via helmet comm magic.
Enemies entering Denfos airspace soon.
"I can forgive anything in the world... but never betrayal. For betrayal, only one price: death."
Didn't care the reason.
Because of this man, Neruman's hundreds of thousands at risk.
Wanted to shatter his mana hole, enslave him forever in lightless mines.
But once my knight.
Last mercy granted.
"Wh-what do you mean, betrayal! I never betrayed my Lord!"
No conscience left, of course.
"Heh..."
And I wasn't one to buy that shamelessness.
"Derbal, bring it."
Step step.
Knights gathered around unnoticed.
Flight standby ordered, but they knew the gravity.
"Here it is."
Derbal proffered a black box.
"Wh-what is this!"
Berkes exclaimed in shock.
"Look closely. See where this flies from here."
Slide.
Opened the box.
Flap flap flap flap flap.
Bird flew one direction as box opened, habitual.
"Lumi... Lumicar!"
"Toward Laviter Empire!"
Knights' shocked cries.
*Dead!*
Sharp killing intent washed over him.
"Ah!"
"M-my Lord!!!"
Screams from all sides.
Shiiiik.
Thud!
Whistling wind, heavy impact simultaneous.
"Guh..."
Blest Spear pierced Air Plate, skewering Berkes' heart.
Mana-drained like deflated balloon, sword in hand, he gazed spear's direction.
"Ze... nis..."
Blood gushed from mouth, calling traitor's lancer's name.
"Why... why!"
She wept.
Zenis, rushed from Siaris Fortress on my order.
Lanced death at once-subordinate Berkes.
Grief matching former trust, tears streaming cheeks.
"Sor..."
Splat.
Couldn't even apologize to prior lord, knees buckled.
Piercing spear propped his falling body.
"..."
Knights in panic.
Not fools; grasped what transpired.
Command knight's treason.
Ensuing carnage.
"Take off immediately! Empire forces incoming!"
Kuooh!
Kaaah!
As my words ended, wyverns appeared in darkening Denfos sky.
Orak Castle's 2nd Flight Wing garrison materialized.
"Take off!"
No time to slump.
Mourning traitor too luxurious with crisis at throat.
*You bastards...*
No respite given.
Couldn't ask dead Berkes the exact reason, but they ensnared Neruman's core knights.
This night, gift them a splendid hell.