Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The Guardian Knight Who Protects Dreams
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Rustle, rustle.
As night deepened, I began drawing magic circles in the pre-marked spots around the Sky Fortress.
'This is harder than I thought.'
Out of the countless magic circles filling my head, I selected a few.
Not something trivial like an alarm spell.
'Lightning magic circle, Wind Cutter, Fire Wall! Heh heh. If they take the bait, it'll be a sight to see.'
A feast prepared for those climbing over the walls instead of using the main gate.
Like setting booby traps, I completed the magic circles along the base of the fence.
'Once triggered, it'll wreck everything within ten meters.'
Not comparable to the grand defensive magic circles on city walls, but perfect for now.
"Huu...."
Starting from nightfall, I finished one every hour.
If another mage saw this, they'd say the god of magic had returned— the speed was insane.
It would have been impossible without the magic knowledge in my head.
"Magic circles made with attribute formulas. Heh heh. I can't guarantee the performance."
Fsssh.
I drew up mana and stabilized the magic circles made of mana stone powder.
Bonding them to the earth so they wouldn't wash away from water, wind, or excessive stimulation.
"Done."
The magic circles glowed faintly milky white before hiding their light.
Rustle.
I covered them with dirt.
"A few more days of this, and it'll be roughly finished."
They wouldn't come at us full force from the start.
Unless Viscount Lukens was an idiot, he wouldn't rush to kill the attractive me.
I had to make good use of that time.
"The problem isn't the soldiers—it's the Sky Knights."
One against twelve.
The line Marine ghost hunters tell their girlfriends over drinks sometimes.
That was exactly my situation.
"One Sky Knight is in the fortress mansion, and the others are holed up in Gadein Castle, busy making money."
I wanted to sweep them all away, but that wasn't feasible.
The three I beat were caught off guard, but three versus twelve was a different league.
"They'll bite soon. Before that, I need to whip these crazy mercenaries into shape."
Mercenaries who had rolled in from all over the Neruman Plains.
The capable ones from Neruman had joined the regular soldiers, Viscount Lukens' private troops, or Jenice's guards.
These were the others.
They were essential for my plan.
'But do I really have to become the lord here?'
My mind was still conflicted.
No matter how much I crunched the numbers, this place was a loss.
Rather than making money, pouring in time and effort would definitely be a deficit.
I wasn't Jesus or Buddha— I didn't want to waste my precious life taking losses.
Yet the unfolding situation matched my ominous thoughts.
'Anyway, I need to invent a new sword technique. Anything good?'
My pride wouldn't let me settle for someone else's.
Overflowing mana got me treated like a master, but something felt lacking.
'Ah! The stars are killer!'
Gazing at the sky while thinking of a new technique, I saw the sharp starlight.
Looking up at the heavens, I had no shame for one point, but none for two.
Among thousands, tens of thousands of unknown stars, I felt exposed, naked.
Especially nine stars lined up straight like the Big Dipper.
Shiiiing.
'Shooting...'
At that moment, a streak of shooting star sliced across the sky and vanished in an instant.
Leaving no trace, as if it had never existed.
"Ghost... Meteor!"
Two words burst from my mouth.
"Yes! Ghost Meteor!"
Based on the Heineース family's shadow swordsmanship, the sword's shape drew in my mind.
As imitation is the mother of creation, my sword, built on the Heineース style, flickered like an illusion and faded.
Shing.
I drew my sword.
An inexplicable excitement wrapped around my body.
My own swordsmanship, distinctly different from shadow sword arts.
'Yeah, if I'm making it, it has to be nine strikes!'
A sword as fast as a shooting star that vanished despite having form.
They say one who tries to draw a tiger at least draws a cat.
"Ghost Meteor!"
Stance didn't matter.
I infused mana that breathed with me into the sword and my mind.
'More destructive power than shadow swordsmanship! Faster speed! More intense, tangible illusions!'
My heart pounded like it had taken drugs from excitement.
I calmed my racing heart and took a deep breath.
Opening upper, middle, and lower dantians.
I didn't know exactly what a master meant, but my breathing method let me replicate the Heineース swordsmanship perfectly.
My mana hall was on a different dimension from normal knights' ones.
That's why I could mimic a master's swordsmanship more easily than others.
"Ghost Meteor!!"
I shouted vigorously at a large tree by the wall.
Pabababat.
Nine shooting stars drew in my mind.
Shuuuuuuuuuuuk!
Fully open dantian and every cell in my body.
Massive mana pouring from the integrated mana hall at my waist.
Though drawn in my head, amazingly, nine slashes poured out in that exact form.
Shing! Shing! Shing! Shishishish ing!
The blade sword technique unique to masters, following the sword's movement.
Thud! Thud! Pububububuk!
Low explosions rang in my ears.
'...Guh!'
Suddenly, my heart seized, breath choked, and my muscles stiffened like bitten by a venomous snake.
Clang.
Muscles spasmed suddenly, dropping the sword from my hand.
'D-Damn it....'
Frozen like under a Hold spell, I couldn't even move my lips.
'Mana resonance!'
One word floated in my head.
The phenomenon I'd experienced hunting wild boars before.
Tatatatak.
My teeth chattered.
Cold chilled through my body.
'Damn it! Of course!'
Drawing it in my head was fine, but nine blade swords were too much for me.
'Kuh....'
Stinging, aching, freezing.
Fortunately, it didn't reach extremes; my body slowly loosened.
"Huu...."
Soon after, the escaped mana refilled my mana hall, releasing me from mana resonance.
"What... It's fine."
A magnificent old tree that had lived for ages.
Untouched even by slashes that could take my life.
"Weird.... Blade sword definitely emitted from the sword...."
I approached the seemingly undamaged tree.
Touching it curiously with my hand.
Thud! Thud! Pubububuk!
Ruuuumble.
"Uwa!"
The moment I touched it, something burst inside the tree, splitting it into pieces instantly.
I dodged the falling tree.
Kudududududum.
Fsssh.
The tree crashed with a roar, dust billowing everywhere.
"Ah, nine?"
As dust blew away in the wind, the tree's shape appeared.
Split into nine sections, branches trembling as it fell.
Tadadadak.
"That way!"
Then, patrol mercenaries alarmed by the noise came running.
With two shifts, fifty-some covered the vast Sky Fortress.
So they arrived a bit late.
"Haha, hahahahaha!"
I didn't even hear the mercenaries approaching.
I just burst into hearty laughter at my creation's result.
"Sir Kaiyer! What happened!"
Five mercenaries who recognized me asked what was wrong.
'Agh.... But what if they don't die in one hit?'
A sudden doubt hit me.
If the enemy dodged my full-power strike, or another appeared, my frozen body would be a perfect target.
'Mana shortage! Mana!'
Moreover, this destructive power couldn't handle masters called experts.
I had to break past the 6th circle barrier.
Not just for revenge on my great master's killer, but to survive— a must-do homework.
The mercenaries stared at me and the tree curiously, but I brushed it off.
One hurdle cleared, another loomed.
I was still a sapling with much growing to do.
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"Already over 400. A few more days like this, and we'll hit 1,000. Gathering this many mercenaries so fast— as expected of our lord!"
"This much is nothing."
"No, no. They came trusting me, the heroic mercenary guild master making a name in Neruman, not you. Truth be told, what have you done, Kaiyer? Not many crazy enough to oppose Viscount Lukens for a few coins."
'Huh.'
Raiker, who sold himself for those coins, openly downplaying my contributions.
I strongly felt the need to drag him to spirit-training boot camp sometime.
"Heh heh. Viscount Lukens must be shitting bricks."
Raiker's smug face beamed with a pleased smile, as if it delighted him.
As he said, Viscount Lukens would be busy for sure.
"Lord, now comes the real problem. Even with numbers filled by mercenaries, facing Viscount Lukens' regularly trained private soldiers will be tough."
Smart Derbal pointed out the issue.
'Turning mercenaries into loyal soldiers in short time is impossible.... And the biggest problem is the wyverns.'
Most came for curiosity or quick cash at double pay.
Challenging Lukens, the local hegemon, was a stretch.
"Sir Raiker."
"Ra, Sir Raiker? Who?"
Raiker, grinning alone at my call, widened his eyes and pointed at himself.
"From today, I appoint Raiker as a temporary knight under the noble authority granted by His Imperial Majesty."
"Kek!"
Emphasizing "knight," he choked, face turning pale yellow.
"Why, don't like it? Say so. I'll execute you for insulting nobility."
Ears or nose— it was a nose ring either way.
I threatened Raiker with the all-purpose noble magic wand of authority.
"I-It’s not that, but on what basis do you make me a knight...."
"It's fine. I was the same."
"....."
"Now, Sir Raiker, demonstrate your leadership right now by commanding the mercenaries! Who but Neruman's hero could wrangle these monster-like mercenaries? I trust only you."
"....."
Raiker grimaced, face turning into a goblin's.
'Kekeke. Gotcha.'
The price for acting superior before me.
I'd work him to the bone from now on.
"Sir Derbal, you're also appointed a temporary knight."
"Thank you! My lord!"
Derbal couldn't even wield a sword properly, but I gave him the title anyway.
It was my whim, like a candy vendor's.
"Sir Raiker, go sort the mercenaries by skill immediately. Derbal, from today, handle logistics and admin for incoming mercenaries to the best of your ability."
"Yes!"
"....Yes."
'Heh heh. Now the real fun begins.'
My current given life.
I planned to play it thrillingly, full of zest.
'Wanna fly after so long?'
The unpolluted, alive air of the Neruman Plains.
I wanted to soar high and breathe deep.
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Shiiiik, shiiiiik.
Bebeto spread his large wings, riding the wind.
The song of the wind sang through the air plate helmet's gaps into my ears.
'What a massive plain!'
Neruman spanned an average duchy’s size.
A basin surrounded by great mountain ranges, its vastness was incredible.
'Three rivers merge into the Robent River. Plains spread around it. Small hills and valleys, but that height is perfect for orchards. Develop it, and it could easily feed ten million.'
Not just plains.
Dozens of abandoned mines in halted mountain ranges, rich fisheries too.
Truly a land blessed by the gods.
Kuwe, kukekekeke!
Except for the orcs and assorted monsters freaking out below.
'If I sweep those away and build fortresses for linked defenses....'
Even flying, I constantly pondered developing the Neruman Plains.
'If I systematically deploy Sky Knights and soldiers to drive monsters toward the mountains....'
Deeper into the inland plains, ruined human villages and forts dotted everywhere.
Monsters occupying them spotted Bebeto and fled or chittered danger signals.
'Those must number in the hundreds of thousands.'
Thick bushes on the plains, monsters frolicking everywhere.
Orcs and goblins with decent IQs built huts and formed groups.
Kuo ooo~!
Excited by the outing and monsters panicking at his sight, Bebeto let out a sudden roar, pumped up.
'Huh? What's that?'
The helmet's eyes, made on mana scope principles, showed the scene.
'Sky Knights!'
Five flew in formation.
Wyverns flying in crane wing formation, not spotting me and Bebeto.
'Viscount Lukens' Sky Knights.'
Only Viscount Lukens had three-plus wyverns in Neruman Plains.
Hunting, judging by trolls caught in their sharp talons.
Various sizes, whole families caught.
Shiiiik.
Suddenly, the wyverns turned toward me.
Pop!
A Blessed Spear in the hand of the wyvern-controlling Sky Knight.
'Don't they know fighting manners?'
Absolutely disadvantageous situation.
Click.
I gripped a Blessed Spear in each hand.
Even alone, I couldn't cowardly show my tail and flee.
'Hm?'
But the leader raised a hand, and the Sky Knights withdrew their spears.
'That guy... Viscount Lukens?'
Among plain gray wyverns, the leader rode a massive one with an extra-large head.
A wyvern with a winged unicorn cloth on its chest.
Shiiiik.
Rushing toward each other, distance closed to 100 meters instantly.
Shwaaaaaaaaak.
'Hm....'
Mid-pass, the wyvern group veered right.
Helmet hid faces, but it was a show of force.
Kuo oo!
Bebeto low-growled, displeased at wyverns that charged then fled.
Their tasty-looking rumps tempted briefly, but I held back.
Manly Kang Hyuk couldn't strike from behind cowardly.
"Hold it. It's not just today."
After properly seeing Viscount Lukens' mug, a proper fight wouldn't be late.
Turning the reins as they flew far off.
"Bebeto! Those bastards skewered one each— you gonna sit idle? Show me! Your awesome power to catch two!"
Kuo oo! Kuo o!
Bebeto roared vigorously, understanding.
'Tsk tsk. So simple.'
People or wyverns, flattery was a grateful tool to exploit with words.
Feeling Bebeto's dynamic power as he flapped powerfully, muscles taut, I gazed at the land.
The Neruman Plains that tugged at me from first sight.
I filled my eyes with that cute guy who had settled deep in my heart.
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Thud.
"Woooah! Two trolls!"
"Whiii whiii! Sky Knight as expected!"
Two trolls dropped from Bebeto's talons onto the ground.
Smashed fighting me and Bebeto, they face-planted on the Sky Fortress floor.
'Amazing regeneration.'
Torn tendons from Bebeto's talons and my sword, deep wounds, yet bubbling blue blood, wounds already healing.
"Let the merchants in."
After seizing Sky Fortress, I chased out resident mages and merchants.
No desire to live with peddlers in my home.
"Incredible! No one's ever brought back two trolls."
Mercenaries swarmed, staring at me and Bebeto in awe.
'Whoa! More piled in already?'
Flooding in at double their rate.
As Raiker said, his guild master fame helped too.
Grrr.
"Hup! The troll's moving!"
"N-No ties! Uwaaa!"
Clang clang.
While gazing fondly at mercenaries, the fainted trolls woke, red eyes glowing, slowly rising.
Mercenaries panicked, drawing weapons.
Large monsters tough without Blade Knight level, so natural.
But I had my lovable guy.
"Stomp."
Kuo oo!
Flap.
Crunch, cruuunch.
Kweeeeeek!
At my word, loyal action captain Bebeto rose slightly, stomping the heavy, steel-taloned resisting trolls.
"....."
Trolls stretched out screaming pitifully.
Terror dawned on mercenaries' faces watching Bebeto.
Imagining themselves as the flattened squid instead of trolls.
'Heh heh. When stomping, stomp thoroughly.'
Humans' bad habit of not believing till they see.
This moment, mercenaries would learn clearly.
Mess with me, become flat troll.
'Hm? Who're they?'
At my order, mercenaries ran to the entrance; soon merchants and material-buying mages entered.
But not just them.
A scene like Korean War photos.
A hundred refugee-like family groups, bundles on backs, awkwardly followed merchants.
"Lord, you've returned."
Derbal appeared then.
"Who are they?"
"Well...."
Derbal looked troubled at my question.
"Uncle...."
Not just Derbal; cute kid Lucia, playing in Sky Fortress like a playground, appeared.
"Lucia, what? Something to say?"
I smiled involuntarily at kid Lucia, unlike others.
"Can my friends live with us?"
"Friends?"
"Over there...."
Lucia pointed at the refugees.
Following her hand, a few kids her age peeked shyly.
"They're people chased from homes by Viscount Lukens. Heard rumors; since morning, they've been at the main gate."
"Hm...."
Lukens, no better than a loan shark.
Looked like Lucia's family— protection money or debt, evicted.
'Kill that bastard!'
The rich get richer; squeezing blood money from barely surviving Neruman folk, filthy human.
My gut boiled.
"Sure~ If they're Lucia's friends, all welcome."
"Uwaaang! Uncle's the best!"
'Ugh. This uncle crap.'
Fresh eighteen-year-old youth hearing "uncle."
Non-experiencers wouldn't get it.
"Come here. Uncle says we can all live together~!"
Excited Lucia beckoned kids with joyful voice.
"Lord permits. Everyone, come!"
Derbal shouted vigorously to the dubious onlookers.
"Aigoo, sir, thank you."
"Sob sob. Thank you! Thank you!"
At Derbal's words, they knelt before me eagerly.
Unlike elsewhere, surrounded by monsters, pirates, mountains— nowhere to go.
They tearfully expressed gratitude.
All I offered was empty hangars for shelter.
"Derbal, assign lodging, give food. For Sky Fortress repairs or other work needing people, hire these first."
"Yes!"
Derbal replied vigorously.
Joy filled his face.
"Shelter alone is grateful... and jobs too."
"Nermith's blessing upon you."
'Fuck, Lukens you beggar asshole. No more to suck, so sucking poor folks' blood?'
They didn't look well-fed.
Especially kids, fragile innocents— what sin?
Under Derbal's lead, bowing repeatedly to me as they moved.
My heart ached sorely.
"Hoho. Aiden, let's go there. There's a super cool wyvern named Bebeto."
"Wow! Can we really watch?"
"No more sleeping outside from today?"
"Of course! Uncle'll handle everything~! Uncle's the knight protecting our dreams."
Kids gathered by Lucia.
At her words, they gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
Smirk.
I smiled at those pure kids' eyes.
For others maybe not, but for those kids, I wanted to gift a future breathing hope.
The guardian knight protecting dreams.
I was a Sky Knight.
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