Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Conditions
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'What the hell? How many of those bastards are there?!'
I'd been a bit complacent, thinking it was just an attack from the barbaric Temir tribe.
But that illusion was shattered by the massive swarm of wyverns.
'One, two! Argh! Over thirty of them!'
Like vultures circling a carcass, the wyverns wheeled in a huge ring high in the sky.
Even a rough count put them at over thirty.
'And those guys aren't even wearing armor?'
Not only were the wyverns lacking protective magic gear, but the Sky Knights riding them weren't equipped with air plates either.
They wore only blue leather outfits, clutching blessed spears.
Strange symbols and letters—not quite magic circles—were etched into the bodies of the wyverns they rode.
'Hmm...'
I'd flown north for about an hour without a second thought.
Aside from a small mountain like a lone grave marker, the entire area was flat plains.
With not a cloud in the sky, I could see far and wide, and soon spotted the group of soldiers.
The problem was that the soldiers I'd found were scattering in all directions, and a few humans trapped under over thirty wyverns gave me a bad feeling they were the ones I needed to meet.
'Damn. Not even dragon ribs or anything...'
Even for me, the sheer number of thirty wyverns cluttering the sky was intimidating.
'Save 'em, or bail?'
The enemies were about four kilometers away.
They hadn't spotted me yet, so they weren't changing course.
But then I hesitated.
I could just rabbit out of here, but if they detected me, I'd have to fight for my life.
Kuaaaaaaaa!
'Gah!'
But the dilemma didn't last long.
Bebeto, the action captain with a thug's bantam rooster spirit.
He'd lost all sense of fear and bellowed out his presence at the thirty foes.
'Yeah, thanks! You idiot!'
Startled by Bebeto's roar, dozens of wyverns surged toward me all at once.
Now it was unavoidable—a fight to the finish.
I drew my blessed spear with both hands.
'W-Wait! This isn't enough!!!!!'
I'd brought only about twenty blessed spears, figuring that would do.
But there were over thirty enemies.
No matter how I subtracted or added, it didn't add up.
'Right! That guy's still around!'
Then it hit me—one certain someone.
My dragon-hearted pal who obeyed my every word.
"Shuriel, come on!"
Shiiiiiwhiii!
A unique spirit summoned by my intense desire—a silver wind eagle materialized.
"Shuriel! Go rip 'em to shreds!"
Paat!
At my command, the wind spirit shot off at light speed.
'Ugh!'
My mana vanished in proportion.
'Wait... aren't those all wyverns too!'
As I infused mana into the blessed spear, a sudden thought struck.
The sky-full of wyverns suddenly looked like stacks of cash instead of enemies.
'Heh heh... jackpot!'
Each wyvern was worth over a million gold.
No magic gear was a shame, but the wyverns alone made it worthwhile.
I lowered the blessed spear from my hand.
Without magic gear, one hit would finish them.
'These bastards are done for.'
I couldn't give them a chance to flee—had to take them all out in one go.
Kuoaaaaaooo!
Whether he'd spotted me or was just gutsy by nature, I couldn't tell with Bebeto.
He let out a thrilled roar and charged full tilt.
Pababat.
The enemy Sky Knights were closing in at two kilometers now.
Maybe they thought my charge was laughable—the lead five were the only ones infusing their blessed spears with mana.
Wiiiing.
I stared them down, cranking my mana to the max.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"C-Crazy!"
"Th-That's impossible..."
It was one against thirty, but the Yaiks Count and his knights were grasping at straws like drowning men.
They'd clung to a sliver of hope at the sudden appearance of an intermediate spirit, but despaired when the Sky Knight lowered his blessed spear.
It looked like a man who'd given up on life.
That faint hope shattered.
Shy shy shy shyk.
In their despair, the Temir tribe Sky Knights fired their blessed spears.
Kkiooooo!
Kwajik!
Amid it all, the intermediate spirit Shuriel savagely bit the wing of the lead wyvern.
Krarararararak!
Bitten so hard it screamed, spinning wildly as it plummeted.
Its right wing was wounded too badly to use.
Peurbeurbeurbeurbubung!
"Huhuk!"
"M-Magic!"
Yaiks's knights, unable to laugh or cry at Shuriel's antics.
A massive explosion roared through the sky.
"W-Wind Tornado!! How in flight— a 5th-circle spell?!"
Halmain, Yaiks's dedicated mage, groaned in shock.
Normally, even memorized spells required a stable stance and focus to cast.
Yet this rider on a wyvern had cast precisely in the chaos.
He had to be either incredibly brave or insanely reckless.
"Umuhahahahahahaha!"
The mystery Sky Knight who'd shot down the incoming blessed spears with magic.
He burst into mad laughter that shook the heavens.
Ziiiiing!
After the laugh, mana erupted from the Sky Knight's body in a glow.
Pababababat.
The intensely compressed mana sliced through the sky.
Shiiiiiiik! Shiiiiiiiik!
"Wind Cutter stacked spells! Ooooh..."
A gasp of admiration leaked from the watching mage's lips.
Not just stacking— even a 5th-circle mage would earn praise for two in that posture.
But incredibly, the mystery Sky Knight unleashed over seven in a frenzy.
Kkiaaaaaak!
Kugung.
The wyvern bitten by the spirit lost control and crashed into the ground, shrieking miserably.
No magic gear meant a fatal wound to its vital wing membrane.
"Rashiporut....!!!!"
"Uwaaaa!"
Incomprehensible screams from the brutishly charging Temir Sky Knights.
Outnumbered but defensively vulnerable, the Temir alliance wyverns.
As 4th-circle spells surged in white flashes, they lost their minds.
Kkieeeeeek!
Kuaaaaaaaa!
The wyverns, who'd arrogantly flown in tight formation mocking the foe.
One by one, wings shredded, they plummeted to earth.
Wyvern hide could resist 4th-circle spells to some degree, but against 5th-circle mana-infused blades, it was pigskin before a knife.
From over fifty meters up, they flapped torn wings and kissed the ground hard.
Kung. Kugung.
Kueeeeeek~~~!!
Shiiiiik.
As one pack of wyverns crashed from the spells, the rest split left and right, turning tail.
The Temir Sky Knights, their battle spirit broken, fled in panic.
Gone was the swagger that had massacred soldiers— now only the pathetic sight of fugitives.
"Good lord..."
"H-Hybrid wyverns!"
Yaiks Count's mages and knights, dazed by the unbelievable victory.
Only then did they see.
The wyvern that saved them from death was an accursed hybrid, despised in the Empire.
Flutter, flut-ter-flutter.
As the wyverns fled far off, the hybrid wyvern slowly landed before Yaiks Count.
The black sheen of the Bazran Empire's signature black wyvern, accented by golden stripes gleaming in the sun, pierced their eyes.
Thud.
The Sky Knight in a red cape unfastened his harness and dismounted.
Step step.
He approached Yaiks Count.
Click.
The Sky Knight opened his magic helmet.
"Hmm..."
A unfamiliar, youthful face emerged from the helmet.
Not the image they'd imagined— a handsome black-haired man. They murmured low.
"Greetings, Count Yaiks. I am Kayer de Adalro, Junior Baron of the Foreign Sky Knight Squadron."
Tucking the helmet under his left arm, he saluted knight-style with his right.
His skill was immense, yet his lowly title drew suspicion from the knights.
Someone this capable deserved a viscountcy, no, a countship.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Count Yaiks de Lebuain."
Unlike the knights and mages, Yaiks nodded casually and returned the greeting.
Pabat.
Their eyes met in midair.
Sparks flew faintly.
Ssiik.
A small smile curved Kayer's lips.
Kueeee!
Thud thud thud!
A Temir wyvern— wing torn but body intact— charged with a neurotic screech.
"Bebeto, crush it."
Kayer's calm order rang out.
Kuoaaaaaooo!
Bebeto leaped joyfully, roaring.
Kwajik.
Kueeeeeek!
The massive hybrid wyvern lightly hopped and stomped it brutally, eyes wild.
"Gulp..."
The onlookers swallowed dryly in unison.
The quietly smiling black-haired youth.
They all silently vowed never to cross him as an enemy.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"I offer my formal thanks."
"Not at all. As a knight of His Imperial Majesty, it was my duty."
"Gracious words— thank you."
'Truly a knightly noble.'
Eyes don't lie.
After routing the Temir wyverns, we'd headed straight to rescue the village of Heighton.
With their tormentors gone, Count Yaiks's elite troops rallied.
They crushed the charging monster horde in one go.
Then came one-on-one talk time with Count Yaiks.
Heighton was more fortress than village.
In the command office where senior officers stayed, we sat eye-to-eye.
"Remarkable, truly. I'd never heard of a genius mage like you in the Empire— let alone one who summons spirits..."
He indirectly probed my identity, curiosity piqued.
He'd seen my magic clearly.
No genius reaches 5th circle at my age.
And spirit summoners were unheard of on the continent.
"A misunderstanding. I am a mage, but not a spiritist."
"Not a spiritist? Then how did you summon an intermediate spirit?"
"This is why."
I extended my arm, showing the silver bracelet Master had put on me.
"Hoo, a most precious magic item."
"Indeed. A spirit artifact bestowed by my master. Wearing it lets me summon an intermediate wind spirit."
"I see..."
He was a mana-handling knight.
Even to him, Master's dimension-shift bracelet looked extraordinary.
Unreadable even to mages— a high-dimensional artifact.
"But why come here? The Foreign Sky Knight Squadron ill suits a talent like you."
"Divine will, perhaps. And punishment for owning a hybrid wyvern."
"Hmm... I see."
Yaiks nodded at "hybrid wyvern."
As an Imperial noble, he could guess why I was here.
"Count, did the Temirs really have that many wyverns?"
Now I asked my question.
"I find it odd too. Wyvern eggs take time and care to hatch, yet they defy that. Almost like mass-producing swords. Especially this past year— their group attacks have intensified."
'Bad news.'
Strong foes everywhere, and now this ominous report.
If they added magic gear, no counter.
Kueeee!
Kukukukuku.
'Bebeto, easy does it.'
Military village meant five hangars.
I stuffed the captured five wyverns inside.
Torn wings meant long recovery.
They'd gotten cocky with Bebeto, took a beating, then walked here.
Two males came to after and challenged him— beaten senseless till quiet.
Females, smitten by his thick muscles, submitted meekly and followed.
Now the mental re-education.
Bebeto was schooling the defiant males— screams confirmed it.
"Haha. Your wyvern's on another level from any I've known. Hybrid or not, that feral."
"A real man needs that much presence."
"Presence? Puhaha! Takes after you."
Yaiks laughed heartily.
I didn't reply.
A man needs rough wild charm.
Soft at times, fierce at others— that's manly allure.
"Anyway... what to do? Nothing to give the man who saved me and my soldiers..."
'Huh? Belly up?'
Yaiks spoke against local norms I knew.
His square-jawed face flushed slightly.
"Haha. How could I haggle over material for His Majesty and Empire? The fallen wyvern hides suffice."
Seven crashed wyverns.
Two head-planted, necks snapped—instant death.
Worse value alive, but hides and bones alone would fetch over 100,000 gold easy.
"Trustworthy. Such a man in this place... How about it? Join me back to the homeland? Not Imperial direct— my territory's Sky Knight. I'll guarantee barony or higher."
He nodded at my feigned humility, trying to recruit me.
"Grateful, but this is my fief by His Majesty's grace. I'll stake my life defending Neruman's peace."
"Sigh... I understand. But no need now. You know the rumors— Empire's abandoning Neruman. Since you'll learn anyway: withdrawal ordered. Military Council commands return within two months."
'Huh? Already?'
Faster than expected— I faltered.
"Then the civilians left here? Local soldiers— where to?"
I knew roughly, but needed confirmation.
"Neruman's no direct Imperial or lord's land. Temporary province. Empire abandons— civilians and locals stay. Can't absorb them now..."
"Hmm..."
"Don't worry overmuch. Likely handing all authority to Viscount Lukens. That ensures some safety."
'Hoo, can't let that happen.'
Now the crucial moment.
Time to steer the flow my way.
"A word on that, if I may."
I put on a grave face, signaling heavy talk.
"Serious matter. Care for a drink?"
"Graciously."
He read my face like a young man.
"Not fine liquor, but my favorite. Strong, no hangover— a man's morning drink."
No adjutant from the start.
Yaiks grabbed the blue bottle on the desk.
Trollolo.
Poured blue liquor into tin cups.
"To His Imperial Majesty's glory and the Empire's peace!"
Yaiks led.
"To that!"
I raised my cup.
Gulp— downed it.
"Kuh."
"Eum."
Dual groans escaped.
Firewater fit the phrase.
Esophagus ablaze as it went down.
Lava-hot, tingling— mind reeling.
"Haa..."
Exhaled.
'Manly indeed.'
Intense alcohol and subtle aroma poured out.
"Just this taste. Senior knight gave it after my first kill. Lucasina— ancient for 'friend of oblivion.'"
Yaiks eyed the cup like a pal.
'Addictive already.'
Warrior's charging heart— red-hot Lucasina.
Soul-deep imprint.
"Now speak. What urgent words for me?"
Yaiks's calm brown eyes shifted to me.
"Give it to me."
".....?"
Sudden demand puzzled him.
"Hand over all soldiers to be transferred to Viscount Lukens— to me."
"Soldiers? To you?"
The count asked in shock.
"You know, Count. How Lukens treats locals. Hand soldiers to him, and you're no better than Empire nobles discarding Neruman like trash. Worst kind— gifting shameful life over death in 'best choice's' name."
Instinct said no fancy rhetoric for this man.
Heart to heart, truth to truth.
Parr.
My words tensed his grip— cup trembled.
"Those words... can you stand by them?"
Quiet, dignified voice— eyes locked on me.
Nod.
"Yes."
"Count gives chance— I'll defend Neruman without shame to Empire."
"....."
Hot-blooded reply.
"Confident? Hold this monster-and-foe infested land with your own power?"
"All men die. But not the same. Live hot— noble death awaits. Live dirty, sneaky— moldy end fits. I'll live hot, fierce. Storm-life, no regrets in death."
Fools living day-by-day same as desire-soaked scum? Wrong.
Silence fell.
Yaiks eyed cup, not me.
"Fine. As you wish."
'Success!'
Unexpected yes— inward cheer.
Lowly commander sans proper wyvern, but his word put thousands of elites under me.
"But a condition."
'Eh? Condition?'
No big win without strings.
"Prove worthy to rule in Lukens's stead."
Sudden qualification talk.
"What qualification...?"
"One month exact. Topple Lukens in that time. Then soldiers and all military supplies as you wish."
'Hmm...'
Outrageous yet obvious.
My skill superior, but solo-defending Neruman unprovable easily.
Lukens ruled ten years with iron fist.
Even I'd hand to proven Lukens over greenhorn me.
Many nobles worse than him anyway.
"Understood. I'll prove as Count wills."
"Haha. Right. Knight claims right after proving duty and skill first. Kayer, show me. I'll watch."
Yaiks boomed laugh at my answer.
"Now! Another round. Can't leave bottle for meeting a friend like you."
Like solid-pals, he refilled casually.
"Thanks. This to Lord Romero of Bonds, who brought us together."
Cup brimmed with poison brew.
Gulp— tossed it back strong.
"Kuh...."
Burned mouth tingling away.
Felt like my words.
Hot, fiery, deep taste.
Mirrored the life I dreamed.