Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Returning Home
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"We are deeply grateful for the grace bestowed upon us by the lord."
"How can you say such disappointing words? As a faithful servant of Lord Neran, it is my duty."
"Lord Neran will not forget that faithful devotion of yours."
This was the conversation between Count Yurhans de Kabalon of the Kabalon County and Harvestrian, the leader of the holy knights.
In the count's office, a warm and friendly discussion was underway.
"Even without that, the development in Neruman was suspicious, but to dare commit the atrocity of kidnapping a priest... If it weren't for you, Harvestrian, we would have been completely deceived."
Count Yurhans was responsible for guarding the border between the Havis Kingdom and the Neruman Plains.
In his late forties with a protruding belly, he looked the epitome of a lazy noble.
Moreover, his oily, desire-filled eyes glistened even during the conversation.
Over the past few months, a man named Kaier had appeared, and border trade had boomed.
At first, he delighted in the substantial tolls, but hearing of Neruman's progress made his stomach ache.
When Harvestrian asked for a favor, he agreed without hesitation.
'100 bottles of top-grade potions. And to be designated as a territory blessed by Lord Neran—what opportunity could be better?'
The potions alone were worth an enormous sum.
On top of that, being selected as a blessed territory meant receiving special privileges from the priests dispatched by the temple.
It was the perfect chance to assert his authority in the territory.
'It needs to develop just moderately. If those Neruman bastards grow too strong, my territory is in danger.'
Major caravans' tolls were covered by inter-nation agreements, so the territory couldn't tax them.
Even if tolls increased, it wouldn't lead to rapid development.
No, if trade with Neruman Plains grew and territory revenue rose, the kingdom would install its own border checkpoint, which would hurt Lord Yurhans even more.
Moderate, lax development in Neruman.
That was the best scenario.
"Then, please take care of Maruri."
"Haha, 'take care'? Don't worry and set off. Our knight order will escort you to the neighboring territory."
Harvestrian showed no agreement but signaled his intent to leave.
With business concluded, Yurhans couldn't hold him back.
'They say she has saint-level divine power... What a shame. A fine woman I hadn't seen in ages.'
Through merchants crossing the border, Yurhans knew.
The novice priestess in his castle was a priestess of tremendous divine power, treated as a saint in Neruman.
And that face he'd seen once.
A stunning beauty rare even in rural territories.
But Yurhans knew his place.
He harbored no foolish greed.
Clatter clatter clatter.
Thud.
"M-My lord! Disaster!!!!!!"
As Yurhans exchanged final farewells with the holy knight, urgent footsteps echoed, and without permission, Chief Knight Habison burst into the lord's office.
"What is this commotion!"
Yurhans bellowed in fury at the knight's rudeness.
"A-Air raid, my lord! A large wyvern force has crossed the border and is flying toward the castle!"
"W-What? Air raid!!!!!!!!!"
Habison's pale face uttering "air raid" turned Yurhans's frowning expression ghostly white.
"Approximately 40 wyverns flying from the Neruman direction, my lord. The vanguard includes black wyverns and even gold wyverns—an immense force!"
"Gasp!! 4-40?"
The Havis Kingdom guarded national borders but had meager forces overall.
Yurhans's wyverns numbered only 15 in total.
"How long until the enemy arrives!"
The holy knight Harvestrian asked in shock.
He'd thought crossing the border would prevent pursuit, no matter how capable the lord, but things had gone awry.
For a mere territorial lord to cross into another kingdom's borders—not even a neighbor—was unthinkable.
Yet, the unthinkable had happened.
"They just crossed the border airspace moments ago, so they'll arrive soon. My lord, give the order."
The chief knight urged the lord for commands while answering the holy knight.
A misstep could spark war between nations.
And with the great empire Bazran, no less.
"This must be that lord's unilateral action. The Bazran Empire would never permit an invasion by Neruman scum they've practically abandoned."
Harvestrian snapped the dazed count back to reality.
"T-Then what should we do? That lord Kaier is said to be invincible in the skies!!"
Gone was the confidence assuring no worries; Yurhans was gripped by terror.
He could never imagine invading across borders himself.
"Report to the royals immediately and request aid from neighboring territories. Even 40 wyverns can't take this fortress of a castle. Some soldiers may die, but that's no great loss to you, Count. And... if we handle this well, I'll personally ask the temple for 100 bottles of top-grade holy water as a bonus. No, if done right, you could claim reparations for the border provocation."
The urgent Harvestrian tempted Count Yurhans.
As long as they secured the Armis priestess, 100 wasn't an issue—1,000 would be fine.
"R-Right. Heh... No matter how skilled a sky knight, they can't breach this fortress."
"Exactly. Plus, if we holy knights and the temple vouch for Neruman's aggression afterward, even the Bazran imperial court can't complain."
"Oh! If you do that, what more could I ask? The castle has 3,000 well-trained elite soldiers. With royal and neighbor aid requests, 40 wyverns will be repelled soon enough."
The count fell for Harvestrian's sweet persuasion.
"Habison, issue combat orders to all forces at once. Also, use the magic communicator to urgently request aid from the royals and neighbors!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the count's command, the chief knight shouted "Yes!" and rushed out.
"A wise decision."
"It's the duty of a noble, isn't it? How could I stand idle as a fearless lord invades our border? It would shame me as the king's vassal. Hahaha."
Terror fled, replaced by arrogance and greed.
The temple would give 100 extra bottles of top-grade holy water.
Plus certain war reparations.
Yurhans knew well.
Bazran had long abandoned Neruman Plains.
'Heh heh heh. Foolish lord. Today, I'll take everything you have!'
Kabalon Castle, built sturdy against monster and foreign invasions since ancient times.
One of the kingdom's top five fortresses.
Attacking such a fortress with sky knights alone, without infantry support, was impossible.
Confident of victory, Yurhans pondered reparations.
A windfall had rolled in.
Refusing it would make him the world's fool.
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'Armis....'
Nearly 40 wyverns took off from the Sky Knight Order.
More wyverns remained, but sky knights were short.
They flew nonstop, crossing the border.
Ding ding ding ding dang!
Ears rang with blaring emergency bells.
'So you want blood.'
Soon after crossing, a massive fortress appeared.
Perched on a sudden hillock in the plains, it resembled a huge granite boulder of solid stone.
Thousands of soldiers atop its walls.
Aiming arrows, burning with hostility.
Piiing! Pibing! Pibing!
Flying in crane wing formation over the castle, massive arrows flew.
Dozens of mechanical giant longbows targeted the wyverns.
'Fools.'
Like eggs against rock.
Swoooosh.
He urged Bebeto toward the castle's center.
"Fire!"
Swoosh swoosh swoosh.
As they neared the walls, waiting archers loosed arrows.
Krooooar!
Bebeto wouldn't retreat from mere arrows.
Roaring furiously, he swiftly brushed past the wall's archers.
"Aaaargh!"
Dozens of soldiers lost balance in the wind from his massive wings, flailing.
"I am Viscount Kaier de Neruman! This territory's lord, come before me immediately!!!!!!"
Circling the walls, he bellowed with mana-infused voice, calling the lord.
He couldn't attack a Havis castle on guild intel alone.
Moreover, he had ties with Rosiatte.
"Attack! Leave no invaders who assault the kingdom!"
Pibibibing. Swoosh swoosh swoosh.
Soldiers ignored his warning echoing throughout the castle.
Loosing arrows and giant bolts relentlessly.
Swish!
He drew a single blessed spear.
Sky knights behind followed suit, drawing spears.
"Come out!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Whiiiing.
Activating mana, he infused the spear.
Flash!
He hurled it fiercely at an attack tower.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh.
Spears sliced air in his wake.
Boom! Kwagwagwagwang!
Screeech.
The tower, standing proud moments ago, couldn't withstand, punched with a massive hole.
Spears embedded successively across the castle.
"Arrrgh!"
"Aaaah!!"
Screams of soldiers hit by spears or crushed by debris echoed through the castle.
"Come out!!!!!!!!!"
His third rage-filled voice swirled within.
But the silent castle.
Flash! Flash flash.
Suddenly, twenty beams of light flashed from within, hurtling toward him and the wyverns.
'Spears!'
Surprisingly, Havis knights on ground wielding spears.
"Shield!"
"Dodge!"
Sky knights whirling above hastily raised shields.
Thud!
Kueeeek!
Some wyverns struck in wings by sudden spears, uttering pitiful cries.
No more words needed for these.
He raised his hand.
Powerful mana flow followed his will.
"Fire Ball!"
Fireball, with greatest visual impact.
At his incantation, a blazing sun formed in midair.
Swoooosh.
It plunged straight toward the castle gate—its lifeblood.
"D-Dodge!!!!!!"
"Aaaah!"
Gate soldiers no match from the start.
Meters-wide fireball blazing from sky; they dropped weapons, fleeing every which way.
Boom!
Failing to shatter stone gate, magic flames exploded outward with deafening roar.
Roar roar.
The gate instantly became a sea of fire.
Flash!
Then, a dozen spears flew toward him and Bebeto in retort.
'Fools!'
They must have thought sky knights alone couldn't touch them hiding in stone walls.
Thus, rat-like knights hurling spears from hiding.
Soldiers expendable, so they'd shoved them as arrow fodder.
But they erred.
Before him of all people, scheming.
The price: felt in flesh.
"Fire Blaster!!!!!!!"
Memorized 6-circle attack spell.
He cast toward incoming spears.
Whirring! Pop!
6-circle Fire Blaster infused with 7-circle mana will.
It sucked ambient mana, resonating, then flashed red—storm of fire manifested.
Roar.
Dozens of flaming meteors hurtled with immense spin to his willed target.
Thud thud thud.
Incoming spears deflected by fireballs.
'Don't blame me.'
Deflected fireballs charged toward knights hiding in castle's dark crevices.
Kwagwagwagwang.
Fire Blaster's denser mana due to higher circle.
Burrowed between stone walls where knights hid, exploding.
"Arrrgh!"
"Aaaah!"
Exploding into chained fireballs claiming every direction.
A dozen knights, engulfed in unquenchable flames clinging to armor, rolled out.
Roar.
6-circle spell with 7-circle mana.
Dozens of meters turned to hellish inferno in an instant.
Gifting unimaginable heat.
Thud!
From atop Bebeto flying over inner training grounds, he leaped down.
Blind magic attacks wouldn't suffice.
He needed to find Armis himself.
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'T-This can't be!'
Lord Yurhans peered through stone gaps at the battle.
Mouth agape, he watched his castle become a sea of fire.
Unheard-of tactics.
He'd cleverly kept sky knights grounded, spearing—but the demon nullified all, burning the stone fortress.
"Hic! Hic!"
Yurhans suddenly hiccupped.
Terror blanked his mind.
"Come out! I am Viscount Kaier of Neruman! This territory's lord, appear before me immediately!!!!!"
A rage-filled roar calling him.
The helmetless man had black hair gleaming in sunlight.
"M-My lord...."
Chief Knight Habison called fearfully.
Unprecedented combat.
Sky knights typically suppressed enemy wyverns or hurled stones/wood for ground attacks.
This man shattered those norms.
A one-man army.
High-circle magic demolished soldier morale; now sword drawn, seeking the lord.
Standing boldly alone in the central training grounds.
'Damn... this isn't right!'
Plan: Neruman wyverns/sky knights waste time and spears atop walls.
Instead, they'd landed inside, hunting Viscount Yurhans.
Thud thud.
Not just that.
Five knights landing beside Kaier.
Like him, helmetless; ominous power emanated.
"Flame Flare!"
"Lightning Field!"
"Inferno!"
"Wind Tornado!"
"Fire Field!"
Defying expectations, 5-circle magics unfolded.
Kwagwagwang. Boom boom boom.
Roar!
All buildings around training grounds crumbled, soaring aflame into ash.
'High-circle battle mages!'
Yurhans's castle had but one 4-circle mage.
Trembling with chest-gripping fear, he ordered the chief knight.
"S-Surrender intent! Now!!!!!!!!!"
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"Sheathe your swords! S-Surrender! We surrender!!!!!!!!!!!"
After beastkin leaped from wyverns and ended their magic show, a knight crawled out shouting surrender.
'Foolish lot.'
Could've ended peacefully, but only surrendered after blood and destruction.
"Master, just say the word. We'll slaughter them all."
Beastkin eyed shivering soldiers with bloodlust, battle thrill unspent.
One word, and they'd massacre thousands.
"Where is the lord."
"P-Please wait. He'll come soon."
The approaching knight asked to wait.
Thud thud thud.
Moments later, a plump man appeared with a dozen knights.
Face screaming "evil lord" at first glance.
"W-Why have you come to our territory? Do you not know your actions threaten the empire and kingdom's peace?"
Halting 10 meters away, trembling legs feigning calm.
Tempting to skewer that fat gut with a spear.
"Heh...."
Cold laugh instead of reply.
Gulp.
He swallowed dryly at the killing intent.
"Want to die...."
Quiet words sliced the space.
Clang!
"Insolent!"
Knights drew swords before their lord.
"Grrrrr."
"Karr...."
Beastkin growls laced with killing intent followed.
"P-Please hold. We'll grant all you desire."
Foolish but quick-witted.
Knew his knights useless for his life.
"Where is she...."
"She? Who? Gasp!"
Ta!
Before "who" finished, he closed to the lord like teleporting.
"Gasp...."
"Urgh...."
Knights groaned, failing to guard their lord.
"Answer truthfully from now, or your head parts from body today."
Sword at the plump-necked lord's throat.
"S-Speak."
Cunning eyes lost light to death's terror.
"Where is she."
"I-In the underground warehouse there."
Trembling hand pointed to castle's dark interior.
"Hope it's no lie."
"I-It is truth! I swear on Truth God Sipotain!"
Fear of death; used "your servant" reserved for king.
No lie.
"Kill any who resist."
"Understood, master."
Handed lord and knights to beastkin.
'Armis, wait just a bit.'
Armis suffered from his mistake.
Thinking of her, he dashed to underground warehouse.
Praying earnestly she was safe.
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"W-What! Gold wyverns missing from Neruman have appeared!!!"
"Yes, Your Grace. The informant guild reports so clearly."
Bang!
"Y-You bastards!!!!!!!"
Yanovis, one of Raviter Empire's five dukes, slammed the sturdy oak table.
Fortunately, saving the second prince spared the Vermoyan ducal house; else, emperor's wrath would erase centuries of legacy.
Even now, rivals used the gold wyverns and prince crisis to impeach him.
Yet, tails of the prince-killing foes were caught.
"Intel confirms. Not just gold wyverns—dozens missing with prince that day also appeared."
"These orc-shit-sized scum! Daring scorn empire and me... Grr!!"
Yanovis ground teeth, eyes ablaze with fury.
Aged but over 190cm tall, master swordsman unrivaled in empire.
Fiery temper to match.
Head exploding barely described his rage.
"Master, what will you do?"
"What do you think! Revenge! Summon all sky knights now!"
Yanovis bellowed orders as if obvious.
Ducal wyverns over 100; press neighbors, 300 easy.
Enough for major skirmish with average kingdom.
"Master, hold a moment."
Vassal Viscount Dabesyan urged restraint amid rage.
".....?"
Yanovis eyed doubtfully, expecting obedience.
"Not a simple decision. Neruman Plains nominally Bazran territory. Not actively managed like past, but imperial soil. Moreover, he commands nearly 50 wyverns. Attack risks disaster."
"W-What? 50 wyverns? When did Neruman gain so many? Thought just a few squadrons...."
Bazran territory across Kobiran Mountains.
Watched somewhat, but no threat or appeal, so lax.
50-wyvern force changed that.
"Furthermore, Lord Kaier is high-circle magic swordsman. Exact level unknown, but confirmed blade master and 6-circle mage."
"Gasp... H-High-circle magic swordsman!"
Yanovis, fearless through life, groaned at legendary figure from tales.
Magic swordsmen sounded simple, but conflicting mana use doomed most to low circles or ruin.
"More intel first won't hurt. One with such power assigned to Neruman—Bazran has reasons."
"Hmm...."
Yanovis's blazing fury cooled; faint groan, then silence.
Impetuous but no fool.
Thus maintained politics in Raviter Empire.
"Investigate Kaier thoroughly. And... order knights to battle readiness anytime."
"As you will, master."
No overlooking this.
Ignoring prince revenge despite knowing foe would make him empire's joke, shunned by court.
'Kaier... Kaier....'
Yanovis repeated Neruman Viscount Kaier's name.
Thick rage turned killing intent, blazing blue in his eyes.
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Kwang!
Solid iron door at underground warehouse entrance flew off with beastkin's kick.
'Holy knights....'
Vast underground warehouse.
Fitting a fortress, sturdy stone pillars supported space.
Dim magic lamps lit interior; 100m in, people visible.
Holy knight garb unmistakable from afar.
White cloaks gleamed purely in dark, piercing eyes coldly.
Step step.
They didn't move.
Five in total.
Gazing indifferently at approaching him, as if waiting.
"Halt."
He advanced cautiously toward Armis.
But at 20m, one holy knight spoke.
"Where is she."
'Where are you, Armis.'
Holy knights no fear.
But unseen Armis froze his heart.
"Whoever you are, the one you seek isn't here. Cease angering Lord Neran and leave."
"Master, scent from that box."
Before holy knight finished, sniffing Hashipot pointed to black box behind them.
"Filthy bastards...."
Curse burst toward calmly lying holy knights.
Wanted worse, but wasted on them.
Dung flies selling god they didn't grasp.
They knew not.
Their deaths pleased god.
"Last warning. Leave. Novice Priestess Armis is faithful servant of Lord Neran. Depart, and in god's name, forgive your kidnapping of pure Armis. But... ignore, and you'll be enemy of Lord Neran and all temples—die miserably. Not just you, all lives in Neruman Plains...."
Holy knight blabbered absurd threats.
Not just him—all Neruman lives to die.
"Heh heh heh...."
Even 21st-century Korea had such.
Devils selling Jesus/Buddha.
Twisting god's love, preaching death fear, extorting in god's name.
No need to spare them.
Only in death realize their words/actions wallowed in sin's filth like dogs.
"Heh, done talking? Devil spawn."
"You bastard!"
High-and-mighty, pure-acting holy knights shed masks at "devil spawn," eyes blazing fury.
"What, hate hearing? Lick demon shit, you damned curs. Heh heh."
"Die!"
Thud.
Two holy knights charged, unable to contain rage.
Swords swung with transparent silver divine power mimicking mana.
Thud!
He stomped.
'To hell!'
Holy knight title befitting: flawless strike.
Upper/lower body targeted impeccably.
Flash!
But ended there.
Sword blazing blue mana in rage sliced dank underground.
"Guh!"
"Huh!"
Clean groans escaped.
Charging postures froze.
"God's... c-curse...."
Slash!
Mid-"curse," holy knight's words cut short.
Arterial blood sprayed crimson fountain across dank space.
Clatter clatter.
Shoulder to lower ribs horizontally severed—four chunks.
Powerless swords fell amid collapsing flesh, as in mourning.
"Cruel fiend...."
"Lord...."
Life held amusing mongrels.
Their deeds holy, others' sins.
Third-rate movie lines: others adulterers, self romantics.
"Truly fear not god's wrath! Know what you do!!!!"
He knew.
Killing holy knights without cause made all temples enemies.
Unspoken rule: temples worshiping main god's children.
Thus, current arrogance feared no emperor or king.
Just for hollow god-name shells.
"Curious. God preaches love cheaper than coins to bar wenches, yet you invoke god when needy—fear not? After death, hell only—says your daily-read scripture? Heh heh."
"....."
Mockery silenced them; three survivors flushed red-faced.
Step step.
He walked toward Armis.
"Arvatio... Sindatiun...."
Closer, unknown tongue incantations.
'Madmen!'
Fabled holy knight possession spells.
Offer body as sacrifice, gain divine descent power minutes—final incantation.
Whirring.
Dank mana permeated space, swirling to holy knights.
'As expected....'
Dazzling white aura, but his eyes saw nether mana clearly.
Stronger chants, wilder nether mana swirled.
No benevolent god accepts such sacrifice.
Eyes blood-red, unaware.
Their possession offered not served god, but hell/darkness deities.
"Die, evil seed!"
"Arrrgh!"
Holy knights cloaked in holy light storm like skin.
Ordinary folk would feel god descended in fervent blaze.
But he saw.
Demons partying wildly within.
Swoosh.
Three swung 2m demon blades.
Soul-corrupting hell swords on strike.
"Master, danger!"
"Karrgrrr!"
Beastkin sensed peril, raised mana.
'Pitiful souls corrupted.'
Incurable.
Even gods helpless against hell-tainted brains.
Flash!
He stomped.
Holy knights sans priest magic, strength limited however empowered.
His sword, ignorant of pure blade heart, unbowed by fire swords.
Pure blue nature qi breathed as mana, purifying world.
"Protect her!"
Flash flash!
As colliding with berserk holy knights, command dropped.
Beastkin rushed her like wind.
Clang!
Kwang!
Rumble.
Mana sparks flew every way.
Mana shockwave shook underground.
Thud thud thud.
Unspoken, beastkin grabbed black box, leaped out.
"Arrrgh!"
Eyes ruptured blood-red, holy knights—no, demon knights now—charged beastkin.
'Where!'
He blocked door, parried swords.
Kwang!
Demonic possession: superhuman strength.
Beyond master realm.
Serving god but fallen souls maximized dark gods' influence.
White auras gone; pitch-black darkness auras enveloped.
'Danger!'
Holy knights unforeseen.
Thought possession to Neran's embrace post-death.
But god embraced—them: hell lord demon Kerma's foul maw.
Scraaaape.
Raging mana sword etched floor stones, hurled at them.
Boom.
Deflected hurled stones instantly, clung to him.
Flash!
Brief breather amid pants.
"Go! Explosion!!!!!!!!"
Memorized 6-circle fire spell.
Whing whing.
Back to outgoing door, hurled fire orb at them.
"Arrrgh!"
"Kyaaah!"
Final life flames: holy—no, demon knights' flesh.
Swords raised, mindless charge at him.
Souls sans reason craved him as hell companion.
"Ghost Meteor!"
Drew mana from emptied mana hole via magic, final strike.
Nine blade swords.
Boom!
Roar!
Red flame explosion on their charge path.
Shiiiing.
Nine blade swords sliced through fire, demon flesh.
Boom boom boom.
Instant master-comparable power irrelevant.
True master blade swords shredded cursed flesh, vanishing in flames.
"Arrrgh!"
"Aaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Flesh sundered, demon souls fled—screams finally.
Roar.
Mana flames swiftly devoured flesh.
Rumble.
Mana waves toppled pillars, crumbling one by one.
Thud.
He hastily retreated.
"Aaaah! Collapsing!"
"D-Dodge!!!!!!!!"
Fortress core building crumbling; soldier screams echoed.
Kroooar!
Then, Bebeto flew beside.
Thwack!
Kicked ground, mounted Bebeto.
Beastkin atop gold wyvern with Armis's box.
Short, fierce battle ended.
Kwagwagwang.
Behind, massive stone collapse roar.
Dust cloud blanketed fortress instantly.
Kroooar!
Bebeto flapped powerfully skyward.
Rustle.
Refreshing sky breeze, as if washing filthy ground memories.
"Haa...."
Long-suppressed sigh escaped.
Only return to home Neruman remained.