Chapter 201
Chapter 201
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Chapter 5-1. These People Here Are Gifts Prepared for You.
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"You handled them quickly."
Via, who had been waiting ahead, said with a surprised expression.
Well, quickly... It was embarrassing to hear it from her.
Without even infusing mana, Yakal possessed tremendous attack power, and Altemia granted near-invincibility against masses of living beings that bled—this pair of fragments had allowed him to clear them in similar time. Otherwise, it would have taken much longer.
"There's no need to be impressed. If anything, I'm more surprised by you."
"Me?"
Judah nodded. She had gone to deal with knights just like him, yet she had returned even faster without a single drop of blood on her.
'...?'
Looking at her, he wondered if the two of them could just charge into the enemy lines alone, kill everyone, and come back. The only ones who could match Via were probably Star Sovereign, Counterforce, and Thunder Lord on the enemy side. But they were already far in, and there might be more Spirit Sword owners among the foes, so he didn't attempt anything reckless.
If he could freely set save points for resurrection regardless of count, he could have challenged various things, gathered info even through failures—but with a twinge of regret, Judah glanced back at the receding enemy camp and pressed on. With the pursuing knights slain, no more chasers came.
As night fell and they rested, a faintly glowing owl flew in from afar. It fluttered straight to Via, landing on her outstretched arm. She closed her eyes briefly, pressed her forehead to the owl's, and sighed.
"Something wrong?"
"It seems we're the only ones who achieved results from the hit-and-run."
Via offered no further explanation. She seemed focused, receiving separate intel via the owl. He didn't know the details, but even with other Spirit Sword owners in different units, they hadn't inflicted major damage.
Well, thinking about it, that made sense. Attacking ten thousand-plus foes with just two thousand was reckless. No advantageous terrain like canyons or hills, no timing either. Their edges were mobility and range, but even those were risky—failing to inflict damage wasn't disappointing.
On the contrary, just instilling vigilance with this raid might be a huge consolation. At least, that's what Judah thought. But if it only slowed their march without real damage, the enemies would keep advancing diligently. Via seemed worried about that too, as she stood up. At her movement, nearby resting elves reacted immediately.
"We'll hit them once more, then fall back to the fortress. Judah."
"?"
"You and I lead the charge into the enemy. Elves provide rear support. With we two Spirit Sword owners stirring up their camp, we can deal heavier blows."
"...Alright."
Judah agreed without protest. He had considered something similar during the day. Relying on faint moonlight, they approached the enemy camp again. Even without opening his Demon Eye, the [Longcoat Made from Requiem's Leather] granted [Blessing of Moonlight], heightening his object perception in the dark for easy movement. Fortunately—or perhaps perfectly—snowflakes swirled like falling leaves, making it hard for enemies to spot him and the elves. As they crept closer, Via halted Judah.
"Stop. Magic traps ahead."
A few elves from the rear advanced, swiftly dispelling the spells. But it took time, and who knew how many more lay ahead. These trap-like magics were probably set after the daytime raid.
Irritated by the delay, Judah strode forward to the spell the elves were working on and dispelled it using fragment <Valentine>'s power. The elf dispelling it startled.
"Let's go."
Judah dashed without hesitation. Via looked like she wanted to ask something but clamped her mouth shut and followed. With enough mana, any number of spells were meaningless. But two thousand couldn't all follow Judah's pace, so other approaches took longer. Briefly pondering, Judah decided to dispel only for him and Via charging together, leaving the rest to the elves.
Nearing the enemy camp, silhouettes of soldiers by campfires flickered through the snow. Huddled for warmth against the cold, perhaps. Via silently raised a hand to halt the unit, then summoned the wind spirit, Sylphid. The fierce wind that could veer arrows suddenly shifted favorably for the elves.
The elves wordlessly nocked arrows, aiming at visible foes. To avoid misses, multiple targeted each. Via tapped Judah's shoulder, signaling to advance, and he followed her stealthily.
"Man, what's with this damn cold?"
"There's a reason they pay so well. And how much extra for every elf you catch? We're here for the money, or I wouldn't have come."
"Nah? I'm here for the elves."
Drawing close revealed their chatter despite the distance.
'Mercenaries?'
Regular troops seemed pulled back. Or maybe night watch was mercenary duty. As Judah and Via strode boldly, those warming by the fire startled, pointing.
"Hey, those guys... Gahk!"
But before finishing, an arrow pierced his heart. The mercenary beside him gaped, forgetting the cold momentarily. The heart-shot one gurgled, reaching out—then another arrow hit his head.
"Uwaa—"
Before he could scream, an arrow struck him too. Not all fell so easily, though. Despite stiffened bodies, one mercenary swiftly hoisted a corpse as shield.
"Ambush!"
He bellowed impressively, but it drowned in the sudden gale. The arrow pierced corpse and man alike.
"Good work, Sylphid."
Via, walking abreast, said that and drew a narrow-bladed sword from her waist. She smiled at Judah—beautiful, but chilling if one caught the killing intent beneath.
"Shall we?"
"...Yeah."
With Demon Eye open, Judah saw fire arrows raining down. Like shooting stars, they arced far to fall on mercenary tents. No oil pouches, yet flames spread fast. One blaze writhed alive-like—probably a fire spirit.
With wind spirit fanning, tents ignited instantly. Sleeping mercenaries burst out in panic.
Darkness lit up, screams unending. Not pleasant, but proof of solid damage. Via charged the escapees as elves shot support.
Pik-pik—watching falling mercenaries, Judah summoned Wraith Knights, drew his bastard sword, and attacked. Amid roaring flames, swirling snow, and arrow barrages, they barely resisted.
Judah wrapped mana around his bastard sword. The glass-clear blade gleamed in firelight. Raised overhead and slashed down—a slash wave extended. Like Kaseun at Selenia Castle once, it pulverized all in its path.
'Something's off. Are mercenaries just cannon fodder?'
After a daytime raid, nights should be heavily guarded. Despite spells and mercs, the success felt too easy, unsettling. Judah shrank 's range to scan wide. As expected, red dots rapidly encircled his allies.
"Via!"
He called, approaching her. She paused mid-swing toward him, eyes questioning. Judah suggested retreat.
"......"
Via met his gaze, then nodded—enough harassment done. As Judah released Wraith Knights to fall back, he spotted figures bursting from forming enemy lines amid surging presences.
One stealthily closing met his eyes. He smirked, lip curling. His sword's translucent blade glinted in flames.
'Spirit Sword owner!?'
As expected, more besides Star Sovereign. Two Wraith Knights blocked him, but—flash—a line slashed; they crumbled untried, melting shadow-like into air. Judah instantly used [Shadow Deployment] [Potential Release], raising his sword.
Kclang!
Swords clashed; he grinned, flashing yellow teeth in satisfaction.
"Nice! Great power."
Their blades trembled apart; Judah frowned. No wonder the easy ambush—mercs and adventurers mere bait. Pushed back by raw strength despite his charge.
Feeling the gap, Judah debated drawing Yakal, but priority was retreat, not this Spirit Sword foe. showed red dots swarming flanks.
Stepping back, Judah regained balance. The foe leisurely watched, unmoving.
"Anyway, this is surprising. Humans allying with elves? Didn't they hate all humanity?"
========== Author's Notes ==========
1. Thanks for celebrating chapter 200. But lately my stomach felt queasy, and it finally acted up ㄷ. Feels periodically painful, but probably imagination. Stay healthy, everyone—watch for colds!
(Even comments wished me health,... *sniffles*)
2.
Q. Has Yakal's ownership test passed? I recall it wasn't acknowledged at first acquisition.
A. No, it hasn't. Yakal still covets Judah's body. Pointless, though.
Q. Why are all knights like that? Isn't sizing up foes only for Spirit Swords? Knights aren't top fighters; they should be cautious after one look, not all so unbelievable..!! They'll get wiped.
A. Ack, sorry. Tweaked a bit; I'll watch this going forward...
Q. 30k elves too OP? If elite rangers, one-shot marksmen, they could shred 200k in forest like Mongol horsemen—30k superhumans ㄷㄷㄷ
A. I considered that; Via's group are elites among the 30k. Elves need disadvantage anyway.