Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Black Wolf Leader, Requiem
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# Serenia Castle, East Gate.
The day of the subjugation had arrived. In the meantime, Judah had met with Jeanne and explained the change of plans, asking her to join them. Without a word of protest, she gladly agreed and came to his home as soon as her equipment was repaired. Tia was happy to see Jeanne return but eyed her with a hint of discomfort. It seemed to stem from the news that she and Judah would be leaving Serenia Castle together.
That uneasy gaze didn't last long, though. Tia must have realized she was being pointless about it, so she spoke to Jeanne in advance, asking her to take good care of Judah. They rose early in the morning and finished preparing for the subjugation war, waiting at the lord's castle for the others to arrive. Around six-thirty, a knight showed up. It was Charles, the knight who commanded the east gate guards. Fully armored as usual, he politely greeted Jeanne and Tia before leading them to the east gate.
Outside the gates, four hundred soldiers and ten knights—four hundred ten in total—stood in formation. On the other side, porters carried the soldiers' rations and cooking tools on their backs. It would have been ideal to bring wagons, but the forest's terrain made it impossible in pathless areas, so they had no choice but to rely on manpower.
Judah examined the soldiers' armor. Many wore outfits made from the same material as his own. It looked like the castle had repurchased a good portion of the black wolf hides he'd sold to the mage tower and the clothing shop. The knights, of course, donned their signature plate armor.
The soldiers stood in perfect order, a truly impressive sight. Of course, the participants might feel like dogs on parade, but to onlookers, it was heartwarming.
Crowds of residents had climbed the walls to watch. Among them were families and lovers of the soldiers in formation. Thanks to Judah's two years of near-slaughtering the black wolves, the townsfolk were quite supportive of the subjugation operation. They forced smiles, saying the trained soldiers would return like they'd gone on a picnic.
*Hmm. With this level of armament, casualties should be minimal.*
Guided by Charles, Judah moved to the rear of the soldiers while thinking. He wasn't sure of the details, but Kaseun had once mentioned that the soldiers' training was quite rigorous. Given their individual shields and longswords, they wouldn't die easily.
The lord ascended a small platform in front of the gates and delivered a brief speech to boost morale.
It didn't feel like the principal's morning assembly pep talk from school. His voice was deep and powerful, sure to lift the listeners' spirits. The content wasn't anything special, of course.
*Kain and Liel are here too.*
Spotting a group detached from the soldiers in distinct armament, Judah narrowed his eyes for a closer look. It was Kain's party. Their eyes didn't meet. They seemed entranced by the lord—the Spirit Sword bearer—staring foolishly up at the platform.
*What poor attitudes.*
Having seen them with the fighter Ea, Judah couldn't use her attitude without raising suspicion. He could claim he'd picked it up from the ground where they'd been separated, but after trying to kill each other that day, they wouldn't buy it easily. To avoid any doubt, he'd decided to use his repaired bastard sword.
"—That's all. Return safely."
The speech ended right on cue. As the front knight bellowed "Charge!" watching the lord turn and descend crisply, the soldiers stomped their feet in unison. *That must hurt,* was all Judah could think.
The four hundred soldiers divided into ten groups of forty. As prearranged, Kaseun took Kain's group ahead, while the remaining ten squads entered the forest at set intervals. As Judah pondered which group to follow, Guard Captain Charles approached and told them to stick with his.
"Judah, you're with us."
Puzzling over groups, Charles called out. The forty soldiers looked familiar—they were east gate guards. They greeted him warmly. He wanted to exchange greetings one by one, but with other squads already entering the forest, there was no time for chit-chat. He took position at the front with Charles and entered the woods.
The ten squads advanced in a crescent formation. Charles's group was at the bottom tip. He could see another squad maintaining distance to the left.
With Spirit Sword bearer Kaseun Sabnak joining, the soldiers encircled and advanced broadly through the forest with notable composure. Near the entrance, no black wolves appeared even hours after entry. But soon, cheers erupted from a distant squad—they'd encountered one.
By the time the noise died down, Judah spotted a bloodied black wolf fleeing far off. Its scanning gaze swept the area, locking onto Judah. The wolf flinched mid-stride, halted briefly, then bolted again.
*Can't let it escape.*
But it was too far, and even thrown daggers likely wouldn't hit. Nearby soldiers with bows loosed arrows, but they struck harmless spots. Dodging through trees and brush amid the volley, the wolf vanished from sight.
Three more hours passed before a rest break. The porters prepared simple meals. Nothing tasty, but hunger left no choice but to eat.
"Not good, is it?"
Jeanne whispered beside him, out of others' earshot. Her frankness no different from Tia's, Judah chuckled and nodded. Without onlookers, he could've pulled ingredients from <Bag> for far tastier, nutritious fare. Regrettable. They set off again after eating.
The earlier escapee must have warned its kin, as no black wolves appeared. As dusk fell, they began setting up camp. No single clearing fit all ten squads, so each found spots separately. Unevenly scattered, the squads prepared. Soldiers deftly cleared brush and lit fires.
"Wolves! Wolves incoming!"
Shouts came from above. Excluding sentries, resting soldiers grabbed weapons and rose swiftly. An explosion—likely Liel's magic—boomed. With Kaseun and Kain's group up there, no worries. The issue was here. Tia scanned around, climbed a tree. Jeanne, sitting on a log stump instead of a chair, glanced back and said,
"Enemies."
As she spoke, red eyes gleamed in the deepening twilight forest, launching a surprise assault.
*Graaaang!*
A hefty pack charged with thunderous howls. Cheers from the side suggested all ten squads faced attacks.
"Form groups of four! Porters, move inside the soldiers to avoid bites!"
Charles commanded swiftly. With personal shields, and everyone armed after the upper shouts, the ambush caused minimal damage.
Jeanne eyed the oncoming wolves, summoned mana to call her armor. Silver particles gathered into gleaming plate, drawing awed gasps from watching soldiers. Ignoring them, she raised her shield against the charge.
*Yelp?*
The wolf had aimed its forehead at the shield but tumbled back with a rolling sensation, yelping in confusion. That was its end. Judah behind gripped his bastard sword two-handed and cleaved it down. Starting with the first, black wolves surged like a tidal wave.
*Wait, how many are there?*
Judah flung a dagger from his belt at the horde, questioning. The blade flew toward a wolf's brow. Scoffing, it swatted with a forepaw.
*Clang!*
"Huh?"
It deflected the dagger. Stunned, Judah reached for a second but paused. Coincidence? Testing with another didn't seem wise.
"Tighten up! Shields out!"
Per Charles's order, four-man groups thrust shields forward. Wolves leaping brush and earth grinned gumily at the sight. They crouched, then vaulted with immense power, aiming to land behind.
Judah wouldn't let that happen. He dashed ahead of the landing wolf. Eyes met—its bared teeth froze as [Black Wolf Slayer] triggered, body flinching. Missing attack timing, Judah two-handed his bastard sword, slashing upward. A forepaw flew, chest gushed blood.
"Judah! Nice!"
A soldier cheered. No time to respond. Wolves closed in, headbutting shields.
*Thud!*
Wolves rebounded like struck by clubs; shieldmen staggered back steps. No counterattack room. One rebounds, next charges. Soldiers kept retreating, swords undrawn. One tripped on a rock, fell back. A wolf pounced atop.
*Not good.*
Judah rushed, decapitating the neck-biting wolf, frowning. Ignoring thanks, he scanned. More wolves than expected. Moving to aid others, a chilling aura prickled.
*Whoosh-crack-crack!*
Ten meters off, razor wind tore earthskin, felling trees and brush in a swath.
"What the?"
Kaseun's doing? Nothing else explained it but the Spirit Sword owner's slash. Not just Judah—stunned wolves halted before the freakish power. Then, a long howl echoed from the forest depths.
*Awwooooo!*
Wolves retreated, fleeing without looking back.
Continued assault with numerical superiority would've hurt badly, but that menacing strike justified retreat. Reinforcements from adjacent squads helped. Soldiers sighed in relief at the full withdrawal.
Short ambush, Jeanne, Tia, and Judah saving near-victims kept casualties low: claw scratches, minor skin tears from falls. Sheathing his sword, Judah checked the quest window.
「Lord's Request 2」
[Black Wolf Leader - Requiem 0/1]
[Black Wolf Leader 1/80]
[Black Wolf 38/800]
Rough count: eight dead here. That strike must've swept thirty more, plus a leader as bonus. Watching soldiers recover bodies and reset camp, Judah approached the slash site. Guard Captain Charles and others gawked. Jeanne spotted Judah, grabbed his hand excitedly, pulled him close.
"Look, Judah. Incredible, isn't it? A Spirit Sword owner's strike. Never dreamed I'd witness this. Feels like heaven sent you and your companions as fate!"
To her, a swordswoman, it was grand honor. Emotionally reserved usually, she beamed now.
"Oh, right."
Her gaze shifted to Tia, who'd followed. Tia averted the intense stare.
"Didn't you say Tia was in Sir Kaseun's mercenary band? Enviable. Must've seen such divine power often."
"No, not that often. Just occasionally."
"What situations? If you're okay, tell me?"
"Uhmm."
Tia shot pleading eyes at Judah—like asking to bail her out—but what excuse? Sadly, he couldn't help.
Listening, Judah eyed the upheaved earth. Hard to believe a sword swing caused this. Shadow swordsmanship and heresy arts already defied reality, but Spirit Sword ownership seemed greater. Fragment bearers mostly wielded such power.
*Collecting fragments won't be easy.*
Judah sighed softly.
========== Afterword ==========
Class registration success!
Nearly missed one, but clinging all day paid off—one spot opened. Hehe.
Good luck to everyone registering~!
Woooheeng hwang heheheng hehe!