Chapter 293
Chapter 293
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.63 – A Knight's Valor Knows No Recklessness (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Clank!
Thud!
Rumble rumble rumble.
Modred's palisade stood firm.
Though they had claimed to repair only the bare necessities as if whining about it, the reality was that the palisade Modred had built towered higher and sturdier than most stone walls. Traps overflowed around it, thorough in every variety.
Artificially created marshes and sinkholes, along with all sorts of poisons and landmines, littered the ground everywhere.
The palisade itself might seem like mere wood, but it was reinforced with mud packed at regular intervals, and monster bones mixed in to boost its durability. It could easily withstand the weight of dozens of large monsters.
It was truly awe-inspiring that humans had constructed such a fortress, but in a way, it was only natural.
This was a stronghold that had held out for decades—far beyond a mere five years—trapped here while fending off waves of fiends.
To slay fiends, they had evolved relentlessly. It was only natural that not only the warriors' individual prowess had advanced, but the fortress's grandeur as well.
The Fortress of Wailing.
This bastion, steeped in Modred's decades of history and blood, always instilled unshakeable faith in the warriors.
The belief that no matter what happened, this fortress would never fall.
"-If we can hold out even for an hour, that'll be fortunate."
...Thus, I declare. Today, this fortress will crumble.
And why not?
...Because it couldn't possibly hold out for over an hour against that massive army.
Goblins.
Kobolds and gnolls.
Hell hounds.
It was the first time.
The first time seeing such a massive horde of monsters gathered in one place.
They swarmed so densely it was repulsive, and just looking at them sapped one's will to fight. But the most horrifying fact was that this was merely the 'beginning'.
"There's still a long way to go behind them."
The 'real heavyweights', the so-called mid-sized and large monsters, remained stationary.
Yet strangely, they weren't moving. This was because...
"Ha, these fiends dare to underestimate Modred."
They believed their current forces were enough, or they would only move after annihilating them—an arrogance.
Larger monsters were said to be more cunning or arrogant, and indeed, the mid-to-large ones proved it by sitting back like spectators, deploying only the small monsters.
Filthy fiends acting like haughty nobles?
...Yet, anger aside, he had to admit it.
Even using only small monsters, the outcome was already hopeless.
There were over 100,000 small monsters alone, enough to inspire terror in their swarming masses.
Even more terrifying was the fact that another 100,000 lurked behind them...
"......"
Some soldiers stayed silent, but their lips and hands trembled uncontrollably.
They had thought they'd forgotten fear over the years, but maintaining composure before such an overwhelming army was exceedingly difficult.
The horrific malice and killing intent emanating from hundreds of thousands of monsters was suffocatingly thick, imposing immense terror and pressure on its own.
In truth, it was only natural for humans to feel fear.
Even so.
"Everyone, aim!"
"Prepare the volley! Fire until the barrels melt—it doesn't matter! Keep shooting relentlessly until the end!"
"The [Flame Cannons] too! Don't think about what comes after! Even if they break, it doesn't matter! Fire until the very last—!!"
Feeling the fear yet refusing to lose their battle spirit, they entered combat readiness at any moment, aiming rifles and cannons straight ahead.
In that hair-trigger tension.
Whoosh!
The monsters howled in unison.
"!?"
"Urk!"
"H-Hold on...!"
This tingling sensation prickling through their entire bodies.
Monster Fear.
It was the monsters' innate fear aura unleashed all at once. They had endured up to 10,000 before, but 100,000 monsters' combined Monster Fear was something even they had never experienced.
Even 100,000 humans shouting in unison would be overwhelming; the roar of 100,000 fiends became a powerful attack in itself.
Some felt their insides churn and staggered, while nosebleeds broke out everywhere.
No matter how tough, this was too much...
Boom!!
"......?"
In an instant, an incomprehensible—no, unbelievable—phenomenon occurred.
A voice, a roar too massive for any human throat, thundered like a cannon, canceling out the Monster Fear...
Rooooar...
The monsters themselves fell silent, some even convulsing and twitching.
And the man who had countered roar with roar took the first step forward amid everyone's attention.
"-Margrave. I know it's rude, but may I deliver the declaration of war first?"
"...What's with the sudden formal speech? It doesn't suit you."
"Accept the respect when it's offered. You're the overall commander; in wartime, you deserve proper deference."
"......"
It was such a normal remark, impossible to associate with the overwhelming presence he'd just unleashed. Cain felt bewilderment and deflation simultaneously.
What was that?
'Newly realized, but truly, who is this guy from?'
A human matching the aura of 100,000 monsters...
'During the five years we were gone, did humans like this become commonplace out there?'
Cain even entertained such absurd thoughts, but one thing was clear: this impossible human was on his side.
'Reliable!'
Though 100,000 monsters loomed before them, it felt as if their camp held warriors equal to another 100,000.
Thus.
"Do as you please."
"I'll take that as permission."
Whoosh!
The moment permission was granted, he immediately lifted his foot as if to kick something.
Like kicking a ball? But then the soldiers noticed the massive boulder in front of him, which they'd overlooked due to his sheer presence.
As they wondered what he was doing.
Whoosh-!
...The boulder soared high into the sky like a bouncy ball, tracing a massive arc.
"...?"
The soldiers gaped like fools at the surreal sight once more, and it wasn't limited to them.
Even the monsters blinked and gawked foolishly.
The incoming object traced a 'magnificent arc' slowly yet with tremendous spin...
Whoosh!
And crashed into them.
KABOOM!!
The next instant, the boulder—not a cannon—unleashed a massive shockwave, sweeping the surroundings.
"......"
"How's that? Not a bad declaration of war, right?"
"......"
"Margrave?"
"...Just speak casually."
"Pardon?"
"Hearing formal speech from you gives me chills."
"?"
"...Unbelievable."
What is that guy?
...Scary.
It's cold.
Bam!
Kick again.
BOOM!!
Lee Han kicked boulders one after another, as if practicing mid-range shots.
Fortunately, there were plenty of 'balls'—no, boulders—to kick.
'More useful than heavy machinery, this guy?'
The moment he told the brute who only had brute strength that he needed boulders, they started arriving endlessly.
"This Felix! Will carry out the mission!!"
At times like this, that stubbornness was helpful.
Hauling 1-ton, or even 2- or 3-ton boulders single-handedly without end.
If nothing else, that dogged persistence and diligence deserved recognition.
Thus,
'Gotta repay him for his hard work.'
BOOM!!
Lee Han's kicked boulder soared into the air.
Like hurling it from a trebuchet...!
The trick to making it possible was simple.
Not smashing the boulder, but infusing it purely with 'force' and kicking it—that was the knack.
Once you got the feel, it was easy. Similar in principle to One Strike Hole.
However, unlike striking with One Strike Hole, he couldn't unleash full power.
If facing few foes, maybe, but with so many, stamina management was essential.
In that sense, the One Strike Hole power Lee Han was outputting was only about 10% of normal.
Well, even so...
'More than enough for these low-level scum.'
KABOOM!!
Each falling boulder, each trebuchet shot, rang out with tremendous impact, sweeping away monsters.
Dozens shattered into chunks upon impact, like a choreographed play.
The monsters seemed to deliberately not block, dying as if scripted...
'David didn't beat Goliath for nothing.'
To put it simply, what Lee Han was doing wasn't just throwing stones—it was slingshotting boulders.
The boulder retained its full weight and speed, infused with Lee Han's transcendent energy. Its power rivaled cannons, or surpassed them due to maximized mass—beyond imagination.
And goblins blocking it?
Ridiculous. Even large monsters would have their heads explode on direct hit. No way goblins could block it, no matter what...
However,
Crack!
Yet monsters weren't brainless despite their arrogance.
The large-type, 'Mountain King', appeared for the first time, lightly crushing goblin chunks and shattering the boulder outright.
Without carelessness, the Mountain King was formidable.
Enough to pulverize an incoming boulder slingshot.
As expected of the tyrant of the mountains.
Arrogant yet not blindly so, the king of the mountains revealed its overwhelming presence, rising first among the large-types.
It felt like a king stepping forth in place of inept subordinates, and goblins and gnolls bowed like fawning vassals at the ogre's appearance.
Splat!
Even as the bowing goblins burst like balloons under the ogre's feet...
Immense violence and strength—an upper-rank monster among monsters, the most infamous in civilian tales.
Not because it was common, but because its power made it so well-known.
They said if you encountered one by chance, either flee for your life or give up living.
Thus, the Mountain King.
Revealed its presence with a mighty roar and raised both arms high.
Now it would handle things personally—.
Crack!
One goblin blinked momentarily.
...Why was the Mountain King's head gone?
The answer to the question was simple.
"How can you shoot an arrow like that?"
"Well."
"......"
"Monster intelligence is all the same. No one declared I'd only throw boulders. Anyway, they're easy opponents."
"......"
"Why?"
"...No, nothing."
Felix, voicing doubt about common sense for the first time: wasn't firing an arrow at 200 mph (321.87 km/h) barehanded beyond intelligence issues?