Chapter 151
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Rahnass
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Where the explosion had subsided, the box remained, perfectly intact.
Those who had expected the massive explosion to damage the mana stone cluster cheered at the unexpected outcome.
“As expected of the Young Master…!”
The demonic beasts, too, seemed bewildered, their suicidal offensive having ceased.
‘No, in this case, it wouldn't be the demonic beasts, but the vile breed controlling them.’
They likely never imagined the box containing the mana stone cluster would be this sturdy.
“What kind of bad memory leads someone to make a box out of an adamant alloy?”
“There was a time when the contents were destroyed by a suicidal attack from demonic beasts, just like this one.”
That was when I had to cut off a contaminated branch of the World Tree. And to make it look fine, I had to feed it a vast amount of elixirs.
Though it turned into a blessing in disguise when I purified the contaminated part with holy water and made it a part of Wooden, it was by no means a pleasant experience.
Pernyan had not forgotten that loss. He probably never would.
As is the case with all losses.
“I see you had good reason to be so particular. Still, thanks to you, we protected it, and we've also learned for certain what they're after.”
Rosalia said, slowly advancing.
The air shifted. Some swallowed groans as the mana violently churned.
However, the change was not because of her.
Clank, clank—
Not far away. Amidst the demonic beasts whose crimson eyes flashed in the darkness.
A figure was slowly revealing its presence.
Armor of pure white bone, a battle-axe of an unknown blood-red metal, and a chilling aura.
It was a demonic beast nearly three meters tall with red skin, reminiscent of a knight.
“…What in the world is that.”
A demon?
No, that is not a demon.
Its vicious demonic energy and killing intent were enough to bring a demon to mind, but its fundamental pressure and feel were different.
Pernyan desperately tried to recall any relevant texts.
But Rosalia was a step ahead of him.
“If the texts I read long ago are correct, that is a Rahnass.”
“A Rahnass…?”
“A Grade 1 demonic beast.”
Pernyan sucked in a breath.
While the grading of demonic beasts was an arbitrary system created by humans, it was generally accurate.
And Grade 1 demonic beasts were recorded as the strongest among their kind, beings that even demons did not treat lightly.
The skin-prickling pressure proved that such texts were no exaggeration.
“Pernyan.”
“Yes.”
“I will handle that one. Make sure not a single one of them gets near my property.”
No answer was needed. She had already closed the distance to the Rahnass.
Craaaack!
A massive spear of ice descended upon the Rahnass. The battle-axe, wreathed in black demonic energy, split the spear in two.
The shattered fragments reversed course and attacked the Rahnass again.
The Rahnass took the hits with its body and cleaved Rosalia’s form in two.
The sundered ice statue exploded.
A blizzard raged, and the underground cavern began to freeze over.
“Ugh, fall back!”
“Retreat to a safe distance from the shockwaves!”
The Golden Turtle members quickly retreated.
Fortunately, the underground cavern was vast, and the demonic beasts were also unable to pursue immediately due to the battle's aftershocks.
But that was only for a moment.
Grrrrk!
Kiaaaak!
The demonic beasts charged recklessly, breaking right through the battlefield.
They hadn't hesitated; it had simply taken them a moment to push through the clash.
“Form a defensive line!”
“Hold them back!”
The knights took the lead with swords and shields, supported by the soldiers behind them. Then, the priests of the Dragon God Cult began to unleash their magic.
Even so, the demonic beasts were endless.
“Dammit, what is this? Are we not in Vienderk? How can there be so many demonic beasts!”
“Stop talking and fight! One slip and they'll break through!”
“There are too many!”
“That changes nothing!”
A portion of the cavern, unable to withstand the shock of the fierce battle, collapsed. But neither side retreated.
Shink—
Hyde, having just beheaded a demonic beast that had breached the knights’ barrier and reached the carriage, gritted his teeth.
Even if the vile breeds were using the underground to lure in demonic beasts, was this normal?
If so, just how many demonic beasts were lurking in the Empire's underbelly?
Hyde forced back the unease welling up inside him.
The sheer number of demonic beasts was a problem, but it wasn't the most pressing one at the moment.
“Young Master, at this rate, the cavern will collapse from the shock, and the damage will be immense. We must devise a plan…”
Hyde trailed off mid-sentence.
“…Young Master?”
Pernyan was gone.
“Young Master!”
As if he had never been there at all, he was nowhere to be found.
* * *
Suddenly, a shadow shot up from the ground and swallowed Pernyan.
He tried to resist, but his response was too slow for something that had happened so unexpectedly.
The thick demonic energy was not easily broken through, and Pernyan was dragged down into the abyss.
It wasn't impossible, but it felt as if the speed of his descent was faster than he could ascend.
In the end, Pernyan had no choice but to be sucked further down.
‘Could it be that their target from the beginning wasn't the mana stone cluster, but…’
Only then did he realize.
This trap had been aimed at him, Pernyan, from the very start.
Targeting the mana stone cluster was nothing more than a feint to make them believe so.
Thud—
Pernyan’s feet touched the ground.
The only silver lining was that the ground itself wasn't contaminated with demonic energy.
Wooden pointed forward.
One by one, eerie eyes began to bloom in the darkness.
“So nice to finally meet you. This is our first time, isn't it? But to me, it feels like we've met before.”
Applauding as he emerged from their midst was a single human.
No, it was a vile breed wearing a human guise, one who had sold his soul to a demon.
“Is this your doing?”
“What? The attack on you at sea? Collapsing the ground to drag you down here? That’s right! It was all me. Remember? I told you. You should look forward to what comes next.”
Kikik, the man, who appeared to be in his early thirties, tilted his head and laughed.
His shaggy hair half-covered his face.
“Pernyan Fallenberg. The source of all our ruined plans. If we'd known from the start that you were the problem, not Aint Armian, we wouldn't have had to take such a roundabout way.”
We would have slit your throat long ago! It would have been so much easier, and the continent would already be in shambles!
Heehee, the man held up one of his gaunt fingers.
“Shall I tell you something? We don't actually care about that mana stone cluster.”
No, it wasn't that they had no interest at all.
That cluster, with Itarium as its core, combining hundreds of mana stones and drawing in ambient mana, certainly held enough immense magical power to summon a demon.
It would be nice to have. But for now, it was not the top priority. It had once been number one, but that had changed.
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes, you only made it seem that way. The cluster was a decoy, and the real target was me, wasn't it?”
The vile breed’s eyes widened.
“How did you…?”
“You just said it yourself.”
“Right, I did.”
“But I figured it out even before that.”
“You figured it out? Really?”
“Yes.”
“Don't lie!”
Ruuuumble—
The cavern shook at the man’s shriek.
“There's no way you figured it out! I put so much effort into this!”
“For all that effort, it was rather obvious.”
“Are you calling me an idiot?!”
“I said nothing of the sort.”
Pernyan added an unnecessary comment.
“But I am glad you feel that way about yourself.”
“You…!”
Grinding his teeth, the man bit his lip.
“No one gets to look down on me!”
“Again, I wasn't looking down on you. You're the one who thought so.”
“I knew it, I hate you Fallenberg types! Just as much as the Armians!”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It wasn't a compliment!”
His eyes became bloodshot. The demonic energy bursting forth with his emotions made the surroundings even heavier.
“I am the chosen one! A vessel for His will! How dare a pathetic human like you look down on me, someone who has transcended his species!”
“‘He’?”
“Yes! He is the greatest… wait a minute.”
The man stopped talking.
“You, trying to dig information out of me! You venomous, cunning snake of Fallenberg!”
“I didn't do anything.”
“Shut up! How dare you mock me! You will die here today! By my hand!”
Shwiiik, the vile breed unfurled something.
It was a book. A thick grimoire. A faint light was leaking from it.
──!
With a deafening roar, a black thunderbolt shot out in a straight line.
But it failed to pierce the wall of rock already shielding Pernyan.
“Eek, don't look down on me just because I only recently received this grace! The fact that you're going to die remains unchanged! Everyone, kill him!”
At the vile breed's shout, the demonic beasts that had been standing still began to move.
“…Are they all at least Varga-class?”
The dozens of demonic beasts were, each and every one, extraordinary.
“That's right. In your human classification, I gathered only those Grade 4 and above. What do you think? Can you win? Isn't this enough for your send-off to the afterlife?”
The man cackled.
“How on earth did you bring so many demonic beasts into Vienderk territory?”
“Because we've been preparing for a long time! To bring down the Empire from within, through Vienderk! Just imagine! The Continental Academic Conference is ruined by the descent of Seere, and in that state, demonic beasts attack the returning nobles? Ah, was I not supposed to say that?”
The man’s eyes curved into crescents.
“No, wait. What does it matter? You're going to die soon anyway. Right?”
Mmm, that's right. He nodded, agreeing with his own words.
“Ah, actually, I wanted to send a Rahnass after you to be more certain. But as you can imagine, summoning a demonic beast of that level isn't exactly easy.”
Even if it couldn't compare to a demon, it was difficult all the same.
“I could only mobilize one Grade 1 demonic beast this time, and I had no choice but to use it to keep a mage like Rosalia Vienderk busy. What can you do? It's a shame, but as they say, you make do with what you have. This level should be more than enough to handle you, don't you think?”
“You talk too much.”
“It’s my business! Who are you to try and control what I say!”
The vile breed turned a page in the book. A thunderbolt, larger than before, struck down.
Pernyan hastily thrust his staff forward.
At that moment, the light from the book intensified slightly.
“Just kidding about what I said! I actually have one more! Nyah!”
Craaaash!
Right before Pernyan’s eyes, demonic energy and aura collided, sending a massive shockwave through the area.
The battle-axe of a massive, three-meter-tall Rahnass was stopped just short of Pernyan’s face.
“……!”
Pernyan’s poker face shattered. Fragments of broken aura and demonic energy grazed his face.
“…What is that? I wasn't told you had something like that.”
Between the Rahnass and Pernyan stood a human-sized golem.
“…I also wasn't told there was a Rahnass.”
Pernyan ignored the cold sweat trickling down his back and raised his staff.
“…I'll return your words to you.”
Pernyan’s eyes turned cold.
“You will die in this place today. Without fail. By my hand.”
“Shut up! How dare a pathetic human like you speak to the great me!”
“I'd bet a fortune on it. The price for daring to almost send me to my grave before I've even spent all my money will be steep indeed.”
Chewing this bastard to pieces wouldn't even be enough.
Pernyan did not hide his seething rage.
“Wooden,”
he whispered softly.
“It's time to show them the swordsmanship I learned from Brother Emond.”
Kwoooong!
“Kill them all. No, keep that one alive and make him kneel before me.”
Because I will kill that damn bastard with my own two hands.
A greatsword descended upon the Rahnass.