Chapter 170
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: City Under Siege
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“You were right, sir.”
Hyde said, looking at Gismond, who was covered in blood and panting heavily.
He alone had dealt with most of the demonic beast corpses littering the area.
His progress was astonishing.
“It was inevitable. It’s not like he ate just one or two elixirs.”
He’d consumed enough to make his body explode at any moment. There were probably elixirs Pernyan didn't even know about.
But Gismond was lucky. The root of the Itarium had fortified his body, preventing it from bursting.
The immense mana itself was a source of incredible potential.
“Honestly, I didn’t know the Erdt family’s swordsmanship was a swift sword style…”
No matter the sword style, having more aura was never a disadvantage. But among them, some styles relied particularly heavily on aura.
The swift sword style was one of them. A swordsmanship that gained speed by exploding aura.
It was like giving Gismond wings.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
All that was left was to see how Adguif would react to losing his demonic beasts.
A variable this significant was sure to provoke some kind of action. All Pernyan had to do was send Wooden to find out.
A simple, yet foolproof plan.
“To think I actually killed all of these… I can’t believe it…”
Pernyan looked at Gismond, who was intoxicated by his own power.
- Hmph! Hmph hmph!
“Alright, I’ll make you a shield, so stop carrying it around and put it in this subspace pouch.”
And at Wooden, who was dancing with a wide grin while holding the Turhel’s shell.
“Let’s go.”
He took Hyde and returned to Mine 31, where the dwarves were waiting.
“Everyone, stay still.”
Just before they arrived, he used an artifact that eliminated odors to completely remove the smell of demonic beast blood.
“What took you so long!”
“We had a few things to take care of. Anything to report?”
“The other guards were pressuring me.”
“So, nothing happened.”
Fortunately, the guards still seemed intimidated by Pernyan, falling silent as he approached.
There was no need for an explanation, so he led them back to the city. Pernyan was immediately summoned by the mayor.
“…You’ve returned. I thought you were dead.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Adguif hasn't returned. Neither have the thirty guards who were with him.”
“……”
Impossible. They had left long before Pernyan.
‘He’s plotting something.’
“First, would you take a look at this?”
The mayor's expression remained grim as he checked the recording sphere, which contained excerpts of what Wooden had seen.
“…I can no longer deny it. Still, I was hoping he was just a traitor. Even a traitor who drove hundreds of his own kind to their deaths… a traitor and a Vile Breed are two different things.”
“I understand.”
“What is your plan?”
“I intend to watch our opponent’s reaction. With the demonic beasts they gathered all wiped out, there will surely be a response.”
Perhaps his current disappearance was part of that response.
At those words, the mayor’s face hardened.
“Didn’t I tell you why I’ve been tolerating him? If that Vile Breed resorts to extreme measures, the damage to the city will be immense. You must have a countermeasure for that, right?”
“Do I need one?”
“How can you say that…!”
“If the person you’re thinking of is indeed a Vile Breed, then what good would a countermeasure be in the first place?”
Pernyan didn't even blink at the mayor's shout.
“The city’s greatest military force, the very ones who are supposed to protect it, are in the palm of his hand.”
“……”
The mayor bit his lip.
“I am the supreme commander.”
“Does that even matter?”
It didn't. The mayor knew it didn't, which was why he had stood by and watched, unable to remove Adguif despite knowing he was causing trouble.
“Besides, I never said I didn’t have a countermeasure. I asked if I needed one.”
At those words, a flicker of light appeared in the mayor’s eyes.
“How many of the guards do you estimate have fallen into the hands of the Vile Breed?”
“That is a city secret… but I have no choice. About two hundred.”
“And the total number of guards?”
“Five hundred.”
Forty percent. Not an insignificant number.
“We may have the numbers, but the general sentiment among the guards, even those not fully aligned, is to go to the surface. No, it’s more like the consensus of the entire city.”
The mayor added that, objectively, the other side had the superior forces.
Indeed, with the guard captain being who he was, it was safe to assume most of the senior members had already been turned.
“We don’t know where Adguif has disappeared to, but in a way, this is a good opportunity.”
It was easier to make a move when the person in question was absent.
“An opportunity? What is this countermeasure of yours?”
“Public opinion.”
“Public opinion?”
“Generally, when a lord known for his wickedness rules a domain, he tends to fill the ranks of his knights and soldiers with outsiders. It’s not always possible to replace them all, but they try to mix them in. Do you know why?”
“I do not.”
“Because of rebellion.”
Rebellions don't happen easily.
Most lords don't consider the possibility of a rebellion in their own lands, but there were exceptions.
Those who excessively exploited their people and had a guilty conscience. They filled most of their military with outsiders.
“The ones who rebel are the people of the domain. But what if the soldiers meant to stop them are also from the domain? You’d be ordering soldiers to kill their own families. How well do you think that would go?”
No matter the noble’s command, few humans could sever the bonds of kinship.
“…I see. I had never thought of it that way.”
“Then do you now understand the method I intend to use?”
“Yes, I believe I do.”
The dwarves were born and raised in this city, living here their entire lives.
The same went for the guards. The entire city was one giant family, a single community.
Start a rebellion? How could they possibly start a rebellion that the citizens opposed?
‘Adguif might be a different story, but the others won't all be the same.’
The Prophecy Book stated that Adguif had already sacrificed all the dwarves.
But that was at least a few years in the future, not now.
The number of those who sided with Adguif was likely still small, and most dwarves would not be so ruthless as to kill their own families.
“Winning the citizens to our side. It’s certainly not a bad method. But this recording alone isn’t enough to establish a connection.”
“That’s why I deliberately wiped them out. To provoke a more extreme reaction from them, forcing them to reveal their connection.”
And if they still didn’t reveal it, he was confident he could manufacture one.
“This town has newspapers, doesn’t it?”
Tap, tap. Pernyan habitually tapped the table.
* * *
But there was no need to wait long.
Dong, dong, dong, dong—
The sound of an emergency bell ringing throughout the city woke Pernyan from his sleep.
“Sir!”
Hyde burst in with urgent steps.
“What is it?”
“An attack!”
“An attack?”
“Who’s attacking me…”
“Not you, sir! The city is under attack!”
Suddenly wide awake, Pernyan sat up.
“The city is under attack?”
“Yes!”
Pernyan drew back the curtains.
“It’s an attack!”
“The east side!”
“Monsters are invading!”
“Run! Everyone to the shelters!”
The streets, usually bustling but peaceful, were in chaos. Amidst the turmoil, guards were running out, weapons in hand.
Rumble—
The ground was shaking.
Pernyan quickly changed his clothes.
“Damn it, Adguif. He certainly doesn’t hesitate to act…!”
He never imagined Adguif was crazy enough to attack the city so brazenly. This was clearly Pernyan’s miscalculation.
Pernyan looked down at the epicenter of the battle.
The city hall, located in the center of the city, was taller than any other building, and the quarters assigned to Pernyan were on the top floor.
Thanks to this, he had a clear view of the monsters—no, the demonic beasts—surging in from below.
“Zikrik, Turhel, and Anvif? That crazy…!”
Anvif were giant, insect-like demonic beasts. Resembling ants, they lived in colonies, numbering in the hundreds at minimum.
Individually, they were weak, but when they swarmed, they were a force to be reckoned with, designated as Grade 4.
‘The demonic beasts from all three lairs combined were only around sixty…!’
It seemed Adguif had truly gone all out.
Bang, bang, bang!
“Lord Pernyan! Are you awake! The mayor summons you!”
The mayor’s aide pounded frantically on the door.
“I’m coming out.”
In the meeting room were not only the mayor but also the councilors, the rulers of the city.
“Welcome.”
“A human?”
“Why is a human in an emergency meeting?”
The councilors questioned Pernyan’s sudden appearance.
“You have all heard of Pernyan Fallenberg’s reputation. When it comes to dealing with demonic beasts, he is second only to Aint Armian. If we can receive his help, we must, shouldn’t we?”
“…If that’s the case.”
“I’ve certainly heard of Pernyan.”
The councilors, not entirely ignorant of outside news, readily agreed.
In such a critical situation, there were no fools who would bicker over trivial matters.
“What in the world happened?”
“Ten minutes ago, an attack by monsters—no, demonic beasts—came from the east. They tunneled in and overran District 30 on the outskirts.”
As a subterranean city, the dwarves’ home had no proper city walls.
The underground soil served as a natural barrier, but Zikriks were monsters that chewed through rock and ore to advance.
“The demonic beasts are Zikriks, Turhels, and Anvifs. Their numbers exceed six hundred.”
It was a considerable force. Especially since the weakest among them were Grade 5 demonic beasts, their quality was also formidable.
‘Could it be that he wasn't summoning a demon with the sacrificed dwarves, but summoning demonic beasts instead?’
That would explain the massive horde.
“But in a situation like this, where is Guard Captain Adguif?”
One of the councilors shouted in outrage.
“Calm yourself. The guard captain wouldn't have fled, would he? Perhaps he was the first to be attacked…”
“Then isn’t that an even bigger problem?”
The councilors' voices grew louder as they debated. Pernyan, assessing the situation, approached the mayor and whispered.
“Guard Captain Adguif is missing?”
“We haven’t heard from him in three days.”
“Three days ago would be…”
“He has not returned since the day he went to Mine 31 with you. Neither have the thirty guards who were with him.”
Damn it. At this point, it was undeniable that Pernyan was the cause.
“…My apologies. I…”
“No, I agreed with your method. It was plausible. The only problem is that Adguif is even crazier than I thought.”
The mayor swallowed a groan. This was not the time to assign blame, but to protect the city.
Thwack! He slammed his hand on the table, silencing the councilors. All eyes focused on him.
“I am about to tell you all a fact that I have kept hidden.”
It was about Adguif and the Vile Breed.
“…That can’t be.”
“So you’re saying Guard Captain Adguif caused this incident?”
“And not just this, but the previous attacks as well?”
“I can’t believe it!”
The councilors didn't believe it easily, but the current situation was proof in itself.
“If not, what other reason is there for Guard Captain Adguif to disappear at this very moment?”
“But why…?”
“Do the Vile Breed need a reason?”
“Guard Captain Adguif has served the city for over a decade.”
“Half of the guards who disappeared with Adguif were high-ranking officers. The demonic beasts attacked right after they vanished. Do you think that’s a coincidence?”
The councilors fell silent. Their minds told them it was impossible, but listening to the mayor, suspicion began to creep in.
“And that’s not what’s important right now. The priority is to stop the demonic beasts and protect the city.”
“…You are right.”
One by one, the councilors nodded. They chose to face the immediate reality rather than deliberate on complex problems.
“I will personally evacuate the citizens to the shelters. What about you?”
“We will do the same.”
“Let’s issue a mobilization order and use the buildings as fortresses to build barricades. We must block off the districts and hold out for as long as possible.”
“Yes.”
The mayor and the councilors were all powerful warriors in their own right. They took up their weapons without hesitation to defend their city.
The councilors rushed to their assigned districts.
“I don’t think Adguif will show up,” the mayor said.
“I think so too.”
“Will you fight alongside us?”
“I do not wish for things to go as the Vile Breed intends. I will do my best.”
It had been a long time since he’d been so humiliated.
It was fortunate that the contract itself wouldn't be a major issue if he wrapped things up well. If he had agreed to pay for damages in case the plan went awry, he would have suffered a massive loss.
Even without that, to see the precious dwarves die so meaninglessly…
‘Adguif…’
Grinding his teeth, Pernyan seethed.