Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Occupied Pass
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The party emerging from the ruins first stopped at the fortress to the west of Narvik.
Fortunately, the castle lord there permitted Arsen's army to stay in his fortress.
Of course, it wasn't because the lord was some gracious host who welcomed all guests with open arms.
It was simply that he couldn't even dream of fighting an army consisting of three knights, ten mages, and enough soldiers to bring the total to over twenty.
The fortress had only one knight—the lord himself—and barely sixteen soldiers in total, so it was only natural.
Thanks to that, they could restock and recuperate in the fortress without worrying about prying eyes.
The lord merely "advised" them not to wander from the designated areas, lacking the boldness to enforce it strictly.
But the fortress was far too cramped and short on supplies for them to stay long.
It might have worked for a few days, but for dozens of people over an extended period? If it had been equipped for that, the local forces would already number that many.
In the end, after some light reorganization, Arsen's army set off once more.
Toward the Viju Mountains, located in the western reaches of Narvik.
* * *
The Viju Mountains were an enormously long and rugged range that seemed to cleave the continent vertically in two.
Save for a few back trails, they were utterly impassable to humans, serving since ancient times as the boundary between east and west.
As the elevation climbed, the trees grew shorter, giving way to barren soil where not even grass could take root.
And, as one would expect, magic beasts dwelled in the mountains as well.
With physical constitutions far sturdier than ordinary animals, magic beasts were largely unaffected by the harsh environment that plagued humans, putting humans at a severe disadvantage in fights here.
"Charge!"
The soldiers bravely threw themselves at the magic beasts.
Trusting in shields enchanted to absorb impacts and keen, well-honed swords.
To charge at a 2.5-meter owl bear required not just courage, but solid equipment as well.
"Arrrraaagh!"
Arsen observed the battle from the rear.
Ready to assist if any soldier found himself in peril.
They had repeated this drill countless times on the way here, so the soldiers hunted the magic beasts with practiced efficiency.
One drew attention by shaking his shield up front while the flanks slashed with enchanted blades, and the moment the beast's focus wavered, the frontman thrust deep...
Rino directed them ceaselessly with roars.
But as always, the hunts didn't always go off without a hitch.
"MIRO! Fall back! No, you idiot! You're too close!"
An inexperienced soldier circled too near and took a swipe from the bear's forepaw, tumbling head over heels.
It wasn't a fatal blow, fortunately, but the bear seized the opening and lunged at the now-defenseless man.
In that instant, Arsen hurled his javelin from where he stood.
He hadn't put much power behind the hasty throw, but striking the owl bear near the throat was enough to send it shrieking backward.
"Now! Stab it from behind!"
At Rino's command, a soldier behind the retreating beast plunged his blade into its hindquarters.
The most vulnerable and lethal weak point.
Watching, Arsen recalled the time they'd hunted the feline magic beast, Knife Tail.
The beast, struck in its fatal spot, let out a tearing shriek before succumbing moments later.
Beside the dead magic beast's corpse, Rino bowed his head to Arsen in apology.
"My apologies, Captain. To need help against a beast like this..."
"No, it was a tough opponent. Good work."
Encouraging Rino, Arsen checked if any soldiers showed signs of awakening, but disappointingly, none did.
Even back in Belluan Estate, where over a hundred squires fought ceaseless battles on the edge of life and death, only a tiny fraction ever awakened as knights.
Knowing this didn't stop Arsen from clicking his tongue in regret.
"Let's process this one first before moving on."
"It's a new breed, but that tough hide looks useful."
"Handle it as you see fit."
As the soldiers teamed up to flip and peel the beast, its stripped form soon lay bare.
In the midst of it, a vigilant mage shouted.
"Someone's approaching from that direction!"
Looking where the mage pointed, they indeed spotted a group heading their way.
At first, Arsen thought they might be raiders, but the gleam of well-forged metal armor betrayed traces of civilization.
"Looks like soldiers."
"Yeah. Judging by their path, they're probably tracking the owl bear we took down."
Bazkal, peering alongside, chimed in agreement.
Unlike the mage who'd only noticed their approach, a knight's eyes could discern finer details.
One particularly massive figure, likely a knight. Followed by seven soldiers.
Hardly a threat to Arsen's group.
Narrowing his eyes as he glared, Bazkal asked.
"What do we do?"
"Wait them out. The local estate lord isn't openly hostile to mages anyway..."
Of course, that didn't mean they welcomed them. Just that they'd threaten them to move along, nothing more.
That alone qualified as "mage-friendly" by this world's standards—a ridiculous notion.
In any case, with nothing to hide, there was no need to flee like guilty thieves and risk misunderstanding.
Moments later, the unknown group halted at a safe distance. The knight at the fore stepped forward and bellowed.
He rode a six-legged mountain goat.
"I am Kirat, knight of Exekia Estate! Outsiders, state your identity!"
"Arsen of Belluan. We're heading west through the mountains."
Arsen replied in a moderate tone to the knight shouting threats.
He knew a knight's hearing would carry it from that range easily enough.
Kirat edged closer, spotted the mages, and scowled.
"...Mages, huh."
"That's right."
"What's your business west of the mountains?"
"Religious reasons. We're on pilgrimage."
Their staredown, like a battle of nerves, didn't last. Kirat dismounted and bowed politely.
"My apologies for the rudeness. Sir Arsen of Belluan. Those who faithfully follow their faith are ever blessed."
"Not at all."
Arsen dismounted from Jin in turn and returned the bow.
The mood softened considerably afterward.
In that atmosphere, the knight broached cautiously.
"If I may, by order of Exekia Estate's lord, I must inspect your group."
"Inspect for what?"
"Any raiders among you."
Arsen shot an incredulous glance back at that.
Raiders in a group led by knights and mages? It sounded absurd.
Knights could spot raiders instantly, as they morphed into Ma-in—magic beasts blended with human forms.
No sane knight would travel with one, and Arsen's party had three knights besides.
"Inspecting a knight-led group for raiders? Honestly, that's hard to swallow."
"There's reason for it."
Kirat explained calmly.
Recently, a Ma-in mimicking human form had led raiders in a mock wandering knight act, ambushing nearby fortresses.
Its appearance was so human-like that even up close, no one noticed.
"We'll send one soldier. Just show him under your tongues. Simple enough."
"Understood. But can we send one of ours to check yours in return?"
"Agreed."
Thus, Arsen and Kirat exchanged soldiers to inspect tongues beneath.
Exekia's soldier sweated profusely checking the mages, but otherwise, it proceeded smoothly.
Returning to their lines, both soldiers reported the same: all in the opposing group were human.
Tension eased, Kirat spoke in a far warmer tone.
"My deepest apologies, Sir Arsen. Thank you for cooperating."
"No trouble. We'd do the same in your shoes. May we be on our way now?"
Arsen had no plans to linger in this estate.
Exekia's faith deemed mages impure, forbidding them from staying on their soil.
They weren't zealots who hunted mages down, but it wasn't a place for long stays.
"Ah, right, heading west..."
Kirat's expression turned regretful.
"Regrettably, no one can cross west through the mountains right now."
"What do you mean?"
"There's only one pass through these mountains nearby, and it's been held by the Raider Lord for months. We tried retaking it once and failed."
"Raider Lord...?"
"A Ma-in. Serpent's body with a human torso—strong enough to command several others under it. A nightmare come to life."
That evoked memories of a past Ma-in Arsen had encountered.
Ordinary Ma-in preferred leading packs, but overwhelming power drew subordinates.
The fox Ma-in he'd seen before had a tree snake Ma-in in tow.
Commanding multiples? It had to be monstrously powerful.
"Lord" said it all.
"It's blocking the pass west?"
"Not just blocking—it's sending raiders to harass estates and fortresses constantly. That human-like Ma-in was probably one of its underlings."
Kirat's words burned with fury.
"Without that pass, there's no way across nearby. Unless you've got wings. The northern one is months away."
With that, the knight raised his voice in proposal.
"You seem skilled. Care to join the subjugation? We're short even a single decent soldier. Help, and the lord will reward you handsomely. You'll cross the mountains too."
Arsen stroked his chin thoughtfully before replying.
"I'm leading this group, but I should consult my comrades first. Could you give us time to talk?"
"Certainly."
Kirat graciously withdrew to a distance where voices wouldn't carry, out of courtesy.
They could speak freely as a result.
"Sir Marun, how long to bypass the mountains?"
"I'd need a look at the map."
Marun took a map from a subordinate soldier and scanned it.
"No direct routes here. South is impossible; north, who knows. Good luck, a few weeks. Bad luck... months."
"The knight's probably right."
"Likely."
Arsen frowned, deep in thought.
Months meant detours up and back down, plus potential delays—easily a year extra.
"Why not head to their estate for details? Your thoughts, Sir Marun?"
"Whether they'll accept mages too..."
"They just chase them off normally, right? Short on soldiers, they won't turn away mages. If not, we detour north."
"Hmm... very well."
Securing Marun's assent, Arsen called Kirat back.
"We'd like to visit the estate and speak formally with your lord. But our mages must come with us as part of the group. Can you receive them as guests?"
"Hmm, of course. It's lamentable for mages to tread sacred Exekia soil, but we can't be picky now. You'll meet the lord as my guests."
His ready answer confirmed their desperation.
Especially after a failed subjugation.
Their mild doctrine—expel mages, don't kill—probably helped too.
"Then I'll lead to the estate. Follow me."