Chapter 392
Chapter 392
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 392
Chapter Title: 2-14. Counterattack (1)
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The smell of earth hung thick in the air.
The sealed chamber, shrouded in darkness, was filled with glistening mana.
The filtration facility, accessible only through holes in the root's palm, always boasted a most unpleasant environment.
"This crap is getting old. The North really isn't fit for human habitation."
"R-Really... ugh, it's cold."
Lertansie shivered.
The frigid underground of the North was just as cold as the outside.
Having demolished every transmission tower, we were now in the final phase of root destruction: survivor verification.
Or rather, filtration filter might be the more apt term.
"Yawn... I hope we snag a decent one this time..."
I stretched and muttered.
This was easily the most tedious task.
At the base of the roots, there was a 30% chance of finding a surviving Nebula Klazie cultist.
The odds of one being useful were about 1-2%.
Most underwent a brief interview before having their throats slit, either for lacking skills to atone or showing no remorse.
As I headed toward signs of life,
"Oh my god, Phantasion!"
"Damn, you scared me."
Lertansie suddenly leaped up.
She dashed over without even glancing at me.
A burly were-deer was bound in the center of the chamber.
"Phantasion! Ah, you're alive!"
"Lertansie...? Why are you here...?"
A raspy voice escaped the were-deer's mouth.
The horns sprouting from his head evoked the image of ancient tree roots.
Lertansie clapped a hand over her mouth.
"A-Are you okay? I never imagined you'd be trapped in a place like this...!"
The restraints on the were-deer were on another level from anything we'd seen.
The blindfold over his eyes wasn't cloth but thick steel plating.
The chains binding his limbs were thicker than Lertansie's waist.
"Lord Ronan. Phantasion is one of the top three warriors I know. Can we take him with us?"
"He does look the part."
His physique was undeniably impressive.
His violently swollen muscles seemed to embody raw power itself.
Less a living being, more like heavy construction equipment.
He could probably hold his own in an arm-wrestling match against Baren or old man Zaifa.
"Alright. Let's interview him."
I'd heard of him even back on Earth.
Zaifa and Schlieffen had teamed up to capture him, if memory served.
With a light swing of my sword, the blindfold shattered.
Phantasion blinked at me, then narrowed his eyes.
"What...? Are you the cult leader?"
"Afraid not. Though I do bear a resemblance."
"...I see. My mistake."
He'd mistaken me for Abel.
It happened six out of ten times, so I let it slide.
What can you do? Uncle's got the family looks.
Good thing our hair colors differed.
I tapped the sword hilt and questioned him.
"Hey, deer-man. If you get out, what's the first thing you wanna do?"
"Revenge."
"Against who?"
"The cult leader who betrayed his faith and the invaders. I have nothing left to lose."
Phantasion answered calmly.
Despite nearly a decade of imprisonment, his demeanor showed no cracks.
Finally, a guy who acts like a damn archbishop.
I pointed my sword tip at his throat and pressed.
"Do you admit you're the bastard who sold out the world?"
"I do."
"Good. You're hired."
His immediate response pleased me.
The blade vanished, then reappeared in its sheath.
The chains binding him crumbled to dust.
Phantasion rose without a hint of fatigue.
A stark contrast to Lertansie, who trembled like a newborn fawn.
"Not even trying to attack? With that mug, I figured you'd throw down."
"I'm not so lacking in honor as to harm my liberator."
"Eek."
Lertansie flinched.
She had a history of betraying her liberators right after release, so the guilt stung.
I offered him the spare longsword at my waist.
Its blade was stained red with my blood.
He took it and asked,
"What do you need from me?"
"Show me your skills. There's a bald giant squatting outside, perfect timing..."
Before I finished,
Phantasion leaped.
Kicking off the vertical passage walls in a zigzag, he shot out the hole in a blink.
Lertansie froze.
"Eh?"
It happened so fast it felt unreal.
I placed a hand on her stunned shoulder and smiled.
"If he bolted, you're jointly liable."
"Hiiik! P-Phantasion!"
Snapping to, Lertansie chanted a spell.
We rocketed upward faster than ever.
Seconds later, icy wind lashed my face.
A blizzard-swept snowfield unfolded.
Phantasion was locked in combat with a giant.
『Cease your resistance, fool.』
The giant flitted through the sky like a drunken butterfly.
Gusts of gale-force wind erupted with each wing flap.
Phantasion clung to its leg like a cicada.
Despite his skin tearing in the knife-like winds, he relentlessly stabbed away.
"Die...!!"
『Guh...!』
Blue blood sprayed with every thrust into its thigh.
A blade meant for two hands looked like a toy dagger in his grip.
Unable to endure the pain, the giant plummeted.
Phantasion seized the moment.
Dodging a spear of light, he drove his blade into the giant's throat.
"Whoa."
Clean finish.
Impressive, even with a blood-smeared weapon—I didn't expect him to solo it.
Lertansie had good reason to vouch for him.
"Muuuaaaargh-!!!"
Phantasion bellowed in victory.
His resonant roar pierced the howling blizzard.
Lertansie, hands on hips, chuckled smugly.
"Heh heh, told ya. What a warrior. He'll be a huge help."
"Shut it. Don't get cocky just 'cause you're useful now."
"Kyaaak!"
Lertansie clutched her head after my smack.
I needed to periodically thrash her to suppress those villain instincts.
"Brief him. You're old villain pals."
"Ow ow ow... Got it...!"
Lertansie nodded vigorously.
Satisfied, I turned away with a smile.
No denying Phantasion would be a major asset to the resistance.
No more roots or rifts nearby.
This place would soon reclaim its original hue.
As I moved to leave, a massive shadow loomed overhead.
【So here you are.】
"What brings you all the way here?"
I looked up curiously.
Orse gazed down at me.
Four jet-black wings flapped slowly.
【Navardoje seeks you. Note: I'm here because I wanted to, not on orders.】
"Huh? Suddenly?"
【Yes. She spoke in riddles.】
I wondered what happened.
This area was virtually a safe zone.
Orse landed gracefully and continued.
【She said to tell you: 'The eyes have opened.'】
"...!!!"
****
I soon arrived at the new headquarters.
Built near the Sea of Specters, the coldest spot on this planet.
I left Lertansie and Phantasion in Orse's care.
The raging blizzard had subsided, revealing a clear blue sky.
"Lord Ronan. You're back."
"Anything happen? Wait, where's Lertansie?"
Resistance sentries greeted me.
The once sack-cloaked folks now wore proper leather coats.
Thanks to resources from the new base.
Material abundance boosted morale like the restored skies and seas.
"She'll be here soon. Coming with a big deer—don't freak, he's one of us."
"A-a deer?"
"Yeah. Former archbishop, turns out he's solid. Dragon mom... er, Lady Navardoje?"
"In the Grand Hall. Just finished the ritual."
I thanked them and passed.
Soon, a right-triangular building appeared.
The entrance linked to the underground HQ.
The massive sliding door was special alloy.
"Ancient tech is impressive."
Once managed by Elsia.
The empire that reached the stars built structures that endured even under giants.
Password entered, door slid open.
Descending long stairs revealed another world.
Resistance bustled as ever.
LED lights illuminated futuristic corridors.
Who'd have thought.
This place would serve its true purpose one day.
The new HQ contributed massively to planetary restoration.
Safer than Gran Cappadocia, and built to preserve plant seeds.
Dormant seeds sprouted across the dying world, leaping millennia.
"Navardoje. I'm here."
"Ah, back already."
I reached the so-called Grand Hall.
A vast room with a central rock outcrop.
As the sentries said, Navardoje was there.
She approached with quick steps and hugged me.
"Welcome. Cold out there?"
"I'm fine. Coat's warm."
"Come here."
My frozen body thawed instantly.
Her restored health brought her body heat to red dragon norms.
I closed my eyes, surrendering to the comfort.
Warm.
At some point, Navardoje treated me like her youngest son.
I didn't know why.
Perhaps her wandering maternal love focused on me after losing her children.
Initially awkward and bittersweet, I avoided it—but now I accepted.
If it brought her peace, fine by me.
"All thawed. Ritual just ended?"
"Yes. Overflowing with life force."
Navardoje nodded, stroking my head like a son.
My gaze fixed on the rock behind her.
The faintly floating stone emanated tingling life energy.
Seniel, once dormant under the capital.
"Good call moving it here. How'd you know?"
"Elsia's legacy."
"Such a dutiful child... helping us to the end."
Navardoje murmured.
Seniel was now stored here.
As a key asset alongside her, it required strict management.
Resistance performed infusion rituals twice daily.
Fed collective mana, Seniel output far more than from Navardoje alone.
As bald domains shrank, recovery accelerated.
Stronger emissions sped restoration—a virtuous cycle.
A pleasant virtuous cycle.
"It's almost over. Reclaiming the rest is just a matter of time. All thanks to you, Ronan."
"No big deal. You said you needed me?"
"Oh, right—forgot the important part."
Navardoje released me.
Steam rose like from a sauna.
Composing her beaming face, she spoke.
"Follow me. While you were gone, the eyes opened."
"Ha. Finally."
I'd waited ages for this.
I followed her out of the hall.
We headed to the facility's deepest point.
Dozens of corners, myriad security measures later, we arrived.
A place known to but a handful in the resistance.
The black-and-yellow striped door bore ancient Dahinar script.
"I'll open it."
Calmly input the password.
With a hiss, doors parted left and right.
In the machinery-filled room's center stood a massive glass tube.
"......!"
Filled with blue fluid, it contained a sturdy man.
Snow-white hair.
Amber eyes glinted beneath half-lidded lids.
I swept back his hair and waved.
"Long time no see. Abel."