Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Excavation #3
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“See! Didn’t I tell you not to jinx us!”
“You’re the one who said it!”
Ingong, shouting at Karak, first checked the mini-map. There wasn't just one or two red dots. About thirty of them were split into two groups, charging from different directions.
Almost all of them were Cassius. A few Drake Ogres were mixed in, but not many.
‘Stragglers?’
Ingong lifted his head and quickly scanned his surroundings. The group, which had been in the middle of setting up camp, was hastily drawing their weapons. Beyond them, the Cassius and Drake Ogres were rushing in.
It was impossible to guess the affiliation of these monsters, who bore no flags or unit insignias, but Ingong had a gut feeling they weren't the same ones who fought at the small temple. A violet energy rippled from their bodies like flames as they charged madly forward.
“Do not panic! Assume battle formation!”
Fierce Eye's resounding shout snapped them to attention. The centaurs took up spears instead of bows, and Delia blew a whistle to gather the dracos.
For the past three days, Ingong’s party had not been attacked once. All they had found were the occasional corpses of Cassius or Drake Ogres that had died of exhaustion.
Ingong cut off his thoughts. This was no time for leisurely speculation. As Fierce Eye said, it was time to prepare for battle.
Karak tossed aside the pile of firewood and grabbed his dwarven axe. Ingong, too, quickly opened his inventory and equipped Earthquaker.
‘Dragon Blood!’
The power of the Dragon Man awakened, and the response was immediate. Earthquaker let out a furious cry, emitting a red and yellow light, and Ingong's pure white aura flared up like a fire doused in oil.
But that wasn't all. Ingong clenched his right hand, the one wearing Earthquaker, and shouted in a low voice.
“Green Wind! Your magic!”
The various support spells Green Wind had cast on him during the fight with Mustafa!
But contrary to his expectations, nothing happened. Ingong urgently glanced down at his waist. From the small piece of wood—Green Wind’s divine object and current dwelling—her voice emerged.
‘Master, it's no use. I have no power right now!’
Ingong understood at once. Green Wind had said she would have to use almost all of her power to create a replacement for herself. He hadn't expected her to be so weakened she couldn't even cast a single support spell, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
‘I'll cast them myself!’
[Blessing of the Wind Lv1]
[Regeneration of the Plains Lv1]
These were the support spells Green Wind had cast during the battle at the small temple. Although they were only Level 1 and not as potent as before, it was better than nothing.
A greenish wind wrapped around Ingong's limbs, and he felt his body grow lighter. At that very moment, Green Wind cried out in shock.
‘H-How?! Master, how are you using my magic!’
Instead of answering, Ingong cast Blessing of the Wind and Regeneration of the Plains on Karak as well. Green Wind's dumbfounded voice echoed in his ears.
‘Th-This means my reason for existing is…!’
He could almost picture Green Wind slumping to the ground, dejected, but he had no time to console her now. The centaurs on the outermost perimeter were about to clash with the Cassius.
Ingong drew the dwarven dagger with his left hand, intending to use Under the King's Banner as a final measure. But before he could, a piercing scream rang out.
“Kyaaak!”
There were four women in the party, and the only one in Ingong’s line of sight was Delia, who was gathering the dracos.
Ingong spun around, following the scream. He saw huge monsters diving from the sky like birds of prey, and Daphne screaming.
In that instant, many things flashed through his mind.
A monster. A geist. A flying monster, humanoid but with bat wings instead of two arms. A bloodsucking species that fed on the blood of its prey!
Its target was, without a doubt, Daphne. The creature’s legs, armed with sharp talons, looked ready to snatch her at any moment.
Ingong instantly triggered his aura. The explosive speed unique to the Beast Fist was unleashed, and Ingong threw himself between Daphne and the geist. Without taking proper aim, he swung his fist forward and triggered his aura again.
‘Fist of Explosion!’
Ingong's fist slammed into the geist's torso. It was a technique executed in such a hurry that his fist connected midway through the punch, but the power was sufficient.
The geist’s body was sent flying several meters through the air before it tumbled to the ground. Ingong, having lost his balance, also rolled on the ground, but only for a moment. He quickly got back on his feet and rushed toward the geist, which was writhing and gasping for breath. The creature was massive, over two meters tall, but as expected of a flyer, its body was light and not very durable.
He had to end this in one blow. The geist’s most powerful close-combat weapons were its two large wings and the sharp claws at their tips. The wings were made of a special leather, making them excellent for defense, so if the creature managed to get up, the fight could drag on.
Ingong's fist once again struck the creature's chest. The Fist of Explosion erupted, shattering its ribs, and Earthquaker pulverized its insides. Its chest caved in, and the creature vomited a torrent of blood before dying.
Ingong let out a ragged breath and turned. He had used a significant amount of aura by using Fist of Explosion twice in a row, but thanks to Dragon Blood amplifying his total aura, he still had some to spare.
“Kiaaak!”
The shriek came not from Daphne, but from another geist. Daphne was trembling on the ground, and Karak stood protectively in front of her. Enveloped in the green wind from the spell Ingong had cast, Karak swung his axe wildly, forcing back the geist that was charging at Daphne.
“Prince!”
“Fire Arrow!”
Hearing Karak’s shout, Ingong immediately cast the spell. A fiery arrow shot from his left hand straight toward the geist's head. The creature hastily raised its wings to block it.
The fire arrow exploded, engulfing its wings in flames, but it was only a Level 1 spell. It merely left a small scorch mark.
However, Ingong's goal had been to impede its movement. Karak's weapon wasn't a fist like his, but a large battle axe. It didn't matter if it was a wing or something else; as long as it hit, that was all that mattered.
Karak's axe, swung wide in a powerful arc, mercilessly struck the geist. It was unclear where or how it hit, but the geist’s loud scream as it fell to the ground was enough. Karak roughly stomped on its belly, then brought the axe down on the creature's head as if splitting firewood.
“Kuraha!”
Karak threw his head back and let out a battle cry toward the sky. It wasn't a display of wildness, but a precaution against any other geists that might be flying in.
Confirming there were no more, Karak spun around and approached Daphne, who was lying on the ground, panting.
“You alright, miss? Can you get up?”
It was Karak's characteristically gruff but kind question. He even went so far as to extend a hand to her.
Daphne stared blankly at Karak, then slowly nodded.
“I-I'm fine. I can get up.”
Swallowing hard, Daphne took Karak's hand. Like a true man, Karak pulled Daphne to her feet in one motion and resumed watching their surroundings. It seemed he had decided to protect Daphne rather than join the fight elsewhere.
Daphne gazed at Karak’s dependable back for a moment before shaking her head vigorously and beginning to chant. She was preparing to use the druidic magic unique to dryads.
Watching the whole scene unfold, Ingong was struck by a strange feeling.
‘What is this strange sense of being left out?’
He had saved Daphne, too. In fact, he was the one who had blocked the first attack.
And what was with that look? Could it be the kind of look he was thinking of?
‘Wasn't her type pretty boys?’
Was this just the suspension bridge effect?
The more important issue right now was Daphne’s inexperienced combat response. The Daphne he knew from *Knight Saga* was no rookie who would freeze up just because an enemy was charging at her.
It seemed the gap between the current year, 512, and the start of *Knight Saga* in 513 was larger than he had thought.
‘Master, this is no time for distractions! The battle isn't over!’
Green Wind’s voice brought Ingong back to his senses. He hurriedly looked around. In the distance, Fierce Eye was fighting the Drake Ogres and Cassius, his blue aura flaring, while the centaurs fought skillfully, proving they were indeed an elite force.
Felicia, like in the battle against the Red Lightning Tribe, wasn't attacking the enemy directly but was restricting their movements with various spells. The Cassius slipped and fell on the meadow made slick by Grease, and the Drake Ogres were trapped in the deep pits created by Dig.
Ingong decided to support the flank where Fierce Eye wasn't present. Felicia would be fine since Delia was by her side.
“Karak! Protect Daphne!”
“Got it! I’ll protect her!”
Ignoring Karak's hearty shout and Daphne's reflexive glance at Karak's back, Ingong charged toward the group of Cassius. Green Wind whispered in his ear.
‘Master, even without my power, I will strive to be of help.’
It seemed to be a continuation of her earlier comment about her reason for existing. It felt like she wanted to hear something like, ‘Yes, you're useful!’ Her slightly dejected voice sounded pitiful, but Ingong held his tongue for now. The Cassius horde was right in front of him.
The total number of Cassius, Drake Ogres, and geists was nearly double that of Ingong's party, but with the overwhelming combat power of Fierce Eye and magical support from Felicia and Daphne, the fight became almost one-sided.
When the battle ended, the Cassius horde had been utterly annihilated. On the other hand, not a single member of Ingong's party had died.
After confirming the last Cassius had fallen at the hands of an elite centaur, Ingong let out a long breath. The battle itself was short, but the constant focus had left him quite fatigued.
Deactivating Dragon Blood and returning Earthquaker to his inventory, Ingong finally spoke to Green Wind.
“Thanks, that was a timely help. You're useful, after all.”
‘Thank you for saying so. You treat me rather carelessly, but you are a good master.’
Ingong couldn't help but laugh at her words, a mix of resentment, relief, and gratitude. It seemed that after spending so long alone, she had become prone to loneliness.
After finishing his conversation with Green Wind, Ingong headed toward Daphne and Karak.
“Daphne, are you okay?”
At Ingong's question, Daphne quickly showed her respects and answered.
“I am fine. Thank you for saving me.”
The tension from the battle still lingered, making her movements and voice stiff, but it didn't seem to be a cause for concern.
“I'm glad you're safe. Could I ask you to treat the wounded?”
“I understand.”
Daphne replied immediately and hurried over to the centaurs. Though there were no fatalities, there were many wounded. However, since no one had lost a limb or suffered a life-threatening injury, her healing magic should be able to fully restore them.
Once Daphne left, Karak approached Ingong.
“Might’ve been her first real battle.”
“Hm?”
“That young lady. She was tense the entire fight.”
Daphne was sixteen. Usually, the children of the Demon King undertook missions from their early teens, but the situation was different for the children of concubines. Unless they volunteered, there was no need for them to participate in combat missions at a young age.
Ingong once again looked at Daphne, who was casting healing spells on the centaurs. Indeed, she still looked visibly tense.
“You have a sharp eye.”
“I’m pretty observant, you know.”
Karak grinned and looked Ingong up and down, as if checking for injuries. A new voice joined them from behind.
“Shutora, you only worry about Daphne and not me?”
The owner of the slightly coy voice was Felicia. Ingong shrugged and replied.
“Because you had Delia with you.”
Delia smiled gently, and Felicia chuckled. She moved a little closer to Ingong and said.
“That was an impressive display. You've gotten stronger.”
“Thanks.”
During their three days of travel, Ingong had discussed Earthquaker with Felicia. The likelihood of combat in the north was high, and he couldn't afford not to use Earthquaker, despite knowing it would cause a sharp drop in his combat power.
Ingong had considered a few excuses, starting with the Fifth Queen's relic, but in the end, he just told her the truth: it was a weapon he found in the dungeon of the Thunder-Birthing Anvil. He omitted details about it being a weapon of the great Enkidu or containing his power, but the truth was the truth.
Felicia seemed a bit upset at first, but she quickly forgave him after his sincere apology.
In fact, what Ingong had done was quite common among the children of the Demon King.
As a specialist in ruin exploration, Felicia had explored many ruins and had a history of secretly taking just as many artifacts without the Demon King's Castle knowing. Chiding Ingong would be like spitting into the wind.
What had upset Felicia was the fact that Ingong had hidden his acquisition of Earthquaker even from her.
Factions existed among the Demon King's children, and a subtle rivalry existed between them. Naturally, they would often conceal information from each other unless it was something truly important.
But Felicia didn't want that kind of relationship with Ingong, and neither did he.
‘It all worked out in the end, so that's a relief.’
It even felt like his relationship with Felicia had grown closer, just as the ground hardens after a rain.
While Ingong and Felicia were checking on each other, Delia and Karak also exchanged a few words. Fierce Eye approached the four of them.
“Ninth Prince, Sixth Princess. Once the wounded have received emergency treatment, I think it would be best to move.”
Indeed, staying in a place where they had just been attacked was not a good idea.
“Yes, let's move. I'll leave the location to you, Great Chieftain.”
When Felicia agreed, Fierce Eye looked to Ingong. Ingong nodded as well, and Fierce Eye immediately ordered the centaurs to prepare to leave.
About thirty minutes later, the group had moved a considerable distance from their original campsite and settled down beneath a mostly crumbled stone wall.
Felicia and Fierce Eye naturally gathered by Ingong's side. Felicia spoke first.
“Those things from before, they were shrouded in a violet miasma, weren't they?”
“What did you make of it?”
At Ingong's question, Felicia crossed her arms and narrowed her brow.
“I can't say for sure, but… it was a truly ominous energy. It felt like I was facing a curse-type magic.”
“A curse?”
“Yes, a curse. That violet energy strengthened them, but it was also draining their life force. It's the same as shaving off one's lifespan to gain power. Plus, some of their emotions were mentally stripped away… you can't really see it as anything but a curse.”
Although Felicia was a competent mage, she couldn't discern more than that from a single encounter.
Ingong turned to Fierce Eye.
“Fierce Eye, I don't think they were stragglers from the battle at the small temple.”
“I think so as well. Geists are monsters rarely seen on the Anger Plains.”
A different group of monsters from the one that attacked the small temple. Perhaps there were several other monsters like Mustafa who could wield that violet miasma.
Fierce Eye closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and speaking in a heavy voice.
“There might be a second attack.”
Normally, the southward advance of the Cassius hordes ended after a single wave. But this time was completely different.
Ingong suddenly recalled the Cassius horde he had encountered on his first day on the Anger Plains.
It was possible that their appearance in that area had been a strategic move to divert the centaurs' attention to the northwest, away from the small temple in the northeast.
What if the one who ordered that move wasn't Mustafa? What if there was someone greater behind him?
‘And one more thing.’
How did they find out the true value of the small temple? Even the centaurs, who not only lived on the Anger Plains but also revered Green Wind as their guardian spirit, didn't know.
One question led to another. Felicia pressed her temples as if she had a headache, then looked at Fierce Eye and said.
“It's worth heading a little further north. But we should be prepared, right?”
“I will send a few men back with a message. This does not seem to be the time to disband the warriors of the four tribes.”
Having repelled the Cassius horde, the four tribes were scheduled to disperse and return to their respective homes. But now was not the time for that.
“Let's go north. The Northern Limit Line isn't far. Something is bound to turn up. We need information now.”
Felicia said, and Ingong nodded. He had no intention of being reckless, but he had no intention of running away either.
Go north, obtain the White Eagle, and also gather information. Ingong lifted his head and gazed to the north.
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End of Chapter 8 - Excavation #3