Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Dragon Shadow (3)
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In truth, Azel had no intention of traveling with her. The enemies' objective was blatantly her.
When escaping the ruins excavation site, Azel had prioritized Rick and Zail. They were the only two people he had grown fond of during the few days since waking up. It was unfortunate for the others, but the limits of what he could do right now were clear.
Yet Arietta had followed him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And so, while escaping with Rick, she and her group had ended up joining them.
'Is it really because my fate is so cursed that things always flow toward the more difficult path...?'
Azel held back a sigh and climbed down from the tree.
Then Rick approached. He was unharmed, having hidden well just as Azel instructed.
"Azel."
"Yeah?"
"What the hell is this?"
Rick held out the wooden block Azel had given him. He continued.
"Strangely, people passed by without seeing me. Even the enemies. At first, I thought it was because of the chaos... but I could feel mana from this. Did you do something to it?"
"I cast a concealment spell on it. My mana is low, so the effect won't last long, but unless you were screaming and jumping around trying to draw attention, no one should have noticed you."
That was why Azel had specifically given Rick that wooden block. Plus, since it contained his own mana, it served as a marker to locate Rick amid the confusion.
Rick asked in surprise.
"Can Spirit Order do things like that?"
"It can."
"First time I've heard of it. What exactly are you...?"
Generally, Spirit Order was seen as superhuman techniques extending from martial arts. People knew only of the superhuman physical abilities and heightened senses demonstrated by Spirit Order practitioners, and little of its true essence.
But its essence was a forbidden art stolen from the Dragon Demon Hybrids—a different form of magic. In particular, it excelled over magic in manipulating thoughts to influence the mind.
In the past, Azel had mastered all sorts of Spirit Order secrets to fight the Dragon Demon Hybrids, utilizing them fully in battle. Even though he had lost all his power now, skills didn't just vanish.
Rick, who had been looking puzzled, said.
"No, this isn't the time to nitpick. Thanks."
If not for Azel, he would have died in that chaos. Rick expressed his gratitude honestly.
Azel gave a small smile and suddenly called out to Arietta.
"Princess."
"What is it?"
Azel asked without the slightest hint of intimidation despite her status as princess. Even someone with a rigid personality might take offense at a lowly human daring to speak without permission, but Arietta accepted his attitude without any displeasure.
Azel said.
"It's clear that the organization called Dragon Shadow is targeting you, Princess."
"I agree on that point. They've been attacking me from the start."
"To me, it seems their goal is to kidnap you alive. Do you have any idea why the enemies want you?"
"None. I've never even heard of an organization called Dragon Shadow."
"Is there no grudge involved?"
"I don't know. Ever since my coming-of-age ceremony, I've fought for the royal family's orders to protect the people. I've killed humans on the battlefield too, but I doubt that would lead to a grudge with such suspicious characters."
"I see."
Arietta asked Azel, who was furrowing his brow.
"May I ask you something as well?"
"Sure."
"From what you've said, those people aren't evil mages with a grudge against you."
"Probably not."
"Why phrase it as a question?"
"Because I don't remember much about them either. You might have heard about me from others, but..."
"I've heard that you've lost much of your memory, and the last few years are practically gone."
"That's right."
"It's hard to believe, but that's not the issue right now."
Arietta shook her head to dismiss her doubts and tried to continue.
Suddenly, Azel frowned and looked toward one side of the forest. He stood up and said.
"Sorry, but let's put the talk on hold. We all need to move."
"What?"
"The enemies are coming."
"How do you know?"
Arietta asked. As a Dragon Demon Hybrid, her senses were far superior to those of ordinary people. Yet even she hadn't sensed the approach of a large number of enemies.
Azel said.
"I just know. They're using magic to mask the sound."
Azel said only that, too annoyed to explain and with no time for it anyway. Arietta didn't press further.
"Understood."
"Then let's move."
Azel grumbled inwardly as he took the lead.
'I've gotten tangled in a headache. Can't abandon them now...'
5
But in the end, it was impossible for Azel's group to shake off the enemies' pursuit and escape.
The enemies tracked them as if they knew exactly which path the group was taking and how they were moving. Moreover, their movement speed was far faster than the group's.
Azel clicked his tongue as he sensed the enemies drawing closer.
'Can't shake them after all.'
If it were just Azel and Arietta, they could leave this place in an instant. But Rick and Enora were in the group.
As the distance to the enemies shrank to 100 meters, Arietta finally sensed them too.
"They're really coming. Just as you said, masking their sounds. There must be a mage... and a damn good one at hiding himself."
"I think I know who that one is."
"Hm?"
"He's observing us from a different direction than the approaching enemies. He's got his gaze fixed on the back of my head. Keep that in mind and be careful not to give away your lip movements."
"Why?"
"Better not to give them info on what we're talking about."
"Hmm..."
Arietta looked surprised. Cautioning against an observer using magic to read lips and figure out their conversation—something she had never even considered.
She suddenly grew curious about the man before her. What kind of background allowed him to act this way in such a situation?
Azel said.
"The others haven't entered the range I can detect yet. Or maybe they're not focusing on us..."
In Azel's era, detecting distant enemies through the 'gaze' directed at oneself was an essential skill to master. The Dragon Demon Hybrids had observed humans from far beyond arrow range, gathered intelligence, and even sniped with magic.
Back then, he could have pinpointed the enemies much more easily. But with his mana so low, he couldn't use the techniques to concretize the unease his senses picked up.
'Frustrating as hell.'
Fighting in unfavorable situations was familiar to him. That's why he remained calm now, coldly assessing his abilities and seeking a way out.
But when his life was at stake, it was inevitable to miss the power he once had. Azel gave a wry smile.
"Rick."
"Yeah?"
"If we keep moving like this, how long until the fortress?"
"Uh, well?"
Rick panicked.
Though Azel was leading, he didn't know the location of their destination, the Western Border Fortress. Among the group, Rick was the only one who might know.
Rick said in a shrinking voice.
"I don't really know either..."
"You've been stationed here for two years, and you don't know that?"
"I'm a healer, so this is the first time I've ever gone outside the fortress."
"Not something to brag about."
"Urgh..."
Rick shrank under Azel's sharp words. But he soon realized something important.
"Wait. So you've been wandering the forest blindly without even knowing where the fortress is?"
"Getting away from there was the priority first. Haven't had time to worry about it until now."
"Fair enough."
"It would have been great if you knew the terrain, Rick... but this is tricky. Should we just head east no matter what?"
Then Arietta spoke.
"If it's the Western Border Fortress, I know it."
"What?"
"I memorized it when we stopped there. I can use far-sight techniques, so I won't lose the direction."
"Then I'll ask you to guide us. I've never been there."
"Got it. But there's one problem."
"What is it?"
"The direction the enemies are coming from."
The enemies approaching the group were coming from the direction of the fortress. So the group had no choice but to give up the shortest path and take a wide detour.
Even so, they ultimately failed to shake the enemies and were forced into combat.
"Kyaaah!"
At some point, an enemy burst out from between the trees with a beastly roar. The sound-masking magic meant no noise until they were right upon them, making it quite a shock.
"Forest orcs."
Of course, neither Azel nor Arietta was fazed in the slightest.
Orcs were the most representative humanoid monsters. Their body outline resembled humans, but their skin color was distinctly different, their faces demonic with tusks protruding from their mouths. They were taller than average humans on top of being covered in muscle, giving them superior combat ability to ordinary humans.
Forest orcs had dark green skin and were smaller in build than plains or grassland orcs. Physically weaker than other orcs, they compensated by moving nimbly through the forest.
"Good timing!"
Azel said that as he intercepted the first one to charge. He lightly dodged the downward sword strike and severed its nape.
"Fall back!"
Then Arietta shouted. Her voice carried mana, making the surrounding space resonate.
The forest orcs charging in a herd flinched. Her shout contained a thought-force like a lion's roar, overwhelming the foes.
The moment she shouted, Azel naturally snatched the sword from the falling forest orc and retreated.
Immediately after, Arietta swung her sword.
"Darkness of the abyss, part!"
Fwaaaaa!
A dazzling flash erupted from the sword tip. It was the technique that had sliced through the monsters at the ruins excavation site in one go. She had no doubt it would shred the forest orcs entirely this time too...
Kwang!
A grating rupture echoed as the flash shattered. At the same time, a blue flame-like light enveloped the forest orcs' bodies.
Arietta panicked.
"Protective magic?"
To cast such powerful protective magic on dozens of forest orcs at once—capable of blocking her attack—there had to be a mage with immense mana. And...
Pajijijijik!
A chilling discharge sounded as a massive lightning orb appeared in the air and plummeted down.
Kroooong! Kwang!
Vision burned white. The lightning exploded, violently shaking space before settling.
A low,沉 voice rang out.
"Hmm. As expected of the Dragon Princess."
The one who said that from atop a tree was a member of Dragon Shadow. Like the others, he was cloaked in a black robe, face veiled in darkness.
However, unlike Regina or Kirion, he was not a Dragon Demon Hybrid. His smooth hand indicated he was human.
Kugugugugu...!
Amid the settling dust, a sphere of faint light emerged. Arietta had deployed a barrier to protect the group.
Arietta asked.
"Are you the mage of the organization called Dragon Shadow?"
"Yes, Dragon Princess."
"You appear to be human."
"Not everyone in our organization is a Dragon Demon Hybrid. And..."
Whiii...
He wrapped himself in wind and floated into the air.
"Human mages aren't necessarily weaker than Dragon Demon Hybrids."
"Urgh..."
It was true.
Dragon Demon Hybrids were born with far sturdier bodies and vast mana than humans. Yet pure humans could surpass them through Spirit Order or magic.
Kyaaaa!
Then forest orcs charged from beyond the dust. At the same time, a ground-shaking rumble echoed from the forest depths.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Humanoid giant-type ogres were approaching. And from yet another direction, large monsters were detected closing in.
Arietta groaned.
"While we were distracted by these bastards!"
"Exactly. We didn't think we could drain your stamina this easily, Princess."
The mage shrugged. At the same moment, Azel moved.
Shiiik!
Something flew at high speed from the side, grazing right past Azel's head. An invisible energy arrow shot via magic.
Seeing that, the mage was surprised.
"Oh? Dodging that. Regina was right—you need watching."
"I'm sick of sniping."
Azel shrugged.
The attack had come from 100 meters away. A Dragon Shadow member who brought the ogres had sniped Azel amid the chaos. The invisible magic arrow, timed for divided attention, would have hit anyone but Azel squarely.
'Something this slow? No way.'
Azel snorted inwardly. The magic arrow was slower than a real one despite being invisible. Of course, calling it slow was only by Azel's standards.
'So there are two Dragon Shadow guys here?'
Azel realized that besides the mage before him, another had sniped him. That one was likely the one leading the monsters from the other direction.
In the meantime, Arietta clashed with the charging forest orcs.
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