Chapter 64
Chapter 64
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: It's Certain
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All Gigant Riders were mobilized,
knights and soldiers prepared for deployment,
and civilians readied for evacuation.
The sounds of loading cargo, vehicles rumbling, and dismantling equipment.
The city, gripped by fear, was in chaos.
「……It's war. With Logot.」
Helena, whom he encountered on the way to the assembly point, had red, swollen eyes. Her tightly clenched lips brimmed with rage, as if she were grinding her teeth.
Ever since Kalts Black had returned alone, she had been in that state. All the subordinates who had gone on the reconnaissance mission with Kalts Black that day had perished.
Roan and Harkruks were shocked too, but Helena burned with the fiercest anger.
Whenever she was alone, she cried; whenever she trained, her eyes were swollen; and every time he saw her, she pushed herself to the brink, as if she might die from it.
「This time…… I'll get them for sure.」
During the last border fortress raid, Helena hadn't managed to take down even a single enemy machine.
She scanned the bustling streets, radiating waves of murderous intent.
The moment he entered the banquet hall serving as command headquarters, a sweltering heat enveloped his cheeks.
The Gigant Riders were anxious, uneasy, terrified—and they were desperately masking those negative emotions with hostility and killing intent.
The hall was wrapped in a precarious, razor-sharp atmosphere, like shattering glass.
Once all the Riders had assembled, Viscount Luke Heyend on the platform spoke.
「Countess Kali Stehold has requested reinforcements.」
The hall's mood grew even heavier with those words.
「That means one thing: the enemy's forces far exceed our expectations.」
Not a single breath could be heard. Everyone understood what was coming next. Tension leaked demonic power from their cores, swirling near the ceiling.
「Meanwhile, our forces have dwindled sharply. Only 35 Gigants remain, and 73 golems—that's all. But we must send reinforcements, no matter what. Our path of retreat is already cut off, and losing the Countess in this situation would leave us with no hope at all.」
He asked.
「Do you want to live out a pathetic life as prisoners?」
「No, sir!」
「Do you want to watch helplessly as everything we've built is taken from us?」
「No, sir!」
「Then fight. Remember that death is a cheap price compared to what we stand to lose.」
「Yes, sir!」
「Deploy. We'll split into vanguard and rearguard. The vanguard will move swiftly to link up with the Countess's main force. The rearguard will spread out wide, follow behind, and prepare for any contingencies.」
「Yes, sir!」
The 11th outpost, where Kang Geohan was stationed, was assigned to the rearguard.
They would cover a broad area while trailing behind, signaling any sightings of enemies or allies, and executing support, rescue, or blocking maneuvers as needed.
With all decisions finalized and only the deployment order left,
in that moment when everyone held their breath, Kang Geohan shot his hand up.
Some veteran Riders frowned at the sight, but Viscount Luke Heyend asked indifferently.
「What is it? Kang Geohan White?」
Riders unaware of the fortress defense battle were puzzled that the Viscount knew the name of a rookie White Knight.
Kang Geohan spoke.
「It's true our forces are short. But I'm aware there are quite a few unclaimed Gigants left in the hangar.」
Kang Geohan remembered clearly.
When his group first arrived at the eastern border fortress, twenty Cyclops units had stood in the hangar.
They had selected six, so a fair number should still remain.
「They are there. We've replaced the ones completely destroyed this time, leaving about seven intact Cyclops. But there are no Riders to operate them.」
「I'd like to recommend one for that role!」
At those words, comrades like Saksen, Raphael, and Helena who knew Kang Geohan well all turned to him at once. They realized what he was getting at.
「……A Rider?」
「Yes! It's Sir Kalts Black, who brought word of Logot Kingdom's invasion! He was originally a Rider candidate. His qualifications were revoked due to insubordination, but it's undeniable he's a Rider who can join the front lines immediately!」
Viscount Luke Heyend furrowed his brow.
「……I've seen that report. But punishments for insubordination are handed down from the capital. Frontline units can't overturn them.」
「But communications with the capital are cut off right now, aren't they? In a time when we're desperate for every Gigant's worth of power, it doesn't make sense to waste such valuable assets.」
The hall froze.
In modern military terms, this was like a private raising his hand to the company commander and saying, "Isn't this wrong?" while voicing a personal opinion.
Under normal circumstances, it would spark a massive dressing-down down the chain of command.
Viscount Luke Heyend fell silent.
Everyone shot Kang Geohan sidelong glares.
After a tense, ominous silence, Viscount Luke Heyend spoke.
「I've been thinking wrongly.」
Flames flickered in Viscount Luke Heyend's eyes.
「This is an emergency within an emergency. With communications to the capital severed, right now, the noble exercising sovereignty over this eastern border fortress is me, Luke Heyend.」
The Gigant Riders gulped.
「That's the situation. We— I!—must handle everything. From this moment, forget all peacetime laws and procedures.」
It was a declaration reaffirming the gravity of the crisis.
「Sir Kalts Black is provisionally pardoned. Assign him a Cyclops immediately and deploy him.」
No one could defy a noble invoking "sovereignty" to issue orders.
One adjutant standing at the back of the hall bolted out to carry them out.
Luke Heyend glanced at him, then swept his gaze over everyone and commanded.
「Victory or defeat—that's all there is. Prepare to deploy, all of you!」
「Yes, sir!」
* * *
The vanguard deployed by sharing two Chariots of Charon.
The Chariot of Charon was a massive transport cart used to move Gigants quickly when needed, with a flat, rectangular platter base fitted with two huge wheels and eight auxiliary ones.
Each could carry eight Gigants, and when the colossal thing rolled, it tore the ears with noise while crushing the ground and leaving deep wheel ruts.
The rear-mounted engine belched flames like a dragon and spewed volcanic ash-like smoke.
Rumble!
The Chariots of Charon vanished toward the horizon, trailing smoke, while the foot-borne rearguard spread out wide and marched silently in their assigned directions.
The Sea Maze was quite far away.
A Gigant's stride rivaled a vehicle's speed, but even so, it was a full day's march.
They had set out in the morning, and now the world had darkened like smoke, with stars beginning to twinkle one by one.
It was a peaceful scene, but with each step forward, the group's mood grew heavier, tension mounting.
The seven Gigants and the three Blood Golems under Kang Geohan's command advanced silently, their heavy footfalls the only sound.
Unable to bear the atmosphere, Roan spoke to Kalts Black, walking beside him.
—Sir Kalts Black! How is it?
—……Are you asking how I feel?
—Yes! It's been a while since you rode one, right? How is it? Strange? Familiar?
—Honestly, it feels like a dream.
Kalts Black looked up at the sky as he replied. From 9.5 meters up, the stars somehow felt much closer.
Something welled up in his chest—"urk!"—and despite himself, his eyes reddened.
His voice trembled slightly.
He couldn't let it.
—Huh? Sir Kalts Black! Are you…… crying?
Roan teased in her signature cute voice. Kalts felt his blood freeze.
—…….
He thought: I can't answer now. Answering means getting sucked in. Change the subject.
—Right? You cried, didn't you? Sir Kalts Black. You totally cried.
—It's a full moon. Perfect weather for battle.
—Whoa…… you're really bad at changing the subject.
Kalts resolved: Once this mission ends, I'll definitely spar with that little brat.
Then Saksen Gold joined the conversation.
—Hey. Get your body loosened up. Don't go saying you've lost your touch after so long.
Why are so many picking fights today? Kalts furrowed his brow slightly.
—……I'll fight for the Master's honor.
—Good. Remember this: if something happens, Raphael Black and Kalts Black—we take the front. Let's not let the juniors get hurt.
Truth be told, Saksen Gold had hesitated whether to say it.
But he felt he'd regret it if he didn't, so he did.
'Dying in a place like this would be such a waste.'
The White Knights led by Kang Geohan weren't originally meant for frontline wars. They were rear assets meant to build potential safely.
But circumstances had gone to hell, forcing them on their second real combat deployment.
—Whites. Listen up. If something happens, don't show off—prioritize your safety.
—…….
But no one replied.
No, they couldn't.
Everyone had already lost their subordinates and fought through the brutal fortress defense. Their rage and will to fight against Logot Kingdom matched anyone's.
—Hey! No answer?
「Over there…….」
Kang Geohan, who had been listening silently, spoke up. Saksen Gold frowned.
—What is it, Kang Geohan. You're the biggest problem, actually. You've survived on luck so far…… but the real Logot Kingdom Gigants are……!
「Not that…… I sense something.」
Saksen Gold's eyes widened.
—You sense something?
「Yes. About 20 km northeast—a single Gigant is being chased by enemies. Enemy count…… three units!」
—……I sense nothing.
「My SPU was upgraded with the Lizard King's crown, wasn't it? It's probably superior to yours, Squad Leader.」
—You sure? Northeast from here is uncharted territory. The Mad Moon Zone…… dangerous place.
「Certain.」
Saksen Gold bit his lip. He hoped nothing would happen, but trouble had come already.
'Still, three enemies—we can handle it. We've got eight Gigants and three golems. The Mad Moon Zone bothers me, though…….'
Saksen Gold decided.
—Increase speed! Northeast!
Thud thud thud!
The Gigants switched from walking to running.
Steam hissed from their ankles with every step down, kick-off, and lift.
The full-moon-lit plain shook under the pounding feet of Gigants and golems.
* * *
Hah…… hah…….
Countess Kali Stehold steadied her shaking vision.
Her nose felt off.
It reeked of blood, as if she'd soaked it in gore.
The impulse to just kill them all and die together kept swirling in her mind.
The Countess shook her head.
'Damn…… I entered the Mad Moon Zone to create a variable, but what good is it if I succumb to madness?'
The full moon overhead was infuriatingly bright, spinning like a top above her.
The Mad Moon Lands amplified the moon's power.
Even sane people turned into bloodthirsty lunatics here.
She had held out with her solid core so far, but exhaustion was fraying her mind more and more.
Around her lay eleven wrecked Gigants.
To lure the enemy and let the main force escape, she had baited them here—but how many had she destroyed……?
'Twenty-seven? Over thirty?'
She had stopped counting properly after twenty.
Even she, called superhuman, was reaching her limit.
—Give up, Kali Stehold.
A Logot noble urged her surrender. He piloted a custom machine named Perseus.
'That smug bastard—was he a baron or viscount?'
Murderous intent surged in the Countess's heart. She needed to buy time and rest, but unable to suppress it, Kali Stehold swung her greatsword.
「Give me your head, and I'll surrender too!」
Clang!
But her greatsword was blocked by a massive shield.
'Rbaim.' Logot Kingdom's top-tier machine. The 10.8-meter-tall Rbaim thrust forward its 9-meter greatshield, halting Kali's blade.
Boom!
The three thrusters on the shield ignited. Pushed back by the force, Kali Stehold's greatsword flew wide.
'This guy's been pissing me off from the start…….'
She wanted to take that noble down with her, but Rbaim's massive shield kept thwarting her.
Crack!
Then the javelin.
A 7-meter javelin pierced the shoulder of her beloved machine, 'Fenril.'
Normally, she'd dodge easily, but now her body felt leaden.
She couldn't even dream of deploying an ability like 'Inertia Control.'
'Exhaustion…….'
Steadying her vision, she pondered.
'SShould I use [Berserker] one more time?'
Her gift, Berserker.
It temporarily boosted all abilities—one of the rare blessed gifts usable in Gigant combat.
But in her current state, it was suicide.
'Activating Berserker now…… I might never regain sanity…….'
Too exhausted, no guarantee she could even wield its power properly.
'Either way…… is it doomed to end?'
Then again, should she……?
—I've changed my mind. No need for surrender. Just die. I'll skewer your corpse on my spear and parade it before the Linekar fools as a warning.
Hearing the Logot noble's drivel, she decided.
'Alright, I'll use it. Die together!'
Grind.
As she gritted her teeth to prepare her final stand,
Roooaaar!
A hoarse wolf's howl echoed faintly, like a dying beast's cry.
At the same time, her SPU detected new Gigants.
'Yotun……? Cyclops? And…… golems?'
Allies!
An irrepressible smile crept onto Countess Kali Stehold's lips. Flickers of life's hope reignited.
'Hold on……!'
Crunch.
The eastern border fortress's strongest Gigant, Fenril, gripped its sword hilt until it cracked.