Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Night Assault
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#90
"How much money did they pour into this place?"
Seo Woojin felt a genuine sense of relative deprivation as he looked around his room.
The dormitories at the academy were already incredibly luxurious.
That was because the Empire hadn't spared any expense.
But the Grand Duke's Castle went beyond even that.
"Is this real platinum?"
The ornate patterns adorning the interior of the room.
They were unmistakably platinum.
"Selling just this would net me hundreds of millions."
He chuckled softly as he toured the room, then plopped down on the bed.
The mattress was incredibly plush.
It felt like sleep magic had been cast on it—as soft as it was, lying down now would send him straight to dreamland.
'I want to take it with me.'
How great would it be to have this in the dormitory?
He smirked, imagining Lee Ji-ah and Kim Da-hee looking envious.
"Enough with the useless thoughts. Time to rest."
He was exhausted after a full day of Ailin's Spartan training.
He wanted to sleep quickly, wake up, and deliver the package.
'Dark Elf, huh...'
Seo Woojin recalled the young Dark Elf locked in the iron cage.
He hadn't thought much of it earlier, but now it left a nagging feeling in his chest.
No matter that she was the enemy, it sat wrong with him that a young girl was bound and imprisoned like that.
But he soon pushed the thought from his mind.
Hadn't he seen it in Heldein?
The heroes had been safe, fortunately, but knights had died by their hands.
If he hadn't helped, Kang Byung-gyu would have lost his life right there.
No matter how pitiful, the Dark Elves were the enemy.
And a highly dangerous one at that.
"But what's so suspicious about her?"
If they needed to take her to the Sky Tower for investigation, there had to be something unusual.
Even the Grand Duke couldn't figure it out.
And there were people rushing in to rescue that Dark Elf...
"Not getting dragged into another mess, I hope?"
Seo Woojin sincerely hoped not.
Every time he left the academy, he got tangled in something dangerous.
He prayed nothing would happen this time.
With that thought, he lay down on the bed.
It really was good.
His eyes drifted shut the moment he settled in.
'Alright, sleep quick and tomorrow...'
That was when it happened.
KABOOM-!
An explosion rocked the air.
Seo Woojin sprang from the bed.
"What the hell?"
The blast seemed to have come from far away in the Grand Duke's Castle.
Yet the shockwave had reached even here.
On top of that, a familiar, cozy energy wafted in.
'Demonic Energy...'
The explosion carried the scent of Demonic Energy.
He hadn't noticed it at all until just now.
"Woojin!"
The door burst open, and Ailin rushed in.
She was already—or perhaps still—clad in her blue armor, sword at the ready.
"What's going on?"
"An explosion in the city."
Seo Woojin grabbed 'Rune Dea' and headed out with Ailin.
The interior of the Grand Duke's Castle was in chaos.
Knights and soldiers scrambled into combat readiness, while servants flailed about in panic.
It was the first incident in this peaceful city, leaving them all disoriented.
"Where's the Grand Duke?"
Seo Woojin asked, but Ailin had no answer.
She had bolted straight to his room the moment the explosion hit.
'Is it because of me?'
They said the city had never once been invaded.
Yet on the day he arrived.
An attack occurred.
Naturally, he couldn't help wondering if it was his fault.
"Let's go out."
If that was true, he couldn't stay inside.
He had to stop it before greater damage occurred.
Seo Woojin dashed toward the exit with Ailin.
But they didn't get far before having to stop.
An elderly butler whom Briana had called Lumas blocked their path.
"Please don't worry, guests. Wait inside."
It wasn't dismissive.
It just seemed they could handle it themselves and didn't want to trouble the two.
"But..."
"Mernotain is not weak."
Lumas shook his head politely but firmly.
"Are you sure it'll be okay?"
"Of course. The Grand Duke's knight order is ready, and the soldiers have already begun marching out. The commotion will die down soon."
Confidence filled Lumas's face.
It was also self-assurance.
Confidence in Mernotain's strength.
Seeing that, Seo Woojin nodded.
No need to force his way out when they insisted that much.
"If you need help, just say the word."
"That won't be necessary, but understood."
Lumas gave a faint smile.
"Let's head back."
Seo Woojin turned around.
"...Will it really be okay?"
Ailin asked cautiously, her face etched with worry.
She seemed to find the attack suspicious too.
"The troops raised personally by the Grand Duke herself. Not on par with the Massive Guardians, but they're supposed to be pretty skilled, so they should handle it quickly."
The knights and soldiers he'd seen rushing about earlier had looked impressive.
Even in the chaos, they maintained discipline and formed up swiftly.
They could probably shrug off a minor raid like this.
"Unless..."
He swallowed the words: *It isn't because of us, is it?*
Seo Woojin shrugged.
"Who knows? Maybe it's to rescue that young Dark Elf."
Until now, the attacks had been tentative, but this time they might have come fully prepared to cause a stir.
"Nothing's certain, so let's go back and wait for now."
If things looked serious, he could step in then.
With a transcendent powerhouse like the Grand Duke in the castle, there wasn't much to worry about.
Seo Woojin and Ailin spent a long time in his room, monitoring the situation.
"...This is taking longer than expected."
Nearly an hour had passed since the initial blast, and the situation hadn't calmed.
Faint sounds of combat echoed from afar, and Demonic Energy still lingered.
No, it felt like things were getting worse.
"Is the Grand Duke not stepping in?"
"Beings of that level don't move lightly."
"I see. If she did, it'd probably wrap up quick."
Ailin sighed at Seo Woojin's words.
"That may be true. Few could stand against the Grand Duke. But some do exist."
There were a few among the Demon King's followers, and even among monsters and Demonic Beasts.
The odds of them showing up in Mernotain were lower than a bolt from a clear sky, but...
"We shouldn't move carelessly just in case. If this raid is targeting her, it could spell disaster. And it's not that dire yet. Better to leave it to the subordinates."
Seo Woojin nodded.
He wasn't fully convinced, but he realized it wasn't a simple matter.
'They've got their own circumstances here too.'
It wasn't his place to interfere.
"Still, what the hell is going on?"
"Demonic Energy means Dark Elves or other Demon King followers."
That much Seo Woojin knew.
The question was their goal.
"Could be targeting you, Woojin, or maybe trying to free that captured young Dark Elf like we thought."
If it was aimed at him, that would be awkward.
Innocent people bleeding because of him.
It weighed on his mind.
"Waiting around like this doesn't sit right with me. Maybe I should go help now..."
As Seo Woojin spoke, he clamped his mouth shut.
Ailin did the same.
No, she froze in place, eyes wide.
"...Shit."
Demonic Energy had suddenly erupted like an explosion, sweeping the surroundings.
It was qualitatively different from the faint traces outside.
Ailin was paralyzed, as if numb.
Seo Woojin had seen this before.
"Gerald."
This Demonic Energy belonged to that monster for sure.
* * *
"Damage report?"
"Still assessing."
At Briana's question, Meigers, captain of the Red Wing Knight Order, bowed his head apologetically.
"Identified the intruders?"
"Seems like Demon King followers."
"Here to rescue that child again?"
"Still assessing."
Did that answer displease her?
Briana's brow furrowed.
"Meigers. How can you not know this, not know that?"
"My apologies."
Briana sighed.
"Coincidence?"
The question was heavily abbreviated, but Meigers grasped its meaning.
"The odds this targets the hero are low."
"Why?"
"The hero arrived less than a day ago. Too organized for them to have scouted and executed in that time."
Seo Woojin's trip to Mernotain had been decided just yesterday.
He'd arrived today, and not long ago at that.
Impossible they'd anticipated it all and prepared an assault.
"Then it's that young Dark Elf after all."
"Not certain."
"...Why not?"
Briana's furrowed brow refused to smooth.
She didn't like her own knight nitpicking her every statement.
"If I were them, I'd try something other than attacking the city outright."
Mernotain was brimming with troops.
Even the Empire's guardian Grand Duke was here.
They'd attempted rescues multiple times—they knew better than anyone it was impossible.
Other methods would be far more effective than assaulting the city.
Like attacking the train to the capital, for instance.
"I suppose you're right."
Briana nodded.
Meigers's reasoning held water.
"Then what is it? Who dares invade my city..."
As Briana spoke, her head snapped around.
At the end of her gaze stood a being that hadn't been there moments before.
Moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating its face.
A Dark Elf.
But not like the common ones.
The cruel smile, the massive axe in hand.
Above all, Briana recognized that face.
"...Meigers, why is that fanatic scum here?"
At her icy, emotionless question, Meigers drew his sword.
Shing-
His magic sword, forged with care in the Sky Tower, exuded thick mana.
"How dare you show your filthy face here, Gerald."
Demonic Energy pressed in.
But the top-tier knight Meigers felt little effect.
Considering it had subdued even upper knights, his realm was clear.
Yet Gerald didn't spare Meigers a glance.
As if unworthy.
His eyes fixed solely on Briana, he spoke.
"Empire's bitch."
"What're you babbling, you filthy Demon King bootlicker."
Briana sneered, glaring at Gerald.
"By His will, I claim your head this day."
Gerald raised his axe, aiming at her.
Along with Demonic Energy, berserk killing intent surged.
At the sight, a smile curled Briana's lips.
"Got some guts?"
Her red hair undulated.
Like flames roaring to life, mirroring her heart.