Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Duke Edwin (4) - Mage
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1.
Anne's eyes widened enormously at the sight of the mage tower. Her body trembled violently.
"......First, I'll head out ahead. You get back to the safe zone with the soldiers."
Anne, who had been right beside me, vanished in an instant, only to reappear far off in the distance. She exchanged a few quick words with the knight leading the soldiers before departing the area together.
I hurriedly descended the stairs and approached the soldiers.
"Lord Hanson, what in the world is going on?!"
As I pondered how to explain it to them, a man approached and spoke up. He was someone I'd seen often when entering the residential district before.
"I can't give you the full details. More importantly, time is of the essence—we need to get to the Count as quickly as possible. Can you handle commanding the soldiers?"
"I can. Believe it or not, I've even served as a squad leader of twenty."
"Then I'll leave the command to you. We need to move as fast as we can."
"Understood. Everyone, follow me!"
Rwoooo—!
Together with the interim commander, I redirected the troops. It was the moment we rounded the corner out of the religious district.
"Huh?"
Our eyes met with a group ahead. From their attire and stances, they clearly weren't trained fighters.
"Battle formations!"
"W-We too, battle formations!"
At our commander's shout, the enemy hastily followed suit. I drew my sword and charged at them.
Kwaang!
A soldier in front raised his shield just in time to block, but the difference in strength shattered his stance in one blow.
Pook—
I thrust my sword into the opening, finishing him off instantly.
"C-Crazy bastard!"
"Get ready quick, you fuckers!"
"Uwaaa...!"
The enemy grew even more frantic. Their hands flailed about in panic, making them seem even slower.
'Works in my favor.'
I dove into their midst, channeling mana into my blade. Confirming the faint blue glow, I swung without hesitation.
Chwaaak—!
I cleaved straight through an enemy advancing behind his shield. They'd realize it now—shields were utterly useless.
"Fuck! He's a knight!?"
"We're fucked for real!"
"Spearmen, stab him quick!"
I looked up to see four spears thrusting at me in unison. Crude, but aimed precisely at my openings.
'Dodge? Or cut them down together?'
My decision was swift. I stared down the incoming spear tips until the last moment, then surged my mana and whipped my sword upward in a flash.
Chaeeang—!
My blade arced in a half-circle, smashing the spear tips all at once. A feat impossible for the human body alone—but mana made it real.
"Kuaaaak!"
The spear-wielders tumbled across the ground from the impact. I rushed one and severed his neck.
Rwoooo—
"Charge!"
As I moved to strike another, the commander's voice and horn blast rang out from behind.
Kwaang!
From there, it was a one-sided slaughter. These disorganized foes stood no chance against trained soldiers.
"Well done."
"Yeah. Let's move out again."
⚔ STATUS UPDATE ⚔ ⚡ Strength: [37 → 39] I allocated the stat points and resumed the march. As we hastily crossed the commercial district, another group of soldiers charged at us.
"Kuaaaak!"
But they were already half-broken, so I handled them alone. Enduring repeated zombie and soldier ambushes, we finally escaped the commercial district and reached the safe zone.
"Insane..."
Of course, whether this place could still be called a safe zone was highly questionable.
"Kya aaaak!"
The streets were littered with blood and corpses. Zombies and mutants roamed chaotically. We'd cleared the nearby ones, but reinforcements must have slipped in from hiding.
"Lord Hanson, we'll handle things here. Hurry and go aid the Count."
"Got it."
I bowed my head briefly and dashed down the road. The distant mage tower was now drawing near.
*
Kwaaaang—!
As I neared the mansion, thunderous booms echoed repeatedly. Rushing inside, I saw Anne clashing with the black-armored knight in the garden.
Blue waves and red auras surged as they charged each other. The two knights moved at speeds too fast for the eye to follow.
'They're insane.'
This was a true knight duel. No way to even intervene.
"Hanson, hurry into the mansion and help the Count!"
She shouted upon spotting me, and I bolted forward without a word.
"I won't let you!"
"Where do you think you're going!"
As the black armor lunged at me, Anne intercepted, swinging her sword.
Jjeeoeong—!
A metallic clash sent massive sparks flying into the air.
"Go, quick!"
I sped past her toward the mansion. Spotting soldiers waiting near the stairs, I kicked off the ground.
Pook—
Crossing the air in an instant, I thrust my sword. The soldier's throat gurgled as blood sprayed.
"Kuhueok—"
"Crazy, what the—!"
As they raised their weapons, I whipped my sword upward to the right.
Chwaaak!
My Strength had reached a whopping '39'. Empowered by the spirit medicine, it now cleaved humans without even needing mana.
"F-Fuck!"
"Monster! He's a monster!"
Even just clashing blades was a burden for them.
Bbeong!
A chill ran along my side; instead of sword, I kicked out. The shield-bearing soldier flew back, tumbling across the ground.
I could wipe them all out like this, but every second counted, so I unleashed my mana without restraint.
Planting my foot deep, I twisted my waist sharply. A perfect blue arc sliced over their weapons and torsos.
Seogeok—
As I recovered my blade, slicing sounds rang out, and the enemy soldiers crumpled to the floor.
"Huu..."
I sheathed my sword and climbed the stairs again.
'The Bardi Count's room...'
Kwaang—
No need to think. Shouts were already echoing from afar.
"Break it down faster!"
"The mage tower's magic is making it impossible to breach easily!"
Racing toward the noise, I found Duke Edwin—no, just Edwin—yelling amid a group of soldiers in the hallway.
"Mage, prepare your spell!"
'Mage?'
Peering through the soldiers, I spotted a ragged man in black robes. So that was their ace up the sleeve.
"Eek, enemy's here!"
Determined to help quickly, I charged down the hallway. The straight corridor let them spot me immediately.
"Block him! You, hurry and prepare the spell! Grab the Count and we're done! Just grab the Count!"
Soldiers with hammers and maces crept toward me defensively.
'Did Anne do it like this back then?'
I crouched, gathering mana, then kicked off, soaring through the air while slashing a straight line.
Seogeok—!
A crude imitation, but effective. I'd slipped into their midst, instantly killing the front two.
Unlike the previous foes, these soldiers didn't panic. If anything, they saw my move as an opening and smashed down without hesitation.
Kwaang!
I dodged with minimal motion and thrust my sword.
Pook!
Simultaneously, I yanked my sheath from my belt and swung it like a club.
Peoeok—
"Kuaak!"
The soldier hit in the gut dropped his hammer and staggered back.
"Hup!"
A subtle shift in temperature on my skin. Unease prickled my hairs; I surged mana and leaped aside.
Peoeong—
An explosion beyond compare. The whole mansion shook, tinnitus ringing in my ears.
Looking up, a crater smoked where I'd stood, charred flesh scattered around.
"Where the hell did you even aim that?!"
"........."
Raising my gaze further, I saw Edwin bellowing next to the black-robed man.
'It was magic!'
The spell meant for breaching the Bardi Count's door—redirected at me.
'That was close as fuck.'
I'd dodged well, but now what? I'd never faced a mage before.
"Mages are fucking pushovers anyway, pushovers! They shoot once and can't do shit for a while—premature ejaculation bastards!"
Recalling porter gossip, it seemed right to rush him now.
'Not the most reliable intel.'
Still, giving the mage time was definitely bad.
Hwoong—!
I kicked the floor, vaulting the crater, sword arm extended.
Teoreong!
Something blocked it—my arm bounced back. Up close, a translucent barrier shimmered.
"W-What now?!"
"........."
Edwin screamed almost in my face, but the mage stayed silent.
'Premature jackoff confirmed!'
⚔ STATUS UPDATE ⚔ ⚡ Strength: [39 → 40] A grin tugged at my lips as I allocated the points. Dismissing the window, I raised my sword and hammered the barrier.
Kwaang!
The mage staggered hard from my strike. I kept swinging; cracks spiderwebbed across the shield.
Jjaenggrang—
Finally, it shattered with a crash, dropping the man.
"Eeeeeek!"
Edwin's eyes darted wildly. Glancing between me and the mage, he suddenly turned and fled.
Pook!
I pierced the mage's skull, then chased Edwin and kicked his ankle.
Eudeuk!
"Kuaaaaaak!"
A gruesome crunch echoed as he toppled forward, writhing and clutching his ankle.
"H-Hanson! Hanson! Please, spare me! I'm not the kind of guy who dies in a place like this!"
"Then where's the right place for you to die?"
Edwin stared up at me, mind racing.
"I-I'm a Duke of the Empire! If you take me out of here safely to the Empire, I'll give you an enormous reward—"
—Pook!
"Kuaaaaaak!"
I stabbed his thigh, sending him into convulsions.
"Shut up, asshole."
I clubbed him unconscious with my sheath, and the mansion finally fell silent. Sighing deeply, I slumped to the floor.
'Fuck, that was exhausting.'
No forced march like this one. Even my old 50km full-kit hike wasn't this brutal.
"Hanson!"
Turning at the voice behind me, I saw Anne rushing over. Only then did it truly sink in that it was over.
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