Chapter 139

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 139

Chapter Title: Unimaginable Identity

-Kyaaaaah!!

Sudden roars echoed through the capital, screams erupting from every corner.

I'd been casually heading back to my room when I jumped in shock and bolted out into the corridor.

Looking up at the sky, I saw black smoke billowing up from spots all over the capital.

"What the hell?"

"It's my friends, nya!"

Chur sniffed the air again.

As if the familiar scent was coming from everywhere around us.

"Have magical beasts invaded the capital, Chur?"

"The smell of my friends is everywhere, nya."

"Shit..."

I hurriedly turned back toward the banquet hall.

Yuna had just said she'd look into it moments ago, and now beasts were pouring in?

Did that mean the culprits had planned to invade right then and there?

-Kieeeek!

-Bwooooooo!

The banquet hall was already a total mess, overrun by invading beasts.

The ceiling had collapsed, and sinkhole-like holes gaped in the floor.

Beasts were swarming in through those holes.

The imperial palace should have had all sorts of safety measures in place.

Of course, any external approach would've been spotted by the imperial guards long before.

But the beasts seemed to have anticipated that—they were dropping from the sky and bursting up from the ground.

There were more coming from underground, and flying ones slipping in amid the chaos.

Were there tunnels?

But it was weird that the imperial family hadn't detected passages allowing beasts to erupt from beneath the palace.

Yeah. This was a seriously bizarre invasion.

Impossible without full knowledge of the palace and capital's layout and security systems.

At that moment, Howard Max rushed past, his sparse hair flying, leading the imperial mages somewhere in a panic.

"Captain! What's going on?!"

"You rotten bastard! What the hell have you been doing instead of assembling in this crisis? Didn't you go through disaster drills?!"

"I'm not an imperial mage, though?"

"Oh, right. Then get the hell out via the VIP evacuation route!"

"Wait! What's the situation?!"

"No time to stop, you idiot!"

Howard Max spat curses as he led the imperial mages onward.

I couldn't spot Yuna in the banquet hall.

For now, I chased after Howard Max to get the rundown.

"Where are you headed?!"

"Beasts are flooding the capital and turning the city upside down! We can't let it get wrecked, so we're going to stop them!"

"What about the palace?"

"The knights are holding it! The capital's too vast, with beasts rampaging everywhere—magic's the way to go here, you fool!"

The capital situation sounded dire too.

The beasts spread across the wide city were too much for the guards alone to suppress fully.

Some imperial mages were heading down to the capital.

"Got it!"

I stopped following Howard Max.

The capital would handle itself.

If I just cared about my own safety, no need to venture far out.

The imperial knights were already prioritizing VIPs and royals, escorting them first.

But the area still looked dangerous.

There were so many ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beasts that the imperial knights couldn't hold them off properly.

I figured the sky was safer, so I hopped on my broom.

"Hop on, Chur!"

"Nya!"

We shot down a few charging flying beasts and soared into the sky.

Even the flying ones were focused on attacking the palace, so after flying a bit, no more came at us.

I caught my breath and opened the gallery.

"Ah."

Environmentalist's comment sparked an idea.

Chur's beast kin, the [Black Slasoni], was definitely proficient in mental attacks.

Not much was known from the bestiary, but it could control beasts regardless.

"Chur. Can you calm those beasts down?"

"Grrr... I can, nya. But my friends are super mad, so I can't hold it long, nya."

Chur could calm them while exerting power.

But it was temporary—once Chur stopped, they'd go wild again.

"How long can you manage, Chur?"

"Lots of strong friends, so not long, nya. Time to eat five plates of spicy pork stir-fry, nya."

Chur finishes a plate, rice and all, in about four minutes.

So, twenty minutes of power.

Not enough to cover the whole capital.

Maybe stabilize the palace, though.

I pondered briefly, then decided to follow the gallery's advice.

People were already getting hurt or killed by beasts.

Couldn't just watch, and snagging rewards from the imperial vault would benefit me.

Not greedy, but the gallery made it sound like a good deed.

"Alright, Chur. When I say, calm my friends a bit? But you gotta be in beast form to use your power."

"If husband asks, got it, nya!"

Good, Chur listened.

But no letting others see Chur's polymorph.

Keep Grandis secret, make it look like my familiar's ability.

Chur released the polymorph, reverting to beast form.

I lowered altitude on the broom.

Down below, knights were desperately battling beasts.

I flew to the man I'd heard was the knight commander.

"Are you the knight commander?"

"You're that substitute from the mage squad..."

"Yes. From Merhen Academy. I have a way to handle the beasts."

"...What?"

"My familiar has mental abilities to calm beasts. But limit's about twenty minutes, so if knights handle them in that window, we wrap this up quick."

"Hmph..."

The stern-faced commander eyed me and Kim Chur suspiciously.

Then grumbled in a gruff voice.

"No need. Palace is knights' duty. If helping, go to capital and aid the mages."

"...Pardon?"

Unexpected response.

He muttered something like 'orders from a mere mage...' and turned away.

Stunned, I posted to the gallery about the commander's reaction—and got the reason.

Knights and mages apparently had bad blood.

Unless gallery-tier mages were here.

Strongest archmage dukes at 9th circle, so knights nitpicked.

Still, top mage vs. top knight, mage wins.

But few 9th circles—archmage dukes and tower lords.

Palace maxed at 8th, so pride clash made sense.

Explained why knights and mages moved separately.

Even I felt pissed as a mage now.

Screw helping. Then Asher appeared.

"Cadet?"

"Crown Prince."

"What are you doing here? Evacuate now."

I repeated my pitch to the crown prince.

Too many dying to beasts.

Couldn't just leave with blood everywhere.

"...Is that true?"

Luckily, Asher listened, unlike the commander.

"No time to doubt when palace and citizens are threatened. Rewards will be generous—can I count on you?"

"Understood. Twenty-minute limit."

"Good. Knight Commander!"

The commander who'd ignored me approached at Asher's call.

He took Asher's orders and commanded knights per my plan.

"Tch..."

He glared once more before moving.

Almost wanted to bail.

But Asher promised extra rewards, so I stuck it out.

Things proceeded smoothly after.

Chur calmed nearby beasts; knights herded them together.

Remaining imperial mages sealed them off.

Repeated a few times, and palace beasts were mostly suppressed.

"Nyaa..."

Chur sagged, power nearly spent.

But palace mostly cleared.

Knights and mages with breathing room headed to capital.

"Thanks, cadet. Cleared the palace fast thanks to you. Quite the rare familiar."

"She's something special. Anyway..."

Situation stabilizing, Asher wiped sweat from his brow with thanks.

Palace just minor stragglers left.

Then, far behind Asher.

At my vision's edge, a black-masked figure dashed off.

"Wait—Crown Prince, there!"

"What?!"

I pointed urgently, but the mask was gone.

Instinct screamed: that masked one was the ringleader.

"Chur!"

"Nyanya..."

I hugged exhausted Chur tight and gunned the broom.

Bang—the broom accelerated sharply.

Heard Asher chasing but he fell behind quick.

No one on foot could match my flight speed.

I left crown prince and knights' clamor behind, pursuing the mask.

"There...!"

Heading the way it vanished, I spotted a silhouette leaping buildings far off.

Mask scaled walls unnaturally, ran along palace outer walls and structures.

Guards blocking sporadically got in way, but mask drew longsword, slew them instantly, kept running.

Not a mage.

But movements far surpassed average knight.

Familiarity nagged with each glimpse.

I layered defense spells preemptively, tailing.

[Final Royal Knight Order's Plate Armor]

[Final Royal Knight Order's Plate Armor]

[Final ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Royal Knight Order's Plate Armor]

.

.

.

.

.

Ten straight 5th-circle defenses stacked.

[Final Royal Knight Order's Plate Armor] draped mana-forged plate over body.

Like wearing ten layers of thick plate now.

Then mask entered a building.

The banquet hall where chaos began.

Asura field: ceiling hole, floor sinkholes, otherwise empty.

Whoosh—

Mask dove into a floor sinkhole.

Where beasts had emerged.

I lit magic light and plunged in.

Whoosh—

Sinkhole delved deep underground.

Bottom opened to tunnel.

Deliberately dug passage.

Mask fleeing down it.

Narrow tunnel perfect to block.

I erected thick wall too solid to breach.

[The Time It Takes for Sedimentary Rock to Form]

Rumble—the sedimentary rock wall sealed mask's path.

Mask halted, glancing around in panic.

I computed next spell.

Simultaneously, mask charged me.

Far faster than expected.

Distance closed in one-two leaps.

Regretted not accelerating thought first.

First time fighting sword user.

Glinting blade approached with chill aura.

Trusted pre-laid defenses, cast attack.

Managed one spear before arrival.

[Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin]

Flame-wreathed spear arced at mask.

Charging mask glanced at it.

Blue aura shimmered on mask's sword.

Intangible energy encased blade like mana aura.

Mask deflected dragon knight's spear with it.

"Blocked it?"

Mighty spear smashed into floor after sword clash.

Blocked magic with sword? Or was that magic too?

No time ponder—I computed next,

but mask already thrust glowing blade at my nose.

Clang—clanggg—

Mask slashed wildly, shattering [Final Royal Knight Order's Plate Armor].

Three-four strikes peeled one layer.

Insane speed—layers stripped rapidly.

Recast defenses? No countermeasures came.

Melee panic hit hard.

"Kyak!"

Then limp Chur from behind snarled, lunged at mask.

Mask's focus snapped to Chur.

Deep purple mana gathered in Chur's foreclaws.

Chur slashed mana-soaked paw; trajectory birthed massive claw rending space.

No stop—opposite paw struck again.

Mask parried with sword but missed some.

Unblocked claw tore mask and clothes.

"Urk—"

Bleeding mask clutched torn mask with one hand, retreated.

"Good job, Chur!"

"Nya!"

Couldn't let distance grow.

Bind movements first.

While Chur stalled, I computed melee-rare spell.

Drew thick large circle.

3D sphere like fence.

Inside, wavy curves rippled like waves.

Fish sigils in water-filled enclosure.

From fish mouths, spiraling lines.

Overlaid dense net.

Net-fenced aquaculture float on water.

Fish live to die, mistaking it for ocean.

[Net-Pen Aquaculture]

"Glub—glug—"

Fence and net snagged retreating mask; water flooded in.

Trapped mask flailed as water rose, breath tightening.

[Net-Pen Aquaculture] imprisoned in farm enclosure.

Full water would sink mask under.

Unless it tore net free first.

Anticipating, I readied next.

As expected, mask raised sword to slash net.

Arms thrashed desperately.

Net tearing, but left hand released torn mask to grip sword.

But,

"Glub—puh—"

Torn mask slipped, revealing face.

I froze, computation wavering at the identity.

"...Second Prince?"

"Glub—puha—"

Mask's true face: the notorious prince, Akail.