Chapter 16: The Mad Emperor of the Empire, Balthazar (2)
Chapter 16: The Mad Emperor of the Empire, Balthazar (2)
"To think that the Great Warrior named Ban would even break through the Empire's gateway... What an incredible achievement."
The Rohim Kingdom's grand conference room.
Inside, King Heimlich II, Celestia of the Witch Council, and Elysia of the Edelrite Knights Order—the kingdom's premier noble knight order—along with numerous officials, were gathered.
"Your Majesty, now is our chance. How long will you just watch the Empire's tyranny? We must push in while morale is high, now that a hero named Ban has appeared."
Celestia suggested boldly to the King.
"That may be true, but the Empire's army is powerful. They even have soldiers who transform into magical beasts, so our army's casualties would be immense."
"Prince... no, Ban-nim is someone who can take down magical beasts like orcs in a single blow. With someone like that fighting on the front lines, if not now, when can we minimize our casualties?"
Elysia also chimed in.
"Your Majesty, I have a good idea."
At that moment, one of the officials who had been quiet spoke up.
"They say the warrior named Ban is going as far as to conquer the Papacy; why don't we swallow up the Empire's capital while it's empty because they're out to catch him?"
The official said with an unpleasant smile.
"If the ca... Mmmph-mph-mph!!"
"Shhh."
As Celestia mimed zipping her mouth shut, the official's mouth, which had been trying to beguile the King, stuck together as if glued shut.
"Hahaha! There is no need for that, Witch. I do not use such despicable tactics."
The King said with a hearty laugh.
"Ahem!"
Then, as if having made a decision, he stood up from his seat.
"Request cooperation from our allies immediately and assemble the army!! Now that a Great Warrior who will go down in history has appeared, this must be the optimal moment to punish the enemy!"
As the King shouted solemnly, everyone stood up in unison and bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Witch Council will also stand at the vanguard to assist."
"Your Majesty, the Edelrite Knights Order will lead the kingdom's army first to cross the Empire's border and show our resolve."
As Elysia and Celestia showed their resolve, the King nodded.
"I wish you all good fortune in battle."
**
"Everywhere we go, it's full of talk about the Prince."
The Edelrite Knights Order, the vanguard of the allied forces, has just passed the gateway and is advancing.
Inside a massive carriage, a mobile command post had been set up.
Elysia, Celestia, and Valentine were gathered inside.
"That's for sure... Is that why everyone falls head over heels for him? But why do you call Ban 'Prince'?"
When Celestia asked, Elysia grinned from ear to ear.
"Ah~ Ah~ If I start this story, it won't end until we reach the battlefield, but if you really want to hear it~ I shall explain my fateful meeting with the Prince."
Just as Elysia was about to start speaking, Valentine shyly raised her hand.
"Ban already has Priscilla, though...."
Upon hearing that, Elysia was stunned for a moment.
But she soon shook her head, composed herself, and continued confidently.
"For a person of Ban-nim's stature, I expected as much!"
Elysia slightly lifted the breastplate of her armor, revealing her massive chest.
"But do you remember that the Rohim Kingdom allows polygamy...?"
"Don't tell me...."
"The competitors won't be just one or two anyway. Rather than losing Ban-nim to a single woman named Priscilla, wouldn't loving him all together be a peaceful solution?"
As if she had realized something, Valentine's hair color instantly turned pink.
"Elysia-nim!! As expected of a Knight Captain, you are so smart!! Then there's no time to hesitate anymore...."
Valentine, rarely excited, said quickly.
"Wait! But it is only proper to follow an order. I am second."
"Ah...! Then I am third...."
"My eonni also adores Ban-nim, so you might need to reach an appropriate agreement regarding the third spot."
It was hard to believe they had met for the first time today; the two women were reaching a consensus over Ban.
Celestia, watching such a scene, sighed.
"Is he really that cool... Hmmm...."
**
-Thud!!
As a massive cloud of dust flew up like an explosion, Ban charged toward the enemy lines.
"W-what! Why is he charging alone!!"
"Raise your shields! Build a wall!"
The Imperial vanguard was flustered by Ban's sudden intrusion and hurriedly formed a formation.
Hundreds of sharp spearheads were raised densely, and thick steel shields were stacked layer upon layer to block Ban's path.
However, Ban charged straight ahead without any change in expression.
He adjusted his grip on his greatsword and, at the same time, drew a large arc through the air.
-Kwagagagagang!!!
The sword strike engulfed the Imperial formation, and a massive tearing sound shook the battlefield.
"Kuaaaaagh!"
The Imperial defensive formation, which had been tightly interlocked, was torn apart like paper.
The Imperial soldiers were sent flying dozens of meters into the air as if hit by a dump truck.
A massive hole was punched into the Imperial vanguard.
Ban began to dash toward the opened path without hesitation.
"Is that the Great Warrior who broke through the Empire's gateway alone?"
"To jump into that army without a shred of hesitation, he is truly worthy of being a hero of the Rohim Kingdom!!"
The kingdom's allied forces, seeing Ban's charge, murmured in admiration.
"Didn't I tell you?!!! The Prince is the strongest!! What are you all doing!! The Prince has opened the path, let's go too!!"
"I!! will stay here, have a safe trip!!"
Elysia rode her horse and dashed forward with the soldiers whose morale had risen thanks to Ban, while Alucia watched from behind.
The allied forces that filled the plains rushed into the battlefield rapidly.
-Kwagagagang!!
"Kuaaaagh!! We're being attacked from both sides!! Everyone, fix the formation!!"
The Imperial army, attacked by Ban and the allied forces in an instant, fell into confusion.
-Seogeok!
-Kwajik!
The bodies of the soldiers who rushed to block Ban's path fell away powerlessly.
Ordinary soldiers could not block the heavy impact of the greatsword.
Just as Ban was breaking through toward the center of the enemy lines without hesitation,
-Kwaaaaaaaang!!!!
Massive fire magic poured down from in front of and behind Ban.
The overwhelming heat, like the sun, instantly turned dozens of nearby Imperial soldiers into ash.
And from within that red fire magic, a hot-tempered voice rang out.
"Baaaaan!!! Why didn't you call me sooner!!"
It was Katarina, the Witch of Fire.
She appeared, boldly tearing through the enemy lines, and approached Ban's side.
"I heard Celestia gave you a scroll, so why aren't you using it? I was waiting in the swamp mansion, just looking for a chance to fly over!!!"
At Katarina's nagging, Ban stopped for a moment and rummaged through his chest.
Soon, Ban pulled out a crisp sheet of paper and answered indifferently.
"I didn't really have a need to use it."
"...Seriously?"
Ban shook the blood off his greatsword into the air and looked toward where the Emperor was.
"I have somewhere to go right now, so I'll be heading off first."
At his honest and confident answer, a smile spread across Katarina's lips.
"Ha! That's the spirit!! Leave the small fry to me! I'm confident in wiping them out with firepower!!"
As Katarina waved her hand, fire magic poured down onto the Imperial soldiers blocking Ban's path.
As the path opened, Ban left a short greeting with a nod and dashed off again at explosive speed.
The closer he got to the Emperor's main camp, the more noticeably different the strength of the enemies became.
Bizarre soldiers who had transformed into forms like magical beasts.
Behind them, massive magic catapults prepared to demolish the entire Papacy were lined up in a row.
-Kkigigigik
The sound of the catapult strings being pulled taut filled the battlefield.
Massive rocks imbued with ominous mana were loaded, and it was obvious that if those were fired at the Papacy all at once, the fortress would crumble in an instant.
"Fire!!"
The moment the catapults were about to fire with the commander's order.
-Kwaaaang!
Ban leaped high into the sky.
"Ab... Above!!!"
Ban threw his body toward the catapults in mid-air and slammed his greatsword down.
-Kwaaaaaang!!!
The blade of the greatsword split the catapult right in half.
"Uaaaaagh!"
And in the ensuing indiscriminate sword strikes, the magic catapult unit suffered near-total annihilation.
"This is... absurd... Is that just a human?"
The commander muttered, losing his wits.
In the middle of the scene of destruction where a sandstorm had risen, Ban walked out, brushing off the dust.
The terrified soldiers could only step back while holding their weapons.
And finally, the place where Ban stopped after piercing through the thick dust.
There, a mobile chariot decorated with flashy jewels was positioned.
Mana was rising like a haze around the chariot, and in the center, Emperor Balthazar was looking down with his chin resting on his hand.
"......"
A bizarre silence flowed as if all the noise on the battlefield had been muted in an instant.
Balthazar stroked his scarred face and looked at him as if he were interesting.
"You must be Ban."
Beside him, a bizarre-looking, massive magic sword floated in the air, emitting mana.
Balthazar slowly stood up from his seat.
Just by the Emperor, armed with powerful artifacts, standing up, an immense sense of oppression was emitted, as if the surrounding air were being crushed.
"You Great Warrior brat, who has disturbed and mocked my Empire...."
As Balthazar spread his hand, the massive magic sword flew over and settled into his hand.
Overwhelming killing intent was emitted, but Ban did not waver even an inch.
"Are you Balthazar."
Ban's blunt voice rang out across the battlefield.
"There are many who have been harmed because of you, including Priscilla-nim."
"That inferior witch, she finally betrayed us."
Two beings with a relationship of bitter enemies finally faced each other.