Episode 6: Imperial Assassination Squad Black Serpent (2)
Episode 6: Imperial Assassination Squad Black Serpent (2)
-Kwaaang!!
The swamp shook from the sword strike swung by Ban.
However, before Ban's massive Great Sword could reach the assassins, they spun their bodies freely and narrowly evaded.
"It's amazing that you can wield such a massive weapon so freely."
The voice of the Black Snake Unit captain came from between the sword strikes.
"But it's slow. To hit us...."
-Kwaaaaah!!
Before the captain could finish speaking, the speed of the Great Sword's strike abruptly increased.
-Chwak!
Finally, Ban bisected the waist of the first assassin.
Seeing this, the Black Snake Unit momentarily created distance and moved away from Ban.
"It wasn't slow after all. But can you find us once we disappear into the ground?"
Soon, they vanished into the swamp once more with their dazzling movements.
"Chirping away, how noisy, really...."
Ban raised his Great Sword high.
The blood vessels on Ban's body thickened as an enormous power gathered.
Soon after, the Great Sword slammed down towards the ground.
-Kwagagagang!!
Ban's strike, not sparing any power, shattered the ground and laid waste to the entire area.
As the ground broke apart, panicked assassins began revealing themselves one by one.
Before they could even regain their composure, Ban leaped into the swirling soil.
-Chwajajajak!!
Slicing, stabbing, and ramming—in an instant, the number of assassins was reduced to less than half.
"Now the chatter has died down some."
Ban was now clad in armor painted with the blood of the cold, dead assassins.
The assassins, having distanced themselves from Ban again, scattered amongst the forest plants in an instant, with only their captain holding his position.
"It seems fighting you in numbers isn't the best approach."
The captain undid the hood he was wearing and assumed a stance reminiscent of a knight.
"Captain of the Walpurgis Empire's Black Snake Unit, Knight Kravia. I challenge you to a one-on-one duel."
"Calling yourself a knight while bearing the name assassin... How revolting."
Ban raised his Great Sword as if accepting.
For a moment, the surroundings fell silent, an almost suffocating tension passing between them.
At the very moment Ban was about to move his foot first.
-Pueoeoong!!!
Assassins emerged from within Ban's shadow and attempted to self-destruct using explosives.
As if every assassin had dedicated everything for the Empire, they clung to Ban's body one after another without hesitation and exploded.
-Kwang!!! Kwagagang!! Kwangkwang!!
"You're absolutely right!! Why would an assassin engage in a one-on-one duel?? Sacrifices are necessary to capture a strong foe like you!!"
An immense chain of explosions that occurred in an instant swirled through the swamp.
"Ban......!"
Seeing this, Valentine covered her mouth with a shocked expression.
"Now, Valentine. The sacrifice to capture just you was great. Shall we return together now?"
As the captain moved from his spot and tried to walk towards Valentine, a massive shadow gradually grew within the black clouds from the explosion.
Little by little, slowly, the captain's expression of delight vanished without a trace, replaced only by spreading darkness.
-Kung!! Kung!!! Kung!!!
Soon, accompanied by the sound of vibrations, Ban walked out as if nothing had happened.
Though his clothes were largely torn off by the blast's aftermath, the Great Sword and Ban himself were perfectly fine, having taken no damage.
"Are you even human after that?"
The Black Snake captain drew his sword once more, and this time he himself charged at Ban.
-Ting!!
But after just one clash, the Black Snake captain's sword shattered, and the impact sent the captain himself tumbling and crashing to the ground.
"Kheuk... You beastly bastard."
Ban thrust his Great Sword into the ground and approached the fallen captain.
"You're enduring well, probably because you're the captain, huh?"
The moment his words ended, Ban's rock-like, massive fist flew into the face of the Black Snake captain.
-Kwang!! Kwang!!! Kwang!!!
Impact sounds, as if splitting a giant rock, spread out rhythmically.
-Kwang!! Kwang!!!
"Stop."
Just as Ban's indiscriminate violence was continuing, a cold, frigid voice echoed, and Ban stopped the fist he was about to bring down.
"I said stop hitting him, Ban. He's from the Empire, we should at least try to extract some information."
Ban shook his blood-stained fist and looked up at the sky.
There, the Witch of Celestial Bodies, Celestia, and the Witch of Fire, Katarina, were hovering in the air.
"It's been a while."
"Yeah, it's been a while, Ban. Not exactly a pleasant reunion."
Celestia descended towards the ground, radiating an atmosphere as cold as space.
The Witch of Celestial Bodies, Celestia.
She is the most intellectual and composed witch among the members of the Witch Council.
Her vast knowledge earned her a name likened to celestial bodies.
"Ban!!! It's been years!!! You've become sturdy since I last saw you!!"
Soon after, the Witch of Fire, Katarina, followed in descent.
The Witch of Fire, Katarina, who flaunted a lively atmosphere, was a powerhouse with strength rivaling Priscilla's, but her reckless personality meant her reputation wasn't very good.
"You've made a complete mess of him. Is he dead?"
"No. He was tougher than I thought."
Katarina poked and prodded the face of the Black Snake captain that Ban had been beating with her finger.
"He's alive...? But in this state, can he even talk?"
"It doesn't matter. Ransacking the brain while the subject is alive yields the highest accuracy."
-Tak!
With a snap of Celestia's fingers, the nearly dead captain's body disappeared into the abyss.
"We'll check the information later; we need to hear the detailed situation first."
Celestia said with a brusque expression, looking towards where Valentine was.
"Celestia~ Katarina~"
Soon, Valentine's voice came from behind, and the three witches gathered in one place.
"What about the others?"
"Only we were available. The witches who couldn't come will be shared the information later."
"I see... The situation is urgent, so I'll explain right away."
**
"Those garbage bastards!!! Daring to touch the great Witch Council!!! We march at once!!! Everyone assemble!!!"
Ban, Valentine, Celestia, and Katarina had gathered at the mansion and were being explained the ins and outs of the incident.
As soon as she heard the explanation, Celestia heaved a deep sigh with an expression of suppressed anger, and Katarina flew into a rage on the spot, shattering the dining table with her fist.
"Katarina... Calm down. We must enlist help not only from all the witches but also from the Empire's hostile nations."
Celestia swept back her space-like black hair and continued.
"We must prepare thoroughly and crush them. We'll show them what happens when they make us their enemy."
Her cold, rational demeanor rather spoke volumes about how deeply enraged she was.
But Ban, with a blunt expression as if he couldn't agree with Celestia's words, replied.
"I'm sorry, but I will head to the Empire immediately. I cannot tolerate that Priscilla-nim is captured."
"Ban... The Empire is vast. We don't even know where inside the royal castle Priscilla is being held."
"It doesn't matter. If I kill them all, I'll find out where."
Along with his blunt reply, a suffocating murderous aura swirled inside the mansion.
Even Celestia, the most rational among the witches, inhaled sharply and shook her head carefully as if to say no.
"No!! I agree with Ban. Priscilla is our long-time colleague. We must rescue her as soon as possible, even if it means postponing all-out war, rescue comes first!"
Katarina shouted, agreeing with Ban's words.
"I wasn't seeking your agreement in the first place."
Ban's expression was hardened, as if delivering an ultimatum.
"Fine, Ban. Seeing your current state, I know it's not a situation we can stop you even if we tried. One day, give me just one day. I'll extract information from the captive and request information from the Kingdom."
"One day... Understood."
Ban rose from his seat with a heavy expression and went outside.
"Valentine, you handle contacting the Kingdom. I need to go do some torture."
"Got it, Celestia."
Valentine nodded and immediately began writing a letter.
"Then what should I do!!!"
"You...... it's cold, so go make a fire or something."
I couldn't even sleep properly, let alone sigh.
Thinking of Priscilla-nim, who must be captured in the Empire at this very moment, twists my guts.
I well understand the two ladies' reasons for stopping me, but I absolutely could not stay and wait in the mansion with these emotions.
"Hu......"
Just as I was about to leave the mansion after finishing the brief meditation I had been practicing, Celestia-nim came to find me.
"Ban, the information is gathered. Let's gather for a moment."
"Understood."
Following behind Celestia-nim, as I entered the mansion, I saw a map spread out wide.
"Ban, did you sleep well? ...Never mind, you probably didn't."
Valentine-nim greeted me with an awkward expression.
"It's fine. Please tell me the information quickly."
"Valentine, where's Katarina?"
Celestia-nim asked while looking around.
"Uh... she's still sleeping."
"It's actually better quiet. It's not like she'd understand even if she heard, so it's fine."
Celestia-nim promptly organized the information obtained from the Black Snake captain and the information Valentine-nim obtained by colluding with the Kingdom.
The locations of secret passages in the Empire's royal castle, the relationships of the higher-ups, and what they plan to do with the captured witch.
She provided detailed information as if it were originally her own memory.
No matter how much he was the captain of an extremely trained assassination unit, having his brain forcibly read left him no choice.
Unfortunately, however, information on where exactly Priscilla-nim was being held could not be obtained.
"The Kingdom said they would help us infiltrate the Empire by contacting a secret agent. This is the rendezvous point."
Valentine-nim handed over a paper with the location and time written on it.
"Ban... Even so, entering head-on would be dangerous for both you and Priscilla, so it would be good to meet them once. We will also head towards the Empire as soon as we're prepared."
I nodded, took the paper, and immediately turned around to leave the mansion.
"Wait, Ban! Take this too."
Celestia-nim stopped me as I was about to step outside.
"It's a signal scroll. Using it will send Katarina directly to your location. As you know, that girl's firepower alone is tremendous."
"I'll use it if needed."
A secret agent of the Kingdom, huh....
I'm sorry to the witches, but I think there's no more time left to waste meeting someone.
With just the information Celestia-nim provided, it's now time to do things my way.
"Celestia, Ban has already left."
"I know. I saw too, so let's prepare immediately as well."
The Witch of Celestial Bodies, Celestia, immediately went outside to prepare to depart.
Soon after, Valentine followed as well.
"We must gather our forces in a short time. To respond immediately if Ban fails."
"I don't think he'll fail.... I'm just worried about how many people will die in the process. Celestia, you haven't seen Ban fight, have you?"
"I have. The force of his punches was certainly tremendous, but considering the powerful individuals in the Empire, he's still too young and lacking. You subdued most of the assassins, right?"
Valentine shook her head side to side.
"No, I just watched from behind. He's not the Ban we knew anymore."
"Then you mean Ban alone wiped out the Empire's unit?"
"Yes. The Black Snake Unit wasn't even a match for Ban. It's not just that he's become cool or anything... It's like he's transcended the limits of his species."
Celestia made a slightly surprised, contorted face, not her usual composed expression.
"That Black Snake captain guy... Judging just from his memories, he was a top-tier powerhouse even within the Empire."
Celestia's face paused for a moment, then she looked at Valentine.
"But what did you mean by 'cool'?"
"Huh? No!! That... When I was injured, Ban carried me, and his body was so big and warm and... sturdy... and his face is handsome too...."
"No, Valentine, you...."
"Anyway!! It's urgent, so I'll go ahead first!!"
With her face reddened, Valentine waved her hand and left first.
"He certainly has become cool... Hmm."
Celestia, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, tilted her head and then disappeared into the sky following after.
A while later, inside the now quiet mansion of the Witch of the Swamp.
"What the fuck, where did everyone go?"
Katarina, left all alone, scratched her disheveled head vigorously, having just woken up now.
That moment, in front of the border checkpoint of the Walpurgis Empire
In front of the massive iron gate, a line of refugees, worn out by hunger and poverty, trying to escape the Empire, stretched out.
That long line extended beyond the checkpoint, filling the wide plains with crowds to the point a refugee village could form.
A horrific place where the despair of refugees, sprawled on the mud and oppressed by the Empire's soldiers, mingled,
A man with a huge great sword, rushing towards that place to save his woman.