Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Steel Tower (10)
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The waiting room had plunged into unprecedented chaos.
"W-What was that just now? Did anyone get a good look?"
"It looked like a person, but I couldn't really..."
Ilrak had been too fast for anyone to identify her.
All they had seen was something bursting out of the elevator and smashing through the door to the audience chamber.
Had they known it was a furious Dragonblood woman, the atmosphere would have turned even worse—but even as it was, the situation was grave enough.
"C-Could it be an assassin targeting the lord?!"
"If that were the case, it wouldn't have been so quiet. What's going on in this city?"
"A-Aren't we in danger too? We should get out of the Steel Tower right now..."
What a bizarre day.
They had come here after receiving invitations, only to wait for hours.
Bored with nothing to do, they had stared out the window—only to watch as half the golems patrolling the city suddenly collapsed like they had heatstroke.
And now, an attack by some assailant on top of that.
It was terrifying enough to make them want to flee on the spot, yet they couldn't bring themselves to move, fearing something might go wrong.
Just as everyone was stamping their feet in frustration.
"Everyone. We need to leave immediately."
"Director Leodorn...!"
Bam! Leodorn kicked open the conference room door and strode out.
His rigidly set face was as serious as it had been during the merger discussions.
"This place is dangerous. Please exit the tower calmly and return to your homes."
"B-But is it safer out there? The golems are collapsing."
"There is no place more dangerous than the Steel Tower right now. I guarantee it on Director Baek Eunsong's honor."
"Can't we just wait for the mage to handle it? I heard she graduated top of the Blue Tower."
Leodorn squeezed his eyes shut.
These cowards from all over the world.
No matter how scared they were, shouldn't they flee first when an intruder breached the audience chamber?
Especially since he had been about to reveal that damned mage as the mastermind behind it all.
"No need to worry. It's just the futile struggling of some upstart faction that doesn't know its place."
"......!"
A familiar voice echoed from behind the nobles.
They turned and froze.
The lord of Valkeros stood there, hands clasped behind his back.
"L-Lord! You're safe?!"
"Yes... whew, as you can see."
The lord nodded.
His clothes were disheveled, his face flushed as if he had run here, but he seemed unharmed.
"I received an urgent report in advance and took shelter, avoiding disaster. The ones who wrecked the golems and assaulted the audience chamber have been identified as a notorious fundamentalist group from the west. Lady Silien has already mobilized to respond, so it will be resolved shortly."
"Ah, I knew it...!"
"So, everyone, please wait here until the situation stabilizes. There is no safer place in Valkeros right now than the Steel Tower."
Clank. As the lord finished speaking, the emergency exit door swung open.
Twenty fully armed soldiers marched in, snapping to attention.
"Ooh, most reliable!"
"We were feeling uneasy just among ourselves, but as expected of the lord."
Smiles bloomed on the nobles' faces.
The soldiers, standing ramrod straight, looked as dependable as an imperial bank deposit.
The only one not smiling was Leodorn.
"......I'm glad you're safe, my lord."
His words rang true, but his voice dripped with distrust.
He knew the man before him was not the real lord.
Leodorn spoke up.
"Then. I'll be heading out first."
"Hm? Heading out?"
"I have urgent business to attend to. Thank you for your thoughtful measures, but I'll protect myself."
"That won't do. Director Leodorn. Protecting the citizens' safety is my duty."
The lord shook his head.
He placed a hand on Leodorn's shoulder, offering a benevolent smile.
"You are especially important, so you need stricter protection. Wait in the conference room until I say otherwise."
"But..."
"Now, now! That's an order from your lord."
His tone was playful, but his eyes blazed with murderous intent.
Leodorn bowed his head.
There was no arguing with this.
"......Very well."
To the others, he was still the real lord.
If he hadn't brought those soldiers, Leodorn might have punched him.
Thud.
No sooner had Leodorn entered the conference room than the door shut behind him.
The clanking of the soldiers' armor.
The fake lord's cheeky voice carried through the door.
"Make sure he absolutely can't come out, men. He's got quite the temper."
"Hahaha, Director does have a fiery side."
The nobles' laughter joined in.
If he got out of here, he'd have to punch those guys too.
Leodorn leaned against the door and sighed.
"Whew... This is troubling..."
He said it loudly enough for the soldiers and fake lord to hear.
To make it seem like he was truly distressed.
Step. Step.
Deeper into the conference room, Leodorn spoke.
"That's enough. I can't get out, but no one can get in either."
Unlike before, his voice was a tiny whisper, like an ant crawling.
A similarly hushed reply came back.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
It came from the window side.
A blond boy knelt in the middle of the conference room's balcony.
He clutched a vertically held staff, radiating indescribable desperation.
It was Kael, who had slipped in right after Ilrak's intrusion.
"Nothing else you need?"
"No. This is enough."
Kael answered without turning.
He had asked Leodorn to ensure no interruptions, then taken position on the balcony.
He hadn't heard the details beyond Bran being safe, but Leodorn couldn't refuse.
"Heh... Being around you lot always drags me into incidents."
Leodorn chuckled.
Since teaming up with Bran's group, he had experienced one adventure after another—things that happened once in a lifetime, if at all.
He thought nothing could top the Iron-Blood Twin Heroes, but who knew he'd end up seeing his former colleague's brain.
Stroking his beard, he muttered in a wistful tone.
"Half the objective is achieved... but I'm worried about the people in the waiting room."
He had originally planned to evacuate them too, but the fake lord foiled that.
He didn't know the enemy's goal, but they could all end up as hostages.
Kael said.
"It's fine. Everything will work out."
"Heh, never thought I'd hear that from you."
It was a line Bran would say.
Now that he noticed, Kael wasn't stuttering like usual.
The cardiac stimulant in the elixir might have helped a bit, but the main reason was that this was a time when trust mattered more than ever.
"It'll work out."
Kael was waiting.
For his turn.
For the moment his light pierced the veil and reached the goddess.
"Gah!"
"Argh!"
The telekinetic ascent ended.
Crash! Bran and Ilrak tumbled across the rooftop floor.
The pipes that had entangled them clattered down.
"Ugh, that hurts..."
"Ilrak. You okay?"
"So-so. My butt stings a bit."
The two rose.
A vast pentagonal plaza came into view.
The sky was clear. Puffy clouds like warships drifted over the tower.
Ilrak glanced around and let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha, never thought I'd end up at the top of the Steel Tower."
His voice brimmed with awe.
Not the right moment, but Bran felt the same.
The view beyond the rooftop edge was breathtaking.
'Amazing.'
This was the pinnacle of Valkeros.
To the north, the Red Mountains; to the south, the vast wasteland.
The city sprawled around the tower, bustling as usual today.
Or a bit more than usual.
All the advanced golems had suddenly keeled over, after all.
"So where's that bitch..."
As Ilrak spoke.
Whoosh!
A massive metal sphere surged from the hole they had escaped through.
It was the one that had smashed the audience chamber ceiling.
Seemed it had returned to the tower unseen.
The sphere circled gracefully in the air before halting at the plaza's center.
"Nice weather today."
A soft voice rang out above them.
Bran looked up.
"Silien."
"A fine place to meet your end."
Silien sat atop the sphere.
Her legs seductively crossed, she gazed down without a trace of tension.
As Bran and Ilrak braced for battle, two alerts appeared.
The Steel Tower's boss, Silien Lua, casts Spiral Spear!
The Steel Tower's boss, Silien Lua, casts Steel Spirit Summon!
An anomaly erupted across the rooftop.
Rumble!
Parts forming the Steel Tower's surface began peeling off one by one.
Broad steel plates, long wires, even safety railings.
Metal fragments of all kinds gathered in the air, reassembling.
Into long, thick spears.
"Here we go again."
Bran frowned.
Telekinesis combined with Silien's unique trait: Magical Weapon Swordsmanship.
The massive spiral spears looked sharp enough to pierce a wyvern's heart in one thrust.
And there were five of them!
'The Nameless Hero might be trash after all.'
He felt the slow starter's plight.
But it didn't end there.
Something stirred at each corner of the rooftop.
With clanking metal, knights in plate armor rose.
Another of Silien's skills.
Low-grade steel spirits summoned at a mage's call.
Clank!
The fully formed knights saluted with their swords.
"Ha... fucking bitch..."
Ilrak muttered.
Impossible not to curse at this sight.
He had expected a power gap, but not like this.
Five spiral spears whirled around Silien.
Snap. She flicked her finger at the two below.
"Now. Dance for me."
"Scatter!"
With Bran's shout, the barrage began.
The spiral spears launched in unison.
Steel spirits charged, gripping their sword hilts.
Bran and Ilrak split in different directions, dodging.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The spears slammed into where they had stood, like hawks diving.
Ilrak acrobatically evaded the crossing spears and bellowed.
"You damn thing! Come down here!"
"No. I won't."
Silien nodded.
She cleverly hovered the sphere about 7 meters off the ground, unmoving.
"This is why I hate Blue Tower grads."
Bran muttered.
Even with overwhelming superiority, she never slacked.
Just leaving one spear for defense told him that.
'Can't drag this out. Get it together.'
Bran bit his lip, hand in his inner pocket.
They could hold for now. But more time meant no chance at all.
Silien was slowly regenerating her mana shield even amid this.
"Bran! Dodge!"
Ilrak suddenly yelled.
Bran sensed killing intent and arched back.
Slash!
A steel knight's sword grazed his nose tip.
"Ngh...!"
Blood sprayed. Even a lesser spirit's blade was razor-sharp.
Enough to easily sever a boy's neck.
Clank!
As Bran regained posture, two more steel knights lunged.
No blind spots. Emotionless, merciless combos.
Bran prepared to counter, bracing for a cut somewhere.
"Outta the way!"
Ilrak landed before Bran, swinging her axe.
Slash!
A red arc cleaved three steel knights in half.
Clang! She batted away an incoming spiral spear, then shouted.
"Bran! I'll handle these tin cans—you focus on that bitch!"
"Ilrak...!"
Bran's eyes widened.
Red heat rippled along Ilrak's chest and spine.
He could hear her heart pounding from here.
Peak condition for charging in.
Her 2-meter axe blade blazed as if engulfed in flames.
"No choice. Gotta survive first!"
"Oh? Hiding your power?"
Silien raised an eyebrow.
This Ilrak was definitely strong.
The issue was short duration.
Once the heat faded, her performance would drop below half.
Time-limited, essentially.
"......Right."
But Bran didn't scold her.
No other way, in his eyes.
Spirits and spears would regenerate until Silien fell.
To reach her through the onslaught, one had to tank.
"Got it."
Bran nodded.
Plan change. Push without support.
That's tail-end parties for you.
Sighing, Bran popped pre-prepared herbs into his mouth.
Consumed Dried Rabbit Flower. Leg strength greatly enhanced!
Heart of Harmeno activates! Beneficial effects from plants doubled!
Alerts popped up instantly.
His thighs tensed taut.
Herbs prepared specifically to reach airborne Silien.
Boom! Bran kicked off toward her.
Her eyes fixed on Ilrak darting everywhere.
The 7-meter gap closed in a flash.
As Heavy Strike slashed out.
Kaaaaang!
A metallic explosion rocked; Silien's silver veil shuddered.
"Kyaa?!"
Silien flinched, shoulders hunching.
An unexpected ambush. Bran landed.
She turned late, eyes widening.
"How'd you get up here?"
A small crack marred the struck spot.
Dragonblood maybe, but she never thought Bran could reach this height.
Instead of answering, Bran kicked off again.
Kaaaaang!
Another roar.
"Grr, keep that up and..."
Silien's eyes narrowed.
No real threat, but the ringing headaches annoyed her.
She swept her fingers; the defense spear moved.
As Bran leaped for another Heavy Strike.
Thwack!
The near-sonic spear whipped him.
"Gah!"
"B-Bran!"
Ilrak gasped.
Bran flew like a baseball, crashing down.
Heavy coughs wracked him.
"Cough, cough! Ack!"
Clean hit.
Vision shook wildly.
Blood poured from his nose into his mouth.
"No good."
Ptui. Bran spat the blood.
He knew it was coming but couldn't dodge.
Absolute spec difference.
Hated to admit it, but one spear Silien controlled outsped and outpowered him.
"......Damn spellcaster."
Still, he couldn't give up.
"Oh? Gonna keep going?"
Silien tilted her head.
Bran was rising again.
Using his sword as a crutch, pathetically stubborn despite looking ready to collapse at a touch.
"This... I like."
Silien toyed with her lips.
Smiling flirtatiously, she recrossed her legs the other way.
Seemed she could partially make up for losing Bran as talent.
By watching that spirited face twist in despair.
"Bran...!"
Ilrak still fought on.
Handling four spears and five endlessly respawning steel spirits alone.
Her breathing noticeably rougher than before.
She held for now, but the limit loomed.
Is this it?
Even twisting this far, could he beat the odds?
Another hit like that, and he'd black out.
Then it was over.
"Whew... huff..."
Even so, Bran steadied for another leap.
Thighs swelled.
As he prepared to jump.
Flash!
Suddenly, brilliant light burst from Bran's inner pocket.
"Ugh!"
Silien shut her eyes.
Too bright to look at directly.
The pulsing light spread like an opening umbrella, forming a 2-meter hemisphere.
Entered Raweina's Sanctuary!
While in the sanctuary, you can receive the effects of Morning's Blessing!
Effects end if you leave or the sanctuary dissipates.
Semitransparent windows followed.
The messages he had awaited so long.
Ilrak's face lit up amid the fray.
"Kid, you did it!"
"...Kept me waiting."
Bran sighed in relief.
If he were here, he'd give him a piggyback.
Condition improving rapidly.
Sanctuary.
A cleric skill manifesting blessings beyond line of sight.
Not just own mana—high-conductivity items worked as catalysts too.
'Thanks, Linheight.'
For Bran, it was the manastone linked to Linheight's shackles.
Alerts flashed: abilities enhanced, including athleticism.
Silien opened her eyes, confusion dawning.
"Holy power? How?!"
Fair reaction.
Incomprehensible to her.
She had the Outer God Veil passive too.
'As expected. Just like the game.'
But her holy resistance was surprisingly lower than Ludel's.
Mage pride and more kept her from using Outer God power.
And Bran was certain: focusing Kael's holy power could pierce her veil in hours.
"Hup!"
No reason to hesitate now.
Enveloped in sanctuary, Bran kicked off. Like a soaring ad balloon.
Noticeably faster; Silien's eyes bulged.
"Doesn't change anything...!"
Her gesture sent spears flying.
Including one from Ilrak—three total.
Still fast, but now he was just a hair faster.
Doped with Morning's Blessing and rare herbs.
Kwaaa!
Bran dodged by a paper's width, slashing diagonally.
Heavy Strike wrapped in morning aura smashed the silver veil.
Kwachaaaang!
Like shattering aquarium glass, the mana shield broke.
"What."
Silien's face hardened.
Her protective veil gone.
Without it, her durability was average human level.
Boom! Bran landed and leaped again.
"Die already, you monster!"
"......!!!"
Brilliant light poured from his longsword.
Valkeros' salvation was before him.
Two-handed overhead strike incoming.
"Heh."
A chill smile curled Silien's lips.
The Steel Tower's boss, Silien Lua, casts Binding Iron!
Anomaly struck.
Clank!
Metal scraps flew from all sides, binding Bran's limbs.
Faster than the spears. Body grew heavy.
The slash connected but missed Silien.
Boom! Immobilized, Bran toppled.
Ilrak gasped.
"Bran?!"
"......Damn."
Bran gritted his teeth.
One of her counters: Binding Iron.
Proof she truly felt threatened—but no joy in that.
He had only managed to make her flinch.
Worse, a bigger problem arose from failing to kill her.
"Sir Bran. You left your item."
Giggling from above.
Bran squeezed his eyes shut.
His sword hand was empty.
"Wow, nice sword."
His longsword was embedded in Silien's sphere.
Deep, blade invisible.
Silien gently stroked the hilt.
"You really surprised me this time. Breaking my shield? And suddenly pulling holy power—can't let my guard down."
"Give me my sword."
"No."
Silien shook her head.
Her entranced eyes said she loved it.
With her metal affinity, even more so.
"Won't say it twice. Hand it over unless you want regrets."
"Hehe, then you shouldn't have dropped it. It's mine now."
Silien tapped the hilt with her finger.
Enough stalling.
Bran nodded from the ground.
"Fine. You keep it."
"......Pardon?"
Silien blanked at the unexpected reply.
Rumble...
Suddenly, a beastly growl from the sky.
Thunder on such a clear day?
As Silien glanced up briefly, then back to the sword.
"Uh."
She froze.
The sword had changed drastically.
Golden lightning crackled along the white blade.
Ready to explode.
"W-What is this?"
Silien bolted up in panic.
No magic aura.
Her gaze locked on one spot.
A golden dragon scale clung to the hilt's end.
"This is..."
Easy to recognize: a dragon scale.
Golden hue suggested thunder dragon.
Often used in high-end gear—not surprising on a hilt.
But.
"Why now?"
No lightning in Bran's attacks before.
No static ever—why suddenly?
Seemed different from normal scales.
Containing greater power.
As unease chilled her.
"It's called Wonrin."
Bran's voice suddenly.
Not from his spot.
Silien turned, startled.
"When did you..."
Bran was tucked under Ilrak's arm like luggage.
Calm voice amid constant evasion.
Three spears destroyed while she was distracted.
Spirits pursued steadily, but too slow to catch.
"Wonrin? What's that?"
No time to explain while fleeing.
Rare material—even a brainiac like Silien might not know.
Wonrin.
Scales shedding essence every century's molt.
Gift from Dragon Maid Proide, rewarding Ilrak's training.
'Lucky.'
Versatile beyond normal scales—highly valued.
One use: chant preset activation word to unleash stored elemental power.
Enough charge now.
Rumble!
Ilrak grinned at the flashing sky.
"Hah... huff, hahaha! You're dead now!"
Some wounds from Proide still unhealed.
Silien's brow furrowed.
Sudden lightning sword.
Odd sky rumble.
No shield, their reactions.
Realizing Bran's meaning, she gasped.
"No way."
Her face paled.
Looking up desperately: thunderhead over the tower.
Golden lightning flickered within the warship-sized cloud.
"It'll hurt. Thunder dragon's personal lightning."
Sanctuary alone wouldn't suffice, as expected.
Silien wasn't one to fall for hide-Kael → blessing deploy.
Sanctuary's role: shatter that damned mana shield.
Gazing at the cloud, Bran's preset word slipped out.
"Proide."
Wonrin's owner and unlock spell.
Light from the blade exploded brighter.
"N-No!"
Silien screamed.
Tried yanking the sword—failed. Mana-infused blade immovable.
As she recalled Numeraite traits and infused mana into the hilt.
Flash.
The world went white; a glowing line seared between thunderhead and tower.
Vast destructive energy drawn to the heights.
Kwaaaaaaaaaang!!!
The sky-tearing bolt struck down on Silien.