Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Eve of the Storm (3)
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Silence shattered by the sound of hooves. I rode alone through the demon borderlands.
A lord galloping off without a single escort? Clearly, he wasn't in his right mind.
And naturally, no one approved of the decision from a lord who clearly wasn't in his right mind.
Princess Morgana in particular had mobilized knights to stop me. She'd even scolded me in a voice colder than anyone's.
"How can stopping a lord charging toward his own death be considered lese-majeste? Simply agreeing with everything doesn't make one a loyal retainer, Sir Blackguard." I couldn't deny it. Even I thought it was suicidal.
But I had no choice. This was the only thing I knew how to do.
Defeat Regression. The damned curse still binding me. And at the same time... the power that had shaped who I was now.
Repeating death to verify wrong answers, eventually finding the right one and choosing a different path.
To those who truly cared for an incompetent lord incapable of choosing any other path, I could only feel sorry... and grateful.
Prrrff!
"Ah, I almost forgot to thank you."
I chuckled and patted the neck of the dragon steed, who was kicking up a fuss.
If the dragon steed hadn't come in person, I never would have escaped that place.
Among those trying to stop me had been none other than Master Grandel himself.
Even now that I could wield vital energy, I couldn't beat Grandel. In terms of realm, I was probably just a Sword User.
I could strengthen my body with vital energy, but that was my limit.
"You can't just brute-force it with raw power. True enlightenment is the only way to reach Aura." "Is the difference in enlightenment that vast?" "It's like swinging a sword still in its sheath. To truly cut, you must draw the blade first." Grandel was a good teacher. He taught even a mere ordinary person like me with gentle patience, making it easy to understand.
Thanks to him, I'd finally grasped how to wield vital energy and defeated the wyvern.
Other pleasant memories from my time here began surfacing one by one.
'I see. So this is the lantern show.'
Those few happy memories clung to me, trying to hold me back from heading into the jaws of death.
But I gritted my teeth and forcibly steadied my weakening resolve.
I let the memories holding me back scatter in the wind as I pressed forward.
No one but me would remember my deaths anyway.
'No ambushes for some reason. No sign of scouts either... Did they move locations?'
The only sounds were the occasional beast cries echoing through the dense forest.
Not even a single sentry in sight, which only made me more uneasy.
Thanks to riding without rest, I finally arrived at the patrol squad's isolated position right on time.
Why say "right on time"? Simple. A beast's fist was plummeting down like an iron mace.
The moment I realized the target was one of my men, I'd already drawn my javelin.
The thrown javelin shot toward the massive beast like a bolt of lightning.
Kwaang!!
Even as the steel javelin clashed midair with a fist of flesh and blood.
For some reason, it rang out like metal on metal. I bit my lip in frustration.
In that split second, even though it veered off course and lost power, the javelin was repelled by sheer strength.
'He didn't even use mana. That means pure physical prowess was enough to deflect my javelin.'
Of course, I hadn't used vital energy either, so it wasn't my full power...
But the same went for him. To deflect a javelin without mana, with that strength and durability... I was awed.
The massive beast, having easily batted aside the javelin, now turned its gaze to me.
Black hair, wild and untamed like a beast's mane.
A hulking frame I'd mistaken for a bear at first, packed with solid muscle.
Above all, fierce, predatory eyes gleaming with savage menace, locked solely on me.
The moment our eyes met, my body froze as if struck by lightning.
"Tch... I had some expectations since you killed the Phantom King. But you're just a fox draped in a tiger's skin."
I couldn't fathom what I'd hoped for alone. The man radiating ferocious aura clicked his tongue and slowly lifted his leg.
That was all. No killing intent, not even hostility.
But the instant he stomped—immense shock slammed into me.
The tremendous shockwave rocked the ground, and blood began flowing from my eyes, nose, and mouth.
'This sensation... similar to Grandel's. No way...?'
Ever since becoming lord of Renheim, I'd sparred daily with Grandel without fail.
True enough, his near-master level wasn't exaggeration. He'd become an insurmountable wall for me.
And now, I faced that same gap in the man before me.
A realm like Master Grandel's. In other words, a top-tier Expert...
"I'm Ban, the Power King, one of the pillars of the Seven Beast Kings' Bear Clan. Know exactly who kills you before you die."
The man turned his back indifferently, as if I weren't worth facing.
With that, my vision went black. And as always, I opened my eyes again.
The first thing I saw was Princess Morgana, cold-faced, blocking my path with her knights.
"How can stopping a lord charging toward his own death be considered lese-majeste? Simply agreeing with everything doesn't make one a loyal retainer, Sir Blackguard."
It seemed my reckless action had greatly angered Defeat Regression. Thanks to that, I could only laugh.
If you thought I'd keep dancing as your puppet forever, you were mistaken.
This time too, I ignored Defeat Regression's intent and charged out alone. And died again. Died because I couldn't block that guy's stomp.
But I wouldn't give up dying to move forward.
If needed, I'd gladly let my corpse be trampled to advance.
Until I seized the future I wanted, my way.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Seven Beast Kings.
The name of the beastkin tribal federation, meaning the kings of seven beasts.
Ban, chieftain of the Bear Clan and called the Power King, glared incredulously at the lone man who had appeared.
'Wyverns twiddling their thumbs, unable to act because mere humans captured some of theirs... Pathetic.'
They'd looked ridiculous from the start. Until the Water King appeared and united the beastkin into the Seven Beast Kings.
Beastkin had been mere prey for wyverns back then.
Even after the Water King, some still died to wyverns.
Blood debts must be paid in blood. Even if from enemies who'd fallen to other foes and crumbled.
That was why the Power King had mobilized the entire Bear Clan to raid the wyverns.
Yet these captured humans weren't cowering in fear—they were scolding him instead.
"When our lord hears of this, he'll come running and won't let you off easy." "That great lord who beat the Phantom King? Problem is, no sign of him." "Enjoy that laugh while it lasts." Originally, he'd planned to use the humans as hostages, kill the wyverns, then slaughter the captives too.
But they spoke so boldly, curiosity piqued. Would that lord really come if he waited?
It was mere idle amusement. Catch their leader if he showed—kill them all if not.
And astonishingly... the humans hadn't lied a word.
A man with red eyes astride a black nightmare steed had indeed appeared alone.
But Ban's interest didn't last. The mana he sensed wasn't impressive.
Realm-wise, at best a Sword User. Naturally, his intrigue vanished.
"Tch... I had some expectations since you killed the Phantom King. But you're just a fox draped in a tiger's skin."
Disappointment turned to rage. Punishment for wasting his time: slaughter them all here.
He moved to stomp. But his foot never touched ground.
The man had closed in, blocking Ban's stomp with his own foot.
Ban's foot was pinned, unable to descend further.
'...Did he read my move the instant he saw me? And this speed and power... No ordinary Sword User.'
Then, black energy rose like black flames, feeding on his body as fuel.
Facing a terrifying power for the first time, Ban clicked his tongue in thought.
Indeed... Killing the Phantom King wasn't just luck or others' help.