Chapter 36
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 36: Observation Haki (3)
I broke out of the formation and ran relentlessly into the fog.
Covered in white darkness, the sense of direction becomes dull. If one steps wrong, it is easy to get lost.
But there was no hesitation in my steps right now. Rather, I felt lighthearted.
‘Freedom is good.’
No tangled noises, no cumbersome allies. Only the presences aiming for me are clear.
Pulled up senses again.
Direction of air flow.
Sound of stepping on grass.
Killing intent seeping in subtly.
The presences of Phantom Mantises hiding within the white curtain waiting for an opportunity are caught one by one.
The bastards seemed to have recognized me too.
An individual separated from the group is hunted first. Their direction turns towards me all at once.
—Kieeeek!
Fog fluctuated with a tearing screech.
Three streams of killing intent rushed simultaneously.
Perfect encirclement occupying blind spots. Scythes fly drawing semi-circles.
—Whish!
Can’t block three directions at once. Instant death if I stay in place.
I kicked the ground strongly with my foot. Body tilting low, digging diagonally.
Blurred outline of Phantom Mantis appeared as if spreading.
Scythe falling vertically.
Even the attack trajectory was blurry due to thick fog, but my feet were already moving.
—Whoosh!
Taking the toes as axis, twisted the floor strongly. Body wraps around like a spinning top.
The moment the bastard’s scythe grazed only my hem and cut the empty air.
I struck the neck loading the rotational force on the sword tip without killing it.
—Slice!
Hard outer skin sliced away like tofu, green liquid poured out gurgle.
Don't stop.
Lower the body utilizing the inertia of rotation.
—Voom!
A hair's breadth.
Scythe flying from the rear narrowly misses and scratches the air.
I grazed the ground sliding while lowering my body more.
—Swaaek!
Sound of air tearing heard again right next to me. The bastard on the side swung the scythe back and cut in diagonally.
I pushed my body up strongly touching the ground with one hand. Dug into the bastard’s inside as it is.
“Hup!”
Cut breath short.
Pull the sword— hook.
And push it in as it is.
—Puk!
Sword penetrated deeply into the mantis’s neck. Not stopping there, pulled the falling body and set it up like a shield.
Another presence shimmering from the rear.
—Crunch!
Huge scythe sticks deeply into the shell of the mantis I was holding up.
Just found out a mantis makes a flustered expression too.
Seems to have camaraderie in its own way.
“Don’t worry.”
I’ll make you like this too.
***
“Do not be shaken! Maintain formation!”
Knight Commander of Meyer family, Brun, shouted as if tearing his throat.
War situation was worst.
Fog where not an inch ahead is visible.
Magical beast not knowing where it will pop out from.
Above all, there were too many burdens to protect.
‘Damn, of all days on a day like today...!’
Today is the regular joint expedition of Meyer Baron family and Edelheid Ducal family.
If magical beasts around the territory are not subjugated periodically, they raid civilian houses or occupy roads.
But for a humble Baron family of the frontier to clean this rough forest every time is close to impossible.
So what was concluded was a symbiotic relationship between the two families.
Meyer Baron family maintains security of the territory by receiving insufficient combat power supplement.
Edelheid lets apprentice knights gain actual combat experience under veterans’ protection.
Symbiotic relationship beneficial to each other.
Even if same knights, knights of rural frontier and knights of continent’s best Ducal family have different class.
Their support is like sweet rain for the Baron family.
‘Until this damn fog set in!’
Brun gripped the sword grinding his teeth.
This fog is created by the magical beast Phantom Mantis. Originally, it’s just a bit thicker than normal fog.
But this time the number of individuals was much higher. Because of that, the fog was thick enough to cover right in front of the nose.
‘To think Phantom Mantises who don't hesitate to cannibalize form a group.’
Unmistakable abnormal phenomenon. This too must be the influence of the 3 Great Calamities.
Although apprentice knights, they are apprentice knights of Edelheid. Skill alone is not inferior to regular knights. He expected their activity.
But now that vision is blocked, cadets degenerated into mere burdens.
Worried cadets might be counterattacked through the gap if going out to attack, and can’t stay like this forever defending.
At this rate, looked like getting annihilated holding hands.
“Sir Brun.”
When Brun in trouble couldn't do this or that, Edelheid side’s representative Lance called with a calm voice.
“Please take care of the main unit. Sir Sylvan, let’s go together.”
“Understood.”
Lance and Sylvan got off horses and walked into the fog. Wrapped mana around sword blades.
“I’ll take the left. Please take the right.”
“Understood.”
Two knights stood back to back at the maximum distance where each other’s presence is felt.
Standard action guideline that can be taken in short visibility. Entrust back to colleague to minimize blind spots.
White fog locks vision.
Only thing to trust is hearing.
And intuition built with experience.
Lance sharpened all nerves killing even breathing sound. Pushing body as if feeling space with skin instead of vision.
—Rustle.
Sound of fallen leaves crumbling.
Minute but didn't miss it.
Lance’s sword flashed shortly. Sprang out like an arrow in the direction sound came from.
—Puk!
Sword digging in without resistance.
Tactile sensation alone was enough.
No need to check.
Retrieved sword quickly.
—Clang!
Iron sound rang from behind the back.
It was Sylvan.
Lance didn't care. Since Sylvan is Edelheid’s sword without a doubt.
Following cutting sound, sound of something collapsing to the floor was heard.
Two people are Edelheid’s regular knights.
To them who experienced all sorts of hardships, mere fog of this level poses no threat.
Even after that, two people erased approaching enemies like machines maintaining distance from each other.
There was no splendor, but mantis corpses piled up steadily where they passed.
“Phew.......”
As the last presence disappeared, Sylvan exhaled a long breath.
“This side is finished.”
“This side too.”
“Injuries?”
“None. Just head throbbing because I paid too much attention.”
Sylvan answered pressing temples firmly.
Lance agreed too. Certainly fatigue was considerable. Dealing with enemies in fog gnawed at mental strength quite a bit.
“Is it the end?”
“Don't know. Seem to have heard eleven faintly.”
“I heard it too. Who reported it? To count the scale of enemies in that situation.”
“Although it was false.”
Phantom Mantises Lance and Sylvan caught are total five. No more presence is felt. Number is insufficient compared to report.
To dare give a false report in an urgent situation. If wrong, it could have led to a big accident.
A problem never to be passed lightly. Must find who it is and reprimand.
“Fog is thinning. Still, fortunately big trouble seems to have ended.”
“...No. Seems one still remains.”
“Yes?”
Lance stared intently at the blurry beyond. One more presence felt not far away.
Different from Phantom Mantis.
Size smaller than that.
Nasty smell wafted from him.
“Goblin?”
Did it get lost because of fog.
Doesn't matter particularly.
Knight order is gathered in one place according to order. Wandering alone in fog in this situation means enemy.
‘In other words, existence to be eliminated.’
Lance thrust the sword into the fog without a moment’s hesitation.
—Clang!
Sparks flew.
Sword bounced off.
“What?”
Lance’s eyes were dyed with shock.
Not a goblin.
Because a goblin can’t use a sword.
Then it is a human. A skilled person who can react to a surprise attack at that.
“Who goes there!”
“It’s me. Irion.”
“...What?”
As expected, Irion walked out through the fog.
His appearance was a mess. Covered completely in green slime from head to toe.
“Irion? Why are you here...?”
“Came out to hunt magical beasts.”
“What nonsense is that.......”
Lance’s words trailed off.
As Phantom Mantises die, the fog they created scatters.
Forest where vision opens gradually.
Lance and Sylvan were dumbfounded at the sight revealed beyond and couldn't continue speaking.
The floor was squelching with green body fluids all over, and Phantom Mantis corpses were scattered hideously on it.
“Did you... do all this alone?”
Finely trembling voice.
Lance asked as if he couldn't believe it.
“Um, somehow?”
“.......”
Irion answering nonchalantly. Sylvan, who was losing his mind, hurriedly came to his senses and shouted with an excited voice.
“I must have ordered cadets to go into the center!”
“I thought we were rats in a trap if we stayed still. I judged someone had to go out and draw their attention.”
“Even if done, it is a job for regular knights, not the role of a guy like you who is merely an apprentice knight!”
While Sylvan was scolding Irion who disobeyed orders, Lance looked around and checked corpses.
One, two, three.......
That number was seven. Two more than what Lance and Sylvan handled back to back.
Total twelve.
The number of Phantom Mantises heard in the report was eleven. There was one more than that.
That means he already handled one before reporting.
At the moment even regular knights were flustered, at best an apprentice knight. And just a slave at that.
Lance smacking lips.
Then opened carefully.
“...Cadet Irion.”
“Yes?”
“Injuries?”
“None.”
“Not one?”
“Fine.”
Q&A with Lance passed, and Sylvan raised a loud voice once again.
“What would you have done if hurt badly? If you lost life, can you take responsibility?”
“Uh.... Aren't you on the side of welcoming me dying?”
“This bastard!”
Their argument didn't enter Lance’s ears. His head was already full of random thoughts.
In the thick fog where nose tip wasn't visible, an apprentice knight subjugated magical beasts alone without suffering any damage.
And when he mistook Irion for a goblin and attacked. Irion blocked even that perfectly.
Even though it must have been outside vision.
Lance himself can’t do that much.
When sparring with Gerard for the first time too.
When having a rematch next too.
And even now.
In a moment of looking away, level rose several steps.
“Ha! Such a monster-like bastard.”
Lance couldn't endure the leaking chuckle at all.
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