Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Omen (1)
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Bellun Count's expression was quite the sight.
It was exactly the face of someone whose soul had fled their body.
[So that's why you moved the Black Skull Mercenary Corps separately? You wanted to see a sight like this?]
‘Yeah, presentation is key in situations like this.’
The moment their sense of superiority flips, anyone's mentality shakes.
Some might think it's nothing, but surprisingly, these little tricks pack a big punch.
‘Morale is a huge factor in deciding the outcome of a battle, after all.’
Bellun Count staggering back under our house banner was proof enough.
The unrest among the Bellun soldiers was palpable even from here.
“I never imagined we'd meet again so soon, Count Banheart.”
The one approaching on a black horse was Max, vice-captain of the Black Skull Mercenary Corps.
Unlike before, he was speaking politely to me—probably because he'd heard the story from Lutia on the way here.
“Sorry for calling you so suddenly. You haven't even had much rest, have you?”
“No issue. From the start...”
He stared at the Bellun soldiers slowly forming ranks on the opposite side.
“...they don't look like they'll require much effort.”
It was an arrogant thing to say about troops that included knights.
But the Black Skull Mercenary Corps had earned the right. Every member was at least on par with an average knight.
On top of that, we'd hired hundreds of mercenaries en masse from Lintria in Aintban.
Whether in quality or numbers, our superiority was clear.
“Then I'll leave it to you.”
“Leave it to us. We'll settle our debt properly.”
With that, he returned to his position.
Unlike the demoralized Bellun soldiers, our Banheart troops' morale shot straight to the peak.
“To think you'd hire so many Aintban mercenaries!”
“This is a solid win already, isn't it?”
The Talua Kingdom mercenaries, in particular, gazed at the Aintban hires with envy.
Among mercenaries, becoming one from Aintban—especially Lintria—was a dream.
Puuuuw!
The horn blared again, and everyone drew their weapons, aiming at the enemy.
“We will now punish the bandits who dare target our territory.”
I drew Genova as well, raising it high for all the soldiers to see.
Puuuuw!
The third horn blast, signaling the start of battle, echoed across the land.
As the sound filled the blue grasslands, the knights at the front spurred their horses toward the enemy.
The Bellun soldiers responded by loosing a volley of arrows at us.
Swish!
I slowly swept my sword from left to right toward the arrows raining down like a storm.
A white line traced through the air, creating a massive rift.
“W-what the hell is that?!”
I heard Bellun Count's shocked cry.
And for good reason—the arrows pouring from the sky were sucked into the gap I'd made and vanished.
‘Solaris is straight-up broken.’
Sior had mainly used Solaris to "dodge" attacks, but depending on how you wielded it, you could nullify the enemy's assault entirely like this.
Of course, it wasn't something you could spam endlessly, but even one use was enough to seize control of the battlefield.
As the enemy panicked at the sudden phenomenon, our arrows flew back at them.
“Argh!”
Caught off guard, they collapsed without proper defense.
But it didn't end there.
“F-flank!”
“Block them!”
With the enemy's arrows halted, our mercenaries closed in and turned the field into close-quarters chaos.
Regular infantry couldn't hope to stop Aintban mercenaries who'd already pierced deep into their lines.
Knights might have held them, but in the melee, even that proved difficult.
“The enemy's commander is there!”
“Take the commander!”
Realizing the tide had turned, their soldiers and knights charged me—but it was futile.
I could see every attack coming.
‘To think grasping the basics would yield this much.’
After mastering Yusik's fundamentals, I could now survey the surroundings as if looking down from above.
The range wasn't huge yet, but within it, I could sense every movement even with my eyes closed.
That included Bellun Count's ambush strike from directly behind me.
Clang!
“...!”
Turning, I met his gaze, his eyes wavering.
He looked stunned that I'd deflected his attack so effortlessly.
Bellun Count was an upper Sword Expert, a true powerhouse. My publicly known level was still lower Sword Expert, so his surprise was natural.
‘As expected of Danwol Divine Sword!’
Spotting movements didn't guarantee dominance.
But thanks to arduously mastering Danwol Divine Sword through endless practice, I overwhelmed him with ease.
“Damn it! Die!”
All I felt watching him wildly swing his sword in a frenzy was bafflement.
By all accounts, Bellun Count wasn't incompetent.
But cornered, even he had devolved like this.
Clang! Clang clang!
It didn't last long.
After a few exchanges, his balance shattered.
I seized the opening and severed his horse's neck in one stroke.
“Gah!”
Bellun Count tumbled to the ground and scrambled up, sword raised—but the fire in his blade was gone.
He knew the battle was over.
“Weren't you a bit unprepared?”
His soldiers were fully surrounded and had dropped their weapons. The territorial skirmish had been decided in a single clash.
With our overwhelming numbers, he'd figured no strategy was needed—his overconfidence was the fatal mistake.
“Well, it made for an easy win.”
I grinned at him.
“No... no way. It can't end like this. It can't!”
In a rage, he squeezed out his remaining mana and charged with everything he had.
Killing me was his only option now.
Max, who'd arrived beside us, stepped forward, but I held him back.
If we're ending it, better I do it myself.
‘Danwol Divine Sword, First Form: Moon Fang.’
Gripping the hilt, a chilling white glow flowed along the blade like misty fog.
Swish!
It sharpened into fierce fangs.
The fangs spiraled forward, clamping onto Bellun Count's sword.
Crash!
His blade shattered like glass without resistance.
Realizing the skill gap in that single clash, he froze in stunned defeat.
“Well... do you acknowledge your defeat now, Count Bellun?”
As I sheathed my sword and spoke leisurely, he finally nodded slowly.
* * *
The hasty territorial battle ended as abruptly as it began—like stir-frying beans in a lightning fire.
Territorial wars often dragged on for days, but this one wrapped up after a single clash.
“To all the heroes who fought for our territory—cheers!”
Afterward, I threw a feast for everyone who'd battled for House Banheart.
It wasn't cheap with so many attendees, but not a penny felt wasted.
Gazing out the mansion window at the revelry, I chuckled.
“I didn't expect it to end this easily.”
“That just shows how desperate they were. No time to drag it out over days.”
Max, vice-captain of the Black Skull Mercenary Corps, responded to my mutter.
He looked a bit awkward at the banquet I'd set up, but in good spirits.
Probably thanks to Lutia sitting beside him.
Sure enough, Lutia set down her wine glass after his words, puffing out her chest proudly.
“All thanks to me. Do you know how tough it was rushing to Aintban like that?”
She really had it the worst this time.
Who'd have thought the battle would end faster than mustering troops?
‘At least it lets us focus on Rugal sooner.’
Rugal's resurrection was imminent. I hadn't wanted a prolonged fight any more than Bellun Count had—this outcome was ideal.
“Wasting time on small fry like them is a loss... Though honestly, even this felt a bit long.”
Riya, sipping tea beside her, smiled sweetly, but I could only give a wry smile.
“Even so, House Bellun was one of the two dominant families in southern Talua Kingdom.”
They'd crumbled pathetically, but they were still a count's house.
Rivals to House Deolic for supremacy in Talua's south.
“Our house used to be one of them too, before we fell.”
“But we're back now, right?”
“Yeah. Got lucky.”
It still felt unreal.
Me, standing equal with them again.
“Then House Deolic will stir up something fun soon enough.”
“Probably.”
“Oh? Now that's exciting. I was bored this time with nothing to do...”
Riya eyed me, hinting she wanted a task.
“Not Deolic, but you'll have something to help with soon.”
“Really?”
I planned to enlist Riya's aid against Rugal.
Even Fabian couldn't do much against Rugal. Ultimately, Damian had stopped him with mutual destruction.
[At your level now, you won't need help for the finishing blow, right?]
‘Well, about that...’
I trailed off.
This involved Gransesia's permission, after all.
Would she even accept it, given how she got upset just mentioning Damian?
‘I don't want Damian's end to play out like in the original.’
[...Then?]
‘For that, I'll need you and Maria's help.’
Gransesia drew a sharp breath.
A sign of her deep agitation.
She rarely showed such emotion.
[You're not thinking...]
‘Danwol Divine Sword feels somehow suppressed, incomplete, right?’
I'd puzzled over it at first.
But Gransesia wouldn't say it lightly.
I'd pondered endlessly.
Until reaching one conclusion.
‘I plan to complete Danwol Divine Sword.’
The Sword God's technique, Danwol Divine Sword.
Its true perfected form.