Bison's Fatal Challenge
In the battle to subjugate Bison, the wild wolf of Nobern, if mages were involved on either side, the commanders of both camps would deploy their own mages to activate Anti-Magic Fields in order to prevent massive casualties. Soldiers within the transparent, semicircular Anti-Magic Field received protection from most offensive spells. However, it offered no defense against physical impacts. The durability and range of an Anti-Magic Field depended on the individual skill and number of mages casting it; the more mages available, the greater the durability and range became. An Anti-Magic Field would gradually lose durability when struck by magic from outside until it eventually shattered. It would also vanish quickly if the caster's mana was depleted. Furthermore, where Anti-Magic Fields from opposing sides overlapped, they neutralized each other, losing their protective function and allowing magical damage to pass through unimpeded. In addition, sword aura was not considered magic, so it could be freely used inside an Anti-Magic Field. Besides the mages assigned to maintain the field, units could also deploy separate mages for offense depending on their resources. The Lion Heart Unit had brought three mages and had conducted its battles by having two maintain Anti-Magic Fields while the remaining one handled attacks.
“Who dares to fight me! If you have confidence in your skills, step forward!”
Unexpectedly, Bison came charging out, spinning his massive double-bladed axe, issuing a challenge for single combat. He halted his horse just beyond arrow range and bellowed with a terrifying killing intent.
“These damned bastards must be pissing themselves! Why isn’t anyone coming out? I heard your commander’s a woman—did you lot all come here just a bunch of girls? Hurry up and stick your heads out so we can have ourselves a proper brawl!”
Mocking laughter erupted from the enemy lines at his words. The first to react to Bison’s provocation was not Adelia, but one of the female mercenaries from the Valkyria Mercenary Group. She shouted a fearsome declaration that she would skewer his testicles with her spear and spurred her horse forward like an arrow. In one hand she held a long lance, in the other a square iron shield.
“She is considered one of the finest warriors in our Valkyria Mercenary Group. She will sever the enemy commander’s head before the battle even truly begins and bring us victory.”
Seira smiled confidently at Adelia. Yet today her opponent proved too strong. In the first clash after their horses crossed, the female mercenary’s shield shattered under Bison’s axe. When they turned their mounts and clashed a second time, her head was sent flying. Blood gushed from the stump as her body collapsed limply to the ground. Her white armor, lying sprawled on the dirt, gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight. The Valkyria Mercenary Group stirred. Every member bowed their heads in silent prayer for their fallen sister. Bison laughed heartily and roared with renewed vigor.
“Next, let the leader of the Kether Mercenary Group, that bastard Hyeonu, come out! Let’s see just how great you are that you managed to defeat my brother, the dog Indugap Kevin!”
Adelia immediately shouted in outrage.
“All units—!”
She was about to order a full assault, but I raised a hand to stop her. Then I spurred my horse forward.
“Oh ho, so it’s you!”
Seeing me emerge from the ranks, Bison bared his teeth in a grin. He adjusted his grip on the axe and charged. I drew the Shai dagger and closed the distance. We galloped toward each other, each determined to decide the fight in a single clash. Both of us had the same thought: to settle everything in the moment our horses crossed paths. Bison’s double-bladed axe surpassed my dagger in size, reach, and power. I was already at a disadvantage in weaponry. Charging with only a dagger seemed like suicide. But I was a former thief and had never shaken the habit. I had no interest in the stubborn pride of knights who insisted on honorable, fair duels. My greatest weapons were cunning and dexterity alone.
“Die!”
As we finally drew close, Bison raised his axe high. I glanced at the fallen female mercenary’s corpse lying far behind him. The sunlight, unusually bright today, made the dead woman’s armor shine like gold. That light reflected off the keen edge of my dagger and suddenly struck Bison’s eyes.
“Aagh! You son of a—!”
Bison reflexively squeezed his eyes shut and covered his face with one hand. In the very next instant, the Shai dagger plunged into his throat and tore across it. Because the cut was made from a fast-moving horse, the momentum multiplied the force, slicing through bone and flesh with twice the usual power. I rode past him, flicking the blood from the blade into the air. I didn’t need to turn around to know the result. The sound of the massive double-bladed axe hitting the ground, the heavy thud of Bison’s body collapsing, the stunned expressions of the enemies with their mouths hanging open, and finally the thunderous cheers and applause erupting from behind me. I turned my horse toward my allies and raised the bloodied dagger high. The soldiers responded with even louder roars that shook the heavens.
The soldiers’ morale was at its peak, their figures reliable and reassuring. Sensing the heightened atmosphere, Adelia launched the full assault.
“All units, char—!”
“Waaaaah!”
The soldiers charged with ferocious momentum. With Bison’s absurdly early death, the enemy forces lost all will to fight and fell into panic. The fortune-teller ran about striking them with his staff, but the tide could not be reversed.
“Kuaaagh!”
“S-Spare me!”
Countless enemies were cut down by allied blades while fleeing like scattered ants without putting up any real resistance. Among them, only the fortune-teller refused to run and tried to fight. However, he was struck by Dana’s lightning magic and convulsed violently before dying on the spot. Dana had originally been asked only to deal with the fortune-teller, but she did not stop there. She used magical ropes to seize the fleeing orcs one by one, then gathered them in groups of five and annihilated them in brutal explosions. She was looking for something to vent her anger on. If Unia had not rushed over and embraced her to stop her, she might well have slaughtered even the surrendering prisoners.
Having perfectly concluded the final bandit subjugation with victory, Adelia began the return journey in high spirits. She approached Hyunwoo and spoke to him affectionately. Hyunwoo smiled and conversed warmly with her. Watching the two of them riding side by side, Dana’s expression hardened and her eyes wavered. The way Hyunwoo welcomed Adelia was something she had never seen before. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Unia gently took Dana’s hand.
“You used to talk with Lady Adelia quite often. It’s probably nothing, so don’t worry. It’s likely just about work.”
Whether Unia’s comfort helped or not, Dana eventually turned her gaze away from Hyunwoo and Adelia and looked out at the distant scenery, trying to calm her angry heart.
After completely eradicating all the bandit groups operating in the Nobern territory, time passed quickly. Only two days remained until the king’s arrival. Distinguished guests worthy of the king’s visit began appearing at Nobern Castle. Starlight of Ikeras, Melanie. Silver Tracker Priscilla. Steel Destroyer Vincentius. Silent Wolf Sergal. Unyielding Ogre Haltabar. High-End Louise. The commanders of the units dispatched to the southern region had come with their adjutants to report the subjugation results to the king. Including Adelia, a total of seven knights were busy preparing reports with their respective subjugation records. It fell to Adelia to compile and present everyone’s reports. She prepared so thoroughly that meeting her outside of work became difficult.
While visiting the inner castle on Kether Mercenary Group business, I happened to encounter Selena. Selena and I had once shared a night together. She was present in Nobern as the niece and adjutant of Knight Vincentius. Back then, she had said to me:
“If we happen to meet again by chance, don’t avoid me. At least exchange a nod. And don’t think anything strange just because we slept together.”
Following her request, when we met in the corridor I gave her only a light nod and passed by. Suddenly she followed after me and spoke in a friendly tone, asking why I was just leaving. The circumstances that had brought us together were too embarrassing to boast about anywhere, yet seeing her again after so long felt genuinely pleasant.
“I wanted to erase you from my memory forever, but your face isn’t easy to forget, Lord Hyeonu. To commemorate our reunion, shall we have a drink? If I’m going to remember you forever anyway, I’d rather become so comfortable with you that it no longer feels special.”
“Do as you please. I’m happy to expand my network.”
We moved to a tavern outside the castle and drank through the night, catching up. Around dawn we entered an inn and became intimate. The next day, when we met again at the castle, we greeted each other casually like friends. Both of us had already erased any thoughts of the previous night’s encounter from our minds. Only the simple joy of having gained a good friend remained in our hearts.