Chapter 263
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Pursuit in the Myriad Li Gorge (1)
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"Hohoho... I never imagined I'd get to ride the aerial carriage from the Ranes Mage Tower, which I'd only heard about in rumors."
Bern spoke in a much more relaxed tone now that he was part of the mercenary group.
Jun asked him,
"How did you travel before?"
"We rode horses bred specially by our church, enhanced with blessing magic."
"Even those couldn't last long. At best, a few hours of running."
Just looking at Bern's armored state made it clear that most horses would snap their legs or backs the moment they tried carrying him.
"Anyway, I've heard the gist of it. You're being chased by those war maniacs from the east, right?"
"That's correct."
"Hahaha. Eleanor, your entry ceremony really is quite grand, just like you said."
"Right?"
"I'm only sorry to have you escorting us at a time like this."
Recruiting Bern right as war was about to break out weighed on Jun's mind.
"It's fine. It's good exercise to loosen up. Besides, I don't like those eastern war maniacs much either."
In the past, various church orders had frequently gone to the east to urge them to stop their war hatred.
But most efforts were futile, and the soldiers they healed would just be dragged back to the front lines to meet gruesome ends.
Eventually, most churches got fed up with the east's behavior and stopped going.
"They'll probably come for us the moment we reach the center of the Myriad Li Gorge."
No matter how fast they moved, chasing Jun and his group with an aerial carriage made it impossible for them.
Thanks to that, they'd made it this far without issue, but...
Kurrrung—.
The distant thunder rumbling in announced the end of that peaceful time.
Bern continued in a suddenly grave voice.
"So we need to prepare thoroughly. Those bastards throw kids and elders alike into the flames of war like kindling for their own gain. Don't think of them as fellow humans."
Despite Ariclotos's doctrine of cherishing life, Bern spoke firmly, and the group nodded heavily.
A dark room.
No candlelight, just silence—until the crystal orb on the table began to glow.
A voice emerged from within.
[So the negotiations fell through after all.]
The voice belonged to none other than Darklas, captain of the Black Moon Mercenaries.
Who replied?
[You already know that. He's in the count's pocket. He never intended to accept our proposal.]
Darklas let out a hollow laugh at Belgor, leader of the Sun Warden Adventurers.
[True enough. Both you and I requested ground support.]
[......]
Realizing the other side had read their moves, Belgor sighed softly.
[Sigh... Are we going all-out to hunt them down?]
[Yes.]
[We only know the tip of the iceberg about their skills. Remembering what happened in the north, we could suffer massive losses.]
[They're still just flesh-and-blood humans like us. How long can they hold out when pushed to the brink?]
The emotionless voice made Belgor's shoulders twitch.
He valued lives like bugs too, but this felt even colder.
[...Sounds like you're proposing a war of attrition.]
[Exactly. Isn't that what we both thought?]
[......]
[Come on. Since when did we see people as people? Humans are just expendable arrows in the end. That's the era and world we were born into.]
[Sigh... Fine. I'll go along with your plan.]
Yes, he was right.
Their war might have started with some grand cause or justification.
Or at least an excuse to mask their desires.
It surely had at first.
But not anymore.
Thirty years wasn't kind; they'd poked at each other's wounds until others' pain meant nothing.
That was the madness war brought.
[Move the troops.]
With that, the call ended.
The man who had been listening at the table opened his eyes.
"I hope they survive."
That was all he could do now, thought Count Mordenaen as he rose.
True to its reputation for erratic weather, the Myriad Li Gorge had gone from clear skies to storm in half a day.
Kwarrrung—!
As the storm with rain and wind raged, Jun and the group had to abandon the carriage.
"We've come half a day already..."
"Still far to go."
The Myriad Li Gorge lived up to its name—vast.
Even by aerial carriage, they were less than a third of the way.
"And... it's too noisy to detect enemy approaches easily."
"No choice. I'll filter with detection magic as best I can. They might have anti-detection artifacts, so stay sharp."
Jun knew none of his members would slack off anyway.
Soon, a group approaching was detected.
Thanks to the conspicuous aerial carriage, the enemies had a rough fix on their position.
"At least level 5. Some level 6 mana too—about two."
"...They're strong."
Aiden and Maya wouldn't lose at the same level, but against people, it was different.
Aiden went without saying; Maya's mentality was fragile.
'They'll have to overcome this with real combat experience.'
They'd faced many trials, but still had gaps.
What could he do? No one started perfect.
"Let's go."
Thus, their first real battle began.
Eleven enemies total.
Eight melee warriors up front, three ranged supporters behind.
"Fuck, we got a messy job."
"What can we do? Orders from above."
"Fucking bastards. Daring to mess with us?"
They drew weapons without another word.
Current Jun could sweep them with one prepared spell.
'But I shouldn't step in now.'
With time to spare, Aiden and Maya needed the experience.
Fortunately, Maya sensed them first, slipping into subspace and emerging behind.
"...What?!"
Acander's Fang swung silently.
The crossbowman died without a scream, head severed.
"What the...!"
"Behind us, you idiots!"
The two rear crossbowmen screamed; the front turned too late.
[Charge]
Underestimating them? Aiden's Charge slashed the frontmost across the chest in a diagonal spray of blood.
"Shit...!"
"Captain!"
Strongest rear, strongest front—both captains down.
Tension fled Aiden's face.
He realized where their blades and bolts aimed.
Hesitate, and die.
No different from past fights.
They cut down foes with full power.
With commanders dead, enemies crumbled instantly.
"Looks like... I didn't need to step in. Even among level 6s, skill gaps vary, but yours are huge."
Bern scratched his helmet awkwardly, sheathing his weapon.
Indeed, Aiden and Maya alone demolished and wiped the enemy.
Natural as breathing.
"Haha... As you say, Bern sir, this... is war."
"They pointed blades first. Deserved to die."
Aiden's awkward smile, Maya's snort. Bern ruffled their hair approvingly.
"That's right. Didn't expect you'd handle it this well. Lucky for us. Next time, I'll push forward more."
"Urk, haha. We'd appreciate that."
"Heavy-handed sword..."
Better than expected.
'Not their first kill, but good start.'
No strong rejection.
Why worry so much then?
'Aiden's mana is quiet... Maya too.'
Jun glanced at Eleanor; she nodded faintly.
'No big impact.'
Aiden had the mana of a domineering founding emperor.
Maya housed the soul of an ancestor hostile to imperials.
Killing wasn't good for either.
Best to avoid it, but if easy, Jun wouldn't act thus.
'Next best: adapt and counter bodily changes.'
In-game, repeated kills damaged their mentality permanently.
No signs yet; must watch closely.
"Alright, let's move."
They pressed through storm.
But frustration grew on Jun's face.
'Crazy bastards. More than in the game?'
Detection caught many presences.
Fifty nearby alone.
'Fifty in this field means thousands total.'
They'd brought ground forces too. Ignoring imperial eyes to take Duke Randel's head.
'Quest going perfectly. Count Mordenaen must be thrilled.'
They'd drawn all attention as planned. Now, survive and return.
Amid storm, Jun kept detecting; enemies closed with tracking artifacts.
'Think, think. How do their tracking artifacts work?'
Tracking artifacts varied from ancient relics to modern makes.
Most known to Jun.
For this scale, likely manufactured.
'Two magitech from first foes—both manufactured.'
A group's name flashed: 'Damn. Mage Association involved.'
In this short time?
'But inversely... low chance of ancient artifacts on their side.'
After another skirmish confirming same artifacts, Jun resolved.
"We can't shake them like this."
Enemy encirclement tightening.
Even post-storm, aerial carriage would be shredded by ground ranged fire.
Stopping sprint, all eyes on him.
"Let's blind their eyes for a bit."
Being a Mage in the Hero Party 264