Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: Calcos Tribal Alliance (3)
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Beorsen was a city formed around a massive oasis in the heart of the desert, serving as a vital transportation hub linking to other regions in the south.
No matter how much the south was mocked as barbarian lands by outsiders due to its martial culture, it was still home to people, making commerce an essential part of life.
It wasn't quite a metropolis, but as one of the key trading cities connecting multiple regions, it buzzed with activity day and night.
That was Beorsen.
"...It was also Valteon's birthplace and the base he claimed."
The city's former vibrancy was gone, now shrouded in an ominous black aura. From behind a sand dune a short distance away...
"As expected, things look far from normal. Good thing we hurried."
Misty, who had guided the hero's party here, let out a small sigh as she murmured.
With her healthy bronze skin typical of southerners, dark brown hair braided in several strands, and obsidian-black eyes gleaming like jewels, she was a striking beauty.
A elaborate tattoo befitting the Great Shaman stretched from her forehead, past one eye, and down to her collarbone, but her eyes were heavy with fatigue, barely staying open.
"...Are you alright? You seem to be pushing yourself too hard."
"Not really, but what choice do I have? It was a do-or-die situation."
She rubbed her eyes and groaned softly in response to Heinrich's question.
And understandably so.
Right after meeting the hero's party, she had struggled immensely to sync her spells with theirs and transport her warriors.
Even if her warriors were all elites, trying to keep up with the hero's party on foot alone would have left them all collapsed by arrival.
"I'm not much help in actual combat anyway. So I went with the most promising option. Meeting you all must be fate."
Sure enough, the current situation made it clear that coming with the hero's party instead of her warriors had been the right call.
Even if their goal was the leadership—Valteon and Hans—getting there would involve fending off waves of interference.
The Great Shaman Misty had sustained spells on hundreds for half a day, bringing them here swiftly, stealthily, and in peak condition.
"And our meeting must be fate too."
Before she knew it, she had sidled up to Harley, leaning into his massive arm as she whispered softly.
"Huh?"
"Ahh—such beautiful muscles, for the first time. These massive biceps and forearms... no, from head to toe, a perfect work of art!"
"Hahaha! The lady knows her stuff!"
The hero's party and nearby southern warriors all wore strange expressions at her sudden move, but simple Harley just burst into satisfied laughter.
"Girl, when I was carried on Lord Harley's broad back, it was so hard to contain my fluttering heart. From build to stature, you were everything I'd only dreamed of—never imagined it'd be real."
Her usually calm tone grew dreamy.
Not just her tone—her actions too.
Now she was outright hugging his arm, rubbing her cheek against it.
"This is embarrassing! Hahaha!"
"Even your laugh is so reliable."
Harley, more southern warrior than the southern warriors themselves.
Feared as a savage barbarian elsewhere, here he was the ultimate dreamboat straight out of a fantasy.
"Tch, handsome guys just attract women by existing! So annoying."
"Ugh, noble Misty of the desert..."
"Hey, I get it, but calm down. That guy's not just looks. Poke fun and you'll end up a bloody pulp."
Not only did envious glares from the male warriors who came along...
"Hah! Men always envy what they can't match. What's there to envy with that gap?"
"I had my eye on him too, but who knew Misty would make the first move. Whoa—that arm. Jealous."
"Thought she had no interest in men, but her standards are just sky-high?"
...draw eyes from some female warriors tinged with regret.
"...No wonder she kept burying her face in his back the whole ride."
From a step away, Isea watched with a sour expression as she muttered.
When they agreed to travel together for mutual benefit, Misty had specifically asked Harley to carry her.
His broad back could easily handle two women with room to spare, and as fellow southerners, it made sense, so they let it slide...
But rubbing her forehead against his back the whole way—she'd thought it was just focus for maintaining her spells. Apparently, she'd been indulging her fancies from then.
'She held back until now, but why in this situation?'
She didn't seem the type to lose judgment.
Watching Misty, Isea suddenly realized her eyes weren't just dreamy—they were completely unfocused.
Like she was dead asleep.
'...Is she sleep-talking?'
That nagging unease from earlier...
Isea approached the chattering group and cautiously shook Misty's shoulder, just in case.
No reaction, as expected.
"Um, Misty? Misty! Snap out of it! This isn't the time!"
Only when Isea yelled and shook her roughly...
"Ah! Y-yes? What just...?"
Like waking from sleep, Misty's eyes flew wide as she slowly looked around.
The stares focused on her.
"......"
Then she slowly lifted her head along the arm she was clutching—Harley's.
Meeting his blank gaze looking down, her dark skin flushed bright red.
"...Sorry. I must've zoned out for a moment."
As if nothing happened, she slipped off his arm, stepped far aside, and pulled her robe's hood low.
For a brief moment, an awkward silence hung over the group.
"Weeell then!"
As if to help the wriggling Misty, quiet Saintess Riesta raised her voice, drawing all eyes.
"...What now? It's getting dark. If the Immortal King's involved, fighting in the shadows isn't ideal. But wasting more time here doesn't seem great either."
Still, her point was worth considering.
Beorsen, wrapped in thick darkness, looked suspicious even at a glance for a night entry.
Heinrich slowly scanned the group.
Despite the long run, his party members weren't worn down by this much forced march.
They'd adjusted pace with the southern warriors joining, and those warriors were in good shape thanks to Misty's spells.
A bit tired, but they'd rested an hour since arrival until now, so only near-exhausted Misty couldn't fight.
Deep in thought, the lively brain conference resumed.
-Harley: I'm ready to fight right now!
-Heinz 2nd: Do we need to take risks? Waiting till dawn seems safer.
-Hubert: It's frustrating without constant connection. Dawn entry is safer. Even if Hans has gone mad, he wouldn't try to kill Heinrich or Harley—but the others, who knows.
-Howard: I say go now if we're ready! Does Hans get stronger at night and weaker by day?
-Hugo: True, but who knows what traps are in there. Won't the warriors take heavy losses?
-Hesperon: ...No, actually, charging in now is our only option.
But the conference soon converged as sharp Hesperon made his case.
-Hesperon: Hans is probably consuming the whole city right now. Corrupting every soldier for the war.
-Hubert: Civilians will be drafted into the forces too.
-Hesperon: ...Exactly. Once done, Hans will move to the next spot with Valteon in front, devouring more troops.
-Hugo: Come to think of it, those soldiers obeyed Valteon blindly somehow. Can't even rebel with the Immortal King right there.
-Heinz 2nd: I see. That aura enveloping the city proves Hans is still there.
-Hesperon: This is our one shot. Once Hans mobilizes, we can't match his speed. If we want to stop him, no more delays.
The brain conference ended there.
Truth be told, the moment they realized victims were piling up inside, the decision was already made.
-Heinrich: We charge in now. And...
With the party's final decider Heinrich voicing his resolve, the group nodded in agreement.
Of course, their southern warrior allies moved at once too.
-Heinrich: ...We'll drive a holy sword through that bastard Hans's heart.
Fueled by irritation and rage, Heinrich's steps turned toward Beorsen, where Hans waited.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Just leave it to us, Harley! We'll keep even the small fry from getting near you, even if it kills us!"
"Though that's pretty much all we can do."
"...But former Great Chieftain Valteon aside, who knew the Immortal King was behind this."
The three southern warriors who'd stuck with Harley.
Approaching the city, they whispered tensely beside him, loosening up.
They'd swapped stories en route, so he knew why they were here.
Southern natives turned mercenaries, they kept in touch with home—and heard rumors of shady happenings.
Chatting about their unease, they realized they shared the same suspicions.
They'd stopped by Hubert's merchant guild, left a letter for Harley, and rushed south.
"Oh yeah, that letter had some embarrassing stuff. Harley, better not read it—just toss it."
"...Ahem, I think so too."
Heading south, they'd luckily run into Misty escaping captivity, chased by pursuers.
After helping her through twists and turns, they rallied warriors still loyal—before Valteon—and made it here.
'These guys have had quite the adventure too.'
Not that it topped his own, of course.
He nodded contentedly, then looked up at Beorsen's gates.
Even as a desert city, monsters prowled nearby, so sturdy walls of compacted sand bricks ringed it.
A massive gate stood shut in the center, blocking their path.
"...Gate's closed, but no guards in sight."
Heinrich tilted his head lightly.
Stealthiest way: everyone scales the walls quietly. But Hans would know they're coming already.
So maybe a few climb over and force the gate...
Before he could finish the thought or speak...
Harley had already strode boldly to the gate without a second thought.
"Wait, Har—!"
"Hyah!"
And swung his massive fist at it.
KABOOM—!
No body mutation, no Mad Dragon scales.
Yet the punch, breaking the sound barrier instantly, slammed into the gate.
KRRRACK—! RUMBLE! BOOM—!
The metal-reinforced doors flew inward like cannonballs.
The mangled gate wreckage left crashing and crumbling sounds echoing from within along its path.
The flashiest declaration of war.
"Kaaaaagh!"
"Grraaah—!"
As if provoked, enraged monstrous roars erupted from everywhere inside.
"Huh? What? You call me?"
"...Nothing. Well done, Lord Harley."
Sudden, but it revealed a huge ambush force inside.
Already berserk, too.
"Let's go. We'll take point."
"Oh! Sounds good!"
With the hero's party leading...
The force to slay Great Chieftain Valteon and Immortal King Hannibal Strauss poured into the city.