Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Necromancer of the Old Castle
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‘Does he truly value me that highly?’
Ignoring his confusion, So Gun-ak explained the strategy he had in mind.
“Our mercenary corps members say the orc horde deploys scouts four days out. That means the orc horde will be upon us here before long, doesn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“This city is too vast to suit defending against a great army. If you give me a thousand troops, I’ll head south first, lure the orcs in, and deal with them.”
Easier said than done—a reckless decision. They only knew that the orc horde came every year around this time; they had no grasp of its exact numbers. Whether it was a thousand or ten thousand strong, they had no idea, yet he spoke so casually of facing it.
It was baffling where such confidence came from, letting him spout such nonsense.
“Besides the mercenaries who came with you, do you have any other help?”
“None.”
Rodian let out a sigh.
“It seems I misjudged you.”
“Does the Tower Master have any other plan besides sitting idly by as citizens die, trapped by the orc horde?”
“What insolence!”
So Gun-ak pressed on firmly.
“Aren’t you just waiting for an unavoidable tragedy to unfold? That way, you’d at least have grounds to negotiate with the kingdoms.”
“Urgh!”
The Tower Master flushed red with anger. But in the end, he suppressed his fury and sighed.
He absolutely could not hand over this research’s results to the two kingdoms. Yet if he didn’t, he’d be forced to watch all the citizens die one by one.
There was no way to protect both the research and the citizens. For now, following So Gun-ak’s words was his only option.
“Can you really pull it off?”
“The sooner the decision, the greater the chance.”
After agonizing torment, the Tower Master finally gave in and spoke.
“You’re right. Laitz City has no hope. We can only pray the orcs come in smaller numbers than before. But listen.”
Tower Master Rodian’s face grew deadly serious.
“Even if every soul in Laitz City perishes, I cannot yield this research to the kingdoms. This is technology that must never see the light of day.”
So Gun-ak’s curiosity piqued at Rodian’s intensity, wondering what it could be, but he didn’t pry further.
“If there’s no other way, trust me. I wouldn’t jest so boldly, staking my brothers on it.”
Rodian nodded, seeing the unwavering resolve in So Gun-ak’s eyes.
“Very well. Before I hand over troops and men, let me hear your full plan.”
So Gun-ak clasped the hand Rodian extended.
This was no empty boast. The Magic Tower had to remain intact so they could unseal his brothers of the Black Dragon Corps with its aid. That was his sole reason, yet to So Gun-ak, it outweighed all else.
With the orc horde less than four days away, he had no choice but to step up himself.
2. The Necromancer of the Old Castle
Thud thud thud thud.
So Gun-ak raced southward across the silent plains. With speed and endurance no ordinary horse could match, Mu-yeong had already galloped nonstop for half a day, and riding with him up front was Irina.
‘Ugh, I must be crazy. Why did I say I’d come along...?’
Irina winced at the growing ache in her waist. Twisting to ease it only pressed her back against So Gun-ak’s broad chest. Her heart pounded so wildly she thought she’d lose her mind.
‘Sigh, I shouldn’t have volunteered. What am I putting myself through?’
Before leaving Laitz City, So Gun-ak had outlined the plan and requested various mysterious items. Most were materials for traps, and hauling them all would require wagons.
With the orcs so close, they needed to move fast and set the traps. Wagons would waste too much time.
Fortunately, high-ranking mages had subspatial storage. Used for vast magic reagents and personal research, the spell could shrink a wagonload to fit one person.
Irina, a mage ranking in the top twenty of the tower purely by magical achievement, had her own subspatial pocket. She’d impulsively volunteered to go.
Their destination was an ancient castle ruin to the south. Long ago, the silent plains had teemed with people, leaving many such sites.
Conveniently, one lay a day’s ride away—right between Laitz City and the orc horde. They’d set traps there, a place the orcs couldn’t avoid, and fight to the death.
Executing this plan wasn’t easy.
So Gun-ak’s scheme sounded so plausible that the Tower Master nearly gave him all two thousand citizen soldiers. But seeing their state, So Gun-ak sighed.
Laitz City held about five thousand souls. Most were recent immigrants from other kingdoms seeking the free city.
With immigration so new, most remained untrained citizen militia. That explained the abnormal ratio: five thousand people, two thousand militia.
Yet among those two thousand, fewer than half could fight properly.
So Gun-ak selected seven hundred from the two thousand, then five hundred from those to bring along. The remaining two hundred would guard Laitz City.
Fifty mages joined, plus So Gun-ak and the Red Wolf Mercenaries, forming an expedition of nearly six hundred.
Just six hundred to face an orc horde of unknown size.
With the one-man armies of the Black Dragon Corps, there’d be no worry. But this makeshift force had limits. Still, if they set up formations in the right spot, they could manage.
The plan hinged on those formations. Without them, six hundred would be swept away instantly. That’s why So Gun-ak went ahead to the old castle to prepare.
Mu-yeong outpaced warhorses. Compared to infantry? Even carrying two, he covered a day’s journey in half a day.
En route, they encountered a fifty-strong orc scout party. So Gun-ak and Irina didn’t evade—they annihilated them.
To avoid interference during the fight, Irina perched on a tree branch, aiding with spells.
So Gun-ak, drenched head to toe in blood, arrived calmly beneath the tree and looked up.
“Magic is impressive.”
Irina stared in disbelief at his praise.
“If this is impressive, how do you explain your skills?”
Irina swore she’d never seen anyone slaughter orcs like So Gun-ak. His spear pierced unerringly; thrown axes split skulls without fail. And his greatsword? Relentless, unstoppable.
Fifty orcs fell in moments. Her contributions? Mere shock spells to stun or vines to snare ankles.
She’d have loved to hurl a massive fireball, but it needed long casting and reagents—useless in skirmishes. Best to support frontline warriors then.
And Irina’s ‘skill’ meant more than strength or technique.
“Why didn’t you mention being a spirit user?”
So Gun-ak shrugged.
“I didn’t know spirits could help that much.”
Irina gaped, speechless at his reply.
During the fight, So Gun-ak faced perils. Multiple times—like when three Lukriders thrust spears from all sides, one nearly impaling Mu-yeong’s flank.
Then, sensing danger, Wind Spirit Chu-a deflected it.
Recalling Jamie’s life and his spirit swordsmanship, So Gun-ak had seen it used. But unsure of the method, he’d limited spirits to watch duty during meditation or lighting fires.
Uncontrollable power, he saw spirits as external.
He likened them to inner energy cores like Blazing Sun or Frost—uncontrolled, it’d lead to qi deviation and death.
But that was So Gun-ak’s error, trapped in Central Plains thinking. Spirits were independent beings, merely linked souls.
‘Like linked cultivation.’
In that fight, So Gun-ak gained immense power. Spirits alone were minor aids, but combined with his spear and sword arts, they elevated him to another level.
Chu-a boosted his flying blades to double speed, unerring. They curved mid-flight to strike.
Breath not fully synced, some misses, but far better than nothing. He’d realized flying sword realm feats with spirit aid.
Hwarang’s power merged with weapons. Conserving energy, no sword aura—yet Hwarang ignited his greatsword into a blazing blade.
The fiery sword instilled primal fear in orcs; flames leaped to their clothes on swings. Pure fire incarnate, Hwarang ignited even air—orc flesh was easy fuel.
Spirits made short work of the fight. Irina eyed So Gun-ak like a monster, hope swelling that his plan might work.
So Gun-ak gazed upward impassively.
“Care to come down now?”
“How? You can’t just toss a lady up and not help her down.”
At the orcs’ approach, he’d flung her into the tree. Urgent then, but now it irked her.
So Gun-ak leaped up. Flight magic aside, laden with heavy weapons, he scaled five meters effortlessly.
“Grab on.”
He extended a hand, pulled her into an embrace, and jumped down.
“Eek!”
Freefall panic—she clung to his neck. Eyes open, she was atop Mu-yeong. So Gun-ak adjusted her seat and spurred off.
“Ugh! You’re the first man to handle me so roughly!”
Ignoring Irina’s complaints, So Gun-ak rode on.
Near the old castle, remnants of a once-great city dotted the area—foundations everywhere.
Ivy, brush, even arm-thick trees jutted from ruined buildings.
Irina scanned the ruins.
“Groundwater hasn’t dried up yet, I see.”
So Gun-ak nodded lightly and followed the barely intact road into the city. Amid shattered structures lay a gentle hill with the castle.
Despite ages passed, it retained its form. One side half-collapsed, but enduring centuries without visitors was miracle enough.
“Someone’s there.”
“Huh?”
Irina startled, turning to So Gun-ak. If he said so, it must be true.
“Wait here.”
“O-okay.”
So Gun-ak handed Mu-yeong’s reins to Irina and dismounted. He patted the horse’s neck, conveying intent.
“If danger comes, flee at full speed.”
Snort snort.
Mu-yeong neighed as if understanding.
So Gun-ak separated his mounted spear into long spear and staff. Staff slung on his back, spear in hand, he approached the old castle.