Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Temporary 5th Squad Leader (4)
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-About 20 minutes before the assault.
As Troyvan's camp came into view in the distance, Julius sent a telepathic message to his knights.
「A few days ago, Black Snow happened to obtain some intelligence by chance. The demon god worshipped by the Sacred Demon Church has ceased all activity for some unknown reason, and they're hastily preparing a ritual to resolve it.」
Theo had already reported everything about the incidents in the Spirit Tomb to the higher-ups.
Including the temporary sealing of the [Nameless Lord].
But the leadership had decided not to publicize such merits.
It was a conclusion reached out of concern that Theo, already squarely marked by the Sacred Demon Church, might face even greater danger.
「The site of the Sacred Demon Church's revival ritual is several kilometers from the camp, in a remote mountain. They're secretly building an altar there and preparing human sacrifices. And that... it'll be more gruesome than anything you've witnessed before.」
Julius's voice was calmer than ever.
Yet Theo felt an inexplicable chill in his chest.
Julius was laced with thick killing intent.
‘Is there some grudge between the captain and the Sacred Demon Church?’
While Theo's eyes widened slightly, the telepathic message continued.
「But make sure not to get impulsively drawn in. Squad leaders, keep a close eye on your squad members especially. The operation is as follows.」
Julius's explanation was very straightforward.
1. The White Dragon Knights launch the assault and directly disrupt the revival ritual.
2. While clashing with the Sacred Demon Church forces, the Black Iron Knights waiting on the ground infiltrate from the front and completely crush the enemy.
3. To counter any enemy reinforcements, Troyvan's main force will be held in check directly by the Ragnar main force.
「This operation also includes an assassination attempt on Family Head Granata, so the Black Dragon, Ice Dragon, Sword Dragon, and Illusion Dragon will all participate.」
An operation involving five out of the Nine Dragons.
It showed just how seriously the Ragnars were taking the disruption of the revival ritual.
‘Or maybe they see Torkel and his backers as that much of a threat to the Ragnars.’
As a successor and the captain of the Black Iron Knights, Torkel's position was formidable.
If it became known that he was a spy, it would bring nothing good internally or externally.
So they planned to bury the fact by making it look like he "died in the chaos of battle."
A large-scale operation involving the Nine Dragons would make it all the more credible.
‘And they'll package it as a hero's death to boost morale.’
The Black Dragon had already planned several moves ahead.
「That means there can be absolutely no mistakes this time. Understood?」
Julius's solemn order rang in their ears,
「Yes, sir.」
And Squad Leader 2, It, nodded silently.
「Heh heh heh! It's been ages since we've all gathered like this, so of course no mistakes. Don't worry, I'll sweep them all away.」
Squad Leader 3, Gorito, chuckled slyly and thumped his chest as if to say leave it to him,
「We'll handle it without a single mistake.」
Squad Leader 4, Hanata, smiled warmly with a gentle tone.
「Jeez, our captain worries too much. Why fuss over something so pointless? These guys are practically forty already—forty!」
Squad Leader 1, Amore, laughed playfully with a "Hohoho!"
The other knights chimed in with a word or two.
As if there were no issues.
Their varied reactions showcased the White Dragon Knights' free-spirited atmosphere.
「Whoa... look at them inflating the average age. Wonder who dragged it up like that?」
「What? Jealous? Come at me then.」
「Can't you stop with that slurred speech? A geezer who's practically seventy...」
「Hey, shut it?」
Murmurs and chatter.
Theo scratched his cheek awkwardly.
As a squad leader himself, he felt he should say something, but he was at a loss for words.
-They're just as rowdy as us, huh?
-The White Dragon Knights, they say. Our successors formed after we got wiped out. Traditions don't vanish that easily. Heh heh heh!
-Still, back in our day, we'd go "Yes, sir!" to every order from the captain, sharp as a tack!
-Bullshit. The punk who got caught embezzling funds for daytime booze and ended up butchered...
-Hey, you were there too!
The Spirit Tomb Sword rang noisily too, leaving Theo's mind in chaos.
「Hey, 5th Squad Leader! You don't think that way, right? I look after the squad members, take care of the squad leaders—where else in the world do you find a big sis like me, huh?」
「That's exactly what they call an old lady's nosiness.」
「Hey, you lot shut up! I'm asking the 5th Squad Leader right now!」
Theo smiled wryly.
What the hell was he supposed to say in a situation like this?
Then, Lordbroke stepped in.
『Hahaha! What a frustrating partner. All chatty other times, but weak when it counts, huh.』
‘...But what can I do?’
『I'll give you the secret weapon. Just repeat after me.』
Theo relayed exactly what Lordbroke said.
「Does age matter? It's the face value that counts. When I first met Squad Leader 1, I almost disrespected her thinking she was my age.」
The other squad leaders' eyes went wide.
Then Amore burst into roaring laughter.
「Hear that? Ohohoho! Exactly! It's how you live that matters! Not rotting away like you fossils!」
「...That kid's already lining up.」
「Look at that smooth talk. A work of art.」
Julius smirked as he watched the squad leaders.
He'd worried that snagging a squad leader spot less than a year after enlisting might make Theo stick out.
Fortunately, Theo seemed to be settling into his place well.
Still, they couldn't keep up this atmosphere right before the operation, so he cleared his throat lightly.
Ahem!
Fortunately, the knights' attention refocused on him.
「But more important than the operation is your safety. If it feels dangerous, pull back without hesitation. I'll handle the rest. Understood?」
「Yes, sir!」
「Yes, sir!」
「Yes, sir!」
The squad leaders and knights responded thunderously.
Their battle spirit sharpened and fused into one.
「Then let's go.」
With Julius's command,
Kee-eeek!
The descent began.
* * *
The White Dragon Knights' assault was straightforward.
First, the flying dragons release the bomb crates tied to their legs.
Then, the knights launch the assault amid the chaos—that was it.
Boom! Kwakwakwa!
Rumble!
Crash—
Dozens, hundreds of magic bombs rained down on the altar.
Explosions erupted everywhere.
The altar crumbled, flames soared.
Even the black flower bud formed from the sacrifice of ten thousand victims took heavy damage.
「Enemy attack!」
「They're trying to ruin the ritual!」
「Water! Get water now! The flower's burning!」
The sight of the Sacred Demon Church's blood priests scrambling in panic was fresh even to the White Dragon Knights.
「Oh, fun.」
「Fanatics are best when you smash 'em. Heh heh!」
They usually moved like machines under the orders of parish leaders or bishops.
Which made this ritual all the more crucial to them.
Thanks to that, the knights landed smoothly and swiftly cut down the blood priests.
Especially Squads 2 and 3 shone brightest.
Their mission was to sow chaos in battle.
To sever the mid and lower ranks so the blood priests couldn't form ranks.
Thwack!
Gurgle—
「What the hell are you doing! Protect the flower first! The flower! Not... Aaaagh!」
「Priests of Yukran Parish, protect the altar! Priests of Bacon Parish, block the heretics... Gah!」
Hunting mid- and low-level officers like parish leaders and bishops trying to restore order was Squad 4's job.
Squad Leader Hanata was originally the finest swordsman in the White Dragon Knights aside from Julius and Amore.
Naturally, her squad members specialized in swordsmanship and excelled in coordinated techniques.
Clangclangclang!
‘As expected, no sign of [Blood Light Harmony].’
Hanata's eyes sparkled as she withdrew her sword from a bishop's throat, foaming blood.
Julius had let it slip before the drop.
-Their god being sealed means their <Grace> is sealed too. Blood priests without Blood Light Harmony aren't even blood priests. I'll handle the cardinal, so take out as many as you can in the meantime.
What made the Sacred Demon Church's blood priests fearsome lurked in their boasted infinite mana.
Without that, there was no reason to fear them.
As things unfolded this way, the most infuriated was Cardinal Vector.
「These bastards... dare to interfere with the sacred ritual...?」
Veins bulged across Vector's face, turning it mottled red.
He whipped his gaze toward Ed.
「Troyvan! What the hell has Troyvan been doing! Things have come to this!!」
A rebuke for failing to detect the Ragnars' operation.
But Ed smiled.
An utterly inscrutable smile.
「Who knows.」
「You call that...!」
「More importantly, shouldn't we prioritize stopping this?」
Vector started to demand what that meant but hastily twisted away from an attack crashing over his head.
Kwaaaang!
Rumble—
Black sword energy grazed where he'd stood, kicking up a rough dust cloud.
「A shame. Could've sent you off in one go.」
Vector's gaze snapped there, his expression hardening.
Julius stood with his sword over one shoulder, smiling coldly at him.
「Demon Dragon...!」
The name of the enemy general who'd hounded the Sacred Demon Church alongside Family Head Kyle countless times.
Vector had clashed with him multiple times before.
「Been well? Looks like it's been ages for the Anti-Dragon beside you too.」
「Indeed. Long time no see, Demon Dragon.」
Ed swept back his wind-tossed hair and smiled identically.
And then,
Flash!
Ed's form seemed to sink into the ground before reappearing midway, colliding with Julius who'd moved similarly.
Kwaaaaang!
Rumble—
Sword clashes from the two unleashed auras in all directions.
The ground sank across dozens of meters, and atop it, two dragons intertwined, turning the surroundings to ruin.
「Got you at last, you rat.」
「Rat? Isn't that a bit harsh?」
「Sneaking into someone else's house, gnawing at the grain in the storehouse—what else is that but a rat?」
「Hm, fair point. But there's one thing wrong.」
Ed stroked his chin and nodded, his sly smile unwavering.
He dropped the formal speech.
「I wasn't trying to gnaw at Winterer. I was trying to take it back. Because.」
Whoooosh—
Sword energy surged over Ed's blade, warping the surrounding space.
Gray energy rippled.
His domain, [Great Catastrophe], was activating.
「Winterer's original owners were us.」
「Nonsense—!」
Julius deployed his own domain, [Land of the End].
The domain clash between the two superhumans began.
Rumble...!
* * *
Right then,
Thud thud thud—
The Black Iron Knights had already reached the altar vicinity and began crushing the Sacred Demon Church head-on as planned.
‘Now!’
And.
Theo moved.
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