Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: A Brother's Voice
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Allen's blade grazed the giant's body, guided by Vestla's control.
He swung again, but the sword, refusing his command, could not sever the giant's neck.
Seeing his repeated attacks fail, the soldiers looked puzzled, but they held their positions quietly, assuming there was a reason for his actions.
The giant's raw power was still seared into their minds, after all.
"Wait, just for a moment, don't kill it!"
At her cry, Allen lowered the sword. Then, he swiftly brought it up before his eyes.
"Why?"
A faint hint of irritation laced his low voice.
This giant was a foe he had faced and defeated himself. No matter that he had learned swordsmanship from her, she had no right to order him around.
Even if she had some connection to this giant, the monster was far too dangerous.
"No matter what you say, I have no intention of letting it live—"
"It's not like that! Just a moment, that's all I need..."
Allen stared blankly at Vestla for a moment before letting out a sigh.
"I hope you have a good enough excuse for me when this is over."
"I was going to tell you even if you didn't say that, you know?"
"Yes, yes."
"What's with that reaction! Ugh... Why did I ever decide to follow a man like this... really. If it weren't for that one thing..."
Allen felt a gaze on him, as if she were looking right at him, despite being a sword.
"What is it? Is there a problem?"
"Never mind. Just forget it. Anyway, try slowly piercing its heart with the sword."
"What?"
After stopping his attacks, she wanted him to stab it now?
As Allen shot her a doubtful look, she urged him to hurry up and do it. Allen decided to follow her instructions for now.
Allen aimed the tip of the sword at the giant's heart and slowly pushed it forward.
The characters engraved on Vestla's blade began to glow faintly.
If the giant resisted or went berserk in the slightest, he would kill it, even if she protested again.
He had already given it enough chances.
He had already lost a significant amount of time in this battle and needed to hurry.
However, the giant did not resist.
*Shunk—*
Even as the sword pierced its tough skin and sank in, the giant showed no sign of movement.
It seemed to welcome a peaceful rest.
The blade sank deeper.
Passing through skin, the blade cut through muscle and bone, advancing deeper and deeper.
Allen did not let his guard down.
But, belying his tension, Vestla pierced its heart without any resistance.
The giant finally met its end.
Allen felt a sense of unease at the unfamiliar sight, wondering if this was truly the same monster that had been rampaging just moments ago.
No.
*...Vestla, she must know.*
Unaware of Allen's thoughts, or perhaps ignoring them, she exclaimed loudly as if everything was over.
"All done! You can pull it out now."
"What did you do?"
Even though he had been watching, he couldn't tell what method she had used. Vestla answered, her words trailing off vaguely.
"...Uh, it's a long story to explain right now. Is it okay if I tell you later...?"
"...Hah, as long as I get an answer eventually."
At his sigh-laden response, Vestla changed the subject with an exaggerated shout.
"Well then, let's go search that place over there. I'm telling you, there's definitely something there!"
Allen nodded.
The cut-and-sewn marks covering its body and the giant's momentary appearance suggested that there was something in the building behind it.
Just as Allen started moving toward the building, a belated cheer erupted.
"Waaaah, Lord Allen!"
"That was truly amazing! When did you become so strong...!"
"It was like watching the Knight Commander himself!"
Allen stopped in his tracks, as if he had forgotten they were there.
Fortunately, the knights who had been sent flying seemed to have regained consciousness. Being magic-wielders clad in steel armor, they wouldn't die so easily.
He glanced at Linbelle and Inellia; they also appeared to be unharmed.
That was to be expected, of course.
Although he had told Inellia to hide her strength as much as possible, she was fundamentally a skilled warrior. As for Linbelle, she had only faced the monsters he'd intentionally let slip past him, so there was no way she would have been injured.
The senior knight closest to him hurried over.
"My lord... are you by any chance a magic swordsman?"
He looked at Allen with eyes full of surprise and awe.
"Yes. I hadn't planned on keeping it a secret, but it just so happened to be revealed now."
"Not at all! It must be difficult enough to master just one, you are truly incredible!"
I had planned to hide it a bit longer.
*I'll have to reveal it at the academy anyway, so I'll just consider this a practice run.*
Now that he had a better grasp of his own combat power, he would be able to control it more skillfully next time.
Allen accepted his praise gracefully and spoke.
"Yes, Sir Philip. I intend to search that place..."
As Vestla had said, it was clear there were traces related to the giant there, so he needed to take a look.
And so, just as he was about to give them their orders.
*Bang! Pa-bang!*
*Ba-ba-ba-bang!*
Explosions erupted in the sky.
Allen's gaze shot upwards.
A massive signal, visible even from a great distance, was in the sky.
"My lord, this is..."
The signal flares that Princess Natasha had distributed beforehand were going off.
*Which means...*
Allen's expression hardened.
He was curious about the building related to the giant, but Allen hadn't forgotten his purpose for coming to the Divine Beast's Forest.
"We move out immediately!"
Allen barked an urgent command to the soldiers.
The knights, knowing the significance of the signal flare, also shouted urgently.
"Get moving! Quickly! We can't be late!"
"The seriously and lightly wounded will follow slowly with the regular soldiers!"
While the knights were mobilizing, Allen gave Inellia a few orders. Inellia stealthily vanished into the shadows of the giant trees.
"Linbelle, will you come as well?"
"...Yes, I want to go."
She glanced hesitantly in the direction Inellia had disappeared before nodding.
"It will be dangerous."
"I know."
"It would be safer to come with the troops behind us."
"...Even so, I want to go with you, my lord."
Allen didn't question her further. Her face was set with determination. It was already beyond the realm of mere attachment.
*Yes... you could almost call it madness.*
She hadn't reached that level yet, but in Allen's eyes, she was that unstable.
Allen hid his complicated feelings and replied curtly.
"...Alright. Be careful not to fall behind."
As he turned quickly, a faint reply came from behind him.
Mobilizing was quick, as the senior knight had already prepared for a potential retreat.
"The injured knights will move with the soldiers. The rest will follow me immediately!"
As soon as the knights were ready, Allen sped toward the source of the explosions.
*...The Divine Beast.*
I must receive the Divine Beast's trial.
Julius must have heard that sound as well.
He would never pass up an opportunity like this, so he'll be heading straight there too.
The end of this incident was approaching.
* * *
By the time Allen arrived at the location of the signal flare, three or four more explosions had already sounded in the sky.
The situation was chaotic.
*Kwa-gaang—!*
The dark mages had gathered all their remaining undead for an assault, while simultaneously unleashing a barrage of dark magic.
"Just hold on a little longer! Reinforcements will be here soon!"
"Under... *cough*, understood!"
"...Hah, Sylph! Block as much as you can!"
In the center of the clearing, the elves were struggling to fend off the dark mages' offensive. A considerable number were already wounded, and a few lay on the ground, apparently dead.
*The flow of prana in the area... as expected, they've hidden it with a barrier.*
A terrible scream made him turn his head. Far across the clearing, the massive Divine Beast was thrashing on an altar, letting out agonized groans.
Surrounding it, dozens of dark mages maintained a magic circle with bizarre hand signs.
Above the Divine Beast's head, a very young man was observing the battlefield with a faint smile.
*...Is he the ringleader?*
It was a situation where one couldn't imagine what might have happened had Allen been any later. He felt a sense of relief and shouted loudly.
"All units—! Support the elves!"
"Yes! Understood!"
The knights, cloaking their steel armor in prana, kicked off the ground fiercely, as if to vent the frustration from their fight with the giant.
The undead surrounding the elves were instantly crushed by their charge, and Natasha smiled in relief, as if salvation had arrived.
Even the dark mages faltered for a moment at the appearance of the knights.
Allen and the knights exploited that opening to join forces with the elves.
"Lord Allen!"
"I was worried I might be a bit late."
"Not at all!"
Natasha looked moved by his appearance at such a dramatic moment.
"Still, it's a shame about the casualties."
As Allen glanced at the fallen elves scattered across the battlefield, Natasha's expression darkened slightly.
"...That is, yes. There were some sacrifices. But that's not something you need to worry about, my lord."
She was filled with regret.
If she had known it would come to this, she would have moved with them. Instead, thinking she could handle it without their help, she had charged ahead only to suffer heavy losses.
The other elves were also deeply impressed, his arrival alone enough to somewhat dilute their long-held, bitter feelings.
Even though they knew reinforcements were coming, they hadn't held high expectations.
But seeing them arrive just in the nick of time, when things were so dire, couldn't help but foster a sense of goodwill.
"Then I'm glad to hear it. First, let's take care of the remaining dark mages—"
Allen quickly turned his head, sensing a movement rushing toward them. A black object was hurtling in their direction at incredible speed.
Just as Allen was about to move, another figure shot out from behind it.
"You bastard!"
Blue hair, ferocious eyes.
The man, shouting as he flashed with deep blue lightning, was someone he knew well.
"...Lord Julius?"
Julius Reinhardt.
Natasha blinked and murmured softly.
*He's finally here.*
Julius, ignoring everyone else's stares, cursed as he rapidly closed in on the black object.
"If you're gonna ambush someone, you deserve to get your ass kicked!"
Lightning erupted and struck the black object.
Struck directly by the lightning, the black figure trailed smoke as it crashed down into the area where the dark mages were gathered.
*CRASH!*
Several of the dark mages forming hand signs were turned into chunks of flesh, and all eyes instantly focused on him.
"...Quite a flashy entrance."
Her words were laden with meaning.
"Indeed."
Allen agreed with her and examined the fallen black figure.
Whatever it had been wearing, its black armor was shattered, and its entire body was covered in red, angry burns. One of its arms was even missing.
The battered figure barely managed to limp to its feet.
"Hmph, a mere nobody dares to act so cocky."
Julius muttered something incomprehensible as all eyes were fixed on him.
Behind him, the Knight Commander arrived, belatedly leading his knights, and the heavy footsteps of elite soldiers echoed from the distance.
Julius glanced at the black knight and smirked, then his eyes met Allen's among the elves.
"Brother Allen..."
"Everyone—!"
The moment he opened his mouth with a happy smile, Allen took a deep breath.
"...!"
"Destroy the dark mages—!"
Julius's eyes widened.
"Julius, the Knight Commander, and I are here—! There is nothing to fear—!"
Understanding the situation from his cry, Julius realized what Allen was doing and let out a war cry.
"Follow me—!!"
He threw himself among the dark mages, who were still disoriented by the successive interruptions. His knights followed, shouting as they began to crush the remaining undead.
"Waaaah!"
"Kill all the dark mages!"
"Slaughter them all!"
Thundering footsteps shook the ground, and the elves, emboldened by their shouts, supported them from behind.
"Help them!"
"For the vengeance of our kin!"
Allen also drew his sword again and ran toward the one place that seemed detached from the current atmosphere.
The Knight Commander and Julius, noticing his direction, followed close behind.
Toward the altar where the Divine Beast was located.
*It's a relief I can resolve this before it gets out of hand.*
The purpose of this endeavor was to borrow the Divine Beast's power, but another key reason was to nip a force of this magnitude in the bud.
*Their forces are smaller than what was mentioned in the black book, though...*
There are always variables.
It was highly likely that Allen's actions had created a butterfly effect, reducing their numbers compared to his past life.
That would explain why they hadn't attacked in the mountains and why their forces were weaker than what he'd read in the book.
*They're far too weak to be a force capable of warring with the family.*
Considering the level of the enemies who had attacked Julius, they would need at least half again as many to match the numbers from the black book.
Allen increased his speed to finish off the apparent ringleader.
But as he got closer, Allen felt that something was wrong.
*Why aren't the dark mages preparing for us?*
The magic circle, stained with red blood, pulsed violently. The dark mages who had been forming hand signs just moments ago had stopped moving. The young dark mage above the Divine Beast was still smiling.
An alarm bell rang in his head, and Allen extended his senses.
Rotting elven corpses, scattered remnants of torture, and... a large pile of dark mage corpses.
"That crazy bastard...!"
He finally understood what they were trying to do. The reason their numbers were reduced was because they were sacrificing themselves? For what purpose?
"Brother Allen?"
At Allen's mutter, the man above the Divine Beast smiled happily, as if taking it for a compliment.
And then.
*Clap—*
A loud clap echoed, and at the same time, bewildered shouts arose from the battlefield.
"Why are these bastards suddenly killing themselves...!"
"My lord, it seems these guys are up to something..."
As if on cue, the dark mages plunged daggers into their own hearts.
The bizarre sight of not just one, but all of them choosing suicide brought the battlefield to a standstill.
The dark mages collapsed, bleeding profusely, and the magic circle at their feet greedily drank up the blood pooling on the battlefield.
*KWAANG.*
A ground-shaking sound made him whip his head around.
"Wh-what! Why is it suddenly—!"
"The Divine Beast, the Divine Beast is...!"
The Divine Beast was rising as if obeying the young dark mage's words. Its eyes were red, devoid of reason, and its white fur, a symbol of purity, was turning black.
Vestla shouted urgently.
"You know it's dangerous if you don't move right now, right?"
"I know!"
*BOOM!*
Allen moved with all his might before something else could happen. Whether he revealed his power in front of Julius or not, this was more important right now.
From the moment the Divine Beast rose, his instincts began to scream warnings at him.
He instinctively felt that he wouldn't be able to handle what was coming next. The harsh wind pressure battered his face as he accelerated even faster.
Karnel watched him approach and thought.
What was the reason I became so hasty? Where did it all go wrong?
Why?
*It's too late to think about that now.*
His lips twisted.
The deed was already in motion, and the ritual he had prepared was on the verge of completion.
*Actually, this isn't so bad either.*
Seeing their panicked faces made him think that changing the plan had been a good choice.
Karnel's hand leisurely reached for his heart.
Allen desperately tried to stop him with everything he had. But unfortunately, the distance was too great to prevent his action.
"...Hah."
The young dark mage's hand plunging into his own heart was faster.
*-Shunk*
He smiled.
"I wish you pleasant dreams."
The blood that trickled down stained the corner of the Divine Beast's eye.
"Forever."
At the same time, a brilliant light exploded.
*BEEEEEEEEEP—*
With a ringing in his ears, Allen's vision and consciousness plunged into an abyss.
* * *
And then, he heard a voice.
"Brother Allen?"
One he should never have been able to hear.
One he thought he would never hear again.
"Brother? Answer me, brother."
...The voice of his real little brother.