Chapter 59 – This is Sowing Discord #1
Dark night. The time when black mages and undead were most active. But tonight, that rule didn't apply.
"What did I say? I told you to attack after sunset."
"Are those guys idiots? Of course their defenses would be tighter now. Why risk it?"
"And look what happened when we followed your plan? Do you know how many materials it takes to resummon those minions!"
"Ridiculous. That's because your minions were weak. There was no flaw in my strategy. You just didn't have minions stronger than the enemy."
"You son of a—"
The black mages had split into two factions, locked in a fierce argument. With the operation failed, it was only natural to assign blame. No one wanted to take responsibility, so they kept shoving it onto each other.
It's already a mess?
Yeah. This'll be easier than I thought.
Watching the scene were Lawrence and Ades.
Climbing the fortress hadn't been difficult. Especially for Ades, who melted seamlessly into the shadows, skillfully evading the black mages' eyes to find a path.
"What now?"
"Let's side with one group first. Need to learn their habits."
"What are you scheming this time...?"
Ades looked at Lawrence with worried eyes. Though his concern was for the black mages.
"Let's move."
"Right."
"When I unleash my magic, gather as much intel as you can. Evidence, anything."
"Got it."
With his loss of focus gone, Ades was now an unparalleled informant and assassin. He instantly grasped what Lawrence wanted—something like the evidence they'd collected before.
The two slipped quietly toward one of the divided groups.
Murmurs drifted over.
"Those bastards are obviously gonna demand better minions."
"Yeah. We're running low on sacrifices as it is. What do we do?"
"Wait. They're thinking it over."
They seemed to be necromancers. Summoners who commanded skeletons and corpses as minions. Perfect—the artifact Lawrence had set up was tailored for skeleton summons.
The pair kept eavesdropping.
"Those guys... always chanting 'For Amon' like that's all they do."
"It's heresy, in a way."
"That's why we should chant our slogan and disband."
"We can't lose to Amon's mongrels. Our minions will one day blanket the world!"
"Exactly. We're the chosen ones."
"Our legions shall blanket the world—!"
Oh ho. Lawrence chuckled softly at their words.
Whoosh—Ades vanished, and it was time to begin.
Poison Cloud
Foosh—! A thick mist surged toward the necromancers.
At the same time, he shouted.
"You pathetic necromancer scum! Cowards hiding behind your minions, barking orders— you’re useless now, so die! For Amon—!"
Dark Arrow
Multiple Manifestations
Kaboom—! Indiscriminate bombardment.
Simultaneously, he raised the skeletons.
Skeleton Summon
Multiple Manifestations: 20
What's the big deal? Just blast everything.
Creak, creak. The skeletons rose.
Humans sacrificed as offerings, dogs they raised... those buried in this land stirred once more.
Lawrence regarded the skeletons with impassive eyes. He closed them briefly in silent tribute, then issued a ruthless command.
"Attack your enemies. Assault Amon's minions."
Clatter. Green glows flickered in the skeletons' sockets.
Skeletal soldiers emanating eerie mana. Lawrence sent them charging, signaling the start of full-scale terror.
"Our legions shall blanket the world—!"
Kaboom—!
This was sowing discord. This was catastrophe.
Lawrence grinned wickedly as he rampaged through the fortress interior, stirring chaos everywhere. The black-clad rabble-rouser. That was Lawrence.
The black mages began fighting among their factions.
"Betrayal—!"
"Those bastards finally—!"
Skeletons swarmed. Black magic flew. Corpses buried underground rose.
It started with Lawrence's spell, but the black mages dove in, turning it into full civil war.
Someone might say, Who'd fall for that crap?
But they were bombs on the verge of exploding, rifts already deep in their emotions. All it took was one spark to sort the hierarchy. That mindset filled them.
With Lawrence firing black magic between them, they lunged without discernment.
Watching the scene unfold better than expected, Lawrence smiled faintly.
Whoa, they're fighting harder than I thought?
Lawrence observed the battle, dodging the black mages' eyes. Just 20 skeletons. A few Dark Arrows. Poison Cloud. The results were astonishing.
"Time to loot their materials in the chaos."
Let them fight among themselves. Meanwhile, he'd grab all the spoils.
Lawrence chuckled darkly.
"I'll send you to Amon's side, you bastards! Chop off your limbs—!"
"We'll turn you into minions! After chopping off your limbs, of course!"
The black mages' battle grew even fiercer.
#2
"You're saying we attack now?"
"That's right."
"We fought today, and the soldiers haven't recovered. I don't see why we must push into this dangerous night."
In the subjugation force command tent, Iron Hanma—master of the Iron Tower—had summoned instructor Argon Bredley and Saint Knight Captain Aldmiri. He insisted on assaulting the fortress immediately.
Lawrence had explained his plan like this:
"Just got reports from the scouts and night watch. Faint cheers and combat sounds from inside the fortress."
"That means..."
"Our Iron Tower disciple Lawrence succeeded."
"Young Lord Lawrence... is there?"
Aldmiri's question earned a nod from the tower master. They had to hurry—strike while the enemy was in disarray.
"Yes. There's a saying: 'The cost of a spy beats sieging a castle.'
"Heh..."
"That young lord..."
The tower master raised both hands in mock surrender, shaking his head.
"Lawrence volunteered. Said he couldn't let our forces suffer more casualties."
"Haha, Tower Master. Why not train him as a knight? Suits him better."
"Hahaha, don't even joke."
"Our church is taking interest too. Self-sacrificing spirit, combat prowess, courage to infiltrate an undead den alone, and masterful divine magic..."
The tower master smiled wryly.
Damn kid. Protecting my disciple's gonna get harder.
More were recognizing his value—a talent to revive any group. Friends and foes alike would eye him henceforth.
"Rouse the troops."
"Delay means more sacrifices."
"Agreed. Full force assault."
The leaders moved swiftly. The camp buzzed; weary soldiers dragged from deep sleep stumbled from tents.
"Ugh... what the hell?"
"Enemy attack?"
"Pack up! Charge the fortress!"
"...Pardon?"
Knights, soldiers, mages—all wore baffled expressions. We just fought. And now this?
Their faces twisted. Rest and food were key to combat readiness, yet they'd had neither after the grueling battle.
"What's going on, Instructor?"
"That reckless Lawrence infiltrated the enemy camp and sparked infighting. Hard to believe, huh."
"..."
Beatrix asked on behalf of the cadets. He nodded silently.
Lawrence Montemer. A mage with the guts to storm enemy lines.
Impressive. And... I'm jealous.
Could he have achieved that? No. Magic offered infinite potential, erasing solo risks. At master level, perhaps rivaling high mages.
Beatrix sheathed his sword, shouldered his pack, and buckled his armor. His stoic eyes burned with rivalry.
"Whaaat!? Lawrence went alone again!?"
"He insisted. Sorry for not warning you."
"Sigh... Alone into that... What was he thinking?"
Meanwhile, Loria gaped at the tower master's explanation. Her crazy brother had pulled another stunt—and succeeded.
Artifacts again? He was grabbing robes and such...
Her sharp mind pieced it together. So brotherly—brute-forcing brilliance, like in the mining village.
What does he want? Why so zealous?
She shook her head. True Montemer heir? Who knows. It made her question her own path.
"Move out—hurry!"
"Milady, time to go."
"Ah, right. Got it."
Loria plunged into the fray, no time for thought. Success meant Lawrence was safe... with Ades, he'd manage.
Still worried—family bonds, perhaps.
I'll smack him when we meet.
Could've tipped off his big sis. She snorted and prepared for departure.
Tonight, that fortress would fall to the subjugation force.
Lawrence, stay safe...
As her worries mounted, what was Lawrence doing?
"Whoa, these exist too?"
◈ Engraving: Alzeras-style Swordsmanship - Basic
◈ Manifestation: Dark Spear
"Toss this in, that too~."
He darted through the fortress, sweeping up materials haphazardly. Smashing unowned jars was everyone's dream.
Having looted every artifact material in sight, Lawrence...
"Hey, time to head to the gate."
"Faster than expected. Let's go."
"Found this too."
Ades handed over ledgers and notes—likely exchanges between black mages or internal family records.
He tossed them into his subspace and hurried off.
"Let's go open the gate."
Now, to fling wide the fortress gates.