Chapter 113
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Guerrilla Warfare
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When the White-Masked Young Master returned.
The news spread quickly.
But people focused on the Calamity Princess who returned with him; few paid any mind to the White-Masked Young Master himself.
Even if he was the one who had opened the floodgates of this war, it had long since been revealed that his role was merely bait to lure out the Lord of the Demon-Ogre Union.
Now that the war was in full swing, there was a limit to what the White-Masked Young Master could do.
Whether as a mere rising star.
Or as a single lord.
Of course, capturing a Pirate Lord on his way back was an astonishing achievement, but…
“That rumor about the White-Masked Young Master capturing the Lord of Chamgeomwon, you think it’s true?”
“No way. The Calamity Princess must have done all the work and given him the credit.”
“But considering he took down several bandit noble families before, couldn't it be real?”
“That was possible because it was a surprise attack and they were low-ranking nobles. The Lord of Chamgeomwon is way too cunning to be taken down by a mere rising star.”
“You think so?”
Not just the common folk.
The hostile bandit nobles.
Even the Anti-Bandit Alliance.
No one believed that capturing Chamgeomwon was purely the work of the White-Masked Young Master.
No matter how talented he was.
A rising star was still a rising star.
He was a talent with the potential to grow into a giant, but it was common sense that as a single Awakened One or noble, he was still inexperienced.
Even if he was a direct descendant of the Baekdaesega.
After all, even Elise had been caught off guard by a mere High-Rank Awakened One due to her own lack of experience.
“It might be possible if he brought a whole troop of High-Rank Awakened Ones from his family, like the rumors say…”
“Come on, that’s just not possible. Even if he’s from the Baekdaesega, they can’t just churn out High-Rank Awakened Ones.”
“That's my point. This whole rumor is probably a reward from the Lord of Nakrang Castle for what happened last time.”
“True, the Lord of Nakrang is famous for his generosity.”
“In any case, one thing’s for sure: the White-Masked Young Master’s involvement in the war is over.”
“Probably, right? He’s already secured two domains from this, so there’s no reason for him to actively participate in the war anymore.”
The final nail in the coffin of belief was the rumor that the White-Masked Young Master had brought dozens of High-Rank Awakened Ones to take down Chamgeomwon.
Awakened Ones were precious beings.
A small or medium-sized domain would boast if they had just over ten Low-Rank Awakened Ones.
To believe that dozens of High-Rank Awakened Ones—superhumans who were each a one-man army—had suddenly appeared was simply impossible.
In that sense.
The White-Masked Young Master’s exploits were now over.
At least, they would cease for the duration of the war.
It was no wonder everyone unconsciously came to this conclusion.
Especially with rumors circulating that Lar Arga was grinding his teeth in frustration at the White-Masked Young Master and had even placed a bounty on his head.
If the White-Masked Young Master had any sense, he wouldn’t step onto the battlefield. Even if he did participate in the war, he would likely stick to support or defense in the safe rear lines.
That was why.
When news arrived a few days later, everyone doubted their ears.
“What? The White-Masked Young Master captured another Pirate Lord? And without the Calamity Princess?”
Even up to that point.
People were surprised, but they accepted it.
The White-Masked Young Master’s proficiency in guerrilla warfare had already been proven when he brought down seven noble families.
Of course, there was a huge difference between low-ranking nobles with no domain and a mid-tier noble, especially a powerful Pirate Lord…
But if he was caught completely off guard.
Hit by an unexpected ambush.
And if a few other strokes of bad luck coincided.
It was possible, they reasoned, that even he could fall to the White-Masked Young Master, an exceptional talent among the rising stars.
They could, with some effort, convince themselves of it.
But another rumor that came with it was enough to send the residents of the Deformed City into shock.
“...The story about him leading a unit of High-Rank Awakened Ones… wasn’t a baseless rumor, it was actually true???”
***
Turning back the clock a little.
When Dion decided to enter the war.
And began preparing to attack the Pirate Lords.
Parsha made a cold judgment.
‘This is foolish.’
Of course, they now had over thirty High-Rank Awakened Ones.
Even if a Pirate Lord was well-equipped with forces to plunder other domains.
Bringing too many High-Rank Awakened Ones meant sharing more of the spoils, so it was rare for them to travel with more than thirty.
So, in terms of sheer numbers.
Dion’s plan to attack a Pirate Lord certainly had merit.
However…
‘No matter how many there are, a [Beginner] is just a burden.’
Every Awakened One was a genius.
And every High-Rank Awakened One was a superhuman.
But properly wielding that talent required immense time and effort.
Especially right after awakening, the absolute amount of their supernatural power was lacking. Without constantly absorbing mana stones to expand their capacity, they would tire quickly.
It was like an innately talented musician who couldn't play a masterpiece the moment they first picked up an instrument.
In that respect.
The slave soldiers were still half-baked.
They were a disorderly mob, embarrassing to even call High-Rank Awakened Ones.
This was all the more true given their origins as cheap slaves and their inexperience even as Low-Rank Awakened Ones.
‘They might be able to win against a decent mid-tier noble…’
Of course, even without the slave soldiers, the forces of the Crouching Dragon Manor were strong.
Dion and his retainers alone could handle about ten High-Rank Awakened Ones.
With the addition of the slave soldiers, inexperienced as they were, they could probably take down even a powerful Pirate Lord.
…If they were willing to accept the deaths of a few slave soldiers, that is.
‘No matter how much plunder we get, the moment we lose a slave soldier who has become a High-Rank Awakened One, it’s a net loss.’
This was why Parsha judged the plan negatively.
Even a high-grade slave who was a Low-Rank Awakened One was worth well over a hundred million, and a slave who was a High-Rank Awakened One could fetch any price.
Even if they defeated a Pirate Lord, losing a few slave soldiers wouldn’t just fail to break even; in the long run, it would be a significant loss.
From that perspective.
The best option was to not participate in the war at all and focus on managing the domains they had already acquired—a safe bet.
The next best option was to stick to the safe rear lines if they did join the war, or let other nobles take the lead and simply pick up the scraps that fell their way.
From Soryu Manor to Chamgeomwon.
Dion had acquired two new domains.
He had already claimed spoils that would make even a mid-tier noble’s jaw drop, and was now governing four manors.
Getting further involved in the war was clear overreach, a gamble far more likely to result in losses than gains.
There was just one problem.
‘…I don’t know what these fools are so confident about to be this calm.’
Dion was one thing.
He was never in his right mind.
But to see the other retainers, and even the slave soldiers themselves, preparing for battle so calmly without any particular tension, Parsha couldn't help but feel suspicious.
And that wasn't the only thing she couldn't understand.
The ten vials of Blood Potion that Laira had left as a gift from Elise.
A treasure so valuable it was traded at high prices among nobles, practically an extra life for its ability to instantly heal even the most severe wounds.
Dion used it immediately.
On the 300 or so cheap slaves who had newly arrived at Soryu Manor.
The sickly who were wasting away.
The disabled with mangled limbs.
The withered elderly and frail.
Those with numerous physical problems showed dramatic improvement just by sharing the precious potion.
Thanks to it, most of the slaves were now capable of pulling their own weight, a testament to its great effect.
The problem was, considering the price of Blood Potions, it would have been dozens of times cheaper to just buy healthy slaves from the start.
And yet, Dion smiled with satisfaction as he watched the slaves weep with gratitude, for some reason looking pleased.
He then prepared to lead the slave soldiers and his retainers on an expedition.
…Leaving Parsha behind again.
“What kind of crazy talk is that?”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Are you in your right mind, saying you’ll take the young lady to a battlefield and leave me behind?”
For once, Parsha’s eyes flashed as she confronted him.
She could understand being left behind during the previous expedition, as her broken arm made her useless, so he took Arsha instead.
But Parsha was now fully healed.
To take Arsha, who excelled only in domestic affairs, to a battlefield instead of her, a multi-talented individual, was utterly absurd by any measure.
“Hmm…”
“Ah.”
“...Umm.”
But for some reason.
Dion narrowed his eyes.
The Vault Keeper wore a reluctant expression.
Naru let out a strange groan.
Their reactions were ambiguous, neither agreement nor disagreement. As Parsha’s eyebrows twitched, Dion spoke nonchalantly.
“I think it’s best if Parsha comes along this time.”
“But, what about the domain…?”
“We can ask the kids at Goemok Manor for a favor, it’ll be fine for a little while, right? And Pandora is in Nakrang Castle.”
“...Will that be alright?”
“Yes. I think it would be good for Parsha to see it for herself this time.”
“...”
“What we gained from our last expedition.”
Thirty-some High-Rank Awakened Ones were already an overwhelming, explosive achievement.
What more could they have possibly gained?
Leaving the suspicious Parsha behind, Dion pushed forward with his plan.
As a vassal bound to her master’s will and Dion’s personal handmaiden, she had no choice but to silently prepare for the assault.
Even if things went wrong.
The only ones in danger were the slave soldiers.
If the situation worsened, Arsha and Dion could always retreat. That was another reason for her silence.
Including the fact that if they lost a few slave soldiers in this endeavor, Dion might finally come to his senses.
…That was why.
As they had always done.
Without using the Divine Beast.
Using the purified water stored by the Vault Keeper, they ambushed the Pirate Lord who was lying in wait deep within the Labyrinth.
And that was when Parsha had to doubt her own eyes.
“Wh-what are these guys?”
“Don’t panic! Their individual skill levels aren’t high, so if we stay calm we can… Keogh!”
“Chik, assume wedge formation. Assume wedge formation.”
“Gae-gul, Squad 5 support Squad 3. Squad 5 support Squad 3.”
Pirate Lords.
They kept their domains light.
And filled the empty space to the brim with troops.
Lords who moved nimbly, plundering other domains.
They were objects of fear, beings that even mid-tier nobles couldn’t hope to face alone.
Especially for the Anti-Bandit Alliance, which was currently confronting the Demon-Ogre Union.
But in this moment, the one being utterly decimated was that very bandit lord.
By the white-masked slave soldiers who, though individually unskilled, moved as one cohesive unit of thirty.
It was a marvel.
A virtual mystery.
Something that should have been impossible, like building a castle with bare hands.
Yet, this miracle was made possible not because of Dion.
It was thanks to a certain dark elf.
“All units, switch to wing formation. Squad 7 will provide additional support to Squad 3, and Squad 9 will fill the gap.”
A battlefield they should not have been able to win.
The one who had turned the tide of a losing battle.
Parsha watched the silver energy flowing between the exceptionally beautiful dark elf and the slave soldiers.
She watched the slave soldiers move with the proficiency of veterans who had fought on battlefields for hundreds of years, and she trembled.
“...Spiritual Power?”
Among the thirteen supernatural abilities existing in Odobaekryeong.
The most mysterious.
The most widespread.
And the rarest power.
By using Spiritual Power to share countless experiences accumulated over a long time.
Her mother was making the slave soldiers, who were originally mere [Beginners], fight more skillfully than most [Experts]. Watching this, Parsha froze.
Dion smiled warmly and said to her.
“Actually, the promotion of the slave kids was the most ordinary of the achievements we gained on our last expedition.”
“...”
“She might not have realized it herself until now, but when Arsha is in command, she’s a High-Rank Awakened One who can do the work of ten people all by herself.”
Until now, she hadn’t had enough people to rule, so she couldn't even awaken to her own supernatural ability.
But [Monarch] was a top-tier command-type class among the 3-star jobs.
As long as the power of souls continued to flow from the people she ruled.
At least when it came to commanding the slave soldiers, Arsha could play a greater role than several High-Rank Awakened Ones combined.
Listening to Dion’s words, watching the slave soldiers sweep through the pirate domain like a storm under Arsha’s command.
Parsha realized.
No, she was forced to realize.
Dion’s decision to participate in this war was not reckless, but supremely rational, and…
“Parsha, from now on, you don’t need to accompany my lord to the battlefield.”
“...”
“—I can handle his protection, and his service.”
…On the battlefield, Arsha would now be more useful to Dion than she was.