Chapter 14: The Ambush
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 14: The Ambush
Though he had seen nothing but wind and rain during his time at Storm Castle, on the day Jin departed, the first snow of the year began to fall upon the Mitel Kingdom below.
It was a full-blown blizzard. In just a few hours, the snow had piled high enough to reach their knees.
The coachman struggled to pick up speed in the whiteout conditions. The two Guardian Knights, Jerome and Holtz, had even dismounted to clear a path, sweeping the thick snow aside with their swords.
"We should stop at a nearby village and wait for the storm to pass, Young Master," Jerome advised. "Even if we manage to reach the capital, the teleport gate will be unusable in a blizzard like this."
"It can't be helped."
Under the circumstances, Jin felt no joy at seeing snow for the first time in ages.
The carriage crawled forward as heavy snowflakes poured from the sky, threatening to swallow the world whole. To kill time, Jin skimmed through his transcribed secret manuals.
Then, just before dawn.
Clang! Neigh!
Suddenly, the two steeds hitched to the carriage let out frantic cries.
An Ice Spike, a 3-star spell, had shot out from the side of the road, piercing the flanks of both horses at once. The carriage lurched violently, nearly flipping over. A moment later, a second spike slammed into the coachman, killing him instantly.
"An ambush! Young Master, stay inside the carriage!"
"It's an ambush!"
Jerome and Holtz shouted. At the same time, Gilly pulled Jin close, shielding him with her body as she assessed the situation outside.
The usual gentleness in her eyes had vanished. A thick killing intent clouded them, turning them so dark they seemed to burn red.
"It is alright, Young Master," she said, her voice calm and steady. "You have two 7-star Guardian Knights and me. Do not worry."
Jin had seen this side of Gilly a few times in his past life. Ambushes were a common occurrence for the Runcandels, and he himself had experienced one or two before.
"There are about twenty assassins," Gilly reported. "A mix of mages and warriors, it seems, but we can't rule out archers. I haven't detected anyone at the 7-star level or higher yet."
All Runcandel nannies were warriors with combat capabilities of at least the 7-star rank. Gilly’s weapons—a set of gleaming claws—had already slid from her sleeves.
A mess, the moment I leave Storm Castle. Who are they?
Though Gilly kept speaking to soothe him, Jin was, in fact, even calmer than she.
Fear? From a sudden ambush?
He felt nothing of the sort. Not only was he escorted by three 7-star combatants, but even if the situation became more than they could handle, he still had Orgal's Pendant. As long as he possessed it, he could survive any crisis at least once.
They’re bold enough to attack a Runcandel carriage, so they aren't small fry. Since the knights didn't notice any chanting, there must be a 6-star mage among them.
Jin calmly visualized the scene outside.
There are no follow-up attacks on the carriage itself, and the sound of clashing weapons is distant. The attack started from far away, and Jerome and Holtz charged out to counter... Wait.
As his thoughts reached that point, Jin realized something was terribly wrong.
"Gilly."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Jerome and Holtz. They're not from the clan. They're either fakes or traitors."
"Young Master, what do you mean? Everyone at Storm Castle, myself included, knows their faces. They were definitely Jerome and Holtz."
Jin knew their faces as well. He had seen them several times in his past life.
The reason he considered them fakes, however, was simple.
"Gilly, a Guardian Knight of our clan would never leave a Runcandel child unattended under any circumstances. Not even with a nanny present."
"Ah!"
"One of them—Jerome or Holtz—should have stayed by my side. But both of them ran out to fight. It's either betrayal or they're imposters. There are only two possibilities."
Gilly peered out the window. Indeed, just as Jin had said, both Jerome and Holtz had abandoned their posts the moment the battle began.
Grit!
Her face contorted with rage as she gnashed her teeth—anger at the traitors, and at herself for only realizing the truth after Jin had pointed it out.
"...I am sorry, Young Master. I will accept severe punishment from the clan for this once we return." Gilly bowed her head, then looked up, her expression hardening. "From this moment on, Gilly McLoran will protect Young Master Jin as a vassal of Runcandel. Please hold on tight; I may have to get rough."
"Escaping is important, but we also need to identify who's fighting them," Jin said calmly. "There's a chance they might be allies."
"Yes, Young Master. I will ensure the honor of Runcandel is not tarnished."
Slash!
Gilly suddenly swung her claws. Though she struck from a seated position, the steel carriage was split clean in half, revealing the open sky above.
She then grabbed Jin and bolted from the wreckage like an arrow. She suspected the traitors might have planted dangerous traps inside the carriage.
The dark dawn sky and heavy snow made for poor visibility. All they could see were flashes of light from the battle raging about two hundred meters away.
The fact that they both rushed out means they judged the enemy too strong to face alone.
If that was the case, and the ones attacking the carriage were allies, then they were powerful allies.
However, the possibility that those fighting Jerome and Holtz were simply another set of enemies could not be ruled out. Cradling Jin in her arms, Gilly began sprinting toward the fight.
"Find Jin Runcandel!"
"Squad 3! Block the one on the left!"
Those were the voices of the ambushers. Up close, Jerome and Holtz were fighting on even ground against about twenty people.
"Young Master, why did you come out of the carriage!"
"It's dangerous here! Return at once!"
Jerome and Holtz shouted upon spotting Jin, keeping up their act.
"Shut your mouths, you filthy traitors!" Gilly’s eyes flared as she coated her claws in aura. "Who is your master? How dare you target the Young Master?!"
The imposters' expressions twisted, while the faces of those surrounding them brightened.
"That woman is Gilly McLoran! We've confirmed Jin Runcandel is alive!"
"All units, prioritize the protection of Jin Runcandel and engage!"
The ones who had attacked the carriage were allies.
Jin felt a wave of relief. If they joined forces with Gilly, he wouldn't have to use the pendant.
The battle paused for a heartbeat, and Jin used that moment to examine the armor and robes of his rescuers.
Leaf and Black Asura insignias. The Yuta family and the Black King Corps.
The Yuta family was a house of mages from the Mitel Kingdom, while the Black King Corps was one of the world's most renowned mercenary groups. The single Black Asura mark on their armor meant they weren't the corps' absolute elite, but it still signified that each of them was at least a 5-star combatant. The Yuta mages also looked quite capable.
So they weren't traitors; they were fakes. And the Ice Spike that killed the horses and the coachman... it was a misfire from a Yuta mage.
As soon as he gauged the allies' strength, Jin was certain.
If Jerome and Holtz were real 7-star knights, twenty 5-star combatants wouldn't even be a warm-up. In a low-visibility environment like this, the difference in power would be even more pronounced.
Yet, not a single ally had fallen. This was all the proof he needed that Jerome and Holtz were not true 7-star Guardian Knights of Runcandel.
"I am Murka, Vice-Captain of the Black King Corps' 3rd Army!" the lead mercenary announced. "We were commissioned by the Runcandels to coordinate with the local Yuta family and rescue Jin Runcandel!"
"Pfft... Hahaha..."
Suddenly, the fake Jerome burst into laughter.
The bizarre cackling went on and on. It sounded eerie and distinctly inhuman, causing the Yuta mages and Black King mercenaries to tighten their grips on their weapons.
Gilly stepped in front of Jin.
"Who are you?" she demanded. She, too, had realized they were fakes; she knew the true might of a 7-star knight.
"Heh, asking such an obvious question, Gilly McLoran," the imposter sneered. "We have nothing to say to a Runcandel dog."
The fake Holtz let out a sickening smirk and adjusted his stance. It was clear they wouldn't say anything more.
"...Young Master. What shall we do?" Gilly asked.
Jin didn't hesitate for a second.
"Kill one. Bring the other to me with his arms severed."
"I will carry out your command."
"Gilly McLoran," the fake Jerome taunted. "I know you're strong, but you underestimate us."
"Murka of the Black King Corps," Gilly said, coolly ignoring the provocation. "I ask you to look after the Young Master for thirty seconds."
Murka immediately formed a defensive perimeter around Jin with his men.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a 7-star knight fight.
As the thought crossed Jin's mind, Gilly was already lunging. She kicked off the snow-covered ground, and the air tore with a sharp crack.
She moved like a bolt of lightning. The mercenaries and mages couldn't believe such speed was possible on soft snow.
Slice—!
Her three-pronged claws swept through the fake Jerome’s throat.
The man couldn't even manage a reflexive block. He only realized he was dead when his head tumbled from his shoulders. The fake Holtz beside him spun around frantically, trying to track Gilly as she shot past.
He caught a glimpse of her movement. But just as he raised his sword to counter—
Thud.
He heard the sound of his own right hand, still gripping his sword, falling into the snow.
"Uh..."
Whoosh, slash!
He managed to dodge a few of Gilly’s follow-up strikes, but that was all. They were nothing more than lucky evasions, his body stumbling erratically after losing its balance. Gilly’s claws cleanly took his left arm as well.
The entire exchange took a mere seven seconds.
Gilly spent the remaining twenty-three seconds stopping the blood that geysered from the man's severed arms. She hacked off a clump of the dead Jerome's long hair and used it to crudely tie off the stumps.
The Black King mercenaries and Yuta mages who witnessed this were horrified.
T-this person is just a nanny?
She’s on a completely different level!
Jin, on the other hand, wore a satisfied smile.
"Mission accomplished, Young Master."
Gilly dragged the fallen fake Holtz toward Jin. The man couldn't even scream properly as his open mouth filled with snow.
Thud!
Gilly grabbed him by the hair and slammed him down at Jin’s feet.
"It seems it wasn't Gilly who underestimated her opponent, but your master," Jin said, his voice detached. "If you wanted to assassinate the youngest son of Runcandel, you should have sent at least three or four 8-star knights."
The fake Holtz spat. "Heh... Hehehe... This is... merely a warning. The era of Runcandel... is coming... to an end."
"I hope so, too."
At Jin’s remark, the mercenaries and mages exchanged startled glances.
"Because I also hope for the era of Jin Runcandel to begin, not just Runcandel."
"Praise... the great Zipple!" the man shrieked.
"Ah, so you were a Zipple fanatic. In that case, there's no need to take you back to the clan for interrogation."
Crunch!
Jin infused his fist with aura and slammed it into the ground beside the man's head—an application of aura he had learned while practicing his martial arts.
"I'll let you go."
"Kill me!"
"No. If you manage to crawl back alive in this state, you'll serve as a fine example to your comrades. We've wasted enough time. Gilly, throw this thing somewhere."
"Yes, Young Master."
Gilly picked the man up and hurled him into the distant snowdrifts.
Watching the fake Holtz huddle and wheeze, Jin thought to himself, Delusional fanatics. Do they really think Zipple will reward them for this?