Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Great Sacrifice Operation
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When Kaisen entered the city of Aristafo, it was already a scene of terror and chaos.
Uruks, having breached the south and north gates, ravaged everything living, and fresh blood washed over the city.
At a downtown crossroads, Sharon's Black Rose Corps encountered hundreds of Uruks swarming like rats.
“Kedark! Kill everything that moves on two legs!”
Banners made from flayed human skin fluttered, and the screams of people crisscrossed in the air.
Just then, someone in a side alley gestured to them. They were dressed in the garb of a witch.
“I'll guide you to the Sha-Memnon Temple. We know a path that only we are aware of.”
The sight of the city as they spurred their horses toward the temple on the hill was…
The Uruks were carrying out a massacre, slaughtering indiscriminately.
The cries of boy soldiers searching for their mothers were silenced one by one before the blades. He saw three garrison soldiers simultaneously butchered by an Uruk's axe.
“Dammit…”
The grandeur of the Great Temple of Sha-Memnon was tinged with a decadent beauty amidst the gloom of the dying city.
A legendary demi-human architect.
Vaines Son Altztaheim.
The cathedral, said to have been built and dedicated by him, seemed not of this world's craft; even the faintest light would illuminate every corner, filling it with a gentle warmth.
“You've come.”
Yet, even the mystical temple seemed to lose its majesty compared to the figure guarding it.
Setsunen of Thunderous Fragrance.
There was no one who did not know that name.
One of the Three Great Dragons, the last light in this crumbling era abandoned by the gods.
Hair of brilliant gold, as if spun from sunlight, and eyes distinguished by cross-shaped pupils.
The beauty of the dragonkin wearing a worn straw hat was beyond description, but this was no time to be marveling at such things.
“Time is short, so I will get straight to the point.”
The fact that such a being was guarding this place confirmed the existence of the ‘secret weapon’ the Grand Marshal had mentioned.
Everyone steeled their resolve.
When the room, sealed by several layers of barriers, was opened, Kaisen felt a shiver of primal awe run down his spine.
“It is the egg of the Light Dragon.”
It was a radiant dragon's egg.
The luminescence radiating from the egg, carefully enshrined on red silk, was so vast and beautiful that it lit the room as bright as day.
The light was reverent.
“The Light Dragon's egg…?”
“It is the avatar of the Light Dragon Haraderiman, one of the Three Divine Dragons.”
“!”
“As you well know, His Holiness has been losing his power ever since falling ill some three hundred years ago.”
Sharon murmured, her voice tinged with a sigh.
“Yes, the Golden Age ended after he fell ill.”
The Golden Age…
To Kaisen, struggling in this Dark Age, those words sounded like a distant dream.
An era said to have been filled with only peace and laughter—was such a thing even possible?
“You were brought to Aristafo not for its strategic value, but to protect this.”
“Then…?”
“The Light Dragon has tried for ages to create an avatar, but this is the only one that succeeded. Fearing something might go wrong, we delayed its transport until it hatched, but now we have no choice.”
It was then that Setsunen's gentle tone became as firm as a command.
“This is the hope of humanity—no, of the entire world. If the Light Dragon can transfer his consciousness to this avatar, the Dark Age will end.”
“……!”
“Escaping with this will be next to impossible. But is it not the mission of a Yongsa to overcome such impossibilities?”
Whether fake or real…
I have no choice but to entrust the hope of humanity to you all, Setsunen said, and then fell silent.
“I don't understand. If you took it and left yourself, you would surely succeed.”
“If I did that, everyone here would die.”
“Surely you don't mean to…”
“I will walk the final path given to me. I will defend this place and buy you time. So, you must do your part.”
Silence fell.
Setsunen placed the dragon egg into a chest woven from willow branches.
She stuffed in several layers of silk, ensuring the egg wouldn't break from any ordinary impact.
“With my power, I will transport all of you to the east, along with those taking refuge in the underground passages. Protect them and leave this city. The ‘Old Nobles’ are searching for this, so hurry.”
With a serene smile, Setsunen clapped her hands together.
The operation that Wolf would later record as the ‘Great Sacrifice Operation’ began just like that. Camilla's corps would be annihilated in this operation.
Bathed in golden light, Sharon's corps experienced the bizarre sensation of their bodies being pulled away, their fatigue and wounds vanishing completely.
And when the light faded, they found themselves on the eastern hills of Aristafo, where a fierce battle raged under Krauzan's command. They were there with over three million refugees.
“…”
“…”
“…”
When Sharon relayed the full story, none of the commanders present could speak.
“There's no other way now.”
And when Camilla explained her plan to safely transport the dragon egg and the refugees, the silence deepened.
“Are you out of your mind?”
Sharon said in a trembling voice.
“I'm perfectly sane. If we try to escape with all these refugees, we'll get caught in the million-strong army's encirclement and all die anyway. There's no getting out.”
“Even if you and I take down, say, ten thousand of them combined…”
“Their army is a million strong. What about the other 990,000? Just trade them for candy? They said the demons will chase this thing to the death. We can't entrust it to the main army.”
“…”
“So, those who must live will live, and those with a mission must complete it.”
“But… Wolf, say something!”
Wolf did not answer.
He simply accepted this fate—the fate of being parted from the woman he loved—with stoic detachment.
“I'm going to die anyway. So this is the right answer. You perverted bald old man, I'm leaving the rest to you. Just leave me the giant armored units and the artillery.”
A deep sorrow also settled on Grand Marshal Krauzan's face.
Camilla volunteered to defend the trenches here, so that the main army and the refugees could retreat safely.
The Black Rose Corps would lure the enemy's detached force by transporting the dragon egg, while the White Skull Corps would handle the main army…
What was more surprising was that not a single soldier from the White Skull Corps or the Black Rose Corps opposed this decision.
“Lady Camilla, may I ask a favor?”
Eltram, who had been silent, spoke.
Camilla nodded.
“May I tell only the beastkin soldiers about the identity of this egg?”
“Why?”
“We've lived our entire lives being pointed at as cursed bastards. It was only after joining you that we were treated like people. For wretches like us to be entrusted with such a noble mission… everyone will die gladly.”
Eltram's voice was calm.
It was the voice of someone who had already accepted their impending death. Camilla punched the polar bear's chest and said.
“Of course. And tell them they went through hell working for a crazy bitch.”
Eltram grinned.
Camilla and Wolf also grinned. That was their farewell.
“Ah, Sharon. I have a favor to ask you, too.”
“What?”
“Kaisen… that little brat is a son of a bitch with no manners or charm, but he's not a complete waste.”
Sharon felt at a loss for words. It had been so long since she had seen Camilla with such a wistful smile.
“I'm entrusting the mission of getting the dragon egg to you to Eltram and Kaisen.”
“Camilla.”
“So, if you can… please make sure Kaisen gets to the Papal Office alive. I'm counting on you.”
The end of childhood,
The Siege of Aristafo (5)
Eltram, carrying the basket with the dragon egg, looked up at the sky.
“It's raining…”
Fat raindrops fell from the gloomy sky, drenching the world. Kaisen felt a chill run through his entire body.
‘The rainy season, it's started?’
The rain that heralded the start of midsummer was eerily black. The rainwater, carrying volcanic ash that filled the sky, soaked everything pitch black.
“What are you doing! The operation has already begun! Both of you, move out!”
The operation was just that much of a mess.
In a normal operation, the dragon egg should have been transported in a palanquin under the protection of a large army.
But in summer, nothing ever went as planned.
Bwoooooo…
…Bwoooooo…
………Bwoooooo.
Not long after the operation began, Kaisen felt a pain as if his heart had stopped.
‘The sound of a horn…!’
The sound of the horn, soaring sharply into the air, wasn't just a sound. It was the enemy's blade, stabbing deep into his lungs.
“Go, Captain!”
“We'll hold them here!”
The goal of Jin's left flank, supported by giants and artillery, was to defend the trenches and cover the retreat.
“Fire, keep firing!”
“Reloading, reloading!”
“We're out of shells!”
Camilla's corps was, to be sure, a gathering of mercenaries brought together by money. But it was also a group united by a single premise.
Never abandon a comrade.
This was the creed and iron rule of Camilla's corps. Because of it, many veterans had dedicated themselves to the unit.
“Anyone… is anyone there…”
They died, torn limb from limb by Uruks; died, their heads split open by axes. They were trampled to death by Blashurfs, dying again and again.
The rain poured and poured.
Rain continued to fall on the corpse of the musketeer Jin, whose head was half torn off.
Their bodies were scalded by the hot water that erupted from the Prisvia cores on their backs, but the dead and the dying could not move.
Still, Camilla's corps was better off compared to Sharon's.
The decoy.
Chosen as the decoy unit in the dragon egg escort mission, Sharon's corps was tasked with scattering into squads to disperse the Uruk pursuers.
“They're coming from above!”
“Regroup, regroup!”
“There's no time to reload!”
The majority of Sharon's corps were torn to shreds by the Blashurf cavalry. The Blashurfs devoured the entrails of the half-dead soldiers.
Of course, the nightmare was not theirs alone.
At the time, Kaisen didn't know.
He knew nothing of this Great Sacrifice Operation; he simply killed any Blashurfs or Uruks that approached, protecting Eltram.
Their luck was holding up quite well.
Until they reached the upstream creek where they were to cross the river…
In that moment, a goblin's poisoned crossbow bolt pierced Eltram's shoulder. The cunning goblins used poisoned arrows. Kaisen shouted.
“Eltram!”
Then, from all around the creek, hidden Uruk warriors emerged. Two Kiranzki Gagas stood at the forefront.
‘About a hundred elite warriors from the Kiral Clan, and well over five hundred goblins…’
Can I cut them all down?
The goblins are nothing, but fifty Uruks and two Kiranzki Gagas…
As he swallowed hard, Eltram suddenly grabbed Kaisen's shoulder.
“You're faster. You go, Kaisen.”
“What?”
“You take the dragon egg. Lady Sharon will be waiting at Milestone 37, if the plan worked.”
Before he could argue.
He thrust the willow chest containing the dragon egg at Kaisen, as if shoving it off on him.
Kaisen felt his breath quicken.
“You… are you sure you can win?”
“Who do you take me for, brat? I'm Eltram, the greatest beastkin soldier on the continent!”
Eltram roared with the head of a bear and charged fiercely at the Uruks.
“That stubborn oaf…”
Kaisen's fingers, gripping his sword, trembled. Setsunen's voice echoed in his mind.
- With that egg, humanity can rise again.
A part of his heart ached.
Kaisen began to cross the ditch, avoiding the spot where Eltram and the Uruks were fighting.
“If you die before I get back, I'll kill you!”
*Shwick—!*
*Shwick-shwick-shwick—!*
The escape was a close call. Arrows whizzed past his ears, tearing through the air. He heard Eltram's shout, and then the volley of attacks suddenly ceased.
‘Eltram is the Empire's strongest beastkin. There's no way he'd lose to a mere hundred Uruks.’
He convinced himself.
Of course, he didn't have the luxury to consider that to fight alone against five hundred demons, including a hundred elite Uruk warriors and two Kiranzki Gagas, Eltram would have to be as strong as a FakeWarrior.
His head was already on the verge of exploding.
He crossed the ditch.
Hurriedly exited the forest path.
When he reached Milestone 37, where the crossroads sign was broken, he saw Sharon Alter Tassalpo and Ria Raily.
“Kaisen!”
Tears welled up in Ria's eyes.
Anyone would have been a welcome sight.
To see a survivor.
Beside Sharon and Ria, there were only three soldiers, including a mage. Kaisen said, panting for breath.
“Eltram, all the other corps are in danger. We have to go, go and save them.”
Sharon squeezed her eyes shut.
Then, she shook her head firmly.
“This was the plan from the beginning, Kaisen. We can't let their sacrifice be in vain.”
“What?”
“It means they all died to ensure that dragon egg was transported safely. Let's go.”
Kaisen stopped breathing.
Sacrifice? The dragon egg? Everyone dies?
Suddenly, the corners of his mouth twisted up on their own. Perhaps because his mind was in such a mess, all he could do was laugh.
“This was the plan…? A plan for everyone to die…? All for this one stupid egg?”
“It was Camilla's plan.”
“Don't, don, don, don't be ridiculous! Don't fuck with me, damn it! Just how fucking great can this goddamn egg be!”
Kaisen's voice was desperate.
Then he suddenly picked up the dragon egg and threw it to the ground. It would have shattered.
If Sharon hadn't stomped forward and snatched it from the air.
“It's near the Rayboro Bridge. According to the plan, Camilla and Wolf should be there now.”
The situation was urgent; she had no time to indulge a brat's tantrum.
‘I'm sorry, Camilla.’
You asked me to make sure this one, at least, made it out alive…
If I delay trying to persuade him, everyone's death will be for nothing.
And if I drag him along by force, he might go mad with guilt.
“Rayboro Bridge…?”
Kaisen, who had been listening blankly, immediately turned and bolted back the way he came. Or tried to.
“Wait, Kaisen!”
If Ria Raily hadn't urgently grabbed the young soldier's shoulder.
“It's too late to go back! It's all over!”
“Shut up…”
“You know the state of Lady Camilla's hair! It was completely white!”
“Shut up and let me go…”
“It means it's useless even if you go and miraculously save her! Her life force is already—”
“—Shut up, shutupshutupshutup, I said shut up!”
Kaisen's movements were desperate and rough as he shook off Ria's hand and ran into the rain. Sharon shouted.
“Stop it, Ria! We have to go!”
“But Master, if we let him go like this!”
“Let's go!”
As he ran back the way he came, Kaisen had to endure the loneliness of being alone.
He felt the terror of four years ago.
The terror of that day, when he lost his home, when everything fell into darkness…
“Eltram!”
Eltram was slumped against a tree. His chest was moving slowly, but dozens of arrows had pierced his chest and back.
“Get up, I said get up!”
In the ditch before him, hundreds of Uruk and goblin corpses were submerged in the water.
*Ahaha.* A dry laugh escaped him.
He himself didn't know why, or how, he could laugh.
“You won, you won! You wiped out two hundred demons on your own and even took down two Kiranzki Gagas! You really are the continent's greatest beastkin!”
“This brat… *Keuk, kehehehe*… The egg, did you hand over the egg safely?”
Eltram's laughter was low and pathetic. Blood trickled endlessly from the corner of his mouth, mixing with the rain.
“Yeah, so get up! Hurry! Let's go help Camilla together! You big oaf!”
“I've… saved… the most sacred being… in this world… so now… I can face… my great ancestors… as a warrior without shame… I…”
And so, Eltram died with his eyes open.
Kaisen, on the other hand, was alive, but felt the world go dark. His knees gave out, and his head spun.
“Hey, Eltram…?”
Why?
Why did the chilling déjà vu of his mother's death flicker before his eyes in that moment?
- My name is Johan Wolf Frost.
- Really? That's a relief…
- This was the plan from the beginning.
Kaisen gasped for air and shot to his feet. He was hyperventilating, and it felt like his heart, his heart was about to burst into white light.
‘The bridge, which way is the bridge? Right… downstream. I'll go downstream.’
He began to run like a madman.
The wind and rain, laden with volcanic ash, whipped against his face, a bitter taste lingering at the tip of his nose.
“No.”
He'd never once thought of them as precious comrades.
“No.”
Why were the voices of the corps' soldiers,
the time he'd spent with those idiots, flashing through his mind in the storm?
“No.”
Musketeer Jin, who said he'd open a gun shop in the countryside after the war. The lion-type beastkin, Brick, who said he'd go back home to see his children.
‘I didn't want to get close.’
Ten and Soldem, who were a year or two younger than him and followed him around calling him "big brother"... he didn't want to get close to any of them.
‘I didn't want to get close because I was afraid this would happen someday.’
The world of time was always cruel.
Because the moment you realize the value of something precious is always the same moment you lose it.
“NOOOOOOOOOO—!”