Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Shape of Resolve
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Ssa's eyes, thick with drowsiness, cleared in an instant. He bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"Put out the campfire! Hyusuk and the porters, climb onto the wagons and guard all four sides! Elres! Find Warrior Ktachinan and tell him to stay alert!"
At Ssa's shout, the porters and escorts scrambled into action. Isilite, Brillit, and Dinte quickly woke their sleeping kue and mounted up.
The commotion spread to the luxury carriages by the roadside as well.
Clatter, snort—kue, que—
In the midst of the uproar, Ktachinan of the Awik family came running, gripping the sword at his sword belt.
"Ssa, what's going on?"
Ssa, who had already climbed onto the frame of the wagon and was scanning the surroundings, turned his gaze to Hwan-in and spoke.
"We might be under attack. No, aberrant species are about to strike soon. Ktachinan, you should prepare."
"Wouldn't it be better to depart immediately then?"
Ktachinan glanced at Hwan-in as he asked, but Ssa shook his head in refusal.
"The labyrinth's overflow might be more widespread than we thought. In that case..."
"...Aberrants could attack from up ahead as well. In the worst case, we could get hit from both sides."
"Exactly. Just in case, I suggest we cluster together rather than staying in a line like this. As you can see, the low, dense shrubbery can cover one side."
"Understood."
Hwan-in turned his eyes from Ktachinan, who was half-running back to the caravan, and looked down to wake Emergency Ration.
"Emergency Ration, wake up. Emergency Ration."
Ku, kue? Kuuh~.
"Keep watch. Enemies are approaching."
...Kuhet!
Perhaps because it had eaten its fill and slept soundly—digestion seemed well underway—it flapped its wings vigorously before launching into the sky...
Kuhet! Kkutkkwi! Kuehet~!
It began crying out frantically, pointing in one direction.
Ssa, who had learned from their travels that this was the signal for enemies approaching, shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Southwest—!! Monsters incoming from the southwest—!!"
Hiihiihiiing—!
Kueeh~.
Kuuu.
Kuekuhet—
In the meantime, the five luxury carriages had gathered near Ssa's wagon and clustered together.
The escorts guarding each carriage also gathered around Ktachinan, murmuring among themselves. Seventeen in total.
The carriage owners didn't show their faces outside, but they must have given orders to cooperate, as the escorts were compliant. Ktachinan bellowed at them, urging the guards of each carriage.
"I am Ktachinan, escorting a direct descendant of a Rank 3 Awik! The area is overflowing with aberrants due to the overflow phenomenon! Unknown aberrants are attacking this location! Let us first unite our strength to overcome this crisis and...!"
'They'll handle themselves.'
Hwan-in first cast low-grade Spirit Possession on the three kue ridden by Isilite, Brillit, Dinte, and the others.
Kuehet~!
Kuu~!
It wasn't just the kue stamping the ground with powerful kicks and letting out long cries, overflowing with strength.
The three sensed the changes in their own bodies, looking around wildly before turning toward Hwan-in's voice.
"I've bestowed blessings upon the kue you're riding. Since I expect a considerable number of enemies incoming, please be as cautious as possible."
"Ah! Th-thank you."
"Thank you."
Unlike Dinte and Brillit, who answered in surprise, Isilite felt awe at the immense power writhing within her.
'This is stronger than a reinforcement scroll or a shaman's enhancement ritual?!'
Having participated in several faction wars between small cities as a mercenary, Isilite had experienced enhancement shamans' buffs a few times.
That's why she grasped the potency of this enhancement more precisely than Brillit or Dinte.
'At least Rank 4, maybe even Rank 5 reinforcement!'
Her greatsword felt light even on normal days, but now it was as if it had no weight at all.
Her arms and legs brimmed with power; she felt like she could easily leap 10 meters just by jumping in place.
'Just what is that man?'
Isilite stared piercingly at Hwan-in, standing tall atop the wagon frame.
Setting aside his insane mastery of the three defensive arts as mere physical techniques, even if that unidentified explosive attack was from a magic device...
Rank 5 enhancement shaman-level buffs too?
"No, he called it a blessing... Maybe."
Could she have hit the jackpot with an impossibly low-probability draw?
With abilities like that, he could probably handle even a Rank 6 professional.
A Rank 7 professional stood equal to mid-to-high nobles. Rank 8 matched even city lord nobles, she'd heard.
Rumor had it a Rank 8 professional charged 10 gold for a month's training.
For trash like her with no money or background, becoming a disciple of such top-tier warriors was like reaching for stars. Even if accepted, they'd be nominal disciples treated no better than servants or slaves.
In that case...
'If I behave well, could I become Master's first disciple?'
Their first meeting had been a disaster, but the soul shaman—her prospective master—hadn't been heartless. He'd taken her in despite her attempted theft and even given her money.
He seemed to have character and dignity, judging by how he treated that sleazy merchant.
'It's possible!'
Just moments ago, Isilite's motivation had been rock-bottom, like a farmer who'd lost everything to a natural disaster.
She'd actually lost everything and voluntarily declared servitude, so if anything, it was worse.
But in this moment, her drive soared sky-high.
Even if she couldn't learn all of Master's defensive arts, mastering just one—evasion, blocking, or countering—could make her a dojo master for a village, maybe even a city.
Twenty years of service? Disciples served under their master's shadow for life anyway.
Without the master's permission, independence was impossible.
Master had a good personality too, so if she served diligently...
"Enemies sighted! West side of the shrubbery hill!!"
"Mid-to-small composite mana beast pack!!"
"Protect the carriages!!"
Isilite snapped to attention at the erupting shouts, gripping her greatsword's hilt so tightly it might snap, and turned her head to the west side of the low shrubbery.
In the darkness under faint moonlight, dozens of gleaming eyes rapidly descended the hill.
'I need to prove my worth to Master against these bastards!'
As she drew a deep breath that swelled her chest, Ktachinan rode up on his brown kue and shouted at Brillit and Isilite.
"You two warriors! The mana beast pack is too clustered! We need cavalry charges to scatter them! Up for lending your strength!?"
"Yes!!"
Isilite bellowed without hesitation, but Brillit glanced at Ssa for approval before nodding.
"Then let's go! I'll take the center! Flanks are yours!!"
Leaving the escorts forming a defensive formation around the carriages, the three spurred their kue's flanks and charged toward the wave of oncoming mana beasts.
"Chaaarge!!"
Ktachinan collided with the mana beast pack at the forefront alongside his long-time brown kue.
The brown kue seized beasts in its beak and hurled them or crushed them under its log-like sturdy legs, while Ktachinan synced with its movements, severing the beasts' necks or spines with his black sword.
'Good. Lots of numbers, but all Rank 2 or 3 small fry!'
Ktachinan figured they could repel the pack with minimal casualties. Then he was startled by the charges of Isilite and Brillit crashing in next.
Kwaaang!!
Something exploded on impact, sending the beasts that collided with them flying.
"Eiyaap!!"
"Haaat!!"
Moreover, the swordswoman swung her greatsword like a hammer, smashing beasts away one after another, while the spearwoman pierced their skulls with gruesome pyut—pyu-pyut sounds.
'What the...? Their auras were only Rank 3-4 levels!'
It had been the same at first sight, and even when borrowing them—their auras had been far below his. So what was this power matching his own?
Even more shocking were the straw-colored kue they rode.
Straw kue, the tamest of their kind, aggressively ripped flesh and shattered bones with pecks, snapping limbs and waists with kicks.
'What...? Not even elite gray kue.'
Shock was fleeting. Either way, capable allies meant solid backup.
"Break through! Follow close!!"
Seeing the mana beasts swarming like clouds, Ktachinan activated his black sword's magic to enhance cutting power, swinging freely to pierce the pack.
He even used the brown kue's low dives occasionally. Nearly through the pack, he gaped anew at the two straw kue flapping overhead and leaping madly.
'What kind of... insane jump distance?! They're definitely straw-colored!'
Ktachinan, Isilite, and Brillit circled around the rampaging mana beasts on their kue and struck the flank again.
The momentum pierced the herd, sending over ten beasts flying like they'd been hit by a cart, sharply dropping the pack's combat power.
"We need to hammer the pack as much as possible to ease the main force's burden!!"
Just as Ktachinan cleaved through the beasts between the main force and the pack once more, splitting the herd and preparing to leap from his kue...
"Mana beast pack!"
"Northeast! Northeast shrubbery!!"
"Another mana beast group appeared!!"
"Not mana beasts! Aberrants!!"
'Rear too!'
Mana beasts were just tougher, thicker-skinned than regular beasts. Aberrants were different. Even Rank 3 ones were nearly impervious to common weapons.
No intelligence for feints, but the situation was dire.
Ktachinan's gaze turned to the seventeen battling over forty mana beasts. All elite guards for high-status folk, but...
'No manpower to spare!'
...Kkrungkkrung—...!
...Karrurr—...!!
...Kiaaak—...!
The noises from the rear fueled Ktachinan's anxiety.
No choice. Casualties inevitable, but they were escorts—sacrifices to protect charges they'd understand.
"Sword warrior, spear warrior there! We head back to handle the new pack!!"
Ktachinan yelled loudly at Isilite and Brillit striking the mana beast rear, then ordered her brown kue to leap onto a carriage roof.
A quick glance back: only the swordswoman followed.
The spearwoman glanced over, deemed no issue, and focused on her beasts.
'...'
He wanted to chide her, but no time.
Flap flap, with powerful wingbeats, it leaped again, diving toward the main force's rear. That's when Ktachinan witnessed the unbelievable.
A black-spear-wielding warrior was single-handedly holding off dozens of aberrants far from the carriages.
'...No, not a warrior! A commoner?!'
Thanks to awakening, his night vision outdid normals. He realized with horror the spearman blocking the herd like a wolf amid sheep had no aura.
Unawakened commoners struggled to pierce aberrant hides!
Ordering another leap and dive from the kue on the carriage roof, he watched the man's movements...
"Beautiful."
Ktachinan felt a lightning bolt to his crown.
Elegantly evading three charging aberrants via the safest, most efficient path.
Thrusting and swinging the black spear while using it as a pivot to move—dodging attacks, countering, blocking, and attacking in seamless flow. A divine skill.
Perfect harmony of offense and defense incarnate.
The dream realm he and his master had chased lifelong unfolded before him.
Kue~!
Thud, the impact of landing snapped Ktachinan back. He bellowed.
"Ktachinan of Awik joins you!!"
"Master! Isilite coming!!"
Hwan-in heard the two shouting from behind but ignored them, focusing on repelling the aberrants lunging to tear him apart from all sides.
The aberrants' soul ranks were mid-low grade.
Hwan-in, who had renewed his Spirit Possession with the souls of aberrants slain via his spirit, cleaved through the wall-like onrush with surging strength and stamina.
Of course, he hadn't charged headlong into dozens.
No matter the numbers, simultaneous attackers never exceeded five.
Among them: two aggressively biting, one grabbing limbs, two poised for openings.
The rest circled, awaiting turns.
Two soul shields from aberrant souls at his back reduced it to blocking 2-3 effectively.
Beast attacks—even uncoordinated—barely registered.
Plus the black spear's immense cutting power.
Kyaeng!
Kwaaeng!
Striking visible weak points and invisible gaps—slashed or stabbed aberrants always screamed and collapsed.
Replacements filled in, only to be bounced back amid Hwan-in's flurry.
Stimulated by his motions and dying comrades' death cries, the aberrants fixated solely on shredding the human before them.
With Ktachinan and Isilite joining, Hwan-in shifted from defense to pure offense, stabbing, slashing, and smashing aberrants indiscriminately.
'...He didn't even need backup.'
That was Ktachinan's impression, sidelong-glancing at Hwan-in felling two for his every one.
He understood why the spearwoman stayed put with a nonchalant look.
The ambush ended as abruptly as it began.
Over a hundred four-legged mana beast corpses littered around the clustered carriages as cleanup began.
Injured escorts treated wounds with herbs, potions, restoratives...
"Ignore everything else! Load only the mana beast corpses that Hwan-in... that soul master butchered onto the wagons!"
Ssa rallied three porters, Dinte, and Hyusuk to select and load beast bodies hastily.
"Toss this, load that, this too, that one over there too."
"Ssa, what about this one?"
"The ones Hwan-in killed have just one wound or barely any! Load only those!"
"Got it!"
"More mana beasts might attack! Move faster!"
"... "
Isilite alternated glances between the porters and Ssa, peeked at Hwan-in staring into the darkness with arms crossed, then quietly set down her greatsword to help.
"Hey, this one good to move?"
"...Hm? Yes. While you're at it, take the one at your feet too."
"This too?"
"That too."
With Isilite's powerful aid, loading sped up. Soon, Ssa hollered to depart with the cargo hold packed.
"Hwan-in! Hop on! We're leaving!"
As Hwan-in climbed into the assistant seat and the wagon rolled, the other prepared carriages finally followed.
It made sense—they all knew, inside or out fighting, what Hwan-in had accomplished.
Unspoken, but they acknowledged him as the caravan's strongest.