Chapter 182
Chapter 182
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Monstrous Allies
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They say that when people face an utterly absurd situation, they lose their words.
Staat had heard that saying before, but he dismissed it as mere talk from ordinary folk living mundane lives.
So even though he was surprised, he didn't panic.
When Jerome pulled off some bizarre trick to trip up the holy knights, Staat just figured the kid had a hidden ace up his sleeve, nothing more.
Given the reputation he'd built handling countless affairs across the continent, Staat assumed Jerome had some decent martial prowess too. Even when the boy leaped into their midst and turned a few knights into bloody messes, Staat merely judged him a bit stronger than expected.
In short, he got angry, but he didn't panic.
Minor variables might crop up, but the main plan remained unshaken—or so he thought.
Until this moment.
Now Staat truly understood that sensation he'd once belittled as the mindset of the masses.
The trap Jerome had prepared was something Staat couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams.
No—not even Duke Kamil or the Third Imperial Princess, the empire's future in the Vatican, could have foreseen this. The blasphemous thought crossed his mind.
-Grrrrrr!
From between the towering trees high on the slopes, bull-sized wolves bared their fangs and snarled.
And they weren't alone. Flanking the wolves were orcs wielding massive axes and blades—ridiculously oversized weapons, refined to a polish that defied belief for mountain-dwelling monsters.
From the rocky hills beside the slopes lumbered one-eyed giants with enormous builds.
They carried greatswords thicker than a man's torso slung over their shoulders, spears propped casually beside them.
What scholar on the continent could ever dream up such a combination?
The most ridiculous part? The apparent leaders of those two races waved at them as they stared over.
"Gruk! Jerome, you've had it rough."
"Are those the North Wall's lackeys?"
It was getting worse by the minute. Monsters speaking human tongue?
Amid that insane spectacle, one lone human waved back as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Jerome von Carviot, the Shield Family's third son—their very target.
'Good. Made it in time.'
The journey to the Holy Empire had two main goals from the start.
First: Head to the Vatican, strike deals with Emperor Pedro and the princes to clamp down hard on Ibarella's power once more.
Second: Swing by Ballista Fortress and rescue Archbishop Luna's mother from captivity.
The first was straightforward enough.
Emperor and princes alike shared my interests, so tossing them a few carrots would rally them without issue.
The second was the problem. No way Ibarella would let me slide after I humiliated her in the capital.
Duke Kamil was her acknowledged champion. He'd never just sit back after I shamed her in the heart of the empire.
So when plotting with Dwayne, I planned to counter them with help from Hatan and Argus.
But I scrapped that soon after. Why just check them when I could do better?
They'd come after me as "outlaws." So if I wiped them out entirely, it'd end as "outlaws" dead—not imperial knights.
Thus, I shifted the venue. Deeper, closer to the Dragon Mountains.
A demonic land no scouts from Ballista or Banten could dare approach.
Sure, it got dicey a couple times, but if it meant devouring the entire Seventh Holy Knight Order, it was a gamble worth taking.
And success was right there. The payoff for betting my life? Staat's paling face.
"Nice look. Suits you."
"H-how?! You allied with monsters too?! Not just a heretic—you're the devil's seed threatening the empire!"
Staat half-lost it, foaming at the mouth.
Can't blame him.
Through Banten, the only exports allowed were goods from the elves' domain, Elunheim.
Items from dealings with other races stayed locked tight in the family citadel's vaults.
My pacts with orcs, cyclopes, and lycanthropes? One of my aces, hidden deep.
So to Staat, this made zero sense.
Hell, even Ibarella wouldn't have seen this coming.
Unlike the leisurely Jerome, Seventh Order Captain Staat ground his teeth.
'I must report this to His Grace!'
Ballista Fortress guarded the border against the Dragon Mountains and countless southern alliance nations—a vital front.
If Banten's monsters had secret pacts with those in the Dragon Mountains, the balance of power crumbles.
A united push could overwhelm even Kamil's Ballista in moments.
He had to escape. Even at the cost of his life.
"...That's what you're thinking, right?"
"!"
Jerome never missed the resolve in Staat's eyes.
"Sorry, but I didn't call these guys out just to show off."
Snap!
Jerome snapped his gauntleted fingers in signal. Orcs and cyclopes lurking in the woods and hills sprang into motion.
The Seventh Order, encircling Jerome, hesitated at the ominous monsters. Staat bellowed through gritted teeth.
"Seventh Holy Knight Order! Get a grip! They're just monsters!"
Shing!
Staat drew his sword, unleashing a terrifying aura that snapped the knights' focus back to him.
"I'll carve the path! Fear not—trust and follow me!"
"!"
The knights, faltering under orc and cyclops encirclement, regained their fire.
Impressive.
Turning the tide in a hopeless spot, plotting a way out.
'Not just a sword-swinging brute, then.'
A promising imperial talent, eyeing the throne.
"You sure? Weren't you after my head?"
"Hmph! You can't even see your limits. Your head's worthless next to this intel—like a feather."
Jerome tapped his neck with his gauntlet, taunting. But Staat's interest had shifted away.
Excellent.
Not every captain cracks the top ten for the throne, but give this one time to grow—he'd hit Four Marquises level easy.
Which was exactly why.
'Can't let him live.'
Orcs and cyclopes tightened the noose. After a tense standoff, they charged as one.
Thud thud thud!
-Kroooar!
Shwick!
Staat cleaved the first charging Red Axe orc's neck in a flash, attempting breakthrough as he roared.
"Seventh Order! Punch through!"
"As if."
To break the monster encirclement, knights had to face outward—bare their backs to the surrounded Jerome.
Roooar!
Golden aura rippled over his body, slowly turning inky black from within.
Golden Valiant Warrior.
Best in chaotic melees. And they were showing him their backs? Pricey mistake.
"Back it is."
Boom!
He smashed the rearmost knight in the wedge formation breaking out, caving his spine.
"Gahk!"
The knight spewed blood, tumbling from his mount.
Not even Staat—or anyone not fighting monsters—glanced back, despite the fall.
'Some sacrifices inevitable for escape.'
Solid call. Against average Dragon Mountain orcs and cyclopes, Staat's level could force a breach with resolve.
Yeah.
'Average' ones.
Shlaaaash!
Riding warhorses' momentum, Staat carved through orcs and cyclopes like chaff. He swung down hard to bisect the front orc vertically.
The orc raised its huge axe to block—but it wouldn't.
Staat shifted to the left orc. Then—
Clang!
"...?!"
A weird sound from the front orc.
Aura-infused strike? Why the dull clash of metal on metal?
"Gruk, human. Not bad."
Kiiiiin!
The axe looked still to the eye, but sparks flew nonstop against Staat's blade.
Fwoosh!
Slash!
"Kgh!"
The orc's insane axe beheaded Staat's warhorse in a blink. Panicking, he leaped off, left hand bracing the ground for a perfect roll.
His agility deserved praise.
But losing his mount soured Staat's face. The vanguard halt killed their momentum.
"Fun human for once. Let's see..."
"Hatan, sorry—that one's mine."
I blocked Hatan, axe raised in excitement.
"Gruk, what kind of rule is that?"
I patted Hatan's frowning shoulder soothingly.
"Sorry, sorry. Yield him to me this time."
"Chit! That's tricky..."
"Less than a year till Makgora."
Twitch!
Hatan's shoulder visibly shook.
"Want a real thrill next year? Let me have this one."
"...Chit! You've gotten sly without me."
Hatan snorted grumpily, slinging his axe over his shoulder and stepping back. As expected—with Makgora looming in under a year, it was his trigger.
Plop!
"..."
While bickering with Hatan, I faced the reformed Seventh Order front.
"Told you. None escaping."
"...Kuh! Kuhahaha!"
Staat, glaring silently, suddenly looked skyward and burst laughing.
Snapped from shock?
"I'll admit it. Your scheme outdid our wildest guesses. And just now, I knew for sure."
Staat lowered his gaze, glaring.
"You'll be the empire's doom someday. Fatally so."
"Thanks for the praise."
"Kuh! That's why I decided. Spreading your secret outweighs guarding ours."
"...What?"
Before I could ask what that meant, Staat bellowed.
"Seventh Holy Knight Order!"
No replies, but he pressed on.
"Unleash our hidden power—here and now! Security breach be damned! Someone get this to His Grace, anyone!"
Hummm!
Then, an alien energy rose from Staat's body.
Not just him. From every knight, starting with him—an aura unlike any other welled up.
And it was all too familiar to me.
"Heterogenous... Powers."
Holy knights channeling varied energies charged from all directions.
"For the Lord and the Saintess!"
"Th-there!"
Saladin shot up from his spot atop the hill, watching quietly from afar in shock.
"R-Rampang. That's definitely Heterogenous Powers, right?"
"......"
Crunch!
Rampang bit her lip instead of answering. Hard enough for blood to trickle from her mouth.
Memories flooded back—the lab horrors she'd witnessed.
Martin the Poison Blood Master and Black Lions dying like beasts, wretchedly.
She didn't know how these vile Holy Empire knights wielded Heterogenous Powers, but one thing was certain.
Their ability rested on innocent Black Lions like Martin's sacrifices.
"Endure it."
Did he read her mind? Karma, catching his breath beside her, spoke calmly.
"But!"
"Didn't Jerome warn you? Show yourself now, and traces of the Water King might linger. Veras's hounds could keep tracking. Even if Shield Family shelters us, no good leaving tracks here."
"......"
Her master's words rang true.
But Rampang could barely hold back. She wanted to shred those blood-soaked fruits of her kin's suffering.
"...Don't get too mad, Rampang."
"...?"
She glanced at the soothing Saladin. He pointed downhill.
"That guy's decent enough, looks aside. He'll judge them for you, for sure."
Rooooar!
As Saladin said, Jerome stirred below.