Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Knight of Light
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-Krooooaaar!
Boom!
The troll, overcome with rage, collapsed while shrieking its death cry.
It had desperately sought vengeance against the vile humans who left it with such a humiliating memory, but in the end, it failed to achieve its goal.
Slash!
The troll was already covered in countless wounds, blood pouring from its body—it would have died soon even if left alone—but Captain Raguel of the 2-Star Knight Order made sure to sever its head cleanly.
A troll's regenerative ability was incomparable to any other monster. It was a judgment befitting his personality, leaving no room for even the slightest chance of revival.
With the troll's death cry as the finale, the monster wave that had kept Ballista Fortress in turmoil for an entire day was finally subdued.
Swish!
"You've worked hard, Captain."
As a subordinate approached and offered a clean towel, Raguel took it and wiped his face before asking,
"And His Excellency?"
"He's currently moving with Captain Saint. They headed to the foothills of the Dragon Mountains, out of sight of the 'eyes' for a while... but for some reason, they've pushed straight into the Urk Plains."
"Hmm. I see."
Raguel calmly wiped the troll's blood from his face as he spoke.
"Captain, I hate to say it, but... aren't you worried? Capturing the Shield Family whelp is an order straight from the Third Imperial Princess in the capital."
The subordinate was concerned. If Kamil and he completed the mission the princess herself had issued, the 4-Star Knight Order would claim all the glory.
Dealing with the fortress monsters was mere busywork compared to the princess's direct command—it held no value.
Raguel chuckled at his subordinate's worry.
"No, he might actually fail."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
Raguel's words could easily be misinterpreted as insolence toward Duke Kamil's abilities, so the subordinate's eyes widened, but Raguel's demeanor remained unchanged.
"Two reasons. First, if it were just about the Shield Family whelp, there's no reason for His Excellency to lead the charge personally. He's not the type to use an ox-cleaver on a chicken. The fact that he did means he judged the situation dire enough to require his own hand."
Raguel had a vague knowledge of the fortress's monster research lab. Thus, he was certain this incident hadn't occurred naturally.
Moreover, leaving before the suppression was fully complete suggested the urgency was even greater than he'd imagined.
"There's no need to rush into a mission that might fail. To become the next generation's victor, it's not about repeating ups and downs of failure and success—it's about steadily stacking small wins."
The subordinate couldn't help but admire Raguel's words. It was precisely this decisive, meticulous nature that had elevated him to captain of the 2-Star Knight Order.
Captains were comrades serving the Empire, but also potential future rivals. Naturally, Raguel's insight would have calculated that long ago.
Still, the subordinate couldn't fully relax.
"But His Excellency has ascended to the continent's pinnacle, the Jade Throne. The idea of him failing..."
Fair point. A valid concern.
"Are you a newbie?"
"Yes, sir! It's been about half a year since I was assigned to the 2-Star Knight Order."
Chuckle!
"Then you wouldn't know. Do you know why Ballista has three Star Knight Orders in the top ten?"
"Because it's the Empire's most critical frontline... right?"
"Exactly. And the reason it's valued so highly is Banten."
Raguel's gaze turned south.
The second reason Duke Kamil might fail.
The reason a mere count's family from a small kingdom was deemed the Empire's most troublesome foe.
It wasn't just because the Carviot Count's family head had ascended to a Jade Throne equal to Kamil's.
'That monster will surely come.'
He called him a whelp, but considering how he'd made the princess eat dirt repeatedly, he must be a son enjoying no small favor from Bacchus.
So he would definitely come.
The Heavenly Tile, Bacchus's proud sword in Banten.
The Knight of Light, Arandal.
Passing the northern foothills of the Dragon Mountains, they had now traversed nearly half of the Urk Plains.
The group that had set out with just Luna and her sister Misha, plus Saladin, had grown by three—no, eight including the prisoners.
Of course, it was still a modest company, but from Luna's mother, still confined in the box(?), to White Wing Rampang and Karma.
Not one was unimportant.
Rescuing Luna's mother had been the original plan, but encountering Karma and Rampang was an unexpected stroke of luck.
Karma's injuries took priority for recovery, but Rampang would undoubtedly prove a huge asset moving forward.
'For now, when we head to the archipelago... ah, even to the Osiris Kingdom. That place is gripped by the turbid flow, so if things go south...'
As Jerome pondered how to utilize(?) Rampang, the man noticed his gaze and shot him a side-eye with bulging eyes.
"...Why are you staring like that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your eyes just looked awfully impure."
"I'm innocent."
"Tch, still feels fishy..."
True to a Beast Master, his animalistic senses were razor-sharp.
As Rampang pressed him further, Saladin approached with his usual grumbling, as always.
"Damn it. When we get back this time, don't touch me for a while. And reinforce all my poison, got it."
"Of course."
This time, Jerome could fully accommodate Saladin's complaints.
He'd expected Rampang to succeed, but Saladin and Misha had clearly worried—a lot.
Yet they'd proven those worries unfounded by handling it brilliantly.
Word was, they'd even neatly recycled(?) the remaining monsters.
In some ways, it rivaled Rampang's feats.
'Gotta open the family vault again.'
The costs piled up enormously each time he dragged them along, but he didn't regret it.
Minus that grumbling mouth, Saladin always exceeded expectations.
"Hmm, how much farther to Banten...?!"
As the conversation shifted and Rampang naturally asked about Banten's location, his expression suddenly hardened as he looked north.
"...Jerome, run. As fast as you can."
"Huh? Rampang, what's wrong all of a sudden?"
Saladin blinked in confusion at Rampang's abrupt change, but soon grasped the situation.
North.
The path they'd come from.
Rumble rumble rumble!
A massive aura began distorting the air currents.
An energy that didn't yield an inch to his father, Bacchus von Carviot, the Heavenly Tile called Heaven's Shield.
The warhorses seized from the 7-Star Knight Order slowed under the crushing pressure of that monstrous aura.
To instill terror in beasts from that distance with aura alone.
The situation's answer was clear.
Brilliance himself, Duke Kamil, had personally joined the pursuit.
"Misha, Miron! Pick up the pace! Luna too!"
If Duke Kamil pursued alone, they had Rampang—no reason to avoid clash.
But a figure like Kamil wouldn't move solo.
'Either the 2-Star or 4-Star Knight Order. He brought at least one.'
Probably the 4-Star. Their captain, Saint, was Kamil's loyal hound.
Even if Rampang held off Kamil, facing a Star Knight Order with their current forces was suicide.
A bit farther, and they'd enter the southern Urk Plains.
Banten territory from there, but no room for complacency.
Kamil's personal involvement signaled willingness to ignite diplomatic friction just to kill him.
'Damn, too complacent!'
He'd anticipated pursuers, hence ambushing Hatan and Brontes via Dwain.
That should handle any chasers.
But who could've guessed—not just the 7-Star, but Kamil himself?
Without Rampang, it'd be certain death.
'No, wait. Without a powerhouse like Rampang, Kamil might not have chased personally.'
'No. If I hadn't tasked Rampang and Saladin...!'
His mind fogged, thoughts sluggish like mist in his brain.
'What to do? What to do? What to do?'
No external aid like Hatan or Brontes this time.
Unlike the prior large force, now just two dire wolves borrowed for prisoners.
As inescapable crisis tightened around his throat, his chest constricted.
Smack!
"...!!"
The sudden pain on his back amid frantic riding furrowed his brow.
Rampang's bear-paw hand rested there.
"Snap out of it. It's not over yet."
Rampang's face was eerily calm.
"When fleeing Vera's eyes with Master, do you think crises like this never happened? We muddled through every time. So breathe deep. Calm your mind. We've got about 20 minutes before they catch up."
"...!!"
Aside from the stinging back, his foggy mind began clearing.
Right. Even without Rampang's words, as Stigma Mercenary leader, he'd faced countless such crises.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Finally, surroundings came into focus.
Having reached the south, Banten's scouts surely witnessed this.
Father wouldn't be unaware. He'd dispatch reinforcements without delay.
'It's a race against time.'
Survive until Banten's aid arrived—or die.
Though at this rate, he might croak in the plains' heart within the hour.
Rustle!
He checked his bosom—no formation stones left.
Never imagined such a pathetic pinch; bitterly regretted not restocking.
"Hmm... Shall I lend a hand?"
Then, Karma, quietly leaning behind Rampang, spoke.
"Pardon?"
"Shift direction a bit more east. There's a path to survival there."
"...?"
What was this now?
But Karma shut his mouth after the cryptic words, offering no more explanation.
Only Rampang turned without question.
"The Law of Causality limits his words. Don't worry, change course!"
"Law of Causality? What the hell does that mean?!"
Saladin voiced Jerome's exact curiosity.
He felt the same. Even as Azure Wing, hard to believe worldly laws bound one man.
"...Anyway, we're going!"
Hesitation was brief. Karma wasn't one for nonsense.
"All fled?"
They could've extended the chase by bolting straight, but turning shortened it further.
Thus, he faced that terrifying figure sooner.
"We meet again like this, Your Excellency. I didn't expect a reunion quite so soon."
"Oh? I differ. I knew we'd reunite quickly. Though I expected it to be with that head on your shoulders, not chatting with you alive."
Duke Kamil cheerily rattled off chilling words.
"I'll ask. What happened to Staat and the 7-Star Knight Order?"
"No idea. I just ran into bandits; never saw the 7-Star."
"Word games at this juncture?"
Shing!
Kamil drew his longsword wordlessly, done questioning.
"Aren't you curious?"
"No need to ask you. I'll query your friends behind."
"They might end their lives before Your Excellency arrives."
"Fair enough. That woman there doesn't seem ordinary. I can guess why the 7-Star vanished."
'As expected.'
Kamil's pursuit stemmed from Rampang.
He'd sensed something from the lab's destruction, but Jerome wouldn't blame him.
'My decision.'
He couldn't shift responsibility for his choices.
Evidently, Kamil pegged Rampang as the 7-Star's annihilator.
Naturally—even Kamil wouldn't imagine mountain monsters ambushing a knight order to wipe it out.
Grip!
Fist clenched in gauntlet.
'Damn, recovery's incomplete.'
He'd downed Staat unscathed, but no fatigue against such a foe? Impossible.
'Don't know how many I can take down, but no choice but to try.'
Damn.
Karma, you called this the path?
'Azure Wing, Great Sage—thought it ironclad.'
Senile in crises, like any doddering elder.
Tension thick as bowstrings.
"Whew, made it just in time."
A clear, hearty voice rang from the rear.
"That's enough, Your Excellency."
A short man shouldered a massive shield.
Father's pride, Banten's sword.
The Knight of Light, Arandal.
'...I see it now, the path to survival.'
Karma, I believed in you!