Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Fatal Encounter
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The net tightly constricted around his arm.
As an immense pressure surged in, Booker let out a scream.
“Uwaaaah!”
Desperate to escape the aura’s grip, he poured all his mana into his arm.
Silver aura bloomed from his arm.
Though he was a defensive-type Sword Expert, it was utterly useless.
The net shattered his aura barrier and dug into his flesh.
Then his bones snapped into pieces.
“Uwaaaah!”
“Who does a rootless bastard like you think you are, interfering in my business?”
Booker slowly sank to his knees and asked,
“You... who are you? How do you know about us?”
“Take a good look at who you’ve messed with.”
Sadi swept his robe aside, revealing a belt engraved with a peculiar emblem.
“That emblem...”
It was the emblem symbolizing Altros’s personal guard, along with a golden band.
“Did you think His Majesty wouldn’t predict something like this?”
“Damn it!”
Suddenly, Ingenium’s words came to mind.
-Be careful! I have a bad feeling.
He hadn’t taken them lightly.
It was just that, with his defensive temperament, he was confident he could escape even if the Central Guard Knights came charging in.
But he hadn’t expected Altros’s personal guard to be mobilized for something like this.
On top of that, they knew exactly who he was.
To complete the mission—not to mention save the guild—he had to kill this guy no matter what.
“The only way I can...”
Poisonous intent filled Booker’s eyes.
As if he’d made up his mind, his eyes flashed, and with his free hand, he drew a dagger and unhesitatingly severed his aura-suppressed arm.
“What kind of mad dog is this!”
“Ugh...”
Booker gritted his teeth and plunged the dagger into Sadi’s chest.
Stab-.
“Keuk! How dare you...”
Sadi’s eyes bulged as he grabbed Booker’s head.
Black aura flowed down from his hand, unfurling into a net over Booker’s head.
“Uwaaaah!”
Blood poured from Booker’s suppressed head—from his eyes, nose, and ears.
But having resolved to die, he burned with even greater ferocity to achieve his goal.
“No matter what...”
His bloodshot eyes, tangled with venom and killing intent, were terrifying.
He gripped the dagger embedded in Sadi’s chest and yanked it downward with all his might.
“Uwaaak!”
Sadi screamed and poured all his strength into the hand clutching Booker’s skull.
Boom-!
Booker’s head exploded.
Blood and flesh sprayed everywhere, splattering Sadi’s face as well.
“Damn bastard...”
Sadi grimaced, staring at his split-open chest.
He glared venomously at Booker’s headless torso.
“To think I’d lose to trash like you...”
Sadi collapsed with a thud.
He reached toward the crows circling in the sky, hunting for prey.
A strand of black aura shot from his fingertip like a beam of light, striking a crow.
The crow flashed brilliantly for a moment before flying straight toward the capital.
At the same time, Sadi withered like a mummy, crumbling into a handful of ash and vanishing.
***
“Why are they taking so long?”
“The boss didn’t get taken out, did he?”
“Don’t talk nonsense! The boss could survive even in hell.”
Thud!
Brady, who had been running fine, tumbled forward.
Those deep in serious conversation halted and checked on him.
“Ugh...”
“Huff, huff, huff.”
Brady exhaled ragged breaths as if his heart would burst.
They had run nonstop for a while, so even they were winded—how much worse for the young master of a marquis house, raised in luxury?
“Let’s rest a bit before moving.”
They formed a circle around Brady, standing guard in all directions as they caught their breath.
Once the burning in his throat subsided, Brady reflected on what had just happened.
Why had the emperor tried to kill him?
His own nephew, no less?
No matter how he thought about it, it made no sense.
As questions piled up on Brady’s face, one of the men approached.
“Are you feeling better now, young master?”
Brady eyed him warily and asked,
“Who are you people? Why did you save me?”
“We can’t reveal our identities. We were ordered to escort you safely to the marquis house.”
“That means... you knew this would happen to me?”
Brady’s eyes shook violently.
The man looked puzzled by his reaction.
“You don’t know anything?”
“What the hell happened that His Majesty would try to kill me?”
“Hmm...”
The man realized Brady was unaware that Marquis Valtre had declared war on the emperor.
For the mission’s success, he needed Brady’s cooperation, so he decided to explain the situation.
“A few days ago, Marquis Valtre declared war on the emperor.”
“W-what...?”
Brady stared blankly like a man in shock.
‘Why would Father...?’
He knew his father harbored great ambitions.
But he always knew priorities clearly and handled things wisely.
Why would such a man suddenly make such a reckless decision?
This wouldn’t have happened out of nowhere.
The emperor must have had some inkling.
‘In that case...!’
He realized he hadn’t come as a guest at the emperor’s invitation—he’d been taken hostage.
“The road ahead is long. Steel yourself.”
“...I will.”
Brady stood with a resolute expression.
“I’ll ask Father directly. Why he made such a reckless choice.”
***
The ship from the Bentar Merchant Group carrying Arthur docked at the eastern coast of Shangrni Territory.
Arthur disembarked immediately, leading the Assault Squad straight toward Norshey Territory.
Though just over a hundred strong, the sight of the Britannica stirring up sandstorms as they charged was awe-inspiring.
It felt like an entire knight order on the move—brimming with valor and overwhelming power.
As if no obstacle could stop them.
People trembled in fear as the Britannica passed, imprinting their riders as objects of terror.
But upon seeing the gold dragon emblem on their banners, they recognized the Julius Count House.
“What the hell are those?”
“They’re monsters called Britannica—apparently a knight order uses them like horses.”
“But they’re at war with the emperor. What brings them here?”
“That direction leads straight to Norshey Territory...!”
The people clamped their mouths shut, realizing something.
Moments later.
As Arthur’s group entered Norshey Territory, Drakan and the knights awaited them.
The red armor and black spear stood out sharply.
Drakan slammed his black spear into the ground and bowed his head.
“You’ve arrived safely.”
“We move immediately.”
Arthur didn’t slow Britannica’s pace, charging straight to where the troops were stationed.
After about thirty minutes.
The Julius Count banner appeared alongside the Death Knight Order in red plate armor.
Their perfectly aligned ranks, without a hint of disorder, exuded unyielding strength.
Seeing them filled Arthur with reassurance.
Skevin hurried over as Arthur and the Assault Squad returned.
Arthur dismounted and asked before Skevin could even greet him.
“Any reaction from the enemy?”
“They’re quiet.”
“Strange. They should’ve figured out our plan by now.”
“I’ve sent out scouts.”
“When will they return?”
“They’re due back any moment.”
“Captain!”
Just as Skevin finished speaking, a knight rushed up.
“The scouts are back!”
“...!”
Arthur moved with Skevin to the scouts’ position.
The scouts, bent over and panting, straightened up at the sound of approaching footsteps.
As Arthur stood before them, the squad leader stepped forward urgently and reported.
“The current forces of the Mandora Marquis House...”
Once the report ended, Skevin’s face twisted.
“The enemy’s strength is more than double what we expected.”
“They’ve mobilized their full forces. They intend to crush us before Blizan’s troops join.”
“We’ll fortify our defenses and hold as best we can.”
“When will Blizan arrive?”
“Earliest is tomorrow morning.”
“The Mandora Marquis has a top-tier powerhouse named Trevic. He’s on another level from anyone we’ve faced.”
Arthur paused in thought, then spoke firmly as if resolved.
“We proceed as planned. Send scouts to Blizan—tell them to arrive before dawn.”
Skevin’s face hardened.
He’d anticipated some discrepancy from projections.
But this gap was too wide to blame on faulty intel.
Fighting head-on with their current forces was sheer recklessness.
Yet retreating now...
It would demoralize the knights and risk losing Norshey Territory.
The enemy might not stop there, pushing all the way to Shangrni.
The damage would be unimaginable.
Possibly irreparable.
In the worst case, it could lead to total defeat in the war.
Knowing that, Arthur had chosen to fight.
“We’ll prepare.”
Skevin bowed and gathered the squad leaders.
While he conferred with them, Arthur spoke to Aria, who had appeared with Helot.
“Let’s talk alone.”
Arthur walked off with Aria.
They reached a hill some distance from the knight order.
Arthur gazed toward the Mandora Marquis House’s territory and spoke gravely.
“Battle will start soon.”
“I’ll do my utmost to support you, my lord.”
“No need. I want you to support the person I assign you to.”
Aria shook her head.
“I came to aid you, my lord.”
“That’s how you help me.”
“...?”
Arthur met Aria’s eyes and continued.
“No matter how strong I am, we can’t win this battle—or the war against the emperor—without them. So support them to keep them from breaking.”
“But...”
“If you won’t follow my orders, go back to the kingdom.”
“Hmm...”
Faced with Arthur’s firm stance, Aria had no choice.
“Who shall I support?”
“Skevin and Drakan. If those two fall, the knight order shakes. Our morale plummets, and the enemy won’t miss it.”
“Understood.”
As Aria bowed her head, Arthur added one more thing.
“Don’t die.”
“...!”
Aria’s eyes flashed.
“Remember there are people who believe in you and follow you. Fear will vanish then.”
Arthur turned his gaze back to the Mandora Marquis House’s territory.
Aria fell into thought.
‘Fear, huh...’
This would be her first time on the battlefield.
Some believed a saintess chosen by god couldn’t die.
But a saintess was human, just like anyone else.
Not immortal.
She couldn’t become immortal herself, but with her holy power, she could make others seem so.
‘As long as I’m by his side, my lord will become an immortal existence.’
Her face hardened with resolve.
That was when it happened.
“They’ve appeared.”
Aria turned to where Arthur looked.
The Mandora Marquis House’s banner crested the ridgeline.
Then the Espagna Knight Order slowly revealed itself.
Their silver armor reflected the blazing sun, gleaming radiantly.
It was like another sun had descended to earth.
The Espagna Knight Order stretched endlessly across the ridgeline, advancing slowly.
The endless waves of troops seemed poised to fill the vast plain.
Bwoooong-!
A trumpet blared from their camp.
It was time for her to step up.
Arthur turned toward the knight order, glancing at the sky.
It was perfectly clear, without a single cloud.
A shame for it to be stained with blood.
Thinking of the vast plain dyed red furrowed his brow.
Once more, he would walk the path of blood.
Fate, perhaps.
But unlike on Earth, in this world, he would forge his own destiny.
“I’ll make it happen.”
Resolve settled on Arthur’s face.
Aria followed him, gazing at the sky and praying fervently to Lady Karen.
‘Protect him.’