Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Magic Warriors' Assault
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“Ban!”
Jackal rushed into the castle’s forge alongside Medlin.
The men who had been working there sharpened their gazes upon seeing the two.
A stranger had appeared, gripping Medlin’s hand tightly.
“Who are you?”
“Ma’am, are you alright?”
“Hey, you better let go of that hand!”
The men scowled fiercely, each grabbing something that could serve as a weapon.
Ban, who had just stepped out to the restroom, widened his eyes upon seeing Jackal and Medlin in the forge.
“The Madam is here... And you are...”
Having learned of Jackal’s existence through Arthur, Ban felt an ominous premonition.
And sure enough.
Jackal said with a hardened expression.
“The enemy has appeared.”
“Damn it!”
Ban twisted his face and ordered the men.
“Inform the guard unit and vigilante corps of this. Have everyone inside the castle evacuate to the underground.”
“Yes, sir!”
The men rushed out in a group.
Ban turned his gaze to Medlin.
“Are you alright?”
Medlin nodded and asked in return.
“Who on earth has invaded? It can’t be the Emperor’s Central Guardian Knights, can it?”
Her face was filled with worry.
If the Emperor had mobilized them, it would be hopeless.
Facing them with just the guard unit and vigilante corps would be suicide.
Their lives must not be wasted in vain.
“Jackal.”
Jackal met her eyes and only then realized he was still holding her hand. He quickly released it and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize...”
“Can you confirm who the enemy is and how many there are?”
“My duty is to protect you, Madam. The Count has prepared a plan for times like this, so we just follow it. The rest will be handled by the guard unit.”
“I know evacuating before they breach is the right call, but as the Countess, shouldn’t I grasp who the enemy is and their numbers? That way, if an unexpected situation arises, we can respond. So follow my lead.”
“But...”
Jackal couldn’t disobey Arthur’s orders.
Yet strangely, rather than firmly refusing, a part of him wanted to grant her request.
As he felt his once-cold personality had changed so much, internal conflict arose.
Ban returned from somewhere with something in hand.
Seeing it, Jackal’s eyes widened.
“That’s...”
“You’ve seen the Lord use one before, I take it.”
What Ban had brought was none other than a gun.
He hadn’t stopped at making the chaitech for Arthur; he had continued researching firearms in his spare time.
This was the result, with shortcomings compensated by his own methods.
Mithril being hard to obtain, he had substituted steel.
As a result, it was a meter long, with a barrel circumference of about 15 cm, and a hefty weight of 5 kilos.
The muzzle was thick, and the magazine for the pellets was very large.
“With this, we can take down most foes. So don’t worry, Madam.”
“Hmm...”
Jackal seemed to ponder for a moment before looking at Medlin with resolute eyes.
“Then promise me one thing. Do not step outside until I return.”
“Got it.”
“And if the emergency horn sounds three times in succession, evacuate to the underground without looking back, as per the plan.”
Medlin grabbed Jackal’s hand tightly.
“...!”
Jackal’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment.
“You must come back.”
“Madam...”
His chest swelled with emotion.
“I’ll wait here, so come back no matter what.”
She gazed at him with sincere eyes, promising to wait.
A hot surge rising in his chest gave Jackal great strength.
Jackal nodded heavily.
“I’ll return as fast as I can.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he vanished.
***
Guard Captain Barson climbed the ramparts after hearing the sentry’s report of unidentified men appearing.
Far off, a group clad in robes rode horses charging fiercely.
“Who are they?”
Unable to discern friend from foe, the enemy unleashed a magic attack.
“Gasp!”
Barson startled and fell backward, then blew the emergency horn with all his might.
Bwoooong-!
Kanrak, who had just ascended with the vigilante squad leaders, approached the ramparts as fire arrows embedded into the parapet.
“What the—!”
As Kanrak fell on his rear in shock, head-sized fireballs slammed into the gate.
Boom! Kwang!
Kwaaaang!
They seemed intent on blasting the gate away with magic.
Kanrak peered at the enemy through a gap in the parapet.
They were clearly mages, yet swords hung at their waists beneath fluttering robes.
One with a disheveled robe even wore a leather helmet.
Seeing them jogged a memory of something he’d heard before.
There were freaks who used magic at range and swords like knights up close, called ‘magic warriors.’
Their magic or swordsmanship wasn’t exceptional, but they were said to be extremely tricky opponents.
“Damn! No wonder I had nightmares...”
He quickly scanned the territory, searching for the enemy’s main force lurking somewhere.
“Captain, who’s attacking?”
“It’s not the Emperor, right?”
His men looked at him gravely.
Kanrak, having surveyed the area, turned and ordered his right-hand man, Babsheb.
“Take your squad and evacuate everyone inside the castle.”
“Got it!”
Babsheb descended swiftly.
Kanrak drew his sword from his waist and addressed the remaining men.
“They’re perverts who use magic and swords.”
“Gasp!”
Everyone’s eyes bulged.
One said fearfully.
“How do we stop those guys?”
Guard Captain Barson said nothing, but his face brimmed with terror, no different from the rest.
Kanrak bellowed with a murderous aura.
“You bastards! Get your heads straight!”
“...!”
“We haven’t even fought yet, and you’re already whining like you’re dead! And you!”
Kanrak glared at Barson and continued.
“Act like a guard captain! Don’t stand there like an idiot—get down and prepare to fight!”
“Y-yeah.”
Barson hurried down in a fluster.
Kanrak looked forward again.
Ten in total!
But they couldn’t be alone.
He needed to find the main force watching from somewhere, but they were hidden too well.
Boom!
Boom boom!
Fireballs kept battering the gate.
He didn’t like facing them like this, but the gate wouldn’t hold much longer under the onslaught.
Kanrak gripped his sword tightly, as if resolved, and said to his men.
“The gate will fall soon.”
“What do we do?”
“There’s only one thing we can do now. Fight like mad to survive!”
“Damn! So today’s the day we die.”
“You shitty bastard! Don’t jinx it! Think like rabbits! Look, power’s surging where there was none!”
One of them huffed, flexing his bulging bicep.
“Good grief, that moronic fool.”
Everyone shook their heads and chuckled softly.
Kanrak smiled briefly before schooling his face into determination.
“There’s no blocking their magic. So close in fast and deny them casting time. Do that, and our numbers give us the edge.”
***
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each magic strike dented the gate, shaking the embedded connecting rings.
Even the sturdy gate was nearing its limit.
Mongra, leading the reconnaissance squad of magic warriors, shouted loudly.
“Now, the final blow!”
He and his squad unleashed ‘Fireballs.’
Ten fireballs hurtled with fierce momentum, smashing the gate.
Kwaaaaang-!
With a massive explosion, the gate’s connecting rings snapped.
The enormous gate toppled backward like a felled ancient tree.
Thud-.
Billowing dust spread like a sandstorm.
“A gift.”
Mongra fired his strongest attack magic, a 4th-class ‘Fire Lance.’
It vanished into the dust cloud, followed by a boom! and screams.
“Aaaah!”
“Argh!”
Mongra spurred his horse and yelled.
“Party time!”
He drew his sword, and his squad followed suit.
Eyes gleaming with killing intent, they passed through the gate.
“They’re coming!”
Barson stared tensely at the gate.
A group emerged through the thinning dust.
Barson bellowed at the top of his lungs.
“Javelins!”
The guards hurled spears over the shields set up as a defensive wall.
Mongra deployed a shield to block the incoming spears.
Then he fired Fire Arrows at the defensive wall.
Boom!
“Argh!”
The wall crumbled effortlessly.
Guards waiting behind charged out.
“Attack!”
They rushed the magic warriors, swinging swords.
But Mongra and the magic warriors didn’t flinch as swords flew from all sides.
They sneered instead.
“Pathetic insects.”
They conjured flames at their fingertips and transferred them to their blades.
The blades blazed fiercely.
This was ‘Fire Blade,’ a staple technique for magic warriors.
The attack-boosting magic allowed even Sword Actor-level users to match Sword Expert power.
Then they cast ‘Berserker’ on themselves, awakening warrior instincts.
Originally a magic with severe side effects, but centuries of research had eliminated them.
In an instant, they became berserkers, exuding bloodthirsty auras.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
They parried the guards’ swords and slew mercilessly.
“Argh!”
“Aaaah!”
“Spare me!”
The guards’ agonized screams echoed endlessly.
Kanrak and the vigilantes watched the hellish scene, their faces contorted in horror.
At this rate, the guards would be overrun soon.
They needed to fight alongside, but fear of death rooted them in place.
Thus, his men just exchanged glances.
“You worthless cowards!”
Kanrak slapped his own cheek hard and gripped his sword anew.
“Vigilantes!”
Rawr-!
He thrashed to shake off the tension.
Seeing everyone shared the sentiment, Kanrak’s lips quirked slightly before hardening resolutely.
They nodded gravely at him.
Kanrak recalled Arthur’s words when he’d been invited to join the vigilantes—words that had stirred his heart.
-The chance to become a hero.
This was that golden opportunity.
Kanrak thrust his sword toward the enemy and roared.
“For golden glory!”
Rawr-!
The vigilantes charged the magic warriors with fire in their eyes.
Mongra frowned as the cowering foes suddenly surged with killing intent.
“Would’ve let you die quietly if you’d stayed put.”
Mongra spurred his saddle, leaped, and swung at the vigilantes.
Splat-.
Flames shot like daggers.
Pew pew pew pew-.
They ignited on impact with the vigilantes’ bodies.
“Aaaah!”
“Spare me!”
“Fire! Put out the fire!”
“Argh!”
It turned into pandemonium in seconds.
Mongra and the magic warriors plunged into the chaos, slaughtering indiscriminately with狂 faces.
“Worse than bugs!”
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Kanrak’s blood boiled reverse as he watched his men die by their hands.
“You dogs!”
Kanrak charged, swinging his sword.
A magic warrior dodged lightly and seized his throat.
“You one-eyed freak, that eager to die?”
Stab-.
He thrust into Kanrak’s gut.
Kanrak’s men bulged their eyes and rushed.
“Captain!”
“Die!”
As swords flew from all sides, the surrounding magic warriors cast.
“Hold!”
The vigilantes froze like stone; the magic warriors closed in and butchered them instantly.
“You... bastards...”
Kanrak gritted his teeth and grabbed his stabber’s throat.
“You punk! I won’t die before becoming a hero!”
As the foe tried to thrust deeper, Kanrak seized the blade barehanded.
“...!”
The enemy’s face stiffened.
“I won’t die!”
As Kanrak went to snap his neck, Mongra Blinked, closing the distance instantly.
“Arrogant fool.”
Mongra swung at Kanrak’s throat.
“Damn it!”
Kanrak poured all his strength into killing the foe before him, even if it meant death.
Just before Mongra’s sword reached Kanrak’s neck!
Clang!
Someone appeared, blocking the sword and kicking Mongra in the gut.
Then he stabbed a dagger into the chest of Kanrak’s opponent.
He had resolved the dire situation in a flash—Jackal.
Kanrak looked at him reproachfully.
“Why show up now...”
“A bit late. Leave the rest to me.”
Jackal vanished.
Tension released, Kanrak collapsed.
He saw magic warriors falling to Jackal’s attacks.
“Haa...”
Sighing in relief, he glanced at the ramparts.
Then Kanrak’s eyes widened in shock.
“Gasp! T-that...”