Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Grada Castle Under Attack
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“……!”
Jackal twisted his body midair to dodge the flames.
He landed on the ground and immediately leaped back.
“I know you're here.”
Startled by the enemy's voice from behind, he charged forward.
Pharon cast Blink and instantly caught up to Jackal, binding him with Hold.
“Damn……!”
Jackal's body—and even his mouth—froze solid.
It was a 7th Class mage's spell, after all, making the Hold incredibly powerful.
Pharon clasped his hands behind his back and stepped in front of Jackal.
He met Jackal's eyes and asked,
“You really have no idea who I am, do you? Well, I suppose you wouldn't. I wasn't in this form when Yarve Count came looking for you.”
Pharon grinned and placed a hand on his face.
His features began to shift and change.
Jackal, watching the scene, felt his gaze shake violently.
‘This guy…….’
He was the servant of Valtre Marquis.
That meant he'd been hiding his power all this time, guarding Valtre at his side.
Even with the knight order always by his master's side.
It could only be seen as a check against the emperor.
What was most shocking was that he hadn't sensed the man concealing his presence at all.
He was probably far stronger than Jackal had imagined.
Even Millerph, a 6th Class mage, had struggled to hide from him—so by that measure, this man was at least 7th Class, if not higher.
He was no one Jackal could face.
‘Damn it.’
By now, Madam should have gone underground as promised.
According to Millerph, the resting place of the Julius Count Family heads was protected by defensive magic—so that was their only hope now.
But could it even stop Pharon……?
Pharon smirked as he saw despair and worry cloud Jackal's eyes.
“Looks like you're finally grasping the situation.”
He stroked Jackal's head and continued.
“You'd be wise to stay put.”
He released the Hold on Jackal, then bound his hands and feet with magic restraints.
The man wasn't a threat to him personally, but knowing he was an assassin, it was better to be cautious—Pharon had no idea what tricks he might pull.
“Now, time to satisfy my curiosity.”
“That's my line. Why did you betray us?”
“You betrayed Yarve and sided with that brat, and you dare talk of betrayal? Well, given your origins, I suppose it's inevitable—but it's still ridiculous.”
“Yarve deceived me! And I never betrayed anyone.”
“Shut up. From now on, you answer my questions. Or else…….”
Pharon pressed a finger to Jackal's heart and continued.
“It'll hurt—a lot.”
Lightning arced from his fingertip like a Lightning Bolt.
It pierced Jackal's chest and struck his heart directly.
“Gaaahhh!”
Jackal's eyes rolled back as foam bubbled from his mouth, his entire body convulsing like a leaf in the wind.
“Now that you've had a taste, I trust you'll behave.”
“Sh-shut……up.”
“Tsk tsk. I thought you were smarter than that…….”
Pharon placed a disappointed hand on Jackal's head and murmured softly.
“Disrupt.”
He cast a spell to induce psychological confusion and fragmentation.
Jackal's dazed eyes suddenly shook violently, and he screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Gaaahh! Get away! Stay back!”
Pharon burst into laughter at the sight of Jackal thrashing in terror.
“Bugs will crawl into every hole they can find on you—so savor it. It'll be a truly unforgettable experience.”
***
“You have to deliver this—no matter what. Got it?”
Shasha nodded and slipped into the hole.
Arthur had left Linda's Giant Wolf at the count's estate as a precaution for emergencies.
He'd also instructed them on how to respond if enemies attacked while he and the knights were away from the territory.
He had Millerph install Memorize spells throughout the castle. They would activate one by one upon major impacts, and once all triggered, Millerph would be notified.
If the castle gates fell, they were to head straight underground to the ‘Resting Place of the Family Heads’ without fail.
The door to the family heads' resting place could be locked from the inside, sealed by magic so no one outside could open it.
It was a dragon-tongue barrier—only a grand archmage could breach it.
There was also an emergency passage from the chamber holding Tehyran's coffin leading outside, where Shasha was to go and use messenger pigeons to contact Arthur, Skevin, and Drakan.
To ensure word of the territory's crisis reached them without fail.
With the knight order absent, the plan focused not on repelling invaders but on minimizing casualties and holding out until Arthur's rescue.
Ban wrote a message for Shasha informing her of the enemy assault, as Arthur had directed, then returned to Medlin.
Medlin and Aild were moving around with Lesanna and Andrew, treating the wounded.
“Argh!”
“Just hold on a bit longer.”
Medlin treated the injured with utmost care, her eyes rimmed red.
The other three wore equally grim expressions.
The castle had stationed five hundred guards and vigilantes in total.
Yet fewer than half had made it down here, most of them wounded.
Just this told how fiercely they'd fought the enemy.
Thinking of losing people as dear as family tore at her heart.
And what of the families who would soon hear of this? What comfort could she offer them?
Sorrow, guilt, worry, and fear washed over her.
Medlin swallowed her inexpressible anxiety and continued treating the wounded.
A short while later, they reached Canrak.
“Ugh…….”
Canrak gritted his teeth and tried to sit up, but Medlin quickly knelt and stopped him.
“Just lie still.”
“Th-thank you…….”
As Canrak lay back, Aild sprinkled potion on his wounds.
Medlin dampened a cloth with water and wiped the bloodstains from his body.
After about a minute, the light enveloping Canrak faded.
His pallid complexion was returning to normal.
Once he seemed able to speak, Medlin asked what she'd been holding back.
“Where's Jackal?”
“He…….”
Canrak couldn't bring himself to answer.
Guilt crushed him for leaving Jackal alone on the battlefield and fleeing here.
He was too ashamed—and sorry.
When Canrak only flushed without replying, Medlin turned to Barson, who had been following her.
“What happened to Jackal?”
Barson answered immediately.
“He bought us time against the enemy so we could evacuate.”
“And? What happened to him? Is he alive? Dead?”
When Medlin asked coldly, Barson bowed deeply.
“I'm sorry. We couldn't keep track of him.”
“Ha.”
Medlin staggered, and Lesanna hurried over to seat her.
“Mother!”
Aild rushed to check on her.
No physical issues—just temporary symptoms from mental stress and shock.
“You can't push yourself like this.”
“We can't abandon him to die.”
“I know. But right now, there's nothing we can do. It's heartbreaking for me too.”
As Aild's face hardened,
Boom!
Something slammed hard against the door.
The deafening impact left everyone's ears ringing; they held their breath, tensing up.
Voices came from beyond the door.
“They're all hiding in here.”
“Then drag 'em out. Fireball!”
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
Attack spells hammered the door repeatedly.
But only the thunderous impacts echoed—no damage to the barrier-sealed door.
The men outside sounded flustered and surprised.
“Damn it!”
“No marks at all!”
“Shit! It's got a barrier!”
“If we all hit it at once, we can break through.”
“Everyone, gather your mana!”
Moments later, someone shouted.
“Attack!”
Kaboom-kaboom-kaboom-kaboom!
A barrage assaulted the door, but it didn't budge.
“What the hell is this door?”
As they scowled,
Cracks spiderwebbed across the iron surface, peeling away like bark.
The dark yellow turned to gleaming gold, with a massive gold dragon emblem etched in the center.
The men's eyes widened.
“This is…….”
Dragon script was engraved alongside the dragon motif.
A barrier set by a dragon.
“Fetch the count.”
***
“We're heading out now.”
Dark reported to Millerph before boarding the Britannicker.
Before mounting his white horse, Millerph said to Roth,
“I've installed Memorize at the sanctuary and Anscent Castle, so any trouble will signal me immediately.”
“You're not fully recovered. Why not rest one more day?”
Roth glanced worriedly at the Devil Squad.
“With our lord fighting enemies on the battlefield, can you imagine how agonizing it must be for them to lie here idle?”
“I understand their feelings, but…….”
Roth nodded in understanding and decided not to press further.
“Understood. Please be careful, and take good care of the saintess.”
“No worries. With the count there, she'll be safe.”
Millerph bid farewell to Roth and the Seven Priests, then mounted his white horse.
As he prepared to follow the Devil Squad,
His staff head glowed pure white.
“……!”
Millerph's face hardened instantly; the departing Devil Squad halted.
The white light turned blood-red, forming a gold dragon silhouette.
It roared furiously, spewing breath.
The Memorize at Grada Castle had activated.
“Damn!”
Millerph glared and said to Dark,
“Trouble.”
“……!”
Dark's eyes bulged.
Millerph turned urgently to Roth.
“Find out if there's a ship heading straight to Grada Territory.”
At that moment,
Arthur was gathering his commanders to plan the operation.
“I'll join the infiltration team with Drakan.”
No one looked pleased, but none could oppose Arthur's orders.
He burned with rage over Hellot's death.
His words and actions were calmer than ever, but his aura felt like a mana bomb ready to explode at the slightest touch.
Yet it was too risky an operation—sneaking into enemy territory—so no one could endorse it outright.
As they exchanged uneasy glances, Skevin approached Arthur.
Kneeling on one knee before him with a resolute face, he declared firmly,
“I'll go.”
“Trying to stop me?”
Murderous intent poured from Arthur's eyes.
Skevin felt it constricting him.
But he stood firm to convey his will.
“Those of us from the Phoenix Knight Order, myself included, are brothers bound to Hellot by loyalty to the Julius Count Family. The knight order can't go together—so please allow at least me to accompany you.”
“Then who commands the Death Knights?”
“Sir Helm. The Death Knight Order and Del Knight Order's joint assaults aren't seamless yet. Sir Helm can resolve that.”
As Arthur looked to Helm,
His neck suddenly glowed brightly.
“My lord!”
Everyone stared wide-eyed at Arthur.
Skevin lifted his head into the radiant light, gazing up.
Arthur quickly pulled his necklace from under his breastplate.
He'd seen it glow many times before, but never this brightly.
‘What's going on?’
Was another contingency activating?
But unlike before, an ominous foreboding gripped him.
Sure enough,
The pure white turned blood-red.
“What? The light suddenly…….”
As confusion spread, Arthur's helmet hummed.
An enraged voice echoed in his mind.
-Protect what is yours!
‘What? Protect……what……!’
Arthur's eyes widened.
Then Parsia appeared before him, face grim.
-Grada Castle is under attack.