Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Rush to Grada
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***
“Kan! Hurry!”
Arthur shoved everything aside and raced toward Grada Castle.
He had learned through Rumakas’s voice echoing in his mind.
The necklace’s reaction was signaling a crisis at Grada Castle.
In the end, his worst fears had come true.
“Valtre, you bastard…….”
Anger twisted Arthur’s face into a savage grimace.
He had known Valtre was using him to pressure the emperor.
He had also known that once his usefulness ran out, Valtre would try to dispose of him.
But he hadn’t expected Valtre to make his move like this before even pressuring the emperor.
‘I’ll never forgive you!’
Arthur bit down hard on his lower lip.
They said a grand archmage-level figure was leading a mage corps in an assault.
Crisis was undeniable.
But the underground had the Dragon Tongue barrier, and he trusted Parthia to hold them off until he arrived.
Certain it wouldn’t fall, he quickly shook off his anxiety.
Far off, the sun was setting behind the mountain ridge.
By now, the Death Knight Order should have reached Norshey Castle.
Before leaving base, he had halted all plans and ordered a full retreat to Norshey Castle.
With Valtre’s betrayal, fighting Marquis Mandora would be foolish.
“Once I resolve this, you’re the first one I’ll kill.”
Murderous intent poured from Arthur.
The thicker it grew, the harder Kan pushed off the ground.
***
“They’ve vanished!”
“What?”
Trevik gave Danekt a puzzled look at the report.
Before halting combat and turning back, the enemies’ faces had burned with rage.
Given their intense reaction to their comrade’s death, he was certain they’d charge.
It was experience from countless battlefields, and that experience had never failed him.
Yet they had vanished?
“Unbelievable.”
Count Huan, beside him, cocked his head at the unexpected turn.
“Why retreat all of a sudden?”
Gutanos narrowed his eyes at the ridge where the enemy main force had been.
“I’ll send scouts.”
Huan nodded, and Gutanos headed to the mage corps.
Moments later.
The mage corps scouts moved to where the Julius Count Family’s camp had been, followed by Danekt with the archers.
The scouts reached the enemy position and signaled. Confirming it, Danekt hurried back to report to Trevik and Huan.
“They really retreated.”
“Strange.”
Trevik scowled, while Huan silently stroked his chin in thought.
Danekt ordered the scouts to scour the area thoroughly.
If it was a ploy, they needed to detect and counter it fast.
But nothing turned up.
Trevik, still baffled, asked Danekt.
“What could force a retreat?”
Danekt had considered it too.
One possibility: Arthur Julius wounded.
Unbelievable that he’d taken Trevik’s ultimate, strongest second form head-on unscathed.
If he’d suffered a life-threatening injury……
Danekt ventured cautiously.
“What if something’s wrong with Arthur Julius’s condition?”
“I thought of that. But he wasn’t badly hurt. I’m certain.”
“Then what’s the reason?”
Doubt filled Danekt’s face.
“Send someone to Grada Territory.”
“There?”
“If an empty territory under attack, what would you do?”
Danekt answered without hesitation.
“Depends on the operation, but usually I’d press on.”
“That assumes the territory won’t fall to attack. But if news comes it’s in peril? And family you must protect is there.”
“Then what? Return to the marquisate and defend from crisis……!”
Danekt’s eyes flashed.
If Grada Castle was under attack, explaining the retreat……
Logical, but who could attack Grada now?
Imperial forces couldn’t move due to monster invasion. Tano marquis’s troops couldn’t cross the border.
Sahaza Duke wouldn’t move without the emperor.
Left: Natarsian Grand Duke and Burman Duke.
But they’d long ignored imperial matters.
They wouldn’t act unless Oscar Empire faced annihilation by Nanshar Empire.
So who attacked Julius Count Family?
As Danekt’s gaze deepened.
Huan asked Trevik.
“Same thought, but who do you suspect, Count?”
“No one yet.”
“Think broader. Someone very likely will pop up.”
“Broader…… Nanshar Empire?”
Huan shook his head.
“Or monsters invading like Christen capital?”
“No. Thinking now, your personality might rule out the unexpected.”
“My personality…….”
Trevik set aside his temperament, considering all possibilities.
As he said, one emerged.
“No way? He wouldn’t attack allies. Knows it only hurts him.”
“What if he never planned to go with the novice? Just use and discard or eliminate?”
“……!”
“No troop loss, but chance to seize hostages and pressure them.”
“Devious bastard. Blood tells.”
Trevik trembled in fury.
Huan smirked as if obvious.
“You’re too rigid. People are animals driven by self-interest.”
“I don’t need that. Knights serve lord loyally, die honorably.”
Trevik turned, adding to Danekt.
“Engrave what I said in your heart.”
“Yes!”
Danekt bowed respectfully and followed.
Huan eyed the departing pair pitifully, muttering.
“That’s why knights die young.”
***
“Push harder.”
Hiiing-!
Kan neighed powerfully and charged.
As if boasting his prowess.
Crossing dense thickets, he was a runaway locomotive.
He smashed obstacles ahead, leaped boulders.
Never detoured.
To faithfully obey Arthur’s order: to Grada Castle fastest.
Like a knight upholding chivalry as life, Kan held Arthur’s commands as sacred.
But even mighty stamina couldn’t sustain full sprint nonstop for hours.
Body burned like fire, muscles swelled near bursting.
Heartbeat thundered through him.
Arthur knew Kan neared physical limits but couldn’t stop.
Someone to protect at Grada Castle.
Medlin.
And Aild.
He’d promised Wesley.
Not just revenge, but to protect family.
Will and promise drove him madly now.
“Absolutely not!”
Arthur’s eyes glowed gold, golden aura surging thickly.
Sword Master’s intense presence exploded.
Nearby lifeforms fled in shock.
Only pitch darkness welcomed Arthur and Kan.
Kan streaked like lightning, leaving afterimages.
Entering Grada Territory, a group appeared ahead.
Blyzan and his men.
***
“Faster!”
Blyzan kept urging Britannica.
Leaving Tuherm Castle to rejoin base, wolf howls echoed.
A gray Giant Wolf raced arrow-fast.
Blyzan instantly recognized Linda’s ‘Shasha’, sensing ill omen.
As expected, a small box hung from its neck, paper inside.
Message simple.
[Enemy raid. Urgent.]
Blyzan handed base to Bukas, led Assault Squad to Grada Castle.
Rode straight ahead, no rest.
“Castle soon!”
At his words, they gripped weapons, exuding menace.
Blyzan clenched his knuckle-dusters.
‘How dare they here! Not one survives.’
He unleashed pent-up killing intent.
“Urk!”
Alteon’s face twisted behind.
Blyzan’s aura thicker than assaulting Tuherm Castle. Stood hair on end from afar.
Gaining power was good, but worry he’d become a murder ghost.
‘Boss…….’
As Alteon’s face darkened.
“……!”
Rear: chilling intense presence approached rapidly.
Blyzan felt it, halted Britannica, turned.
Men wheeled, staring.
Dark night hid identity, but massive something charged.
“That Britannica?”
“Looks like black mare……!”
Black mare mention: eyes widened.
Impossible.
From Norshey Territory here, even on Britannica took week.
How Grada news delivered?
Not Arthur.
Ally or foe……
Strong foe!
Even with awakened power, couldn’t guarantee victory.
‘What the hell?’
Blyzan swallowed, gripped knuckles tight.
Moments later.
Huge Britannica burst through darkness, snorting fiercely.
Black-armored Arthur visible.
“L-Lord!”
Blyzan’s eyes bulged.
Alteon and Assault Squad couldn’t hide joy.
“It’s the Count!”
Joy brief: even distant, his overwhelming presence felt.
Overpowered, they soon drew mana, matching it.
Blood boiled hot.
Blyzan wheeled toward Grada Castle, shouting.
“Charge!”
***
Boom! Boom!
Pheron’s men bombarded the Dragon Tongue-sealed door with attack spells.
No effect.
“Damn it!”
Mana depleted, unable to continue, Pheron stepped forward silently watching.
“All fall back.”
They retreated, Pheron approached door.
Examined Dragon Tongue by dragon emblem.
Copied on arrival, decoded with all knowledge.
Figured content.
“Golden glory slumbering: likely past family heads’ sarcophagi. Only permitted enter…….”
Last line stumped.
Thought Dragon Tongue, but unseen script. Closer: etched with awl-like tool, not magic.
No traps despite barrage, so meaningless.
“Probably nothing.”
Pheron sneered, stepped back.
Raised right hand shoulder-high, chanted runes.
Zzzzt-.
Lightning sparked palm.
“Dragon Tongue barrier no big deal.”
Pheron confidently shaped lightning into orb.
All held breath watching.
Thud thud-.
Footsteps descending stairs.
Pheron and mages focused there.
“I’ll translate the last line.”
“……!”
Pheron’s eyes flashed.
Mana-exhausted men stared blankly.
Figure from darkness illuminated by wall torches gradually.
“Violators die without fail.”
Words fell: massive golden Dragon image filled space.
Roared fury, breathed.
Knew illusion magic, but too real: screamed.
“Argh!”
“Aaah!”
Panic: Arthur fully revealed under torch.
Black armor, dragon-mouth helm!
Presence alone tensed Pheron.
Pheron knew instinctively.
“Arthur Julius!”