Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: The Dark Squad Moves
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"If you don't like it?"
Arthur's bold response made Cassandra's eyes turn icy cold.
In that instant, an overwhelming pressure unlike anything Arthur had ever felt came crashing down on him.
"Urk!"
It felt as though a black hole had opened beneath his feet, sucking him straight into the earth.
But knowing it was Cassandra's doing, he refused to yield.
He gritted his teeth, determined to endure.
Seeing this, the corners of Cassandra's lips curled up ever so slightly.
"Impressive. A successor to Teheran needs that kind of spirit, but you've picked the wrong opponent."
The moment Cassandra finished speaking, Arthur's knees slammed into the ground as if driven by nails.
Then, entirely against his will, his head bowed low before her.
"That's the proper way to treat me! Hahaha!"
Cassandra burst into booming laughter.
'What the hell just happened?'
Arthur stared blankly, unable to comprehend his own actions.
Cassandra's next words cleared up his confusion.
"My great authority cannot be defied by anyone except Lady Karen."
The immense pressure made Arthur feel like every bone in his body was shattering, his entire form on the verge of exploding.
From their brief exchanges, Cassandra had realized Arthur wasn't the type to worship or blindly obey her.
Deciding to teach him a lesson, she applied a bit of pressure.
She had expected him to scream for mercy right away, but he held out far better than anticipated.
And he didn't even beg for his life.
The more she watched, the more intriguing he became.
She looked forward to seeing how much more entertainment he could provide.
"Beg me to spare you."
"Ugh......"
"Just say those words, and I'll release you from the pain."
"You damn...... bastard......"
Arthur spat the words through clenched teeth, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Slowly, his head began to lift from the ground.
"......!"
Cassandra's eyes flashed.
Arthur's body trembled violently as he forced his head up, just enough to meet her gaze.
"Listen well...... I won't...... submit to anyone."
His eyes were turning bloodshot red—a sign that the tyrant's power was on the verge of activating.
What she had intended as a simple show of dominance was turning into a storm.
She had no desire to cause trouble while her own seal remained unbroken.
"Tch."
Cassandra shook her head and released the pressure.
"Hah......"
Arthur let out a sigh laced with exhaustion as his head drooped.
Then he passed out cold.
Cassandra gazed at him, her face a mix of irritation and surprise.
'Has anyone ever resisted my power before?'
Not a single soul.
What a truly fascinating guy.
She was eager to see what events would unfold if they stuck together.
It promised to be even more thrilling than with Teheran.
And his unbreakable will, refusing to submit even to her—the king of the spirit kings—was remarkable.
Could this guy actually slay the Demon King?
'For that to happen...... Huh?'
Cassandra realized she had been pondering ways to join forces with Arthur.
"I'm losing it! Hahaha!"
She slapped her forehead with her hand and laughed heartily.
The chamber filled with the sound of her booming laughter.
Meanwhile, Nigras and Persia kept their heads bowed, silently awaiting her call.
Unlike Arthur, who had charged at her in defiance, to them, 'Cassandra' was a being to revere second only to a god.
Thus, they dared not speak unless addressed.
They simply waited for her summons.
But Cassandra, more drawn to Arthur than to her own spirits, paid them no mind at all.
Amused by her own absurdity, she kept on laughing.
"You're falling for a mere human? Kuhahaha!"
***
"Ungh......"
Arthur grimaced as he opened his eyes.
The cave ceiling came into view.
Confirming he was still in the lair, he struggled to sit up.
His joints throbbed as if he'd been beaten to a pulp.
'That bastard Cassandra......'
Arthur's face twisted as he glanced at the Emperor Sword.
The blade stood proud as ever, radiating a fierce aura.
For a split second, the dragon's eye on the sword gleamed before fading away.
It was likely reacting to his awakening—and no doubt mocking him.
Arthur stood and circulated his mana to heal his body.
Without a backward glance, he left the place behind.
A short while later.
Arthur climbed up from the cliff.
Khan approached from beside the barrier, nuzzling his head against him in greeting.
It was so dark around him that he had no idea how long he'd been unconscious.
He could picture Skevin worrying when he didn't return.
Arthur swiftly mounted Khan and headed for the castle.
As he sliced through the dense forest, he scanned his surroundings carefully.
The Namsar Empire's extermination squad was surely lurking somewhere in the territory.
He had to find and eliminate them before they made a move—to minimize any damage.
"Hmm......"
He sensed no signs of life until he exited the western mountains.
Like the one he'd encountered at the cliff, these assassins seemed specialized in stealth.
And with the Awakening Agent boosting them, they exuded Sword Master-level presence.
He wondered how many there were and if they'd attacked Grada Castle while he was out cold.
With that in mind, he called out to Parsia.
Her calm voice echoed in his ear.
-Did you call for me?
"You know Artishan's gang has entered the territory, right?"
-Yes.
"Track their positions and tell me."
-As I mentioned before, I can't provide direct assistance unless you're my contractor.
"Then let's make a contract."
-I am bound as the Alpha Family's guardian spirit, so I cannot form a contract with you, Lord Arthur. You would need to contract with Lady Elena first, but you're not at that stage yet.
"So many restrictions."
Arthur's face filled with dissatisfaction.
He decided to return to the castle and assign scouting to Keda.
As he emerged from the forest, Grada Castle appeared under the moonlight.
Sentries were posted along the walls, and the quiet suggested no attacks had come.
'Good.'
Arthur sighed in relief and tugged Khan's mane to pick up speed.
Upon hearing of his return, Skevin and Helm appeared in the office.
"Your Majesty, what happened?"
"Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
Even with Arthur back, their faces remained tense with concern.
"I went to the western cliff."
Arthur replied calmly and took a seat.
He then gestured for them to sit across from him.
They calmed their excitement and sat.
Skevin eyed him questioningly.
"Really, nothing happened?"
"There are Namsar agents in the territory."
"......!"
Skevin's face hardened.
"I was patrolling the barrier when I caught one. So......"
Hearing it was specialized in stealth and wielded Sword Master-level power, both men's expressions grew grave.
Helm, who had been listening silently, spoke heavily.
"Do you have any guesses as to why Artishan sent them here?"
"Not yet."
Arthur held back his suspicions about the Emperor Sword.
It could just sow confusion, and since it was mere speculation, he needed more confirmation.
"For now, we should summon Keda and discuss."
"I was planning to assign him scouting duty anyway."
"I'll fetch him."
Helm hurried out of the office.
Now alone with Arthur, Skevin asked cautiously.
"Were you perhaps at Lord Rumakas's lair?"
Arthur pondered for a moment.
Only Millerph knew about the Emperor Sword in the lair for now.
The sword that could annihilate the Demon King.
But it required the sword's approval, which Cassandra had denied.
It was safe inside the lair, but if word got out, it could lead to unforeseen problems.
Thus, he decided to keep its existence secret until he claimed it.
However, there was no need to hide it from Skevin, the kingdom's guardian deity.
He would continue concealing Cassandra's presence, though.
If it became known that the king of spirit kings dwelt within the sword, it would surely bring headaches.
Arthur met Skevin's eyes and spoke quietly.
"The Emperor Sword is there."
"......!"
Skevin's eyes widened enormously for a moment.
Arthur explained why he had kept it from him.
"So don't feel slighted."
"Not at all. I'm grateful you trusted me enough to tell me. That explains your desire to learn swordsmanship—for the Emperor Sword."
"Yes."
"Understood. I'll devise sword techniques suited to it."
"Thanks."
Arthur asked Skevin about the Namsar Empire's military strength.
Skevin shared everything he knew.
Their numbers were comparable to the Oscar Empire's, but in terms of overall power, Oscar held a slight edge—about one and a half times stronger.
Unknown variables like the size of Namsar's extermination squad made it impossible to call it a clear advantage.
If they had a full knight order like the one he'd encountered today......
Even the Oscar Empire's current forces would struggle, especially split into three as they were.
If Artishan targeted any one faction, collapse was only a matter of time.
It would be ideal if they struck Ruan Emperor or Marquis Valtre first, but ironically, they seemed to have him as their target.
'Why?'
As Arthur's gaze deepened.
Helm returned with Keda.
Keda's heart had sunk upon hearing from Helm about the Namsar extermination squad.
Artishan's personality tolerated no failure.
Thus, this squad was bound to be stronger than the last.
And there was only one such force.
Keda placed a fist over his heart and bowed crisply to Arthur.
"You've heard the rough details from Sir Helm."
"Yes."
"I'm assigning you scouting duty. Find their positions as quickly as possible and report back."
"Understood."
Keda bowed deeply before continuing.
"If Your Majesty describes the one you dispatched, I might identify their affiliation."
"Similar attire to before. The difference was advanced stealth skills, and after taking an Awakening Agent, he emitted Sword Master-level aura."
"Hmm."
That information alone wasn't enough to pinpoint them.
'If they're his subordinates......'
Keda's face grew more solemn as he asked.
"Did you notice anything distinctive?"
"Distinctive......"
Arthur recalled facing the assassin.
The man's utter confidence despite knowing Arthur was a Sword Master.
And when attacked with the Sig Sauer, instead of dodging, he charged while drawing his sword......!
Suddenly, he remembered the black aura emanating from him.
"Black aura poured out. Even when the magic bullet hit his chest, the black aura acted like 'aura armor' to block it."
"Black aura......"
"And he said something like, 'Darkness that devours light.'"
"Damn it!"
Keda's face twisted.
With a deeply grave expression, he said.
"They're Ghost's subordinates."
"......?"
Skevin and Helm tilted their heads.
They knew most of Namsar's top fighters, but 'Ghost' was a new name.
"Who's that?"
Keda swallowed hard and looked at Skevin.
"Artishan's shadow."
"No way!"
Keda nodded heavily.
"The Dark Squad has mobilized."