Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Munar Mountain's Ritual
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***
“Open the gates! His Majesty has arrived!”
At Millerph’s shout, the firmly shut gates of Grada Castle swung open.
Millerph cast Feather Fall and descended to the base of the walls.
The moment Arthur passed through the gates, he leaped down from Khan and asked Millerph, who had just landed.
“Artisan has made a move?”
“Yes.”
“Sahazana the Duke is currently on the defensive.”
“The commanders are to assemble in the command office. Millerph, you handle the ones arriving soon.”
“They’ve moved too?”
“Not all of them, just the Chaos Mercenaries. Things could go either way, so we’ve commissioned them to join us.”
“Understood.”
“Send Natasha to the command office as well.”
Arthur quickly entered the castle.
Millerph instructed the knights to inform each commander of Arthur’s arrival.
Then he prepared to receive the Chaos Mercenaries.
Meteor and his group rushed to the gates upon hearing Arthur had arrived.
They approached Millerph and asked.
“Only His Majesty has returned?”
“The Chaos Mercenaries are coming too.”
“So the Captain decided to escort His Majesty?”
Yubra grinned broadly, but Millerph shook his head.
“No, he just said he commissioned them for now. That’s all I know, so ask Natasha for details.”
“……Understood.”
Yubra’s face fell in disappointment.
The others’ expressions darkened as well.
A short while later.
In the distance, a group appeared, kicking up clouds of dust as they charged forward.
It was the Chaos Mercenaries.
They lacked the valor or disciplined air of knights, but they exuded their own eerie aura.
There was a tenacious persistence about them, one that latched on and never let go until the objective was achieved.
Their patched and ragged clothes were filthy, but their eyes burned with lethal intensity.
They seemed ready to explode at the slightest touch.
The knights greeted them with wary faces.
Natasha dismounted and said to Barson, the guard captain.
“Relax your faces—they don’t bite.”
Barson shrank back, intimidated by her presence.
Millerph approached her.
“Go to His Majesty.”
“What about my crew?”
“I’ll handle them. Seems like he plans to deploy the Chaos Mercenaries in the operation, so head over.”
“Then you come too.”
Natasha entered the castle with Meteor.
***
“They’ve come in force. With no proper walls on the border, it’ll be tough to hold with just Helm and Drakan.”
At Arthur’s words, Skevin and the other commanders in the office hardened their faces.
“Have we notified Shangrni Territory?”
“Marquis Drakan ordered Poshe to relay it to the troops stationed at the border, then head to Shangrni Territory to inform Ban as well.”
“Who’s at Shangrni’s border?”
“Count Antar is stationed there.”
“That should suffice. The problem is the northern border. If they’re targeting us instead of Emperor Ruan…….”
“My lord, send me.”
Blizan looked at Arthur and continued.
“I’ll defend the border with my life.”
“It won’t be solved by sending you alone.”
Arthur shook his head and asked Skevin.
“Anything unusual after the Namschar Empire moved?”
“Are you referring to the Dark Squad, perhaps?”
Arthur nodded.
“Nothing worth calling movement since that day. We even checked the site where Your Majesty confronted them, but found nothing unusual.”
“Have they been deployed to the border too?”
As Arthur’s gaze deepened.
Marquis Tano suddenly came to mind.
Looking back on the Isra Turn Castle incident now, there was one thing he’d overlooked.
The castle fell in a single night.
Even if it was a night raid, there was zero information on the attacking forces.
If Tomoya Kingdom had launched the assault, rumors of troop movements would have circulated somehow.
A force capable of silently taking the castle.
If the Dark Squad had struck Isra Turn Castle.
And provoked Marquis Tano to attack Tomoya Kingdom, creating a gap at the border before igniting the war—then everything needed reevaluation.
If they were dead set on war, they’d mobilize all forces.
The Dark Squad that hit Isra Turn likely had a different mission.
Rather than joining the border, they were probably tasked with intercepting Emperor Ruan’s reinforcements.
Then Artisan’s next target after toppling Duke Sahazana was obvious.
Kristen capital!
With Ruan’s forces scattered, now was the perfect chance to take him down.
So what should he do?
As he pondered, Selena’s words suddenly surfaced.
“Millerph.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do you know where Ragbait is?”
“Ragbait…… Before the continent split into the Oscar Empire, Namschar Empire, and Holy Kingdom of Anscent, that’s what it was called.”
“I see…….”
Arthur’s eyes sharpened.
Oscar Empire was already bloodied beyond saving.
Anscent Kingdom, the Holy Kingdom, could be seen as stained by the king and holy knights’ deaths.
That left only Namschar Empire.
To block the final gateway to the Demon King’s revival, he had to stop what was happening there.
Artisan was preoccupied with crumbling Oscar Empire.
He had no choice but to move.
Arthur made his resolve.
“Listen carefully to what I say now.”
He revealed they had entered the second omen of the Demon King’s revival conditions.
And that to stop it, they needed to identify and block events in the Namschar Empire.
Keda, from Namschar, suddenly paled as if struck by realization.
Arthur didn’t miss it and asked.
“What do you know?”
“Around this time, spirit mages hold a ritual at the altar praying for the empire’s blessing.”
“And?”
“What was once held in the capital square suddenly moved to the summit of Munar Mountain and became private.”
“What’s its link to the River of Blood?”
Arthur tilted his head.
“There were rumors they sacrificed children.”
“……!”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
Keda glanced at him cautiously before continuing.
“It’s not something I verified myself, so I hesitated to mention it, but since Your Majesty brought up the River of Blood…….”
“Who told you?”
“A bard. He heard it from a soldier friend who’d guarded Munar Mountain. The guy was always drunk and lied constantly, so I brushed it off—but Your Majesty’s words made me recall him…….”
“Could we meet him if we go to Namschar Empire?”
“He’s dead. Framed as a ‘follower of the devil,’ like the Alpha Family……!”
Keda’s eyes flashed.
The puzzle that had stumped him unraveled.
In Oscar Empire, those framed as devil followers shared ‘black hair.’
But in Namschar, no common trait among the framed.
Now he saw it: one clear link.
Walton was a notorious drunkard bard, top five in Namschar.
The Alpha Family summoned him weekly for tales.
Other framed families did the same.
If true!
Artisan had used the ‘devil follower’ label to cover up Munar Mountain events.
“Damn it!”
Arthur confirmed something horrific was unfolding at Munar Mountain from Keda’s reaction.
“How long to Munar Mountain?”
“About a week. But on a Britanniker, three days.”
“What are you saying?”
Millerph stared at Keda in shock.
“Your Majesty’s suspicions point to Munar Mountain.”
“Verifying it there is too dangerous.”
“I’ll go check myself!”
“It’s not something you can handle alone.”
Arthur turned to Millerph.
“We go together this time.”
Millerph’s face stiffened.
“Must you really go?”
“Only I can stop it.”
“If he’s right, the Demon King’s familiar might be there.”
Arthur nodded and looked at Skevin.
“I leave the castle to you.”
“I’ll defend it with my life.”
Skevin bowed deeply.
Arthur then tasked Adran and Mentu with castle defense, then turned to Blizan.
Meeting Arthur’s eyes, Blizan dropped to one knee and bowed.
“Your servant Blizan stands ready for any command from Your Majesty.”
“You come with me too. Prepare.”
“As you command.”
Blizan replied gravely and exited.
Natasha was the last.
Arthur looked at her and asked.
“Can we change the commission?”
“More dangerous? Fees go up then.”
“I’ll pay whatever you want.”
“Name it. We take any job.”
Natasha smirked confidently.
Arthur gave a faint smile at her demeanor.
“Good. Have Chaos Mercenaries support Marquis Drakan’s position.”
“Border defense?”
Arthur nodded, and Natasha pondered before continuing.
“Triple pay—fine? Normally five times, but since it’s not a stranger, special discount.”
“Five times it is. But show me Chaos Mercenaries’ true capabilities.”
“Understood. I’ve never failed a client’s expectations.”
“I expect great things. The Barbarians move with me too. I’ll need their strength.”
“Very well. They’d want that.”
Natasha smiled faintly for the first time.
Finally, Arthur told Skevin.
“If Artisan targets us instead of Emperor Ruan, head to the family head’s sanctuary underground and fire one Aura Blade. The necklace will signal emergency—treat it as recall.”
“Understood.”
“Everyone, prepare.”
Arthur left the office with Millerph and headed to Aild’s lab where Jackal was.
“How’s he doing?”
“See for yourself.”
Millerph smiled, and Arthur realized Jackal was awake.
Entering with a rare grin.
Jackal was sitting up, talking with Medlin.
He turned at the door’s sound, eyes meeting Arthur’s.
“Y-Your Majesty…….”
As Jackal tried to stand, Arthur smiled brightly.
“Stay put.”
“You’re here?”
Medlin beamed in welcome.
Seeing her worry turn to joy eased Arthur’s heart into a smile.
Arthur approached and asked Jackal.
“When did you wake?”
“Two days ago.”
“You’ve been through hell.”
Arthur gripped Jackal’s shoulder firmly, glancing at his abdomen.
Jackal gave a faint smile.
“Not fully recovered, but Lord Millerph says full recovery’s possible.”
“That’s great.”
“Sorry for worrying you.”
“No. I’m truly grateful you did your utmost to protect this place.”
“Just my duty.”
Jackal bowed politely.
Arthur admired his humility and sense of responsibility.
It reaffirmed his judgment too.
“Get well soon. You’ve got a mission to fulfill.”
“Understood.”
Jackal bowed to Medlin too.
“Wait just a bit longer.”
“I’m fine—don’t push yourself.”
Medlin squeezed his hand and looked to Arthur.
“Talk outside a moment?”
“Sure.”
Arthur stepped out with her and returned to the office.
“I heard. Namschar Empire crossed the border?”
“They’re clashing with Duke Sahazana now.”
“What about us?”
Medlin’s face, smiling moments ago for Jackal, now brimmed with worry.
Arthur took her hand firmly.
“Nothing will happen.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Artisan’s after Emperor Ruan. His elites are tied up with Tomoya Kingdom. It’ll be quiet for a while.”
“But eventually, all eyes turn to us.”
Medlin’s expression darkened further.
“Mother.”
Arthur met her eyes.
“No one will touch Julius Kingdom lightly. Trust me, inheritor of Teheran Julius’s legacy.”
Medlin’s eyes welled up as she nodded.
“I trust not Teheran, but you.”