Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: The Third Enemy
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Damian watched Arthur's group depart and asked Natarshian,
"What did you discuss with him?"
Natarshian gazed at the receding Arthur and countered,
"What do you think of him?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm asking how he struck you."
"Hmm."
Damian pondered for a moment before replying.
"Despite being younger than me, his skill was so profound I couldn't gauge it at all. And seeing those who came with him, I realized the Julius Kingdom's forces are stronger than anticipated."
"What if they attacked us?"
"That's not even worth considering..."
Damian's expression hardened slightly.
No matter how strong they seemed, with the Tomoya Kingdom allied to the Peridri family, they stood no chance.
His father, the first in the history of the five continents to reach the Grand Sword Master realm, and the Kingdom Knights were overwhelmingly powerful.
Honestly, even excluding his father from the equation, he was confident they could handle them.
He wondered why his father was asking such an obvious question.
As Damian looked at Natarshian with eyes full of doubt, he flashed a meaningful smile.
"He reminded me of something I'd long forgotten."
"What was that?"
Natarshian stared at the Busta Knight Order for a long while before shaking his head.
"It still doesn't ignite."
'What is he talking about?'
"I'll go see His Majesty, so wrap things up here."
As Natarshian mounted his horse, he added one more thing.
"I'll report on them directly to His Majesty, so don't say a word to the knights."
"Understood."
Damian bowed politely.
He then watched his father's back as he galloped toward the Busta Knight Order, engulfed in questions.
'What does he mean it doesn't ignite?'
***
At that moment, Valtre was equally shrouded in doubt, no less than Damian.
More shocking than the news of Arthur's arrival was that Natarshian had mobilized.
He had told Valtre this:
When he judged the Tomoya Kingdom to be in danger, he would act.
Until then, not only Valtre but Damian and the Kingdom Knights were to remain on standby in the castle.
Yet the moment Arthur appeared, Damian had moved as if waiting for it, and even Natarshian had stepped out.
'It makes no sense at all.'
Why had he come forward?
If Arthur had brought a large army, or if his forces were unimaginably vast, then the Busta Knight Order should have mobilized, with other families' knight orders on standby as well.
As doubts piled upon doubts, an inexplicable unease surged within him.
Arthur Julius.
The one man he truly acknowledged.
He was that exceptional.
What thoughts would Natarshian have upon facing such a man?
He had betrayed Emperor Ruan.
The reason for his betrayal was his judgment that choosing himself over Ruan was more advantageous to fulfilling his own aspirations.
Given that, it was likely he would compare Arthur to Valtre.
It might not happen, but if he deemed Arthur superior, he could abandon Valtre and leave.
There was that saying:
Once a betrayer, always a betrayer.
He was curious about Natarshian's reaction upon seeing Arthur, yet at the same time, slightly worried.
He had lost Camel, and the Busta Knight Order had suffered near-total annihilation. Thus, the weight of Natarshian's forces, including himself, was absolute.
The very fact that he harbored such worries was irritating and humiliating.
'Damn it! How did I end up like this?'
Valtre grimaced and clenched his fist tightly.
He had discovered that the power he once thought was a curse from the gods could be controlled.
He had maximized it with the Explosive Sword and confirmed he could manage it with the family heirloom, the silver armor.
He felt he possessed everything in the world.
He vowed to avenge his mother and fulfill her dreams.
But what was this now?
Natarshian, whom he thought he could suppress, had grown so strong his power was immeasurable.
He had succeeded in winning him over, but it was like embracing a 'mana bomb.'
The plan was to use him to deal with Artisan, then let him be as he wished.
Their goals were completely different anyway, so they wouldn't interfere with each other.
Until then, he intended to watch him closely to ensure no other thoughts arose.
"Haa."
As Valtre sighed at his situation and gazed out the window.
Knock knock.
A soft knock echoed in his ears.
Instinctively, he thought it was Natarshian.
And sure enough.
He entered the office.
Valtre unwittingly frowned before quickly smoothing his expression and greeting him.
"I heard. Some young pup showed up?"
He approached calmly.
Natarshian bowed courteously.
"Yes."
Valtre sat facing him and asked,
"I was surprised to hear you went out to meet him personally."
"I had no intention of doing so, but after Damian's report, I couldn't stay put."
"What on earth did that pup say to make a grand duke step out?"
"He said he came to see me, not Your Majesty."
"......!"
Valtre's eyes widened.
At the same time, a foreboding premonition hit him—that the very thing he feared might have come to pass.
Natarshian scanned his face and continued.
"I heard something shocking from him."
"What did the bastard say?"
"There seems to be a third enemy besides the Demon King."
"......!"
"That was his advice in coming here."
"What?"
His expectations shattered completely, and an inexplicable sense of humiliation welled up.
His pride crumbled at the fact that he had been informed not by Valtre, but by Natarshian.
It even felt like a mockery declaring Natarshian, not himself, as Tomoya Kingdom's true powerholder.
'This son of a bitch...'
Natarshian couldn't hide his disappointment at Valtre clenching his fist.
It was a test to see how Valtre truly viewed him.
He could tell the man felt envy and jealousy toward one under him.
Though they allied for mutual goals, he was still a king of a nation.
It was unbecoming of a king.
Especially not something to show one who had abandoned Emperor Ruan.
They walked together toward a goal now, but shouldn't a capable talent be drawn fully into one's fold?
It was necessary for the kingdom's growth.
Yet from observing him until now, he hadn't strayed beyond their contract.
Today's reaction confirmed he had no intention of truly joining forces.
In contrast, the Arthur he met today had given him a tremendous shock.
He had ignited his anger and proven his blood could still boil.
Something he thought impossible without the Demon King, that pup had achieved.
But he couldn't disregard Valtre.
He knew the power in his berserk state was his true strength.
Though he hadn't seen him berserk, and he'd emerged unscathed against Marquis Tano, he must have reached the pinnacle of Sword Master.
He might even be on the verge of Grand Sword Master.
Thus, though lacking as a king, if his skill rivaled Natarshian's...
Having a powerful knight under him wouldn't be bad.
Of course, respecting each other's domains.
'I should hear what he has to say.'
Natarshian waited expectantly to see how Valtre would navigate this, watching for him to speak.
Meanwhile, Arthur unwittingly crossed his mind.
***
"How was it?"
Ruan looked at Altros, who had returned to his original form.
Altros prostrated himself flat and bowed his head.
"I pledge my loyalty!"
"Remember this: if I wished, I could kill the likes of you anytime."
"I will never forget!"
Altros responded vigorously, shouting repeatedly.
Ruan smiled in satisfaction and asked Hera,
"What about Mangblo?"
-He begins work today.
"From watching him so long, I know he won't break easily."
-I won't betray Your Majesty's expectations.
"Of course you won't. I have no use for the incompetent. By the way, is there a hierarchy among the Guardians?"
-Mangblo was the leader, but it seems Kolepton and he will switch places. However, if Mangblo claims Jangjarban, things will return to normal.
"Isn't Kolepton stronger? The Artisan he took is supposed to be formidable."
-True, but in Guardian abilities, Mangblo overwhelmingly surpasses him.
"Well, Guardians are great beings in their own right, so humans are mere shells to them—the difference means little."
-Exactly.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Mangblo awakened by that one."
-I'll deliver good results soon.
Hera replied confidently.
Ruan smirked and turned to Altros.
"Sir Altros."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
His voice brimmed with tension; he was on edge.
"You have a task."
"Please command me."
"Until I say otherwise, every day before sunset, place 50 jars each of cow and chicken blood atop Turest Mountain."
"Yes."
"And have your personal guard circle around to distract him, making it easy for Mangblo to approach Jangjarban. Try any better methods you find."
"Understood."
Altros bowed deeply.
Now, he had no choice but to obey, even if he hated it.
That was the only way to maintain his current self.
Just days ago, he had been arrogant with the Demon King's power...
It was miserable and infuriating.
Yet if he accepted this as his fate, he could face another world.
With Emperor Ruan's favor, instead of a Demon King's Guardian power, he might gain Nightmare's power.
Then he would lord over the Guardians.
Moreover, Emperor Ruan planned to subjugate even the Demon King as a subordinate.
The Demon King under him?
What ecstasy.
Just imagining it made his heart race with excitement.
'I need to change my goal.'
Ambition gleamed in Altros's eyes.
Seeing it, Ruan chuckled and glanced at Hera, who smiled enigmatically and bowed.
Her form faded, turning into a small light that flew to Altros and vanished into his shoulder.
After Altros left, Ruan alone stared into the void.
"Come out."
-Did you call me?
"The Demon King's army numbers a million, they say. Mine totals less than 500,000 even combined. So I've been thinking hard."
Nightmare saw the smile on Ruan's face and curled his lips.
-I'm intrigued.
"There's a place I must conquer before the Demon King revives."
-Where?
"Druxia."
-Unexpected. To think of conquering there.
"Until recently, unimaginable. But with you and the Guardians at my side, it's worth challenging, no?"
-Have you made plans?
Ruan replied with eyes blazing with conviction and grandeur.
"You can look forward to it."