Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Provocation
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"Damn!"
Ban stared at the chassis, cracked in places here and there, his face hardening.
He had worried about how long it would hold up, given that it launched through intense pressure.
But to think it couldn't even endure thirty shots.
"Nothing but Oriharukon will do."
Arthur asked.
"Where can we get that?"
"No one knows exactly where it is. But I know a likely place."
"Where?"
"A dragon's lair."
"......!"
Arthur's face stiffened.
He might not know much about this world, but he knew what a dragon's lair entailed.
"Is there nowhere else to get it?"
"There might be some in the Empire's warehouses. But to use those, we'd need the Emperor's permission."
"You know we don't have time for that."
As Arthur's gaze turned icy, Ban fell deep into thought before cautiously speaking up.
"Let's get help from Millerph."
"You mean cast magic on it to use it?"
"If we apply reinforcement magic, there shouldn't be any immediate issues with using it."
"I see."
Arthur nodded as if accepting his words.
"But the limit would still be fifteen shots."
"Fifteen shots......"
There was still no word from the Light Brothers, who had scouted the enemy formation.
He had no idea how many troops the Yarve Count Family had, but dealing them any real damage with fifteen shots would be impossible.
"This won't be easy."
Arthur's expression darkened.
On the other hand, Ban swelled with pride at the fact that the weapon he'd made had taken down an ogre, called the supreme land monster.
"I've created something incredible."
He was grinning to himself in self-praise when—
The smithy door burst open, and a knight rushed in panting.
"Young Master, the scouts are back!"
"Yeah?"
Joy flashed across Arthur's face. But the knight's expression was far from normal.
"Why the long face?"
"We were spotted by the enemy. Only five made it back."
"What?"
Arthur's face twisted as he bolted outside.
By the time he reached the training grounds, the entire knight order had assembled.
Skevin approached with a grim look.
"Young Master!"
"What happened?"
Arthur eyed the scouts, who had returned in battered shape.
Perry, the youngest of the Light Brothers, approached sniffling back tears.
"S-Sob, Young Master......"
"What the hell happened? Where's everyone else?"
"They...... got us."
Perry recounted the scouting mission in full detail.
When they reached the border of Aslan Territory, they split into three groups to pinpoint the enemy's position.
Just as they were heading to their assigned areas—
The Yarve Count Family's men suddenly ambushed them from the forest.
While Foshe and his group fought off the enemy, the other two groups fled toward Aslan Territory.
They then tracked down the enemy base and headed there.
If Foshe had been captured, they would surely take him there.
When Ramni and Perry arrived at the base, Foshe and his team were already bound and being dragged off somewhere.
So Ramni and Perry devised a rescue plan and infiltrated at night.
But they were spotted immediately.
Far from rescuing anyone, Ramni got captured during their escape.
"Sob, sob, I'm sorry."
Once his report ended, Perry collapsed to the ground, sobbing and wailing.
The others wept too, thinking of their comrades slain by the enemy.
Their cries filled the training grounds with a heavy silence.
'Those bastards!'
Everyone wore resolute expressions, trembling with rage.
Skevin asked Arthur.
"Shall we prepare?"
"They'll be reading our moves. We can't dance to their tune."
"Then......"
"Go to full combat readiness for now."
"Yes, sir."
Skevin swiftly rallied the knights.
Just as Arthur turned to inform Medlin—
Devil Squad blocked his path.
"What's this?"
Dark stepped forward.
"Let us go. We'll bring them back."
"No."
"Foshe and Ramni are captured. We can't just sit here. If we don't rescue them soon, the worst could happen."
"Wait."
Arthur spoke firmly and entered the castle.
At that moment—
In the office, Medlin was receiving the scout report from Lesanna.
"They were spotted?"
"The knights have assembled in the training grounds."
"What a mess......"
As Medlin's face darkened, Lesanna cautiously asked.
"Why not consult the youngest Young Master?"
"Arthur?"
Medlin looked puzzled, and Lesanna lowered her gaze.
"Everyone follows the youngest Young Master......"
"No. Summon Millerph."
"Yes."
As Lesanna bowed and turned—
The door flew open.
Arthur entered, with Millerph right behind.
Medlin shot to her feet at the sight of them.
"Perfect timing."
Arthur and Millerph bowed politely to her before approaching.
"I heard there's trouble. What do we do now?"
"I think it's better to hear the Young Master's thoughts first."
"Pardon?"
It made no sense that Millerph—the wisest man in the Julius Count Family—was prioritizing Arthur's opinion.
"Mother."
"Y-Yes, speak."
Arthur calmly addressed her flustered self.
"The enemy will move soon. Before they do, there's something you need to prepare."
"What would that be?"
"Make it possible for us to enlist the territory's people."
"I have a question first."
Medlin met Arthur's eyes.
"Can we win this?"
"The Julius Count Family will not fall."
"......!"
Medlin's eyes lit up.
Something hot surged fiercely from deep in her chest.
Her heart swelled.
No words could replace his.
Who else could say this to her in this situation?
A shiver ran through her entire body.
"R-Really?"
"Trust me."
"Very well. I trust you."
Medlin nodded and told Lesanna.
"Gather all the village chiefs."
"Yes."
Arthur bowed politely to Medlin and left with Lesanna.
Then Millerph followed and asked.
"Where to now?"
"I need to plan countermeasures with Skevin."
"Then I'll head to the knight barracks after speaking with Madam."
"Do that."
As Arthur nodded and turned to go—
"Oh, right. Can you cast magic on objects too?"
"Yes."
"Then go to Ban. Tell him I sent you—he'll have a favor to ask."
"Got it."
Millerph smiled faintly.
He watched Arthur until he was out of sight, then returned to the office.
Medlin tilted her head at Millerph's reentry.
"Aren't you going with Arthur?"
"I have something to tell Madam."
"What is it?"
Doubt crossed Medlin's face.
Millerph stood before her with a serious expression.
"It's about the youngest Young Master."
"Arthur? Is there something about him I don't know?"
Millerph nodded silently, and Medlin's face rapidly darkened.
He had changed so much in just a few months.
She hadn't asked anyone about it, suffering in silence out of fear something was wrong.
Hearing this now made her heart sink.
Medlin steadied her shocked heart and said.
"Tell me everything, no holding back."
"Understood."
Millerph kept his serious demeanor.
He planned to tell her that Arthur had inherited Teheran Julius's lineage.
With the territory war looming, he wanted her prepared for whatever Arthur might become.
As his bloodthirst grew stronger, his temperament would change.
Better she know now to soften the shock.
Millerph broached carefully.
"How much do you know about Teheran Julius?"
"Why ask that suddenly?"
"It's connected to the youngest Young Master."
"......!"
Medlin sprang up, her eyes shaking in shock.
Teheran Julius was the family's hero, once captain of the Empire's unified knight order.
But his mana cultivation method had a fatal flaw: once mana awakened, it rampaged endlessly.
The family secret annals recorded that Teheran suffered constant torment from it.
His only way to live was one.
Head to the battlefield and unleash the rampaging mana freely.
Thus he wandered battlefields, earning the name "War God" from allies and "Berserker" from foes, thanks to his immense power.
Only the family head knew of this curse in Teheran's mana method.
So Millerph's words shocked her.
An ominous foreboding washed over her.
'No, it can't be.'
Meanwhile, Millerph knew none of this, only the public tales.
He was preparing for the future, as greater power meant a fiercer temperament.
"I'll explain his connection."
"No need— I know him better than anyone. Tell me about Arthur."
"Understood."
Millerph met her eyes and said quietly.
"The youngest Young Master has inherited his lineage."
"Ah!"
Medlin slumped into her chair.
Startled by her reaction, Millerph hurried over.
"Are you alright?"
"Did he inherit that mana cultivation method too?"
"Yes."
"So that's why he's...... changed like this."
Medlin suddenly burst into tears.
Millerph couldn't comprehend her response.
Honestly, Arthur could restore the Julius Count Family.
She must know that, yet he couldn't fathom why she wept.
"Sir Millerph."
Medlin gazed at the puzzled Millerph and continued.
"That man had a secret."
***
"Scouts report the Rose Knight Order at three hundred strong, mercenaries around a hundred. The Phoenix Knight Order can handle the Rose Knights, but the mercenaries are the problem."
At Skevin's words, Helot replied gravely.
"Wolf banners mean the Red Warrior Corps."
"Who leads them?"
"A man named Yakim. Rumor has it he awakened as a Sword Master recently."
"I see."
The herald knights weren't pushovers either.
The mercenaries seemed stronger than the three hundred Rose Knights.
He'd anticipated tough mercenaries, but not to this extent.
"This could be a hard fight."
The knight order had improved, but the foe was formidable.
He wondered if they could win when—
Bwooooong—
The emergency horn blared.
"What!"
Skevin bolted outside.
At the castle gate, an enemy herald had arrived.
The man hurled what he held toward the gate, shouting.
"You'll see hell soon!"
As he fled, Skevin dashed out.
The thrown item was a blood-soaked cloth sack.
Opening it twisted Skevin's face in rage.
"Damn them!"
Arthur, drawn by the horn, approached.
"What is it?"
"Th-That's......"
Skevin hesitated, so Arthur snatched it and dumped out the contents.
Dozens of ears spilled out.
"......!"
Arthur stared blankly, dumbfounded.
The following knights gasped at the ears on the ground.
"Gasp!"
"What kind of atrocity is this!"
Foshe, seeing it, staggered in despair.
"N-No......"
Murderous intent filled Arthur's eyes.
"Dark."
Dark approached quietly and bowed.
"Go to Ban. Bring my weapon."
Skevin shook his head.
"You can't fall for their provocation—!"
Overwhelmed by Arthur's aura, Skevin couldn't finish.
Arthur glared chillingly toward the distant Aslan border.
"They dare provoke us like this?"
He ground his teeth, radiating killing intent.
"I'll smash them to pieces."