Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Horcamun Tribe
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“You... who are you...?”
Terror and confusion crossed Yarve’s face.
The gun barrel aimed at him shifted to his horse.
Bang-!
Neigh!
With a wretched scream, the horse toppled forward.
Yarve slammed into the ground at the same time.
“Argh!”
He writhed in agony.
Kan stomped the ground with his front hooves.
Boom!
“...!”
Yarve’s senses snapped alert. He shrank back, playing dead and motionless.
This lasted only a moment.
A voice rang out again, cold enough to feel no emotion at all.
“Kneel.”
Yarve dropped to his knees in an instant.
To survive, pride meant nothing. He pressed his forehead flat to the dirt, awaiting the man’s next words.
Arthur glanced at him once, then surveyed the surroundings.
The battle had already turned decisively, but the enemy knights’ resistance was fierce.
On top of that, another threat loomed over the Julius Count Family estate.
There was no time to waste.
Arthur stared at the shotgun, pondering briefly.
‘If my guess is right...’
He gathered mana in his grip while envisioning the K1 Rifle.
Just like that, the Benelli M4 melted away like ice, reforming into the shape of the K1 Rifle.
“As expected!”
Arthur’s eyes flashed as he pulled the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Even with allies mixed among the foes, he struck without a single mistake, gunning down only the enemies.
“Ugh...”
Each gunshot made Yarve clap his hands over his ears, trembling in terror.
Several minutes passed like this.
The endless silence choked him.
‘What’s the situation...?’
He cautiously lifted his head.
He locked eyes with a murderous gaze right in front of him.
“Gasp!”
He jolted in shock and slammed his head back to the ground.
Grrrrr.
Ron bared his savage fangs, growling as if ready to tear him apart at any moment.
Drakan stroked Ron’s head, and he quieted down.
“Yarve Count.”
An icy voice pierced straight to his heart.
Golden armor—that man.
Yarve trembled in fear as he raised his head.
“If you want to live, keep your head up and answer my questions. Hesitate or give me an answer I don’t like...”
Arthur glanced at Drakan, who yanked Ron’s mane.
Grrrr!
Ron bared his fangs again, radiating killing intent.
“Gasp!”
Yarve shook in fright.
Arthur met his eyes squarely.
“Is this all the forces you brought?”
“Y-Yes...”
“The ones you sent to the count family—they’re the Apos Mercenary Corps, right?”
Yarve’s head nodded ever so slightly.
“Skevin.”
“Yes!”
Skevin, waiting behind him, approached.
“Return to the castle and deal with them.”
“Understood!”
Skevin bowed politely, then turned to the Phoenix Knight Order and shouted.
“We’re heading back!”
With that, the knight order raced swiftly toward the count family estate.
Arthur watched the departing Phoenix Knight Order and spoke.
“Drakan.”
“Yes!”
Drakan bowed respectfully as well.
“Stay here and clean up.”
“Got it. What about this one?”
Drakan eyed Yarve.
“Don’t kill him. Bring him back.”
Arthur turned Kan toward the count family estate and continued.
“Kill the rest.”
With those chilling words, he galloped off toward the southern mountains.
***
“What do we do?”
“Let’s wait a bit longer.”
Bukas nodded at Alteon’s words.
The Apos Mercenary Corps, having arrived at the Julius Count Family estate via the southern mountains, awaited orders from above.
They should have received word from headquarters before dawn, but nothing came.
Alteon, who had given Bukas his instructions, returned to where his comrades waited.
“Where’s the captain?”
“He’s inside. But why aren’t we moving? The sun’s about to rise.”
“I don’t know.”
Alteon shook his head and headed inward.
At the center stood a man draped in bear pelt like a cloak, snoring drunkenly as he swigged booze.
Standing before him, Alteon looked downright puny.
“Captain.”
The man with a scar slashing from his left eyebrow to his right lip wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked up.
His gaze was chilling to the bone.
Just meeting it would shrink a commoner’s heart.
“No word yet. What’s the plan?”
“What’s to plan?”
The man took a swig and continued.
“Slaves just do what the master says.”
“Quit calling us slaves.”
“Why? Don’t like hearing it?”
“That’s not...”
Alteon grumbled curtly, and the man locked eyes with him, firm.
“Think of your family. Then you’ll accept it all.”
“I know, but...”
As Alteon looked sheepish, someone shouted.
“Captain!”
A figure raced up from the rear.
It was one of the sentries posted at key passes along the mountain route, prepared for any contingency.
Panting heavily, he stopped before the man.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
The man frowned slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Yarve Count’s forces—wiped out!”
“What?”
The man shot to his feet.
Yarve had brought over a thousand knights.
Plus a 5th Class mage.
And they still fell?
Impossible.
The foe was the Julius Count Family, barely clinging to its lineage.
This had to be a massive variable that could flip the war.
“Where’s Hazan?”
“No idea.”
“Back to headquarters. Find Hazan. He can’t die.”
The man’s face hardened.
His orders sent the mercenaries moving in perfect unison.
Alteon spoke to one of them.
“Pass it to Bukas too.”
“I’ll go.”
Just as someone moved to head toward the Julius Count Family estate—
“We’ve been spotted!”
Bukas came sprinting back, yelling.
“...!”
Eyes widened, all gazes turned to the man.
“Hmm.”
He slipped knuckledusters onto both hands.
“We sweep through and go.”
Alteon gripped the mace slung on his back.
The others didn’t panic either—they grinned wickedly and drew their weapons.
Then they fixed their stares beyond Bukas.
Moments later.
A group charged in with ferocious momentum.
Leading were Dark and the Devil Squad, along with Helot and Linda.
Over a hundred knights and Giant Wolves followed, all radiating deadly auras.
The Apos mercenaries’ eyes bulged.
“What the hell?”
“What bastard’s that huge?”
One bellowed, eyes popping.
“Giant Wolf!”
‘What?’
Fear spread across their faces.
One of the monsters they’d only heard tales of stood before them.
Rumors of devil worshippers seemed true.
‘Monsters...’
They shrank back in terror.
Dark scanned them quickly while noting their reactions.
Most were sword expert level, some very strong.
Especially the hulking brute reminiscent of an orc warrior—raw power poured from him.
‘He’s the leader.’
Dark kept him in sharp focus and spoke to Helot.
“This won’t be easy.”
“Yeah, I’ll take him. You and the knights handle the rest.”
“Understood.”
As Dark gripped his dagger tight, Linda eyed the Apos mercenaries sharply.
No plate armor—just light leather gear. All looked agile.
Likely similar to the Lannister Knight Order in style.
Tough matchup for armored knights.
‘Around two hundred. Nearly double our numbers, but...’
With Giant Wolves and Phoenix Knight Order support nearby, victory was possible.
Linda stepped forward.
“We’ll handle them.”
“What?”
Helot frowned slightly.
With the numbers gap, they needed to combine forces.
“They smell like us. Nothing like the foes you’ve faced—their style’s totally different. Won’t be easy for you.”
Dark nodded in agreement.
“Block the passes so they can’t flee.”
“Got it.”
Helot signaled the Phoenix Knight Order.
They split left and right, swiftly circling behind the enemy.
At the same time, Linda shouted.
“Shasha!”
Woof!
A grayish Giant Wolf barked loudly and charged.
The rest bared fangs and claws, surging forward.
Woof!
“They’re attacking!”
“What the hell are those?!”
“What else? Bastard mutts!”
Alteon burst from the pack, swinging his massive mace like a baseball bat at the Giant Wolves.
One couldn’t dodge.
Splat!
Its head burst like a watermelon.
Seeing this, the Lannister knights roared in fury and charged.
“Kill them all!”
They bellowed war cries.
The Apos mercenaries met them head-on, unleashing attacks.
Clang!
The groups clashed.
“Argh!”
“Die!”
They struck mercilessly, turning the scene into instant chaos.
“You bastards! Come on!”
Each swing of Alteon’s mace felled Giant Wolves.
Linda shouted.
Shasha!
The grayish Giant Wolf raced up.
She vaulted onto its back, raising her spear to shoulder height.
The stance the Lannister Knight Order used in wedge formation.
Alteon, smashing Giant Wolves like dogs with his mace, spotted her charging with fierce momentum.
“Housewife playing hero?!”
“I’ll rip that mouth off.”
Linda thrust her spear, radiating killing intent.
Alteon swung his mace with full force in response.
Spear met mace.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
Linda flew back from the impact.
Alteon staggered two steps from the spear’s power.
“What?! This bitch?”
Disbelief etched his face.
Linda, sprawled on the ground, sprang up unfazed and snatched her fallen spear.
Far from shocked, her eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
But inwardly, she marveled at Alteon casually wielding the massive mace.
‘Insane strength.’
To counter brute power, one way: overwhelm with speed.
Linda glared at Alteon, hunting for an opening.
Moments later.
She spotted a gap and shot forward like lightning, thrusting.
Whoosh!
Lightning-fast.
But Alteon didn’t blink, parrying with his mace.
Clang!
Sparks flew with the metallic ring.
Linda caught the rebounding black spear with her other hand and thrust again with both.
Bang!
Even faster than before.
“Stay home and mind the kids!”
Alteon gripped his mace and swung with everything.
Just before collision!
The spear vanished.
“...!”
Swish!
The mace sliced empty air as the spear reappeared at his chest.
“Damn!”
Alteon whipped up his other hand.
Boom!
He tumbled back.
“Urgh...”
He barely blocked with the iron bracer on his wrist, but the shock was massive.
Pain locked his hand.
“Damn!”
“Take this!”
Linda poured all her power into the thrust.
The spear, wreathed in pale blue aura, was her fastest and strongest yet.
“You bitch!”
Alteon’s face twisted.
Too late for the mace.
He’d block with the bracer and counter.
As he thrust out his numb left wrist—
Intense pressure from behind.
‘This!’
Boom!
A colossal man dropped from the sky like a meteor—the Horcamun Tribe’s strongest warrior!
Apos Mercenary Corps captain, Blizan.
“How dare you!”
He punched at the incoming spear.
Crackle-crackle.
Fist crackling with lightning clashed with spear.
KABOOM!