Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Defeat of the Mercenary Leader
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"Is this the best you can do?"
Arthur sneered as he extended his arm.
"You cocky bastard!"
Blyzan poured all his strength into his fist and smashed it down from above.
Sparks intensely flew from the lightning wrapped around his fist.
Boom!
"......!"
Blyzan's face twisted horribly.
His attack had been blocked.
His fist was caught in Arthur's hand, which was half the size of his own.
"H-How......"
"Kneel first."
Arthur tightened his grip.
Crunch.
As the sound of bones crushing in his fist rang out, Blyzan let out a scream.
"Uwaaaah!"
Just as Arthur was about to squeeze harder!
'This is!'
Blyzan's mana was being absorbed through his hand.
It was the exact same situation as when he had absorbed the mana from the enemy mage's attack earlier.
Blyzan felt his mana draining away and was utterly bewildered.
"Th-This......"
He tried to pull away from Arthur, but he couldn't escape his grasp.
So he swung his other fist with all his might.
Whoosh-.
It flew at him like an arrow, loaded with heavy power.
Smack!
Even that was caught in Arthur's hand.
"Damn it!"
Blyzan's face contorted viciously as he tried to launch a kick.
Arthur quickly closed in on his chest, kicked off the ground, and leaped up.
Then he drove his knee into Blyzan's jaw.
Crack!
"Uwaaak!"
Blyzan screamed as his head snapped back.
Arthur grabbed his arm and threw him over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground.
Boom!
"Keurgh!"
Blyzan spat out a mouthful of blood.
More than the pain, he was dazed by the fact that none of his attacks had landed.
On top of that, with his mana steadily draining, he couldn't even resist.
'It's over......'
Blyzan lost his will to fight.
Arthur released his gripped fist and looked down at him.
"Now our eyes are finally at the same level."
The Apos Mercenary Corps watched the scene and fell into despair.
Bukas muttered in a dazed expression.
"Th-The boss is down......"
"Helot!"
At Arthur's shout, Helot's eyes flashed as he bellowed at the Phoenix Knight Order.
"Kill everyone holding a weapon!"
"Rah-!"
The knights roared loudly and raised their swords high.
Not to be outdone, Drakan shouted loudly as well.
"Kill everyone still standing!"
"Charge-!"
The Lannister Knight Order mounted their Giant Wolves, swung their black spears, and charged at the Apos Mercenary Corps.
The Phoenix Knight Order, who had been blocking their retreat, also pressed forward with their attack.
With their heart and spiritual pillar, Blyzan, collapsed, the Apos Mercenary Corps lost all will to fight.
They crumbled powerlessly under the fierce attacks pouring in from both front and back.
But squad leader Alteon resisted to the end, bellowing at the top of his lungs.
"Don't fall back! Fight to the end!"
Some members joined in the shout.
"Think of your families!"
"If we fall, they're all dead!"
"Get a grip!"
At their cries, the mercenaries' eyes sharpened.
'My wife! The kids!'
'No!'
'Fight to the end!'
Murderous intent filled the Apos Mercenary Corps' eyes as their momentum surged.
They gripped their weapons tightly and adjusted their stances to fight back.
"You're going to resist?"
Arthur's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Guess I'll have to kill you all."
He had just summoned his K1 Rifle and aimed at them when.
"Stop!"
Blyzan thundered.
For a moment, everyone's movements froze, and all eyes turned to him.
He was forcing himself to his feet, pressing one hand firmly against his head.
"Boss!"
Alteon rushed to him.
Blyzan extended his arm to block him from approaching.
Then he met the eyes of Arthur, who was looking at him calmly.
Staring with his fierce eyes, he said.
"I lost."
"......!"
Alteon and the others' eyes widened as if they would tear.
"End it by killing me."
"You're awfully arrogant for a loser."
At Arthur's icy words, Blyzan knelt without hesitation.
"Boss! Why! We'll fight to the end!"
"Shut up! Say one more word and you'll die by my hand!"
Blyzan exploded in fury, then continued to Arthur.
"As you can see, these idiots. If you just get rid of me, they'll be no better than a ragtag mob. They won't be a threat to the Julius Family at all. Please spare them."
He bowed his head deeply to Arthur.
His demeanor and tone had become extremely polite compared to before.
Arthur glanced around before approaching Blyzan and standing before him. He then aimed his K1 at his head.
"Our side took heavy losses for that."
"Urgh......"
A low groan escaped Blyzan's lips.
"That's the price for choosing the wrong master."
Just as Arthur was about to pull the trigger, he shouted desperately.
"Then grant me one request!"
"......?"
Desperation filled his voice.
What could he possibly ask an enemy before dying......?
He had roamed countless battlefields and experienced all sorts of things.
This situation was all too common.
Arthur furrowed his brow slightly.
"Something to do with your family?"
Blyzan bowed his head and answered loudly.
"It's shameless, but please rescue our families captured by that bastard! If you do that, I won't forget your grace even in death!"
At that, the Apos Mercenary Corps dropped their weapons en masse and knelt.
Then they slammed their heads into the ground.
Thud!
"Urgh......"
Arthur furrowed his brow.
As he pondered for a moment, Helot approached and said firmly.
"They're called cannibals. Their families are cannibals too. No value in granting their request."
Bukas lifted his head and gnashed his teeth.
"We're not cannibals!"
Some wailed desperately.
"We're normal humans!"
"We're not monsters!"
Their voices were filled with pathos and injustice.
'What is this?'
Arthur turned his gaze to Blyzan.
Blyzan opened his mouth while still bowing.
"We are the Horcamun Tribe."
"What!"
Helot's eyes widened instantly.
Arthur tilted his head at his reaction.
"What's wrong?"
"They were said to be the last warriors......"
Helot calmed his surprised heart and answered steadily.
"During the empire's unification, there was a territory that resisted the emperor to the very end. Even after their knight order was annihilated, the tribe that fought the emperor's guards till the end—they were the Horcamun Tribe."
"And?"
"They're known traditionally as a tribe that worships justice. For such a tribe to be cannibals......"
Helot looked at Blyzan with a face full of doubt.
"Hmm."
There seemed to be a story behind it.
Having pity for enemies in war was foolish, but their reactions made him feel like he couldn't just ignore it.
Arthur lowered his gun from Blyzan and said.
"Raise your head."
Blyzan lifted his head and looked at Arthur.
"I'll give you 10 minutes. Say what you have to say."
"An extermination order from the emperor has been issued on our tribe."
"Hmm."
Arthur furrowed his brow.
"We hid in the mountains for a long time to preserve our tribe, but we were discovered by the slave trader Hazan......"
Blyzan explained how they became the Apos Mercenary Corps and how Hazan had branded them as brutal cannibals to inflate their value.
"We've never eaten a single person, I swear."
"I see. You mentioned your families because they're hostages to him?"
"Yes."
"You fought for your families?"
"We had to, to ensure their safety."
"Hmm."
Arthur's face hardened.
They were enemies, but they had lived miserable, resentful lives.
Still, he had no intention of sparing them.
"If the chance arises, I'll save your families."
Arthur aimed his gun at Blyzan's forehead.
"Thank you."
Blyzan closed his eyes and accepted death calmly.
He looked utterly serene.
In contrast, the Apos Mercenary Corps shook their heads wildly and shouted.
"Please spare him!"
"We'll do anything. Just spare the boss!"
"Count, kill us instead!"
"We'll die!"
They wailed, veins bulging in their necks.
Arthur found it hard to pull the trigger.
It was natural for the victor to kill the enemy on the battlefield, but it felt deeply unsettling.
As his gaze deepened.
Helot cautiously spoke up.
"Count, how about binding them and escorting them to the castle for now?"
"The castle......"
Arthur pondered for a moment.
He could guess Helot's intentions.
It was probably to win them over.
In terms of skill alone, they weren't inferior to the Phoenix Knight Order.
Above all, Blyzan kneeling before him honestly sparked his greed.
Though he had been defeated by Arthur, how many could stand toe-to-toe with him besides Skevin?
Absorbing them would undoubtedly be a great help.
But considering their past, it wasn't easy to accept them outright.
'Not easy.'
Helot nodded as if understanding Arthur's concerns.
"I think hearing from Millerph and the captain wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Yeah."
"Besides, since they've acknowledged defeat, they won't cause trouble or incidents in the castle."
"That's not certain."
Blyzan, overhearing their conversation, quickly interjected.
"No! No incidents will happen! I swear it!"
"How can I trust that?"
Arthur asked with distrustful eyes.
Blyzan ripped off the necklace from around his neck and held it out to Arthur.
"Take this!"
A blue gem shaped like a pinecone hung from the leather cord.
"What is this?"
"It's 'Laos', the treasure of the Horcamun Tribe. The one who holds it has the authority to lead the tribe."
"Like the Family Head's Ring."
As Arthur picked up Laos to examine it closely.
Blyzan shouted loudly at the Apos Mercenary Corps.
"From now on, he is our master!"
"......!"
Bukas and Alteon bulged their eyes.
"Th-That......"
"How is Laos......"
The others also showed great confusion, not knowing what to do.
"Looks real enough."
Arthur smirked meaningfully and said to Helot.
"Take them all to the castle."
***
"They're coming!"
Millerph, standing on the ramparts gazing at the distant border, quickly cast Feather Fall and descended.
Hector, who was with him, stared intently ahead.
As Millerph came out of the castle, the Lannister Knight Order was returning from afar.
At that moment, Skevin, who had sortied to the southern mountains, also appeared leading the Phoenix Knight Order.
Bound prisoners trailed behind the knights between them.
The two groups merged into one.
The ground shook like an earthquake, and their intense momentum pierced the sky.
Millerph curled his lips.
"They've really changed a lot."
A moment later.
Skevin arrived before Millerph.
He leaped nimbly from his Ma-tan.
"The young master will arrive soon."
"Where's Yarve Count?"
"Here."
Drakan shoved the bound Yarve before Millerph.
Millerph shook his head at the unconscious man.
"What a foolish fool."
He added inwardly.
'To make an enemy of the one who will become the Tyrant King.'
As Skevin gripped the rope binding Yarve, a group emerged from the mountains.
It was Arthur and the knights.
Riding the massive Britannica in golden armor, his figure was radiant and holy.
Worthy of the Julius Family's master.
The sight sent shivers through everyone.
Unable to contain his surging emotions, Skevin shouted at the knight order.
"Welcome the Count!"
At his words, the knights parted like the miracle of Moses, creating a path.
As Arthur entered, the knights lining both sides saluted sharply with their swords.
They gazed at Arthur with reverent eyes.
The salutes rippled like waves.
Swish-swish-swish-.
Arthur stopped Britannica before Skevin and Millerph.
Skevin saluted sharply, and Millerph bowed politely.
"You've done well."
Arthur nodded and looked around. He even glanced at the Defen Knight Order of the Hexa Family on the ramparts.
Despite the victory, everyone's faces were grim with resolve.
Awaiting only his command.
Arthur shouted.
"Sound the victory fanfare!"
The knights blew their trumpets vigorously.
Bwoooong-!
Bwoooong-!
Bwoooong-!
Majestic trumpet sounds echoed from all directions.
The castle stirred, and people rushed out.
Skevin raised his sword high to the sky and shouted.
"Phoenix Knight Order!"
At the same time, Drakan shouted.
"Lannister Knight Order!"
The knights thrust their swords skyward or slammed their black spears into the ground, shouting in unison.
For the golden glory!
Their tremendous spirit swept the area like a tsunami.
Shivers ran through everyone who had come out.
Cheers of joy erupted from all at once.
Waaaaahhh-!