Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Raos's Power
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"There's a story behind it, huh."
Millerph nodded at Arthur's words.
"I'll summarize it for you."
"Don't let emotions sway you. The opponent is a grand archmage. And if he can even manipulate the emperor at will, it's tough with our current strength."
"...I'm sorry."
Millerph bowed his head.
Arthur shifted his gaze to Drakan.
"I'll head back with Millerph, so clean things up with Skevin."
"Yes."
"Not a single one gets away."
Arthur returned to the castle with Millerph.
Once he was out of sight, Drakan issued orders to the knights.
"Search every inch of the surroundings!"
The knights scattered with their Giant Wolves.
***
At that moment.
Someone had been watching the entire scene from a mountain adjacent to the coast.
It was Hazan.
When the Apos Mercenary Corps failed to return, he had slipped out of Grada Territory through the mountains.
That's when he spotted the unidentified ship and the knights.
Hoping they might be forces sent by the emperor, he kept watch.
But not for long.
The Julius Count Family's knight order charged in.
Seeing the two groups clash, he was convinced they were the emperor's men.
But the Phoenix Knight Order, led by Britanniker, was far too strong.
The emperor's forces received the retreat order and boarded their ship again.
He wanted to board and escape with them, but he couldn't.
As regret gnawed at him for not fleeing together.
The bastard appeared.
The Julius Count!
That devilish fiend unleashed aura blasts mercilessly with his bizarre weapon.
The knights fell without resistance.
As all eyes turned to him, they witnessed an astonishing sight.
A mage appeared—one who hadn't shown in the battle against Yarve Count.
The middle-aged man in white robes finished his short casting and unleashed his spell.
Fire Rain!
It was a 6th-class level powerful magic.
But it wasn't what he knew.
Instead of flames raining from the sky, hail poured down.
Its power was beyond words, tremendous.
In an instant, it incinerated and sank every ship.
All the information known about the Julius Family was wrong.
Having gained the devil's power, they had grown unimaginably strong.
Hazan clenched his fist, glaring at Arthur and Millerph as they left the battlefield.
'I'll have my revenge, no matter what.'
***
"It's the Young Master!"
The Defen Knight Order on wall patrol shouted.
Dark rushed out of the castle.
Arthur and Millerph were approaching.
'As expected.'
A faint smile tugged at Dark's lips.
Arthur had never betrayed his faith.
Upon reaching the castle, Arthur shouted loudly.
"The knight order will escort the prisoners soon—get ready!"
"Yes, sir!"
The castle buzzed with activity once more.
As Arthur dismounted from Khan and entered, Andrew approached.
"The Madam is looking for you."
"My mother?"
"She has something to say."
"Got it."
Arthur headed straight to the office.
Medlin stood by the window, gazing outside.
The Heksar Baron's knight order was moving without rest.
He'd heard the Kandara Count Family's daughter had fled here with her knights too.
All families branded devil worshippers were collapsing.
Moreover, the heirs of those fallen houses were gathering at the Julius Family with their knights.
This place had become the final stronghold.
'If this continues...'
Medlin's face darkened.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded.
She quickly turned to the door.
Arthur entered.
Removing his golden helmet and bowing politely, an aura of strength emanated from him.
Seeing him eased her anxiety.
But she worried if he was hurt anywhere.
"You're not injured, are you?"
Arthur gave a faint smile in response.
"Yes."
"That's a relief."
Medlin sighed in relief, calming her heart.
As she sat across the table from Arthur, Aild entered the office.
"Come in."
Aild approached and took a seat too.
It seemed she had called him as well.
Medlin smiled, looking between the two alternately. Then she asked Arthur.
"How's it going now? I saw the Kandara Count Family's knights too."
"What?"
Aild knew the Heksar Baron's heir had come with his knights, but he had no idea about the Kandara Counts.
"They arrived just a bit ago."
"So that house fell too?"
Arthur nodded silently.
"Ah...."
Medlin asked with a worried face.
"What will you do now?"
"We're currently building defensive walls around the territory."
"I heard. Ban gathered all the territory's blacksmiths to erect a massive barrier in the western mountains. To fend off monster attacks, right?"
"We judged that securing safety from internal enemies is necessary before facing external ones."
"Good thinking."
"We won the battle against Yarve Count, but the war truly begins now. Plus, with the Heksar and Kandara families joining, the castle is chaotic."
"What will you do with them?"
"For now, to survive, we have no choice but to grow stronger. If they want to join us, I'll accept them."
"I see."
A faint smile graced Medlin's once worry-filled face.
She trusted Arthur, but the situation crashing down was too much for someone his age.
She couldn't ask anyone else.
Showing her own anxiety would be wrong for her, who should support and believe in him, and it might harm him.
So she'd been suffering in silence, but seeing him handle it well made her worries seem unfounded.
Medlin smiled warmly.
"You're doing splendidly."
"I'm just doing what needs to be done."
"Even so, it's not an easy task. He's my son, but I truly admire him."
Aild nodded contentedly, pleased.
"As long as the enemies don't attack, I'll focus on securing the territory."
"If there's anything I can help with, just say so anytime."
"I'll work on mass-producing potions."
Arthur nodded.
"Brother, focus on that. Mother, I have a request."
"What do you need from me?"
"It's honestly impossible to oppose the emperor with our strength alone. So I plan to absorb the surrounding territories first. I need information on each territory."
"If you're thinking of forming alliances..."
"No, I'll absorb them."
"Absorb? I don't quite understand."
Medlin looked puzzled at Aild.
Aild wore a confused expression, then his eyes widened in shock.
"You're not thinking of starting wars with the surrounding territories in this situation, are you?"
"All the empire's territories have turned their backs, branding us devil worshippers."
"That doesn't mean we need to start wars with them. They won't attack first without the emperor's orders."
"That's why I plan to absorb them before they become our enemies. Otherwise, we won't survive this war."
Aild was speechless before Arthur's resolve.
The atmosphere was utterly different from their relaxed chat moments ago.
An irresistible aura emanated from him.
Medlin's eyes welled up unconsciously at Arthur's bold demeanor.
"I'll prepare that. If your father could see you, how proud he'd be..."
"We'll grow even stronger from now on. That way..."
Arthur's eyes flashed sharply as he continued inwardly.
'...we can protect everything.'
***
"My lord."
As Arthur emerged from the office, Millerph quickly approached.
"What are you doing here?"
"The Madam said it was family talk and no one should enter."
Arthur nodded and walked down the corridor.
Millerph followed, cautiously asking.
"What will you do with the Horcamun tribesman?"
"What did you think of him?"
"I was about to bring it up. He said he gave you a treasure called 'Raos'—do you have it?"
"The pinecone-shaped one?"
"Yes."
Millerph's eyes sparkled.
If he reacted like this, it wasn't just any gem.
"Want to see it now?"
"I think I've found a way for you to grow stronger faster."
"......!"
Arthur's eyes widened as he hurried to his room.
Once there, he opened the bedside table drawer and took out Raos.
"Here."
Millerph took Raos and examined it closely.
The deeply blue gem matched what he knew.
"Let me confirm."
He placed Raos on his palm and chanted runes softly, like murmuring to himself.
The gem glowed faintly.
'What is it?'
Arthur watched, arms crossed.
After a few seconds.
Unlike before, the gem shone brightly, sparking.
"This is it!"
It was what he'd seen when Blyzan attacked.
"As I thought!"
Millerph smirked meaningfully, dispelling the magic. He handed the gem back to Arthur.
"Try wearing it around your neck."
"Hm."
Curious but compliant, Arthur hung Raos around his neck.
The original necklace gleamed blindingly gold.
Raos responded, glowing deep blue.
The gems seemed to resist each other, then lightning sparked from Raos.
"What the—?"
Arthur glanced startled at Millerph.
Millerph extended a hand signaling to stay still and said.
"Use your mana."
Arthur drew out about 1-circle worth of mana.
But felt no difference.
"Keep raising it until there's a reaction."
Following Millerph's instruction, Arthur steadily increased his mana.
2 circles... 3 circles.
Then, as he drew all his power to reach 4 circles.
"......!"
Arthur's eyes widened.
Raos's light and lightning were sucked into the original necklace like absorption.
It lost its glow, crumbling to dust.
Instead, lightning sparked on Arthur's necklace, gold and deep blue twisting in a helix.
Zzzzt-.
Crack!
Sparks flew intensely, merging into one color.
Deeper than deep red.
Blood-red!
Millerph nodded heavily.
"As expected!"
"It's intriguing."
Arthur frowned, yanking off the necklace.
Sparks flew from his gripped hand, but he didn't flinch.
"Explain what happened."
"You've absorbed the sealed power in Raos."
"Sealed power?"
"Its owner is none other than Lord Rumakas."
"What?"
"All lightning power in this world can be seen as traces of the golden dragon, Lord Rumakas."
"Ah...."
"The necklace you're wearing was given by Lord Rumakas to Lord Teheran. It has the ability to absorb all his power. That's why I rushed here when I heard 'lightning' and 'spark' earlier."
"I see."
"Check it. Your mana should have increased."
"Hm."
Arthur solemnly drew his mana.
Up to 3 circles, it was the same. But entering 4 circles, sparks emanated from his body.
Power surged uncontrollably.
Yet it hadn't reached 5 circles; the fifth didn't form.
Regardless, he wanted to test it.
Arthur extended his right hand, visualizing it in his mind.
He wasn't sure if he could summon that, but even if not, he hoped for something surpassing the Benelli M1.
After a moment.
A golden object flowed from his hand, taking form.
But contrary to expectations, it was the K1 Rifle.
The difference: lightning swirled around it.
'Do I need 5 circles?'
Disappointment crossed Arthur's face.
Suddenly, intense energy stirred in his left hand.
"......!"
He quickly looked at his left hand.
A golden object began flowing from his palm.
"No way!"