Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Nighttime Intruder
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Thunk.
Arthur opened the door and entered the barracks.
The man nearest him shifted slightly at the moonlight slipping through the gap, then turned his back.
Arthur watched quietly for a moment before stepping forward, suppressing his presence as much as possible.
Lannister Knights slumbered soundly along both sides of the path.
He reached the end of the barracks, then turned to walk back toward the entrance.
That's when he sensed movement behind him.
"Who's there?"
A chilling voice rang out as someone charged at him.
Arthur spun around swiftly, blocking the incoming fist with his hand while slamming his shoulder forward.
Thud!
The man flew backward.
Crash! With the noise, the knights shot up in unison.
"Intruder!"
Tweet!
They blew whistles and rushed at Arthur, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
Arthur dodged nimbly, weaving left and right, while striking back.
One of them shouted.
"Block the escape route!"
The men moved in unison to seal off the path, completely blocking the entrance.
Others blocked the rear as well. Then they came at him from both sides, fists flying.
Sharp strikes came from all directions.
But to Arthur, with his heightened senses, they posed no threat at all.
He calmly evaded and countered.
As the fierce exchange raged on, some grabbed spears and thrust them mercilessly.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
They flew at him with terrifying speed.
Judging that blocking or deflecting with his hand would be too risky, Arthur spun into a back kick to parry, then shouldered into the man ahead.
Thud!
The foe tumbled back, tangling with his comrades and opening a gap in the path.
Arthur bolted like lightning toward the entrance.
"Where do you think you're going!"
The man directing them charged swiftly, unleashing a kick.
Arthur dodged sharply and threw a punch.
The man evaded the strike, then followed with another kick.
But the kicks kept coming continuously through the air, resembling a taekwondo aerial spin kick.
'What the hell?'
Slightly surprised, Arthur dodged one while raising his arm to block the rest.
Thwack! Thwack!
A heavy impact jolted his arm.
The man darted in close to his chest and kneed upward toward his chin.
Unlike the other knights, this one wielded his legs with masterful freedom.
But when even that attack failed, the man's face hardened.
'He dodged that too?'
In that brief hesitation, Arthur closed in and fired a front kick.
"......!"
His eyes widened at the lightning-fast strike.
The man crossed his arms in an X to block.
Thump!
A dull sound echoed as his face twisted.
'What kind of power is this!'
Arthur stepped lightly and unleashed a kick like a bolt of lightning.
Thwack! Thwack!
He struck each thigh once, then pushed off the ground, jumping into a back kick.
Bam!
"Keuk!"
The man floated into the air before crashing backward.
Thud!
While everyone stood stunned, Arthur slipped out of the barracks.
"Grab him!"
"Don't let him escape!"
By the time they poured outside, the intruder had vanished like smoke.
"Damn it! He's gone!"
"What kind of bastard sneaks in here?"
As grim expressions spread, Barcun—the one who had dueled Arthur one-on-one—emerged clutching his stomach.
Still reeling from the shock, he scanned the surroundings with a pained look.
"You okay?"
"Let's get you to the infirmary."
As comrades approached to support him, Barcun shook his head and stared piercingly at something.
Everyone's gazes followed his.
Giant Wolves slumbered peacefully there.
Only then did puzzled looks appear.
"Huh? Come to think of it, why didn't those guys react?"
"Yeah. They should've sensed the intruder. Even if not, we blew the whistles."
"Why'd they stay put?"
Questions filled their faces.
Arthur watched the scene silently from the rooftop of the building across the way. He committed to memory the faces of Barcun and a few others who had faced him.
Then he headed toward where the Horcamun tribesmen gathered.
Unlike other knight orders, they didn't reside in barracks. They had pitched tents in the open field behind the castle.
Having lived in camps for so long, they decided to adapt gradually.
Because of that, they reacted sharply even to minor noises. At this hour of deep sleep, they were all awake.
"No need to check it out?"
Bukas approached Alteon.
"Looks like it's settled, since things quieted down."
"What do you think happened?"
"We'll hear about it come morning."
Alteon turned and gestured to his comrades that it was nothing.
As the men headed into their tents.
"What's that guy?"
At Bukas's words, Alteon turned back.
A man in black garb approached calmly from the shadows.
Appearing masked at this hour, he clearly meant no good.
"Interesting."
Far from tensing, Alteon curled his lips.
Bukas grinned and nodded.
"That commotion was probably this guy's doing."
"And he flees right to us."
Alteon cracked his neck side to side, fiddling with his fists.
"Heh."
The men heading into tents smirked coldly, blocking the escape so Arthur couldn't flee.
'As expected.'
Arthur had come here instead of Phoenix or Del Knight Order for a reason.
Unlike barracks dwellers, these campers would react instantly to the slightest sound and all be awake.
He hadn't properly gauged their skills when they first met, busy with Blyzan.
He had watched their training field sessions by day, but real combat differed vastly.
Now was the perfect time to test their prowess.
'Start with those guys.'
Arthur charged at Alteon like an arrow.
'What?'
Alteon inwardly panicked at the man's unnatural speed.
He closed the distance in an instant and threw a punch.
"Damn!"
Alteon crossed his arms in an X over his chest to block.
Thump!
"......!"
The shock pierced to his bones.
It was the first such impact since Blyzan.
A kick followed to his face.
"Shit!"
He hurriedly raised his arms.
Thud!
He barely blocked, but the massive jolt made his upper body sway, forcing him to one knee.
"Alteon!"
Bukas drew a dagger from his waist and charged.
Swoosh!
The blade sliced air toward Arthur's heart.
"Huh!"
Arthur casually deflected the dagger with his hand and burrowed into Bukas's chest.
Thud!
"Keuk!"
Bukas crumpled after a single blow to the chest.
In the blink of an eye, their leaders fell. The men glared and charged en masse.
"Kill him!"
Fists and kicks flew from all sides.
Similar to the Lannister Knights' assault earlier, but the movements and murderous intent differed.
They were more agile and swift, pressed by a primal savagery felt only from beasts.
'Not bad.'
These were foes with the deadliest aura.
Arthur evaded and blocked their attacks while countering.
A tense one-against-many brawl unfolded.
About ten minutes in.
He spotted knights rushing with sentries from afar.
'Time to go?'
He vaulted the wall and slipped away.
Moments later.
Knights stormed the Horcamun camp.
"Where's the bastard?"
"Which way'd he go?"
Bukas, on the ground, grimaced and pointed at the wall.
"Don't let him get away!"
Lannister Knights bolted toward the wall.
One from Defen Knight Order approached Alteon.
"You got hit too?"
"Hit my ass."
Alteon glared, eyes bulging.
It was Huruma from Defen, similar in build but sharp-minded beyond his size.
"Asking that means you got taken down, huh?"
"We got played."
"Played?"
Doubt crossed Alteon's face.
Huruma silently watched Lannister Knights vault the wall.
'Who the hell is he?'
***
"Young Master!"
As Arthur checked his reflection and adjusted his clothes, Andrew burst in.
"What's the commotion this early?"
Andrew caught his breath before replying.
"An intruder hit each knight order's barracks last night, they say."
Arthur paused mid-mirror and looked at Andrew.
Meeting his eyes, Andrew swallowed hard and continued.
"No casualties, fortunately."
"What about the underground prison?"
"No issues. Only appeared in the knights' barracks."
"I'll check personally."
Pretending ignorance, Arthur left with Andrew.
Exiting the castle into the training ground, knights stood in formation.
Seeing vigilantes at the rear, it seemed all castle knights were assembled.
Herot stood on the platform, face grave as he eyed them.
Arthur decided to hear him out first.
Herot glanced at the affected orders.
"One intruder, confirmed?"
Heavy silence blanketed the field.
"Each barracks housed at least fifty, yet he slipped away."
Heads bowed in shame.
Herot narrowed his eyes and stated firmly.
"Phoenix Knight Order failed vigilance— all orders, no exceptions, full training."
The knights obeyed without a peep.
As Herot outlined the schedule, the captains arrived from a meeting.
Spotting Arthur at the entrance, they approached and bowed politely.
Arthur eyed Drakan and Hektro, then Alteon and Adlan.
"Intruder last night?"
"Yes."
As Hektro answered, Arthur continued.
"No damage suggests he failed his goal. Might return tonight."
"Planning 24-hour alert shifts. Won't escape this time."
"Confident, are we?"
"We repelled an army—why fear one intruder?"
Hektro brimmed with assurance.
"Carry on, then."
Arthur left after that.
They took his lack of rebuke as trust.
"We'll know who he is by tonight."
Drakan's eyes sharpened.
Alteon gripped his massive mace, picturing the foe.
"Show up in front of me again, and I'll smash your legs."
***
Leaving the training ground, Arthur climbed the ramparts and gazed west at the mountains.
The defensive wall wasn't visible yet, but once complete, it'd be in plain sight.
It blocked the monsters' main entrance, with instant reports in emergencies.
That would buy time to respond.
Plus, his abilities kept upgrading.
'If I secure that...'
Resolve hardened on Arthur's face when footsteps approached from behind.
'Right on time.'
Turning, he saw Dark bowing.
"Here, sir?"
"On patrol?"
"Yes. After discussing last night's intruder with the captains, we Devil Squad handle patrols during training."
"Rally your men. Things to say."
"Now?"
Dark knew him—this wasn't his style in crisis.
Yet his face wasn't grave, but bore a meaningful smile.
'What the...?'
Puzzlement hit Dark, then lightning flashed in his mind.
Seeing his eyes light up, Arthur smirked.
"Prepared special training for you."
"Yes, sir."
Dark descended swiftly.
Hah!
Hah!
Knights' shouts echoed powerfully across the training ground.
Strong and fierce.
But laced with venom unlike before.
Raw fury at the intruder.
Yet those untouched by last night brimmed with arrogance still.
The very ones who should assess coldly and tense up.
Arthur's eyes gleamed coldly.
'That shallow arrogance...'