Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Griffon's Fall
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Arthur unleashed a barrage on the griffon.
The beast, which had been stalking its prey, hurriedly gained altitude as the attacks poured in.
But it couldn't dodge the aura shot by Arthur.
Boom boom boom boom!
Aura blades embedded themselves countless times into one of its wings.
Kreeeaak!
Letting out an eerie screech, it plummeted downward.
Arthur quickly dashed forward and blew a sharp whistle.
Hiiiing-!
From somewhere, Kan's powerful howl echoed.
The creature soon appeared and raced toward Arthur.
Arthur swiftly mounted Kan and shouted to Drakan.
“Follow me!”
“Yep!”
Just as Drakan was about to pursue with Ron, someone suddenly climbed onto his back.
“Wh-what!”
He whipped around in shock.
It was the guy who had been with Arthur.
Jackal glared piercingly at Arthur and yelled.
“What are you doing? Go after him.”
“You bastard…”
Surprise, doubt, and rage swirled in his mind.
Ron growled furiously at the uninvited rider on his back.
Grrrrr-.
“Ron, let it slide for now.”
Given the situation, Drakan decided to follow Arthur as instructed.
“Go!”
Kraang!
Ron barked savagely and charged ahead with full force.
***
At that moment!
“Pursue it!”
Skevin raced toward where the griffon had crashed.
As Millerph turned to follow, he spotted Arthur charging out of the castle on Kan at breakneck speed.
Drakan and the Lanister Knight Order followed right behind.
“This is…”
It felt like a tidal wave of overwhelming momentum crashing down.
His heart pounded as if it might burst, and a fierce heat surged from deep within his chest.
It was the valiant sight of the Julius family he had only imagined.
“They're finally taking flight…”
Millerph greeted Arthur with a face full of ecstasy.
“My lord!”
Arthur, radiating a commanding presence, shouted.
“Follow me!”
Millerph trailed behind and asked.
“What happened?”
“No idea! It just showed up! If more of them come, can you hold them off?”
“For a while, yes.”
“Even more headaches here.”
“Pardon?”
Millerph tilted his head.
Ignoring his reaction, Arthur fixed his gaze ahead and continued.
“Then just defend. I'll handle the attacks. And Drakan!”
“Yes!”
Drakan, who had been following, pulled up beside him.
“You can deal with the ground monsters, right?”
“As long as it's not an awakened ogre.”
“Got it!”
Arthur kicked Kan hard, and it shot forward at tremendous speed.
Crashing through the dense forest, they reached the griffon's crash site.
The beast, with one wing drooping limply, spotted Arthur and let out a monstrous roar.
Kreeeaak!
“Shut up.”
Arthur mercilessly pulled the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The griffon sprayed thick green blood everywhere and flapped desperately, charging at Arthur while swinging its wing.
The massive wing sliced through the air with brutal force and sharpness.
Hiiiing!
Kan neighed angrily and dodged nimbly, prompting Arthur to yell.
“Charge!”
At his command, Kan lunged straight at the griffon.
Arthur quickly swapped his K1 for the shotgun Benelli M1.
“I'll tear you apart.”
He aimed at the beast's chest.
Bang!
Dozens of aura pellets slammed in.
The griffon screamed in agony and tumbled to the ground.
At the same moment, Skevin appeared.
“Die!”
He swung Excalibur, wrapped in deep blue aura, like lightning.
Slash-.
In one strike, the griffon's head separated from its body and hit the dirt.
Even headless, the body twitched as if still alive.
Arthur and Skevin scanned the surroundings while watching the scene.
After a moment.
Millerph and Drakan arrived, and the griffon finally went limp.
They all surveyed the area in dead silence.
Millerph activated Hawk Eye to scour every inch, while Arthur heightened all his senses to brace for incoming attacks.
Back on Earth, griffons led entire units.
Even ogres, called the strongest land monsters, followed their commands.
Wherever one appeared, the area turned into hell.
They were veritable incarnations of the devil, so extreme tension gripped them.
Suffocating silence stretched on.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
As Arthur cocked his head, Millerph cast Fly and ascended high into the sky.
He scanned the area beyond the foliage and descended before Arthur.
“No one's there.”
“But it's too soon to relax.”
Arthur turned to Drakan.
“Search the area.”
“Yes!”
Drakan ran to the knights and scattered them to begin the search.
Arthur walked to the griffon's corpse and examined its chest.
It was riddled with holes like a beehive.
This thing had scales tougher than armored vehicle plating. That's why it took machine-gun barrages to barely take one down.
For it to fall this easily, it must not have awakened.
“What luck.”
Arthur sighed in relief and looked at Skevin.
Skevin politely placed a hand over his left chest and knelt on one knee.
“Skevin Maximus hereby reports the fulfillment of the count's orders and returns.”
“What of the Horcamun tribe families?”
“They await outside the castle. Blyzan and the knights are monitoring the men brought by Yarve Count's knights at the border.”
“Who are they?”
“The Ventarr Merchant Group, they said.”
“A merchant group…”
Arthur pondered briefly, then nodded and placed a hand on Skevin's shoulder.
“Good work.”
“I have a report. We also brought the hostages captured alongside the Horcamun tribe.”
“See to it they reunite with their families.”
As Arthur turned to Millerph, Skevin replied in a firm voice.
“You should meet them. They're the eldest son of the Alpha family… nobles of the Namshar Empire.”
“What?”
Millerph, who had been silently listening, jumped in surprise.
Arthur, unfamiliar with the Namshar Empire, just stared blankly.
Millerph answered for Skevin.
“A family ruined for treason.”
“What?”
“I don't know why they're in the Oscar Empire, but if word of contact reaches the Namshar Emperor, things could get very serious.”
“Complications keep piling up.”
Arthur's face hardened.
Millerph shifted his gaze to Skevin.
“You knew that too, Sir Skevin. There must be good reason you brought them here.”
“Because of what they said.”
Arthur tilted his head.
“What did they say?”
“They asked if we saw them as devil worshippers. They claimed their family fell victim to the emperor's frame-up and pleaded their innocence.”
“...!”
It mirrored the Julius family's current plight exactly.
Skevin met Arthur's eyes and continued.
“I couldn't just ignore it, so I brought them here.”
“I understand.”
Arthur nodded and turned to Millerph.
“Did you know about this?”
“First I've heard. The world knows the Alpha family plotted rebellion and got exposed.”
“We need to meet them.”
Arthur turned and said to Millerph.
“You and Skevin head back first. Handle cleanup here.”
“Yes.”
After answering, Millerph cautiously asked.
“What do you plan to do after meeting them? Without proof, don't trust their claims.”
“What would you suggest?”
“Keep them out of the castle if possible. Make it short if you must. If Emperor Ruan finds out, who knows what happens next.”
“Fair enough. But if they're telling the truth?”
Arthur muttered to himself as he walked away.
“It'd be that guy's doing.”
***
“There they come.”
Herot, waiting at the castle gate with the knights for Arthur's signal, shouted.
Herot and the knights watched Arthur and Skevin's rear with grim determination, ready to charge if monsters pursued.
But their fears didn't materialize.
Herot sighed in relief and bowed deeply to the approaching Arthur.
Arthur nodded silently and eyed the long line of people and wagons.
Most were gaunt, bones showing, utterly exhausted.
Among them stood a group staring at him with intense gazes.
‘That must be them.’
Arthur approached.
Keda had wondered about the Julius count during the entire journey.
With loyal, powerful subordinates like Skevin, expectations were high.
But seeing him now was bewildering.
‘He's too young… but this presence…’
Arthur halted Kan before Keda and asked.
“Alpha family?”
Despite his youthful face, his deep voice carried immense power.
Up close, an oppressive aura pressed down, unapproachable.
Arthur, too, sensed an unfamiliar energy from him the likes of which he'd never felt.
It resisted fiercely yet oddly soothed him.
‘What is this?’
As Arthur focused his senses in curiosity, Keda naturally bowed to him.
“Greetings, Count of the Julius family. I am Keda Alpha, eldest son of the Alpha family, nobles of the Namshar Empire.”
“Is this your entire group?”
“Yes.”
Arthur stared coldly.
“Herot.”
“Yes!”
“Lock them in the underground dungeon.”
“Understood!”
Herot responded without hesitation and ordered the knights.
They swiftly surrounded and pressured the group.
Keda shouted in dismay.
“What is this?!”
Arthur replied with icy calm.
“I have no intention of welcoming traitors.”
“Damn it! I knew it!”
Keda glared murderously at Arthur.
“If you're handing us to the emperor, just kill us here!”
“I need to verify something first. Stay quiet, and I'll make it painless.”
Arthur retorted coldly and signaled Herot.
Once they were bound, Herot led them inside.
As Keda's group was hauled away, Skevin approached Arthur.
“Young master…”
“Not a word.”
Arthur replied curtly, gesturing with his eyes. Skevin nodded with realization dawning.
***
‘Not a fool.’
From atop the wall, a man in a dark brown robe observed silently, barely breathing.
He had followed Skevin from the Hazan stronghold to here.
‘No need to make another enemy in this situation.’
As he nodded, he felt Arthur glaring right at him.
“...!”
Startled, he cast Illusion Dark and vanished.
Minutes passed.
Only after Arthur and Skevin entered the castle did he reappear.
His face, hidden in the robe, was gravely tense.
‘He sensed me? No way…’
Arthur hadn't looked his way, but a ominous premonition told him otherwise.
If true, he had to report to his lord and alter plans.
‘Sword Master at that age… That makes two.’
The Julius family's strength exceeded expectations, shocking him.
He wanted to infiltrate for more intel, but fleeing now seemed wiser.
As he turned without regret.
A white-robed elderly man with white hair stood before him, smiling kindly.
“What are you watching so intently?”
“Damn! Fireball!”
The man grimaced and attacked.
Millerph didn't flinch, extending his open palm.
“Water Arrow.”
Unlike his gentle tone, a powerful water arrow shot forth.
It extinguished the fireball and pierced the man's chest.
“Gah!”
The man's eyes bulged.
A shock like his heart stopping hit, freezing him like a statue.
‘Th-this…’
Millerph approached calmly and checked the necklace around his neck.
As expected, Magic Tower affiliation.
Millerph stared at him, smile gone.
“You'll spill everything you know.”