Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Emissaries from the Julius Count Family
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***
“Milord, emissaries have arrived from the Julius Count Family.”
“What?”
Hattori, the lord of Aslan Territory, wore a slightly tense expression.
Mentu, the knight order captain, continued gravely.
“They call themselves emissaries, but they’re fully armed—like heralds ready for war.”
“Damn it! So our worst fears have come true.”
Hattori had anticipated that the territorial war between the Yarve Count Family and the Julius Count Family would affect the surrounding territories, no matter who won.
He had kept his knights in a constant state of wartime readiness, prepared to deploy at any moment.
“How many are there?”
“Ten in total. And every one of them is riding a monster.”
“A monster?”
“You should see for yourself.”
“Hngh.”
Hattori groaned and fell deep into thought.
Everyone had assumed the Yarve Count Family would naturally win the territorial war.
But their predictions had been wrong.
The problem was that all the neighboring territories had received favors or aid from the Julius Count Family at one point or another.
Trade had flourished and friendships had been forged in the past, but as the Julius family began to decline, contact had dwindled and territories had drifted away one by one.
Yet this unremarkable count’s family had defeated the Yarve Count.
Where had such power suddenly come from for a house that had barely clung to survival?
They had to be devil worshippers.
He didn’t know what they wanted from him, but they certainly had cause to speak.
Even if they had gained immense power from the devil, there was no need to fear those who had become the ‘common enemy’ of the Oscar Empire.
Hattori rose with a resolute expression.
“I’ll meet them myself. Have the knight order stand ready to sortie at any moment.”
A short while later.
Hattori climbed to the ramparts and gazed at the knights lined up in formation before the gates.
“Those are...!”
His eyes widened in shock.
The massive steeds ridden by men in black armor were Britannica monsters.
Their builds were incomparable to ordinary horses—enormous, with strength and speed said to surpass imagination.
To think they had tamed beasts that no human hand could ever subdue?
It could only be the devil’s power.
‘It’s true, then.’
Hattori’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“The knight order?”
Mentu, standing a step back, responded boldly.
“Just give the order.”
Hattori nodded and bellowed.
“Hear us, emissaries of the Julius Count Family!”
“……!”
Dark and the other Devil Squad members lifted their heads toward the voice.
On the ramparts stood a middle-aged man beside a knight in blue armor.
They instantly recognized him as Viscount Hattori and the knight order captain.
“We have no words for devil worshippers—begone!”
‘Just as expected.’
Dark ignored his reaction and delivered his message.
“We bring a message from Lord Arthur! Viscount Hattori, come down and receive it!”
“Lord Arthur? Who’s that?”
Hattori tilted his head and glanced at Mentu.
Mentu paused in thought, then frowned slightly as recollection dawned.
“Seems to be the youngest son of Count Malcolm.”
“The youngest son? That prodigal from Grada?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Now it all makes sense. This is all because of that wastrel.”
Hattori concluded that the Julius Count Family had fallen to the devil because of Arthur.
“Tell this wastrel lord! I, Hattori, would rather die than...!”
Bang!
“……!”
Hattori’s eyes bulged as he spotted a dagger embedded in the rampart’s railing where he stood.
Mentu, too, looked flustered by the sudden event.
But he quickly composed himself and examined the dagger in the railing.
Half the blade was buried deep.
It could have easily struck the viscount, but it hadn’t—a clear warning shot.
Moreover, no mere knight could hurl a dagger with such precision from that distance.
This was the work of at least a mid-level Sword Expert.
Perhaps even stronger than himself. The thought sent a wave of alertness crashing over him.
“Milord.”
Mentu gave him a meaningful look.
Hattori seemed to grasp the implication, his expression turning cautious.
He spoke decisively, as if resolved.
“Wipe them out.”
“Yes, sir!”
Mentu dashed down like a shot.
Dark watched him go with a meaningful smile.
“It’s going just as we wanted.”
Kassan and Mullan approached, flanking him.
“Millerph was right, wasn’t he?”
“I took a good look at their captain. He seems about Dark’s level. The rest is obvious.”
Mullan brimmed with confidence.
“Still, no room for carelessness. Crush them fast and end it quick.”
Their faces hardened with resolve.
Boom!
Rumble...
The firmly shut gates began to creak open.
Through the widening gap, knights in silver armor came into view.
Dark drew his sword from its sheath, and Kassan and Mullan gripped their own weapons tightly.
Soon the gates swung wide, and Mentu raised his sword high, shouting.
“Death to the devils!”
He led the cavalry charge.
Dark, Kassan, and Mullan spurred their mounts forward to meet them head-on.
From the ramparts, Hattori watched in bewilderment as only three rode out to meet them.
“What?”
The other seven hadn’t even drawn their swords—they stood like mere spectators.
It was blatant disdain for the Tasl Knight Order.
“Those bastards...!”
Fury boiled over in Hattori as he roared at the top of his lungs.
“Don’t let a single one escape—kill them all!”
“They’ll be seeing red soon.”
“This’ll be over in no time.”
Kassan and Mullan smirked, having sized up that most of the Tasl Knight Order were Sword Actor level.
Dark overtook the pair and called back.
“Take them alive as much as possible. I’ll start.”
He charged straight at Mentu.
Kassan and Mullan’s eyes turned icy as they followed close behind.
‘What the hell!’
Mentu’s face twisted at the Britannica up close—it dwarfed anything he’d seen from the ramparts.
The Tasl knights’ horses seemed like newborn foals by comparison.
But only three were charging!
The Tasl Knight Order outnumbered them three-to-one. He’d use that advantage to sweep them away in one go.
“Attack formation!”
At his shout, the knights following him spread out to the flanks.
As Mentu glared at the approaching Dark and prepared to issue attack orders—
The Britannica beneath Dark suddenly let out a piercing neigh.
Neiiigh!
Neigh!
Kreeee!
The Tasl knights’ horses reared in terror, bucking wildly.
Some wheeled around and fled back toward the castle.
Mentu’s black steed did the same.
It snorted madly, desperate to bolt.
“What’s wrong with you!”
Mentu yanked the reins tight, but the horse reared up on its hind legs in rebellion.
“Damn it!”
Thud!
Mentu tumbled from the saddle, rolling aside and gripping his sword.
Boom!
His rampaging black steed took a headbutt from the Britannica and flew backward.
“G-Good god...”
His jaw dropped at the monstrous strength.
The Britannica snorted fiercely, glaring down.
Mentu swallowed hard and looked up at its rider.
A chilling aura emanated from the man in black armor. A faint blue aura enveloped his sword.
At least mid-level Sword Expert.
‘Shit!’
On par with him—or better.
Dark leveled his sword at Mentu.
“Choose: surrender or death?”
“Mm...”
As knight order captain, pride wouldn’t let him back down easily.
He’d fight to the death if need be.
Mentu scanned his surroundings with a groan.
The Tasl Knight Order was crumbling under just two foes.
The Britannica were wild cards, but the other two were no slouches either.
One swung a sword with lethal sharpness—each stroke felled knights and horses alike.
The other wielded a massive bastard sword two-handed, swinging with brute savagery.
A single hit sent horse and rider tumbling with terrifying power.
Overwhelmed by sheer force, the knights couldn’t land a proper blow before being trampled.
But if the remaining knights joined in, even these powerhouses couldn’t hold.
The problem was the seven silently watching from behind.
They didn’t look weak either.
Two hundred knights wouldn’t fall to ten, but the casualties would be immense.
If word spread to neighboring territories, it’d bring not just dishonor but lifelong shame.
Better their deaths be glorious than known as dog’s deaths...
“Damn it all!”
Mentu dropped his sword and bowed his head.
Some Tasl knights gasped at the sight.
“C-Captain...!”
“No way!”
Mullan spotted Dark subduing the Tasl captain and bellowed like thunder.
“Hold!”
All movement froze. Then they looked where Mullan’s bastard sword pointed.
The Tasl knights stared at Mentu in stunned disbelief.
“By just three...”
“In an instant...”
Dark glanced around as Kassan and Mullan approached.
“Anyone hurt?”
“What, from that?”
“Real combat’s weaker than training? Bet those standbys are pissed.”
“Look—Latel’s glaring like he wants to eat us.”
Mentu swallowed at their banter.
‘Just who the hell are these guys?’
“How long you gonna sprawl there?”
Dark’s cold words snapped Mentu alert.
“Escort us to the viscount.”
“Y-Yes.”
Mentu rose and looked around.
His knights lay moaning in heaps or stared in dazed horror.
‘Nngh...’
He swallowed a groan and turned toward the castle.
As Dark and the Devil Squad entered, over a hundred knights watched with eyes mixed of shock and fear.
Overawed by the Britannica’s massive, ferocious presence and the Devil Squad’s overwhelming charisma, they couldn’t budge.
A few glared with open hostility.
But the Devil Squad spotted them like ghosts, subduing them with mere glances.
Only Dark dismounted to climb the ramparts with Mentu.
Atop the walls, Viscount Hattori sat slumped, pale with terror.
He’d been shattered watching his Tasl Knight Order collapse so pathetically.
Dark could guess his turmoil.
Fear of what came next had likely blanked his mind.
“Milord...”
Mentu approached, helping him up and leaning him against the wall.
“I’m sorry.”
No sooner had he spoken than Hattori dropped to his knees before Dark, clasping his hands in plea.
“P-Please, spare me.”
Mentu knelt beside him, bowing his head to Dark.
Dark pulled a scroll from Arthur from his breast and offered it.
“Take it.”
“W-What’s this?”
“Lord Arthur’s message.”
“Message...”
Hattori unfurled it hastily and scanned the contents.
His eyes snapped wide.
“W-What is this? A plot by the emperor? And uniting to defeat the Demon King—what?!”
“It says exactly that. Think it over carefully and decide.”
As Dark turned to descend, Hattori looked puzzled.
“What? You’re just leaving?”
“I told you—we’re emissaries delivering Lord Arthur’s message.”
“The Tasl Knight Order got smashed by you lot. You could seize this place anytime you wanted, regardless of my say.”
“That’s not our mission. Though your decision might change things.”
As he turned, a long trail of dusty fog caught his eye in the distance.
“What’s that?”
Dark’s brows furrowed.
Hattori and Mentu whipped around at his reaction.
Dozens of horsemen—racing this way.
A moment later, their forms emerged from the fog.
Crimson armor!
Eerily deep-red helmets evoking skulls.
Gold dragon emblems gleamed on their breastplates.
And they rode not horses—but Giant Wolves.
“The gold dragon...!”
Hattori’s eyes bulged.
That was the Julius Count Family’s symbol.
“Who are they! You slip away, and they sweep us clean?!”
Hattori roared in rage.
Dark looked closer: the knights gripped black spears.
The Lannister Knight Order!
At their fore, in the skull helm—Drakan.
“Why is he here?”