119. Bring Them
“No.”
Berge shook his head.
“First time I've seen you.”
“You really have no recollection of me?”
Daphne leaned in closer.
“None.”
“Really?”
As if. They'd crossed paths twice before.
He'd looked down on Daphne from the tower's power when she'd come right up to its doorstep searching for it, and he'd run into her again while raiding the Hildean nobles' secret vault with Ernan.
But both times, Berge and Ernan had hidden their faces as much as possible under robes.
“You're getting on my nerves. You picking a fight?”
“Lord Daphne. Lord Fail is my comrade. Any more rudeness won't be tolerated.”
“...If that's the case, my apologies. Must've been a mistake on my part.”
Yet her energy felt familiar.
He muttered suspiciously to himself and turned away.
Need to be careful.
She'd never seen his face directly, so she'd sensed his energy. At minimum, he'd have to keep his aura tightly suppressed while this subjugation continued.
“When did you meet Daphne?”
“Never.”
Berge shook his head at Hillun's whisper.
“Really?”
“You wanna die?”
“Ahem, no, sir.”
“Oh. And there's another Star...”
“Why are you looking at me like that? ...Hold on.”
Rozel's face crumpled. Right then, a woman with blue eyes and blue hair landed lightly.
“That damn bitch Aina?”
“Still calling my name so crudely, I see.”
Her face was hideous.
A seductive laugh rang out. Passing Daphne, she flashed a smile at Hillun and Berge.
“Hero Hillun Kargil. First time meeting in person. I'm Aina Diaphrin.”
“A pleasure. Hillun Kargil. It's an honor to meet the famed water mage in the flesh.”
“They said you had a silver tongue, and it's true? Quite different from the gorilla next to you.”
“Why beat around the bush if you wanna die?”
Flames surged. At the same time, a spray of water erupted. Just before the clashing elemental forces could collide, Hillun and Daphne disrupted the mana flows.
“I get that you two don't get along, but mind the time and place?”
“There are royals right in front of you.”
At those words, Rozel Charnt gnashed her teeth and canceled her spell.
“I was just reflexively defending myself from the start?”
Aina shrugged.
“And who's this one?”
“Fail.”
“Rozel's man, right?”
“...What'd you say?”
“Ah, just a figure of speech. I always wondered just how impressive a human's mana could be.”
This is the real deal. No wonder Rozel and the Akan Kingdom are so obsessed.
“Just like the rumors—a true spirit. Kinda unsettling that she's like a fire spirit of all things, but how do you even get mana like that?”
Pure mana transformed a spell's density and quality. Greater amplification, faster casting, perfect efficiency.
It was no wonder mages—no, everyone who handled mana, knights included—obsessed over purer mana.
“Should I tell her?”
“Probably best if you do.”
“Scram.”
“If you won't say it here...”
Aina approached slowly. Her pale hand stroked Berge's shoulder. Her blue eyes gazed deeply into his.
“How about you tell me somewhere else? I'm fine anywhere.”
It was a flirtatious lure.
“Is this how you usually get what you want?”
“Depends on who I'm dealing with?”
The hand on his shoulder slid softly toward his cheek. Berge slapped it away.
“Doubt you're even in my league.”
“Don't you know who I am?”
“Should I?”
“You act like you don't, but...”
Her eyes curved into a smile.
“Fine. I don't wanna cling to someone who hates me anyway.”
“Singing your own praises and tooting your own horn.”
“Cold guys to the end aren't all that appealing.”
“Clingy, trashy girls to the end aren't either.”
“...You're the first to treat me like this.”
“What's with that cringey dramatic tone? Not embarrassed saying it yourself?”
“Other guys were losing their minds over it?”
“Quit bothering me and get lost.”
“Well, the gorge is big, and opportunities are plenty.”
Aina left with a regretful look. Daphne followed after her.
“They don't get along, huh?”
“Yes.”
“They ain't dragons—surely not just 'cause one's fire and one's water?”
“...There are other reasons too, but yeah, that's the root of it.”
“What a shitshow.”
“Can't deny their skills, though.”
“That much is obvious.”
She was on par with the great mage Rozel Charnt. Meaning Aina too was a grand mage with seven engravings.
That was when it happened.
“Monsters...?”
An ogre leaping down the gorge side turned into a charred husk mid-fall.
The mercenary who'd spotted the monster attack gaped in shock.
Not enough, apparently—fireballs rained down on distant monsters.
Disaster unfolded before the trolls' eyes.
“Looks like they're pissed.”
“At least they won't half-ass the fighting.”
He hadn't liked their sloppy work with no pay on the line, but this was fine.
“Might wanna pit those two against each other again right before we hit the center.”
“Are you the devil?”
“Devil's just what humans call demons out of fear.”
Berge smirked in satisfaction.
“You've spent a fortune.”
The third prince muttered after checking the second prince's forces.
“No reason not to spend what's overflowing.”
It was impossible to guess how much he'd poured into hiring over a thousand mercenaries.
And they weren't some half-baked bunch either.
“Is that so?”
“You gonna toss the throne just to skimp on merc pay?”
“Why do you wanna be emperor?”
“Funniest thing—thinking you need a reason to become emperor.”
The second prince pulled jerky from his pocket and chewed.
“With that mindset, why not bow out? Hand over your noble backers, and I'll secure your retirement.”
“I can't force them. And I have no intention of quitting.”
“Hillun Kargil sought you out and hid you for ages. What'd you prep in that time?”
“Ask big brother—he'll tell you.”
“So you prepped something for the undead. Dumped it on the guys who ambushed you?”
“Yes.”
“Kuhaha, now I'm dying to see that damn brother's face.”
Jerky crumbs flew with his flippant laugh. Martin brushed the bits off his face without a change in expression.
“You do know the way, right?”
Floyan glanced back at Hillun.
“Ever driven a carriage?”
“What're you on about?”
“Coachmen say: If no word, keep straight.”
“What bullshit is that?”
“We just keep going straight. If we need to turn, Hillun Kargil will say.”
“Good, then... but...”
“Don't worry. I'll make sure you don't regret teaming with me. Isn't that the main reason?”
“Hm, you are sharp. Daphne Philian finds paths quick, but still lags behind a guy who knows the way like Hillun Kargil.”
Surprising, though.
“No clue why, but I figured Hillun Kargil would stick to you since he came straight to you. But how'd you recruit Rozel Charnt? Money alone wouldn't move her.”
“She doesn't care about money.”
“I know that. What did you offer?”
“Secret.”
There wasn't much to tell anyway. He hadn't been the one to recruit Rozel Charnt.
“Brotherly advice: No secrets between siblings.”
“Can you tell me the Blue Rose Merchant Guild's secret vault location?”
“Tch, you used to be cute enough to keep around back then.”
“You always tried to make me your underling...”
Thwip—
An arrow whistled through the air.
Clang—
The second prince's guard knight swatted it away.
“...”
That was the signal. Dozens of arrows poured down. Boulders tumbled from the gorge above, smothering them.
“Ambush!”
“Defend!”
Mages threw up barriers over the royals and nobles. Soldiers raised shields against arrows; knights battered falling rocks aside.
“Which bastard...!”
“Your Highness! You alright?”
“Fine—drag those fuckers here and make 'em kneel!”
“As you command!”
The second prince's knights and mercenaries charged after the attackers.
“They took the bait, the fools.”
Rozel Charnt, itching for payback, shot into the air. Brilliant flames lit the gorge red.
“After two battles, Marlene stopped bothering me. Those are big bro's dogs chasing you, right?”
“Yes.”
“Makes sense. Felt too slow with Hillun Kargil here.”
Tch—the second prince clicked his tongue.
“Brotherly advice: Arrogant pricks gotta be wiped out root and stem. Mercy just makes 'em pests.”
“I know.”
“Knowing and not doing makes you the world's biggest idiot.”
“Exterminating them would delay us too much.”
“Then I'll handle it this time. Call it a gift for our temporary alliance.”
You're guiding well enough.
Soon after, Daphne returned from chasing the attackers and stood before Floyan.
“Duke Daphne.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Take all the mercenaries. Can you hunt them to the last?”
“No one escapes my sight. Especially not in a monster-infested hellhole like this.”
“Love the confidence. Hope your skills match.”
“At least worth every coin you paid.”
“Likely Osrian ducal knights?”
“Mercs outshine knights in places like this. And above all, you've got me.”
“Good.”
“Your Highness! Forgive me, but sending all after them...”
The guard knight urgently stopped Floyan, who snorted in understanding.
“Better sure than sloppy. And I know my brother better than that. Right?”
“Of course.”
“Even if not, are my knights that weak?”
“No, Your Highness!”
“We'll guard you with our lives!”
Daphne led the second prince's army after the attackers. Rozel Charnt, unfinished with her venting, joined in.
“We keep moving. They'll catch up.”
A week later, a dust-caked Daphne Philian returned.
“Didn't wipe them all. But nature will.”
Only remnants of the White Lion Knights survived, having entered a zone of far superior monsters and given up the chase, Daphne explained.
“Contact's cut off?”
“Yes.”
“Floyan and Martin teamed up, Daphne Philian led the pursuit. And that's it.”
Rufus showed clear displeasure.
“White Lion Knights only bring me disappointment.”
Even with Daphne Philian, the Boldervoph marquisate elites, and mercenaries combined.
They had the White Lion name, yet such a letdown.
“What now?”
“Doesn't matter. Race is already over.”
Disappointing as they were, the White Lion Knights hadn't done nothing.
They'd delayed the third prince plenty, and even after the princes allied, tricked the second into sending his whole force chasing—boosting monster pressure.
That was enough.
At least until now—they hadn't arrived.
“Marlene. Don't get in my way this time.”
“Hmph, hope you don't, First Prince.”
Marlene Jespain, with long golden hair to her waist, glared at Rufus.
Rufus stared ahead instead of replying.
Thousands strong. A massive horde of white skeletons awaited them.
“Interesting.”
He'd suspected from the fort lord's guide—fewer monsters than usual—but seeing it was different.
Infuriating and annoying.
“Duke.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The great hero bowed.
“That boast from before still hold?”
“Of course.”
“That's a lot.”
“No matter the number, they're just undead.”
“Reliable.”
“Your Highness, we're here too. We'll slaughter them all and bring the warlocks' heads to you.”
The knights clamored their loyalty.
“Perfect.”
“Enough loyalty contest—how about we fight? They're already at our throats.”
Marlene rolled her eyes.
“Hear that?”
At once.
Boom—
The great hero kicked off the ground. Massive aura surged along his greatsword.
One swing collapsed a swath of undead.
Impossible to believe one human did that.
“Go. Bring me their heads.”
The first prince crossed his arms. Marlene shook her head and led the knights in a charge herself.