Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion
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When I first saw Giaf's autobiography, I thought it was unnecessarily detailed.
Looking back now, it felt truly grateful.
Lian entered the alley visible from the east gate with Kyle.
'Turn at the third corner from here,' he recalled.
The reason he remembered it so clearly was because of the memory of thinking, 'It's ridiculously detailed' back then.
After turning the third corner, Lian spotted a rundown shop without even a signboard.
Thud.
He pushed the door lightly, but it was locked.
Lian glanced back at Kyle.
"Think you can do it?"
"I'll give it a try."
Kyle's face was filled with curiosity about what was going on. But he didn't ask any more questions and, as requested, threw his body at the door with all his might.
Crash!
As expected of Kyle.
Lian wore a satisfied expression as the door shattered from the guy's body slam.
"Thanks, Kyle."
"No, but... is this okay?"
Of course not.
But this place had been abandoned for quite some time.
'The secret passage connected to the previous generation's Saleron Castle,' it said.
Well, he didn't need to find the secret passage.
What Lian was interested in was Giaf's bracelet stored inside.
"Kyle, keep watch outside for anyone coming."
"Ugh... Captain, you have to explain later."
"Thanks."
Kyle scratched his head and stepped out.
Left alone, Lian grinned and immediately began searching the shop interior.
'Let's see...'
It was just a plain space like a study.
Three tables. The walls were lined with bookshelves packed full, though the books were sparsely placed.
It looked like an ordinary place, but Lian knew.
That it was a space disguised as ordinary.
Lian began touching each book on the shelves one by one.
There was definitely a door connected to the secret passage here...
Click! Rumble...
The moment he pulled one book, something clicked, and an entire section of the bookshelf slid to the side.
And below it, a passage leading down.
'Found it!'
Lian descended immediately.
The stairs were short.
After going down fewer than twenty steps, magic stones embedded in the walls on both sides glowed faintly.
At the center of the space was something that looked like an altar.
Next to it lay several skulls, already turned pitch black, sprawled powerlessly.
Lian furrowed his brow at the sight of the skulls but soon noticed the small box on the altar.
"What the hell was this place...?"
A question popped into his head, but Lian cautiously reached out and opened the box.
A single letter.
Lian unfolded the paper and read the contents.
We have done everything we could.
Here, upholding the will of the Rikal God...
...
...
...
Even if our flesh perishes, our souls will eternally serve the Rikal God and remain in this place.
To the successor reading this letter.
Do not forget us.
"Rikal God?"
Rikal was the deity of a religious group that had completely vanished nearly a century ago.
He'd heard they were utterly destroyed because they conducted human experiments, and this was their hideout?
'A secret passage connected to Saleron...'
Did that mean Saleron was involved with those worshippers of the Rikal God?
Confusion hit him for a moment, but Lian quickly composed himself and scanned the surroundings. Come to think of it...
'Only the location of this place is mentioned, but no exact position for Giaf's bracelet.'
Giaf, that bastard.
He'd said it was a secret passage to Saleron, but changed his words.
Well, understandable.
Saying it was a secret hideout for a cult doing human experiments was too shocking.
Anyway...
"...That can't be it, right?"
A black bracelet on the wrist of a skeletal corpse.
No, it wasn't just the bracelet.
One of the other corpses even had a ring on its finger.
"Ugh... Creepy."
Artifacts from the skulls of devotees who worshipped the Rikal God.
Lian grimaced but rummaged through the skulls anyway, checking for anything useful.
However, aside from the bracelet and ring, there was nothing on the skulls that seemed ready to crumble at a touch.
Suddenly,
"..."
You know that feeling, right?
That gut sense that something's off, yet you absolutely have to do it.
Having obtained the bracelet and unnamed ring, Lian turned to leave but stared at the altar.
He didn't know what it was, but...
'Worth a shot?'
Lian drew the sword from his waist.
He still couldn't use aura yet, but...
"Hup-!"
Clang-!
Lian swung his sword hard at the altar.
Sparks flew, followed by a cracking sound as the altar split cleanly in two.
Inside the revealed hollow space was another black box.
The box's lid bore an image like wind blowing.
'The symbol for Rikal was wind, right...?'
Lian slowly opened the box.
Inside was a pair of gloves.
Fingerless gloves that covered only up to about half the fingers, made of plain black leather with no special design.
The features were their extreme thinness and the identical wind pattern engraved on the back of the hands as on the box lid.
"Do these have some special power too...?"
He'd check later.
Feeling he'd delayed too long, Lian hurried back up.
"Oh right, these too."
On the way, he even carefully pried off all the glowing magic stones.
Each one was worth dozens of gold.
Rumble.
Shortly after the door closed,
"Captain, someone's coming!"
"Let's go."
"What were you doing in there?"
"I'll tell you later."
Lian brushed off Kyle's question and returned with him to the main force.
Unexpectedly, he'd obtained not just the bracelet, but a ring and gloves as well.
He had no clear idea of their abilities, but...
'First things first, survive tomorrow.'
It was a fight with no turning back.
And there would likely be many casualties.
Since it was a battle they couldn't avoid anyway, he planned to seize what he wanted amid it all.
"Get your resolve firm."
"Yes."
On the way back, Kyle nodded at Lian's words.
* * *
As dawn broke, the soldiers began combat preparations.
They formed the kingdom army's signature formation and bustled about until the advance trumpet blared loudly.
Bwoooo-!
With the sound, the kingdom army formed ranks and began to move.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Each step made the ground tremble.
The Eagle Company, integrated into the 2nd Battalion's formation, also formed a square shield wall.
The kingdom's strongest combat formation.
It allowed no enemy attacks while delivering one-sided strikes.
Within the Artian Kingdom, some called this formation the strongest.
But Lian knew its weakness.
The kingdom's shield wall displayed overwhelming dominance when crushing foes with superior numbers.
Inevitably so, as over a hundred men with massive tower shields covering from knees to chins formed a single unbreakable shield.
They blocked enemy attacks, then lowered shields to thrust spears.
But that was only against equals or weaker foes showing 'overwhelming' power.
'Against high-attack enemies, it crumbles like a sandcastle.'
And the barbarians they faced now were like sharp blades with all stats poured into offense.
If they held, victory would be easy, but...
'If they don't...'
The concentrated shield formation would collapse in an instant, leading to massive casualties the moment it did.
"Kyle, Arthur."
"Yes."
"Speak, Squad Leader."
Kyle and Arthur were the strongest in the 6th Squad.
Lian looked at them and said,
"If the formation ever breaks, we'll form our own and fight separately."
Kyle and Arthur would guard front and rear, while the other four paired up to block flanks.
"And I'll provide cover from a step back."
"What about me, Squad Leader?"
Isaac, whose role was undecided, asked Lian. He pointed to the two swords at the guy's waist.
"Go wild."
"...Pardon?"
"Prepare. We're moving out."
Soon, platoon leaders and other officers emerged.
Lian and his squad watched them with rigid discipline.
Baron Biovan, commander of the 2nd Battalion, ascended the platform and swept his gaze over the waiting soldiers.
In the now-silent surroundings, he spoke.
"I know this battle seems somewhat reckless."
Many had complaints about this fight from the start.
Understandably, since holding the castle would lead to easy victory.
Thus, they needed justification.
"But the enemy has taken unexpected heavy losses. We could just hold and take the easy path, but I'm not satisfied with merely watching those barbarians retreat."
Clang!
Baron Biovan drew and raised his sword.
"Every year, those savages make our kingdom's people tremble in fear and suffer great losses! Here and now, we'll make an example of these two thousand barbarians, issuing a stern warning so they never dare eye this place again!"
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
Drums sounded with his words, building the atmosphere.
As the front officer stabbed his spear into the ground—thud! thud! thud! thud! thud!—soldiers followed suit, morale soaring.
"We'll turn this into a perfect victory and return home! On the road home, your hands will carry glory beyond any price!"
"Waaaaah-!"
"Waaaaah!"
With Baron Biovan's shout, soldiers' roars erupted like thunder.
Soon, he mounted his waiting horse.
Soldiers parted to make way around him.
"For the glory of the Artian Kingdom!"
"For the glory of the Artian Kingdom!"
"Advance-!"
Bwoooo-!
The trumpet pierced the sky as the kingdom army marched.
At the same time,
"They're coming to attack here?"
"Yes, unless they've gone mad...!"
"Hahaha..."
Galrel burst into incredulous laughter at his subordinate's report.
As he rose, blood seeped from the bandages on his leg.
"Are you alright?"
"This scratch? Think I'd care?"
Compared to the wound to his pride, this was less than a scrape.
Galrel picked up his axe leaning nearby.
"Prepare all warriors."
"Already done."
Galrel nodded at his subordinate's words.
They'd lost the first battle.
He admitted it.
But that didn't mean they could be ignored enough for the enemy to come out to the field for a head-on clash.
"The gods are giving us a chance to avenge that first battle's humiliation."
Then they would take it.
By severing heads and bathing in blood. And one more thing,
'That brat...'
The one who'd wounded his leg—he'd tear into dozens of pieces and devour.
Galrel's fury-filled eyes gleamed murderously.