Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Sound the Trumpet First (3)
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“Siadin, this is the meeting spot, right?”
Silvia Platier, her striking platinum short hair catching the eye, asked with her green eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Siadin of the Platinum Grass tribe, who had emerged from the forest to serve as her bodyguard thanks to her high elf bloodline, scratched his chin and double-checked the map.
“Definitely. The rendezvous point is here.”
“But why is there no one in sight?”
Silvia muttered under her breath. There were two possibilities here. First, they might have come to the wrong place, just as she’d initially suspected. But Siadin had confirmed the map, and Silvia herself didn’t believe they were lost.
After all, she was the Platinum Grass tribe’s finest guide, whom the 2nd Prince had brought along even at the risk of earning the World Tree’s enmity.
[Forerunner.]
The grand title she would one day earn while fighting at the protagonist’s side. Unlike the 3rd Prince, the 2nd Prince had a keen eye for talent.
“This must be the second case, then...”
She hoped it wasn’t.
“I admit defeat, so please stop teasing and show yourselves.”
Silvia’s eyelids twitched. It was a humiliating admission. But it had the desired effect.
One by one, figures clad in black emerged from the shadows.
Though their faces were masked, Silvia knew they were the 2nd Prince’s men.
“Can’t even sense presence this faint?”
“Really makes you wonder why His Highness the 2nd Prince dotes on such a frail elf.”
The assassins mocked her right to her face.
“You must endure.”
She was furious. So many retorts bubbled up. But she couldn’t voice them.
As she bit her lip until blood seeped out, Siadin stepped forward two paces from behind her and whispered just loud enough for her alone to hear.
Her emotions, on the verge of erupting like a volcano, cooled in an instant at his worried tone. She couldn’t afford to show anger here.
For the World Tree’s sake, she had to hold back. Right now, the 2nd Prince was the only one holding the key.
‘I’m a doll without emotions.’
She whispered it to herself like a hypnotic suggestion. For the World Tree. For her tribe. For the forest.
She had to become a marionette dancing on strings.
“You’ve heard the basics, I assume?”
A man stepped forward amid the barrage of jeers, his leather armor adorned with a silver badge marking his commander rank.
She wanted nothing more than to nod and escape the assassins’ mocking stares, but she couldn’t.
She’d been told next to nothing.
Heading to the Black Mountains to strike the 5th Prince—that was the extent of it.
“If you’d share even a little of the plan, it would greatly aid the guiding.”
Silvia bowed her head low. With the 2nd Prince holding the World Tree’s leash, she had no choice.
Siadin ground his teeth as he watched a noble descendant of high elves humble herself before a mere assassin commander.
It was a rare sight, her showing such deference. Yet he kept his eyes fixed, committing it to memory.
How the powerless fared.
“How much do you know?”
Blatant condescension. Silvia’s smile wavered for a split second. But she’d been at this long enough. She quickly regained her faint smile and cast her gaze downward.
She was used to abasing herself.
“Just that we’ll strike the 5th Prince in the Black Mountains.”
“Hmph. That’s all the info you need.”
“But is it really just the 5th Prince? I heard the Azure Tower Lord and Crimson Tower Lord are by his side.”
The two towers might not match the Ice Tower of Highfel, but they were prestigious names in the Philius Empire.
And with a former high knight turned Guard Captain at his side—even if one-armed—the 5th Prince’s forces weren’t to be underestimated.
“That’s not your concern.”
An assassin beside the commander spat irritably.
But how could it not be?
If these men were annihilated, Silvia—who had guided them—wouldn’t escape unscathed.
“No, the elf should know.”
The assassin commander spoke calmly to his subordinate. His gaze settled on Silvia.
“We’ll link up with reinforcements in the Black Mountains. With their help, assassinating the 5th Prince is far from impossible.”
“I see. Thank you for telling me.”
There were no details, but Silvia easily guessed the “reinforcements” were Edriger Kingdom’s Hashashin.
“Guide us to the best of your ability. Then you might live out that long elf lifespan of yours.”
Silvia nodded with a sweet smile at the commander’s icy words.
Hidden behind it was a cruel blade, but the man before her didn’t notice. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Imperial Guard, assemble!”
At Gestain’s bellow, over twenty guardsmen gathered around their lord, 5th Prince Raymond Philius, radiating sharp killing intent.
“The Azure and Crimson Towers’ combat units are ready.”
Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle stated calmly. Thirty-two mage knights and mid-to-high mages from the two towers stood in formation, provided for the 5th Prince’s border journey.
Originally thirty-nine, but seven had perished in the Black Mountains.
“The Imperial Army takes point!”
Imperial Army commander Kasias roared. A hundred Imperial soldiers advanced. All that remained was the order to march.
He slowly raised his right hand. Then turned his head, glancing back. At the edge of his gaze, Marquis Creyer and his knightly house nobles had all exited the central city gates to see Raymond off.
“Your Highness the 5th Prince! You must return!”
In the solemn air, Kron—the marquis’s eldest son and heir—shouted himself hoarse. Touched by his son’s earnest cry, Marquis Creyer gave a faint smile and spoke.
“House Creyer awaits Your Highness the 5th Prince’s safe return.”
With that, he drew his sword to his chest.
“Knight Order!”
“Draw swords!”
The knights arrayed behind Marquis Creyer unsheathed in unison. The knight house nobles likewise drew blades without hesitation or placed their right fists over their hearts in salute.
“We stand at Your Highness the 5th Prince’s back! Remember us!”
“I won’t forget your loyalty.”
He turned forward again.
“All forces, advance.”
His voice was steady yet brimming with authority. Though they headed once more into the perilous Black Mountains, not a single soul among the guards, tower combatants, or hundred Imperial soldiers voiced complaint.
“Imperial Army, move out.”
About an hour in, a horn blast echoed from afar, drawing nearer. Five hundred cavalry led by Creyer territory banners appeared.
“I’m Rank, commander of Creyer Territory’s 11th Cavalry. We’ll escort Your Highness safely to the border.”
No mention of territory forces joining as escort—a small courtesy from Marquis Creyer.
Refusing would be rude, so Raymond smiled and merged with the 11th Cavalry.
True to their word, they escorted his party safely to the border.
Once the territory forces withdrew, border cavalry took over guidance to the Black Mountains. But even they turned back at the foothills.
“May boundless glory follow Your Highness the 5th Prince!”
Had they heard tales of his feats? The border cavalry commander turned with evident regret, repeatedly wishing Raymond luck.
“Never thought I’d return to the Black Mountains.”
Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior grumbled, though a faint smile played on his lips.
Raymond nodded wordlessly and pulled a map from his bosom.
“Two days to the 7th outpost...”
“Planning to lay the board there?”
“What to do with an old man whose memory’s that shot? We already settled it back at Creyer’s castle.”
“Just confirming.”
Leaving the muttering Risefield behind, Raymond summoned Kasias and designated the route. The Imperial Army led the way.
It took two days to reach the 7th outpost, just as Raymond predicted. They clashed with orc packs twice en route, but the presence of two high mages kept Imperial losses light.
“We’ve arrived at the 7th outpost.”
“By order of His Highness the 5th Prince, we camp here.”
The Imperial officer reported. Kasias nodded and relayed the command to his subordinates. The soldiers moved with crisp efficiency.
The 7th outpost garrison had suffered catastrophic losses from Free Ishiria Kingdom attacks and withdrawn, leaving it vacant.
Even for a short stay, it needed basic maintenance.
“How long for setup?”
“Most facilities intact—shouldn’t take long. With mage support, everything in two hours.”
Kasias replied to Risefield Dior.
Magic was truly wondrous. Without the mages, Imperial soldiers alone would’ve taken three or four times as long.
Night fell once setup completed. Raymond summoned his close aides to his tent.
“As discussed at Creyer’s castle, uninvited guests will arrive soon.”
Raymond spoke coolly. He didn’t name them outright, but those gathered likely knew.
“Not ‘soon’—I’d say tonight.”
“Oh? Does the Crimson Tower Lord have grounds for that?”
Raymond showed interest.
“Long march ends at destination, sweet rest as reward. Sentries posted, sure—but the troops will relax inevitably.”
Kasias shot a sharp glance at the ‘troops relaxing’ bit, but Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle brushed off the look grazing his cheek.
“Go on.”
“They won’t pass up the chance.”
Indeed, in the darkness, uninvited guests already lurked with murder in their eyes. Berenus’s prediction was spot on. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Forerunner, Silvia Platier. Even in the Black Mountains, she guided the assassins safely using spirit power.
From the join point with Edriger Kingdom’s Hashashin, it was normally two days to the 5th Prince’s 7th outpost. But Silvia found shortcuts, arriving in just six hours. Still, the assassins’ gazes toward her remained frigid.
“There’s the 5th Prince’s flag.”
The Hashashin squad leader, newly joined in the Black Mountains, was first to spot the banner fluttering over the outpost’s central grand tent.
A royal standard wasn’t for just anyone. The 5th Prince was surely there. The assassins’ eyes gleamed predatorily, like hunters sighting ripe prey.
“Stealthily—surround them.”
The Hashashin squad leader murmured softly, flashing hand signals. The Hashashin moved first, followed by the 2nd Prince’s assassins dispersing orderly around the 7th outpost.
“What should I do?”
The assassins were on the move. So what now? Silvia asked the one guarding her side. If only he’d say she could leave... But that was a pipe dream.
“Once it’s done, secure the escape route fast. Stay put.”
As if to keep watch, three assassins remained nearby. Silvia let out a short sigh at reality’s stubborn refusal to bend, while Siadin bit his lip until it bled.
“Neutralize the sentries first.”
With the Edriger Hashashin’s arrival, command shifted to them. As the squad leader signaled and muttered, the 2nd Prince’s assassins hurled hidden weapons at the outpost fence sentries.
“Gahk!”
“Argh!”
Red-uniformed Imperial soldiers crumpled—the cue for the assassins’ deadly dance to begin.
“Infiltrate.”
Hashashin and 2nd Prince assassins vaulted the fence into the outpost en masse. Their shadowy ballet pierced the night’s veil—stealthy, lethal.
But something felt off?
Only after felling fifteen more Imperial sentries did the Hashashin squad leader realize.
“Th-this...”
The fallen soldiers dissolved into the air like mirages.
“Illusions!”
This was a trap. As he opened his mouth to warn, a white flare rocketed skyward, illuminating the dark night.
“The 5th Prince... to think he’d go this far...”
The Hashashin squad leader gnashed his teeth. A chill ran down his spine at the 5th Prince’s fearsomeness.
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