Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: 15. The One Who Walks Ahead (3)
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"Captain Ivan Lows of the Imperial Capital Guard has assembled twenty guardsmen and fifty capital defense troops. If the surveillance team's really just five as the high elf bloodline claims, subduing them shouldn't be difficult."
The Crimson Tower Lord, Berenus Kyle, spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone gathered in the command tent to hear clearly.
Among them were Raymond's subordinates, the two tower lords, and even Silvia and Siadin.
"Thank you, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
Silvia bowed her head in gratitude. She was quick on the uptake, always knowing the right words to say based on the mood.
"The rescue isn't over yet, and we haven't purified the World Tree either. It's too early for thanks."
He spoke flatly, but the sight of the high elf bloodline's clear green eyes sparkling with unspoken appreciation shook Raymond's composure for a brief moment.
'That expression is just another illusion she's crafted to manipulate me.'
His heart reacted sensitively, but his mind knew better. That was why Raymond forced his reason to stay ice-cold.
"I still wanted to offer my thanks."
Watching Silvia pour out her innate high elf charm—unlike how she'd acted under the 2nd Prince—Raymond shook his head with a short sigh.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince, must you really go all the way to the Blue Forest yourself?"
It was the Azure Tower Lord, Risefield Dior.
"It's already decided."
Raymond replied firmly.
"I heard Desia and Captain Gestain will escort you."
Silvia and Siadin were set to go too, but apparently, to Risefield, the two elves didn't even qualify as escorts from the start.
As Raymond nodded calmly, Risefield's eyes narrowed.
"Why not send me or the Crimson Tower Lord instead, and have Your Highness stay here to command the Imperial Army?"
It was a perfectly reasonable suggestion, but Raymond shook his head and spoke.
"No. If you or the Crimson Tower Lord go to the Blue Forest, it'll spark friction with the elves."
The elves harbored a deep 'aversion' to the Crimson Tower, specialists in fire magic. And since they'd been threatened by the 2nd Prince's men, introducing yourselves as from the Philius Empire's Crimson Tower would only deepen their hatred.
Sending the Azure Tower Lord, master of water and ice magic, was an option too—but as a leader of the Philius Empire's mage towers, he'd still draw plenty of elven ire, if not quite as much.
"You know that, yet you're saying you'll go to the 'Blue Forest' with just two escorts?"
"That's exactly why I'm going."
Raymond's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Don't worry too much."
Even declaring he was heading into the jaws of death, Raymond didn't lose his characteristic poise. Risefield found him both admirable and frustrating.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince..."
"They still can't handle the blood of the Philius Empire's imperial heir."
After the assassination attempt, Raymond had ordered Cassius—the Imperial Army commander—to pull the troops back. The 5th Prince's forces, made up of a hundred Imperial soldiers and dozens from the mage towers, had retreated to the rear border.
It was to regroup at a relatively safe border fortress, in case of a second attack.
"Message from Imperial Capital Guard Captain Ivan Lows. The surveillance team has been eliminated, and one elf secured and is under protection."
Upon receiving the report from Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle, Raymond acted immediately. Preparations were complete.
"Move out."
At Raymond's cold command, Desia and Gestain appeared, each with a small enchanted backpack, followed by the two elves.
While the Imperial Army set up camp, five shadows slipped out of the old border fortress under cover of darkness. They mounted warhorses Cassius had prepared and rode for three hours, putting some distance between them and the fortress. Silvia, leading the way, turned her head back and spoke.
"I'll use the Blessing of the Wind from here."
The spirits' blessings were skills only some elves could wield. The Blessing of the Wind, which lightened the body and reduced air resistance, was especially useful for travel.
"O wind..."
Silvia whispered softly into the air, and gusts of wind energy gathered around them.
Raymond had read about it in the setting documents, but seeing it in person was a first for him too. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he watched the winds converge.
Once the wind fully enveloped their group, the horses' speed visibly increased. And so, they galloped nonstop toward the Blue Forest.
How long had they ridden? Three days later, they reached the forest's outskirts.
"Haa, haa."
Silvia was the one panting heavily. Her face had gone from pale to ashen.
She'd maintained the Blessing of the Wind nonstop for three days straight, burning through her mana at an insane rate.
Raymond, riding right behind her, had suggested breaks several times upon seeing her sway unsteadily.
"My clan is in danger. We have to hurry."
But Silvia just repeated those words like a soulless doll.
He could understand her urgency. The 2nd Prince wasn't an idiot.
He'd have heard about his subordinate Aria's rescue by now and likely sent men to the Blue Forest in retaliation.
'Hope the Platinum Herb clan's elders are sharp enough.'
The World Tree's barrier protected the elf village. The 2nd Prince's pressure had weakened it to let his men come and go easily, but with the tide turning, they must have reinforced it—at least, he hoped.
"Hold up."
Silvia raised her hand in a stop signal and reined in her horse.
"What is it?"
"Someone's 1km ahead."
"No mana signatures yet..."
"They're masking their presence cleverly. Hard to detect with mana."
Silvia cut off Desia. Desia glared with furrowed brows in irritation but quickly schooled her expression in the 5th Prince's presence.
"Lots of strong ones. Get too close, and they'll spot us. Now's our chance to go around."
Her excessive caution suggested they weren't elves. Raymond considered asking if they shouldn't intercept, but shook his head.
He didn't know how many were 1km ahead, but since she hadn't suggested engaging first, there were probably too many.
"Gestain."
"Impossible."
He glanced at Gestain just in case, but the captain sighed shortly and shook his head.
Even for a high knight, precisely reading presences 1km away wasn't easy. Silvia was abnormally gifted in this area.
'The one who walks ahead...'
Walking ahead of all, sensing and warning of danger first. That was Silvia's role in the novel [Empire of the Dead].
"Silvia, I trust your judgment. Find us a detour and lead the way."
Raymond said. Per the author's settings, at this point, Silvia hadn't obtained the [Diary of the Spirit King] yet.
Still, her pathfinding skills were top-tier in Philius Empire territory. If he didn't trust her here, who could he?
"I'll guide you safely."
Knowing the World Tree's fate—and her clan's—rested on Raymond, Silvia squeezed out her remaining mana to summon wind spirits and scout a safe path.
"This way."
The detour succeeded. The enemies didn't notice, and Silvia led Raymond's group deep into the Blue Forest.
"This is Platinum Herb clan territory from here."
Silvia warned. Her tone bordered on alarm—elves' nerves would be frayed, and anything could happen.
"Our kin are here."
Joy flickered briefly on her face, then drained to pallor.
"Oh, no..."
Pfiuu!
No time to stop them. Dozens of arrows whistled through the air, aimed at Raymond's group.
"What safety is this, drawing weapons on us? This is before His Highness the 5th Prince of the Philius Empire!"
The arrowheads couldn't pierce Desia's mana shield, but Gestain roared as if Raymond had been critically wounded.
Mana surged into the sword he drew.
"You fools! If you don't want to face the Philius Empire's wrath, show yourselves now!"
The tall forest trees shook as if cowed by his sharp rebuke.
Spotting the elves' uneasy eyes atop the treetops reaching for the open sky, Raymond chuckled and shook his head.
They clearly hadn't realized who they'd attacked—the 5th Prince of the Philius Empire.
Declining and yet to reclaim its ancient glory, the 'empire' still held vast lands. Wiping out one elf clan from the western continent, beyond the allied races' gaze, would be child's play.
"Foolish act! Everyone, come down!"
Silvia's scolding gave the hesitating elves justification. Obeying the high elf bloodline's command, they weren't yielding to fear—they told themselves that as they leaped down lightly like scattering leaves.
They'd shown themselves willingly, but tension hung thick. Their eyes darted warily, hands not leaving bows or sword hilts though weapons stayed sheathed.
Raymond's men were the same. Desia held her mana shield, Gestain radiating fierce killing intent.
The oppressive aura of a high knight who'd guarded the Philius Empire's north his whole life was hard for elves to bear. Some breaths grew ragged.
"Guard Captain. Rein in your killing intent."
"Yes, my lord."
As Gestain complied, the elves' faces eased. But Raymond's expression remained troubled. He openly showed displeasure as he spoke.
"Silvia. Explain why I've come here personally."
"Yes... Your Highness the 5th Prince."
The explanation took five minutes. Minimal, but enough for the elves to grasp Silvia and Raymond's circumstances and deal.
"We failed to recognize our benefactor."
"Forgive us!"
The elves bowed. They accepted the apologies, but unlike Raymond, Desia and Gestain's glares stayed cold.
"Now, why did you attack me?"
His calm tone held no ups or downs, yet it concealed a razor edge. Feeling the restrained quiet menace, the elves swallowed dryly.
One stepped forward after steadying her breath. A squad leader's emblem adorned her chest. Bowing slightly, eyes downcast, she spoke.
"Since the lady told you our clan's plight, you know the 2nd Prince's men were watching the village. But recently, they started acting strange—trying to take an elder hostage."
It had happened right after Imperial Capital Guard Captain Ivan Lows rescued Aria.
"We eliminated all the 2nd Prince's men, but our clan took losses too. We deeply apologize for mistaking Your Highness the 5th Prince for another band of villains and drawing weapons, even briefly."
Desia's expression softened a bit at the elf squad leader's polite bow, but Gestain—fiercely loyal to Raymond—remained stone-faced. No overt killing intent, but his presence was menacing.
"Gestain. Moderation."
"My apologies, my lord."
Loyalty was good, but not if it hindered things.
At Raymond's rebuke, Gestain nodded and concealed his hostility—not dispelling it, just hiding it well.
"I'll let it slide this once. But never draw weapons on me again."
Raymond subtly drew up his aura. The momentum of a thousand knights erupted.
"This is the last time I show mercy. There won't be a second. Remember that."