Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Chapter 16: The World Tree's Benefactor (3)
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In the Philius Empire, there were several fortresses secretly built to exert influence over the Black Mountains. Alvin Fortress was one of them.
Though small for a fortress, it housed over seven hundred troops—far more than a mere outpost.
Given its location in the Black Mountains, the garrison changed frequently, but security was always tight. Even today, soldiers on watch duty patrolled along the fortress walls.
"Hey, have you heard the rumors?"
Was it the boredom he couldn't endure? Or did he simply hate the silence of the dark night? A mustached knight walking ahead turned to the middle-aged soldier following behind and asked.
"What rumors do you mean, sir?"
"The ones about the Free Isiria Kingdom's Heavy Assault Brigade entering the Black Mountains."
Now that the knight mentioned it, the middle-aged soldier vaguely recalled hearing something like that. After racking his brain during shift changes, he nodded.
"I think I have. But... isn't it just a false rumor?"
He desperately hoped it was. If the Heavy Assault Brigade had entered the Black Mountains intent on battle, this forward position—Alvin Fortress—would be the prime target.
No one wanted to fight the Free Isiria's renowned elite Heavy Assault Brigade if they could help it.
"No way it's false. They've already hit several outposts, from what I hear."
"Couldn't it be the Free Isiria Kingdom's mountain mercenaries?"
He'd heard rumors of skirmishes, but he wanted to deny it.
"Are you scared?"
The knight asked.
"Yes, sir. I am. Who wouldn't be terrified after hearing tales of those ironclad monsters that never retreat, no matter the odds?"
The middle-aged soldier answered honestly.
"I'm not afraid. Think about it—if we repel those famous Heavy Assault troops, we'll be heroes."
The middle-aged soldier shook his head at the excited knight's bragging.
He had plenty to say, but the man was a knight with a title. He swallowed his words.
"Aren't you a soldier of the Philius Empire too? It wouldn't hurt to shed your fear and learn some valor."
With a hearty laugh, the knight strode ahead. Just as the middle-aged soldier let out a short sigh and followed—
Pfiuu!
Something sliced through the air and embedded in the knight's throat.
"K-Knight!"
Before he could even confirm it, the knight's body crumpled. The middle-aged soldier ducked behind the fortress wall in shock.
His eyes darted around. The watchtower, which should have been manned, stood empty.
No—not empty. A soldier lay sprawled on the stairs leading to it, an arrow in his throat too.
"An... attack?"
Shaking off his rising fear, he slowly peeked over the wall. In the darkness, he spotted movement.
His eyesight wasn't great, but as time passed, he made out hundreds of troops advancing in formation toward the fortress.
"What in the world..."
Clank, clank.
The sound of metal clashing carried to the walls. At that moment, an alarm bell rang out, and the fortress mage launched a magical flare into the sky. The darkness lifted, revealing the advancing force in stark clarity.
Realizing their ambush had failed, they raised their hidden banners. The middle-aged soldier's eyes widened in horror.
"The... Heavy Assault Brigade..."
They had come.
The mercenaries weren't much of a threat. Even weakened, it was baffling how they'd pierced the World Tree's barrier.
A band of twenty mercenary cavalry fell first, followed by dozens more charging into a brutal barrage of wind blades.
With advanced magic and covering fire from the elf patrol, their numbers plummeted exponentially. Only then did Raymond confirm they were mere decoys.
"The real ones are coming soon. Everyone, prepare yourselves."
Raymond calmly warned his subordinates.
As he predicted, the true enemy emerged. As most mercenaries fell, figures stepped from the shadows, clad in black like the night sky.
Faces masked, they drew weapons in unison at some signal and charged toward the group under the banner.
The elf patrol loosed fierce arrows, but Raymond realized these too were bait.
"My lord!"
Shadows tore through the air right above the banner, landing gracefully like dancers. Before Desia could chant her spell, Gestain moved first.
His mana sword surged toward the black shadows. The blade traced a blue arc, severing the throat of one daring to target the Fifth Prince.
"Gah!"
Blood sprayed as the black-clad assassin collapsed limply. The others melted into the darkness.
"Hashashin!"
Their seamless blending into the night betrayed them—it wasn't hard to identify the Hashashin. Gestain warned everyone.
The elf patrol paled at the appearance of the night terrors known as Hashashin. Seizing the moment they hid, Raymond grabbed one elf patrolman.
"Where's Sylvia?"
"M-Miss Sylvia... I don't know either..."
Not the answer he wanted, but Raymond remained composed.
Sylvia Platier, bearer of the moniker "The Forewalker"—with her abilities, she should still be safe.
But that doesn't mean we have time to waste.
Raymond's eyes gleamed. How could he flush out those hiding in the dark in one go?
After brief deliberation, he opted for a risky measure.
"Desia! Raise a shield!"
He channeled mana without waiting for a reply. She would obey—no need to confirm.
"Shield!"
"Fire Rain!"
A torrent of fire rained from the sky, battering Desia's mana shield. Flames spread everywhere, forcing the hidden Hashashin to reveal themselves—dozens of them.
"Damn... God help us."
Far more than expected. Gestain barely suppressed a curse.
"Don't worry too much, Gestain."
Raymond spoke coolly as he stepped forward. With each footfall, the ground froze—even amid the flames.
"Th-This magic..."
Desia's eyes wavered, sensing the absolute chill dominating the space.
This was magic hard to master even for the Fifth Prince's level. Yet Raymond wielded it flawlessly.
"What you're worried about won't happen."
He extended his hand; white energy coalesced into a sword—the Soul Sword, infused with the grudge of a thousand knights.
As Raymond swung, white lightning crashed from the heavens like thunderbolts, scorching the re-hidden Hashashin.
"Arrrgh!"
"Aaaagh!"
Screams echoed as the Hashashin broke stealth and collapsed.
"Was the Fifth Prince's magic prowess always this high?"
"Doesn't match the reports."
The Hashashin retreating in haste murmured. Of course it didn't—Raymond was using mana rampage, the magic swordsman's signature spell.
"Squad 1, with me—we hit the Fifth Prince. The rest, scatter and pressure the guards and patrol."
Though unexpected, the commander decided swiftly, and dozens moved in perfect sync. Over twenty blocked Gestain and Desia.
"M-My lord!"
Even as a high knight, Gestain's one-armed swordsmanship wasn't fully recovered to its past peak.
With Desia and the elves, breaking through over twenty Hashashin at once was too much.
His anxious cry rang out, but Raymond stayed calm, merely glancing at Gestain with a reassuring smile.
"What you're worried about won't happen."
He murmured too softly to hear, but the relaxed smile on his lips would offer some comfort.
"What's got you so smug, Fifth Prince?"
Irked by his composure, one Hashashin asked with thick killing intent.
"You don't seriously think the Philius imperial bloodline will save you, do you?"
"Best abandon that notion. No one's protecting you here."
Enemies surrounded him. Over ten Hashashin encircled alone—not mere mercenaries, but Edriger Kingdom's elite.
A normal advanced mage would be trembling in fear... if he were a normal advanced mage.
A cold smile curved Raymond's lips.
Sensing the killing intent emanating from him, the Hashashin hurled daggers in unison.
Dozens of black-mana-infused daggers flew at him.
Blue lightning struck from above.
Boooom!
Dirt and smoke billowed from the explosion.
"D-Did we get him?"
"Lightning Strike—an advanced spell. Plus dozens of mana daggers. He can't have survived."
"Is that so?"
But something felt off. The Edriger advanced mage sensed it too and summoned wind to clear the dust.
A shield brimming with intense mana appeared.
"Absolute Shield?"
"Impossible! That's among the pinnacle of advanced spells...!"
All were stunned. Before the shock faded, the Absolute Shield parted left and right—Raymond charging through the gap.
"Melee now?"
"Don't flinch! He's a mage, even if he used pinnacle magic! In close quarters, we'll—Guh...!"
The lead Hashashin squad leader's head rolled across the cold ground. It happened in an instant.
"S-Squad leader!"
"No way!"
"That's a mana sword!"
Greater turmoil erupted. How could a mage wield a mana sword? But it wasn't over.
Fireballs and sharp ice shards formed around Raymond—a perfect image of an ancient magic swordsman from the battlefield.
"Wh-What is this...?"
"Do you know why magic swordsmen are so strong?"
No answer came to the question.
"It's not just using sword and magic together."
Magic swordsman-exclusive spells like mana rampage and efficient enhancements. Through body reconstruction, Raymond mastered both perfectly.
As the final blessing, Dayrian's memory fragments blended in, granting peak efficiency across all magic despite his novice status.
"No need to explain."
No more words.
The Hashashin charged with murderous glares. Raymond swung at them.
My swordsmanship feels smoother.
Unclear why, but absorbing the body reconstruction and Dayrian's memories seemed to infuse a thousand knights' experience.
"Arrrgh!"
"Mon... ster..."
Mana drain from rampage was severe, but his combat power overwhelmed them.
The Hashashin recoiled in terror, pursued by orbiting fireballs and ice shards.
"Kaaak!"
Retreating foes had throats pierced by ice, bellies exploded by fireballs.
Bodies burned, blood gushed from necks as they fell. Raymond merely scattered cold gazes, swinging the Soul Sword relentlessly.
"R-Request backup... Ack!"
"Damn it! We're going!"
Hashashin facing the elf patrol moved to aid at the desperate call—but Gestain wouldn't allow it.
"Think I'll let you?"
The furious one-armed high knight's mana sword beheaded a Hashashin. Desia's ice spear pierced another's chest. The elf patrol charged with reckless abandon.
The momentum fully reversed thanks to Fifth Prince Raymond's exploits.
"Burn the bodies and withdraw!"
Squad 2's leader parried the Soul Sword and barked the order.
Hashashin doused fallen comrades' corpses, igniting fierce flames—destroying evidence before retreat.
They left the mercenaries' bodies untouched, clearly planning to pin all sins on them.