Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Chapter 27: The Last Survivor (2)
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Late at night, Marquis Blizzard of the Royal Guard secretly visited the private tent of the Azure Tower Lord.
Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior was sipping herbal tea with Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle and Count Erwin Denitz, the man known as the tactical count, to ease the fatigue of battle and restore his depleted mana.
"Marquis Blizzard... What brings you here?"
"His Majesty the Emperor has gone missing."
"What?"
Stunned by the shocking news, Risefield dropped the teacup he was holding. There was no sound of shattering glass, but the heavy thud woke Count Denitz, who had been half-asleep.
"His Majesty the Emperor is missing? Oh dear, what are we to do?"
"Explain the situation in detail."
Unlike the flustered Risefield, Berenus calmly posed the question. Even in this urgent situation where the Emperor had vanished from the battlefield, Marquis Blizzard explained the circumstances with composure.
The Royal Guards who had been on duty reported that right after receiving the imperial order to seal off the tent's entrance, they sensed suspicious mana fluctuations and entered to find the Emperor gone.
"That's why I came straight to you, Azure Tower Lord."
Marquis Blizzard spoke in a still-unsettled, trembling voice. He was a high-ranking mage himself, but Risefield's mastery was far superior, and as the lord of a mage tower, his knowledge ran deep.
"You haven't reported this to anyone else, have you?"
"Of course not, Count Denitz."
"First, guide us to His Majesty's tent."
"Understood."
Marquis Blizzard and the Royal Guards led the way, followed by the two tower lords and Count Denitz.
They soon arrived at the Emperor's private tent. Gestain, Desia, and Silvia stood guard at the entrance with grim expressions.
"Azure Tower Lord..."
"Don't worry, Miss Desia. His Majesty will be fine."
Gestain said nothing. Risefield comforted the anxious Desia before throwing open the tent flap with the group. The thick scent of mana hit them the moment they stepped inside, making Risefield furrow his brow.
"Magic was definitely cast here."
He muttered to himself, while Berenus silently scanned the interior with detection magic. He calmly analyzed the mana traces. Risefield, who had been grumbling under his breath, soon joined in with a serious expression.
"Azure Tower Lord, this seems like 'Forgotten Magic.'"
Berenus said. 'Forgotten Magic' referred to spells that existed in ancient times but had no known users today.
"We'll know more after a deeper analysis..."
Risefield released his mana to sweep through the tent. Soon, he grasped the nature of the magic.
"Have you figured something out?"
"It looks like the swordsman's secret art, 'Chamber of Trials.' This is a real mess."
Identifying the magic so quickly from mere traces was no easy feat.
It would have been impossible if not for Risefield, who had studied relevant materials extensively after learning that Raymond had inherited the swordsman legacy, all to aid him.
"The Chamber of Trials? This is bad."
Count Denitz's face hardened. He wasn't a mage, but as a scholar before a tactician, he had read extensively on the ancient swordsmen who dominated eras and knew the dangers of the 'Chamber of Trials,' a taboo passed down among them.
Berenus also fell silent with a stiff expression, while Risefield paced anxiously, stomping his feet.
"What kind of magic is this Chamber of Trials that has you all so unnerved?"
Gestain, who had followed in late, asked in a steady voice.
Count Denitz and the two tower lords exchanged glances. Who should explain? It was a brief consultation. Finally, Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle stepped toward Gestain and spoke.
"Only one in a hundred swordsmen who enter survives."
A simple explanation: a 1% survival rate. Gestain swallowed dryly upon hearing it.
"Is there no way we can help?"
He knew Raymond was no ordinary man and wanted to believe he would return, but Berenus's words about the 1% survival rate shook his steadfast resolve.
Despite his hopeful plea, Berenus coldly shook his head. The Chamber of Trials was a secret art devised by the first swordsman, Derian, and could not be interfered with from outside.
"Damn it."
Gestain finally succumbed to helplessness and muttered a quiet curse.
"Shouldn't we inform the army?"
Desia said softly, only to meet Count Denitz's sharp gaze.
"That would only deepen the chaos. Best to keep it quiet for now."
"I'm sorry. I didn't think it through."
"It's fine."
The brief exchange ended, and silence fell again. Everyone sighed, on the verge of giving up. Then, both tower lords raised their heads simultaneously.
"Mana reaction?"
Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle was the first to summon his staff, 'Flame Shower.' Risefield also drew 'Sea Heart.'
"It seems this place is connected to another dimension."
Risefield's words were enough to spark hope in everyone. The two tower lords had prepared for any contingency upon sensing the sudden mana surge, but their relief outweighed any fear of enemies. In this situation, a new dimensional link meant Raymond might return—a hopeful prospect.
"Surely demons won't come through, right?"
A Royal Guard with a viscount's title muttered to himself. It could be demons, as he said, but the circumstances pointed more to Raymond's return.
"A gateway is opening."
Azure Tower Lord Risefield said in an excited voice. Soon, space tore open, and something staggered out from the pitch-black void, on the verge of collapse.
"Your Majesty!"
Everyone recoiled instinctively, but Gestain and Desia recognized Emperor Raymond at a glance and pushed through to support him.
He was covered in blood. His uniform was soaked red, and deep wounds peeked through the torn fabric.
"Your Majesty...!"
"I'm fine, Desia. So... please use recovery magic."
"Ah!"
Desia, flustered by Raymond's blood-soaked form, quickly regained her composure and chanted recovery magic. The magic circle completed, and mana infused with regenerative energy settled into his wounds.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
He had survived, but congratulating a man on the brink of death? Silvia shot a sharp look at the odd well-wishing, but Berenus ignored it, speaking with his usual calm demeanor.
"I didn't expect you to return having reached the high-rank swordsman realm."
The acrid blood scent and bloodied uniform had obscured it at first, but the mana Raymond carried had changed.
Only after Berenus pointed it out did Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior sense the extraordinary mana flow, struggling to contain his trembling gaze and confusion.
"Now I understand why swordsmen never stopped entering the Chamber of Trials, despite it being taboo."
Raymond nodded with a faint smile at Berenus's words.
With only one in a hundred said to return, the Chamber of Trials was a forbidden rite among swordsmen due to its abysmal survival rate. But the greater the risk, the greater the rewards.
Raymond had staked his life in the Chamber, enduring hellish time, but he had surpassed the supreme realm to reach high-rank swordsman. He didn't regret the time and effort.
"Your Majesty, are you really okay?"
A clear voice came with a fresh herbal scent. He felt hands wiping blood from his face.
It was Silvia.
"I know you have many questions, but I'll explain slowly. For now, I just want to rest."
"His Majesty needs rest. Everyone except those for emergency treatment should leave."
Count Denitz calmly took charge. Gestain, Marquis Blizzard, and the Royal Guards nodded slowly. The escorts withdrew, leaving only Desia and the two tower lords to provide first aid until specialized recovery mages arrived.
"Your Majesty, you're in such critical condition that it's a miracle you're still breathing."
Berenus examined Raymond and narrowed his eyes, shaking his head. His tone bordered on reproach, laced with concern.
"You can't go on like this."
"Does the Azure Tower Lord have a habit of killing healthy people? Stop fussing."
"Understood."
Berenus looked grave, but Raymond exchanged light banter with Risefield to ease the heavy mood.
The red-robed high mage let out a short sigh at the sight. He tapped Desia's shoulder a few times as she focused on recovery magic.
"Lady Desia, you've done well."
Sweat beaded on her forehead. Her mana was nearly depleted when the tent flap opened, and the medical team's mages rushed in.
Seeing them, Raymond slowly closed his eyes.
"Your Majesty! You mustn't lose consciousness!"
Raymond turned to Risefield, who was panicking at the thought of the Emperor's life slipping away, and spoke with an irritated expression.
"I'm not dying, so calm down."
With a sigh, Raymond closed his eyes.
Now I really want to rest.
"For the Free Isirian Kingdom!"
A sharp cry rang out as the Mountain Mercenary Corps' banner fluttered fiercely. A thousand heavily armored mercenaries charged forward with a thunderous roar.
The Philius Imperial Army faced them. The mercenaries' heavy advance made the imperials grit their teeth and tremble.
Fear dominated the chaotic battlefield. The spear tips aimed forward quivered in terror.
Instinct screamed to flee. As the mercenaries drew nearer and fear amplified, the imperial lines began to crumble with soldiers stepping back one by one—until someone raised a brilliantly glowing mana sword and stepped forward.
"For His Majesty the Emperor and the Philius Empire! Do not retreat!"
"Marquis Creyer, magnificent!"
"My lord!"
A high knight had appeared. Seeing soldiers return to formation, Marquis Creyer turned a stern face to the front.
His domain's knights joined him moments later. He infused his raised sword with energy, sharpening the mana blade further.
The piercingly bright mana sword and ringing sword cry drew cheers from the soldiers.
Marquis Creyer knew how to handle troops. He understood the ripple effect of a high knight on the battlefield and used his presence to boost allied morale.
"For His Majesty the Emperor and the Philius Empire! Fight bravely!"
The mercenaries were nearly upon them. Magical flames erupted in the distance—likely mercenary mages targeting the rear.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
"For the Philius Empire!"
Just before collision, as Marquis Creyer and the imperials roared to banish fear, the Free Isirian Kingdom's Mountain Mercenary Corps swung their weapons.
"Arrrgh!"
Screams erupted. Marquis Creyer wielded his mana-infused sword steadfastly, holding position with his domain knights.
"A high knight!"
"The Steel Marquis is here!"
Shouts came from the Free Isirian mercenaries.
Steel Marquis—that was the nickname Marquis Creyer had earned facing the Tripartite Alliance in the Black Mountains.
The mercenaries of Free Isirian had dubbed him so for holding firm like steel against thousands. His unyielding stance now proved it no empty title.
Magical barrages were blocked by domain mages' defenses, but facing the onslaught fell to Marquis Creyer and his knights—a mounting burden.
As the battle dragged on, fatigue deepened. Even with his Steel Marquis fame, how much longer could he hold?
"Hold the line!"
"More enemies are coming!"
The thousand were not all. New banners appeared beyond the hill. Marquis Creyer's face hardened.
Among the countless banners, one stood clearest.
It bore the number 8 at the center of an ironclad crest.
The Free Isirian Kingdom's elite—heavy assault cavalry—had arrived.