Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Bellus Barony (3)
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5.
Following the skeletons, enemies began to appear from all corners of the mountain fortress.
With arrows drawn, they surrounded Karrons party, whose escape route was now gone.
Screeeech!
The entrance they had used was sealed by a solid iron gate, and soon after, a man in a black cloak and plate armor appeared on the highest building in the fortress.
If youd given us a heads-up, we would have prepared a grander welcome. This sudden visit is quite baffling.
The mans voice echoed throughout the fortress.
Karron smiled as he looked up at the man.
So thats the leader of this place. Now, wheres the black magician?
That had to be the boss Urhan mentioned. Hed confirmed the leaders identity, so that was settled. Next, he needed to find the black magician.
The one who controlled the skeletons and had turned this fortress into a veritable stronghold.
Killing that person was necessary to end this situation completely.
But no matter where he looked, the black magician was nowhere to be seen. They were undoubtedly hiding somewhere, casting their spells.
Gloomy then, gloomy now. They never change.
If they were hiding, he would just have to find them and kill them. Of course, dealing with the enemy leader spouting nonsense from up there came first.
Welcome to my fortress, you cute little noble masters. A big fish has swum right into our net.
Do you even know where were from?
That is a matter we can get to know in due time. Now, if you disarm peacefully, I will escort you without a single scratch. We wouldnt want to damage such precious goods.
The children of noble families made for excellent hostages.
They could fetch a price incomparably higher than any slave trafficking.
Karron smirked, watching the greed glistening in the leaders eyes. Just then, Leo, who had been scowling beside him, spoke to Karron.
This is all your fault for coming in without a plan.
Dont be scared. He said they wont kill us.
So?
We have to do something. Urhan. Come here.
Y-Yes?
Urhans expression had brightened the moment his comrades appeared. But he had no choice but to obey Karrons command.
Kneel before me.
Yes, Young Mas Y-Young Master?
The moment Urhan knelt, Karron pressed the Guillotine against his neck. Then, he shouted in a booming voice.
If any of you take a single step, this bastards head comes off. Got it?
A hostage situation had begun out of nowhere.
Leos jaw dropped, and he stared blankly at Karron, shocked by his impulsive action.
You madman.
A child of a noble family, staging a hostage situation?
It was unthinkable.
Yet this lunatic before him held a blade to a hostages throat as if it were nothing.
Any scion of a noble house, a family that prized honor, would normally be ashamed. But there wasnt a trace of shame on Karrons face.
In fact, he wore a wide grin, as if he found the whole situation amusing.
The enemys reaction was much the same as Leos.
What kind of family produces such a scoundrel? Arent you people supposed to live and die by honor?
What does it matter? Its not like theres a law against it.
An interesting one, you are. But youre mistaken. Hostages are only useful when they have value. That man has none.
See, a professional knows best. Thanks for the advice.
Karron clicked his tongue and lowered the Guillotine from Urhans neck. Then he spoke to Urhan, his voice laced with annoyance.
Youre seriously useless.
Im sorry.
Just stay there, on your knees.
Karron tapped Urhans head with the flat of the Guillotines blade before glancing back at Leo.
The hostage thing didnt work. I didnt think theyd be this heartless. That guys a tough one. Didnt even blink at the thought of his subordinate dying.
So what are we really going to do now?
What choice do we have? When youre outnumbered, theres only one way. We just have to capture that leader.
And how do we do that?
Break through the skeletons and bandits. Capture the leader. The end. Simple, right?
It wasnt simple at all.
Their escape route and every other direction were blocked by skeletons, and the enemy was aiming at them with bows from high ground.
Moreover, the enemies were well-trained.
This meant they werent just some rabble to be taken lightly.
Logically, their chances of winning were slim, but even so, Leo found it hard to argue with Karron.
He had a feeling this monster could actually break through the encirclement and capture that leader.
Leo sighed and raised Silpid. He glanced at Karron and let out another breath.
This is frustrating. Just tell me what I need to do.
He already knew Karron was several times stronger than him. But that didn't mean he was just going to sit back and let Karron do everything.
He had to pull his own weight. This wasnt just Karrons mission; it was theirs together.
Therefore, he had to do his part.
Not bad.
Karron caught a glimpse of the firm resolve in Leos eyes. He found Leos determination rather commendable.
Just handle the skeletons, big brother. That alone will be pulling your weight.
Wooooong.
Azure Mana began to flow from Karrons body. The mana instantly spread through the surroundings.
A deep blue mana.
There was no way the man calling himself the leader wouldnt recognize the color that symbolized the Leston family.
The leaders face contorted as he saw the mana emanating from Karron.
The Leston Ducal Family?
You couldnt have thought youd get away with pulling this stunt right next to our territory. You must have been prepared for this.
I was told Azure Castle wasnt in a position to worry about other territories
Ill find out soon enough who told you that. Itll make a fine gift for my grandfather.
Karron had heard enough to know that something unusual was happening.
Who had instigated this man, and who was backing him?
He would find out naturally once the battle was over.
Karron grinned broadly and lifted the Guillotine lightly. He opened all the mana pathways in his body and swung his sword.
Sea Wolf Sword Style, Third Form: Wave.
A sword technique that created a massive wave of mana to sweep away everything in its path.
KWWWWAAAAAAAAANG!
A deep, navy-blue wave erupted from the Guillotine and crashed over the skeletons.
The raging wave violently swallowed the skeletal horde. And soon, a path to the top of the fortress was cleared.
Karron stepped forward without hesitation. He gave a light wave to the leader looking down at him.
Ill be right there.
Seeing this, the leaders face twisted in a deep scowl as he yelled.
Forget the ransom! Just shoot! Shoot, I said!
Fwoooosh.
Arrows rained down on Karron from all directions. But.
Too late, you bastard.
A blue light pierced through the shower of arrows. A moment later.
Splurt.
Gyaaaaargh!
The armored leaders right wrist was severed, and blood gushed out.
If you were going to shoot, you shouldve done it sooner.
It all happened in just ten seconds.
Karron watched the leader, whose hand was now gone, and his lips curled into a smirk.
6.
In war, mages and knights are fundamentally asymmetrical forces.
Mages change the tide of battle with powerful firepower, while knights change it through relentless charges.
The standard doctrine is to counter a mage with a mage and a knight with a knight.
They are a kind of special asset. And what happens when you have no means to counter a special asset? This is what happens.
Karron spoke with a smile to the leader writhing before him.
You must have put a lot of faith in your black magician, but thats just how they are. The moment they sense danger, they run. My grandfather often said, The only good black magician is a dead one. Good-black-dead-black. Ever heard of it?
You think you can get out of here alive after this?
Of course. Oh, and dont you worry. Im taking you alive, too. Youll be interrogated in the dungeons of Azure Castle.
Karron stomped hard on the leaders back and looked down below.
The battle was still raging there.
The deserters had stopped their attack, but the skeletons, being mere undead, lacked the intelligence to grasp the situation.
Even so, Leo was consistently overwhelming them.
Hes fighting well.
For his first real battle, he was doing a decent job.
The Sea Wolf Sword Style began and ended with power. Thats why it was so effective in one-versus-many combat.
And when wielded with the Azure Mana of the Leston family, its power was amplified.
The force, based on mana as vast as the sea, was too much for the low-level skeletons to handle.
Karron nodded in satisfaction. He then turned his gaze to the leader pinned under his foot.
Whats your name?
Michael Michael Knox.
Alright, Michael. Tell your men to disarm right now. If you do as I say, Ill at least spare your life.
Michael couldnt answer Karrons demand easily.
Would going to Azure Castle alive truly be advantageous for him? Perhaps it would be better to die here.
But Karron didnt give Michael time to think.
Stab.
Guuuhhhk.
The Guillotine pierced through Michaels left thigh. The agony from his severed arm and stabbed thigh was enough to make him lose consciousness.
Michael thrashed and screamed.
Everyone, disarm! Disarm.
At Michaels command, the deserters who had been aiming their bows at Karron began to lower them one by one.
Karron watched the scene and smiled with satisfaction.
You listen well, Mister Leader.
This kid was far too dangerous. His methods were hard to believe from a young boy.
For that reason, he decided to escape this situation for now.
If he waited, support would surely come. Even if these kids were from the Leston family, as long as they arrived
You look like you still have some fight in you. Must be counting on something, huh? I guess you wouldnt be playing bandit out here without some backing. Especially a deserter from the Southern Kingdom. Right? But what are you going to do now?
It was then.
KWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAANG!
An explosion, far louder than any before, shook the entire mountain.
The roar came from outside the fortress.
Karron nodded lightly at the sound and said.
Actually, we didnt come alone either. Come on, you dont think our family would send two kids into these mountains without a guardian, do you?
KWWWWAAAAAAAAANG!
KWAAANG!
Explosions continued to ring out, and before long, a change occurred within the fortress.
Saaaaaah.
The magic circle was dispelled, and the black mana that had enveloped the fortress began to disappear.
Karron calmly watched the darkness recede.
A dispelled magic circle meant one thing.
The caster had either lost consciousness or died.
If Id had my way, I wouldve captured the black magician alive myself, but you guys ruined everything. What am I going to do about my first mission?
Karron!
Having finished his fight, Leo rushed up to where Karron was.
Leos body was covered in wounds from the skeletons.
Despite that, his face was flushed with excitement.
I pulled my weight, right?
The innocent eyes of a boy craving praise.
Hes definitely not normal.
Karron chuckled and nodded.
You did great, my dear brother.
Make sure you tell Father. That I pulled my weight, too.
He wont like hearing it from me, so lets ask Lady Sabina.
By the way, did you dispel the magic circle too? The black magician
Ah, that wasnt me.
At Karrons words, Leo frowned slightly and asked.
Then who?
Here she comes.
Karron gestured with his chin towards the fortress entrance.
The entrance was still blocked by the solid iron gate. But.
CLAAAAANG!
The iron gate was sliced in two with a shower of sparks, and a woman walked through the severed halves.
In the womans right hand, she held someones head.
Karron Leston. Leo Leston. To put it bluntly, the mission is a failure. You let the most important piece of evidence get away. Im disappointed.
The moment Sabina entered the fortress, the surrounding deserters all groaned and fell to their knees.
They couldnt withstand the fierce mana radiating from her.
An overwhelming pressure emanated from Sabinas body, but Karron paid it no mind. Instead, he shrugged brazenly and replied.
But you liked my methods, didnt you?
Charging in headfirst youre the spitting image of my dear brother. Ill grant you bonus points for that. A member of the Leston family should always push forward with conviction. However, attempting a hostage situation is a demerit. What was the reason for that useless attempt?
It was refreshing, wasnt it?
Ill agree with you on that. Ive never met anyone like you in my life. You absolute madman.
Sabina, who had now reached Karron, carelessly tossed the head she was holding onto the ground. She looked at Karron and Leo and said.
Things have become complicated. Let us speak on the way back to the Bellus lords castle.
It seemed their first mission was not going to have a clean ending.