The Whispered Cry of the Hostage
The northern night, as one would expect, had arrived with unnatural swiftness.
Even before the sky began to grow dark, the dense shadows swallowed the canyon whole.
Tap… tap…
Watching the flames rising from the bonfire, Kereilkarun saw the subordinate approaching him.
Judging by the man’s expression, nothing seemed amiss.
“Has Iryakle and Pweril returned yet?”
“Not yet. At this point, I thought the time might have come for them to wrap things up… but he seems to be taking his time with great caution.”
“Let’s wait for them first. The man’s strength inside the canyon… it’s worth expecting.”
After a cold calculation, Iryakle’s skill inside the canyon was so formidable that even Kereilkarun, a four-star, would struggle to face him.
Finding him in the snowstorm blowing so fiercely that it obscured sight was impossible with ordinary senses.
On top of that, the surprise attacks he unleashed were specialized solely in wearing down a person until death.
‘This canyon’s cold weather is part of it, too.’
On the plus side, if one was focused on Iryakle, the canyon’s chill gradually numbed the entire body.
It might not seem like much, but with every passing moment, the frozen limbs lost control, and even if one wanted to move, it was impossible to do so properly, leaving one unable to fight anyone.
“Even if it’s the Empire’s special unit… there’s no difference.”
Strong men must have gathered.
Among them, those who held their own in the Empire’s forces.
‘With Helikel Canyon and Elbarphiel Lake already in hand… scouting Aicled Canyon is only natural.’
That was why he was here.
He knew the formation of Aicled Canyon better than anyone else and was prepared for any special situation.
“Why is that?”
“If the worst happens, it looks like we won’t get to see the canyon’s scenery.”
“Huhuhu, do you think those black-skinned bastards will fail?”
“Just in case.”
Kereilkarun said it quietly.
What he possessed was a special ability.
To explode aura and create immense destructive power in an instant.
‘It takes a lot of time… efficiency drops… but…’
When it came to raw power, there was no doubt.
By slamming that force into the wall of the massive canyon, one could summon a blizzard.
If the Chebilk tribe, those black-skinned fools, failed…
and the Empire’s army entered the narrow passages of Aicled Canyon…
‘Just create a blizzard and bury them all.’
No human could stand against nature.
That was why they could calmly enjoy this darkness.
But as the shadows grew dense enough to block vision…
Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng!
From the entrance of the canyon, the watchman began ringing the emergency bell rapidly.
The Kar warriors who had been resting, as well as Kereilkarun, emerged from their tents.
“What is the matter?”
“Taman! The black-skinned ones have returned.”
Only the eyes visible, coal-black skin.
Iryakle of the Chebilk tribe had come back.
Carrying one Empire soldier on his shoulder.
“Where is the other black-skinned one? And who is this guy on your shoulder?”
“…Report to Taman. I will tell Taman.”
“Insane! Do you think Taman is that lazy? You’ve been getting off easy lately!”
The Kar warrior who had been arguing with Iryakle glared with murderous intent, pulling a battle-axe from his waist.
At that moment, Iryakle lowered his stance and concentrated mana in his left hand.
The atmosphere turned ominous in an instant.
“Stop.”
“T-Taman!”
The Kar warrior who had drawn the axe glanced at the approaching Kereilkarun and quickly hid it behind his back.
Kereilkarun looked down at him and said softly.
“Watch the perimeter properly. I will handle the rest.”
“Ah, yes.”
He bowed his head and stepped back, then Kereilkarun turned his gaze toward Iryakle.
“What about the Empire soldier on your shoulder?”
“…Pweril was taken by those bastards. This guy has too much information we need to learn.”
“Pweril was taken? Did you not kill them?”
Iryakle bit his lip at Kereilkarun’s question.
His expression seemed to suppress the urge to shout immediately.
Eventually, Iryakle’s fist trembled as he continued.
“Among the Empire bastards… there was one with exceptional skill.”
“How strong?”
“Tamer, stronger than you.”
Before Iryakle’s words finished…
“Do you want to die, you black-skinned scum!”
“How dare you speak such nonsense!”
The nearby Kar warriors shouted at Iryakle with killing intent.
But Kereilkarun raised his hand lightly to stop them.
His cold, settled eyes slowly turned toward Iryakle.
Kereilkarun asked.
“How strong was he?”
“At least he looked like a warrior with five feather tattoos. No, maybe… even stronger.”
“Ridiculous talk. If he was that strong, there’s no way you would have returned alive.”
“The Empire bastards’ arrogance saved me. Lucky enough to take hostages as well.”
Kereilkarun stared at Iryakle.
His broken fingernails and the wounds covering his body.
The thick scent of blood that seemed to indicate a fierce battle added credibility to his words.
But…
‘Did this guy… just watch as Pweril was taken?’
It didn’t make sense when one thought of the Chebilk tribe.
They were people who cherished their families more than anything.
Especially Iryakle…
‘No… that’s not it.’
Kereilkarun’s gaze shifted to Iryakle’s hand, which carried the Empire soldier.
His nails trembled as he raised them, as if trying to hold back the urge to kill right then and there.
If Pweril had really been taken by the Empire bastards, this guy’s state of mind right now would be at the edge of a cliff.
“Taman.”
“…Do as you wish. But when we interrogate the Empire army, our warriors will join you.”
“As you say.”
Iryakle turned around. But at that moment, Kereilkarun called out to him.
“Iryakle.”
“…?”
Iryakle stopped abruptly.
Facing the turned-back warrior, Kereilkarun said.
“You’d better not think of anything foolish. What you must protect is not just Pweril.”
Thud.
Iryakle, who had stopped in his tracks, clenched his fist.
Blood trickled from his tightly bitten lips alongside the trembling fist.
“Don’t worry.”
With that, Iryakle moved somewhere.
From his trembling shoulders, Arteon could truly feel his anger.
And…
“Tell me everything you know.”
Iryakle looked at Arteon inside the iron prison and said.
Both his hands were bound with mana-suppressing restraints, which made the surrounding Kar warriors nod in approval.
Wasn’t that natural?
The Chebilk tribe’s Iryakle was someone they used, not someone to be trusted.
It was only natural that they couldn’t fully trust him when he suddenly brought an Empire soldier alive.
But as Iryakle interrogated the Empire soldier, all suspicions vanished.
Every time Iryakle’s claws dug into the soldier’s body, he screamed in agony, and Iryakle’s cries of desperation sent shivers down the spines of those watching.
“He’s insane! If he keeps going, he’ll kill him!”
“I’ll report to Taman. Tone it down a bit. We have information to learn too.”
“Understood.”
But the long interrogation soon had to be stopped.
The Empire soldier had completely fainted and lost consciousness.
“Iryakle, we also have things to ask the guy, so don’t kill him.”
“….”
The approaching Kar warrior fled the spot like a startled deer at Iryakle’s gaze.
“…When do we start?”
Iryakle looked at the fallen Arteon and said. The Arteon who had been unconscious slowly opened his eyes.
“Can you keep it up?”
“You’re the one. It must have been pretty painful… you all right?”
“I avoided all vital points.”
Arteon gathered his strength and touched his sleeve, then soon swallowed something from his mouth.
A medicine that helped with hemostasis and pain relief.
After all, to avoid the Kar’s surveillance, such torture was inevitable.
‘But…’
This guy.
He had an astonishingly profound knowledge of the body.
The way he adjusted his strength even while appearing excessive, and the way he controlled it appropriately.
‘…If I can persuade him.’
It could be a great help.
But Arteon’s gaze made Iryakle narrow his eyes.
“What are you thinking? Don’t you know this is a critical moment?”
“Don’t worry. Where is the person you need to save more?”
“He’s locked inside the formation. We need to move immediately.”
“Then…”
Arteon lay comfortably on the ground and began gathering mana.
The mana-suppressing restraints had already run out of effect during the act of feigning torture.
After all, they had timed the preparations.
Tuk.
With a light push, the restraints binding both hands shattered.
Soon, mana circulated and spread the effects of the medicine just consumed through his body rapidly.
The throbbing pain gradually eased, and the blood flow stopped.
Of course, even so, it couldn’t be said there was no injury.
“After the signal flare, it will be twenty minutes. That time, Lord Lucael and the platoon members will arrive here.”
Thirty minutes.
Just endure for that time.
But…
‘Against so many guys… can I hold on?’
Including Lucael, Isaac, and the platoon members were waiting in a cave midway through the canyon that Iryakle had made.
They had decided to descend carefully because moving any closer might alert scouts.
Thanks to that, there was no risk of being discovered, but they had to complete the mission of gaining twenty minutes.
Failure was not an option.
Eventually, the silver moon was hidden behind clouds, and even the moonlight that had illuminated the darkness completely disappeared.
Except for the torches that had been lit here and there, visibility vanished into the thick darkness.
Inside that darkness.
Ssssh.
Arteon and Iryakle moved cautiously.
And…
‘…What is this guy?’
Iryakle could not hide the surprise in his eyes at Arteon’s movements, which were even more stealthy than his own.
After all, concealment and stealthy movement were Iryakle’s greatest weapons.
That was why he could sneak up on enemies in the dark and in the snowstorm to steal their lives.
He had thought that no one could compare, but…
“Concentrate.”
“…Yeah.”
His thoughts briefly scattered.
At Arteon’s words, Iryakle nodded his head and guided them toward the destination.
As they got closer, the clear crying sound grew louder.
‘…A baby?’
No way… that he had been taken hostage…
With the baby’s cry, Arteon saw the back of Iryakle, who seemed in a hurry.
The child born between Iryakle and Pweril.
Were they putting shackles on him to use as a hostage?
‘…You bastards.’
Arteon tightened his grip on Iglis.
And to the Iryakle in front of him, he said.
“How many guys are guarding that place?”
“Six. All are ones who can control mana, and among them is a strong one with three feather tattoos.”
It was a guy Iryakle couldn’t guarantee victory against unless it was a surprise attack.
But at Iryakle’s words.
“No matter how many. I’ll handle the guys. You go get the child back.”
At those words, Iryakle turned his gaze to Arteon.
The eyes of a man full of thoughts.
And seeing the tent where the crying was gradually getting louder.
“Go.”
Arteon’s figure shot forward like an arrow toward that place.