No Time Left
The cold air of dawn settled heavily over everything.
A faint ray of sunlight seeped across the northern map hanging on the wall, yet even that light soon faded away.
“……Commander.”
Claw, standing across the desk, seemed to hesitate for a moment before opening his mouth in a low voice.
Velkain was still studying the map.
“To be honest…… there are many points I cannot accept.”
At Claw’s following words, Velkain lifted his gaze and looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
A voice no different from usual. Yet that casually thrown single phrase carried a subtle pressure.
Claw answered.
“Those targeting Staff Sergeant Arteon…… no, Lieutenant Arteon. That they are one of the Second Prince’s limbs…… Commander, you already know that, do you not? Would it not have been better to…… mention it in advance?”
The moment those words fell, Velkain’s expression hardened.
For a very brief instant, a silence as if breath itself had stopped pressed down upon the office.
But soon Velkain rose from his seat and walked toward the window.
Beyond the glass, the northern battlefield still lay covered in white frost and dust.
The fierce battles fought here. Yet at the same time, he knew that a struggle no less fierce was unfolding in the very heart of the Empire.
“…….”
Someone had already died, and someone else was merely waiting their turn to die.
On the surface it seemed like calm ripples, but beneath the water a bloody whirlpool was raging with savage force.
And then—
“Would it not be better to…… submit a report?”
Breaking the silence, Claw asked.
But Velkain looked at him and instead asked back.
“To whom?”
“Naturally……”
In that instant Velkain’s eyes flashed sharply. With that, Claw clamped his mouth shut.
The name Claw had just swallowed was far too dangerous a word.
The fact that Velkain currently followed the First Prince was a secret that had to be thoroughly concealed in this North. If by any chance that fact were revealed…… immediate and fierce intervention from the Second Prince’s faction would begin.
With his tremendous command ability currently swallowing the northern war whole, the reason the Second Prince’s faction left Velkain alone was only one: because they believed he was neutral.
An outstandingly capable man maintaining neutrality. This was irresistible bait to them. Thus there had been multiple attempts to win Velkain over. Of course Velkain had not wavered and continued to act as if he were maintaining that neutrality.
Swoosh.
Just in case, Claw checked outside the tent. Only the military flag flapping in the wind was visible; no one was there. Only then relieved, Claw re-entered the tent.
At that, Velkain called to him.
“Sergeant Major.”
“Sergeant Major Claw.”
“How much time do you think I have left……”
At Velkain’s question, Claw kept his mouth tightly shut.
Currently he appeared simply as a commander doing his utmost at his assigned duties……
If he keeps refusing their overtures…… eventually it will turn hostile.
Because what Velkain intended to do stood on the opposite side from them. And the moment it turned hostile, interference would begin on the battlefield where Velkain was freely commanding.
Even at this very moment, those people were moving secretly somewhere beneath the northern battlefield.
If they start interfering in the Commander’s affairs in earnest……
From then on, it would become impossible even to predict how this northern battlefield would flow.
That was why, having retaken Helikel Canyon and Elbarphiel Lake, they were hurrying to occupy Aikulred. If they completely seized Aikulred and opened a path into the North—
Even if their interference begins…… we can somehow delay it.
Perhaps this overture could be the last. From their perspective as well, now—before Aikulred was occupied—might have been their final opportunity.
“There is no time.”
Velkain turned his body. Claw watched him in silence, for he knew better than anyone the heart of the man who said there was no time.
Velkain asked.
“Has everyone gathered at Aikulred currently?”
“Lieutenant Arteon has not yet arrived.”
Velkain slightly turned his head.
“Location confirmed?”
“Currently confirmed to be in Almers.”
“……Almers? What is he doing there?”
At the unexpected answer, Velkain asked. Almers was quite a distance even from the northeastern Fourth Defense Line where he had last fought a war. A city one sometimes visited on leave simply to drink—did Arteon have any reason to go there?
To such a question from Velkain—
“That is…… while investigating this time I learned……”
At Claw’s following words—
“…….”
Velkain’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
With a tremendous roar, the walls of the back alley were completely smashed to pieces. Along with them, the assassins’ formation collapsed. In an instant four became cold corpses on the ground, and a couple more groaned, unable even to rise properly.
“…….”
“……Crazy bastard.”
The man with the most outstanding skill among the mid-level assassins unconsciously spat a curse at the situation that had just unfolded before his eyes. Never mind his comrades falling.
“If you make such a racket…… don’t you know you’ll be in danger too?”
“Doesn’t matter. I can just pin the crime on you lot.”
Lisiven had already had her subordinates bribe the guards. Rather, if he handed these men over and climbed higher, he could put shackles on Jaicle.
“……Need to hurry.”
Bashnel, who had been watching the situation, muttered lowly and took a step forward. From the previous strike he could tell for certain.
He’s stronger than me.
If they clashed head-on, the chance of losing was high. But stupidly—
Alone.
If there had been just a few hands to support him, they could have won for sure. Coming alone probably meant he was thoroughly confident in his own skill—without knowing that it would only shorten his own lifespan.
“Catch him. Five seconds…… no, three seconds is enough.”
At Bashnel’s order, the eyes of the remaining assassins sank coldly. That order to catch him was a task that had to be carried out even at the cost of their lives.
Pa-bat!
The surviving mid-level and low-level assassins charged at Arteon simultaneously. From the earlier racket, the guards would soon come running. At longest not even ten minutes of short time. Within that they had to kill him and completely erase every trace here.
Bashnel concentrated all his mana into his dagger. Soon a green, hazy light settled upon the blade.
Drip…… drip……
The mana condensed at the tip began to fall to the ground like liquid. Exactly Bashnel’s unique specialty that only he possessed: changing the mana he held into the property of tremendous deadly poison to kill an enemy in a single strike.
Even within Nocturne, those who knew of this technique were extremely few. The reason was only one: because those who had seen it had all failed to survive.
……The moment of clash, the poisonous mana will engulf the surroundings and snatch away the lives of all. Even without being stabbed by the blade, one cannot preserve life.
Ta-da-dak!
Arteon raised his spear as he watched the charging assassins. Unlike the movements of trained assassins, it felt somewhat reckless—but precisely because of that he could grasp their intention.
……Trying to pin my feet down, is it.
Arteon’s gaze turned to the upper assassin at the very rear. The green mana flowing from the man’s body compressed and quietly held killing intent. Refined energy. This level was enough to be counted on one hand even in his past life. On the battlefields Arteon had known, there were not many who hid their power and assassinated.
But……
Still, occasionally there had been those who attempted assassination, and their level had been terrifying enough to send chills down the spine. Thus he could anticipate what that man was trying to do now—and what that ability truly was.
“Where are you looking!”
“Your opponents are us!”
“Die here.”
The men instantly split to both sides and covered Arteon in a semicircle formation. Even if he fell back, it was obvious they would cling tenaciously. Arteon drew a low breath and tightly gripped Iglis. Then, as he approached the charging assassins, he closed the distance.
At that moment—
“……Stupid guy.”
“A guy holding a spear…… closing the distance?”
The mid-level assassins’ eyes flashed sharply. As a rule, a spear shone brightest when maintaining a certain appropriate distance. Yet he was giving ground to them who used daggers. How foolish an act was this.
In this state, Lord Bashnel doesn’t even need to step in.
We…… will kill him……!
The assassins’ eyes flashed as their blades surged toward Arteon. Front, both sides. The attacks surging from fully three directions were perfect without gaps. The moment he thrust the spear to one side, he would be unable to avoid the attack from the opposite at that timing. Certainly…… it should have been so.
Cha-cha-chaeng!
“……?!”
“Huk!”
Their expressions twisted for an instant as the attacks were deflected. Suddenly the man who had drawn the spear close to his body spun rapidly and simultaneously knocked their strikes aside.
There’s a spear technique like this……?
A spear art never seen in their lives. At the unexpected movement, the deflected assassins flinched for a moment. And in that instant—
“The distance opened up?”
“D-dodge……!”
Before someone’s shout could even finish.
Peo-peo-peo-peo-peok!
Arteon’s spear in an instant bid farewell to the assassins before his eyes from this world. The thrusts that burst forth in the blink of an eye were of a speed that even the assassins found hard to react to.
But in that fleeting moment, did he think he had seized the opportunity? Bashnel, who had already moved to the rear, coolly eyed the back of Arteon’s neck. Because he had never imagined that instead of fleeing the man would face them head-on and deflect them……
A dangerous guy. Must kill him here for sure.
Bashnel staked his life. Because he was certain that if he failed to kill this man here, he would never get such an opportunity again. But was it because of that? His movements carried somewhat more excessively injected mana and force than usual. Yet it was time bought with the lives of over ten subordinates already.
Bashnel’s blade imbued with deadly poison stretched straight toward Arteon.
“Die!”
Kuaaaang!
With a powerful explosion, green light burst and swallowed the surroundings. At that moment—
“Kkeueoeoeoeoeoeoeok!”
“Keoeok!”
The surviving subordinates screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground. As the deadly poisonous mana spread, it poisoned them as well. The only one who could survive here was Bashnel, who possessed resistance.
But even such Bashnel quickly escaped the space where the deadly poisonous mana had dispersed and looked at Arteon.
Kuuuuuuuuuu!
The mana distorted in green light slowly scattered on the wind and disappeared. And with it, at its center—
“……?!”
Bashnel’s pupils shook greatly as he saw Arteon. A defensive barrier made of aura. Inside it, Arteon—who had completely blocked the damage—was looking at him with calm eyes. And lightly swinging his spear to create wind, Arteon pushed away all the remaining deadly poisonous mana around.
And……
“Is what you prepared…… all finished?”
“Th-that……!”
“Then now it’s my turn.”
The man’s spear was stretching and flying toward his heart.