The Troll Lord's Ambush
Rimer entered the audience hall with a face full of discontent, his nostrils furrowed.
Glen, as usual, didn't even glance at Rimer. He sat with his eyes closed and chin propped up.
"Lord, this is too much."
"What nonsense are you here to spout this time?"
"If Raon did such a tremendous feat, you should have told me immediately! Why are you hugging the treasure like it's yours alone!"
"Hoo, Roen."
Glen let out a low sigh and turned his gaze to Roen standing on the right.
"I'm not it."
Roen quickly waved his hand as if it had nothing to do with the matter.
"Then how did that guy know? Without going to the Biyeon Assembly to eavesdrop..."
"Oh, correct! I was stuck to the ceiling of the Biyeon Assembly reading Raon's report."
Rimer twirled his finger and laughed with a hehe. It was a bonus that he muttered about the Biyeon Assembly having many gaps.
"From tomorrow, we must send the Heavenly Sword Squad to the Biyeon Assembly. That ugly worm is roaming the ceiling."
"Worm? Are there worms these days?"
"You're the worm!"
"Ei, I'm a butterfly. I'm flying around so lively, how can it be a worm!"
"Hoo, fine. Talking to you will only give me a headache."
Glen clicked his tongue and lowered his eyelids.
"Let's think about Raon instead of that. That guy is really beyond imagination, isn't he?"
Rimer smiled brightly and jumped around.
"To save people who fell from the walls, he blocked thousands of monsters! Even a madman doesn't have such a madman!"
"Hmm..."
Glen, with eyes closed, clicked his tongue slightly.
"But that guy wasn't just a normal madman. He endured three days and nights, saved everyone, and led the Wave to victory. Wow, really, who is his master? I want to see his teacher's face."
Rimer chatted as if he was well-built and warm-hearted.
"If I say this, you might think it's impossible, but seeing Raon pursuing the impossible reminds me of your young days, Lord. No, more than you."
"More than what?"
Contrary to the gruff words, Glen opened his eyes. The corners of his mouth also lifted slightly. It seemed he was satisfied with the praise that his grandson was better than him.
"The warriors of Habun Castle don't care about politics, but they love battle and have overflowing righteousness."
Rimer wrapped his hands in a clasp and smiled with a grin.
"Raon is currently called the hero of Habun Castle. Perhaps Habun Castle will stand behind him in the future. Did you know this and allow Raon's test?"
"There's no such possibility."
Glen shook his head. In his seemingly empty eyes, a faint heat stirred.
"I just thought that if it were that kid, he would do well anywhere. I didn't care about his background."
"Eh? You just recognized Raon? Tomorrow the sun rises from the west?"
Rimer covered his mouth with his hand and made a fuss.
"Quiet."
"I'm the one who chose Habun Castle because I wanted Raon to gain a lot of experience. When I heard he jumped down for the soldiers, I was honestly surprised."
Rimer's gaze darkened. The playful space filled with serious light.
"The cold and cynical Raon seems to have grown humanly, not just physically, so my heart fluttered."
"Hmm."
Glen didn't speak, but nodded slowly as if agreeing.
"I haven't raised children, but seeing my child grow well makes me very proud."
"A child who doesn't cause trouble and keeps developing endlessly is rare. And..."
He twisted his lips and looked down at Rimer.
"That kid walks a different path from me, but he's my grandson. He's not your child."
"Eh? Recognized! Roen-nim, did you hear that? Just now he said his own grandson..."
"Th, that..."
"I heard!"
Roen said loudly and nodded his head unusually.
"Tomorrow, isn't the Bukmang Mountain going to collapse? Or is the sky going to fall..."
"Quiet!"
Glen shouted, and Rimer laughed cleverly. The audience hall filled with Raon's news was still flowing with accumulated affection today.
Unlike the somewhat cheerful Zieghart audience hall, the atmosphere in the Habun Castle meeting room was serious.
"The 1st Scout Squad and the 4th Scout Squad confirmed again."
Barti, captain of the 1st Scout Squad, chewed his lips while looking at the hastily scribbled documents.
"Ogre-sized build, king's emblem on the chest, and a single horn on the forehead. All are characteristics of the Ice Troll Lord. Confirmed. The Lord has appeared."
"Kng!"
"Damn! An Ice Troll Lord..."
"Only a few days after the Wave ended..."
The executives in the meeting room sighed at the appearance of the Troll Lord or lowered their eyes tightly.
"Well, it could be a mutant or an ogre..."
"Also observed the ability to subjugate monsters with the Lord's characteristics, not just the king-level monsters."
"Correct. Not just trolls, but orcs, goblins, and marine monsters bowed their heads to it."
The 1st and 4th Scout Squad captains continued in turn.
"Damn it!"
"Then it's real!"
The executives who had broken all hope shook their fists.
"If time passes, the monsters gathered under the Lord will cause a second Wave. No, a bigger deluge than the Wave."
Words disappeared from the meeting room. Only the sound of swallowing dry saliva could be heard here and there.
"However, there is one good piece of news."
"Good news? In this situation, what good news is there?"
"It's favorable news for us."
Barti nodded and picked up the second document.
"The Ice Troll Lord's fur is white, not the blue fur unique to Ice Trolls. That means he is not yet an adult. He hasn't completed it yet."
"Ah!"
"Then..."
"We must end him before he completes."
Miland pointed his finger at the point on the map where the Lord was observed. The powerful pressure crushed the desk.
"We depart immediately tomorrow."
"T-tomorrow?"
"Too fast! To prepare the soldiers..."
The executives opposed, saying it would take time because there are many injured and everyone needs to move.
"Soldiers won't go."
Miland stood up from his seat. The pressure like a giant flowed from his not-small height.
"Only knights, examiners, and the 1st and 2nd Scout Squads will move. We will move as elites and cut off the Lord's throat as quickly as possible."
"I agree with that. The most important thing is speed. We must behead the Lord before more monsters gather."
Terian, sitting on the right, had his eyes shining.
"Hmm..."
"That's the only way to minimize damage."
"Yes. If it's the commander, you can definitely catch the Lord. Others just need to block the monsters and stall for time."
The executives also nodded, thinking that was the best.
"Start preparations for immediate departure. The Snow Strike Squad with many injured and the remaining scouts and baggage will stay to prepare for any unforeseen situation."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
"Is there a moment?"
When the executives stood up to leave the meeting room, Raon, who had been quiet until now, raised his hand.
"I will go too."
Raon opened his mouth looking at Miland's downcast eyes.
"You haven't recovered from your injuries yet. Both body and mind are not in perfect condition."
"Still, it will be helpful."
"Yes. With your martial prowess, it will be helpful. But I can't push you any further."
"Commander."
"Your heart was known to everyone here that day. You felt it enough. This time, rest."
Miland shook his head slowly.
"Yes. Leave the Lord to us."
"Definitely, I'll come back after cutting off the head. Wait for me."
"I will fight with all my might instead of Raon-nim."
When the injured Raon showed his fighting spirit, a hot heat filled the executives' eyes.
"The reason I leave you is not just that. Entrust the castle to me. If anything happens, block it for sure."
Miland smiled faintly and patted his shoulder.
"Leave it to me."
"Understood."
Raon had no choice but to nod and left the meeting room.
'I left a good prey.'
It was a bit regrettable because catching the Lord would definitely increase soul's level and stats.
-Stupid guy. Anyway, there's no chance for you. Isn't the old man going to deal with it?
'That's right.'
As Ra said, the commander Miland is the one to deal with the Lord. Instead of going there and acting as a decoy, it might be better to fully recover here.
-Not a pig, I don't know why you're so greedy.
'Not as greedy as your appetite.'
-What? No appetite for this king! It's just the desire for gourmet food...
'Yeah, that's right. When you hear mint choco, your salivary glands break down, Demon King.'
-Kkhuuk!
Raon teased Ra and returned to his room.
***
Next morning.
The expedition led by Miland rushed out of the castle aiming for the Lord's throat at the end of the Snow Strike Squad. Since only uninjured elites moved, the speed was incomparably faster than a normal expedition.
Raon watched the retreating expedition with a white storm, then came down from the wall.
"Ah, it's really a shame. I should have cut off the Lord's throat."
Dorian muttered a sound that didn't make sense and waved his hand in the air. After hearing that he was left out of the expedition, he should have cheered, but instead said such words, so only a blank laugh came out.
'My number one subordinate. Truly amazing.'
-... This king doesn't know that guy.
Ra only pretended not to know Dorian at times like this.
"What are you going to do today?"
"Train. I have to recover quickly."
"Want me to help?"
"No need, do your own thing."
"Okay!"
As if waiting for that, Dorian took a salute posture and ran to the opposite side of the room. He probably went to the Frost Branch to play with Yua.
'You've become quite close.'
-The pineapple girl and your mental age match perfectly. No, honestly, that guy is younger.
Ra clicked his tongue as if pitiful.
'That's right.'
You too.
Since it was obvious he would cause a tantrum, he didn't say the last word.
-Mental age, now I remember. This king was famous in the Demon Realm as an existence with elegant spirit. Even when other Demon Kings did ugly things, this king was always graceful...
'Quickly, I should train.'
-Hear this! It's a story of blood and flesh!
'I've heard your bragging so much that blood is coming out of my ears.'
-Kkhuuk, every time I say it, you won't die nicely!
Ignoring the self-proclaimed elegant Demon King's curse, Raon returned to the room and sat down.
"Hooou..."
Calmly exhaling, he closed his eyes. Accepting the pure natural energy, he rotated the Fire Ring.
When the ring resonated and pulled up the body condition, he used the Ten Thousand Flames. The lava-like heat rising from the lower abdomen rushed through the mana circuit, starting to melt the remnants of the battle.
Thanks to the concentration trait, the flow of aura running through the mana circuit felt so detailed that it could be caught in the hand, perhaps because the stats had risen.
'A little more possible.'
Raon pulled more mana than usual. It was a lot that made his shoulders tremble slightly, but he controlled the flow using the higher martial arts and senses.
Thanks to the change in mana, concentration increased. Naturally rotating the Fire Ring and using the Ten Thousand Flames.
When the sunlight pouring from the window sank and the moon rose to the center of the sky, Raon opened his eyes.
Flicker!
The already sunk sun seemed to rise again, and the red eyes burned. Unlike dawn, the eyes were full of power.
'By tomorrow, the aura will be fully recoverable.'
Raon stroked his lower abdomen and smiled. Because the stats and martial arts had increased a lot, the recovery speed didn't disappoint expectations. It seemed he could return to perfect condition much faster than expected.
-It's all thanks to this king's great ability. Don't forget to repay it.
'Yes. Yes.'
Raon extended his chin and laughed with a pi at Ra pretending to be dignified.
'Should I try using Glacia too.'
Since the body was somewhat recovered, he decided to continue Glacia training. Closing his eyes again, he spread the sea of senses wider than a lake.
Chiiing!
Raon dove deeper into the sea of senses. Using the Sense of Frost Flowers, he expanded the range of ki sense. Thanks to the concentration trait, spreading the senses became much easier and faster.
Goooooo!
He shaped the water channels of the spreading senses like octopus tentacles and explored around the castle. It was training to use Glacia through images.
'Hmm?'
Raon, who was exploring the battlefield with the sense water channels, stopped abruptly. Multiple waves rose in the sea of senses. The aura of monsters running fiercely.
'Not just that.'
Three huge waves rose among the monsters. They were beings far stronger than ordinary ones.
Clunk.
When Raon checked the aura again, the door slid open slightly and Dorian entered.
"Wow, you're still doing it."
Dorian closed the door carefully and whispered. As he approached the bed on tiptoes, Raon's eyes flashed.
"Hek!"
"Intruder."
"B, intruder? That's too harsh! I came late on purpose!"
"Not you."
"Eh?"
"No. Not an intruder, but prey."
He stood up and grabbed his sword.
"D, young master? Why a sword at this time..."
"Go and deliver."
Blue flames shot in Raon's eyes.
"The enemy is coming."
***
When the moon rose to the center of the sky, the man in black robe stood up.
"Bingagu. Time."
At those words, Bingagu, who was lying on the floor, opened his eyes. His narrow pupils, thin like a beast, trembled.
"Finally, I'll see blood."
He spat out a voice so cold it gave chills and stood up.
"Was Miland definitely gone?"
"I confirmed with the troll's eyes used for scouting. The movement speed was faster than expected. In 6 hours, it will arrive near Sterin Mountain."
"Unfortunately, it really happened as you said. I wanted to clash with Miland once."
Bingagu licked his long tongue with regret.
"Don't think about useless things and prepare. We have to strike immediately."
"But no matter how I think, I feel sorry for the Lord. If raised properly, it would be a big help. Tsk."
"Lord?"
"Yes. It's too big a guy to use as bait."
"What are you misunderstanding."
The man in black robe shook his head.
"The Lord is here."
He tapped the ground with the staff pulled from his robe. Strange patterns flashed, and the Ice Troll Lord, bigger than before, emerged.
"Krruuk..."
The Lord drooled with eyes full of appetite.
"King-level monsters get stronger the more they see blood. We can't miss the chance to safely raise the Lord."
"Then, what's in Sterin Mountain?"
"I have a fake made with shamanism."
"If it was someone else, but Miland would notice immediately?"
"That's right. But at that time, it would already be after our business is over."
The man in black robe smiled coldly. He showed the Ice Troll Lord three times to the scouts for that. When they arrive, they will notice, but for now, they have no choice but to swallow it.
"Then, let's start."
He tapped the ground again with the staff. With a loud noise like the mountain twisting, the snow-covered hill behind the two people trembled as if it were a living creature.
Kwaaaaa!
The white snow was swept away, and blue fur sprouted. Trolls and orcs. The white hill was a fake made of monsters that had been hiding and sleeping.
"That hill... You piled it up a little bit so Habun Castle couldn't notice? Cheongjugwi. Your plan is boring, but the effect is certain."
"I keep saying it. If we move according to the plan, we can complete the mission."
Cheongjugwi curled his lips and put the troll shaman mask on his face. With a sound like gears turning, the mask wrapped around his head.
"Krrruuk."
A beast-like howl came from Cheongjugwi's mouth. A more vicious light than monsters flickered in his eyeballs, and ominous energy seeped from the staff in his hand.
"Kkuh! Miland's expression when he sees Habun Castle full of corpses is expected."
Bingagu giggled and put on the shark helmet.
Chiriring!
Blue waves flowing from the helmet wrapped around his body. Blade-like fins sprouted from his back and shoulders, and blue spikes from his arms and legs. The spikes were densely packed armor that would tear the skin if touched. The armor of the most ferocious marine monster, Sharksting.
"Let's go!"
"Kuaaaaa!"
"Kralarak!"
When Cheongjugwi raised the dark green glowing staff, the monsters that had been stopped as if dead roared and started rushing towards Habun Castle. The momentum was several times more vicious than during the Wave.
"Since there is no time for defense or preparation, break through the broken walls immediately."
"Against a weak opponent, it's slaughter, so I like this kind of thing."
Cheongjugwi had planned to the end, and Bingagu's eyes burned with evil.
"The castle is visible! Eh? But..."
"What, what! What happened!"
The two villains running to Habun Castle looked up at the walls full of soldiers as if preparations were over. As if confident in their existence, they shot up fireworks into the sky.
"Trap?"
"It's not a trap. Miland's location was definitely confirmed! What the hell..."
Not just Bingagu, but Cheongjugwi also trembled with surprise.
"H, how..."
"Don't be surprised, Cheongjugwi. After all, the ones left in the castle are just stragglers. Just push them with force!"
"Hoo, this time it's right as you said."
Cheongjugwi raised the staff and spat out strange words in succession.
"Kiaaaaa!"
"Kuaaaaa!"
The monsters who received the light flowing from the staff charged to the walls with red eyes, faster and more viciously.
"Go to the walls! Crush them in one breath!"
"Kkuhkuh, this time I'll go first... Eh?"
When the monsters tried to smash the walls with their bodies, a man jumped down from the top of the castle. Flailing blonde hair. The hero who had blocked thousands of monsters alone a few days ago was there.
"You did well not going."
Raon pointed his sharp blade and smiled with excitement.
"Prey came looking for me on their own."