Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Downfall.
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Valentine de Strange had returned to the south.
She had positioned the Moonlight Knight Order, which she personally commanded, at the foremost frontline, and unleashed the monster known as 'Fenrir'—once called the calamity of the west—into the central continent.
This was her declaration that no one, no matter how eager for war, would cross into the south easily.
Returning to the castle after so long, Valentine sought out Berddin, dressed not in armor but in comfortable attire.
"Will a week be enough?"
After lightly kissing the back of her hand, Berddin replied.
"Yes, Sister. Even if things go wrong, it won't take longer than that."
"Destination?"
"Legion."
"Legion?"
"Yes, to be precise, the tower. There's something I need to handle there before this war begins."
"May I know what it is?"
"...Growth."
"Growth?"
"Yes, growth."
Berddin clenched and unclenched his fist as he continued.
"It seems this war will grow even larger than I anticipated. I believe this body of mine has reached its limit."
Grasping his intent immediately, she stroked his head with a worried gaze.
"You're planning to meet that guy, aren't you."
"You know where I'm going?"
"Floor 29—no, 30. You're heading to meet the apostle there."
Berddin looked at her with wide eyes.
'As expected, Sister knows.'
What I was thinking, and who was there.
"That's right."
"He's weak, yet strong. You, who climbed higher in the tower than I did, would know that better."
Weak, yet strong.
It was a perfect description of the apostle guarding floor 30.
"It might not go as you intend."
"I'm prepared for that. That's why I asked for a week from you, Sister."
"...Berddin."
"Yes, Sister."
"Even if you fail and return, don't worry. No matter how dire things get for the Strange Family, I'll handle everything myself."
Rox scratched the back of his head in front of an egg as large as himself.
"I passed the results on to that Freddy guy like you said. But even after telling him his boss lost, he wouldn't believe it until the end."
The news of Matteo Rich's defeat had been delivered to Freddy. This was to inform him of the Pentagram's operation failure and shatter his spirit.
"Good job."
"But... there's a problem."
"Problem?"
"Yeah, with Cynthia and Alfredo. It seems like they got attacked by the enemy."
"Enemy?"
"I don't know who, but it looks like someone ambushed those two. Location's somewhere between the central region and the north, but not exactly sure."
With the war not yet started, who on earth would target Cynthia and Alfredo?
They had no information leaked to the enemy except that they were in my party.
'No.'
To put it bluntly, there weren't even any real enemies. Unless they weren't with me, the Glazer Family wouldn't see them as threats either.
The Rothschilds wouldn't even know they existed.
'Then who targeted them?'
Someone connected to the Glazers, who knew they were part of my strength.
"The Pentagram?"
"Not sure that far. But probably not them. Freddy met me, and that Wendy woman seemed to spy on us from afar."
True, with Matteo Rich in that state, they wouldn't target Cynthia and Alfredo now.
"Anyway, the signal from the bugs I planted on them suddenly cut off."
Rox pondered for a moment, tilting his head before continuing.
"No, not cut off—more like they figured out what my bugs were and got rid of them. Even that Piero guy doesn't know their location."
"Who killed the bugs? Cynthia? Or the attacker?"
"Uh... not sure. There was suddenly a 'boom!' explosion sound, and then nothing."
Unknown.
Who the hell did this? And right when I needed those two.
'Damn it.'
An unexpected situation had arisen. It wasn't a problem for the upcoming war, but it created a gap in my plan to conquer the tower's summit.
"Last known position?"
"They were heading north from Legion continuously... then split at a fork."
There was only one fork north of Legion: the road to 'Bingseong,' the Sinful Citadel, and the Papal Court.
"So they got hit after splitting?"
"Yeah, Cynthia's bug went first, then Alfredo's."
"No clues to track?"
"Clues... Cynthia none. Alfredo has some. Wait, Cynthia too, since she was with him."
"What does that mean? Didn't they split and then get attacked?"
Rox furrowed his brow, struggling to explain.
"No, they definitely split. But then they met up again? Couldn't see because the bugs' vision was obscured. Last thing I heard was Cynthia and Alfredo reuniting, and someone helping them fight the enemy."
"Who?"
"No idea."
"So you don't know who the enemy is, where Cynthia and Alfredo went, or even who helped them?"
"...Yeah."
Rox dropped his head, unaware he was doing so.
He had unavoidable reasons and valid excuses for failing the surveillance, but the result made him look incompetent, leaving him disappointed in himself.
"Fine. Then let's track them starting now."
"How?"
"First, head to northern Legion and search for their last traces. If there was a fight, traces will remain. We can pursue from there."
"Oh, got it."
"We still have plenty of time, so no rush."
"Not plenty if we're going to the tower top?"
"...Plenty. This trip will be very different from last time."
"Really?"
I nodded briefly and looked at the large egg in the room.
"No reaction yet?"
"Yeah, been watching, but nothing."
"No shell-cracking sounds from inside?"
"Nope."
It would be perfect if it hatched now, but unfortunately, it's late.
'Doesn't matter.'
When the time comes, it'll emerge on its own. If the needed moment arrives and it doesn't...
'I'll force it awake.'
I know how.
"By the way, do you know how many giants Debere prepared?"
"Yeah! Five so far."
Five beast giants—enough to clear a path.
"Pendulam?"
"Got it. Something for finding paths in caves, he said?"
"Right. Item for this dungeon. Need it, so bring it."
"Okay, piece of cake. Oh yeah—on the way back from meeting Freddy, Debere said he opened a warp gate to Legion. Said you know the spot."
A warp gate directly from Strange Castle to Legion.
No idea how, but Debere succeeded in opening it.
'Blatantly illegal.'
Warp gates, exclusive to the imperial army, only permit travel between neutral zones. Making one usable directly from Strange violates that.
"As expected."
My judgment was correct.
Good call entrusting him with the counterattack foundation.
His skills are guaranteed, as a former comrade of Father.
"Kuhahaha! That's the gate I made back in the day. Now it's usable at last?!"
Siegfried let out a hearty, gravelly laugh.
Puffing as if it were all his achievement, he continued.
"Impossible without me. I held a sword to the emperor's neck to make it."
And for drawing steel on the emperor, he fought the imperial army for a year, I'd heard.
Causing needless war and countless sacrifices.
In a way, truly impressive.
Turning the entire continent against him, fighting the emperor, and leading that war to victory.
'Moreover.'
His utter disregard for anyone but himself was astonishingly carefree.
"Yes, yes, you did great. Without Master, we'd have walked without a warp gate. Thanks for sparing your disciple's legs—I'm tearing up."
"Right? I'm amazing... If I'd lived a few more years, I'd have gone to the tower top with Brunhilt and claimed that promised panty—"
Brunhilt spat fire from her mouth.
Shwoooosh!
"Shut up, nyang! When did I ever say I'd give you panties, nyang?!"
Siegfried patted his singed hair grandly, then drew his sword and pointed at Brunhilt.
"That's it. No more business with you. Pantyless cat."
"What? Have you gone mad?!"
"Cats who don't get men's dreams deserve death."
"Wh-what did you say, you lunatic?!"
"Die, no-panties."
Shing—clang!
The idiot duel began again.
Turning my back on them, I explained the warp gate to Rox as we headed to the castle basement.
"Don't tense up—just think of immersing your whole body in water. Follow the sparkling blue path, and you'll open your eyes at the destination."
Krunch, krunch, craaaunch!
Not long after Berddin and Rox left the castle, the large egg in their room began cracking bit by bit. Spiderweb fissures spread everywhere, accompanied by sounds of something gnawing from within.
Kikik, ki-gee-gik.
Sensing an extraordinary aura, Valentine herself visited Berddin's room.
Thinking it might be an assassination attempt signaling the war's start, or a rampage from one of his so-called comrades.
"...An egg?"
Krunch, ki-gik!
She couldn't close her mouth at the unprecedented sight.
The shell was enormously thick and large compared to any monster eggs she'd seen.
Moreover, the lifeform inside exuded an unimaginably potent energy through the cracks.
Ssssh—
What on earth was this extraordinary thing?
Valentine hesitated, gripping her sword to slash it or not, then smiled at the large larva tickling her foot.
"Berddin, is this your toy?"
She sheathed her sword and approached cautiously. Lightly stroking it with her palm, she peered inside the shell.
'...I see.'
Now I understand why you fear not this war.
'Berddin.'
My little brother, and
the future of the Strange Family.