Chapter 126
Chapter 126
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Jewel in the Palm
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Guardian Knight Commander Bess reported what he had personally witnessed alongside the elite knights.
"Fenrir is heading south along the river. Its current position is at the waist of the Blade Mountains connecting the central region to the south. It should reach Strange territory in half a day."
Fenrir's location had been pinpointed.
Not only that, but they had also spotted a thousand mercenaries moving together, centered around mages.
Now that Glazer had begun to move in earnest, we couldn't just sit idly by.
I cross-referenced the position of Fenrir that Bess had reported with the supply routes on the map Gangret had brought, attempting to predict the enemy's movements.
"Do you happen to remember what kind of armament the mercenaries moving with Fenrir had?"
"Yes. Most were in light armor, but they carried very heavy weapons in their hands—claymores or halberds, the complete opposite of their gear."
Light armor and heavy weapons.
That meant the ones accompanying Glazer were most likely northern barbarians, and they had lightened their armament to boost mobility.
'Glazer wants to end this war quickly.'
Just from their armament, I could tell what strategy they were employing as they advanced south.
"Judging by the enemy's marching speed, avoiding them will be difficult. It seems this battle will mark the start of the war."
"I agree. If they keep up their momentum without rest, they'll reach Strange Castle within a day at least."
"A day? That's faster than expected."
"Yes, so I hurried back while tracking them."
I pondered for a moment.
I knew why Glazer was rushing into battle, but this seemed far too hasty.
'What could be the reason?'
I couldn't help but have my doubts.
'Is Rothschild pressuring them?'
No, Glazer wasn't the type to bend to their will so easily.
On the contrary, Hagen alone had the power to dismantle Ragnarok whenever he wished.
'That's right.'
The reason Father hadn't crushed Rothschild in the past was Glazer's interference, not because Rothschild commanded a powerful army.
Even those called the Knights of God were just a ragtag group of third-rate knights chased out of Strange and mages expelled from Glazer.
I reviewed all the intelligence gathered so far once more in detail, then issued an order to Bess.
"Raise the beacon fires. We'll declare war on Glazer first this time."
"Are you sure? If we do that, we'll need solid justification once the war ends."
"Justification overflows on our side. If other nations refuse to acknowledge us, we can always forge new ones."
"...Well, in a world where the victor defines justice, it shouldn't be a problem."
"Exactly. And we need to declare war first to succeed with the ambush, so hurry."
The Blade Mountains stretching from the central region to the south.
This place, with cliffs so high that one couldn't see outside from within, struck terror into those unfamiliar with the paths.
Thud, thud, thud.
The massive wolf with silver fur, Fenrir, led the way. Behind it, a thousand mercenaries followed with tense expressions, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
"Young Master Edward, wouldn't it be better to rest a bit? It's time for Fenrir to drink, and the mercenaries are starting to grumble from exhaustion."
When the long-bearded old man cautiously asked, Edward, who had been fiddling with a necklace atop Fenrir, nodded.
"Alright. We've been hunting non-stop for three days straight, so it's no wonder they're tired."
"Yes, Young Master. That... since supplies haven't arrived yet, may I order them to fill their stomachs with the monsters hunted along the way?"
"Handle it yourself. Don't bother me with such details."
"Understood, Young Master."
The old man finished the conversation and leaped backward from Fenrir's back.
Whoosh.
Enveloping his body in mana, he floated through the air toward the mercenaries' leader.
"Halt, Gulzar."
The burly man draped in bear pelt, axe raised overhead, barked in response.
"Halt!!"
His booming voice echoed off the cliffs, reverberating through the canyon.
-Halt, halt, halt.
"Enemy?"
"No, seems the soldiers are fatigued. Giving them a rest."
"A rest?"
"Yes. By Young Master Edward's order, we'll rest here briefly. Meanwhile, century commanders, check your platoons. Finish meals with monsters caught en route before sunset."
Gulzar tilted his head at the old man's command.
"Fill our stomachs... with monsters?"
"Yes, didn't I say earlier? Hunt any beasts or monsters seen on the way for food."
"No, sir. Or should I call you Baron Zaios?"
"Call me whatever."
"...Still, that order will be hard to swallow."
"What?"
"We have over a hundred porters, and it's not like we lack food. Suddenly telling us to eat monsters? It doesn't make sense."
The old man raised an eyebrow with a displeased expression.
"Why not?"
"Think about it the other way. Would Young Master Edward eat monster meat himself? With its bark-like texture and rotten stench?"
"They eat it on battlefields, don't they?"
"Only when starving on the brink of death. Most adventurers here are high-grade mercenaries. Who in their right mind hunts and eats monsters out of hunger?"
"...Gulzar."
"Yes."
Mana erupted from the old man's hands, enveloping the surroundings.
Fwaaah!
It chilled the air, creating a frigid aura.
"Don't talk back if you want to return alive. Do as you're told."
"......"
"How dare a mere mercenary lecture a mage."
"No, it's not lecturing; it's just how we feel—"
"Shut up!"
Crack crack.
The mana gradually froze, slicing into Gulzar's skin. Not just him—the thousand mercenaries following him had their limbs frozen by the old man's sudden magic.
"...Hoo. Understood. I'll tell them to eat monsters then. But any fallout is on you, Lord Zaios, not me."
"Fine. I'll handle any rebels myself. You, relay the orders."
Gulzar turned without a word. Discontent filled his face, but he didn't voice it. He merely whispered orders to his deputy warrior.
"Rest. Finish meals before sunset."
"Yes, Captain."
"And meals are with monsters caught en route, not our supplies."
The potato-faced man tilted his head as he replied.
"Monsters?"
"Yeah, that dog-like mage bastard. We put up with him for the high pay, but now he sees us as shit."
"But we've marched half a day on empty stomachs. Ordering monsters now will spark backlash."
"I don't care, damn it! Do as ordered if you don't want to die. Send any whiners to that old man."
Gulzar grumbled as he uncovered a cart and pulled out a chunk of orc thigh.
"Goddamn mages."
His deputy scratched his head awkwardly but eventually propagated Zaios's orders to the unit commanders.
Grumbles erupted here and there, but they could do nothing.
For the high pay, they just endured and ate.
Crunch.
Gulzar bit into the orc thigh with a face full of disgust.
Step, step, step.
Someone approached and sat beside him.
"Greetings. Are you the captain of this unit?"
A woman with pale skin, clad in gleaming full plate armor, her silver hair elegant.
"...And?"
"Your name is Gulzar, right?"
"That's me. But which unit are you from, wearing full plate like that? What's your name?"
"I'm Juliana."
"Juliana?"
"Yes. Some knights call me this: Queen of the Southern Owls."
"Queen of the Owls?"
"...One of the five guardian swords protecting Strange. Silver Owl Queen, Juliana."
"?!"
Crack!
Juliana's blade pierced Gulzar's mouth.
Thud.
It emerged through his throat.
"Gurrk!"
The fallen Gulzar grabbed her blade and resisted, but pushing back Juliana's aura-infused hands was beyond him.
Splat.
Juliana severed his neck outright. With cold eyes, she swept her gaze over the dining mercenaries and warned them.
"Shh. If any of you open your mouths, I'll tear you all apart like this one."
The mercenaries facing her froze solid.
Even these high-grade mercenaries, seasoned in battle, showed no will to resist.
'Probably.'
It wasn't just Juliana's superior prowess.
Zaios's order to eat monsters must have broken their spirit as well.
"Those who want to live, run on your own. We'll create the opportunity."
Gulzar's potato-faced deputy whispered cautiously.
"Op... opportunity?"
"Yes. Or charge if you want to die; I don't care."
After her warning, Juliana smiled faintly, checked Fenrir's position, and raised her sword overhead.
"We're starting, Lord Berddin."
Rumble!
At that moment, thunder-like roar echoed from the sky. Glazer's resting mages and mercenaries jumped up in alarm.
The front-line mercenaries knew of Juliana, but those in the rear did not.
"What is it?!"
Unit commanders shouted. Zaios, guarding Edward, also checked the direction of the roar to assess the situation.
"...Th-that one!"
All eyes turned upward to the canyon rim. There, beneath approaching black clouds, stood a knight emanating golden aura.
"Long time no see, Edward."
Edward, resting atop Fenrir, smirked.
"So the rumors were true—you've grown with the power of Timeless, Berddin."
The two smiled at each other.
Then, as Berddin's razor-sharp aura clashed mid-air with Edward's rippling, wave-like mana...
Swoosh.
For an instant, it was as if time stopped—the entire canyon fell silent.
Flash!
The two leaped simultaneously. Aura-clad sword met mana-wrapped steel fist.
Boooom!
A massive explosion rocked the canyon.