Chapter 136
Chapter 136
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: The Starting Point of the Wave
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After returning from Midgard, two pieces of news awaited me at the castle.
One was Pendragon tracking down Mayer's whereabouts.
The other was Philip—my comrade from my previous life—betraying Albus and coming back.
Both were equally critical, with neither taking precedence, so I quietly waited in the castle for word from them.
"The Glazers' range of operations is expanding. Their movements, once limited to the southeast, have already reached Kaswell Port."
Bess continued as he moved the wizard figurine on the map closer to Strange Castle.
"They'll likely reach the vicinity of Strange Castle in as little as a day or two."
I traced the route from Kaswell Port—where the Glazer mages had arrived—to Strange Castle and replied.
"Then they'll have no choice but to pass through Lampas Swamp, right?"
"Yes."
"In that case, there's only one suitable spot for an ambush. I can't fathom what they're relying on for such rapid mobilization."
"...Perhaps it's because the eastern wave hasn't headed toward the center but south instead."
"The eastern wave?"
"Yes. Their movements, which I reported before you left for Midgard, are far from ordinary."
Bess reached for the map again and slid all the monster figurines in the east southward.
"According to the scouts, their numbers aren't in the hundreds or thousands—it's at least tens of thousands."
"Tens of thousands?"
"Yes. And that's just the ones approaching through the canyon. The ones moving through the forest are probably even more..."
The true nature of the eastern wave was unmistakably Philip's modified monsters. If so, turning his heart would allow me to control them.
In the end, time is the answer.
I pondered briefly, staring at the positions of the monsters and mages marked on the map by Bess.
Which should I block first? We didn't have enough troops to handle both simultaneously.
Yet letting either one through wasn't an option.
"Rox, how many bugs can you use right now?"
Rox shrugged.
"The ones from the tower?"
"Yeah."
"About a hundred. The rest lack mana for control. With the extras you mentioned added in—"
"A hundred is enough."
"For what?"
I pointed to the canyon entrance and began explaining to Rox.
"You go here."
"...Me alone?"
"Who else do you want to go with?"
Rox glanced around.
Bess, Valentine, Cynthia.
He looked at each in turn, then shook his head.
"No, that's not it. Didn't you just say there are ten thousand monsters there?"
"That's right. You're a monster too. Can't you talk them out of it?"
"Talk to monsters?"
"Yeah. If they won't listen, give 'em a fight."
"...Technically, I'm half-human, not a full monster. They won't talk, and I can't beat that many."
I chuckled and patted his back.
"I'm kidding. What you need to do is simple. Just take the bugs and collapse this cliff to block the path."
"Block the path?"
"Yeah. No need to even meet them. Just seal it off before they arrive."
"They'll break through soon enough."
"Doesn't matter. I'll raid Kaswell Port and drive out the mages before then anyway."
"Hmm... So I just block the canyon entrance and come back?"
"Exactly."
Rox nodded and took a step back.
"...Okay, leave it to me."
I felt bad deceiving the others, but I pretended it was a strategy meeting to fool them all.
On the way back from Midgard after the operation, Philip had told me this before we parted.
"Then, until I give you my answer for Berddin, I'll halt the southward advance of the monsters from the east."
He had revealed the monsters' true nature himself.
Hiding it wouldn't fool me anyway, and it was better to address it head-on.
Especially if he wanted to decisively choose a side later.
"Once we're back at the castle, I'll send you out on some mission, no matter what."
Rox tilted his head.
"Me?"
"Yeah. Then you'll receive a letter from me and head to Meteorich. We've already pinpointed his location, right?"
"True, but why keep it secret from the others?"
"...Momentum."
"Momentum?"
"Yeah, momentum. If this war drags on like this, our soldiers' spirits will break soon enough."
"Huh? What are you talking about? Aren't we winning the war right now?"
"On the surface."
"On the surface? We haven't lost a single battle against them."
"True. But that's the end of it. The Glazers' counterattack starts now. Once our momentum falters, we'll lose the war."
I knew it well.
What headaches my father had faced in my previous life. The Glazers' true power didn't emerge in the war's early stages but in the mid-game.
Once they began swallowing territory with wide-area magic, knights struggled to counter.
Even if we won battles, shrinking land meant we'd be cornered over time—us Strangians.
That's why I cut their supply lines.
Who would've thought they'd push this deep with just mages, no knights.
It was a double-edged sword. With no retreat, they'd charge desperately for a win.
"Uh... I get what you mean by momentum slipping. But how does secretly meeting Meteorich tie into that?"
"Meeting him signals a lack of forces on our side. If the other commanders catch on, rumors will spread, and weird talk will circulate in the ranks."
"Ah!"
"Strange must preserve this momentum now. For our final decisive blow."
Rox extended his hand and clenched his fist.
"Got it. I'll kill them all."
I shook my head lightly.
"No, don't kill. Deliver this letter to Meteorich."
"Oh, right."
"And absolutely don't let Cynthia hear about this. Even after meeting Meteorich, keep pretending you don't know."
"That much is fine. But will Meteorich ally with us?"
"He has no choice."
"Why? He tried to kill you."
I gently brushed Theresia's hair as she slept soundly on my shoulder and whispered softly.
"...Because if he doesn't join hands with me now, he won't be able to protect Johanna Arc."
Mages can't match knights physically. It's inevitable—the bodies of those pursuing ultimate flesh differ from those chasing knowledge.
"Mages lose power at night, so we depart for Kaswell Port at sunset."
I gave orders to Kaipa and his soldiers. Our deployable forces outside the castle were limited, and his skills were perfect for this mission.
"We'll cross the swamp, so keep armament light. Coat arrows in oil to prevent enemy fire magic."
Kaipa nodded curtly.
"Understood, Family Head."
"Scouts ahead—the swamp might have ambushes. Confirm enemy positions first."
"Yes, sir. Anything else to prepare?"
"...I forgot to mention. Bring some shells to demolish the port."
"Shells?"
"Yes."
Thinking it over, Clark—the former pirate king—was among the enemy.
Not confirmed, but if Glazer generals were involved, they'd use the sea for fast maneuvers.
That's why they took Kaswell Port as a base.
So my task was to render the port unusable.
"Got it. I'll send stealthy scouts to survey the swamp and set shells at the port."
Kaipa ended the talk and headed to his unit. To execute tonight's operation properly, they needed to move now.
As he left, Ganggradra emerged from behind the curtain.
"Master."
"Sorry for the wait. Something to discuss?"
"Yes. Before this mission, I have words for you."
"For me?"
"Yes."
His face was tense—unprecedented.
"Sit."
I pulled a chair for him. No guards here in my childhood quarters.
I wonder what he wants to say.
Best place for a quiet talk.
Ganggradra sat cautiously and asked.
"What do you think of the Glazers, Master?"
"...Suddenly?"
"Yes. I want your thoughts on them."
I closed my eyes briefly to gauge his intent.
"Our main enemy."
"Main enemy?"
"Yes. That's all I can say. For ages, they've never mixed with us, waging endless wars to devour each other."
"...I see."
"What happens next, who knows. But for now, that's my answer."
Ganggradra nodded several times, then continued carefully.
"Then, if I carry Glazer blood, am I your enemy too, Master?"
The question I'd suspected arrived.
I'd half-expected it.
His prior actions hinted at this.
"No."
"Then?"
"The Glazers I call main enemies are those targeting Strange now."
I pointed to the Strange cross-sword on the wall.
"Not everyone by blood. By that logic, I'd deem imperial troops enemies too."
"Imperial troops?"
"Yes. Some Glazer nobles are tied to the imperial court."
"Ah..."
"Ganggradra, may I ask why bring this up? You could've kept your Glazer blood secret until the war's end."
Ganggradra shook his head vigorously.
"I didn't want to hide it."
"Hide what?"
"All our secrets from you, Master."
"Our?"
Ganggret slithered out from behind him.
Impressive assassination skills—I hadn't noticed her suppressing her presence so close.
"...Ganggret, remove your mask."
Ganggret hesitated, trembling hand on her mask, then revealed her hidden face.
Clack.
Only then did I grasp her shocking identity.
Clack.
"...My name is Ganggret von Glazer."
Ganggret sadly stroked the crescent moon etched on her forehead.
"Edward's mother."