Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: The Starting Point of the Wave.
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As Kaipa summoned his Guardian Spirit, the power of spirits infused the weapons of the allied knights.
Fairies formed on the framework of the four elements: earth, water, fire, and wind.
Gnomes, undines, salamanders, and sylphs aided the knights in battling the wizards.
Caaaang!
Kaipa's flame sword blocked Dictri's ice spear.
"Today, beneath the name of Strange, every wizard on the continent will vanish from existence."
"If you can, then try it. No matter what you've prepared. My father possesses a spell that no knight can overcome."
"A spell that knights cannot overcome?"
"Yes, a 10th-circle spell that witnessed the end of the Anti-Mage War. Father said he could no longer use that power. But in truth, he kept it hidden."
"?!"
Dictri raised an eyebrow.
"You'll soon understand why Roys couldn't settle things with us. Just watch."
Kwaaaang!
With a deafening roar, Glazer Castle began to crumble. An intense energy enveloped the surroundings, shaking the earth and splitting the sky.
Yet neither knights nor wizards could flee the battlefield. The battle had already begun, and it was one they had to see through to the end.
At the center of the battlefield, where the balance of power had been held, Berddin halted his movements. He then channeled aura into his sword and lifted his head high.
What his gaze fixed upon was a spell unlike any he had seen before.
'What is that?'
Eight massive chains, resembling spider legs, danced from the top of the castle.
The mana emanating from their razor-sharp tips was so potent that space itself seemed to tear wherever they swung.
'Could that be the rumored 10th-circle magic?'
Back when I was called the Sword King, no one knew how to use it; it existed only in ancient records.
"Interesting."
To think that I, in this life, would face the very pinnacle of magic that my father ended in my previous one.
Boooooung.
One of the eight massive chains suddenly shot up high, then flew swiftly toward Berddin.
Whoosh, shwaaaaa!
The wave slicing through the air sounded like artillery shells exploding.
Kaang!
It then clashed with his sword above Berddin's head.
Kikikikik.
The aura swirling around the magic sword Misteltein collided with the mana whipping around the chain, pushing against each other.
The two forces were so powerful that their vibrations sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Kwajijik.
Wooden houses split apart or shattered and flew off, while the weak-willed fainted and collapsed in place.
Thud.
"Everyone, fall back with your backs to the walls and assume defensive positions!"
Berddin's voice echoed across the battlefield. In response, Kaipa paused his fight with Dictri and relayed orders to the soldiers.
"All units, switch to defensive formation! Cease attacks and move to the walls!"
The knights receiving his command hesitantly moved toward the walls. Not just them—the Glazer wizards, overwhelmed by the 10th-circle magic's presence, also vanished into the castle.
'This power rivals that of a god.'
That must be why the apostles of the Tower schemed so desperately to exterminate the wizards.
Berddin kicked at the chain he was blocking with his sword.
Kwaang!
Infusing mana into his foot delivered enough damage to send the chain flying away.
Kuung.
The chain's tip embedded into the ground.
Berddin ran up along the chain and shouted toward Hagen.
"The history of Glazer ends by my hand today!"
Hagen, with his spider-like lower body bearing eight legs, looked down at Berddin with cold eyes.
"Foolish whelp of Strange, you underestimate Glazer too much."
"What?"
"The reason Roys couldn't take this castle wasn't simply because of my magic."
Kugugugugu.
Suddenly, the castle shook violently.
Then, a massive green dragon's head burst from beneath the earth, opening its maw wide toward Berddin.
"It's because he couldn't find a way to defeat Glazer's guardian deity."
"?!"
There was no escaping it.
By the time he noticed the green dragon's sudden appearance, it was already too close.
'Damn it.'
Kuung!
Berddin was swallowed by the dragon.
At that moment, it was as if time froze—everyone within Glazer territory stiffened. Allies and enemies alike stared at the green dragon in terrified expressions.
Krurrrr—
Witnessing the scene, Kanggret let out a scream-like roar.
"Uwaaaaa!!!"
She then scaled the wall like a flying insect and swung her dagger toward Hagen's heart.
Puk!
She succeeded in striking the unguarded Hagen.
"It's been a while, Kanggret."
Hagen met her eyes without a change in expression.
"...Why didn't you stop me?"
Kanggret asked, trembling with rage-filled eyes.
"There was no need."
"What?"
"I'm dying soon anyway. On this path I'm taking, couldn't I at least grant you this much?"
Their conversation ended there.
Kanggradra, who had followed behind her, clenched his fist and struck the dagger's hilt hard.
Puk!
The blade sank even deeper, reaching Hagen's heart.
"Kuhuk!"
They had finally succeeded in killing Hagen. With this, his era ended, and Glazer would fall.
Kanggret and Kanggradra trembled as they watched the dying Hagen.
"Finally.... We've avenged ourselves against you...."
Kanggradra murmured like a soliloquy, and Kanggret swallowed hard while gazing at the dying man.
"From the day you abandoned me until now, I waited for this moment without fail, not even for a single day."
Hagen looked at her with slowly closing eyes and gave a faint smile.
"Then I'm glad. That the day you wanted has come."
"What?"
"I'm relieved that, in this way at least, I could keep my promise to you."
"Promise?"
"Sorry for making you wait so long."
"Making me wait?"
"...My star."
With those words, the sky over Glazer territory began to shatter.
Kwajijik.
Darkness then poured from the cracks in the split space.
"M-Move, everyone, run away!"
The Glazer wizards, abandoning the fight in fear, took to the skies and fled.
The knights, unaware of the situation, had no choice but to hold their ground.
Finally, the remaining Dictri shouted toward Kaipa.
"The otherworld is opening! Everyone, head east and evacuate!"
As his cry spread through the castle,
Susssss.
The sound of sand pouring from somewhere echoed,
Creak.
And time stopped.
'What in the world is this?'
Berddin looked around the black space. He remembered up to being swallowed by the green dragon.
But he couldn't comprehend how he had ended up here.
'Am I dead?'
No.
If so, his consciousness wouldn't remain like this. Then was this inside the green dragon's stomach?
He reached for his waist to grasp his sword. But there was nothing to touch.
'What the hell.'
A voice echoed from the pitch black. It was deep and resonant, reminiscent of his father's.
"Defied the will of the gods?"
"......"
I turned my head toward the source of the voice. The moment I faced its owner, my entire body froze solid.
'Why is this guy here.'
The Lord of Disaster, the Red Dragon.
The strongest being that blocked me in the Tower stared down at me with black eyes.
"?!"
With those words, light flashed,
Shwaaaaa!
Suddenly, a blue meadow spread around me, and my body returned to the battlefield.
Kang! Kangkang!
Knights clad in iron armor fought fiercely. Judging by the crests on their shields and plate, they were Glazer mercenaries.
Their opponents, by their attire, appeared to be nomadic hunters or low-rank adventurers.
"Firewall."
A wizard in a wide-brimmed hat drew a line horizontally in the air with his finger.
Hwarrrrr!
The battlefield split in half, halting the fight.
"It's over here. The war ends now. Your lord has surrendered, and as of today, this land belongs to Glazer."
The knights raised their weapons overhead and cheered. The leading wizard, a young Hagen von Glazer, pierced the flame wall and addressed the enemy.
"The lord of this place, Thompson, said to either take you as slaves or kill you all."
The nomadic leader shook blood from his axe and bellowed as he approached.
"Shut your mouth! I don't know what that guy said, but we'll fight you until we drop dead!"
"I don't want to fight."
"What?"
"And I don't want to take you as slaves either."
"W-What do you mean—"
"I just don't want to take the lives of you innocents."
Hagen slowly approached the nomadic leader and flicked his finger at the axe.
Snap!
The axe crumpled like paper, losing its shape. It perfectly illustrated the fate of those who couldn't wield aura against a wizard.
"Or do you all want to die meaninglessly? You know you can't win against me now."
"...Then what do you want?"
"I don't know. That's why I want your opinion. Got any good ideas?"
"Good ideas?"
The young Hagen shrugged.
"Something to show for the battlefield's outcome. Like spoils of war, for example."
"Spoils of war?"
"Yeah. If I go back empty-handed after the war, my father will be furious."
"......"
"So give me something to take so he doesn't take it out on me. Then we'll leave quietly."
The nomadic leader tilted his head in bewilderment.
"You're serious?"
"Haaaam—Would it be a lie? I haven't slept in days. I'm sleepy, so let's wrap this up and scatter."
"...What do you want?"
"Anything. Like your tribe's treasure or a heirloom passed down through generations?"
"We don't have any."
"None?"
"Yes."
"...Really?"
Hagen rested his chin on his hand, pondering.
What could he take from them that wouldn't irk his father?
After much thought, no answer came to mind. So his conclusion was to just kill them all.
"Sorry, if there's nothing, just die. Too bothersome to think."
Mana swirled at the tip of Hagen's staff. The tribal chief furrowed his brow deeply, grabbed the staff, and shouted.
"Wait! Then let's do it this way."
"How?"
"Our 'Modi' tribe has a tradition: to send the chief's daughter to another village for peace."
"And?"
The chief beckoned, and a girl with large eyes shyly emerged from among the nomads.
"I'll give you my daughter. This will be the spoils of war for peace between Glazer and our Modi tribe."
"......"
"This way, even to your descendants and ours, it will convey that the owner of this land is Glazer."
"...Sounds good?"
Hagen bent down and patted the girl's head.
"What's your name?"
"Kang.... Gre.... t."
"Kang, what?"
"Kangg.... re.... t...."
"Kangg, re? What's that? Can you say it louder?"
The girl met Hagen's gaze with determined eyes, then punched his chin hard with her fist.
Pak!
"Kang! G! Re! T! It's Kanggret, you stupid wizard!"
This was the first meeting between the great wizard Hagen and the nomadic chief's daughter, Kanggret.
Hagen wiped the nosebleed trickling down and smirked.
"...Fun."