Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Breakwater
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The sea churned violently, and towering waves whipped about in the fierce winds.
The sky was blanketed in black clouds, with thunder and lightning alternately striking the earth.
Moreover, the wind blowing across the forest made the flags flutter uneasily.
Sensing the ominous signs, Strange Family's guardian knight Bess summoned the adjutants of each unit and issued orders.
"Until Lord Berddin returns, reinforce all defensive lines on the southern front once more and complete your reports to prepare efficiently for the enemy's assault."
The adjutants, their helmets pulled low, simultaneously thrust their swords forward without a word.
Clank!
As they departed, Valentine, who had been watching the troops' movements, spoke up.
"It seems the waves have begun."
"Yes. According to the scout who returned from the eastern edge, bubbles are rising in the massive storm, creating countless waves."
"So, it's a precursor phenomenon."
"Indeed."
Valentine nodded slightly and continued the conversation as she strolled through the garden.
"And Berddin?"
"He hasn't arrived yet."
"He said he'd be here before the waves start."
"It seems the tower's trial hasn't ended. But since his goal wasn't to climb it, there shouldn't be any major issues."
"I see."
"Yes, and with our soldiers on constant standby near Legion, you needn't worry about enemy attacks either."
Dependable.
No one understood the Strange Family better or provided greater assistance than him.
Not even his blood brothers, whom he called family, could match this level of devotion.
They risked their lives not only to protect the family's glory but showed unwavering loyalty to everyone bearing the Strange name.
Bess, the knight his father had personally selected and brought from the battlefield, had earned Valentine's trust and been granted full authority over this matter.
"Then I'll go handle what Berddin asked of me. The Rothschilds lingering in the west mean they pose no great threat to us for now."
Bess bowed deeply in response.
"Yes, Lady Valentine."
With that brief exchange concluded, Valentine departed the castle with her knight order.
This was to finish what needed doing before the waves arrived. As she vanished from sight, Bess gazed at the sky thick with storm clouds and let out a heavy sigh.
He then moved to a secluded spot and sat on a small rock.
"...For you to come here. Has something gone wrong with the tower?"
As Bess muttered lowly,
the space tore open, revealing Timeless.
Shiiiik—
"No issues. Just a gap in the plan."
"A gap in the plan?"
"Yes. It seems it's time to fully execute the Strange extermination plan. My clone."
A breakwater had been completed inside the tower.
Fortuitously encountering an apostle and reaching the 51st floor, we returned having achieved even better results than our pre-departure plan.
"Bess, summon all the commanders currently in the castle."
Upon returning to the castle, I gathered every commander.
This was to inform them that the waves had begun and explain what would happen next and how we should respond.
Kaipa, who had heard my explanation first, placed the head of a monster captured that morning on the table and addressed everyone.
Thud!
"Can you all see it? This giant goblin's face."
The goblin's face he brought was enormous, reminiscent of a minotaur.
Unlike the modified monsters Philip had created by transplanting body parts,
this was a difference in the creature's natural growth.
The ponytail youth scratched his forehead as he examined the goblin head closely.
"Impressive. How could a mere goblin grow to such a size?"
"Think of it as a remnant of the waves from beyond the continent."
"A remnant of the waves."
"Yes. The waves started from the east, so they haven't reached here yet. But this is undoubtedly a harbinger of a massive wave."
Kaipa pointed at the ponytail man and continued.
"With remnants reaching the south, we can assume the east has already become a monster den."
The commanders' faces twisted upon hearing Kaipa's explanation.
With the Glazers, who once blocked the eastern waves, collapsed, the duty fell to the victorious Strange Family.
So, who would stop those waves? Naturally, only 'us'.
'That's why.'
Their expressions had hardened.
Overnight, monsters began threatening the entire continent.
And it was up to the Strange Family to resolve this. The commanders gathered here had to pool their heads to find a way.
Thud, thud, thud.
Kaipa clenched his fist and struck the goblin head three times.
"I know everyone here is fulfilling their duties. But merely blocking the waves isn't enough—we must find and stop the source, right?"
In response to Kaipa's question, the ponytail man asked again.
"How? The war with the Glazers just ended not long ago."
"......"
"You know as well as I, Sir Kaipa, that we have no available troops right now."
"......"
"If we send a letter to the Rothschilds, who know the waves' secrets, asking for help even now—"
I snapped my fingers to draw their attention as I listened to their exchange.
Snap!
"In time, the waves will subside on their own."
I showed the commanders the small stone I'd retrieved from the eastern ruins and continued.
"What we must do now, as Sir Kaipa said, is find the source and stop the waves."
"Stop the waves?"
"Yes. Figuring out where they come from, why they're coming, and their destination will make it easy to resolve."
The ponytail man stared at the stone in my hand and asked.
"Heh—easier said than done. If it were possible, humanity wouldn't have feared the waves all this time."
Kaipa scowled at the ponytail man's question.
"Then how long do you plan to live in fear of waves approaching from beyond the continent?"
"What?"
"Those gathered here are protected by knights, so no issue. But powerless civilians die without even knowing what's happening."
"...So what are you saying we should do?"
"Fight. Find the source the Family Head speaks of and ensure they never come again."
The ponytail man shrugged.
"If it were possible, the imperial army wouldn't have sat idle."
"It is possible."
"...It is?"
"Yes. With that stone the Family Head holds, we can locate their source and wipe it out."
All eyes turned to me.
Or more precisely, to the stone from the ancient ruins clutched in my hand.
Ahem—
I cleared my throat and explained to the commanders once more.
"Our task in this wave is to block and destroy the source. We've already pinpointed its location and are now awaiting the waves' full arrival."
The meeting hall grew noisy.
Not only had they identified the waves' starting point, but they planned to block and destroy it.
The white-haired elder cautiously asked me.
"So, if we endure this one well, no more waves?"
A short-haired black-haired man followed with a question.
"They say only a god can stop the waves. Is this truly possible?"
Then a woman with rugged features and earthy skin raised her voice.
"Family Head, I've heard the waves are a curse from the gods on sinful humans. If we intervene, disaster will surely strike the southern lands!"
I pondered their responses deeply, questioning if my actions were right.
'Of course.'
The contemplation didn't last long.
A minute at most? The answer to this was decided from the start.
"The monsters called waves come from the tower."
My single statement silenced everyone.
It was so shocking that not only did no questions follow, but the faces of all the commanders here were frozen solid.
"And I've built a breakwater there. To mitigate the impact before the waves grow too high."
In response, the ponytail man hesitantly asked.
"Is that true?"
"Not a word of lie. If you want to verify, come with me."
"Ah, no need for that—"
"Then quietly follow my lead."
As I infused aura into my finger,
blue light leaked from the stone's crevices, stretching straight out the window in a long line.
Shiiiik—
"To avoid being swallowed by the coming waves, cutting through is our only option now."
The eastern ruins, steeped in a desolate and quiet atmosphere. As Asabragg walked the silent inner courtyard, he slowly drew his sword.
Sching.
As his blade gleamed with a sharp edge, Apostle Edward appeared amid the scent of desert sand carried on the wind.
"Long time no see, Asabragg."
"...Huh? Isn't this the Glazer wizard who died to Berddin?"
"Indeed. I am Edward, the wizard slain by Berddin's sword."
Edward didn't deny his death. Nor did he react emotionally to Asabragg's provocation, responding calmly.
"Why is a dead man here? What, turned ghost for revenge?"
"Hardly. What grudge would I have against you to seek revenge?"
"You could've come to kill me for not showing up after agreeing to attack Strange Castle that day."
Edward chuckled.
"Even if you had come, the outcome wouldn't have changed."
"Why?"
"Because you didn't have the power to alter that day's victory or defeat."
"......"
"Meaning, even if you'd come, you couldn't have stopped Berddin anyway."
Asabragg drew a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and shook his head.
"Hah, you spout the same frustrating nonsense alive or dead."
"What?"
"You... surely don't think I couldn't beat Berddin?"
Edward nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. If you could have, you'd have gone to the Strange Family that day. No, you'd have targeted his head in the capital recently too."
"...How did you know I met him in the capital?"
"I was watching."
"Watching?"
"Yes."
"From where?"
Edward pointed upward with his index finger.
"From up there, with your father."