Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: God's Absence
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The red sun dyed the western sky, stretching shadows long.
In the evening quiet that enveloped Strange Castle in serene peace, dark clouds suddenly began to cover the heavens.
Flames erupted through the parted clouds, followed by endless ranks of enemies revealing themselves.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The ground trembled.
"W-What is that?"
The Strange knights atop the walls spotted the enemies and strained their eyes to observe the distance.
The guards, deeming those entering their sight as foes, blew their horns to relay the news throughout the castle.
All forces moved to their positions, preparing for war.
"Rothschild's banners?"
Bess, the Guardian Knight Commander, tilted his head in disbelief. Kaipa, who had been in charge of castle security, gave a small nod in response.
"Yes. Even estimating conservatively, their numbers exceed ten thousand, and judging by the siege weapons they've brought, it looks like an elite force."
"That can't be... They clearly agreed not to move until after the waves ended."
"It's a breach of the agreement. They haven't declared war and brought such a massive army—probably means they intend to end it in one swift strike—"
"The Imperial Army won't stand for that."
"If they could. They're gathering all their forces in the capital for the royal succession battle right now. Do you think they can intervene in matters outside the waves?"
"......"
"Even if they do send troops, we have to hold them off ourselves today."
Kaipa drew his sword and exhaled deeply. He gazed at the Rothschild forces approaching through the forest, lost in thought.
This area was already infested with powerful monsters, and since the waves began, it had become so dangerous that adventurers had completely stopped coming.
So why fight here and now?
Bess knew the answer and made his judgment immediately.
"Sir Kaipa."
"Speak."
"With the current forces in the castle, no matter what we do, we can't stop them. Even if the Family Head were here, it would be a dangerous situation."
Kaipa fell silent in agreement. Bess glanced at his expression and continued cautiously.
"So, Sir Kaipa, you must abandon the castle."
"...?! What do you mean?"
"It's the plan. I'll pretend to fight them moderately and then surrender."
"Surrender?"
"Yes, hand the castle over to the enemy."
"How could we..."
"Just until the Family Head returns. We're buying time until then."
Kaipa turned to look at the approaching enemy army.
"Understood. Then I'll take the front and hold them. It's my chance to repay the Family Head's gift."
Bess shook his head.
"No. You leave this place."
"...What do you mean?"
"Everyone except the Guardian Knights evacuates through the rear gate. Your mission is to lead them to safety so the Family Head can launch a counterattack with sufficient forces."
"Bess."
"Sir Kaipa, as the current total commander of Strange, show your capability."
"......"
"If the Family Head were in our shoes, he would make the same call."
Kaipa clenched his fists tightly and turned away.
"What shall I tell Lady Valentine?"
Bess looked up at the Strange banner fluttering atop the castle.
"We'll meet again soon, so no message. Just tell her to return safely."
With that, they parted to fulfill their roles. Kaipa evacuated everyone except the Guardian Knights through the rear gate.
Bess faced the over-ten-thousand-strong enemy with his roughly five hundred Guardian Knights.
"...Fire one."
The tense Strange knights loosed arrows at the enemy.
But the Rothschild knights charged through the volley, raised ladders,
and began crumbling the walls with massive trebuchets they swiftly positioned.
KABOOM!
The high walls could no longer serve as a defensive bulwark.
The gates shattered under powerful impacts. Flaming arrows streaked the sky, and screams and chaos engulfed the castle interior.
"...I am the sword of Strange."
No matter what happened, he had to protect Strange from the enemy.
KABOOM!
As the gates collapsed, the enemy horde poured into the castle. The Guardian Knights, under Bess's orders, resisted desperately but were overwhelmed by numbers. Blood-soaked Bess, the last one standing, clashed with the enemy commander, Asabragg.
'I can't win.'
Knowing this, he fought to the end. From afar, Asabragg's eldest sister watched the battle.
'Dorothy de Rothschild'
As her gun barrel spat fire, he fell.
Bang!
The enemy cavalry blew a long battle horn. They lowered the Strange banner atop the castle and raised Rothschild's.
Asabragg grabbed the sprawled Bess by the hair and forced his head up.
"Today, Strange's history ends. Not only that, your glory crumbles to Rothschild. Surrender now and join me."
Bess, his face a mangled ruin, smirked and spat in Asabragg's face.
Ptooey!
"Your birth into Rothschild was fate. But guarding Strange is my destiny."
Asabragg wiped the spit from his cheek, then nodded with a chuckling expression.
"I'll take that as a no."
"...Forever, glory to Strange—"
Thwack!
On the way back after toppling the Papal Court.
At the midpoint of the Blade Mountains stretching from central to southern regions, I met Kaipa.
With over three thousand troops and civilians on the move, it was clear not only had they been attacked, but defeated.
I hurriedly received the report and devised countermeasures.
"This gorge blocks enemy incursions and has temporary shelters prepared everywhere in case of defeat."
I cleaved a nearby rock with my sword, revealing a deep cavity inside.
Kaipa and the other commanders, unaware of this, looked inside in astonishment.
"Did we prepare these places?"
"Yes, though I don't know how long ago. The ancestors made them, they say."
"Heh—heh... How did I not know?"
"You couldn't. Only a select few direct descendants know."
I hadn't known either before accepting the Guardian God. If asked how, I'd just say I remembered—it was that hard to explain the path.
"Everyone, find and break rocks like this one nearby."
"Understood."
"Each should hold about a hundred people."
"That spacious inside?"
"Yes. We won't stay long, so use them just to rest your eyes."
"...Family Head. Forgive me, but I haven't mentioned one thing."
"What is it?"
Kaipa glanced nervously toward Strange Castle.
"I reported evacuating all forces, but... some remain in the castle."
"Still in the castle?"
"Yes. Guardian Knight Commander Bess and his knights are there."
"?!"
"He told me to pretend to surrender and buy time, but..."
I quickly scanned the surroundings. Not a single Guardian Knight was present.
With so many troops, I hadn't noticed at first. How could this happen?
'No good.'
If as Kaipa said, regardless of method, Bess would die.
The Asabragg I knew wouldn't spare even a surrenderer.
'Damn it!'
I hoped Bess had betrayed us. That this was Timeless's ploy, faking surrender to retake the castle easily.
"No way that's true..."
As I muttered softly,
Kaipa bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry."
"Lift your head. Your plan was the best to protect Strange."
"Family Head."
"I'll handle the rest. Kaipa, by tonight, rearm all forces."
"...Understood."
No matter their numbers, if the battle dragged, they couldn't beat us.
Like Glazer, lord of the east, who struck south swiftly to solve food for his army,
They too had to feed over ten thousand while conquering territory.
'Three days. Three more days will suffice.'
Mix into the waves to hide, cut external supplies to the castle,
'Asabragg surely won't endure and will crawl out.'
Strike him then.
"Kaipa, one more task."
"What is it?"
"Ask the mages moving with us if they'll join the fight against Rothschild."
Kaipa tilted his head.
"No need? They're already committed, and that last Glazer, Dictree, fell to them—"
"That's why. To reaffirm their resolve."
"......"
"To carve a new place on this continent, they must forget the past."
"...Understood."
"Prepare anything they need."
I turned to the mages and closed my eyes tightly.
'He'll surely come for them.'
No telling when.
Philip had remade monsters surging through the waves into new lifeforms.
Most prior test subjects couldn't withstand his potions, exploding or losing consciousness.
"...Success!"
Screech, creak-creak-screech.
He grafted alchemically forged metal onto monster limbs, making them move. Like ancient war machines from the tower records.
Rox clapped watching them.
Clap!
"These the ones Dini rushed you to make?"
"Yes. No idea where he got it, but he brought ancient war machine blueprints."
"Ooh... Look tough?"
"Tough. Incredibly tough. Insanely tough!"
Rox eyed the fully metal ogre.
"But we gotta head back quick. Dini said something urgent came up."
"Urgent? What?"
"Yeah, something about Rothschild blah blah. Missed most 'cause you were yelling."
"...Got it. Then with the treasures I've made this time."
Philip raised both arms high, and monster war machines scattered about rose, shaking the earth.
Rumble-rumble.
"Let's go meet Lord Berddin!"