Chapter 56
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Storm
Rough-looking mercenaries began gathering one by one near the Strange Family estate.
Their numbers alone seemed to exceed five hundred by far, so if they launched a surprise attack at this hour when everyone was asleep, it would be utterly impossible to repel them.
'Even if they call themselves knights of the Strange Family.'
"Move in."
The instant Monestier's command rang out, the soldiers charged toward the mansion's entrance.
They moved swiftly, yet so cautiously that not even the sound of footsteps could be heard.
Those wielding swords and axes took the lead, while archers and gunmen provided cover from behind.
The mercenaries' faces betrayed obvious tension, but none believed they would lose the fight.
No, even in defeat, survival meant a handsome reward once the job was done.
After all, they were executing the plan of Marquis Pierre, bearer of imperial blood.
"I'll take the lead."
A bear of a man among the mercenaries gripped his two-handed axe and surged forward.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
The moment his presence registered, the Strange Family guards drew their swords.
"Who goes there!"
There was no parley. Only steel spoke.
Whoosh!
The mercenary's axe sliced through empty air.
But the Strange knight dodged effortlessly and plunged his blade into the mercenary's flank.
Crunch!
"Gah!"
Even the lowliest Strange knight was no pushover. A mercenary with a modest reputation from the battlefields stood no chance against an elite knight one-on-one. It was sheer folly.
Indeed.
Thus, the mercenaries swarmed in packs.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud!
"Kill them!"
"Oh, survive today and I'm set for life!"
"No fear! Charge! They can't cut us all down in one go!"
Hundreds of mercenaries overwhelmed the mere five Strange knights. The knights held their own against the initial rush, but the endless waves proved too much. Swords, spears, and axes rained from every direction, butchering the sentries in seconds.
Crunch!
"Push into the mansion! Kill every soul in sight, no exceptions!"
Monestier's voice boomed.
Now they made no effort to hide, executing their mission in plain view.
History belongs to the victors, after all. Should the operation succeed today, the Strange Family would be branded villains, and they the righteous.
'Old folks, women, kids! Anyone tied to them dies without consequence.'
"Waaargh!"
"Waaargh!"
The mercenaries bellowed as they charged.
No turning back now.
They had to wipe out the Strange Family before dawn, come hell or high water.
With that resolve, Monestier's unit breached the mansion interior.
"Ah... not a soul."
It was deserted.
Not a single person, even after scouring every floor with eyes peeled.
Not even pet dogs or cats.
Monestier faltered.
'What in blazes?'
He couldn't make sense of it.
Did that hunchback lie? Or had their plan leaked to the Strange Family?
'No.'
Impossible.
Had they detected the assault, reinforcements from the main house would have arrived ages ago.
'Besides.'
Even then, Berddin and the mansion guards couldn't flee Legion Fortress.
He'd confirmed with his own eyes their inaction till evening, and since then, the Bourbon Knights had sealed every exit.
"...Find them."
They were surely inside the fortress.
And hadn't gone far.
No time to escape once the plot unraveled.
Monestier summoned his unit leaders.
"Fan out and comb the area. Signal flare on any Strange sighting. No engaging without me."
-Yes! Baron Monestier.
The mercenary captains dispersed with their bands in all directions.
In frantic haste, they kicked in doors of unrelated shops and homes, hunting Strange members.
Noble aim, brutish execution.
Thus, the manhunt veered from Monestier's design.
"Damnation!"
Monestier fumed.
His complexion soured with passing time. Exhaustive searches yielded not even a footprint.
While his entire force strained at full tilt.
"Found 'em!"
A shout erupted near the walls, followed by a signal flare.
Pewww—boom!
"Young Master, the enemy has begun moving."
Deberry the butler reported gravely. Behind him stood fully armored knights, battle-ready, eyes on me.
"Enemy numbers?"
"Around five hundred, by rough count. Darkness obscures precision."
More than anticipated.
"Baron Monestier's position?"
"Troops arrayed around the plaza; mercenary heads scouring nearby."
"Bourbon Knights?"
"Stationed at main and rear gates. No movement despite our empty mansion."
So that's their play.
Monestier might fail, but Bourbon carves an exit for themselves, treading lightly.
'Cowardly lot.'
Still, what ace hides in Monestier's sleeve? Others oblivious, but he and I waged unseen stratagems.
'Undoubtedly.'
He knew we'd clocked Bourbon's ploy. Gangradra's survival screamed it.
Thus, countermeasures baked into his scheme.
'No doubt.'
"How many Strange knights here now?"
"Just shy of sixty. Five platoons departed for imperial commission day before your descent from the tower..."
Strange knights' peerless swordplay notwithstanding, sixty versed mercenaries proved insurmountable.
Nor could I solo Monestier and remnants.
'Worse.'
Rox's tower bugs earmarked for Bourbon blockade left us shorthanded.
"Rox, crumble the walls on signal."
Rox nodded curtly, beckoning his guardian spirit.
The clown capering absurdly overhead soared high, then waved extravagantly outward from the walls, dancing all the while.
"Deberry, commence."
Deberry hoisted the Strange crest flag skyward.
The massive banner soared, flapping audibly.
"Found them!"
Enemy mercenaries pinpointed us.
Pewww—boom!
The flare heralded battle for friend and foe alike.
As mercenaries roared forward, so did we unleash our trump.
"Rox."
"Got it."
Boom, boom, boom!
Earthshaking blasts rocked Legion entire.
Quake-like tremors; panicked barks and mewls from beasts everywhere.
No paltry tremor—this pulsed with cataclysmic force.
"Giants!"
Beast giants manifesting outside vaulted the walls inward.
Moonlit silhouettes evoked towering peaks afar, majestic beyond measure.
Behemoths defying "huge."
The trio clasped fists.
"Groooaaar!"
Eerie bellows issued as they swung.
KABOOM!
Walls pulverized in one blow.
Titanic might beyond mortal ken.
Nay, even god-blessed apostles lacked such raw power.
Dragon-tier, pinnacle monster, seemed apt peer.
'Flawless.'
Rubble churned dust storms. Starlit skies grayed over.
Visibility nil; Strange knights hustled amid choking haze.
'We sortie beyond walls.'
Indoors victory impossible.
"Disaster monsters breaching!"
Guards' cries proliferated.
Terror-bound denizens bolted doors; visiting adventurers geared up, probing imperial response.
"What is that?"
They confronted the unthinkable.
"G... giants?"
From antiquity, the continent's sovereign, paramount beast giant dubbed "Titan."
Its advent menaced all by presence alone.
"Madness! Flee!"
Not mere adventurers—fortress guardians bolted too.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
Monestier Baron, tardily spying giants, unsheathed.
Swish.
'What? Zero monster aura.'
"Curses! Why now—"
He signaled mercenary chiefs.
"Giants are mine! Press Strange regardless!"
Mercenaries chorused.
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Monestier bounded atop a building, scaled walls, lunged at the giant.
"Begone! No time for you vermin!"
His sword ignited crimson, belching inferno.
Roarrrrr!
Past life spared him, memory lapsed—but this revived it.
Monestier's alias: Flame Emperor.
Mere emblem of soaring zeal? Nay, power's synonym.
'Entertaining.'
Thud.
Baron Monestier alit on giant's shoulder. Unhesitant, he bolted neckward.
Thud thud thud.
Blazing gaze projected dominance profound. Swordmaster caliber, gaze-subjugating foes.
'However.'
"That sword shan't touch me."
As Baron Monestier's blade neared the giant's throat.
Clang!
Black edge barred Monestier.
"Berddin?"
Foes acknowledged, no exposition needed.
"Family traitor, Baron Monestier de Strange. Atone in death."