Chapter 147
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147
As evening fell and the meal concluded, the mages of the Parsha family gathered at the mansion’s training grounds.
Leading the group was Haram, a high-rank mage, followed by five mid-rank mages, ten low-rank mages, and one hundred and twenty knights—a total of 136 men. This was the maximum force Turan could muster while leaving behind the enchanters Melo and Asiz, along with the minimum troops required to maintain public order.
Standing before the warriors gathered for battle, Turan spoke slowly.
"In a few moments, we will depart for war."
A murmur rippled through the crowd at his sudden declaration. However, the mages’ faces showed resignation rather than confusion or fear; they had known this day was coming. Turan had already instructed them to write their wills before summoning them a few days ago.
It was now public knowledge that the Parsha family had come into conflict with Arabion after taking in Meisa.
One of the mages spoke up bravely. "Are we attacking Arabion?"
"No."
At Turan’s denial, a faint look of bewilderment finally crossed their faces. If not Arabion, then who? Surely they weren't gathering an army and writing wills just for a monster subjugation mission. Was a vassal family in the Gray Zone plotting a rebellion? Or was it Zahar? Were they perhaps invading the family in the Western Forest?
While the mages' minds raced, Turan made a statement none of them could have imagined.
"We are going to attack Baraha."
"Baraha...?"
Why was that Great Family from the far East suddenly being mentioned? Some among them didn't even know exactly where the Baraha family was located. Being a mage didn't necessarily mean one's intellectual capacity was higher than average, and many lacked a passion for geography. The only reason most knew the name at all was that Solif, one of the three powerhouses of the Parsha family, was the former heir to Baraha.
"I'm sure you all have many questions. Why we must attack Baraha, and how we will do it."
"...Yes."
"Please tell us, Family Head."
Over the past few months, Turan's steady magical training had earned him the respect of the Parsha mages. However, that was a separate matter from suddenly invading a Great Family in the distant East. It would be one thing if Baraha had invaded Parsha first, but to demand an expedition that would normally take months under these circumstances?
In a Great Family, the head's command was usually absolute, but Turan and the Parsha family had not yet reached that level of unquestioned authority. That was something built over generations, difficult to achieve through individual ability alone.
Therefore, Turan had to persuade them. He had to explain why they were fighting in the far East. He couldn't expect them to exert their full strength without knowing why they were risking their lives.
"About a year ago, Baraha committed a truly horrific crime."
Turan began his speech, using wind magic to ensure his low voice permeated everyone's ears. It was a high-level technique that delivered his voice clearly to dozens of people without him having to shout. It was a level of artistry far beyond simple sound amplification—a skill that would make even the Arabion nobles, who were proficient in wind magic, scream in frustration.
"Their leader, Resion Baraha, launched a sneak attack on the head of our ally, Lavitas. And he did so while being hosted as their guest."
The mages stirred, exchanging shocked glances. For a Family Head of a Great House to violate the custom of hospitality—a law considered absolute among mages? If anyone other than Turan had made such a claim, they would have dismissed it as nonsense. Of course, Turan glossed over the minor detail that Parsha and Lavitas weren't actually allies at the time of the attack, but no one bothered with such specifics.
"And as you all know, Solif, our military officer, is the rightful heir to Baraha with a legitimate claim to succession. Therefore, we will join forces with Lavitas, who must exact a rightful price in blood, and help place the legitimate master in Baraha."
Turan laid out the reasons in easy-to-understand terms: legitimacy, justification, and practical gain.
"Does anyone have questions?"
"If I may, Family Head."
The one who spoke up was Moson, the second son of the Lord of Bigen City, to whom Turan had previously granted Kalamaf. As a mid-rank noble, he acted as the representative of the mages dispatched to Parsha.
"We all understand why we must fight. However, wouldn't it be too dangerous for such a large force to travel that distance? We know your Divine Beast is powerful, but it would be difficult to move quickly with all these people. If we leave our posts and Arabion attacks—"
"I have a way," Turan cut him off, his timing perfect. He looked around at the crowd. In the falling darkness, those who met his grey eyes, shimmering in the torchlight, flinched. "The method is classified, but we will arrive in the land of Baraha shortly. And we will return just as quickly once the battle is over."
"......Then I have no objections."
It was impossible to guess how such a thing could be done, but Moson bowed his head without further questioning. If the transportation proved impossible, he could raise his concerns then.
A few more questions followed. They asked where Meisa and Solif were, and if they would participate. They asked if the reinforcements from Lavitas were sufficient. Turan informed them that both would fight and that the Head of Lavitas was personally leading his army. Since they were going to war, it was better to raise morale by letting them know their allies were powerful.
"We depart now. Everyone, follow me."
Following Turan, they moved toward a small building located next to the training grounds.
"Was there always a building here?"
"I don't think I saw it when I stopped by earlier..."
In fact, Turan had hastily constructed the building using earth manipulation magic, so it was only natural they hadn't seen it. Inside, Turan pointed to a pile of dozens of leather blindfolds.
"Everyone, put these on. From this point forward, you are not permitted to see until we reach our destination. Anyone who removes their blindfold without my instruction will be subject to summary execution."
The cold sentence made his previous voice—which had sounded like a warm, determined hero—feel like a lie. The Parsha mages instinctively felt that Turan's words were no empty threat and trembled.
After donning the blindfolds, they moved in a single file, hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Even while leading from the front, Turan occasionally turned to check for any curious eyes. Fortunately, no one threw away their life out of curiosity.
"This way."
The blindfolded mages moved along a narrow corridor like sheep following a shepherd. Those with keen senses could feel they were descending underground.
"We're going down, right?"
"Yeah..."
After a while, Meisa's voice drifted from up ahead.
"You really brought them like this?"
"It was the best way. Is everything handled on the other side?"
"Yes. I even went and came back once. I think we can join up soon."
"Good. Let's move immediately."
Hearing Meisa's voice allowed the mages to relax slightly. They continued forward for a short while longer. The moment they heard a humming noise ahead, the air around them changed drastically. The surroundings, which had smelled of earth and dust, were suddenly filled with the sensation of a chilly autumn breeze.
Had they traveled across the continent in a single step?
"Good, you can close it now."
"Got it."
"Everyone, remove your blindfolds!"
The mages pulled off their blindfolds and gasped. They were in a secluded forest. The ecology was completely different from anything near Kalamaf. This wasn't even the Gray Zone anymore.
"Could it be... we really reached the East?"
"Yes, it's true."
The knight who had muttered to himself straightened his posture, startled by the Family Head's answer. Only then did they realize that Meisa and Solif were beside them, along with Arn, the mysterious masked man who had been staying at the main house.
"Everyone, move out."
Following Turan's instructions, the mages felt a mix of fear and excitement. It was difficult to comprehend, but the world was clearly changing.
*
"Good work."
"What do you mean, good work? Bije had it harder than me."
To use the Jade Mirror, someone had to reach the destination first. Solif had flown east on Bije along with Armani a few days before the operation began. From there, they had communicated through hand mirrors and set up the large mirror to coincide with the arrival of the Lavitas army.
Turan looked at the clearing where the massive mirror had stood moments ago. Thanks to Armani immediately retrieving it, no trace remained.
"It's an incredible technique, no matter how many times I see it."
"It would be terrifying just to imagine an enemy using it, wouldn't it?"
What would happen if a mirror connecting Arabion or the capital of Zahar to the gates of Kalamaf were opened? If thousands of mages poured out without having to worry about defending their own base, the Parsha family would be finished in a single day.
"I see them over there."
A short while later, the Parsha army emerged from the forest and encountered the Lavitas army waiting for them. Turan let out a small exclamation of admiration as he saw Osel at the front.
"Oh."
Unlike his usual comfortable attire, the Lavitas Family Head looked intimidating in his battle gear. From the spear strapped to his back to his cloak, clothes, and seven types of accessories—even his scabbard—almost everything he wore was a Holy Relic.
Of course, it was difficult to maintain a sense of total gravity when the person wearing all this was a beautiful boy who looked to be in his mid-teens... but Turan could sense the explosive energy surging from Osel's body.
"It has been a while, Parsha Family Head."
"It's a pleasure to see you, Osel."
Instead of bowing as he once had, Turan shook his hand, confirming their equal footing. Osel looked back at the troops and clicked his tongue in amazement.
"I heard the stories, but... you really brought an army, Parsha Family Head. Just how?"
"Because I promised. You will be adjusting the compensation as planned, I assume?"
"Of course."
Turan had notified Lavitas that he would send reinforcements, but he hadn't revealed the method. It wasn't a lack of trust in Lavitas, but a concern regarding spies.
‘Perhaps one of the Lavitas nobles is a possessed vessel.’
It would be difficult to turn a Family Head into a vessel, but kidnapping a minor noble and switching their soul wouldn't be hard. Unless he opened his spiritual senses, even Turan couldn't know an opponent's true identity. He had kept security so tight that even his own mages only knew they had used some unknown group teleportation technique.
"Lady Lida came along as well."
"Of course, I must fight too. How could I stay behind while our Family Head is on the front lines?"
"I had hoped my sister wouldn't come out," Osel lamented, looking at Lida.
It seemed the young Family Head was still unable to win an argument against his cousin, who had also been his wet nurse. Unlike her usual appearance as a seductive noblewoman, Lida looked like a seasoned warrior with her hair tied back and wearing scale armor.
"The Parsha Family Head, Miss Meisa, young Solif... this is truly a fight we cannot lose."
"Even so, we must not be careless."
Despite his words, Turan also believed victory was certain. He had originally considered sending only Solif. Now, with himself, Meisa, and the Parsha mages present, their strength was overwhelming. If they couldn't return to Kalamaf at a moment's notice, he never would have deployed this many troops.
‘In the absolute worst-case scenario, I could even get help from Armani, but...’
That would only happen if the allied forces were on the verge of annihilation. If rumors of a Great Sea Serpent emerging in the middle of Baraha spread, anyone with a brain would guess the identity of the "guest" who had hidden his face.
A short while later, the allied forces of the two Great Families began their march toward the northeast.
"What is our current location?"
"Below Lake Okin. At this speed, it'll take about three to four days to reach the capital, Helio."
"Three days... What about the signal fires?"
"They've been lit for a while. We have to assume they're preparing for us."
Turan reviewed the map with Solif. They were currently within the Land of the Five Lakes occupied by Baraha. While Baraha might attempt a defensive battle using the capital as a base, Solif believed they were more likely to engage on the open plains. If a war between Great Families took place inside a capital, the city would be devastated regardless of who won. One could only imagine the tragedy if the war between Parsha and Arabion had taken place inside Kalamaf instead of the outskirts.
*
Two days later, Solif's prediction proved accurate.
On a field about a hundred kilometers southwest of Helio City, a thousand mages blocked their path. It was the Baraha army.
"It looks like they've come out to greet us."
"Phew..."
Solif pulled at his collar, looking uncharacteristically tense. Perhaps it was the weight of fighting the Family Head who had nearly stolen his body. Most of the allied forces showed similar signs of nerves. This was enemy territory, after all. Compared to Lavitas, who had left troops behind to guard their homeland, the Baraha side had scraped together every available knight, giving them superior numbers. Even if Turan’s side was more skilled, the momentum of a larger army was not to be ignored.
"Do you need time for a speech?"
"This side is already prepared. Everyone! Before us stands the despicable Baraha lot!"
"[Oh!]"
Osel's voice was still thin, having not yet passed through puberty. Even if it lacked the traditional dignity of a Family Head, the Lavitas mages responded with a roar. The humiliation of the previous sneak attack ran deep. Now that the truth was out, the Lavitas mages would not be satisfied until they had the Baraha Family Head’s life.
"What more is there to say! It is time for judgment!"
With that shout, a torrent of power erupted from the spear Osel held high. It was the Holy Relic of Lavitas: Whale Hunter.
The moment the spear of pure white bone aimed at the Baraha mages, a volley of thousands of javelins poured from the sky, signaling the start of the war.