Chapter 24
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: I Already Expected It
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Asperan looked down at them haughtily and issued his warning, causing Kim Jang-gun—who had frozen the Red Dragon Knights in place—to clamp his mouth shut.
But from my perspective, it wasn't out of fear.
'It's his pride.'
If you named the most prideful bunch on the Eaar Continent, knights would top the list without a doubt.
Plus, he had over 150 subordinates watching. It couldn't feel good to be dismissed by someone younger in front of his men. Though, Asperan wasn't exactly young himself.
"Places like Negaf Arron and the other three sanctuaries are open only for adventurers who seek to climb them—not for vermin like you to rampage around."
Whoosh-. Whish! Thud-!
Right on cue, more clusters of light gathered beside Asperan.
'So that's what he was relying on.'
There was something to rely on!
It'd probably look like angels descending if I hadn't activated Blue Eye.
I might've mistaken those red, green, and yellow cloaks for ones wrapped in light as they flew in.
'Red Dragons, Holy Knights, this guy, that guy—they're all ridiculously powerful.'
Asperan was a Holy Knight in the Platinum Realm, right below Crystal Realm.
The others had divine power on par with his. They looked like captains or vice-captains.
The rest of the Holy Knights under their command would arrive here soon enough.
I scanned the Holy Knights while racking my brain for a way out of this mess.
'No Crystal Realm among them.'
They were probably commanders from other Holy Knight Orders, stationed to guard Hellite.
The Red Dragon Knights all had hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment.
"Dogs of the Federation. The winged lion warns you out of mercy. Anyone who dares draw a blade in this sanctuary will have every bone in their body shattered and fed to the hyenas alive."
It was the kind of brutal warning you'd expect from an executioner.
So, what would the Red Dragon Knights' response be?
"Hah, I was just going to leave, but it seems the winged lion is eager for death. Today, I'll dye Negaf Arron red with your blood."
Ooh-. Perfect.
It was unfolding exactly as I'd predicted.
Because I'd set it up that way.
A moment ago, when I saw Marcus's fist trembling with rage, I'd signaled Requiya.
- 'Requiya. That Marcus guy looks pretty worked up. Think you can nudge them into fighting?'
- 'Seems possible in that state of excitement.'
- 'Give it a shot.'
Right after, Requiya muttered an incantation, and I confirmed with Blue Eye as black smoke-like energy slithered into Marcus's ear.
Asperan was glaring at Marcus and the Red Dragon Knights, waiting for his reinforcements.
This was my golden opportunity to slip away.
'There's a better escape route than the waterfall.'
I'd subtly extended my senses earlier to map the nearby terrain. It was a spot Luke and I had noted on the way up.
All I had to do was shake off Mars and one knight blocking my path.
I slowly gathered my power.
'Once my backup arrives...'
Even alone, she'd dominate the battlefield in one fell swoop with her mythic presence—
Rumble rumble rumble-!
'Here she comes.'
The dark sky turned gray, and a triumphant smile crept across my lips.
To make my position crystal clear, I released the power concealing Silver Star.
Your Majesty! Over here, over here!
"You worm—! Where are you—?!"
Rumble rumble rumble-!
The Queen roared back with a voice like thunder itself.
I'm telling you, right here!
"You worm—!"
From her appearance cresting the ridge, I couldn't tell if she was the Queen or the Statue of Liberty.
"You thief! Resorting to pathetic tricks! You think these flies can stop me?!"
She seemed thoroughly convinced of some misunderstanding, but I was grateful for the mistake.
The Holy Knights and Red Dragon Knights all whipped around toward the Queen.
Just from the backs of their heads, I could tell they were shocked by the unexpected turn.
"It's the Ruler of Frost!"
"We dodged the hyenas, then Holy Knights, and now this monster...?"
She wore a crown fit for a queen and wielded a staff like ten telephone poles fused together.
Whoosh-!
She swung it, and frost formed in the air as if lungs would freeze solid.
"Brace for ice spears!"
"Raise your shields!"
Both of the Queen's eyes were fine.
'Didn't Luke say he gouged one out?'
Luke wouldn't lie, so maybe she only lost the ability. Or he'd gouged it and it regenerated.
"You worm! Thief! Where are you hiding?!"
The Queen scanned around, locking eyes with knight after knight.
The terrified knights trembled in place.
Tete tete-!
Silver Star didn't want to meet the Queen's gaze either, apparently.
I focused my energy on my heart to hide Silver Star completely.
It'd mean less power for escaping later, but no choice now.
Surviving and getting out came first.
"Great Red Dragon! Not a single one retreats! Battle formation!"
Marcus's voice boomed out before Asperan's.
Finally, the chance I'd been desperately waiting for had arrived.
"Requiya! Now!"
"Yes sir! Right behind you!"
I hadn't even taken a full step.
Just twisted my body.
"Leave your head."
A sunken voice laced with killing intent.
A sword shrouded in hazy white aura slashed toward my neck.
'I already expected that.'
I ducked, letting his blade whistle over my head.
The sensation of hairs snapping off ratcheted my tension to the max.
"You bastard!"
As his sword missed, Mars Drdsonofbeach swung his shield.
I'd seen the move coming with Blue Eye, so I was ready—even if he was faster.
Mars was scary because he was a heavily armored aura knight. But I had no reason to lose in speed or power.
'I've got Blue Eye.'
Silver Star is here!
Thud-!
I grabbed the shield with one hand, using his swing's momentum to flip onto my back.
At the same time, I bent my knee, planting my foot against his gut. For a split second, it was like giving a piggyback ride. Whee, piggy piggy-.
He'd swung with killing intent, so disrupting his balance was easy. Luke's body and strength outclassed Mars's to begin with.
'Gut-and-back throw.'
The moment my shoulder hit the ground, I used the spin to lift my hips.
Straightening my legs, I kicked off hard with my foot.
"Leave the shield."
"Arghhhh—!"
His carelessness cost him dearly.
Mars flew over the cliff beyond the waterfall.
Probably no water down there.
Wonder if I'd find a squished octopus with a burst head if I looked.
"Arghhhh—."
The knight who'd been guarding Mars's side and lunged at Requiya followed right after.
"You mimicked that?"
"Said I'd follow your lead, didn't I?"
The demon prodigy Requiya grinned cheekily.
I started running, and Requiya kept pace.
"Those fools will never realize, even in their next life, that their precious aura got them killed."
"Agreed."
They'd given me time to react while channeling aura, and their arms grew heavy with power focused only in their swords.
Well, even without aura—or whatever—they'd have ended up the same.
We ran with a shield in each hand.
Hyena jerky at our sides, one hand on shields, the other free, backpacks and extra swords on our backs.
Lots of gear, but our monstrous strength made running a breeze.
'Didn't expect to score shields too. Lucky break.'
Good luck!
We reached a dead end and hurled the shields away.
"Mimic this if you can."
"I'll follow."
I leaped into the air.
Mid-jump, I spun and checked behind with Blue Eye.
Delma was seeing me off with glowing eyes.
'I'll protect your baby no matter what. I'm great at that stuff.'
Protector excels at night jobs!
Asperan, Marcus, the Ruler of Frost, and the other knights all stared at me in stunned silence.
With my shield-throwing arm now free, I flicked my middle finger off my thumb with a ting-.
"Hahaha-! See ya!"
"Hohoho-! See ya!"
He even mimicked that.
I wonder if Requiya knew what it meant.
We finished our midair farewell and hopped onto our shields amicably.
Steep, but plenty of snow for cushioning.
Whoa-! New lightness skill! Water Fury Treasure Path!
'Such a technique exists?'
What do you know! Silver Star's excited!
Of course, Luke's body had no snowboarding experience.
Not as easy to balance as my old one.
But with his superior core and leg strength, I managed somehow.
'Guess my life wasn't wasted.'
I felt the payoff from all those winter ski trips on Mom's card.
Who knew the skills from my deadbeat days would come in handy like this.
'This slope's gotta be expert—no, black diamond level?'
Not quite vertical, but sheer as hell.
An extreme course no commercial resort would have.
I dodged protruding rocks mid-run, jumped gaps and bare patches.
"Ehahahaha-! You live and learn!"
Requiya was a demon prodigy, as expected.
I'd figured he'd butt-slide or tumble, but he knelt on his shield, carving down the snowy slope.
"Too fast and it's dangerous. Got it?"
"Pardon? Got what?"
"You understand?"
"Yes! Ehahahaha!"
I glanced back a few times, worried about him, then faced forward.
He was laughing, but his eyes were sad.
'He found freedom, but his people are gone.'
No one to share the joy or relief with. I got that much.
I carved gentle Z-turns down the mountain.
It was so tall and treacherous, the descent alone took a couple hours.
Eyelashes and hair frozen white, lips and cheeks turned blue.
"No one's following."
"Saved some energy too."
A bit winded, but that was stamina, unrelated to mana or divine power.
"Ehaha-. Wanna go up and do it again?"
This old man's hooked on sledding.
"Don't even joke. We're moving out."
Requiya had only said it in jest anyway.
He brushed snow off his body and face, then asked,
"Where to, sir?"
"Where spring is coming."
Right now, the Queen was the biggest threat, then Hellite Holy Knights and Red Dragon Knights.
Heading straight south would shake the Queen quick, but we'd pass near Hellite—too risky.
Luke always wore a helmet, but high-ranking Holy Knights and the Saintess might recognize his face.
"Need to offload this gear too."
"East is closest and warmest. Fiore Kingdom's where I lived."
"Lead the way."
Negaf Arron, full of drama and trouble.
Goodbye.
I'll come back for some boarding once I'm set.
And so, Andre Bong stepped into the jianghu!
'Don't narrate like that...'
I waved toward the northern barrier.
A long beam of pure white light stretched along the ridge, illuminating it.
Holy Knights!
'Yeah. They're insanely fast.'
Rumble rumble rumble-!
Boom boom boom-!
Earth-shaking roars echoed from the mountain.
"Requiya. Full speed ahead."
"Yes sir!"
Sell all this gear and buy shoes first.
No Airwalks around here, huh?
★
We ran and walked through the night.
After two days, we reached the sanctuary's edge and found a deserted crossroads.
"Right leads to Hellite, straight to the small kingdom of Brad. Left to Fiore Kingdom. Fiore's a bit north, but closest from here. There's a city before the border."
I didn't want to run into Holy Knights or Red Dragons.
Fiore was our first destination anyway—no need to debate.
But "Brad Kingdom" stuck in my throat like a pill.
'Brad Kingdom. What was that...'
Disaster!
'Oh, right.'
Luke's lingering sorrow from that long tale of disaster was etched deep in my chest.
'That place was somewhere near the Brad border, right?'