Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Triumph and the Incoming Guest
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Thud.
The griffin's breath attack split apart.
No, more precisely, it was shattered.
Crack!
The fissures that spiderwebbed across it widened, and the breath itself crumbled away.
"......"
Everyone lost themselves staring at the sight.
"Is that... even possible?"
Balak, who had faced the breath head-on, ground his teeth, while Seb felt like he was trapped in a nightmare of pain.
The look in Jane's eyes in that split second was nothing like her usual clumsy, airheaded self—it was pure charisma, just like the first day on the training grounds.
That was when everyone was frozen in shock.
"Now—!"
It was as if the feat she'd just pulled off had been an illusion.
"Now, I said!"
Jane thrust her sword forward, pointing at the griffin as she shouted.
"......!"
Only then did the Black Sword members snap out of it.
"Now—!"
The griffin had just unleashed its massive breath attack.
Considering the power packed into that breath, even a darkspawn like it couldn't escape without backlash.
Flap!
Sure enough, the griffin was struggling to stay airborne, its balance shot.
Balak leaped in with his body demonized once more, gripping his greatsword tight.
As black flames roared to life, coiling around the blade,
Slash!
Balak cleaved in a perfect straight line without a millimeter of error.
The wings that the griffin had barely managed to protect.
Rip!
Were torn to shreds, left in tatters.
What happens to a bird without wings is a simple story.
Shreeeek!
It plummeted.
Boom!
The griffin smashed headfirst into the ground, unleashing a thunderous roar.
Dash!
The Black Sword operatives charged in unison.
Until now, they'd only managed frustratingly ineffective strikes.
The high skies had been its domain.
But now that it had crashed to earth, the battlefield had shifted to solid ground.
"It's hunting time—!"
The Black Sword seniors, who usually looked so affable.
"Kill it!"
Were nowhere to be seen in their usual warmth.
The hellish trials they'd endured to become Black Sword members.
Roooar!
Seemed to emanate from every inch of their bodies.
Auras blazed like wildfires, surging from all directions.
With swords in hand, they were hunters—and butchers.
-Kieeeek!
The griffin tried to resist a few more times, but it was pointless.
Without its wings or breath, it was just a tough monster, nothing more.
And yet, even with its freakish vitality, the griffin finally.
Thud.
Dropped its head.
"Huff. Huff."
No telling how much time had passed.
But most of the Black Sword operatives had completely depleted their mana, that much was clear.
Balak, covered in blood—he couldn't even tell whose it was.
"All of you...."
Balak collapsed to his knees, nearly toppling over.
Propped up by his sword, barely catching his breath, a smile spread across Balak's lips.
"Good work."
The mission was a success.
*
*
*
"Graaah!"
Dante praising Black Sword's feat upon mission complete was only natural.
"You've all done well."
Rohan personally commended each operative one by one.
"I can't wait to see Akan of the Immortals hear about this."
Even Rohan, famous for his stiff demeanor and poker face, couldn't hide his grin.
Many pegged Dante and Rasiel as rivals, but the true rivalry lay elsewhere.
Sword and sorcery—forever at odds—which was why Akan, under the Immortals, was Dante's ultimate rival.
"Those corpse-stinking bastards lost two strike teams, but...."
Rohan said, gazing proudly at Black Sword.
"We didn't lose a single soul."
"We got lucky, sir."
Balak bowed his head.
"Luck doesn't begin to cover this achievement. The family head will be overjoyed to hear the news."
Especially since darkspawn were rare, invaluable monsters.
Their byproducts were worth a fortune—just think of those feathers it had been firing off.
Watching that, Jane thought briefly of Arin.
"Master, Jane deserves the credit."
Then, out of nowhere, one of them stepped up.
"If she hadn't blocked that breath, the support team would've been wiped out."
"Exactly."
"Without the support team, we couldn't have taken down the griffin without casualties either."
Rohan turned to Jane.
"Good work."
It was a brief commendation—perhaps underwhelming—but Black Sword looked puzzled.
Rohan was the fairest when it came to crediting achievements, so ending it there felt off.
And Seb's words were true, after all.
"I'll grant you one request."
Only then did Black Sword's operatives break into smiles.
"Attaboy! You pulled off something huge!"
"The master's granting a wish? We've never gotten one."
"Does that mean you could be captain?"
The seniors crowded Jane, ruffling her hair in praise.
"Ahem."
Rohan wasn't imagining it—he cleared his throat awkwardly and looked away for a moment.
"Jane."
Then Seb, who'd started the whole thing, approached.
"Sorry for giving you hell all this time. What good's hazing the rookie for discipline? You held your own like a pro."
This was the moment Seb finally acknowledged Jane as a comrade.
Of course.
"Harassed...?"
Rohan's mutter went unheard by all.
"It's all thanks to you seniors. Looking forward to working with you from here on out."
"Party! Party!"
"A feast is ready—head to the hall and enjoy."
Rohan gave Balak a look, and Balak nodded.
"Jane, stay behind. We need to talk."
Black Sword didn't question Rohan's words.
He was clearly about to give the mission MVP a proper pat on the back.
Only once everyone had vanished into the hall did Jane drop the act.
"You trained Balak well."
She gazed at Black Sword from her spot guarding the support team.
More precisely, at Balak.
"Command, situational awareness—veteran raid leader material."
"He was already on track. Heard he trained under Sein."
Rohan's assessment was spot on.
Balak's performance during the griffin raid mirrored that of a seasoned party leader.
-Balak. Can't you get it through your thick skull? You beast?
It was the result of Sein's brutal training in the labyrinth and such.
"I've marked him as my successor."
Sein nodded at Rohan's words.
The brief exchange ended.
Now for the main topic.
"A covert letter arrived last night."
Sein wasn't just playing Jane for kicks.
This was all part of the plan—baiting the hook for a big catch.
And now.
"It's coming soon."
Right on cue, the big fish was swimming into the pond.
Heh.
Faster than expected.
"Fine by me."
With all preparations in place, Sein flashed a satisfied smile.
"But...."
Rohan ventured cautiously.
"Were you really harassed?"
Seb's comment must've stuck with him.
Power struggles and pecking orders in strike teams were par for the course—but who was involved mattered.
Even acting as Jane, Rohan knew Sein's personality, so he had to ask.
"Not really. Made things less boring, if anything."
Since he'd been the one doing the harassing.
*
*
*
The griffin hunt festival raged for two straight days.
Booze, booze, booze.
Were ghosts of the soberly deceased haunting them? Black Sword pounded drink after drink relentlessly.
But that's why they were veterans.
"Here?"
The next day, they assembled at the training grounds with fresh faces.
"Ugh. Gonna hurl."
Only Seb was among them, clutching his roiling gut.
"You okay, Jane?"
The festival's star was Jane, essentially.
"Yeah. Feeling fine?"
"...You hold your liquor like a champ too, you bastard."
Jealousy dripped from his tone, but Seb was smiling.
Unlike before when he couldn't admit it, Seb now fully accepted Jane.
"Wanna spar sometime?"
The other Black Sword seniors grinned at Seb finally challenging her to a bout.
"Not today."
Black Sword's vice captain, Igorfah, approached.
"A mission?"
The operatives' eyes lit up.
Moths live off mulberry leaves; these men thrived on the stench of battlefields.
"Not a mission. Picking up a guest."
"A guest? Picking them up?"
Black Sword blinked in confusion.
Few visitors came to Dante, and even fewer merited an escort.
Especially Black Sword?
"From the main house?"
Nod.
Main house.
"Who?"
"Dunno. Master's direct orders."
Over there, Balak finished prepping and headed toward the assembled operatives.
"You all hear the rundown?"
"Yes."
"Guest from the main house."
A strange tension hung in the air.
"Not your average errand."
Just recently, Sein had come from the main house and was recovering in the infirmary.
Another main house guest now?
But orders were orders, and Black Sword obeyed.
Thus, fully geared up, Black Sword went to greet the guest.
Far off.
Rumble rumble rumble.
A Demorus carriage approached.
"......"
The vibe was anything but ordinary.
The carriage's size, the escorting troops.
"Any idea who the captain is?"
Balak had no clue either, despite the ominous aura.
Rumble....
The carriage finally halted before Black Sword.
Flanking it were riders on horseback, staring down like knights.
"I'm Balak Demorus, ordered to escort you."
Balak stepped forward as representative.
But.
Rooooar!
The mounted men unleashed their auras without preamble.
"Show some respect."