Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Back to Sobkov Territory Once More
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“Huuuuuuh...”
Ragged breaths continued.
The Frostsword gripped in his hand trembled faintly.
But the source of the tremor was closer to Damian than the sword itself.
‘This is different from anything before.’
Shredding Gale Mana Breathing.
Outstanding Mana Sensitivity.
And now, the Frostsword.
Ssssh...
With every inhale.
Winter’s breath sank deep into his lungs.
‘This is more than enough.’
On the first day with his new blade.
Damian was thoroughly satisfied.
“Hoo.”
He slowly sheathed the Frostsword.
Even as it slid into the scabbard, a chill emanated from it.
He didn’t mind.
In fact, he welcomed it.
“How is it?”
A voice called from right behind him.
It was Prince Bastian, who had watched Damian’s demonstration.
“Does it suit you?”
“Yes. It’s excellent—more than I deserve.”
No exaggeration.
‘The sword’s performance is impressive enough on its own.’
But the sensation of it meshing with his Proficient Ancient Elf Swordsmanship.
The lingering afterimages of the winter elves’ movements embedded in the blade.
‘Just delving into this will keep me busy for a good while.’
Maybe even longer than that.
“I’m glad it meets your approval.”
The prince smiled contentedly.
“I look forward to your great exploits as a knight of the kingdom.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall strive even harder.”
The formal exchange was growing familiar.
Damian seized the moment to ask.
“May I ask one thing?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“So, are we heading back to Sobkov Territory now?”
The prince’s expression turned somewhat regretful at the question.
“We’ve put out the most urgent fires. As I mentioned before, thanks to your efforts, Sir Damian, we’ve quelled the opposing voices. Now it’s just a matter of pushing forward with the plan.”
The political maneuvering was mostly sorted.
“That said, there’s still much to prepare. With internal enemies exposed, tightening security comes first.”
Internal enemies existed.
Pulling more troops from here?
Impossible for the time being.
“Once internal security is shored up, we can assemble additional support and deploy... but even then, it’ll take at least a fortnight, I’d say.”
Minimum two weeks.
Or more.
“Still, compared to just a few days ago, this is lightning-fast progress.”
Normally, convincing and silencing dissenters would have drained time and energy.
“No need to be impatient. We’ll be underway soon enough.”
Of course.
The prince was doing his utmost.
Damian knew that, so he held his tongue.
But.
“...”
The prince noticed first.
“You seem to have something on your mind?”
His true feelings were plain.
Damian spoke up.
“...When you return to Sobkov Territory, will you be leading the army personally?”
“Naturally.”
The expected answer.
“We’ll deploy with additional reinforcements. Not like the small escort on the way in.”
As soon as the response landed.
“Then how about I head to Sobkov Territory first?”
I’ll go ahead.
The prince let out a short chuckle.
“Eager for real combat, are you?”
Right on the mark.
“Very well.”
Prince Bastian continued.
“I was planning to dispatch a messenger anyway, to update them on events so far.”
The lord governor was a pillar of this plan.
They had a duty to keep him fully informed.
“If you’ll take on that role, Sir Damian, it’s perfect for me.”
Glad approval.
The prince went on.
“I’ll have a letter prepared for the lord governor. It’ll be ready by tomorrow.”
The next day.
Early dawn.
Thung, clang, kwaaang!
Damian arrived at the royal forge.
A primal, rugged space unlike the palace’s opulence.
“Come in.”
The forge master spotted him first.
“His Highness gave word. Said a guest would arrive.”
He cleared out with the smiths.
“Use it as you like. We’ll be off.”
“I’ll be quick.”
A light nod.
Damian unbuckled his scabbard.
Now overshadowed by the Frostsword.
But the greatsword that had served him well until now.
‘Elven Sword.’
He removed the Black Viper Leather Armor and set it on the workbench.
‘Sorry, but it’s time to let you go.’
Damian gazed at the Elven Sword.
From the free city of Melrn to the depths of the great forest.
It had weathered countless crises with him.
‘But I’m not just going to stash it in storage.’
This blade deserved better.
Forged from special elven metal, ‘Elven Iron.’
Wasting such precious material would be a sin.
‘Proficient Elf Blacksmithing.’
That skill was more than enough to transform it.
Not a sword anymore, but still by his side.
“Hoo.”
Damian lit the furnace without hesitation.
The royal forge’s furnace was unlike common smelters.
It generated immense heat in moments.
Chiiiiiik!
He thrust the Elven Sword deep into the blaze.
True to Elven Iron, it held form amid the inferno.
‘Tough as expected.’
Elven metal was deeply tied to mana.
Heat alone wasn’t enough.
Precise mana control was essential.
‘Let’s begin.’
Damian closed his eyes, focusing his senses.
Elf Blacksmithing, plus his new abilities.
Outstanding Mana Sensitivity and Shredding Gale Mana Breathing engaged.
Kuoooooh!
The furnace roared.
Crimson flames turned blue, erupting fiercely.
Heat beyond reason.
Finally, the Elven Sword lost its shape and began to melt.
Ssssh...!
Not dark molten iron.
A silvery-white liquid, shimmering like moonlight.
‘Elven Iron.’
Damian poured it into the mold.
This amount sufficed.
No need for a full new suit.
‘The Black Viper Leather Armor is excellent as is. But...’
As leather armor, it had weaknesses.
He aimed to reinforce them with lightweight Elven Iron.
Shoulder pauldrons and thigh tassels.
‘That’ll make it perfect.’
Moments later.
He placed the cooled metal from the mold on the anvil.
Then picked up the hammer.
Tang! Tang! Kwaaaang!
Hammering commenced.
‘Follow the grain, thinner, tougher.’
With each strike, the Elven Iron compressed.
Shaping perfectly to his intent.
How much time passed?
Chiiiiiik!
Final quenching.
Steam cleared to reveal flawless Elven Iron pauldrons and tassels.
Perfection.
‘Now, assembly.’
Damian retrieved the Black Viper Leather Armor.
Affixing the new pieces.
Clink!
Skill-honed craftsmanship.
All done.
‘Perfect.’
Sleekness preserved, defense leaped forward.
A true suit of light armor reborn.
“Not bad.”
A satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
Crafting had its own appeal.
The Elven Sword was gone, but its power now guarded him as armor.
‘Time to pick up the letter.’
As he stepped out.
“Damian.”
A familiar gravelly voice.
Damian turned.
“...Sir Gerth?”
Gerth Kan.
Leaning against the forge.
“Blacksmithing too?”
“Ended up that way.”
“The more I see, the more mysterious you are... not a mercenary anymore, but a knight.”
Gerth Kan chuckled.
He handed over something.
The letter from the prince.
“Go on ahead. We’ll follow soon.”
A curt addition.
“Don’t slack on training.”
“Of course.”
Brief farewell.
That was it.
“Then.”
Damian mounted Breeze, the horse loaned by the lord governor.
Leaping into the saddle.
“I’ll be off.”
“Good luck.”
Back to Sobkov Territory.
Damian spurred forward.
New powers, new experiences.
And new gear alongside.
It was quiet.
Unnervingly so.
“...”
Lord Governor Mikhail Sobkov.
Stood atop the walls of the forward base at the Spine of Sighs frontline.
‘Too quiet.’
The lull since the suicide squad mission.
Monster waves had visibly decreased in scale and frequency.
‘At first, I thought it was fallout from losing their focal point.’
Command broken, plunged into chaos.
Allowed time to prepare a counterattack—smooth sailing.
But.
‘Something’s off.’
Mikhail’s instincts screamed warning.
This wasn’t peace.
The calm before the storm.
“Father.”
Elena approached.
“Still no movement.”
“Indeed. Too quiet by half.”
Mikhail murmured, scanning ahead.
“Like it’s catching its breath.”
A predator poised to strike.
The ominous premonition lingered.
“Elena.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I have a feeling...”
As the lord governor began to speak.
Kugugugugu...!
The earth trembled.
Vibrations beyond compare.
A roar swept the entire great forest.
Bwoooo! Bwoooo! Bwooooo—!
Horns blared three times.
Urgent, desperate.
“Battle stations! Enemy raid!”
Officers bellowed across sectors.
Something appeared beyond the walls.
“...They’ve finally come.”
Feral eyes gleamed in the dark.
Thousands, tens of thousands of red pupils.
Surging like a tidal wave.
“Krrooooaaar!”
Leading: heavily armored orcs and troll legions.
Followed by lizardmen and ogre hordes.
‘Scale’s different.’
No mere wave.
All-out war.
Total assault.
“Hold the line!”
Mikhail drew his greatsword.
Charging out from the forward base.
As always, to lead the vanguard.
Slash! Crunch!
Full clash.
Monsters fell wherever his sword struck.
Sobkov’s guardian, overwhelming might.
“Waaaaah!”
Troops’ morale soared.
Yet problems remained.
‘No end in sight.’
Kill and kill, endless monsters.
Pushing with sheer numbers.
Like they’d chosen this day.
‘So the lull wasn’t chaos...’
Condensation.
Preparation for this moment.
It fit perfectly.
‘Another focal point existed?’
The shaman king was just an officer.
A true king lurked.
Deep in the eastern great forest somewhere.
‘But it’s fine. We’ve prepared fully too.’
Not just them.
Sobkov Territory was fortified.
Royal reinforcements garrisoned.
We can hold. Easily.
“Lord Governor!”
Mikhail swung without pause.
Scout Leader Kanna rushed to him.
Her face deathly pale.
“What is it?”
“Not just the canyon!”
Kanna pointed to the mountains.
“They’ve cut paths through the ridges! Crossing the ridgelines! And...!”
Her voice trembled violently.
What else?
“...Tunnels! They’ve tunneled secretly into the territory interior!”