Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: The Dark Spirit Mountain Range
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The Azelan Continent.
The empire that ruled it was also called the Azelan Empire.
Its history was complex, but in short, the descendants of a very ancient dynasty had reconquered the present-day Azelan Continent.
Though some claimed the dynasty was not of direct lineage but a fabrication created for legitimacy, they ultimately unified twelve nations into one.
The final conflict, known as the Imperial War or the Unification War, was the deadliest in history and resulted in the first-ever unification of the continent.
This was a tremendous achievement for the current emperor, but it also became a weakness.
—The true masters of Azelan were the monsters.
Back when there were twelve nations, most of the continent was human territory. But the prolonged wars caused small villages to vanish, and those who lost their homes began to gather in cities.
The activation of teleportation gates further accelerated the shrinking of human territory.
As fewer people used the roads connecting the cities, monsters took their place, making overland travel even more difficult.
Yet, the empire turned a blind eye to these problems.
It was for the sake of easier administration.
The newly unified empire needed time to stabilize, and this situation actually helped. So, they designated teleportation gates as a key project to connect major cities and neglected monster subjugation.
As a result, human territory had shrunk so much that it was said it would take the empire thirty years to reclaim it.
Once the political situation stabilized, the empire began to focus on expanding its territory again, the primary reason being to secure food supplies.
There was a severe shortage of farmland, and with no one willing to venture outside the cities due to the monster threat, this was an inevitable problem.
Before the situation became critical, the empire launched a large-scale effort to secure farmland, and food production has since stabilized, but the monster subjugation efforts did not stop.
The expansion of monster territory threatened public safety, and there was a need to secure new resources.
However, another problem arose here.
—The nobles wouldn't step up.
In the beginning, the nobles actively participated in the subjugations.
The reason?
To claim profitable territories first.
Key areas occupied by so-called weak monsters.
These typically included mines, plains, and coastlines.
But the initial fervor for subjugation quickly cooled down, and the reason was simple.
Only areas occupied by monsters too strong to guarantee a successful subjugation, or territories with no profit to be gained from clearing them, were left.
It was a headache for the empire, but they couldn't force the nobles to conduct subjugations. Now, monster hunts only occurred sporadically to protect the lands near their estates.
—House Rohan and House Lennox have begun a large-scale monster subjugation campaign.
The Imperial Palace was the one watching the outcome of this news most closely.
When news arrived that they had already succeeded in several subjugations, the level of attention grew even higher. Although they hadn't shown any official reaction yet, they had subtly conveyed to Duke Rohan that they were watching.
“His Majesty is paying attention.”
“I understand what that means.”
Rohan Leit heard this news before departing with his twenty private soldiers.
*'It's rare for a ducal house to get directly involved.'*
If this had been a venture by House Lennox alone, the Imperial Palace would not have paid this much attention.
But it was a different story if Duke Rohan was making a move.
*'This must be what Vega wanted.'*
Leit's pride was a little bruised, but he quickly shook it off.
*'He is a man who can help me grow. A man like that is worthy of being a friend.'*
Under much scrutiny, Rohan Leit departed for his destination.
***
A forest an hour away from Perera, a city in the central part of the continent.
It was a place where towering conifers were interwoven like a steel mesh.
“Let’s begin.”
For the first time, Wang-sik led private soldiers on a monster subjugation, rather than going alone.
*'They need training.'*
The mercenaries of Mold, for whom he had even hired a training instructor, had recently been improving by leaps and bounds.
The same went for the first mercenaries who had joined with them, but actual combat experience was another matter.
So, his plan was to have them join the subjugations from now on, and once they gained enough experience, he would form a separate subjugation team to continuously deal with monsters.
“Give us a chance this time.”
“They’re dangerous creatures.”
The masters of the forest were Devil Snakes.
As a habitat for venomous reptiles, it was one of the most dangerous places.
“If we retreat just because it’s dangerous, we’re not knights.”
Wang-sik didn't bother stopping Rohan Leit and let him take the lead.
*'It's about time I helped him build some confidence.'*
Rohan Leit confidently took the lead.
He moved cautiously after entering the forest. Wang-sik found his pace frustrating but waited patiently.
And so, the subjugation began with an attack from venomous insects.
Twice a day.
The subjugation was carried out over a total of five sessions.
It would have been over in a single attempt if Wang-sik had taken the lead, but by entrusting everything to Rohan Leit, it took a full three days.
“Battle concluded.”
Rohan Leit declared victory before the massive carcass of a Devil Snake, which had been split in two.
The knights cheered, and Wang-sik and his private soldiers celebrated with them.
“That was an excellent battle.”
“It must have seemed frustrating to you, didn't it? But please understand. We can't take credit without fighting, can we? I won't be so stubborn next time.”
“I genuinely think it was excellent. As a knight, I mean.”
“Thank you.”
Rohan Leit looked even more satisfied at Wang-sik's words.
Thus, the first subjugation ended. Three days later, their forces gathered at the second subjugation site.
This time, the subjugation was carried out by a total of 70 men, with Wang-sik taking the lead on the first day. On the second day, Rohan Leit took command, and although there were many injuries, the operation concluded with no fatalities.
*'The real challenge is the next area.'*
The subjugation operations so far have just been a prelude to the next location.
The next target is an area where the Magic Tower periodically conducts capture operations, even studying the monster ecosystem.
The Dark Spirit Mountain Range.
This mountain range, stretching down along the coast from the northeast of the continent, was a place the Magic Tower invested heavily in researching.
And the edge of the mountain range was not far from Elat, the city where Wang-sik was mayor.
Half of the monsters that had crossed through the gate this time had been captured from here.
Because of this, the Magic Tower was even commissioning the Thieves' Guild and the Mercenary Guild to create a monster map.
“I’ll get my hands on that map, one way or another.”
Those were the words Wang-sik had been waiting for.
*'Would the Magic Tower dare refuse a request from House Rohan?'*
Wang-sik had thrown a formidable opponent at the arrogant Magic Tower.
*'Lilia will have no choice but to make a move.'*
The true purpose of this entire operation.
Was to lure Lilia out.
***
Lilia's experiments continued late into the night.
Kraaa!
As the magic circle activated, the monster bound upon it writhed and shrieked.
A green monster, one meter tall, with serrated teeth.
It was a Cramblin.
The Cramblin, which had been glaring at Lilia with crazed eyes, soon sank into the magic circle as if into a swamp.
Simultaneously, a magic circle ten meters away erupted in light.
The vanished Cramblin reappeared there, and when the light faded, its muscles were bulging as if they would burst.
Kraaaak!
Its shriek had turned into a scream, and its eyes were stained red, looking as if they might drip blood.
Lilia pointed a finger at the Cramblin.
In that instant, the monster froze.
The Cramblin, which had been gasping for breath, reacted to Lilia's voice.
“Stand down.”
The monster staggered back at her command.
But soon, it collapsed, vomiting blood, and never moved again.
“Master, that was incredible. You’re almost there.”
Falcon, an 8th-floor mage watching from behind Lilia, said with a look of amazement.
But Lilia was displeased by the praise from her only disciple.
“Magical research has only two outcomes: success and failure. Does a remarkable process make the research a success?”
“Ah, no, it does not.”
“Don’t be amazed by the process. Unfinished research is nothing but trash.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Lilia extended a hand toward the Cramblin's corpse.
As she clenched her outstretched fingers, the Cramblin's body crumpled and dissolved into a pool of blood.
Falcon trembled at the truly terrifying power.
*'She has already surpassed all limits.'*
Though she was known to the outside world as a specialist in gate research, the Master Lilia that Falcon observed was not someone who could be so simply defined.
While her specialty was indeed magic circle research, her level of magic was no less formidable. If she desired it, she was skilled enough to earn a reputation rivaling that of the Royal Court's Archmage.
“I will be adding channeling. Prepare for it.”
“What? You’re adding channeling to that magic circle?”
“Do you intend to make me repeat myself?”
“Ah, no. I will prepare it at once.”
Falcon swallowed hard and turned away.
*'She’s already combined enhancement and brainwashing magic, and now she’s adding channeling on top of it.'*
The magic Lilia was currently researching was the final form of the summoning gate.
Currently, the enhancement magic was cast before the subject passed through the gate, but the original plan was for both enhancement and brainwashing magic to be applied the moment they passed through the magic circle.
However, upon hearing that the investors' complaints were growing, Lilia had demonstrated a basic version of the magic circle.
Lilia had refused, but the Magic Tower needed an event to recoup the investors' losses, so they held a high-level meeting to persuade her.
In the end, the event was a huge success, and Lilia immediately began working on the final version afterward.
*'If she succeeds with the channeling...'*
Channeling magic connects a summoned entity to its master's mind.
It varies slightly depending on the purpose, but it allows the sharing of not only sound but also sight.
*'Channeling with a monster...'*
As he was leaving Lilia's laboratory, Falcon realized something and stopped in his tracks.
*'It might not be a monster.'*
His master, Lilia, would pursue extreme efficiency.
*'She plans to send a person.'*
If monsters could cross over, there was no reason a person couldn't.
Brainwashing and channeling.
It would create the perfect soldier.
*'I have to do this properly. She's the type of person who might send me.'*
Falcon swallowed and started walking again.
But just as he was about to prepare for his master's magical research, he received some unwelcome news.
“What do you mean? House Rohan is subjugating the Dark Spirit Mountain Range?”
“They’ve requested a monster map from the Hunter's Guild and the Mercenary Guild. It seems a request for cooperation will be coming our way soon.”
The Dark Spirit Mountain Range was a place where the Magic Tower strategically maintained a monster ecosystem.
If a species grew too strong, they would launch a subjugation, but they never pushed it to the point of extinction.
They also limited monster captures, essentially running it like a giant farm.
“We need to begin our capture operation soon, and it looks like there will be a conflict.”
They had already selected fifty monsters for the next gate invasion.
Thirty boss-level and twenty sub-boss-level monsters.
After further discussion, that number was likely to double.
“How dare they...”
The place was already known throughout the continent as the Magic Tower's monster ranch, so other hunters didn't even enter without permission.
“What should we do?”
If it were any other house, they would have sent a warning message immediately.
But their opponent was House Rohan.
One of only five ducal houses on the continent, a traditional line of knights. Most importantly, they were the family closest to the emperor.
“Who is handling this?”
“Sodoban, a 5th-floor mage. He has handled external affairs until now, but for this matter, he has requested a high-level meeting.”
“This is beyond what he can handle. When is the meeting?”
“Everyone is waiting for you now.”
Even for a high-level meeting, only mages up to the 7th floor would attend unless it was a crisis for the Magic Tower. But this time, the request for attendance had extended even to Falcon, an 8th-floor mage.
Such was the power of House Rohan.
“Let’s go.”
Falcon hurried toward the meeting hall.