Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: The Collapsing Fortress
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Meanwhile, the command staff of the Third Prince's army had been engrossed in strategy meetings for days.
The first item on the agenda was, naturally, how to defend Ermac Fortress.
But since various measures had already been put in place, this was more of a review.
The more important matter was the grand strategy that would follow.
“Thanks to the Warrior of the Flash defeating Krol Karim, we’ve bought ourselves a little more time.”
“Indeed. The enemy probably won’t dare to attack this place recklessly.”
“Yes, they’ll likely try to come up with a more definitive siege strategy.”
Ellington and Adel exchanged opinions, their faces grave.
Though their expressions were tense, the content of their discussion was quite hopeful.
If they could match the enemy’s top-tier combatants, the fight was more than winnable.
However, skeptical voices often arose from within the command staff.
“The Warrior of the Flash… are you referring to Student Council President Ray Carter?”
“Yes.”
“I see no reason to call him by such a grandiose nickname.”
There were quite a few who made such dismissive remarks.
It was hardly surprising.
It was only natural for them to be wary of Ray Carter, an outsider who had rolled in.
They hadn't paid him much mind until recently, but that changed when the Student Council President joined their ranks.
He had simply accomplished too much in too short a time.
Ellington and Adel glanced at each other.
With bitter expressions, they gave a slight nod.
It seemed this kind of reaction had been brewing for some time.
“It’s a name that has already spread widely among the merchants of Foven. We can’t keep calling him by his Student Council President title forever, can we? Venderford is gone, after all.”
Adel calmly defended Ray Carter.
She wasn't ignorant of their sentiments, but her words were a subtle warning to temper their excessive wariness.
Just then, a clear, bright voice rang out from a corner of the conference room.
“Are you still going to praise him, even with the rumors circulating?”
It was Donias, who had joined the Third Prince’s camp in the final days of Venderford.
The heiress to the House of Count Apelt in the southern region, she was a prime example of an ambitious individual seeking to advance in the political world.
She was highly skilled, but had a reputation for causing trouble wherever she went.
Despite this, Ellington held Donias in high regard.
She was someone who dared to speak the “hard truth” even to the lord she served.
Just like now.
“What rumors are you referring to?”
Ellington asked in a gentle voice.
Donias replied with a slight shudder.
“He makes passes at Lillian and me every time we cross paths. I was well aware of what kind of person he is, but isn't this a critical time?”
“Ah…”
The Third Prince let out a low groan and pressed a hand to his forehead.
The thought that *that man* would indeed do something like that kept swirling in his mind.
Ray Carter was the kind of person who would spout nonsense even when his life was on the line.
In the Third Prince’s army, which had a large number of female officers, similar incidents could easily occur.
However, strong military discipline was in place to prevent such situations.
And since the former Venderford members were exceptionally skilled, control was effectively maintained.
But what about Ray Carter?
“What a troublesome man.”
Ellington muttered to himself without realizing it.
An asset who was an undeniable benefit to have, yet unable to gain the trust of his own command staff.
But he couldn't choose one over the other.
He had to embrace both, leaving the Third Prince with a throbbing headache.
“Let’s deal with that matter when the person in question arrives. What do you say?”
Ellington deferred his judgment for the time being.
He didn't have the energy to waste on such trivial internal conflicts right now.
Sensing the mood, Donias obediently backed down.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
“…”
But Lillian still wore a troubled expression.
It seemed she thought this might become a problem later on.
Well, it was understandable to fear retaliation.
Lillian Taves had a reserved personality and came from the most humble family among the command staff.
In any case, the slightly heated atmosphere was quickly brought under control.
Soon, Ellington turned to Mac Ties and posed a question.
“Very well. How are the preparations for the surprise attack coming along?”
“We have secured a path to the enemy’s rear. It’s a temporary road halfway up a cliff, so they will likely not expect it.”
Mac answered with confidence.
The enemy would never imagine that the Third Prince's army would charge out to launch a surprise attack.
If they could exploit that opening, they could gain an enormous advantage in this operation.
Such as wiping out all their pesky siege weapons.
“You’ve worked hard. In that case, we will execute the operation tonight.”
“We will prepare accordingly.”
“I expect everyone to be vigilant in preventing any information leaks this time.”
Ellington swept his gaze across the room, his eyes blazing like fire.
The commanders flinched for a moment.
It seemed the Third Prince had never shown such a strong reaction before.
Because the diversionary tactic had been exposed, Ray Carter had been put in immense danger.
Though he himself had boasted that those guys were nothing, Ellington knew the truth.
He knew just how fierce a battle the Warrior of the Flash had fought to return.
The countless new scars etched onto his armor, which hadn't been there when he departed, were proof.
“…Yes.”
The commanders replied with grim expressions.
And with that, the strategy meeting concluded.
As everyone filed out to attend to their duties, Ellington lowered his head, a look of exhaustion on his face.
It was a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor, but it was alright for now.
Only his closest confidante, Adel, remained in the conference room.
Presently, she spoke with a hardened face.
“Tonight is the critical moment.”
“It’s a terrible waste to abandon this magnificent fortress.”
However, the conversation between the two was completely different from what had been discussed in the meeting.
What happened to the night raid? Abandoning Ermac Fortress? What was this nonsense?
“By the way, Sir Mac and Sir Frixon’s roles are crucial. Do you think they can handle it?”
“Aren’t they talents brought in by the Student Council President… no, the Warrior of the Flash? Don’t worry too much.”
“They achieved excellent results at Venderford as well. Thinking of it that way, I’m not too concerned.”
“Let’s hope they succeed in the demolition and make a clean escape.”
Ellington and Adel were preparing a grand plan.
All while feigning a nighttime raid on the surface.
The reason was simple and clear.
An earth spirit had detected the Gray Tower mages approaching through tunnels.
The plan was for Mac to collapse the entire fortress the moment they entered through the vulnerable food storage.
Sophia had laid numerous warning spells precisely for this day.
Frixon, meanwhile, was secretly moving military supplies to a location outside the fortress.
“Ah! How is he? I heard he’s done nothing but sleep for two days.”
As their conversation wound down, Ellington suddenly asked about Ray Carter’s well-being.
Adel gazed out the window with a bitter expression.
She seemed to be picturing him passed out in the fortress barracks.
“It seems he hasn’t woken up yet. So I plan to move him myself.”
“There isn’t much time until the operation. You should hurry.”
“Yes, I’m about to leave now.”
“Good. I’ll see you outside. And… do not forget that we must keep an even closer watch on our own allies.”
“Of course.”
This operation had another purpose besides annihilating the enemy forces.
It was to root out the spy who had leaked information to the Second Prince’s army.
That was precisely why he had suddenly announced the surprise attack.
With so little time left before the operation.
The spy would likely make a reckless move to transmit the information.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Go on.”
Adel gave a slight bow to Ellington, who was smiling meaningfully.
Then she immediately darted out of the conference room.
There was no way to know exactly how much time was left until the fortress collapsed.
It would vary depending on the number of enemies who entered and the situation.
Still, there should be enough time to move one person, Ray Carter.
“Follow me.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Adel led ten guards toward Frixon’s room.
With the situation moving so quickly, there was no time or romance for carrying him on her back like last time.
To avoid losing their lives in vain, they had to move with maximum efficiency.
So, she threw the door open without even knocking.
*Clack!*
“…Huh?”
Despite the need for haste, Adel froze on the spot.
Ray Carter, who should have been lying quietly on the bed, had vanished without a trace.
“No, where on earth did he go? Find him, quickly!”
“Understood.”
After a bewildered scan of the room, she quickly gave the order.
The soldiers began a thorough search, throwing open the doors of all the surrounding rooms.
But even after a considerable amount of time, they couldn't find even a shadow of Ray Carter.
“Wh-what do I do? At this rate, the operation time…”
*Rumble-rumble-rumble!*
Just as she was muttering to herself worriedly, wringing her hands, an ominous vibration echoed through the fortress.
“This is it!”
Adel knew the operation was imminent.
Mac had said he would give a signal once before bringing the fortress down.
There was no more time to delay.
“It can’t be helped. We have to give up and get out!”
She hastily quickened her pace.
And just as she expected, the vibrations grew stronger.
*Rumble-rumble-rumble! K-booooom!*
Moments after the last of her party escaped, Ermac Fortress crumbled to the ground.
It was over in an instant.
“Aah!”
Turning her head to witness the scene, Adel let out a low cry.
Before she knew it, small dewdrops had formed in the corners of her eyes.
She seemed to be mourning someone's death while blaming herself for not being able to confirm it until the end.
The sharply edged crescent moon rose just in time to stare down at Adel.
Its gaze was filled with reproach.
“To end so meaninglessly…”
* * *
*Snap! Flash!*
With a flick of my fingers, a cluster of white light formed and drifted around me.
The devastating ruins of the building came into view.
The moment the earthquake struck the fortress, my battle with Hol Shivas came to an abrupt end.
‘When you’re busy trying to save your own skin, who has time to fight?’
We both stopped our meaningless swordplay and immediately focused on survival.
The entire building had collapsed, but fortunately, it wasn't completely without a way out.
The food storage was at the very bottom of the fortress and had been built quite sturdily.
Its collapse was relatively slow, making it easy to find a safe spot.
On top of that, using magic to push away the debris allowed me to secure even more space.
Of course, having to be pressed up against an enemy wasn't exactly pleasant.
“You’re quite persistent, aren’t you?”
“I have to survive too, don’t I? This just looked like the place with the highest chance of survival.”
I grumbled as I looked over my shoulder, and Hol Shivas, sitting back-to-back with me, replied.
The moment the food storage collapsed, this man should have died.
If he hadn’t thrown himself in my direction, that is.
‘His instincts are disgustingly sharp.’
The keen senses of a top-tier warrior must have naturally guided him here.
In any case, the important thing wasn't that I had to share a room…
No, a space, with a rugged-looking man.
The problem was that we were buried under a pile of rock that could weigh tens of thousands of tons.
“Seeing how calm you are in this situation, you must have some clever trick up your sleeve, I take it?”
Hol Shivas said, his voice full of expectation.
But I wasn't even looking at him anymore.
I had just witnessed a truly tragic sight.
“Oh, no! My sandwich!”
As fate would have it, right before my eyes was the sandwich I had carefully set aside in a corner, now tragically crushed.
I stared blankly at the food, which had spilled out and lost its form.
A masterpiece I had poured my heart and soul into…
I don't know who brought down this fortress, but when I find them, I’m going to spank their butt!
I pictured the unknown culprit in my mind and let my desire for revenge burn.
“…What an incomprehensible human being. Did I truly fight a man like this with all my might?”
Watching me, Hol Shivas let out a hollow sigh.