The fortress city, true to its name, was designed to facilitate combat throughout its entirety. Military facilities were strategically placed throughout the city for a war of attrition through urban warfare should the gate’s defenses be breached and the fortress walls fall.
“First, we need to find out where Prince Raul is staying.”
Disguised as a typical mercenary party, the second team’s destination was a shabby tavern.
Precisely, it was a temporary base provided by an informant who used to relay information about the fortress city to the self-defense force. According to Welt’s explanation, the tavern owner had already left for another city in search of a new life.
“Prince Raul enjoys luxury and flaunting his status, so I’d guess he’s at the Lord’s mansion, right?”
“It’s not that simple to judge based solely on Prince Raul’s tendencies. Ehram is by his side. If Prince Raul intended to act freely, he would have visited the gate in person.”
Ehram the Great Sword, considered the biggest obstacle in this operation, was an iconic figure of the Principality.
He was a formidable warrior, possibly even a superhuman, whose battle prowess was said to embody the full might of the Principality. His true combat power, enhanced by magical weapons, could rival other superhumans.
Naturally, his authority was nearly equal to that of Prince Raul. In fact, Ehram was the one person Prince Raul found challenging.
“… Ludmilla, you assured us that you could handle Ehram, which is why we allocated our forces accordingly. But things might get complicated. If that happens, our top priority must be to secure the prince.”
“Do as you like.”
“Regardless, the place where Prince Raul is will inevitably be heavily guarded. It will stand out. So we need someone to scout the city…”
“Send the monkey.”
“Hehe. Of course, I should go!”
Alejandro left with a wide grin at Ludmilla’s command and returned in less than thirty minutes.
“Are you sure you scouted properly? You came back very quickly….”
“Who do you think I am?”
Eson showed a dubious reaction to Alejandro’s confidence, but Alejandro had indeed found Prince Raul’s location in that short time.
In an absolutely certain way, leaving no chance that the information was a decoy planted by Prince Raul’s side.
“You know the wall near the gate? Knights were blatantly guarding the wall, encircling a spot. And at the center, a pig wearing a crown was looking through a strange magical device. I wanted to get closer to confirm, but I had a bad feeling, so I just came back.”
“Trusting your instincts is wise. Had you ignored them, you might have been caught by the knight Ehram.”
“Goodness, is that true? But it was quite a distance…”
“Ludmilla is right. Ehram’s detection abilities are exceptional.”
“How do you know that, old man? You talk like you heard it directly from him.”
Ignoring Alejandro’s question, Welt skillfully packed various weapons he had kept nearby for quick access.
“It’s a bit tricky since he’s on the wall, but we have no other choice. We’ll have to make do. Is that alright, Ludmilla-nim?”
“A worthless question.”
Ludmilla.
Not called the Witch of Loren for nothing, she did not show respect even to a revolutionary who might have lived twice her lifespan. Earning her respect was extremely rare in her life. One of the few exceptions was the barbarian from the north.
That’s why Ludmilla was here.
“Uuuungg.”
The interior of the shabby tavern silently trembled. Amidst the shaking old tables and chairs vibrating as if caught in an earthquake, the strange phenomenon was observed solely within the tavern.
A stunningly precise control of mana. Her method of handling mana as if it were an extension of her own body and limbs reminded one of the golden dragon, Areolus, from earlier.
“Ehram of the Great Sword. It seems your name is fairly known around the outskirts, but that’s all there is to it. Perhaps if you were a Bannerman of the Empire. A fool who thinks the small world is everything has no chance against me.”
Pride, to the point of madness, radiated from her.
Yet it did not feel arrogant. Just as she had crossed the ravine inspired by the artifact of the mage, her figure enveloped in the inexplicable phenomenon was the very image of a witch.
“I don’t fancy fighting, but since he trusted and left it to me, I will do my part.”
***
‘With this much, the revolutionary army will be easily crushed.’
Prince Raul, watching the scene of the ravine gate through a farsight magical device on the fortress city’s wall, smiled.
How long he had awaited the day he would seize the throne, left empty by the sudden death of the preceding king. Had it not been entangled with the ‘Demon Descent Incident’ in Bates, he would have ascended to the throne long ago. However, being in a position where he could not ignore the Empire’s opinion, he had no choice but to delay his coronation, and as if seizing that opportunity, a revolution had erupted.
‘Useless vermin.’
In truth, the revolution itself wouldn’t have delayed Prince Raul’s coronation, but a handwritten letter from the cardinal of the Pantheon Church had tied his hands. It was a situation where he had no choice but to care about public sentiment immediately.
In that sense, the large-scale movement of the revolutionary army this time was rather what Prince Raul had been waiting for.
It was an opportunity to justly sweep away the revolutionary army without worrying about the cardinal’s opinion, an opportunity that came walking right to his feet. How could he not be pleased?
“It’s a shame to see this spectacle alone. What do you say? Sir Ehram, I could lend you the magical device for a moment.”
“… I don’t wish to go near that old fool’s magical device.”
“Ha… If that is your wish.”
A firm refusal.
Though he had not yet ascended the throne, he was virtually the ruler of the principality, and this was a rejection of Prince Raul’s goodwill. That too, in front of other knights. In the common sense of Midland, it was an unthinkable act. But in the case of the Georges Principality, the figure of the Great Sword Ehram could afford to do so.
At least on this continent, the fame of the Great Sword Ehram surpassed that of the ruler of the Georges Principality.
Gnashing his teeth, unable to hide his emotions, Prince Raul sneered at Ehram.
‘No matter, you’re just a dog bound by an oath.’
Through the church’s priest, the subject of the oath had long been transferred from the former king to himself. Whether the Great Sword Ehram or anyone else, in the end, they had no choice but to obey his commands, even if they hated it.
Feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction, Prince Raul was about to bring his head back to the farsight magical device prepared by the duchy’s mage.
“Who─ is it─!”
“Ugh!”
The roar bursting from Ehram’s mouth echoed like thunder over the wall. Immediately reacting, the knights surrounded Prince Raul in a solid defense, vigilant of their surroundings.
“Swwing!”
Aura erupted from Ehram’s hand, who was holding the national sword, Lafante, bestowed by the late king. It perfectly matched his alias, the Great Sword.
‘What on earth is happening…!’
Prince Raul, suddenly crouching and pressed to the ground, peeked through the wall of knights to look outside. But all he could see was Ehram holding an aura blade nearly 240cm long.
“The sky! A mage!”
At the warning from a knight, Prince Raul also turned his gaze to the sky. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a giant chick floating there. What is that supposed to be?
While the prince expressed his bewilderment over the bizarre phenomenon of a flying golem chick, a bewitching voice tickled his ears from above the chick.
“Indeed, you are not just an empty name.”
“Protect your body with aura! That voice itself is a spell─!”
“Quick perception. Then, shall we see how your sword skills fare?”
As soon as the lazy voice, in stark contrast to the serious situation, finished speaking,
Whoosh-! Whoosh─!
Flame orbs the size of a human torso filled the sky over the wall. When their number reached fifty, the knights momentarily suspected it was an illusion spell. However, the heat penetrating their armor and touching their skin was real.
“Protect the prince─!”
“Devotion…!”
Blue aura collided with red flame orbs.
Despite the general reputation that knights from non-Empire countries were mostly mediocre, they were, unmistakably, beings beyond ordinary. Yet the clash between the spells cast by a single mage and aura was evenly matched.
Considering the flame orbs were completed in a blink of an eye, it was a nightmarish situation.
“An exceptional level!”
Ehram, deflecting more than half of the flame orbs with his aura blade, immediately judged the opponent’s danger level. At least equal to himself, perhaps even more…!
“Isn’t it too early to judge?”
The mage’s voice, hidden by the golem chick, made every nerve in his body stand on edge. The surrounding mana flow, which was in chaos, foretold an impending catastrophe. But how could they stop a mage showering down spells from above?
‘That’s it!’
In a brief moment, Ehram made a decision.
Stepping lightly on the wall’s ledge, Ehram’s body, bursting with aura, streaked towards the golem chick at a phenomenal speed. A blue trail pierced through the golem, and the frantic mana flow around stopped instantly.
“As expected of Sir Ehram…!”
The knights who were anxiously watching for the impending spell on the wall praised Ehram.
‘No, it’s not over yet!’
The golem chick, which they assumed the mage was riding, was empty. If so, what was that voice they had heard until now?
‘We’ve been tricked!’
Drawing attention with an overwhelming display of flame orbs that seemed like an illusion, the mage must have hidden their true location with some trickery. So what did it signify when the chaotic mana flow in the air abruptly ceased?
The completion of the spell.
“No─!”
“It’s too late.”
Despite the blood-curdling roar, Ehram’s body was plummeting helplessly. Only then did Ehram realize the opponent’s true goal was to separate him from the wall. The most solid shield, himself!
“Unleash─.”
A rather playful voice. But the disaster brought by that voice was far from playful.
Foohahahah──!
A red sphere that materialized above the phalanx centered around Prince Raul exploded. A fiery waterfall of flames poured downward, engulfing the knights and Prince Raul.
Given that the oath of loyalty binding him was still active, Prince Raul was not dead yet. It was unclear whether this was due to the knights’ concerted effort or the mage’s plan to secure the prince’s life, but Ehram’s task was clear.
“Die─!”
As if he had been there from the beginning, Ehram accelerated toward the violet-haired woman who had appeared on a building’s roof below the wall.
Typically, it was impossible for a mage to match the speed of a knight approaching the level of a transcendent. Ehram intended to eliminate the mage and nullify the spell with a single strike.
However, the mage was not alone.
Thunk……!
A spearman with reddish-brown hair appeared, spreading a barrier. The legendary artifact ‘Guardian’s Buckler’ blocked Ehram’s strike. Though the shield’s wielder couldn’t withstand the impact and was flung far away, the original purpose was achieved.
The mage, who had improvised a new transmutation formula over the previously activated spell, clenched their fist.
“Boom─.”
Immediately, the sound of an explosion swallowed everything.