Chapter 546
There’s trouble either in the northern region or near Clifford.
Jin stared down at the map, pondering for a moment. How long would it take to get from the center to Clifford? The carriage was relatively light, so it shouldn’t take too long.
“If the issue is near Clifford, they’ll send word from there. Since the royal entourage is en route, let them handle the initial response. We’ll dispatch a messenger bird and quickly send a scouting party north.”
Ian nodded in understanding but cautiously reminded him of the situation with the Magic Department.
“That’s a sound decision, Your Majesty, but I’m sorry to say there are no mages available to send right now. If you command it, I can go myself, but I worry about leaving your side.”
“If it’s just reconnaissance, I can go.”
“Zaira, that’s reckless.”
Ian cut in firmly at Zaira’s comment.
Why else would Zaira be the only one unable to sleep? She had barely caught any rest during the entire coronation. The mental shock from the Luswena mage incident had been severe—so much so she couldn’t care for herself.
Zaira had no rebuttal, only lightly adjusting her glasses.
“The Empire’s Defense Department can also organize a scouting party. However, if this involves the rift, we must prepare for monster appearances. Regular soldiers won’t be able to handle that.”
“How is the weapon supply for the Dera tribe progressing?”
“We’re focusing on spearmen. Spears, especially short spears, take less time to produce than swords. We’re rushing, but more time is needed.”
That left only one option.
Captain Jarrett, catching on, said, “The Imperial Palace Guard will go. They’re highly mobile, so like sending and receiving messenger birds, they can quickly assess the situation.”
“Good. Let them move out first. If they encounter monsters or anything else blocking the Bariel advance, deal with it decisively so the march isn’t hindered.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We will obey.”
“Captain Jarrett.”
As Jarrett bowed in palace protocol, Ian called him over.
“Bring the Dera tribe’s weapons with you. They’ll be useful—for the Palace Guard and the other soldiers.”
The vanguard was literally a group sent out to survey enemy terrain and movements. Since mobility was prioritized, the number of spearmen was quite small, so this was a careful allocation.
“Understood.”
No one expected trouble inside the Bariel border. Surely this wasn’t a natural phenomenon. It was highly likely that Burgos—meaning the Rutherford side, anticipating Bariel’s advance—had activated something through some scheme.
Jin gestured lightly, urging haste.
“Captain Jarrett, depart immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Swish.
As Jarrett stepped out of the meeting tent, two other captains waiting outside—Simon and Bonita—approached with serious expressions, silently asking what was going on.
“What’s the matter?”
“By the Emperor’s order, we’re forming a scouting party to investigate the rift. The destination is the northern region. Simon and his unit will stay here to protect the Emperor; the rest will come with me.”
“A scouting party? That many?”
Though all captains, their experience differed. Jarrett had lived through the era of previous captains, while Simon and Bonita had been promoted to fill the vacancies left by the three captains who died during the civil war. In a way, Jarrett was both mentor and superior to them.
“Since monster appearances are suspected, this will be a suppression mission. It won’t take long to reach the north, and if there’s no problem, we’ll return immediately.”
“Understood. We’ll prepare at once.”
“All units, assemble! Emergency!”
At Bonita’s shout, the resting Palace Guard turned their heads one by one. Emergency? They didn’t know what it meant, but reflexively began donning their armor again.
Beric was no different. He crawled over grumbling.
“You told us to rest, then changed your mind right away!”
“Shut up. Didn’t you hear ‘emergency’?”
“Yeah, that’s why I crawled here. Why?”
“There’s trouble in the north. We’re going to scout. Everyone, release your magic. And Bersabe!”
“Yes, Captain.”
The mages carefully donned their protective gear as they received their orders: investigate the rift, prepare for monsters, confirm the vanguard, protect the empire’s people.
“Ah!”
Beric yawned loudly, then suddenly raised his hand, as if he’d just remembered something. Jarrett hesitated but finally nodded—permission to speak.
“Can’t we ride Kyu?”
“That dragon?”
“Flying through the sky, it’s obviously faster. Honestly, it’d be a pain, but if we could just hop on and get there quickly, then come back, wouldn’t that be great?”
“Cut the casual tone.”
“Come on, sir?”
Jarrett thought for a moment. Even with magic to speed them up, no one could match a dragon’s flight speed.
It was a reasonable suggestion, but maybe because it was Beric who said it, something felt off…
“Then Beric, you ride it.”
“Huh? Me?”
“The one who brought it up should do it. Who else?”
“True. You looked pretty good on it last time.”
The Palace Guard chuckled as they put on their boots. Beric’s expression was priceless—he’d made the suggestion out of laziness, but now he was the one who had to go.
“Beric.”
“Ah, really.”
If it were just for mobility, the Magic Department would have allowed dragon use. Jarrett gave a firm order.
“Prepare quickly. You’re in charge of the dragon.”
“Huff, huff…”
Eileen frowned deeply as her vision blurred. Her whole body was soaked—she couldn’t tell if it was sweat or blood.
She wiped roughly at her eyes with the back of her hand, then looked down at her blood-soaked palm. The once lush green field was now a sea of red pools and torn corpses.
Life is so fleeting. Those who were alive and moving just moments ago had suddenly lost all strength.
“Spearmen! Forward! Keep moving forward!”
“Let’s go! Damn it, there’s nowhere to retreat!”
“Right! If you show your back, you’re dead!”
“We are—!”
“We are!”
“Soldiers of Bariel! Bearing the Emperor’s will!”
“The start of this war depends on us! Eyes forward!”
Only after half the vanguard had fallen did they begin to vaguely identify their enemy.
First, the woman who had been posing as a tavern owner. She displayed unnatural physical abilities, lifting a soldier’s corpse with one hand. That was a monster’s trait, and everyone assumed she was one.
The remaining spearmen took positions among the soldiers, ready to attack.
“Identify yourself!”
“Why should I?”
She licked the blood off her arm and gave a bitter smile.
Then suddenly—
Ziiing!
“Magic!”
Her eyes glowed gold.
Eileen shouted in alarm.
“Get out of the way!”
“Where do you think you’re going!”
The woman crouched low and leapt into the group like a predator pouncing on prey.
The spearmen closed their eyes tightly and thrust their spears. Countless spear tips grazed her neck and shoulders, one piercing her waist.
Sssshhh!
“Ughhh!”
“…!?”
Even as she retreated swiftly, the woman slashed the neck of a black-clad soldier. The severed head rolled, blood spurting, but she paid no mind, only checking her own waist repeatedly.
“What the hell was that?”
“Sniff, sob—”
“Don’t cry! Stay calm!”
“The attack worked!”
A tiny, faint glimmer of hope.
The soldiers huddled tightly, protecting each other’s backs, while Eileen scanned the opposite side. The front of the vanguard—the side that had first warned of the monsters—was no different.
“Stab! Stab!”
“Kill them!”
The monster they faced was a one-eyed, mutilated pig-like creature. It seemed to move on legs attached somewhere on its body, but they were hidden beneath its fur.
Kueek!
They didn’t know how many there were, but the monsters’ occasional screams spurred the soldiers to swing their weapons harder. Fight, fight, keep fighting!
“We can do this!”
“We can survive! Just a little more, everyone—!”
“Hey!”
The woman rubbing her side cut them off irritably, as if telling them to quiet down.
“What’s that?”
“What?”
“That thing on the spear tip—it doesn’t look like metal.”
“W-what? You want me to tell you?”
“…Oh?”
When she got her answer, the woman smiled fiercely.
One side was tense and on edge; the other was in a relaxed lull. Of course, the soldiers were the former, their hands trembling on their weapons.
Eileen’s head spun. Every sense was heightened—the metallic scent of blood, the cold wind, the dying groans, and the trembling earth…
“Trembling?”
Kugugung—
“An earthquake…”
“An earthquake! Everyone okay? There are no buildings here!”
A great rumble came from the north. The woman whistled and shaded her eyes with her hand, staring into the distance. Eileen’s gaze naturally followed.
“…!”
“What is that?”
“Black, black things…”
“A spectacle.”
Monsters. They were pouring in from the north.
Sweeping down the hill like a black storm, everything visible was monsters, and everything felt like despair.
The soldiers instinctively lowered their weapons, staring helplessly northward.
“Ah.”
Should I run away? No, could I even escape? They’re pouring down like a landslide across this open plain.
The soldiers were completely overwhelmed, stumbling backward until they finally turned their backs.
“R-Run! Run!”
“Aaaah!”
Swish!
But the reality waiting for those who fled was the woman’s sword.
Eirin watched the scene in a daze. So this is what it feels like when your heart shatters. Her breath came in short gasps, but what choice did she have? There was only one option.
She slid a dagger across her left arm, tracing a cross. She was a child of God, a member of Bariel’s people—this was a prayer, asking for an honorable death.
Then, she grabbed a broken spear and charged forward.
Tap, tap, tap!
“Ughhh!”
Toward the thousands, tens of thousands of monsters.
Alone, she cut through the endless plain. Behind her, a black tide surged like a wave. Some soldiers snapped out of their shock and, like Eirin, marked crosses on their bodies.
And then—
“Let’s gooo!”
“Move out!”
They followed after Eirin.
The woman lifted a corpse’s head and quietly watched their backs. Those who chose death didn’t need to be finished off.
“Well, at least it’s not too late. Rutherford’s damn bastard really knows how to time things perfectly.”
Bariel’s advance. To effectively stop it, they had no choice but to use the northern monster territory before Bariel’s forces crossed the border.
The woman wiped the corner of her mouth and swallowed hard. Ah, how exquisite. All of them will become my flesh and blood…
Kyuuuu!
Swish!
At that moment, something flew low over the ground at incredible speed. The short grass whipped wildly where it passed, and the woman raised her arm to shield her face from the wind.
“…!”
Red, long wings and a tail.
A gaping, ferocious maw.
A dragon.
And atop it, a man with fiery red hair.
“Dieeee!”
“Hey!”
Thwack!
Just as Eirin was about to clash with the monsters, gritting her teeth and swinging her spear, Beric snatched her arm. The monsters tumbled down in a heap. Beric grabbed other soldiers as well and lifted them onto the dragon’s back.
“Hold tight to the rope or you’re dead.”
“Huff, huff…”
The soldiers who had barely escaped death panted and trembled. Beric tapped Kyu’s head and said,
“You’re heading back. Got it?”
Kyuuuu!
As Kyu lowered altitude again, Beric didn’t hesitate and jumped down. Eirin reached out in surprise but quickly realized it was pointless to worry.
Kraaaang!
Beric landed steadily and pointed his black sword at the woman.
“You crazy bastard. You really hit hard, huh? How’d you do it?”
“What? You want a buffet? Salivating?”
“Seriously, no wonder you eat crap like that. Top-tier idiot.”
“That’s my line, you clueless fool.”
The blood-soaked woman, Efdiram, unleashed her magic, while Beric crouched low, locking eyes with her.
Today, finally, one of them would die here.
They charged at each other at the same time.