Chapter 721
“How peculiar.”
Jin muttered after hearing Tweller’s report.
The scout who had entered the village had vanished without a trace, along with the mysterious glimmer that had surrounded the area. According to the villagers, it seemed like something was being managed at the national level, but no one knew exactly what it was.
Jin looked at Tweller.
“Minister Tweller, do you believe this is the truth?”
“…There are suspicious elements, but at this point, we can’t be certain. A thorough search is necessary.”
“Captain Jaret.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Though not as attuned as the mages, the magic swordsmen could still sense magical energy. If there were traps set around the village to hold enemy forces, the magic swordsmen would surely detect them.
“I’m sorry, but I sense nothing.”
Jaret shook his head. Perhaps if they got closer, things might change, but for now, there was no sign of anything unusual.
“If this is the work of a sorcerer rather than magic energy, it might be difficult for the magic swordsmen to detect. Perhaps, as Sir Tweller suggests, we should send out a search party.”
“Hmm. Sir Tweller, the sun has fully set. Do you consider this an enemy move?”
“Even during the day, the scouts disappeared. From a risk perspective, day or night doesn’t make much difference. I will dispatch the search party.”
“Do as you see fit. I will observe alongside you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jaret rose from his chair and stepped outside the tent. The palace guards standing nearby bowed their heads slightly in greeting.
“Captain, what’s the situation?”
“It seems there’s a protective barrier around the village.”
“I haven’t noticed anything unusual.”
“We’ll find out soon enough. Prepare yourselves. The search party will be deployed. After that, it’s our turn.”
At times like this, it would be great to have Berrick. Not only was he a formidable shield, but his heightened senses made him exceptional at detecting the unfamiliar.
“But he’s never around when you need him.”
“Exactly. That useless bastard.”
“Barsabe, what are you doing?”
Barsabe turned her head toward an empty space, as if sensing something. Yet, she still had a cloth wrapped over her eyes, unable to see. Until she reached the capital and flung open the gates of the Tolrun Palace, she would likely have to remain like this.
“Barsabe?”
“…Nothing. Go.”
She shook her head as if dismissing it, and the nearby soldiers busied themselves with their tasks.
In a dark corner, unnoticed by anyone, the invisible figure of the village’s transparent scout crouched, surveying the surroundings.
‘No mages here!’
The transparent woman silently watched as a man from the village was dragged into a barracks. The village chief had promised to rescue him if anything happened, but the orders given to her were entirely different.
“Confirm if there are any mages. Verify the emperor’s presence. Observe the atmosphere and any anomalies inside, and report everything.”
“Do not rescue anyone?”
“That comes later. Don’t think about anything else—just remember what I said.”
“Understood, Chief.”
The woman moved stealthily through the barracks, narrowly avoiding collisions with the bustling soldiers by keeping watch ahead and behind.
“Be careful not to bump into anyone. They’ll notice immediately.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“If you don’t see any mages, send the signal immediately.”
The signal meant sending smoke. She carefully took a small ember from a torch and slipped behind a tent.
Ssssh!
“Hm?”
A faint wisp of smoke rose, catching the attention of a soldier who turned around in confusion. Startled, he hurriedly grabbed a water container and shouted,
“Fire in the tent! Everyone, over here!”
“What? What’s on fire?”
“No idea! Why is this happening all of a sudden?”
“Water! Bring water or sand!”
The dry cloth burned quickly, and the flames spread fast.
Meanwhile, a woman watching the Bariel camp from the village noticed the unusual smoke and reported,
“There’s new smoke rising from a small barracks on the front left of the Bariel forces. It looks like a signal.”
“Good. Report to the chief.”
“Keep watching.”
When the woman ran to inform the chief, he nodded as if this was just the beginning.
“If there are no mages, this will be easier. Tell the transparent scouts to wait beneath the village with light cloths. When the search party comes up, they will handle it.”
“Yes, Chief.”
The transparent scouts had only two abilities: to make their bodies invisible and to render objects they held invisible, limited to what they could carry. They had no other combat skills, but they believed this was enough to protect the village.
“They’re moving! The main force has sent soldiers again!”
At the shout of a militia member, people rushed to the outskirts.
It was true. Armored soldiers were approaching, maintaining a steady distance to minimize damage from traps or other devices.
The chief signaled the village youth with a glance.
“They’re coming! Everyone, ready your weapons!”
“Yes!”
The villagers held their weapons tightly, holding their breath. The soldiers advanced slowly, swords swinging cautiously, their footsteps tense. Then—
“Raise them!”
Whoosh!
The transparent scouts waiting below lifted their cloths behind the soldiers, blocking the main force’s line of sight.
As the search party vanished in an instant, Jin and Tweller, watching from behind, hesitated. It was too dark to see clearly, but they were certain…
“Sir Tweller?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Did I imagine it?”
Tweller said nothing, his lips pressed tight as he searched for any trace of the vanished soldiers.
“Should we keep advancing?”
“They said to enter the village.”
“Exercising under the moonlight, huh.”
Meanwhile, the soldiers climbed the hill, unaware of the transparent cloth behind them. Suddenly, they came face to face with the villagers looking down at them. Perhaps because of the darkness, their gazes were quite fierce.
“Ah, the people of Landarin Village?”
One soldier glanced back, unafraid. The entire main force was watching them. Any foolish move here would erase the village without a trace.
The villagers smiled coldly and greeted softly.
“Yes, that’s right. But why are you coming up this way when the path is clear? We clearly said we would surrender.”
“Well, these are orders from above. It can’t be helped.”
“Please turn back. The ground over there is soft and difficult to cross.”
The village women approached, feigning kindness and extending their hands. The soldiers, unsuspecting, gladly took their hands—
“Hm?”
Just as they noticed the firm grip,
Fshhh!
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, blood spurted from a comrade’s neck. It was an attack by the transparent scouts.
Startled soldiers reflexively tried to fight back, but the women grabbed their arms. In that moment, the men slipped daggers through the gaps in their armor.
“Cover their mouths!”
“Kill them! Kill them!”
“No, these crazy bastards!”
Swish!
The soldiers swung their swords in defense, but it didn’t last long. Attacks came from unseen places, leaving them helpless.
In the brief yet intense skirmish, the villagers panted heavily, drenched in blood.
“…Hah, hah.”
“Did we make too much noise? Could they have heard us?”
“It doesn’t matter. The chief said the noise would only stir their fear. Any injuries?”
“I’ve been cut.”
“That bastard bit me. I can’t move my fingers.”
“Everyone, carry the bodies into the village. Dispose of them as we did during the day. Treat the wounded first, and hide the rest underground under the chief’s orders. If the Bariel forces see them, they’ll become suspicious.”
They caught their breath and began cleaning up. The dark red blood would be invisible in the shadows.
Whether the sun rose tomorrow was uncertain, but it didn’t matter. They couldn’t guarantee there would be a tomorrow for them.
“Next, the magic swordsmen will come up.”
The chief muttered quietly in front of the Bariel soldiers’ bodies carried by the villagers.
“All transparent scouts, infiltrate the Bariel camp without exception. When the magic swordsmen ascend, there will surely be gaps in their defenses.”
“Yes, Chief.”
They moved with precision—erasing bloodstains, burning clothes, dismembering bodies and throwing them into the fire. To protect the village and block the enemy’s advance, they acted as one.
Meanwhile—
“Clean thoroughly.”
Before infiltrating, the transparent scouts gathered by the well to wash off the blood. Though stains from outside would naturally fade over time due to their invisibility, they cleaned meticulously to avoid any scent of blood.
Ssssh.
Once spotless, the transparent scouts erased their presence once more, silently hoping this would be their final invisibility.
“Any guesses?”
“…I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
Jaret had little to say.
After the soldiers disappeared before their eyes, faint screams and shouts were heard briefly before falling silent. No one had returned since.
From the flickering signs of life in the village, it was clear they were still watching.
“They themselves might be a trap.”
A certain officer spoke quietly, assuring them not to worry, that they meant no harm, and cleared the way—but the soldiers vanished without a trace.
Could it be a trap to lure the emperor and the main force in? From the start, it made no sense to open the path without any resistance. Anyone who holds a nation should have some pride.
“A trap, yes, but still…”
Tweller trailed off. There was no other choice now. They had to follow the magic swordsmen.
He looked at Captain Jarrett, who scanned the troops waiting behind him, trying to determine who was best suited for the mission.
Ssshh.
“Barsabe?”
At that moment, Barsabe, who had been standing quietly, drew her sword from its sheath.
Before His Majesty, no less—how could she draw her blade without orders from her superior? Jarrett frowned, and the others called out to her in alarm.
“Barsabe, are you crazy?”
“Don’t you feel it?”
“Feel what?”
“The sound of footsteps. Very cautious ones.”
“This is His Majesty the Emperor’s quarters. Everyone passing through here walks carefully.”
“No, it’s not that.”
There were too many people around—attendants serving the emperor, officers, subordinates, even low-ranking soldiers holding spears.
Everyone, including Minister Tweller, was skilled in martial arts, but the commotion made it impossible to immediately detect what was unseen.
Ssssh.
Barsabe slowly twirled the tip of her sword before fixing it on a single spot.
“Barsabe!”
She was pointing directly at the emperor.
Her comrades panicked and called out to her, but Barsabe stood firm. She realized the trap had been sprung and slipped close to the emperor’s side.
Jin motioned for the magic swordsmen to calm down and asked, “You mean there’s a rat?”
“Judging by the clumsy footwork, it’s a lowly one.”
“Can you pinpoint it?”
“Yes, I can sense it.”
“Barsabe, you’ve lost your sight but gained something greater.”
That was the signal to proceed.
Swish!
Shhhhhh!
Without hesitation, Barsabe swung her sword, and blood spurted from the air itself. Slowly, the figure of a woman emerged—clutching a dagger, collapsing backward.
The sudden apparition startled everyone into freezing.
‘…An invisible person?’
The word flashed through Tweller’s mind. He immediately turned around and looked toward the village.