Chapter 724

The village chief felt a burning heat.

In Tweller’s shout, he could sense the weight of countless years, the depth of the bloodshed he had trampled through.

Isn’t it astonishing? The same man who once cowered, trembling and begging for his life, who fled in panic at the mere mention of his name, had transformed into this.

Swish!

Tweller widened the distance between them and took a moment to steady his breath. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t wielded a weapon in so long, but his body no longer moved as freely as before. Without realizing it, he had grown old.

He forced himself to ignore the cracked skin on his palms and gripped the axe handle tightly.

“Minister Tweller!”

“Cut down every last one of them! There is only death for those who refuse to surrender!”

After giving his orders to his waiting subordinates, Tweller’s eyes darted sharply. Where next? Where would the next strike come from?

Faced with the villagers’ near-riotous screams and violence, his men nodded in confirmation of his will.

“Wave the flag!”

If that’s what they want, then I’ll kill them all.

Meanwhile, at the main camp, a flag rose from the burning village. Watching this, Xiaosi murmured softly.

“…That’s the signal. Send reinforcements.”

“Yes!”

Pat-pat-pat!

The tide of battle shifted like crashing waves. Like two boulders colliding, the momentum of Bariel’s forces and the villagers clashed fiercely, splashing and surging.

Amidst it all stood Tweller—and the village chief, who had vanished from sight.

Pat-pat-pat!

Light but deliberate footsteps echoed.

Thud!

The village chief’s dagger kept probing for vital points, slipping through defenses. From eyes to neck, neck to chest, chest to ribs, then thigh. Tweller tried to catch the strikes aimed at him—

Swish!

But whenever it seemed he might grasp the attack, it slipped away like water through his fingers. Blood sprayed, wounds blossomed across his body, yet Tweller remained calm.

Just once. Just one time. If he could catch that attack properly, he could pinpoint the chief’s position. He was preparing for that one strike—these wounds were nothing. In fact, they felt almost refreshing.

Besides, this was the kind of pain his younger self should have endured. He had ignored it all this time, so now he was paying the price.

“Minister!”

“It’s fine!”

His men, who had been pushing the villagers back, called out in concern, but Tweller’s voice was steady and unwavering. They focused solely on cutting down the enemies before them, even as Tweller’s blood stained the ground.

“Come on—!”

Swish! Swish!

A swift, sweeping attack from the left ribs to the right. Tweller accepted it without flinching or fear. In one motion, he grabbed the blade with one hand and brought his axe down with the other.

Crack!

This time, he couldn’t dodge. Tweller’s axe severed the village chief’s left arm in a single blow. Blood spurted into the air, revealing the chief’s hidden position.

“…!”

Joy. The village chief’s eyes gleamed with unmistakable delight as he faced Tweller. Like a beast that never missed its prey, his gaze flashed sharply as he swung his axe again.

“Look closely!”

I am no magic swordsman. Unlike Barisave, I cannot cut what I cannot see. But—

“This is my courage!”

There are many ways to strike the unseen, aren’t there? Using one’s life as bait to firmly grasp the enemy. That, I can do. I have that kind of courage.

Swish!

The village chief’s pupils dilated, reflecting the axe blade clearly. Though it looked dull and faded on the surface, the edge was astonishingly sharp.

They say you can judge a warrior by his weapon. Ah, so this is the man called Tweller. The chief blinked briefly—

Swish!

Tweller’s axe sliced through the chief’s neck in an instant.

Blood sprayed everywhere as the chief’s head rolled into the flames. The frenzied villagers, unaware, kept charging forward.

Pat-pat-pat!

“Clear the way!”

At that moment, Xiaosi led soldiers forward, subduing the villagers one by one. The fierce battle quickly died down.

Tweller stood silently, gripping his bloodied axe, watching it all.

“Minister, are you alright?”

“Ah—”

His hand waved dismissively, but it was battered and torn. The old warrior staggered and sat on a rock, and Xiaosi handed him a cigarette.

Tweller chuckled as he lit it from the nearby embers.

“Well, what can I say? I’ve killed the village chief. I have no words to report to His Majesty.”

“It’s alright. There are still invisible enemies left. We even captured the one with the severed arm.”

“Is that so?”

Tweller smiled and asked again, and Xiaosi smiled faintly in return. Whether or not they had captured anyone, Tweller would have cut them down regardless. It felt like he had come all this way for that very purpose.

“Life is truly a mystery.”

“What do you mean?”

The old man’s eyes reflected the flames, burning calmly.

“It feels like I’ve been reborn. Until just a moment ago, I was only waiting for the day I’d die.”

“I’m sorry, Minister, but that day is far off.”

“Ha ha! You never know. In front of a blade, we are all equal.”

“Please get up. The fire is getting closer.”

“Yes, yes, I should.”

Tweller inhaled deeply, exhaling cigarette smoke with a smile. Whatever he was feeling, the laughter kept spilling out weakly.

Xiaosi supported him, checking his condition.

“You’re badly hurt.”

“I’m fine. I won.”

“Yes. I always believed you would.”

No wound could compare to the blood gushing from a severed neck. Tweller limped forward and looked down at the village chief’s body.

‘Back then, you must have seen me just like this.’

He had been too pitiful, lying there begging, so Tweller hadn’t even considered cutting him down.

But now, looking back, perhaps surviving that moment was why he had tasted so much glory since. Had he charged in recklessly then, he might never have understood the true meaning of death—or the spirit of a warrior.

‘…That must be it. Surely.’

Whether that was the truth no longer mattered. Tweller decided to forgive his past self. As he said, by cutting down the chief, he had also cut down the man he once was.

“Minister!”

“This way!”

“Such wounds—”

As Tweller passed, officers who were tidying the battlefield approached one by one, voicing their concern. Someone draped a robe over his shoulders.

Still, Tweller kept walking forward, exhaling cigarette smoke. When he stepped out of the village, blocked by flames, the main camp came into clear view.

Thunk.

The Emperor was watching. Tweller roughly tossed aside the cigarette and placed a hand over his chest in salute.

“Secure the battlefield and escort His Majesty. He will pass through here. Beyond the village lies a plain suitable for setting up camp. Move quickly.”

“Yes, Minister!”

True to his vow, he had cut down the enemies without hesitation or fear, Your Majesty. Tweller turned back and re-entered the village.

Watching this, Jin murmured softly.

“I don’t know about much else—”

Barisave, standing firmly by the Emperor’s side, turned his head in response.

“I understand now how great a blessing it is to live in an era with such remarkable people.”

Including Lord Ian, and even Tweller. Jin had many worthy figures to respect, regardless of rank.

Barisave nodded in agreement.

“It is thanks to His Majesty that these great men can live in this age. I learn much from Minister Tweller. When I grow old, I hope to become a warrior like him.”

“You will become that. Though, I imagine Captain Jarrett would be disappointed to hear that.”

“In front of the captain, it’s best to say the captain is the best.”

“Wise words indeed.”

Jin smiled softly, resting his chin on his hand.

They had taken one step closer to the capital of Toorun. From here on, the path forward would be theirs to face alone. Jin nodded thoughtfully, recalling Tweller’s parting instructions.

“Advance. Our warriors have cleared the way.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

At the Emperor’s command, the camp gates opened, and the waiting soldiers moved busily. Soon, flags were raised, and the carriage carrying the Emperor slowly began to climb the hill.

---

“Minister Tweller—is he alright? Is he going to be okay?”

Chloe tilted her head cautiously. She had heard he had fought and won one-on-one against an invisible enemy, but since then, the movements of the military doctors had seemed unusual.

Xiaosi patted her shoulder reassuringly.

“His wounds are deep, but he will survive.”

“That’s a relief. Still, given his age, I worry his recovery will be slow. Xiaosi, please give this to the Minister and tell him to drink it as a strong decoction.”

Chloe pulled something from her pocket and handed it over discreetly.

Xiaosi looked at her, puzzled. She only stared back, but Chloe’s cheeks flushed red as she playfully patted Xiaosi’s chest repeatedly.

“No, no! It’s not what you think… Actually, I had prepared this separately in case Mr. Xiaoshi’s health took a turn for the worse. But since Minister Tweller is struggling right now, I’m giving it to you instead. I, I, it’s just… this kind of thing…”

“This kind of thing?”

“Isn’t it… support for one’s partner?!”

Smack!

Xiaoshi effortlessly caught Chloe’s incoming punch. A faint smile played on his lips, as if to say, “Ah, I see.”

“It’s good to stay in your superior’s good graces. Yes, exactly.”

“…Understood. I will be sure to pass on your thoughtful gesture to Minister Tweller. Thank you.”

“Yes, yes, that would be great. Are you heading out to work now?”

From a distance, Xiaoshi’s subordinates were approaching. Since the village had burned and most of the residents were dead, there wasn’t much left to gather in terms of information. However—

“Yes. We have one captured Transparent. An interrogation is scheduled soon.”

“I see. Understood. I should get back to work as well.”

“Take care. See you later.”

“Alright then.”

Even as Chloe backed away quickly, she didn’t take her eyes off him. Then, with a swift motion, she disappeared behind a tent.

Watching her go, Xiaoshi smiled faintly and nodded to his men to follow.

“Will he confess quietly?”

“He’s stubborn. And dangerous.”

“But we did find out that the Transparent who approached His Majesty the Emperor is his younger sibling. According to Minister Tweller, the Transparent ability is hereditary.”

“So, they’re the village chief’s children after all?”

“That’s the strong suspicion, but since he won’t confess, we haven’t made any progress. We’ll need to press harder.”

Swish!

Xiaoshi pulled back the corner of the tent and stepped inside. The space was separated by only a thin cloth, but the moment he entered, the stench of blood hit him like a wall.

In the center stood Minister Tweller. Bandages wrapped around his body, a cigarette dangling from his lips, but his gaze was fixed rigidly into the empty air.

The shackles binding the Transparent were visible.

“You’re here.”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Good. I’m counting on you. I need to change these bandages.”

Xiaoshi knew full well that the minister would roughly handle it himself and come back. He had long since stopped paying attention to the doctor’s orders for ‘absolute rest.’

Xiaoshi perched on the chair the minister had vacated and nodded to his men.

Whip crack!

With a wide swing of the whip, a man’s figure slowly materialized in the air. Despite one arm being severed, the man glared at Xiaoshi with sharp, piercing eyes.

Xiaoshi spoke quietly.

“Well then, how about it? Feeling ready to talk?”