Episode 506
Chapter 139: Intimidation (5)
Ssssshhhhh—!
Zephyrin’s axe-sword leapt forward, unleashing a surge of violet magical energy.
At the same time, signal flares erupted across the desert and scattered throughout the Lomin Forest. In an instant, the sky was painted with a dazzling array of magical signals, turning the battlefield into a chaotic festival of color.
“Enemy spotted! Enemy spotted—Aagh!”
The shouting mage never finished his sentence. Zephyrin’s violet blade sliced him clean in two.
Though dawn was breaking, the air remained thick with swirling sand, and the mages stationed in Lomin Forest were on edge, their nerves stretched taut.
But that tension had led to a fatal mistake.
Firing signal flares without properly identifying the enemy was a clear, deadly error.
“Regroup! Regroup immediately! They’re going for a brute force breakthrough—stop them!”
Zephyrin’s blade rained down mercilessly on the forest.
At first, the commanders scrambled desperately to block the onslaught, but soon they realized something was terribly wrong.
“Uh…!?”
“That’s not a spirit or aura… It’s magic. That’s not Runkandel—it’s a demon, Kinzello!”
“How many?”
“Confirmed: one. Unknown identity, presumed female.”
“Damn it, the signal flares…! Ugh!”
Thud!
In the blink of an eye, Zephyrin closed the distance and grinned as she beheaded the commander who had just spoken.
“Haha, how can you all be so stupid?”
When the other mages caught sight of her, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
“You’re… Zephyrin!?”
“Third-class researcher Zephyrin…?”
—Lord Berakt, Zephyrin is beyond our authority to punish.
—I know. I only asked the deputy chief in hopes of some solution. If the chief’s recovery drags on, our grand plan will be delayed.
—…Then I will meet her personally and make a request. For now, she must remain undercover within Zipl as a spy. This is the most we can reasonably ask of her.
After forcibly drawing on the chief’s power at Black King Mountain, Zephyrin had agreed to become a third-class researcher for Zipl and act as a spy.
Her sudden appearance was therefore a massive shock to the mages in Lomin Forest.
“That’s right, it’s that Zephyrin. Oh, and the commander who just died? He’d been pestering me relentlessly. Hmph, I didn’t mean to kill him so easily!”
“What kind of betrayal is this?!”
“Are you so confused you can’t even grasp the situation? Betrayal? I was a spy from the start. You fools were just too dazzled by my looks.”
“Ugh!”
Zephyrin’s axe-sword sliced through the mages like autumn leaves in a storm.
Each swing took down at least three, but the number of mages gathering in response to the initial flare was hundreds of times greater.
A chain barrier was erected, and attack spells rained down from all directions.
Meanwhile, confusion spread among those watching the signal flares from the desert.
“A flare just went off in Lomin Forest!”
“Did they find Runkandel?”
“What’s this? A yellow flare signaling a mistake just went up alongside it.”
“And a black flare indicating internal betrayal, too.”
“What on earth is happening in Lomin Forest?!”
From Drakka through the Sota Desert and Lomin Forest to the federation’s border, all Zipl forces were scrambling to interpret the chaotic signals.
Octavia was still engaged with Grnil, so she had no time to spare, but Drakka and the Phantom Corps had to make a swift decision.
“Was the initial escape toward Kuta Forest a feint?”
“Could be a double feint, or Kinzello acting on her own again.”
“But there’s still no sign of their escape near Kuta Forest.”
“Leaders, make a call!”
The Phantom Corps commanders quickly reached a decision.
“Teams 1, 2, and 3 will head to Lomin Forest. The rest continue searching Kuta Forest!”
Teams 1, 2, and 3.
Riding dragons, about twenty strong, they changed course.
Now it was Jin’s turn to decide.
“The entire Phantom Corps won’t return. The signals are too muddled to abandon the Kuta Forest search entirely.”
Huff, huff.
Jane’s ragged breathing eased somewhat after taking painkillers.
“Kid, that crazy demon dragon sure knows how to draw attention. Let’s move. Hey, Black Knight, can you hold on? Ready to go?”
“Yes, Murakan. I can fight.”
“Fight? With that body? Don’t bluff. Get on my back. Hey, Yona, you carry her again.”
Surprisingly, Jane climbed onto Murakan’s back without protest.
“…Showing the family guardian a pitiful sight.”
“Don’t be so embarrassed. Even knights of the old Runkandel, stronger than you, puked and pooped on my back. I’ve seen worse.”
Which direction to move?
Since forces were converging on the right where Zephyrin was breaking through, choosing the other side seemed obvious.
Everyone thought so, but Jin reached a different conclusion.
“Hold position for now. Then break through in the same direction as Zephyrin.”
“Kid, what are you talking about? If that’s the plan, why did you tell Zephyrin to draw their attention?”
“What?”
“The Phantom Corps is coming. Why wait?”
“Oh! Jin, you’ve got some other plan, don’t you?”
The group looked at him with suspicion.
“The Phantom Corps coming to Lomin Forest aren’t here to capture or kill Zephyrin. Whether the mages live or die, their top priority is to find us.”
At those words, their eyes widened.
“In other words, the Phantom Corps will avoid fighting Zephyrin as much as possible while searching the forest. Fighting her would only hinder their search.”
Jin was right.
Even in this crisis, the group couldn’t help but be impressed.
How could he come to such insight in such a short time? It was beyond their understanding.
“Wow… Jin, you’re insane. You’re so cool I might faint.”
“When the bulk of their forces are focused on Zephyrin, we’ll follow her path quietly. We’ll take out any enemies who latch onto us and slip out of Lomin Forest. To avoid detection, we must minimize aura use.”
The wild magical energy Zephyrin was unleashing emphasized her presence.
If their aura mixed in, they’d be immediately spotted by the Phantom Corps.
“I’ll signal when we identify enemy forces.”
Hidden in the sandstorm, the group waited for Jin to speak again.
He finally did, five minutes later, just after Zephyrin unleashed another magical storm.
“Let’s go!”
The Runkandel charged into Lomin Forest.
Mages chasing Zephyrin were visible at the entrance. They were too busy relaying information left and right to notice the Runkandel’s blades slicing their throats.
Screech, thud!
Not using aura didn’t dull their blades. The Runkandel gritted their teeth and ran past the lifeless bodies.
“Ugh!”
“Ru-Runkandel… Ugh!”
They were desperate.
As they ran, they silently prayed for the forest to end soon, for a safe escape.
Fortunately, the mages failed to spot them, and those who did were swiftly killed.
Ssssshhhhh—!
How long had they run? Above, dragons carrying the Phantom Corps flew in, their piercing screeches echoing. They had just arrived over Lomin Forest.
As Jin predicted, the Phantom Corps avoided engaging Zephyrin and instead searched the area. The forest’s shadows concealed the Runkandel.
“Huff, huff, huff!”
“Haah!”
Finally, as full morning light broke, the Runkandel emerged from Lomin Forest.
Their bodies were sticky with the blood and sweat of mages, splinters, and dust, but no one was dead or seriously injured.
The forest mages still pursued Zephyrin, pushing toward the border.
Because Zephyrin’s damage was greater than expected, some of the Phantom Corps who arrived in Lomin Forest had also begun tracking her.
Once they crossed the federation’s central border, their chances of escape would skyrocket.
But—
Being discovered by the Phantom Corps was inevitable.
Before they could even choose a new escape route, the Runkandel faced gray-robed figures pointing staves at them.
“…Ten of them.”
Jin calmly counted their numbers.
Ten Phantom Corps.
Those who had chased Zephyrin would not return. Instead, the Phantom Corps from Kuta Forest would rush in to support once battle began.
Bang!
Their leader fired a flare—a red signal indicating the target was found.
“Murakan.”
Jane spoke.
“Put me down.”
The reason Jane had so willingly climbed onto Murakan’s back was clear.
She wanted to conserve what little strength she had left for this moment. Jin’s determination to keep her alive was for the same reason.
Because in moments like this—
The devotion of the Black Knight was… essential.
Though unspoken, Jin and Jane had steeled themselves ever since Zephyrin agreed to draw attention.
“Lady Jane.”
“You don’t need to say it, 12th Cavalry.”
“…Understood.”
“The choice that brought me this far was the right one. Sandra Zipple, though we are enemies, I must thank you. The painkillers are helping, just a little.”
Jane drew her sword and stepped forward, standing before the group.
She couldn’t bring herself to say she was sorry.
“I will not forget today’s sacrifice, Black Knight.”
“A death devoted to one’s family is worth more than life itself. This is no sacrifice—it is my greatest honor.”
The trembling that had made her feel as if she might shatter at any moment finally ceased.
Jane’s sword was steady and resolute, aimed at the enemies before her.
“We can’t afford to delay much longer. Go quickly. You must survive and protect my honor.”
There was more she wanted to say, but Jane held the words back.
‘Twelve, if I had the chance, I would have wanted you by my side. Not the second, but you…’
Jin called out loudly to his eldest brother, his gaze lingering on Jane’s retreating figure.
Joshua Runcandel, second of the family!
Then he added sharply,
“Are you just going to stand there? Help Lady Jane in her final fight. That’s the only way you can begin to atone for your disgrace and betrayal.”