Book 6 Chapter 13
Chapter 137
The Alliance’s Far West Branch.
As its name suggested, it was an adventurer branch established at the westernmost edge of the continental map, its purpose being to provide a base for adventurers exploring Trident Point.
Unlike other branches, which were generally built within cities, the Far West Branch was a city in itself.
“Wow, Rain! It’s the Far West Branch! It’s several times more amazing than I read in books!”
“Amazing, amazing, amazing.”
“Awoo!”
The city, constructed upon the massive stone pillars of a phantom megalith formation that surged in a circle in the middle of a swamp, boasted a rough yet robust appearance.
No one knew how a city could have been built on those ancient megaliths, or by what principle it was maintained now.
Legend had it that the legendary demi-human adventurer, Nils Blantz, had built it from foundation to completion solely with his own power.
‘Nils, huh…’
It was a name so missed that a faint ache resonated in her chest.
And why wouldn’t it? During that intense and terrible summer 300 years ago, our party wasn’t the only one on the battlefield.
In that era, there were many who wholeheartedly helped us (who are now considered the originators of adventurers). Chief Blacksmith Nils Blantz was one of them…
“Why did Nils build this?”
“Hmm?”
“He said he’d quit adventuring once his journey was over…”
She mumbled that with a wistful smile, then immediately had to fudge her words, claiming she remembered reading such content in a book.
Because Eldvih was glaring at her with suspicion. Of course, her expression wasn’t visible through the helmet, but her gaze was unmistakable.
Then, when Eldvih finally spoke after a long pause, Rain felt her heart sink.
“Grand Archmage Rin.”
The expression that must have shown on her face then… Come to think of it, Eldvih must have seen her call Pipi ‘Pipi’ many times.
So, did she notice right away?
But even if she noticed something strange, could she be so certain immediately? Or was she just poking around?
“Do you really not know? He explored the ruins to find a way to heal Rin’s body. This facility is for that purpose.”
“Huh?”
“We demi-humans are different from you humans. He didn’t foolishly pray or just wait. He must have tried to find a way somehow.”
She couldn’t help but let out a pained and bitter smile. That grumpy little old man, who was ruder than anyone…
Therefore, it was truly an ironic outcome. The fortress, supposedly built to get her back, had now transformed into a fortress blocking her.
It was fortunate that most of the Seven Catastrophes hadn’t emerged from the deep exploration, but to think even greater beings had arrived.
“The Imperial Army is here.”
Casena bit her lip.
Perhaps because the building itself had no features for siege warfare, five thousand soldiers were arrayed in front of the Far West Branch.
The sight of the Imperial Army, neatly lined up and countless flags fluttering, could only be described as spectacular. The morning sunlight dazzlingly shattered on the soldiers’ armor.
The Imperial Army was like the Emperor’s sword. Unlike feudal lords who conscripted farmers and carpenters haphazardly and armed them with spears and swords when going to war, each soldier was a professional, like a mercenary.
Their might shone even during the 300-year-old period of turmoil, to the extent that one could safely disregard the front lines managed by the Imperial Army.
‘With that number, it’s safe to assume almost half of the Imperial Army is here…’
There were a hundred knights who could wield the ManaChain, and three hundred squires acting as heavy cavalry.
The infantry, appearing to be around four thousand, would move uniformly under a single command, not just in their armament but even in their will.
The rear would consist of five hundred archers and a Special Mage Squad (特魔隊) comprising five powerful battlemages.
‘The organization is almost identical to 300 years ago.’
The emblem on the grandly fluttering flag was a black turtle holding a holy grail… It must mean that if not the Emperor, then someone of the imperial bloodline was in overall command.
Gold-ranked adventurers, whom Eldvih considered riff-raff, were positioned on the right flank of the formation in adventurer units, acting as a detached force.
“Do we have no choice but to break through?”
Griffion, the leader of the warriors, sighed. Rain immediately shook her head.
“You beastfolk are certainly strong… but you won’t be able to fight the Imperial Army. Not in this kind of group battle. And you shouldn’t.”
Even if there was a chance of winning, there shouldn't be bloodshed where beastfolk attacked humans. If that happened, everything would be for naught.
Rather, it worked out well…
She thought she would have to persuade the adventurers first, then the Emperor, but if she could just persuade the Emperor, the adventurers would obey on their own.
“Then what should we do?!”
“What, what, what.”
As Casena tilted her head and asked, Aki, who was piggybacking on Rain’s back, also tilted her head.
“Awoo?”
Normally, Casena would have been overwhelmed with cuteness and hugged Aki…
But in this situation, on the verge of being executed by the Imperial Army as a traitor, even the usually bright Casena was holding her breath with tension.
At that moment, a figure who appeared to be the overall commander in the Imperial Army formation raised his hand from horseback, and the clear sound of a horn sharply rose.
“Rain, they look like they’re going to attack!”
As Casena said, the archer unit stepped forward and simultaneously drew their bows. At the same time, a giant magic circle unfolded in the air.
This was the Imperial Army’s combat tactic… a Reinforced Formation (強化陣) that used an amplified Delbischertz to its extreme.
When arrows passed through this reinforced formation, they would be imbued with powerful magic, and the area where this rain of arrows fell would be devastated as if magic wedges poured down like a stone avalanche.
“Do you have a plan?”
Eldvih, who was about to return after completing his guide mission, asked in an intrigued tone.
“Not exactly. I’m going to try out something I learned at the university this time.”
When Rain smiled, everyone tilted their heads. Casena, Pipi, Griffion, Opus, all the war chiefs, and even Aki.
“If you want to explain something to a large audience, you first have to grab their attention.”
What? The moment Eldvih narrowed his eyes, the Imperial Army archers simultaneously shot their bows.
A sound like giant hornets flying filled their ears… obscuring the morning sun… an unmerciful baptism of death poured down like rain.
However, in that instant, as a magic circle shattered on Rain’s palm, a roar of astonishment erupted from the Imperial Army’s front line.
“W-what is that?!”
It was a mirage (蜃氣樓).
As enchanting yet deadly as a mirage, a flame that stretched from this side of the horizon to the other instantly swept away the magic-imbued arrows.
Disbelief flickered in the eyes of Willis Keppel, a vice-captain of the Special Mage Squad, who was Atlas (3-star) ranked.
‘What in the world is the instantaneous range of that flame? How much magic is needed to make that possible?’
Whether a magic circle was drawn in advance using the Remediere type, or a pact was made with a beastfolk using the Bargante type… it didn't matter.
The range of that magic, which could only be described as a marvel in itself… dared one to guess the caliber of the caster’s magical power.
To be able to cover the entire horizon with magic, isn't that a level that transcends human capability?
“…”
A similar judgment naturally formed in the mind of Segan Wolf Blado, who was Gladus (4-star) ranked and the strongest mage of the current generation.
He’s a dangerous one.
More so than any other mage he had ever met.
“Enemy caster, approaching!”
“Two magical presences… no, three?”
“What in the world is that chilling presence…?”
Breaking through the veil of flame, two figures appeared. The mages of the Special Mage Squad sensed three presences, but only two appeared.
“Hmm, is someone hiding with stealth magic?”
Archer Leoren whistled as if amused, then poured the moonshine from the leather pouch at his waist into his mouth.
Then, as he pulled out and gripped the White Spear Bow Serwebon from his back, the archer of the hero’s party, Kiese’s bow, scattered the light of life across heaven and earth.
“Such a shy one! Let’s see if you can stay hidden after I shoot this!”
Archers who targeted specific points had historically been the natural enemies of mages who used broad areas.
Because a concentrated magical spear could easily penetrate the widely deployed magic of mages.
Until now, the number of mages who had blocked an arrow shot with Leoren’s full power could be counted on one hand. If he had to name a memorable opponent, perhaps the former Archmage, old man Skalg Ludwig.
“Drunken Archer’s Secret Art, Thousand Oriole Kill (千鶯虄).”
As he drew the bowstring, extreme magical power was woven into a gigantic phantom arrow in his grip, scattering an eerie blue-white light.
“Th-the Thousand Oriole Kill…!”
“They say a thousand birds cry out when the arrow flies…!”
“The secret among secrets, representing Kiese, the strongest archer of all time…!”
The Imperial Army soldiers boasted incredible discipline, but it was rare to see an archer exert such full power, so they whispered like children, their eyes shining.
One, pull back.
Two, unify the magical power.
Three, smoothly release the string.
The moment the bowstring snapped with a clear sound like new leaves rustling in the spring breeze, the world seemed to be painted in blue-white, and then the arrow, in the blink of an eye, passed over the soldiers’ heads and stretched into the distance.
“Oh, ohhh…”
After the arrow passed, half a beat later, an ear-splitting roar exploded, and a violent storm raged, strong enough to make their clothes flap wildly.
“No matter how strong she is, she’s no match for an archer!”
“She’s been hit by the archer’s arrow, it’s over!”
Everyone naturally expected the traitor to be pierced by that arrow…
The next moment, Leoren’s eyebrows, capable of drawing distant sights closer, shot up in dismay.
‘The arrow disappeared…?’
By what power did the opponent make it vanish? No, that wasn’t it. The arrow dissipated before the target’s eyes, by its own will.
“Why?”
He blinked blankly, and the White Spear Bow Serwebon cried, scattering a mournful light. Once, twice, thrice, and endlessly.
‘Did you do this? Why? Come to think of it, you’ve gone wild like this before.’
The soldiers, unaware of the inside story, could only gasp in empty astonishment.
Such an impossible thing…
Did she so easily negate the archer’s secret art? Who in the world is she?
“I will do it.”
At that moment, Archmage Segan Wolf Blado calmly pushed through the Imperial Army formation and stepped forward.
Indeed, such a level of mage is not an opponent that an archer could defeat.
By personally eliminating the traitor, he would prove his unwavering loyalty, and that of his family.
“Se-Segan Unnie. The strongest battlemage who rose to second place in platinum rank!”
Casena, who was advancing with Rain, whispered in a voice filled with delight. Both had their faces hidden by deeply pulled-down hoods.
Segan, Rain had met her during the SeGa conference. At that time, she hadn’t engaged in conversation, having no interest in worldly affairs.
Now, facing her like this, she truly exuded a formidable aura… Is this the strongest battlemage of the current generation?
‘Ah, I shouldn’t be feeling this…’
She had to constantly struggle to calm a certain thumping emotion in her heart. Was it fear? Tension? No, it wasn’t that.
Her blood, her blood was boiling.
It would be a lie to say that she didn’t have the desire to confirm the difference in skill between herself, who had reached the pinnacle of the old generation, and the mage who had reached the pinnacle of the current generation.
‘She would be a perfect opponent to test Alakish’s power, and to grab attention.’
Revealing her identity would come after achieving that goal. No, it would be achieved alongside that goal.
After carefully handing Aki to Casena, she drew a long line in the air with her hand. Then, primordial flames blazed along its trajectory, coalescing into fragments of illusion, a Four-Phantom Staff.
Gripping the Four-Phantom Staff, she spun it to take a stance, then provocatively beckoned with a finger to the pinnacle who could be called her junior by 300 years.
“Let’s test the skills of the strongest battlemage of this era.”