Chapter 93: Great Stone Mountain, Mogron (3)

The worst-case scenario we had feared.

Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, who had awakened from its sleep, had not simply driven the demonic beasts to Winter Castle, but had even moved its heavy footsteps directly to the vicinity of Winter Castle.

“C-Crazy……!”

“It’s the King of the Demonic Realm! The King has appeared!”

The overwhelming presence exuded by Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, was visible at a glance even from Winter Castle, which was a considerable distance away.

Naturally, the soldiers couldn’t help but be agitated.

“We’re, we’re all going to die…….”

“I can’t die in a place like this. I can’t die! Dammit!”

Even though the real battle hadn’t even begun, the soldiers’ morale hit rock bottom in an instant.

A being that plunged even the soldiers of Winter Castle, who had gone through all sorts of battles, into despair.

That’s how much of an immense symbolism it held, the King of the Demonic Realm revealing itself on the front line.

“Is everyone ready?”

At Edric’s words, spoken in an all-too-calm tone as if it didn’t matter, Conlan and Albino were terrified.

“Hey, Captain! Do we really have to turn something like that away? Us?”

“Even I think that’s crazy talk.”

Even Albino and Conlan, who wouldn’t bat an eye at most things, shook their heads; that’s how absurd the mission assigned to the 4th Special Task Force was.

A mission to eliminate none other than the King of the Demonic Realm from this battlefield.

Hunting it was naturally an impossible story, and considering that even luring the King of the Demonic Realm was a task that required risking one’s life about a hundred times, this mission was certainly unusual.

‘But Winter Castle and Edric wouldn’t have issued such a mission without any basis.’

The missions given to the 4th Special Task Force up until now had all been difficult missions beyond their capabilities, but that was only because unexpected variables had occurred during the missions.

Above all, hadn’t all those missions been completed in the end?

That’s why I believed there must be some basis for this mission as well.

For example…… the support from Winter Castle that Edric had mentioned.

“Don’t you all worry too much. Ah, you’ve arrived just in time.”

With Edric’s words, a man wearing an old-fashioned blue robe revealed himself from behind Edric.

Neat blond hair and blue eyes. On top of that, his old-fashioned appearance made him look like a noble at a glance.

“It’s been a while, Baronet Eldran.”

“It is an utmost honor to be on this mission with you, Sir Edric.”

“The Baronet graces my face with gold again. Well, let’s talk about such things later…….”

Edric’s gaze turned toward the special task force members.

“This is Baronet Eldran. He will be joining us on this mission.”

“……Baronet Eldran? Wait, no way!”

Albino’s eyes widened.

This was the first time I knew Albino’s eyes could get that big.

“Eldran of Winter Castle, don’t tell me, the Mage of Illusion?!”

“You seem to know him. That’s right. Baronet Eldran is also called by that name in the world.”

“Huh…… I knew he belonged to Winter Castle, but I never thought I’d see the Mage of Illusion in person.”

Conlan jabbed Albino’s side slightly and said.

“Hey, who is this Baronet Eldran guy that you’re so surprised about?”

“You really don’t know? The Mage of Illusion, whose fame is widespread even in the South?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know.”

I also didn’t know who the Mage of Illusion was, so I listened quietly to Albino’s words.

“The story of how the Mage of Illusion turned away nearly ten thousand demonic beasts on the Southern front is famous. And besides that…….”

As if instinctively sensing that Albino was about to get long-winded, Conlan cut in.

“Anyway, he’s an amazing mage, is that it?”

“Yeah. To the point where I can somewhat understand the absurd mission of eliminating the King of the Demonic Realm.”

“He’s that good?”

“Anyone who knows about the Mage of Illusion would think the same as me.”

Hearing Albino’s words, he seemed to be a mage with quite a reputation.

Meaning the mission given by Winter Castle wasn’t just a suicide mission.

At that time, Baronet Eldran approached me.

“You must be the Mage of Thunder.”

“You know me?”

“If one doesn’t know the Mage of Thunder in Winter Castle, they must be a spy. I have heard many of your exploits.”

I didn’t know I was that famous, but considering Edric had spread rumors about me in the past, it wasn’t strange that he knew about me.

“The expectations for you are very high. I hope you will lend us your strength for Winter Castle in this mission as well.”

“I will do my best.”

“Excellent. Winter Castle will not forget your hard work.”

After the greetings with Baronet Eldran roughly finished, Edric spoke.

“Well, then, let’s talk about the rest on the way, and let’s depart.”

Below the castle wall, a total of five warhorses were on standby.

This mission was one that had to be accomplished even if all the warhorses were lost, so even Winter Castle, which was stingy with mission support, had not spared its support.

The place we headed to was the South Gate.

Since it was practically impossible to break through the demonic beast horde head-on at the north gate, it was an extremely natural choice.

While riding toward the South Gate on horseback, Baronet Eldran, who was running alongside me, opened his mouth.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but I, too, was originally a soldier dragged here as a prisoner.”

“Pardon?”

Now this was an unexpected story…….

“How can a prisoner become a noble?”

“Haha, it’s understandable that you would find it strange. I, too, was originally a soldier from a prisoner background, just like you, but I later achieved merits on numerous battlefields and was granted the title of Baronet by Margrave, the Lord of the castle.”

Achieved many merits…….

If one could become a noble with that, it sounded like other things were also sufficiently possible.

Well, I could just ask him directly.

“With that many merits, wouldn’t it have been sufficiently possible to be discharged from Winter Castle?”

“Of course, it was sufficiently possible, but I had no intention of doing so. I had nowhere to go anyway. Except for this place, Winter Castle.”

I couldn’t know how many merits Baronet Eldran had achieved, but at least one thing was certain: it wasn’t impossible to be officially discharged from Winter Castle.

I didn’t know much about Margrave, the current Lord of Winter Castle Kreutz, but at least it was certain that he wasn’t a person who was stingy with rewarding achievements.

If I achieve merits, I can be officially discharged from Winter Castle.

For now, just confirming that fact was enough.

‘Hmm?’

At that moment, Edric’s gaze, which had been glancing at me, met mine.

Seeing him with a somewhat sly smile, it seemed he was likewise scheming a sly plot.

‘So that’s how it is.’

It was obvious why Baronet Eldran had suddenly told me such a story.

He knew through Edric that I wanted a discharge, and he was presenting that there was another path besides discharge, even if I achieved merits.

I didn’t know if this was what Edric intended or what Eldran intended, but anyway, their objective seemed the same.

‘They don’t want me to be discharged.’

What should I call this…….

Should I say it felt like a sergeant-major about to be discharged seeing the gaze of the administrative supply officer recommending a professional sergeant position?

Naturally, I had no intention of putting down roots, but I felt the need to be careful not to get tied down to Winter Castle just in case.

‘The moment I’m not careful, getting tied to Winter Castle will be instantaneous.’

In fact, when I was in the military, there were more than one or two people who were tricked by the administrative supply officer in such a wishy-washy way and applied to be professional sergeants.

While I was seriously contemplating my future course of action, Edric spoke.

“It’s the South Gate. From now on, everyone, don’t let your guard down.”

As he said, the majority of the demonic beasts that had burst out of the Demonic Realm were concentrated at the north, west, and east gates, but that didn’t mean there were no demonic beasts at the South Gate at all.

We had to break through this snowfield full of demonic beasts to reach the King of the Demonic Realm.

Looking at the demonic beasts filling the snowfield, Conlan clicked his tongue.

“……Feels like we’re going to commit suicide.”

“Don’t say such useless things.”

Seeing Albino, who wouldn’t be outdone when it came to pessimism, say something hopeful for a change, it seemed Baronet Eldran, who had come as support, was quite the amazing figure.

‘I’ll know when I see him.’

Edric spoke.

“Our objective is not the subjugation of demonic beasts, but the elimination of the King of the Demonic Realm. We will move while avoiding combat as much as possible, so keep that in mind.”

“Understood.”

The mission had officially begun.

Our mission was to eliminate the King of the Demonic Realm from this battlefield.

For that, we had to break through the demonic beasts in the snowfield and reach the King of the Demonic Realm.

However…….

Even though we detoured, avoiding the areas where the demonic beasts were concentrated, it was impossible to avoid all the demonic beasts.

[Krrrung……!]

[Kyaak! Kyaaak!]

The demonic beasts spewed bestial roars and rushed at us.

“They’re coming!”

“Prepare!”

The moment the 4th Special Task Force drew their respective weapons and prepared for battle.

“Behold.”

With Eldran’s declaration, a halo of light flashed, centering on his palm.

[Krrk?]

[Geuuu!]

[Krrk!]

Whether the moniker ‘Mage of Illusion’ wasn’t given for nothing, as soon as the demonic beasts rushing toward us were exposed to the halo of light, they began to cautiously avoid us.

As if they had seen some kind of obstacle.

Conlan, who saw that sight, couldn’t hide his genuinely surprised face.

“Wh-What? Why are those things avoiding us?”

“As expected, he’s not ordinary. He deserves the moniker Mage of Illusion.”

Amidst Albino’s admiration, I read Baronet Eldran’s magic.

‘I had expected it when I heard the name ‘illusion’…… but as expected, it was that magic.’

Although it was only once, it wasn’t that difficult to recognize the magic Eldran used.

[Kyaaaak!]

[Keuoo!]

Whenever demonic beasts rushed in and a battle was about to occur while we ran through the snowfield, Eldran’s magic activated.

[Keuu?]

[Keuuu.]

Look at this…….

Seeing him use magic in succession quite casually, it seemed Baronet Eldran had a considerable understanding of the Contract of the Golden Rule.

Meaning he didn’t gain his reputation for nothing.

‘I was worried just in case, but at this rate, it seems sufficiently possible.’

When I first heard the content of the mission from Edric, I thought it was almost crazy.

Of course, among the missions the 4th Special Task Force had carried out so far, it was rare for one not to be crazy, but this mission was exceptionally crazy even among them.

But seeing Eldran’s magic, I saw the possibility for this mission.

‘It would be safe to say that the role given to the special task force is to escort Eldran to the King of the Demonic Realm.’

Thanks to running without stopping, we were able to reach the outskirts of the Demonic Realm before long.

As the distance to the Demonic Realm decreased, the number of demonic beasts also increased incomparably, but thanks to Eldran’s magic, we were able to be like invisible men among the demonic beast horde.

Even though we had entered the Demonic Realm relatively easily, no one was smiling.

Because to put it another way, it also meant that the distance to the King of the Demonic Realm had become that much closer.

Kung!

Kuung──!

At the gradually approaching presence of Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, the faces of the 4th Special Task Force members turned pale white.

No matter how many battles they had experienced, the presence exuded by the King of the Demonic Realm was not something that could be easily shaken off.

“……Is this the real start now.”

“No need to be nervous, if everything goes according to plan, it won’t be that difficult.”

“When you say it like that, Captain, it feels like the plan will definitely go awry.”

“Don’t say such ominous things.”

The presence exuded by Great Stone Mountain, Mogron, made my skin tingle even from this far away.

“Let’s go, we mustn’t let that thing approach Winter Castle.”

No one expressed a different opinion to Eldran’s.

The King of the Demonic Realm.

It was time to go and eliminate it.

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