Chapter 122: The Fading Roar

The morning sun rose red between the mountains and slowly lit up the surroundings.

The expression on Duke Alito’s face, as he stood on the spire balcony of the Royal Capital, was badly twisted.

Behind him stood Aspar Daker, Commander of the Black Lion Order, who had just arrived.

As the silence continued, Duke Alito finally opened his mouth.

“Was there still no news of Count Jenkins’ arrival from the city gates?”

“My apologies. It seems some issue occurred on the way from his territory to here.”

“What kind of issue do you mean.”

I had already received a firm answer from Count Derek Jenkins.

He was a man burning with greed more than anyone, so Duke Alito believed it was for the best.

Of course, he wasn’t someone who would waste an opportunity such as this.

If things had gone as planned, he should have arrived long ago.

“That…… I do not know either.”

“It cannot take this long to move troops.”

“What shall we do? It may be difficult now to seize the outer walls, but if we focus our internal forces toward the inner walls, we still have a fair chance.”

“For now, that is the only option.”

“I shall set things in motion.”

“Make sure nothing is lacking when receiving His Majesty the King.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Finishing his reply, Aspar of the Black Lion Order stepped outside.

In the hallway, the Black Lion knights who had been waiting for him stood lined up.

“It begins now.”

His voice was solemn.

The knights standing beside him also hardened their expressions with severity.

Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!

The heavy sound of armor echoed through the corridor.

Meanwhile, Queen Elina had also stayed awake through the night just like Duke Alito.

It was because no news had arrived that the gates of the outer city had been secured.

From her anxious heart, Elina’s expression was wrinkled like crumpled paper.

“Still no news?”

To her sharp question, Feian, the Commander of the Dagger of Darkness, answered by her side.

Feian, like Aspar, was present to protect his master and prepare for the great undertaking.

“Let us wait just a little longer.”

“The sun is already rising!”

“They promised to deliver some kind of news before then.”

“Tch—!”

Elina knew well that throwing a tantrum right now would not bring any good.

But because the plan was so crucial, she couldn’t help but be sensitive to anything going awry.

Knock! Knock!

A knocking sound came from the door.

Feian, who had been keeping his nerves taut, walked straight to it.

“Who is it.”

“This is Bater of the Black Lions.”

A familiar voice.

As the door slowly opened, a knight wearing the armor of the Black Lion Order appeared.

“What happened? Why is the news so late?”

“There has been an issue with securing the outer walls.”

“An issue!”

“Count Derek Jenkins and Vaizen’s forces, who should have arrived at dawn, did not arrive.”

“What! ……Then has a decision been made on what we must do?”

“They said they will focus on confronting His Majesty the King and the Royal Knight Commander.”

At that answer, Feian’s brows twisted.

Only two people were mentioned verbally.

In reality, they would be facing two Swordmasters and the Royal Knight Order.

“We must be prepared for considerable losses.”

“What do you mean considerable losses!”

Elina’s voice rose again.

To that question, Feian relayed exactly what he had heard from Bater.

Naturally, her expression twisted even further.

“Is there still a chance? Did Father truly agree to proceed?”

“He agreed to push forward.”

“Tch—! Then what do I do?”

“I will guide Your Majesty the Queen to a safe place. After that, Sir Feian will proceed according to the plan.”

“Do so. Your Majesty the Queen, let us move.”

“What about my children!”

She meant Ashuran and Valet.

The success of this great undertaking held their lives in its hands.

“The princes will be guided separately and brought to Your Majesty’s side.”

“Very well. Lead the way.”

“Please follow me.”

Thus, the Queen’s quarters were emptied.

Unlike the rising sun bathing the Royal Capital in color, the atmosphere remained cold.

The streets grew thick with mist, as the cold air evaporated under the warm sunlight.

Meanwhile, the movements of the troops stationed outside the inner walls continued.

These were the knights and soldiers under Duke Alito’s command.

“……Hmm?”

The vanguard moving to seize the inner gates stopped because of a shadow visible through the fog.

As the fog gradually drifted apart, two figures emerged.

A young man and a middle-aged man.

But the pressure radiating from the two was not light.

Soon, Krolan Swartz, Commander of the Flame Bear Order, stepped forward from the front.

“Who are you that you block our path!”

“Heh, do you not recognize me?”

At the young man’s question, Krolan Swartz tilted his head, then recalled a memory.

“……Jade Raizen, who used to be with the Wind Wolves?”

“You remember.”

“I heard you joined Prince Raion. Has it been two years since we last met like this.”

“It has already been that long. More importantly, where are you heading so early in the morning? Especially with forces of that size.”

“I don’t know how you found out, but if you stand in my way, I will have no choice but to cut you down.”

At his answer, I—Jade—smiled.

“Of course you would. I also came here with that intention. Well…… it is because of an order that is a bit excessive, but still.”

“It sounds like Prince Raion knows of our plans.”

To Krolan Swartz, Raion was still a foolish and timid prince.

Of course, there were the rumors, and there was also the appearance I had seen two years ago before leaving for the territory.

But the fixed notions accumulated over long years were not easy to change.

“Sir Krolan knows far more than you think.”

“Don’t be ridiculous……!”

“More importantly, are you just going to keep talking? You said it yourself before, didn’t you? That a knight should ask and answer with his sword.”

Srrrng.

Jade drew the sword hanging at his waist.

The strangely shaped single-edged blade drew the gazes of Krolan and the knights and soldiers standing behind him.

“That’s a flimsy-looking sword. A sword should at least be something like this!”

Krolan also drew his sword. It was not a typical double-edged sword, but a greatsword that looked as though it could even cleave through rock.

Krolan practiced a swordsmanship centered on strength, and in terms of raw power, he was counted among the strongest knights in the Royal Capital.

“You’re the same as ever.”

“A man should stay the same. Of course, if your skill is as it used to be, you’ll do no more than die.”

“Think whatever you want. More importantly, aren’t you going to prepare yourself, Sir Caldein?”

The middle-aged man standing beside Jade was the mage Caldein Flavan.

At that question, Caldein furrowed his brows before answering.

“I’ve already prepared. Isn’t it you who drew out the conversation for too long?”

“I needed to buy time. Then shall we begin?”

Krolan tilted his head at the two men’s conversation.

At the same time, he glanced at the tip of Caldein’s staff held in his right hand.

“……Magic?”

The mana concentrated at the tip of the staff began to glow with a strong blue light.

Once even the spell-formula preparation was finished, Caldein Flavan opened his mouth.

“Water Blaster!”

A massive sphere of water formed before Caldein and then burst forth.

“Get out of the way! Khk―!”

Krolan shouted belatedly, but it was already too late.

Even he failed to dodge completely; grazed by the torrent, he was flung to the side.

The water rushing straight forward pushed the other knights in all directions.

The output was immense.

With that sight, Jade sprang forward.

Chwaang―! Kagang!

Krolan Swartz rose hastily and lifted his sword to block.

“A 4th-circle mage? Do you think you and a single mage can stop us?”

No other troops were in sight. Caldein’s ‘Water Blaster’ would soon end as well.

Considering the spell reuse time of a 4th-circle mage, it was clearly a reckless plan.

“Is that so? Caldein!”

“Don’t worry and just deal with them quickly!”

Caldein raised his staff again.

As ‘Water Blaster’ ceased, a golden current of lightning circled around the staff tip.

“You’re using that already?”

“Of course. Fire when you’re ready!”

The moment the spell-formula was completed, Caldein shouted the incantation.

“Thunder Breaker!”

The lightning he created shot toward the knights and soldiers whose bodies were drenched.

It was a spell originally designed to branch out in all directions.

With their bodies soaked through, the power of the lightning became terrifying.

“Aaaagh!”

“Run!”

“Aaaaaaaaagh!”

“Aaagh!”

Lightning struck from all sides, electrocuting those who failed to escape.

The seemingly overwhelming force shrank in an instant.

Meanwhile, Jade pressed harder against the sword he was crossing with Krolan’s.

“Does this seem enough?”

“Khhk……! Don’t tell me he’s above a 4th-circle mage……!”

“Worry about yourself more than about our mage!”

“What! Do you think you can be my opponent!”

A blue aura began to form along Jade’s blade.

Seeing that sight head-on, Krolan’s expression stiffened.

“A s-Swordmaster……? N-No! Impossible!”

“I’ve lived long enough to see all kinds of things that should’ve been impossible!”

Kkang! Kang!

Their swords moved swiftly, clashing again and again.

Even Krolan, who held the position of a knight-commander, was by no means weak.

His greatsword, as thick as a man’s forearm, cut through the air with heavy force.

Whooong! Whoong―!

“At best, you must be just at the entry stage of Swordmaster!”

“Is that so!”

Jade’s aura grew thicker.

As their swords clashed repeatedly, Jade’s blade began to gradually chip away at Krolan’s greatsword.

“As expected, it’s not enough to block aura with my sword?”

“There’s a difference in strength from the beginning.”

“But you won’t be able to beat experience!”

Krolan thrust his sword with great power, swinging from the ground upward.

Whooong―! Whoong! Whooong!

Jade avoided it with light steps and seized the opening.

But Krolan didn’t stay still; he continued his motions without pause.

Chwaang! Kang! Kaang!

The heavy blows made Jade feel himself being slightly pushed back.

“As expected of Sir Krolan, famous for his strength!”

“If you knew that, you shouldn’t have rushed in like this!”

“Of course……, that strength isn’t something only you possess!”

Shuaaaak!

Jade’s sword moved with a sharp wind-like sound.

Krolan caught the blade with his eyes and tried to block with his greatsword.

But Jade’s blade did not stop when it met the greatsword.

Ssssk! Shwaaak!

Jade’s sword slipped fully past the greatsword and swept across Krolan’s neck.

Tenggrang……! Thud―!

With the bisected sword, Krolan’s severed head fell to the ground.

“Now then, shall I deal with the rest of you?”

The aura-coated sword in Jade’s hand aimed at the Flame Bear Order knights and soldiers.

Of course, he wasn’t alone.

Before anyone noticed, several masses of Caldein Flavan’s 4th-circle fire magic, ‘Flare’, had risen around them, fully prepared.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep