Chapter 134: Plant Valley

The long stretch of forest continued all the way to the distant Clamen Mountains.

The two of us, who had gone deep into that forest, were more serious than ever.

It was Terkland and Deraid.

From where we stood, the bottom of the valley could be seen.

“This trap is way too obvious, isn’t it?”

Deraid, who always acted casually, had become serious.

I nodded at that.

“That’s true.”

“What about Negis and the mages?”

“They should’ve arrived at the designated location by now.”

“Doesn’t matter what kind of trap it is.”

There were three Master-levels. With just that, most traps were nothing to worry about.

Besides, even after thoroughly scouting the surroundings, there wasn’t any hidden force lying in wait.

The reason we were still certain it was a trap was simple.

“A cabin built below the valley… and the presence inside it that hasn’t moved……”

“What’s the point of mulling it over? Shouldn’t we just grab her and kill her?”

Our target was the assassination of Regina Foster. As long as she died, this mission would end cleanly.

Of course, we didn’t know what moves the Blue Sun faction might make.

We might have had to accept going to war.

Even so, the reason we aimed for Regina Foster’s life was to shatter the very justification keeping the Blue Sun faction intact.

Srrrng!

Terkland and Deraid drew their swords.

“I’ll go first.”

Resting my greatsword on my shoulder, I leapt down from the top of the valley. Deraid followed after me.

Chaaaah!

The two of us slid down the nearly vertical valley wall.

As our speed grew faster, I raised my hand to signal.

At the same time, on the opposite side of the valley’s peak, a massive flame formed and fell toward the cabin.

Fwoooosh!

It was Flare, a 4-circle fire spell—amplified massively with mana drawn to the limit.

Kwakang―!

The cabin was engulfed in the giant falling fire and exploded.

Debris of the cabin scattered in all directions.

At the same time, I released aura from the greatsword resting against my shoulder.

Pale bluish aura sharpened and sliced through the flames.

Chaaah! Chang!

The aura was severed and dispersed where the cabin had once stood.

“Was there a mage hiding……? Let’s see if they can block my blade too!”

At that sight, Deraid unleashed aura from his sword as well.

Chachachachak! Chachachaak!

His arm split into dozens of afterimages.

As many as the arms filling the air, deep blue aura projectiles shot forward.

Chachachachang! Chachachang!

Even though the attack converged into a single point, the barrier within the flames didn’t budge at all.

“To think they blocked our attack……”

“Hold on! I’m going again!”

Was it stubbornness rising?

Deraid’s brow furrowed tightly, and he didn’t even seem to care whether Regina Foster was inside or not.

Aura formed across his entire body and focused onto the tip of his sword.

Once he was ready, Deraid kicked off the ground and shot toward where the cabin had been like an arrow.

Chaaaaaaaak!

A sharp wind roared from both ends of the shield raised horizontally alongside the sword thrust forward.

The distance closed in an instant.

“Haaaaaap!”

Deraid, filled with strength, thrust his sword with a loud kiai.

Fwoosh!

An impact wave erupted, pushing back the flames that had filled the surroundings until they withered away. At that moment, the being who had blocked our aura revealed himself where the cabin had been.

“……Who? And how did you withstand my strike……?”

He had deeper red hair than the flames that had been burning around us, snow-white skin, and silver armor draped over his body.

It was Raion Canel, who had personally come to greet us.

“Didn’t think you’d show up even while knowing it’s a trap.”

“I asked who the hell you are!”

Right now, Deraid’s sword tip was being held between Raion’s fingers.

That was why Deraid had been trying to pull his sword back, but it didn’t budge at all.

“Do I really need to tell you my name? You’re going to die anyway.”

“Bullshit……! Haaaah!”

Chachang!

Deraid twisted his sword as he drew up his aura.

Thanks to that, he managed to slip out of Raion’s grasp and retreat backward.

He tried to rush in again immediately.

But I stepped in front and blocked him.

“Wait!”

“Why!”

Did he think it was just a momentary distraction?

Shiiiiiiiiik―!

A sound ripped through the air.

Raion, who had been standing calmly, suddenly had his hand raised to his temple.

Pak―! Shwaaaaaah!

A fierce motion burst outward, and a shockwave spread in all directions.

“An arrow……? That woman from the intel?”

He meant Negis, the archer-master.

From the beginning, we too had intel—Raion also had intel on us.

He even knew about the mages positioned at the top of the valley behind us.

“You can block an arrow imbued with aura……?”

Arrows carried a different kind of destructive power compared to swords.

Even Terkland could only block about three out of ten she fired.

“Come at me all at once. Or…… just die.”

The arrow left Raion’s hand and was thrown behind him.

Shuaaaak! Pak―!

“……!”

The mage at the top of the valley had his head pierced by the arrow.

Even at such an enormous distance, the mage couldn’t even find a moment to react.

And in that situation, my and Deraid’s expressions gradually hardened.

“So it was this one…….”

The problem wasn’t that it had been a trap.

The reason three Masters and two 4-circle mages had been required was right before our eyes.

“To what realm has he climbed? A Grand Master?”

It referred to the realm beyond a high-rank Swordmaster, the one called the supreme rank.

Our arms trembled slightly at a level we couldn’t even begin to gauge.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

Raion still hadn’t even drawn his sword.

Even the attack he threw at the mage earlier had merely made use of the arrow Negis had fired.

“So today was our death anniversary, huh.”

“Why are you saying garbage like that! You think I’ll fall to trash like him!”

Deraid flared up and raised his sword and shield just as he did before.

A dense concentration of aura poured from his entire body, encasing him like iron armor.

“Let’s see if you can block this like a while ago!”

His fierce shout shook the air. The solid valley floor split to the sides from the aura he released.

Deraid’s whole body turned into something like a massive spear and shot toward Raion.

The aura bursting from his body grew larger and larger.

It was the decisive strike Deraid had created.

No one had ever survived that attack.

Shuaaaaak! Kwakwak! Kwaang―!

Dust billowed up thickly. And Deraid stood there, his face twisted—not enough—his entire body hardened like a chunk of stone.

“H-How……?”

Chaaak!

Raion’s sword, drawn at some unknown moment, shot upward into the sky.

Deraid, stunned out of his senses, didn’t even feel himself being cut from his waist to his shoulder along with his shield.

“Guhk……!”

Thud―!

“Looks like it wasn’t as deep as I thought. Was the shield made from some special metal?”

Regretful that he hadn’t cut him clean through, Raion lifted his sword again.

At that moment, I—Terkland—flew in and swung my greatsword.

Kkaang―! Kagagak!

Sword clashed against sword, screeching sharply as we faced each other at point-blank range.

Of course, I was using my full strength.

On the other hand, Raion’s expression was nothing short of serene.

“You were called the one whose sword cleaves the earth, weren’t you?”

“For someone like you to know my epithet…… I suppose I should call it an honor.”

“Thanks for saying it’s an honor. But more importantly—why does someone like you follow trash like that?”

Raion’s eyes turned toward the fallen Deraid.

I had already learned about the two of us through Regina Foster.

The knight Deraid, who used sword and shield, was exactly the problem his personality suggested.

His cruel hand spared neither women nor children on the battlefield—practically a murderer.

On the other hand, I—Terkland—had a past of living as a righteous knight.

We were far too mismatched, which naturally raised suspicion.

“Must I explain such circumstances to you?”

“Does the Black Crescent Moon hold something over you?”

“……You have no need to know!”

Perhaps out of respect from one sword-bearer to another, I used honorifics toward Raion.

I swung my sword again.

The pale bluish aura gathered along my greatsword flared powerfully and turned white.

It was the realm of a high-rank Swordmaster.

“How unfortunate. It’s a waste to kill you.”

Raion also knew, through Regina Foster, what kind of man I was.

With that, Raion let his sword hang loosely and revealed true intent.

A flash of white light burst from the tip of the sharp single-edged blade and ripped the air open as it spread outward.

Jjeojeojeojeok! Jwajajajajak!

How could one ignite fighting spirit when standing before a being who could only be revered?

The strength I had been gathering left my body little by little.

At the same time, I realized that thinking Raion had reached the realm of a Grand Master had been a tremendous misjudgment.

“Master…… Emperor!”

Only now could I see that the Black Crescent Moon had concealed the accurate information.

Of course, I might not have believed it even if I’d heard it.

But now I had seen the proof with my own eyes.

Thud……!

My knees fell to the ground.

No matter what desperate struggle I tried, it would be meaningless. All that remained was surrender.

“You’re not going to come at me anymore?”

“What meaning is there in swinging a sword at a massive mountain?”

“If a mountain blocks your way, you cut it apart.”

“I do not possess such strength.”

No matter how powerful a man might be, he could not contend against nature.

And to me, nature itself was standing tall right before my eyes—Raion.

“Have you no intention of serving a man who can even cut down mountains?”

“Would you give your side to someone who, even after a lifetime of loyalty, once had a change of heart?”

At my counter-question, Raion swung his sword.

From the blade radiating lightning-like brilliance, a long white beam shot up toward the sky.

Chaaak! Shuaaaaaak!

Startled, I slowly turned my head back. And on my once-calm face, shock swiftly surfaced.

On one wall of Plant Valley, a massive sword scar had formed.

I couldn’t even tell how far it extended.

It looked nothing less than the mark of a god descending and striking the earth with a divine sword.

“W-What in the world…… are you!”

“Me? The crown prince of this country.”

Rumor had spread about the crown prince of the Canel Kingdom.

A genius who became the youngest Swordmaster.

The hero of Canel who drove out his two elder brothers, the chancellor, and even the stepmother queen.

But that was all.

Nowhere did it mention that he possessed such strength.

“…….”

“I’ll ask again. Will you come under me? If you do, I’ll grant you anything.”

“……It will be impossible.”

“What has the Black Crescent Moon mortgaged of you?”

“Nothing of that sort.”

“Is it because of your wife?”

My expression hardened, then a dry, bitter laugh slipped out.

“So you already knew and still asked.”

“I didn’t really intend to test you. But you’re stubborn to the end.”

“I appreciate the compliment, but it cannot be helped.”

It meant I asked him to give up.

But Raion found such a man as me tempting.

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