Chapter 251: Episode 251

Chapter 67: Beastmen

A great war cry erupted as the royal army surged across the Babel Bridge. The raiders on standby met their charge from behind fortified barricades. Only two defensive lines remained: the Pyo Ren Fortress and Haven Territory. The advantageous position the rebels once held had long since vanished. The nobles who had sought to overthrow the tyrant had been cut down, one by one, by Duke Centrix. If Pyo Ren Fortress fell, the heart of their rebellion would be exposed.

’I must defend this place at all costs. Their forces are stronger than expected, but we can hold them. We’ve been supplied with dwarf-forged equipment; it has to be enough!’

The true difference between raiders and regular soldiers lay in their skills and abilities. Now, the rebels were also armed with superior gear forged in Balak. Though Leon had deployed numerous S-rank raiders, the rebels were holding their own in the clash of military might.

A brutal symphony of steel rang out as spearmen and shield bearers collided. The kingdom’s spearmen had charged bravely through a storm of thousands of arrows, only to be stopped dead by an unbreakable wall of shields.

“Dammit! It’s dwarf-made equipment! We can’t even scratch them!”

“Charge again! Hurry, before their mages cast!”

“Aaaargh! Archers, return fire!”

The foot soldiers who followed met the same fate. They broke against the shield wall, forced into a bloody retreat with nothing to show for it.

[Rough Rock Tribe’s Titanium Armor]

[Rank: B]

[Restriction: Level 40+, All Classes]

[Description: Titanium armor crafted by the dwarves of the Rough Rock Tribe. Smelted with the heat of a spirit, this armor increases shield durability and block success rate when worn.]

’They will never break through! The defensive power of this titanium armor is recognized even by the Raider Association. You will never cross the Babel Bridge!’

The royal army began to fall back. The first clash had proven the worth of the shield bearers, and their commander couldn’t afford to waste more lives so recklessly. Count Maximilian, sent to Pyo Ren Fortress, had a single mission: buy time for Count Dinen’s plan. He had been briefed beforehand and firmly believed that the strategy being prepared in Haven Territory would turn the tide of the civil war.

“The royal army is retreating!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

“We’ve defended Pyo Ren Fortress!”

Their morale, once a serious concern, had been restored. After losing territory after territory, they had finally forced the enemy to retreat. Even the hired raiders were caught up in the triumphant mood.

Count Maximilian stood on the fortress wall, a satisfied smile on his face as he turned to leave.

Just then, a great meteor blazed into existence in the sky above.

[System Message: Crowell Davidochi has cast Grand Meteor Drop.]

[System Message: A great meteor falls upon the barricades.]

It was Viscount Crowell’s magic. The raiders scrambled to escape, but they were already within the blast radius.

Count Maximilian stared in horror, his voice a choked scream.

“N-Noooooo!”

That day, the Pyo Ren Fortress was annihilated by Viscount Crowell’s great meteor.

—

Meanwhile, the raiders who had refused to join the defensive line sighed in relief.

“Boss, are you sure about this? We won’t get paid if we run.”

“You idiot! What’s more important, Zen or our lives? You’re alive thanks to me, so you’d better spend the rest of your days being grateful!”

Hassan had sensed the massive buildup of mana around the royal army and had chosen to flee instantly. He could have been executed for desertion, but his judgment had been sound. As proof, a massive crater was all that remained where the barricades had once stood.

The men who had fled with him looked at their leader with tear-filled, adoring eyes.

“Sob’. The boss is the only one who looks out for us.”

“That’s right. We didn’t even get paid, but we still have the boss.”

“I’ll follow you for the rest of my life, sir!”

They had been with him for three years, since his mercenary days. Though they were raiders now, their loyalty to their leader was unshakable. Hassan turned his back, scratching his head.

“Hmph. Grown men, crying like that. Have some shame!”

“Sniffle’. S-So, sir… where are we headed now?”

“Hmm. Come to think of it, we don’t have anywhere to go now. Alright. Let’s try our luck at that place, Balak.”

“You don’t mean the dungeon that wiped out the Vesta Raid Party and got reclassified as S-rank, do you?!”

The Vesta Raid Party had been the talk of the continent. Trusting in his Rule Maker ability, Vesta had led a small, elite team against Balak, only to be utterly annihilated. In the aftermath, the Raider’s Association had defied Count Dinen’s orders and officially designated Balak an S-rank dungeon.

His subordinates anxiously tried to dissuade him, but Hassan was resolute.

“You punks! Weren’t you just swearing to follow me for life? Changing your tune already? I’m not dead yet. I’m nothing like that Vesta bastard.”

“W-well, you’re an S-rank Raider, Captain, but we don’t even have a proper raid party.”

“What was that? Are you punks looking down on the Mercenary King now? Hey! If I just say the word, every raider who used to be a mercenary will come flocking to my banner. Wanna bet?!”

He was the Mercenary King, a name whose fame was second to none on the continent. Though the age of mercenaries had mostly passed with the rise of raiders, his skills hadn’t rusted one bit. Hassan pounded his chest and took out a communication device.

—”Yeah. It’s the Mercenary King. What, you don’t know who I am?!”

—”Hey, hey! Long time no see. Doin’ well? Listen, I’m gonna be raiding Balak soo— Huh? He hung up on me?”

“Hey. I’m the Mercenary King. Mind if I tag along—” The once-confident Mercenary King’s voice trailed off, his bravado replaced by a sudden caution. He blinked, stunned, as his former colleagues rejected him one after another. His subordinates watched with pity, wiping tears from their eyes.

“B-Boss…” one of them sobbed.

“…How did I end up like this?” he lamented.

“Don’t cry, Boss!” another wept.

“Sh-shut up, you idiots!” he snapped. “If you can’t do it one way, you find another. Let’s move, boys!”

And so, the Tartan Mercenary Squad—or what was left of it—headed for the small city of Partren.

—

’The Pyo Ren Fortress has fallen. No, that’s not right. It’s been annihilated. It seems that bastard Leon has begun his endgame.’ The report had come from Momontae. The Pyo Ren Fortress, the only stronghold that had established a defensive line using Babel’s Bridge, was gone. Taehyun had thought they could hold out, especially with the supply of dwarven equipment, but a single superhuman had shattered his predictions. Now that Leon was willing to deploy S-rank Raiders, the Haven Territory was sure to collapse in an instant.

“What about the Peyton Dukedom? Still no movement?” Taehyun asked into the communication device.

’According to our scouts, they’re even summoning their free knights. They’ll probably head down to Haven soon.’

“Hmm. Any specific orders from Leon?”

’He’ll likely mobilize the guilds when it’s time to conquer Haven. For now, I’ve given separate orders to the guilds, just as you said. I trust this is satisfactory?’

“Yeah. Just keep it that way.”

He had already figured out Leon’s abilities, but Momontae’s confirmation was a relief. If his ally had fallen under Leon’s mental domination, he could have easily been turned against him. Thankfully, their contract had been established first. No matter how effective the skill was at controlling the continent’s inhabitants, it couldn’t defy the will of the God of Contracts.

Taehyun ended the call and turned to Hamolton, who sat opposite him. “So, you’re saying this ’Guide’ awakens a new ability when they accept all the demi-human races?”

“Hmph,” Hamolton grunted. “I have explained this several times. The Guide is destined to quell the chaos of this continent. Since Lady Ameria, the Goddess of Nature, has acknowledged you, you must accept your fate.”

The Guide. The title had come up several times before. From dwarves to elves, and even humans from the continent, Balak had welcomed them all as residents. It was safe to say his domain now encompassed four distinct races. Hamolton’s advice to accept the final demi-human race gave him pause.

“You said the last race was the beastmen, right? What are they protecting?”

“They are likely protecting the Mana Jade, the very source of all magic,” Hamolton explained. “I have heard they reside somewhere in the East, but I do not know the precise details. As the Guide, you will have to find them yourself.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I already know where they’re holed up,” Taehyun said with a dismissive wave. “Anyway, thanks for the info. You can head back now.”

“Hmph. I shall be looking forward to it. Now, I must return to protecting the Forest of Silence.”

With Balak’s S-rank status now public, A-rank Raiders were beginning to gather in earnest. Hamolton, who also had to protect the World Tree, was undoubtedly busier than ever. Taehyun saw him off and opened the world map again.

[Derk Empire]

[Peshant Empire]

[Ain Kart Holy Kingdom]

’So these three are the most likely candidates,’ he mused. ’If all of them cross into the West, the other nations won’t just stand by and watch.’

The Holy Kingdom and the Peyton Dukedom, in particular, ground their teeth at the mere mention of Balak. If war broke out in the West, Balak would have no choice but to navigate the ensuing chaos. He had made many preparations—the Resistance, Liviksian, his S-rank forces, Balak’s territory itself—but it still felt like it wasn’t enough.

Taehyun summoned some of his main forces. “We’re heading to the East,” he announced. “Our destination is the Sabaton Jungle, where the beastmen live.”

“But, my lord,” one of them protested, “even using the Balak Merchant Guild’s wagons, it will take a considerable amount of time to reach the East. Now that Balak’s S-rank status is known, the S-rank Raiders won’t just sit idle.”

“You’re right,” Taehyun conceded. “We can’t leave the territory empty for that long. So we’ll just have to shorten the time.”

He didn’t need a separate mode of transport. The Resistance had members stationed in the East. By using their dungeons, he could travel in an instant. Taehyun picked up his communication device and contacted someone.

’Well, well. If it isn’t the great Taehyun Yoo, the new S-rank Dungeon Master. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?!’ a cheerful voice chirped.

“Hey,” Taehyun said flatly. “Let me use your dungeon.”

’Wh-what? Are you trying to throw the game right now?!’

“Not throwing,” he clarified, his finger already hovering over the Dungeon Visit button. “I just want to use your dungeon. As a means of transportation, of course.”

—

[You have entered the Sabaton Jungle.]

A wave of hot, humid air washed over them. The East was a region that maintained a tropical climate year-round, and the jungle at its edge was no exception.

“Ughhh!” Grai groaned. “This thing called the sun is trying to incinerate me. It’s hot! So damn hot!”

“Phew, it’s so muggy,” Hyena added, fanning herself. “It’s completely different from the West.”

“M-my lord,” Grai pleaded, “would you permit me to remove my plate armor for a moment?”

It seemed the others were suffering just as much. Taehyun handed them the clothes he had prepared in advance. “We might be here for a few days, so change into something lighter.”

“Thank you, my lord!” Grai exclaimed, immediately shrugging off his sweat-drenched armor.

Taehyun set up a makeshift tent to give them some privacy. Just then, Hyena, who had changed first, came trotting over.

“Master! How do I look? Do you like it?” she asked, striking a pose.

“Hmm. It’s a bit too revealing,” he said, handing her a blanket. “Cover up with this.”

She pouted. “There’s no point if I cover it with a blanket! Riel prepared all of these, didn’t she?”

“Probably,” he admitted. “But it does suit you. If everyone’s ready, let’s get going.”

They had to find the beastmen within this vast jungle. Though they had traveled quickly through Lee Hyuk’s dungeon, the search was now up to them. Taehyun shot one last disapproving glance at Hyena’s short skirt before positioning Kadum and Grai at the front.

“Kadum, head deep inside and find a trail. Grai, you take the lead and prepare for anything.”

“The troublesome jobs always fall to me, I see,” Kadum grumbled.

“No one will approach our lord!” Grai declared.

With that, their exploration began. Taehyun first contacted the Dungeon Master of Liviksian.

’Huuuh… D-did something happen again?’ a sleepy voice mumbled.

“Stop talking in your sleep and put your supporter on,” Taehyun ordered.

’Ugh. Why Mikang?’

“She’s a beastman. No questions, just put her on. I’m looking for her people right now.”

The most important clues were always closer than you thought.

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep