Chapter 271

Cornelius Merhes did not know why his Ars was in such a state.

‘The exchanging tree’ always tried to make a deal with its master.

To be precise, it would not communicate unless it was in the form of a transaction.

It always greedily wanted money, wanted more money, and in the end, tried to suck out even the marrow.

Yet, it was hateful how innocently it acted close to him.

In fact, that tree was even more hateful because he knew it resembled himself.

Still, it was needed now.

The green tree split Cornelius’s thigh and pulled out the bone.

There was no blood.

The tree swallowed the thigh bone in one gulp and danced excitedly.

Since it was an offering of the soul, it would not return by any method.

The thighs became mushy.

Only then did an indescribable pain arrive.

The thigh bone that had slipped right out, the muscles clinging to it, the leg that had turned purplish-red in an instant.

The certainty that he would never walk on two feet again.

But without even a moment to focus on the pain.

The tree clung to him.

Following Cornelius’s lumbar vertebrae, it wrapped around him tightly, extending vines and leaves long and taut.

It climbed up and enveloped him in leaves.

It does not leave as much as the price paid.

This is a very clear fact.

Five halos taking the form of tree leaves.

Five-star magic, ‘Absolute Strict Prohibition’.

From above, the leaves fluttered.

It was so huge that it was enough to cover all of Cornelius’s defensive circles and then some.

The green leaves were translucent, so the back could be seen through them.

However, it clearly separated the inside from the outside, making it so that no attack could reach.

The shelling continued.

A roar erupted.

The shock rushed in.

Shells poured down.

However, ‘Absolute Strict Prohibition’.

The green leaves protected Cornelius and those inside the mansion.

The Five-Star Mage stroked his mustache with calm eyes.

“…Oh….”

An exclamation leaked out.

It was from the mouth of the 29th Legion magi-soldier, AS.

Since he was a mage before he was a soldier, he had no choice but to spit out an exclamation.

Knowing how great those green leaves were, he unconsciously bent his waist to express his awe.

All the magi-soldiers did so.

The soldiers who were laymen to magic also became silent just the same.

The sight of a single green leaf covering from above lightly flowing away thousands of shillings did not look like something of this world.

An impeccable mystery seized their hearts.

“…You are trying hard, Cornelius!”

However, the 29th Legion Commander Sudarius was not overwhelmed.

He is a Cordis Empire Legion Commander.

He could not lose his fighting spirit at just this level, and he still had many methods.

“If you want to die that flashily, fine! Thinking of old affection, I will play with you.”

Sudarius ground his teeth.

“Commander of a Thousand Monia!”

“Yes! Legion Commander!”

“Contact them immediately and prepare the Hoyos-class cannon!”

“…Pardon?”

Even Monia Meranie, high-named for being brazen, had no choice but to let out a groan.

The Hoyos-class cannon meant that much.

“But that is…!”

“Even if we use it just once, a report goes up to His Majesty! I know that too!”

If the pinnacle of imperial land weapons is the giant-form magi-soldier, then at the pinnacle of naval weapons is the Hoyos-class cannon.

The 29th Legion possessed only one unit of this ultra-high-output cannon that could turn a warship into powder in a single breath.

Since it is an object that spends half a cart’s worth of gold every time it is fired once, and since it is a monster weapon that changes the terrain with a single shot, the use of the Hoyos-class cannon is immediately reported to the Emperor, as it should not be used recklessly even by a Legion Commander.

For the 29th Legion, which came to loot the Hanchamus Islands without the higher-ups’ knowledge, it was a situation they absolutely wanted to avoid.

“I will hear a scolding, but it is better than losing a traitor! No, he might even praise me!”

“…Still, Legion Commander!”

“I am the Legion Commander-!!”

Sudarius shouted.

“Commander of a Thousand Monia! If you do not want your head cut off for an act of exceeding authority, listen to the order immediately!”

“…Yes, Legion Commander! I made a mistake!”

Monia fiddled with the communication equipment.

And then she began to clamor towards the empty air.

Sudarius pulled the soldiers back.

Soon, it flashed from afar.

There was no time to examine what was flashing.

Just light,

Clumps of light,

Were shot violently.

From the horizon.

“…Ugh…!”

Cornelius vomited a groan.

The ray shot by the Hoyos-class cannon shook even the ‘Absolute Strict Prohibition’.

A small crack was engraved on the green leaf.

To think only a single crack was created after receiving a blow that turns a warship into powder, as expected of Five-Star Magic.

But he could not rejoice. Sudarius immediately prepared the next shelling.

Light again.

From the horizon.

“…Ugh, aaaaaah…!”

Cornelius Merhes screamed.

He clenched his teeth while blocking the violent pile of light alone.

Blood burst from inside.

Blood flowed from his tear ducts.

Blood flowed from his nostrils.

It was the same from his ears. It was obvious from his mouth.

Things that were not originally made to spout blood gushed all over and vomited dark red blood.

Seeing the mustache he boasted of becoming dirty with blood, Sudarius chuckled loudly.

“As expected! The pride of the Cordis Navy!”

He was proud of the Hoyos-class cannon.

He was proud of himself for possessing such a cannon.

Also, his excellent decisive decision!

“It will be pierced if we shoot four or five more times. In the end, it was stalling for time, Dean Cornelius!”

“…I said Former Dean…. When was it that I was chased out, yet you still say Dean, Dean….”

Cornelius spat out blood.

“…Your words are correct, Sudarius. I only stalled for time… a very little bit.”

Fundamentally, a futile struggle.

“…Ah, it is regrettable… regrettable….”

Cornelius lifted his eyes.

He saw the green leaf.

He saw beyond it.

Even in pain, the sea is achingly blue.

Needless to say about that sky.

That is why it hurts even more deeply.

He felt the power obtained through his Ars gradually leaving him.

“…Was the Five Stars like this? Was the path right next to me…. If there was just a little, just a little more time, I would have really ascended to the Five Stars….”

The lamentation was sorrowful.

The magi-soldiers forgot the fact that Cornelius was an enemy and looked up at him.

It was a natural attitude towards a man who might have ascended to the great stage of a Five-Star Mage.

However, he would soon….

“I did as much as the money I received. But….”

…Master. To you, I am just sorry.

Cornelius recited inwardly.

He had no strength to speak anymore, and no shame to spit it out in words.

He only had an apologetic heart towards his teacher who always cherished him.

Cornelius sensed his end, and Sudarius shouted even more excitedly.

“Enter as soon as it is pierced!”

He whirled two harpoons round and round.

The Hoyos-class cannon is still pounding on the green leaf.

The green leaf is anxious as if it will shatter at any moment.

“Soldiers of the Empire, chop that rat into pieces! However, leave the head intact. It is a tribute to His Majesty the Emperor!!”

Without anyone saying anything, they gripped their weapons and prepared to rush in.

At the very front is Monia Meranie, the 29th Legion Commander of a Thousand.

She gripped a double-edged sword and spat out hot breath.

Thinking of preparing a tribute to offer to His Majesty, strangely, heat mixed in her breath.

Plop.

“……?”

A coolness arrived on the bridge of her nose.

Monia touched the bridge of her nose.

Moisture smeared off.

Soon, plop, plop, other moisture tapped her face.

She looked at the sky blankly.

“…Raindrops…?”

“In the Hanchamus Islands?”

“I heard there hasn’t been a day that wasn’t clear for 400 years….”

Murmuring leaked out from here and there.

It was raining.

Dark clouds were seeping in.

Lightning rippled in places across the clouded sky.

Hanchamus means that the day is always clear.

However, now, the day has started to become cloudy.

“…….”

Cornelius saw the lightning between the dark clouds.

It took the form of weeping and clamor.

“…Ah….”

The Hoyos-class cannon eventually broke the ‘Absolute Strict Prohibition’.

‘It’s now!’, ‘Quickly take his head!’, ‘I don’t know what’s happening but hurry up and kill him!’

The soldiers stormed in while getting angry.

Seeing the swarms of blades trying to hack him to pieces, Cornelius Merhes shed tears, and soon smiled brightly.

“…I lived, I lived…!”

By his side, Gold-toothed Kifkos and Sideburns Gloriosus were suddenly there.

Thinking to try something at least, they intended to protect Cornelius and face the soldiers.

Kifkos asked Cornelius, who was crying and smiling brightly.

“…Dean, what is that for you to say you lived? The Cordis soldiers will chop us into pieces at any moment.”

“That is a thunderbolt.”

“So, what about the thunderbolt?”

“Hu, weeping. Hu, clamor.”

Cornelius murmured.

“…Six-Star Magic, ‘Great Thunderbolt of Screaming Roars’…!!!”

Lightning splashed.

Weeping and clamor combined is a scream.

It navigated between the soldiers.

It was an unbelievable split-second affair.

From over there to over here, all of it.

From Sudarius to the ship that was firing the Hoyos-class cannon.

As the Great Thunderbolt of Screaming Roars brushed past, Sudarius ended up kneeling.

His whole body was numb so he could do nothing.

It had only brushed past.

It had only passed by.

He, an Imperial Legion Commander, had been completely incapacitated.

‘Why?’

He wanted to scream, but he could not move his mouth.

Therefore, Sudarius shouted inwardly.

‘Why is he, why on earth is he here…!?’

***

An old man walked along the narrow single path.

It was from the opposite side of the dark clouds and lightning.

However, everyone realized.

These dark clouds and lightning belonged to that old man.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

So everyone was just quiet.

The old man was just walking over with a skinny body, but there was no one who could bear to open their mouth.

Except for the 29th Legion Commander of a Thousand, Monia Meranie.

“Stop!”

Monia Meranie stepped forward bravely.

“If you come closer, I will summarily execute you, old man!”

Sudarius screamed inwardly once again seeing his subordinate stepping forward.

If the thunderbolt had not blocked his mouth, he certainly would have done so.

However, his mouth was blocked, and though he had much to say he could not say it, and though he wanted to squeeze his eyes shut seeing Monia raising her sword towards the old man, he could not do that either.

“Old man, you say. For an unpleasant feeling, it is very insulting.”

“Reveal your identity!”

“Does that side know who I am?”

“You mean me? Ha! Good, I will answer you!”

Monia shouted, and Sudarius wanted to shout asking her to please stop babbling.

If he has a white beard, leads dark clouds and lightning, and comes to find Cornelius, the identity is obvious.

Yet how is Monia so ignorantly brave without even knowing that!

“Know that we are soldiers of the lofty His Majesty the Emperor! I am Monia Meranie, His Majesty’s Commander of a Thousand! The person over there is Sudarius Speros, the 29th Legion Commander!”

“Ho-oh? You are great people.”

The old man giggled.

However, Sudarius saw that anger dwelt deep within the old man’s eyes.

“Why are such people doing what here, instead of participating in the war?”

“We are conducting a requisition on the potbellies of the Hanchamus Islands according to His Majesty the Emperor’s order. If you are also a proud citizen of the Cordis Empire, cooperate obediently!”

“His Majesty gave such an order? It would be correct to say you are speaking of His Majesty Ferbias?”

“……Yes!”

The old man lifted his head.

Sneers that were hard to describe filled those eyes.

“Then I will ask him directly.”

He said while placing his hand on his ear.

Lightning crackled.

“Yes. It is me.”

……? Monia tilted her head with a face mixed with questions.

Other soldiers were the same.

It only looked like the old man was suddenly murmuring towards the empty air.

Only one person, Sudarius Speros alone realized the severity of the situation and trembled. However, he still could not move his body.

“I apologize for speaking to you suddenly. Because there is something I have to ask.”

The old man continues his words.

“Did you issue a requisition order to the Hanchamus Islands? You didn’t? Would His Majesty issue such an order unless you were crazy? As expected, right?”

Of course, His Majesty is a little crazy.

“You ask what kind of bastards are going around doing that? They say it is the 29th Legion. Haedarius? No, they say it is Sudarius. Ah, you were confused about the name. It is understandable that you would be.”

The old man giggled.

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty. Understood. Yes, I found him in the Hanchamus Islands. Yes, the deal?”

Hmm.

“Ah. Unless I kill all these guys, you will not touch the Hanchamus Islands from now on? That is very good. I will do so. I will only scold them moderately. Please enter. Let us really not see each other again.”

The old man waved his hand.

“He says so?”

“…Just now….”

Around then, Sudarius barely became able to open his mouth again.

He slowly asked towards the old man.

“…Who did you speak with?”

“Ferbias Caseptus Cordis.”

He spits out the supreme name just like that.

“Your Emperor.”

“…….”

Sudarius’s complexion turned dark and sickly, and he bowed his head deeply.

He wanted to think it was a crazy old man clamoring towards the empty air, but he could not do so.

He squeezed his eyes shut. Monia started to clamor again, but he had no energy to stop her.

“Funny sounds!”

Monia Meranie jumped up and down in rage.

It is because she thought the Emperor’s name was insulted.

“What are you! To share a conversation with His Majesty! Do not be funny, old man!”

“You ask what I am?”

There was light behind the old mage’s head.

There were six center points.

Monia Meranie realized the old man’s identity only then and was stricken with fear.

“I am Hermai Merhes.”

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