Chapter 303

The 5th Legion was fully prepared.

For facing merely three humans, an excessive amount of troops and weaponry had gathered.

8,000 elite soldiers, 20 giant-form magi-soldiers, and three magi-soldier corps.

Just their lined-up appearance seemed to reveal the majesty of the Millennium Empire.

“…….”

Five-Rot General Queronimo looked around at his soldiers.

He wondered if it was overkill.

Even so, the opponents were only three.

However, the name of Two-Flame Grand General Sen Hostanio kept weighing on his mind.

He was an outstanding commander, and no matter how he lived in daily life, he became incomparably serious on the battlefield.

His eldest son and Chief of Staff watched his father from behind and said,

“They say they are coming, General.”

“Right.”

At the Chief of Staff’s report, the Five-Rot General nodded.

He held out his hand, and the Chief of Staff gave him a telescope.

The Five-Rot General looked into the distance through the telescope.

There were three men coming down the narrow mountain path.

One among them was an old man.

“…It really is the Two-Flame Grand General. Hm, there’s also a guy resembling a reindeer. And that person is….”

Two of the three were familiar faces.

Since he had seen the faces of Sen Hostanio and Velgil before.

However, it was the first time seeing the one in the middle, leading the other two from the front like a leader.

Yet strangely, the face he was seeing for the first time felt familiar.

“…It is His Highness Zionis. As expected, the half-brother of His Majesty the Emperor. They resemble each other….”

Blonde hair and blue eyes.

A physique slightly smaller and thinner than average.

He heard he was escorted to the Empire in a wretched state, but now he didn’t look like that at all.

He was wearing a faint smile as if he were a person who had realized everything.

Shion’s relaxed attitude made Queronimo cling more to his hypothesis.

If he were a person who had been stuck in Kosavagarobira, there is no way he could be that relaxed.

He made another wrong guess, thinking that he must have recovered his health while recuperating under Sen Hostanio’s protection all this time.

“…Still, I thought he was simply a puppet, but I might have to revise that evaluation.”

“Why is that?”

“No matter if the Two-Flame Grand General is present, there are only three. Over here, there are over 8,000. Yet there isn’t the slightest sign of being intimidated.”

At Queronimo’s words, the Chief of Staff also lifted his telescope.

It was as he said.

Shion did not shrink back at all while walking straight toward the 8,000 elite soldiers antagonizing him.

It was not something that could be done with ordinary courage.

“Even if he was treated as a hero in the West, I wondered how great he could be… Indeed, that person is also the son of His Majesty Great Emperor Continua. There is no way he would be ordinary.”

The Five-Rot General muttered something and moved his steps.

“Bring my horse, Chief of Staff. I must see his face directly.”

“…It seems there won’t be a need for that.”

“Why?”

“…Please look over there.”

The Chief of Staff pointed his finger.

“…He has already met our forces.”

Shion and his party had reached right in front of the soldiers.

It was a distance where he would be more than sufficiently stabbed if the soldier standing in the very front row thrust his sword.

The Five-Rot General’s eyebrows arched sharply.

“What is he trying to do?”

“The path.”

Shion said.

“I intend to pass through the path.”

“……?”

It didn’t seem like he spoke that loudly, yet there wasn’t a soldier who didn’t hear Shion’s voice.

It was the same for the Five-Rot General and the Chief of Staff.

It is strange that speaking quietly as if whispering echoes in all directions.

“Could you please step aside for a moment.”

“Ha!!”

The Five-Rot General was dumbfounded.

Step aside?

It wasn’t something to say in front of the Cordis 5th Legion, eight thousand elite soldiers.

Those sharp spears and swords, warriors trained all their lives, powerful weapons possessed only by the Empire, and magi-soldier corps performing mysteries with their fingertips!

If placed in front of these, one should naturally tremble in fear.

He was not supposed to say step aside or such things!

Queronimo’s pride was hurt.

The 5th Legion is his pride.

Even though he had Sen Hostanio as backing, Shion was not the least bit scared in front of his pride.

This was unacceptable.

Whoosh—, the Five-Rot General took a deep breath as if he couldn’t lose.

Then he raised his voice loudly, very loudly.

“-We! Cannot-!!!”

There was also no soldier who did not hear the Five-Rot General’s voice.

He was one of the Ten Great Generals of the Empire, and often performed physical miracles that ordinary people could not even imagine.

A voice louder than the sound of a cannon was one of them.

“I am! Queronimo! His Majesty the Emperor’s! Five-Rot General!”

The Chief of Staff covered his ears.

The soldiers near the Five-Rot General also covered their ears all together.

His command was a roar beyond noise.

If one had a weak heart, it wouldn’t be strange to collapse.

However, since there were no cowards with weak hearts in the 5th Legion, the unfortunate event of fainting at the General’s command did not occur.

“His Majesty! Commanded! You! Cannot pass-!!!”

“Is that so?”

Shion laughed softly.

“I will not stop you from stopping me.”

“Hah-!?”

The Five-Rot General became extremely heated at Shion’s smile.

He found it very annoying that Shion showed a relaxed attitude throughout while he was shouting with veins popping out.

If only Shion weren’t an Imperial family member, and on top of that, the Great Emperor’s bloodline, he felt like spewing a torrent of curses.

Instead of shouting more, he lowered the telescope.

“Chief of Staff.”

“Yes, General.”

“Attack.”

“Yes.”

The Chief of Staff picked up the communication device.

The General’s command was soon transmitted to all soldiers.

Just the soldiers standing in the very front row numbered over 300, and they drew their swords all at once.

“Oh my.”

Watching the 300 elite soldiers draw their swords simultaneously, Sen Hostanio clicked his tongue.

He glanced at Shion.

He wondered if he should step up, but Shion was still smiling.

“They don’t seem to have any intention of stepping aside.”

“I suppose so.”

“Let’s pass, Two-Flame Grand General.”

“How?”

“Follow me.”

Shion walked.

Toward the soldiers trying to kill him, between the blades that were each sharply blue.

There is the ‘Crown of Paradox’ on his head.

There was a soldier facing Shion the closest.

He somehow ended up standing at the very forefront, so he couldn’t help but be nervous.

Because of that, as soon as Shion took a step, he let out a strange shout and thrust his sword.

The man’s sword stabbed Shion’s abdomen but did not pierce.

The sword and Shion occupied the same space.

However, neither the sword nor Shion was harmed.

“……?”

The man was bewildered, and Shion had already passed by.

The men who had drawn their swords slashed diligently toward Shion who was among them.

There was no man untrained.

There was no sword not sharp.

However, they did not reach Shion even a little.

Velgil and Sen Hostanio followed behind him.

The same phenomenon occurred to the two following Shion.

No sword could harm them.

“Be careful.”

Shion even prevented soldiers from accidentally harming their comrades by mistake.

Facing only three, as 300 people swung their swords, inevitable problems arose, yet Shion seemed concerned even about those.

Let alone harming the enemy, the soldiers who received help could not bear to lift their swords again.

“…What are they doing?”

The Five-Rot General was looking down at all this from above.

Shion walks calmly, and only the soldiers swing their swords diligently beside him.

It was a sight worse than a ridiculous play.

Frowning even more, he gave the next order.

“Tell everyone to fall back!”

He made a quick judgment.

Shion must be using some kind of magic.

Then it was wise to deal with it with a magical solution.

The men holding swords retreated in a swarm.

Shion let them retreat without stopping anyone.

While doing so, he continued walking.

Light flashed.

Combining the three magi-soldier corps, there were over seventy mages.

They flashed their Halos simultaneously.

Magic of the Four Stars, ‘Shaking’.

Shion’s surroundings shook.

The ground shook, space shook, and even the realm of the mind located deeper shook for a moment.

‘Shaking’ was magic devised to counter powerful Ars or magic.

They were certain that ‘Shaking’ would have created a small opening in Shion.

Because of that, following the magic, they poured out beams of light.

Twenty light beams poured from the mouths of the 20 giant-form magi-soldiers headed toward Shion, who was directly hit by ‘Shaking’.

The light beams flashed greatly and obscured the vision.

Five-Rot General Queronimo was certain that he had tied Shion’s feet.

No, he had to have.

Attacking to this extent, if the opponent was human, they should not be fine.

“Even I couldn’t have been without a wound from this, Your Highness.”

“You are humble, Two-Flame Grand General.”

“No. It is true.”

Queronimo found it hard to believe his own eyes.

Shion was walking.

With Velgil and Sen Hostanio by his side, sharing a chat, he walked continuously.

Regardless of whether hundreds of men swung swords, whether the Magic of the Four Stars shook him, or whether giant-form magi-soldiers poured out light beams.

The most unbelievable thing was Shion’s attitude.

He did not block.

He did not dodge either.

He didn’t even counterattack, nor did he get angry.

Even though he was accepting everything as if saying do so if you want to attack, he was not hurt at all.

The Five-Rot General ended up feeling a kind of awe.

“…….”

However, he was the supreme commander of the 5th Legion, a general serving the Emperor.

He had the duty to complete the assigned order.

Even though he had the certainty that nothing would work, he had to continue futile attempts.

He ordered tens of thousands of arrows to be fired.

He ordered the magi-soldiers to trample Shion, ordered cannons to be brought and fired, and ordered the most carefully selected cavalry and commanders to charge.

And no command could stop Shion.

Shion faced all attacks.

And he did not stop the attacks heading toward him.

Because of that, no one could stop Shion.

Any power of the 5th Legion could not reach Shion even a little.

“……He is a ghost…….”

Eventually, the Five-Rot General forgot even the fact that he was in front of his son and collapsed into a sitting position.

“……That person is a ghost.”

***

I, Shion, walked.

I walked calmly between 8,000 elite soldiers, 20 giant-form magi-soldiers, three magi-soldier corps, and other trivial threats.

I soon arrived in front of Five-Rot General Queronimo.

“…….”

Five-Rot General Queronimo looked at me walking toward him.

He was now feeling deep fear toward me.

However, he struggled to stand up, and firmly gripped the whip at his waist.

The name of the whip is ‘Root of Intoxication’.

A weapon made from the remains of an Ancient God.

Looking at the Ten Great Generals gripping the Ancient Weapon, I raised my hand.

On the Five-Rot General’s shoulder is the symbol of the Empire.

An eagle, a lion, a dragon, and the human imperial crown covering them.

The trigger of anger that used to make me a hunchback.

But I have become able to smile now.

Knowing that hateful brand is also stamped on my own soul, and since I am in the middle of reconciling with such a soul of mine, I smiled without hesitation toward the Five-Rot General.

“…….”

The Five-Rot General was still glaring at me.

He couldn’t guess what words I would bring up.

Sen Hostanio and Velgil likewise felt curiosity.

‘What will you say, His Highness Zionis?’

Shion, who has just passed by eight thousand elite soldiers, what will he say to the General of the Empire he hated all his life?

‘Will you speak of forgiveness? Or will you say you still hate him? Will you vomit out your resentment? Or if not that either, will you coolly engage in a bout of fighting in the sense of respecting a martial artist’s pride?’

I knew that gazes were gathering on me.

So I bowed my head.

“Hello.”

“……Yes……?”

The Five-Rot General, who had the air of swinging the ‘Root of Intoxication’ at any moment, let out a dumbfounded sound without realizing it.

He saw.

That I bowed my head without any hesitation.

That my smile was a smile I could make because I truly considered Queronimo welcome.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“……No…….”

“You haven’t eaten?”

“…No, not that no….”

Queronimo turned his eyes and looked at Sen Hostanio.

As if asking what on earth this situation was.

Sen Hostanio shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know either and gestured with his chin.

As if saying answer the question quickly.

Five-Rot General Queronimo answered with a stammering voice.

“……I ate.”

“What did you eat?”

“A few hard biscuits, and dried raisins….”

“Oh. That sounds delicious.”

“……”

I came closer to Queronimo before he knew it.

Queronimo couldn’t attack me either, so he just watched.

“Do you happen to have any left?”

“…A little, but.”

“Could you share a little? Since I couldn’t eat breakfast.”

Queronimo rummaged through his bosom and took out a small cloth pouch.

Inside were raisins.

He poured them onto my palm.

“They were soaked in rum! I will eat them gratefully. I will definitely repay you if there is an opportunity later.”

“…No, you don’t have to repay.”

“No. My wife bakes bread very well. I hope there will be an opportunity to let you taste it next time.”

“…If that’s the case.”

I smiled faintly.

Then I looked at the Chief of Staff, and discovering that his features very much resembled Queronimo, I laughed loudly.

“Don’t tell me, your son?”

“Yes, he is my eldest son.”

“My goodness. To think the eldest son is the Chief of Staff! You must have been a respectable father. You must be proud.”

“…Ahem. That I cannot deny. Even these raisins, actually he personally….”

Queronimo forgot the situation and laid out his boasting about his son.

Father! I told you not to say things like that!

The Chief of Staff shouted from the side.

He is the second-in-command of the 5th Legion.

In front of the soldiers, he wanted to act dignified rather than like a filial son.

I listened to the Five-Rot General’s boasting about his son very happily.

Until Queronimo, suddenly realizing what he was doing, shut his mouth.

Looking at the General who was bewildered at why he said such things, I opened my mouth.

“Five-Rot General, and your son. It was a pleasant conversation.”

“…….”

“Then have a good day.”

***

I left.

I was walking slowly, just like when I appeared.

As if the clash with the 5th Legion was nothing.

Treating Five-Rot General Queronimo like a friendly neighbor, I left very happily.

It was nonsensical.

It was strange enough that one couldn’t even tell where it started being strange.

But the fact that his heart became at ease was the strangest part.

Eventually, Queronimo ended up grabbing Sen Hostanio who was following behind me.

“…Two-Flame Grand General!”

“Why do you call?”

“…What is it? What is that man? Is he a ghost? Or is he a god?”

“I don’t know either.”

Sen Hostanio replied nonchalantly.

“That’s why I am following him around.”

“…….”

“Are you going to follow too?”

“…No. I cannot do that.”

The Five-Rot General shook his head.

He had many responsibilities.

There were thousands and tens of thousands of humans who would be in trouble if he vacated his position.

Sen Hostanio deeply understood such a Five-Rot General.

“That’s a pity. Then what about you?”

“…….”

The Chief of Staff raised his head.

He looked at his father, Five-Rot General Queronimo.

Queronimo said quietly.

“Go, my son.”

“…Yes.”

The Chief of Staff stood up hurriedly and stuck by Sen Hostanio’s side.

Seeing that sight, the soldiers also began to step forward one by one.

The number was over a thousand.

The Five-Rot General opened his mouth watching the soldiers leaving the place where they should be.

“…Bring out the wagons. Send their share of military provisions with them.”

I walked alone.

Yet over a thousand five hundred were following.

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