The mysterious attacks had not ended with that. The Crosen Empire’s territory was so vast that
they inevitably had to pass through mountain roads from time to time, and whenever they did, arrows rained down without mercy.
“Ugh.”
With pitiful screams, soldiers collapsed here and there. The ones who suffered the greatest losses
were the soldiers pulling the carriages after having removed their arms. With no shields or
armor to ward off the arrows, they had no choice but to be exposed to the attack. As soon as the archers’ positions
were identified, the Paladins began charging reflexively. Krovitz had already ordered them to do so.
Dudududu.
Sweeping his gaze over the scattered corpses, Krovitz clenched his teeth.
“If I’d known this would happen, I would have attempted spatial transfer, even at the risk…”
But there were far too many escorts for that. Moreover, there was the possibility of magical interference,
which was why he had decided to travel on foot—only to suffer repeated ambushes like this…
Since it was certain that a catapult attack would soon rain down, Krovitz could not rashly arrange his troops
in a dense formation. In any case, their mission was officially to escort the black mage,
so expecting further aid from him was a shameful thing for a knight.
Meanwhile, several soldiers who failed to block the hail of arrows collapsed.
“Gugh.”
The eyeless arrows mercilessly dug into their bodies. Their comrades beside them hurriedly
covered them with shields, but they had already breathed their last. As if misfortune were piling upon misfortune,
the thunderous sound of catapults being activated rang out just then. At that sound, all color drained from the soldiers’ faces.
Tutung.
On the battlefield, what soldiers feared most were magical attacks and catapult attacks.
If struck, even their corpses would not remain intact. The soldiers began scattering in a fluster,
their faces filled with fear. Whether one was hit by a catapult attack or not depended, in a word, on luck.
Whiiiiiuuu.
The first volley of catapult projectiles traced arcs through the air and began falling overhead. Since they could not be sure
whether the black mage would help them again, the soldiers had to steel themselves this time. Looking at them,
Krovitz roared at the top of his lungs.
“Hold out just a little longer until the Paladins deal with the archers. Even if it costs your lives,
you must complete the mission.”
But this time, the situation was very different from before. As if he had decided to intervene actively,
countless dazzling beams of light shot out from the carriage carrying the black mage.
Kwakakakakak.
The number of Magic Missiles that spread out through the shattered carriage window was far greater than before.
Under the swarm of Magic Missiles spreading in all directions, the falling catapult projectiles were soon pulverized
without a trace. As if that still was not enough, the clusters of Magic Missiles split into two groups in midair.
Their movements called to mind well-trained dolphins.
Swaaaaaak.
With a suffocating sound of tearing air, one cluster of Magic Missiles flew toward a point on a nearby ridge
where the catapult battery was assumed to be. The other cluster of Magic Missiles flew toward
the area from which the arrows were raining down.
“Uwaaagh!”
Choked screams burst from that place. Needless to say, as the screams multiplied,
the arrows and catapult attacks began to die down. Seeing that, Krovitz’s expression brightened.
“It’s done. Now we can put an end to these damned attacks.”
As if there was no need to think further, he issued an order.
“Each unit commander, gather the fastest-footed soldiers and seize the ridge. Wipe out
the bastards who fired the catapults. Remember this: kill anyone who resists without mercy, but make sure
to capture a few prisoners.”
Waaaaaa!
Hundreds of soldiers began surging toward the ridge. Having already witnessed the deaths of many comrades,
their eyes gleamed with killing intent. Since they had confirmed that the knights who had charged ahead
were plunging into the place where the enemy archers were, there was no reason to hesitate.
The soldiers who dashed up the ridge in one breath had their eyes widen at the astonishing sight.
“H-Heavens…”
The situation was already completely over. The mysterious attackers were strewn about in disorder,
their entire bodies covered in wounds. Most appeared to be unconscious, and above their bodies,
clusters of Magic Missiles were still fiercely circling in the air. As soon as the soldiers appeared,
the clusters of Magic Missiles tried to rush at them with ominous ferocity. Damon had set them
to attack anything that moved.
“Ugh.”
One or two soldiers at the front were struck by Magic Missiles and collapsed. They had tried
to block with their shields as trained, but the Magic Missiles avoided the shields like living snakes
and dug into their vital points. It seemed that was how the attackers, presumed to be assassins,
had been defeated as well. But the damage ended there. After knocking down only three or four soldiers,
the clusters of Magic Missiles vanished with a pop, as though they had never existed there.
“Th-That’s a relief.”
Letting out sighs of relief, the soldiers hurriedly began arresting the attackers. There was no resistance
whatsoever. Every one of them had been thoroughly beaten senseless by the Magic Missiles and knocked unconscious…
The knights who had charged toward the archers likewise achieved great results. Without a single exception,
the archers had been knocked down by the black mage’s Magic Missiles. The mysterious attackers were soon tied up one after another
like strings of dried fish and escorted back to the main force.
The moment Krovitz saw the prisoners tightly bound and forced to kneel under the soldiers’ encirclement,
sparks flew from his eyes. As if there was no need to think, he strode toward the nearest kneeling prisoner.
“You damned sons of bitches…”
Without hesitation, Krovitz kicked the prisoner’s head with all his might.
Thwack.
The head split like a watermelon, and blood and brain matter splattered in all directions. The lifeless corpse
collapsed limply to the ground. Seeing that, the prisoners’ faces hardened.
Only then did they begin to truly feel the terror of death. Having achieved his intended purpose by making an example of one,
Krovitz looked over the prisoners’ faces with a triumphant air.
“Now then, shall we hear who you are?”
But not a single one opened his mouth. Every face was expressionless. Judging from that,
they were certainly assassins who had undergone harsh training. Krovitz’s eyebrows twisted into an inverted V.
“Looks like you lot won’t talk unless you get a proper taste of bitterness.”
Krovitz was about to approach the second prisoner when he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned his head.
The window of the third carriage, bristling with arrows, was open, and through it, Yuliana
was looking outside. Seeing her, Krovitz shook his head. He could not very well carry out gruesome torture
in front of distinguished guests, among whom there was a woman.
“It seems it’ll be difficult to learn the truth here.”
Realizing that much time had been delayed, Krovitz summoned his adjutant and quietly gave an order.
Since the man was a member of the Duke Knights and also a Sword Master, there seemed to be nothing to worry about.
“I’ll leave you twenty knights and one hundred soldiers. Stay here and interrogate them. I will
depart with the honored guests. Remember this well… No matter what means you must use,
you must make them talk.”
As he finished speaking, a cruel smile appeared on Krovitz’s face.
“Kill about half of them without mercy as an example. That will make it easier to open the mouths
of the rest. One more thing—do not kill those who confess. Bring them to Pelzentin…”
The adjutant immediately acknowledged the order.
“Understood.”
Having given the order, Krovitz turned without hesitation.
“We depart. We have been delayed greatly, so hurry.”
Dozens more were drafted from among the remaining soldiers and began pulling the carriages.
Creak.
The carriages began moving with a dull sound. Of course, their speed was markedly slower than when horses pulled them.
Immediately after the carriages disappeared from that place, dreadful screams began to echo there.
“Kkuaaagh!”
They were the screams of prisoners meeting their end at the hands of furious soldiers.
“Wh-What? Three units were annihilated?”
Theodore was stunned by the unexpected report. News had arrived that the assassin units
he had painstakingly raised over many long years had been nearly wiped out. As if all strength had left him,
he collapsed into his chair.
“Five years. I invested five years to raise barely four assassin units, and in a single moment,
three units were slaughtered…”
Before him, a figure covered head to toe in dust, as though having traveled a long road,
knelt on one knee with expressionless eyes. Perhaps because of his comrades’ gruesome deaths,
his face was terribly distorted.
“Most of our comrades fell to the black mage’s attack. They were captured without even managing
a proper resistance against the clusters of Magic Missiles the black mage fired.”
“To mere Magic Missiles…”
The assassin messenger continued in a numb voice.
“They were Magic Missiles of tremendous power. A single shot was enough to reduce a catapult projectile
to powder. On top of that, there were an incredible number of them. There seemed to be hundreds,
even thousands, of Magic Missiles.”
“S-Such a thing… Then what happened to those who were captured?”
“From what I observed from afar, most of our comrades were executed on the spot. I withdrew
immediately after seeing the enemy begin torturing the remaining comrades.”
“O God…”
As if sudden dizziness had overtaken him, Theodore pressed a hand to his forehead. It pained him greatly
to have lost all the assassins he had painstakingly gathered and trained. Above all, he had never imagined
the black mage’s power would be that strong… He had no idea how he was supposed to respond to the situation.
After rubbing his temples with both hands for a long while, Theodore lifted his head again.
“Then, what is Covington’s intention?”
Covington was the name of the leader commanding the assassin units. The assassin messenger answered at once.
“He said he would try to delay them as much as possible with the remaining forces.”
“How?”
“He said he intends to launch a night raid. Since we killed all the horses pulling the carriages
and greatly reduced their marching speed, they will not be able to arrive in Pelzentin today.
The captain’s plan is to use that opportunity to buy more time.”
At those words, Theodore’s expression became one of relief amid misfortune.
“At last, an encouraging report. Use whatever means necessary to ensure that the black mage
does not set foot in Pelzentin before the selection ceremony is held.”
“Understood.”
Around that time, Duke Fershtein was also receiving an urgent report from a messenger. As soon as he read the report,
he crumpled it violently.
“Damn it…”
His face gleamed with killing intent.
“A last desperate struggle, is it, Regent Theodore? But it’s useless. I have already discovered
that you have been secretly raising assassins…”
He immediately called his adjutant.
“You summoned me?”
“Dispatch troops at once. The target is the valley of Mount Shilov southwest of Pelzentin.
That is where Theodore secretly trained his assassins, so there should still be a few remnants left.
Capture them without letting a single one escape.”
“Understood.”
“Select knights from the Duke Knights and then depart. To wipe them out without casualties,
you must send Paladins.”
The adjutant immediately acknowledged the order and turned away. Watching him go, Duke Fershtein
firmly bit his lip.
“Theodore. I have already planted a spy among your close aides. For his safety,
I have tolerated your indulgence until now, but I can no longer overlook it. Before long,
I will make you pay a fitting price for having caused me so much trouble.”
As Duke Fershtein repeated that vow, a smile suddenly appeared on his face.
“Still, thousands of Magic Missiles… I had only heard of the 9th Circle in words, but it truly
is terrifying. To subdue three hundred assassins in the blink of an eye…”
Curiosity lingered on the duke’s face.
“But it is a little strange that he did not kill a single one. Generally speaking, black magicians tend to enjoy blood and
slaughter, don’t they?”
The duke decided not to think too deeply about it.
“In any case, if he joins hands with me, there will be nothing left to fear. I have already given up even my daughter’s life for the sake of my ambition,
after all.”
He already had a vague idea why Theodore was delaying the escort party’s progress.
“You intend to keep me from meeting the black magician until the crown prince chooses Shannon? A fine
scheme, Theodore. But you do not know that I have already resolved to sacrifice Shannon.”
At the thought of his daughter, a conflicted expression crossed the duke’s face.
“Forgive me, Shannon. But in order to realize the long-cherished wish of our house, and of our ancestors,
I have no choice but to sacrifice you.”
Perhaps because of his guilt toward his daughter, the duke’s face was hardening into a rigid mask.
Just as Theodore had expected, night fell before the escort party could even reach the outskirts of Felzentin.
It had been impossible from the start for human strength to match the speed of a horse-drawn carriage,
and with so many wounded from the two attacks, their progress could only grow even
slower. However, Crovitz intended to urge them on even if it meant marching through the night.
“Hurry. We must enter Felzentin before this night is over.”
But that was Crovitz’s thought alone. As the party trudged along the main road with torches lighting the way,
an unexpected volley of arrows rained down upon them.
Shweeeeeek.
“It’s an ambush! Aaargh!”
The soldiers reflexively raised their shields and took up defensive stances. The soldiers who had been pulling the carriage also stopped what they were doing
and grabbed their shields. But they could not even tell where the attack was coming
from. It was because the arrows had been loosed blindly from within the darkness.
Fortunately, the attack soon stopped. But since the arrow volley had produced numerous casualties,
their progress could only slow even further. Crovitz bit down on his lip.
“This is driving me mad. So they mean to obstruct our march in earnest now?”
For Crovitz, it was an utterly difficult situation. First of all, in this darkness, they could not track the enemy.
If he rashly dispatched the knight order, he was likely only to lose precious knights. If by any chance
the knights tripped over obstacles and fell from their horses, there was no way the assassins would leave them
alone.
Because of that, the only way out of the current situation was to build a defensive wall with shields around the carriage and march slowly
forward. Crovitz looked toward the carriage with expectant eyes.
‘If only the black magician would help us, perhaps……’
Snore.
At the sound of snoring drifting out from the carriage as if it had been waiting for that very moment, Crovitz could only let out a bitter smile.
Moreover, his pride as a knight would not allow him to expect any further help from him.
“There is no helping it. We have no choice but to march on, however slowly……”
After ordering the soldiers with shields to build a defensive wall around the carriage, Crovitz gave the order to advance.
The escort party began moving toward Felzentin slowly, very slowly.