"D-Damon."
The members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps searched the place, wailing without end. Every last one of them had tears
streaming down their faces.
"You must not die. I still have to repay the debt I owe you."
"The same goes for me. You cannot die without my permission."
They searched on with fire in their eyes, but there was no sign of Damon anywhere. It was because the wreckage
left behind by the enormous iron golem had formed a small hill. Since every shard was
razor-sharp, the hands of the Kasim Mercenary Corps members searching through it were soon stained with blood.
But as though they felt no pain at all, they did not cease their search for even a moment.
Meanwhile, knights covered in blood from head to toe approached them one by one. They were the Krosen Knights and the Duke Knights,
who had joined the battle and won victory. Though they had not been on particularly good terms,
having fought through a bloody struggle together seemed to have improved their relationship considerably. The sight of them helping
wounded knights support one another looked exceedingly close. However, the relationship between their leaders
could not improve so easily...
Marquis Williams stepped forward, his face stiff and rigid. A resolute
expression hung over his features.
"Everyone, stand aside. The search must be handled by our Krosen Knights."
At those words, Kasim shook his head coldly.
"This is clearly something we must do. However, if you wish to help, I will not stop you."
"You do not understand my meaning at all."
Marquis Williams clenched the hilt of his sword. At that sight, Kasim tensed sharply.
"What do you think you are doing?"
At Kasim's roar, Marquis Williams replied coldly.
"The black magician is a heinous traitor who dared to put out a contract on the life of His Highness the Crown Prince. He must be judged sternly under the law of the Krosen
Empire. Even if he is dead, he cannot escape the crime of high treason."
No sooner had those words ended than the members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps drew their swords as one. Their longswords, concentrated with
mana, shone blue.
Bzzzzzt.
Their momentum was as if they would fight the entire Krosen Knights if need be. Staring fixedly into Marquis Williams's
face, Kasim continued.
"That judgment will probably only be carried out after you have turned every one of us into corpses."
The moment Marquis Williams's brows shot up at those words, something enormous
came flying toward them. At the sudden fierce gust of wind that swept in, the knights had to hurriedly crouch down.
Thud.
With a heavy impact, the massive body of a bone dragon was hurled to the ground, raising a thick cloud of dust.
The bone dragon Zikrate lay there limply, as if dead.
Beside it, a white dragon lightly touched down. Judging from the situation, he seemed to be the one
who had hurled the bone dragon down. Kasim called out his name.
"Lord Katroi."
With a dumbfounded expression, Katroi raised a hand and pointed at Zikrate.
"That was close. We were flying over together with the Death Knights on his back, when this fellow suddenly
lost all strength and began to fall. I barely managed to snatch him up, but I have no idea
what in the world happened."
At Katroi's words, everyone's gaze focused on Zikrate at once. Just as Katroi
had said, Zikrate's limbs were sprawled weakly against the earth. He looked just like a corpse.
Katroi, who had been holding something, set that down on the ground as well.
"These fellows are the same."
What Katroi set down were none other than the Death Knights. Each of them lay sprawled helplessly
like corpses. Katroi continued his explanation.
"They had been riding on his back perfectly fine, then suddenly collapsed and started falling toward the ground. If my movements
hadn't been quick, these fellows would have smashed to pieces against the earth by now."
At Katroi's explanation, stunned expressions appeared on the faces of the mercenaries.
"How could this be..."
Kasim rushed to the Death Knights in a single bound and turned the prone Helbertron
onto his back. Though they all looked identical, Kasim had become familiar with them over a long period of time,
and was somehow able to tell the Death Knights apart. Astonishingly, Helbertron was not dead.
Like a patient suffering from a grave illness, a faint, barely discernible glow flowed from the eyeholes of his helmet.
"W-what happened? Lord Helbertron."
After a moment, a labored voice flowed from Helbertron.
"The d-dark magical power being t-transmitted from D-Damon... has been c-cut off. B-because of that, we
have lost all our strength."
As soon as those words ended, grief settled over Kasim's face. He looked as though he had lost
everything in the world.
"T-then Damon has already..."
"N-not so. If he had died, our bodies should have d-disappeared along with him at that very instant.
J-judging by the situation, he seems to have suffered grievous wounds... and lost consciousness in a near-death state."
Hearing those words, a flash of joy sparked across Kasim's face. As if there were no need to think,
he ran toward the place where Damon was buried.
"Hey. Damon is alive. We have to hurry and save him."
But Marquis Williams mercilessly blocked Kasim's path. He had already drawn
his longsword and was making a blue aura blade surge from it. At that sight, sparks flew in Kasim's eyes.
"If you do not move aside, I will attack."
At those words, a strange light appeared in Marquis Williams's eyes.
"Do you know who I am when you say that?"
"Of course. Lord Marquis Williams. Who would not know the commander of the great Krosen Knights?
However..."
As if to prove his resolve, Kasim spat out each word clearly, his eyes blazing.
"Even if Red Dragon Verkis and his guardians were blocking my path, I would still launch my attack.
Who stands in my way is of no importance to me whatsoever."
"If you do not step back, you will die by my hand."
No sooner had Marquis Williams spoken than Mitchell shouted fiercely.
"The lives of the Kasim Mercenary Corps are one and the same. Until you cut off the breath of every one of us,
you will not achieve your goal."
"Then there is no helping it."
Marquis Williams slowly raised his hand. At that sight, the members of the Krosen Knights lifted their swords with tense
expressions. Marquis Williams's frostlike command fell upon them.
"Arrest them all. There shall be no forgiveness for those who defend a traitor. If they resist,
cut them down without mercy."
But the knights only hesitated, unable to step forward easily. It seemed they could not bring themselves
to attack the mercenaries with whom they had joined forces and fought. The courageous deeds of the Kasim Mercenary Corps
had already been deeply engraved in their minds. But at Marquis Williams's following roar,
they had no choice but to grip their swords and advance.
"Judging by the situation, it seems we cannot avoid a fight."
Kasim quickly examined the condition of his companions. Each of them bore wounds large and small,
but none had suffered a fatal injury. Only two were missing from sight. Even amid the standoff,
they were still frantically clearing away the fragments covering Damon.
'Bieri was taken down earlier... and it seems Helton was taken down without my noticing as well.'
Kasim quietly called to them.
"It looks like we will have to fight."
At Kasim's words, the mercenaries turned their heads, and every one of them nodded. Their momentum suggested
they would protect Damon even at the cost of their lives. Even so, their hands continued to pick up fragments without pause.
His mind eased, Kasim silently poured mana into his sword.
"As I said, we will protect him to the last man."
Having declared his resolve, Kasim took a fighting stance. At that moment, someone stepped in between them.
"How can comrades who fought together do this to one another? Is it not only proper that we first rescue the black magician
before we fight?"
The one who intervened was none other than Duke Perstein. As if he had given secret instructions, the Duke Knights
raised their swords and prepared for battle. However, Marquis Williams's momentum did not weaken in the slightest.
"Duke Perstein. You, too, cannot avoid responsibility. Though it may not have been by your order,
joining hands with a black magician is itself a grave crime. If you involve yourself any further,
I will regard you as a traitor as well."
Duke Perstein's brows slanted sharply upward.
"I have been watching and watching, but this is going too far, Marquis Williams."
But Marquis Williams did not so much as twitch an eyebrow.
"Anyone who defends the black magician, regardless of status, shall receive the stern judgment of the Krosen Knights.
There will be no exceptions."
As soon as those words ended, a deep voice rang throughout the place.
"If there are no exceptions, then I would be included as well. Is that truly so, human?"
The startled people turned their heads, and Katroi's expressionless gaze was looking down
upon them. Even Marquis Williams, formidable as he was, had no choice but to take a step back
before a dragon.
"First, we sincerely thank you for your aid. However, this is clearly a matter
involving the honor of the Krosen Empire. Great white dragon, if you intend to interfere,
we will have no choice but to stop you."
"I, too, am without question a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps. If you attack my comrades,
I, too, have no choice but to fight. Having already made enemies of dragons, my own kin, do you think I have anything left to shy away from?
However..."
Katroi lifted his enormous eyes and stared fixedly into Marquis Williams's eyes.
"Would it not be proper to rescue Damon first? It seems the matters afterward should be discussed
only after we have saved him..."
With even a dragon stepping forward, Marquis Williams could no longer insist. However, as if to show
he would never bend his will, he set forth one condition.
"In exchange, custody of the black magician must be entrusted to our Krosen Knights. In return,
we will take responsibility for treating his wounds. In order to put him on trial, we too must keep him alive..."
"Let it be so."
Duke Perstein, who had hurriedly agreed to Marquis Williams's condition, gave an order to the Duke Knights under him.
"Rescue the black magician at once. Remove the fragments carefully so that the pile does not collapse."
As soon as the order fell, the knights of the Duke Knights rushed forward all at once. They began lifting away the fragments,
helping the members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps who were already in the midst of clearing them. Not to be outdone, the Krosen Knights
also rushed in.
"All of you, remove your gauntlets before clearing the fragments. To lessen any impact, I will not permit you
to concentrate mana in your hands either."
Watching the knights work together to remove the mountain of piled fragments, Duke Perstein
quietly approached Kasim. Kasim, whose eyes shone with a resolute light, turned his head.
"You are Kasim, the leader?"
"I am."
Though the answer was somewhat blunt, Duke Perstein did not mind in the least.
"First, allow me to sincerely praise the fierce bond you share with your comrades. You must already know
who I am, so I will not speak at length."
Duke Perstein leaned close to Kasim's ear and whispered in a low voice.
"Kasim. I fully understand how you feel, but for the sake of preventing any further escalation,
could you endure just a little longer?"
"........."
"I will make certain the black magician is saved. To me, he is a benefactor who bestowed upon me
an immeasurable grace. Therefore, I, too, cannot stand by and watch him die."
Without letting it show, Duke Perstein clenched his fist.
"Even if I must commit all the forces under my command and wage war, I will save his life.
So could you step back for a short while? To prevent the situation from worsening any further."
Kasim's burning gaze swept over Duke Perstein's face. He, too,
was keenly aware that Marquis Williams's stubbornness was no ordinary thing. After a moment, Kasim abruptly
spoke.
"Can you swear it on your name?"
"Of course."
Seeing Duke Perstein answer without hesitation, Kasim let out a long sigh.
For now, following his opinion was the best course.
"I will follow your wishes. I will tell my comrades this."
Kasim hurriedly began making his way toward his comrades. Duke Perstein, who had nodded in silence, also hastened toward the search site.
Thanks to the combined efforts of countless knights, the fragments of the Iron Golem were visibly diminishing. One knight mobilized for the search looked down at his hands and grimaced. Blood was dripping from his hands, which were covered in wounds. Judging by his attire, he was a knight belonging to the Duke Knights.
“Buried beneath fragments this sharp, do you really think he’s still alive?”
A knight wearing the insignia of a vice commander of the Duke Knights glared fiercely at him.
“If you have time to chatter, clear away even one more shard.”
The vice commander’s hands were also soaked in blood. In order not to collapse the mound of fragments, every knight had removed his gauntlets and was clearing the shards with bare hands.
“Y-yes, sir.”
The startled knight hurriedly returned to work.
After most of the fragments had been cleared away, what was revealed was the corpse of a man with a massive build. From the heavy armor he wore, it was clear that he was not Damon. The armor looked quite sturdy, but sharp fragments had pierced it mercilessly. There was no need to see what lay beneath to know that the body within must have been horribly mangled—mangled beyond recognition. As if to prove that fact, the limbs had been reduced to rags.
“Heave-ho.”
The knights carefully lifted the corpse. The moment the face was revealed, a cry of grief burst out.
“H-Helton. It was… it was you?”
The members of Kasim’s mercenary band collapsed to the ground as though their strength had given out. Helton had been the largest among them. He had also been the most taciturn, and the most simple-hearted. Judging by the situation, he must have thrown himself over Damon to protect him. When the Iron Golem began to break apart, he had been the one closest to it. Hot tears began to stream down the faces of Kasim and the other mercenaries.
“We couldn’t see properly because of the fragments… You did what we should have done, on all our behalf.”
Even on Helton’s face, ruined by wounds, the trace of a smile had not yet faded. It was an expression as if he could not help but be proud that he had saved Damon by giving his life. Stroking Helton’s bloodless face, Kasim murmured silently.
“Farewell, Helton. We will never forget you.”
They soon swallowed their sorrow and turned their eyes away again. The most important thing to them now was Damon’s life or death.
As expected, one person lay pinned beneath Helton’s corpse. But when they saw his face, bewilderment surfaced on the faces of Kasim’s mercenaries.
“What?”
They had naturally assumed it would be Damon, but the person lying there was someone entirely different. A pale face utterly drained of blood. The man lying there was certainly not Damon. A handsome blond young man lay there as though dead. Only the robe, torn to shreds, resembled Damon’s. Perhaps because Helton had protected him with his own body, the young man’s body bore no significant wounds. At this unbelievable sight, the mercenaries could only tilt their heads in confusion.
“What in the world is going on?”
At that moment, Marquis Williams suddenly let out a cry.
“H-how can this be… Y-Your Highness Alcaris.”
Marquis Williams’s eyes were opened so wide they seemed about to tear. As though unable to believe it, he stared fixedly at the face of the young man lying there.
Astonishingly, he was the First Prince of the Krosen Empire, who had gone missing long ago. Crown Prince Alcaris, who had been lured to Truvenia and vanished, long since presumed dead, had appeared before him. There was no way Marquis Williams, who had protected Alcaris since childhood, would fail to recognize his face. Though many years had passed, he could recognize Alcaris clearly.
“To think such a thing could happen in this world…”
Behind him, the court mage Philamones stood as though his soul had left his body.
“What am I doing?”
Coming sharply to his senses, he hurriedly cast Healing.
Whoosh.
The Healing cast by Philamones completely enveloped Crown Prince Alcaris’s body. As it was Healing performed by an 8th Circle expert, its restorative effects were anything but ordinary. However, Crown Prince Alcaris showed no sign of waking at all. Philamones urgently turned to Marquis Williams.
“This will not do. We must first move Crown Prince Alcaris to a safe place.”
“Of course we must.”
Though he had no way of knowing what had happened, Marquis Williams knew perfectly well what was most urgent in the current situation. Carefully lifting Crown Prince Alcaris into his arms, Marquis Williams shouted sharply at the surrounding knights.
“From the First Detachment to the Fifth Detachment, follow me. We must escort His Highness the Crown Prince to the palace. The remaining detachments will continue searching for traces of the black mage.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the knights acknowledged the order without hesitation, Marquis Williams immediately headed for the palace. Burning solely with loyalty to the Krosen imperial family, he did not calculate in the slightest what consequences his actions might bring. In his mind, there was only the single thought that he had to protect Alcaris.
Once he disappeared, the remaining members of the Krosen Knight Order once again began searching. Kasim’s mercenaries and the Duke Knights were already absorbed in the search to the point of frenzy. However, even after all the fragments had been cleared away, the black mage never appeared.
The search was halted. Since there was no knowing where the black mage had gone, the members of the Krosen Knight Order were ultimately forced to abandon their mission. However, the vice commander, who had received firm instructions from Marquis Williams in advance, ordered the knights to secure custody of the Death Knights.
“Move the Death Knights to the underground prison. The priests should already be installing a magic circle to neutralize their power. Once the soldiers arrive shortly, the Bone Dragon will also be moved to the underground plaza of the imperial palace.”
Of course, Duke Perstein was not one to simply stand by and watch. At his command, Krovitz, commander of the Duke Knights, stepped forward in fierce protest.
“That cannot be allowed. We Duke Knights will take charge of the Death Knights.”
But Kasimov, vice commander of the Krosen Knight Order, shook his head as though the idea was absurd. He, too, was a man who had long ago reached the ranks of Sword Master.
“I cannot agree. The Bone Dragon and the Death Knights are the confidants of the black mage, a traitor of the highest order. Therefore, it is most proper that the Krosen Knight Order secure custody of them.”
At those words, Krovitz stepped forward without hesitation. He looked thoroughly enraged.
“Do you truly intend to disregard us Duke Knights? To defeat the dragon, we suffered far greater sacrifices than you did. If you refuse to acknowledge their noble sacrifice, the Duke Knights will absolutely not remain still.”
Hearing that, Vice Commander Kasimov’s expression turned troubled. Krovitz’s words were undeniably true. In facing the Bronze Golems, the Duke Knights, whose overall skill was inferior, had inevitably suffered more casualties than the members of the Krosen Knight Order. As Kasimov stood flustered, unable to see how to resolve the matter, Duke Perstein approached him.
“Rather than that, it would be best to assign joint guard duty from the start. Let us each deploy half Krosen knights and half Duke Knights to guard the Death Knights and the Bone Dragon. What say you? Of course, we will follow your wishes regarding the place where they are confined.”
After sinking into thought for a moment, Kasimov nodded as though he had no choice. It was by no means a wise decision to continue provoking the Duke Knights, who were agitated after losing so many comrades.
“We will do so.”
Once an agreement was reached, the knights lifted the fallen Death Knights. Since they were in a state no different from corpses, there was no problem in moving them. Dozens of carefully selected Duke Knights followed behind them. They were the knights who would guard the Death Knights together with the Krosen Knight Order.
As they receded into the distance, the members of Kasim’s mercenary band, who had been gripping the hilts of their swords in tense silence, burst out in anger.
“Damn it. Those bastards.”
If the Duke Knights had not been included among the guard force, they would have fought a bloody battle even at the cost of their lives. Though the Death Knights were symbols of terror, to them they were no different from comrades who had shared life and death with them. Duke Perstein approached and soothed them.
“We have dispatched the most skilled of the Duke Knights, so the Death Knights will be safe. Do not worry, and follow me. You are in desperate need of treatment and rest right now. It may be humble, but I will provide you a place to rest.”
Only then did Kasim bow respectfully.
“We are grateful for Your Grace Duke Perstein’s kindness.”
Truthfully, the members had reached their limits both physically and mentally. Their entire bodies felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton, and now that the tension had loosened, they could barely keep themselves standing. Duke Perstein, noticing this, looked around at the remaining Duke Knights and shouted like a thunderclap.
“These men are, in a word, true heroes and warriors. Their courage and fighting spirit shall be an example for the Duke Knights to emulate forevermore. Support them and escort them to my mansion.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The Duke Knights who received the order immediately approached and supported the mercenaries. Like the members of the Krosen Knight Order, the Duke Knights had also been deeply moved by them. In terms of skill, there was little difference between them, but their fighting spirit was something the Duke Knights would not dare even imitate.
“Prepare the carriages.”
The knights supported the members of Kasim’s mercenary band, who were nearly unconscious, and headed for Duke Perstein’s mansion. After confirming that the situation had been resolved, Katroi changed back into human form and followed them. Duke Perstein, however, did not leave with them, remaining behind to handle the aftermath.
A dreadful catastrophe that had erupted out of nowhere. The leaders of the Krosen Empire soon began dealing with the bloodbath that had unfolded in the central plaza. Because of the Red Dragon and its guardian, countless people had departed this world. Most of them were princesses who had come to participate in the selection ceremony, along with their escort knights.
Every last injured person was moved to a safe place for treatment. The corpses scattered about were also gathered with care. For that task, the capital guard division had been deployed in its entirety.
The identities of the dead and wounded were confirmed one after another, and the identities of those who had died without leaving bodies behind were gradually determined through questioning witnesses. But because so many people had died, it was not a matter that could be wrapped up in a day or two.
While tens of thousands of soldiers combed every corner of the central plaza in search of pieces of corpses, this astonishing news was soon transmitted throughout all of Arcadia by magical communication. From the royal palaces of the kingdoms that confirmed the deaths of their princesses, anguished wails rang out. They were the grief-stricken cries of kings who had lost their daughters. Of course, their fury was directed not at Duke Perstein, but at the Red Dragon Verkis. All thanks to Damon’s timely response.