TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
Join the discord! Here
"No, I'm serious."
Ian was genuinely worried that Lord Fin might actually hold a public erotic manga reading session in front of the nobles.
He could make such bold declarations now because he didn't know what the 'family treasure' contained...
But once he saw what was inside, Lord Fin would find himself in quite the predicament.
Yet here he was, shouting without thinking about the consequences.
"Enough talking! It only wastes breath! Knights, charge! Go and cut off all those thieves' heads!"
"Yes sir!"
Lord Fin issued attack orders to his subordinates without hesitation.
Though there were various complications regarding the succession...
If he killed Baron Mud and Ian here and recovered the family treasure, no variables would remain.
Solve everything with force!
This was the perfect plan!
"Forward! For honor!"
The knights and soldiers charged toward the abandoned fortress as one.
With their numbers reaching 30-40 men, it made quite an impressive sight from afar.
"Oh, they're coming!"
"Everyone stay calm and hold your positions! They have to enter the fortress anyway!"
As the raid began, Belenka immediately took charge.
Concealing her face with a black helmet, she commanded the battlefield as a black knight.
Fin's army quickly reached the abandoned fortress.
Fin watched his brave subordinates with an expression full of anticipation.
'No matter how talented the wizard is, he can't handle this many people alone!'
That was true.
In this medieval fantasy world, wizards were just people with unique foreign language skills, not superhumans who could massacre dozens.
A simple crossbow barrage from afar could easily kill a wizard. Few had learned mysteries to block arrows.
Lord Fin was confident his knights would quickly eliminate Ian and Baron Mud.
"Out of my way! The vanguard is mine!"
A knight with a massive build shoved aside the mercenaries and entered the fortress first.
Upon spotting Belenka, he immediately shouted:
"Well well, pretty one! You did well ignoring me back in Heltingen!"
"? Who are you?"
Belenka genuinely couldn't remember him.
Understandable, since she had ignored all the knights who invited her to dine and left straight for shopping!
"Ha! Never mind! You'll be my prisoner soon enough! Don't worry, I won't kill you. After all, you need to bear my children!"
"..."
Belenka swung her sword wordlessly.
She had heard such stupid remarks countless times before.
"Oh! For a woman, your blade is quite sha-"
Belenka raised her sword tip in one fluid, natural motion.
The blade drew a silver arc as it glinted with a subtle light.
The longsword's point pierced the knight's neck.
"Gu-gurk!"
The knight collapsed, clutching his neck.
A wound like that would be difficult to treat even with modern medical technology, let alone in this medieval fantasy world. It was undoubtedly fatal.
That knight would be dead within 30 minutes.
Belenka examined her sword tip as she spoke.
Not a single drop of blood stained the longsword.
"I could have taken you prisoner. But I killed you because I didn't want to keep you alive. No complaints, right?"
"Grrrk...!"
Had he shown proper courtesy, Belenka might have treated him as a prisoner.
But the enemy showed no manners, so she killed him.
"Sir Diom has fallen!"
"Damn it! Don't rush! Form ranks first!"
The knights and mercenaries who arrived next didn't charge in recklessly like the dead knight.
At the same time, they sensed their opponent wasn't to be taken lightly...!
'Weren't they supposed to be just thieves?!'
'What kind of monster knight is this...!'
Most of Lord Fin's forces were hired mercenaries.
And naturally, Lord Fin hadn't told the mercenaries any important information.
Not only did Lord Fin himself not know Ian's group's capabilities, but he also worried they might not take the contract if he told them!
But once they were on the battlefield, even if they'd been deceived into coming, they couldn't run away with enemies right in front of them.
Defeat on the battlefield meant death.
"The black knight! Focus on the black knight!"
They judged Belenka to be the core of the enemy's strength and immediately moved to neutralize their ace.
If they could just take down the black knight, the rest were really just thieves!
"? What are you talking about, you lunatic."
"You opened that to pull out..."
Ian kicked Baron Mud.
"Think logically. Is this the time for that?"
"But you're a wizard, so you might be able to..."
Ian glared at Baron Mud in disbelief.
Seriously, what do you think wizards are?!
Ian ignored Baron Mud and focused on the [Holy Painting].
Though it looked like an erotic manga that could carry a webtoon company's revenue, it contained power left by the goddess.
'...Huh?'
Ian was slightly surprised to find several human souls inside the book.
Among Hrundal's many titles was [Warden of Hell].
Creating prisons to confine souls seemed to be nothing special for her.
"[Bjorn?]"
[Oh! Ian!]
One of the souls trapped in the book was Bjorn.
While other undead had found peace and vanished, Bjorn who was close to the book couldn't easily escape.
[Well, I'd like to get out, but I'm not sure how.]
"[I can help with that.]"
[Oh! Really?!]
"[Just one favor I'd like to ask.]"
[What is it? Hope it's nothing too difficult.]
Ian snapped his fingers and said:
"[There are some folks outside trying to kill me and Baron Mud.]"
[What?! Someone's trying to harm my descendant!]
Actually, that person is your descendant too.
Ian swallowed those words.
"[I'd like help driving them away.]"
[That kind of thing, anytime!]
But Ian needed to borrow the power of mystery.
Since Bjorn didn't want Baron Mud's death, he decided to help Ian.
"[When you're ready, let's head out.]"
#
As darkness began to fall, Lord Fin's army grew tense.
Their opponent was a wizard who wielded the power of darkness.
Who knew what terrifying magic he might cast once night fell.
"Are the crossbows well maintained?"
"No problems, captain."
The mercenaries stayed vigilant while being thoroughly prepared.
The enemy had no water or food, so this would be decided within 3 days at most.
The key was how to hold out for those 3 days.
"Captain! Over there!"
"Fire!"
A human shadow appeared as the bushes rustled.
The mercenaries fired their crossbows without hesitation.
"...Huh?"
Then something amazing happened.
The arrows passed right through the human shadow.
The mercenaries belatedly realized what it was.
"G-g-ghost!"
Two northern warriors in fierce barbarian-like attire. Beings that arrows couldn't even hit!
The mercenaries were certain they were ghosts.
Logically, northern warriors wouldn't be wandering around in the heart of the Holy Empire!
And the mercenaries' judgment was correct.
"Wooooooo!"
The warrior ghosts let out blood-chilling howls.
Even mercenaries fighting for money had their morale instantly shattered upon encountering ghosts.
"It's necromancy! That wizard used necromancy!"
"Run! Everyone run!"
The mercenaries abandoned all their supplies and fled with just their bodies.
When morning came, all that remained were pathetically abandoned food and supplies.
Lord Fin's army had evaporated overnight.
"H-how could this happen...!"
Ian and Baron Mud walked steadily forward with the black knight in front.
Fin couldn't believe his eyes even as he watched.
"We meet again, my lord?"
Ian grinned at Lord Fin.
---