Kays Translations

Chapter 60: War Flames

"What is that?"

Yu looked up at Mount Kuron beyond the tea plantation from the foothills.

Behind him stood a frightened Lauren, but it wasn't just her—everyone in the town was terrified.

The reason was evident.

Several large iron cocoon-like objects were flying in the sky, covering the entire town.

Their shadow was massive enough to engulf the entire town.

They weren't monsters; it was clear that these were man-made objects floating in the air.

"Eek..."

Suddenly, a scream-like voice came from the townspeople. It wasn't just because of the fear of the flying iron cocoons, but also because something unbelievable had come into view.

The flying objects were hanging something using giant wires.

"...A red dragon and an ouroboros."

He wasn't entirely sure.

Both creatures were close to legendary and of Special Class, something he had never seen before.

However, the pressure emanating from the monsters and the densely packed magic within them were undeniable.

"Yu-san, those monsters... their limbs..."

"They've been cruelly mutilated."

Both creatures were covered in metal restraints.

The red dragon's limbs and wings had been severed, and blood was dripping from the wounds.

As for the ouroboros, the wires were twisted and contorted around its body, rendering it unrecognizable as a living creature.

Despite that, both the dragon and ouroboros, creatures with immense life force, were alive.

Yu himself had faced off against monsters and killed them.

But now, all he could do was inflict pain.

Three out of the ten flying objects slowly landed on the ground.

When the gates in front of them opened, a large number of armed goblins emerged.

—Beast Soldiers.

The townspeople screamed in fear and began to flee in all directions.

Yu quickly deployed a gate formation and opened a black gate.

"Lauren! Run ahead!"

"No, Yu-san, let's go together."

"I'll catch up later."

"No, I'm going with you."

"It's no use. Those caught by the Empire will suffer more than death."

"Then!"

"It'll be fine. I'm strong."

"But!"

Yu looked at Lauren with eyes filled with sorrow.

—She's grown so much.

He smiled faintly and forcibly pushed Lauren into the open gate.

As her screams faded away, the gate closed.

Turning back, he saw a horde of goblins rushing into the tea plantation.

Townspeople who were late to flee were being caught by the goblins one by one, who would soon turn them into nourishment.

Beyond them, he could see white figures approaching the beast soldiers and the Imperial Army.

"Nee, nee, nee!"

The little mouse-like ear rats with drooping ears noticed the presence of the beast soldiers and hurriedly ran towards them.

The soldiers laughed and impaled the ear rats with their weapons.

Unaccustomed to being cautious and too accustomed to living among humans, the monsters had no way to resist and were soon turned into furry coats stained with blood.

However, this was just the beginning.

Soon, the entire Tact Territory, or perhaps the entire eastern region, might become like this.

—Lord Clark. I can't keep the promise to protect the Tact Territory... It seems impossible.

Even though he knew it was impossible, he had no choice but to flee.

"Uwooooh!"

Yu manifested the land protector, roaring like a tiger.

Immediately, the eyes of the goblins turned to him alone.

He rushed into the swarm of goblins.

A gray swarm covered the ground, all of them rushing towards Yu.

With his giant sword, he mowed down the goblins and crushed those that clung to his body.

Thrown goblins would explode like a chain reaction, turning the once-gray ground into momentarily scorched earth.

In the midst of the explosion stood a raging tiger.

Despite being engulfed in flames, his intense gaze only grew stronger.

The surrounding goblins refrained from attacking.

It wasn't out of fear; the beasts' emotions and thoughts had been removed.

When he was suspicious of this, something flew down in front of Yu.

"You're quick on your feet. However, disrupting the formation any further won't do."

Yu raised his head.

There was a large man in his 40s.

He had angry red hair that looked like it was on fire.

On his waist, there were five exposed brains hanging down by their nerves.

He straddled a black-feathered horse, wielding a large sword with a blade as red as blood.

"Are you the one commanding these beast soldiers around here?"

"Indeed."

An oddly familiar swordmaster like Yu.

"Your appearance, the red sword. I recognize you as the Warlord."

The man grinned.

"Yes, that's right. I am the Warlord Fury. And who are you?"

The pressure from Fury was no less than the Chiyou he once faced.

"I am Tact Land Chief Officer Yu Esta Lavendre."

The giant man narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, you're the man who killed the Lord who peeked around here ten years ago. I've been wanting to repay the favor by hunting you down."

Anger welled up in Yu's eyes.

He swung his powerful sword with all his might.

Instead of a metallic clash, there was a dull sound like hitting with a blunt object.

"Say it again!"

"I'll say it as many times as necessary. It was a reward for killing your Lord. Become my... a magical tool!"

The man on horseback caught Yu's blow with one hand.

Even Tiger Man Yu was blown away by a single swing of the giant sword.

Landing on the ground, Yu glared at Warlord Fury.

"So, your armor is also a magical tool?"

"I use it on the battlefield. Everything here is a weapon."

"Powered by counterfeit magic and techniques?"

"A foolish misconception. To me, putting magic power in my own body is the epitome of savagery."

As Warlord Fury gripped his sword, magic power overflowed from the large blade.

The brains wrapped around his waist seemed to scream in agony, their voices inaudible.

They are coming!

Feeling the ground vibrations, Yu took flight.

Then, without delay, blades and spears protruded from the ground all around.

Swords, lances, and spears sprouted from the ground.

"Did you know about my magical tools?"

"...Bloody Thousand Blades. An assembly of techniques I took from the Eastern warriors I slew."

The scene of his former subordinates being impaled on the ground, offering blood to the earth, came into view.

Despite this, Yu focused on the Warlord in front of him.

"Haha! Impressive skill. I want it even more now. Give me your essence and techniques!"

Fury spurred his horse and raised his large sword.

Yu intercepted it.

"Guu!"

The combined impact of the horse's charge and the large sword pierced through his body.

He must have enhanced his strength through the techniques.

Just after holding his ground, intense pain shot up from his foot.

A spear had emerged from his instep.

His face twisted in pain.

"Is that okay? Like this."

Taking advantage of his hesitation, Warlord Fury swung his sword with force.

Yu tried to defend with his sword, but he couldn't brace his feet, and his body soared through the air.

Waiting where he was blown away, emotionless beast soldiers were ready to strike.

"In that case..."

In mid-air, Yu threw his sword at Warlord Fury.

Caught off guard, Fury hastily swung his large sword.

With a loud noise, Yu's sword, deflected, dissolved into magic power.

A small drop of blood dripped from Warlord Fury's cheek.

"...I won't forgive you... I won't forgive you, you monkey! This humiliation... I'll torture you to death!"

Fury shouted, and a large number of blades emerged from the ground where Yuu was about to fall.

Naturally, numerous beast soldiers present there also released blades from their mouths, celebrating the blood sacrifice. However, Warlord Fury seemed completely indifferent to it.

The lives of the beast soldiers were of little value.

...Beast soldiers are just disposable pawns, aren't they?

Dragged down by gravity, Yu fell to the ground where the blades grew thickly.

---

"Imperial soldiers are attacking the base town!"

The messenger's voice rang out in the hall.

Naturally, tension ran through not only Olivia but also the lords, including Lord Lilinths.

"Say it again."

Lord Lilinths asked the messenger again, but the same words were returned.

One of the lords raised his voice in disbelief.

"Impossible! Are you saying they crossed Mount Kuron? How on earth did they do it?"

Olivia immediately intervened.

"We'll analyze what happened later. We need to understand the current situation first. What is the enemy's strength?"

"E-estimated 500 Imperial soldiers and 18,000 beast soldiers! They appear to have crossed Mount Kulon on unidentified flying objects."

"18,000!?"

The shock spread through all present, regardless of nobles, knights, or soldiers.

Silence enveloped the hall.

It was only natural.

The difference in individual strength between the Empire and them was evident.

As a minimum, it was a tactical rule to engage with at least three times the strength. Facing 18,000 with such a small force was simply incomprehensible.

Even the Tact Territory, which didn't have a knight order, wouldn't stand a chance in battle, even if the knight orders stationed in the labyrinth participated. It would end in a one-sided massacre.

Moreover, the situation was unfavorable.

As they hadn't detected the Empire's approach at all, many of the residents hadn't been evacuated yet.

With no fighting power and so much to protect, they were in an extremely desperate situation.

"Any other information?"

The messenger hesitated in his words.

"W-we have identified the Warlord's presence."

Olivia clasped her hands in front of her chest.

"T-the Warlord... The Blood-Soaked Thousand Blades!"

Lord Lilinths raised her eyebrows.

"That's right; it was the Warlord who killed your brother."

Olivia lowered her head.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

If only her brother were alive, the northern region wouldn't be in such a dire situation.

Her father and mother were both splendid leaders.

There would have been no need for a young self to risk her life and challenge monsters like the Griffin.

All the blame lies right before her eyes.

Fighting the urge to avenge her brother, she suppressed it with all her might.

Standing behind her, Chief Officer Reuel spoke up.

"If you command it, Lady Olivia, I will risk my life to defeat the Warlord."

The expressions of the Tact soldiers tensed.

On the other hand, the civilian officials advised caution.

"Lady Olivia, please be resolute."

Olivia's breathing became rough.

She had something to protect now.

Having decided to bear the burden of the future leader of the northern region, she would not change that determination from the time she spent with Lucius in the forest.

Olivia straightened her back.

With dignity befitting a leader, she declared:

"We will abandon the Tact Territory."

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