Fierce Battle

Mati broke off one of his horns as proof of promise.

“I swear on this horn. If human reaches our island, I too will do my utmost to help human.”

“That horn, okay to break it off?”

“Horns reattach. If human cannot come, I’ll visit to retrieve it.”

Though breaking cold sweat from pain, Mati stared at Pernok.

Feeling firm conviction in his eyes, Pernok nodded and received the horn to store.

Then the Tunnel Folk following Pernok and Mati each split apart.

Children and old Tunnel Folk unable to endure the strait long-term went with Keir to Pernok.

Five young Tunnel Folk with physical stamina followed Mati to the island.

Most Tunnel Folk decided to follow Pernok along with the chief.

‘I can receive remaining Tunnel Folk together with Horn Tribe, so once Rezhen wraps up, I can send Ruin to bring them.’

If he sends Ruin as captain of the floating fortress, even if Horn Tribe changes their word, he can conclude matters without worry.

“I’ll visit in one year.”

“Wait, human.”

Mati seemed to think Pernok absolutely couldn’t cross the strait, unable to hide his rising mouth corners.

Pernok responded to his carelessness with a smile and led the remaining Tunnel Folk.

“This place isn’t good for you to hide. Moving to a safer location.”

“Where, keruk?”

“A place my subordinates stand guard. Dozens of times safer than that tall Horn Tribe.”

“Ooh, keruk!”

Chief Luti’s eyes sparkled.

“Let’s move quickly. Must leave this mountain before day breaks.”

Following Pernok, Luti, Keir, and the remaining Tunnel Folk moved in a line.

* * *

They left the Tunnel Folk’ old homeland and climbed to ground level.

Crossing the very dark night surroundings, when climbing the mountaintop, familiar ones revealed themselves.

To the tense Tunnel Folk, Pernok spoke leisurely.

“My subordinates.”

Then Hallam and the special forces appeared.

“It’s been a while.”

“Were there any problems?”

“No. Everyone’s diligently training at the summit. We also finished preparations to run here anytime if needed.”

“In a few months, the 4th Prince’s belly will swell greatly. Since we must bring gold nuggets, tell them to take appropriate rest too.”

“Understood. By the way, are they the race called Tunnel Folk?”

Hallam looked at the gathered Tunnel Folk as if curious.

Seemed to be seeing for the first time a special race shaped like raccoons that speaks human language.

Did he feel Hallam’s goodwill? Luti approached.

“Chief, Luti. Keruk.”

“I’m Hallam. I’ll escort you safely.”

Pernok had conveyed by letter to treat Tunnel Folk preciously like royalty.

Whether pleased with Hallam’s attitude, Luti handed over a walnut split in half.

“Keruk, keruk.”

“Hahaha… thank you.”

When he received the walnut and tossed it in his mouth, Luti smiled with satisfaction.

“Good humans. Keruk.”

“They’re people who’ll protect you going forward, so if you need anything, demand it immediately.”

“Understood. But why is everyone wearing worn-out iron chunks, keruk?”

Luti swept over the special forces’ outfits and tilted his head.

“Break even with slight bumps.”

Thinking as expected master craftsmen of weapons, Pernok said.

“If we prepare iron and fire, can you make their outfits better?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll have quality iron prepared.”

He entrusted Tunnel Folk to the special forces and called Hallam separately.

“Did you bring other guild members below the mountain too?”

“No. Only we came covertly.”

“But I feel strange signs.”

Instantly Hallam tensed sharply and spread mana shallowly.

The method Pernok taught for detecting mages. But nothing was captured.

The mountain was quiet, a silent night where not even insect sounds were heard.

“To avoid detection of a mage approaching level 6…”

Pernok spread mana across the entire mountain.

From climbing this mountain where Hallam is, something sticky had been felt.

At first he thought guild members, but when the special forces revealed themselves, his thinking changed.

“I apologize.”

Hallam who failed to notice surveillance attached bowed his head.

“Not your fault. If this covert, surely watchers planted by royals. Still difficult for your level to detect.”

As Pernok acted as cleaner poking around here and there, surveillance began attaching to Named too.

“The force capable of deploying surveillance network and concealment of this scale is the 1st Prince or 3rd Prince… or both.”

Perhaps because it collided with Pernok’s mana, the sticky mana thinned.

Realizing surveillance was discovered, they began fleeing.

“You safely take Tunnel Folk to the mountain range like this. And tell all guild members the entire mountain range is under surveillance, so proceed with work while erasing all traces.”

“Yes.”

Hallam took the Tunnel Folk with a stiff expression.

Since it was the opposite direction from the watchers, no worry that movement would be discovered.

Meanwhile, Pernok grasped all hidden ones.

Exactly five.

Each individual level 5 or above power with one being level 6 knight order grade.

Though they hid mana well enough that Hallam didn’t know he was under surveillance, to Pernok they were easily seen through.

Thud!

He blocked the watchers’ path.

Though facing Pernok who appeared suddenly, those in night clothes showed no sign of fluster.

‘Tight-lipped.’

He’d already used all consciousness-shaking magic like torture or hypnosis at the mine.

Capturing them didn’t seem like it would easily yield anything.

From their outfits, they possessed nothing that could be guessed as clues.

At most only daggers and cloth scraps obtainable anywhere.

“1st Prince?”

“…”

“Fine to keep your mouth shut. I happened to need more magic.”

No sooner did Pernok don Mana Reinforcement than the level 6 mage spread a signal, and level 5 mages scattered in all directions.

“Leave only one alive.”

When Pernok lightly kicked off the ground, barriers surged from all sides.

Level 5 magic handling earth trapped this place like a circular arena in an instant.

The watchers were confined without even taking a few steps. Then the level 6 mage’s eyes shook.

“Why? Disappointed I’m not a reinforcement-type mage as you heard?”

The level 6 mage raised his dagger forward.

That moment, the level 5 mages shot toward Pernok climbing the wall.

Desperate will to somehow handle the opponent risking death the moment their retreat was blocked.

Not even a hint of compromise showed in their appearance transcending life and death.

Therefore, Pernok transformed the artifact into sword form and lightly drew it horizontally.

Scritch!

Before the level 5 mages could attempt anything, bodies split in half.

[Swift Lv.5] [Sonic Wave Lv.5] [Stealth Lv.5] [Plant Control Lv.5] [Scent Lv.5]

All only magic good for surveillance.

The level 6 mage wasn’t much different either.

Swish.

When Pernok indifferently shook off his sword, the level 6 mage’s body melted into darkness. Then daggers flew simultaneously from all directions.

Though it looked like strange magic tearing space, Pernok’s Observation Eye pierced through that essence.

Clang!

When he blocked the side sword, the level 6 mage’s eyes widened.

“Illusions worse than eye tricks.”

The soul’s grain felt from only one place.

The rest was merely illusion created with mana.

“Come to think of it, I heard the 1st Prince’s covert mobile unit has a strange mage who splits bodies into several?”

When Pernok twisted his wrist, the sword sucked in the level 6 mage’s body with the dagger.

Unable to even take a breakfall, Pernok trampled the body that fell to the ground.

“I used the cross-sword emblem very usefully.”

“Grit!”

He bit down hard on his molars.

That moment, Pernok grabbed his neck with one hand and lifted.

Before green veins headed toward the heart, he cut one part of the collarbone to extract the poison.

Pernok’s Observation Eye indifferently swept over him.

“How dare you try to die without my permission?”

Pernok who lightly subdued him by striking the back of his neck headed to Duke Ludmila’s house riding darkness.

* * *

When Pernok returned after a month, Salavan welcomed him with open arms.

“I saw the note. You worked hard.”

“I’m merely sorry for not joining sooner.”

“By the way, what’s that?”

He presented the level 6 mage bound all over before Salavan.

“A watcher attached to Named.”

Salavan’s eyes turned cold.

“Did you find out who?”

“Level 6 mages handling illusions aren’t common. For now, seems related to the cross-sword emblem, so I dragged him thinking he might help Your Highness.”

“I’ll do my best to reveal the background.”

Salavan had people bring the level 6 mage inside the duke’s house.

This place has many experts well-versed in battlefields and torture.

Won’t take long to hear the desired answer.

“If elder brother’s watcher, this gets quite troublesome. He’ll try exerting influence in earnest, so no one can easily escape those eyes.”

“The dark squad?”

Salavan nodded.

“Seems elder brother judged the cleaner as dangerous. Will absolutely never stop until finding and killing. But we also can’t stop.”

“What happened?”

“Isolun is joining forces with younger brothers.”

Pernok suppressed his rising mouth corners while making a puzzled expression.

“Don’t tell me, the 4th Prince started something?”

“While waging territorial wars, he’s condensing younger brothers’ power into one. Isolun’s bulk is growing considerable. Moreover, Lügen is also running wild after losing Tunnel Folk. He’s thinking of spreading the merchant group’s power outward.”

“Then Your Highness must also prepare to give up a few.”

“Instead, I’m thinking of taking 2 more, but would that be possible?”

Words Pernok wanted.

“Use me as you wish.”

“Once I grasp that one’s identity, I’ll decide where to target first.”

“I’ll prepare and wait.”

Salavan smiled and said.

“Your body must be weary from the long journey, so go in and rest. Oh, the duke will request a spar as soon as he returns tomorrow. Since he said he’ll teach mana domination, prepare thoroughly before going.”

“Haha, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Pernok who bowed lightly entered the room Ludmila prepared.

The struggle between Salavan and other princes is intensifying in earnest.

The 1st Prince and 3rd Prince who suffered important things attacked by the 2nd Prince blatantly raise swords.

Since Isolun is extorting other princes’ power as intended, Rezhen’s throne structure gradually becomes clear.

Pernok pulled out a note from his chest.

Rio’s recent situation covertly delivered before coming here was written.

[Also subdued the 7th Prince. Isolun doesn’t stop now. I’ll incite momentum to sweep remaining princes and plant wariness in the 3rd Prince.]

Amid chaotic times when everything spins busily, only Pernok was seizing what he wanted.

* * *

Lügen gulped down alcohol.

‘These bastards.’

Lost Tunnel Folk and couldn’t even specify who the culprit was.

But now even Isolun is gathering other princes to covet his position.

‘Am I a joke? Do I look easy?’

Lügen struck the table hard.

“Damn!”

Frustrated enough to go crazy.

Wants to explode this rage somewhere.

“Even cornered, didn’t I teach that the head must always stay cool?”

“Who enters without permission…!”

Lügen who turned to the entrance with reddened eyes sobered completely.

“G-grandfather.”

Lamostal merchant group leader Barsadan sat opposite.

“The mine facility has no damage, so weapons can be made again. At most only Tunnel Folk were taken. We can fill that gap quickly.”

“It’s not because of Tunnel Folk.”

“Then?”

“I’m angry at myself for being unable to do anything despite losing Tunnel Folk.”

Lügen looked at Barsadan with reddened eyes.

“Whoever started this, that one can target me again anytime. But I currently have no power to restrain them.”

The 1st Prince has Royal Magus Zermoph.

The 2nd Prince has Military Commander-in-Chief Ludmila.

Rezhen’s two great mountains each support princes.

But Lügen lacks such power.

The merchant group’s financial power ultimately is only powerless on battlefields where blood and flesh fly.

“Then buy power.”

“This nation has no more talent to gather.”

“So I brought one person.”

When Lügen made a puzzled expression.

“Pleased to meet you, Prince Lügen.”

A young man was indifferently watching Lügen.

Didn’t even feel when he entered.

Goosebumps rose on his spine as he unknowingly stood up sharply.

“Sit. You’re being discourteous to an honored guest.”

“Who is this? This mana…”

Magus-grade mana.

“Brought from the Rakis Empire. Said he’ll gladly not refuse dirty work.”

“…!”

To surprised Lügen, Barsadan spoke in a cold voice.

“Mustn’t cleaners be caught by cleaners?”