World War

At the moment Barganta divided into two directions, Tyr had already been attacking one of Rakis’s castles.

“It’s the Iron Wall Magus!”

“Break through the barrier!”

Though Tyr unilaterally pounded them, the castle showed no signs of breaking through. It was because of the green outer wall flowing along the castle walls.

One of the 13 Lords.

Count Daas’s barrier Magus Arts with the epithet Iron Wall seemed to deflect all attacks.

BANG!

Morfo’s Magus Arts ‘Thunder Cloud’ dropped dozens of lightning bolts from the sky.

Simultaneously, Tyr’s other Magus Duke Gardo’s vibrations pounded the front.

Daas frowned watching the trembling barrier. Because a blow greater than two Magus Arts’ worth had struck the west gate.

BOOM!

The moment a hole pierced the barrier, a beast-like man shot toward the castle wall.

When Daas reflexively reached out and blocked with a makeshift barrier, it was a young man wearing silver armor.

“The mage who devours Magus…”

Jan’s eyes flashed fiercely.

BANG!

The moment Daas was bounced back together with the barrier, the Iron Wall surrounding the castle walls collapsed.

“Advance!”

The 100,000-strong army’s siege weapons pounded from all directions. And Morfo and Gardo began eliminating Rakis’s mages.

Daas glared beyond the makeshift barrier crumbling like powder.

“Was the rumor about being defeated by the Jester false?”

Endlessly surging mana materialized and gathered in Jan’s fist.

Though not granted a single characteristic, merely the amplification of densely gathered mana created a weapon stronger than Magus Arts.

“Soon the Jester will also go to the same place as you.”

In that time he added amplified mana and threw a punch.

Daas was bounced outside the castle together with the barrier, and Jan quickly clung on and continued his barrage.

Bang bang bang bang!

Thick sand dust rose hazily, making it difficult to distinguish surroundings. When only ferocious sounds swallowed the battlefield, Jan burst out from the sand dust and ran to Suira.

Then he respectfully held out Daas’s blood-stained armor and bowed his head.

“Your Majesty, I’ve pounded Daas into bloody pulp.”

Suira turned his gaze to the field where the sand dust had cleared.

Indeed, there were no living creatures there besides bloodstains.

Suira raised the King’s Sword high and shouted.

“We’ve killed Count Daas! Occupy the castle and announce victory to the alliance!”

Waaaaaaa!

With cheers and raised morale, soldiers occupied the castle that had lost its Magus.

It was an achievement accomplished in less than half a day since attacking the castle.

Suira gathered the castle’s citizens and remaining Rakis forces in one place and shouted.

“From now on, this place is Tyr’s territory, and those who wish to naturalize will be welcomed with open arms! However, even if you refuse naturalization, I will not punish you! If you wish to live as Rakis citizens, leave this place and head to other castles!”

Victory in war always required careful handling of defeated soldiers.

If he hadn’t had the luxury, he would have killed them all, but judging by the alliance army’s strength, it seemed it would take quite a long time to occupy castles and turn them into kingdoms.

From now on, he had to dye the occupied castles one by one with Tyr’s colors.

Showing a good image to the citizens, an important resource in war, wouldn’t hurt.

Later when seizing castles, if Tyr’s name rose high and gathered citizens, he had to show mercy.

“We shall forbid meaningless slaughter!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Suira entered Daas’s lord’s chamber with a pleased smile.

He must have agonized quite a bit over the war, as tactical maps were scattered about messily.

After simply tidying up, Suira called his retainers and held a drinking party.

“Today’s victory has great implications. No matter how much they’re 13 Lords, if they’re not gathered together they can’t withstand us, and in battles between forces excluding 13 Lords, Tyr dominated. If we receive supplies using this castle as a stronghold and pressure enemies, we can obtain at least three more castles.”

“Your words are most appropriate, Your Majesty.”

Gardo smiled as he filled Suira’s empty cup with liquor.

“Since a crack has occurred in one place, a 13 Lord will appear to check this location, but King Pernok is no fool. If Magus concentrate in one place, he’ll certainly try to stab into Rakis’s heart.”

“The Duke’s words are correct. Rakis will now have a headache. Though they have the world’s strongest Chris, this side has the Holy Kingdom. If Rakis doesn’t exquisitely position the 13 Lords, Rakis will face destruction.”

When even Morfo joined in picking only pleasant words, Suira burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahahahaha! The past peace seems like a lie! Among all the alliance army, Tyr dealt with a 13 Lord first! This valor will spread widely throughout the world!”

“Truly so, Your Majesty!”

As retainers fawned and held the drinking party until the day grew late, Jan entered.

“Your Majesty.”

“Oh! Yes, Jan! Where have you been to only come now!”

“I didn’t wish to spoil Your Majesty’s enjoyment, so I went to get some air.”

“The excitement would rise even more if you were here, yet there are bones in your words. Perhaps your father disappointed you?”

The retainers stopped their cups and quietly watched the father and son.

“I agonized truly much. Until the very last, I tried to understand Your Majesty. And while getting air, I reached a conclusion.”

Jan approached Suira’s side.

“You shouldn’t have sent Yuliana off that way.”

“Still such senseless talk…!”

“Today will be the last banquet Your Majesty enjoys.”

The moment the sharp voice cut through Suira’s words.

Slash!

Gardo blinked his eyes.

“Your Highness…?”

Jan’s hand blade had penetrated Gardo’s spine and pierced through his belly.

Thud!

When Jan withdrew his hand, Gardo collapsed onto the table.

After stomping on that back of the head with his heel to completely crush it, Jan turned his vicious gaze to Suira.

“You… you… what is… this…!”

The only person who made a normal judgment at the shocking scene was Morfo.

The Thunder Cloud Magus judged that Jan’s madness had erupted again and blocked the space between him and Suira with lightning.

“Your Majesty!”

Suira, who came to his senses with a start, shouted.

“Sleep!”

To put Jan’s uncontrolled childhood madness to sleep, the previous generation’s Royal Magus had planted a ‘command’ in his head.

The Magus Arts command close to hypnosis or brainwashing could designate both subject and conqueror.

Suira became the conqueror and came to control Jan’s madness by commanding it.

However.

“Sleep!”

Even when he gave the command, Jan stood firm.

He tore through the lightning with boiling mana and approached Suira.

[To think you’d try to control your child with commands. Truly pitiful and laughable.]

A stranger’s voice echoed in everyone’s heads.

[How lacking in skill must you be to sadden precious talent with petty tricks.]

“Who are you!”

The moment Morfo shouted while scattering lightning in all directions, the retainers’ heads all burst.

What shot out from the pierced holes were pure white butterflies.

[I planted my mana in that liquor. For reference, my Magus Arts can intervene and manipulate forms. That’s no different even if it’s another’s Magus Arts.]

At that moment, Suira and Morfo thought two things.

One was that Jan had overcome the command with this suspicious Magus Arts.

And the other was that this voice was echoing in their minds.

[My voice reaches all things where my intervention has been planted. But don’t feel wronged. Excluding Prince Jan in this place, no one could detect the mana in this liquor. Fufufufu.]

When a finger-snapping sound was heard, Morfo bled from his nose and knelt on the spot. He didn’t move a muscle as if his whole body was paralyzed.

‘I’ve been dominated?’

The moment Morfo’s eyes rolled in shock, Jan had raised his hand blade toward Suira.

“Ja… Jan… what is this!”

“I’m trying to correct what was wrong.”

“You, you’ve joined hands with Rakis now?”

“Your Majesty formed an alliance with Pernok, so what says I cannot unite with Rakis?”

“It can’t be! You mustn’t sell the entire nation to Rakis!”

“Don’t worry. From now on, Tyr will devour Barganta.”

“You foooool! Your mind turned by such a woman…!”

Jan’s hand blade pierced Suira’s heart.

Though warm blood soaked his face, Jan’s expression was indifferent.

“When everyone used me like a tool, she was the only one who loved me.”

Jan turned his head.

Morfo’s eyes shook violently.

“You should have protected her. You shouldn’t have left her to die so futilely like that! Morfo!”

He couldn’t even open his mouth to beg for his life.

Intervention seized his brain and spine, paralyzing Morfo’s limbs.

The only thing he could do was face approaching death.

Slash!

Morfo’s head rolled on the floor.

Jan, who fastened the blood-soaked King’s Sword to his waist, went outside.

The guards were all dead by one person’s hand.

“I thought it would be quite noisy, but it was needless concern.”

It was Count Daas, whom Jan had thought he’d killed.

Daas, dressed in Tyr guard uniform, retrieved the barrier that had surrounded the reception room.

“You didn’t dig a hole like when you spared me to separately smuggle out King Suira, right?”

“Just keep your promise.”

“How prickly.”

Daas, who smiled wryly, tapped the butterfly pattern on the back of his hand.

“Hey, Jester. Jan has cleaned up the reception room. As scheduled, we’ll have Jan lead Tyr to strike Barganta.”

[Listen, Daas. Send the Tyr Royal Army together too. Since Pernok even pulled out the border garrison to come here, the enemy’s vigilance is lax. If Tyr’s main force and kingdom army strike from all directions, Barganta can be conquered quickly.]

Daas conveyed the Jester’s message to Jan.

“Only after changing this attack into anger toward Barganta can I move the kingdom army.”

“True, the soldiers would be confused if the king and retainers suddenly died.”

When Daas snapped his fingers, a person surged from the shadows.

“Let’s transform into Pernok’s appearance and film a play.”

The moment Jan nodded, the stranger transformed into Pernok’s appearance.

Daas smiled coldly and tapped the back of his hand.

“I’ll make Jan a king and send him within a week. You start too.”

The Jester looked at a burly man.

“Tyr’s matter went smoothly. I’ll join King Jan along this route. Viscount Demos, lead troops and head to Barganta.”

“With Tyr heading there, must I go too?”

“Hahaha, Viscount. Did you forget our purpose? As a forward base, Illu… no, Barganta is an excellent place. How could we let only Tyr seize everything?”

“Mm… understood. However, is this Count Chris’s idea?”

“Hardly. What power do I have to position all the 13 Lords?”

The Jester smiled broadly with bright red lips.

“The moment Duke Chris chose Jan as the last of the 13 Lords, this was meant to happen.”

Demos also smiled and nodded.

“Then let’s meet again in Barganta.”

“I’ll be waiting first.”

The Jester vanished with a bewitching smile.

And Demos led 20,000 troops from the garrison.

The gap that normally shouldn’t have existed due to the alliance army’s thick vigilance—the front created thanks to Tyr’s defection—he charged through.

It was the shortest route leading to Barganta’s northern border.

‘Five days will be enough.’

He’d deliberately organized mainly cavalry with exceptional mobility.

Demos merely wanted to occupy Barganta’s border faster than anyone and have his achievements recognized by Arad.

Thus on the third day of marching.

An ominous presence blocked the plains.

“That’s…”

It was Barganta’s flag.

The old man surveying the battlefield with cold eyes at the vanguard was certainly Barganta’s Duke Flemyr.

“…?”

At a glance, tens of thousands of troops had formed ranks.

Why were Barganta’s main forces, who should have charged into Rakis intoxicated by Tyr’s victory news, here?

As puzzlement deepened, a chilling voice flowed across the battlefield.

“I’d hoped His Majesty’s concerns wouldn’t become reality.”

When Pernok divided forces into two, he commanded Ludmila and Flemyr.

“For one week, Flemyr shall block the route leading to Barganta. If enemies don’t appear, join with Tyr and combine with the Holy Kingdom. But if enemies appear…”

Pernok’s voice somehow contained elation.

“…Tyr has betrayed us, so Flemyr shall block the enemy forces. And Duke Ludmila shall follow the route the enemies advanced along, determine which castle they emerged from, and conquer the ’empty castle’ the 13 Lord departed.”

When Flemyr raised his sword, horn sounds rang out long. And a messenger bird flew toward the front where Duke Ludmila was stationed.

Since Demos had abandoned the castle he’d been guarding and entered to attack Barganta.

Ludmila would conversely attack that castle Demos had vacated and conquer it in an instant.

“The enemy has formed cavalry-focused organization with fast mobility as expected. Form ranks with spearmen and intercept from long range. If we clash head-on, it’s our victory with twice their numbers.”

As mana resembling blood began clinging to his sword, Flemyr gripped the reins with a cold smile.

“Sweep them all away!”

Pernok had intended to lead Tyr’s main force and join with the Holy Kingdom.

However, when he arrived at the stronghold castle Tyr had occupied, the atmosphere was ominous.

“I warned to keep Jan at distance, yet ultimately you overestimated yourself too much, Suira.”

He didn’t sense Suira and the retainers’ presence.

Seeing even Morfo’s distinctive sparking mana had vanished, the castle seemed to have met the feared result.

“Ultimately, you couldn’t control your emotions, Jan.”

A messenger bird that flew from the castle headed toward Tyr.

Pernok didn’t bother to stop it.

No, he had no intention of stopping it.

If Tyr formally showed hostility toward Barganta, what could be more joyful than this?

“An unfamiliar Magus. A 13 Lord. I didn’t think it through to them forming an alliance with Rakis, but…”

Pernok smacked his lips.

“…Perfect. If I can raise my synchronization rate even slightly, I had to devour anything.”

Pernok waited until Jan completely seized the 100,000-strong army.

Around the time shouts from inside the castle echoed day and night without distinction.

Finally the castle gate opened.

“We shall question King Pernok’s crimes!”

Jan shouting boldly at the vanguard.

What method he’d used to persuade the army wasn’t important now.

The fact that Jan’s mana continued increasing and his soul began emitting more intense colors than ever.

Only the point that suspicious Magus followed around him made Pernok smile.