Fort Helm

What the Observation Eye captured originated not from a person but a weapon.

A peculiar ‘flow’ that was neither mana nor magic.

‘It wasn’t there when I first looked, where did it pop out from?’

Matching that, the encirclement spread wide also narrowed rapidly.

The appearance of a variable that twisted the initial judgment that level 4 mages were the highest battle strength.

The rear was entirely enemies to distance.

Rather, handling the something moving alone and breaking through the front dramatically raised survival probability.

Pernok overlaid physical enhancement magic on Mana Reinforcement.

Sheeek!

Cutting wind like a single blade, he charged at the something rushing from the opposite side.

And the moment he faced the something, Pernok widened his eyes.

Not because the fellow’s appearance was younger than expected, nor because his posture gave off a master’s scent.

The weapon the man gripped.

The moment he saw that weapon that made Pernok uncomfortable, fragments of sleeping memories stirred his head.

* * *

The Knight King watched the dying flames of the forge.

[Is this the last ore.]

When special metal dried up to calamity, the forge could no longer refine weapons.

The ember like the kingdom’s symbol now exhaled only gentle heat bidding farewell.

Yet the blacksmith pointed to piled weapons with a refreshed expression.

[Yes. But I split and split ore to make weapons enough to give to knights. We will subdue the calamity and glory will return, so please light hot embers here once more, Your Majesty!]

The Knight King lifted weapons identical in appearance and form.

Weapons made by fragmenting the last remaining metal were trivial incomparable to elite knights’ armaments.

But even these weapons no more than supplies weren’t lacking to counter enemies.

The Knight King concluded the final supply and shouted to the knights.

[All troops! Advance!]

* * *

“You survived well.”

The unfamiliar man’s words called Pernok to reality.

Pernok’s surprised gaze still lingered on the man’s sword.

Though time passed and the emblem faded, it was certainly the last refined ‘supply-type artifact.’

The power the metal flowed was to the degree long years were meaningless.

The sword’s flow captured in the Observation Eye certainly resembled the artifact’s activation effect heard from the Knight King.

“I heard you were a mage…”

“Where did you get the artifact?”

Pernok sharply asked, cutting off the man’s words.

The man likewise made a surprised expression hearing the word artifact.

“…As expected, you were a Banteras descendant.”

Elaborate words were unnecessary.

How he possessed an artifact that slept together with the kingdom.

Whether he knew Banteras’ name precisely.

He could know if he dragged that bastard alive.

“As heard, a proud and arrogant tribe. Not faded even across generations. Plus a descendant who’s a mage. Truly different from us who are cursed.”

The man too drew up the artifact’s flow as if not needing long words.

“Let’s test. Whether our curse will be washed away with you bastards’ blood!”

Incomprehensible words.

But the artifact at least was real.

The weapon that recognized its owner released the power contained in metal.

Blue aura drawn like a solid line on the blade.

The proud light glowing even at midnight was beautiful to the degree it couldn’t be thought supply-type.

[Because only part of the metal was used, it can’t display complete ability. Therefore, I made one of the four elements forcibly settle. This blue is water.]

The Knight King’s memory.

The moment the blacksmith’s words who completed the supply-type artifact grazed his head.

The man took a long breath and the sword he swung made water pillars soar from the ground.

[Water Spray Lv.3]

Manipulates water’s flow.

Pernok dug between water pillars and activated magic.

As soon as mana permeated the water pillars, they changed form according to Pernok’s will.

The man didn’t panic and swung his sword horizontally.

As if water split in half against Pernok’s will.

Bang!

Water pillars burst all at once and swept Pernok.

[Pounding Lv.3]

Generates vibration in the ground to make solid walls soar.

Urgently switching magic, he surrounded his body with pillars.

Shock shook the pillars, and water fell through gaps.

Water containing high heat to the degree smoke rose.

‘Artifacts display different flows depending on metal. And that flow is the metal’s possessed property. In other words, it manifests nature’s original flow in reality.’

Information about artifacts grazed through his head.

‘That I couldn’t manipulate the flow with magic means my mana and level can’t currently handle that artifact. At minimum I need at least level 4 magic to interfere with that flow.’

Several magics stolen from level 4 mages came to mind, but he again raised level 3 magic.

Because level 4 magic must be used at the tomb, and right now the man couldn’t draw the artifact’s performance to maximum.

‘Supply-type must burst all performance limits to the degree the artifact breaks. Handling preciously a weapon that must be broken, at minimum he’s worse than an apprentice knight swayed by artifacts.’

The man was wasting the flow engraved in the artifact.

‘I accelerate that flow used bit by bit to make the artifact self-destruct.’

Boom boom!

Pernok shook off pillars and blocked water bombs falling from all directions.

Simultaneously shooting to the front, the man swung his sword with an expression of disbelief.

“Was the report of double true!”

Water crossed in cross-shaped blades and swept the front.

Water pressure containing high temperature was sharp enough to split even steel.

Pernok erected pillars once more before Pounding’s effect disappeared.

The moment cross water smoothly split the pillars.

He crouched during the instant water collided with ground.

Simultaneously with water grazing past overhead, Pernok kicked pillar fragments at the man.

When the man drew long vertically, the pillar split in half.

Thump!

“…!?”

Taking advantage of the pillar colliding with ground’s sound, he narrowed distance to before the man’s nose.

Though a situation occurring in the blink of an eye, the man didn’t panic and twisted his sword.

Though water swirled like an aura on the blade raising cutting power, Pernok dug into his bosom without fearful color.

Though bare fists without even a dagger, the man felt eeriness at the violent momentum and retreated.

One must never allow distance to fist fighters.

Especially if holding a long sword, just spacing 1 meter gave the advantage to cook opponents who dug in.

The man was an experienced swordsman who solidified capability faithfully following textbooks.

But Pernok’s fist techniques exceeded the man’s understanding.

“Your lower body is weak.”

Pernok pushed in his left foot first.

The man tried to respond immediately, but somehow strength didn’t enter as desired.

Because Pernok precisely preempted the part where the man’s steps would tangle.

The sword wavered but fell slowly, and Pernok observed the man’s muscles to inversely use movements.

While pushing the deeply extended foot further forward, he hooked the man’s left foot like a hoe pulling the instep.

Then faster than the sword falling, he pulled the man’s foot toward himself and rotated his body one revolution using the recovered foot as axis.

[Whirlwind Lv.2]

Gathers small wind around the body.

Simultaneously activated magic wrapped around wind following Pernok’s rotation.

Though power was weak, it gathered centrifugal force to the degree the man before his nose staggered.

Bang!

Ultimately, the man whose center collapsed had his sword pierce innocent ground.

And Pernok loaded the gathered power into his sole and kicked the man’s abdomen.

Boom!

Along with the sound of drum leather tearing, the man bounced away.

“Kugh!”

A deflating sound came together with a cough mixed with bloody phlegm.

He tried to rise laboriously but soon clutched his abdomen and collapsed.

Ribs seemed broken.

“Huff, huff.”

Leaving behind the man turning pale, Pernok lifted the sword.

Though the emblem nearly erased, it was certainly an artifact made at Banteras’ capital Fort Helm.

Pernok approached the man while feeling attackers surging from the rear.

At the appearance as if breath would cease any moment, Pernok placed his hand on the man’s crown.

“Don’t die yet. Because I have very much to ask.”

When mana flowed in, the man lost consciousness and collapsed.

Carrying the swaying body on his shoulder, Pernok sprinted forward.

* * *

Pernok entered a cave hidden by vines beyond the mountain.

He threw down the man and lit the lantern.

Not long after, rustling sounds came from outside the cave.

Eventually Kelt entered the cave.

“Fortunate you’re safe. But who is this person?”

This was the two people’s rendezvous point.

It was natural to feel wariness when an uninvited guest lay gasping for breath.

“An enemy who knows about Banteras.”

“What!?”

Kelt alternately looked at the man and Pernok with eyes crossing surprise and confusion.

“Banteras… But he’s half-dead…”

“I’ll obtain only what’s needed and kill him. Hide the cave. It’ll be troublesome if attackers swarm.”

“U-understood.”

As soon as Kelt left the cave, Pernok placed his hand on the man’s head.

He used useful magic stolen from other attackers after the assassination brothers’ first attack.

[Cognition Seizure Lv.4]

Controls the subject by applying powerful hypnosis.

Subject and eyes must meet.

Among Pernok’s attackers was a special-type mage.

That fellow controlled and handled people who wouldn’t be strange as corpses with this magic.

Though mages with mana have some resistance, ordinary people suffer from terrible hypnosis.

Like the man here.

“Ugh… Ughhh…”

The man without mana fell into Cognition Seizure as soon as he opened his eyes.

To him who lost light in his pupils, Pernok asked indifferently.

“Name.”

“Nekkelman.”

“What region are you from?”

“Rezhen Kingdom, Count Tipior’s territory.”

Rammus Trading Company’s home base.

“Are you affiliated with Rammus Trading Company?”

“I am Blue Cross Knights.”

“Are Blue Cross Knights a separate group from Rammus Trading Company?”

“Rammus Trading Company handles Blue Cross Knights’ supplies.”

“Are Blue Cross Knights affiliated with the count’s territory?”

“We don’t follow the count.”

“Blue Cross Knights’ affiliation?”

“Avala.”

Pernok’s eyes widened.

Avala.

Certainly in the Knight King’s memories.

A renegade group practicing evil arts.

Cruel bastards who tried to build a small kingdom by capturing citizens and performing all sorts of experiments, whom the Knight King subdued.

And he even cast a curse so those descendants could never use evil arts again.

‘The calamity swept the continent and extinguished the land of knights. Avala too should have rightfully disappeared, yet they’re still alive?’

Perhaps because the Knight King’s memories surfaced, only displeasure toward Avala surged.

Pernok felt interest at the unexpected answer.

“Are you Avala’s descendant?”

“I am merely a knight following that person’s command.”

“Who is Blue Cross Knights’ master?”

“Master.”

“Name?”

“Master.”

“Did that fellow also give this artifact?”

“Correct.”

“Can you make artifacts?”

“I heard it’s impossible.”

“How many total artifacts are there?”

“Eleven swords including mine.”

Pernok nodded.

Avala seemed to have separately smuggled supply-type artifacts before the land of knights perished.

And artifacts passed down through generations, descendants using them not knowing they were supply-type and secretly growing influence.

Facts guessable from conversation with Nekkelman were about this much.

But that descendants of history’s successors who possessed lost records were alive.

That point sounded extremely fascinating to Pernok tracing back history.

“What’s the reason for trying to kill me?”

“If we kill Banteras descendants, that person’s curse will be lifted.”

“Do I look like a Banteras descendant?”

“The archaeologist traced back Banteras’ records. But you’re groping back following footsteps while spreading Banteras’ emblems. Plus you reacted to blue powder. There’s no more certain proof than that.”

The powder the assassination brothers first sprinkled.

He thought it was for confusing eyes by just glowing blue, but Avala seemed to distinguish Banteras descendants with that powder.

“So you tried to kill both?”

“Kill you, bring the archaeologist alive. Because we too must find Banteras.”

“How much do you know about Banteras?”

“Up to there being the king’s sword that dominates all artifacts…”

Pernok nodded.

‘Avala’s descendants possess Banteras information but it’s not perfect. So they tried to kill me whom they guess is a Banteras descendant and only take Kelt. Those guys too are thirsty for information.’

If they kill Banteras descendants, Avala descendants revive.

It was because their information lacked that they believed such superstitious precedents.

What would happen if he added his knowledge to Avala’s information?

“Is Master here?”

“Correct.”

That moment Pernok’s smile deepened.

* * *

Kelt, who returned after hiding the cave entrance, faced a corpse dead coldly.

Kelt, who strenuously avoided the bloody smell, asked Pernok.

“So, did you obtain something?”

“These attackers are a cursed tribe called Avala. They tried to kill thinking I was a Banteras descendant.”

“You?”

“Seems spreading emblems everywhere became the problem. And you, they intended to keep alive to research Banteras.”

“Look at these bastards worse than beggars!”

“Calm down. The situation got better. Since they too want our knowledge, I’m thinking of playing with this as pretext.”

“What?”

“They’re mistaken about one thing. They believe Banteras’ legacy is at the holy land. But that place isn’t a holy land. There’s nothing splendid.”

That place was merely the king’s tomb seeking rest.

“So we’ll hand over all our knowledge to those bastards and push them inside the tomb.”

“Are you sane! Why do good for bastards trying to kill us!”

“Very scary traps lurk there. I needed a method to solve that, and those bastards conveniently appeared.”

Pernok exited the cave holding his sword.

He felt presences of mages narrowing from everywhere.

“Hand over information they want most and utilize them as consumables to pioneer the tomb.”

Recalling the Blue Cross Knights’ rendezvous point Nekkelman mentioned, Pernok grinned.

“Make them remove traps and we safely enter the tomb. Hahahaha!”