War

“P-please spare me…”

Pernok surveyed the terrified men.

“Where are the others?”

“N-none left!”

Pernok raised Mana Reinforcement.

Though his mana was sufficient, his body tingled.

No matter how strong the power, continuously pouring it out causes physical overload.

‘Sasak and Burd suffered near-annihilation damage, so now Flang’s affiliated guilds who heard the news will begin moving in earnest.’

Rumors needed time to spread and for them to search for Pernok.

‘Perfect timing to organize the powers I gained this time.’

Those who’d lost their will to fight carried their guild leader on their backs down the mountain.

Pernok left them alone.

‘They’ll spread rumors that I’ll keep staying in the mountain range drawing in enemies.’

From now on they’d become confusion misleading their own allies.

Pernok surveyed his surroundings.

Smelling the blood scent of corpses, more dangerous demon beasts began gathering.

[Disguise Lv.2]

Changes build and facial features for one day.

Pernok transformed into a middle-aged man and leisurely exited the mountain.

* * *

Pernok entered an inn on a narrow alley. Opening the end room on the second floor, he saw Rio relaxedly drinking tea.

“You know these secret places well.”

“Build, voice—flawless disguise without a single fault. Where’d you learn it?”

“Not something you could follow just because I taught you.”

Pernok sat across from Rio.

“What have you been doing?”

“Extracting one business right. When you crush Flang, you’ll secure a very good base here.”

Pernok said indifferently.

“Business rights become mine the moment I crush Flang. Were you wasting this precious time to obtain one obvious result?”

Rio grinned in response.

“I’m preparing one more most important thing. Fortunately it’ll be ready by the time you strike Flang, Lord Pernok.”

“When did you decide I’d have an all-out war with Flang?”

“Destroying two affiliated guilds took less than a day. A-rank guilds are descending the mountain now, and if affiliated guilds are watching the situation… I estimate about a week until their total offensive. Therefore, you’ll probably settle things by next month.”

“I’ll finish within this month.”

“If only affiliated guilds, that’s possible. But the opponent is Flang. Guild leader Jake is a level 6 mage with deep roots here, and executives are minimum level 4 mages.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

This side’s growth rate was far faster.

If he kept devouring affiliated guilds and demon beasts like this, one month was enough to reach level 6.

He had to fight and grow stronger.

The longer combat continued, the more advantageous—that was Pernok’s special training method.

“Do you have some other card I don’t know about?”

“If I had something like that, I wouldn’t be fighting a grinding battle.”

“The statement about striking even Jake—I think it’s premature but…”

Rio who’d been tapping his teacup nodded.

“…Since you cleanly finished Burd and Sasak too, I’ll also advance my conception by this month.”

“If you spout obvious words like business rights, there’s no point bringing you along either.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Then our next meeting will be this month’s last day.”

Rio emptied his tea and stood up.

“Rest well. This place is safe.”

When Pernok drank tea, Rio bowed lightly and left the room.

Filling his stomach with some food, fatigue rushed in.

Pernok lay on the bed and closed his eyes.

Calmly observing internally, he began organizing the numerous powers gained so far.

* * *

Flang successfully completed their quest and descended the mountain.

Naturally congratulatory greetings should arrive from affiliated guilds.

But Jake who returned to the guild heard absurdly shocking words.

“Who died?”

“Guild leader Ramro and deputy guild leader Homan, and Burd’s deputy guild leader and numerous guild members died or were seriously injured. Guild leader Marshall survived, but terrified, he can’t leave the guild.”

“…”

Before even relieving travel fatigue, ominous reports came consecutively.

Just briefly leaving the castle, his house was burning.

Shock at the unbelievable reality was momentary.

Jake collected himself and rapidly assembled affiliated guilds.

The head seat of a long rectangular table.

Jake sat with a heavy expression, indifferently watching the guild leaders.

“Pernok, level 4…”

Jake corrected the underlined report.

“…No, a level 5 high-grade physical enhancement mage. Received equal rank qualification in one month and completed various quests alone without a party. Guild leader Ramro died in the mountain range while crushing sprouts as part of force expansion. Guild leader Marshall survived but suffers from serious trauma.”

With each clear statement, affiliated guild leaders flinched.

“Are you joking now?”

Just a slight leak of a level 6 mage’s anger made affiliated guild leaders’ breath catch.

“Two affiliated guilds got hit because you couldn’t catch one physical enhancement mage? Fine. Let’s say that could happen. Let’s say Pernok’s skill exceeded expectations so you really got hit absurdly. But what were the other guild leaders doing?”

“Th-that’s…”

“We received no requests from Guild leader Marshall…”

“You call that an excuse now!”

When Jake struck the table, affiliated guild leaders turned pale.

“I clearly advised you to handle everything carefully when Flang departed on an expedition above altitude 5000 meters. You! Even if you did crushing sprouts under Flang’s name, I tolerated it as payment for advice. But now! Right now!”

Barely suppressing the voice about to burst out, Jake swept the assembly with cold eyes.

“We got hit. By just one person, through a mistake unlike your usually clean work handling.”

“We-we’re sorry!”

“I’ll find the bastard immediately and make him kneel before the guild leader!”

“Do you even know where he is now?”

Affiliated guild leaders only moved their mouths.

Jake rubbed his temple with his index finger while exhaling deeply, and affiliated guild leaders only gulped dry saliva.

“Let’s think. Why are you all like this, really!”

Jake sharply turned his head.

The deputy guild leader bowed and reported.

“Currently there’s no information that the Beast descended below the mountain range.”

“Possibility he detoured and fled?”

“He must pass through barrier stones, but contacting the castle, they said no one passed through barrier stones.”

“You’re saying he’s still in the mountain range?”

“We asked other A-rank guilds and their affiliated guilds about the Beast’s whereabouts and received answers they haven’t seen him.”

“He hid in our territory’s mountain range.”

“There are no reports he went to other zones, and since he’s in the mountain range, we think he’s roughly between altitude 2000 and 3000 meters.”

Jake burst into hollow laughter.

“You’re saying he trampled Sasak and Burd at altitude 2500 meters, and even though I descended, he’s holding out in a position our guild manages?”

“He’s highly likely exhausted from repeated combat.”

“Comb through caves, under giant trees, tunnels, anywhere usable as a hideout like lice. And what about his companion?”

“When Sasak climbed the mountain range, there’s talk he entered the association. But the association said nothing.”

“Did a mediation request come in?”

“None.”

“Look at this bastard’s guts.”

Pernok’s movements were so radical it seemed he might have separate backing.

“Isn’t he someone planted by other A-rank guilds or outsiders to incite power struggles?”

“We can’t know that far. However, after the Beast acted boldly, no mages entered the castle.”

“He did it alone…”

No matter how he thought, he couldn’t understand.

“…That companion will be in the castle. Bring him with just breath attached.”

“Yes.”

The deputy guild leader bowed and left the meeting room.

Jake looked at affiliated guild leaders one by one and said.

“The moment the Beast’s search ends, we’ll form a massive encirclement.”

“Will you personally step forward, guild leader?”

“Then can you handle it?”

When affiliated guild leaders tensed sharply, Jake sighed.

“The mountain range and castle. We’ll divide personnel on both sides. I’ll proceed with Beast subjugation together with executives, so if you discover the Beast, just keep him in check then call me. Understand?”

“Yes!”

“This is the only mistake. During the period when other A-rank guilds are expanding forces, I can’t tolerate further power leakage. Remember that.”

The sharp meeting ended.

Jake assembled all Flang’s executives to plan the operation.

And when two days passed, Pernok’s whereabouts were detected in the mountain range.

* * *

Jake’s actions were thorough.

He placed one affiliated guild around the association to block any possible mediation requests, and planted three guilds in the castle to cut off methods for Pernok to escape with outside help.

And leading remaining affiliated guilds and Flang’s executives, Jake personally climbed the mountain range.

No need to widely deploy an encirclement net.

Pernok was leaning against a tree with injuries as if he’d fought demon beasts.

Jake blocked executives about to rush out and walked forward alone.

“You mobilized everyone just to catch me?”

At Pernok’s appearance not losing spirit while sweating coldly, Jake was impressed.

‘Sasak had good reason to covet him.’

If he’d brought him along, they might have gained advantage in force expansion with other A-rank guilds.

But touching affiliated guilds meant challenging Flang’s authority.

Jake wasn’t generous enough to take in a wild horse rampaging without knowing better.

“Why did you kill them?”

“Can’t just quietly take a blade and die, can I?”

“There would have been an amicable solution?”

“You mean I should leave the castle?”

“At least that would have benefited both sides.”

“Selfish to the point of excessive greed.”

Pernok gritted his teeth.

“Though the nation manages it, the mountain range has rights all mercenaries can freely use. By what right do you oppress mercenaries hunting quietly?”

“Mercenary ideals should be sought outside. This place has its own rules. When you arbitrarily broke them, can you handle the aftershock that will come?”

“What aftereffects? You guys not making money?”

“The guild’s role is to correct the phenomenon when free spirits go overboard and can’t control themselves. Look at your current state. Aren’t you using the power called level 5 mage to arbitrarily kill people?”

“The perpetrator asking the victim why he killed—your level is truly base.”

Pernok mocked Jake, but he said without blinking an eye.

“Your guts in not requesting association mediation were at least admirable.”

“Shut up!”

Jake who mocked Pernok’s running gestured downward.

Thud!

“…!”

Pernok couldn’t even take a few steps before kneeling on that spot.

“Crunch!”

When Pernok tried forcibly standing, the pressure intensified.

“That… kind… this is… your… magic…”

The surroundings enveloping Pernok were dark.

“Jake is… pitch black… this… meaning…”

Jake stepped on Pernok’s back of the head, shoving it into the ground.

“Two affiliated guilds got smashed by just this kind of bastard? Such pathetic guys.”

“Because you’re weak, at that level plus numbers added…”

Instantly, surrounding pressure surged and Pernok’s joints twisted.

“You’re the first bastard who didn’t scream once even with limbs shattered. Literally beast-like. No different from an animal.”

“Kukukuk…”

“Your friend is in the castle? I’m thinking to crush him together—any last words to tell him separately?”

When Jake withdrew his foot, Pernok raised his face covered in dirt and blood.

Jake blinked.

Pernok’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were endlessly cold.

“You were a rat bastard by birth.”

“What?”

“Your ability is too precious for how poor your judgment is. Typical dull bastard with only strength.”

At the gaze like making an appraisal, Jake frowned.

Bang!

The moment pressure crushed Pernok and bones and flesh were about to shatter into pieces.

“…?”

Not blood but mana particles scattered in all directions.

At the sight of bubble-like things bursting before his eyes, Jake blinked.

Pernok disappeared without a trace, but what remained on that spot wasn’t blood and flesh—only mana bubbles.

“…!”

Among Burd’s guild members, he’d seen a mage using magic similar to this.

“Doppelganger?!”

This phenomenon with no human presence and only mana residue floating around was definitely a doppelganger.

“A doppelganger?”

“That bastard is definitely physical enhancement…”

Jake’s eyes widened.

Deceived.

Pernok was a mage handling doppelgangers.

“…You clueless idiots!”

Jake mistakenly thought he received wrong information.

He judged either the association measured Pernok incorrectly or highly likely hid the truth.

Flang’s executives also realized the situation’s gravity.

Moreover, what about affiliated guilds that directly introduced Pernok’s magic as physical enhancement?

In the middle of the mountain range where confusion swirled, Jake turned his gaze toward the castle.

“This is a lure! He’s in the castle now!”

* * *

Affiliated guilds saw correctly. Pernok’s specialty is Mana Reinforcement.

But one thing they absolutely couldn’t predict.

[Doppelganger Lv.3]

Divides mana to create oneself with identical form, memory, and combat ability.

That Pernok could absorb the magic of those he killed.

And information gained when the doppelganger burst was absorbed into Pernok’s true body.

“Jake.”

Pernok stood up.

“You were more stupid than I thought.”

Flang’s affiliated guilds divided around the mercenary guild association and village appeared.