Decisive Battle

The sun rose and washed away darkness.

As if symbolizing yesterday’s fierce battle, demon beast remnants were everywhere.

Borden looked around the battlefield with bloodshot eyes.

The mountain range was eerily quiet, and demon beasts didn’t regenerate.

So perhaps it was seen even better.

“Count!”

“I’m watching too!”

One person lightly crosses the battlefield as if out for a walk.

A man showing not a trace of wavering despite wearing ragged clothes.

Before they knew it, all soldiers on the walls watched him holding their breath.

He shouted.

“I, Pernok, killed the mountain’s master!”

Pernok shouted with all his might to echo beyond the castle to even farther places.

“Sound the drums of victory!”

* * *

A soldier ran to the castle’s central district.

A place where countless demon beast corpses piled like mountains.

Named and the knight order gasped rough breaths.

“Guild Leader Pernok killed the mountain’s master!”

Without anyone first, heads turned.

The soldier smiled brightly and shouted.

“The mountain range stabilized, and demon beasts no longer regenerate! We won! We won!”

“Aah…”

That moment, everyone collapsed in place.

Even the knight order valuing dignity didn’t care that the ground was bloodstained.

As heads dizzy from death struggles continuing until morning released tension’s cord, bodies completely relaxed.

Enri and Sallio lay down on the ground.

Hallam and other guild members also sprawled as they were.

They only turned heads to see each other.

“Kahahahahaha!”

“Hohohohoho!”

Only laughter burst from indescribable feelings.

The knight commander also laughed beside them and asked Sallio.

“Will you go inside?”

“No.”

Sallio looked at the sky.

Sunlight that always accompanied daily life pierced through terrible clouds, again shining brilliant light on this earth.

He desperately realized warmth’s preciousness.

“Fine day.”

“Damn fine.”

Enri grinned and chimed in, then closed her eyes as they were.

Going to the front to fell high-grade demon beasts, returning here again and settling the castle interior—both mana and stamina exceeded limits.

Now he couldn’t move even beaten to death.

“Tell the guild leader we’ll wait a moment to report.”

“Understood.”

Sallio quietly closed his eyes.

The knight order headed to the walls, and only quiet breathing flowed from the central district.

* * *

Borden welcomed Pernok with both arms spread.

“Fortunate you’re safe! Why did you try climbing the mountain range alone!”

“To settle the battlefield, I had to conquer the mountain range. An unavoidable choice.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, we could defend the castle.”

Borden firmly grasped Pernok’s hand with both hands.

Pernok stealthily withdrew his hand as if he’d cry.

“Where’s the master’s corpse?”

“I couldn’t give leeway. I smashed it without even leaving a form.”

“Well done. Can’t leave future troubles behind.”

Though Cargoras died, the mountain range’s demonic energy remains.

When worries were neatly resolved, Borden finally released tension’s cord.

“Fortunate. By the way, Marquis Zeef?”

“He was dead when I went. The knight order also perished together with Royal Guard.”

“Then you killed the monster without Marquis Zeef’s help?”

“I was lucky. It was in a considerably weakened state. I just applied the finishing blow.”

“Wasn’t an easy task—truly much hardship. Did Marquis Zeef and the knight order leave bodies?”

“Send soldiers. Demon beasts won’t invade the ground anymore.”

Borden nodded and called soldiers.

Pernok turned to Baltus.

“Deploy all available troops before demon beast materials rot.”

“Hehe, all that?”

“Must claim spoils of war. But I won’t process and sell large quantities at once. Make sure only appropriate amounts flow to market.”

“Cleanup won’t be easy. But everyone won’t refuse with extra pay.”

Baltus summoned all association workers.

And receiving dozens of soldiers from Borden, they settled the battlefield together.

Pernok looked at Jad and Zodiac leaning against walls with haggard faces.

“I heard you did your utmost in defensive siege. I’m thinking of giving demon beast materials as additional compensation—any you want?”

“Damn… just seeing makes me want to vomit.”

Jad shuddered.

Just seeing demon beast materials lying everywhere seemed to make bile rise.

“Haha, thanks for caring. Our guys also worked hard, so can we take a few high-grade demon beast materials?”

“As many as you want.”

“Uncle, grab mine too.”

Zodiac looked at Jad with an absurd gaze.

“You said you didn’t want it?”

“Who said I didn’t? I said touching directly makes me sick.”

“Look at this. What did you entrust to me? Why so brazen?”

“I burned demon beast swarms clinging to you with fire. Come on, don’t be petty and show some camaraderie.”

“Sheesh, this disgusting guy.”

“I need to sleep. You catch some shut-eye too, uncle.”

Jad quietly closed his eyes and began snoring.

Though making an absurd expression, Zodiac didn’t refuse.

“Understand. He lives as he pleases. Still, he worked hard. Had mana intoxication symptoms but vomited blood while activating mana cannons.”

“Any more you want for additional compensation?”

“Hahaha, blunt. Still, we’re companions who weathered adversity together.”

“I’ll give lip service consolation plenty at banquets. But didn’t you two come expecting compensation? I want to prioritize you two over Borden or Baltus.”

“Thanks even just for words. Then request processing high-grade materials too. Armor or shoulder guards our guild members will wear would be good.”

“I’ll prepare as soon as the castle settles.”

“And one curious thing—you killed that monster?”

Pernok nodded.

“I vaguely heard even Marquis Zeef was dead, so you alone killed the monster a Magus couldn’t kill?”

“What do you want to say?”

“Did you reach Magus rank?”

Pernok chuckled.

“Well. Is that important?”

“No, personal curiosity. Jad and I also had business here separately.”

“Request necessary support from Rio.”

“Thanks for caring.”

Zodiac who’d tried resting while smiling spoke urgently as if recalling something.

“Ah! Come to think of it, your advisor. He went west leading the flanking unit.”

“Rio?”

“He said he must support Lungel, probably.”

Pernok rushed back to Borden asking about the situation.

And hearing that thousands of demon beasts surrounded Lungel, he ran west without delay.

But before long, he stopped in the road’s middle.

Because Lungel’s flags were fluttering in the distance.

“Lord Pernok?”

Rio dismounted and approached.

“Are you safe!”

Pernok glanced at Lungel’s soldiers and weapons and rebuked Rio.

“Why enter the midst of enemy territory?”

“The knight order was preoccupied guarding the castle interior, and I was the only one who knew Lungel’s route, so I had to do something. By the way, how’s the castle?”

“Settled. Now the mountain’s master is ours.”

Rio smiled brightly.

“Welcome news. As much as what I’ll tell Lord Pernok.”

“Hm?”

“We alone couldn’t defend Lungel. A noble person came and bestowed grace.”

“Noble person?”

“He asked me to convey.”

Rio smiled and spoke.

“The bet is Lord Pernok’s victory.”

Pernok who’d blinked soon recalled Ruin and laughed loudly.

“Hahahahahaha! Must summon Ruin as soon as the castle settles.”

“Did you secure the eyes?”

“Very cleanly polished.”

Rio and Pernok smiled facing each other.

“Now we head to the next stage.”

* * *

The battlefield was quickly settled.

Castle reinforcements joined, removing demon beast corpses and helping treat wounded.

Some re-erected barrier stones in the mountain range, monitoring carefully so demon beasts wouldn’t overflow.

When no more danger was detected, citizens returned to the castle again.

Excellent carpenters and blacksmiths from each castle came and began restoring citizens’ foundations.

The castle regained vitality as if asking when war had occurred.

After memorial services mourning sacrifices finished, the castle held a festival announcing victory.

“Pernok! Pernok!”

“Count Borden!”

“Named!”

Though numerous heroes were mentioned, voices mainly cheering Pernok were loud.

Rising to level 7 mage at a young age, integrating three A-rank guilds and now even killing the mountain’s master—the mountain range’s true ruler.

As the fact that even other A-rank guild leaders Jad and Zodiac had joined Named became known, Pernok’s majesty seemed to pierce the sky.

As if repaying this, Pernok released spoils from this war, bestowing liquor and meat on everyone in the castle for three days.

Borden’s mood looking down at the castle interior where fires didn’t extinguish from the inner castle also heated up greatly.

“Feels like a nagging tooth pulled cleanly. Hahahaha!”

Voices extolling Borden echoed widely as much as Pernok’s heroic tales.

No one would believe the new lord accomplished such achievements.

“Now my retirement will be guaranteed by the royal family.”

“Congratulations, Count.”

“Branch Leader Baltus also has good news, doesn’t he?”

At Borden’s subtle question, Baltus nodded.

“Seems I’ll get a position at headquarters.”

“Hahaha, congratulations.”

“Thank you. I’d like to say thanks to you too.”

Pernok tilted wine and chuckled.

“Didn’t we promise to give each what we want?”

“I’ll generously support headquarters if there’s work for Named too.”

“Our castle will also become solid support for Named. Hahahaha!”

Pernok clinked glasses Baltus and Borden extended.

As they shared overflowing liquor clinking, Borden who’d gotten quite tipsy spoke.

“Come to think of it, the royal family will send someone soon.”

Baltus asked.

“The association will settle this situation by dispatching a few people from headquarters. But why the royal family…?”

“I don’t know well either. Though Zeef’s death is definitely a great loss to the nation, I explained in detail that his absurd actions stemmed from his arrogance. Even the mountain range is normal, isn’t it?”

“Who’s appointed as investigation team leader?”

“I heard one of the royal family. Predicted to be 1st Prince’s side, Zeef’s faction, but no certain information yet. And whoever’s appointed doesn’t matter. We have nothing to be blamed for.”

Borden blamed all causes of this incident on Zeef.

Saying that even though the mountain’s master would descend to the ground and run rampant, Zeef only gave clumsy instructions claiming national interest, worsening the situation.

But he reported that thanks to them blocking well, they avoided the worst and returned the mountain range to normal.

The king greatly praised Borden’s efforts.

He promised great gifts for Pernok and Baltus too.

“Just know. Seems they’ll just investigate simply and return, so if they come on strong like Zeef, consistently play dumb.”

“Haha, understood. I’ll appropriately match mouths.”

Pernok set down his glass.

“Seems I must urgently consult with Rio, so I’ll go first.”

“Hey, no need to worry. Get more drunk on this good day.”

“I have matters to handle, so I’ll withdraw at this point.”

“Really stingy. Understood. Let’s have a strong drink again tomorrow.”

Borden and Baltus even waved hands seeing Pernok off.

Pernok leaving the inner castle returned to his office.

Shortly after, Rio entered.

“The royal movement report you requested.”

Rio set down a thick report.

Pernok quickly scanned while asking.

“An investigation team is dispatched. Heard they designated the 1st Prince as leader.”

“It’s the 2nd Prince.”

“Different from Borden’s prediction.”

“The count only speculates. He’s uninterested in already settled matters. It changed from 1st Prince to 2nd Prince—a fact I confirmed this afternoon.”

“What type is the 2nd Prince?”

“A strategist-type human itching to become king.”

Pernok chuckled.

The reason the 2nd Prince with no connection to the mountain range rushes here in place of the 1st Prince who had Zeef under him—

His inner thoughts are transparent, so this side is also comfortable pushing work.

“Hope he’s less stubborn. At least words must communicate.”

“Will you really push forward?”

“Don’t you also see? The appearance of guild members floundering in the mountain range.”

Rio nodded with a heavy expression.

In dead-end ground where they couldn’t flee, the castle’s appearance having to block endless human wave tactics with limited resources.

“It was merely one mountain range. If not for Ruin’s unexpected help, you’d all be dead.”

At cold words, Rio agreed.

Without Ruin, the only person surviving to the end would be only Pernok who killed the master.

“I’ll fight and defeat Illumina, establishing a nation containing my wishes there. But what meaning is there surviving alone? An individual without even one supporting force is merely remembered as strong.”

Thus, Pernok revisited the fundamental problem.

“Our enemy is a nation. Not even a situation like the mountain range where we can receive other castles’ support. Raising ability beyond this in a short time is nothing but absurd fantasy. There’s only one method to rapidly expand forces during roughly two years.”

“Secure a third force belonging nowhere.”

Details of numerous people written at the report’s end.

That was information on all A-rank guilds including Jad and Zodiac.

“Unify all A-rank guilds in this land.”

Recruit veterans possessing all quality ability.

Those words mean—

“We become an S-rank guild.”

Absolute position commanding all wanderers.

It was a third force’s declaration that would shake the solidifying power landscape.