[CHAPTER 5]
- Ti until the start: 24 hours
***
Downtown Crossroad. The barracks.
The quarters of Dion rcenary Group.
Weve seized an opportunity.
Dion stood before his party mbers with a smile.
For a long ti, we never received proper respect. We always played the role of a at shield.
The four party mbers nodded in agreent.
Before they ca to the front lines here, these five had to suffer all sorts of hardships as rcenaries.
As newbies, they were thrown into all sorts of suicide missions because they were new.
Even after gaining experience and understanding how the rcenary life worked, they were left handling the dirty work because they lacked special skills or talents.
But Prince Ash recognized our worth.
Ash was different.
Not only did he willingly grant them an opportunity when they requested it, but he also didnt hesitate to invest in the Dion rcenary Group after recognizing their potential.
They received high-quality armor and expensive silver swords, and were allowed to wear uniforms exclusively produced for the Southern Front soldiers.
The treatnt they received here at this monstrous frontline was the best they ever had in their lives as short-lived rcenaries.
Dion was already filled with loyalty towards Ash.
Lets show him what were capable of in this defense battle."
Dion clenched his fist tightly.
"This is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. This is our chance for advancent!
Advancent
Lets succeed beyond everyones expectations!
Success!
Advancent. Success.
The faces of the five brightened at the dreamlike words. Dion grinned.
Great! Now lets talk about our ambitions. What will you do if you make a lot of money?
If I succeed, Ill gather funds to decorate the shop. My dream is to do business on a large scale.
For , its a marriage fund! My girl is waiting for back in our hotown!
I want to send bundles of money to my parents. I never properly did anything for them
Ill enroll my little brother in a magic workshop. When he grows up, hell surely take care of .
The party mbers each spat out a word and then looked at Dion together.
Dion pointed at himself with an awkward chuckle.
Ah, ? I am um. My dream seems petty compared to yours.
Dion scratched the back of his head.
The day I started my rcenary work, I went for a drink because I couldnt handle the reality sober but the prices were too high. There was this brand of whiskey that I couldnt afford because it was too expensive.
A bashful smile crept onto Dions lips.
I still cant afford to drink it because its too pricey. But if I succeed later Ill drink a bottle a week.
Upon hearing Dions ambition, the rest of the party mbers laughed out loud together.
Is that all, Dion! Your ambition is too small!
At least aim to drink a bottle a day!
You fools, then hed just be a drunkard!
Dion, who was teased like a chick, eventually burst into hearty laughter.
Lets commit ourselves fully this ti and do it properly. We can do it.
Dion stretched his arm high up.
The Dion rcenary Group, the beginning of a legend!
My shop too!
My wedding too!
Ill be filial to my parents!
Wait for , little brother! My retirent funds!
The noisy Dion rcenary Group of five, after shouting their dreams, began to laugh as they looked at each other.
***
In the lords mansion. The outbuilding.
The quarters of the Shadow Squad.
The three archers were hopping around on their beds.
Are we resting today? We dont have to go to the dungeon?!
Yep! His Highness said to take the day off completely!
Hehehe! So exciting. I really, really love doing nothing and just being in bed!
Considering to stop the archers, who were kicking up a dust cloud as they hopped around, Bodybag decided to just leave them alone.
They had been training whenever they had even a bit of spare ti.
Having a full day to rest comfortably was really a first in a long while. It wasnt unreasonable for the trio of archers to be excited.
?
It was then that Bodybag, who noticed sothing unusual, raised her head.
Godhand was nowhere to be seen.
Where did he go?
Leaving the hopping archers in the room, Bodybag slipped out of the outbuilding.
Looking around, she saw Godhands back at the archery training ground behind the outbuilding.
As Bodybag was about to approach Godhand, her steps suddenly stopped.
...Dont worry. I will... protect you
Godhand was quietly mumbling sothing.
" Yes. If its sothing I can do"
Bodybag tilted her head.
Who was she talking to?
Godhand?
As Bodybag deliberately made her presence known, Godhand, startled, looked around with a bewildered expression.
Bodybag? Why arent you resting inside, what are you doing out here?
Im just getting so fresh air What about you, Godhand? Who were you talking to
However, the person Godhand was talking with had already disappeared.
They seed to have quickly disappeared into the forest behind the archery range.
"Conversation? Cough! I was alone. I was rely talking to myself."
Godhands face showed clear signs of discomfort.
Bodybag found this side of Godhand unfamiliar, and could not figure out what was happening. What was going on?
Just then, the trio of archers ca rushing out from inside the annex.
Whats up, whats up, what are you two doing? Is there sothing tasty?!
Is it lunchti already! Im hungry!
Godhand, looking at the party mbers clutching their stomachs in hunger, gave a faint smile.
Everyones hungry? Then how about we raid the Lords Mansion restaurant together?
Wow, yes! Godhand, youre a genius!
Agreed-!
I want juice!
I want pickled fruit!
I need to grab plenty of walnuts and peanuts!
The excited trio of archers ran first towards the main building of the mansion.
Godhand, who had been following the archers, turned to look at Bodybag.
Lets go quickly, Bodybag. You should eat sothing too.
Yes.
Tomorrow is going to be a tough day. You need to eat well today.
The archers were quite far ahead now. To catch up with them, Godhand dashed off.
Hmm?
Sothing felt vaguely strange, but she decided to ignore it.
Bodybag hurriedly chased after her party mbers.
***
Temple. Damiens room.
Damien calmly looked at the weapons laid out in front of him.
Six magic guns. One crossbow.
Three quivers of holy arrows and two silver arrows.
And enchantnt scrolls.
These were one-ti use attribute enhancent magic scrolls that Ash had collected. In total, there were three, with the attributes of ice, fire, and wind.
Ash had given these to Damien. To use in case of ergency.
Damien slowly reached out and stroked the neatly arranged magic guns and crossbow.
In the next mont,
Click!
With his slender fingers, he quickly grabbed the handle of the magic gun, and at the sa ti as cocking the hamr, he pressed his face against the barrel.
Click! Click!
Aligning the sights, he brought the crosshair close to his eyes.
Damien slowly released the aiming position he had adopted in an instant.
Throughout, Damien had repeatedly trained to quickly take this aiming position.
All to shoot the enemy a little faster.
In fact, it didnt an much for Damien to visually aim the crosshairs.
The [Far-Sight] didnt work that way.
But it wasnt bad to handle the massive recoil of the magic gun in this position. Hence, he had been practicing.
If I could do it a little faster I could be more helpful to the Prince
While thinking this, Damien suddenly felt dizzy. It seed to be the result of staying cooped up all day training in his room.
Maybe I should get so fresh air
As Damien stepped out of the room, he noticed sothing in the central hall of the temple.
In front of the goddess statue in the central hall, Saintess Margarita was kneeling in prayer.
With a serious look on her face, it seed like she was praying. Damien stopped in his tracks, muffling his footsteps.
Her hands clasped tight in front of her chest, her hunched body trembling faintly.
While keeping her eyes closed, Margarita slowly let out her voice.
I just want to faithfully fulfill the task given to
Margarita, who had been whispering softly, heaved a long sigh and slowly lifted her head.
What should I do now
The intricately carved goddess statue seed to be looking down at Margarita.
Closing her eyes again, Margarita whispered faintly.
Please tell
?
This was the first ti Damien had seen Margarita like this, so he tilted his head in confusion.
***
Inn Etis Honey. Juniors room.
Haah, haah Cough!
Despite continually coughing up blood, Junior manipulated her magic power to float elental particles above her head.
"Just a little more... That spell will be mine..."
Around her, blood dripped steadily from her nose and mouth, all kinds of taphysical magic circles were continuously ford and deactivated.
"This much isnt overdoing it, just a little more... just a little...!"
Completion was within reach.
The insight she had gained from the vampiric kings reverse spell ceremony was about to bloom.
Then,
- Are you planning to die before ?
The grandmothers voice echoed in her mind.
"..."
A smirk hung on Juniors lips.
"I dont want to die either..."
However.
If she didnt gamble with her life, she couldnt even touch it.
Wiping away the blood from her nose and mouth, Junior murmured.
"Well then, just a little more...!"
***
rcenary guild. Jupiters room.
"Cough, cough!"
Jupiter coughed violently. Dark red blood spattered on her pillow.
"Ah, kuh...!"
The aftereffects of her magic power explosion hadnt fully healed yet.
But because she had been relentlessly using her magic power, the recoil was attacking Jupiters entire body.
This feeling, huh?
Holding onto her swaying old body, and while throwing up incessant blood, Jupiter tightly closed her one good eye.
You really want to beco a wizard to the point of enduring such pain? Even dying before this old woman?
- That wouldnt be so bad.
The face of her granddaughter who had said so swirled in her head.
"...So, do you hate ?"
Jupiter gritted her teeth.
Yes, hate . Despise and curse .
It doesnt matter how much you hate this old woman. Still, I...
Cough!
After spitting out blood, Jupiter roughly wiped her mouth. The single hazy eye began to shine with determination again.
"Its not yet. Just a little more."
Hold on a little more, this damned body!
***
Lords mansion.
The backyard garden. A small training ground.
Clank! Clank! Clash!
Lucas and Evangeline were in the middle of a duel, wielding wooden swords, spears, and shields.
Ever since they lost to Celendion, Lucas and Evangeline had been sparring every day.
Lucas tried to break Evangelines defense, while Evangeline blocked Lucas every attack.
At first, their win rate was similar, but at so point, Evangeline started winning continuously.
Evangeline had completely mastered using her instinct, perfectly blocking all of Lucass attacks.
It was no different even now, a day before the defense battle.
Clank! Clank! Clash!
It was ti for dusk.
With her erald eyes shining, Evangeline deflected all of Lucass sword strikes with her shield.
I can feel it. All the paths, I can feel them with my skin!
Now, following her instincts and moving her body, Evangeline was right at the edge of an epiphany.
Just one more step.
At that mont when she was about to fully reach so ultimate thing that the Cross family had been building for generations-
Boom!
Crash!
Evangeline was thrown backward.
At so point, Lucass wooden sword had touched her body, and the next mont, she was thrown outside the training ground with a trendous shock.
"Huh?"
Lying on the ground, dazed, Evangeline murmured.
Then she lifted her eyes and saw the person who had sent that sword strike.
"Hah, hah!"
Lucas was panting heavily in the middle of the training ground.
Thin steam was rising from the muscular knights body.
The knights blue eyes... were burning like a beasts.
"...What was that just now?"
Evangeline looked down at her chest. The training armor she wore in case of accidents was deeply indented.
If she hadnt been wearing it, she might have died.
"I couldnt even dodge with my instinct. No, I couldnt even see it properly. What kind of attack did you launch?"
"...This?"
Grin.
Sweeping back his sweaty blonde hair, Lucas curved his lips.
His usual golden retriever-like smile was nowhere to be found. Instead, a violent expression like a wolf hung on the knights face.
"...Lets call it my desperation."
***
South from Crossroad. A plain.
The late night was approaching dawn.
Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink!
The 1,000 Blood Clan mbers led by Celendion arrived here.
The Alpha reported after checking out the distant Crossroad.
"I can see the city walls, Lord."
"..."
"This is a city of human scum. We should be within striking distance in a few hours."
"Hmm."
With a nonchalant expression, Celendion, who was sitting on the palanquin, glanced towards the north.
"Soon."
A slaughterhouse where both sides would kill and be killed.
At last, now, it was beginning.
Rising from the palanquin, Celendion slowly turned around.
"My dear kin."
The Vampire King smiled at his royal guards, their eyes flashing with a blood-red glow.
His fangs were pronounced, a smile befitting a vampire.
"Are you ready to cover the city with mountains of corpses and seas of blood?"
There was no need for a reply.
Covering the city with corpses and blood.
That was, after all, the very essence of their existence.
***
"They are coming."
Staring into the distant southern plains, I muttered.
Unable to sleep, I had been at the ramparts since dawn.
And now, I saw their arrival with my own eyes.
They were still incredibly far away, but they were steadily advancing.
[STAGE 5]
- Ti until start: 3 hours
Hell.
Towards this monstrous front, a living, breathing hell... was approaching.
And now, it was right before our eyes.
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