"Does this poor servant know who the baron is?" Ragen inquired, a little startled by Dray's aura.He was a cold-blooded mercenary who had killed hundreds of people on the battlefield, perfecting his murderous intent to the point that he could physically release it.But, in comparison to the knight staring down at him, his murdering intent was childlike."I am Baron Riel Alheim."Ragen scoffed. Asking for the baron's name allowed him to learn about the current situation. However, the baron simply gave his name and did not continue!As a result, he had no alternative but to appeal to Stein."What brings you here?" Ragen inquired."Open the door," I instructed."Ragen, this is the gentleman I'm now serving. Baron Riel Alheim of the Alheim family of the Westlands is my lord. We have conquered Ikan City under his lordship's command. "Stein once again introduced me.'The Westlands have just two cities: one managed by Viscount Jaegar and the other by an interim baron. I figured the baron was
Stein was beaming furiously, fantasizing about just how Baron Riel would kill everybody here when he recalled that Baron Riel had identified himself as a C-rank.For an inexperienced noble like him, who hadn't seen the broader world outside of his father's kingdom and had only had mercenaries as his only interaction with the outside realm, the act of concealing one's true rank was just something he couldn't fathom. So Stein truly felt that Baron Riel was a low-level figure.Two B-rank men raced over without even trying to draw their rifles. One of them felt it was a simple C-rank... Why do I even need a sword to fight him?"It's over," Stein thought as he slumped on the ground. He hadn't even seen Baron Riel in action, but he didn't think he was powerful enough even to contend with so many men in the hall.'If only that knight could be here...'Why did the baron raise his sword in the presence of an A-rank and numerous B-rank enemies?This was not in the plan!It was the equivalent of
Outside of Ikan City, Count Forser was roaring ceaselessly.This city was one of his just before he marched off to hunt down the rebels, and it was now in someone else's authority after only fifteen days.One needed the approval of the local ruler, who would be Duchess Isla, to attack a city.The rebels had conquered the Count's city ruthlessly without giving him any advance notice that his city would be officially attacked.His worst fears had come true.Since dispatching his cavalry unit to relay his request for extra supplies, he had been feeling an unexplainable sense of foreboding from the recesses of his heart, as if it were a foreshadow of what was to come.Additionally, the battle's circumstances weren't ideal for him. Almost a fifth of all allied warriors mustered by his subordinate noble families had died. His cavalry battalions and garrison forces, on the other hand, had only suffered a few fatalities in the previous two days and had retained their battle power.He had con
"Our second choice is to withdraw to Redhound Castle, where we may regroup the army temporarily." One of the sons proposed."However, this necessitates the abandonment of the garrison unit we left at the mountainous Ridge."Another of the Count's sons added."I feel that as long as we can maintain contact with the main force, we will be able to reclaim what we have lost."When the count was debating which alternative to choose, he could hear horses galloping from afar.At first, he assumed Ragen had become impulsive and began attacking them. The Count soon realized, however, that the sound had come from the other direction of Ikan City."A squad of soldiers appears to be approaching Redhound Castle from the north. It has to be one of my men!" The Count smiled.But as he exited the tent, his face fell.My arrival at Ikan City with Stein and his troops only served to confine the Count.[Level 170 Count Alen Forser]The count was revealed to be an A-rank warrior with seven circles!But w
“Grand Scale Magic - Fire Witch’s Fury”The pure crimson magic circle that grew from the man's hand grew to a width of roughly 20 meters.I had never seen a magic circle quite like it.Moving out of the way was my first instinct, but I quickly realized that Ikan City was directly behind me.If I didn't stop this magic, it would undoubtedly reach Ikan City, wherein my family and the rest of my people resided.So my next move was to rush up to the mage.[Blinking Steps]The moment I attempted, I realized my foot was firmly planted."What?""You've underestimated me, boy."With his back to the tree, the count was bleeding as he lay. He had something rectangular and metallic in his hand, which I recognized as an artefact.He had laid the artefact on the earth, and a crimson line had appeared where it had coiled numerous times, producing a zone underneath my feet."This is the Imprisonment Circle..."You can never free yourself unless you have the power of an S-rank!" As he talked, the cou
Ragen's mouth dropped open as he shuddered. Everyone else on Ikan City's ramparts watched in terror as the surge of flames raced towards them.There was no time to flee."She possesses a domain!" Ragen screamed in surprise.As the flames engulfed Solan, everyone closed their eyes.They were afraid that the flames would consume them next.But all of a sudden, the heat emanating from the flames didn't become any hotter—in fact, it even cooled off.When everyone opened their eyes, they were all in a state of amazement as they witnessed Solan sucking all the flames into herself like a vacuum.My eyes sparkled.My skin was burning. There were still some lingering flames that escaped even though Solan had mostly depleted them.I super-enhanced my body and seized these flames with white flames of my own.After a while, the oncoming tsunami of flames vanished.Every one was speechless with wonder."Master, are you okay?" Solan turned around, her aura growing stronger."I'm good, just a few bu
Everyone took a little break.In case he did something stupid, I assigned Alfred a room that Rage was keeping an eye on. Due to their extensive spell repertoire, intellect, and cunning nature, mages are a pain in the ass to deal with.The following day, Nero and Solan decided to take the initiative and organize a group of men to sweep the Count's surviving forces. There are still some illegitimate sons who've already fled, and I will not let any of them slip through my fingers.I didn't mind because the count's army, which had surrendered, had said that the soldiers were carrying only a few days' worths of supplies and therefore would collapse without outside involvement. What Nero and Solan intended to accomplish was just to speed up the process.Dray arrived back from Redhound Castle in the morning.He returned with a couple of heads, which he placed in front of the Count's lifeless body. Dray stated that Stein would arrive in the afternoon since he needed to accompany the prisoners
It was dawn, and I purposely left the convoy and travel to my city with Nero and Solan that night.We'd travel through a dungeon canal to get to the city as quickly as possible.But there was something else I needed to do. The allied aristocrats have asked for a discussion with me.I chuckled.I was already aware of their plans. How could those old snobbish nobles not become greedy now that I had seized control of Ikan City?Humans are blinded by greed. They appeared to have overlooked that the man who had been suppressing them, Count Forser, had died at my hands.Stein and his troops accompanied the eight delegates of the allied noble armies to Ikan City.He could only smile awkwardly because Baron Riel didn't want to give the allied nobility any respect, so he took on the job of accompanying them.He didn't want some nobles tarnishing the baron's name, even if the baron didn't care.I sat in the highest seat in the conference hall, barely nodding when the aristocrats approached.I i
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse