Chapter 17

Chapter 17

#17. The Enemy of the North (2)

Of course, the atmosphere afterward was awkward.

Ariana and the knights weren’t exactly giving me friendly looks either.

“Man, these guys are kinda tough to deal with, huh?”

On one hand, I felt wronged and irritated.

I came all this way to help, practically risking everything, and now I’m getting treated like some kind of suspect. If I wasn’t feeling hurt, that’d be weirder.

Even though there’s some backstory to their suspicion…

“I’ve gone through so much trouble, spent every last penny, and risked my life to get here for you people!”

Rationally, I knew it wasn’t entirely their fault, but damn, regrets about coming here were creeping in.

“They’re all suspicious of me, but we still need each other for now. Kinda like the relationship between a crocodile and a crocodile bird. The Duke letting me live without pressing further probably comes down to that.”

It was too late to back out now.

I needed their strength to break out of this boundary and magic realm, while they needed my supplies.

We’re stuck as reluctant allies for now.

“Save… save the north!”

That cry from whoever possessed me earlier echoed again in my mind.

“If things stay like this, I’ll definitely keep getting doubted even after we leave the magic realm. Better to move separately and find a way to save the northern region on my own.”

Though I’ll likely accept the mission to save the north eventually, looks like Ariana, Duchess of the Northern Region, and Rune Lenslet won’t be joining me.

“Hmm, those ten powerful individuals I saw before entering the boundary… gotta bring that up somehow…”

Right before entering the boundary, I remember a group targeting me.

The more I think about it, the more they seem like the ones behind all this.

“But the atmosphere’s so tense right now…”

I pursed my lips then closed them again.

Anything I say now would just raise more suspicions.

While lost in these thoughts, an excited shout rang out.

“We’ve found it! A gap in the boundary!”

Experience and wisdom aren’t called that for nothing.

From afar, Senior Valkyrie Step Bill was widening the discovered boundary gap.

With his eyes closed and sword in both hands, he was channeling mana to reveal the boundary’s inconsistencies.

“One day… one day should do it…”

Apparently, taking turns for about a day nonstop would work. The knights would take shifts of a few hours each after Step Bill finishes. Ariana decided to go last.

“Hmm, did they fail to find the gap in the original timeline? Or did they find it only to face another ambush?”

They looked like they were about to get wiped out before I arrived.

Even if they had found the gap, they wouldn’t have been able to fight properly.

“Well, at least the Duchess of the North is alive now. This extends the region’s survival chances.”

Despite the uneasy process and outcome, the mission was a success.

“But doing this will probably raise more suspicions…”

I felt awkward about this whole situation regarding the discovery of the gap.

“Will I just end up getting interrogated in prison right after leaving the magic realm?”

Though being able to leave sooner is good news, it put me in a tough spot.

Especially since the gap was found right after I joined up.

Sure, the person who found it is trusted by the duke and knights, but still, the timing is awfully convenient, isn’t it?

“Once we’re out of the boundary, we need to be careful.”

Deciding to casually mention something I couldn’t earlier, I turned to the duke.

“What do you mean?”

“While I didn’t have a chance to say it before, I saw an enemy party waiting outside the boundary.”

“Party?”

“A fairly high-level adventurer party. There were around ten members, four of whom were mages.”

“Were they outside the abyss?”

“They appeared inside the abyss when I approached the magic realm’s depths. They charged at me with murderous intent.”

Fortunately, the duke seemed to be listening carefully.

“Perhaps that adventurer party is behind all this.”

“They’re definitely imperial adventurers.”

Other knights nearby shared similar thoughts.

“…Understood.”

To my surprise, Ariana listened seriously to my words instead of immediately doubting me.

Was that casual comment at the end the key?

“It’s been two months? Makes sense why everyone looks so ragged with those beards.”

“So it’s only been half a month outside? What about the outside world?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“They really prepared thoroughly for this boundary.”

Ariana and the knights apparently spent about two months wandering inside this boundary.

“Which explains why everyone’s so on edge.”

Based on this testimony, time inside the boundary flows about four times faster than outside.

After suffering through cold, hunger, and sleeplessness for that long, anyone would be irritable and aggressive.

Wheeeeee~

Late night.

Braving the bone-chilling gray cold, I sat on the driver’s seat of the golden carriage.

I wanted to go inside, but couldn’t.

With mutual suspicions swirling and no telling what might happen next, I couldn’t relax inside the carriage.

“Everyone, get ready!”

“Finally, this wretched boundary will be broken.”

From the distance came Senior Valkyrie Step Bill’s quiet voice.

I looked toward Ariana.

As the final participant, she was concentrating fully to tear open the boundary gap.

“It’s been about five hours outside now.”

I prepared my magic flail, readying myself for the outside world.

Goooooo

Pachi zzzz

Soon, the dark gray sky began cracking like ice, sparks flying everywhere.

The bleak sunlight broke through the formerly dark magic realm sky at late night.

Since I entered around morning, it should be midday or early evening outside now.

Huaaaaak!

Finally, the boundary shattered.

What was merely an unpleasant day for me was a horrific two-month imprisonment for Ariana and the knights.

“Figures… it was you.”

Back in the real world.

Still only revealing himself as Dominic, Senior Valkyrie Step Bill raised his sword with an angry gaze.

Suruuung

Cherck

Following him, the other knights drew their swords as well.

I loaded and aimed my magic flail.

Goooooo

Activating the magic stones, I channeled second circle mana from my heart like lighting a match.

Having just finished breaking the boundary, Ariana also readied her sword.

“You imperial intelligence agency Sigma operatives, it was you bastards.”

A colder-than-north-wind voice emerged from her.

Disguised imperial knights and magicians had been waiting outside the boundary, surrounding us as soon as we emerged.

‘So those ten adventurers were actually disguised imperial agents?’

Where Frost Haven exists in Renslett, the empire has Sigma – a massive royal intelligence organization that dwarfs Frost Haven.

“Now even allying with Demon Den’s Dark Wizards…”

Her icy voice continued.

“The royal family and Golden Mage Tower have truly rotted to the core!”

Behind them stood sinister-looking Dark Wizards from the Demon Den, while further back necromancers controlled undead monsters waiting in standby.

“…”

“…”

Of course, none of those in front revealed themselves as imperials.

They didn’t even speak.

Their outfits were standard adventurer gear seen across the continent.

Still, the duchess and knights were certain of their identities.

‘This level of boundary setup requires immense resources and talent pool. And who benefits most from the disappearance of the duchess and high knights? Clearly the empire.’

And I agreed with this assessment.

Cherck!

A prominent Sigma mage, seemingly their leader, stood at the front.

In fine adventurer attire with a mage’s robe stubbornly draped over.

His face hidden under the deep hood, but wielding an impressive staff glowing with high-grade magic stones.

Without saying a word, he gave orders solely through staff movements.

Kuuuuuuuuuh!

Paaaaaaah!

First, the undead monsters roared and charged forward.

In between them, Sigma knights joined the charge.

Goooooo Paaat!

Imperial magicians began chanting various attack spells.

Mumble mumble mumble

Demon Den’s Dark Wizards whispered curses to restrain the knights’ movements.

“Destroy them all!”

“Renslett!”

“Long live the north!”

“Ancestors! Grant me your power!”

In response, the duchess and knights infused the repaired swords with long streams of aura.

‘I can’t sit this out. Let’s use this opportunity to prove myself.’

I targeted the distant Dark Wizards chanting curses.

Equipping the most expensive and powerful magic stone arrows from my arsenal.

Click

Fire, light, lightning, earth, wind attribute magic stones intricately combined.

The most carefully crafted arrow from my collection.

Fiiish-

Finally, pulling the trigger with mana from my heart, the arrowhead reached the enemy ranks unimpeded.

KUAAAAAAAAANG!

An explosion larger than most attack spells erupted among the densely packed Dark Wizards.

Caught off guard, it proved quite effective.

Completely unexpected, it seems.

My magic stone arrow bypassed any defensive boundaries and instantly killed half the Dark Wizards.

“Wha-”

“!!”

The duchess and Renslett knights preparing for battle stared at me in shock.

“?!”

“…”

Similarly, the imperials hesitated then looked at me holding the flail.

Seems I drew too much attention unexpectedly.

“Shit!”

At least the lost control of most monsters due to the missing Dark Wizards started rampaging indiscriminately, which was fortunate.

“NOW! ATTACK!”

The duchess and High City knights reacted first.

After a brief surprise, they gave me a “Well, duh” look before drawing their swords.

“Attack the golden carriage too!”

Conversely, the imperials were slightly slower to react, directing part of their forces toward me three seconds later.

“Damn!”

I cursed inwardly while loading more magic stone arrows from my bag.

“How much weapon mastery did Arad master again?”

Anyone skilled in crafting weapons or armor must know how to use what they create.

This is called Weapon Mastery.

It’s also a passive skill all characters possess.

Maxing out Weapon Mastery allows even non-combat production specialists to wield basic attacks effectively.

“Looks like he maxed it out, and his craftsmanship skill seems to have an effect too.”

In this much tenser situation than the entrance to the magic realm, my Weapon Mastery shone brightly.

Thanks to maxed-out passive skill levels, I could reload and fire the flail at near-automatic speeds using various methods.

KUUUANG! BOOM! EXPLOSION!

Combined with rampaging monsters behind and Renslett’s monstrous knights in front, the roughly thirty members of Imperial Sigma found themselves in an absolutely terrible situation.

“That damn golden carriage!”

“Kill the guy in the golden carriage first!”

“Arad! Protect Professor Arad and the carriage!”

“Knight Doyle! Take care of the carriage! Protect Arad!”

“Understood!”

Before long, the battle revolved around my position in the golden carriage.

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