Chapter 106

106.

***

Solorun, the first city of the northern duchy.

This was the first city travelers from the Unberil Village would encounter when heading north. It was also the first region on the way to Devalleta’s stronghold.

Unlike the three cities on the far frontlines in the north, Solorun was stationed at the very rear, making it relatively safe.

It functioned as a rear supply base for the northern front and often harbored groups like the pilgrimage party, merchants, and transport convoys, thereby maintaining a robust presence. Even in the desolate north, it was a city remembered for brimming with a certain vitality.

Until the winter storms and the monsters arrived.

“That’s…”

On top of the castle wall that resembled ruins, a man armed with a thick robe and heavy armor shouted, looking beyond the wall.

“Something’s coming! Get ready for battle! Hurry, go ring the bell!”

With the man’s cry, people began scrambling.

“Where’s the archer? The archer, where’s he at?”

“You take the bow. He’s holed up in the church.”

“…Damn.”

With a mutter of curses, the black-haired soldier picked up the bow.

The state of the abandoned bow lying carelessly on the ground wasn’t easy to describe as “good” by any stretch. It might be able to fire four or five arrows at most.

The soldier roughly brushed off the snow collected on the bow and retrieved an arrow buried in the snow to place it on the string.

“…Huh.”

The white mist of his breath dispersed in vain. The soldier tried to ease the creeping tension building in his chest.

The appearance of the enemy and the frantic ringing of bells. The sound of footsteps hustling about on the castle wall and the sharp noise of weapons made their bodies shrink automatically.

Even though one would think he should be accustomed to it by now— the tension before a fight was impossible to get used to.

Was it because of the heavy atmosphere enveloping the entire city? Or maybe because there was no confidence in survival?

Just how long would they be able to keep their eyes open?

“…Shit.”

“What is it, suddenly?”

“Out of irritation.”

“Is that so?”

As his colleague answered and let out a wide-mouthed curse, others nearby joined in with their own words of anger.

The soldier’s lips curled up at this unexpected behavior which didn’t fit the situation. The tension that had risen to his jaw relaxed a bit.

The soldier refastened his thick robe and turned his gaze back outside the castle wall.

The world of the freezing cold.

A dull and white snowstorm covered everything.

Unlike Solrun, where snowflakes fell gently, beyond the wall, a powerful blizzard blinded all sight.

‘No matter when, it’s crazy.’

Even human movement is impossible in such weather phenomena.

There were no travelers trudging through the snowstorm, and the things that emerged from that horrible void were not human.

‘What is it this time?’

A mutant monster?

Or perhaps a corrupted beast?

Gulp.

The soldiers and their comrades swallowed dryly as they peered intently into the blizzard.

“Beast! It’s a beast!”

“It’s a wolf again!”

At someone’s cry, the soldier and his comrades relaxed their unease.

A dull white coat, and red eyes. A massive body that easily surpasses that of a man’s height.

One of the creatures that began appearing with the snowstorm in the north.

According to the preachers and the lord’s words, these beasts were supposedly mutated by polluted mana.

‘Well, not my concern.’

The soldier pulled the string of the bow.

Complicated narratives were the job of the upper echelons. Soldiers like himself merely swung swords, thrust spears, and fired bows.

And among these creatures, the corrupted beasts were relatively better off.

‘Compared to those terrible ones, they might as well be angels.’

With the hoarse command from the commander, the soldier released the bowstring.

Swish!

Simultaneously, hundreds of arrows painted the sky.

The harsh wind blew and the skills of those firing were less than polished, but still:

No need to worry.

There were plenty of targets.

Pa-chank!

Hundreds of arrows descended among the wolf pack.

The arrow the soldier had fired nailed one wolf’s eye precisely.

Without time to revel in the improved prowess of his archery skills, the soldier fired another arrow.

Fortunately, holding out against the beasts was akin to a kind of rest period. A few times, these creatures that wandered close to Solrun’s wall were easily driven off by arrows.

The reason the soldier relaxed upon encountering the wolf pack was because of that.

The pattern of battle was similar to before.

When wolves dodged the barrage of arrows and leapt high to climb the wall, they were stopped by shields and spears waiting at the wall.

When this boring standoff continued, the exhausted wolf pack would repeatedly disappear back into the snowstorm.

This time was supposed to be the same.

It just had to be.

“What’s wrong…?”

“Why aren’t they running away?”

As the battle carried on, people’s minds were filled with doubts.

The wolves seemed to have no intention of retreating from the attacks coming from the wall, no matter how many comrades fell around them.

The wolves appeared singularly focused on charging the wall.

“Come to think of it, the way they’re attacking is a bit different.”

“They’re coming in recklessly.”

On closer inspection, there was a sense of urgency in the wolves’ movements.

‘Like they’re fleeing from something…’

Surely not.

In a hurry, the black-haired soldier turned his gaze beyond the snowstorm.

Kreeeeeeeaaah!

A chilling wail hit the wall.

“!”

The paralyzing shivers and the cold that seeped into their bones. The explosive terror that surged at the same time.

Clunk.

The soldier dropped the bow from their hands but couldn’t move their body.

Their whole body trembled. Not because of the cold of winter.

His mind went blank.

The ringing in his ears grew louder and his chest pounded wildly.

“Urgh…Ah…”

The form of the world began to crumble and sizes mixed haphazardly.

Forced injected fear. A power that plunged living beings into endless terror.

His mind and body were warning him to flee.

To a place that fear couldn’t reach.

‘Run. We must run… Escape… to where?’

Beyond the wall.

Towards the white world.

Just as the soldier took a shaky step over the wall, this happened:

“Awaken! Warriors of Solorun!”

A thunderous cry rang out.

The mysterious power that drove away fear.

The black-haired soldier abruptly fell backward.

‘What the…’

His mind became clear.

Though the trembling in his body continued, his consciousness was sharp.

Did I really intend to leap over the wall just now?

“Sir!”

“A knight has arrived! Take your positions!”

“The monster is approaching! Prepare the medicine!”

“Wolves are still present! We focus on chasing these wolves away!”

With the appearance of the mana manifested knight on the wall, the soldier sighed internally.

‘Phew… I’m alive. But…’

As he drew his bow again, the soldier glanced at the knight.

Among the knights stationed in Solorun, there were five who manifested mana.

And one of the five appeared now.

The rest of the four were recovering from injuries sustained in past battles.

The problem was even the one here had armor battered into disarray.

‘Can he handle it?’

The soldier glanced towards the white world beyond the snowstorm.

A massive silhouette visible even from afar.

A size that couldn’t be compared to corrupted beasts.

And compared to the mutant monsters that had stormed here until now? Another level of size altogether.

“…By the Goddess. Grant me your light.”

The soldier turned his head at the quiet mutter.

The knight’s face of tension, reciting the prayers. He, too, seemed to have faintly realized that what was approaching now from beyond the snowstorm was something of a different league.

Koong!

The ground shook slightly.

The soldier scanned the source of the sound.

‘Disappeared?’

The dark silhouette that was approaching beyond the snowstorm was nowhere to be seen.

As he shot an arrow at a lone wolf and quickly turned his gaze again,

“Prepare for impact!”

The knight’s loud cry was followed by a leap into the air.

A sword filled with white light illuminated the sky.

Above the knight swinging the sword.

The mutant monster was already falling.

Kyeek!

The arm, lashing out like a whip.

The knight’s sword clashed with the monster’s arm in an instant.

“Oof!”

The knight whose sword broke was hurled away into the insides of Solorun.

The broken wall where the knight crashed down, blood trickling through the crushed armor offered a grim picture of the knight’s condition.

Dead instantly.

At that, people’s movements froze.

The defeat of a mana manifested knight.

In other words, there were no mana manifested knights remaining in Solorun capable of combat.

Koong!

The monster gracefully landed on the wall, leisurely turning its body.

A creature as big as the castle wall itself. Every time it moved its massive body, a slight breeze would stir.

“Attack… No, flee…”

The pale commander’s mutters.

Other knights were hastily rushing over, but could they really handle this monster? One mana manifested knight was instantly defeated.

Kreeeeeeeaaah!

To make matters worse, another chilling scream hit the wall.

The black-haired soldier painfully twisted his neck to turn his gaze.

Three more dark shadows approaching through the snowstorm.

Three more mutant monsters.

‘This is the end.’

There was no thought of escape.

If even the farthest rear city of Solorun was like this, where else could one possibly escape to?

The soldier sank to the ground knowing the monster’s hand was looming towards him.

Though the fear resurrected by the creature’s emanations played a role, the disappearance of hope had the greatest impact.

The body lacked strength.

Rustle.

The monster’s massive arm enveloped over his head.

‘Mother…’

The soldier closed his eyes upon instinctively realizing it was death. And then.

Taaak!

Craaash!

–!

The shock that rocked his body.

The piercing screams that tore through his ears. And the light that pierced through his tightly shut eyes.

It felt different from being crushed by the monster’s arm.

‘What is this…’

The soldier gently lifted his eyelids.

The view beyond the pierced monster’s body.

A wolf flying in, radiating bright light, and the figure of a black-haired youth.

Turning his gaze, the soldier spotted an silver spear stuck nearby.

Surely that youth threw it.

“…God!”

A warm light trickled down the soldier’s cheek.

***

My first beast taming was successful.

“Keep running, understand?”

“Wauuugh!”

With an adorable howl, the white-furred wolf sped up.

Since they were creatures wandering through the snowstorms, the speed at which they raced across the snowfield was impressive. I’m lucky I tamed them.

I managed to eliminate the attacking wolf pack, leaving only two behind.

They must’ve entered my mana-activated zone entirely.

Taking care of the unnecessary ones was surprisingly easy.

Then I chased the fleeing pair, beat them senseless, brought them back, and after requesting Myna to infinitely heal them, I proceeded to beat them some more.

“Handling variant beasts in this way…”

The voice of Nia, who had lost all composure, reached my ears.

“What is this divine miracle?”

“Isn’t riding and galloping on this wolf a miracle too? It’s Lord’s miracle.”

“Is, that so?”

The conversation between Myna walking alongside Charles.

While Charles maintained a calm demeanor, Myna gripped the wolf’s mane with a heavily somber expression.

It seems it helped tame the wolf’s wild nature.

It’s quite fortunate to have a mode of transportation that can swiftly move around the north. Though a small conscience… well, let’s not dwell on it.

“Lord. We’ll soon see Solorun, I think.”

“Already? Faster than expected.”

“Yes. Since these ones are faster than horses, it seems we’ll arrive soon.”

With a nod at Charles’s words, I patted the wolf’s head.

“Go faster.”

“…Wauuugh!”

Seeming to understand the instruction, the wolf increased its speed.

It seemed its eyes were moist, but it’s probably just my feelings.

Koong! Koong! Koong!

Riding wolves made travel across the north pretty comfortable.

Dangerous areas could be easily passed over, and one could skate swiftly through snowfields.

Winds and cold were blocked by Nia and Myna using their powers. It truly feels like driving through empty fields.

In this way, for some time, we raced through the snowstorm at high speed.

Finally, we could see the castle walls that looked eerily like ruins. Along with numerous presences surrounding it.

“An unpleasant mass of mana.”

“A monster’s presence.”

“Something like that. Judging from the state of Solorun, it seems severe.”

While conversing with Nia, a nerve-grating sound echoed.

Kreeaaarrrr!

The chilling howl.

Simultaneously, the mana presence that was exuding from inside Solorun disappeared.

“Did a mana manifested knight die?”

The situation doesn’t seem ordinary.

While unstrapping the sealed spear from my back, I patted the wolf’s head.

Bang!

“Waaaugh!”

Koong! Koong! Koong!

“Waaaah!”

“Endure! It seems urgent!”

The wolf now galloping at full tilt.

Clutching the sealed spear tightly, I shouted.

“I’ll go first! Holy Myna, bless these!”

“Y-yes! Understood!”

As a bright light enveloped the wolves, their speed increased even more.

To the extent that an ordinary person would only see faint blurs moving.

The cracked walls of Solorun approached.

Focusing strength into my legs to stabilize my body, I spoke to the wolf.

“Jump.”

“Wang!”

“Oooohaaaak! Save me master!”

“If you keep opening your mouth, you’ll bite your tongue!”

“Ugh-ugh-ugh!”

Thanks to Myna’s blessings, it seemed, the leap was higher than expected.

The wolf lightly leaped over Solorun’s wall, giving me a clear view of the city.

While still airborne, I quickly scanned the surroundings.

‘A creature on the wall. Three more approaching.’

Are the northern mutants naturally this large?

Their size was on a different level than those I’d seen in the capital.

Guh.

I firmly gripped the shaft of the sealed spear.

The creature on the wall was approaching a soldier. Looks like they were hit by the emanations of the creatures and couldn’t move.

If left as is, they will be crushed by the creatures’ hands.

‘That won’t do.’

Let me test the power of the sealed spear.

First, a spear throw.

Pulling the arm holding the spear with all my strength.

“…Disappear.”

I fired it at the creature on the wall.

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