Chapter 122

122.

At the midway point between the northern front lines and Solorun.

The square of the gateway city Yelkin was filled with a large crowd.

“Begin.”

“Milord! Please, have mercy! I am Gailson. Last year, I crafted leather boots from materials obtained in the capital and presented them, did I not! I also clearly remember your young master’s promise to commission boots from me later!”

Zelbin Cromwell shifted his dry eyes to look at the boots surrounding his feet.

Though dirtied by mud and snow over a long time, the black boots still boasted a luxurious appearance. They were excellently insulated against the cold of the north and, after long use, not a single thread had come loose. The fit was so comfortable it felt as though he wore no boots at all. No other boots compared.

Certainly, these couldn’t have been crafted with ordinary materials and skills. Considering the distance between the capital and Yelkin, it must have cost a pretty penny.

One could feel the dedication of the craftsman who made the boots.

Thus, Zelbin felt regretful.

That Gailson, the cobbler, would no longer be able to craft boots.

“Milord, please…! Lumen! Put down that torch. What will become of my remaining family if I die? You understand, having children to feed yourself! …Damn it, Chelton! Would you really do this? You know my son and your daughter were betrothed!”

The expressions of the two men approaching with torches stiffened at the red-eyed shouts of Gailson. Lumen and Chelton shivered and gritted their teeth.

Did he see hope in that?

Color returned to Gailson’s pale face. While shaking his tied body, he desperately cried out,

“Have you all gone mad? Nothing will be solved this way. It’s meaningless death! Lumen, Chelton. Snap out of it! It’s not too late. For the sake of my wife and son, please release me. Sir Ronkels! I implore you. Milord! Please spare my life…”

“Family, huh.”

At Zelbin’s mutter, Gailson fell silent.

Tears welling in his eyes, his face a mix of the will to live and worry for his family. When Zelbin raised his hand, Lumen and Chelton stopped in their tracks.

“Milord!”

Gailson beamed with emotion.

Staring down the cobbler, Zelbin spoke.

“Schunie and Gerry. They’re already dead, aren’t they.”

Gailson’s expression froze.

His face grew red, and he violently writhed, trying to free himself from the ropes. Unfazed by his excited state, Zelbin continued.

“You ate them.”

“…”

Silence descended on Yelkin’s square.

The silence stretched on without a sound.

The crackling of the fire eventually echoed through the square as white snow began to pile up on the heads and shoulders of the people.

Gailson laughed.

“How did you know? I thought no one was around.”

The corners of his mouth stretched unnervingly wide. The once familiar face of the cobbler had warped into something malevolent. The crowd sucked in a collective breath at the demonic sight.

“You’re more perceptive than expected. A pity I can’t inform my brethren. They won’t know about this.”

With a chuckle, Gailson turned his gaze.

Chelton, still standing stiff with his torch, had an expression filled with fear, anger, and loathing.

Gailson’s eyes softened.

“Chelton. It truly is unfortunate that I couldn’t taste your daughter. It was going to be soon. What a pity, such a pity.”

“You shut your mouth! You filthy Dark Cultist…!”

In his rage, Chelton swung the torch, but Gailson sneered as if it meant nothing.

“I don’t understand why you’re so upset. We’ll be one with him, ascending to his side. Not in this false world, but in a true paradise above. Indeed. There will be no grotesque monsters, biting cold, or starvation there!”

Let’s all become one and ascend to paradise!

Break the world ruled by the evil goddess, and live anew in the truth. Brothers!

The Dark Cultist disguised as Gailson smiled brightly.

“…Hmph.”

Zelbin sighed inwardly.

How many was this now? He couldn’t quite remember.

Defending Yelkin alone was already a headache. Yet these pests kept showing up to cause trouble.

“Lumen, Chelson. Burn him quickly.”

“…Yes.”

Whoosh.

The flames planted within the stack of firewood quickly spread.

“Aaaaaaagh!”

The Dark Cultist enveloped in flames opened his mouth.

The nauseating aroma of burning skin.

Black smoke covered the sky, and terrible cries echoed.

“You will never survive!”

The Dark Cultist, whose skin was grotesquely peeling off, convulsively screamed. His exposed eyeballs targeted Zelbin, and curses streamed from his mouth.

“Keltarren, watch over us! Only through believing in Him and accomplishing the great work lies salvation! The goddess won’t save you! All of us will become one and ascend to paradise! Pluck out your hearts and dedicate your brains in prayer! Thus, we shall abandon this false…ghk!”

A torch was shoved into the Dark Cultist’s mouth.

“Ghh! Cho…!”

“Annoying.”

The sight of the convulsing Dark Cultist.

Zelbin tightened his grip on the torch with a cold gaze.

The flames consumed the Dark Cultist’s entire body.

When the frantic writhing stopped,

Zelbin lowered the torch and turned around.

“…”

The people bound and looking tense scanned the surroundings; most were familiar faces.

Zelbin held down his suffocating feeling with lifted hands.

Swoosh.

At the lord’s signal, the knight drew his sword.

“An…!”

Slice.

A head fell.

And then the remaining four heads fell, enveloping the square in an oppressive silence filled with fear. The execution of those who cooperated with Gailson’s Dark Cultist was complete.

“…I’m tired.”

Zelbin looked around at the gathered people and spoke.

“Charming people, killing them, eating them, and raping them at will, taking pleasure. Wearing the guise of humans and masquerading falsely.”

The residents of Yelkin held their fear close and listened to the lord’s voice.

Zelbin nodded his head and turned again, gazing at the fiercely blazing flames. The flames that consumed the Dark Cultist defiantly blazed even in the midst of the snowstorm.

“Do not be deceived. Trust in the northern temperament and our beliefs. We have survived on this frigid land so far, and we will continue to do so. Therefore, keep resisting indefinitely!”

Never forget.

The land of eternal winters.

The image of yourself surviving in this northern region.

After finishing his speech, Zelbin turned to head back to the Lord’s Castle.

And just as the crowd surrounding the square cautiously stepped aside and Zelbin, accompanied by the knight, was about to start walking,

Dong-dong-dong!

An urgent tolling sounded throughout Yelkin.

“Looks like there’s no quiet day.”

At the tiresome warning sound, Zelbin spoke to the knight.

“Sir Ronkels. I see those black masses are back. Please move ahead. I’ll finish up here and follow shortly.”

“Yes. As you command.”

“Everyone, disperse to your positions! Overcome fear, and thrust your swords! People of the North!”

With the lord’s cry, the resolved residents hurriedly left their places.

The determination shone in the eyes of the citizens, who grabbed their weapons and headed towards the Castle Wall.

Even if the end isn’t visible, we don’t give up.

Then we will survive. As we always have.

***

It’s been a few days since I cut down that rotten tree.

The moment the rotten tree collapsed, the snowstorm in that area completely ceased.

Proof that destroying the trees could restore weather conditions, and I had the strength to break them.

Seven decayed trees at the northern entrance.

The remaining locations were already confirmed by Charles in advance.

Guided by Charles, we wandered around on wolves to break the trees.

Fortunately, breaking the rest wasn’t difficult.

The first tree we cut down seemed unusually large, as the other trees marked out on the map were relatively smaller.

The operation was proceeding smoothly. Whether it was Nia casting magic or Arthur and the knights pounding away dozens of times, the trees would just topple over.

There was no need for me to step in after the first tree.

Thus, while leaving it to others,

We had come to the very last one.

“…This is the last one.”

It was a tree the size of five burly men combined.

Glancing at the decayed tree without the power of the Dark Cultists, I turned away.

“Do it.”

“Yes, Master.”

Arthur stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

The tattered appearance of Arthur, who had cast off his robes, was quite ragged. Not just his face, but his clothes were stained with dirt, blood, and various other marks.

His attire was torn in several places, resembling a beggar, yet his fierce gaze bore a strong will.

“I will begin.”

As he focused with his eyes closed, the white light enveloped his sword—an indication of the infused mana. So far, so good.

“…”

With a short shout, the flow of mana changed. Simultaneously, the color of the mana gathered around the sword began to turn blue.

Uuuung-

Similar to when I wielded my sword.

“Ah.”

He’s steady and properly circulating his internal mana. Will this be the success?

In just a few days, he’s mimicking the mana breathing technique. The learning speed is absurd. The core is unstable, but that’s something that can be fixed gradually.

‘He has undeniable talent…’

While observing him with interest, an anomaly occurred.

Flicker.

The mana that had taken on a bluish hue began to flicker.

It was switching back and forth between white and blue in chaos. Observing Arthur’s face, it was coated with signs of anxiety and cold sweat.

The flow of mana became increasingly unstable and even his breathing faltered, which had been calm till now.

‘Sigh. Looks like it’s failed again.’

Impressive as it is considering the time he’s been training.

Excessive praise might instill bad habits.

Swish-swish.

During that pause, Arthur pulled his sword back.

“Braiden School Split Sword Technique! Modified Version!”

Hooong-

The sword, which had been alternating between a blue and white glow, emitted a brilliant light. The rotating flow of mana centered around the sword gathered intangible energy spiraling around the tip of Arthur’s sword.

It looked like a sharp spike with a blunt back.

‘…No.’

He isn’t consolidating it properly.

I specifically told him to focus it into a single point.

Narrowing my eyes, while checking the technique, Arthur exclaimed and thrust his arm forward.

“Penetrate Steel!”

A faint gust arose as the intangible energy Arthur unleashed rushed toward the rotten tree. And…

Bang!

The center of the tree exploded outward, creating a massive hole. The shockwave sent cascades of snow that had accumulated on the branches fluttering down.

…Cracking.

How many trees can survive with a gaping hole like that in the middle?

The rotten tree stood for a brief moment, only to collapse with a loud resounding sound soon after.

Kawaaaaang!

The ground trembled as a cloud of dust erupted. The snowstorm rapidly subsiding. The knights cheered in excitement at Arthur’s accomplishment.

“Oh! The tree’s blown apart! Knight Arthur!”

“The snowstorm has disappeared!”

The knights’ cheers brought a satisfied smile to Arthur as he sheathed his sword.

“Phew. That wasn’t easy.”

‘Thunder.’

Approaching quietly behind him with a grin that showed how pleased he was.

I curled my previously relaxed hand and,

Swung it hard towards the back of his head.

Bop!

“Aaak!”