Chapter 272

Chapter 59: Disruption (6)

The next morning.

Right after news broke that all the troops escorting Fertisha had been subdued,

“…What?”

Chartang’s eyes went wide.

A silent pause followed.

After a moment, he asked again, unable to hide his bewilderment.

“What did you just say? Fertisha? Kidnapped by whom?”

He heard it but couldn’t comprehend it.

Thus, Chartang asked for clarification, and Saxen bit his lips while stifling a groan. Finally, after a pained expression, he opened his mouth.

“It’s believed that a group of cultists from the desert attacked the escort troops. It’s also been reported that the princess was abducted by them…”

But he couldn’t continue the report.

This was because Chartang abruptly flipped the desk over.

Crash! Bang!

The desk crashed loudly to the ground.

Shattered teacups scattered around, but nobody cared. Chartang erupted in fury.

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re telling me to believe such nonsense?!”

“But your Majesty—”

“Shut it! What reason would desert cultists have to kidnap Fertisha?!”

His eyebrows quivered with intense rage.

A vein bulged in Chartang’s forehead, reflecting his inability to contain his anger.

Saxen desperately tried to calm him down.

“…Your Majesty. I understand it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. We’ve also confirmed what happened to Lady Rimer Yen Lapis.”

Lady Rimer, the head of the escort, was currently in critical condition receiving treatment from the priests. She suffered severe internal injuries from a strong impact, and this news was also conveyed.

“So, whether you believe it or not, you must because you need to keep your wits about you if you’re going to save the princess.”

Saxen’s urging continued.

Of course, Chartang knew rationally that Saxen, his knight, wouldn’t lie about something like this.

But he still couldn’t wrap his head around it.

“The Southern Battle Line is fine! How could mere cultists…!”

Are they crossing the border to mount an attack?

Chartang’s wrath was far from abating. Meanwhile, Saxen jumped in as soon as he mentioned the Southern Battle Line.

“Just this morning, Count Deorg sent an urgent report.”

“What? What did it say?”

“It was transmitted through the Magic Tower that the leader of the Desert Order has changed.”

The new leader was Arena Rudrik.

She was leading a fairly radical faction within the Order and was showing signs of mobilizing troops to expand their power beyond the desert.

The report from Count Deorg ended there. The moment Chartang heard it, the figure behind Fertisha’s kidnapping became clear.

“Those damn cultists!”

His rage erupted once more.

Piecing together Saxen’s report and Count Deorg’s communications, Chartang grasped the situation immediately.

Seeing his face growing increasingly red, Saxen hastily added,

“Don’t worry too much, Your Majesty. Currently, Lord Gorphant is assembling a team to track the kidnappers’ trail…”

“No. That’s not enough.”

Chartang shook his head resolutely.

Fertisha had already been kidnapped; he couldn’t just sit back and wait. Thus, he spoke with a determined expression.

“From this moment, I’m issuing an emergency summon to the Empire’s mages at the Magic Tower.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Lead the troops to gather at the Southern Battle Line. And make sure to share this: Anyone who disobeys the summons will be treated as a traitor!”

Chartang growled threateningly.

Saxen sensed the gravity of Chartang’s words. He understood Chartang was beyond reason right now. So, he made one last desperate appeal.

“But if we rashly cross the border…”

“A war will break out.”

Chartang cut off Saxen’s words.

If the Empire were to dispatch a large military force into the desert first, it would inevitably lead to a full-scale confrontation with the Desert Order.

“But I don’t care.”

After all, it was the cultists who made the first move.

It was all the fault of the cultists who kidnapped Fertisha. Therefore, Chartang had more than enough justification to start a war.

“The mistake of trying to take what belongs to me will be repaid with the blood of the cultists.”

Even if countless blood stains the sandy expanse, he wouldn’t let it end until he reclaimed Fertisha!

Chartang’s gaze blazed brightly like a fierce fire. It was a look filled with obsessive intensity.

11.

Right after Chartang proclaimed the summons, news reached Count D’muehl Ron Dermore, who had business at the Magic Tower.

“What? A summons has been issued from the Imperial Castle?”

“Yes, that’s definitely what I heard.”

While D’muehl was flustered, the wizard who delivered the news nodded calmly.

“Why suddenly the Southern Battle Line…?”

“I don’t know the exact reasons. But they’re saying refusing the summons will be treated as treason.”

The wizard who delivered the summons soon vanished, heading off to inform other mages at the Tower.

And just as D’muehl was left standing there alone, a mud doll surged up beside him.

“It seems to involve the seventh star.”

None other than Rakus’s clone.

With red eyes gleaming, he whispered, and D’muehl exclaimed in surprise.

“What? You mean Princess Fertisha?”

“Right. The eye planted in the Imperial Castle said that the princess has been kidnapped by cultists.”

Then this must be an accurate piece of news.

However, the question remained unanswered. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t find a valid reason for the cultists to kidnap Fertisha.

“Why would the Desert Order… No, they don’t have the ability to overpower the Eastern Wild Sword, do they?”

“I can’t say they have absolutely no chance. The minions of Rudrik could certainly contend against a Master’s knight.”

In contrast to D’muehl’s suspicions, Rakus accepted the Desert Order’s assault as a fact.

Of course, he didn’t know the exact reasons, but that didn’t matter. This was because Chartang’s orders aligned with Rakus’s aims.

“To make the Crown Prince the Second Apostle, we must completely eradicate Kazan Rudrik’s remnants, so the desert must be conquered.”

And there was one more reason to conquer the desert.

“Moreover, the last condition for choosing me as the true Abyss also lies within the desert.”

D’muehl already knew what that was.

So, with a sparkle in his eye, he said,

“You mean the Giant King.”

“Exactly. If that one is excluded, I would truly transform into the Abyss.”

The Giant King Rargtan.

Thinking of the Lord of the Abyss hidden somewhere within the desert, Rakus grinned wickedly.

“And if that happens…”

He muttered with an excited face.

But Rakus’s trailing words scattered into the air, barely audible. Still, his eyes shone brightly like stars.

Those eyes radiated fanatical desire and obsession.

They were similar to the eyes of Crown Prince Chartang.

12.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Ulan, having successfully captured Fertisha, raced through the forest at a crazy speed with her and Silfi struggling over his shoulder.

Eventually, he arrived at the border area.

This was the edge shared with the Arpen Duchy in the southeast. It was also the meeting place for him and the others, including Noa.

“Looks like we made it.”

A little while later, Noa appeared and smiled upon seeing Fertisha with Ulan.

Ulan nodded in response.

“Thanks to the talisman you gave me.”

“That’s a relief. You weren’t caught, were you?”

“No. They thought I was a cultist.”

With that satisfactory reply, Noa turned her gaze to Silfi.

Her pallid complexion revealed she was utterly bewildered about what was happening.

‘Well, that’s to be expected.’

She had been dragged here just as she was about to fall asleep. Afterwards, Noa only gave Silfi the minimum explanation and had her participate in the kidnapping plan.

This included disclosing Fertisha’s real name and suggesting she should claim to take her in the name of the leader.

‘From the start…’

Silfi had no choice but to follow orders. A cursed person had no right to refuse their master’s command.

So she begrudgingly complied with Noa’s commands, leading to the successful completion of the kidnapping.

Just as they wrapped up their reminiscences,

Ulan suddenly recalled something he had forgotten to mention.

“But there’s something that’s been bothering me.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“I failed to control my strength.”

“…Huh?”

What on earth was he talking about?

Noa’s eyes widened for a moment, accompanied by an inexplicable feeling of unease.

Meanwhile, Ulan remained composed as he explained the mistake he had made.

“I was trying to knock her out in one blow by punching her in the stomach, but I used more strength than I expected.”

“…!?”

Noa’s complexion turned pale in an instant.

While others might have brushed it off, Ulan’s ‘a bit’ was nowhere near what the average person would consider a little.

“You’re not saying she’s dead, are you…?”

“No. It seems she instinctively increased her aura to protect herself.”

At least that was some good news.

Hearing that Rimer wasn’t dead gave Noa a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Ulan stared at his fist, mumbling.

“Of course, if she were not a Master, she would have burst.”

“…”

A chilling reply followed.

However, Noa made a conscious effort to ignore it as she turned her attention to the team. After all, they had succeeded in the plan, and it was time to discuss the next steps.

At that moment, Ivella suddenly spoke up.

“By the way, it’s great that the plan succeeded, but what are we going to do now? Do we have a plan?”

With Fertisha’s kidnapping successful, she couldn’t return to Arsen Academy.

Realizing this, Ivella asked. Ulan looked at Noa and shared his opinion.

“Can’t we just head straight to the desert?”

“No, we absolutely cannot do that.”

If they headed to the desert now, it would be tantamount to confessing their connection to the Fertisha kidnapping incident. Only a Master like her could subdue the Eastern Wild Sword, Rimer Yen Lapis.

This meant they couldn’t move to the desert just yet, even to cover their alibi.

“So, what do we do?”

“Don’t worry. I have something in mind.”

Responding to Ivella’s question, Noa smiled gently. She then silently looked at Delia, who nodded dutifully.

“I plan to hide in the Arpen Duchy.”

“What? In the Duchy?”

“Yeah. I’ve already contacted them in advance.”

They had decided to meet in this area.

Taking some time after Delia’s answer, a sound suddenly broke through the bushes, revealing numerous presences. Shortly after, a group of soldiers appeared, clad in battle gear.

“We have come to see the princess.”

It was the Ranger troops from Arpen Duchy.

About thirty of them had arrived to secure Fertisha under Delia’s orders. Among them, a familiar face stood out.

“Sister!”

Delia’s half-sister, Rudine Arpen.

She wore battle gear just like the other Rangers and beamed at them. A smile broke even on Delia’s otherwise expressionless face.

“You look quite healthy.”

“Yeah! I’ve gotten much better!”

She had been in a wheelchair last time they saw each other.

Delia felt satisfied seeing Rudine, now healthy enough to operate alongside the Rangers.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries,

“Oh, is this the person you mentioned, sister?”

“Yes. I’m counting on you for the next half month.”

“Sure! Of course!”

Rudine nodded enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, while the two princesses of Arpen were chatting, Fertisha seemed frustrated with her current situation and let out a deep sigh.

“Ugh, it looks like I’ll have to stay away for a while.”

Fertisha’s goal was to hide in Arpen Duchy for a while to evade the Empire’s gaze and then head straight to the desert when winter came.

This meant she had to be apart from Ulan and the others for the time being. Noa apologized, looking remorseful.

“I’m sorry, but this was the best method.”

“I understand. If it weren’t for you guys, I would have been captured long ago.”

Fertisha shook her head.

Then, turning to Delia, who had just finished her conversation, she bowed her head with a smile.

“Thank you for looking out for me, Delia.”

“…I didn’t do it just for you.”

She had simply acted this way to prevent Ulan from facing difficulties during their journey to the desert. When Delia mumbled this, Rudine awkwardly spoke up.

“Ahaha, I’m sorry. Her honesty has always been lacking.”

“Rudine. What do you mean by that…?”

“Anyways, you don’t need to worry. Your friend is a valuable guest to me as well.”

Delia’s expression crinkled at Rudine’s words, while Fertisha wore a serene smile.

Eventually, after wrapping up all the conversations,

Ulan reached out his hand towards Fertisha. It was a parting gesture, promising to meet again.

“I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Yes! See you in the desert!”

But instead of taking Ulan’s hand, she pulled him into a tight embrace. Just as she was about to steal a kiss from his plump lips,

“Hey! Wait! Not like this?!”

“I really can’t let my guard down.”

They were restrained by Delia and Ivella.

Watching the two huffing and puffing, Fertisha seemed a bit regretful, and Noa and Rudine exchanged awkward smiles as they looked on.

A little while later, after confirming that Fertisha and Rudine had crossed the border with the Arpen Ranger troops, Ulan and the crew turned to head back.

They were on their way back to the Academy.

Meanwhile, a reunion.

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