Chapter 93 – Renia Gate (3)
“I thought you’d be capable of some rebellion…”
The undulation of the black space where I could easily swallow a person whole slowly fades away.
Contrary to the testimonies of the beastmen that goblins had jumped out from here and attacked nearby residents, there was no significant resistance even as the erosion was purified and vanished.
“Let’s hurry back.”
Thanks to my unnecessary anxiety, I felt rushed. It seemed even more so because the plan we were working on had slipped from my hands.
“The erosion that has occurred nearby is relatively small, but I have heard that monsters have invaded in large numbers from other places. Fortunately, this time that hasn’t happened, and it seems that is thanks to the presence of the High Elf.”
“It was just luck. Although we handled it lightly without any trouble, we must not let our guard down. I’ve said it several times; this is something that everyone in the world should unite and tackle together.”
“Hehe, of course. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Leorne’s tongue, which had started to flatter me to the point of weariness, was indeed impressive.
However, I could tell that those sweet words were not sincere, even if I were not a true ten-thousand-year-old elf.
His characteristic defiance showed. Did he think he had lived enough? Did he believe that as long as he protects the interests he holds now until death, it wouldn’t matter what happens to the next generation?
As my expression turned cold, he seemed a bit flustered, his eyes wavering.
The unfortunate fact was that there were not a few people in this world who thought like this old fox.
Even among those who had not succumbed to the curse manipulated by the will of the apocalypse, there were many who did not seriously consider the destruction of the world, that is, the future.
They believed it was someone else’s business. Some old folks, having lived long enough, thought this way, while others were determined to perish together with everyone else.
“I cannot deny it. It’s a shameful thing to say, but we elves were also unable to keep our heads straight for a while. If the High Elf hadn’t come to tidy things up, we might not have been able to unite until the very moment the world was destroyed.”
“When a real crisis approaches, things might change a bit. But by then, far too many would have died.”
I didn’t dispute Arisa’s words, but I was tired of saying, “Fix the barn after losing the cow.” Why did we always have to start with getting beaten first?
It was right to be thoroughly prepared and take precautions to reduce sacrifices. Although some rejected this notion, I intended to clear them out beforehand.
“As soon as we go back, the planned operation will begin. Let’s move right on cue.”
I rested as much as I could inside the returning carriage. Though I deemed it unlikely, it was not impossible for Leorne or Taizhu to act foolishly.
“…What is that?”
However, when we began to see the capital of the fox clan in the distance, red flares began to explode in the morning twilight.
The red signal flares, an unspoken agreement among adventurers to fire in emergencies.
“I, Iriliana!”
“Your house is being attacked by those unknown to you. Are you just going to sit here calmly?”
I kicked the carriage door and jumped out, causing Leorne, who was startled, to run toward me, but I did not intend to waste time arguing here.
I had a gut feeling that our planned operation had gone slightly awry.
“Quickly! Arisa, return with them as fast as you can!”
Calling forth a board using the earth spirit, I mounted it and started gliding across the ground without giving the others a chance to stop me.
I had no idea how they figured out our plans and moved first, but if we lost the witnesses or they ended up dead, it would become the worst-case scenario. That had to be absolutely avoided.
*
“Is it true that we have found the witnesses’ traces?”
“The swamp sorcerer has pinpointed their location!”
Taizhu, who had been anxious, found a clue while tracking the witnesses with the assistance of the lizardman sorcerer’s magic.
“Consider yourself lucky. It isn’t precise, but now we can know their location.”
The lizard sorcerer used the severed finger of the witness, obtained during torture, as a medium to cast a spell to determine the owner’s location.
Upon learning this location, Taizhu was shocked. The location was evidently near the royal palace, where the Fox King, Tas, had his maternal family.
[Capture and kill them]
But there was no option to back down. Even if it meant storming the royal palace, Taizhu had to capture and kill the witnesses. He could not afford to watch his grand plan fall apart.
“Give orders to all troops. We are attacking the place where they are!”
Ultimately, Taizhu decided to charge into this matter, clearly involving Tas. However, he chose not to mobilize the military that he already had at his disposal, preparing for whatever the future might hold.
They would be sufficient merely by watching this situation unfold rather than diving in.
“Move quickly!”
“Get your weapons ready!”
Taizhu’s subordinates began gathering under the cover of darkness, armed and moving toward their destination. Their movements were detected by Ethan’s organization, including Patrick.
“Those crazy bastards, is this really the right thing to do? It’s still their king!”
While gathering his weapon, Patrick couldn’t believe this situation and yelled in disbelief. He had hoped but never expected they would act so radically.
“Are we going to hold on? Iriliana is right now…”
“We have no choice. We just have to try our best to buy time. Lila, don’t overdo it. The most important thing is our lives.”
Lila, who was heading to fight alongside them, strapped her sword to her waist.
The troops they could mobilize consisted of only a small number of soldiers led by Tas’ close subordinates and some members of Ethan’s organization, including Patrick and Lila.
“There they are!”
When they rushed to provide support, Taizhu’s subordinates were already engaged in fierce combat with Tas’ subordinates over a mansion.
Gritting his teeth, Patrick joined the fight. It had been quite a while since he fought against people rather than monsters.
“I can only hope there are no strong opponents.”
Having struck down a flustered subordinate of Taizhu with his sword, Patrick wished desperately that there would be no formidable foes at the level of high-ranking adventurers or elite knights.
If such individuals showed up, they would not be able to withstand their power.
“Humans! Humans have intervened!”
“Damn it, what the hell are those guys!?”
The sky was already lit with flares, notifying everyone around that this place had become a battlefield, and suddenly a group of humans had entered the fray from the side.
Taizhu, who had been observing, was horrified at how the situation was unfolding, contrary to his expectations.
According to the plan, they should have completely and cleanly occupied the mansion and retrieved the witnesses within less than an hour, but despite a successful raid, time was dragging on endlessly.
“Don’t worry too much. This city is already in our hands. The king will surely not be able to come out of his residence.”
Taizhu’s subordinates reassured him. Though it was dragging on a little, everything was already under their control.
Even if time dragged on, those who would wither away inside could expect no help from outside.
“No, we need to hurry. As quickly as possible…!”
However, Taizhu shook his head. Others may be unable to think deeply, but he was acutely aware that a highly alert being was on its way back here.
[Handle it before the High Elf arrives]
The most significant external concern. Taizhu was convinced that if High Elf Iriliana learned of this situation, she would undoubtedly intervene.
No matter how much he tried to forget because of the voice echoing in his head, it was impossible to ignore that presence.
“Sir Aijin. We have no choice. They’ve brought in even human beings, so we must respond in kind. Please step forward.”
“There’s no choice.”
He decided to reveal even the secret weapon he had been trying to hold back as much as possible.
There were few highly skilled individuals, and they tended to be well-known. And such people rarely lived in seclusion without affiliation.
If he were to send out a knight, one of the best from the fox clan, it would surely help in organizing the scene, but it would mean exposing their identities and revealing who was behind the scenes.
Taizhu made the decision to endure that risk. While it crossed the line, at this moment, it was the only option available.
“Sir Taizhu!”
“I will also go personally. This concerns all of our lives!”
Not stopping there, Taizhu decided to take matters into his own hands. It was already too far along to calculate and act any longer.
