Chapter 174 – Always Watch Your Back

1

What must a gamer feel when they witness the characters they’ve painstakingly nurtured getting destroyed without being able to do anything?

It must feel absolutely terrible.

Now imagine that it’s not just a game character, but real people.

How could you even describe that feeling?

Count Acre’s hands trembled as he watched the battlefield unfold.

Sure, he was a master swordsman.

One of the most renowned blades in the Empire, but even he couldn’t stand against the overwhelming power of magic.

This wasn’t a matter of who was superior.

It was a matter of sheer force.

“I didn’t want to believe it, but it seems the Archmage’s reputation is no exaggeration.”

“Is everything ready?”

“Of course. Caesar has grown complacent, drunk on their own power. But we’ve been preparing ever since we discovered those ruins they abandoned long ago.”

“…Finish this before my rage devours what little patience I have left.”

“Understood.”

The man next to Count Acre vanished.

Now it was his turn.

An entire knight order had been wiped out.

He wouldn’t feel satisfied unless he took down at least an equal number with his own blade.

Ssshring—.

The sound of a sword being drawn echoed under the clear sky.

It was a magnificent blade, one that thirsted for blood and wanted to drink deeply from the entrails of its foes.

Mounting his pure white steed, Count Acre rallied his true elite forces.

“My lord, we are ready.”

“We strike at their flank.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Caesar’s knight order was starting to tear through their ranks.

The Acre forces had expected Caesar to rely on their magic, but they hadn’t anticipated that they would include mages in their knight orders.

Because of that, the defensive forces meant to hold back Caesar’s knights were on the verge of collapse.

Hyah!

A unit stationed behind the frontlines began charging forward, kicking up a cloud of dust as they sped across the battlefield.

If Caesar had their magic-enhanced charge, then Count Acre’s knight order possessed a technique that pushed both horse and rider to the very limit of their strength.

“We’ll hit them from the side in one blow. I’ll take the lead.”

“Everyone, stay sharp and don’t fall behind!”

“Maximize your mana! Focus on your technique! Our lord leads the charge!”

There was a reason Acre was called the Blue Lion.

And now it was time to prove it.

Mana flared in Count Acre’s eyes.

He would avenge the fallen.

Just a bit more.

Just a bit farther, and he could crush the enemy’s flank.

It was a classic hammer-and-anvil tactic.

The most reliable and destructive strategy.

Not even Caesar’s elite troops could withstand the sheer force of it.

Count Acre was sure of it.

“Full speed!”

“Full speed—!”

Waaaaaah!

The Acre knight order, now at full power, launched into a ferocious charge.

But they should have held onto their trump card a little longer.

No, perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered at all.

Because just as they raced forward with all their momentum, a massive spell descended upon them.

2

“They were hiding their real knight order.”

“And Count Acre himself is among them.”

Labeth nodded at the remarks from his two children.

To stop that knight order would require a large-scale spell.

That’s why his two children were here, and they had an entire support unit assisting them.

Meanwhile, Manus carefully examined the message he had received.

‘A specific team. Three members.’

That meant one was already decided.

Aden, the assassin, who was waiting in the shadows even now.

In a critical situation, she’d be able to support him.

But who were the other two?

Manus looked around.

Labeth, the family head, was out of the question.

He had a war to command.

That left…

“Father.”

“Address me as the family head right now.”

“Yes, family head. I ask that you assign me a Guardian and a Warrior.”

Labeth’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“For what reason?”

“I’ll go behind enemy lines and disrupt their forces.”

“That’s dangerous.”

Manus knew he could convince his father.

He had a solid grasp of the battlefield’s current situation.

The words flowed from him with unusual ease as he laid out his reasoning to Labeth.

“Aside from the Church, the enemy has committed all their forces to this battlefield. The only place nearby where they could be hiding is likely the ruins.”

“Now that you mention it, we did leave those ruins untouched.”

“The Church has been backing Count Acre. The reason they provoked this war is obvious.”

Labeth thought for a moment before nodding.

It was a dangerous mission.

Manus could very well lose his life.

But there was no one else suited for the task.

If he distinguished himself in this war, Manus would prove that he was a mage worthy of his great destiny.

Sometimes, the harshest paths produced the greatest men.

Labeth gave his orders, not as a father but as the family head.

“Take Wei and Kenain with you.”

“Where are they now?”

“They should be at the supply tent.”

Manus nodded.

Boom!

At that moment, Tyrannis and Invidea unleashed a powerful combined spell, halting Count Acre’s charge.

Manus turned, saluted his father with a crisp Caesar-style military gesture, and spoke.

“I’ll be back.”

“Be careful.”

“Yes.”

Manus made his way toward the supply tent.

A sharp, chilly voice suddenly whispered in his ear.

[Didn’t you say you wouldn’t go anywhere dangerous?]

“This is a chance to get stronger. I can’t let it pass.”

[That’s a ridiculous excuse. Isn’t training in the Erosion Zone enough?]

“I trust you. And I trust Wei and Kenain. They’re quite strong, aren’t they?”

[…It’s not like I can stop you.]

Manus smiled softly.

Seeing this tragic woman grumble like this, he couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Even her complaints were proof that she still had her emotions.

And it meant that she cared about him.

Her concern came through so clearly that, despite the grim situation, Manus felt a warm sense of reassurance.

Inside the supply tent, everyone was busy preparing food, equipment, and moving injured soldiers.

Every now and then, he spotted an emblem emblazoned with a golden dragon.

That was the mark of the Abrel family, no doubt.

‘They’ve gotten involved too. Their information network really is fast.’

Manus pushed those thoughts aside and spoke up.

“Wei, Kenain. Are you here?”

“Yes. Did you call for us?”

“Kenain, reporting for duty.”

Kenain, the Guardian, was holding a massive tower shield in one hand.

His bronzed skin and muscular frame immediately conveyed his strength.

His bald head further accentuated how formidable he was as a protector.

Wei wore light armor and carried a thin blade, resembling the graceful sword masters often seen in martial arts stories.

“You two will be part of a special detachment with me. I trust your skills are up to the task?”

“Oh my…”

“It is an honor, young master.”

Both of their eyes sparkled.

As part of a detachment, they had the chance to earn significant merit.

But with that came great risk as well.

Wei’s eyes narrowed as she smiled like a cat.

Though she served as an assistant, she was also a highly skilled swordswoman.

She hadn’t attended the Academy, having spent her life training here in Caesar’s lands.

She wasn’t a character from the original story, so Manus didn’t know her exact abilities.

But one thing was certain—she wasn’t someone to be underestimated.

“It’s been a while since I’ve stretched my legs. Are we going demon hunting like last time?”

“It could be something similar.”

“I’ve been stuck in the rear for too long, I’m itching to move. Please, allow me to earn some merit alongside you, young master.”

“Good. You have two minutes to prepare.”

Wei and Kenain quickly gathered a few essential tools.

Even if they only carried their weapons, they were both more than capable of cutting down most demons.

Manus couldn’t understand why they had been assigned to the rear, but it must have been as a precaution for emergencies.

At this point, Caesar already had the upper hand in the war.

The Church might try to meddle, but things wouldn’t go according to their plans.

Manus had no intention of letting the Church off easy.

Especially the Wanderer. He would make sure to deal with him thoroughly and use him as a stepping stone for the others’ growth.

“We’re ready, young master.”

“Let’s move.”

Manus conjured a magic circle, casting a spell to mask their presence.

A veil of magic settled over the three of them.

[Impono]

It was a simple 1st-Class spell that only concealed their presence to a limited extent. If they got too close, they would still be detected.

But the soldiers of Count Acre were too focused on the battle to notice them.

And if necessary, Aden’s skills would allow them to infiltrate undetected.

Sometimes Manus forgot, but she was a master-class assassin.

Combat was one thing, but her true expertise lay in assassination and infiltration.

She was the Emperor’s most carefully crafted weapon.

With Aden’s support behind him, Manus set off toward the abandoned ruins.

3

Inside the ruins.

The Church had been attacked once, but they hadn’t given up on the place.

To be more precise, they had retreated temporarily and reentered when the time was right.

The ruins were in shambles from the fierce fighting that had taken place there.

But there were plenty of hidden spots, making it easy to avoid detection.

With their abilities, making use of the collapsed spaces was no trouble at all.

They excavated buried remnants, using whatever materials they could find.

“Just a little longer, and the ritual will be complete.”

“The blood is soaking in. Now I understand why they chose this battlefield.”

“Yes. Once he arrives and infuses the ritual with his mana, the magic will be complete.”

At that moment, a figure in a flowing robe and white mask stepped out of the shadows.

He seemed to hold a high position within the Church.

The moment he appeared, everyone around him bowed deeply.

He inspected the surroundings, checking the progress of the ritual.

Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Fresh blood and human flesh mixed with the desert sand, offering ample material for the ritual.

“As expected of the Duke’s forces. I didn’t think we’d gather this much material so quickly.”

“You can hardly tell who the real demons are anymore. Heh heh.”

The masked figure chuckled quietly.

Raising his hands, he prepared to finalize the ritual.

From what he could see outside, Count Acre’s forces were on the verge of being annihilated.

Labeth had demonstrated a level of power far beyond that of other masters, easily casting 7th-Class magic as if it were nothing.

And yet, the Church had reason to smile.

For behind them stood powers far greater than mere humans.

The task of mortals was simple.

“I took a day off for this, so I need to wrap it up quickly. Let’s begin.”

“Understood.”

As he raised his hands, an immense surge of mana swelled.

The blood, organs, and wandering souls of the slain all gathered into one point.

Red mana warped the space, slowly opening a portal to another world.

But the spell was never completed.

“Ah, so this is where you’ve been hiding, you rats.”

A surge of mana, so pure it was almost divine, flooded the ritual site.

It was offensive to the Church, but to ordinary people, it was the most radiant and virtuous energy imaginable.

The space warped and distorted.

Days of preparation were unraveling in mere moments.

“…So the Caesar heir has arrived. No matter. Our grand plan will remain unaffected.”

The masked man spoke calmly, continuing the ritual.

Crackle—.

The portal began to open, revealing a massive hand.

[You have entered the Boss Area.]

[Objective: Defeat the Demon Purpur.]

–TL Notes–
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