The final battle that determined the fate of Lutia took place in front of Kainswick. It even became a situation where it was decided by a one-on-one fight between Dunmel and the black-armored knight Nathan.
Despite being injured, Loyal was ready to intervene in Dunmel’s fight at any time. Flora also wanted to use magic to help Dunmel if she got the chance.
‘I’ve always only received help. So now I want to give help.’
However, once the two knights’ fight began, no one could intervene as if it was a prepared one-on-one duel. It was a tremendous clash that wasn’t even visible to Flora’s eyes. Jaymer, standing next to Flora covered in blood, was muttering in a surprised voice,
“Didn’t they say Sheyden was the best with spears? It looks to me like Dunmel uses it better?”
Flora was so tense that even when she got the chance, she couldn’t use magic. If she made a mistake, Dunmel could get hit.
Then, with a strange sound, the ground rang. From the rocky mountain in the west, non-human beings were rushing in. Flora pointed in that direction and shouted,
“Lemif!”
Jaymer also asked in surprise,
“What did you say?”
“It’s the Lemifs. The fairies of the Sky Mountains!”
They rode Venons and rushed to the Nonsearch at a terrifying speed, attacking the Mozes running towards Kainswick. The Mozes pointed their spears at the Venons, but the Venons, which could even climb trees, easily jumped over the height of those spears and disrupted the Mozes’ ranks. The Lemifs, although not strong, cut down the Mozes with soft spear wielding.
The Mozes also didn’t go down easily. The creatures threw away the spears they were clumsily swinging, launched their bodies, and bit the Lemifs riding on the Venons. The moment the fight intensified, a war cry was heard from somewhere.
It was from the direction of Kainswick’s main gate. A huge flame shot up, and dozens of Mozes that were dragged up by its force were charred black and crashed into the river like meteors.
Even the person who used that magic was probably feeling the same as Flora now.
“Magic works?”
Flora unconsciously looked at the top of the tower.
‘The White Mystery is broken…?’
Flora didn’t like that the power that had been restraining her until now had disappeared. The White Mystery is broken!
The unclear ominous clues until now were gathered into one. The fact that magic worked provided decisive evidence. What was protecting the Mozes and suppressing the masters’ magic was none other than Lutia’s jewel, the White Mystery. Then it meant that the mastermind who betrayed Lutia and brought in the Mozes and Kagua was none other than Grand Master Ruskin.
‘No way. That can’t be.’
Flora shuddered at the thought she had, finding it scary.
At that moment, Dunmel’s final attack hit Nathan’s shoulder, shattering his armor, and Dunmel collapsed with his chest to stomach cut by Nathan’s spear. Nathan didn’t miss the moment and raised his spear towards Dunmel.
Flora used the magic she had been preparing to push Nathan away. His black robe was still suppressing magic, so if it went according to calculations, he should have flown 20-30 meters and crashed into the ground, but he ended up only taking a few steps back.
In that gap, Loyal stepped in front of the fallen Dunmel, and Jaymer approached Nathan.
“It’s not over yet, Nathan!”
Jaymer shouted.
“I slightly regret not cutting off your breath.”
Nathan said, raising his spear.
Flora prepared magic again. But she had her chance to use magic taken away. A white light passed Flora, passed Loyal, and stopped next to Jaymer. A silver wolf larger than a human stood up, stirring up dust.
A white flash shone from the wolf’s forehead.
Nathan tilted his head to one side and raised his spear. The iron-made spear shattered like dry firewood. Nathan threw the broken spear aside without hesitation and drew his sword from his waist. The wolf’s attack stopped, and Nathan said in a lowered stance,
“In addition to the Lemifs, now even wolves are helping Lutia? Something went terribly wrong while I was gone.”
“If you know that, back off, Excelon Knight.”
The wolf spoke without even opening its mouth. Flora somehow found the wolf’s voice familiar. Moreover, there was tremendous power in its voice.
‘This wolf has the power of a Lutia master!’
Now that Flora also had the power of a master, she could tell. Of course, her magic was so low compared to this wolf that it would look like a beginner’s level.
‘Who is it?’
The magnificently layered wolf’s voice sounded like a woman, but a sorceress’s voice always changed. Flora stared intently at the wolf facing off against Nathan with sparkling eyes.
“I can’t stay here long either.”
Nathan slowly mounted a Venon. The wolf didn’t use any magic. It just watched Nathan’s actions. Flora thought,
‘Isn’t this a chance? Although injured, Loyal and Jaymer are here. I’m here too. That wolf is definitely an ally of Lutia, I’m not sure if it’s a Lutia master. A very powerful ally at that! If we all attack now, we can capture or kill Nathan!’
Flora thought the wolf would surely have the same idea and would surprise attack at some point.
‘When the wolf attacks, I’ll attack too.’
Flora prepared with great tension.
“Back off. I’ll leave.”
Nathan, mounted on the Venon, spoke in a commanding tone. The wolf, who was expected to ignore the enemy’s words, obediently stepped back.
“No!”
“No!”
Flora and Jaymer shouted simultaneously. The wolf didn’t look back at the two and only kept watch on Nathan.
‘That wolf clearly doesn’t know the current situation well. Of course, since it suddenly appeared with the Lemifs!’
Flora shouted at the back of the wolf’s head.
“He is the commander of the Moze army. If we let him go like this, he’ll plot another terrible thing. We mustn’t let him go.”
Nathan’s gaze looking at Flora was cold yet expressionless. It felt like it would absorb all vitality if she stared at it for too long.
Jaymer followed up and said,
“I can’t let him go either. I haven’t lost yet.”
Nathan, who didn’t even reply to Flora’s words, answered Jaymer.
“Don’t treat the free life you luckily survived as trivial.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! I won’t lose if we fight again!”
Jaymer said without backing down.
Nathan coldly retorted,
“Do I look like I’m running away now? My side is kindly backing off. That wolf will explain. So get lost. I’m not afraid even if ten guys like you charge at me.”
Nathan swiftly turned around.
“What the hell?”
Jaymer tried to rush in right away, but the wolf blocked the way. Jaymer glared at the wolf with absurd eyes.
“Who are you to intervene… Oh, you?”
Jaymer seemed to know who the wolf was. His stubborn eyes twisted strangely, but he no longer tried to stop Nathan.
The wolf turned back to Nathan and said,
“Back off when there’s room for negotiation on both sides. If you cause further harm to Lutia, I won’t forgive you.”
“I will.”
Nathan smirked and slowly backed away. But until the end, he retreated while keeping his guard up against the wolf.
The wolf said,
“Go and tell Guanil. Where his evil power is, Lutia’s power will be.”
“If it’s Lutia’s greatest power, it’s already with us.”
Nathan retorted leisurely, balancing on the Venon that was stepping back.
The wolf spoke in an angry voice,
“The moment that power is with you, it is no longer great!”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s enough that we took that power from you.”
Only after moving a considerable distance did Nathan turn the Venon around. The wolf waited for him to completely disappear from view.
Flora hurriedly tended to the fallen Dunmel first. His internal organs weren’t injured, but the muscles passing over his rib cage were all cut, causing severe bleeding. If not treated quickly, it was dangerous.
“Why did you stop me?”
Jaymer got angry at the wolf.
The wolf calmly explained,
“If we kill that guy here, the Mozes who lost their commander will attack here until the last one dies, Jaymer. With the current troops, even if the Lemifs have joined, we can’t overcome those numbers. Above all, the number of Mozes rushing in from the east right now is greater than the number of Mozes currently occupying Lutia. The only one who can bring them under control is that guy.”
The wolf finished speaking and slowly got up. Her body, enveloped in white light, lost its fur, her hair turned black except for a few strands of white, and her two legs and two arms lengthened.
‘Master Tanya?’
Flora realized it the moment the transformation was undone, but the moment the wolf’s face took on a human form, she doubted her eyes. That wolf was neither Tanya nor Lutia’s sorceress. Tanya didn’t have a scar on her face like that, and she didn’t have such a beautiful appearance.
It was a sorceress she had never seen before.
Loyal stepped forward and said to her,
“I don’t know who you are, but if that person leads such a tremendous number of Mozes, it would have been better to kill him here all the more.”
She shook her head.
“To be honest, if he uses the sword he has, it doesn’t seem like the four of us here would survive.”
“What kind of sword is that to make you say that?”
“It’s a sword that kills dragons. It’s probably Guanil’s.”
She mumbled words they couldn’t understand and stretched out her palm. A white light enveloped Loyal. Loyal was startled for a moment but was relieved to know it was the light of recovery.
“If everyone here had normal strength, I would have made a different choice. But honestly, I had no strength left to fight. Everyone here is the same. It’s frustrating, but what that guy Nathan said is right. He didn’t run away, he backed off.”
The Mozes that had surged in on the wooden bridge over the Kvotz River retreated as quickly as the waves. Lutia’s soldiers, unaware of the situation here, were shouting victory cheers here and there.
“Who are you?”
Jaymer, who seemed to know who the wolf was, asked her abruptly. She also asked back in puzzlement.
“You must have seen my wolf form more than once or twice, how can you not recognize me, Jaymer?”
“Hmm, is it really you?”
“I understand since my face has changed, but I didn’t expect a sharp-sensed swordsman like you to ask so persistently.”
Flora didn’t understand why Jaymer was hurt by those words and couldn’t open his mouth.
She approached Flora, who was treating Dunmel, and asked,
“How is his injury?”
“The bleeding is severe.”
Flora said worriedly.
“You know the magic that helps with hemostasis, right? Let me help a bit, Flora.”
She placed her hand on Dunmel’s chest and closed her eyes.
‘Amazing. Someone like me can’t even compare.’
Flora also helped diligently, but it was only to the extent of slightly assisting.
“It’s not an injury that will heal easily. Anyway, the bleeding has stopped, so let’s hurry and move him inside. Are you alright, Wolf Knight?”
She said, looking towards Loyal.
“My name is Loyal. Thank you for saving Dunmel. And thank you for the magic you cast on me just now.”
“I only gave you enough strength to walk slightly.”
“Where can I go to get treatment on my own feet? By the way, are you also a sorceress of Lutia?”
“Yes. I was temporarily absent and was late. If it were normal, I would have come with Kassel at the time Jaymer came here. Loyal, I heard a lot about you from Kassel. He was also very worried about you and Dunmel.”
“You know the captain. Where is Kassel?”
“Captain Kassel used a lot of strength in a different place, not here, to help you.”
At her words, Loyal smiled faintly.
“I knew it. I thought so.”
Master Luder was running from behind.
“Is it alright here? Jaymer, you were alive. I only saw you surrounded by Mozes earlier and thought you died… I’m glad, really glad.”
Luder stopped when he saw the sorceress standing next to Flora. She bowed her head slightly to greet him.
“I’m late, Master Luder.”
It took Luder a little time to recognize her too.
“…Tanya. You’re back.”
Flora was startled. The Tanya she knew had neither this face nor this voice. But Luder said as if he roughly understood.
“You unsealed it?”
“Yes. Many bad things happened. It wasn’t just Lutia that was in danger.”
Tanya said.
Luder let out a long sigh.
“Still, you really came when we truly needed you, Tanya.”
“No. I’m too late.”
Tanya saying that looked really tired. Luder shook his head vigorously several times.
“No, no. The Lemifs sending reinforcements to Lutia! It must be all thanks to your efforts. Too many things happened to us as well. Above all, Ruskin betrayed Lutia and murdered Master Dethain.”
The moment Flora heard of his death from Luder, she bit her lip hard.
Tanya closed her eyes for a long time and opened them.
“I knew of Ruskin’s betrayal, but Master Dethain…?”
“That’s right.”
Luder said bitterly, then asked in belated surprise,
“But how were you able to bring the Lemifs? Honestly, everyone is quite surprised to see the Lemifs now, so I think some explanation is needed.”
“It’s hard to explain. I’m not in the mindset for that either. Well…”
As if to supplement the lacking explanation, Tanya frowned and said,
“Let’s say it was Captain Wolf’s and Larden’s diplomacy…”
Luder said in understanding,
“You mean that Captain Wolf who parted ways with Jaymer midway? Hmm, it’s like Aranthia’s reinforcements and Lemif’s reinforcements came together. Alright, where is Captain Wolf now? I should meet him.”
“He’s still in the eastern Sky Mountains.”
“Still? Alone?”
“Explaining is, um, very difficult.”
Tanya scratched her head for a moment.
Flora stared at Tanya for a while, absent-minded. Even when she had an unsightly long nose and wrinkled face before, at least her black hair mixed with silver strands was beautiful, but now her smooth facial features stood out together, looking so wonderful. The scar dividing her cheek and chin was not a flaw at all. Moreover, as the magical light remaining from transforming from a wolf to a human sparkled in the sunlight, even Flora, a woman, was captivated and stared for a moment.
“He is now with Sa-Knadil, the master of dragons. May I propose Lutiano now?”
Master Luder had a face close to astonishment. Flora was also a bit dazed, and Loyal also watched Tanya with a serious face. Everyone was surprised. Only Jaymer muttered, ‘So when is Kassel coming?’ with a face showing no emotion at the word dragon.
Luder asked,
“What on earth… is happening in the Sky Mountains?”
Tanya said,
“I will talk about that from now on.”
☆ ☆ ☆
Right after the battle, even handling only the most urgent matters had slowed down considerably. Flora was so busy handling work that she didn’t even know it was night. Belatedly hearing that Lutiano was starting, she hurried up the tower in a fluster.
Dunmel’s injury was by no means light. Even if the power of magic is mobilized, in the end, what can heal wounds is medical skill. However, Lutia was severely lacking in people with medical skills. Jaymer tried to forcibly participate in Lutiano, saying a few bandages and treatment was enough, but he fainted in the hallway. In the end, with Dunmel and Jaymer out like that, only Loyal could participate in Lutiano. Of course, his injury was also not small.
Flora wandered around for a while even after entering the room, not knowing where to sit at the round table. Luder kindly designated a seat for her. On the other hand, Tanya found her seat straight away as if it was natural as soon as she entered the room.
Flora timidly lowered both hands under the round table, clasped them tightly, and observed Tanya’s actions. A tremendously different presence was felt from herself. The power of magic was a given, and her actions were also brimming with force. Now that even her appearance was shining, Flora was so intimidated just by looking at Tanya.
Tanya looked at the seats of Ruskin, Dethain, Ettley, Justin, and Philip one by one and said,
“I didn’t feel it was crowded before, but each empty seat is too big.”
Golbein nodded. On his face, a scratch from a Moze’s claw ran from the top of his head to his chin. Pus was still flowing from the wound.
“To fill these empty seats, we may have to spend the next few years in pain. Flora has taken this seat, but there is still too much for her to learn.”
“We can talk about personnel after holding a memorial service for those who were sacrificed. And now, we have so much to do that we have to postpone even the memorial service. We need to strengthen the security of the recovered Outsearch and add more guards again.”
Luder continued in a strong tone,
“Now that Master Tanya has returned and we can borrow the strength of the White Wolves, albeit injured, to focus on guarding Lutia…”
“Wait a moment, Master Luder.”
Tanya interrupted Luder’s words.
“I don’t want to take the lead in the situation as I abruptly returned, but could you give me a moment? There is a more important matter.”
“Ah, sure.”
Luder replied a bit awkwardly.
Tanya explained in a clear tone,
“First, I will tell you the information I found out. The enemy’s purpose in attacking Lutia does not lie in Lutia itself. It was an intermediate process that was in place to achieve a larger goal. You can tell just by the fact that the Excelon Knight unhesitatingly left in a situation where he could have led the battle to victory if he had mobilized all the Mozes, accepting great damage.”
‘Did Nathan voluntarily backing off have that much significance?’
Flora wanted to ask but didn’t speak, not daring to interrupt Tanya’s words. Instead, Luder asked,
“Isn’t it because the Lemifs came as reinforcements that the commander backed off?”
“If it were his strength and the Mozes’ troops, they could have brought down Lutia, including the Lemif reinforcements.”
“Then why?”
“When that man named Nathan saw the Lemifs coming to help Lutia, he said something went wrong while he was gone. For him, the Lemif army must have come across as more than just reinforcements coming to save Lutia.”
Flora naturally turned to look at Captain Fergusnai of the Lemif nation Mandir, sitting on one side of the round table. It was truly an amazing event to have a Lemif sitting here. He often glared at the black-skinned Golbein, but the headmaster of Kainswick, well-versed in Lemif culture and circumstances, sufficiently understood that gaze.
Tanya pointed at Fergusnai with her eyes and continued,
“The powers of the Sky Mountains have united. From his perspective, opponents that could have been defeated separately one by one had joined forces. Larden and Lutia. Humans and Lemifs.”
“If Lutia wasn’t the target of attack from the beginning, where is the target?”
Luder asked in puzzlement. Then Golbein suddenly said as if remembering,
“Do you remember that Moze Jaymer caught? I didn’t have time to inform you because we found out just before the final battle began. The Moze used the Lemif language, and I kept trying to talk to it by deciphering that language. Then that creature said this. ‘After Lutia, the northern human kingdom.’ At first, I thought I misheard. Or misinterpreted. But now, listening to Master Tanya, I think the Mozes’ next target, the ‘northern human kingdom,’ was none other than ‘Aranthia.'”
At the mention of Aranthia, Loyal immediately spoke up.
“I had a similar conversation with Dunmel. The enemies strangely didn’t launch an all-out attack. If I were the commander, I would have brought down this Lutia long ago. But they were waiting for something.”
Loyal kept drinking water little by little as he spoke. He seemed to be very thirsty from losing a lot of blood.
“Is it to attack Aranthia?”
As Loyal turned to Tanya, she quickly replied,
“Combining a few facts I experienced among the Lemifs, there is only one reason the Mozes attacked Lutia but didn’t bring it down.”
“To lure Aranthia’s Wolf Knights to Lutia?”
Loyal also spoke quickly, matching her words.
Tanya nodded.
“But Queen Sanadiel didn’t send more than the White Wolves here. She limited the second reinforcements to just two people, Jaymer and Captain Kassel, not the Knights. The enemies tried to break down even the second reinforcements, and we ended up being scattered.”
“I heard that story from Jaymer in a very garbled way.”
At Luder’s words, Golbein also nodded.
“Honestly, it didn’t make much sense.”
Tanya laughed and explained the situation at the time.
“On the night Master Dethain was guiding Jaymer, Kassel, and me to Lutia, there was an attack by a sorcerer in a black robe. We didn’t know who it was at the time, but looking at it now, it was Master Ruskin. We barely blocked Ruskin’s attack, but there was a dragon attack right after. At that time, we were scattered. I searched for Kassel and traversed the Sky Mountains, and during that time, Dethain would have brought Jaymer to Lutia.”
Tanya finished explaining the situation in a few words that Jaymer couldn’t do even after an hour.
“After that, Captain Wolf and I encountered a miracle. The Lemifs expressed that miracle as ‘Gider.’ We met a knight named Lofin, one of the previous White Wolf members, in the Lemif city of Larden.”
“Lofin?”
Loyal asked in surprise.
“You know him? He’s from the old Wolf Knights.”
Tanya asked back.
“No, I don’t know him.”
Loyal shook his head, meaning he didn’t want to waste time. Tanya also dropped the words that seemed to drag on and continued her story.
“I left with Lofin and Kassel to meet the guardian dragon of Larden. But by the time we arrived, the dragon of Larden had been killed by Kagua. Of course, what we call Kagua was actually the Excelon Knights.”
“We found out that fact much later, too.”
Loyal said. It sounded like self-reproach.
Tanya’s story continued,
“Instead, we went to find the High Lord of dragons and headed east of the Sky Mountains. In the process, Captain Wolf negotiated with the Lemifs, and as a result, the Lemif soldiers of Mandir came here.”
Everyone looked at Fergusnai once again. Fergusnai hid his bored expression and flapped his white wings once.
“In the end, we met Sa-Knadil, the High Lord of dragons, and asked for his help, and I returned for the final battle of Lutia. There were many stories in between, but I think they’re unnecessary now. I’ll omit them.”
“If it’s a matter that even the Master of Dragons will intervene in, it means a problem beyond what I’m thinking is happening in the Sky Mountains.”
Luder scratched his chin.
Tanya said,
“Strictly speaking, it’s a matter of both Acrand and the Sky Mountains. Before I came to the Sky Mountains, Aranthia was attacked by the ‘Lord of the Undying.’ Even the dead Excelon Knights were resurrected and charged at the White Gate.”
Luder groaned softly and looked at Golbein, who had a similar expression to him.
“I heard it from Jaymer, but it’s still an unbelievable story. It wasn’t just him talking nonsense.”
“I’ll tell you more after the meeting. More importantly, why did Ruskin betray Lutia? Why would someone who needs neither money nor honor…”
Tanya pressed on as if Ruskin was there. Both Luder and Golbein shook their heads with sad expressions.
“Dunmel would know the details. It seems he was with him at the last moment. But even if I hear the exact reason, I don’t think I’ll be able to understand it. Also, the black dragon that flew away carrying Ruskin the moment the White Mystery shattered…”
“That is none other than the existence called Guanil and the mastermind dragon behind all this. Then I guess it’s something for Knight Dunmel to find out as soon as he wakes up. Do you know anything about this?”
Tanya turned her eyes to Loyal and asked. Loyal shook his head.
“I understand.”
Tanya immediately continued,
“Then I’d like to talk about the rebuilding of Lutia. This has meaning beyond the defense of Lutia. We must protect the back of Aranthia. As long as we are here, we must prevent the enemies from passing through the Sky Mountains and attacking Nadium. Therefore, what we must do from now on is to newly cultivate the strength to block any enemy that comes again.”
“Well, is this easy to say?”
Luder said in bewilderment and continued,
“It’s not something that can be achieved in a short period of time. The moment the White Mystery shattered, Lutia lost the power it originally should have had. Now we are in a position to block even the trivial beasts of the Sky Mountains. Once you go beyond the Outsearch, there are many people who can’t even find their way.”
Luder was gloomy, but Tanya’s tone remained unchanged.
“Flora told me. The enemies will know that too. Nevertheless, they won’t be able to easily attack Lutia now. Of course. Even without the White Mystery, this is a place where the power of all sorceresss is concentrated. Why couldn’t Guanil step forward and burn Lutia at the point when the White Mystery shattered and Ruskin retreated?”
When Tanya put strength into her voice, there was an illusion that the meeting room was vibrating.
“Guanil will know. If there is a being among humans who can kill him, it is none other than a sorcerer. The fact that he put so much effort into making Ruskin on his side is proof of that.”
Golbein noticed what Tanya was trying to say and spoke first.
“Master Tanya is right. We are stronger beings than we think. In fact, we lost a lot of confidence while being attacked by the Mozes. But if magic works, wouldn’t Lutia be able to block even dragons if they invade?”
Luder, who had been dazed for a moment, also laughed weakly.
“I apologize to everyone. I was briefly weakened in spirit. Leave the reconstruction to me. Master Golbein will take care of the tower and Kainswick, and Flora will take care of the village affairs. As for security…”
Luder paused for a moment, lost in thought, then shook his head.
“My insight has been so dulled by the death of my friends and Ruskin’s actions! I’m sorry, Master Tanya. I understand what you mean now. You don’t intend to stay in Lutia.”
“I will entrust Lutia’s affairs to the three of you. And I will leave.”
Flora, who had been listening all along, hurriedly spoke up.
“The task entrusted to me is too heavy. Why do you say that at a time when we need even one more person, Master Tanya? You’re leaving again?”
“I will try asking Fergusnai to lend us a little more strength for the security here. Dunmel, who is severely injured, may have to stay here too. But at least one person, from what I see now, Loyal should return to Sa-Knadil with me.”
Tanya said to Loyal. But Loyal replied with unresponsive eyes.
“Is there any reason I should meet the dragons? I don’t have any particular complaints, but it seems to me that Lutia’s affairs are more urgent than the affairs of other places. If not here, at least shouldn’t I return to Aranthia? All the more so if the enemies’ eyes are all on Aranthia!”
Loyal put strength into his last words. His eyes were already burning as if on fire from the moment it was mentioned that Aranthia was in danger. Tanya rather smiled at that sight. Loyal receiving that smile wasn’t affected at all, but Flora, who was sitting far away, was perplexed.
‘Was she originally a person who smiled so pleasantly?’
Tanya said,
“The Wolf Knights are extremely free-spirited, but they are very sensitive to Aranthia’s safety. I still vividly remember the sight of knights, who seemed to be selfish and only interested in their own development, fearlessly rushing out towards the Excelon Knights charging at the White Gate. You are the same.”
Tanya continued softly,
“That’s why you, Loyal, should accompany me. And you should know that the place I want to take you is not in front of Master Knadil, but in front of Captain Kassel. I think at least one White Wolf should be on his path from now on, don’t you agree?”
Only then did Loyal understand.
“I see. But what is Kassel trying to do now?”
“I’m curious about that too. We used our heads and went through all sorts of hardships to meet Knadil, but in reality, we were merely drawn by Knadil’s summons. In other words, we can infer that he had something to order Kassel to do or wanted to express his will through Kassel. Since it’s a task ordered by the Master of Dragons, it will be too much for Kassel to handle alone. So at least one White Wolf and one Lutia Master should accompany him.”
Loyal nodded at Tanya’s words.
“Of course I will accompany him if it’s to help Kassel.”
Golbein and Luder, who had been listening silently, couldn’t hide their surprise.
Luder said in a dumbfounded voice,
“Who the hell is this Kassel…? Every time I hear that name several times, something incomprehensible happens. No matter how much he is the captain of the Wolf Knights, for a Lutia Master to voluntarily put herself under him and just ‘accompany’ him?”
Tanya blinked her large eyes. Her silence naturally led to the silence of the entire meeting room.
“It’s strange to me too.”
Tanya closed her eyes and thought.
“It was the same in Aranthia. Sheyden was like that, and so was Loyal. For these picky and stubborn White Wolves, Kassel’s name became the key to move them. And I am also trying to move by Kassel’s name. Why is that?”
Even at the words picky and stubborn White Wolf, Loyal didn’t feel offended at all and rather smiled.
Tanya opened her eyes again and said,
“I think Master Knadil thought it best to consult with the captain of the Wolf Knights in Aranthia, the most important place for humans. It’s natural for Lutia to join in, so there’s nothing particularly strange about me moving.”
Luder soon nodded as if agreeing. Tanya looked at everyone and continued,
“Now, what is most important to the enemies at this point is important.”
Golbein said,
“After the enemies failed to draw out Aranthia’s army using Lutia, the next target, maybe the reason Knadil summoned Captain Wolf is because of that.”
“What we have to do will naturally be determined accordingly.”
“Is there a place you have in mind?”
Golbein asked.
Tanya nodded and asked Fergusnai in Lemif language.
“Which is the largest nation among the Fvoe Lemifs?”
Flora was surprised that her pronunciation was very accurate. Flora understood it well too, but she wasn’t confident in speaking that accurately.
Fergusnai replied in Lemif language without delay.
“Putier, Tachisel, Larunton. The three countries are similar, with Tachisel being the strongest militarily and Putier being the largest in size. Putier is actually the largest among the Lemif nations in the southern Sky Mountains.”
After conveying those words to everyone for those who didn’t know Lemif language, Tanya said,
“Then either Putier or Tachisel will be the enemy’s base. We can also predict where Ruskin, who was with Guanil, went. And one more thing, about their next target.”
“Is that also related to the invasion of Aranthia?”
“Of course. Even if they had succeeded in bringing down Lutia, strategically speaking, they wouldn’t have immediately invaded Aranthia. Think about the Lontamon conquest war. It wasn’t Aranthia that received the final surrender from Lontamon.”
As Tanya looked at the continental map on the wall, everyone’s gaze turned there.
‘I understand why Tanya asked where the Fvoe Lemif nations are. She asked which place is best for the enemy army to gather and cross the Sky Mountains.’
“Guanil will lead the army of the Sky Mountains here.”
Tanya pointed to a country on the continent with her finger.
“Carnelock.”
After answering, Tanya looked at everyone.
“It’s not that I don’t understand, but I wish you could add a little explanation?”
Golbein asked.
“I briefly mentioned it, but about five days ago, there was a direct attack by the ‘Lord of the Undying’ on Aranthia…”
Tanya spoke and paused for a moment.
‘Five days? My goodness. It feels like it happened about five months ago, not five days.’
Tanya fake coughed once and spoke again.
“According to what Lofin told me, he existed as the force behind the continental conquest that began with the Excelon Knights as the main axis 10 years ago. Since it is directly related to the disappearance of Master Tailed, Lofin will know more about it than me.”
“Is the Lord of the Undying involved in what’s happening in the Sky Mountains?”
Luder asked.
“He is directly involved. If you think about it, there is no connection between Guanil and the Excelon Knights, right? Mozes? Guanil doesn’t seem to have the ability to create life. But if a sorceress with such tremendous power helps, the story is different. That is none other than the Lord of the Undying.”
“Do you have any particularly direct evidence, Master Tanya?”
Golbein asked.
“I also want to know the exact evidence, but now is not the time to try to uncover it. However!”
Tanya continued, quoting what she had heard from Lofin.
“Currently, forces that absolutely cannot join forces surrounding the Sky Mountains have formed an alliance. Guanil, Fvoe Lemifs, Excelon Knights, Mozes, and the Grand Master of Lutia. The Excelon Knights entered the Sky Mountains under the orders of the Lord of the Undying and are still active, killing dragons. But they also serve another being. That is Guanil.”
Flora raised her hand and said,
“It’s not a problem for me to step in, but it’s unexpectedly simple. If a being that takes orders from one side also takes orders from the other side, then those two are equal or the same being… right?”
Flora lacked confidence like someone who had recently received the title of Master. But she tried hard not to be intimidated. Tanya liked her as soon as she saw her. Even now, she diligently asked about what she didn’t know and tried to learn.
“Then what is the relationship between the dragon Guanil and the Lord of the Undying?”
Luder interjected and answered,
“It won’t be a relationship we can easily judge, but it will definitely be a hierarchical relationship where one side dominates the other.”
Tanya continued,
“I saw the one at the very top of that hierarchy as the Lord of the Undying. He gives orders to Guanil, Guanil to the Lemifs and Excelon, and Excelon manipulates the Mozes. And there are also monsters called Kagua.”
“Wait, aren’t Kagua and Excelon Knights the same being?”
Loyal asked.
“The being we named Kagua, drawing from legends, actually existed. It’s like a monster subordinate to Guanil, but I’ll add more about that story in a bit.”
Tanya shuddered, recalling the moment she faced that monster. Come to think of it, she still didn’t know why the Kagua and Fvoe tribe soldiers were guarding near Hup. It seemed they weren’t waiting to catch Kassel’s party, but accidentally encountered them while trying to catch ‘another party.’ Moreover, the Excelon Knight leading them, Redward, was surprised by Lofin’s introduction of the ‘White Wolf.’
‘Redward met other White Wolves before meeting Lofin.’
Tanya stopped talking for a moment as the memory suddenly came to her, then opened her mouth again.
“To sum it up simply, it’s like this. The ultimate goal that the evil alliance of the Sky Mountains is trying to bring down is Aranthia, and the one giving such orders is the Lord of the Undying. And he definitely said these words in front of Her Majesty Queen Sanadiel of Aranthia, and he will definitely try to carry out his words.”
For a moment, Tanya’s voice changed to sound so ominous to everyone’s ears that just listening to it felt like the fear of death.
“A thousand years ago, the Yellow Gate, which was defended even while being stained with dragon’s blood, collapsed in a battle a dozen years ago without shedding a single drop of blood. And the Gold Gate, which did not fall even to Lontamon’s great army, collapsed yesterday without a single person dying…”
Tanya’s voice changed back to its original pleasant sound.
“The White Gate was defended by the Wolf Knights and Kassel. So next time, he will definitely try to bring down the White Gate. And to bring down Lutia and Carnelock, which will be the biggest obstacles to that, that is his purpose.”
In fact, that was Tanya’s guess to some extent.
‘No living being can defeat the Wolf Knights, and no living sorceress can use their power in front of the Queen of Aranthia. But the Lord of the Undying cannot be called a living sorceress. Then how can we view that fight?’
It was like a confrontation between an impenetrable shield and a spear that pierces everything. In the end, the Lord of the Undying struck the shield for a thousand years, and finally, a crack appeared in that shield! The preparations for the final battle to shatter the shield had reached the final stages in the past few days.
“That’s why Knadil summoned Captain Wolf, and a Lutia sorceress and one White Wolf are needed for that?”
Luder continued, crossing his arms.
“Certainly, if they focus all their strength on Carnelock, they won’t have the leisure to attack Lutia. From their perspective, we are now a force outside of being able to help Aranthia, so there’s no need to attack us.”
At Luder’s words, Golbein said with a laugh,
“It’s not something to be so sad about, Master Luder. At least Lutia is still serving as the wall protecting the most vulnerable part, right? What we have to do is not collapse! Just that one thing. Just by doing that, we give the enemy the difficulty of having to pass through five gates.”
Golbein stood up from his seat and spread his arms.
“Lutia can no longer leave the position of Grand Master vacant. Although there are many empty seats in Lutiano, I hereby recommend the forty-fifth Grand Master from this position!”
Luder greatly agreed and looked at Tanya. But Golbein called out a completely different person’s name.
“Master Luder. You are the only one who can take that position.”
Luder sprang up from his seat.
“What nonsense! When the forty-fourth Grand Master’s disciple is here, no, even if Tanya is too young to take on that role, it’s not me. Master Golbein, the headmaster of Kainswick becoming the Grand Master has happened as many as fifteen times in Lutia’s history. You do it.”
Golbein smiled brightly.
“It’s no use, Luder. It’s already been decided.”
Tanya and Flora were already voting in favor. Luder also understood that no matter how he reasoned, he was the only one suitable for that position, but he couldn’t accept someone like himself taking such a precious position.
“At least give me time to think.”
Luder eventually gave up and sat down.
The door to the meeting room opened, and Dunmel appeared, supported by Heidi. Loyal stood up and asked,
“Can you already walk?”
Heidi answered instead,
“It’s still difficult for him to walk. But he said he had something he must say at Lutiano, so I forcibly brought him.”
Dunmel spoke to Loyal briefly in sign language with one hand. Loyal tilted his head and said to Tanya,
“It seems Dunmel has something to say to you.”
Tanya asked in puzzlement,
“Could you please ask him what it is?”
“I can understand by lip-reading.”
At Loyal’s words, Tanya said the same thing while looking at Dunmel’s face.
“What is it?”
Dunmel spoke in sign language, and Loyal conveyed,
“He says there’s a picture you should see.”
“A picture?”
Dunmel stopped his signing hands for a moment and lightly touched his injured chest. It was a painful expression. The wound seemed to have opened from walking here. But he soon endured the pain and continued signing.
Loyal said,
“There’s a portrait. Heidi says the owner of that portrait is your teacher.”
“A portrait of Master Tailed? What… what about it?”
Tanya unconsciously clenched her fists tightly. Dunmel stopped trying to give a long explanation and left only a short sign. Loyal said,
“He’s telling you to follow him. He says he’ll show you directly.”
–TL Notes–
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