Chapter 1606 – Reincarnated As A Plum Blossom Swordsman In The Baek Family
Missiles explode, shattering barriers and ending the lives of mages and soldiers who thought they were safe.
White phosphorus bombs detonate. Soldiers engulfed in flames writhe in agony, unable to die easily. Nearby mages rush over, but the flames don’t extinguish with water. They panic and end up killing their own comrades.
In a way, it could be seen as an act of mercy.
“The enemy is suffering. Is that white phosphorus? A terrible weapon.”
Scarlett says.
“Why? Feeling guilty?”
Scarlett grins eerily.
“Not at all. Quite the opposite. The enemy’s pain and fear are our happiness and joy. I wish we could wipe them all out…”
The mages start to retaliate, making it difficult. Instead of blocking with barriers, they’re shooting down missiles with attack magic. It seems they’ve realized that offense is the best defense.
“Yuria, are you ready?”
“Of course.”
Dududududududu.
Ten AH-64 Apache helicopters rise from behind. Unlike the M270, the helicopters weigh only 5 tons, making them easy to transport. Yuria is piloting all ten Apaches. Her shadow clones are in the cockpits, using shadow magic for unmanned control.
The helicopters fly towards the enemy, but their target isn’t the enemy forces. It’s further back, where the enemy’s supplies are gathered.
‘They’re focused on putting up barriers in the front to block missiles, but the rear is different.’
They won’t waste mana to defend the rear when attacks won’t reach.
‘Especially since they’re obsessed with protecting those magic weapons. Almost compulsively.’
I’ve heard about those magic weapons. They’re magical tools that use magic stones to unleash powerful magic. They’re machines that automatically generate magic formulas.
‘They’re weapons, just as their name suggests.’
The helicopters move in the rear. KWA-KWANG! The sound of missiles exploding reaches us. Flames and black smoke rise into the sky. The supply depot has been successfully set ablaze.
The enemy hastily responds, deploying barriers and targeting the helicopters with attack magic.
I glance at Yuria. She’s closing her eyes, concentrating on piloting the helicopters.
‘It’s amazing, the more I see it. How can she control ten clones at once?’
Yuria’s shadow clones don’t have their own consciousness. Each one is directly controlled by Yuria. It’s like having ten thoughts at the same time.
“…”
Yuria’s brow twitches slightly. Immediately after, an explosion different from the missile sounds rings out. I know it’s the sound of a helicopter crashing.
I already predicted that the helicopters would crash. That’s why I sent shadow clones to pilot them, so no allies would die. But the crash was too fast. They should have lasted at least five more minutes.
“Yuria?”
“Aura Masters have stepped up. They’re attacking the helicopters with the help of Archmages. They won’t last much longer.”
“Those heavy-bottoms have finally moved. No choice. Let’s move on to the next plan.”
“Yes.”
The helicopters, which were targeting the enemy’s supplies, scatter in all directions. Two more helicopters crash in the process.
Seven helicopters penetrate the weak points of the barriers.
“Launching biochemical missiles.”
A deathly fog spreads.
Soldiers who inhaled the poison gas collapse, their bodies trembling. Those who can use mana manage to hold out for a while in the gas. Once again, the enemy’s mages are working hard. They blow away the gas with wind magic or completely eliminate it with purification magic.
‘This will reduce the damage again. Mages are a pain when they’re the enemy. They can do too much.’
That’s the advantage of mages.
KWA-ANG! KWANG! KWA-ANG!
Helicopters that couldn’t withstand the enemy’s attacks crash and explode.
“Shall we tally up?”
Scarlett immediately responds to my words.
“Approximately 8,000 have died. You’ve massacred them with a one-sided attack. As expected of you, my lord.”
“Only killed less than ten thousand?”
“Indeed, you are my lord. You have no blood or tears. Are you not satisfied with 8,000?”
“It’s not that. It’s just that we didn’t get much for what we invested.”
“The enemies are not just any rabble. Mages from the Magic Tower, seven Archmages, veteran mercenaries, and three Aura Masters from various countries. It’s an army with unprecedented power in the history of the continent.”
“…Well, I guess so.”
Seven Archmages gathered. If it were any other army but mine, their morale would have plummeted upon hearing that information.
“Will you continue?”
I turn my body.
“Just keep firing missiles periodically. It seems like a waste of time to stay here any longer. Scarlett, you go rest too. You’re a commander. You need to be ready in two days.”
“Understood. I will rest to prepare for the decisive battle in two days.”
“Mother, you should go back and rest too.”
“…No, I will stay here. I will watch what they are doing.”
Elaine’s eyes are burning with fighting spirit. I consider stopping her, but decide against it. It’s clear she won’t listen to me right now.
• • •
The day of the decisive battle dawns.
It drizzled at dawn, causing a thick fog to settle over the battlefield. I’ve been standing on the castle wall since dawn, glaring at the Magic Alliance army.
As the sun rises, the fog gradually clears. The enemy’s momentum is quite fierce. They know today is the day of the decisive battle as well.
I look at my allies. Maids, knights, soldiers. Thanks to good feeding, their fighting spirit is high.
“My lord. Just give the order. We will tear apart the enemy’s forces.”
Floy, the captain of the Golden Rose Knights, says with a solemn expression. She’s prepared to die. Of course, I won’t let her or the other knights die meaninglessly. I won’t allow reckless charges.
“Floy. I will lead the vanguard.”
“…You, my lord?”
“Are you dissatisfied?”
“It is an honor. Please leave your back to me.”
I turn my gaze to the other side. Scarlett is standing with her arms crossed. She looks better than she did two days ago, probably because she got some rest.
“Scarlett. When are the reinforcements arriving?”
“They will arrive around noon. Looking at the enemy’s formation… they’ve already noticed the presence of reinforcements. We must attack first before the reinforcements arrive. We need to draw the enemy’s attention to buy time for the reinforcements to flank them from behind.”
“Is that so? Then first… let’s have a hearty breakfast.”
• • •
Things in the world don’t always go according to plan.
Before noon, the Magic Alliance army launches an attack first. The repaired magic weapons start firing magic. The spectacle of magic pounding against the castle walls and barriers is, objectively speaking, magnificent and beautiful. Subjectively, it’s nothing short of terrible.
“Melissa! Focus on defense with the AM unit! Intercept the enemy’s magic as much as possible with missiles!”
“The enemy’s firepower is beyond imagination! We won’t last long!”
Melissa deploys defensive magic. She’s also an Archmage.
“Yuria! Get ready!”
“I will secure Princess Eileen no matter what.”
Yuria disappears into the shadows.
“Floy! What’s the condition of the knights and warhorses?”
“For Prucus! We have drugged and enchanted the horses! We will not stop until we achieve victory!”
“For Prucus!”
The female knights shout in front of the castle gate. The moment the gate opens, the knights will charge towards the enemy to open a path. The soldiers will follow behind them.
“Scarlett! How far have the reinforcements come?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t tell at the moment. Holding out inside the castle any longer… seems impossible. The firepower is too intense. If the walls and barriers collapse, the damage will be even greater.”
“Alright. Offense is the best option now.”
I summon Stormbreaker. Stormbreaker’s fragments attach to my body, forming full-body armor.
“Master!”
A gruff voice calls out to me. I frown and look for the source of the voice.
A short dwarf is rushing towards me. It’s Fersus, the chief of the Frost Hammer Tribe.
“What is it, Fersus? Can’t you see that we’re facing an important battle? Do you want to die?”
“Hic! P-please spare me! I only came to help you, master.”
“You dwarves should just be hammering away in the forge. That’s how you help me. If you came to say something useless, I’ll throw you into the furnace alive.”
“N-no, it’s not that. I came to inform you that the Great Golem King is ready!”
“Great Golem King? Ah, I told you to stop using that ridiculous name… Wait a minute. It’s ready?”
Great Golem King.
It was a golem made by the dwarves. It was their ultimate weapon, which I faced when I captured the dwarves. I didn’t even have to fight because I hacked it. I remember liking it quite a bit back then because it was a golem over 5 meters tall. But I lost interest afterward, and it disappeared from my mind.
“The preparations were finished years ago… But it seemed like you didn’t like it, so I’ve been modifying the Great Golem King from time to time!”
“Great Golem King or whatever, it’ll be more helpful than nothing. Bring it out.”
“Then I will summon it in front of the castle gate!”
Fersus takes a stone from his pocket and throws it outside the castle. The stone flashes for a moment, and a subspace tears open in the air. A giant golem over 15 meters tall appears from the large subspace.
I stare at the golem with my mouth agape.
“What the hell. It’s Mazinger?”
“It’s the Great Golem King. I, I did reference the design of that robot called Mazinger a bit.”
Magic attacks pour towards the Tae Kwon V. No, the fake Mazinger. The enemies are flustered and focus their firepower on the golem.
The gem embedded in the center of the golem’s chest flashes. A barrier appears, enveloping the golem.
“Hehehe. We’ve prepared an ultra-powerful barrier with the help of mages. Our race is not familiar with magic, so the barrier has its limits… but we carefully ground magic stones into that core. It was completed thanks to the generous budget you provided, master.”
“What the hell. Did I tell you to make something like that? No wonder the budget seemed a bit high!”
“What? The budget was approved by you, master! Here are the documents!”
I snatch the documents and check them.
My seal is stamped on them. There’s no denying it.
“I don’t remember… Was it mixed in with the pile of documents? I regret stamping it without even looking at the contents. But why do you have these documents?”
Fersus says, glancing at me.
“I always keep them in my pocket, just in case.”
“You’re a meticulous bastard. How do you control that fake Mazinger?”
“Hehehe. You can control it with a controller. I will control it and help you, master!”
“Damn it. I told you not to call me master.”
“Your Excellency!”
“Where’s the controller?”
“Here it is!”
Fersus takes out a controller from his back. It’s a joystick. The cheap-looking controller makes me lose all confidence. Fersus excitedly moves the joystick. The massive golem starts to move.
“Finally, the battlefield where the Great Golem King will shine…! Your Excellency! I and the Great Golem King will offer you victory!”
“That looks fun. Give it to me.”
“Huh?”
“Give it to me! Now!”
“H-here you go!”
