Chapter 355 – 102. The Beginning of the Raid (1)
My party and I immediately left the resistance camp again.
There was no time to stay overnight. It was already evening when he competed with Tires. If we were to make a surprise attack on Grius just in time for the battle to resume, we had to hurry to his stronghold.
“Soon the resistance will go into battle again.”
At Lucia’s words, I nodded again. They will resume fighting as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.
Although the resistance will not launch an all-out offensive to the ecliptic. Instead, they decided to unite with the privates of the Marquis of Aitern and launch a strong offensive.
The main force collides with the enemy’s main force. And taking advantage of the chaos, the detached team rushed to the base of the enemy army and killed the leader.
‘Maybe it’s similar to the tactics in the battle of magic.’
However, the big frame was similar, but the level of difficulty was vastly different.
The number of cadets who fought in the Battle of Mayeon was only three. The soldiers gathered in the imperial capital were thousands of soldiers, both rebel and resistance.
‘It’s not just regular soldiers. It’s a war where the majority of Mana Awakeners know how to use mana.’
As such, the intensity of the battle was different from that of ordinary soldiers. In the first place, Tires, the commander of the resistance, was also a master who went beyond human limits.
The other side also had strong players who were stronger than Auror Expert, if not worse than Tires. The number of pure troops is higher than the number of rebels joined by the Byrea mercenaries.
But fortunately, the resistance army has a higher level of power.
‘Tyres. As rumored, he was a trustworthy man.’
Vice-captain Tires would do all of his duties. And there is also Lilia, who has awakened as a saint after the battle of magic.
An enlisted soldier from the Aethern family who are allied together. Because Chloe is there too. I had to trust them.
‘Everything else is up to me.’
Rather, in terms of risk, the detached unit is higher. A half-mad grius. And Chris, the puppeteer who must be manipulating him.
Unless Chris is an idiot, he must not know that the death of Grius will disintegrate the rebels.
So at Grius’ stronghold, he must be escorting him with great care.
“If it is Grius, he will definitely be in the imperial palace. There will be no safer place in the ecliptic than there.”
And Lyles, the leader of High Night, told me. I glanced at him.
The party of eight, including him, now rushed into the ecliptic. Lucia and Rosette, who have been to the primeval forest with me. And the five High Knights of the Royal Guard were together.
The place where the party is located is the underground sewer of the ecliptic. The underground sewer was very wide and intricately connected, so it was like a labyrinth.
The party was heading to the imperial palace through the underground sewer.
“All right. We will follow Sir Lyles’ guidance until we arrive at the Imperial Palace. Please.”
“I beg you too. Count Julian.”
Lyles nodded his head.
Because of my provocation, the five High Knights showed fierce hostility towards me until a few hours ago. In fact, I even mixed myself with the sword.
But now their attitude has changed. After the sparring, Tires ordered the High Knights.
‘Since Her Highness Lillia has allowed it. In this operation, you will have to serve Count Yulian like a master.’
Tires was also an unusual person. He agreed to give me the five High Knights he had worked so hard to raise.
However, the Guard Knights are knights loyal to the imperial family.
So, Tires asked permission directly from Lilia, who took the place of the emperor on behalf of the missing emperor. Of course, if it was Lilia, she couldn’t refuse that request.
So, those 5 people have come under my command.
It’s just that they don’t seem to obey me only with the orders of their superiors, Tyrese and Lilia.
It is a high night with a very high ego. And unlike the vain Greek knights of the Royal Guard. They are knights who risked their lives to protect the imperial capital in the field where a large number of monsters appeared.
So, those who have true pride as knights beyond pride. They were now obediently following my instructions.
“Since those knights also saw Yulian-sama’s polar night. It seems that he is obediently obeying orders.”
Lucia, who was walking side by side with me, said quietly. Like she said The sudden change in their attitude must have been due to their alliance with Tires.
‘Because we competed on an equal footing with the 10th imperial throne. They seem to have accepted me meekly as they are excellent knights.’
Of course, if I had continued to fight swords with him, I would have been pushed back. The opponent is the 10th seat of the Empire.
There is no way they wouldn’t know that I far surpassed the High Knight’s skills just by enduring the match on an equal footing.
Even that Tires himself acknowledged my skills. No matter how high their pride seems, I won’t have anything more to prove to them than that.
‘Anyway, I’m glad. Because the performance of those five people is very important in this raid.’
Right now, the party is making their way through the sewers that are more complex than the Pantheon’s underground temples.
It might not be difficult to find the way at first glance, since Rosette, an excellent elementalist, is with her. This underground sewer is a facility containing the essence of Imperial civil engineering.
Non-living things like water naturally escape through the sewerage. For humans, things were different.
“There is not even a single rat that is common in the underground sewer. Well, it’s hard to maintain a sense of direction like this… It seems that the sewer itself is composed of a special magic circle and magic space.”
Like Rosette said. It is difficult for living beings to hold even the slightest defense in it.
However, fortunately, the High Knights leading the party were guiding them without the slightest hesitation.
“This place is like a courtyard for the Royal Guard. Patrolling here is an important task for the Royal Guard. Living things can’t survive without a sense of direction like this. That special magic doesn’t work on witches.”
It was as Lyles said.
The magic of this space didn’t work for the Witch Beast. So, the guards periodically patrolled this place, clearing out gates and monsters that occurred in the underground sewer.
‘It’s a place where the influence of the sacred obelisk is lessened. I heard that sudden gates happen often.’
Of course, all the duties in this dirty and smelly place fell to the anti-Greek guards.
“The present Greek Guard. Most of those rebels will never come down to these underground sewers. So, rather, we can use this place in reverse.”
Those who silently did their part in the dirtiest and most dangerous place were the anti-Greek guards. This is the current resistance group. So they knew the way to the underground sewers very well.
‘Thanks to that, I can go to the imperial palace without wasting power.’
All five High Knights were actively moving in the sewers, seeking their way.
Even though they were knights who were pushed back by my swordsmanship skills. They never lacked their skills. Rather, they are excellent enough to be compared to the Knights of the Midnight Sun.
‘Even so, he is full of loyalty, and he does not hesitate to do hard work.’
Besides, I begged them to give up their lives. Nonetheless, they yielded to the outcome and accepted the outrageous request.
Like, those who are like specimens of true knights.
As a person who will become the lord of a territory in the future. And as a Demon Dragon with a stronger desire to dominate and conquer than anyone else. I wanted to accept them as my subordinates in the future.
‘The more talent there is, the better.’
Of course, they are talented people who are loyal to the imperial family. Nani already owns Lilia. If it’s the imperial family, it’s mine.
They will also naturally become loyal to Me.
‘I’m satisfied.’
If so, even though he begged for his life. I also thought I would do my best to save them.
‘And we should hurry up and wipe out the insects that have taken over the ecliptic.’
Beyond the ecliptic, the Holy Ramir Empire is also a valuable asset that I will rule over. So I had no intention of letting the bugs that flew into my things dirty me.
When he was burning with the desire to dominate as a demon dragon. Cried Lyles.
“The magic tool that detects demon power is shaking. Be careful as the demon beast may appear!”
“I will.”
The party entered into a battle posture.
***
The smelly underground sewage system.
But it was a familiar place to the five High Knights, including Lyles. If you are a newcomer to the Royal Guard, this is the place you must pass through, the underpass of the ecliptic.
And Lyles was guiding the party by finding the fastest way to the outskirts of the imperial palace.
The magic tool that detects the magical power reacted. So, the party also prepared themselves in preparation for the appearance of the Demonic Beast that might be present.
Lyles also drew his sword from its scabbard and squeezed it in his hand. When I was a rookie, I came in and out of this place with the Imperial Sword. Now that he has risen to the High Knights, he has been bestowed with a special sword made of magic metal by the Order of the Knights.
And Lyles, a few hours ago. He remembered the count’s sword colliding with his own.
‘To reach such a level at such a young age. After all, Reinhardt’s lineage is different.’
Julian von Reinhardt. He was already a rumored count among the guards.
The disloyal Greek guards often talked badly about Her Highness, Princess Lilia, in connection with the idiotic fiancé. No, beyond gossip, he always spat obscenities and insults.
‘His Highness Lillia is very beautiful and full of charm as a woman. She said those motherfuckers…’
Whenever that happened, she often fought with them to protect Her Highness Lilia’s honor. Because of that, I couldn’t help but fall outside the eyes of Grius.
After all, a few months ago, since the demons surged near Guhwangdo. All the anti-Greek guards were headed that way, so we wouldn’t even have to fight those damn bastards.
Anyway, for that reason, Count Julian was notorious among the loyal members of the resistance army.
In fact, he entered the Pantheon as an undercover cadet, and the guards serving Lilia even testified. It wasn’t just rumors, it was really stupid.
However, the Count Yulian in front of me right now. And that Julian, who competed with the five High Knights with swords, was completely different from the rumors.
‘I can’t believe you said it was crazy. No, no matter how talented a swordsman is, if he can’t control his own mind. You can never reach that level.’
From the time I saw those eyes that didn’t flinch at all against the five High Knights.
I felt that the rumors were nonsense. And when I competed for 2 moves, I was convinced that he was a very good swordsman.
After that, when they competed for one match with Vice-captain Tires, whom they were loyal to. Rather, I felt a sense of awe.
10th seat of the empire. The person with the highest honor and weight as a swordsman is Vice-Captain Tires.
Against such Tyrese, it was Count Julian who faced the aura that had reached the climax of the polar night.
‘Then, maybe he was camouflaging himself in order not to be checked by Grius during his time as an idiot. No, no doubt.’
He was bold enough to ask Vice-captain Tyrese to hand over himself and the High Night. And when he heard of the plan they had requested, Lyles was even more surprised.
Grius Raid Plan. It was Count Julian, not the High Knights, who took on the most dangerous role in that plan.
‘I will cut Grius’s head myself.’
Leader of the rebels, Grius. Naturally, the escorts and guards around them would be very strict. However, Earl Julian said that he would rush into the most dangerous place himself.
The role of the High Knights is to pave the way for that rush. And when he heard of the plan, Lyles was confused.
‘Why would such a high-ranking grand duke take on that role?’
Of course, the resistance against Grius has Lilia as their master. She is Lilia, Count Julian’s fiancee.
So, I understand he’s taking Lillia’s side. There is no need for him to go out to punish Grius himself. All you have to do is wait for Essenmund’s reinforcements to join.
‘Just being with him in the camp of the resistance… Just being with him on the battlefield. Even though he has fulfilled his role as his grand duke and his highness’ fiancé…’
Lyles wanted to know what he meant.
So before leaving the resistance camp. When Lyles asked why, the Earl answered calmly.
“It is to protect the empire and the imperial family. I am a man of the Marquis family. The Margrave and Essenmund are the swords that protect the Empire.”
The Count said that he was only doing what he had to do. Although he belonged to a different country, Lyles was deeply moved by his loyalty to the Empire.
That feeling would not be different for the other four High Knights. While lost in thought for a while, the Count shouted.
“Be careful, the Witchbeast is out!”
And Count Julian’s body jumped out first.
