Chapter 209 – Threats
It was around the time of dawn that the suspicious signs were detected.
No matter how pleasant the environment is, no matter how smooth the atmosphere is, a mission is definitely a mission.
And Wolfgang never fell into a deep sleep in the course of his duties.
Theoretically, the camp where the party is currently staying has a security system that is as safe as a fort.
In the past, the memories that Wolfgang had accumulated while crossing countless lines of fire were constantly imprinting on him the fact that he should never be relieved in any situation in actual combat.
During missions, he is always in perfect condition.
“Hmm…?”
While half of his brain is asleep and half awake, he repeats the state of sleep at regular intervals.
Wolfgang frowned and stood up.
It is because of the return of small but very unpleasant stimuli from the wave-like wide and thinly scattered qi.
It feels like someone is secretly watching you.
The Charitin Plain, the last manned land located beyond the Great Mountains surrounding Stark’s estate.
Farther north, the vast snowfields, a near-perfect plain, stretch.
The false land from the frozen sea allows no cover except for the snow piled up on all sides. The white no-man’s-land extends over 1,000 kilometers across the water.
And in such an environment, even the slightest change can never be missed.
Wolfgang, who opened the tent and came out, focused his mana on the side of his eyes.
—Woe!
In an instant, the field of view far surpasses that of a raptor.
And the silhouette of a person caught in his eyes.
It was a distance that was difficult to even measure, but it was certainly not a phantom.
“All weather.”
Wolfgang immediately woke up his comrades and got them ready.
“What’s going on? From this dawn.”
“Heeing… I left the tent door slightly open at night…”
“Are you starting again?”
Even while each person is adding a word, their actions are very swift.
It took only a few minutes to clear the camp and prepare for departure.
“Scarlett. Is there anyone who falls under the detection magic?”
“Well, let’s see… Nothing within a 10km radius. It’s just quiet.”
“I see. He must have had very good eyes.”
“What are you talking about? Explain it so I can understand.”
Riding on the Griffon’s back, Wolfgang gave his comrades a short and simple summary of the current situation.
“There was someone who watched us from afar. Let’s leave quickly before they start messing around.”
“…Breaking through my distortion field? Then it’s definitely not normal.”
“Hehe…! You watched us from 10km further out? Did oppa notice that again?”
“Then it must be a strong enemy. Can we finally fight?”
—Pui yo oh!
The griffons clenched their beaks in displeasure and began flapping their wings.
The party was fine, but it seems that they lacked rest.
The flight speed is noticeably slower than yesterday. Since they are highly intelligent and wicked creatures, they express their dissatisfaction in their own way.
“Oh, are you tired?”
The only one who flapped his wings vigorously was the captain Griffon on which Wolfgang rode.
Even that is because she is afraid of Wolfgang, so she gives in to him.
From their point of view, after almost a few days of forced marching, I finally thought about taking a break, but within a few hours, it was like moving again.
In hindsight, it would not have been surprising if a strike was threatened.
If they were ordinary travelers, they would have tried to coax the griffons somehow.
It’s only been tamed, because originally griffons are very ferocious and dangerous beasts.
“Huh? Look at these?”
“Beasts can’t talk. If you beat a few of them without falling, they’ll be fine again. But if you don’t listen, I’ll just eat them.”
However, it was Lazarus who never tolerated Scarlett, who had a fiery personality, and beasts of a lower rank than me, due to her racial characteristics.
The two showed a very ferocious spirit towards such griffons.
He couldn’t harm the griffons right away, so he just stayed still.
The gryphons now began to tremble in fear as the magical energy around them vibrated unusually, and Lazarus hissed in anger.
“Now, wait!”
Right before the four moons happen.
Ophelia hastily stretched out her hands to both sides.
Then, a wave of divine golden light began to warmly embrace the griffon squadron.
“Sorry guys! Cheer up a little more!”
“Guruk! Guruk!”
Although the power of the heavenly gods has little or no negative effect on monsters.
Is it something different when you become a saint?
Or is it because the griffon is a creature that is relatively calm and less mutated for a monster?
As a temporary measure, it was Ophelia who tried to give strength to the griffons by applying divine magic that has the effect of restoring and enhancing physical strength, but fortunately it worked.
The wings of the griffons speed up again, and power returns to their drooping feathers.
Also, is it because the original divine power has the effect of pacifying anger and calming the mind?
“Oh, the saintess, isn’t it great?”
“It must be the power of the heavenly gods.”
Lazarus and Scarlet, who were frowning on each other in displeasure, also seemed to have turned their minds to praising Ophelia instead of being angry at the speechless griffons.
“Ehehe!”
At that, Ophelia smiled shyly.
No, I was actually cheering on the inside.
Up until now, Ophelia had had low self-esteem because she hadn’t had much time to play an active part.
Of course, as her priest, she has nothing to do, which means that her mission is going smoothly, but she can’t feel good about being a burden that is left unattended.
But after a long time, I felt excited when I felt that I had been active in something properly.
Hehe~”
“Nice job, Ophelia.”
Even hearing Wolfgang’s praise makes her feel even better.
She drew her v lightly with her hand without anyone noticing.
So, the journey continued.
“Hey, I can finally see something. It looks like we’re getting closer.”
“I’m sure it is.”
The endless snowfield crossing is finally coming to an end.
The party could now see the territory of the northern immigrants at first glance with the naked eye.
“Wow! You can see sparsely green land between the snow and ice? It’s amazing…!”
“Well, anyway, that place is also inhabited land.”
The polar region vaguely sounds like a land covered with snow and ice, but it wasn’t.
If the land was so barren, how on earth could the alliance of northern immigrants have the potential to launch a war against the Empire head-on?
Of course, compared to the empire, it was still cold and poor, but it was just an empty field.
Baldheim, the land of northern immigrants, had its own ecosystem.
“I never thought I would come here and see…”
On the other hand, as the destination got closer and closer, it was a very different feeling for Wolfgang.
A coalition of northern immigrants who fought a literal bloody battle with Wolfgang himself and his men. And nine out of ten of them cried out for their hometown, shedding blood right before they died.
The loathsome home of the hateful ones who would never come if it weren’t for their mission.
When you set foot there, a strange, indescribable feeling arises from within.
Just like that, Waldheim was getting closer and closer and there were only tens of kilometers left until we arrived.
—Shuuuuu!
From afar, a javelin rang out with a terrifying piercing sound and flew toward Scarlett’s riding griffon.
Upon seeing this, Wolfgang’s eyes widened at once.
He was the one who urgently warned Scarlett.
“Scarlet! Hurry and dodge!”
“Heung! No doubt!”
Instead of avoiding it, it was Scarlett who snorted and opened the shield by making hand signs.
How could a mere javelin penetrate the archmage’s shield?
Unlike the other desk clowns of the Mage Tower, she was a veteran who had experience in actual combat.
She was confident in her proficiency in combat magic, including shields. In fact, there were times when she easily withstood the collective fire of hundreds of archers and shamans.
Of course, I was quite embarrassed to see Wolfgang worrying about me.
He himself is not so weak as to be intimidated by a single javelin.
I wanted to show that fact nicely, but…
— Kwajangchang!
“Keeeaek!”
“What?!”
Her insignificant spear shattered her shield and pierced the chest of the griffon she rode.
The griffon groaned in agony and began to stagger.
“Hee, heeheeik…!”
Scarlett swallowed her saliva.
If the trajectory had twisted just a little bit, her torso or thighs would have been pierced.
“Pyooooo…”
It was Scarlett who quickly deployed floating magic leaving behind the powerless Griffon.
Her companions staring at her with various expressions.
“Uh, sister! Are you okay?!”
“Ohhh… The trace of the spear is very neat. It must have been a very strong warrior.”
After deploying her floating magic, Scarlett hurriedly moved into Wolfgang’s griffon and she grabbed his waist tightly.
Although it was her Wolfgang who frowned at her and said something like that.
“Damn it, idiot! Avoid it!”
—Shuaak!
This time, the javelin will start flying towards him.
Instead of bruising Scarlett any longer, Wolfgang tightened the reins he was holding.
“Kyaaaaagh!”
Fortunately, I was barely able to avoid it thanks to Captain Gryphon, who panicked and executed an evasive maneuver.
But what next?
“Damn it.”
Wolfgang bit his lip.
This is the sky, an environment where movement is very limited.
In addition, it is difficult to even move according to his will while riding the griffon.
It was a crisis.
“Lazarus! Protect Ophelia!”
“Kuh, I understand.”
And, just then.
—Shuung! Shuung! Shuung!
As if to ridicule him, the javelins began to fly continuously this time.
Scarlett, who had crouched behind Wolfgang’s back, let out a squeal.
“Hee! Wolfgang! Flight, Visaang!”
Should I just grab one?
Unfortunately, he couldn’t afford to bully Scarlett right now.
Instead, Wolfgang stared straight in the direction the spear was flying.
—Ssik
It was a distance of more than a few kilometers.
The gaze of a woman with gray eyes met him squarely.
The corners of her lips twisted as if to say:
Where are you avoiding this too?
