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057 Treason
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Translator : PolterGlast
Along with the sound
of an explosion, I felt a tremor in the soles of my feet. Something bad seemed
to have happened.
With the explosion,
the Barukan family immediately surrounded the Duke, taking a defensive stance.
As expected of them. But the Honorary Baron Footscythel's retinue was also
impressive. They immediately flew to my side and were on alert. Other nobles'
knights and soldiers stood frozen in bewilderment, but our movements were
excellent.
When I asked Zaigen if
he wasn't going to evacuate, he said that in such situations, he wouldn't move
until he understood the situation. Just then, a soldier rushed in.
"Reporting! A magical creature has appeared within the castle, sir!"
"A magical
creature?" the Duke growled, his face stern. "...So someone released
a magical creature inside the castle."
Magical creatures are
what are called monsters inside dungeons. When monsters are defeated in a
dungeon, they leave items and disappear, but magical creatures leave corpses.
Of course, they don't drop items. Instead, their corpses can be dismantled, and
their hide, meat, bones, fangs, etc., can be utilized.
Another soldier rushed
in. "Reporting! Baron Venue is in rebellion, sir!"
"Venue, huh...
repaying kindness with malice," the Duke spat.
"What kind of
person is Baron Venue?" I asked Zaigen.
"He was a house
that colluded with the Shardina Bandit Gang. We executed the head of the house
and several others, but we allowed the house to continue by establishing a new
head from their relatives and lowering their title from Viscount to Baron. It
seems that leniency back then has come back to bite us. If we had eradicated
every single one of them at that time, this would not have happened. It's the
height of regret," Zaigen explained. What? He rebelled out of spite? He
wasn't executed and even got to keep his Baron title, but instead of being
grateful, he resented it? Isn't he an idiot?
Seeing Zaigen's face,
as if he had chewed a bitter insect, he truly seemed to regret it. If something
like this happens, innocent people, who are family or relatives, might be wiped
out if something similar happens in the future. That guy Venue is the worst.
However, the Duke showed
some kindness by not executing everyone and only executing the head of the
house and a few others. I thought he was a rather ruthless person. My view of
the Duke changed.
"Reporting! The
monsters are Gargoyles! Dozens of Gargoyles! We are taking heavy
casualties!"
Gargoyles can fly, so
they must have flown over the castle walls.
"If they are
Gargoyles, ordinary soldiers cannot contend with them. Barukan, will you
go?"
"Understood,"
Barukan replied. At the Duke's command, Barukan prepared to go repel the
Gargoyles. Something was bothering me. What is it...?
"Wait a
moment!" I blurted out. My mouth moved unconsciously. It was unsettling.
"What is it,
Honorary Baron Footscythel?" the Duke asked.
"I believe we
should handle the Gargoyles. I think it would be better if Commander Barukan
stayed by His Excellency's side," I said. Why did I say that? What is my
brain thinking?
"I also foolishly
believe it would be best to leave it to Honorary Baron Footscythel,"
Zaigen chimed in, supporting my suggestion.
"...Very well. I
will entrust the Gargoyle extermination to Honorary Baron Footscythel. Rook,
provide assistance," the Duke commanded.
"Understood!"
Rook saluted and moved to my side.
"Captain Rook.
May I borrow weapons?" I asked.
"Understood. This
way," he replied. I obtained swords and spears from nearby knights and
soldiers. As expected of the Duke's knights, they used good swords. I also
borrowed a shield from Gandarvan, but I wondered what would happen to that
beautiful, unblemished shield... He'd have to get the Duke to pay for it.
Mage-type jobs were scarce, and they were valuable combat assets, so I couldn't
secure staffs for Anneliese and Solidia. Even without staffs, they could use
magic and sorcery, but it was a shame, as having staffs would increase their
power.
"Let's go!"
I declared. We rushed towards where the monsters were rampaging. My current
main job was Sword Master, and my sub-job was Assassin.
I saw them. Gargoyles.
Their levels were 20, 22, and 25. Higher levels than in the dungeon?
"They seem
stronger than the dungeon monsters. Be careful," I warned. I didn't
explicitly mention levels since Rook was present, but when I told them they
were high-leveled, everyone nodded. They seemed to understand.
It was a terrible
situation. About 20 fallen knights and soldiers lay motionless. Many more were
injured and being carried to the rear by their comrades.
"Captain Rook.
Could you please have the knights retreat? And Solidia will be summoning undead
from now on. Please ensure that no one attacks them, as they are allies,"
I instructed.
"U-undead, you
say?" Rook stammered.
"I'll explain the
details later. Just make sure everyone understands," I ordered.
"Understood!"
Rook shouted loudly, ordering the knights to retreat. His booming voice,
emanating from his massive frame, echoed clearly.
The knights withdrew.
"Gandarvan, let's
go!" I commanded.
"Yes, sir!"
he roared. I, Gandarvan, Jojok, Lin, and Rosalina charged forward.
"Summon, High
Ghost!" Solidia summoned three High Ghosts using Ethereal Kin Summon.
"Familiar
Synthesis!" Solidia activated Familiar Synthesis, a skill learned at
Necromancer Lv20, which allows combining multiple familiars to create a
stronger one. At its current Familiar Synthesis (Low) proficiency, it could
combine three familiars, but unfortunately, the strength wasn't tripled.
The High Ghosts, which
were about 1 meter tall, black, translucent spheres with short limbs, were
combined, growing to about 2 meters. Their short limbs remained, but they also
gained eyes and a mouth. Their eyes and mouth looked like they were laughing
"hehehe," but no sound was heard.
The familiar created
by combining three High Ghosts was named High Ghost Over. Its level was 35. Its
level was also higher due to the synthesis.
"High Ghost Over.
Freezing Chill!" Solidia commanded.
"..." The
High Ghost Over waved its short hands up and down, and a gust of wind blew,
freezing the Gargoyles. The flying Gargoyles froze and crashed to the ground.
"Firestorm!"
Anneliese's magic activated. Blazing flames enveloped several Gargoyles. The
Gargoyles fell and crashed onto the ground. We then pummeled the fallen
Gargoyles to defeat them. This cycle continued until we defeated 30 Gargoyles.
"Nooo... my
Gargoyles! What are you people!?" A man screamed. This must be Baron
Venue. He was a man in his 30s with a nervous, thin face. This kind of guy,
revolting against the Duke? I couldn't imagine him having such decisiveness.
"How could this
happen to me? Oh, Goddess! Protect me!" Goddess? What is this guy talking
about?
"Goddess,
Goddess, Goddess, Goddess, Goddess, oh, Goddess—!" He was completely out
of his mind.
When I used Detailed
Appraisal on him, there he was... a demon-possessed. His muscles swelled,
tearing his clothes, and he grew larger.
"This guy, is he
demon-possessed!?" Rook exclaimed in shock. No need to yell; I already
know.
"Gandarvan, it's
Lesser Demon Jamil Lv35," I whispered to Gandarvan, standing shoulder to
shoulder with him, so Rook and the others wouldn't hear.
"Understood,"
Gandarvan replied.
He was a higher level
than the Lesser Demon Patis we fought before, but he was still a lesser demon.
Anyway, he's
demon-possessed, but he's calling out to a Goddess? Was the demon impersonating
a goddess? Demons must have a tough time with proselytizing.
"Captain Rook.
Please evacuate everyone. We cannot fight while protecting them," I
instructed.
"Y-yes. Understood,"
Rook replied. That was good. A lie is sometimes helpful. I then gave Lin a
signal with my eyes. She could deal effective holy-attribute damage to demons.
After all, Lin was a Lance Saint.
The Lesser Demon Jamil
had the same ram's head, gorilla body, tail, and bat wings as the Lesser Demon
Patis. I was disappointed by the lack of variety.
"TREMBLE AND
KNEEL BEFORE ME."
"Don't be
stupid," I retorted. If I trembled in fear, I couldn't fight. I slashed at
its leg with my sword. It wasn't a very sharp sword. It couldn't compare to the
Mithril Two-Handed Sword, but I couldn't help but compare them.
But it was fine. He
was as big and high-leveled as the previous Lesser Demon Patis, but our levels
had also increased. He wasn't an unbeatable demon.
"YOU PUNY
HUMAN!"
"You're just a
big dummy!" I retorted verbally, cutting his leg with my sword.
"Anger
Lock!" Gandarvan activated Anger Lock, fixing its aggro, and immediately
Anneliese's magic activated, engulfing it in flames.
"AGAGAGA! DAMN
YOU ALL! I WILL BRING DOWN DIVINE PUNISHMENT UPON YOU!" A demon talking
about divine punishment? Is its head okay?
Magic circles floated
around the Lesser Demon Jamil. Magical creatures were spawned from them. They
had Gargoyle-like bodies, but they weren't Gargoyles. They were rock golems,
humanoid and robotic-looking, about the same size as the Lesser Demon Jamil.
Their levels ranged from 25 to 30. Ten of them were spawned and charged at us.
"Get lost!"
I shouted, dodging a golem's punch and running up its arm. I jumped and brought
my sword down on the golem's head. My Helmet Split passive skill, learned at
Sword Master Lv20, activated, doubling my ATK and pulverizing the golem's head.
I cut it with a sword, but it was pulverized (laughs).
A golem's DEF value is
high, but a Sword Master's ATK value is even higher. And with the Helmet Split
effect, ATK is doubled.
"Triple
Thrust!" Lin's Triple Thrust skill was unleashed on a golem whose head was
regenerating. With that attack, the golem's regeneration couldn't keep up, its
HP dropped to zero, and it collapsed to the ground.
Like Gargoyles,
magical creatures that appear on the surface leave corpses. Am I the only one
who thinks that stone Gargoyle and rock golem corpses are just a nuisance?
We continued to defeat
the golems one after another, but in the meantime, the Lesser Demon Jamil flew
deeper into the castle.
"Gandarvan. I'm
taking Lin. The rest is up to you."
"Leave it to
me!" I left the golems to Gandarvan and the others and chased the Lesser
Demon Jamil with Lin.
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