Chapter 63 Heir of the Faded Star (2)
2.
The command room of the Southern Front headquarters.
This place was usually empty, but today was different. This was because the swords representing the empire were gathered in one place.
Lightsword of the East, Limer Yen Lapidis.
The powerful swordsman of the West, Seorik al-Ghorfant.
Blind Sword of the South, Istan el Deorg.
And even the deadly sword of the North, Barka Jan Arkaden. The atmosphere in the command room where the four of us were present was so quiet that it was even cold.
“… … .”
In fact, this was a natural atmosphere.
Unlike the West and South, which have a cooperative and symbiotic relationship, the East and North have maintained a long-standing rivalry for decades.
In other words, it was no exaggeration to say that the main culprits of this current atmosphere were Limerjen Lapidis and Barca Jan Arkaden.
Then, a sound broke the silence.
“Uhm, anyway… … .”
A middle-aged man, about 2 meters tall, with his entire face covered in hair.
He, who had dark brown hair and bright yellow eyes, looked around the command room and then spoke in a gravelly tone typical of a northerner.
“Why can’t you see Lord Saxony?”
The next Emperor Chartrand’s summons was issued to the five swords of the Empire and their knights.
On the other hand, only four people are currently gathered here.
That is why Barka was asking about the whereabouts of the one remaining person, the imperial sword, Saxony Yul Orden.
“Ah, that’s… … .”
Just as Seorik was about to say something, someone intercepted his answer.
“Of course, Lord Orden must protect His Majesty’s side. “Of course you have no choice but to come.”
A female knight with brown hair.
It was Limer Yen Lapidis.
As she said, if Saxony is absent, Chartrand’s guard will become vacant.
Of course, there is a Royal Guard, but because there was a difference between heaven and earth between having a Master in the guard and not having a Master, Saxony was excluded from this summons.
“Tsk, it would be nice to sell it.”
Meanwhile, Barka clicked his tongue with a clear expression of displeasure at the answer that came back.
Is it because of his somewhat intrusive attitude?
Rimmer’s eyebrows twitched.
“… … Lord Arcadon.”
“Please refrain from using rude words or actions.”
It wasn’t just her.
Seorik, who had been silent, also frowned and scolded him. On the other hand, Barca asked back in a hostile tone as if he had done something wrong.
“It’s true, right? “Do you think someone came from the North to the South because they had time to spare?”
Barca’s face was scrunched up.
He showed a dissatisfied expression through the wrinkles between his eyebrows, which were distorted as if he were angry.
There was a reason for everything.
The distance from the northern part of the empire to the southern part takes approximately over a month. However, Barca shortened it to three weeks. It was conscious that it was a summons from the next emperor.
However, it was natural that there would be complaints that Saxony Jull Orden, the person who announced that the summons had been declared, did not come.
Just a little bit of grumbling.
His attention soon turned elsewhere.
“Oh, by the way, he didn’t come?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Why are you there? “The master from the barbarian tribe that has been rumored recently.”
The moment he finished speaking.
The three masters’ eyes flashed. This is because I immediately realized who I was talking about.
Ulan Bator.
Not only did he reach the level of a master at the age of only seventeen, he was the strongest among the strong, defeating Istan, Seorik, and Rimmer.
“At first glance, it sounds like you have decided to cooperate with the empire in the future. So, shouldn’t you naturally respond to the summons?”
Barka, who mentioned Ulan, scratched his thick hair and asked again. Meanwhile, it was Seorik who answered this question.
“He is still a student.”
Of course, Barca looked at Seorik as if that was the problem. Seorik, who read the meaning in his eyes, sighed and continued answering.
“In the first place, I decided to cooperate with the empire and promised that I would do so only after graduation.”
Did you think it was because of good circumstances?
Barka snorted. Then she grumbled as if she didn’t like it at all.
“joy! “It would be nice to sell this one or that one.”
“Lord Arcadorn!”
Seeing his rude words and actions once again, Rimmer got up from his seat.
With a very angry expression.
Barca, on the other hand, did not seem at all intimidated and just twitched his lips.
“why? To hit me?”
“profit… … !”
Rimmer’s lips trembled.
Part of me wanted to challenge this rude man to a duel, but I knew I couldn’t.
According to imperial law, duels between masters belonging to the empire and kingdom are prohibited, and if this is violated, they will be punished according to imperial law.
But the moment he left everything behind and heard Barca’s words, Rimmer felt his senses disappear.
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“Don’t make fun of yourself and get hit, just sit quietly. On the topic of being defeated by a heretic, where… … .”
Blatant insults and provocations.
When Seorik and Istan heard this, their faces hardened without anyone else taking the lead. It was an expression of anger at the obvious crossing of a line.
And that moment.
Slurp!
Rimmer drew his sword. With eyes that have lost patience. Barka, who discovered this, grinned as if he had been waiting.
“Now, wait! “Just calm down first!”
Seorik stormed in to stop the two, and Istan also intervened, unable to help but watch.
The master’s domain unfolds like that.
In the cold, frozen flow of time, only the four masters showed any movement.
But right then.
match-!
With the sound of palms clashing, the momentarily frozen time was loudly shattered.
Limerdo, who was trying to swing his sword, Barka, who was smiling warlikely, and Seorik and Istan, who were trying to stop the two, all stopped their actions.
“It looks like everyone is here.”
Then, a blonde man appeared without any sign.
He smiled brightly, wearing a pure white robe symbolizing a mage. Then all four eyes turned to the man.
“You… … .”
“Greetings to the Five Swords. “I am Demuel Ron Dermore, a former mage belonging to the Magic Tower.”
The man who had a conversation with Istan earlier.
It was the Earl of Dermore.
Meanwhile, all four masters looked dumbfounded at his intrusion. It had to be that way.
‘… … I’ve just entered the realm.’
Overlapping and stacked areas of masters.
A space where only those who have reached the limit of nothingness can enter. However, Demuel entered here confidently and attracted everyone’s attention.
‘How on earth?’
Istan’s eyes narrowed at this question.
Of course, it wasn’t that there was nothing to guess.
‘Could it be that you gained some special power in the process of cooperating with the Abyss?’
It may seem like speculation, but it is not. Demuel was someone that even Ulan and Noah told us to be wary of.
Meanwhile, after Demuel’s introduction.
The four masters came to their senses one by one. Among them, the first to speak was Barka.
“What are you? “Are you a master?”
That’s because he noticed it too.
Demuel invaded the Master’s territory and mediated the situation. And since this was everyone’s question, the three masters except Barca also looked at Demuel.
However, I didn’t get the answer I wanted.
“I am a mage.”
“Forget the jokes that aren’t funny and just tell the truth. What is your identity? … .”
“I have more important news than that.”
Demuel cut off Barca’s words.
At this, Barka wrinkled his grim face. Just as they were about to burst out in anger, Seorik, who had been watching the situation, quickly entered the conversation.
“So, what news is it?”
“The Emperor’s command has come down.”
“… … !”
Hwangmyeong (皇命). The heavy weight of those words forced Barca to swallow again the anger he was about to let out.
Meanwhile, as the room became quiet, Demuel smiled, took out a scroll from his pocket, and unfolded it.
“Then, from now on, I will read through the orders given by His Majesty.”
An order with the emperor’s name written on it.
After confirming the identity of the scroll, the masters got up from their seats and sat down on their knees.
At this moment, when he held the order, Demuel was like the emperor’s representative.
“Istan el Deorg. I grant you full command over the troops on the front lines, the knights and wizards who responded to the summons.”
His voice rang out sonorously. The first person to point out was Istan. De Muel finished his sentence with his eyes fixed on him.
“So, as of now, fulfill your duties as commander of the southern part of the empire and carry out your duties.”
“If it is the responsibility of the southern commander… … ?”
“Extermination of the infidels.”
Next, an eerie voice came out.
Despite being told to exterminate a group, Demuel’s eyes did not flutter. Instead, he shouted with eyes full of strange desire.
“Advance with all your troops. “Burn the headquarters of the Desert Church and exterminate all heretics in the desert.”
Demuel, who was reading aloud, closed his mouth and cleared his throat as his throat felt sore. Then Barca, who had been silent, muttered in an expression of regret.
“It’s a shame. “That’s my specialty.”
“… … Shut your mouth, Lord Arcadon. “The reading isn’t over yet.”
Seorik glanced at him and scolded him.
With a look in your eyes telling you to please do something. Demuel then continued his reading again.
“Next, I issue special search orders to Seorik al-Ghorfant, Barka Jan Arkaden, and Limer Yen Lapidis.”
“Eh? search?”
“Find the candidate for empress kidnapped by the infidels and ensure her safety. Additionally, Count Dermore will accompany you on your mission.”
Perticia’s existence was replaced by her status as a candidate for empress. Seorik, Rimmer, and Istan, who knew this, closed their mouths without saying anything.
On the other hand, Barca was an exception.
“Who are you talking about as the candidate for empress?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“… … what?”
“Because it is top secret information.”
Demuel answered with a smile.
Did you not like his attitude?
Barka frowned again.
“Are you trying to joke with me? Find someone whose name or appearance you don’t know?!”
“You don’t have to worry about that. “You can use this even if you don’t have any information.”
“that?”
“Detection and tracker.”
The object that Demuel took out from his pocket was a crystal ball.
This item received from Lacus is a magic tool that has the function of detecting and tracking the power of spirits.
If the target is within a 3km radius, it has the effect of informing the distance as well as the direction.
“Hmm, if it’s a magic tool with that kind of ability… … .”
“The search itself won’t be difficult.”
Seorik and Istan quickly nodded. This is because I thought that if I did not show my understanding, Barca would cause trouble again.
Fortunately, Barka closed his mouth without saying anything.
Furthermore, when there were no further questions from the other Masters, Demuel turned to everyone and opened his mouth once again.
“Unless you have any other questions, I will carry out the royal order as of now. “I hope everyone will do their best in their duties.”
Right Now.
After finishing answering, Demuel’s eyes flashed once. For a split second, his magically shining eyes resembled Lacus’.
3.
Meanwhile, at that time.
Following Muak’s guidance, Ulan and his party, who were heading to ‘the place where the darkness of the night first falls,’ stopped moving just before their destination.
Perhaps because of the forced march that lasted for several days, Sirpi was sick and was in bed.
Since the rest of the party also needed rest, Ulan prepared a campsite and spent the night.
“I’m back.”
And at dawn the next day.
Sven, who had been away to scout the surrounding area, returned. Ulan asked back at him as he brushed the sand off his robe.
“Is there anything special going on?”
“The atmosphere on the front line is a bit strange.”
“hmm? “Do you find it strange?”
“It looked pretty busy. “It’s as if a large army is preparing to move.”
The troops are showing signs of movement?
Ulan’s brows narrowed at those words. At that time, Noah’s voice was heard not far away.
“It looks like the Sword of the North has arrived.”
There is only one reason for the troops on the front to move.
All conditions for an all-out war have been met. That was like saying that all the five swords of the empire were gathered in one place.
“But I’m glad it’s not a big problem.”
“that’s right. “Once Sirpi recovers, we will be able to reach our destination soon.”
Laurea and Sirpi, who woke up later, yawned and answered. Then Ibella and Delia suddenly frowned.
“If there’s a problem… … .”
“You have to go in there, it’s a point.”
Sand dunes visible beyond the campsite.
At the bottom of the hill, which seemed particularly higher than other places, a whirlpool of swirling sand, quicksand, could be seen.
A place commonly called sand hell.
It is said that this is the place where the darkness of the night recorded on the stone tablet first falls.
“Don’t worry too much.”
The voice I heard at that time.
It was Muak’s voice.
He looked back at the group who were showing disgusted expressions and added a detailed explanation.
“There is space under the sand, so you only have to hold your breath while falling.”
“It means that they don’t like falling.”
Noah, on the other hand, sighed and answered.
As if it wasn’t comforting at all.
As the other party members came to their senses one by one, Sirpi also stood up.
The complexion is much better than yesterday.
Ulan spoke straight away.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“… … Yes, it’s worth holding on to.”
“good. “Then let’s go.”
Troops on the southern front about to move.
There is nothing good about encountering them.
After making their decision, Ulan and his party immediately left the campsite. Then, one by one, they walked towards the fiercely swirling sand hell.
fantasy,
