novelraw Chapter 274 : Triumphant Return (3)
Chapter 274 : Triumphant Return (3)
The massive fireball U-jin had launched into the sky.
Its powerful explosion was certainly loud enough to draw the attention of everyone on the battlefield, but ironically, despite its extraordinary sound, it caused no damage to the Orc ranks.
This wasn't a metaphorical expression, like saying the damage was negligible because the Orc army was so vast.
It meant exactly what was written: it caused ‘no damage’ at all.
The fireball that exploded in mid-air simply dissipated into the atmosphere along with the sound of the blast.
It produced an intense light and a thunderous noise, but it exerted no other influence.
Yes.
It was almost like a ‘firework.’
Grand, surprising, and immense.
But that was all.
It didn't help his allies, nor did it harm his enemies.
—...What was that?
—Did he fail?
The Orcs and soldiers who were slightly away from the front lines and had the luxury of turning their heads instinctively looked toward the source of that formidable sound.
Even if they couldn't guess exactly what it was, they couldn't imagine that an object manifesting such a powerful presence would have zero impact on the battlefield.
Because of this, they braced themselves, expecting a massive aftershock to follow, but unfortunately, the aftershock they anticipated never came.
Once the great roar passed, the original sounds of the battlefield filled the surroundings once more.
As if it had always been that way.
As if nothing had happened.
Thus, the battlefield regained its original flow, and everyone thought U-jin’s action had been meaningless.
Both ally and foe alike.
Even Kanna Cartier, who had watched the scene from the beginning, thought so.
However, that thought did not last long.
Before long, something caught the eye of Kanna Cartier as she surveyed the battlefield.
Being the first to witness that presence, Kanna Cartier could not help but let out a low groan.
“...My God.”
U-jin’s bizarre act, which she thought had no effect on the battlefield, had, ironically, exerted the greatest influence of all.
【…Grrrr.】
A low, rumbling sound that allowed one to recognize its ‘difference’ instantly, even from a distance.
A pitch-black monster emerged from among the dark green waves, possessing a skin color so deep it couldn't even be compared to the ordinary dark green Orcs around it.
It was a figure that stood out prominently even among the army of tens of thousands of Orcs.
Its cry, its height, its facial features, its skeletal structure, and even its muscle quality—it was different from the Orcs around it in every way.
No, strictly speaking, rather than simply being different, it was more accurate to say it was a superior version.
Its skin was much darker than that of the Named-class Orc warriors and shamans, and its height was well over twice that of a normal Orc.
Above all.
‘...The feeling is different.’
There was no need for further explanation; one could tell the moment they saw it.
In the sense that it was bipedal like an Orc and had dark green skin, it could be considered similar.
But those were just superficial similarities; it was on an entirely different level from the surrounding Orcs.
“……”
Massive tusks protruding like elephant ivory.
Pointed ears.
A black torso as large as a barrel and the thick lines of well-developed muscles.
Beyond the fear brought by the unknown, the figure itself exuded an extremely dangerous aura.
The Immortal Baron.
Orc Lord ‘Nedkul.’
* * *
[Just how did you do it, Sir Seo U-jin?]
As soon as she confirmed Nedkul’s appearance, Kanna Cartier immediately questioned U-jin.
Normally, this would have been impossible.
U-jin was at the very front of the battlefield, while she was at the rear, monitoring the situation.
Whether by physical distance or the characteristic noise of the battlefield filling the area, it was impossible to convey her voice so clearly.
[...It looks as though you summoned Nedkul yourself, Sir.]
What made the impossible possible were the strategic materials from the Floating Territory.
A small communication device was received from Kim Satgat that could facilitate communication on the battlefield.
Because they were wearing the wireless voice transmission device, the ‘Ae-eo-padu,’ two-way communication was possible even at such a distance.
It wasn't just the two of them.
[Hey, hey, what did you just do? What the hell did you pull to make that thing pop out like that?]
[...I believe an explanation is in order, Mr. Seo U-jin.]
Louis and Ludwig, who were acting as advisors to the Subjugation Force, also demanded an explanation from U-jin via the wireless devices as soon as they witnessed Nedkul’s appearance.
Faced with the barrage of questions, U-jin briefly wondered, ‘Is it really right to explain everything in the middle of a battle?’
But he hadn't clashed with Nedkul yet.
Judging that he had at least that much leeway, he got straight to the point.
“It’s a signal I sent to the Order.”
However, the questions of the three people who heard U-jin’s answer were not resolved.
In fact, it became even more incomprehensible.
[The Order? Why is the Order coming up now?]
[...That is certainly sudden. I believe we need more explanation regarding that signal.]
[...By the Order, do you mean the Order's headquarters beyond the mountains, Sir Seo U-jin?]
From their perspective, it was naturally difficult to understand.
“That’s right.”
[…….]
“I sent a signal to the Order, and that’s why the Orc Lord appeared.”
If you just looked at that sentence alone, U-jin’s answer made no sense at all.
First of all.
The very premise of sending a signal to the Order was illogical.
That would mean the Orc Lord’s appearance was due to the Order’s influence.
The Order was well aware that the Northern Subjugation Force had reached the vicinity of the Orc Mountains beyond the Black Sea.
Of course, they knew.
The Veil of the Black Sea hadn't been deployed when the Northern Subjugation Force sent their vanguard, but rather while the subjugation was already proceeding successfully.
In any case, since the ‘Orc Mountains’ had been planned as the final battleground for the Northern Subjugation War from the start, it was impossible for the Order not to know the current situation of the Subjugation Force, even with the Veil of the Black Sea in place.
Despite this, the reason they hadn't been able to take any particular action until now was, of course, the existence of the ‘Veil of the Black Sea’ itself.
Because magic, which could be called the core ability of the Order, was blocked by the Veil of the Black Sea, the Order’s headquarters couldn't come up with a clear plan either.
It wasn't hard to predict that the Northern Subjugation Force would be in trouble due to the cutoff of supplies and mana, but it was difficult for them to attempt any intervention.
To put it simply, it wasn't that they didn't do it because they didn't know; they didn't do it because they had no way to do it.
Furthermore, the Northern Subjugation War was an ambitious operation of the Order, planned in secret only at the highest level of the ‘Inverted Cross Council’ at the Order's headquarters.
As such, the number of troops gathered in the shadows was naturally the result of scraping together every available force the Order had at the time.
The Order’s direct troops that could be deployed had already been exhausted by the current Northern Subjugation Force.
To dispatch a meaningful reinforcement, no matter how quickly they prepared, it would inevitably take some time.
Above all.
The part where he said, ‘I sent a signal to the Order, and the Orc Lord appeared,’ had a missing link in the explanation.
To understand the current situation, a bit more explanation was needed.
And as if he knew that well, U-jin opened his mouth to supplement his explanation.
“Before heading here, I separately told our guild, ‘Hunter,’ to recruit troops.”
[…….]
“I haven't confirmed it myself, so it’s hard to be certain, but there are probably about 100 of them. Beastkin soldiers who can play the role of Hero-class combatants.”
[……!]
[There are 100 Hero-class Beastkin?]
Nod—
“Yes. They aren't from slave backgrounds, and though they are few, there were those who lived in hiding and maintained their lineage, so if you add them all up, it’ll be about that many. Besides...”
[…….]
“Tom Hardist will also be participating in this battle personally.”
Tom Hardist’s name was already famous within the Order.
An iconic figure of the Beastkin that any priest of the Order with some experience would have to remember.
Of course, in terms of bloodline alone, Valencia, the descendant of the Royal Family that succeeded the legitimate line of the Beastkin Nation, would be more symbolic.
But at least in terms of how much the priests of the Order knew, Tom Hardist was still ahead.
“In addition, I personally hired some private organizations and soldiers with money. If you combine them with the Order’s forces, a fairly usable army must have been formed.”
[…….]
“On the other side of these mountains, that is.”
...Put that way, it made sense.
[You mean... they heard your signal and started fighting on the other side, and the Orc Lord, who would normally be relaxing in the back, popped out to fill the gap because he had to send troops to the other side?]
“Bingo.”
At U-jin’s answer confirming Ludwig’s words, groans erupted from the other end of the wireless transmission.
They had no choice.
Certainly, if U-jin’s words were true, there was no logical contradiction.
However, that was something impossible unless he had anticipated the series of events that would occur during the Northern Subjugation War, including the Veil of the Black Sea.
It was easy to say ‘100 Hero-class,’ but moving such a number required sufficient preparation, and in the case of private organizations and soldiers, it cost an enormous amount of money, so even the Order didn't frequently hire mercenaries unless they were certain they were needed.
The only reason they could even accept this was that the speaker was U-jin.
In any case, the mysteries U-jin had accumulated so far weren't just one or two, and if they could have known the answers by asking, they would have asked long ago.
As always.
The three of them had no choice but to accept the situation before their eyes.
And so.
【…Grrrr.】
Watching Nedkul, who revealed an overwhelming presence and charisma that dominated the battlefield, U-jin muttered.
“...I’ll handle the hunting. Commander, when I send the signal later, just take his head.”
With those final words, the sound of a powerful wind was heard through U-jin’s wireless device.
In the blink of an eye, U-jin’s figure, which had been in Kanna Cartier’s field of vision, vanished.
And the vanished U-jin.
In the distance.
“……”
Reappeared, pressing a gun against the bridge of Nedkul’s nose.