Shepherd Wizard

Chapter 147

Translator: Pai_

In the early evening, some of the wizards of House Parsha gathered at the mansion’s training grounds after dinner.

A total of 136 people assembled, including Haram, a high-ranking wizard, five mid-ranking wizards, ten low-ranking wizards, and one hundred and twenty knights.

This was the result of allocating and leaving behind only the necessary forces, including the Enchanters Melo and Ashiz, and those needed to maintain minimum security.

Standing before the warriors gathered for battle, Turan slowly opened his mouth.

“Soon, we will depart for war.”

At the sudden announcement, murmurs spread, but rather than confusion or fear, the faces of the wizards showed a look of resignation, as if what was inevitable had finally come.

This was because they had already been instructed to write their wills a few days prior, even before being summoned.

The fact that House Parsha had come into opposition with Aravion by accepting Meisa was now a well-known and public matter.

One of them bravely spoke up and voiced what they were all thinking.

"Are we attacking Aravion?"

“No.”

With Turan’s denial, a vague confusion appeared on everyone’s faces.

If not Aravion, then who?

Surely, they weren't gathering a secret army and making them write wills just to go on a beast-slaying mission.

Could it be that a vassal house in the Gray Zone was plotting a rebellion and they were going to suppress it?

If not that, then Zahar?

Could they be invading one of the western forest houses?

Just as the wizards’ minds became increasingly chaotic, Turan made a statement none of them could have imagined.

“We are going to attack Varaha.”

"Varaha..."

Why would a great noble house from the distant East suddenly be mentioned?

Some among them didn’t even know where House Varaha was located.

Just because someone is a wizard doesn’t mean their intellect surpasses that of commoners, and many lacked enthusiasm for learning.

What most of them did know, different from commoners, was that one of the three strongest of House Parsha, Solif, was the successor of House Varaha.

“You must all be curious. Why we must attack Varaha, and how we are going to do it.”

“......Yes.”

“Please tell us, Family Head.”

Over the past few months, due to Turan’s consistent training in magic, the wizards of Parsha had come to hold this young family head in respect.

But this was an entirely different issue from admiration, it was about launching an invasion of a great noble house far off in the East.

At least if they were under invasion from Varaha, it might be understandable.

But to suddenly demand a months-long expedition without provocation?

In a great noble house, a family head’s command holds the weight of god's will, but still, neither Turan nor House Parsha possessed that level of authority just yet.

That was something that could not be earned by ability alone, it could only be built up through time.

Therefore, from this point on, Turan had to persuade them.

Why they must go fight in the distant East.

Why they must risk their lives, without explaining that, it would be hard to expect them to give their all in battle.

“About a year ago from now, Varaha committed a truly atrocious crime.”

Turan began, using wind magic so that his low voice could reach everyone’s ears.

An advanced technique that allowed one’s voice to strongly project to dozens without shouting.

A level beyond mere sound amplification, an art so refined that even Aravion nobles proficient in wind magic would cry out in disbelief at how it was done.

“Their leader, Reshion Varaha, ambushed the family head of our ally, House Lavitas. While they were hosting them as guests, no less.”

The gathered wizards stirred and looked at each other.

For wizards, the custom of hospitality was nearly sacred, and for someone not just ordinary but a great noble house’s head to violate it?

If it were anyone other than Turan making this claim, they would have all called it bullshit.

Of course, contrary to Turan’s words, there was a minor issue that at the time the head of House Varaha launched the ambush in Lavitas, House Parsha and House Lavitas were not yet allies. However, no one paid attention to that detail.

“And as everyone knows, our house's military general, Solif, was originally the successor of Varaha with legitimate inheritance rights. Therefore, we will join forces with House Lavitas, who rightfully deserves a blood payment, and help ensure that the rightful heir takes their place in House Varaha.”

In that way, Turan explained in an easy-to-understand manner why they needed to fight alongside Lavitas.

Legitimacy, justification, and even tangible benefit.

“Any questions?”

"If I may, Family Head."

The one who immediately spoke up was Moson, the second son of the Visen City lord to whom Turan had once ceded Kalamaaf.

As a mid-tier noble, he effectively represented the wizards dispatched to Parsha.

“We all understand why we must fight. But wouldn’t moving such a large force back and forth be too dangerous? We know your magical beast is large and strong, but it must still be difficult to quickly move everyone riding it. If we all leave our positions and Aravion invades while we're gone-”

“There is a way.”

Turan cut him off at the right moment and looked around at everyone.

As night began to fall and darkness spread, those who met his gray eyes glistening in the torchlight flinched unconsciously.

“The method is confidential, but we will arrive soon in Varaha’s territory. And once the battle is over, we will return as quickly as possible.”

“......In that case, I have no objections."

It was hard to even guess what kind of method could allow such a thing, but Moson didn’t question it further and bowed his head.

If the method Turan spoke of turned out to be unfeasible, that would be the time to question it again.

Several more people asked questions afterward.

Where Meisa and Solif were, and whether they would participate in the battle.

Whether Lavitas’s reinforcements would be sufficient, and such matters.

In response, Turan stated that both would be participating in the battle, and that the head of House Lavitas himself was bringing an army directly.

Since they were going to war anyway, it would be better to raise morale by showing that their allies were powerful.

"We are departing now. Everyone follow me."

Soon after, they followed Turan and moved toward a small building located next to the training ground.

“Was this here before?”

“I don’t think I saw it last time I came around here.......”

In fact, this building had been hastily constructed by Turan recently using Earthmover Magic, so it was only natural they hadn’t seen it before.

Turan pointed toward the inner part of the building, where dozens of leather blindfolds were stacked.

“From this point on, everyone must wear these. From here until we reach our destination, visual awareness is not permitted. If anyone removes their blindfold without my order, they will be executed on the spot.”

A cold declaration, so unlike the warm and determined voice of the heroic young hero just moments ago.

The wizards of Parsha sensed that Turan wasn’t bluffing and trembled slightly.

Each receiving a blindfold and putting it on, they could not see and thus formed a line, placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front to move forward.

While leading the group, Turan occasionally turned his head to check whether anyone was taking off their blindfold.

Fortunately, no one foolish enough to risk their life out of curiosity appeared.

“This way.”

The blindfolded wizards of Parsha moved along the narrow hallway like blind sheep following a shepherd.

Those with relatively keen senses realized that they were gradually descending underground.

“We’re going down, right?”

“Yeah.......”

After moving for some time, they heard Meisa's voice from up ahead.

“You really brought them here like this?”

“This is the best way. Was the other side handled properly?”

"Yes. I've already been over to check. We should be able to join soon."

“Good. Let’s move immediately.”

Through the brief exchange, the wizards of Parsha realized that Meisa was truly participating in this expedition, which brought them a bit of relief.

Their movement, following the person in front with a hand on their shoulder, lasted only a short while.

Just as they thought they heard a low humming sound up ahead, those walking blindfolded suddenly felt the surrounding air change completely.

Only moments ago, all they could smell was dirt and dust, but in an instant, they felt a chilly autumn breeze blowing.

They had just been walking forward, had they somehow stepped outside in just a second?

“Alright, it can be closed now.”

“Got it.”

“Everyone, remove your blindfolds!”

When they removed their blindfolds, the wizards of Parsha were startled to find themselves in an uninhabited forest.

Even the surrounding ecosystem looked completely different from what could be seen near Kalamaaf.

No, this might not be the Gray Zone at all...

“Don’t tell me... we really came to the East?”

“Yes, it’s real.”

The knight who had muttered to himself straightened up with a jolt at the heavenly voice of the Parsha family head.

Only then did they realize Meisa and Solif were beside them, and that even the masked man Arn, whose identity had been unknown and who had been staying at the main house, was there as well.

“Everyone, move.”

Following Turan’s command, the wizards of Parsha moved, feeling both fear and excitement at this overwhelming reality.

It was hard to comprehend, but clearly something was clearly changing.

*

“You’ve worked hard.”

“What do you mean worked hard. Bije had it worse than me.”

Naturally, in order to use the jade mirror, someone had to be present at the destination first, so Solif had flown east on Bije along with Armania several days before the operation began.

They had maintained regular communication using the hand mirror and installed the jade mirror just in time for Lavitas’s army to arrive.

Turan looked toward the clearing in the forest where the massive mirror had been installed just moments ago.

Thanks to Armania retrieving the mirror right away, no trace remained in the area.

“It’s an incredible technology, no matter how many times I see it.”

"Imagine how terrifying it would be if enemies used it, right?"

What if a mirror opened in front of Kalamaaf, linked from Aravion or Zahar’s capital?

Without worrying about defending their base, hundreds or thousands of wizards could pour through, and House Parsha would be finished that very day.

“There they are.”

A short while later, the army of House Parsha, having emerged from the forest, encountered the army of Lavitas, who had been waiting for them.

Turan let out a soft exclamation as he saw Osel standing at the front.

“Oh.”

Unlike before, when he always wore casual attire, the head of House Lavitas now appeared quite threatening in his combat gear.

From the spear on his back, to the cloak and clothes wrapped around his body, to the seven types of accessories and even his storage items.

Almost everything he wore was a sacred relic.

Of course, it was hard to exude dignity when the wearer appeared to be just a boy in his mid-to-late teens...

But at least Turan could sense, through the explosive power emanating from Osel’s body, just how immense his abilities were.

“It’s been a while, Head of Parsha.”

“Good to see you, Osel.”

Unlike before, Turan no longer bowed his head. Instead, he shook Osel’s hand, reaffirming that they were equals.

The head of House Lavitas, Osel, turned around and clicked his tongue.

“I’d heard about it... but you really brought an army, Head of Parsha. How on earth?”

"I promised, didn't I? You’ll adjust the reward accordingly, as agreed, right?”

“Of course.”

Turan had notified Lavitas that he would send a considerable reinforcements force on the agreed date, but he hadn’t disclosed how.

It wasn’t because he didn’t trust Lavitas, but rather because he was concerned that a spy from another force might have infiltrated on that side.

‘It’s possible that one of Lavitas’s nobles might even be a soul-possessed body.’

To turn the head of a noble house into a soul-possessed body would require effectively seizing control of the entire house, which made it a difficult task. However, kidnapping and replacing one or two members was not such a hard thing to do.

Unless one's spiritual perception was open, even Turan had no way of discerning the true identity of the person before him.

Even the wizards of Parsha who had followed him here knew nothing beyond the conclusion they could draw from the outcome, namely, that there existed “some unknown group-based spatial transfer technique”. Security had been thoroughly enforced to the extent that they knew nothing else.

"I see Lady Rida has come as well."

“Of course. I must fight too. How could I just sit and wait while our family head goes to war?”

"I had hoped my sister wouldn't come."

Osel spoke with a sigh as he looked at Rida.

It seemed this young family head once again couldn’t go against the will of his cousin-sister, who had once been his nanny.

Unlike her usual appearance as a seductive noblewoman, Rida now looked like a seasoned female warrior, with her hair tightly tied back and clad in scale armor.

“With the head of Parsha, Meisa, and Solif on our side... this truly is an unwinnable battle for them.”

“Even so, we mustn’t get complacent.”

Despite saying so, Turan too believed that the possibility of their side losing was nearly nonexistent.

In fact, hadn’t he at one point even considered sending Solif alone, albeit with some hesitation?

Now, with himself, Meisa, and the other Parsha wizards all participating, one could say they were even overprepared.

If it weren’t for the fact that they could return to Kalamaaf instantly whenever they wanted, he would never have deployed such a force.

‘If it really comes to the worst, we might even have to rely on Armania for help...’

Of course, that would only be if the situation got so bad that the Parsha-Lavitas allied forces were on the verge of being annihilated.

Once the story of a Great Sea Serpent emerging in the middle of Varaha’s capital spread, anyone with a brain would be able to guess the identity of the masked guest.

A short while later, the combined allied forces of the two great houses began marching steadily northeast.

“Where are we now?”

“Just south of Okin Lake. At this pace, it’ll take us about three to four days to reach the capital, Helio.”

“Three days... and the signal fire?”

“It’s already been lit for some time. We have to assume they’re preparing on that side too.”

Turan reviewed the current situation with Solif, laying out the map.

The location where they had emerged from the spatial transfer was within the territory of Varaha, in the land of the lakes.

While there was a possibility that the enemy might try a defensive stand in the capital, Solif believed it more likely they would confront them in the plains that stretched before it.

That’s because if a war between great houses were to be fought inside the capital of one side, that location would be utterly devastated regardless of who won or lost.

If the previous war between Parsha and Aravion had taken place not on some plain or forest, but in the middle of Kalamaaf, just imagine the horrors that would have unfolded.

*

Two days later, Turan, and all the allied forces, realized that Solif’s prediction had proven even more accurate than expected.

On a plain roughly a hundred kilometers southwest of Helio City.

There, blocking the path of the allied army, stood a thousand wizards whose identity, to anyone’s eyes, could only be the army of Varaha.

“Looks like they’ve come to greet us.”

“Phew.......”

Was he burdened by the fact that he would be fighting the family head who had once almost taken over his body?

Solif, unlike his usual self, pulled at his collar with a somewhat tense expression.

Of course, it wasn’t just him, most of the allied troops were showing similar signs.

After all, they were deep in enemy territory.

Compared to Lavitas, who had left some of its forces back on the mainland, Varaha had scraped together every last knight, making their sheer numbers significantly greater.

While in actual combat prowess this side would no doubt be overwhelming, the momentum created by visible numbers was not something to be underestimated.

“Do you need time for a speech?”

“We are already fully prepared.”

“That’s a relief. Everyone! Right ahead are the vile scum of Varaha!”

“[Aaah!]”

Osel’s voice, still thin and high-pitched from not yet passing through puberty.

Despite lacking any authority befitting a family head, the wizards of Lavitas responded with loud roars.

That was how deeply the previous ambush had wounded them and left them humiliated.

Now that they knew the entire truth, the wizards of Lavitas were in a state where they could not be satisfied without taking the head of House Varaha’s family head.

“There’s no need for more words! It’s time to deliver punishment!”

With a shout, a surge of explosive power erupted from the spear that Osel raised high into the sky.

The sacred relic of Lavitas, Whale Hunter.

The moment the spear, made of pure white bone, was aimed at Varaha’s wizards, a rain of thousands of javelins poured from the sky, signaling the start of war.

*****

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