Wolves of Hader

Chapter 122

A grand event took place at Tris Port.

Not only were all the famous figures of Tris there, but also high-ranking dignitaries from the capital who attended the ceremony.

Admiral, merchant leader Barako, Count Mals, and others exchanged greetings, wishing for a successful trade negotiation.

I also saw some visitors from Tern.

I did not attend.

Instead, I watched from the rooftop of a building overlooking the port while sipping tea.

Kudo was with me as well.

"You really accomplished a difficult feat."

"Yeah, it was pretty nerve-wracking."

"You acted tough, but I bet the nobles were scared too."

"It's too soon to relax just yet."

"We're not the ones who can't relax—the nobles of the empire and Tern are, haha!"

During the past twenty-some days...

There were intense backdoor negotiations between the various factions and organizations.

It was practically a war, even surpassing just an intelligence war.

The order had staked everything on this.

Especially, the demonstrations by the followers were extremely fierce.

Most of them seemed mobilized for this, yet even the common folk ended up supporting them.

《Demons want to burn the order!》

《Followers of the devil, begone!》

《How dare anyone harm a priest?》

《May the rage of God be upon you!》

If the order went up in flames, those claims would have driven me, the perpetrator, to be labeled a devil.

It was a strategy to paint our side as a devil-worshipping cult.

But I had expected at least this much.

At the height of the protests—

The Emperor made a personal statement.

『... Lately, unbelievable suspicions concerning the divine order have come to my ears. Should these suspicions prove true and any noble of the empire be involved, I solemnly state that I will strip them of their titles, no matter their status or standing.

I earnestly hope, for the peace and well-being of the empire, that these suspicions prove unfounded. However, should they be revealed as truth, our empire will forthwith establish an independent order.』

It was a shocking declaration.

Especially the words about establishing an independent order.

It was common sense there should be only one order.

This was the Emperor's high-stakes move.

Public opinion could sour dramatically, and if things went awry, the nobles might even revolt.

But the first to play it safe were the nobles.

With the grand duke and his core faction remaining inactive, what else could they do but look for a way to survive on their own?

From that point on, nobles turned away from the order, and began relabeling the protestors as a corrupt group.

Some even denounced them as rebels against the empire.

On Tern's side, things were even worse.

They had even more followers, and opposition within their military was extremely fierce.

So a special envoy was sent to Tern, and, just barely, managed to meet a member of Tern's royal family.

The reason was that this envoy was holding compromising information about the Ternian nobles.

After that, the situation unfolded similarly to the empire.

The King of Tern also issued a public statement identical to the emperor's, and declared the founding of an independent order.

The King of Tern's decision was an even riskier bet.

Their military is extremely powerful.

Unlike the empire, the nobles wielded far more power and independence.

That meant there was a higher chance of noble rebellion, and a higher chance of an invasion by the empire as well.

When the empire and the order drifted apart, the order's mediation would weaken.

In the end, the Tern royal authority was strengthened.

The order had already overstepped its original role.

I was the one who shattered that solid wall of perception.

Personally, I didn't care whether this ended in success or failure.

It would be good if the trade route to Tern opened; if not, so be it.

I couldn't care less if I were called a devil.

Bam-pa-pa-pa-pa—pam-pa-pa—

The navy's trumpets rang out.

The delegation was boarding the landing craft, having completed the ceremony.

"Let's go now."

"So now we just need official approval from the imperial family and the Tern royal family?"

"As soon as we draft the agreement, the trade route will open."

"Ha! I never thought I'd see such a day in my life."

The landing craft with the delegation aboard made its way toward the single trade ship off the coast, accompanied by a fleet of twelve navy warships.

Just the right number of warships.

The two continents could interact as much as they wished now.

The order had driven a wedge between the nations during the war, solidifying this estrangement for years.

Once interests were established, it became even harder for countries to interact.

The order profited in the gap, throwing every obstacle in the way.

We had completed our preparations for departure as well.

Once out to sea, we planned to stop at Kali Port, our own territory, before heading to the order's island.

We would load some cargo there.

/ / /

On the ninth day at sea.

Just before dawn.

I donned my armor and fastened my cloak in my cabin.

Unlike before, I also wore a belt for daggers at my waist.

Embedded in this dagger belt were elemental weapons forged by Urald and Wundbark.

There were four, all identical in appearance.

They were Sword-Dagger, forged from a titanium alloy, just slightly larger than the span of my hand.

No guard, no hilt—throwing dagger style, inlaid with elemental stones.

Elemental Sword-Dagger.

Of all elemental weapons, this was the one I found most interesting and thought would suit me best, so I asked to have it made first.

The unique elemental sealed in this Sword-Dagger resonated with my own elemental spirit the instant they met.

So, I gave my own elementals a separate request: allow only me to use these Sword-Dagger.

Allen did not know what power these Sword-Dagger held. With no elemental, he couldn't know how to use them.

I had already tested them several times over the past days. Needless to say, I was satisfied.

Thump, thump—

A noise echoed from the hold below my cabin.

Those cargoes depended on what happened next. They might go to the order, to Tern, or be abandoned altogether.

"The order's island is in sight!"

"Got it!"

I slung my greatsword on my back and exited my cabin.

In the dim early hours, the order's island appeared.

Ships had noticeably decreased compared to before.

There were almost no passenger or trade ships, only vessels flying the same flag scattered here and there.

The Pleasure Island looked deserted.

"There are a lot of mercenary ships."

"So there are."

About twenty mercenary ships.

Those who withdrew after challenging us before were from Tern, but these were not.

Had they really left the Geroz Mercenary Corps?

"How many do you think there are?"

"Likely at least 3,000. Quite a few are hiding on the ships. Most of the mercenaries from southern Beltern must be here."

I'd heard Geroz Mercenary Corps could muster up to 5,000.

So it seemed most, except the members from Tern, had camped on the order's island.

Donnie spoke up.

"As you know, those lot are feared throughout the southern kingdoms. In fact, it's essentially the order's colonial rule."

Donnie's meaning was—

They were different from the mercenaries from Tern, so we should show no mercy.

They hadn't left Geroz at all.

It was true that Tern had destroyed the southern kingdoms and set up puppet states.

They blocked off Robe as well.

But in practice, it was the order who ruled.

Those puppet states' governors were Ternian nobles, but the Geroz Mercenary Corps provided the troops.

The deceased leader of Geroz was also a major merchant from Tern.

The rule was so severe that it was years after the south's fall before refugees finally began to escape.

My secretary, Johnny, and the Tuji brothers were among them.

The Tuji brothers had been harassed by the security guards for the same reason: as southern refugees, they had concealed their origins and joined the Geroz Mercenary Corps.

Gladiator Tuji once said—

For southerners, the Geroz Mercenary Corps were sworn enemies.

Only those who had suffered colonial rule could understand that feeling.

This background figured into why the King of Tern welcomed the trade negotiation.

The order had forced Tern to manage the conquered territories of the south, but then the order acted like the true masters.

The Berserkers lined up behind me.

Allen watched with interest, and Tuji and Uson, the brothers, came out with their bows.

"The list?"

"Here it is."

Priest Roman had written up the list.

He had recorded which priests were truly devoted servants of God—there were only twelve.

"Allen."

"Yes, sir."

"If you go north on the order's island, there's a security building. There seems to be a warehouse there, filled with minerals you love. Go ahead and mine them—as much as you wish."

"You want me to be a miner?"

"If you get the ore, I'll make you your armor."

"Really?"

"Go wild if you want. Just wear a mask—it'd be trouble if your face got known."

"That sounds fun."

Everyone looked around us.

The ships were slowly edging closer.

No sign of an immediate assault.

Our ship had no crew. We'd dropped everyone off at an island five hours north of the order's.

Since then, the Tuji brothers, both former navy, had been operating this ship.

"Lower the landing craft!"

Our members began untying the ropes and lowering the landing craft.

No one would attack before we landed.

Firing arrows after negotiations failed would be plenty of time.

If they showered us with arrows as soon as we boarded the landing craft, it'd mean they had no intention of negotiating, so we'd just leave.

The result would be the same—they wouldn't accept my terms.

If they wanted to kill us—

It would be possible only while we were all on the landing craft.

After that, there'd be no chance.

We all boarded the landing craft and rowed to the island.

There were no Geroz mercenaries visible at the pier, but as soon as we landed, they would block us front and rear.

We set foot on the island after docking at the pier.

It looked like all the civilians had been evacuated, as the port was empty.

Still, I sensed hostility, as if they could attack at any moment.

The Berserkers and I donned silver armor.

The Tuji brothers wore our old armor, though it didn't quite fit. Allen donned his own special set.

"They're showing themselves now."

As we made our way through a long alley, heavily armed mercenaries began emerging behind us.

Most wielded repeating crossbows.

The road leading to the order was wider, so before we left the alley, mercenaries began blocking our way from ahead.

Soon, mercenaries appeared on rooftops as well.

We were completely surrounded in no time.

Roughly 500 behind us, over a thousand ahead, and likely more than a hundred on the rooftops.

When I stopped, the group halted too.

After a moment, a path opened at the front and priests began entering. Six of them, all clad in armor.

With their helmets, you wouldn't know they were priests.

They needed to pretend to have no connection to the order or the Geroz Mercenary Corps.

Yet I could sense their divinity.

It was a sensation I gained after taking down the Guardian.

The golden light dust scattered at the Guardian's death was true divinity.

I could now sense the divinity of priests.

One priest came forward.

The mercenaries aimed their crossbows at us.

The priest looked at us with cold eyes.

"So, the madmen we heard about finally came. Did you come here knowing this is where you'd die?"

He set his greatsword on the ground as he spoke.

"Is the order without the Geroz Mercenary Corps?"

"Why should I heed your nonsense?"

I gave a chuckle before continuing.

"Let me be clear. We will enter the order and eradicate the Geroz Mercenary Corps. If you wish the order not to suffer, agree to negotiations right now."

"The order has nothing to do with our Band."

"You don't care if the order is destroyed?"

"You will never be allowed in!"

"So there's no intention to negotiate?"

"Why would we negotiate with you?"

"If you are a priest..."

I looked into the speaker's eyes.

"Then I consider the order and Geroz to be one and the same."

The priest glared at me.

Then—

"Kill them!"

With the priest's command, the mercenaries surged.

Arrows flew from the rooftops and stabbed into the spot where I had stood — papapapapak!

As if pouring out all my magic power at once!

I unleashed crimson rays forward.

Not once, but twice—no, three times!

Ching—ching—ching—

Three streaks of crimson rays sliced through everything in front of me.

Heads flew, upper bodies were separated, legs were severed.

I strode through the fallen.

Torsos fell apart, severed heads rolled beneath my feet.

Surges of blood erupted in every direction.

Chwaaaak—

In an instant, a storm of blood swept the area.

As if some festival of blood had begun, fountains of blood leapt up.

The Berserkers leapt down the alley, while Tuji and Uson dashed into buildings, taking out those stationed on the rooftops.

Allen, drenched head to toe in blood, froze.

Only after an arrow hit his helmet did he jump into action, leaping over countless fallen bodies.

Ping—ting—

Arrows struck my back.

Repeating crossbows fired from above, but no way they could pierce titanium-alloy armor.

Instead, only the enemy fell, killed by the Tuji brothers' arrows.

The alley was hell itself.

Of nearly a thousand mercenaries, most lay in halves or thirds, strewn through the alley.

I walked through an alley so packed with corpses there was barely space to step.

The blood mist that covered the alley began to soak my armor and greatsword, soon dripping thick with blood.

And on the other side of the bridge—

There stood priests whose minds had broken,

Their faces as if they faced the Grim Reaper.