“The Conquering Army of the Great Land has made contact with the Order of the Cross?”
In the port city of Vicente, Zeppelin Gold received the unexpected news.
“Yes. We haven’t fully grasped their intentions yet, but traces of the Conquering Army have been found in various locations. It appears they’ve already made landfall on the Southern Continent.”
“…Those beasts have finally lost their minds.”
Those beasts.
It was uncharacteristically harsh language for Zeppelin Gold. However, as a native of the Black Archipelago, he couldn’t help but view the ‘Great Land’ in such a light. While working for the Red Bank, Zeppelin had seen with his own eyes just how barbaric—and how terrifying—the armies of the Great Land truly were.
“To think they’d break their treaty with the Sky Empire the moment they smelled war. The armistice where they swore never to cross the borders of the Central Continent…”
“Didn’t you expect this would happen eventually?”
“I did. I knew those savages wouldn’t stay confined to their own lands forever. But I never imagined they would make contact with the Southern Continent.”
The Great Land and the Southern Continent. It was an incongruous pairing.
“Why on earth would they come all the way down south? No, more importantly… how did they even land here? The Conquering Army isn’t supposed to be capable of seafaring.”
The ‘how’ was currently far more pressing than the ‘why.’
The Conquering Army of the Great Land consisted entirely of warriors of the plains. These warriors, who thrived on the open steppes, were famously inept at anything involving the sea. For a long time, this powerful Eastern legion had been blocked by the impregnable fortress of the Sky Empire, preventing them from crossing into the Central or Western Continents. But now, how…?
“It seems the Machine Empire has sided with the Conquering Army.”
The answer lay elsewhere.
“The Machine Empire?”
“It appears the remnants of the Magic Corps, who fled after their defeat in the war against the Iron Kingdom, took refuge in the Eastern Continent. There was likely some sort of deal made…”
A deal. The specifics were unknown, but the implications were disastrous.
The only reason the infamy of the Great Land hadn’t reached the Central and Western Continents until now was purely due to the ‘boundary’ established by the Sky Empire. The order maintained by the world’s most powerful empire had held the Eastern warmongers at bay. But in this moment, that order had collapsed.
An alliance between the Machine Empire and the Great Land. This is a disaster.
Throughout their long history, the Great Land had never crossed the sea.
This was because the warriors of the plains believed they could only return to their god’s embrace if they died on the steppes. Their bravery didn’t translate to the water, and those born and raised on the plains were utterly useless with anything resembling a ‘ship.’ They lacked the ability to build them, and their legions became a disorganized mess once on board. Furthermore, whenever the Great Land cast a longing gaze toward the sea, the Sky Empire and other great powers would react with overwhelming force. They believed the madmen must never be allowed to touch the ocean.
But the balance had been shattered.
The world’s strongest ground force, once trapped in the East, had now been given wings. What would happen next? It wasn’t hard to guess. Under the Sun That Never Sets, the terrifying Conquering Army of Khan—who lived only for slaughter—would set foot on this land of opportunity. The great powers of the Western and Central Continents, who had enjoyed a long peace, would soon come face-to-face with the demons of the plains.
Nations steeped in peace could never hope to defeat the Great Army. Forget winning; they would struggle just to survive. Who could stand against a bloodthirsty legion that hadn’t stopped fighting since the day they first raised Khan’s banner? Only the guardians of order could fight them on equal footing. The leader of the great powers: the Sky Empire.
“A bloodbath is coming.”
Zeppelin Gold broke into a cold sweat. He could already see it—the inevitable clash between the two most powerful armies on the continent.
How could those complacent fools make such a choice?
Zeppelin knew the war between the Iron Kingdom and the Machine Empire was more intense than anticipated. The Machine Empire, Laprien, was being pushed back by the Iron Kingdom’s aggressive offensive, and it was clear that the flag of steel would eventually fly over their capital. But he hadn’t expected them to cross the line like this—to shatter the order established by the collective strength of the great powers.
Is this a protest, asking for help before they are completely destroyed? Or is it ‘take them down with me’ spite, unleashing demons upon this land because they refuse to die alone?
Regardless of the reason, the outcome would be grim. The Machine Empire lot, who lived solely off magitech in the Western Continent, might not know, but Zeppelin Gold, who had spent his life in the Black Archipelago, knew exactly how terrifying the Great Land was. Their horror wasn’t just in their violence; they would do anything to possess even one more scrap of land. And once those demons began their rampage, no one could stop them. No one.
“What should we do, Young Master?”
“Ultimately, we must look at intentions and interests.”
“Intentions and interests?”
“Those two things are the eternal truths of the world. We must read the Great Land’s intention for landing here and the interest they gain by helping the Order of the Cross. From that perspective, the conclusion is simple.”
The Great Land always desired more conquest. Glory and achievement—those were the only two things they craved.
In that case…
“The Great Land will help the Order of the Cross seize the Southern Continent and then turn this place into a new steppe. They will establish an outpost from which they can expand into the Central and Western Continents at any time. An outpost where they can drop troops through warp gates whenever they wish. If that happens…”
“The entire world will burn.”
Yes, everything would burn. Just as every place the demons of the plains passed through always did.
And there was no way the high and mighty didn’t know what Zeppelin Gold knew. Zeppelin instinctively guessed what would happen soon. The warmongers trying to seize all the land, the guardians of order wishing for peace to continue, and the jackals trying to grab a piece of the pie through this war.
Three types of people would gather. And Zeppelin Gold belonged to the third.
“Assemble the mercenary group.”
“Where do you intend to go?”
“We are going to Lord Caravan.”
To do that… he needed a hero.
“To succeed in the biggest business deal of all.”
In war, a hero is always one of many protagonists. But there was one thing Zeppelin Gold didn’t know. His chosen protagonist, Arhan, was already standing at the center of the bloodbath hitting the Southern Continent.
*
“O Greatest Warrior, thank you for returning.”
In the place where the sun of the Holy Empire resides, an old Chief Priest greeted Butcher, the Great Warrior of the Sun.
“I must protect the servants of the Sun.”
The Chief Priest smiled faintly, but that smile was tinged with worry.
“Chief Priest, why do you carry such concern?”
“…The atrocities of the Order of the Cross grow worse by the day. Too many have died, and in the chaos, those who have found false faith have turned against us.”
“Is that the source of your worry?”
“No, the immediate difficulties were resolved with your return. But there is something I fear more than that.”
“Something you fear…?”
A shadow fell over the Chief Priest’s face.
“An envoy from the Central Continent arrived recently.”
“The Central Continent?”
“He claimed to represent an alliance of many nations. He informed us that the warriors of the Great Land’s steppes are aiding the Order of the Cross. He said we could never win on our own and urged us to accept their help.”
“…”
“If what they say is true, we will eventually vanish. The demons of the plains will dye the sun black, and not even you, Butcher, will be able to defeat that man.”
“So, did you accept?”
“I haven’t replied yet. I am still considering it.”
The Chief Priest let out a heavy sigh.
“Butcher.”
“Yes.”
“To be honest, I am exhausted. I want to put everything down and return to the days when I honed myself in the Temple of the Sun. But the lives of too many believers are already in my hands. According to the Sun’s doctrine, vanishing before a trial is the way of nature. But I cannot accept a fight we cannot win as a mere ‘trial,’ nor can I accept my people dying in vain.”
“…”
“If we receive help from the Central Continent, we might be able to fight them on equal footing. But even if we win this war, we won’t be able to return to how things were. The Southern Continent will no longer be a noble land; it will be reduced to a new colony for the great powers. O Wisest Warrior, what choice should this old man make? Please, guide me.”
Butcher sensed the Chief Priest’s burden. The Great Warrior of the Sun looked him in the eye.
“Chief Priest, do as you wish.”
“But…”
“All the world’s answers exist within oneself. There is no absolute right or wrong in this world. We simply head toward the path illuminated by the sun; in the end, all living beings are but blind wanderers searching for a better way.”
Butcher smiled.
“Whatever choice you make, I will help you. And…”
“And?”
“There is a hero on this land, shining brightly.”
A hero.
“The nobility of this land has not vanished yet, Chief Priest. A phoenix always rises from the ashes.”
“…”
“The sun always rises at the end of a dark night.”
Butcher held out his hand.
“Give me the monks and the Army of the Sun, Chief Priest.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the place where a new hero will be born.”
The dull eyes of the blind man turned outward. The old monk’s gaze was fixed on the distance.
“To the City of Stars.”
*
Starlight lingers upon me.
As the short desert night passed, the darkness slowly receded. Amidst the fading stars, I was the most radiant presence within the howling wind.
“You… damn… bastards—!”
I saw the residents of Antoine rushing out. I heard their angry shouts and saw their faces filled with resentment. Then, the movements of those running slowly began to decelerate—slowing down until they froze in place. In a world at a standstill, grains of sand floated in the air, and my eight pairs of wings unfurled.
Along with the unfurled wings, various 「Paths」 became visible.
The moment I saw those paths, I existed in multiple places on the battlefield simultaneously. My blade, swung with the grace of a dancer, sliced through the Crusaders’ armor like it was tofu. With every stroke, a life collapsed. The light vanished from their eyes.
Splurt.
Blood sprayed, and only then did the enemies standing around me look my way. Fear, bewilderment—soon, the myriad of emotions converged into one: Rage. Amidst the falling maces, a fierce wind blew from behind. Gale. The armored paladins were swept away by the sword of the Ronin. As the heavy knights tumbled down, the starlight that had seeped into me exploded. The bursting starlight instantly split the surging Crusaders. None of them could cross the starlight. It looked as if the sea had been parted in half.
A miracle. The Star’s Miracle.
“Traveler, run!”
Moses’s voice rang out clearly.
At the end of the parted wave of violence stood the new Great Warrior, his eyes wide with shock. Aaron. He was more inexperienced than Ismael, but his raw martial power seemed even greater than that of the old hag.
“B-Block him—!”
“T-The divine power won’t gather! It’s like we’ve entered the holy land of another god!”
The priests of the Order of the Cross wailed. Numerous Inquisitors screamed as they flailed their hands in the air, but no miracle reached me. Under the Star’s Miracle invoked by Moses, the miracles of the Order of the Cross were sealed.
The Miracle of Peace.
By reading the aura, I could roughly tell what kind of power it was. The starlight Moses had brought down was sealing all the enemies’ strength. Conversely, we were under no restrictions. The priests wailing here and there collided with the charging Antoine residents; they were beaten to death while crying out their god’s name. Blood splattered everywhere, and screams echoed.
The wave of violence parted by Moses. I looked at the Great Warrior Aaron standing at its end.
“Y-You stranger—”
The moment I saw him, a path extended.
The path connected, and instantly, my body accelerated as if pulled by an invisible force. My wings flapped powerfully, and in the next moment, I was in front of Aaron. Simultaneously, my blade swung, and a sharp clang rang out.
“Gah!”
I didn’t pierce his armor, but the damage wasn’t entirely negated. Aaron gasped and was pushed back. I connected a path to the retreating man and accelerated once more. I lunged and slashed, and in the next instant, the tip of my blade pierced his lower abdomen. Red blood sprayed, and Aaron’s eyes bulged.
“…!”
The wound wasn’t deep. And a shallow wound would be healed instantly by a Great Warrior’s miracle. I hadn’t forgotten the Miracle of the Cross that Great Warrior Ismael had shown. To kill him, I couldn’t just inflict minor wounds; I had to kill him in one go.
Damn.
However, the sword stuck in Aaron’s body wouldn’t come out easily. His rapidly regenerating flesh and muscles were gripping the blade I had thrust in. As I clicked my tongue, the trembling Aaron smirked. This petty bastard. He started smiling again the moment he gained even a slight advantage.
“D-Do you think a sinner can defeat a Great Warrior? You…”
However…
“You fool…”
I am not alone.
“…ish bastard.”
With a thwack , a blade sprouted from Aaron’s neck. It was a short, sharp dagger resembling a beast’s fang. Aaron’s pupils shook violently. As his voice cut off, a man exuding a dark aura emerged from Aaron’s shadow. The Assassin of the Free City.
Finally, he’s shut up.
Making a choking sound, Aaron shook his body violently to push the assassin away. The Assassin of the Free City used that force to spin gracefully in the air as he was pushed back. Landing after his rotation, the assassin vanished into the darkness again. In the next moment, one of the Machine Empire’s War Mages guarding Aaron collapsed, coughing up blood. A red line was drawn across the wizard’s neck, and soon his head and body were separated. No one there had seen the process of the murder.
“…”
Silence fell. A very uncomfortable silence.
“Great Warrior!”
A priest called out to Aaron.
Suddenly, one of the glowing necklaces around Aaron’s neck shattered with a clink and fell to the ground. Immediately, the dagger lodged in Aaron’s neck was pushed out, and his wound healed instantly. His eyes bloodshot, Aaron let out a sharp gasp.
A magical tool?
It seemed to be a magical tool imbued with a spell that prevents fatal attacks. Even at a glance, it looked incredibly expensive. I watched the trembling Aaron and shook the blood and flesh off the blade I had finally pulled out. This old sword… I didn’t think I could use it much longer.
“Y-You cowardly bastard! To use an assassin!”
“…”
This guy. He was even more of a piece of work up close.
Who are you calling cowardly?
A guy decked out in expensive gear who brought a whole crowd of friends had no right to say that. I looked at Aaron, who was surrounded by Crusaders, Inquisitors, and War Mages, and said:
“Then shall we have a one-on-one duel?”
“A righteous Great Warrior cannot have a one-on-one duel with a sinner tainted by evil! That would be most dishonorable!”
“…Then at least take off that equipment.”
“This! This contains the longings and hopes of those who wish for the victory of justice! To tell me to cast aside their longings and hopes… you truly speak like a sinner!”
This guy. He’s really shameless.
…Five necklaces left.
That meant he had five lives left. No, six, technically.
Moreover, since that necklace hadn’t activated when I pierced his abdomen, it seemed it only triggered in life-threatening situations. He was literally decked out in every cheat item imaginable. Furthermore, there was no guarantee that the necklace was his only magical tool. I didn’t know what other broken items he might have.
Killing him six times shouldn’t be that hard. But…
But could this old, measly sword hold out until then? The edge was already so damaged it looked like it would snap if I tapped it. I couldn’t even scavenge a weapon nearby. It was like the Crusaders had a dress code; they all carried nothing but maces.
If only I had my original weapon right now.
Or at least a decent weapon. I inwardly hoped Moses would toss me a sword made of starlight. You know, like those scenes in fantasy novels or legends where the protagonist slays the villain with a holy sword of light…
But reality wasn’t like that. Even though Moses was pouring out the Star’s Miracle with Priestess Frey’s sacrifice, the miracles were all far removed from ‘violence.’ Yeah, I should just blame this wretched luck. Who else is there to blame?
Guess I’ll just have to try.
I took a breath and settled into a stance.
And then.
“Lord Caravan—!”
From afar, with a whoosh , a blade came flying toward me. Spinning fiercely, the blade slammed into the ground right in front of me. The shimmering sword was a very familiar shape. My partner, who had been with me since the City of Blades: Cherny. The reliable blade that, thanks to my Master, even housed Gaia, the Earth Spirit King—a weapon that wouldn’t lose to any other cheat item.
My sword was here.
“Zeppelin has arrived!”
That voice couldn’t have been more welcome.
As I reached for the sword stuck in the ground, a faint mist enveloped my body. The thin mist soon transformed my leather armor and boots into something else. The armor glowed with a brilliant blue light, the boots felt as light as if I were wearing nothing at all, and my thighs were now strapped with daggers imbued with magical energy.
“You are the partner of Zeppelin Gold! You should only use the highest quality goods! Hahaha! I’ve packed you with things far more expensive than what I showed you last time—!”
Feeling a surge of grandeur in my chest, I pulled the sword from the ground. The blade inhabited by the Earth Spirit King shone brilliantly. Dazzlingly so.
“…”
Before that radiance, Aaron momentarily lost his words.
At the same time, the thundering sound of footsteps echoed from behind. It was likely Zeppelin Gold’s mercenary group. There was no way that weakling young master would travel alone. Feeling the presence of the Black Archipelago’s mercenaries growing one by one, I gave Aaron a smirk.
“Cowardly…”
“Ah, don’t talk to me.”
I mean…
“You’re out of your league.”
You should have listened when I offered a one-on-one.
“You—!”
Aaron swung his shield with all his might.
I brought Gaia’s Sword against the swinging shield. In the next moment, a sturdiness incomparable to the old sword blocked the impact. The shield, made of White Iron—one of the rarest materials on the continent—and crafted without sparing any expense, suddenly let out a sound.
“…?”
A sound that should never come from high-end equipment. The sound of something cracking .
“W-What?”
No matter how good your shield is, do you think it’s better than a sword inhabited by the Earth Spirit King? This is the ‘hardest weapon on the continent,’ certified by a witch, you southern country bumpkin.
I looked at the bewildered Aaron and spoke kindly.
“I told you, you should use better gear.”
“…”
Very, very kindly.
