Episode 1017 Starlight of Dawn (1)
Regardless of the era, most people avoid spending the night outside the city walls. For darkness loves those with a purpose more than travelers.
This was even more so in the distant past.
In ancient times, suddenly inviting guests to a breakfast party without even a moment’s respite was no different from forcing them to walk a treacherous path at night.
Margrave Brochnath was a ruthless nobleman who tested loyalty in this way.
Round eyes.Plump cheeks.Expressionless face.
Crunch, crunch!
Even before the meal began, only emotionless greed filled the face of the Margrave as he clutched a tough leg of meat in both hands and tore into it.The nobles and wealthy individuals under the Margrave’s influence were huddled together, tense.
He is a man with faint humanity.
Verden, standing on the windowsill outside, gazes through the window at the interior of the dining hall.He had discarded the mercenary armor that was bound to make noise and put on a dark robe and cloth that did not reflect light, and was armed with several daggers and an Eisenpol.These were the clothes and equipment provided by Ruzak.
Upon seeing the assassin Verden, Alpha intermittently recorded his appearance using the function of the built-in memory golem. It was for Alpha’s personal collection.
Excluding Luzak, there are seven knights. They may appear weaker than Ansir, but the number of soldiers assembled at the fortress easily exceeds one hundred. Furthermore, considering the intellectuals who might be hiding, a frontal assault is indeed not a good idea.
Verden recalled the blueprints of the castle.
Since I have tampered with the secret passage, it is best to take advantage of the confusion.
They target the moment when Margrave Brohnath, having encountered an abnormal situation, protects himself through the hidden passages within the fortress. Allthey have to do is wait.Until the hour hand of the ‘magic circles’ installed throughout the area strikes the hour.
Just then, movement occurred inside.
Verden concentrated on his hearing and eavesdropped on the sounds being exchanged.
“Your Excellency. Everyone attended the dinner party except for Baron Rach, Viscount Whistlock, and Olturel of the Trade Council.”
The Marquis crunched on the chunk of meat and swallowed it down his esophagus.The leftover leg meat was placed in a bowl.
“I heard Baron Rah’s daughter was quite a pretty sorceress, so I intended to give her my affection. But to think you couldn’t even keep your appointment. If she’s alive, bring her here later. And deal with the non-nobles first.”“I will do so, Your Excellency.”
The knight standing beside Luzak stepped back as an escort, paying his respects.
“Time is gold, gold… Any person who dares to fail to keep to the schedule is despicable.”
The changeback came forward.
“You all have worked hard climbing the road at dawn. I wonder if I was being too unreasonable.”“Unreasonable? Isn’t time money!”“In such a critical matter, if Your Excellency’s judgment is not correct, then what is?”
Margrave Brochnath’s lips curled up at the쏟ing flattery. His eyes did not smile. Eventually, as the noise subsided, he spoke.
“The Religion of the Morning Star bestowed charity upon the world in accordance with its doctrine. Regardless of the circumstances, it is said that a considerable number of people received help. Thanks to this, the remnants of the Morning Star have survived to this day, even after the religion’s downfall. People continued to appear to hide them, citing a desire to repay past favors. The Knight of Dawn thoroughly exploited this.”“…….”“But it is now the tail end. Whether one aided the Religion of the Morning Star or not, those like us have eliminated every single person the Morning Star brushed past as an example. Who could endure terror out of gratitude? The clouds concealing the Morning Star have lifted.”
The corners of the Margrave’s eyes twitched.
“We’ve received intelligence that the Knight of the Dawn is heading toward the capital of the Kingdom of Hersaon.”“The, the capital…?”
The dining hall buzzed with murmurs.Shock spread through the air.The news that a group led by a top-level wanted criminal was heading toward the heart of the kingdom clearly meant conflict and war to anyone.
“My loyal Lord Ansir has hired mercenaries and set out in advance to block the territory’s borders. With over thirty men, and as long as the remnants of the Morning Star are moving as a group, they cannot help but be detected by the patrol… Is that not so, Lord Ruzak?”“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Knight of the Guillotine, Ansir Kalo.Knight of Ruthlessness. Luzak Faltane.
There was no one here who did not know the prestige of the knights the Margrave boasted.
You have deep trust in Luzak.
The fact that Ansir and the mercenaries were annihilated was fabricated and became the news the Margrave wanted to hear.
Verden continued to watch the situation.
“As soon as the meal concludes, we will move to eliminate the remnants of the Morning Star. You must absolutely not kill the Knight of Dawn. Even if you have to sever her limbs, ensure that her face and uterus remain completely unharmed. For the children the Knight of Dawn gives birth to will surely become priceless slaves.”
Only then did the Margrave smile genuinely. Verden’s emotions grew cold. As you can see, the world has never been without cruelty.
“The last morning stars. Haha, there couldn’t be a more beautiful descriptor.”
The Margrave raised his glass.
Everyone hurriedly grabbed the glasses placed on the table.
A tribute to the moonlight.
Since the Kingdom of Hersaon adopted the religion of the moon as its state religion, it was quite common to substitute toasts with faith in the moon.
“Praise the moonlight!”
The guests drank wine together. The Margrave, who had been looking around the dining hall while pretending to drink, soon leisurely set down his glass.
“By the way… I heard a rather strange story.”“What kind of story is it?”“It is a story about Marquis Mkrahu. It’s nothing special, but to put it simply.”
The Margrave rubbed his chin.
“So, I’ve heard rumors that the parasites clinging to Marquis Mkrahu are under my command. Well, they say it might just be a simple trade. Hahahaha. What does it matter?”“Huh?”“Everyone knows that despite my efforts, our relationship hasn’t been restored because I accidentally killed Marquis Mkrahu’s younger brother during a past territory war. The Marquis keeps me in check from time to time, eyeing my lifeline. And yet, a deal with a Marquis like that—to think.”
The atmosphere became heavy.
“Isn’t this… a clear act of betrayal?”
A coughing sound was heard.
“Pfft!”
Several guests clutched their throats and vomited blood. They were people who had been drinking. Poisoning. However, the other guests who had been drinking showed no signs of vomiting blood.
“There are eight traitors. Four have just died.”“Your Excellency! Th-what is this…!”“Traitors among us nobles?! Th-that is preposterous!” “It is someone’s frame-up!”“If you are so innocent, why didn’t you drink the wine I offered? Is it because you have something to hide?”
Three nobles and one merchant who only pretended to touch their lips to the wine glass.
The atmosphere became strange.
“……also.”
The nobles among them exchanged glances, and eventually, cursing, they immediately threw down their glasses and scowled.
“The Margrave said he would purge us for a ridiculous reason…! I swear I haven’t even seen a shadow of Marquis Mkrahu!”“W-what did I tell you! Didn’t I say the Margrave’s attitude toward us lately was strange!”“He’s framing us for betrayal!”
The nobles accused of being traitors slowly stepped back as if they had known about the poisoning beforehand.
The guests split into left and right.
“False accusation? Are you still denying it even after coming all the way here!”
The Margrave gestured with his chin for the knights and soldiers to subdue them. The traitorous nobles gritted their teeth as they held up the daggers they had secretly hidden.
“Betrayal and false accusations… Both sides are clashing, each asserting their own truth. There is no room for compromise. They trust each other’s information.”
Luzak also looks flustered.
Who is it?
Verden observed the scene while scrutinizing the key figures.And he saw right through the situation.
Who ‘incited’ them?
It was then.
“Phew.”
The merchant, branded a traitor just like the nobles, let out a deep sigh.
“Whoever it is, to single me out as well. Whether it is luck or intuition, it is certainly an intellectual. However, thanks to this, it has become evident that an intellectual is attached to the Margrave.”
The twelfth distinguished guest, Korillas.
Unlike Luzak, who looked like a deep-sea monster, he also had the appearance of a human. And before anyone realized it, he was holding an unknown book.
“Let’s conclude the ceremony now.”
The book flickered.
Arane Cor.
The heads of the servants in charge of menial tasks snapped back with a crack, and their eyes rolled back. Red spider legs shot out of their mouths and gripped the floor.The entire bodies of the guests standing around them were wrapped in red threads, and soon, pressure was applied, tearing their flesh to shreds.
Splat!
The noblewoman, with her husband’s flesh smeared on her face, slowly opened her mouth.
“Kya, Aaaaaaaah!”“It’s a monster!!!”“Your Excellency the Margrave, step back!!”“Intellectual behind the Margrave! Come forth! I may have lost in the clandestine schemes, but my magic is supreme! I shall savor your knowledge!”
Knights and soldiers defended the Margrave, fighting against the monster that had transformed from a human into a spider. The dining hall was instantly thrown into chaos by blood and corpses.Hearing the commotion, soldiers from the fortress began to move from all directions.
“As expected, an intellectual was hiding here. Is he a VIP? Magic that transforms a human being. It wasn’t activated on the spot. I had it prepared well in advance… … Hmm?”
Verden flinched as he pondered when to intervene while observing the mysterious magic.
The sound of cutting through the air.
A figure falling from the top of the fortress with a rope wrapped around it now rushed toward the castle’s window along with the pouring morning sunlight.
Crash!!!
Glass shards scattered.
Verden, who had entered the dining hall with him, performed a fall break. He drew out a throwing dagger. An assassin who had appeared targeting Verden landed near Korillas.
The atmosphere became even more hostile with the appearance of two people dressed as assassins.
Corillas asks.
“Who is the author?”
The assassin—the guest of Arkadium—answered, holding up twin swords. He was an intellectual who had already formed an alliance with Korillas.
“In an instant, I saw blue eyes and ash-gray hair.”“Ash-gray? Oh!”
Korillas revealed his teeth.
“Are you the fourth guest of honor? Ah, indeed. Unless you are of the caliber of a guest, you would not be able to end this incitement in such a short time, see through my true identity, and set up a countermeasure.”“…….”“The twelfth distinguished guest, Korillas. It is an honor toface you here.” “I am a guest of the Arkadium. I shall not tarnish the ears of the guest of honor with my humble name. It is an honor to meet you.”
Unlike in the first game, Korillas was brimming with confidence. He showed a conviction that he had a chance of winning in a situation dominated by constraints.It was clearly the look of someone who considered himself strong.
You seem to be under the misunderstanding that I orchestrated this situation.
It is unclear who is leading this situation, but given the circumstances, we have no choice but to proceed with the original plan.
Verden activated the magic circuit.
Understanding what that meant, Luzak charged towards the stone wall. BANG! Luzak, having awakened his ki, created a new escape route.
“Your Excellency, this way.”“Hmm.”“Your Excellency, Margrave! We… too…!”
Margrave Brochnath groaned and left with his knights. The soldiers discreetly moved away from the monsters, pretending to guard the escape route.The guests caught in the middle were at a loss and eventually escaped through the entrance of the dining hall.
As the door opens, the sound of soldiers coming up can be heard.
“Do you need time to prepare a spell, Fourth Guest?”“I am busy.”
Verden put power into the ball of his foot.
I’ll finish it quickly.
Leaving the guy behind it aside, I will deal with Korillas and the guests, then deal with the Margrave. Then I will leave the city and look for the Knight of Dawn.
The direction has been set.
* * *
Strengthen the body with enchantment magic.
Small daggers slipping from the fingers rush in in an instant.
Psychokinesis
The trajectories of the magic-controlled blades twisted chaotically.Regardless, the assassin guest raced toward Verden, and Korillas blocked the daggers flying from all directions with the spider’s red threads. Korillasprotected himself as a wizard by being covered in threads connecting the ceiling and the floor.
Verden drew Eisenfall.
Boom!
Sparks flew busily between the swords. Verden displayed quite refined swordsmanship and martial arts using the movements he had learned while sparring with Adrian.
A blade grazing the collar.An elbow striking the shoulder.
Flight
Verden swung his sword while airborne, flipping his entire body over. Rotational force. The guest, pushed back by the kick, pulled the corner of his mouth inside his mask.
“Indeed… You are the guest of honor.”“I wonder what knowledge is stored within that immovable body!”
The human spiders’ legs extended, their sharp tips gleaming. As they burrowed into the precise gap, Verden muttered softly.
Dilute the substance, Eisenfall.
Thump.
The designated target was not the guests, but Korillas. Korillas flinched at the sensation of his energy rapidly draining and turned the page.
Mortoum Aperi.
Dozens of legs sprouted from a dozen or so corpses, covering the front. The
BANG!
The severe stench from the burning spider filled the dining hall. A guest protected by Korillas’s magic performed acrobatic skills.
“He possesses considerable skill. If his level of Ki is at its peak, he would have almost no equal. Was he an assassin before becoming an intellectual of the Arcadium?”
Lightning Strike
The guest leaned back precariously, and a streak of lightning destroyed a human spider. The guest’s twin swords swirled simultaneously with the other spiders.
Verden assessed the guests fighting on equal footing with him and admitted that if he were alone, he would not be able to handle the two of them quickly.
That’s right.
If you are alone, that is.
“Ancient artifact… I suppose. The sword’s effect is more powerful than I thought. If I don’t kill the host in time, my strength will be depleted.”
Korillas used a book to substitute for incantations and continued to manifest magic using the surrounding magical power. Although his mental strength was being depleted, he did not care.
At that moment.
“uh?”
The wall of threads protecting Korillas suddenly split open to the left and right. I lowered my gaze. Beta was forcefully creating a gap in the threads.Alpha, having slipped through, stood on tiptoe and leaped toward Korillas.
[Alpha. Charge.]
The fourth guest of honor is three as one.
Although Alpha and Beta were physically weakened by the constraints of the adventure game, they are, naturally, much tougher than the bodies of ordinary people.
Smack!
Korillas’s lower jaw was fractured after being struck by Alpha’s frame. Since Korillas’s strength is concentrated in magical ability, his physical resistance is even lower than that of an extremely ordinary person.
“Ugh… Fila Arane, Claude!”
He barely managed to cast a spell and move the threads, nearly falling backward. The surrounding threads passed by Korillas and bound Alpha and Beta.
[oh.]
[Caught.]
At the same time, the guest who had thrown his body backward to absorb the impact of Verden’s knee kick put the brakes on his leg right in front of Corillas.
“I was so absorbed…… I overlooked the other guest of honor…….”
Saliva dripped from Korillas’s mouth due to the pain in his jaw. His strength had weakened. As he grew frailer, Eisenfall’s power grew stronger.
“Just a moment. I will step back, so take me with you…”“Understood.”
The remaining three human spiders waddle forward.
Whirl.
The guest swung his sword dazzlingly as if trying to regain his stance, then suddenly spun and thrust the sword he was holding in a reverse grip backward.
Crunch!
Korillas’s neck was pierced.
“Ah… ah…?”“I will gladly accept your knowledge, Honorable Twelfth Guest.”
Korillas, whose cervical spine was severed, died instantly. The guest who slung his collapsing body over his shoulder naturally picked up his book as well.
The magic is released.
Alpha and Beta broke free from the restraints of the thread, and the human spider crumbled.
[betrayal?]
“It is not a betrayal, for the distinguished guest I serve is not Lord Korillas. It is simply that I became his minion to bide my time, as I had no way to break through Lord Korillas’s web on my own.”
Verden said.
“Who is the VIP you are following?”“It is the fourth VIP.”
The guests greeted politely.
“And the fourth distinguished guest asked me to convey their regards to the fourth guest of honor.”“To me?”“Yes. Then I will take my leave now.”
The guest skillfully climbed the wall carrying Korillas’s body and the book, and exited through the broken window. Verden did not bother to stop him.
The fourth distinguished guest. So he was the mastermind behind the incitement of the Margrave and the other nobles.
What is its identity, and what is its purpose?
‘anyway.’
Verden decided to think about it later and held Alpha and Beta in his arms.The soldiers’ presence was very close.
Just then, a loud explosion occurred.
Boom! Boom!
베르덴이 설치한 마법진들이 때가 되어 폭발하기 시작했다. 이 시대에도 마석은 존재했다. 성 구석에서 발생한 화염에 안 그래도 엉망이 된 식사회는 한층 더 혼란스러워졌다.
<비가시화>
베르덴이 모습이 사라졌다. <투명화>와 다르게 기척까지 은폐할 순 없지만, 그것은 육체의 기교로 가능했다.
“변경백을 처리하러 가지.”
[확인.]
* * *
쿠우우웅……! 쿠우웅……!
브로흐나트 변경백은 동그란 눈으로 기사들을 대동한 채 비밀 통로에 진입했다. 큰 진동에 성채가 흔들리는 게 느껴졌다.
“자네들은 이곳에서 혹시 모를 추적자들을 막게. 루자크 경, 지휘를 맡기지.”“……예, 각하.”
루자크는 어떻게 할지 고민하다가 이내 고개를 끄덕였다. 변경백과의 거리가 멀다. 앞뒤로 총 기사 일곱을 상대하기에는 자리가 여의치 않다.
‘변경백은 네 번째 주빈의 계획에 맡긴다.’
루자크는 멀어지는 변경백의 등을 일별했다.
타다다다다닥.
변경백은 적당히 거리가 벌어질 때마다 기사들을 나누었다. 여덟 병이었던 기사는 여섯, 넷, 그리고 셋, 이내 한 명이 되었다.
숨겨진 공간에 가까워진 변경백이 무릎을 짚었다.
“허억, 허억.”“후우…….”
혼자 남은 기사도 숨을 돌리며 뒤를 주시했다. 혹 추적자가 올까 봐 경계심을 높였다. 그러던 도중에 변경백의 호흡이 이상해졌다.
“로, 로타렌스 경. 숨이, 수, 숨이.”“가, 각하!”
로타렌스가 황급히 변경백의 등을 짚고 얼굴을 가까이했다. 어둠 속 횃불에 금속이 반사됐다. 작은 칼날이 로타렌스의 목을 뚫었다.
“어, 커헉……?!”“자네도, 나를 배신했다고 들었네. 내 하녀들과 놀아났다지? 여차하면 므크라후 후작에게 의탁할 생각이라고.”“아악…….”“다른 기사들을 선동해서!
푹! 푹! 푹! 푹!
변경백은 로타렌스의 목을 완전히 헤집고 나서야 손을 멈췄다. 피투성이가 된 그가 이제 후련한 얼굴로 입술을 적셨다.
“역시 그분이군. 다 꿰뚫어 보고 있어. 그분이 한 말만 믿어야 해, 후후.”
숨겨진 공간으로 도착하면 그분께서 변경백을 기다리고 있으리라. 변경백은 이미 그를 자신보다도 신뢰하고 있었다.
언제나 호위를 데리고 다니던 얼마 전과 다르게 혼자가 된 뒤에야 편해진 변경백은 가벼운 발걸음으로 통로를 나아갔다.
후웅.
“……웁!”
통로의 벽에 자리한 마법진이 명멸하더니 마력의 사슬이 그를 옭아맸다.
구속 마법진, 디테인.
“웁! 웁웁!”
변경백이 발버둥 쳤지만 사슬이 풀릴 일은 없다. 입까지 막힌 그가 콧숨으로 소리쳤지만 누구도 오지 않았다.
그로부터 얼마나 지났을까.
<지형 조작>
돌과 흙으로 이루어진 성채를 조작한 베르덴이 벽 너머에서 등장했다. 단단히 구속된 변경백을 본 그가 고개를 갸웃거렸다.
[루자크. 안 보임.]
[다른 기사들도 보이지 않습니다.]
“피가 묻은 걸 보니 습격이 있었나 본데. 이것도 네 번째 귀빈의 짓인가.”“읍…… 읍읍…….”
베르덴은 지칠 대로 지친 브로흐나트 변경백에게 다가갔다. 그의 품에서 나온 베타가 변경백의 어깨로 뛰어들었다.
[제가 처리하겠습니다.]
“그래? 맡기겠다, 베타.”
작은 베타가 프레임을 틀었다.
“읍읍…… 읍……! 읍!!!”
변경백은 뭐라고 말했지만 마력의 사슬은 여전히 그의 입을 막았다. 지성체의 존엄성 위반. 변경백은 에온의 처단 명단에 올랐다.
베타가 팔을 내리쳤다.
뻐거거걱!
브로흐나트 변경백의 두개골이 함몰했다.
* * *
변경백의 성에서 연기가 피어오르고 소음이 연신 들려왔다.
베르덴과 무사히 합류한 루자크. 그들은 어느새 도시를 빠져나와 혼란이 식지 않은 도시를 멀리서 바라봤다.
루자크가 말했다.
“브로흐나트 변경백은 확실히 죽었으니 이로써 우리의 거래는 끝났구려.”
베르덴이 물었다.
“네 과업이 끝났으니 이제 게임 밖으로 나가는 건가?”“응? 아니오. 나는 변경백의 죽음이 내 과업이라 한 적이 없소. 반역의 기사. 그저 내 역할을 충실하게 이행했을 뿐이지. 하하.”
베르덴은 생각해 보니 그렇다며 군마의 고삐를 당겼다.
“과업을 잘 완수하길 바라지.”“그래서 말인데 같이 가도 되겠소?”
[같이?]
“솔직히 말하자면 내 과업은 샛별과 연관되어 있소. 결코 폐를 끼치지 않을 테니…… 부탁드려도 되겠소?”
베르덴은 잠시 생각을 정리하곤 루자크의 부탁을 받아들였다. 방해가 되지 않을 거라는 판단과 그의 과업, 그리고 그가 어제 흘린 눈물에 대해서 궁금했기 때문이었다.
“마음대로 해라.”“고맙소.”
그렇게 베르덴, 알파, 베타, 루자크 일행이 길을 떠나려던 그때였다.
“애셔어어어.”
멀리서 누군가가 손을 흔들며 천천히 달려오고 있었다. 햇빛이 구름에 가려지며 그녀의 얼굴이 훤히 보였다.
“같이 가아아아아.”
흑해 테아렐이 꽤나 엉망이 된 몰골로 베르덴을 불렀다.
“쟤는 어디서 나타난 거지?”“그러게 말이오.”
