Chapter 170

“You were right, young master.”

Hyde spoke while looking at Gismond, who was panting and covered in blood.

Most of the monster corpses that filled the area were his doing.

A surprising level of progress.

“There was no other way. The number of elixirs he swallowed wasn’t small.”

He had ingested so many that it wouldn’t have been strange if his body had exploded at any moment. There were probably even elixirs that Fernan didn’t know about.

But Gismond got lucky—the roots of Itarium had reinforced his body, preventing him from bursting.

The massive amount of mana inside him was already an enormous potential on its own.

“To be honest, I didn’t know the Ert family’s swordsmanship was speed-based…”

Any sword style benefited from a lot of mana, but there were some that relied on it especially.

Speed swordsmanship was one of those—a style that gained speed through aura explosions.

For Gismond, it was like being given wings.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Now they just had to observe how Adguif would react after losing all his monsters.

Such a major change would force him to act. With Wooden keeping watch, everything was covered.

A simple but solid plan.

“I can’t believe I really wiped out all those monsters…”

Fernan looked at a euphoric Gismond, thrilled by his own power.

— Kyuu.

“Yes, I’ll have it turned into a shield, so stop carrying it and put it in this subspace bag.”

Wooden danced happily with the massive Turhel shell in his arms.

“Let’s go.”

With Hyde, he returned to Tunnel 31, where the dwarves were waiting for them.

“Hold it.”

Just before reaching them, Fernan used a purification artifact to completely erase the smell of monster blood.

“Why did you take so long?!”

“There was more work than expected. Anything out of the ordinary?”

“Other guards have been pressuring me.”

“So nothing happened.”

Fortunately, Fernan’s presence still carried weight, and they calmed down upon seeing him arrive.

There was no need for further explanation, so he led the group back to the city.

There, he was immediately summoned by the mayor.

“…You’re here. I thought you were dead.”

“What do you mean?”

“Adguif hasn’t returned. Nor have the 30 guards who went with him.”

“……”

Impossible. They had left much earlier than Fernan.

‘He’s plotting something.’

“Would you like to see this first?”

The mayor watched some of the scenes captured by Wooden in the recording orb. His face hardened even more.

“…I can’t deny it anymore. Even though I would have preferred it to be just plain treason. A traitor who throws hundreds of his comrades into the abyss is already horrible—but a traitor and servant of demons are not the same.”

“I understand.”

“So what’s your plan?”

“To observe the enemy’s reaction. They lost all their monsters; without a doubt, there will be a move.”

Perhaps Adguif’s disappearance was already part of that reaction.

Upon hearing this, the mayor’s face twisted.

“Didn’t I explain why I’ve endured all this time? If the corrupted take extreme measures, the city will suffer immensely. And you plan to act without a backup plan?”

“Is it necessary?”

“What the hell are you saying…?!”

“If Adguif really is corrupted, as you yourself believe, then what’s the point of talking about alternatives?”

Even faced with the mayor’s shout, Fernan didn’t blink.

“The greatest military power in this city is in his hands.”

“……”

The mayor pressed his lips together.

“The supreme command is mine.”

“Does that matter?”

No. That’s precisely why the mayor had tolerated Adguif despite knowing he was causing problems—because he couldn’t stop him.

“Besides, I never said there wasn’t an alternative. I just asked if it was necessary.”

The mayor’s eyes sparkled with a new gleam.

“How many guards do you think have fallen under the control of the corrupted?”

“It’s classified information, but I can’t hide it anymore. Approximately two hundred.”

“And the total number of guards?”

“Five hundred.”

Forty percent. Not a negligible figure.

“The numbers are in our favor, but in truth, the mood within the guard supports going to the surface. In fact, I’d say that’s already the sentiment of the whole city.”

The mayor added that, objectively, Adguif’s strength was superior.

After all, if the captain of the guard himself had fallen, it was logical to think most veterans had too.

“We don’t know where Adguif is, but in a way, this is an opportunity.”

Without him present, it was easier to move the pieces.

“Opportunity? Then what is your alternative?”

“Public opinion.”

“Public opinion?”

“When a feudal lord rules with tyranny, he usually fills his troops with outsiders. They can’t replace everyone, but they mix in some. Do you know why?”

“No.”

“Because of rebellions.”

A rebellion doesn’t arise easily.

Most nobles don’t even consider it, but some do—the ones who exploit their people so much that they fear retaliation.

Those nobles filled their ranks with foreign soldiers.

“Because the ones who rebel are the inhabitants of the fief. And if the soldiers sent to suppress them are their neighbors, or even relatives, do you think they would kill their own?”

No matter how noble the order, few men can sever blood ties.

“…I see. I had never thought of it that way.”

“So, do you understand what I’ll do?”

“Yes, I understand.”

The dwarves had been born and raised their whole lives in the same underground city.

Same with the guards—they were all part of one big family.

Could they rebel and slaughter their own loved ones? Impossible.

‘Adguif is different, but the rest won’t go that far.’

The book of prophecies said that Adguif would sacrifice all the dwarves.

But that would happen in a few years, not now.

He didn’t yet have that much support, and most dwarves weren’t cruel enough to kill their whole families.

“Turning the citizens into allies is certainly not a bad strategy. But even with these recordings, it’s still hard to prove the connection.”

“That’s why we exterminated them completely. So they would react more forcefully and expose that connection.”

And if they still didn’t show it, Fernan was willing to fabricate it.

“There are newspapers circulating in this city too, right?”

Knock, knock. Fernan tapped the table with his fingers, almost unconsciously.

***

However, there was no need to wait too long.

Ding ding ding ding—

Fernan woke up to the ringing of bells announcing an emergency across the city.

“Young master!”

Hyde rushed in with hurried steps.

“What’s happening?”

“An attack!”

“An attack?”

“It’s not against you, young master! The city is under attack!”

Fernan jumped up, fully alert.

“The city is under attack?”

“Yes!”

Fernan pulled back the curtain.

“It’s an attack!”

“From the east side!”

“The monsters have entered!”

“Run! Everyone to the shelters!”

The streets, normally crowded and peaceful, were now in chaos. Amid the crowd, guards drew their weapons and ran toward the front.

Rumble—

The ground shook.

Fernan dressed quickly.

“Damn you, Adguif. In terms of execution capacity, you’re outstanding…!”

He never imagined he’d be crazy enough to attack the city head-on.

It was, without a doubt, a grave miscalculation on Fernan’s part.

He leaned out to see the origin of the battle.

The town hall, located in the center of the city, was the tallest building in the entire underground metropolis, and his lodging was on the top floor.

Thanks to that, he could see at a glance the hordes bursting in from below—they weren’t just simple monsters, they were real demons.

“Zikrik, Turhel, and… Envif? He’s insane!”

Envif was a colossal insect-type monster. Similar to a giant ant, it lived in swarms that numbered in the hundreds.

Weak individuals on their own, but so dangerous in groups that they were classified as level 4.

‘Even adding up all the demons from the three caverns, there were barely sixty!’

Adguif seemed to be dead serious.

Bang! bang! bang!

“Lord Fernan! Are you awake? The mayor is summoning you!”

The mayor’s assistant was pounding desperately on the door.

“I’m on my way.”

In the meeting room, not only was the mayor present, but also the councilors, considered the rulers of the city.

“Come quickly.”

“A human?”

“Why did you bring a human to an emergency meeting?”

The councilors voiced their displeasure at Fernan’s sudden appearance.

“Everyone must have heard of Fernan Pellenberg. After Aint Armian, he’s the one who best handles demons. Shouldn’t we accept his help if possible?”

“…If that’s the case, fine.”

“Indeed, I’ve heard of Fernan.”

The councilors, not entirely disconnected from outside news, accepted without much opposition.

No fool would argue in the middle of such a crisis.

“What the hell happened?”

“Ten minutes ago, demons—not mere monsters—attacked us from the east. They dug tunnels and charged directly into District 30.”

The dwarven city, being underground, lacked the kind of walls that existed on the surface.

The terrain itself was the natural barrier, but Zikriks were creatures that devoured stone and minerals to make their way through.

“The demons are Zikrik, Turhel, and Envif. Their number exceeds six hundred.”

That wasn’t a small number, and with a minimum rank of 5, the threat was immense.

‘Did he sacrifice all those missing dwarves not to summon a greater demon, but to call forth these hordes?’

If so, even this swarm made sense.

“But if that’s the case, where is the captain of the guard, Adguif?”

At that moment, one councilor shouted furiously.

“Calm down! Do you think the captain of the guard ran away? Maybe he was attacked first…”

“And isn’t that even worse?”

The councilors raised their voices. Fernan, assessing the situation, stepped closer to the mayor and whispered.

“Captain Adguif… is he missing?”

“There’s been no word from him for three days.”

“Three days…?”

“Since the day you went with him to Mine 31. Neither he nor the thirty guards who accompanied him have returned.”

Damn it. There was no way to deny Fernan was involved.

“I’m sorry. I—”

“No, I accepted your plan. It made sense. The problem is that Adguif turned out to be even crazier than I thought.”

The mayor stifled a groan. It was no time for blame, but for defending the city.

Bang!

He slammed the table, silencing the councilors. All eyes turned to him.

“Now I’ll reveal a truth I’ve kept from you.”

He told them about Adguif and his connection to the demons.

“…It can’t be.”

“Are you saying Captain Adguif caused this?”

“And that all the previous incursions were also his doing?”

“Unbelievable!”

The councilors resisted believing it, but the current situation was proof enough.

“If it weren’t true, what other reason would he have to disappear right now?”

“But… why?”

“And do demons need a reason?”

“Adguif has served the city for more than ten years.”

“Half the guards who disappeared with him were officers. The moment they left, the demons attacked. Does that seem like a coincidence to you?”

The councilors fell silent. Reason told them it was impossible, but the mayor’s words planted inevitable doubt.

“What matters now isn’t that. What’s crucial is stopping the demons and protecting the city.”

“…You’re right.”

The councilors nodded. Instead of getting caught up in arguments, they chose to face the immediate crisis.

“I will personally evacuate the citizens to the shelters. And you?”

“We’ll do the same.”

“Let’s declare a state of mobilization. Fortify the buildings as barricades and hold sector by sector.”

“Agreed.”

The mayor and the councilors, all warriors of notable level, took up their weapons without hesitation to defend the city.

They dispersed toward their assigned districts.

“I don’t think Adguif will return.”

“I think the same.”

“Will you fight with us?”

“I won’t let the demons have their way. I’ll do what needs to be done.”

It had been a long time since Fernan had faced such humiliation.

For now, as long as he could contain the situation, the contract would remain intact without major issues. But if there had been indemnity clauses for failure, the losses would have been incalculable.

And even so, what hurt the most was seeing the dwarves fall in such a senseless way.

‘Adguif…’

Creaking, Fernan clenched his teeth in fury.