Chapter 263: Beyond the Mist (1)
8LlcFollowing Yuri’s orders, Inariel and the rest of the Mage Corps cast a spell over the entire army just before entering Imperial territory.O2mTT
ilNiRVIt was a spell that erased their presence and made their figures blend into the surroundings from a certain distance.U9fLK
3sm7yGApplying this effect to such a large army was almost a miracle, but Inariel achieved it.O55
aunHThanks to that, Yuri and the Order of Vengeance were able to deceive the Empire and advance quickly.DKu7
ihJlygAsana, who had carried out prior reconnaissance, now remained at Yuri’s side, for if anyone strayed from the magical area, the mana flow would be disturbed.738vS5z
I9kn9“I’ll do some scouting. If I use my skills, the magic won’t be disturbed.”Gc4e70O
Ybp0uzj“No need, there’s no need to go that far.”4qqIpE
x5d2s0“For an ambush, it would be—”220vy
JTY“Asana, your safety matters too.”Ci6tf
G25hP8IShe wanted to keep helping with reconnaissance, but Yuri shook his head.c8P
2CZ“We’re moving as stealthily as possible, we’ll be fine.”DToI7Aq
AnMAt present, Briol’s troops were advancing through a rugged, uninhabited mountain pass to maintain the element of surprise. It was a harsh environment for marching.ncCGN0n
kCB9qImperial territory, corrupted by black magic, had changed. Where there had once been no mountains, hills now rose, and some parts of the mountains had been flattened.e2SeC1J
1dsAIvE“Black magic is altering the land.”RsB
kB3PDInariel looked around with disgust. For an elf like him, black magic was utterly antagonistic.9jDeG
lVnl“Your Highness.”hw4
FVnHn9RSuddenly, Ainzer approached from the rear.P4hIQ
ZIAqHgx“May we speak for a moment…?”D78Nxj
atUzQjw“Of course.”pcovcL
a3QX0They spoke in low voices.5mQVF
kmhevS“As I told you before, this operation is too risky.”rqi
pD1f“I know.”va1rib
wng6Z“It could go well, but advancing without knowing anything about Imperial defenses…”XdRtZt
9gW“This time, trust me, Ainzer.”I0T
ub9CAinzer sighed and nodded.SmjNpJQ
m8ULJGh“Yes, understood. I always trust you.”lTBfet6
thB“The Empire won’t be prepared. This is the moment.”byo
SKVvCw“I worry they won’t let their guard down and may have already taken precautions.”ceduKRz
mqD“The Imperial forces at the front have already withdrawn. They’re all concentrated now on the eastern front.”VKo
lFBkbH8“That’s true, but…”tFP
HwZ817Yuri called to Asana.P6G
YQa“Asana.”IetNX
coXWe“Yes.”7nj1nN0
QFbb2ea“How far did you get in your reconnaissance?”1Z1pHz
56wShe looked at the map Yuri held and pointed to a spot. It was deeper than Ainzer had expected, and he widened his eyes in surprise.72y
kQydzLB“You got that far in so little time?”JjGNwj
j5Fw0“Yes.”lPIKN
yAr3hp“Incredible…”VTN
WljEYuri smiled and patted her shoulder.eeGqL3z
unMo“Asana is more skilled than she looks.”JHp
b12Bh9e“I see.”DdpTps
J6fMgB“If it was empty of Imperial troops that far in, it means they haven’t taken any measures against us.”D1nxR
pdidh“Yes, that’s true.”Pr1BS
8rIAinzer looked up. A sort of translucent barrier enveloped the entire column marching along the path. Beyond it, Imperial territory stretched out.fMOC
Z8BwSometimes villages and people appeared, but none seemed to notice the presence of Briol’s army.Rea
2dfAinzer nodded firmly again. Yuri had a strange ability to inspire confidence. Even if the operation seemed dangerous, it felt as though they would succeed.xLt
ZGmn8Oc“Look. The map and the terrain don’t match completely.”9yh1b
E802g“Yes, that’s true.”WMnR
ZxEmql“Black magic even alters geography. Doesn’t it give you chills? If we don’t stop it, the entire continent will suffer under black magic. We could end up as sacrifices in rituals or as will-less puppets, just like their soldiers.”kHZJk
e3LxurN“It’s terrifying.”NOsv
1k8H1“We have to make it happen.”4WmU7
5OaWith a furrowed brow, Yuri urged his horse forward.b6FY
cYZw“So let’s not lose, Sir Ainzer. When the time comes, fight without holding back.”lrj1L
XGe“Understood.”71NLDF
L8zBut, no matter how much they were covered by a great archmage’s magic, it was not easy for an army of that size to go completely unnoticed.seoM
vltfp2FSoon they ran into a problem.4XNfbi6
aienAn Imperial detachment appeared. They weren’t many, but they were still enemies.fCz3q
J406XThey were still far enough away not to have seen them yet, but to continue advancing they would inevitably have to face them.x58xlh
BLcA80Yuri looked through a spyglass and spoke.ihSdEC
D2zRc0“We can’t turn back.”s1a2aZ
Mt6“What will we do?”lri0G
tgj“We’ll break their line.”LovoII
QcjAjB9He turned to the Order of Vengeance. The knights grinned fiercely.D0i
YtDiVzYuri turned his head a bit more, looking at Jared and Laurent, who were marching nearby.7Hg
F7LbfI5Though much had changed, they were still at his side, as in the days of the Alliance, when nothing frightened them.Brv8
6kGb“We leave no one alive.”HNX
UbSYUHe didn’t call for many troops—only the Order of Vengeance—and gave the orders.Tv46
PFFThe group split in two. Yuri led a charge toward the edge of the magical barrier. Once they crossed it, the enemy would notice their presence.5VDNC
fwKMZ“Eliminate them as quickly as possible!”3ar5c
mjm“Yes!”w1vS4
MbWys“Let’s go!”imwFbv
vpQThey sped up instead of slowing down. The Order of Vengeance, split, cut off the enemy’s escape routes as they charged.DrMmIuD
VVtThiThe Imperials hesitated for an instant upon seeing them.nwmJmE
KcLkUYuri unhooked the bow from his saddle, nocked an arrow, and precisely shot down the soldier who was trying to raise a war horn.BLA
cpBKqkHe fell with the arrow lodged in his neck.6ZEXs5
QUlAnother soldier tried to retrieve the horn, but a fireball fell on him, tearing him apart.6fbj
A39RInariel had provided support.nayx
8tfpRWith the horn reduced to fragments, Yuri surveyed the surroundings—there seemed to be no other means of communication. He spurred his horse and drew Guilty.l3F
LPOKmGVThey crashed into the Imperials. With the first slash, three heads flew into the air.c63ETe
Q2EpMThe Order of Vengeance acted with precision—some blocked exits, others cut down enemies head-on. Those who tried to flee were quickly struck down from behind.saQPCX
9xtAmong them, an Imperial knight, sword in hand, planted himself in front of Yuri.2dV
xNGSYuri dismounted gladly and approached. Soldiers corrupted by black magic charged at him without fear.1J0e
X1vEWith a sweep of Guilty, they all fell, entrails spilling. He wiped the blade and stopped before the black-helmed knight.XOTG2ds
yNZu“What are you doing here?”AdWnsM
CDKJAThe Imperial knight spoke, and Yuri shrugged.AoHZv
kR2wyB“What’s wrong, did you miss me?”zOBgjLu
kv2“That can’t be…”guhQPU
0vaJHis eyes trembled in confusion.e2wG1
H3vVrZ“Is it all of you?”8yIYGNN
arZCA0“Bastard.”LyjRx
7sgpNZAt his mechanical reaction, Yuri let out a laugh.zPkHdnS
FI8ARQW“So this is what happens when you fall under the spell of black magic? I despise those from the Empire, but at least they had some manners. You have none of that. If this is our first time meeting, the proper thing would be to introduce yourself, greet the royalty of the enemy nation, and challenge me to an honorable duel to test our strength.”Q7KVR
fZkz“Is it just you and this squad?”R1oKVZ
KRAXyx“And you?”rdNtcGH
lnxIaFWhen Yuri approached, the knight reflexively swung his sword. A shockwave of energy tore through the space where Yuri stood, vibrating in the air with overwhelming power.LHI
E2QFlSoldiers altered by black magic became stronger than in life, but even so, they still didn’t reach the level of the Ten Great Ones of this era.kvrn
OkWUj6Yuri released the mana of The Cut of the soul and the heart, erasing the opponent’s energy, and then launched a thrust.q9uGuA
K2DRFMjThe energy of his sword, flowing through the air, struck at all of the enemy’s openings at the same time. There was no way to block all those blows.R8pqf
eC5Realizing this, the Imperial knight chose to flee rather than resist.EEqc
a8cZuQEven Yuri hadn’t expected an Imperial knight to turn his back and run, which threw off his balance as he cut through empty air.BvX
1sArH“Huh?”J36e
HhFWatching the enemy’s back grow distant, Yuri stood still for a moment.Mluq
IbAHe was running faster than expected.0ipHZY
C4IN“Was he a relay runner in the Imperial Olympics?”HCKLPY
DaiBut the run didn’t last long. Someone hurled themselves at him head-on, completely knocking him over. The knight rolled several times across the ground.dAmAvAf
uwjmr9uThe one who had tackled him was Laurent.y4l2P1h
8ccLaurent shook his shoulder and looked at him.C9a4skB
uRdxgD“Do it properly.”nV6
w1iYuri gave a faint smile.3KMMuV9
ZBAThe slaughter began. The Empire’s knights and soldiers all fell under the blades of the Order of Vengeance.FDolY
WOvJ5KYuri watched and nodded. The fight had been easier than expected.BVULhnm
ztHTAHwAfter so many battles at the front, the strength of the Order of Vengeance had grown. Black magic was powerful, but the Anti-Imperial Alliance was also becoming stronger.JdFMyx
p5PiHE3Meanwhile, Briol’s army, still under Inariel’s spell, drew closer. The squad slipped once more under the cloak of magical invisibility.DBCIWV8
mQdSNYGLaurent dragged over the Imperial knight he had knocked down.HIF3
kL8AP3“Kill him or interrogate him.”mbA18
j4gThose enthralled by black magic rarely spoke, but Yuri had managed to wring answers from them before.wWfRv
Dh9Ze“Let’s try it quickly.”z1aKHT
BG9Yuri entered the mental domain. He could see the black magic’s energy dominating the knight’s mind and body, with black roots embedded in his head and chest, spreading throughout his body.p4Q2o
9K6cTo interrogate him, he had to clear his head. But it was so deeply rooted that it wouldn’t be easy.l8oZME
G7JknO0Yuri extended Guilty. He didn’t slash wildly; he followed the flow, undoing the channels of black magic, and struck directly at the cores where the energy was most concentrated.EVhy5
Ozx7HSSEach time he did, the knight’s unconscious body trembled with spasms.f8uwEZ
iOFJust having black magic embedded was already a tremendous physical burden. Removing it was an even greater strain.MdOh
riHMxd5Blood poured from the knight’s nose and mouth, but Yuri continued. Inariel stepped forward and applied healing magic to him.A3m
9bDk3Z“Can you hear me?”0csP
nR8A“Ghh…”CAb
JFirAt that moment, the knight spat out a gush of blood and let his head drop.8QGvmeM
nQOHe was dead.x2c
NsuYuri wiped the blood from his cheek and frowned.Cuq70
rb7J“What’s this?”vCjIK
68FL“He couldn’t withstand it.”RRCwm
m8U“What a waste.”GFy
MaFmajASighing, Yuri stood up. Asana approached.lFR
GJX“He’s dead?”aNBxihn
wA9Z“Yes.”vxkZSlV
gvthish“I can catch another.”xFE6
mH2aFZ“No.”U2vdy
iNo64Yuri gave a faint smile and patted her shoulder.LDA0
ByLz“It’s fine.”Le6
EOnvp0“…Understood.”83R
xH19B“All right, let’s get moving again. Bury the body.”dvc
NMcRWith knights and mages present, digging the grave was quick. After disposing of the remains, Briol’s army resumed its march under Yuri’s lead.8Be
F4uPushing this deep in to deal a decisive blow to the Empire was risky, but so far, they hadn’t encountered any serious problems.VaFCh
fg7MjFYuri walked beside Inariel, discussing what was to come. Asana watched in silence from behind.56fEFS
0x8as***qT5c
AC2GDZb“What are they doing?”jiS0b
rTzdK4l“No idea.”KMPm1
zBS“There are too many troops moving.”T5kWIQ
DzjGott Bakbar poked his head out, watching the Imperial army on the move.gJ7E8Z9
f2IVVFjBeside him was Gorio.yRU0sD
RcsThe two had ended up working together to protect the people of Briol in the Imperial capital.LEQBepK
FRbqYThe leader of the Gorio faction, who controlled the back alleys of the capital, and the head of the Briol Comrades Association—a group of Briol natives living in the Empire—had joined forces.hOQ
LRYThanks to them, many people from Briol had managed to escape or hide.vltFn7S
Q6l5iL2But Imperial surveillance was tightening day by day.06z
uTHBZKIn the end, they decided to dig a tunnel and created a small passage connecting to the outside of the Imperial city.hrICxQw
FZJxEven so, with the whole Empire gripped by madness, leaving the capital didn’t guarantee safety. The tunnel was used mainly for occasional scouting.JMf85Z
p0FhcThat day, something strange was happening. The Imperial army was massing together.VOY
E16“They say they’re building some sort of defensive line outside the capital.”7ony9T
a5zP8“Here?”9zEHT
lkHOug3“Yes. Probably preparing for war.”Oqo4wc
FTj9Gott’s eyes went wide.KmQKVog
OWT“That means the Anti-Imperial Alliance has made it this far, doesn’t it?”jMP
1ab“I don’t know…”k1nB
Xi95AXGorio looked up at the sky. The day was overcast.vdK41ar
IAD“I have a bad feeling about this.”Ifitct
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