With the aim of reaching the Artless village that the prestigious family of Volace owns, the soldier carriages carrying the darkness G.o.d corps trotted along the highway in the night.
“Erm, Captain…..”(Vermeer)
“Don’t worry.”(Yuusuke)
On the carriage, Vermeer had a very complex expression as the King of Gazzetta was sitting next to Yuusuke. Although he said not to worry, the ‘Mission’ that was bestowed to the Captain of the Darkness G.o.d Corps, Yuusuke, was extremely difficult.
“But….”(Vermeer)
The one with the most complaints, Fonke, was currently busy stabilizing the carriage that was running at high speed, the second one that likes the nag a lot, Aisha, was restoring the horse strength through the use of her water arts.
Shaheed, on the other hand, didn’t have any interest in these things. With Isotta being as guilty as Yuusuke. That’s why, it was Vermeer’s role to question why Shinha was traveling with them, but--
“Well, don’t worry too much. By the way, it’s best to turn off the light source soon.”(Yuusuke)
“So what you’re saying is listen to my command!”(Vermeer)
“Fue”
“....Hiaz”
Seeing how Yuusuke’s and Shinha’s exchanges were without tension, Vermeer shakes his head as he dimmed the lights.
On the highway ahead of them was a small light. It seemed that they have reached the Village of artless where Hivodir was currently residing. For the time being, they waited for the instructions from their captain, but before Vermeer could speak out, Isotta issued a warning that there were enemies around the area.
“! Some-someone is coming…..one horse, the wave of a flame art user.”(Isotta)
Shaheed immediately slowed down the carriage’s speed, Yuusuke opened his customization menu for emergency use. Next to him, Shinha took his platinum greatsword into his hand and changed his posture, ready to attack.
The sound of the hooves could be heard as the figure on horseback from the other side of the darkness gradually came closer. As it approached a certain distance, Vermeer used his flame arts to discern the ident.i.ty of the person.
“Hivodir!”
Leaning on the back of the horse under the cover of darkness on the highway was Hivodir, whose body was covered in wounds. Just a few days ago, Yuusuke saw him at the carriage porch cladded in ‘n.o.ble-like’ clothings, and now he was filled with tears and burn marks which were aimed to kill him.
They calmed the agitated horse and lowered Hivodir down to the ground, thus allowing Aisha to begin healing him.
Just barely conscious, Hivodir could vaguely grasp his surroundings. Thanks to the healing properties of the mantle and Aisha’s healing, he began to recover and notice his surroundings.
“Hey, are you alright?!”(Yuusuke)
“Oh, hey…...Yuusuke….you came to help.”(Hivodir)
“What the h.e.l.l happened here?”(Yuusuke)
“.....we were attacked…..the group were using Gazzetta’s military equipment….”(Hivodir)
According to Hivodir’s story, after finishing his usual routine of calculating the daily crops yield, an armed group suddenly started to invade the village with a night attack on the dormitories of the private mercenaries.
Because they had blocked the entrance of the dormitories during the attack, Hivodir and several other staff were attacked in a situation where they were defenceless.
The private mercenaries were patrolling the area in the vicinity, but their wind arts users, who were able to search for enemies, were brought down without anyone noticing, thus the first surprise attack was very effective.
“First an ice type skill came rushing in, I remember seeing an artless warrior….. and during the middle of the fight there was a flame art user.”
Although his skill is considered mediocrely talented within the Flame G.o.d Corps, in terms of firepower Hivodir was more than strong enough. Not only were his arts at an elite level, moreover, he was also equipped with a ring of flame arts which he got from Yuusuke, which boosted the power of the flame bullets that he uses as his attack of choice. The flame bullet that he released onto the Artless warrior was a mistake, as the warrior immediately deflected his lump of flame.
“Are they in disguise….?”(Shinha)
“Yes, it seems like it…..although he looked like a artless warrior, he had the wave of someone possessing divine arts ~ o, HE APPEARS~~!”(Hivodir)
Shinha’s appearance, who was standing there with his arm folded, listening to his explanation made Hivodir jump up when he noticed him. Vermeer was standing nearby giving a nod-like, ‘ I understand your feeling too’.
As Yuusuke was trying to access the situation, Shinha cast an important question at Hivodir.
“The general situation is known. Since you had escaped all alone by yourself, does that mean your men were all wiped out? What happened to the villagers?”
“Oh that’s right! My servants was in the middle of evacuating me when suddenly that guy came to block us….!”(Hivodir)
“Tsu! Isotta, what’s the current situation up ahead?”(Yuusuke)
“....It’s useless, there is too much distance between us…..ah, but, it seems like there is a slight disturbance in the air.”(Isotta)
Most likely, they are still fighting on the road, there is also the possibility that the fight is still going on in the village. Yuusuke immediately put up an emergency contact to the palace, while Hivodir prepared to rescue his servants whom helped him escape. Thus the carriage rushed towards the village all in preparation for war.
“Where’s the group in charge of pursuits”(Commander)
“They haven’t returned. But, it seems that a number of employees and the Fonclanc’s aristocrat had escaped.”
“Hmmm….with that kind of wound, he won’t be saved.”(Commander)
Since the Wind art transmission whereby a frequent report that is being sent out had stopped, soon enough the reinforcement will come from the town. The captain of the armed forces was dressed up in Gazzetta’s army uniform, and he had determined that it was a good time to move to the next location, thus he issued an order of withdrawal.
“Burn the village! We are heading to our next goal, get the pursuit team to meet us there!”(Commander)
They moved around the buildings of the village and began to set fire onto the barns and farms. Because the villagers and the garrison troops that were in the Volace family villa had been evacuated, the villa was created to be fireproof by earth arts, thus in order to burn it they had to stack oil wood.
Although the loss of the Fonclanc n.o.ble was unexpected, the moderate resistance was rather convenient.
“Yosh, time to retreat!”(Commander)
After alighting the village on fire, the group disappeared.
The small light that was visible in the distance, soon became a wildfire engulfing the area. Vermeer who immediately realised it, pointed out that the village is on fire.
“Most probably they had set it on fire.”(Vermeer)
“It would be better if we rush over….”
“Erm! Cap~Captain, in the forest ahead, there seem to be multiple units….. they are currently in combat!”(Isotta)
The moment Isotta alerted us of a battle, everyone looked towards the forest beyond the highway, as it seems there were lights coming from the fire rife. Shaheed as the coachman, immediately slowed down the carriage. Just before the carriage came to a complete stop, Shinha jumped off while brandishing his great sword and ran towards the forest.
“I will take over this location, you guys go ahead.”(Shinha)
“Shinha! OMG Vermeer, take over the leadership. Head towards the village, if it looks bad don’t hesitate to turn around and retreat.”(Yuusuke)
After entrusting the leadership, Yuusuke jumped off the carriage when it was slowed and chased after Shinha. As he had counted the recovered Hivodir into the forces, he believed it would be alright as long as they do not encounter a large number of enemies.
“So what now…?”(Shaheed)
“As per captain’s instruction, we will head for the village.”(Vermeer)
Shaheed questioned whether it was wise to leave it to their captain and King Shinha, thus Vermeer judged that they should prioritize Yuusuke’s orders. Seeing Yuusuke’s back disappear into the forest, the carriage began to increase its speed again.
“So that’s that, when the time comes please help okay?”(Vermeer)
“Um, hmm, leave it to me.”(Hivodir)
Hivodir was added into the combat personnels group of Vermeer, as they headed towards the village that was being attacked.
“Is it good for you to come together with me? Your underlings doesn’t seem like the type that could put up a decent fight.”(Shinha)
“Says the person who selfishly jumped off the carriage alone, but it probably doesn’t matter who is stronger in terms of divine arts or in a fight in this situation right?”(Yuusuke)
Vermeer and his band had already defeated users of much higher divine arts strength than their own at Gearhawk fortress.
Although there was the a.s.sistance of those customized daggers, he was also very experienced, and one would call him a veteran. Even though Yuusuke had feelings of worries, he trusted him.
This time, Hivodir was also around, so the attacking department would not be lacking, and Yuusuke also wanted to see Shinha in action.
“That was unexpectedly admirable, or are you the kind that would even use a protected victim.”(Shinha)
“Huh? His injuries are already healed right, he’s a palace knight shouldn’t he be helping too?”(Yuusuke)
Yuusuke began thinking about a simulation RPG style type of game, the general overall felt like a phrase type event from it, due to the reason of “the victims have escape” or “because it is n.o.ble”, with this to not partic.i.p.ate in such event is such a waste.
“It was important to go back to the city first.” but this was an impossible selection. Yuusuke and Shinha were chatting while running, as ma.s.ses of stray flame bullets whooshes pa.s.sed them.
“That’s a great judgement!”
“Yeah.”
As the two of them dived to the left and right, they saw a faint figure heading into the darkness between the trees. They began to run and chase after it so as to not lose sight of it. Was the person hit by the flames or the flames was released by the person, from this distance it was still too hard to judge.
They could see a twin pig-tailed figure in maid clothings running away. After confirming that it was a servant that worked in Hivodir’s house, Yuusuke was about to call out to her, but then something took place that caused her to stumble.
At that moment, 2 to 3 ma.s.ses of fire came flying from the back of the forest, seeing that Yuusuke jumped out in front of the servant cover her with his mantle and erected a earth barrier. The barrier shattered immediately after the third fire ma.s.s. .h.i.t.
As the barrier shattered, the scatter flame from the fire ma.s.s befell onto Yuusuke and the servant, but due to the heavy customization onto his darkness G.o.d corps uniform, it prevented and protected its wearer and anyone under the cloak from the fire shockwave.
“That was close~”(Yuusuke)
“You, you are….”
“I’m Yuusuke from the darkness G.o.d corps, are you Hivodir’s maid/servant?”(Yuusuke)
“Me, Yes, I am! ….. Erm, is young master safe?”(Maid-san)
Calling Hivodir “young master” seems all too apparent to Yuusuke and he wanted to joke about it, but as of now it seems to be all too serious. After hearing the safety of Hivodir, the maid showed a relieved expression. (TLC notes: Just you wait Hivodir, Yuusukue will not forget this. Baka~)
It seems that she was a movement type wind arts user. She had been making use of her movement a.s.sist wind arts to help her escape from her pursuers by using guerilla tactics on them.
As Yuusuke helped the maid to stand, a ma.s.s of fire came flying from behind a tree, it seems that the whoever was hiding in the darkness of the forest was very persistent. So Yuusuke closed his eyes and tried to pick up any noise in the darkness, rather than insects there were a mixed sound of rustling.
“I want to quickly group up with the reinforcements coming from the highway, Shinha! Do you know the whereabouts of the enemies?”(Yuusuke)
“I have no idea, I can’t see anything in this darkness.”(Shinha)
Shinha was hiding the same way just a few meters away, maintaining a low profile by crouching down. He scanned the surrounding area and was in a position to charge the moment he felt any movement.
“Any foolish move is dangerous….”
“Erm, there are still the butlers and other servants.”(Maid)
The moment the maid brought up the topic of other servants, a red flame lit up from within the darkness. Without us noticing, the hidden figure that was behind the tree, fired 2 ma.s.s of fire from the front of us.
“Danger! Take cover.”(Yuusuke)
“KYA!”(Maid)
Yuusuke created an earth wall to repel the attack, but because it was focused on reinforcing the front, he couldn’t react in time from an attack on the right side. Thus he prepared to protect the maid from the impact.
“Just lay down!”(Shinha)
Just before the ma.s.s of fire impacted, Shinha jumped over towards Yuusuke and smashed it with his platinum greatsword.
Shinha had been trained to know the different types of divine arts, thus he was accustomed to fighting divine arts users. He also had experienced the power of the elite team from Blue Garden when he was on the journey to find the evil G.o.d.
After confirming the direction of the “Enemy” in the darkness, Shinha leaped towards it, kicking the tree, sc.r.a.ping the earth, moving left and right like a beast chasing it’s prey, he charged towards the flame art user who was lurking in the darkness.
Seeing Shinha with a sparkling white blade charging fiercely towards him, the flame art user panicked, as he threw a ma.s.s of fire blindly trying to intercept him. That mistake cost him his location. It was the 2nd mistake that he had done for today. Furthermore, this time it was a deadly one.
“Argh, so that’s it…..”
Rushing thoroughly by instincts, Shinha wore a ferocious smile as he completed his capturing goal.
“Oi Shinha! Don’t kill him!”(Yuusuke)
“I understand, I’ll leave….one alive!”(Shinha)
As Shinha was answering him, a sound like smashing of fruits could be heard through the area. The movement of the large sword removing the blood with a swing could be seen in parallel with finding it’s next target, 2 shots of flame could be seen flying towards him as he dodged it with ease, while crushing another shot that came flying towards him.
And then from between the trees a gale came blowing through with a vigor and there stood 2 flame art users disguised as Gazzetta’s army soldiers in the distance, where they were holding ma.s.ses of flames in their hands, which was immediately cut into 2 by the vertical sword in a raised arm.
“GYAHHHHHHH”
“Hi…….Argh!”
Shocked by the death shriek and agony scream that his ally let out, he tried to escape, but he received a strong blow from behind which crushed his spine.
The flame arts user was groaning as he tried to suppressed his arm by holding his only arm left on his neck, when suddenly a chop came from behind and took his consciousness away. And the silence returned.
“You overdid it!”(Yuusuke)
Currently, Shinha was trying to stop the bleeding of his prisoner, while Yuusuke came over with the maid. The moment the maid saw the sight of the torn arm, she immediately grasped her mouth with both hands as she almost threw up. Although the man with a crushed spine was still some how breathing, it would soon result in death if healing is not done.
The first blood which was drawn had been restored by Yuusuke, the face was determined to stay the same as he judged. This was in order to identify the a.s.sailants, so it would be troubling if the state is too terrible.
“OMG, it really is unrivalled(無双).”(Yuusuke)
“Dream(ムソウ)?”(Shinha)(TL note: the romaji and katakana is the same p.r.o.nunciation but both have different meaning)
“It means that there isn’t 2 of a kind.”(Yuusuke)
“Oh I see, so that’s what unrivalled(無双) means…..fumu.”(Shinha)
He seemed to be pleased.
“In any case, we’ll be instantly transferring to the highway. We should check on the servants to see if they are safe, but first let’s meet up with the reinforcements.”
“Roger that.”
“What about that guy?”
“Let him grasp your sword.”
Indeed, the healing effect of Shinha’s great sword was powerful enough to heal the exposed spine. Prompting to Yuusuke that it could cheat death, he had something else planned. ”It’s my family heirloom, don’t try and cheat me to pa.s.s it over to you”, a Shinha-like hesitant move, but….
“......I will restore the sword to it’s original form.”(Yuusuke)
“......I guess there wasn’t any other choice.”(Shinha)