Chapter 235 — 윈즈 변경주

Chapter 235

Winds March

‘By the way… where did that guy run off to?’

Once a bit of strength returned, Elric swept his surroundings with a quick glance.

Mephisto was nowhere to be seen.

He’d definitely seen him there right up until the moment he woke.

But somewhere between trading blows with Augustine and the Elders, the bastard had just vanished.

‘He hasn’t gone far, that much I’m sure of.’

After absorbing Azazel’s demonic energy, the unseen tether between Elric and Mephisto had grown stronger.

If he focused, he could just about skim the other’s surface thoughts.

Not that he had any desire to peek into a Demon King’s head, so he hadn’t planned on concentrating that hard. But figuring out roughly where the other was? That, he could do in seconds.

‘He’s close. He’ll show himself when he feels like it.’

So long as the magestone was fully bound to him, Mephisto couldn’t stray far.

With his autonomy vastly expanded, he’d probably slipped off to avoid people—out for a stroll, maybe.

“Heading back now?”

Sean’s offhand question pulled Elric back to the present.

Elric made a face.

“Excuse me. Do you not see where we are right now?”

“We’re right on Winds March’s doorstep.”

“And you’re saying that with a straight face?”

At Elric’s retort, Sean folded his arms and snorted.

“Feels like that sort of thing doesn’t constrain you anymore.”

Elric just chuckled lightly.

He wasn’t wrong.

Before, the farther they drifted from Imperial High Command, the more they’d felt like abandoned ducklings bobbing on a river.

Now that they’d rebuilt their strength, there was no need to fret about the return trip.

But—

“C’mon. We came all this way—wouldn’t it be a shame to just pass by?”

At Elric’s answer, Sean wore a told-you-so look.

Honestly, he felt the same.

The feats wrought by the Star Campaign had already blown into the Imperial Army proper, kicking up a massive sensation.

Special features on the Star Campaign and on Elric were pouring out of the capital and every major city by the day.

Swept up in the fervor over their exploits, more and more young men were volunteering to enlist.

The revival of a prestigious mage house.

What better headline could there be?

A storm this big was already howling.

And then what—slip back home without a peep?

Of course not. Elric was never that sort.

Once he’d set the stage, he’d only make it bigger. Letting go was not in his nature.

Besides—

‘We’ve got the Elder Council on top of it.’

With the Elders—who were said to account for half of House Neresta’s might—now in the mix, the Star Campaign’s strength had effectively doubled.

Elric was no doubt racing through ways to capitalize on this moment.

-When you meet the head of House Merbinger, stop holding the Elder Council back.

-I… Is that really alright?

-As if they’d stop just because you told them to?

-…That is true, but still.

-So let them be. They’ve been cooped up in the house for decades, watching the years drift by. Taste fresh air and they’ll buck like colts with the reins cut. And—

-…?

-I want to see it with my own eyes.

-See what, sir?

-How the world reacts once the Elder Council shows itself in full.

Gai, the family head, had foreseen as much and ordered Sean to stop reining the Elders in.

Which made Sean curious too.

Just as Gai had said—how would the world react?

‘We stirred up so much trouble on the way here. There’s no one left who hasn’t heard.’

From here on, he’d take a step back and enjoy the show.

So Sean decided.

“Alright then. Time to…”

Elric rose slowly to his feet.

“Start fishing.”

“Fishing for what?”

Sean eyed him like he’d sprouted horns.

Elric flashed that mischievous smile he used to wear all the time at the Academy.

“What else? We’re going to fish for the Red Lion.”

“…!”

* * *

Winds March.

The main keep, the Red Castle.

Bastard Sword, Tedan.

Claw and fang of the Red Lion—a man said to guarantee absolute victory.

He opened his eyes.

“The enemy?”

“They’ve… begun forming a cordon.”

The enemy.

In the Red Lion’s house they normally used that word for the Empire that had driven them into a corner.

But to Tedan and the men guarding the Red Castle, its referent was a little different.

The Star Campaign.

The ones treating the entire March like their own living room.

He’d turned his horse in haste for the March when word came that ‘Claymore’ Sagnard had died. Time had passed.

Throughout, Tedan had holed up in the main keep with his troops, refusing to budge no matter what uproar broke out outside.

When the Star Campaign suddenly vanished.

When they resurfaced six months later and seized Acran Fortress for themselves.

When for the past month they’d torn through the March at will, trying to cut the supply lines heading to the Red Lion’s army.

They’d dispatched relief forces each time to drive them off, but never launched a sweeping operation to wipe them out.

It had stoked no small amount of discontent among the officers.

Even then, Tedan issued strict orders against rash moves and punished those who wavered.

Because he knew that was exactly what the Star Campaign wanted.

‘No doubt about it. There’s a sharp mind behind them. I don’t know who, but if we get dragged into their tempo, the forces here will be wrecked.’

The Red Lion had rushed Tedan here for a simple reason.

Among his four retainers, Tedan had the keenest head.

Keep the homeland out of Merbinger’s clutches and, even in this war with the Empire, they might still seize the initiative.

So Tedan couldn’t dismiss the Star Campaign as mere raiders the way other officers did.

They already fielded the Vail family and the Black Skull, both formidable units, and their mobility was exceptional. Every tactic they’d shown so far had been top-tier.

Charge in carelessly now, and they’d spring the trap the enemy had laid.

Shoving your head in the tiger’s jaws, in other words.

Therefore—

Tedan waited.

For the Star Campaign to show an opening.

For them to walk onto a battlefield of his choosing.

And—

The moment arrived.

They said the Star Campaign had encircled the main keep to bring Winds March down entirely.

“Their strength?”

“Same as the last time we sighted them. The Star Campaign’s main body under Elric Merbinger, the Blue Lion’s Vail family, and the Ash Lion’s Black Skull are encamped. And… there’s an addition.”

“You mean House Neresta’s Elder Council?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hrm…!”

Tedan let out a low sound.

If it came to a siege, he was confident he could break the Star Campaign.

He knew the other side boasted heavy hitters—Elric, the Blue Lion Hermann, the Ash Lion Sailor.

But war, in his view, was not decided by the power ceiling of a few superhumans.

The Elder Council of House Neresta, though, was a different story.

Rumor had it they accounted for half of Neresta’s might.

He didn’t buy that tall tale whole, but neither did he think they were something to be dismissed.

He knew very well the commotion they’d caused, tearing a straight line from Imperial High Command to this March.

If they commenced a magical bombardment… that would be a real headache.

Even so—

‘Hold.’

Tedan forced his wavering heart to steady.

‘It’s the only thing I can do right now.’

No matter how nimble the Star Campaign, their provisions had limits.

And the Red Castle was a fortress among fortresses.

He believed it would not fall easily.

‘And after that… once the Ghost moves, it’s over.’

Within the Red Lion’s army they called him simply the Ghost. If he took the field—if the lord’s friend moved—there would be nothing to fear.

This was the man who had thrown the Border Guard into chaos, chilled the Fourth Prince’s blood, and on the battlefield taken the heads of Inspector Vant and the Pappen family head.

He was here now.

However high Elric Merbinger could leap, his head would end up rolling on the ground.

Given that the Star Campaign was held together around the lone young hero Elric Merbinger, there was every chance of victory.

Just then—

Clack!

The office doors swung open.

“Commander.”

“What is it?”

“The enemy has begun to move.”

“Already?”

Tedan rose; faster than he’d expected.

“Where?”

“The west gate.”

“…That’s where the barrier devices are. Plenty of mages on their side—no wonder they sniffed it out. Make sure the townsfolk don’t panic.”

“There’s a problem.”

Tedan was about to leave his office when the report made him tilt his head.

“A problem?”

“Yes. It’s… no other troops, sir. Only House Neresta’s Elders have taken the front.”

“What?”

Tedan’s face went rigid.

A chill prickled his gut.

Of all units they’d identified, it was the unknown quantity stepping forward?

What on earth was he supposed to make of that?

Tedan hurried toward the west gate with his men.

Beneath the walls.

In the distance, a crowd of mere dozens of old men stood.

Yet every one of them looked almost bored to be on a battlefield.

No—beyond bored. It bordered on ennui.

A few yawned until their jaws creaked; another lazily dug an ear with his ring finger, as if this were all a nuisance.

Then the one who looked to be their chief strode out.

‘That’s Augustine…!’

When Lord Andre Winds sent him here, he had been explicit.

If anyone, if Augustine Neresta—Elric Merbinger’s master—stepped out, you tighten every nerve.

Little known though he was, you never took him lightly.

He had called him—

‘A… monster.’

Centered on Augustine, a billow of pure white steam began to rise.

Even from this considerable distance, Tedan’s breath hitched in his throat.

He snapped at the aide beside him.

“Fetch the Ghost. Now!”