Chapter 71

Episode 71 . Terrorism (3)

‘This attack from the Outsiders means that they will start coming at us in earnest now . ’

The Outsiders should be aiming for the kings of the West Kingdom Union .

‘I can’t figure out their exact level of fighting strength . '

As mentioned in the meeting, the Outsiders had been in hiding and had been actively concealing their power .

“Our top priority should be the protection of the kings . We should leave here as promptly as possible . ”

*Crash*

What remained of the palace had begun to collapse . As if this were the queue, a scuffle broke out amongst the kings .

“Is this all there is to Prillecha’s enforcement of public order? This is an unacceptable situation, as a member of the West Kingdom Union!!”

The Divide Empire was way more powerful, as a nation, than the Prillecha Empire . King Prillecha was sweating profusely .

“This is a very unsatisfactory experience, Prillecha . I can’t rely on the troops you lead anymore . I’m going to move separately with my subordinates . ”

Desir chimed into their conversation .

“Please beg my pardon but your majesty, we can’t ensure your personal safety and security if you separate from us . ”

“You are… ”

“Desir Arman . ”

King Divide confirmed that he was the person who had saved them all by inverting the trap spell just a short moment ago and decided to at least hear out what he had to say .

“If we separate right now then the military powers we hold will also be distributed, and as a result this may give them the optimal situation to take us out one by one . ”

“Okay then . Do you have a better idea?”

Desir looked at King Prillecha furtively .

“Do you have any safe spots around here? A secret place that can’t be easily found . ”

King Prillecha replied .

“There is a shelter prepared for times of war . ”

Desir followed this up with King Divide .

“That’s great . Let’s wait this situation out . If it is the Prillecha Empire, they can certainly defend against this . ”

“You mean that we should rely on these guys again?”

“Yes your majesty . ”

“Unfortunately, I reject your suggestion . ” King Divide declared .

Desir’s eyebrows rose .

Considering what he had done – arousing the animosity to Hebrion and sacrificing his subordinates meaninglessly during the duel; he appeared to be rather head-strong and fool-hardy .

“Do you have any other plans?”

“ . . . We will go to the teleportation gate . I’m heading back to the Divide Empire . ”

“Then Prillecha Empire… ”

“This is technically a foreign country for us . ”

He beat off the dust that covered his clothes .

“It is a shame to call a small country like this a member of the West Kingdom Union . They can’t even defend against trivial terrorism . ”

It was a huge diplomatic discourtesy . This noticeably changed the atmosphere and the other leaders of the West Kingdom Union started to become restless .

King Divide turned toward the commander of his forces .

“So how’s the situation at teleportation gate?”

“The Outsiders have a grip on it but if my king commands it, then we will confront them immediately . ”

“Wonderful . Let’s go through the gate with the troops . Is there anyone who cares to join us?”

Nobody raised their hand . As they continued to hesitate, King Divide expressed his anger at the perceived slight .

“How could you? Don’t you believe in the strength of my knights?”

Someone voiced their concerns .

“It is not that we can’t rely on your knights, King Divide, but the boy sounds more credible . ”

This was immediately refuted . It was quite a different atmosphere from when things previously revolved around King Divide, as was seen in the council meeting . King Divide turned around without any further hesitation .

“Then I’m going alone . ”

He left with his troops . The others decided to go to the shelter of Deltaheim according to Desir’s plan .

When he was devising this strategy, Desir was starting to worry about the involved parties . The Outsider’s attack was not limited to the palace but encompassed the entire city too . If so, it was better to stick together .

‘Outsiders are coming to attack with their strongest fighting force . It can’t be finished as simply as before . ’

Zod appeared in front of them via teleportation . Desir immediately questioned him .

“Did you get the Crow mask?”

Zod shook his head . Desir was surprised . How could Zod allow the Crow to escape? That Crow mask must be a wizard of immense strength .

Desir explained his plan to Zod, who had decided to join them . When he finished the explanation Zod nodded his head in agreement with the plan .

“Hmm . Didn’t you also have a party?”

Zod followed up with,

“Then let me take care of here . You’d better go, to secure the safety of your party . ”

It was a well-timed suggestion for Desir .

“Is that okay?”

“You can’t move as freely while being burdened with worries . Let’s do what we have to do respectively for now . ”

“I appreciate this, Lord of Matop . I wish you good luck in this war . ”

Leaving Zod behind, Desir started to retrace his steps . At the same time he operated his communication bracelet, a magic device located on his wrist, to contact Romantica .

‘I hope that they are safe . ’

***

The curtains were shut . The air in the restaurant was laced with fear . Without any notice a group of people had suddenly stormed into the restaurant wearing masks . They had gathered the staff and guests together and ultimately occupied the building with no resistance .

“If you do anything suspicious, you’ll be decapitated . ”

A person wearing a skull mask threatened . It looked a lot like the symbol of the Outsiders .

Amongst the people gathered, there was Romantica, Pram and Adjest . It would have been dangerous for them to escalate the situation by acting rashly, so they immediately surrendered to the rule of the Outsiders .

Screams emanated from the cracks in the wall . Watching smoke rise from downtown, it was immediately obvious that the city had suffered a terrorist attack . As citizens of one of the kingdoms in the union, they were embarrassed by the thought that a capital had been attacked by the Outsiders . But after deliberating a bit more on the timing of the attack and why they targeted Deltaheim, they came to a realisation . . .

‘The great council . ’

They couldn’t think of any other reason than this to take the massive risk in attacking the capital . If so… the palace was where the great council was held… They started to worry as soon as they thought Desir might be in danger there .

“Hey, there! Stop wiggling! I will kill these kids if you dare move any more!”

There were four Outsiders here, and each of them was holding a hostage . They took the children hostage so that the adults couldn’t move . They kept checking the situation outside through a small gap in the curtains as the capital troops had immediately moved to repel and counter the Outsiders’ attack .

As befitting of soldiers guarding the capital of Prillecha Empire, a member of the West Kingdom Union, they moved swiftly . It looked like the Outsiders were keeping a close watch on them, as they had side-stepped into buildings to conduct guerilla attacks .

Romantica whispered .

“I don’t think they are that strong . ”

Pram followed up .

“It doesn’t seem that they are different to what we dealt with at the Ellueli Chapter of Matop . ”

“We can’t delay any longer . No one knows what they will do . ”

Adjest suggested .

“We need to subdue them all at once due to the hostages . ”

“I know . ”

Romantica concentrated on and surveilled them with her sensitive mana detection power .

“There is a wizard amongst them… he is the last one from the left . Maybe wind attribute . And the others… ”

“The rest of them are knights . Two are pawn level and the middle one is at knight level . ”

It was Adjest . She was also sizing up the power of the enemy .

“Let’s synchronise our timing and subdue the enemies all at once . Romantica, decapitate the knight with attack magic . Pram and I will take the others . ”

With a clear-headed direction from Adjest, Romantica decided to follow . She had to admit that Adjest was smart .

Romantica’s specialty was nonverbal magic . She didn’t even need a second to arrange and format Second-Circle attack magic . But there was still the critical matter of timing the release of it .

Pram, Adjest and Romantica exchanged glances and just as they were about to attack…

*Ring!*

Romantica looked at the noise at her wrist . It was her communication bracelet .

At the most inopportune moment!

“What is that?”

The Outsiders started focusing their attention on her .

Pram had to look down to cover his face and prevent himself from fainting . Adjest looked forward with undaunted eyes . Romantica’s communication bracelet kept ringing despite their efforts .

*Ring Ring Ring!*

“Is that a communication device? Did you get in touch to someone?”

“That’s impossible . ”

Romantica said without compunction . But her voice slightly quavered .

The Outsiders thought it was strange and they got up from their seats one by one .

“Hang up now . ”

“Now . ”

Romantica spoke in a halting way that hinted that she was close to tears . She looked exactly like a frightened girl .

“B… But you said that you would kill us… if I moved . ”

One of the Outsiders frowned .

“So annoying . Hey, take it off and bring it over to me . ”

“Yes sir . ”

An Outsider approached Romantica and checked her communication bracelet that was still ringing .

“It looks like jewelry though . Nothing like a communication device?”

“What is that though?”

“Wait . There are letters . Something H… He…”

He looked like he doesn’t know the letters well as he attempted reading it .

At that time, Romantica touched the foot of Adjest with her toe . It was the signal to move .

“Hebrion!?"

When the man finally read the letters, Adjest started to move . Adjest kicked away the closest man in front of them by turning her body . His body was floating in the air and struck the dining table . Food scattered everywhere .

In the next moment, the food was flung to the opposite side of the room . They were dragged along by the wind bullets that Romantica had invoked .

The hand of a knight-level Outsider that was grabbing a hostage and the remaining hand holding his weapons were smashed to pieces .

“Aargh!”

Blood splattered onto the floor as he screamed . The remaining pawn-level knight was surprised and approached them with a drawn iron sword .

“Y . . . You swine!”

He started to run towards them while brandishing that iron sword .

Pram moved . Before they knew it, the Blanchum rapier that shone with white light had appeared in his hand . With a clean thrust of it…

*Crack!*

Pram’s rapier broke the iron sword of Outsider and continued on its trajectory, stabbing into his shoulder . The iron sword couldn’t compete with the strength of Blanchum .

He struck the back of the man writhing on the floor with the back of his sword and made him cleanly faint .

“ . . . Did we subdue them all?”

“Even the wizard . ”

In no time, there was a fallen Outsider, who happened to be the only wizard of the gang, under the foot of Adjest .

Everything was settled in a moment .

“That was a great acting performance, Romantica . ”

“No, it’s nothing . ”

The kids that were freed returned to their mothers .

Pram then faced the gathered civilians and gave them an instruction .

“Quickly join the people fleeing from here . ”

The door was opened and the people escaped .

‘Finally . ’

*Ring . *

Romantica’s communication bracelet was still ringing . It was Desir .

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