episode_0048

At the westernmost edge of the Mersenne Empire, not far from the village of Labrionne, a plain.

Step by step –

Heeheeheehee-

On this early night’s field, countless Inmas were slowly advancing.

Each with shabby attire, men carrying rusty iron swords or worn-out axes looked as if they had been walking for a long time.

However, unlike the horses that kept neighing in anticipation of the impending plunder, there was a deep-seated madness in their eyes.

At the forefront of the procession.

“Whoa-”

With muscles bare and no shirt on.

Barbadun, a savage king with black hair flowing like a beast’s mane, halted his speech.

As Barbadun turned his head, the other savages following him began to stop one by one.

When Barbadun spoke to the man beside him who was leading the horse, “Is that Labrionne Village over there?”

“Yes….”

The man dressed in imperial attire answered very cautiously, sweating profusely, choosing his words carefully as if he had confirmed multiple times the fact that he could be killed at any moment.

Barbadun once again fixed his gaze on a distant flickering light.

Tonight, they would be able to prey in many ways.

‘Perhaps I can have a comfortable place to sleep for once.’

Barbadun thought of Empress Herpina, who controlled the empire.

Since he had never seen her face, he imagined the appearance of a noblewoman in a glamorous dress who had enslaved him in his childhood.

‘Arrogant woman.’

To dare propose such a deal to him.

Barbadun harbored extreme disgust for the imperial citizens who believed that only they were chosen by the goddess.

Especially.

The arrogant nobles who believed that ignorant savages would surely comply with their deals and follow them without fail seemed even more despicable.

“….”

From the beginning, Barbadun had no intention of keeping his deal with the empress.

He simply needed time to strengthen himself against the madman known as Servis.

Gathering nearly 90,000 troops by uniting savage tribes that had lived apart was for that reason.

It was to turn the empire, which had taken their land by force, into a wasteland and reclaim fertile soil.

He intended to overturn the history of being chased and killed by imperial soldiers or sold into slavery at every opportunity.

It all started in Labrionne Village.

Coming earlier than agreed was also part of his intention to deceive.

He was determined to thoroughly ravage and trample everyone from children to the elderly, relieving the sorrow and grudges of those who had wandered aimlessly without a place to settle.

“Let’s go.”

As Barbadun’s words moved forward again, the horde of savages holding torches between them resumed their advance.

***

The Ratun River, a massive waterway cutting diagonally across Mersenne.

Its tributaries formed small rivers, encircling Labrionne Village before returning to Ratun.

Although it was just a small river, neither deep nor wide, it was more than enough to sustain Labrionne Village, where not many people lived.

The emergence of a small forest next to the village was also due to this water source.

Given the already high temperatures year-round and the nearby river providing high humidity, even though it was late spring, fireflies were performing a fantastic light ritual.

Naturally.

In recent days.

Children in the village, with nothing else to do, came out with their parents to this place every night.

Even though parents warned them not to, saying that savages might appear.

A year ago, remembering the great victory the prince had achieved against the savages, they thought it would be fine for a while, and each household came out.

Even in the darkness, a dreamy spectacle of light unfolded over the babbling stream and the bushes.

The night of late spring was peaceful, with the fragrance of flowers carried on the cool breeze, somehow inducing a languid mood.

Villagers leaned on the short railings of the bridge or sat on the large rocks in the stream, dipping their feet into the refreshing water, each enjoying their own happy time.

Then, a child, under the chilly light of the plump moon, gazed at the endless horizon and exclaimed excitedly:

“Dad, fireflies are flying over there too!”

“Fireflies over there? How could that be?”

Already exhausted from playing with all the neighborhood kids for about an hour, the blacksmith Leckett turned his head in disbelief as he replied in a somber voice.

“Hey, savages! Everyone, run away quickly!”

It wasn’t a usual raid.

The lights filling the horizon were far more numerous than the fireflies before their eyes.

“How many are they exactly…?”

Perhaps there were more of them than the countless stars scattered across the night sky.

An unprecedented event.

It seemed entirely inadequate to describe it as such.

Unlike the temporary pillaging by savages experienced since childhood, this was an incomparable army.

As Leckett’s gaze scanned the horizon, many people frantically began fleeing towards the mountains, but it was already too late.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Those riding ahead of the main force were the first to rush in.

“Do not kill the women and children!”

What was more terrifying than the rough voices was the content within them.

“Let’s have some fun before the king finds out!”

“So what if the king knows?”

“I don’t care, hurry up and finish it. Just cut the old ones down and make young men slaves by severing their tendons!”

Leckett felt his strength drain from his body, his hands and feet trembling.

It was a moment when the horrifying nightmares of the past were threatening to replay once again.

Of course, even in such a moment, he still told his wife and son, who had not yet escaped:

“I’ll somehow stall them here, so run away quickly!”

His wife refused tearfully.

“No, dear, come with us!”

“If you stay here, we will all die! Are you planning to kill Kale too? Go now! Quickly! Run for your life!”

Eventually, after pushing her forcefully and shouting viciously, Leckett picked up a large rock.

He raised both hands tightly gripping it high.

It was dark, so he wouldn’t be exposed.

Since they mentioned making him a slave, they probably wouldn’t kill him right away.

He intended to take at least one of them to the netherworld.

“Hurry, chase them!”

But even so, the situation was overwhelmingly desperate.

Several riders headed towards where his wife had run, which made him involuntarily mutter to himself.

“Why on earth is this happening… We barely survived, just barely…”

Soon, a man who appeared to be a leader approached leisurely and dismounted.

With a determination to definitely take this one with him, Leckett waited calmly.

“At least there was one who knew how to use his head.”

But as the man drew closer, his stature loomed like a bear.

“…”

Unconsciously, Leckett took a step back.

“Can I kill him…?”

It would probably be difficult.

However, he had no intention of giving up.

“I am a blacksmith. If it’s about making weapons, I’m confident. Just give me any task-”

Thwack!

Struck by the savage’s fist, Leckett flew through the air.

The moment his body hit the ground, his mind went dizzy.

Thud-

A tremendous blow came down directly above his still clenched fist.

The savage’s foot, heavy with weight, was crushing Leckte’s wrist.

“Such words should have been said in front of a stone. A blacksmith… yes. Your head seems useful, so your skills must not be bad. But Mersen’s trash is completely unreliable.”

Unable to resist any longer, when he loosened his grip, a rock rolled down.

A foot lifted above Leckte’s head obscured the moonlight.

“Farewell.”

Sensing death, Leckte tightly shut his eyes.

Yet, he earnestly wished.

Please, let only his wife and son survive.

May they not endure any suffering like this.

Splat!

Suddenly, a sound like something incredibly fast flying through the air was heard.

Pfft- A warm liquid splattered over his face.

Something heavy thudded to the ground.

Thud thud-

“Aaah!”

Following that, the startled scream belonged to the savage who had just moments ago intended to crush his skull underfoot.

It was unmistakable.

Certainly an arrow.

Flying at a terrifying speed, it had ripped through the sturdy savage’s leg like tearing off well-cooked meat, undoubtedly a powerful arrow shot from an extraordinary bow.

Splat!

Even as the one-legged savage staggered, trying to balance by waving his arms, the attack was far from over.

Puff!

An arrow flying from a completely different direction tore off his arm this time.

Chuff!

Moments before falling, another arrow from a different angle ripped off his remaining arm, spraying blood.

Thud-

Eventually, the savage fell.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Even after that, arrows continued to fly, embedding themselves in the fallen savage’s forehead, throat… even there.

Surveying the situation from where he stood up, Leckte, though unsure of who it was, offered a prayer of thanks to the stranger who had saved him.

***

On the deck of a ship moored high in the cool breeze.

Elaine wiped her cold sweat, lowering her bow.

She could use divine power effortlessly, so she wasn’t tired at all, but she worried if randomly shooting arrows really saved people, hence the sweat.

Suddenly.

Wint, transformed into a small elf made of smoke, pointed at himself while lowering his bow.

Approaching the magic circle engraved in the center of the deck, Elaine checked the situation below.

Fortunately, the man she sought to save was alive.

But there were still many savages.

Exhaling a sigh of relief, Elaine looked up at the moon and began shooting her bow again.

Phew! Another phew! Arrows shot, powered by Wint’s wind, drew such beautiful trajectories, showcasing a dazzling flight that not even birds could imitate, heading towards the savages below.