Ch.100Chapter 100. Only I Can Do the Kidnapping (4)

‘It’s going further than I thought.’

The O’Neil Kingdom forces, led by Commander Ordin, traveled farther and longer than expected.

When they suddenly departed, I thought the Nameless Organization’s hideout might be nearby, but that wasn’t the case.

From my aerial view, I could see the kingdom’s forces and their direction clearly, but no suspicious locations were visible yet.

“By the way, Green, I didn’t know you could fly this high?”

Grrrr-

Green seemed to understand my words, nodding slightly while making a sound.

It was almost like the sound of bones, but I could feel Green’s pride nonetheless.

My imagination of someday going on a mission riding Green had become reality faster than expected.

I was on Green’s back, wearing the Black Shadow Corps uniform, mask, and gloves.

Following the O’Neil Kingdom forces secretly from Green’s maximum flying height.

This was definitely the better option.

If I were to reveal myself to people, what form should I take?

My choice was Ryuyeong, Commander of the Black Shadow Corps.

Appearing as the Black Shadow Corps Commander rather than Academy student Ryu would make it easier to escape and convince people if needed.

Though I wasn’t sure how the O’Neil Kingdom forces would react to seeing me.

‘I’m especially worried about that man’s reaction.’

Commander Ordin, who had pursued me with such fury a few years ago.

I was already concerned about how he might react if he encountered me again here.

That’s why I was following at a distance, riding Green, trying to reveal myself as late as possible.

‘I wonder what the Nameless Organization is planning.’

Various thoughts came to mind as I rode through the night air.

The fourth main quest had begun suddenly without warning, just like before.

The objective of this quest was to rescue the kidnapped Elaine and thwart the Nameless Organization’s plans.

Ironically, completing the quest might earn me the title “Hero of the Kingdom.”

‘Does it make sense for me to become a hero of the O’Neil Kingdom?’

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’m currently the kingdom’s enemy.

Grrrrrr-

“Huh?”

While I was lost in thought, Green suddenly stopped and raised his head.

Hearing that sound, I reflexively looked down.

Though very distant, I could clearly see it.

Ordin, at the vanguard of the kingdom forces, had stopped advancing and was dismounting his horse.

The knights around him were also dismounting one by one.

“Looks like they’ve arrived.”

Grrrr-

Green growled in response and slowly began moving downward.

From now on, I needed to be extremely careful not to be discovered.

“Let’s go carefully, okay?”

Green reduced the green flames surrounding his body as much as possible.

**

“It’s right ahead.”

“Where exactly, sir?”

In response to Amillion’s question, Ordin silently stared at one spot.

Amillion followed Ordin’s gaze but saw nothing there.

All that was visible was a single tree.

‘Huh?’

Amillion was about to look away from the tree when something strange caught his attention, making him look back.

A very subtle distortion of mana that could easily be overlooked if not paying close attention.

It was a trace that Amillion, as “The Penetrating One,” could immediately recognize.

“Is that…?”

“Yes. That tree is their hideout.”

“Hmm.”

Amillion realized that the distorted mana was both a barrier and a warp point.

Touching the tree would likely teleport someone somewhere.

“That’s dangerous.”

“…Indeed.”

Ordin nodded in agreement with Amillion’s assessment.

This was one of the reasons Ordin had delayed making a decision until now.

He had found where the traces disappeared and located the suspicious magic, but couldn’t determine where the suspicious warp point led.

He had planned to slowly figure it out through magicians over time, but all attempts had failed so far.

“Is there any way you could determine where that warp point leads?”

Ordin, whose trust in Professor Amillion had grown during their journey, asked.

Amillion frowned at Ordin’s question, looking troubled.

“I might be able to figure it out through investigation and analysis… but it would take time. And I couldn’t do it alone.”

“Hmm.”

Ordin nodded as if he had expected this answer.

He had asked based on his trust in Amillion, but hadn’t expected an immediate answer.

If that had been possible, his pride would have been more wounded.

It would mean a Crescen magician could instantly solve what O’Neil Kingdom’s magicians couldn’t figure out for weeks.

“I guess we have no choice but to go in.”

“Ah…”

Ordin spoke in a solemn voice, having made his decision.

The knights behind him began to step forward.

All with resolute and grave expressions.

“We’ll go in first, sir.”

“No, I will go first.”

“Commander…!”

“It’s only natural that the strongest should take the greatest risk. Is there anyone stronger than me here?”

Ordin turned to his subordinates, changing the atmosphere with his question that wasn’t really a question.

No one answered Ordin’s rhetorical question.

They all just stared at him with anxious eyes.

“There’s no need to delay. I’ll go in, and if there’s no danger, I’ll contact you through the communication orb. If there’s no contact…”

Commander Ordin paused briefly, took a deep breath, and continued.

“Everyone is to retreat. There might be unnecessary sacrifices.”

“Commander!”

Elizar was the first to protest with an indignant voice.

But Commander Ordin was firm.

“Everyone, quiet. I will not accept objections.”

Amillion thought again how impressive Ordin was, commanding the crowd with just a few words.

The Grand Commander of the O’Neil Kingdom Knights was indeed worthy of his title.

His charisma and gravitas were overwhelming.

It was comparable to the presence of Lois Sinclair, the head of the Sinclair Family and Elaine’s father, whom he had met before.

“Then I’ll go—”

“Huh.”

“What!”

Shing-

As Commander Ordin finished speaking and turned his body forward, surprised exclamations erupted from all around.

Simultaneously came the sound of numerous swords being drawn.

The knights who had drawn their swords were all pointing them at the same place.

In front of the tree where the suspicious warp point was installed.

Someone was standing in front of the tree that had been empty just moments ago.

Someone unidentifiable wearing a white robe pulled low over their face.

“You…!”

Shing-

Commander Ordin also drew his sword and pointed it at the suddenly appeared figure.

Ordin remembered that outfit clearly.

The one who had cast the devastating magic that destroyed the Silver Eagle that day.

“Everyone, step back and maintain distance!”

“The small fry…”

While Ordin urgently ordered his subordinates, the man in the white robe spoke.

His voice was so low it was difficult to understand properly, but it had the effect of focusing everyone’s attention.

“Let me clear them out first.”

Whoosh-

“Damn it! Magicians ready! Everyone else, get back as far as possible!”

Black mist began to rise from beneath the man in the white robe.

Seeing this, Ordin’s near-desperate shout made his subordinates move even faster.

As Ordin ordered, the knights with swords retreated, and the magicians in robes stepped forward.

“Cast protection magic!”

Woong-

Before Ordin finished speaking, the magicians behind him used their magic.

With a flash of light, a shield-like barrier spread widely in front of Commander Ordin.

The barrier, which initially only blocked the front, gradually took shape and transformed into a sphere.

Ordin watched the rapidly expanding barrier with desperate eyes.

Hoping it would be able to block that mist.

Whoosh-

As the protection magic enveloped the knights in the form of a massive sphere, the black mist finally began to move.

The mist spread as if it had been waiting for the barrier to be deployed, starting a beat later.

The black mist approached, eroding the surroundings, and the moment it touched the barrier…

Gulp-

Commander Ordin unconsciously swallowed as he watched the moment of collision between the two magics.

Crackle-

When the black mist touched the barrier, energies collided with a crackling sound.

This was as Ordin had expected.

Magic meeting magic, creating a collision, with defensive magic neutralizing offensive magic.

Just as he was beginning to hope that the mist could be blocked…

Whoosh-

“Ugh!”

The situation didn’t unfold as Ordin had hoped.

He thought the barrier would block the mist, but it didn’t.

There seemed to be a collision of mana with crackling sounds, but the black mist ignored the barrier and began to spread inside.

The barrier hadn’t even broken.

The mist just passed through the barrier as if it weren’t there.

“Next!”

Ordin shouted without panicking.

Unfortunately, this was within his expectations.

After losing the Silver Eagle, Ordin and the O’Neil Kingdom hadn’t been idle.

They had diligently sought ways to counter mist-type magic.

Beyond what Amillion had mentioned about turning gas into liquid, they had found quite a variety of methods.

“Magicians!”

At Ordin’s shout, the magicians behind unleashed their prepared spells.

Multicolored lights shot toward the black mist, and the magicians watched their spells being fired with confident expressions.

Thinking that among these numerous spells, at least one would work.

Boom-

An explosion more intense than the collision sound was heard, and Commander Ordin looked ahead with hopeful eyes.

Wishing the black mist had completely disappeared.

“This is…”

But that didn’t happen.

Whoosh-

Far from disappearing, the black mist had grown even thicker.