Ch.184Chapter 184: The Revealed Enemy (2).

# Chapter 184: The Enemy Revealed (2)

In an instant, the warm atmosphere in front of the tent froze over.

Valt’s chewing mouth stopped mid-bite.

The warmth and tranquility in his eyes vanished without a trace, replaced by a sharp, knife-like gleam.

“…What did you say?”

Lisa, who had been cheerfully chatting with Luktan beside him, turned deathly pale. The skewer she was holding fell limply to the ground.

“Ca-Caldrian territory…? But, but that’s where Rita, Senior Airine, Seyrun, and the others went…?!”

Arias also froze, her eyes wide open.

Her blue irises trembled violently with anxiety.

Liris silently took hold of Valt’s arm, her touch conveying her concern.

Baron was extremely flustered by the group’s intense reaction.

He frantically waved his hands, wondering if he had somehow miscommunicated.

The news he brought was by no means bad news.

“Um… Your Highness, ladies! I apologize for creating such a serious atmosphere, but it’s not bad news at all! It’s actually closer to good news!”

Baron exclaimed urgently.

“I came to inform you that the monster wave in Caldrian territory is nearly over! They say it’s in the final stages! There were certainly crises, but… the Academy reinforcements, including Prince Valt’s friends, performed remarkably well!”

Only then did the frozen atmosphere thaw, and sighs of relief erupted from all around.

“Phew…”

“Thank goodness…”

Lisa, the first to regain her composure, snapped at Baron irritably.

“Seriously, General! Why did you start with such a heart-stopping, meaningful expression! I thought my heart was going to stop!!”

“Haha, I sincerely apologize. My expression tends to be a bit…”

As Baron apologized with an awkward smile, Luktan burst into laughter, lightening the mood.

“Hahaha! These things happen! So, how exactly did our brave Academy friends perform? Let’s hear the details!”

At Luktan’s words, everyone’s attention focused on Baron. He cleared his throat once and began calmly relaying the news he had received.

“The monster wave in Caldrian territory was much fiercer and more organized than expected. In particular, a powerful high-level undead monster called the ‘Frost Lord’ led the wave, nearly breaking through the defense lines several times.”

“Frost Lord?” Valt echoed.

“Yes, it’s a name I’m hearing for the first time as well, but apparently it was a very formidable opponent wielding powerful ice magic and commanding an undead army. A type of Lich, I believe. The Caldrian Duke’s knights alone were insufficient…”

Baron paused to catch his breath, then continued with a proud expression.

“That’s when the students dispatched from the Academy made their decisive contributions! All students performed excellently, but particularly Miss Airine, the Sword Saint’s disciple, who fought at the vanguard; young Seyrun, the Caldrian family heir, who commanded the defense lines; Princess Solphin of the Dragon-folk who demonstrated tremendous combat prowess! And Her Imperial Highness Elias showed exceptional leadership. Thanks to the bravery of Your Highness’s other friends and all the Academy students, they were able to defeat the Frost Lord and almost completely suppress the wave. Duke Caldrian himself sent a letter expressing his gratitude.”

While listening to Baron’s explanation, Lisa proudly shrugged her shoulders as if it were her own achievement, while Arias and Liris smiled quietly. Luktan and Grace also listened with interested expressions.

“Hmm… Well, I knew it! My friends are amazing, aren’t they!”

Lisa said proudly.

“I’m so relieved. Everyone is safe…”

Arias also breathed a sigh of relief.

While Valt was also relieved about his comrades’ safety and achievements, he didn’t miss the suspicious parts.

“Hmm, strange. A Lich would be on par with or even stronger than the Death Knight we encountered here. Was it really defeated so easily? Are you leaving something out?”

At Valt’s words, Baron made a troubled expression.

“Haha, your insight is impressive as always. The truth is, the Holy Nation intervened, I’m told.”

The Holy Empire of Corindel.

A religious nation in the northern continent that worships the main deity Cora.

Though they have neither Floor Knights nor Circle Mages, they create numerous miracles through divine power alone, making them one of the continent’s two major powers that even the Halkin Empire cannot take lightly.

“No matter how much they borrowed the power of the great demon Geolbeu, it was useless against the holy knights and priests.”

So there was a reason after all.

Valt guessed that the Emperor had identified the Dark Assembly’s existence and quickly requested help from the Holy Empire.

Given their eagerness to confront demons, it would have been a mutually beneficial arrangement for both the Empire and the Holy Empire.

‘That’s why he’s the Emperor, I suppose.’

Valt asked Baron again.

“Lord Baron, were there… any other unusual aspects? For instance, were the monsters abnormally strong, or perhaps… were people in black robes sighted?”

At Valt’s pointed question, Baron seemed to search his memory for a moment, then nodded with a rather serious expression.

“Unusual aspects… Well, the situation was quite chaotic, so the reports aren’t complete yet, but… Ah! There were two peculiar points.”

Baron lowered his voice.

“First, the ice magic used by that ‘Frost Lord’ was somewhat different from ordinary magic, accompanied by a very ominous and dark energy. There were reports that it felt similar to the ‘demonic energy’ we experienced here.”

Baron briefly studied Valt’s reaction, then continued in an even lower voice.

“And second… there was indeed mention of the black robes you mentioned.”

“!!!”

Not just Valt, but tension spread across the faces of the other companions listening to the story.

“According to the Caldrian family’s external report, an unidentified group in black robes was spotted in the rear when the wave was at its most intense, and there’s a very high possibility they belong to the ‘Dark Assembly’ that the Empire is monitoring. They didn’t directly engage in combat, but movements suggesting they were directing or luring monsters to specific areas were detected.”

The Dark Assembly.

It was a name Valt had been concerned about since the vampire incident.

The attempted kidnapping of the vampire race, the eastern orc invasion, and now the northern monster wave.

The same black shadow loomed behind three massive incidents occurring in completely different locations.

Demonic energy and the Dark Assembly. The connection between the two now seemed almost certain.

Valt’s expression grew cold.

The situation was much more serious and widespread than he had anticipated.

Even amid his deep fatigue, he felt the heavy responsibility to return to the Academy, organize all this information, and prepare.

“Where are those friends… now?”

“Although the wave has been mostly suppressed, they will remain in Caldrian territory for the time being to eliminate stragglers, assist with recovery efforts, and investigate traces of the ‘Dark Assembly’ you mentioned.

I heard they plan to return to the Academy soon.”

Valt nodded.

It was fortunate that his friends were aware of the Dark Assembly’s existence and investigating, but it also meant they could be exposed to danger.

The need to return to the Academy, compile information, and urgently report all these facts to the Emperor and the Chancellor became even more pressing.

“I understand. Thank you for the valuable information, Lord Baron.”

“Not at all. I should be the one… Ah, never mind.”

Baron swallowed his words about Glasion’s damaged eye and the possibility of exile, laughing awkwardly as he rose from his seat.

Delphon Haines also bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Once again, only Valt’s group remained around the campfire.

The cheerful atmosphere from earlier had vanished, replaced by the heavy presence of the newly revealed enemy, the “Dark Assembly.”

Luktan spoke first.

“Brother, things seem to be getting more complicated. This Dark Assembly, what kind of people are they to be causing trouble all over the continent…”

“…I don’t know the details either, brother. But what’s certain is that they’re not ordinary opponents. And they’re definitely enemies we must stop. The south may not be safe either.”

Along with the relief that their friends in the north were safe, there was also anxiety about an invisible, massive threat looming over the entire continent.

Valt gazed into the blazing campfire, quietly beginning to plan his next move.

First, he would need to return to the Academy.

However, returning to the Academy was no longer simply for rest or reporting.

It would be the first step in preparing for an intense battle against the great evil known as the “Dark Assembly,” which had shown its claws throughout the eastern and northern regions of the continent.

The Dark Assembly was no longer a shadow hiding in the darkness, watching.

Based on the abilities they had demonstrated so far, they were a clear and unpredictable threat that could devour everything at any time, anywhere.

Crack-

Crackle-

The blazing campfire flickered in Valt’s golden eyes.

Valt quietly steeled himself to face the coming inferno.