Ch.27According to plan

Balkan thought.

‘Currently, the only one who knows whether Hestia is alive or dead is the <Black Wolf> standing before me.’

Of course, even that information was likely false, but he had to confirm it for certain.

‘If I kill the Black Wolf now, I’ll just live the rest of my life clinging to a hollow hope.’

There was also the option of killing him first and finding out afterward, but his opponent was the <Black Wolf>.

Extermination of sewer rats.

Extermination of fanatics.

Threatening the Emperor and assassinating Hestia, among other feats.

These were monsters who accomplished tasks that couldn’t even be attempted with mediocre force, and without any losses.

‘Even if I asked Marin for post-mortem information extraction magic, it’s uncertain whether it would work.’

Balkan immediately came to a conclusion.

‘Getting information while keeping him alive is the surest approach.’

This was a judgment and decision made not as the hero Balkan, but as a single “human” who had lost family.

Confirming whether Hestia was alive took precedence over annihilating the enemy before him.

However, there was one thing the Gardner had overlooked, and that was…

“What are you doing, Balkan?”

The presence of another ‘hero.’

One who acted as if devoid of emotion, a woman resembling a beautiful machine or doll.

Because Balkan knew her better than anyone, he could immediately predict her next move.

‘Asha will continue her attack.’

The Warrior of Light – Asha Mirabel.

While Gardner, Selena, and Marin each moved with missions like world peace, racial prosperity, and acquisition of new knowledge, Asha’s mission was just one:

‘The extermination of evil.’

She moved as if nothing else mattered, so this time too, the eradication of the <Black Wolves> and the <Black Wolf> would surely be her top priority.

Clank,

Clatter.

Balkan readjusted his shield, placing the Black Wolf behind him as he lowered his voice.

“I’ll handle this myself, so go back, Asha.”

Faced with Balkan’s attitude, Asha pondered while resting her holy sword on her shield.

‘Ian Red said.’

That Hestia was definitely alive.

That she was being held captive by the <Black Wolves> somewhere, breathing and alive.

But even so, if she were to leave the <Black Wolves> and the <Black Wolf> alone?

The current situation:

Gardner’s main force neutralized.

Most of the reinforcements are mercenaries.

‘Mercenaries have loose lips, so rumors will spread.’

Rumors like even the hero party struggled against the ‘Black Wolves.’

Of course, most of the content would be false, fabricated by mercenaries who only watched from afar, but that made it all the more necessary to be vigilant.

Rumors without substance get exaggerated, and only those involved pay the price.

‘The Empire is already rotting due to the Emperor’s tyranny, and the emergence of the <Black Wolves> has accelerated this.’

If rumors start spreading that the <Hero Party> has weakened at a time like this?

‘Our party will lose its power as a deterrent.’

The moment the Black Wolves’ notoriety surpasses the party’s, the Empire will collapse.

That’s why Asha Mirabel had to set her priorities straight.

‘As much as I’d like to confirm Hestia’s status first…’

-I’d stake my life on it. Lady Hestia is definitely alive.

Ian Red.

Wasn’t that kind and upright man’s life-staking affirmation reliable?

‘…He wasn’t the type to lie. Let’s trust him without doubt.’

If they kept her alive while making it seem like she was dead, there must be a reason for it.

If the Black Wolves kept Hestia alive, what could be the reason?

‘…To exchange her for the Celestial Barrier?’

Detailed speculation was impossible due to lack of information, but one thing was certain.

‘There’s no chance Hestia will die within the next 10 seconds.’

If that’s the case,

‘I’ll annihilate the <Black Wolves> within 10 seconds, then find Hestia through Marin.’

Having finished her thought process, Asha gave a subtle eye signal to the enraged Balkan.

‘I have a plan, so help me, Balkan.’

That was the meaning conveyed in her glance, but misunderstanding her intent, Balkan furrowed his brow sharply.

“Are you saying you’ll stop me? That you’ll kill me along with the Black Wolves?”

“…?”

Right. This is Balkan after all.

She thought he might have awakened intellectually after hearing news about Hestia and becoming enraged.

“Fine!! If you’re going to be that stubborn, I’ll face you with all my might too!!!”

Balkan was just being Balkan.

So Balkan thought:

‘If I interfere, she plans to kill me along with the Black Wolves! I must kill her before she kills me!’

At the same time, Asha thought:

‘…Just Balkan being Balkan.’

The momentary disappointment dulled the tip of her holy sword, and Balkan didn’t miss that opening.

“Hup!!”

Clang!!

With Balkan’s one-sided misunderstanding, the interlocked holy sword and shield were flung apart.

Balkan bent at the waist, preparing to charge, while Asha readjusted her deflected holy sword.

In that split second when the two heroes’ eyes met…

—CLASH!!!!

The split shield and the sharp holy sword collided once more.

Balkan shouted with all his might while blocking the holy sword that rained down like a downpour.

“Gardner’s shield is the world’s finest!! It will never break before any force!!!”

“It’s already… done. There’s no point in exchanging more words.”

The weapons of Balkan, who charged like a beast, and Asha, who had given up on persuasion, targeted each other.

Boom!!

The shields fitted like bucklers on each of their hands demonstrated their maximum destructive power.

…Swish.

The sword with numerous afterimages bent like water, deflecting all attacks.

A battle between monsters that surpassed even S-rank, difficult to follow even for seasoned warriors.

Though only five seconds had passed, hundreds of exchanges had already occurred.

That’s why the mercenaries were puzzled.

“…Why are the two of them fighting?”

“Is that important right now?! Look, the Black Wolf can’t move an inch!!”

“Heroes are truly different!! To think that Black Wolf can’t even move…!!”

The Black Wolves’ re-attack, the annihilation of Gardner’s main force, and the subsequent request for reinforcements.

With limited information, they could only talk about what they saw, but it seemed that what Asha had worried about wouldn’t happen.

However, it wasn’t just the reinforcement mercenaries who were observing the situation.

“……”

A man in black,

A man emanating a terrifying aura like an evil spirit, slowly turned his head and lowered his gaze as if disturbed by the mercenaries’ words.

At the same time, some of the black energy leaked out and enveloped the mercenaries’ bodies.

Mercenaries.

Masters of survival who beg for the next day with their lives as collateral.

As soon as that energy touched them, some who had been silent waved their hands and retreated.

“…!! W-wait!! It wasn’t me!! I didn’t say anything!!”

“That’s right!! We didn’t even dare to mention that name!! No, we didn’t mention it at all!!”

“Who was it!! Which bastard dared to mention that name!!”

These were statements that would earn the Gardner family’s reproach if this incident ended. But the gathered mercenaries all had the same thought.

What’s the use of worrying about that if we’re all going to die?

The gazes of the B to A-rank mercenaries, who had shrunk back just from a glance, were collectively directed at those who had cheered for the hero.

“Y-you crazy bastards!! Can’t you see?! And you call yourselves comrades!?”

“Comrades my ass!! We didn’t even mention the Black… No, we didn’t mention that name at all!!”

“That’s right!! Those who made the mistake should take responsibility, why should we all die together!?”

The mercenaries, intimidated and shrinking back from the Black Wolf’s gaze, pushed the two mercenaries who had dared to mention the <Black Wolves> out of the group.

“Damn it, damn it!!!”

The stout mercenary who was pushed out first immediately knelt down and begged.

“M-misunderstanding. It’s a misunderstanding!! I didn’t shout alone, this bastard next to me provoked me!! What are you doing, you bastard?! Kneel down and beg right now!!”

Luna’s furrowed brow twitched at the sight of another figure pulled out by the rough hand.

-Everyone, don’t be afraid and wait!! The strongest of the continent’s top 10, the Golden Dragon, has come to protect us!! Yes…!!

-It’s the birth of a new hero!!

The man who had instilled hope in people during the previous central plaza incident.

“I refuse. Why should I beg for my life from such an evil person when I’ve done nothing wrong?”

“This bastard, really!!”

“And everyone seems to misunderstand, but our Mud Mercenary Group didn’t come here to beg for food. We came to work for what we’re paid.”

It was Mud, the man who had exuded a fresh scent of grass and moist earth.

“So I’ll help too. To eliminate the special wanted criminal, <Black Wolf>.”

The only mercenary who didn’t shrink back raised his head, pushing them aside.

‘…I’m scared.’

If the Golden Dragon was brilliant and warm, this Black Wolf was dark and chilling.

The outside was pressed down to a point, and the inside was churning, making him nauseous.

If I face him, I’ll die.

Even if I don’t face him, I’ll die.

Even if I just stand here like this, I…

‘…will die.’

As he reached the conclusion of death, regrets for things not achieved flooded in.

‘If only I had power like the Golden Dragon.’

If I were sharp like Asha,

Or solid like Balkan,

Or wise like Marin,

Or persistent like Selena.

If I had just one of the heroes’ powers, I could have been of some small help…

‘No. Get a grip.’

Crunch.

He bit his lip until it tore, awakening his mind through the distant pain.

‘Even if I die like this, we have the heroes… Above all, we have the new hero, the Golden Dragon.’

So even if he dies here, if that death provides information.

‘It will be of great help to the Golden Dragon.’

Brilliant golden light.

Overcoming the fear of death with that, Mud pointed his longsword at the Black Wolf.

“Come down, Black Wolf!!! I’ve come to avenge my comrade, Loren, who was sacrificed to you!!!”

Even if it’s a small death within a massive incident, my sacrifice will surely be worthwhile.

2.

Nahan was impressed.

In the novel, Balkan was portrayed as an idiot, and he had wondered if it was too much.

“Gardner’s shield is the world’s finest!! It will never break before any force!!!”

“…Tsk.”

It was actually an understatement.

‘Well, thanks to that, things are working out easily.’

The clash between Balkan and Asha.

The current situation was unfolding according to Nahan’s design.

‘Asha confirmed Hestia’s survival through Ian Red, but Balkan still thinks she’s dead.’

So if you tell someone who was trying to kill the <Black Wolf> that she’s actually alive, and do it in a whispered, partial manner?

‘He won’t be able to kill until he hears everything.’

Asha, on the other hand, was different.

She already knew about Hestia’s survival through ‘Ian Red.’

But unlike Balkan, she wouldn’t be swayed by the enemy and would plan to find Hestia herself after eliminating the enemy.

That’s why he predicted:

‘Balkan trying to save the <Black Wolf>, Asha trying to kill the <Black Wolf>.’

The two would inevitably clash, and unlike the enraged Balkan, Asha would moderate her force to avoid killing Balkan.

‘She’s already used her ultimate skill <Judgment>, so she can’t overwhelmingly subdue Balkan.’

Then?

“Gardner’s shield is the world’s finest!! It will never break before any force!!!”

“…A bit.”

Until Asha convinces Gardner, the battle between the two will never end.

Balkan, with physical abilities comparable to a hero, but simple and crude.

Asha, who never reveals her inner thoughts to others, appearing emotionless.

The two collided with different thoughts, and unless Balkan’s misunderstanding was cleared, it wouldn’t be easy to break free.

With this, he had secured both his life and time to formulate the next plan.

‘The condition to end the bad ending is, as in the original work, for Luna and Balkan to face each other.’

In the current state, Luna would have to face both of them alone, which carried significant risk.

‘…What should I do?’

How can I separate Balkan and Asha, and make only Luna and Balkan face each other?

“Shield’s Gardner is the world’s finest!! Any force before will never it break!!”

“…The order’s wrong.”

“No!! What’s wrong is your attitude, Asha, not even trying to listen to others!!”

…Ugh, so noisy.

Feeling like he was becoming equally stupid, he turned his head to look around and clear his mind.

“…!”

“…!!”

“…!!!”

What are they doing over there?

The mercenaries were warily watching the loiterer who was waiting for them to cross the line, while noisily chattering among themselves.

“…!”

“…!!”

“…!!!”

I can’t hear what they’re saying.

Frustrated, he furrowed his brow, and killing intent flowed in that direction. Some mercenaries panicked, and two stepped forward.

“…!!”

The stout mercenary prostrated himself and rubbed his hands, while the familiar mercenary looked at him with disgust.

‘What’s with them?’

What’s going on?

Have they split into factions between those afraid of us and those on the heroes’ side?

Are they offering that stout-looking hostage to the loiterer in exchange for sparing their lives?

…Hostage?

As he was trying to concretize the thought that tickled his mind.

Step.

A vaguely familiar man walked forward, pointed his longsword at me, and shouted.

“…down …Wolf!!! …comrade!! …avenge!!”

Hmm.

Still couldn’t hear clearly.

But,

‘…A hostage situation. That’s good.’

Thanks to that, a good idea came to mind.

‘One by one, slowly.’

After reviewing the plan once more, Nahan turned with confidence.

“Balkan Gardner, Asha Mirabel. If you don’t stop fighting right now, I will kill Hestia.”