Ch.308[Chapter 308] Dragon and Imoogi

Sir Musashi’s mission for Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica was quite simple yet crucial.

“You two will move with our 3rd Corps up to this point. Then enter this forest, and right here, capture the entrance to this building.”

Musashi pointed to a road, a forest, and a building at the Qingwen Clan’s forward base.

“What’s that place that we need to capture?” Sir Dominic asked Musashi.

“Good question.”

Musashi pointed to the building he had just indicated and the surrounding structures.

“This, this, and this are their respawn points. They’ve positioned them close to the battlefield for quick reinforcements.”

“Are you certain?”

“Absolutely.”

Musashi replied with confidence despite Sir Dominic’s question.

“My wife… no, Kunoichi Ichiko is the best in this field.”

By referring to his wife by name, Musashi conveyed that this was an objective assessment.

“Operation time is in two hours. We’ll move when the sun begins to set. Any questions?”

“I have one. This forest looks quite vast. Isn’t there a possibility we might get lost?”

Sir Dominica, who had been quiet until now, pointed at the forest drawn on the map.

Sir Dominica was so absorbed in the strategic map that she didn’t even realize she was speaking informally.

“What about going this way, this way, and this way instead?”

Sir Dominica pointed to a trail extending in the opposite direction from the path Musashi had mentioned.

Then she pointed to a lake, and then a wall.

On the map, that route seemed easier and faster.

However, Musashi immediately responded as if he had anticipated such a question.

“This appears flat on the map, but in reality, there are steep cliffs. If you want to move while staying hidden, the forest is the only way.”

“Then what are our chances of getting lost there?”

Sir Dominica’s questions were as sharp as a blade honed on a whetstone.

“Oh, I forgot to mention that.”

Musashi apologized to Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica for his oversight.

“I’m sorry. When you reach the forest, someone we’ve sent will be waiting. If you follow them, you won’t get lost.”

“Can we know who it is?”

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“Security concerns.”

Musashi responded firmly to Sir Dominica’s question.

“Just as we obtain information about the Qingwen Clan, they gather intelligence on us. You never know when or where information might leak.”

“What about us? Do you think they haven’t heard the plan you just told us?”

“They might have. Hmm… actually, I’d rather they did hear this.”

“…Why is that?”

Sir Dominic, unable to contain his curiosity, interjected into the conversation between Sir Dominica and Musashi.

“Why would you prefer they heard it?”

“Because you are Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica.”

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica looked at each other and shrugged.

What on earth did that mean?

“Don’t you think they know your reputation? Of course they do. You fought dozens of people when you were tier one, soloed raid bosses, and now you’re approaching tier four.”

If you were that strong at tier one, what about now when you’re approaching tier four?

Sir Dominic couldn’t respond to Musashi’s question.

Even he thought it was quite… formidable.

“Rather, they’ll likely try to conceal this information and send people capable of countering Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica. The stronger the people they send, the more holes will appear in their battle line. If they ignore you, their respawn point gets blocked. Isn’t it a perfect move?”

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica nodded at Musashi’s words.

They had perfectly grasped Musashi’s intention.

Being more warrior or knight-like than commanders, it had taken them a bit longer to realize.

“Now I understand properly. It’s a good strategy.”

“Indeed. I get it now.”

Musashi nodded at Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica’s words.

After checking the remaining time, he advised them to rest for a while.

“The operation begins in an hour and a half. Until then, prepare your equipment or get some rest.”

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica nodded again and left the room.

Musashi watched them leave intently, then turned his attention back to the map.

After silently studying the map, Musashi moved one of the pieces somewhere else and fell into deep contemplation.

The piece was shaped like a golden dragon.

…

“Hiss… Argh!”

In the Qingwen Clan’s forward base, inside the tent of the man wearing a crown.

The crowned man stormed into the empty tent and, unable to contain his anger, hissed and threw objects around.

“How dare, how dare they say such things to me?”

In fact, the crowned man had just secretly contacted his cousin in Mountain Bridge Marsh.

Due to the prolonged clan war depleting their supplies, he wanted to secretly request support.

My ambitious cousin will surely help me, if only for appearance’s sake.

However, his cousin’s words were harsh beyond measure.

‘You’re an adult now, so you should take care of yourself. How long do you plan to live off others’ help?’

The crowned man’s inexplicable confidence was completely shattered.

Even if he had been unemployed for hundreds of years, how could someone say such nonsense to someone who was finally determined to work?

Of course, the crowned man was angry, but if the other party had heard this, they would have been dumbfounded.

It was the crowned man’s cousin who had provided tier 5 personnel as executives, and it was his cousin who had provided overall support to grow the clan to this point.

No wonder people said this clan was just a Mountain Bridge Marsh outpost with the crowned man as a figurehead.

However, unaware of this fact, the crowned man merely vented his anger by cursing his cousin.

Obscenities too vulgar to repeat poured from the crowned man’s mouth.

And most of his curses questioned why his cousin, who had been supportive until now, would cut him off at such a crucial moment.

A perfect example of mistaking continued kindness for entitlement.

Regardless, as the crowned man continued cursing, he became increasingly angry and stressed.

And excessive stress soon led to a delusional victory.

“…Yes. How could ordinary people understand a dragon when an immature dragon is trying to become a true dragon?”

The crowned man muttered with a twisted smile.

His pupils had elongated vertically, resembling snake eyes…

He looked like a snake hundreds of years old.

“Tier five. If I reach tier five, I can endure all these humiliations. Yes, indeed.”

He believed all his current humiliations stemmed from being tier four.

While the core executives were tier five, he alone was tier four, so he thought people looked down on him.

Of course, people disrespected him simply because he lacked character, but he would never admit this.

“Tier five. Tier five.”

The crowned man now seemed completely calm, his breathing steady.

“If I become tier five, everything will change. This clan will truly serve me, and my relatives in Mountain Bridge Marsh won’t be able to look down on me. And perhaps…”

I might even become the master of Mountain Bridge Marsh, or perhaps the master of the world.

The crowned man was now completely lost in his fantasies.

In his mind, he was already an emperor, a dragon, the ruler of the world, and a god.

“But before that, there’s one thing that must happen first.”

The crowned man’s eyes gleamed.

His vertically slit pupils like those of an evil snake were facing the wall, but the crowned man was looking beyond, far beyond the wall.

“I will lead this clan war to victory. Only then will everything come to fruition…”

The crowned man let out an even more twisted laugh.

“On the day this immature dragon becomes a true dragon after enduring all this, everyone will serve me.”

The crowned man uttered these cringeworthy words without hesitation.

Perhaps it was a late onset of chuunibyou syndrome.

…

As the sun began to descend from its zenith, the Eastern Alliance’s forward base became bustling with activity.

“Move quickly! Check your equipment, and see if anyone’s still sleeping!”

“Ugh, this goes there, not here! Why are there five over there! I said four should be there! What? And why are two missing here!”

“Ugh, what’s all this noise?”

“I don’t know. Why is everyone so busy…”

Arkus and Ogreson, who had fallen asleep beside the extinguished campfire due to drowsiness, were awakened by the commotion.

In his half-asleep state, Ogreson grabbed a passing woman carrying a naginata to understand the current situation.

“Why is everyone so busy?”

“Oh, there’s a deployment soon. Everyone’s busy preparing for it.”

The woman replied while tightly tying her headband.

As if every moment was precious.

“Deployment, you say?”

“Yes. It’s war again.”

“Ah. Thank you for answering. Hey, Bishop, wake up. It seems this is no time for sleep.”

“Hmm?”

Ogreson thanked the woman and woke Arkus.

“What’s happening?”

“It seems this is no time for sleep. And it doesn’t look like they can take us to the rear either. Shouldn’t we come up with a plan?”

Ogreson roused Arkus, who was about to lie down again, to discuss their current situation.

Having been awkwardly awakened, Arkus felt slightly irritated, but after blinking a couple of times, something suddenly crossed his mind.

“Oh, my goodness. Good heavens.”

“…? What’s wrong?”

Ogreson began to look strangely at Arkus, who suddenly started making the sign of the cross.

But Arkus continued making the sign while grinning, then spoke to Ogreson with an excited voice.

“The white raven has guided me. He told me that at the very end, I would meet Sanctus Dominicus, that is, Sir Dominic!”

“What?”

Ogreson stared at Arkus with surprised eyes.

Though Arkus occasionally appeared like a skinny, senile old man, Ogreson knew well that his faith was more devout than anyone’s.

For such a devout Arkus to claim he had seen God was no ordinary matter.

“The white raven was wandering on the battlefield. That means if we follow them, we’ll be able to see Sir Dominic!”

Arkus shed tears, overwhelmed by the faith filling his chest.

Whether it was faith in the white raven or fan devotion to Sir Dominic was unclear, but he shed hot tears nonetheless.

After crying like that, Arkus sniffled and jumped to his feet.

“This is no time to waste. Let’s follow them immediately. That’s how we’ll get to see Sir Dominic!”

With those words, Arkus began running toward the Eastern Alliance clan members.

“Hey! Hey! Oh my…”

Ogreson urgently called after Arkus, but his words couldn’t reach Arkus, whose mind was already filled with faith.

Ogreson grumbled, wondering if Arkus was truly devout or simply senile, as he got up from his seat.

Then he followed after Arkus.

“Slow down! I’m coming with you!”