Chapter 249
Maya Eldred passing the warrior’s trial was a near miracle, aided greatly by sheer luck, at least in her view. She believed that due to the trial’s inherent design, only someone of Hoarfrost Gorge blood could realistically succeed.
The first task of the warrior’s trial was to secure a “Heart”.
She had to locate a “Heart” hidden by warriors somewhere in Hoarfrost Gorge and return it to the tribe’s haven. While the harsh environment of Hoarfrost Gorge drained Maya’s stamina, she was a battle-hardened mercenary.
Additionally, having traveled with Khan, she had unknowingly improved her skills significantly, so securing the target wasn’t overly difficult.
But it was from that moment onward that Maya truly experienced what the “warrior’s trial” was.
From encountering white-skinned goblins to wolves with split tails, orcs that could easily crush greenskins from outside, and even other children from Hoarfrost Gorge undergoing the same trial.
She had to protect herself and the “Heart” from various creatures attracted by its scent of blood, all the way back to the haven.
There was no time to rest, and she lost all sense of time as she ran. Despite this, frost Hollow’s environment relentlessly sapped her strength.
When she was eventually surrounded by a group of Frost Orcs, she could barely remember how she survived. Had she grabbed a bone spear from the first orc that lunged at her—?
“What are you so lost in thought about? Having second thoughts?”
“Ah, lady Ludmilla.”
Startled by Ludmilla’s voice, Maya snapped out of her reverie and bowed her head. She then asked what Ludmilla meant by her question.
“Second thoughts?”
“About whether it would have been better to abandon Argon and run.”
“Oh… No, I don’t really think that.”
“Then?”
After a brief hesitation, Maya looked around and said,
“It reminded me of my time in Hoarfrost Gorge. There were this many dead orcs back then too. I couldn’t remember much of what happened at the time…. But now it’s all clear, which is quite surprising.”
“Hmm, really?”
Ludmilla replied with little genuine curiosity as she surveyed the scattered corpses of orcs around them.
Of the hundred orcs, half had been burned or crushed by her magic, while the other half had been pierced through the forehead or beheaded.
Considering these orcs were the real deal from the Land of Warriors, it was quite an incredible achievement.
‘She’s definitely changed somehow.’
Ludmilla didn’t fully grasp the exact reason behind Maya Eldred’s exponential growth in skill. After all, she was a mage, not a warrior.
The clear fact, however, was that all of Khan’s companions, including Maya, had achieved tremendous growth.
“Ladies, the reconnaissance is complete. It seems this group is just an advance party.”
A man who appeared suddenly, seemingly moving through the trees without a sound, spoke. Alejandro cleaned the blood off his ‘magic spike’ with his sleeve as he spoke.
“I found someone who seemed to be the commander messing around at the back, so I cut his throat.”
For Alejandro to casually mention killing the commander of the scouting party, who would have been quite formidable even among the warriors of the Land of Warriors, was something unheard of for his former self.
Yet Ludmilla was undoubtedly certain.
If Maya Eldred was the one who had shown the most remarkable growth in Hoarfrost Gorge, then the person who had fully realized his innate potential was none other than Alejandro.
However, she didn’t outwardly acknowledge this. There was a tacit understanding between Maya and Ludmilla that praising the frivolous Alejandro might lead him to make mistakes.
Instead, Ludmilla inquired about Alejandro’s report.
“Really? What was the commander doing?”
“He was building some kind of altar and squeezing corpses like washing laundry. He looked just like a demon worshipper…”
***
The Crown Prince of the Argon Kingdom.
No, now King Orion, the new ruler, had successfully restored order to the chaotic domestic affairs within a few months, showcasing his brilliance.
He also sought close cooperation with the autonomous North Emergency Committee, acknowledging their independence while letting the royal family handle some functions to maintain balance.
This was a conscious effort, aware of the presence of the ‘Dragon Slayer’ behind the North Emergency Committee.
Under King Orion’s reign, it seemed the Argon Kingdom was on the verge of enjoying a golden age—
“What about the border recovery?”
“Thanks to the efforts of Black Wing Duke, we’ve managed to restore the border and push back the frontlines. He plans to stay at the front until the stronghold is fully recovered…”
“Dispatch two Royal Guards to assist Black Wing Duke.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
—until the monsters overflowing from the Land of Warriors swept through the frontier kingdoms.
More than ten frontier kingdoms had already fallen to the greenskins. The remaining kingdoms could be counted on one hand, with the Argon Kingdom being particularly vulnerable.
‘They’re driving hordes of wild greenskins into the Empire to keep the frontlines busy while they eliminate the frontier kingdoms. Before engaging in full-scale war, they seek to secure their rear. That creature understands the order of war well, like a seasoned general.’
And the next target of “that creature” would undoubtedly be the Argon Kingdom. With his extraordinary genius, King Orion was confident in his convictions.
“Your Majesty. There are mercenaries requesting an audience to relay some news…”
“Let them in.”
The mention of “mercenaries” by his minister brought a gleam to King Orion’s eyes, and he immediately ordered them to be brought in.
Normally, a nation’s ruler wouldn’t be so welcoming towards mere mercenaries. However, the “mercenaries” referred to by the Argon royal family were different.
“I’m glad to see you safe, comrades of the hero.”
These individuals were the companions of the Dragon Slayer who had saved the kingdom and were currently pushing back the frontlines with their tremendous exploits. Without their presence, the kingdom would have had to considerably retract their frontlines.
“It seems you have successfully defended Faruthan Hill.”
“Well, my ladies managed to push them all back. But… we discovered something bizarre among them.”
“Bizarre?”
King Orion furrowed his brow.
Their party included a witch from the Forest of Inverted Cross who commanded mysterious spells. Naturally, this bizarre discovery would also be attributed to Ludmilla’s insights.
“Even to Dame Ludmilla’s discerning eyes, it seemed bizarre?”
King Orion’s attitude towards Ludmilla was very cautious.
He treated her not merely as a common mercenary but almost as an equal leader. Anyone who had witnessed Ludmilla’s spellwork would acknowledge King Orion’s demeanor.
The Karuna Plains, currently occupied by Orion’s forces, were originally captured by the greenskins but reclaimed by Ludmilla alone.
“Your Majesty. They had constructed some kind of altar and were draining the blood from corpses over it.”
“A heinous act. But what exactly makes it bizarre? I require further explanation.”
Although King Orion possessed outstanding talents, his long years spent in a comatose state had left him with gaps in detailed knowledge.
To his mind, greenskins indulging in such gruesome rituals was hardly surprising. But the warriors from the Land of Warriors were different.
“May I speak, Your Majesty. Maya of House Eldred. Greenskin warriors do not conduct such demonic rituals. To them, their God is the ‘battle’ itself, and battling itself is their sacred ritual.”
“But they were engaging in a bizarre ritual in the middle of a war…?”
With his typically astute mind, King Orion grasped what the Dragon Slayer’s companions were implying.
The appearance of the King of Warriors and the pan-continental war was expected, but if there was a strange ritual involved…
“It seems we need to investigate this further. Do you think the Empire is aware of this?”
“Given the Empire’s capabilities, they likely are. Especially since our lord is there.”
Our lord.
At the mention of the Dragon Slayer, King Orion’s eyes lit up. The thought that if the one who felled the resurrected ancient dragon could intervene, there might be hope in this seemingly hopeless war made his heart swell.
But he quickly shook his head to dispel the thought he had conjured.
‘Even if he rode day and night, it would take over ten days to reach the kingdom from the Empire. Factoring in delays due to greenskins scattered everywhere, we’d have to hold out for over a month.’
A month.
It might seem short, but for the Argon Kingdom, it was an unbearably long time.
“The King of Warriors is crossing the Potsral Mountain Range as we speak. It’s less than a fortnight before that monster reaches the northern frontlines. And… with our current resources, the kingdom cannot withstand him.”
In the past, they could consider a final stand behind the royal city’s Dragon Scale Walls. But the walls, obliterated by the Dragon Slayer’s strike, had yet to be restored.
Moreover, King Orion himself was currently stationed at the northern front to boost the morale of the kingdom’s army.
“Would you accept one final request from the companions of the hero?”
It was then that Ludmilla, who had previously only communicated her opinions through Alejandro, silently nodded for the first time. Seeing this, King Orion smiled faintly as he voiced his final request.
“Please go to the Empire and inform them of the ‘suspicious signs’ Lady Ludmilla discovered. Convince the Empire to decisively resolve this issue. That is the only way to overcome this national crisis.”
This wasn’t a request to risk their lives fighting alongside him. It was a plea for them to abandon the sinking ship.
“Your Majesty…!”
Understanding the underlying meaning, Maya couldn’t help but exclaim. But King Orion’s resolve was unyielding.
Originally, these individuals had come to the Argon Kingdom seeking something left behind in the Forest of Inverted Cross by the witch. They had been swept into the sudden outbreak of war due to the greenskins.
Although they had been generously compensated, the remuneration hardly matched the risk to the lives of the Dragon Slayer’s companions.
‘They are too valuable to lose in this futile war.’
Moreover, they were the companions of a hero. If he were to endanger them in a bid to save the kingdom, he wouldn’t be able to face ‘him’. Therefore, King Orion decided to send them away.
“The Argon Kingdom will maintain the frontlines for now. By unlocking the royal treasury and conscripting the royal guard and knights from all regions, we can buy enough time. If you could summon reinforcements from the Empire during that period…”
As King Orion was giving a comforting, albeit face-saving ‘request’ to allay their concerns, he suddenly clutched his chest and faltered.
“Your Majesty?”
At the unsettling sight of the king clutching his chest, Maya panicked, and the royal guards moved to support him. But King Orion shrugged off the royal guards and burst out of the hastily erected command tent.
A king who had come to the frontlines dashing out of his command post would naturally draw attention. However, surprisingly few eyes were on King Orion.
Whoosh. Whoosh!
An immense presence shadowed the vast Karuna Plains, where thousands of soldiers were stationed.
“A dragon…!”
Not a mistake made upon seeing a large serpent. Many in the Argon Kingdom’s army had witnessed the Golden Dragon Areolus, and the entity now in the sky emanated a palpable aura reminiscent of Areolus.
“Your Majesty! Step back!”
The royal guards, who had followed King Orion out and pulled him back, drew their swords. Their fierce resolve signified their determination to make up for their lack of action during the previous Areolus incident.
“No… It’s not…”
But King Orion somehow knew.
“It’s not an enemy!”
For some reason, he sensed no animosity from the dragon. As the royal guards, unable to comprehend Orion’s words, looked at the dragon occupying the sky above.
“It’s descending!”
With a majestic gesture that showed no concern for the chaos on the ground, the dragon landed in front of King Orion. And a familiar, welcome voice echoed across the Karuna Plains.
“Fortunately, it seems I’m not too late.”
“Is that…”
After the King of Warriors had ignited the war, a constant shadow had been cast over King Orion’s face. Now, a blush of excitement returned to his cheeks.
“It’s been a while, Crown Prince.”
The Dragon Slayer had returned.
