The Sword Genius of the Magic Empire - Chapter 57



Only Noblemtl

Episode 57. Fortress assault operation (2)

In the darkness of the fortress.

The Elseid wizards advance silently.

Askle, who was in the middle of the line, grabbed a metal staff and directed it with his mana while giving low instructions.

“Deploy detection magic and communication magic.”

Wheein-

From the artifacts inserted into the ears of each wizard like earsets, a small communication magic circle rotated and unfolded in an instant, casting a small light in the darkness.

“Forward. Enemy movement detected.”

In the middle of the line, a detection magic user calmly began his briefing.

“One left corner, two right.”

“Disarmed.”

Askle gave instructions. The two battle mages who were clearing a passage in the ranks followed his briefing.

Turn the corner and quickly enter, aiming at the saddle.

The light of mana flashed in the two horse fields targeting the enemy.

Chuuung!

Sharp mana bullets and fireballs formed from the magic circle hit those hiding in the darkness.

The hallways of the fortress were filled with agonizing screams of bodies being torn open and limbs burning.

The hidden exiles squirmed as they fell down with a dry thud.

“… This is the price for touching Elseid.”

One of the wizards spoke quietly as he looked at the fallen man.

The magicians in the back row silently passed over the subdued men rolling on the floor one by one.

One of them deploys a magic circle towards them.

Charrrrrr!

In an instant, the chains binding their limbs were transformed into translucent mana and wrapped around them.

“Confirmed enemy silence. They are still hiding. Hand them over to the healers of the sect that will follow.”

“Disperse. Begin entering the fortress.”

At Askle’s direction, the wizards of Elseid split into groups of two and moved swiftly through the narrow passage.

All members simultaneously begin to take control of the maze-like fortress.

They all aimed at the horse turf and advanced, clearing blind spots.

When detecting enemies, use shock magic and flashbang artifacts to completely neutralize ambushing enemies before they can enter.

The other wizard who followed quickly entered the fortress’s chambers and subdued the incapacitated enemies one by one.

“Hey, it’s an attack!!”

“It’s the Elseids, get out of here!”

Meanwhile, the enemies who had seen Elseid’s overwhelming power slowly retreated.

The exiles soon realized that the situation had become extremely unfavorable and began to flee through the back door of the fortress.

Among the exiles who were running away in a panic, someone let out an urgent shout.

“Everyone, get out of here! First, escape through the back door of the fortress…!”

But the bastard’s screams didn’t last long.

Kwaaaaang!

As they were rushing towards the back of the fortress, a powerful explosion occurred right in front of their noses.

Some people were blown away with dust and debris.

Just as the loud noise that shook the darkness of the night drowned out all the voices of the enemies trying to escape.

Only groans of pain represented the will of those who tried to escape from the wizards of Elseid.

Damn… .

And beyond the dust and debris the explosion caused.

Black uniforms embroidered with gold decorations came into view.

The moonlight of the midnight hour, after the dust had cleared, illuminated the silhouettes of wizards wearing the uniforms that symbolized their elite ranks.

Knights of Nemesis who participated in the joint mission.

The violet-haired knight standing in their midst looked at Enoch from the other side of the fortress.

Theano’s purple eyes, looking at him, were shining darkly in the shadow of the hat.

[As you can see from the map, the fortress has a back gate.]

Just before leaving the village after the briefing.

Enoch spoke to Theano, who was conducting the meeting.

[If you break through and take control of the fortress, the enemies at a disadvantage will rush to the escape route all at once to escape.]

[What is the meaning of the words?]

[So, I want to leave the responsibility of subduing those who are being driven through the back door while trying to escape to Nemesis.]

The knights of Nemesis, including Theano, looked at Enoch beyond the shadow of the helmet.

[Are you asking us to block their escape route?]

[Yes.]

Enoch looked around at them and said,

[In order to suppress the concentrated force in one place, elite knight-level forces must be deployed at the back gate.]

Even if it’s only nominal, the command of the joint mission is direct. If the operation is reasonable, there’s no reason to oppose it.

As expected.

Theano looked at Enoch for a moment as if he was surprised, then nodded quietly without showing any expression.

[…All right.]

Of course, Enoch had a plan behind all these words.

‘This is the only way to avoid being caught with a sword.’

This is a place related to the Jechoi sword.

I don’t know where I might get the spec-up element, and I can’t reveal to the family’s magicians that I use a sword.

That’s why Nemesis was caught.

Nemesis is the most powerful force in this joint mission, so he is a must-have for this fortress attack, which already involves only a small number of troops.

But at the same time, Enoch needed to act from inside the fortress, out of their sight.

‘Then there must be a way to use it like this.’

-Block the retreat route of those who are being pushed back by the enemy.

Even a cat will bite a cornered mouse.

Of course, the resistance of those who are looking for an escape route to survive will be more desperate and therefore more brutal.

But what if what you see before your eyes is not a cat, but the ‘elite magic knights’ of the Elseid family?

“Nemesis. As planned, block the enemy’s retreat.”

At Theano’s command, the knights of Nemesis silently took their positions and skillfully formed formation.

One of the Nemesis’ knights raised his head, glanced at his enemies, and spoke sharply.

“Hey, I’m so tired of dealing with guys like that~”

Luca.

The knight, who had also served as a supervisor in the previous Nemesis Test, smiled faintly as if it was indifferent and spoke to Theano, who was standing next to her.

“But isn’t it a bit surprising, Vice-Captain?”

Luca glanced at Enoch from a distance and said.

“The operation that my direct line established wasn’t much different from the strategy we had originally thought of.”

She said with a low laugh under the shade of her hat.

“They say that the family that was imprisoned was incompetent, but now they read the enemy’s movements and devise a strategy just by looking at the map… Is that really possible?”

“Luca.”

Theano gave her a warning look. Luca just smiled brightly and pulled down his hat.

“Yes, Vice-Captain. I told you not to chat while on a mission!”

As he said that, Luca slowly took a step forward and circulated mana throughout his body.

And then, in a completely different tone than before, she opened her mouth in a much colder voice.

“Nemesis. Operation commencement.”

The exiles hesitated and stepped back as they faced the Nemesis Knights standing in the darkness.

Despair spread across the faces of the enemies who now realized that their retreat was completely blocked.

Enoch, who had been watching from afar, turned his head.

‘Okay, so far so good.’

In the middle of a fast-paced battle scene.

The situation when the operation was being planned earlier was added.

[… Then, what will Enoch do?]

After the operation was set, Theano asked back:

[Since Enoch doesn’t have a following yet, he may be in danger in times of emergency. If possible, it would be best to act with our Nemesis or other wizards… .]

[No. I act separately.]

Enoch added shortly.

[Together with Suin, who knows the internal terrain of the fortress well, we will act separately and target their leader.]

A look of surprise crossed Theano’s face.

[…Can I ask why?]

[The longer the battle lasts, the more damage your allies will take.]

It is a difficult operation that requires capturing an enemy who is defending the impenetrable terrain, and doing so in order to gather information.

Even the most highly trained magicians of the clan would likely have to make sacrifices.

[I will end this situation as quickly as possible.]

At those words, the surprised gazes of the clan wizards turned to Enoch once again.

Of course, the wizards of Elseid are undoubtedly strong.

They are all combat veterans and have outstanding skills, enough to be officially drafted for joint missions.

Nevertheless, the fortress assault operation is a high-risk battle that requires the sacrifice of friendly forces.

Is it true that Enoch, of all people, is participating in the first Allied mission understands this?

But Enoch looked around at them as if he would not even allow such a sacrifice, and spoke calmly.

[Therefore, while our main force of magicians is moving to take control of the fortress, I will act separately and take out the leader. If we capture him, the rest of us will lose our commander and become powerless.]

One of the family’s wizards spoke bewilderedly.

[That is reckless, however. Even so, Enoch, your direct descendant, is alone… .]

The other wizards who were listening to the story nodded with similar expressions.

The expression on their faces showed that they were not at all able to adapt to the unexpected remarks from their immediate family, which may have been the umpteenth time.

[it’s okay.]

But Enoch looked at Sirocco and answered.

[A person who knows the inside of the fortress well and has excellent fighting skills will go with me.]

Enoch added.

[Sirocco Lycaon. Heir to the current chieftain.]

Shiroko puffed out her chest and wore a proud expression at her introduction. Then she wagged her tail behind her back and placed both hands on her hips.

[that’s right!]

Some wizards briefly cast suspicious glances at Shiroko, who appeared to be just a pretty fifteen-year-old girl, as if she were not trustworthy.

But they wouldn’t have known.

That this is the definitive answer.

“We move too.”

Enoch looked at the clan’s wizards who were taking control of the inside of the fortress and spoke to Sirocco who was standing next to him.

Shiroko nodded slightly.

“Okay, I’ll show you. I know the way. And besides…”

She added in a low voice, briefly looking up at the lofty top floor of the fortress.

“I smell prey.”

“smell?”

“Yeah. Very, very bad.”

She walked towards the entrance of the fortress, step by step.

Enoch silently and slowly took down his cloth bag and followed Siroc towards the dark fortress.

As we climbed the stairs, a corridor inside the fortress was revealed.

In the long, old-fashioned hallway, torches lined the walls on both sides, dimly lighting up the room.

Enoch looked around and meditated.

‘It’s a bit strange.’

It was a place with a strange feeling, perhaps because it was a building from the past that was different from the Magic Empire I had seen so far.

Just like the long-closed dungeon in the Elseid Citadel that I had seen when I first became Enoch.

But there was no time to indulge in sentimentality.

A situation where an important battle is imminent.

Now is not the time to lose focus…

-Good

Suddenly, his vision began to blur.

‘…?’

Before he could even think of anything, Enoch’s vision suddenly began to fill with familiar shadows.

And the moment he realized what those shadows were, Enoch couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes.

‘… Could it be, a world without meaning?’

There was no way I didn’t know.

The image of Enoch that I had only been able to enter through meditation until now. It was the color of the black space I had seen there.

Enoch felt a chill down his spine for a moment.

‘The world of nothingness is about to be forcibly activated!’

There was no room for doubt.

‘Why this all of a sudden?’

The next moment, pale letters began to appear in my field of vision, which was beginning to encroach on the world of nothingness.

? Entering the ruins of “The Last Sword Saint of the Empire”

? Access the subject’s past memories!

? Dramatically increased target’s memory and synchronization rate!

And at the next phrase arranged before his eyes, Enoch’s dark blue eyes opened wide for a moment.

? 「The World of No-Fullness」 Hidden Ability: Unlock

‘…for a moment.’

What is this?