Chapter 198

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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“The plan suddenly changed you say?”

The Artois mansion complex in the Royal Capital Radianor.

The Incompetent Sword Racmos was receiving the knight’s report while looking at the short note held in his hand.

“Yes. They say a notification came from the Holy State side. It is a situation where they have already completed their invasion into the Kingdom.”

“Crazy fanatics who lost their minds. Are they crazy?”

The plan to usurp the royal authority conveyed by the exiled Crown Prince Emether was shared from an early period.

However, a notification came that they would suddenly change that strategically prepared timing and content.

The reason he couldn’t say anything was because the decider of that was the Holy State.

“This is why I told you let’s not borrow their power.”

Emether’s fiancée is the niece of the current family head and Racmos’s younger sister.

Because of that, they could be involved to a certain degree since the plan to usurp the royal authority.

It was also the reason why he was granted an important role by the family head despite his alias of the Incompetent Sword.

The problem is the Holy State that intervened saying they would lend their power.

Racmos who heard the news flew into a rage and dissuaded him, but Emether, blinded by power, ended up taking a bite of the poisoned apple.

“The troops? You said they already arrived?”

“Yes. Let alone the planned positions, they have also finished deploying near the Royal Capital. The total number is estimated to be around 50,000. It’s said a substantial amount of regular troops were conscripted from the Roar Federation in the north.”

“What about the bastards that came from the Holy State?”

“This side is a bit strange, but a force that had never been seen before was deployed. It seems they prepared a hidden card after all.”

“Ha, what bullshit about a hidden card.”

Racmos let out a sneer.

Even if the Holy State is the strongest on the continent, those bastards are a cheap and cunning sort.

There was no knowing if they were needlessly throwing away disposable cards to test the waters.

“No, wait. You’re saying Emether is already in front of the Royal Capital?”

Racmos who was re-examining the note asked the knight.

He nodded his head and answered.

“Yes. It’s said all the key figures including Emether accompanied them.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing the explanation, he raised the corners of his mouth.

“Then there’s no need to needlessly act together with those bastards right?”

“Yes? What you mean is…….”

At the somewhat strange atmosphere, the knight cautiously asked back.

Then Racmos tapped the table and said.

“We are the ones usurping the royal authority. As long as we get our hands on the artifact Emether brings, the rest is unneeded.”

The Artois family that cannot become royalty due to the blood pact made by the founding family head.

The artifact that can break that pact is in Emether’s hands.

It was also the ultimate goal of this plan.

“What about the Artois knights and soldiers? I heard it’s about time for them to return.”

“Yes. Those who set out for the subjugation of the northwestern territory have all completed returning in the late afternoon.”

“Is that so?”

The strongest forces within the kingdom excluding the Royal Guard Knights.

The knights belonging to the Artois family exist as sharp swords obeying orders.

Although the permission of the family head is needed, Racmos had the qualification to use them.

Since a personnel reaching 20,000 had returned, that power became even more formidable.

If they join all military forces together, swallowing 50,000 would be more than possible.

“I can’t bear watching a third party stealing our rice bowl. Eventually the one to ascend to the King’s seat is our Artois.”

If they apply a pincer attack as it is, they will easily swallow the Royal Capital and drag down the current King.

However inevitably they will have no choice but to acknowledge the contributions of the Holy State and the Roar Federation, and share the pie.

Especially those bastards from the Holy State will likely demand quite a lot.

“I’ve decided.”

Racmos who rose from his seat turned his gaze outside the window.

And crumpling the note held in his hand, he said.

“Send an order sheet in the name of the Family Head. We move one step ahead and strike the back of those bastards.”

“Yes? Then we must first ask for permission from the Family Head…….”

“Shut up and just do as you’re told. Because the one to make the biggest contribution this time will be me.”

Seureuk-

Han-bit’s vision returning along with the final voice.

He was standing at the plaza of the Royal Capital.

‘Yeah, it would be like this.’

Racmos’s actions seen in the cutscene were exactly as anticipated.

That greed burning passionately to the extent of even skipping the permission of that absolute Artois Family Head.

This was a huge variable that the Holy State player missed.

“Move it quickly!”

“The eastern wall is first!”

“Move according to instructions!”

The interior of the city was quite busy.

The soldiers within the Royal Capital moving supplies urgently.

The appearance of being flustered at the emergency situation experienced for the first time was evident.

“The condition isn’t very good.”

Avant-garde said looking at the chaotic atmosphere.

As it was a completely different appearance from usual, he couldn’t help but be puzzled.

‘Still, it’s a relief that it’s a quest field.’

The appearances of ordinary players could not be seen around.

In this kind of already complex situation, it was a relief to be able to avoid needless interference.

“It seems the enemies are genuinely numerous?”

“I’ve grown curious about the situation outside the city walls.”

The twins showed interest in the unseen anti-state forces.

However, before they attack, there were things to check first.

“For now let’s go to the royal palace.”

Syuk-

Han-bit transferred to the promised location inside the royal palace along with the three people.

It was an arrangement made in advance with Leon.

“You’ve arrived.”

The place they arrived at was a somewhat dim reception room.

Where maps and diagrams of buildings were arrayed, one woman in the attire of a servant was standing.

“I will fetch Leon-nim.”

As if explanations were unnecessary, she immediately opened the blue door and stepped out.

Han-bit who was looking at her receding back redirected his gaze to the girl standing next to him.

“Haneul-ah, can you go bring Zenith-ssi?”

“Yes!”

When he handed her the ring and made the request, Haneul nodded her head and transferred immediately.

Her returning together with Zenith didn’t take long.

“Black Dragon-nim!”

Zenith approaching towards Han-bit as soon as she appeared.

Being exactly how urgently she came, a quill pen was held in her hand.

“What happened? The Guild Master of Temosha suddenly said the situation was sorted out, and I only heard reports that the other sides are fine too. Moreover, what’s a new enemy from the Holy State again?”

“Literally the localized crises have been passed. I’m saying right now is the time to focus on the Royal Capital.”

Kkiik-

Right then, a sound was heard from the side of the blue door.

And the King and Leon revealed their appearances.

“Zenith came as well huh.”

The King taking a seat approaching with quick steps.

He looked to have many things to ask.

“I see the bastards’ movements are faster and more violent than expected. Were you aware of this?”

The King who suddenly heard the state of the battle was a face of deep concern.

It was also a natural reaction in a situation where a massive military force suddenly popped out in front of the royal castle.

“I did not anticipate it. But thanks to facing the people who became the cause of that, I could gain information.”

Han-bit conveyed the story to the King excluding the concept of a player.

He who was quietly listening slowly nodded his head.

“A new special force huh. If it’s the Holy State, it wouldn’t be strange no matter what they hide.”

An existence possessing powerful strength to the extent of suddenly modifying the plan.

Just the reason of its background being the Holy State was enough persuasiveness.

“If you killed five people, didn’t that side also weaken considerably?”

Leon who was listening to the conversation asked cautiously.

Han-bit too had thought about that, but it was difficult to form a conclusion on what it is right away.

“It is a situation where the most amount of enemy forces are congregated at the Royal Capital side. It’s likely there might rather be more special forces than those five.”

“…I see.”

Leon nodded her head with a serious expression.

The troops existing inside and outside the Royal Capital are mostly the armies of Artois or the nobles standing on their side.

If they join forces with the anti-state forces amounting to tens of thousands, a future of being able to win could not be seen at all.

“How were the movements of Artois and the nobles?”

Zenith listening to the conversation asked looking at Leon.

Then she answered with a slightly ambiguous face.

“I too made complete arrangements to obtain information, but right now they are ordinarily solidifying the defense postures on the city walls. Artois and the nobles following them, both sides are identical.”

“That is strange. It’s time they ought to show different movements.”

Zenith fell into thought with a puzzled expression.

The role of those trying to betray the King lies in ruling the interior of the Royal Capital.

That is because doing so can reduce unnecessary attrition.

Controlling the situation after entering an all-out war had a bigger possibility of rather bringing about greater chaos.

“The Artois faction will become hostile against the anti-state forces too.”

“…Pardon?”

“Hostile you say?”

At the conclusion brought up suddenly, everyone expressed their doubts.

The voice of the King whose life was on the line was heard the loudest.

“Black Dragon, wasn’t it their goal to pool their strength to rule the Royal Capital?”

“It would have been so if the enemies were more than half fewer than the current numbers. Digging out the inside and attacking from the outside should increase the possibility of ruling. But now it’s different.”

Han-bit who rose from his seat brought over the map of the Royal Capital provided on one side.

It was one simply marking the vicinity up to several kilometers.

“What the Artois family desires is the artifact Emether will bring. Their ultimate goal is to break the pact using that and gain the status of royalty. However, Emether will probably be disposed of immediately right around the time the situation stabilizes.”

“…Dispose of? Emether who they put forward as the legitimate bloodline of royalty?”

The King was flustered.

In managing a country, legitimacy is important.

Because the heartfelt support, cheers, and envy of the subjects eventually appear as the king’s power.

However, a founding hero’s family that assassinates the king and ascends to the position has no choice but to be branded as ‘traitors’.

Even if they press down on the subjects with an oppressive attitude, that won’t change.

“Of course it’s probably not the consensus of Artois. However, the one taking charge of rallying the forces right now is the Incompetent Sword Racmos. He is not a man who’d watch the sight of the Holy State and Roar Federation adding a spoon.”

In a way a natural greed.

And the confidence that he can achieve anything sometimes creates more radical movements than expected.

“Ultimately, does that mean Racmos is betraying even his own allies?”

“He will probably strike the back of the troops deployed in front of the Royal Capital. Soon his move…….”

Kwagwagwang-!

Right then, a fierce tremor shook the reception room.

“This, don’t tell me…….”

“Are you saying they really ended up fighting among themselves.”

The start of a violent battle felt by the body.

The scenes drawn in the heads of the people listening to Han-bit’s conjecture were identical.

“Avant-garde-ssi, please check the troops gathered from each city. Preparations are probably over.”

“Here you go!”

Haneul handed the ring to Avant-garde.

“I understand.”

He who nodded his head disappeared with a transfer.

Edlen, Ifrit, and Temosha.

As well as the people from the surroundings they gathered, the prepared troops would naturally be numerous.

Of course it’s not yet the timing for them to appear.

“We shall go outside too.”

Han-bit came outside the royal palace along with everyone.

Leon and the King decided to watch the external situation through a magic tool from inside.

Peobeong-!

Kwagwagwang-!

The noise of the battle heard from afar rang out loudly.

Han-bit headed to the top of the city walls together with the twins and Zenith.

‘Fucking numerous.’

The troops laid out pitch black across the entire forest on the outside.

Their presence was distinctly revealed even in the darkness.

Pajijik-!

The enemy camp was responding to the attacks flying in from the rear and both flanks.

It’s the military force of Artois deployed according to Racmos’s instructions.

Seureuk-

Han-bit inspecting the structure of the enemy camp discovered a space wavering like a faint veil.

‘It’s there.’

The masterminds of the ambush who originally shouldn’t appear from this period.

However, with this scale, it’s rather a stranger thing if they don’t participate in the battlefield personally.

[Main Quest #7: Invasion II]

You have encountered new enemies of the Holy State.

You must block the massive army of the Royal Capital that appeared as a huge variable.

Objective: Stop the massive troops that appeared near the Royal Capital.

Reward: Paid after outcome calculation

Time Limit: 2 Hours

*Current Progression Rate: 58%

*When the time limit is exceeded, the Main Quest will be processed as a failure.

The biggest main quest that will drag the episode to its end.

The remaining time was a little over 1 hour.

The objective of this quest is simple.

Since it will be solved by killing all those many enemies.

Furthermore, since it’s a situation where Artois is even helping, the time was also spacious.

Han-bit looked at Zenith standing next to him.

“I will take a short trip too.”

“…Are you going inside?”

“Yes. Please look over the situation here. No-eul, you help defend the city wall, and Haneul, come with me.”

“Understood!”

“Yes!”

Tat-

The two people went down below outside the city wall.

Seuk-

He took out a dark red crystal from his inventory.

It is the Summoning Stone Imbued with Madness.

Pat-!

The moment he used it immediately, haze stretching from the crystal dug into the ground.

And after a moment.

Seureuk-

The Madness Army elites armed on their whole bodies revealed their appearances.

Cheok-!

The bastards who seemed like lunatics now began keeping the identity as an ‘army’.

Though it will change once going into battle, that is fine either way.

“Keep killing until I say stop. Do not distinguish enemies.”

Han-bit who issued the command took out the pure white sword.

Hwareuk-!

The flames blazing along the blade of the sword and the gust of wind wrapping the surroundings.

Right now he had to focus on wide-area firepower.

Seuk-

Before long the power of the spirits and elements reached their limits.

Han-bit who caught his posture kicked off his feet just like that.

Tat-!

The figures of soldiers engaging in a fight gradually entered his eyes closer.

And the moment someone who discovered Han-bit was about to open their mouth.

Hwaak-!

The ejected firestorm covered the forest.