volume 1 - Chapter 56 (1/2)

TL: I managed to clear 2 major a.s.signments so I can allocate a bit of time into TLing more chapters this week. The plan is to TL the j.a.p series with 6 hours over the weekends, but I should be able to squeeze in 1 ch of TAS and TSTBGAM today. Needs some help with grammar too.

The request to clean up the TOC has to wait until I clear all my a.s.signments which I should hopefully get it done by next week. Hopefully.

Chapter 56 – Witness

Brendel coldly watched the gathered n.o.bles who argued ceaselessly at one side. The din created by the n.o.bles and the soldiers did not appear to end anytime soon.

The n.o.bles wanted to leave the fortress by the north gate, without any regards for the citizens as they could not care less about them.

[These b.a.s.t.a.r.ds did not even mention about the citizens even once.]

There was no one amongst the n.o.bles who cared about political fights anymore. Some placed importance on their a.s.sets, even to the point where they would rather die than give their wealth up, others stressed that survival was the most important thing.

[Do these n.o.bles think that Madara’s undead would care about their status or wealth? These b.l.o.o.d.y morons are grating my nerves.]

Brendel lowered his head and wiped his sword. He had received 220 XP, one of the highest gain apart from the Golden Demonic Tree boss.

[Looks like that was a mid-ranked lich. It was fortunate that it did not react in time as these things are usually level 30 plus.]

Due to the low strength, the gargoyle was able to trap the lich in its claws, making it unable to move and ultimately allowed Brendel to kill it easily.

The lich was not limited to mere XP. Brendel chopped off its head earlier under everyone’s stares and took out a bone material. He then sliced off its four fingers from the right hand, pried open its head and pulled out its teeth one by one.

Everyone watched Brendel’s unthinkable actions in silenced horror as if he was a devil. His actions was like an experienced hunter who was processing its prey.

Brendel did not think it was unnatural since he really was processing his prey. The lich was different from regular mobs, as its soul fire had a chance to be molded into a gem, the four fingers holding on to its staff could be used as a spell regent, while the teeth could be made into paralyzing poison. One could even describe that the lich’s body was full of treasure.

Ciel knew a little as to what Brendel was doing, so he stood beside him faithfully. The n.o.bles’ soldiers whose loyalty was to money, had scattered due to the low morale, and Luc Beson’s soldiers had fallen back to their leader. The young wizard recalled the moment where Brendel tested the sword at Dunn’s corpse, and understood that his every action had deep meaning to it, and could not be more impressed in his mind. (TL: Okay… I don’t recall if that sword lit up lol. So Dunn is an undead too or something?)

As Ciel watched Brendel continue to dismantle the lich, he felt the revered archmagi in Karsuk could not compare against him.

On the other side, Luc Beson had regained his composure after the temporary shock. He was not like the n.o.bles who were eager to escape, and looked at Brendel with interest as he grabbed his horse’s reins. In his eyes, Brendel was steady, decisive and flexible, and he was formidable at his age.

[If he’s ten years older, his accomplishments would have been remarkable.]

Although he was in the royal faction, the current Aouine made him shake his head. He raised his head and look at the dark sky, wondering what future the country had.

But only the heavens knew Brendel did not plan this ahead, but simply chose the best option for escape. He looked at Ciel who stood beside him, and asked: “Between the White Knight and the Black Warrior, which one do you find it easier to deal with?”

Ciel was momentarily stunned by the sudden question and did not know how to respond.

Brendel shook his head as he watched the squabbling n.o.bles escape to the east. Their former comrades’ bodies were simply left behind at the river without anyone caring about them. (TL: I made a mistake in the previous chapter, Esebar intended to retreat to the East, not north.)

“The poet Goebbels depicted Karsuk’s n.o.bles as brigands, but I think Grinoires is not too far off.” Ciel spat out his words in derision.

“This country is at its final moments.” Brendel did not care if Luc Beson could hear him as he spoke condescendingly. He did not desire to seek revenge against the people who were going to face death.

[Retreating to the east side means they will face Tarkus’s most infamous general, ‘The Dragon Calamity’, Lord Tamara.]

“Are you not fleeing?” Luc Beson appeared as if he did not hear Brendel’s words as he asked.

Before Brendel had the chance to reply, there were sounds of wings beating in the air. Everyone in the vicinity looked up as they saw two huge bone dragons pa.s.sing by over their heads, and fear spread throughout them. h.e.l.lish purple flames burned between their black bones, and their gigantic tattered wings emitted a dull beating sound as they flew through the air, and the wind that swept through the ground made their hair p.r.i.c.k up.

The people on the ground felt like their souls were shrieking from an unending nightmare. In their minds, they saw nothing but bleak hopelessness, and phantom-like bones were suddenly climbing out from the ground with maggots crawling all over them. The ground seemed to turn into a dry, decaying landscape without end.

Brendel punched himself in the arm and recovered from his afflicted status.

[d.a.m.n it. The dragons’ fear aura hit me pretty hard. Just flying over us affected us this much…]