The passionate festival had ended, so Roman Dmitry and his party immediately packed their things. Since they had no other reason to stay in Valhalla, they thought of using the Warp Gate and heading to Adelian. But when they arrived at the Warp Gate, the person in charge responded that it wouldn’t work.
“… I am sorry, but it seems that it will be difficult to use the Warp Gate for the time being. We are trying to solve the problem of the gate quickly, but according to our mage in the tower, it would take 15 days at a minimum to get it done. How about staying in Marin for the time being? Traveling on foot will take a long time, so we will contact our superiors and provide a new place for Mr. Roman Dmitry to stay in.”
A polite smile and nature. The person in charge showed the right attitude, but Roman Dmitry knew the truth behind it.
‘The Warp Gate is blocked as I expected.’
A day ago, the head of the Valhalla Information Guild informed Roman Dmitry about the changes in Marin that happened overnight.
“The order to close the Warp Gate has been issued by the Imperial Court of Valhalla. On the surface, they might say it isn’t working, but in reality, there is nothing wrong. I am sure that you will hear the same response regarding the Warp Gate in any city you step into. They want the Lord to move on foot.”
From Marin to Dmitry, it was quite a distance. Even if they moved on horses, it was a distance they could not handle in one or two months, so the Warp Gate was essential for them to return to Dmitry.
Eventually, with time passing, Valhalla would have no choice but to open the Warp Gate. However, the problem was that it would take a considerable amount of time until then, and Valhalla’s plan was unpredictable.
‘There is just one way. It’s when we will arrive at the trading city of Valhalla, a month away from Marin. A city that excels in trade will have hundreds of warps happening every day, and it can cause a huge loss to the empire if they choose to close it even for one day, so the empire cannot hold us back for long. They will think the same as us. From Marin to the trade city. It is certain that it would work out within that one month.’
Valhalla was a rotten nation. The idea that he might protect his honor as a warrior made them send a clear message by closing the Warp Gate.
He had already expected it, so Roman Dmitry took a different turn. Conversely, if the chances were limited, he would actively respond to their plans.
A few days later, Marquis Belfir received a report.
“Roman Dmitry, who has left Marin, is heading for the trading city. It is as we had expected. Rather than being in Valhalla, he seemed to have decided that it was safer to move through the trading city.”
“He is so quick-witted. So, when is the right time to attack?”
“That… Actually, something went wrong.”
They received information from their informants. The subordinate spoke with a puzzled face,
“As you know, Roman Dmitry immediately gained immense fame from the festival here. With the people of Valhalla praising him, Roman Dmitry is deliberately making the people follow his path. So right now, there are many eyes and ears around him. Knowing that Roman Dmitry will leave Valhalla soon and will never be seen again, the people of Valhalla are going to visit him until he reaches the trading city.”
It started with a rumor. When they heard that they would receive the blessings of Valhalla if they welcomed Roman Dmitry, the people willingly walked with him.
The fight between Roman Dmitry and Barbossa. What happened that day left a huge impact on people’s opinions of him. People remembered that Roman Dmitry raised his honor as a warrior even though he was poisoned, and the emotions that spread like a viral fever formed a considerable crowd.
It was a very difficult situation to attack him openly. And if they attacked him now, the people would notice it.
When he first stepped into their nation, Roman Dmitry was just a stranger in their land. However, he, who was treated with discrimination by the people, has now become a hero of Valhalla whom everyone has recognized.
“If we attack Roman Dmitry now, the civilians would become casualties. Please give us an order. If needed, we can break apart the people who are walking with Roman Dmitry through an order, but after that, suspicion will rise if Roman Dmitry gets into danger. Roman Dmitry is no longer a normal person. People consider him the symbol of a warrior.”
Marquis Belfir calmly looked out the window. Valhalla was a deformed country. The nobles led most of the work, but a powerful person like Viscount Jonathan died in vain because of the Valhalla Emperor’s anger.
And committing treason would be unimaginable. The top rankers who represented Valhalla and even Barbossa couldn’t surpass them, so they all showed blind loyalty towards the Valhalla Emperor.
The reason for this loyalty is unknown. As they followed the Valhalla Emperor, who had no power, the 14th son rose to the position of Emperor. So on this day, they were ready to risk their lives. If they let Roman Dmitry survive, they weren’t sure what kind of punishment would come.
And Marquis Belfir said,
“There is no need to worry too much about the presence of the people. When attacking Roman Dmitry, our job is not to step in and take matters into our own hands. It is the death of a guest whom we had invited to Valhalla’s lands. If it is discovered that it is Valhalla’s plan, it will cause a stir.”
In the first place, the subject of this plan wouldn’t be Valhalla. Valhalla would only participate, but there was a separate being who actually wanted to do the task.
“We will pass on the information and close our eyes. Even if Roman Dmitry dies. As long as we show a reasonable nature and make minimal effort to avoid being held responsible for what happened, we can kill him. So tell Kronos that whatever they do, we will not hold them accountable.”
It was a cold voice. Marquis Belfir had no doubt that the plan would work.
The attack began without any warning. In response to the killing intent that he had noticed, Roman Dmitry drew his sword as if he had been waiting.
“It is the enemies! Everyone, move!”
“Yes!”
It was a sudden change in the situation, and the people of Valhalla looked confused. They marched after Roman Dmitry, who fought as a guest and stood on the stage of their festival.
The people withdrew to a safe distance, and their eyes widened. The expression on their faces seemed to be wanting to check to see what was happening. And at that moment….
Papat.
A dagger was thrown from a bush. And even though it was broad daylight, beings with black clothes on their faces popped out at the same time and raised their aura.
Grrrrng.
They were the shadows. The Kronos Empire didn’t hide their intentions. Even if they get condemned by the International Community for their actions on the land of Valhalla, they wanted to declare their intent to kill Roman Dmitry.
The shadows quickly flooded the whole area. As the soldiers in front moved with their daggers, they menacingly extended their daggers, which shimmered with a black aura.
Puak!
Kang!
The attack was blocked. It was Chris. He blocked the attack at the front and swung his sword before the shadow could even react.
‘Now.’
With just one flashing move, dark red blood spilled from the shadow’s body. The body that was wrapped in darkness tried to deflect the attack and began to scatter into the shadows, but with Chris’s keen senses, he cut off the link of mana to his body at once.
During the time they had to prepare for Valhalla, Roman Dmitry’s subordinates didn’t just train together. Roman Dmitry knew that if Kronos sought his life, then they would use the shadows.
“From now on, you guys will train on how to deal with the shadows.”
It was extreme training, and it was a time they had to spill blood. And during the training, where every moment was a crisis, Chris was able to capture a flow of mana he hadn’t seen before.
Through the small gaps, Chris stepped forward. And he wasn’t just able to cut down the first shadow that rushed in. The bodies of the shadows attacking from all directions were slaughtered.
People who watched the situation from afar were shocked. The rumors about the shadows were great. It was well-known that they couldn’t be dealt with by normal people, but Chris was able to respond to them perfectly.
That was just the start. Roman Dmitry said,
“Take down all the enemies.”
At those orders, from behind Chris, two tall men jumped up.
Among the subordinates following Roman Dmitry, who would take on the role of the vanguard?
Chris? No.
He was by far the best player except for Roman Dmitry, but he was not going to stay at the forefront of the battlefield.
If there was a flaw, the others were there to cover it and support him. And Roman Dmitry wanted Chris to grow into someone like a commander who could take on his role and not just his sword.
Then Kevin? Not him. He was the sharpest swordsman whom Roman trusted, but there were more suitable ones to be at the forefront. And they were…
Crush!
Volcan and Pooky. Exposing their barbaric muscles, they swung their great swords and immediately turned the bodies of the shadows into chunks of meat.
An eerie cracking sound could be heard. It was the sound of human flesh being torn like paper at Roman Dmitry’s small command, and they both pierced through the shadows.
Grrrrrng.
Attacks came from all directions. Some shadows moved with the help of the other shadows being caught, and some attacked through the gaps, aiming for the blind spots.
Pak!
Volcan dodged the attack through a narrow gap and cut down the shadow in front of him with a red aura.
Crack!
At the same time, Volcan turned to the side and allowed the opponent to attack, and the shadow had no choice but to face Pooky, who was behind him.
And as if he had already expected Volcan to do that, Pooky had already swung his sword, and even before the shadow could respond, the body of the shadow was torn apart.
Puak!
Blood splattered. Pooky rushed ahead like a dog, not caring about being isolated.
As he dealt with the attacks of the enemies, Volcan intervened at the right time to give Pooky time to catch his breath.
Then it was a similar situation as earlier. Just as Volcan trusted Pooky’s existence and allowed the shadows to pass through, Pooky was aware of Volkan’s existence and took over.
During the battles in the past, Volcan and Pooky always moved together. At first, they sought Dmitry for different reasons, but through their similar backgrounds as mercenaries, they immediately got close.
They even had a similar nature. The two of them wanted to fight at the forefront, and while experiencing the battles together, they began to develop in a way that both made up for what the other lacked.
The place was full of enemies, and in there, Volcan and Pooky showed an overwhelming presence. Roman Dmitry’s men developed according to their new roles and served as vanguards.
It was a melee battle, and during the fight, Roman Dmitry’s forces didn’t move back even an inch. They prepared for the existence of the shadows in advance, but their victories were what gave them confidence.
Behind them was Roman Dmitry, and that one fact alone made them risk their lives without the slightest doubt of their victory.
Kwak!
Kwaaang!
When the soldiers opened the way, Roman Dmitry sorted things out. The existence of the shadows that he had already experienced once was not a threat to Roman Dmitry.
Could it be because it was dark?
With their noticeably dwindling numbers, the shadows suddenly ebbed away. And at that moment, one shadow smiled and said,
“Do not think that this is over.”
In those words, the intention of Kronos was revealed. They also had experience dealing with Roman Dmitry. They couldn’t subdue Roman Dmitry when he was alone, but they wouldn’t have thought that he would manage to take down their assassins with this much power.
So why did they show up and attack, then? It was just to show their dedication to destroying him. They found out that Roman Dmitry was heading for the trade city and openly declared war on him.
They would surely die, so they had no choice but to let him live now. As they would sort out the situation later.
Leaving behind the muttering people in the distance, a man in a robe pulled his hood down as he approached Roman Dmitry.
“Video?”
“Saved.”
It was Robin. He was Valhalla’s Intelligence Chief. From the time they left Marin, he ordered the use of a Magic Image Storage through the person in charge of Valhalla, and it contained the series of events that occurred.
Roman Dmitry said,
“From now on, spread the video to the people of Valhalla. So that all of them know what is happening here.”
“I understand.”
A fight was unavoidable. So from now on, he thought of raising the scale of it.
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