Chapter 152 : Chapter 152
Chapter 152. Eternal Shadow (1)
Roden completed full preparations before breaking through the siege and going to where the new recruit unit was.
It wasn't that Roden needed to bring anything particular.
In fact, it was over with just bringing one set of armor and one sword.
For that reason, what Roden fully prepared.
That was none other than the Main Battalion.
“This should be enough. Then take care, Chevalier.”
“Yes. Do not worry. I will act as you have instructed, Battalion Commander.”
Roden entrusted the command of the Main Battalion to Chevalier.
It was natural since Chevalier was the person who should lead the Main Battalion when Roden was absent according to the organization.
Certainly, Chevalier was a talented person with no shortcomings to lead the current Main Battalion.
Because his stage recently reached 5-star.
On the other hand, other company commanders like Heinrich, Günter, Otto, and Olinto were still only at the stage of 4-star.
So as company commanders, they had no choice but to respect and follow Chevalier.
He was outstanding in skill and possessed a trustworthy character as a soldier, so it was natural.
Like that, Roden finished all preparations and cast the 7th-circle stealth magic, Eternal Shadow.
He didn't just cast it.
He cast Eternal Shadow after enchanting it on a steel brooch in advance.
Recently, Roden had been doing many enchantments on steel brooches instead of wooden blocks.
Because the runic words on the wooden blocks were erased due to handling when used for a long time.
For that reason, in the case of magic that needed to be used frequently, he enchanted all of them on steel brooches.
Or he proceeded with enchantment by attaching a steel piece on top of wood.
Although the work took a long time if done like this, it was possible to use the artifact for a relatively long time.
Seueuk.
Like that, Roden used Eternal Shadow and hid his appearance.
However, it wasn't only Roden who used Eternal Shadow.
Michael also used Eternal Shadow and hid his appearance with a seueuk.
That was right.
Michael also decided to join in breaking through the Imperial Army's siege and going to the new recruit unit.
The new recruit unit, where the strongest commander's skill was only 3-star, lacked skilled people significantly.
Because of that, if a 6-star knight joined, it would inevitably be a great help.
At the same time, to maintain the command system of the Main Battalion centered on Chevalier, it was better for Roden to take Michael.
Because at least since it was Roden, he could control Michael, the Corps Staff Officer.
The reason Roden bothered to enchant Eternal Shadow on the steel brooch was also due to this.
Even for Roden, it was not easy to cast and maintain two 7th-circle magics simultaneously.
‘If we use stealth magic of a lower level than Eternal Shadow, we wouldn't need to utilize enchantment, but these magics have a risk of detection.’
The 2nd-circle stealth magic ‘Fade’ applied magic only to the body, so one had to take off all clothes.
The 3rd-circle stealth magic ‘Echo Veil’ applied magic to the items being worn, but all sounds were detected too easily.
The 4th-circle stealth magic ‘Black Step’ reduced footsteps but couldn't hide breathing sounds, and the 5th-circle stealth magic ‘Breathless Mantle’ hid both footsteps and breathing sounds, but the sound of items bumping while moving remained.
And the 6th-circle stealth magic ‘Wraith Cloak’ could hide all presence, but mana was detected.
Eventually, only by using Eternal Shadow did even the single possibility of being detected by the Imperial Army disappear.
Spending time to enchant Eternal Shadow on the steel brooch was for this reason.
“As I said, the duration of invisibility is 30 minutes. So we must move in a hurry.”
“I know. I already lowered the rope, so you come down quickly too. If you don't want to be dragged down by me.”
Roden and Michael's voices clashed in the empty air where nothing was present.
For Chevalier, who came out to see the two off, it was an astonishing sight.
That's how much the presence of the two couldn't be felt at all.
Even climbing down the castle wall using the rope couldn't be felt.
And because of this problem, Roden and Michael were currently connected by tying their bodies to each other with a rope.
Since they couldn't confirm each other's appearance unless they did this, it was unavoidable.
“Now we will move as planned in advance. Even if we get separated, let's meet again at the earthen castle where the new recruit unit is.”
“Shh. I know. So be quiet. There is a scout over there.”
Like that, Roden and Michael, who came down from the castle wall, started moving breaking through the Imperial Army's siege.
They adjusted their speed moderately so as not to bump into the scout patrolling with a torch.
Because they could gauge each other's movement by the tension of the rope, they could move together without difficulty.
But it was then.
“!”
A familiar face came into the eyes of Roden, who was crossing the Imperial Army's siege.
“The Allied Forces bastards must be at their limit now. But at times like this, we must make the guard even stricter. Because they will try to send soldiers out of the castle wall to request support. Understood?”
“Yes!”
The person raising his voice in front of the scout.
That person's identity was none other than Prokle.
Prokle, who had the highest aura stage next to Deniz in the Imperial Army currently besieging Velia Castle.
It seemed Prokle was the duty officer for tonight's guard duty.
And that meant,
‘It's an opportunity.’
Roden thought while watching Prokle walking somewhere after encouraging the Imperial Army soldiers.
Certainly, there were no notable skilled people with Prokle.
At best, he was moving with one 4-star knight and one 3-star knight.
‘Kill all three and escape the siege.’
In fact, there was nothing easier than assassinating an enemy commander using Eternal Shadow.
However, the reason Roden didn't necessarily do this was that assassinating Deniz, a 7-star knight, was impossible even using Eternal Shadow.
No matter if Eternal Shadow was magic that hid mana as well as all presence, it couldn't avoid the senses of Deniz, who was at the same stage.
Perhaps if it were Deniz, even in a sleeping state, he would open his eyes wide and launch a counterattack the moment Roden approached closely.
Eventually, even if Roden tried assassination with extreme caution, inflicting a fatal wound on Deniz was the maximum effect he could obtain.
That didn't mean changing the target to assassinate Prokle or other high-ranking nobles had much significance.
Since what posed a threat to the Main Battalion anyway was the scale of the Imperial Army besieging Velia Castle.
In other words, it meant that even if he assassinated Prokle or other high-ranking nobles using Eternal Shadow, the war situation wouldn't change drastically.
It was just an act with no effect other than assassinating a few skilled people and raising the enemy's alert level.
‘Even, as soon as I proceed with assassination utilizing Eternal Shadow, the Empire will inquire at the Penitudo mage tower and find a way to solve this problem, such as purchasing detection-type crystal orbs.’
So there was no reason for Roden to necessarily carry out an assassination operation.
It was better to use Eternal Shadow to escape the siege and go to the earthen castle where the new recruit unit was.
But like this, if he met Prokle by chance on the way, the story became different.
Anyway, there was no problem breaking through the siege and leaving.
It was better to deal with Prokle while he was at it and leave.
Like that, as soon as Roden made up his mind, he drew his sword and cut the rope connected to Michael.
Because it was difficult to move freely if the rope was connected.
Of course, Michael would be flustered as the rope was cut suddenly, but since they decided to meet at the earthen castle where the new recruit unit was staying in case they got separated, he judged it wouldn't be a big problem.
Like that, Roden, who cut the rope, quickly caught up to Prokle.
Prokle was in the middle of talking with two knights.
“It's fortunate that Count Bazar didn't get impatient until the end. I thought he would naturally cause more fuss.”
“Since it was Count Bazar who approved the use of the Castle-Breaking Crystal Orb without predicting the Allied Forces' defense in the first place, what could he say?”
“By the way, why did Count Bazar make such a fuss? I understand that we must catch the person called the Main Battalion Commander, but still, I don't think it's something to get that excited about.”
“Haven't you heard that rumor? There was the Billem Caravan trading food with the Bazar family, and the caravan leader there was the commander of the Allied Forces. Currently in the position of Main Battalion Commander.”
“What? Then were they entrusting food trade to a spy? Ha. Then Count Bazar must be grinding his teeth.”
“It serves him right. It was all Count Bazar's doing conspiring with His Majesty to make us participate in this war.”
Listening to the content of the conversation, the two knights seemed to be high-ranking nobles who participated this time, not Prokle's subordinates.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have talked with Prokle in such an equal position.
Sure enough.
Prokle restrained the two people whose voices were gradually getting louder.
“Your voices are too loud. We don't know where Count Bazar's soldiers might be patrolling, so let's talk a little quieter.”
However, unlike Prokle's thought, there was no one around.
Roden was checking this meticulously.
So,
‘It means it’s time to move.’
Roden approached behind Prokle, who was standing in the middle of the three people, in an instant.
Then he immediately raised a 7-star aura and stabbed Prokle with the technique of Drawing Sword.
Puuk!
“Heoeop!”
Roden's sword stabbing the back pierced the heart at once, and Prokle died without even being able to scream properly.
The other two stood blankly at the sudden situation and opened their mouths belatedly.
“W, what is this……!”
“Who is it! Identify……!”
However, the two people's story couldn't continue to the end.
Hwirik! Seogeok!
Shuuuuk! Seogeok!
Because Roden, who pulled the sword out of Prokle's body, immediately swung the sword twice with the technique of Swift Sword and cut off the two people's heads.
The movement was so fast that the two had their heads cut off without being able to make any significant reaction.
Since it contained 7-star aura, it was a natural result.
Ttukttuk.
Roden swung the sword once in the air to shake off the blood and then sheathed it.
Then, like a shadow, he left that spot and disappeared into a place where he could never be reached forever.