Chapter 412
Episode 412 – Reruze (1)
The first thing Arthur felt when he stepped through the spatial portal onto the white expanse was simple — Cold.
His breath steamed in the frigid air as he spoke.
“It’s really cold.”
“I told you to prepare well for this.”
“And the snowfall isn’t a joke, either.”
“Now you understand my suffering?”
Grumbling, Samuel Barber pulled his thick leather coat tightly closed. Before coming here, they had prepared for the cold, along with food, to some extent.
Arthur also tightened the front of his heavy coat. It had been prepared thanks to Samuel’s bitter complaints about the cold here, but even this seemed insufficient.
Arthur took two cloaks out of his subspace and handed one to Samuel.
“A cloak? Why…?”
“Just put it on.”
Samuel frowned but draped the cloak over his shoulders. Moments later, his eyes widened as he examined it.
“It’s warm.”
“It’s a winter cloak from the Red Tower, the one most favored by nobles. Even in the Ivory Tower, it’s hard to get.”
“This must be very expensive. When did you even prepare this?”
“I raided some treasure vaults lately.”
“Treasure vaults?”
Arthur just smirked and put on his own cloak. The moment he did, the cold vanished as if melting away.
Inside the Ship Gridment warehouse where the Black Market stored its goods, there had been not only gold coins but also plenty of magical items. Arthur had taken not just the bombs but also anything else useful for their Prime Root mission into his subspace.
Satisfied, Samuel trudged through the snowstorm and stroked his mustache. With the biggest problem of Prime Root — the cold — resolved, his mood seemed to improve.
“I like how thorough you are. This is why I like you.”
“Have you ever disliked me?”
“There were times recently when I did.”
“Then you’re going to like me even more. I’ve prepared plenty besides this.”
This was Arthur’s first time here, but his head was full of detailed knowledge about Prime Root, especially Reruze.
If you’re half-prepared here, you’re asking to die.
In the novels, Reruze was an impregnable city that had never allowed a single successful invasion.
Even if someone broke through the Frozen Desert at the border, most were forced to retreat under the guerrilla warfare that awaited in the Frozen Hills surrounding Reruze.
Even the famed Star of Demtor had been stopped there.
Unless you approach with extreme stealth…
Arthur scanned the surroundings.
A wide-open white plain stretched ahead, dotted with large and small ice hills.
“Where are we now?”
“Somewhere between the Frozen Desert and the hills.”
“And the distance to Reruze?”
“About half a day on foot for an ordinary person.”
“That’s closer than I expected. Surprising you summoned a portal here without being detected.”
Half a day for an ordinary person meant he and Samuel could reach it in no time. It was also an ideal distance for retreating after executing their plan. Arthur was a little surprised, especially after hearing that Rengua had wreaked havoc around here.
“For some reason, that old man didn’t send forces toward the lake side.”
“The lake? You mean the Frozen Lake?”
“That’s right.”
Samuel narrowed his eyes and pointed in one direction.
“Geographically, we’re north of Reruze. Head straight that way and you’ll reach the Frozen Lake. Cross it, and Reruze is right there.”
“The Frozen Lake…”
“But I wouldn’t recommend going across. Because—”
“There’s nowhere to hide.”
“…Didn’t you say this was your first time here?”
When Samuel gave him an incredulous look, Arthur just shrugged and pulled up his hood.
“I said it’s my first time here, not that I know nothing about it.”
The Frozen Lake connected directly to Reruze’s walls. Crossing it meant quick entry into the city — but from the outside, it was the perfect place to be spotted.
So Arthur planned to avoid the lake, just as Samuel advised.
After picking a direction, he thought for a moment, then began walking slowly across the snow. His plan was to skirt around the lake and approach via the Frozen Hills.
Crunch—
The sound of footsteps on snow came in steady rhythm.
After a short walk through the snowstorm, Samuel’s voice came from behind.
“Where are you planning to plant the bombs?”
“I’m thinking of the ice walls.”
“Ice walls? You mean Reruze’s wall?”
Arthur nodded.
He’d spent a long time deciding where to place the bombs. It had to be neither too close to the city center nor too far.
The key factor was the Sword Demon’s sensing range.
The only location that could avoid his perception while still inflicting visible damage was the walls themselves.
They circled around the lake and entered the Frozen Hills.
Low ice mounds stretched on through the biting wind. Their varying heights shortened sightlines and offered plenty of cover, making ambushes easy.
From here on, they would have to move cautiously. This area was home to not only Reruze’s patrols but also various bandits.
Arthur kept low, climbing and descending the hills while surveying the area.
But soon—
“This is strange.”
“I think so too.”
By now, they should have at least sensed hunters or mercenaries.
Yet there wasn’t a single sign of life.
Arthur stopped, closing his eyes and focusing.
For a moment, light flashed in his eyes.
His awakened ability — Opening of the Eyes.
It allowed him to detect the presence of divine name holders.
Here in Prime Root, the only ones who would have a divine name were the Black Stars.
Scanning the surroundings, Arthur frowned and looked at Samuel.
“No signs.”
“Suspicious. This place used to be crawling with people.”
“In cases like this, it’s usually one of two things.”
“Oh? And they are?”
Arthur stroked his chin, gazing toward Reruze.
“Either something big happened in Reruze involving a Black Star, or a major event is underway.”
“And you’re certain because…?”
“Because it’s Reruze.”
Reruze might be a criminal city, but order still existed there — thanks to the Black Stars.
So if there was a major shift around the city, it was almost certainly related to them.
For whatever reason, the closer they got to the center, the weaker the defenses became.
Arthur picked up on this quickly and began moving without hesitation.
“Wait—!”
Ignoring Samuel’s urgent warning, Arthur pushed his speed to the limit.
This was definitely an opportunity.
He accelerated toward Reruze.
Moments later—
“Arthur, look…!”
From beyond the open snowfield, Samuel’s cautious voice reached him.
In the distance, a vast wall of ice came into view.
Reruze’s natural defensive barrier — thick and unyielding.
Arthur watched it from afar through the snowstorm, while Samuel squinted, tilting his head.
“It really is strange. The defenses are lax.”
“You’re right, this is our chance. Get the bombs out of the subspace. If we plant them now and retreat—”
“Here, take this.”
Arthur handed him the subspace pouch.
Samuel blinked at him.
“What’s this supposed to mean?”
“With the defenses like this, splitting up will be faster. The ice walls have plenty of cracks — just slip the bombs into them.”
“You mean… you want me to plant the bombs?”
“Why? Were you planning not to?”
“Didn’t you say you’d do it yourself?”
“I did. But with a chance like this, why waste it? If we work together, we’ll finish in no time.”
“…Hah.”
“When this is over, I’ll give you that subspace pouch.”
“…Really?”
Samuel’s face lit up immediately. He clearly understood how valuable it was — it was one of the items the Black Market kept stored away under strict protection.
“You know, you’re really materialistic.”
“Ahem, once you’re my age, you learn what it means to be poor.”
“Anyway, inside that pouch is a red crystal. It’s the detonator — don’t touch it until all the bombs are planted.”
“You plan to set them all off at once.”
Arthur nodded, then reached into the pouch Samuel was holding.
After rummaging around, he pulled out a backpack and filled it with about twenty bombs.
“What’s that for?”
“With the defenses like this, I might be able to hit the lake too.”
“The lake?”
While Samuel worked on the walls, Arthur planned to target the Frozen Lake.
He looked toward the route they had circled around earlier.
“The lake connects to Reruze’s water supply. If we breach the wall linked to it, the city will flood. That alone will cause chaos.”
“That’s dangerous — the Sword Demon will be in the center.”
“That’s why I’m counting on you.”
“…Me?”
Arthur smiled.
“When you see the signal, trigger the detonator. After all the wall bombs go off, I’ll meet you at the portal.”
“Signal? What signal?”
Arthur’s smile deepened.
“Do you like fireworks?”
“…What?”
“I’ll blow the lake first.”
“You’re insane! If the Sword Demon catches you, you’re dead. You won’t even be able to run!”
“I already told you — I have a way to avoid his eyes.”
Adjusting his hood, Arthur tightened his backpack straps and gave Samuel a small nod.
“The future of the coalition rests in your hands.”
“Wait—!”
“Timing is critical. I’m counting on you!”
With that, Arthur slipped into the shadows near the wall and vanished.
Left staring blankly after him, Samuel eventually shook himself and inspected the pouch.
Seeing the mountain of bombs inside, he let out a hollow laugh.
“I can’t even see my own future, and…”
If these went off, he could be branded one of the greatest criminals in Reruze’s history.
If the walls blew and word got out that he was behind it…
Forgetting even that his mustache was freezing, Samuel looked up at the ice wall and sighed.
“…Damn it, why did I join Hunt?”
It was the second time today he regretted joining.