FVN Chapter 179 : Chapter 179
Chapter 179 : Chapter 179
While the Allied Forces were running around diligently to grasp the situation.Screams rang out day after day in the capital.
“Uaaak! Save me!”
“No! No!”
The reason why these screams were heard.
The reason was none other than.
Mages were forcibly dragging citizens somewhere.
There were almost no people who had evacuated from the capital.
Although the Allied Forces had arrived right under their noses, almost no one thought the capital would truly collapse.
Yet, those numerous citizens were hardly seen in the capital.
Because on the day Master of the Mage Tower Auguste assassinated the Emperor, the mages had already taken the citizens somewhere and confined them once.
And not a single person among those taken away returned.
Let alone returning, even the news of what they suffered was not delivered.
For that reason, citizens instinctively tried to escape from the mages' grasp.
However, the mages were successfully tracking and capturing citizens like ghosts.
It was natural since they knew how to use detection magic.
Auguste, who was leisurely strolling through the capital, had a bright expression as if the citizens' screams were beautiful songs.
With this expression, he asked the mage walking with him.
“How many sacrifices have been gathered?”
“Currently 100,000.”
“The measures?”
“We have proceeded with about one-third.”
“Even if it takes some time, put your heart into it, for it is absolutely necessary to reclaim the glory of the mage tower.”
“Yes. I will definitely repay you with good results.”
Auguste nodded at the mage's answer and took out a book from his bosom.
It was a book titled
Auguste quietly reached out and stroked the torn pages.
***
The story that another Sword-Magic Great War might occur.
As soon as they heard this story, each kingdom in the East immediately attempted contact with other mage towers.
Because if other mage towers also sided with the Penitudo Mage Tower, a Sword-Magic Great War would truly occur.
Of course, contact was not easy.
Since the fact that the Penitudo Mage Tower intervened in this war became known.
The Allied Forces continuously attempted contact with other mage towers but hardly succeeded.
Even if they barely succeeded, the only reply that came back was that they had nothing to say, so do not send such contact again.
The reason why the Allied Forces could not introduce magic artifacts until now was also due to this.
However, it was a situation where they could not just sit back and do nothing because of that now.
Each kingdom continued to send letters, enough to be thought of as somewhat persistent.
And thanks to that, they were able to obtain results.
The news that the Penitudo Mage Tower occupied the Empire's capital.
At this news, other mage towers could not respond with silence either.
Like that, letters arrived one by one from other mage towers.
Fortunately, these letters contained the content that they had no relation whatsoever with the Penitudo Mage Tower.
There were even places that fiercely criticized the Penitudo Mage Tower or stated they would not spare support if any trouble arose.
“With this much, we should view this matter as the Penitudo Mage Tower's independent action. Although other mage towers might be harboring dark intentions.”
Today too, the 3rd Corps gathered in the meeting tent and was conducting a meeting.
And the person who just brought up the story was Michael.
Alexis stroked the tip of his chin and received those words.
“Since our situation is also not favorable, we have no choice but to believe for now. Still, just in case, it seems some troops from the 1st Corps and 2nd Corps were redeployed.”
Certainly, the 1st Corps and 2nd Corps had lost the enemies they had to fight currently.
Of course, there were cases among the Empire's nobles who refused the Emperor's order and remained on the 1st Corps and 2nd Corps fronts.
But their numbers were not large.
They were originally numerically inferior, but the troops were divided once again by the Emperor's order.
So unless they were going to summon those troops to the capital, it wasn't bad to use them to guard against the movements of other mage towers.
“Hahaha. It's fine. Since countermeasures for mental magic are accumulating one by one, it won't be difficult to overcome the capital with just the 3rd Corps and the Glockner unit.”
Tobias spoke like this while laughing, perhaps having regained composure from the lowered possibility of a Sword-Magic Great War.
It wasn't just the Sword-Magic Great War.
As time passed, the 3rd Corps and the Glockner unit were finding countermeasures for mental magic one by one.
Just as Michael expected, these countermeasures existed in old families.
So now, even if they fought again, they wouldn't collapse easily like last time.
It was natural since the Glockner unit would be able to display their true skills.
Adriel also opened his mouth with a much more relaxed face.
“Still, the outline is being revealed little by little. How much the mages participated in this war, and how to deal with the mages.”
As Adriel said, it was true that they had escaped from the completely frustrating situation.
However, Roden's expression was still not very bright.
It was because he still couldn't understand why the Penitudo Mage Tower occupied the capital.
Knowing that the purpose was not a Sword-Magic Great War made him even more curious.
Alexis, perhaps having confirmed Roden's expression, spoke.
“Are you still troubled because of the Penitudo Mage Tower's purpose?”
“Yes. Because grasping the opponent's purpose is basically the fundamental of fighting.”
“That is so, but there is no need to think complicatedly. Because the Penitudo Mage Tower simply coveted the capital. Since they were like that from the start, isn't that why they sold magic artifacts to the Empire.”
At Alexis's explanation, everyone present except Roden nodded their heads.
Judging only by the information so far, this judgment was correct.
[After the Sword-Magic Great War, the Penitudo Mage Tower, confined to half of the continent for a long time, felt frustrated unlike other mage towers and wanted new land.
So when the Empire lost power, they swallowed the capital, the most prosperous city on the continent.]
Because they could make a guess like this.
However, Roden absolutely could not erase the thought that there was something more.
As a mage himself, he couldn't understand that a mage tower coveted territorial expansion.
What a mage pursues.
That was usually the stage of magic, not territorial expansion like this.
However, this was Roden's hunch.
Since he hadn't found grounds to persuade and explain this logically yet, Roden kept his mouth shut.
Above all, even if there was another purpose, the fact that the 3rd Corps and the Glockner unit had to capture the capital did not change.
“Yes. Understood. I will not think other thoughts and focus only on obtaining the capital.”
“Right. You thought well.”
It was when Alexis was nodding his head and feeling satisfied.
A knight entered the meeting tent and delivered a piece of news.
“Corps Commander. The Glockner unit requests a meeting.”
“Right. Meet them. Have a conversation and if there is anything to convey to me, convey it.”
“No, it's not that….”
The knight blurred the end of his sentence as if troubled.
When Alexis began to feel doubt at that reaction.
Kugung.
An overwhelming aura crushed the meeting tent.
That was an aura only a 9-star knight could emit.
For that reason, everyone present could know at once who had come from the Glockner unit.
“Everyone was here.”
It was Albrecht.
***
“…I didn't know you would come all the way here yourself.”
Amidst everyone's silence, Alexis opened his mouth first.
Following that, Roden and Michael knelt on one knee toward Albrecht.
Albrecht raised the two with a hand gesture and then answered Alexis's words.
“Because I cannot summon you, the Corps Commander.”
“Does such a person spread aura as soon as he comes to someone else's unit? Should I say this is polite, or impolite?”
“…….”
“Right. Why has the strongest man on the continent come all the way here?”
They said they were friends.
Certainly, Alexis was treating Albrecht really comfortably.
Even Albrecht did not seem to dislike this at all.
The fact that his expressionless face somehow looked happy was the evidence.
“Because there is one thing I am curious about from you guys, and something to inform you as well.”
“Oho. Then shall we check what you are curious about first?”
At Alexis's answer, Albrecht's gaze headed toward Roden.
It seemed he was curious about something from Roden, not Alexis.
“I heard that you strengthened the gate of Velia Castle to withstand the explosion of castle-breaking crystal orbs.”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Then conversely, do you also know a way to break a strengthened gate?”
Roden could know why Albrecht threw such a question.
The capital's gate that didn't break even with a sword blast.
Because only by breaking this gate could they fight on equal footing with the mages.
Of course, as a method to stop mental magic appeared, this wasn't scary anymore.
But it remained a fact that mages pouring out various magic from atop the castle walls hadn't changed.
In other words, unless they broke the gate, the 3rd Corps and the Glockner unit meant they had to carry the disadvantage of siege warfare as is.
Roden, having grasped the inner meaning of why Albrecht threw the question, answered.
“I do not separately possess a method to break an already strengthened gate.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yes. But if it is a castle wall that is not yet strengthened, I might be able to break it.”
“…….”
Hearing Roden's answer, Alexis asked in surprise.
“What? Is that true?”
“Yes. However, for this, two 8-star knights must pour out all their strength. It's like using sword blasts, which should be used twice separately, all at once.”
“Ah.”
Alexis nodded his head as if understanding what kind of picture it was.
Albrecht confirmed that reaction and opened his mouth.
“Good. Then let us decide to break the castle wall with that method.”
“Will it be alright? Then it means two 8-star knights will be out of combat power?”
“Since I remain with my strength preserved, what problem would there be.”
As expected of the strongest, Albrecht showed confidence.
It was a reaction as if he could handle whoever was beyond the broken castle wall as long as he could preserve his strength.
“…….”
But no one could refute such a story from Albrecht.
Because if it was Albrecht, it really seemed he would be sufficient alone.
“…What can I expect from you? Then it seems curiosity is satisfied, now tell us. What is the story you intended to tell.”
Alexis urged while shaking his head from side to side as if helpless.
Albrecht also brought up the story immediately as if he didn't want to stall for time anymore.
And,
“A tremendous energy is felt beyond the castle wall. More powerful than even the 9th circle.”
That story plunged everyone present into shock once again.