Chapter 154: Chapter 154
“Absolutely not!”
Cheryn immediately opposed Shan’s declaration that he would rescue Princess Cassia from the Kingdom of Ajun.
Had he learned nothing after nearly dying during the expedition to Ruman just a short while ago?
Even the brief report that he might be dead had shaken the kingdom and almost driven Cheryn insane; there was no way the Lord Protector of the kingdom and prospective prince consort could carry out such a ridiculous suicide mission.
Shan stroked Cheryn to soothe her near-convulsive reaction and explained softly.
“I have no intention of acting recklessly like before. I will move only after making thorough plans, and I will give up if I think it won’t work.”
Indeed, Shan already had a track record of secretly rescuing Cheryn from the very heart of the Pendia Royal Palace while she was trapped in a tower and dying.
Of course, unlike back then, he did not know where Cassia was imprisoned and could not rely on the detection abilities of spider magic, but in return, he had plenty of time to prepare.
At the very least, those bastards of Ajun would not kill Cassia right away, as she was a useful hostage.
Cheryn hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.
“They might have set a trap expecting you to react like this in the first place. Even if they don’t believe all your achievements, they must at least know you are a tremendously strong warrior.”
“It should be fine if I go secretly. As long as I move so covertly that no one even knows I left the capital.”
As long as he did not leave the capital in plain sight of everyone, Ajun would rely solely on information that Shan had not left the capital, only to lose Cassia.
Cheryn had completely dominated the court with her exceptional intelligence capabilities and allowed no spies to infiltrate.
“She’s my sister, but cold-heartedly speaking, she has little political value. To risk such danger…”
“If I manage to rescue her, it will deal a massive blow to their prestige.”
After debating for a long while even after that, Cheryn was ultimately persuaded.
In truth, given Shan’s abilities, the chances of success were quite high, and above all, she too wanted to save her sister.
If she had to choose between Shan and Cassia, she would have chosen Shan without hesitation, but if there was a chance to save her by taking a risk, it was hard not to try.
“Promise me. You will only attempt it once her exact location is confirmed, and even then, if it seems too dangerous, you must abandon it and flee.”
“I promise. I wouldn’t want to end up unable to see Cheryn anymore.”
After securing his promise multiple times, Cheryn summoned Roden to seek his counsel.
Upon arriving at the lounge and listening to the situation, his jaw dropped before he let out a groan and lowered his head.
“For someone as important as the Lord Protector, you ought to exercise some restraint… Ha, fine. How many people are you planning for the rescue team?”
“I don’t think we need many. Unless we plan to throw thousands of troops into the heart of the Ajun Kingdom, a small elite force would be best.”
Cheryn answered softly to Roden’s question.
Since a large group would make it harder to flee and hide, a squad capable of whisking Cassia away and moving quickly would be more than enough.
“In my heart, I would like to go myself, but that would be difficult.”
“Having two people to look after makes a huge difference.”
Cheryn was a brilliant mage, but she was terribly uncoordinated physically.
Though she managed her physical stamina through light exercise after experiencing several wars, riding a horse hard and fast by herself was a struggle.
Aside from the risk of a queen directly infiltrating another nation, having two people to protect when protecting even just Cassia was difficult would drastically increase the mission’s difficulty.
“And Roden, you must stay here as well.”
He had to handle duties in Shan’s absence, and above all, was he not a newlywed groom?
Not for sentimental reasons, but leaving his post at a time like this would surely stand out far too much.
This mission required deceiving the enemy into thinking that most of Pendia’s strength, including Shan, remained in the capital.
“Then Lug and Ms. Ravana are out as well.”
His absurdly tall height and her rabbit ears were traits impossible to conceal, so traveling through the Ajun Kingdom would surely lead to discovery.
Cheryn replied to Roden’s mutterings.
“Among the royal knights we can mobilize, that leaves Colun, Abras, and Hakan…”
“Is it not a bit premature to include Sir Hakan in such an important matter?”
Colun and Abras were comrades who had fought through the Pendia civil war together, whereas Hakan had only been a comrade for a few months.
Was there enough trust for him to join a mission where a single betrayal would spell ruin for everyone?
“Finding a warrior of his skill isn’t easy. Above all, exceptional marksmanship will be helpful for an infiltration mission.”
“I don’t think he will be a burden, at least.”
Cheryn lightly added to Shan’s words.
Over the past few months, just as she had observed Shan in the past, she had investigated Hakan’s background and analyzed his character.
As a result, she concluded that although he possessed considerable ambition, he had a strong sense of loyalty and was not the type to betray easily.
As long as he was assured that succeeding in this mission would bring him one step closer to achieving his dream, he would not easily give up.
Of course, how he would act in the face of a severe crisis remained unknown, but that was no different for anyone else.
Roden nodded at their opinions.
“Come to think of it, we will also need to leave a body double behind while you are gone.”
“Let’s put Vico in my armor and have Tavera stay by his side to assist him. Their builds are roughly similar, so it should be fine.”
Although he was a bit shorter than Shan, it would not be easily noticeable unless viewed up close.
After all, usually no one stood next to the Lord Protector to measure his height.
Listening quietly, Cheryn let out a small groan of realization and spoke.
“Come to think of it, taking Aran along would be good too. If you want to disguise yourselves as ordinary travelers, having a woman in the party is better. She will also be helpful in looking after Cassia once we bring her back.”
“Could we perhaps mobilize a priest as well?”
“I will secretly request someone skilled in martial arts through the Archbishop. There should be at least one…”
After various discussions, the rescue team was finalized at seven members in total.
Shan, the royal knights Colun, Abras, Aran, and Hakan, plus a mage and a priest selected secretly from the Magic Society and the Eastern Holy See.
They decided to select individuals who could thoroughly fulfill their main roles while possessing outstanding martial skills and physical stamina.
*
Word that the Ajun Kingdom had severed Princess Cassia’s hair and sent it to Cheryn spread across the entire kingdom before long.
Cheryn gathered the army while sending letters to Duke of Morayen and Count Balik.
Asking if they could grant passage for an invasion of Ajun.
Naturally, both high nobles refused.
Not only had Libert already officially declared its participation in the holy war against Pendia, but even setting that aside, if granting passage led to Ajun’s destruction, it would truly mean their own doom.
While the people of Pendia found this provocation by the Ajun Kingdom offensive, they were somewhat negative about going to war regardless.
To reach the Ajun Kingdom, one had to breach Solod Castle in Libert, and the twin Solod Castles were natural fortresses that had never been breached in the past thousand years unless opened from within.
The moment an enraged queen threw her entire army against Solod Castle would be the day Pendia fell.
Fortunately, however, the queen did not lose her composure and merely expressed her displeasure.
Of course, all of this was merely a public performance.
In reality, she was busy issuing orders to spies dispatched to Ajun to locate Cassia, while overseeing the creation of various specialized equipment for the rescue team.
Exactly one month after receiving Cassia’s hair.
Cheryn secretly summoned people to a lounge in the unused Green Palace.
Once the dozen or so people who would directly participate in the operation or assist from the capital assembled, she spoke with a solemn expression.
“As you have all likely heard, this mission is to rescue my half-sister Cassia from the clutches of the Ajun Kingdom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The faces of those gathered showed a mixture of excitement and concern.
Rescuing a captive princess was a classic and honorable duty for a knight, but infiltrating a foreign nation was a perilous task where a single mistake could cost them their lives.
Shan glanced at the priest and mage who would accompany them on the mission.
Their names were Lysac and Bezel, both capable priest and mage respectively, while possessing martial talents superior to ordinary soldiers.
They were talents that would have been difficult to mobilize had Cheryn not been the queen.
Seeing that everyone was ready to listen, Roden cleared his throat softly and pointed at the map.
“First, we will cross the Blade Mountains to infiltrate Ajun.”
“Are we not using Solod Castle?”
Roden nodded at Hakan’s question.
“Passing through Libert takes a long time and involves too many variables. Right now, the high lords of the east and north are fanatically levying troops. Furthermore, the border area between Ajun and Libert is likely crawling with watchful eyes.”
Similarly, Pendia also maintained intelligence networks in East Solod Castle and port cities including Beshalia.
Thus, whenever a criminal or a famous figure crossed over, their identity was almost guaranteed to be exposed.
“Fortunately, the monsters in the Blade Mountains have decreased significantly thanks to the Ajun army stirring things up last time, and the Lord Protector is more skilled at rock climbing than anyone else. If he leads from the front, we will certainly be able to cross.”
At those words, the people gathered glanced at Shan and nodded.
No one present dared to doubt Shan’s martial prowess.
“After crossing the mountain range, we will disguise ourselves as a family traveling together and head to the capital, Tihal. Currently, Cassia is imprisoned in the dungeons of Tihal Palace.”
Fortunately, Tihal Palace lacked magical defenses and had laxer security compared to Pendia, but as a royal palace, infiltrating it would be no easy feat.
They would have to squeeze out every drop of wisdom and courage.
After explaining the plan down to how they would rescue Cassia and how they would move afterward, Roden looked at everyone and spoke.
“I will say this in advance: if you wish to back out, say so now. You will merely be quarantined until the operation concludes.”
Naturally, no one present was going to back out just because he said that.
Above all, those joining the rescue squad had chosen to do so knowing full well that while immense honor and rewards awaited, they risked death.
“We even excavated Altoan ruins in that Demonic Realm; this seems far simpler than that.”
“Indeed! At least we don’t have to fight the Lord Protector, right?”
Colun and Abras said with a laugh.
Hakan also nodded, his eyes gleaming sharply like a bird of prey.
He had been promised sponsorship for his return to Horais upon the success of this mission.
Priest Lysac was satisfied simply to assist Shan, the second Great Emperor Baren and knight of the Goddess, while the mage Bezel was to receive several of the most secretive pieces of knowledge from the Altoan ruins as his reward.
Burning with their own desires and sense of duty, the participants of the operation looked at one another.
*
On the day of execution, the rescue team set out through Hasra’s North Gate early in the morning.
Dressed like an ordinary family of peddlers to any observer, they drew no attention from anyone.
Wearing leather armor and carrying swords was an everyday sight in Pendia, and everyone had applied a light disguise or two to their faces.
Shan had even dyed his hair blonde.
Around the time of their departure, various operations were conducted in Hasra to conceal the rescue team’s absence.
Aran had already been hiding in the palace basement for weeks under the pretext of taking leave to see her family, while Colun and Abras pretended to have received a dispatch mission to the South Sea.
Hakan withdrew under the guise of managing a new royal ranch, while Vico, disguised as Shan, left the mansion under strict security to stay at the Red Palace.
A few within the palace felt something was odd, but fortunately, Cheryn immediately seized and hanged anyone with loose lips the moment they carelessly leaked such talk.
Midst an atmosphere thin as ice, the palace servants and attendants ceased blabbering carelessly.
It took about five days for the rescue squad, disguised as peddlers, to reach the Blade Mountains to the northwest.
Such speed was possible because everyone was far sturdier and faster on foot than ordinary people.
“Are we… crossing this…”
Hakan muttered in an overwhelmed voice as he gazed up at the towering Blade Mountains.
Having lived almost his entire life in the grasslands, it felt all the higher and more imposing to him.
In fact, the others were just as at a loss as he was.
At any rate, the Blade Mountains were known as a place no one had crossed for hundreds, even thousands of years.
“Don’t worry. We can certainly cross it.”
Saying so, Shan rummaged through the wagon they had brought and pulled out an item.
What he slipped on over his leather armor was not his usual plate armor, but chainmail.
Since he had handed the ‘Five Stars’ to his body double, Vico, he needed new armor, and Cheryn had meticulously engraved magic into ordinary chainmail.
Not only was it harder than normal armor, but it made no clanking sounds, making it unnoticeable even when worn underneath.
“Let’s go.”
Having equipped themselves, they left behind the horses and wagon and stepped deeper into the mountain range.
Before long, monsters began to appear one by one, threatening the rescue party.
“These pests.”
A Nightmare Monkey shrieking a high-pitched scream collapsed with an arrow embedded in its head.
While Hakan put on a proud expression, Colun and Abras dispatched a pack of Evil Spirit Hounds from the left and right.
Even if their skills fell somewhat short compared to royal knights of other nations, they were still exceptional among knights, so they could easily dispatch such low-level monsters without needing the powerful magic weapons they usually wielded.
Shan was at the lead disposing of the most monsters, sweeping away the majority simply by transforming A Thousand Shapes into a flexible sword and swinging it.
Occasionally, monsters with tough hides were handled with a quick thrust after transforming it into a spear.
“They’re crawling everywhere. Reminds me of the Demonic Realm.”
Colun, who had experienced the Demonic Realm himself, clicked his tongue as he spoke.
Meanwhile, the female knight Aran guarded the mage and priest standing in the rear.
Though both possessed decent combat skills, they were still several steps behind the knights.
It would be disastrous if they were killed in a surprise attack.
After pushing through the mountains for a while, a resounding roar echoed as they reached a steep slope.
□■□■■■!
Would it sound like this if a bull’s roar were twisted in an utterly hideous manner?
Their eyes widened as they watched the monster approaching from higher up the mountain range.
A body over four meters tall, humanoid and covered in jet-black fur, topped with the head of a bull…
In its hand, the creature even wielded a crude, massive club carved of stone.
“It’s a Minotaur!”
“Damn it, why didn’t it show up against those Ajun bastards instead of here?”
Considered on par with an ogre, it was a formidable beast that, had it appeared below the mountain range, would have required a dozen knights from nearby fiefs to assemble for a subjugation.
The rescue squad’s panic was brief; as Shan strode forward, everyone’s gaze shifted to him.
Come to think of it, did they not have a warrior who had already slain an ogre when he was even younger than he was now?
A few suddenly harbored doubts.
Everyone knew the Lord Protector was the strongest warrior in the kingdom, but could he win easily without using most of his favored gear?
A Thousand Shapes was certainly a powerful magic weapon, but against a large monster like that, it would likely be less effective than expected…
The Minotaur, about to pounce straight at Shan in the lead, suddenly hesitated.
The beast sensed a strange pressure from Shan… an instinct that charging recklessly would mean death.
Shan realized that fact as well.
“You feel it too.”
After completing the expedition to Ruman, Shan had undergone a physical examination by Cheryn, just as he had done in the past.
As a result, he discovered that the human spirituality dwelling within him, forged through countless slaughters, was manifesting in the form of pressure.
Fortunately, this could be controlled to some extent according to Shan’s own will.
When he had no intention of harming anyone, it remained unfelt, and he could project the force only when viewing a target as an enemy or something to be crushed.
One could say the knack for it was quite similar to Fighting Spirit.
At that moment, the Minotaur, previously suppressed by the pressure, let out a roar of rage and charged.
By human standards, the club it held was better described as a stone pillar.
If ordinary knights tried to block it by raising their shields and bolstering their Fighting Spirit, they would likely be sent flying dozens of meters.
The instant the creature closed in, Shan thrust his left arm straight forward.
The bracelet unfurled into the shape of a shield, precisely stopping the incoming club.
“Oh.”
Thud! A roar capable of shattering boulders resonated, yet no great strain was placed on Shan’s arm.
This was thanks to skillfully pulling the shield back to absorb the impact while the shield instantaneously deformed to bleed off the force.
Of course, even that would have shattered an ordinary person’s arm bones and brought them to their knees, but Shan’s body, trained to the absolute extreme, withstood even this with ease.
“Nice.”
Had it been a normal magic weapon, blocking such an attack without Fighting Spirit would have been impossible.
Delighted to confirm just how remarkable the shield Cheryn had crafted for him was, Shan leaped to dodge the creature’s follow-up attack.
As intense Fighting Spirit surged into A Thousand Shapes, now transformed into a long scimitar, the Minotaur’s thick neck was severed without the slightest resistance.
Thud! As the massive body collapsed, Shan lightly wiped away the beads of sweat born from expending a large amount of Fighting Spirit.
The time taken up to that point was roughly five seconds.
“…It’s already over?”
Hakan, who had been aiming his bow from behind to assist in the fight, muttered in disbelief.
He had been carefully aiming for the eyes since hitting anywhere else would yield little effect, but to think he had dispatched a monster on par with an ogre as easily as a stray dog?
Colun and Abras, standing behind, nodded as if they had no intention of helping from the start.
“I knew it.”
“Tell me about it.”
Why would a monster who had already hunted an ogre years ago struggle now?
Honestly, even they hadn’t expected him to slay it this easily, though.
At any rate, everyone harbored a similar thought.
As long as the Lord Protector led the way, crossing something like the Blade Mountains would likely pose no difficulty.