Volume 3 Chapter 190 Return To Ramsey
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After cleaning up the cave, Kian stepped outside with the others.
The cave they had stayed in for nearly a day sat in the heart of a swamp. Gray soil and thick fungus filled the area with toxic fog. The sky was already deep into twilight, close to 8 PM.
”This feels amazing. My body feels so light,” Linca said as she lifted one leg and kicked the air.
She moved with a sharp triple kick, each strike faster than before. Using the momentum, she leapt upward and swung her opposite leg down, chopping like a blade. Her foot landed with a crisp whistle, slicing the air before striking the ground.
”It’s not like your impact wave, Sir Kian,” she added, lowering her leg.
”That’s from Silver Ice,” Kian replied as he watched. “It’s not my body that’s different—it’s the enhancement.”
”But your power and speed are way beyond before,” Linca said, eyeing him carefully. “Does it feel strange to you?”
”It does a little,” Kian admitted with a small nod. “But if I keep training, I think the mismatch will go away.”
”We’ll make it in time for the final battle,” Sarah said, brushing dirt from her robes. “I’ll also work on syncing my body and senses better.”
With that, she snapped her fingers. The insect golem she had sent to erase their tracks began returning. It blended with the earth and slowly revealed itself, crawling toward the cave.
As Sarah stepped forward without looking, her heel crushed one of the beetle-like golems. It shattered like glass hit by a magical blade.
The ground around them exploded like a giant hammer had slammed into it.
Watching in silence, Kian made a quiet decision.
(I should never make Sarah angry again.)
”This power is incredible,” Linca said, spinning her leg with admiration. “If I had this from the beginning, it would’ve saved so much trouble.”
”I feared betrayal,” Sarah said plainly, folding her arms. “With your strength now, if you turned on us, I wouldn’t have time to react. You’d find a weakness and strike in two hours or less.”
”That’s… kind of harsh,” Kian replied, blinking. “But I get it. I did some things wrong. You had a reason to worry.”
”I’m sorry,” Sarah said as she looked at him. “I’ll say it as many times as I have to. Just please don’t cry again like before. I don’t know what to do when that happens.”
Kian lowered his eyes and gave a faint sigh. “Thanks. I’ll try not to.”
Without a word, Sarah stepped closer and gently wrapped her arms around him. His face rested against her chest, warm from her bath. She smelled clean, and her hand slowly patted his head.
(If she held tighter here… I’d probably be gone in an instant.)
’You’re thinking weird things again.’
Talia’s voice came sharply from a nearby rock, her expression unreadable.
”Just to be sure,” Sarah said as she lifted her head, “Are you both okay on magic power?”
Linca walked closer and nodded with confidence. “I’m fine. I can still summon my Shikigami without trouble.”
”You said something scary like I’d run dry, but it wasn’t that bad,” Kian said with a sheepish grin. “Maybe it’s because Linca helped carry the load?”
”It’s your magic pool and your recovery rate,” Sarah replied, shrugging. “If you’d done this with a normal noble’s mage, they’d be unconscious—or worse.”
Even Christy, who had magic equal to three or four elite casters and was only nineteen, had looked drained after one night. Compared to that, most mages would never handle it.
But Sarah and Linca were different. Both had far more magic than Christy. Both had trained as warrior monks. Their bodies recovered faster than normal. Even if Kian drained them fully, they wouldn’t collapse like ordinary people.
It was nothing like Aliona’s reaction: “Hmm? Did I feel something?”
Their expressions during the process had shown no damage at all. That alone proved how out of the ordinary they were.
’If it’s Lady Sarah or Lady Linca, even one could probably take it alone.’
(That makes sense. Maribel’s the baseline, after all.)
”Sir Kian, how does your body feel?” Linca asked, gently patting his cheek with a cool hand.
Kian felt her soft touch and the faint scent on her skin. He took a breath to steady himself, keeping his face serious.
”I feel great,” he said firmly. “Better than ever.”
”I trust Ms. Talia, but I’m glad to see there are no aftereffects from the medicine,” Sarah said while keeping her eyes on him.
’This one isn’t trying to trap you,’ Talia wrote on the dirt with magic strokes.
Sarah gave a small nod. “I believe that. She saved us, after all.”
”I’ll call Nue now,” Linca said as she stepped away. “Ms. Sarah, please return the golem to the earth.”
”Understood,” Sarah replied, looking at Kian. “Are you ready?”
”I’m all set,” Kian said with a nod.
Linca summoned Nue. Moments later, the three leapt onto the large, strange-shaped Shikigami. It carried them through the sky in a fast, silent rush toward Ramsey.
They flew quickly over mountains and forests, landing near Ramsey Fortress before midnight.
A soldier must have seen them, because as they landed near the town’s bridge, torchlight flickered in the distance. Natra, Rufna, Serena, Marilyn, Bertrand, and even Homork III were hurrying toward them.
”Sir Kian, I’m relieved to see you’re alive,” Natra said, bowing deeply.
Rufna, standing beside her in heavy armor, looked at him with concern. “You fought Arminus, right? You’re not badly hurt?”
”I came close to dying,” Kian answered calmly.
Linca stepped forward. She now wore only her black Eastern dress, her white cloak lost in battle. This was her last outfit. After the war, she’d need new clothes from Izerland or Châtillon.
”I’ll explain more later,” Sarah said, stepping up beside her. “Arminus used a weapon called Balmung—magic-forged and made to defeat dragonkind. That’s how we pushed them back.”
Talia had used shadow illusions during the battle, but Kian planned to explain her story to Natra, Rufna, and Serena later. For now, too many others were around: like Maribel and the Owl Knights.
Once secrets spread, they could never be called back. Especially with people like the Owl Knights, who belonged to many factions. Kian had to choose his allies wisely.
”Balmung was recovered after Arminus fled,” he said. “But in any case, we three survived. I think we used up all our luck.”
”I heard you also fought Fraus,” Bertrand said, his face tight. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help when it mattered. Thank you all for protecting Ramsey. As lord of this castle, I offer my gratitude and also my apology.”
”Sir Kian, please tell everyone in the salon that Izerland fought bravely.”
Marilyn just smiled quietly. She didn’t say her usual cheerful lines like, “We did great!”
Her mood was quiet and distant.
’It was her first real battlefield. She saw what it means to fight for her life.’
(I understand. It’s hard to carry that weight.)
’You wouldn’t get it…’
(I do. I know what she think of me.)
Kian nodded seriously and faced Bertrand. “Of course, Lord Bertrand. Rufna’s report said the regular army of 300 was wiped out. I’m the one who placed the camp. That was my fault. I apologize deeply.”
”It’s enough to know Izerland did their duty,” Bertrand replied quietly. “The dead will rest easier that way.”
Kian nodded and turned toward Homork III and Gary of the Holy Guard. He greeted each by name, shook their hands, and gave them words of comfort. He did the same for the Owl Knights.
”Master Kian, we must return to the castle soon,” Marilyn said with a tight voice before he could finish. “We need to discuss damages and what to do next.”
Homork III raised his brow and looked at her.
Bertrand stepped in and placed a hand on her back. “Forgive her. She was nearly killed. She’s still shaken.”
”Really? Rufna?” Kian asked as he looked over.
”I was watching her,” Rufna said, rubbing her shoulder. “It was close, but I made sure she stayed safe.”
”Lady Marilyn, I’m sorry we were late,” Natra said, bowing again.
Marilyn bit her lip and shook her head gently. “No, thank you for saving me. You were brave. But… that instant movement was terrifying. I might have nightmares about it. I’m sorry. Please don’t worry about me.”
Even so, Maribel couldn’t hide her concern.
Kian leaned toward Linca and whispered, “Can you follow up with her later?”
”Of course,” Linca whispered back, giving a cheerful nod. “I’ll do my best.”
She didn’t seem bothered by the extra task. Kian smiled to himself. She felt more like a wonderful woman now than ever before.
Marilyn stopped Bertrand from speaking again and bowed toward Kian. “Master Kian, I’m very sorry.”
”No, I should apologize,” Kian said, bowing slightly. “I couldn’t protect the army. I should take the blame.”
Her face twisted with regret.
It wasn’t fair to expect much from a fourteen-year-old girl. She should’ve just believed: “I’m a margrave, so it’s natural to be protected. This is my first battle, so of course I’ll mess up.”
”Lord Kian,” Bertrand whispered, leaning close. “I said a lot before, but… the 300 soldiers were all death row inmates. Their deaths were expected. Honestly, this result helps us. It saves money and trouble.”
”────”
Kian nodded silently.
He thanked the remaining Owl Knights, then raised his voice to everyone.
”Let’s head back to the castle. We need to confirm the damage and prepare for what comes next.”
* * *
Here are the results from the damage report:
– From Izerland, 263 regular soldiers died.
– 15 were seriously hurt.
– 6 had light injuries.
– Among the Holy Guard and Owl Knights, most wounds were light and healed with magic.
– Bertrand was badly injured, but Rufna healed him. He can fight again.
There was no damage to the wheat fields, the fortress, or the supply storages.
The unfinished fortress on the hill was safe.
As for the Black Panther side:
– 49 elite soldiers were killed.
– 11 famous warriors died.
– 5 magicians were lost.
Now they have only 15 mages left.
Fraus and Arminus confirmed the damage and discussed their transformations.
– Fraus: a blue-scaled ice dragon with 14 dragon scales.
– Arminus: a black dragon like the Ice Dragon Dahaka. Three heads. At least 100 scales.
Kian guessed they’d have to defeat Arminus over 100 times to truly kill him.
Its attacks included ice magic, thunder, and a kind of dark breath, according to Sarah and Linca.
If it used its immortality and charged, it could destroy everything before even losing power.
They seemed like the worst match for Oswald.
Arminus and Fraus likely hid their true forms before because they saw Oswald as too strong and dangerous.
Perhaps it would’ve seemed wiser to release Oswald and allow Arminus and the others to resolve the issue themselves—that was the thought shared silently by nearly everyone in the strategy meeting. The air in the room had grown heavy with indecision. Yet, giving Oswald his freedom now might spark a different set of problems, even if he re-entered the field through formal procedures. Knight Gunter of Owl and Lord Bertrand stood firm, pressing for alternative solutions instead of depending on him.
In the end, only one plan remained—a plan as cold as the steel in a battlefield. It was cruel and harsh. They discussed using large-scale magic on the seventeen thousand families marching behind the Beastmen Alliance’s army. This attack would freeze Arminus and Fraus’s movements by causing utter confusion in their rear lines. Yet, such an indiscriminate strike would place them no different from the merciless Beastmen forces they sought to stop. Still, Marilyn—also known as Maribel—pushed for the plan. Her voice trembled with urgency as she argued that the safety of Ramsey’s civilians and soldiers could not be compromised for the sake of appearance.
By the time the clock passed three in the morning, exhaustion clung to every person present. Their minds dulled, their arguments slower. A break was called. They would resume the next night.
Kian, however, didn’t feel rushed. He already had his own answer, one not voiced aloud. He would be the one to face Arminus and Fraus. Deep down, he wanted to reassure everyone, to say, “I’ll deal with them, don’t worry,” but he held back. No one besides Sarah and Linca, who knew his secrets, would believe such a bold claim.
After the meeting ended, Kian requested Natra, Rufna, and Serena to remain behind. There were matters he needed to explain—truths about Talia, about himself, and what had truly happened in that fateful encounter with Arminus.
The explanation lasted about two hours, long and filled with details.
By the time it ended, light had begun to seep through the sky beyond the administrative office’s balcony. Kian had intentionally left out one part—that the three of them had slept together in the cave. That detail would only raise questions and judgment, and the truth about body reinforcement, while real, wasn’t crucial in this context.
”It sounds unreal,” Rufna said, narrowing her brows as she looked at Kian with serious eyes. “But Master doesn’t seem to have gone mad. I can’t see her, but… the vampire—Talia, right? She’s really here?”
”Yes,” Kian replied quietly, glancing toward the balcony. “Right now, she’s sitting in a chair and watching the morning light.”
”So all this time, Mr. Kian has been hearing Lady Talia’s voice,” Serena said, her eyes steady. “That’s why he would suddenly go silent or act out of character.”
”That’s true,” Kian said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I did hear her voice all the time. But those sudden changes… well, that’s just how I am sometimes.”
”When we first met, you were already hearing the voice from the ‘glasses,’ weren’t you?” Serena asked, narrowing her eyes. “You had them on when I asked about the Death Sword User.”
Kian nodded with certainty. “That’s right. I had just gotten the ‘glasses’ before we met.”
”So your constant wearing and taking off of the ‘glasses’ wasn’t about fashion at all,” Serena said, smirking slightly.
”Do I look like someone who’d wear ‘glasses’ just to be stylish?” Kian asked, half-laughing.
”Maybe you do,” Serena teased. “You do have a bit of a quirky side.”
Natra spoke then, her voice firm but respectful. “Unlike Lady Serena, I always saw myself as nothing more than a tool for Sir Kian’s work.”
She paused and folded her hands. “Mr. Kian dislikes questions about his personal affairs. As his servant, I had no desire to earn his displeasure. The ‘glasses’ seemed like a joke item, so I thought it best to ignore them.”
She looked down for a moment, then raised her eyes. “I had already realized that my master was switching personalities intentionally. But exploring his inner mind further would have made things messy. I didn’t want to be disliked by him for crossing boundaries.”
”I’m sorry for not telling the full truth earlier,” Kian said as he lowered his head.
Rufna raised both hands in a calming gesture. “It’s fine, really.”
She gave a half-hearted grin and said, “We’re comrades, but that doesn’t mean we have to share every little thing. I’ve got plenty of secrets myself. Serena, Lady Natra—you both do too, right? Even with secrets, we can still fight together.”
Natra kept her head low and said softly, “Still… I’m disappointed. Mr. Kian keeping secrets isn’t new to me. I mentioned it before, I don’t intend to pry. But I wish you trusted us just a bit more. Especially about the deal with Black Onyx’s spirit. That wasn’t something you should have kept hidden.”
”I’m sorry,” Kian replied sincerely.
”Please reflect on that,” Natra said gently. “I’m not asking you to share everything. But please share what truly matters. If I sense that you’re hiding something important again, I’ll ask properly. Is that okay?”
”That’s okay,” Kian said with a nod. “If I can’t talk about something, I’ll say so clearly. I’ll explain why.”
”Then this talk is over. I won’t dwell on it,” Natra said, stepping back.
Nearby, Serena let out a small yawn.
Kian hadn’t cared much either way. Talia had always helped him. Secrets or not, she had protected Sarah and Linca. She had even strengthened Kian himself. It was confusing, yes. But if she had Kian’s trust, then Serena decided she would trust her too.
”Ms. Serena, you’re truly incredible,” Sarah said, looking amazed.
Serena shrugged casually. “People say that a lot. I have a simple way of thinking. But is that really so bad? Just see what’s in front of you. Think about how Shin would act. Then the right answer will appear. That’s what the High Warlord always said.”
”A Wolfman who can see through lies might be the only one able to say such things,” Linca murmured, stroking her chin.
”If you focus on what’s real, you won’t be tricked by words,” Serena said calmly. “People give off unconscious signs. Their heartbeat. Their sweat. The way they breathe.”
She glanced at Kian. “His heartbeat is steady. His breathing is even. That means he already decided. I’ll trust that. Still, I hope Ms. Talia explains herself clearly when something important comes up.”
”Understood,” Kian said.
”That aside,” Rufna said with a frown, turning to face him, “how do we deal with the two dragons?”
She leaned forward slightly. “You drank vampire blood to get stronger. And we all saw that magic sword during the Oswald and Juji battle. But can you really fight over a hundred people alone?”
”If it’s just Fraus, I can handle him,” Kian answered without hesitation.
Natra looked up with confidence. “I understand his movements now. He has fourteen scales left. Next time, we have a strong chance.”
”If we have time after tonight, I’ll show you the sword’s full power,” Kian offered. “I want you all to see it for yourselves.”
”If you’re in danger, Master, then I’m sorry,” Natra said firmly. “I’ll take action and go after the enemy families. I can’t trade your life.”
”I understand,” Kian replied. “If it’s the worst-case scenario, I won’t stop you. But hold off if you can. I want to limit it to those I can handle.”
”That’s what being regular soldiers means,” Sarah muttered with a sigh.
She shook her head. “Lords from the borderlands will come to watch. We must act with honor. Only when we show overwhelming power can we hold onto our ideals.”
”Then is it alright to burn one or two oases?” Natra asked quietly.
Sarah flinched and turned away, embarrassed.
”I’m not saying I approve,” she said in a small voice. “But if we have no choice… yes. The plan to target the Beastmen’s families is part of that. Can you understand?”
”No. I can’t accept it. Not even a little,” Natra said, her voice firm.
”I see… You’re right,” Sarah murmured. “I don’t want to kill innocents either. Then let’s work hard to find another way.”
”That would be ideal. But we can’t close our eyes to the harsh truth. We need to be ready for it.”
”Even if Master dies?” Rufna asked, coldly.
Natra fell silent.
Kian reached out and gently rested his hand on her shoulder.
”You don’t have to answer. Stay true to your beliefs, Natra.”
”Sir Kian…”
Kian looked around at the others.
”I’ll take care of Arminus and Fraus. But if I fail, shoot the non-combatants behind us. That’s an order. As the lord of this castle, disobedience is not allowed.”
”Understood.”
”I intend to show such strength that you won’t have to make that choice.”
Talia had approached too, her expression serious, her nod full of conviction.
Strength was the key. Without it, nothing could change. With it, even painful paths could be turned into better futures.
”Let’s take a break from this heavy talk and eat,” Linca said, clapping her hands.
”Yeah,” Rufna said with a tired smile.
But just as they turned toward the exit of the strategy room, the heavy double doors burst open.
Marilyn—Maribel—stepped in with Bertrand beside her.
”Kian, urgent news,” Marilyn said breathlessly.
”Three pieces. First, we found the traitor. Three prisoners vanished. The scrolls didn’t hold them. They were disguised agents.”
”So Fraus knew our camp’s location and troop size,” Kian muttered. “But not that I went to the swamp.”
”I think so. But they might have overheard something.”
”Hmm…”
Arminus hadn’t searched randomly. He came straight for them. Ramsey’s spies couldn’t give that much detail. Someone was following Kian in real time. Probably using Nue. Maybe multiple teams tracking by zone.
(Umar… maybe him)
”Second,” Marilyn said grimly, “we failed to capture Umar Vahid.”
Everyone frowned, except Serena.
Kian wasn’t shocked. Gao and Lucretia couldn’t take on Umar, Katyusha, and Yelmar. Honestly, he was impressed they lived.
”We detained twenty of Umar’s people. They had poison under their teeth. They killed themselves.”
”Poison?” Serena asked, narrowing her eyes.
”Umar escaped with a few. They may be in nearby villages. Lucretia is issuing wanted posters.”
”Wouldn’t Wolfmen stand out? Any sightings?”
”None so far.”
”I see.”
Marilyn bit her lip. Her cheeks flushed. She looked like she wanted to disappear.
But she’d done her best. And at least Christy hadn’t gotten herself killed.
Bertrand stepped forward.
”Third. Lady Eleonora and the Sunlightland Knights are safe. They’ll arrive shortly to report. Lord Kian, your help is needed.”
Notes:
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• Nue – A Shikigami summoned by Linca. It has the appearance of a monster with a tiger’s limbs and a monkey’s head. Nue is a powerful but dangerous creature that requires a skilled magician to control.
• Bertrand – The recent knight recruited by Maribel from bandit. He is from boar tribe and have goblin-like face.
• Marilyn – Female. An elderly witch who uses a hoarse voice. She is versatile, skilled in basic magic, teleportation gates, and large-scale group chants. Despite her age, she is sturdy and capable of frontline combat. She acts as a mentor figure to Botti and Aerial.
• Serena – Wolfmen Girl
• Arminus – Male. Leader of the Black Panther Tribe. Possesses extraordinary physical abilities, enhanced by the tribe’s unique technique that repels energy and magic attacks. His speed and strength surpass those of High Warlord Isthbaran. Wields the magic sword Balmung, capable of cleaving through an ice dragon with a single strike. His black fur provides camouflage in low visibility, making him nearly undetectable. Relationship: Leader of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Fraus – Male. Son of Arminus. Member of the Black Panther Tribe. Shares his father’s enhanced physical abilities and combat prowess. Relationship: Subordinate and family to Arminus.
• Gunter – Male. One of Owl’s knights, fully armored in a turtle-like appearance. He is easily distracted by Linca’s charm and struggles to maintain professionalism. His relationship with Owl is one of a subordinate, and he is often scolded for his behavior.
• Juji – Male. Leader of the Wolfmen’s ‘Jinsou’. A skilled warrior with sharp senses and combat abilities. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Katyusha – A female warrior monk of the black panther race and a follower of Abbas Hashmalik Shakerdoust.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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