MTWW 159

Chapter 159…………………………

One day.

After the meeting ended, there was exactly one day to prepare for the expedition.

During that time, all forces had done their best to make preparations.

“So, there’s no time to dawdle.”

I said this to the members of the Ice Rock unit.

“We go immediately.”

They sat there shirtless, backs fully exposed.

“We’re ready!”
“Please take care of us!”
“Finish it all in one go!”

Those who have a sigil cannot grow on their own.

To use new magic or increase the amount of mana, they had no choice but to inscribe a new sigil.

Most members of Ice Rock’s magic unit had stopped at double or triple chains with two or three sigils inscribed.

Gardner and Hagen had already inscribed four sigils.

“Again, if anyone wants out, it’s fine to step back.”

Even though all the sigils had been inscribed by me, my reluctance remained.

“There’s no coercion.”
“Ah, how many times do you have to say that?!”

Hagen, sitting in the front, shouted.

“You say there’s no time, and yet you dawdle yourself—what’s up with that, seriously!”
“Yeah, for once, the squad leader says something right.”
“Just hurry up already. It’s cold, so cold.”

I was the only one who felt reluctant.

“We don’t really have any other options, do we?”
“…Yeah.”

I smiled faintly and laid my palm on Hagen’s back.

“Then, let’s go quickly?”
“Nnnnngh?!”

Screech—mana circulated rapidly through Hagen’s body.

Through his veins, along his nerves, precisely hitting the places where the four sigils had already been inscribed.

“The faster it goes, the more it hurts.”
“Ugh, agh, gahgahk—!”

The fifth, a new sigil, was inscribed.

Bang—!

“Hngh?!”

From Hagen’s screaming mouth, a groan split with a blue light.

“Th…that…someone…please…give…me…”

Hagen collapsed to the floor, unable to finish his words.

“…?!”
“Squad…leader?!”

The faces of the unit members turned pale at the sight.

“Next.”

I grinned and moved on to the next.

Should have listened to me nicely.

Inscribing the sigils was instantaneous.

The amount of mana circulating in the circle barely changed.

The power of an 8th Circle.

Thanks to that, after inscribing sigils for all members of Ice Rock…

“Now, your turn.”

I had Hog sit in front of me.

He already had three sigils inscribed:

and .

The third, requested by him from Zahab in the East, was .

It was magic inscribed to closely resemble the tattoos on the bodies of Zahab’s violent gangs that had repeatedly struck him.

Even with just these three, Hog already had strength comparable to most knights.

“Ready?”

But having recently tasted helplessness, Hog wanted to inscribe more sigils.

Facing the disasters of the East, the northern expeditionary nobles, and Saipas.

Although the nobles and Saipas borrowed the power of artifacts, in the end, Hog had failed to protect Sirina to the end.

That frustration was clearly evident.

“Yes.”
“If you feel you can’t do it, say so. We can stop and try again.”
“No need.”

Hog spoke resolutely and spread his broad back fully.

He had always been large, but compared to the first sigil, his body now looked visibly more solid.

The form was to release the mana accumulated by through .

And now with , the amount of mana accumulated was even greater.

The overgrowth of his body was a result of this.

If left unchecked, the mana could run out of control, or his body could collapse under the strain.

“Alright.”

Just as Hagen said,

“Then let’s go.”

Screech.

Mana flowed out from my palm.

“…!”

One could see the power tensing in his massive body.

“<Blood flowing like a river, bones spreading like a mountain range>.”
“<Memories of a forgotten age, joints of a crooked spine>.”

Through the wall-like, sturdy back.

“.”
“<With every step, trampling the earth>.”

I inscribed Hog’s new fourth sigil.

“.”

Dawn broke.

Those heading out assembled in front of the castle gate in a long procession.

“Quite a number going?”

I said, passing the Eastern warriors gathered at the rear.

“It’s not because you’re pretty, but because of the priestess’s request.”

Hashim, following me, pouted and grumbled.

“Leaving only the minimum guard behind, all the tribes decided to follow you.”
“Good. Thank them all for me.”

Passing the Eastern warriors, the northern troops lined up on both sides.

Mercenaries drafted from northern lords and soldiers supported by their territories.

“Training seems excellent.”
“Of course.”

Gardner, responsible for all training, smirked.

“I don’t do things half-heartedly.”
“I know. So… do you like the present?”

“Still feels a bit odd…”

He lifted his prosthetic arm slightly.

Click-click, bending and straightening the fingers in sequence.

It moved naturally enough that it didn’t look like a prosthetic.

“The rest you’ll get used to in battle.”
“Looking forward to it.”

Gardner smiled confidently.

Ahead were the lead formations:

Ice Rock’s elite… and

“Why does everyone look like they’re dying?”

Yesterday, all magic unit members had received new sigils.

Faces of Hagen and the others were pale.

“…My insides are still bubbling.”
“Wasn’t that too rough?”
“We haven’t had a proper meal… or water since yesterday…”

Watching them whine, I chuckled.

I had filled their mana to the brink, almost to the point of bodily strain, to inscribe the sigils.

It would take time to adapt.

“Who told you to rush the sigils? Serves you right.”
“No… we didn’t expect this!”

Ignoring Hagen’s complaints,

“We’re here.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, forward!”

Passing Sirina and Hog, I took the lead of the formation.

In front of Icecrown’s gates, the non-combatants who stayed behind waited.

“Be careful, alright? Don’t overdo it. If you get hurt again, I can’t bear it…”
“I know, Mom. I’ll be careful.”

Sully clung to Sirina, still sobbing, worried.

“Go safely.”
“We’ll wait for you! Okay?”
“Win and come back alive!”

Other soldiers’ families sent them off in tearful voices.

“Good luck.”
“Good… luck!”

Samara and Naira gave me intense looks.

“Right. Don’t forget what I asked, okay?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t worry!”

Naira nodded confidently.

“I’ll make sure it’s done!”
“I’ll trust you.”

After finishing the farewells,

“Open the gates!”

Bardo, standing behind, raised his hand and shouted.

The guards at the gates moved in perfect order, turning the pulleys.

Rumble—the sound of chains winding, and the massive gate swung open.

Outside, the biting early winter wind and sharp snowstorm swirled.

“Perfect weather for a fight.”

The central continent had clear boundaries.

The royal city of Erion at the imperial capital marked the center.

Though no one officially declared it, people had long recognized that as the central region.

Naturally, people gathered along the royal road, forming villages that gradually grew into cities, with walls and gates.

The actual empire’s frontier lay farther away, but the central people called a few gates the borders.

The largest among them: North Gate, Gravehold Fortress.

To reach the East, one had to cross the northern mountains.

Thus, there was no eastern gate; the northern gate extended to block all paths.

The margrave guarding North Gate, Gravehold Fortress: Logan Strauss.

He personally walked atop the walls with the knights, inspecting the defenses.

“The Crown Prince seems quite worried.”

Logan scanned the fortress walls stretching below and chuckled.

“Even if the northern forces were annihilated, a siege naturally favors the defenders.”
“What would the Crown Prince know about war?”

“Hey! Mind your words, Gareth.”

Logan scolded the burly knight beside him, though a smile lingered.

“Even the truth must be said with caution.”
“Understood.”

“Anyway, they have enough strength to wipe out those bear hunters. And the Solius order in the south isn’t idle either. Calling the archbishops together—surely they’re plotting something.”
“Weren’t the archbishops detained in Dark?”

“Yes, lucky for us.”

The southern gate, Dark.

Recently, archbishops of the Solius order had tried to travel to Solarins, the Papal seat, but were detained.

“There are rumors the Pope is dead… who knows what they’ll do with that excuse.”
“Still, good they were caught in Dark. Their paladins are formidable opponents.”

“Why? You’re not confident?”
“To be honest, Elnor… is exceptional. She’s basically an Overlord.”

“Surprising. Even after reaching the Penta Chain level, you’ve never said that about anyone.”
“Apologies. But if we fight here in this fortress… I’m confident we could win, even against her.”

Under his helmet, Gareth’s eyes flashed sharply.

Logan smiled, satisfied with the sight.

“Exactly, even the highest paladins cannot spread their wings in Gravehold Fortress. Let alone the northern rabble…”
“Enemies!”
“Enemy forces!”

From beyond the walls, alarm bells rang loudly.

Along the long wall, torches blazed, piercing the night darkness.

“What… what is that?!”

Startled, Logan blinked and stepped back from the wall’s edge.

Gareth stepped forward, quietly observing below the walls.

Vrrr—

Focusing his mana, he could see enemies moving in the darkness…

“…?!”

His eyes nearly popped out under the helmet.