CCTnovel Chapter 213
Chapter 213
Right before me stood Yuria.More precisely...
Raysha, transformed into Yuria(?).
As for how this happened, Raysha had used the transformation artifact that Olivia had been using.
At first, I'd wondered what on earth I could use that transformation artifact for.
But it turned out there was a perfect use for it.
It was a secret weapon capable of landing a devastating blow on an unsuspecting opponent.
“How is it?”
“How is what? It's terrible.”
“Really?”
“I've transformed into an ugly little dwarf fox. Wouldn't it be stranger if I felt perfectly fine?”
“Oh, come on. What dwarf? Besides, the last person who used it looked perfectly fine.”
The transformation artifact Olivia had used had been designed from the beginning for Beastmen to use.
So there wasn't any problem with Raysha using it.
However, because it was an artifact that transformed the user's appearance into Yuria's, there was no guarantee she could perfectly display her original abilities.
After all, Olivia had neither been a Knight nor anything else, and she'd never participated in combat after using it.
But after personally testing it, I found there were only slight differences.
Nothing significant enough to become a problem.
After sparring directly with Raysha while she was transformed into Yuria, I understood immediately.
Whether she looked like Yuria or not...
Raysha was still Raysha.
That gave me confidence this artifact was perfectly usable.
So everything she was saying right now was nothing more than ordinary complaining.
What made it even more ridiculous was that although Raysha was indeed fairly tall for a woman in this world, the same was true for Yuria.
The difference in their height was only about 3 centimeters.
And Yuria was probably the last person anyone could call ugly.
So calling herself a dwarf or an ugly fox was nonsense from the start.
‘The two of them never got along very well in the first place, so I guess she isn't happy about this.’
It was just her usual habit of complaining.
I could simply let it slide.
“Do we really have to go this far? Wouldn't it be enough to just beat that Alex fool to death?”
“Well... that's true. But the situation is what it is. Just bear with it. This is the last time.”
“So after this battle, we're finally going back?”
“Probably. There won't be anything left to do after this. Why? Do you want to go home?”
“I don't particularly like this place. Even the wind feels suffocating. I'd like to return home as soon as possible.”
I agreed with that.
This was also a coastal area, but it felt completely different from Henil.
Henil was relatively dry despite being by the sea.
This place was incredibly humid, and despite it still being spring, the temperature was already rather high.
I really didn't like this weather.
I knew this was something that had to be done, so I went through with it anyway.
But every now and then, I found myself wondering what great fortune we were expecting to gain by struggling in someone else's land like this.
‘Well, what can I do? We've already started, so we might as well see it through.’
The one thing that kept me going was the fact that if we dealt with Alex Level properly this time, there would be no reason to interfere in the south anymore.
We'd only gotten involved because Alex Level's ideals and methods were so dangerous.
Without him, there would be no reason for us to interfere with whatever happened in the south.
None of the other leaders seemed interested in forcing their influence into the north.
By the time the south eventually united into a single power, or someone developed new ambitions toward the north...
Our Beastman Alliance would have become far more solid.
So this would probably be the last time we meddled in someone else's affairs.
‘Of course, that's only if we can completely keep Alex Level in check.’
That's exactly why this battle was so important.
For the sake of our peaceful future...
Everything had to be settled here.
“Well then, good. Since this is the last time, I'll do it properly. But remember this, Bear. I'll definitely make you pay for the humiliation of turning me into a fox. Prepare yourself.”
“...Yeah, alright. Go easy on me.”
Her blatant threat sent chills down my spine.
It even made me wonder if I'd made a terrible mistake.
Still, it was an undeniable fact that fighting an enemy with lowered guard was easier than fighting one on full alert.
And there was no better way to make Alex Level lower his guard.
-It's their own Shamanic artifact. Will this really fool him?
‘He'll probably fall for it. Olivia moved without even reporting to Alex. In a situation this urgent, he wouldn't have had the time to check on Olivia's situation.’
-If you don't know, then you deserve to get hit.
‘Exactly. If you don't know, then you deserve to get hit.’
For now, I pushed Raysha's threats to the back of my mind and focused solely on winning.
Just imagining the horrified expressions on their faces when "Yuria" (not really) suddenly displayed Master-level strength made me feel a whole lot better.
It would definitely be worth watching.
-Dududududu—
“They're coming.”
While I was calming Raysha down, the sound of galloping hooves grew louder and louder.
Judging by the atmosphere, they intended to crash straight into the defensive position we'd prepared.
Well, once cavalry had built up momentum, there was no reason not to take advantage of it.
They'd probably rested before arriving here.
It was an even bolder tactic than I'd anticipated.
But not one we couldn't handle.
“We should reduce their breakthrough power. Are you ready?”
“I am ready.”
“What about Black Earth?”
-I'm ready as well, Master. Thanks to so many Earth Tribe children being born in the Territory, I've become even stronger.
“That's good news.”
The operation I'd prepared was Operation Decapitation.
As long as our Knights could hold back the enemy's assault, that was all I needed.
While the Knights engaged one another...
Yuria (not really) and I would eliminate the enemy commander.
‘They've probably planned something similar. It's the fastest way to win.’
That's why I'd assigned Sir Stone Tower Shudarn to guard Deron Level.
When it came to protecting someone, Sir Shudarn was the greatest in the Level Kingdom.
Having already lost one Lord once before, he'd surely buy us enough time.
Of course...
That was assuming anyone actually got the chance to attack Deron Level.
According to my expectations, the enemy probably wouldn't even have that opportunity.
‘Because Deron Level isn't the only one they'll be targeting.’
Deron Level was prey they'd already cornered.
Wouldn't they come after me instead?
Alex Level's ambitions weren't limited to the Level Kingdom.
If he could eliminate me, Iron Johnson—the link connecting the Beastmen and the first Chairman of the Alliance...
Conquering the north would become much easier.
‘Honestly, it'd be even more troublesome if they focused solely on Deron Level.’
No matter how capable Sir Shudarn was, protecting Deron Level from multiple Masters at once would be impossible.
-It depends on how greedy the enemy is.
If they focused only on solving the immediate problem...
They'd devote everything to killing Deron Level.
But if they were thinking on a larger scale and aiming even higher...
They'd eliminate me first.
Then deal with Deron Level afterward.
‘Do we even need to ask? Our opponent is Alex Level.’
I was confident enough to bet Black Earth that Alex Level would concentrate all of his Master-level forces on me first.
-Why are you betting me, Master?
That's how confident I was.
If there was one thing nobody could match Alex Level in...
It was greed.
He'd been born the illegitimate son of a Grand Lord.
He'd pushed aside the legitimate heir to become ruler of the Level Kingdom.
Even that wasn't enough for him.
He wanted to unify the entire Levelra Peninsula.
And on top of that...
He even coveted the Beastman Alliance.
There was nothing ordinary about that man.
If Alex Level had been an ordinary person...
We wouldn't be suffering here right now.
“Alright, let's go!”
-For Deron Level!!
-Kill them! The true ruler of the Level Kingdom is Deron Level!
-Execute the traitor! Kill the traitor!
The instant the five hundred mounted Knights crashed into the obstacles.
The moment Deron Level's army began holding off Alex Level's elite troops.
Black Earth, the gigantic black rabbit carrying me and Yuria (not really), leaped over the obstacles and descended upon the enemy Knights.
When Alex Level first heard Deron Level's proposal to fight a decisive battle on the plains, he found it suspicious.
But the moment he learned that every Beastman would be absent from this battle...
He immediately understood the situation.
Deron Level had become greedy.
Weakening his own forces just to avoid the disgrace of reclaiming power through foreign assistance...
It was exactly the sort of decision Deron Level would make.
Still, lowering his guard was out of the question.
His opponent surely had a plan.
So he continued observing the battlefield until the very end.
“So that grand plan amounted to nothing more than a few obstacles?”
The moment he saw the crude obstacles scattered throughout the center of the battlefield...
He became convinced.
This battle was already won.
So he immediately gave the order to charge.
Smash through those pathetic obstacles...
And drive a dagger straight into the enemy's heart.
Unlike ordinary Soldiers, who suffered fatal injuries after falling from their mounts...
Knights didn't lose their combat effectiveness just because they were thrown off.
Even if the impact of the cavalry charge destroyed those flimsy obstacles...
The Knights would barely lose any fighting power.
Something like this could never make up for the difference between the two armies.
“No... that's... a rabbit?”
The unexpected variable appeared just as the charging Knights collided with the obstacles.
A gigantic black rabbit burst from the enemy formation.
The insane rabbit was beating the leading Knights senseless.
And riding atop that rabbit...
Were Iron Johnson, whom Alex hated more than anyone...
And Yuria McBain.
“Yuria McBain? No... why is she there...? Well, it doesn't matter.”
He had no idea why Yuria was there.
But Iron Johnson openly revealing himself...
Was unquestionably good news.
Iron Johnson was an even more important target than Deron Level.
And eliminating Iron Johnson first—the stronger of the enemy's two Masters—was the core of Alex Level's strategy for this battle.
Having appeared so openly atop such an enormous rabbit...
There was no way he could avoid attracting the Knights' attention.
He was practically prey already caught.
“They're gathering. Good.”
Exactly as Alex Level had expected...
The four Masters, who had scattered in four different directions searching solely for Iron Johnson, all converged on the black rabbit.
Iron Johnson was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.
He had swiftly killed an Imperial Master.
Then gone on to defeat Haken's Apophis and Durek.
No one doubted his strength.
But...
If four Masters attacked him at once...
No matter who it was, they couldn't possibly survive.
“I still don't understand why he indulged Deron Level's foolish pride.”
If Iron had at least been accompanied by that Lion Tribe woman Master...
He might have managed to hold out.
Instead...
The enemy had recklessly withdrawn every Beastman from the battlefield.
Even now, all of the Beastmen remained on Hurus Island managing the prisoners.
Their situation had already been confirmed through reports.
Not a single Beastman remained in this camp.
Since Beastmen ears and tails couldn't simply be hidden...
Alex Level was completely certain of that.
“Well, I suppose the only Beastman left is that Fox Tribe Shaman. What exactly can a Shaman possibly do over there...? What?”
At that moment...
Another unexpected development occurred.
Without warning...
Yuria (not really) leaped off the black rabbit.
She let out a thunderous roar...
Then flew toward "Almighty," Bendaren.
Around her fist...
A massive black Aura surged violently.
“What in the...?”
For an instant...
It felt as though dozens of giant hooks tore through Alex Level's mind.
With his quick thinking, Alex finally grasped the truth of the situation.
“...Don't tell me... Olivia? No... how could...?”
No matter how brilliant Alex Level was...
There was no way he could have predicted that Olivia had tried to act on her own, been captured...
And even had her transformation artifact stolen.
At that moment, the realization that he'd been completely outplayed struck him.
The corners of Alex Level's mouth slowly twisted into a hideous grimace.