Chapter 53 - Volume 1
TL: Sorry guys, I have to probably delay the JP series until I have some real free time in March. The next TL release will probably be next week or if I have free time.
Chapter 53 – The line between life and death
“Ser Esebar, take a look at this.” The leader of the mercenaries handed the brass telescope over to the noble after using it.
The Golden Apple Lord sat steadily on an Arreck horse.
Aouine’s cavalry troops once used them as the main choice as war horses, but they eventually switched to the double-footed flying dragons. Despite the change, the nobles still used rode the horses to represent their status.
Esebar received the telescope and looked into the distance with it, then passed to his ally, the businessman Burnley with an impassive face.
The Golden Apple Lord was not too anxious. Even if Earl Dunn died on their territory, the only thing that would get affected was merely their reputation. The nobles in this area prized actual power over reputation, and if the king sought someone to blame, it was naturally the bastard Luc Beson who was at fault, not the gentlemen here.
In fact, he wanted the Earl to get into an accident, but he did not dare to do anything that was too obvious. Right now, he merely gathered his private army and prepared to attack the keep.
The third volley of arrows came again—
“What is this monster?” The Golden Apple Lord pointed at the dark creature with immense wings. Burnley’s eyes glinted, but he did not reply.
“That is a gargoyle, my lord. It is a masterpiece of Buga’s smiths, a type of war puppet.”
It was a mercenary who replied politely.
“That is a gargoyle?” The Golden Apple Lord’s expression changed. He drew in a deep breath. He had heard of Karsuk’s highland wizards were a connection left behind by Buga’s archmagi, and it appeared that the rumors were somewhat valid. His heart started calculating. It was still fine to offend a highland knight, but Buga’s archmagi were something else entirely.
“Ser Esebar, we have no choice.” Burnley’s eyes changed a little and tried to persuade him.
The Golden Apple Lord suddenly turned back and looked at him, and Burnley suddenly realized that he overdid things. The fat businessman laughed and shook his head. “But it is true that Buga’s wizards are not people to be trifled with-”
The Golden Apple Lord raised his head and felt uneasy.
Brendel and Ciel landed on the ground without suffering any additional injuries. Another volley of arrows came again, and Brendel cut them down with his sword. As soon as the raining arrows ended, he sheathed the sword and brought the bow up as he jumped onto the gargoyle’s back and they flew towards the archers.
Makavu was in the midst of the archers. He almost could not believe his eyes when he saw Brendel flying up from the ground area, but his experience in the myriad battles in his history brought about a sense of danger when he realized there was a gargoyle.
He immediately shouted to his vice captain: “It’s close enough, have the archers fire at will!”
The soldiers understood the meaning, and the riders from the sides prepared to surround the area.
The soldiers fired again—
Brendel took in another deep breath. There was no need for any bow techniques with the conjured bow, but he had trouble balancing himself on the flying creature. He aimed for a few seconds, then lightly released the bowstring. A white beam of light shot into the throng of soldiers five meters away from Makavu, shattering the rocks nearby into pebbles.
“Oh.” Ciel sighed as he watched.
Brendel did not panic and became even steady. He pulled the bow again and this arrow pierced two archers behind Makavu and the arrow exploded in the vicinity, hurting the soldiers around the area of impact.
He pulled the bow again. Makavu was already retreating in a hurry as he mistook Brendel for a wizard.
This arrow brought the vice-captain down from his horse. Brendel was becoming more accurate.
[This is the last arrow. They are about to counter attack!]
Brendel’s eyes followed Makavu with a grimace as he wormed into the crowd. He hesitated before unleashing the arrow into the archers, causing the arrow to explode. Due to the tightly packed area, four of them died, and the archers retreated.
Because of the chaos, there was an opening as they fled in different directions.
The gargoyle turned around and grabbed Ciel. This had given Brendel a little time and he felt that his judgment was correct. He then ordered the gargoyle to fly past them. Just when he thought everything was fine, a lasso came from the crowd and accurately looped around one of the Gargoyle’s wings.
Brendel was shocked and he turned his head around to spot the mercenary leader, Makavu.
Because of the unexpected turn of events, the gargoyle flew unsteadily in an arch, then descended nearby into the river. Makavu cried out in delight and released the rope. He did not care about his bloody palms and yelled out: “Now! Capture them!”
The situation suddenly changed.