Chapter 212

The emperor’s personal guards, adorned in red masks, moved like a tide. Raul’s description of their movement feeling like a crimson tide was no exaggeration.

“…”

To Seojin, the events unfolding before his eyes seemed to move in excruciating slow motion.

First, an adventurer fell. A member of the Great Red’s guild had halted the entire elite guard. The collapse of the perimeter was the next instant. The heavily gold-plated and fortified villa’s barriers were torn apart with laughable ease. And then, a dozen adventurers were slain.

Seojin’s comrades, who had been stationed at the perimeter in preparation for any unforeseeable events.

Seojin regained his senses

-Engage in combat! Fight! You may kill!

Only after losing a significant number of members did he give orders.

-Equip all issued gear! Focus around the holy professions! Target is everyone wearing a red mask!

Intuitive orders.

Having gathered experts in their respective professions, the response was immediate.

A brief moment of respite was granted, but Seojin was not satisfied.

-There’s a man outside! Weasel beard! Primary weapon is a sword! Uncertain if he’s wearing a mask!

The last guild member to rotate out had fortunately left a private broadcast running even in their moment of death.

Thanks to that, Seojin could see the man issuing orders to these monsters, frowning as if displeased. The immediate goal was to gain the upper hand in this battle, but in the long run, that man had to be captured.

-Great Red Team 1! From now on, you’re on a separate mission! Find that man without dying! If you deem it too dangerous, request backup immediately!

Short orders.

Following that, Seojin shifted his focus back to the situation at hand.

“…”

Fortunately, a fierce battle was underway, signifying they were not being overwhelmingly pushed back.

‘No, rather.’

He viewed the situation more objectively. The battle was intense, but they held a slight advantage. Bright lights flashed from all around. It was the holy power that priests and paladins had channeled into their souls. The minions of the evil god shrunk noticeably with every burst of brilliant white light.

‘Not bad.’

It was enough; more than enough to hold them back. The key now was capturing the commander, surely a royal.

-Seojin! That man is heading to the main forces! He’s too fast!

It was a message from Team 1. The man Seojin had ordered to be tracked. Defense Minister Fyod of the Empire had no intention of fleeing from the start. Showing himself openly from the beginning was also an act to divert some of the forces, just like now.

And from the west of the villa, there was a loud, bomb-like boom.

Bang!

“…!”

A sound as if a meteor had struck resonated across the battlefield. It was the noise of Fyod smashing through a barrier.

“This land is not for the likes of you to tread upon!”

A thunderous declaration enveloped the battlefield.

Debuff: ‘Mountains’ Momentum’ is applied.

*All allies’ close combat power is reduced by 10%.

Debuff: ‘One Strike, One Kill’ is applied.

*All allies’ evasion rate is reduced by 50%.

Debuff: ‘Disparity’ has…

Several area-wide debuffs were applied in an instant. Such effects from a single shout.

‘This is no ordinary position.’

An obvious thought, and the system messages floOdieng in cemented that conviction.

Encountered a key figure of the Camilton Empire, ‘Defense Minister Fyod’!

Trait: ‘Pursuing Beast’ is applied!

You cannot withdraw from this battle!

The message that one cannot withdraw from battle. The implication was simple. Though this opponent was not a monster, this battle was akin to a kind of raid.

‘There haven’t been proper raids opened yet.’

Indeed, that was what raids were. Hunting a few huge and overwhelmingly strong enemies.

Thus, attacking Defense Minister Fyod was also someone everyone here needed to join forces to hunt.

‘The rest are just minions. Though they’re the emperor’s elite guard, they’re practically just mobs.’

Considering raids usually set even the minions to be quite strong, this balance was reasonably acceptable.

‘The estimation is clear.’

“There, a mage! Can I get someone who can amplify voices?”

A mage hurried over at Seojin’s call.

Though a stranger to Seojin, he was a member of the Great Red’s guild.

“Amplification?”

“Yes. Loud enough to be heard by everyone here and then some.”

The mage nodded.

A light transferred from his fingertips to Seojin’s throat. A simple to use magic, but its volume control showcased the mage’s skill.

Voice Amplification

As soon as the awaited message was confirmed.

League of Deception

*The effect of skills used to deceive the opponent significantly increases!

White Lie is used.

Like Defense Minister Fyod had applied area-wide debuffs, Seojin also played a card to counter.

* * *

Fyod could not hide his fury.

The Camilton Empire.

Merely hearing its name mentioned by someone filled his chest with pride for his homeland. Unlike other nations that had succumbed to adventurers, the Camilton Empire was the only country that had managed to harness them. Though the idea of using adventurers did not entirely sit well with him, he had long accepted that the emperor’s judgment was correct.

‘That was the only place allowed for you.’

He could almost hear the emperor’s voice in his ear, stating that adventurers must contribute something beneficial to the country to stay on this land.

What was this mess now?

From the standpoint of the defense minister, no, any bureaucrat of the royal court would have been appalled by this scene. Despite often being divided by factions and competing for interests, their patriotism, deep within their hearts, was undeniable by anyone.

“This land is not for the likes of you to tread upon!”

He cried out in anger, causing the adventurers to hesitate momentarily.

Fyod raised his sword, thinking it was time to decapitate these creatures one by one.

However, “I’ve removed the debuff! And applied buffs! Don’t be scared and continue as you were! We will win!”

A voice as commanding as Fyod’s filled the battlefield. He found it hard to grasp the message. But he saw that the enemies were regaining their morale. Their momentum stronger than before, an inconceivable situation where the emperor’s elite guard, invincible until now, was at a disadvantage.

“No matter how much the likes of you…!”

“We will win! The enemy is weak! Turns out they’re nothing at all!”

Shouts overlapped at just the right timing.

Fyod’s voice was drowned out.

The mage increased the output, and now his voice was incomparable to Fyod’s.

‘No, I can prove it with my sword.’

Since when had he subdued an enemy with words? What had brought him to this position was one thing, and one thing alone. His overwhelmingly skillful swordsmanship, which no foe could match.

And the next moment, “I’ll hold him off! Let’s deal with the minions first! Ten minutes should be enough!”

Fyod realized he was restrained.

A table was placed between him and the adventurer. He could move, but he couldn’t wield his sword.

Now it was Fyod’s turn to digest the moment.

One of the elite guards fell, and soon their number became five. Despite feeling a profound dizziness, he gripped his sword tighter.

‘It was said to be ten minutes.’

He thought if he could endure this brief humiliation, he could sweep away these adventurers in one fell swoop with the surviving elite guard.

And after ten minutes,

“…”

Fyod realized his assumption had been wrong.

* * *

Fyod felt as if he had become a demon caught in a trap.

Tightly bound by a white restraint that made it difficult to even breathe, he was surrounded by layers upon layers of magical barriers.

“Planning to seal me away?”

“Seal? Are you a demon then?”

Before him stood the very person who had orchestrated this situation.

Adventurer Seojin.

A human who, without inviting any suspicion from the Empire, had plotted such a detestable act right before his eyes.

Fyod snorted.

“Isn’t that how you’re treating me?”

“From our point of view, it’s inevitable. Are you denying it, or do you truly not understand?”

“This is rather sloppy for an interrogation.”

“You really don’t get it, do you? Look at that staunch patriotism. I recognize your loyalty, but isn’t it a bit too blind?”

“Blind loyalty is the virtue of a soldier.”

“Even without knowing where it’s directed?”

“To the land’s sovereign, to His Majesty the emperor, who sits in a position higher than any human.”

That was an undeniable truth.

Every citizen of the Camilton Empire would share the same sentiment.

“His Majesty, huh? What kind of person is he?”

Only then did Fyod grasp the meaning behind this conversation.

‘You’re mocking me.’

How could they be so frivolous?

Fyod knew adventurers regarded this continent as their playground, but he could never accept that.

“You’re not going to answer? You think I’m wasting my precious time here to jest with you? Could’ve killed you straight away, but here you are, tied up, and it doesn’t seem like you’re trying to extract information properly…”

“Hmph.”

“Do you know what this is?”

Seojin slightly lifted a red mask.

An item used by the emperor’s elite guard.

Fyod did not respond again.

“Of course, you know. Your men used it.”

“…”

“Do you know what’s behind these masks?”

A meaningless question.

Fyod now looked upward.

“You wouldn’t know. You don’t know, that’s why all this is happening. What if there was no evidence? Merhen!”

Another adventurer entered.

A Paladin dragged in one of the emperor’s elite guards, similarly ‘sealed’.

His attire remained untouched, and the mask covering his face was intact.

“Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate for you, sadly, it seems the emperor didn’t really trust you.”

What trick were they planning now?

Fyod maintained his composure.

‘Your arrogance will only last until tomorrow.’

He had instructed, before departing, that if he did not return by tomorrow, the central army should be dispatched here.

No matter how formidable these adventurers were, they couldn’t overcome such a numerical disadvantage.

But as he pondered this,

“Let’s see how our esteemed Defense Minister reacts to this. Let’s have a look. If you have any questions after seeing it, feel free to ask.”

Seojin removed the mask. Fyod, even with his curiosity, couldn’t resist this moment.

The emperor’s elite guard.

Though he had control over them, even Fyod was not permitted to ‘unmask’ them.

His gaze involuntarily shifted forward.

As the mask left the elite guard’s face, Fyod finally saw what lay behind it.

“What kind of trick is this?”

“You’re asking the wrong person. That’s a question for your emperor.”

A dark abyss.

Within it, two crimson lights faced Fyod, like the eyes of a demon peeking out from hell.

“Merely wearing a mask doesn’t grant honor. How naive, adventurer.”

“So suspicious. But if you really thought we concocted this, you would have verified before speaking, right?”

“Verify?”

“You must have something of your own for that. A measure against spies, right?”

“Any human…”

“Were you about to say no spy could dare enter here? So, use whatever means you’re so confident in to verify whether this really is one of the emperor’s elite guards. Or if we’ve just clumsily played a prank.”

With that, Seojin grinned.

“It’s not that hard, is it?”