Chapter 247 – The Looming Threat

Chapter 247

The Looming Threat

Date : Day 16 of Firstthaw 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

The plaza's atmosphere had completely changed.

The cheers were still rolling across the square in waves. Adventurers who had been staring at the ground only moments ago now talked eagerly among themselves, checking their gear, tightening straps, comparing plans. Fear hadn't vanished entirely. But it no longer ruled them.

Hyoren slowly lowered the banner and stepped down from the platform.

His party was waiting for him at the bottom.

Elise was the first to meet his eyes. She didn't say anything. She simply smiled, and that smile told him everything.

Jackey bounced on the balls of his feet, both axes still in his hands.

"Big Bro! That was so cool! WING OF VICTORY! WOHOO!"

Arianna had placed her wide-brimmed hat back on her head. She inclined her chin with quiet pride.

"A splendid speech, Leader. Esteemed Mother could not have done better."

From the platform above, Fiona's voice drifted down.

"Oi. I heard that, Arianna."

Arianna covered her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Ohoho. Forgive me, Esteemed Mother."

Ina stood at Hyoren's right. She gently took the banner's shaft from his hand to steady it as he climbed down the last crate, her cat ears perked high again. Her tail swayed in a slow, happy rhythm.

Hyoren let out a long breath. His shoulders finally loosened.

It's over… at least the speech part…

Then footsteps approached from the side of the plaza.

Not the scattered, hurried steps of the crowd. These were heavier. Steadier. Coming toward him with purpose.

Hyoren turned.

From the shaded edge of the plaza, where they had stood half-hidden behind the crowd all this time, three adventurers were walking toward him.

His eyes widened slightly.

They were here…

The first was a short, stout figure. Broad shoulders. Thick arms. A majestic braided brown beard decorated with small metal rings that clinked with every step. A round shield was strapped to his back, and a one-handed axe hung at his hip.

Stonebreaker's Jigor—Leader of Unbreakable Will.

The dwarf was grinning from ear to ear as he approached.

Behind him, his party members remained in the shade. Vani, in her white vestment, bowed gracefully toward Hyoren. Cathy waved both arms enthusiastically, grinning like a child. Denis simply gave a calm, quiet nod.

And at the back of the group stood Killa.

The Ox-clan Beastkin wasn't looking at Hyoren. Her eyes were fixed on Jackey. Her lips parted once, as if she wanted to say something, then pressed shut again. Her hand rose halfway in a small, hesitant wave.

Jackey's ears twitched. That was all. He turned his head toward Arianna and said something that made her laugh, and he didn't look back.

Killa's hand slowly fell to her side. She lowered her gaze to the cobblestones.

Beside the dwarf walked a second leader. 

A young man with spiked red hair and bright blue eyes, a long but surprisingly thin greatsword strapped to his back, its blade faintly glowing even while sheathed. Fits Walder. Leader of Shining Force. 

His four party members waited behind him: the Lion-clan scout, the priestess in her white-and-gold vestments, the dwarf tank and the elf mage. As always, they left the talking to their leader.

And finally, the third.

A broad-shouldered veteran with grey creeping into his hair and beard, a sturdy shield strapped to his back. His face was weathered by years under the sun, and his gaze was calm. Ronald Powell. Leader of Ironclad Guardian, the party that specialized in guarding merchant caravans along Akela's trade roads.

He was also the man who had taught Hyoren how to stand his ground as a tank. How to hold a shield. How to be patient.

Ronald met Hyoren's eyes and gave a slow, approving nod.

Hyoren straightened instinctively.

The three strongest Bronze-rank parties in Akela…

Behind him, Jackey's ears shot up. He leaned toward Arianna and whispered far too loudly.

“It's Jigor! And Fits! And Ronald!"

Arianna smiled patiently.

"I can see them, Jackey."

Jigor reached Hyoren first. He planted his fists on his hips and looked him up and down, his eyes twinkling beneath his bushy brows.

"Lad."

He shook his head slowly, still grinning.

"I never imagined the wild man I met at that Waystop five months ago would become the one leading Akela's defense. Gyahaha!"

His booming laugh made several nearby adventurers turn their heads.

Hyoren scratched his cheek with a wry smile.

"It's only thanks to my spear, Jigor. Without its effect, there'd be no need for me to lead anything."

Jigor shook his head firmly. The metal rings woven into his braided beard clinked together.

"Nonsense!"

He jabbed a thick finger at Hyoren's chest.

"Even without that fancy spear, your party is the strongest in Akela. You pioneered the dungeon. You saved Riverville Town. People would've ended up relying on you anyway!"

Before Hyoren could protest, Fits stepped up beside the dwarf. He was nodding vigorously, his grin bright enough to rival the twin suns.

"Jigor's right!"

He clenched his fist in front of his chest.

"I told you once, Hyoren. Respect is earned, not given. And you earned mine a long time ago."

He swept his arm toward the plaza. Toward the hundreds of adventurers still buzzing with renewed energy.

"And today… you earned the respect of everyone here!"

Then, to Hyoren's surprise, Fits placed a hand over his heart and bowed.

"We of Shining Force will follow Freedom Party's lead!"

He straightened, flashed one last grin, turned on his heel, and walked straight back to his party without waiting for an answer.

Hyoren blinked.

That was… fast.

Jigor threw his head back and laughed.

"Gyahahaha! That man never changes!"

Behind Hyoren, Jackey pumped his fist.

"WOHOO! Fits is so cool too!"

Elise covered her smile with her fingers.

"Fufu. He certainly doesn't waste words."

Then Ronald stepped forward.

The veteran didn't say anything at first. He simply extended his hand.

Hyoren took it. Ronald's grip was firm and rough, calloused by decades of holding a shield.

"Lad. Good luck in this battle."

His voice was low and steady, the same voice that had once corrected Hyoren's stance a hundred times on the training ground.

"I know you have it in you. You and Elise wiped out a goblin settlement of three hundred on your own, using that head of yours."

A faint smile creased his weathered face.

"Now you have hundreds of adventurers to command. I'm sure you can lead us to victory."

Hyoren hesitated. He glanced down at their joined hands, then back up at his mentor.

"It should be you leading, Ronald. You're the most experienced adventurer here."

Ronald let out a quiet chuckle and shook his head.

"I'm the oldest, yes. But not the strongest."

He released Hyoren's hand and tapped his own chest.

"You've already surpassed me in level. I'm only Level 19."

He looked out over the crowd for a moment.

"I've been an adventurer for more than twenty years. But I've never once set foot in a dungeon. My party guards caravans. We rarely even fight monsters. Holding a road is one thing. Commanding a battle like this… is another."

He turned back and rested his hand on Hyoren's shoulder.

"I'm not the one qualified to lead this. You are."

He gave the shoulder a firm pat.

"We're relying on you, lad. Slow and steady. Just like I taught you."

With that, Ronald nodded once more, turned, and walked back toward the members of Ironclad Guardian waiting at the edge of the plaza.

Hyoren watched him go. Something tightened in his chest.

Slow and steady…

He turned back toward Jigor, who was still standing there with his arms crossed. Hyoren shook his head helplessly.

"Why is everyone relying on me…?"

Jigor laughed again. A softer laugh this time.

"Because you're strong."

He raised one thick finger.

"Because you're reliable."

He raised a second.

"And because your absurd strategies keep making the impossible possible."

He lowered his hand and thumped Hyoren on the shoulder, hard enough to make him stagger half a step.

"Accept it, lad. You're a good leader."

Then he jerked his chin toward the people standing behind Hyoren. The rings in his beard clinked again.

"Anyone can see it. Just look at your party."

Hyoren turned.

Elise was watching him with that same quiet, knowing smile. Ina's hand still held the banner's shaft beside him, her amber eyes shining. Arianna stood with her chin raised proudly. Jackey was grinning so widely it looked like his face might split.

None of them looked worried. Not a single one.

They believed in him.

When Hyoren turned back, Jigor was already walking away. He raised one hand over his shoulder without looking back.

"See you on the walls, lad! Gyahaha!"

Behind him, Vani bowed once more. Cathy waved again. Denis nodded. Killa was the last to turn away. Her eyes lingered on Jackey's back for one more moment. Then she followed the others into the crowd.

Beside Hyoren, Ina watched her go. Her ears drooped slightly, but she said nothing. 

Then Unbreakable Will melted back into the crowd.

Hyoren stood there in stunned silence.

The three strongest Bronze-rank parties in Akela. Unbreakable Will. Shining Force. Ironclad Guardian. Parties with far more years of adventuring behind them than he had.

And all three had placed the mantle of command on his shoulders.

Not because of a decree. Not because Fiona had pointed at him.

Because they had chosen to.

From the platform above, Fiona let out a low whistle. She leaned forward on her knees, grinning down at him.

"Well, well. Even those three stubborn bastards, huh."

Ina's ears twitched. She looked up at the Guild Master without missing a beat.

"Language, Guildmas."

Fiona only laughed.

Hyoren looked down at Étendard Sacré du Lys in Ina's hand. The white banner stirred in the breeze, and the black Aetovacus seemed to spread its wings once more.

Slowly, he reached out and took the shaft back. His fingers closed around the cool mithril.

The weight of it felt different now. Heavier. But somehow—easier to carry.

***

The plaza was slowly emptying.

Adventurers broke away in groups, already talking strategy, checking blades and counting arrows as they headed off to prepare. The fear hadn't disappeared. But it had been replaced by purpose.

Fiona hopped down from the stacked crates and landed in front of Freedom Party with a heavy thud. She jabbed a finger straight at Hyoren's chest.

"You. Follow me to the castle for the briefing. We need to sit down with my husband, the Knight Captain, the Church, and the rest of the defending force."

Her sharp blue eyes swept over the others.

"Your party can rest for now. Save your stamina for the battle. Those goblins could arrive tomorrow morning, or the day after."

Hyoren nodded firmly.

"Understood, Guild Master."

He turned to his party.

"You heard her. I'll come back as soon as I can."

Elise stepped closer on his left and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. Her emerald eyes were calm.

"Okay, Hyoren. Go do what a leader should do."

Jackey grinned and thrust a thumb up.

"We'll get ready, Big Bro! Don't worry about us!"

Arianna inclined her head in a small, graceful bow.

"Understood, Leader."

Then she straightened and turned toward her mother.

For a moment, she said nothing. Her fingers tightened around Quadraflux Weaver. The noble composure she always wore so carefully began to crack, little by little.

"Esteemed Mother… I might not come home before the battle. I want to…"

Her voice trembled. The rest of the sentence never came.

Fiona didn't answer right away.

Her blue eyes slid to the Cat-clan Beastkin standing beside her daughter. Jackey's ears twitched under the scrutiny, but he didn't look away. His tail had gone still, and he stood a little straighter than usual.

Fiona looked back at Arianna. For a long moment, the Guild Master was silent.

Then she let out a breath through her nose and nodded once.

"Go. Do what you need to do with the one you love. Your father and I will be busy organizing everything anyway."

Arianna's eyes widened slightly. Then her lips curved into a small, grateful smile. She bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Esteemed Mother."

Beside her, Jackey quietly reached over and took her hand. Arianna didn't pull away.

On Hyoren's right, Ina rested a hand on his arm.

"I'll come with you, Hyoren."

Fiona snorted.

"You're coming with ME, you little shit. I need you to keep track of everything. Don't mistake your role."

Ina's ears flicked. She turned to the Guild Master with a perfectly calm expression.

"Language, Guildmas."

Then she stuck out her tongue.

"I know my role without you telling me! But let me have my moment too!"

Jackey burst out laughing first. Elise covered her mouth with her fingers. Even Arianna let out a soft, slightly watery giggle.

Hyoren chuckled as well.

It was such a small thing. Silly. Ordinary. But somehow, it pushed the looming dread back a little. The fear didn't vanish. It simply became easier to bear.

Fiona rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"Suit yourself, Ina."

She turned on her heel and started walking.

"Follow me. Now. We don't have time to waste."

Hyoren glanced back one last time. Elise raised her hand in a small wave. Jackey waved with his entire arm. Arianna, still holding Jackey's hand, gave a gentle nod.

Hyoren nodded back. Then he and Ina followed Fiona across the plaza.

***

A carriage stood waiting at the edge of the plaza.

Its polished black body gleamed beneath the twin suns, trimmed with silver, and on its door was the crest of House Akela: a wolf with a sword.

Standing beside it, cane in hand, was a tall gentleman with neatly combed grey hair and a trimmed mustache. Vesas Tien, the Head Butler of Akela Castle.

He tipped his hat as they approached.

"Mister Hyoren. Miss Ina. It is good to see you both."

Hyoren gave him a polite nod.

"Likewise, Vesas."

Vesas opened the door with a practiced motion. Fiona climbed in first and dropped onto the deep red cushions of the rear seat. Hyoren and Ina took the seat across from her, Ina settling in on his right.

The door clicked shut. A moment later, the carriage lurched gently and began rolling toward Akela Castle.

The instant the door closed, Fiona's grim expression twisted into pure, unrestrained fury.

"Those Shadowden bastards!"

She spat the words through clenched teeth. Her fist slammed against the armrest hard enough to make the carriage creak.

"I thought it was a good thing their attacks were coming less often. Eight years of quiet. And all that time, that fucking king was just building up his army!"

Ina had already pulled a thick stack of documents from her storage bag. She held them steady on her lap as the carriage swayed, flipping through them without even looking up.

Fiona turned to her.

"Ina. You already sent the Vent Crow messengers, right?"

Ina nodded, her pen already moving across a page.

"Yes, Guildmas. I sent them the moment we confirmed the Shadowden Collective was on the move. Harvengald should have received the letter by now."

Hyoren nodded quietly.

He knew what Vent Crows were capable of. Those messenger birds could cross a thousand kilometers in a single hour. If they had been sent this morning, the news would already have reached any city that mattered.

Fiona crossed her arms and stared out the window.

"But even with their fastest horses, it'll take them three to four days to get here."

Ina's pen stopped. Her cat ears twitched, then slowly lowered.

"Yeah… Just like every other Shadowden attack. We're on our own. The 'help' is just a contingency, so the goblins don't run rampant after…"

She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to.

Fiona knew. Hyoren knew.

We can't rely on them… We can only rely on ourselves…

Harvengald's reinforcements weren't coming to defend Akela. The distance was simply too great. They were coming to deal with the goblins in case Akela had already fallen and been overrun.

A heavy silence settled over the carriage. Only the rhythmic clatter of wheels against stone filled the air.

Fiona continued staring out the window, her jaw tight.

Hyoren glanced at her. Then he took the chance.

"Guild Master. May I ask something?"

He paused, searching for the right words.

"At the plaza, you said Freedom Party is Silver-ranked. But I don't remember us taking any test. And Arianna hasn't even reached the required level yet."

Fiona snorted without looking away from the window.

"You don't want the rank? Then I'll take it back."

Hyoren quickly raised both hands.

"No, no. Of course we want to reach Silver rank. But… I'd like an explanation."

Fiona's sharp blue eyes slid toward Ina.

"You explain it to the bastard."

Then she turned her head back to the window, crossed her arms tighter, and made it very clear she wasn't going to say another word.

Ina sighed and shook her head in exasperation.

"Language, Guildmas."

She set her pen down and turned to Hyoren.

"Freedom Party has already collected more than enough contribution points for the Guild. All the dungeon maps, the monster information, the Guardian strategies you've shared. That alone qualifies you."

She raised a finger.

"As for Arianna's level, we're confident she'll reach it during the upcoming battle anyway. So we're treating it as though she already has."

Then she grinned.

"And as for the test… Guildmas's test is to kill a Goblin Chieftain, right? Well, this time the test monster is marching straight to us instead of you having to go find it. And we believe you'll kill it anyway, Hyoren."

Hyoren stared at her.

They had decided the promotion based on a future that was still completely uncertain.

"But that's putting the cart before the horse!"

Fiona's head snapped toward him. Her blue eyes were sharp as a blade.

"Shut up, fucker. There's no other way."

This time, Ina didn't correct her. She simply lowered her gaze to her papers and let Fiona speak.

Fiona leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

"If you fail this 'test', Akela is gone. I'm dead. You're dead. Everyone's dead. Nobody gives a shit about Silver rank when they're all dead."

Her gaze drifted to the window. Toward the south, where the Forest of No Return lay far beyond the walls.

"But if you repel the goblin army and kill that Chieftain…"

She looked back at Hyoren.

"Then you've earned the promotion. Simple."

Ina's expression softened. She turned to Hyoren with a gentle smile.

"Officially, in the Guild's records, Freedom Party isn't Silver rank yet, Hyoren. What Guildmas said at the plaza was for the adventurers' morale."

She rested her hand on his arm.

"They need a figure to look up to. Akela has never had a Silver-rank party defending it. Without someone like that, facing the strongest army the Goblin King has ever sent… the defenders would have no morale left at all."

Hyoren slowly nodded.

He understood the reasoning. He truly did. It was just hard to swallow.

"So… you lied."

He said it quietly. Not as an accusation. Simply as a fact he was still trying to digest.

But it was necessary… Sometimes a lie is the only thing that keeps people standing…

Fiona grunted irritably.

"Don't overcomplicate things, Ina."

She jabbed a finger at Hyoren.

"The Silver-rank test is the Guild Master's prerogative. I could decide your party doesn't need a test at all. So would you just shut up about it?"

Then she turned to Ina.

"After this, process the promotion so it's real. This bastard won't believe anything until it's real."

Hyoren scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

"It's not like that, Guild Master…"

Ina, however, nodded without hesitation.

"Certainly, Guildmas."

She looked back at Hyoren, her tail swaying lightly against the seat.

"I'll process you, Elise and Jackey for advancement to Silver rank. Once half or more of a party's members are Silver rank, the party itself is eligible to be called a Silver-rank party. Arianna's promotion can wait. But your party's promotion can happen for real before the battle. So there won't be any lie."

She smiled.

"And the promotion test really is Guildmas's prerogative. She could make the test as simple as sketching a crude drawing of a goblin. All that's required is the Guild Master's authorization. The test itself is left to each Guild Master. Though a Guild Master isn't supposed to give tests that are impossible either…"

Her smile turned mischievous.

"Which is exactly why Central Guild has already asked why Akela has never promoted a single party to Silver rank. Nyahaha."

Hyoren couldn't help it. A soft laugh escaped him.

Across from them, Fiona's face turned red.

"Shut up, Ina."

She turned back to the window and refused to look at either of them.

With that, the discussion about Silver rank came to an end.

The carriage continued rolling through the streets of Akela.

Outside the window, the city looked different from the one Hyoren always saw. The streets were sparse. Shutters had been closed and barred. Doors were shut tight. Here and there, a few people hurried along with sacks of supplies on their shoulders, their heads lowered.

Most of the citizens had already bunkered down inside their homes, preparing for what was coming.

Ina's pen resumed scratching across her documents. Fiona stared out the window in brooding silence.

***

The carriage rolled on through the quiet streets of Akela.

Hyoren sat in silence, brooding.

I need to know what we should expect…

His thoughts kept circling back to Fiona's announcement at the plaza. Fifteen thousand goblins. Fighters. Warriors. Shamans. Lords. And at their head, a Goblin Chieftain. Level 35.

I know the goblin variants up to Lord. I've fought most of them. But a Chieftain… and the King…

He realized he knew almost nothing about them.

He glanced across the carriage.

Fiona sat with her arms crossed, her brows furrowed tightly together. Her sharp blue eyes were fixed on the window. Not on the passing streets, but beyond them, toward the south, where the Forest of No Return lay far past the city walls. Her jaw was clenched. Every now and then, one finger tapped against her arm in an irritated rhythm.

Beside him, Ina was buried in her documents. Her pen raced across page after page without pause. Her amber eyes darted left and right as she read, wrote, then flipped to the next sheet. A small crease had formed between her brows. Her cat ears twitched occasionally, but she never once looked up.

I shouldn't bother them…

Both of them were carrying a weight of their own right now.

I'll use this time to find some information instead…

He reached into his storage bag. His fingers found the familiar worn leather, and he drew out a thick, leather-bound book. Its cover was scuffed at the corners, its spine creased from frequent use.

Monster Encyclopedia.

The heavy tome landed on his lap with a soft thud.

Across from him, Fiona's eyes flicked toward the book. The corner of her mouth curled into a faint smirk. Then she turned back to the window without a word.

Beside him, Ina didn't even notice. Her pen kept moving.

Hyoren ignored them both and began flipping through the pages.

The parchment rustled softly beneath his fingers. Monsters of the grasslands. Monsters of the wetlands. Monsters of the mountains. Page after page of illustrations and dense text slipped past.

Then he found it. Goblins.

He skimmed past the first several pages. Their daily lifestyle. Their diet. Their reproduction. Their community.

I don't need any of that right now…

He kept turning until he reached the section on their variants. He smoothed the page flat with one hand and began to read.

> A normal goblin's baseline level is around Level 3. Upon reaching Level 5, it usually evolves into a Goblin Fighter. A Goblin Fighter in turn evolves into a Goblin Warrior between Level 8 and Level 10.

Hyoren nodded slightly to himself.

I know these…

He had fought every one of them in the Forest of No Return. Countless times. Before he even knew what a level was.

He read on.

> Upon reaching Level 15 to Level 20, a Goblin Warrior may evolve into one of three distinct hierarchies: the Goblin Archer, the Goblin Shaman, or the Goblin Lord.

He had faced them inside Akela Dungeon. The Archer, a ranged specialist that picked off targets from a distance. The Lord, a brutal close-range fighter. The Shaman, a caster that supported its allies and bombarded its enemies with magic.

Then his eyes reached the next line.

> Each of these three may further evolve into a Goblin Chieftain upon reaching Level 25 to Level 30.

Hyoren's finger stopped on the page.

This is the part I need…

He leaned forward slightly and read more carefully.

> A Chieftain's abilities depend on the variant from which it evolved.

> A Chieftain that evolved from a Shaman commands a force heavy with Shamans. Battles against such an army are primarily exchanges of magic. It tends to fight cautiously, preferring to trade blows from range.

> A Chieftain that evolved from a Lord commands a force composed mostly of close-range combatants. Such an army charges.

Hyoren's brows drew together as he read the next paragraph.

> The most dangerous is the Chieftain that evolved from an Archer. These are commander types. Their forces combine the best of every hierarchy: Archers as snipers, Shamans providing support and magical artillery, and close-range combatants holding the front line. A goblin army led by an Archer-born Chieftain is the most difficult to fight.

Hyoren slowly sat back.

Fiona mentioned Shamans and Lords… Fighters and Warriors too…

He stared at the page.

Which one is coming toward us…?

Across from him, Fiona shifted in her seat. She uncrossed her arms, then crossed them again the other way. Her gaze never left the window.

Hyoren lowered his eyes back to the book. There was more.

> Regardless of origin, all Goblin Chieftains share one trait: the Leadership Aura.

> Through it, a Chieftain can command every goblin beneath it. Whatever the order, the goblins under its command will obey. Even when facing annihilation, so long as the Chieftain does not order a retreat, they will continue attacking.

Hyoren's grip on the book tightened.

He read the paragraph again. Slowly.

They won't retreat…

In the Forest of No Return, goblins sometimes faltered. Sometimes they hesitated when their comrades fell around them. Sometimes they broke and scattered when a fight turned hopeless.

But not under a Chieftain.

No fear. No hesitation. No breaking point. Fifteen thousand goblins that will keep coming until every last one is dead… or until that Chieftain says otherwise…

A cold weight settled in his stomach.

This ability… is the most dangerous one of all.

Beside him, Ina's pen paused. She tapped it twice against her lip, frowned at the page, scratched out a line, and resumed writing even faster than before.

Hyoren turned to the final page of the section.

> Goblin King.

> Evolved from a Goblin Chieftain. No known level; theoretically between Level 100 and Level 150. No known abilities. Presumed to be an enhanced version of the Chieftain.

> Presumed to possess reproductive capabilities far greater than those of ordinary goblins. Goblin armies under a Goblin King reproduce at a rate unlike any other.

> Only one Goblin King is currently known. It resides in the Forest of No Return, south of Akela Territory. It is one of the Warlocks of the Shadowden Collective.

> Adventurers are requested to report any sighting of a Goblin Chieftain, so that none may ever become a second Goblin King.

Hyoren stared at those last lines for a long moment.

Level 100 to 150…

The number felt absurd. Unreal. He was only Level 25. Even the Chieftain marching toward Akela right now was ten levels above him.

And somewhere deep inside that forest… there's something that makes the Chieftain look small…

He thought of the thirty-nine days he had spent wandering that forest alone. Sleeping in trees. Hunting rabbits. Fighting goblin patrols with a crude spear. All that time, that thing had been sitting somewhere in its depths.

And now it's sending the strongest army it has ever sent…

His jaw tightened.

Hyoren slowly closed the book. The heavy cover shut with a dull thump.

Across from him, Fiona glanced at the closed tome. Then at his face. Whatever she saw there, she said nothing. She simply gave a small grunt and turned back to the window.

Ina's pen finally stopped. She stacked her documents neatly together, tapped their edges against her knee, and tucked them back into her storage bag.

At that moment, the carriage slowed.

The steady clatter of the wheels softened, then stopped altogether. Through the window, a towering stone wall rose into view, crowned with banners bearing the wolf-and-sword crest of House Akela.

They had arrived at Akela Castle.

***

Fiona didn't lead them to the reception room.

Instead, she strode down a long corridor deeper into the castle, past tall windows and hanging banners bearing the wolf-and-sword crest of House Akela, until she stopped before a heavy oak door guarded by two knights. They saluted at once. Fiona pushed the door open without slowing down.

The room beyond was large, but it felt cramped.

In its center stood an enormous wooden table. Spread across its surface was a detailed map of Akela City and the surrounding lands. The walls. The gates. The river. The roads. Small carved markers were scattered across it, some shaped like shields, others like swords.

Hyoren's eyes widened slightly.

This is… a war room…

It looked exactly like the command rooms he had seen in countless strategy games back on Earth. Only this time, the pieces on the board represented real people.

The room was already crowded.

At the head of the table stood Baron Guts Akela. The lean, scholarly man was bent slightly over the map, his neatly combed dark brown hair falling across his brow. His usual warm smile was gone. His brown eyes were fixed on the southern edge of the map, studying it in silence.

Beside him stood a knight in ornately decorated armor, the crest of House Akela engraved upon his breastplate. He was speaking in a low, measured voice, pointing at various positions on the map as the Baron listened.

That must be the Knight Captain…

Hyoren searched his memory. Arianna had mentioned him once.

Friddis Yugold…

Slightly beside them stood a figure Hyoren knew well.

A serene woman with long, wavy golden hair flowing to her hips, dressed in white robes embroidered with gold. Archbishop Sherine Conti. Two Templar Knights in polished armor stood silently at her back.

The moment her sapphire eyes found Hyoren, her face lit up. She raised one hand and gave him a small, cheerful wave.

Hyoren returned a polite nod. Beside him, Ina's ears twitched in amusement.

Next to the Church's representatives stood a woman Hyoren had never seen before.

She was beautiful, but there was an unmistakable haughtiness to the way she held herself. Golden blonde hair, carefully styled. Heavy makeup. A thick fur coat draped over her shoulders, despite the warmth of the room. Gold jewelry glittered at her ears, her throat, her wrists and nearly every finger.

She held a flat, tablet-like magic tool in one hand. Her fingers tapped steadily across its glowing surface, her lips moving silently as she counted. Supplies, or funds.

Hyoren had never met her. But the description matched what he had heard.

The Vice Guild Master of the Merchants' Guild… Adelheide Yargard.

So Guild Master Hughes isn't here…

Hyoren remembered the cheerful old merchant who had judged the ice-sculpting contest at the Snow Festival. Ina had mentioned he'd left for Harvengald on business after the snow melted. With the roads to the east now cut off by the goblin army, his deputy had come in his place.

And then his eyes landed on the last person in the room. He hadn't expected to see her here at all.

A small elf with silver hair and sharp sapphire eyes stood in the far corner, half-hidden behind one of the Templar Knights. She clutched the sleeves of her robe and looked thoroughly out of place among the nobles, knights and clergy. Her shoulders were hunched, as though she wished she could shrink even smaller.

Oria…?

His magic mentor. One of Elise's closest friends. The alchemist whose potions had kept Freedom Party alive more times than he could count.

The moment Oria spotted Hyoren, her shoulders visibly loosened. Relief flashed across her face. Then she seemed to remember herself, cleared her throat and looked away, the tips of her ears turning slightly pink.

Fiona walked straight to the head of the table.

And the moment she reached her husband's side, something changed.

The swagger in her stride smoothed out. Her shoulders squared. The crude grin vanished from her face. When she spoke, there wasn't a single curse in her voice.

"Dear. We've returned. I've already briefed the adventurers."

She rested one hand on the edge of the table.

"We estimate between two hundred and two hundred fifty participants. Roughly seventy to eighty percent of the city's adventurers. That's not counting the Wood and Iron ranks."

Then she gestured toward Hyoren.

"And I've brought the de facto leader of the adventurers for the coming battle."

Baron Guts straightened and offered his wife a warm smile.

"Welcome back, Fiona."

He turned to Hyoren. The smile remained, but it was more measured than the friendly grin Hyoren remembered from their last meeting.

"And welcome, Leader of Freedom Party."

Hyoren bowed slightly.

He's being formal… This is official business…

The Baron looked around the table at everyone gathered.

"Let us begin."

He turned to the knight beside him.

"Captain Yugold, if you would."

The Knight Captain stepped forward and placed both hands on the edge of the map table.

"We have just confirmed the intelligence provided by the adventurer scouts. Our knight scouts rode out on our fastest horses and probed the army marching toward us."

He traced a finger along a line on the map, from the southeast toward the city.

"We are certain they will reach Akela's walls in two days. Day 18 of Firstthaw. Judging by their pace, they will arrive at this small hill only a few kilometers from the city by nightfall."

He tapped a raised point on the map.

"We expect the goblins to rest there briefly. Then attack at dawn."

His finger lifted from the map.

"The numbers are confirmed. An estimated fifteen thousand goblins. Their leader is a Level 35 Goblin Chieftain."

He paused.

"We also confirmed something the adventurer scouts appear to have missed. In the center of their formation, there are a great many Goblin Archers."

His voice lowered.

"We expect this battle to be difficult. And not only because of their numbers."

Hyoren felt as though he had been punched in the gut.

The words from the Monster Encyclopedia surfaced in his mind, as clearly as if the book were still open on his lap.

Archers as snipers. Shamans as support and artillery. Close-range combatants holding the front line…

The most dangerous of them all…

The Chieftain… is Archer-born. A commander type.

Beside him, Ina glanced up from her documents. Her ears flattened slightly as she noticed his expression.

Baron Guts nodded slowly, his face grave. Then he turned toward the Church's representatives.

"The adventurers will provide around two hundred fighters. Akela's knights can field about one hundred. What can the Church offer, Archbishop? Could you spare some of your Templar Knights?"

Archbishop Sherine smiled serenely.

"Certainly. As always, Luminara's Church will not stand idle."

She folded her hands in front of her.

"We will send fifty Templar Knights. And we will station about thirty priests at the rear to heal the wounded."

Her smile softened.

"And I will lead the healer myself."

Baron Guts let out a small breath. For the first time since the meeting began, a faint smile touched his lips.

"It is truly reassuring to have the 'Golden Hand' backing us."

Hyoren's eyebrows rose.

The Golden Hand…?

He had never heard Sherine called anything like that.

Sherine giggled and waved one hand.

"Oh, please. Don't call me by that title. I abandoned it long ago, when I left the front lines."

Baron Guts inclined his head politely.

"Of course. Archbishop Sherine."

Hyoren leaned slightly toward Ina on his right and lowered his voice.

"What's the Golden Hand?"

Ina kept her eyes on the table, but whispered back.

"It's her old nickname. She's famous for her healing magic. Only the Saint surpasses her. If she's on the battlefield, there won't be many casualties. Unless someone dies instantly, she can bring a critically wounded knight back to fighting condition."

Hyoren nodded slowly.

No wonder she healed Elise's arm almost effortlessly…

He remembered that day. Elise's paralyzed hand. The diagonal wound across her body. And Sherine, calmly restoring what he had barely managed to hold together.

At the head of the table, Baron Guts had already moved on. Hyoren turned his attention back to the meeting.

"Madam Yargard. What of our supplies?"

The Merchants' Guild’ Vice Guild Master closed her magic tool with a soft click and tucked it under one arm.

"If we are forced into a siege, food and supplies should last for several weeks, until reinforcements arrive. We also have plenty of arrowheads and spare weapons in stock."

She paused. Her painted lips pressed into a thin line.

"Though… fifteen thousand goblins. I don't believe we could endure such a siege for long."

A heavy silence settled over the room. The Templar Knights shifted slightly. Even Captain Yugold's jaw tightened.

Baron Guts cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"Very well. Then we are prepared for a siege, at least."

His gaze moved to the corner of the room. To the small elf trying very hard not to be noticed.

"Miss Oria. As head of the Alchemists' Guild, how do our potion stocks look?"

Oria flinched slightly at being called.

Hyoren blinked.

Head of the Alchemists' Guild…?

He had only ever known Oria as an alchemist. A brilliant one, with a sharp tongue and a cluttered workshop. Elise had never mentioned it. Not once.

No wonder her potions are the best in Akela…

The small silver-haired elf took a breath. She straightened her back, folded her arms, and fixed her sapphire eyes on the map rather than the people around it.

"Since the Alchemists' Guild was already ordered to increase potion production a year ago in preparation, our stocks are good. We have plenty of High Grade Healing Potions and Magic Potions."

She hesitated briefly.

"Stamina Potions, not so much. Their materials are harder to obtain."

Baron Guts nodded.

"Good. I want every combatant to carry at least one High Grade Healing Potion. And plenty of Magic Potions for our spellcasters."

Oria gave a short nod and immediately shrank back toward her corner.

The Baron turned back to the Knight Captain.

"Now. What is the plan for the battle?"

Captain Yugold reached for several carved markers and placed them carefully across the map. Everyone leaned in.

"As in every previous attack, the army will march from the southeast. We will meet them at the eastern gate. The Gate of Guts."

He pointed to the southern edge of the city.

"They cannot attack from the south. The Akela River is too wide, and its current too strong for goblins to swim."

His finger moved north.

"They could circle around and attack from the north. But the terrain there is all cliffs and crevices. Any goblins attempting it would be cut down by our mages and archers on the walls."

He tapped the eastern side of the city.

"So, as with every march of the Goblin King's army, the battle will take place at the eastern gate."

He slid several shield-shaped markers along the wall.

"We will focus on fortifying our position. Mages and archers will bombard the enemy as they approach. The close-range fighters will rotate to hold the area around the gate, so that it is never breached."

Baron Guts studied the markers in silence.

"So… the plan is the same as eight years ago."

Captain Yugold nodded.

"Exactly, my lord."

The Baron's gaze lingered on the small carved gate at the eastern wall. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. Almost as though he were speaking to himself.

"But eight years ago… the eastern gate was breached. So many casualties…"

His fingers curled against the edge of the table.

"And this time, the enemy's strength has tripled. Can we truly rely on the same strategy?"

No one answered him.

No one had an answer.

Fiona's hand moved to rest on her husband's shoulder. Sherine lowered her eyes and silently clasped her hands together. Adelheide's fingers tightened around her magic tool. Even Captain Yugold stared at the map without a word.

All they could do was pray.

Hyoren, meanwhile, was no longer listening.

His eyes were locked on the map.

The river to the south. Too wide and too fast to cross.

The open plain to the east. Flat. Wide. Where the army will gather.

The cliffs and crevices to the north. Impassable for a large force.

The wall. The Gate of Guts. The small hill a few kilometers away where they'll rest before dawn.

His mind churned.

Fifteen thousand goblins.

Two hundred adventurers. One hundred knights. Fifty Templar Knights. Thirty priests.

Less than four hundred defenders… More than forty to one.

He slowly shook his head.

If we just bunker down and trade blows at the gate… with an Archer-born Chieftain commanding goblins that never retreat.

He didn't like where that thought ended.

Beside him, Ina glanced up from her papers. She watched his face for a moment.

Then, quietly, she smiled.

She knew that expression—the face of a hardcore grinder. The face of someone already searching for a way to turn the impossible into the possible.

Around the table, the others had begun murmuring among themselves. The Baron spoke quietly with Captain Yugold. Adelheide had reopened her magic tool and was tapping at it again. Sherine whispered something to one of her Templar Knights.

Across the table, Fiona noticed Hyoren too. Noticed the way his finger kept tapping against his chin, over and over, his eyes never leaving the map.

The corner of her mouth curled into a smirk. 

Hyoren's mind continued racing.

Our forces. Two hundred adventurers. One hundred knights. Fifty Templar Knights.

And the people I know.

Elise's arrows and her Sacred Wind. Jackey's axes. Arianna's large-scale Earth Magic. Jigor's Unbreakable Will. Fits and Shining Force. Ronald and Ironclad Guardian.

Baron Guts's Fire Magic. The man who once burned half a horde at that very gate.

Fiona's greatsword.

Sherine, the Golden Hand.

Oria's water magic.

And the banner.

The terrain. The defenders' capabilities. The countless scenarios he had played through in strategy games back on Earth. Sieges. Chokepoints. Kill zones. Flanks.

Piece by piece, something began to take shape.

Hyoren finally lifted his head.

Slowly, he raised his hand.

"May I say something?"

The room fell silent.

Every pair of eyes turned toward him at once. The Baron. The Knight Captain. The Archbishop. The Merchants' Guild's Vice Guild Master. Oria peeking out from behind the Templar Knight. Fiona, still smirking.

Hyoren suddenly wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole.

Why did I raise my hand…

But he steeled himself. He took a breath.

"I have a proposal."

For a moment, Baron Guts said nothing. He simply studied Hyoren across the map table, his brown eyes calm and unreadable.

Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face. Not the formal smile from before. The warm one Hyoren remembered.

"Let's hear it, Hyoren."