Birthday Trap 7
Austin Ealdred chased after the back of the knight commander leading the charge, desperately urging his horse forward with the rest of the second unit. Two mages from the Magic Division were also accompanying them, but since they could not ride horses as the knights did, they were mounted on the horses of the second unit’s knights. The older mage had initially complained about this arrangement, but after some stern words, he reluctantly agreed to ride.
Austin was the only apprentice knight accompanying them. Among the current apprentices, he was the only one with the potential to become a magic knight.
For taking down a few monsters, a sword alone would suffice. However, to suppress a monster stampede, a sword was not enough. Even if a mage stationed nearby set up a barrier to protect against the miasma, engaging in battle would quickly lead them away from the barrier. Without adequate protection, one could be overwhelmed by the miasma and perish. If the mages were defeated, it would be the end of that line of defense. Moreover, as the number of monsters increased, relying solely on swordsmanship would become increasingly difficult, potentially leading to exhaustion before suppression could be achieved.
Therefore, magic knights, who combined magic and swordsmanship, were crucial for monster hunting. They specialized in offensive magic but could use basic defensive magic and could set up barriers around themselves to protect against miasma. However, casting defensive barriers required delicate control of magic power. To cast barriers while fighting fiercely, one needed innate talent and rigorous training. Consequently, joining the second unit, which was composed solely of magic knights, required passing through a gate as narrow as that for the elite Seventh Unit. In other words, the knights Austin was working with were among the best in the Royal Knights.
Austin found himself swallowing nervously. The fact that his first real battle was a monster stampede of unprecedented scale only intensified his anxiety.
The miasma visible from the capital had seemed dense enough, but as they approached, its size and intensity became even more apparent. Though they had not yet entered the miasma, the overwhelming pressure and the innate fear it evoked made it hard to breathe.
“Austin, don’t get too worked up.”
“Yes, sir.”
The one who offered this reassurance, despite his grumpy demeanor, was Deputy Commander Eden. Though older than Commander Danhill Calvert, his abilities surpassed Danhill’s. He remained Deputy Commander due to his commoner origins. Brendon Cary, the captain of the Seventh Unit, was also from a commoner background, but he was an exceptional case within the Royal Knights.
“The mages will set up the barriers once we dismount. But don’t trust them too much. Stick close to me, the commander, or the regiment leader.”
“Understood.”
“Normally, we wouldn’t bring an apprentice along for a monster stampede, but this time is different. We need every magic knight we can get. The Magic Division refused to send any Holy Magic Knights, so everyone from the commander down was furious. They insisted that they would not deploy them to the scene, even though it was clear that protecting just the capital would not solve the problem. It seemed they didn’t understand that.”
However, the Magic Division’s decision outweighed the Knights’ requests. Though they had to give up on sending Holy Magic Knights, they had hoped for an increase in the number of mages sent. When they argued that more personnel would help, they were coldly dismissed and told that there were already apprentice knights available.
Apprentice knights, being just that, were not officially knighted and lacked adequate training. Bringing such knights into battle could endanger their lives and, by extension, the lives of other knights. After much agonizing, they decided to call upon Austin, who was deemed to have potential as a magic knight.
Despite being told he could refuse by both the regiment leader and the commander, Austin had readily agreed to join. Using the fact that the heir of a major duke family was accompanying them as leverage, they managed to get one more mage sent along. Although the additional mage was a newcomer, he was considered better than an older mage who was merely there for show, as the regiment leader, Hegaty, grimaced.
Eden, known for his cool-headedness and formidable strength, was admired by the knights and also served to inspire their fighting spirit simply by being present. However, when Eden advised Austin not to trust the mages, Austin furrowed his brow. He glanced at Eden, who was maintaining a calm demeanor and staring straight ahead.
Austin had expected to be told not to recklessly charge forward due to his lack of battle experience. Impulsive actions could endanger both oneself and others. However, he had not anticipated being warned not to trust the mages.
He thought he would receive no answer if he asked, but it seemed Danhill, who had been keeping an eye on them while riding ahead, adjusted his horse to ride alongside Austin. At the same time, Eden moved to the front of Austin.
“For an operation of this scale, we would have preferred the deputy commander or one of his subordinates. But the ones we have with us are either newcomers or ‘token’ mages. The newcomer has potential, but…”
“—Pardon?”
“‘Token’ mages,”—meaning those with less magical ability but who were there for appearances—Danhill said without hesitation. To Austin’s wide-eyed surprise, Danhill wore a wry smile.
“That’s why the regiment leader came. When it comes to magical skill alone, he’s among the top in the knights.”
It seemed that the top three of this hunting party did not trust the mages at all. Of course, the other knights in the second unit were likely aware of this fact as well. Realizing this, Austin stifled a sigh and tried to push through his aching head. Danhill muttered, “I knew Dragokun was here, so I expected him to come. Did something happen?”
The selection of the mages accompanying this hunting party was made by the Magic Division. The delay in response and the confusion in the chain of command following the report of the monster stampede had aroused Austin's suspicion and discomfort. However, Austin shook his head, deciding that now was not the time for such concerns.
He had to focus on the enemy in front of him or he would surely be the first to fall in this field.
They left the capital and raced down the highway. As they neared the miasma, their horses’ speed decreased. Eventually, Commander Hegaty pulled on the reins.
“Dismount!”
“Yes, sir!”
The knights quickly dismounted and entered the forest along the highway. They tied their horses to trees, and the mages set up barriers to prevent theft. Then, everyone set off running. Although they couldn’t see them yet, the miasma was likely already drifting in. Breathing became progressively difficult, and Austin’s eyes and nose began to sting. When the miasma began to blur his vision, Danhill shouted to the mage at the rear.
“Set up the barrier!”
“Yes, sir!”
The answer came from the newcomer. A shimmering barrier was formed around the knights, making it somewhat easier to breathe. The knights stopped running but proceeded at a brisk pace along the highway. The center of the miasma had already moved from the forest towards the city. With vigilance towards their surroundings, the knights and mages advanced towards the center. It was standard practice to activate purification magic at the center of the monster stampede to suppress it most efficiently. However, monsters already infested the miasma-filled area, making progress difficult.
A short distance ahead, countless red eyes emerged from the black miasma. Austin felt the hairs on his body stand on end at the presence of monsters watching their movements.
“This is bad.”
Danhill muttered, and only Austin seemed to catch it. Without lowering his guard against the monsters, he asked, “What’s wrong?” Danhill drew his sword from his waist, readying himself for an attack.
“The monsters are observing us. It’s a sign they have intelligence.”
“But weren’t they supposed to be mindless?”
“Recent reports have started mentioning monsters with intelligence. I was skeptical, but it seems those reports were true.”
Danhill’s voice was slightly tense, perhaps due to the stress. Austin furrowed his brow.
Monsters with high intelligence were incredibly troublesome, not only because of their high attack power but also because they could strategically target their annihilation. Humans, with their limited strength, could not match the raw power of monsters alone. Even Holy Magic Knights or a full unit of magic knights would struggle to suppress a monster stampede of this scale. The chances of victory were slim.
“Then, it’s a bad idea to make the first move.”
“Yes, but if we play defensively, the damage will escalate.”
Though it was important to take the initiative, the current location was deep within the miasma—effectively the monsters' domain.
“Everyone, protect yourselves.”
“What!?”
Commander Hegaty’s low voice caused only the older mage to widen his eyes.
The knights each cast personal barriers around themselves. Unlike the barrier set by the mages, these were membrane-like shields covering their bodies. At the very least, with these shields, they wouldn’t immediately collapse from the miasma if they ventured outside the mage’s barrier.
Having observed the monsters' presence, Danhill eventually decided on a strategy. However, the options available were not numerous.
“Prepare the area and set up an ambush.”
Upon hearing this, the commander glanced at Danhill and gave a slight, approving smile. It seemed acceptable. The commander beckoned to Austin and instructed Danhill.
“I’ll leave the support to you. Austin, you’ll be with me in the rear guard.”
“Understood.”
Austin nodded, and the next moment, the surrounding barrier vanished. It seemed the rookie mage understood what needed to be done without detailed instructions. Perhaps he had coordinated with Danhill beforehand, but it was clear why Danhill had said he showed great promise.
With the knights who had been there vanishing in an instant, only Commander Hegaty, Austin, one knight, and two mages remained.
“Isn’t there anyone to protect me?”
The mage, red-faced and seemingly confused by the situation, shouted in anger. However, there was no one to respond to him. Contrary to his emotional outburst, a calm and clear voice resonated.
“[By my name, I command, under the principle of fire, blaze forth, my sword!]”
The remaining knight pointed the tip of his sword to the sky and chanted. Multiple fireballs formed in a circle around him, and the next moment, they rose high above, raining down on the monsters encircling them. The descending firestorm began to ignite not only the monsters but also the surrounding trees.
The monsters that escaped the firestorm turned their fury towards Austin and the others, showing their fangs and claws.
“Eek!”
The older mage let out a terrified scream, his face turned pale. The rookie mage also looked bloodless but began casting defensive spells in an attempt to assist. Though not perfect, his earnest efforts were acceptable for his first mission.
Commander Hegaty cleaved through one of the monsters with a single stroke. His sword glowed faintly, likely enhanced by magic. The fire mage knight swung his sword while simultaneously incinerating distant monsters with fireballs. Austin also imbued his sword with wind magic. His strikes turned monsters into chunks of flesh, and he simultaneously struck distant monsters with invisible wind fangs. Some monsters spewed poisonous mist, but it was blocked by the barrier.
However, there were simply too many monsters. The intelligent monsters, realizing that mere brute force was insufficient, paused their attacks for a moment and began to form a formation, observing each other's positions. With their wide field of vision, the grotesque monsters could monitor all directions without needing a specific formation.
A massive fireball pierced through the center of their formation. The roars of the monsters echoed as fire and wind drove them into a corner. Monsters that managed to escape were cut down with swords. Still, the monsters didn’t seem to decrease. There was even a growing fear that new monsters might be appearing during the battle.
Yet, the seasoned knights continued to focus their efforts on defeating the enemies in front of them.
“[By my name, I command, under the principle of earth, rend the abyss with my sword!]”
The chant echoed through the miasma. With a deafening roar, the ground where the monsters had gathered collapsed, creating a massive pit. The monsters fell helplessly into the hole. Even the monsters that barely escaped the pit were struck by fire and earth arrows, struggling and falling back in.
“[By my name, I command, under the principle of wind, blow fiercely with my sword!]”
Winds erupted around the pit, preventing the monsters trying to climb out from doing so and forcing them back into the abyss.
“[By my name, I command, under the principle of light, banish the evil darkness with my sword!]”
White light filled the pit, blocked by the swirling winds. The monsters’ death throes echoed. The scattered knights reappeared, and eventually, the white light faded. The miasma had thinned somewhat. Even when the winds around the pit stopped, the monsters did not climb out.
Seeing this Austin exhaled in relief. The knights also slightly relaxed, though the battle was not yet over, and vigilance was still necessary.
“[By my name, I command, under the principle of water, let the rain of blessing fall!]”
One of the knights chanted, and rain began to fall on the burning trees around them, extinguishing the flames. With that, the knights quickly gathered in one place. When facing monsters, solo actions were unwise. Staying together was crucial for their safety.
“Let’s go.”
At Commander Hegaty’s command, the knights nodded silently. Their expressions were tense with caution, but fatigue was also evident. Even those accustomed to fighting on the brink of death were not used to the density of the miasma in this monster stampede.
Despite being protected by barriers, there was a limit. It was akin to performing intense exercise at high altitudes with low oxygen levels. Their mental and physical stamina was gradually being eroded.
At that moment, a man grabbed Commander Hegaty’s arm roughly—the older mage who had been mocked by Danhill as a “seat warmer.”
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