Chapter 150 – Scarlett’s change

Austin reached out with his hand and pulled back the surcoat to inspect the armor beneath. When he realized the shiny armor had the crimson emblem of the Holy Cathedral of Fire, he paled. He immediately recognized the Priest Soldiers.

[Marsha above! What enemies did they encounter for so many to die here?]

He turned his eyes and found Brendel, but his attention was immediately on the dead body next to him.

“A Grey Knight? But this composition of men means there’s at least a Bishop here?” He muttered to himself as he felt his blood turning cold.

A formal Bishop appointed by the Holy Cathedral of Fire was required to have mastered his Element Power. Even if they encountered a Warg, they would most likely win in a direct confrontation.

Austin suddenly thought of the most dreadful idea and looked at Brendel. Perhaps the audacious young noble killed these men? It seemed like there was nothing that the youth was afraid of. He did not even care about offending the Kirrlutz Empire in the first place.

[Oh Mother Marsha, h-he’s allied with the Druids. Perhaps they intend to bring about a Holy War again?]

He could not help but swallow at this terrifying thought. But he soon realized that it was a foolish notion.

“Some of these men are holding on to their longbows,” Brendel mused and explained to the group, “but they did not reach for their arrows. Either it’s a massive spell that affected them at the same time, or it’s an enemy that’s massive. But the ground isn’t disturbed to the extent where I can determine that it’s a huge creature. But I do believe that it’s some kind of illusion that affected everyone as it fits better.”

The analysis that was void of emotion made Quinn, Wydall, and Austin tremble. A monster that was likely to be more terrifying than the Warg? It felt like that the unknown creature was watching them from the shadows and might attack them at any time.

What they could not imagine was why the youth was still standing in front of them without any fear.

“Have you heard of any creatures that attack in this manner?” Brendel had seen enough creatures that fit the variation of attacks, but there were too many answers and it made him perplexed. Furthermore, it was not as though his answers were right, and there were monsters within the Wilderness that he had not seen before.

The creatures that were born from the Chaos and Mana were volatile and unthinkable. Perhaps the breeze they were feeling was actually a monster and the true culprit.

Or perhaps—

[If this is a game’s quest, the NPCs would provide hints about the real answer. I should try and test it out like a quest and see if I get anything out of it.]

“It sounds like a Spectre. Only the deadly spirits in legends would be able to take away a life without any warning.” Austin said as he observed Brendel closely. He had thought the youth as a rash person, but the latter’s detailed explanation and reenactment of the battle that took place made him reconsider.

Perhaps he had looked at him with biased eyes from the start.

[I’m starting to see things that I have never noticed before. When did Aouine have someone like him? No, wait, did you say he was Firburh’s lord? That’s in Trentheim. Isn’t the lord of that city actually one of Count Randner’s useless sons?]

As he was a military man and was just a noble who was right in the middle of the social circle, he did not pay much attention to the powerful or weak factions, and thus could not remember who the lord of Firburh was.

[But one thing is clear. This mysterious youth can’t possibly be the lord of a city in a remote location like Trentheim. Even the most talented youths in this generation could not match up to him. In fact, most of Aouine’s young nobles are a joke. No, his identity must be a lie. Is he truly a citizen from Aouine?]

Brendel just fought in a battle that was even more dangerous than any of the battles against Madara, and he still acted as though nothing had happened.

Austin could not help but give him a strange look.

“Spectre? That’s unlikely.” Brendel shook his head.

First of all, a Spectre would not have required the Grey Knights to spread out and surround it. It was definitely a big monster. Besides, a Spectre’s attack stole the warmth from living creatures. The dead bodies should at least have a layer of ice if they were killed by a Spectre. Wydall and Quinn shook their heads as well. There were indeed Spectres in the Dark Forest, and they had fought against these insubstantial creatures in the past. There was no evidence of the Spectres being here.

But they did not offer any new ideas and Brendel went back to thinking on his own. That was when he vaguely recalled about the Druids being attacked by something when they investigated the Loop of Trade Winds.

[I remember that the Druids were forced away from the Loop of Trade Winds. It’s unlike the current situation where these men are killed. Is it because the Druids are recognized by it, or is it because the Wind Scar had appeared, changed that creature and it’s attacking everyone indiscriminately? But regardless of the answer, this creature is definitely the boss for this quest of mine. To wipe the men from the Holy Cathedral of Fire so easily and force the rest to flee…… Just how powerful is this thing?]

Brendel’s expression did not change, but his heart pounded rapidly from realizing that they had dodged this disastrous monster. He became thankful for the fact that the forces from the Holy Cathedral of Fire were faster than them, as they helped him become a scapegoat. If he faced this terrifying thing right here, he was really uncertain whether there was a possibility to even escape.

[I thought that this mission would be easier. The gamers managed to somehow enter Valhalla at a level that was lower than me, and so I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult. But now…… damn it. Those gamers really entered the Loop of Trade Winds by luck.]

His anger and frustration rose but he calmed himself in an instant. He led forces in the game for decades and was able to correct his mindset quickly.

[If they somehow entered the Loop of Trade Winds’ center by luck, then this quest isn’t without the possibility of completion. To be honest, judging from the current strength of this boss, the gamers would need at least twenty more years of grinding in the game before they can even attempt the quest.]

A direct confrontation must absolutely be avoided, and the way to complete this mission must have been a secret path. However, even when he went through the past information in his mind, he was unable to find details about it. Guilds did not post their entire process complete with a walkthrough and videos, and even if they posted them, it was under a fee. But that itself was quite silly for many people. Who would pay for a one-time quest other than random entertainment?

The youth was feeling regret in his heart for mocking the people who paid for them. Who would have expected something like moving to another parallel world?

Veronica and her wizards, Galbu’s Archmagi, Andesha, and a boss that was probably even more terrifying than the three forces combined, let alone the endless sea of wolves. Brendel’s head ached tremendously.

[Please, go ahead and make this quest even harder for me! The damned guild that succeeded in getting Valhalla obviously lied and downplayed the rewards gained from Valhalla. This isn’t an early game quest, fuck!]

Brendel was rubbing his forehead so hard that he left the skin red. When he finally looked around him, he saw Scarlett lost in her own thoughts. He was surprised since she was always on her guard.

“Scarlett?”

“…… Yes?” The red-haired girl said absentmindedly and turned to the youth.

“What is it?”

“There’s something on my hand.” Scarlett looked at her hand with a little worry, causing Brendel to panic a little as he thought that the Blood of Gods was corrupting her again, though it was strange as the effects of the Golden Apple should not run out so quickly.

When he studied her hand, he discovered that there was a strange golden emblem appearing over the back of her hand and arms. No matter how he looked at it, it did not seem like it was a sign of the Blood of Gods rampaging.

Instead, it seemed like there was Mana moving under her skin.

Brendel felt that the patterns appeared familiar to him, but he was unable to come up with anything despite thinking about it for a while. He shook his head and said:

“This isn’t due to the Blood of Gods. I think it’s the Golden Apple that’s causing this since it contains a massive amount of Mana. Maybe….. The Mana within your body is resonating with the Mana Wave in the Dark Forest. This is a good thing and not something bad.”

“It’s a good thing?” Scarlett became less worried. She knew Brendel would not lie to her but she still did not understand what it meant.

“…… Yes. I might have a way to turn you into an Elementalist, but I have to wait until Ser Orthlyss wakes up from her slumber.” (TL: I roughly remember that becoming an Elementalist and mastering her Element Power will allow her to beat the Blood of Gods’ control or something)

[A freaking Heroic Spirit that requires sleep twenty-four hours a day, and wouldn’t wake up even if thunder strikes next to her ears. It is no wonder they retain their youthful appearances!]

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