Chapter 69: Trouble Occurs While the Bear is Unaware

Chapter 69:
Trouble Occurs While the
Bear is Unaware

 

THERE WAS ONCE a certain sorcerer. Ten years ago, this sorcerer was banned from the royal capital. All he did was use criminals as sacrifices to cast magic, but they cut off one of his arms and banished him from the capital.

The sorcerer swore revenge.

What are they claiming I did wrong?

I will not forgive that king.

His mere death won’t settle this.

I will demolish the kingdom under his care.

I will bring it to ruin.

I will slaughter his citizens.

I will bring despair to him.

I will show him the ruin of his country as he lives on.

A decade has passed since I made that vow.

I gathered goblins, wolves, and orcs. Ten thousand in all.

Ten wyverns and a wyrm I was able to enslave.

At long last, the time for my revenge has come.

The man rejoiced. He had finally come this far. His body was haggard, the life drained from his visage. He only lived for the sake of showing the king what it meant to despair out of his desire for revenge. The magic that controlled the monsters drained the man’s life force. Nevertheless, if he could just enact his revenge, he would even offer his life.

To start, he wanted to see the face of the king in despair. The man traveled to the royal capital. He would sneak into the castle. Since he worked there in days past, he knew of a secret pathway or two. He would enter the king’s office without being noticed.

“Who are you?”

“Have you forgotten? I am the one you exiled ten years ago, Ghoulzam.”

“Ghoulzam…”

The king had not recognized the wasted-away man. The thought that the man was inside the castle itself was preposterous.

“What are you doing here?”

“Why, I came to see you, of course. Oh, but please don’t call for anyone. I just came to talk.”

“To talk?”

“At this very moment, a horde of monsters has been discovered and is giving you quite the headache.”

“How would you know that?”

“Because I was the one who gathered them to take revenge on you.”

“You say this is revenge?”

“Yes, revenge, a grudge, hatred, loathing—call it what you want. I just want to see your face in agony.”

“In that case, you’ve surely seen enough.”

“No, not yet. I want to see you stricken with despair as I let the wyverns destroy your country, as the orcs violate and kill your citizens, and as the goblins and wolves run rampant and slaughter the children.”

Just saying it out loud delighted Ghoulzam.

“You…”

“Killing me would be pointless. It’s not as though I came here without preparing myself an escape route.”

The king’s hand halted over the hilt of his sword.

“As soon as I cast my spell, the monsters will approach the capital. It will likely be attacked in a few days’ time. The spell will be put in motion even if I were to die. Regardless of what happens, all you will be able to do is watch silently.”

“This country has adventurers, soldiers, and knights. Don’t think it will be so simple to make the capital fall.”

“I wasn’t thinking it would fall. Even ruining half of it would be enough. I would be fine with it if the wyverns only destroyed the gate and let the monsters invade. I wonder how many citizens would die if just that happened.”

A smiled formed over Ghoulzam’s face.

“Adventurers have already departed to slay the monsters. We’ve also prepared soldiers. They may become martyrs, but they will protect the citizens.”

“They are no match for my army.”

“What?”

“I have also prepared a powerful wyrm. The adventurers will likely be a delicious appetizer before it moves on to the main course.”

“You bastard!”

“If you can’t defeat the wyrm, you won’t be able to defeat the goblins and wolves. The country will be destroyed. I will witness the pain on your face.”

“Nonsense!”

“Nonsense it is not. I spent my lifeblood on this spell…guh,” Ghoulzam coughed up blood. “Well, it isn’t all that accommodating. It saps my mana and life force. It’s unfortunate I won’t be able to see you suffering until the very end, but I’ll enjoy myself while I can.”

Ghoulzam invoked the spell. All of his mana started to drain from him. What little life he had left trickled away.

“Ghoulzam!”

“The wyrm awakens, and my army will advance. I will enjoy watching you—from a distance.”

Ghoulzam smiled as he vanished.

“Ghoulzam!!!” The king’s shout did not reach him.

“What is the matter, my king?!”

Royal guards came running at the king’s shouts.

“Call for Zhang immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

The royal guards saluted and ran. Before long, an elderly man with a beard entered the office. This was Zhang, the country’s chancellor.

“You called, your majesty?”

“Gather the knights, soldiers, and sorcerers immediately and have them head out to slay monsters.”

“Ellelaura is making the preparations now.”

“Tell her that there is also a wyrm among the monsters, and have her take countermeasures against it.”

“A wyrm, you say?”

“That’s right. At this rate, many of the capital’s adventurers would die in vain.”

“My king, where did you get that information?”

“We have no time to lose. I’ll explain later, so hurry.”

“Yes, sir.”

Zhang hustled out of the office.

“Please make it in time.”

Though he thought that, the king didn’t know how much damage there would be when they fought the wyrm. He could assume that Ghoulzam chose this day to strike knowing how many would be there for the festival. If they could not defeat it, there would be incalculable losses. First the adventurers left from the capital, and the next day the knights, sorcerers, and soldiers would depart.

 

A few days after Ghoulzam appeared, a ludicrous report arrived. An A-rank adventurer defeated the horde. The king was at a loss for words.

That report was a letter from the master of the adventurers’ guild. It was something he could put his faith in. Though he was relieved, he wondered who this A-rank adventurer was. Had they just happened to be there at the right time? Though he still had many questions, he at least knew the danger had passed. After that, the only thing that remained was finding Ghoulzam somewhere in the royal capital.

However, when the king was alone in his office, Ghoulzam appeared out of nowhere.

“What is happening? Why have the soldiers and the adventurers returned?” Ghoulzam asked the king in a low and cold voice.

“It seems an A-rank adventurer killed all of the monsters you prepared.”

“An A-rank adventurer? That’s impossible. I lured them away.”

“I don’t understand it, either. That’s just what was written in the guild master’s report letter.”

“Lies. Guh-huh,” Goulzam vomited up blood. “Will my revenge be over without ever accomplishing anything? And all because of an unknown adventurer. My plan should have been perfect…”

With a face full of despair, Ghoulzam glared at the king.

“Why? Why are you smiling?”

“It’s over now.”

The king drew his sword and struck Ghoulzam down. As he was now, he had no strength, nor even the thought to dodge. The thought of his wasted effort alone filled his entire mind. The king called for the royal guard and had them dispose of Ghoulzam’s corpse.

“I must express my gratitude to that adventurer.”

The adventurer had protected the royal capital, as well as the lives of the citizens, adventurers, and soldiers, after all.