The Indomitable Martial King

“Philanence! Grant them unwavering minds!”

With a resounding cry, the bodies of dozens of orcs glowed with a pink holy light. Feeling his magic being nullified, Denbird exclaimed in surprise.

“What? Why is there a priest of Philanence?”

Tassid abruptly threw a sword at Denbird. The sword, its power moderated, flew through the air and struck the back of the mage’s head.

Thud!

Though it was the flat of the blade that hit, preventing death, the mage, now bleeding from the nose, was lying prone and looked unlikely to rise for at least half a day. From the other side of the pillar where Denbird had been standing, a small girl with black hair and a light green dress appeared, flailing about. It was Sillan, the girl who had betrayed Tassid to August.

“Wow! That was close! Where did that mage pop out from?”

Well, actually, she wasn’t a girl. Tassid glanced in her direction and chuckled. Then, speaking in halting common language, he expressed his gratitude.

“Good help. Thank you, Sillan.”

To conceal his identity, he had dyed his hair black and was cross-dressing. Sillan took two necklaces from her bosom and threw them to Tassid.

“Take these.”

They were an anti-magic charm created by Sillan and a ‘Necklace of Communication’ crafted by Repenhardt. As Tassid put on the amulet and necklace, his speech in the common language became fluent.

“But why didn’t you change those clothes? Do you like the dress?”

“I was keeping my disguise just in case. You never know what might happen.”

“Hey, it’s not because you have a taste for it, right?”

At Tassid’s teasing words, Sillan snorted and crossed his arms.

“Hmph! It’s only a few days left! Soon, I’ll be so muscular that clothes like this won’t even fit me anymore!”

Well, seeing his ‘lovely’ state now, it seemed hopeless whether a few days or even a few years had passed… but Tassid wasn’t mean enough to point that out. He simply smiled and turned his head.

The orc gladiators looked at Sillan with curiosity. Despite being human, Tassid treated her with unusual friendliness.

“Who is that human?”

“Who could she be?”

“Is she your companion, Warrior Tassid?”

Tassid answered simply.

“He’s the Young Saint.”

All the orcs nodded in unison. The fame of the Young Saint had spread across the entire continent due to the Crovence civil war, so even these orc gladiators knew of Sillan.

“Oh, that human is the one…”

“The Young Saint of the Duchy of Antares…”

“He’s rumored to have a close relationship with the Fist King…”

“That’s not true!”

Although the details of the rumor were a bit off, it was true that his fame had spread.

‘This is driving me crazy. Just how many languages has this rumor spread in?’

Having frequently encountered orcs recently, Sillan had started to understand basic Orcish. Hearing the translated rumors about himself was truly disheartening.

Grumbling, Sillan approached the fallen mage. Tassid asked.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to erase his memory. We can’t let our identities be revealed.”

Just like Repenhardt’s golden aura, Philanence’s pink holy light was quite conspicuous, making it easy to identify. Although she was disguised now, and it was likely they’d just think he was a priestess of Philanence, it was better to be safe.

“Philanence, please watch over your young servants and erase their painful memories.”

After finishing up, Sillan urged Tassid.

“Now, let’s go!”

Tassid gestured to the orc gladiators.

“Let’s go, brothers!”

They needed to escape the city before news of their escape spread. With loud footsteps, Tassid, Sillan, and the orcs disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

The northeastern region of the Vasily Kingdom, adjacent to the Rakid Mountains, housed the barony of Burkiff.

A lavish banquet was currently being held at the baron’s mansion, located at the center of the estate.

On the dining table, covered with white tablecloths, an endless array of sumptuous dishes was beautifully arranged under intricately crafted silver candelabras. Musicians were playing soft tunes without pause on one side of the banquet hall. Symbolizing the abundance of autumn, the mantels were adorned with colorful buds and branches with sprouting leaves.

In the opulent banquet hall, about thirty nobles were mingling and conversing, each holding a wine glass.

“You’ve prepared an excellent banquet, Baron Burkiff. Such a feast is rare even in the capital.”

“You flatter me. Hohoho.”

Baron Burkiff, while waving his hand modestly, couldn’t hide his proud expression. The amount he had spent to prepare for this banquet was substantial. He had arranged for only the best in food and music. Moreover…

“Not at all! To have all the maids be elves, such a high-class banquet is indeed rare even in the capital.”

The other noble clicked his tongue as he looked around. Men dressed elegantly and women adorned with finery mingled, while about twenty maids served and moved among them. Each was strikingly beautiful, with long, pointed ears characteristic of elves.

Elven slaves were so expensive that local nobles usually owned at most one or two. For today’s banquet, Baron Burkiff had specially borrowed these elven slaves from nearby nobles.

“Thanks to you, my eyes are delighted. Hahaha.”

“Haha, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

Laughter and conversations filled the room. Of course, only the nobles were laughing. The elven maids, tense and wary, were careful not to make any mistakes in front of the high-ranking guests, fearing severe punishment. Remembering the pain of the whip, they served the nobles cautiously, always watching for cues.

As the banquet was in full swing, one noble suddenly tilted his head while sipping his wine.

“Huh?”

The numerous candles adorning the table’s candelabras seemed to be burning more fiercely and growing larger. Others also noticed the anomaly and turned their gaze to the candelabras.

“What is this?”

“Are they defective?”

At that moment, all the candles simultaneously ignited and transformed into the shapes of fire lizards.

Whoosh!

Dozens of fire lizards soared into the air, flying around the ceiling of the banquet hall. The flames in the fireplace flickered and grew larger. The fire took the shape of a giant, pulling itself out of the fireplace and standing tall within the hall. The nobles screamed in shock.

“What is this bizarre situation?”

“Baron Burkiff!”

“What on earth is going on?”

The intense heat filled the banquet hall. Everyone was in a state of panic.

Crash!

The window on the second floor of the banquet hall shattered, revealing a young girl. The night wind blew through the broken window, causing her platinum blonde hair to flutter, revealing her long, pointed ears. Someone muttered in a daze.

“A-an elf?”

Like most noble residences, the banquet hall in Baron Burkiff’s mansion had an open design with a balcony running along the second floor. Standing on the balcony, the elf girl shouted.

“Salamander! Ignatius! Show them the heat!”

The fire lizards in the air pounced on some of the nobles. Flames erupted with explosions. Noble ladies screamed at the sight of people burning right in front of them.

“Ahh!”

“Someone’s dead!”

“R-run! Everyone!”

A nobleman shouted. It was only then that they realized this was no prank.

Like a flock of sheep chased by a wolf, the nobles screamed and fled out of the banquet hall.

The fire lizards in the air chased after those who ran. The fire giant swung its arms, driving the nobles further.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions erupted throughout the banquet hall, flames roared, and thick smoke billowed. As he exited the hall, Baron Burkiff let out a desperate scream.

“Guards! Guaaaaards!”

That was the last cry of Baron Burkiff. The pursuing fire giant charged at the baron and exploded. The walls shook, and flames rose, blocking the entrance to the banquet hall.

Inside the now emptied hall, only the elf maids remained, trembling as they sat on the floor. As mere slaves, they couldn’t push past the nobles to escape first, and now it was too late to flee with the entrance ablaze. They gathered together, looking with terrified eyes at the platinum-haired elf girl.

The elf girl leapt from the balcony. With a light, bird-like motion, she jumped from the second floor and headed towards the elf maids. Their faces turned even paler.

“Sa-save us…”

“Please save us…”

“Have mercy…”

Despite knowing that their opponent was an elf like themselves, the maids only begged for their lives. They couldn’t comprehend that the terrifyingly powerful platinum-haired girl was of the same race as their lowly selves.

With a sorrowful smile, the elf girl spoke to them.

“My name is Siris. I came here to save you.”

Her voice was unexpectedly soft. It seemed gentle.

“You are no longer slaves.”

The maids blinked at her unexpectedly kind tone. One elf woman cautiously asked,

“…Not slaves?”

To those born, raised, and living as slaves, those words sounded as if she were saying, “You are no longer elves.” No matter what they did, the fact that they were elves did not change.

“Haa…”

Siris sighed. Teaching these individuals the concept of freedom would take more than a day or two. But there was no time now. Before the guards arrived, she had to lead them out quickly.

With a low chant, Siris formed hand signs in the air.

“Al Hard Difan Jeihan, O Earth, crumble before my will! Terra Break!”

Boom!

The 3rd circle spell ‘Rock Collapse’ activated, breaking part of the banquet hall’s wall. A thick wall crumbled, creating a small hole just big enough for a person to pass through. After creating the passage, Siris urged the elf maids.

“Let’s go for now. We’ll talk more once we get out of here.”

No one moved. They just hesitated, watching Siris for any sign of her intentions. Siris frowned as she looked outside the banquet hall. There was no time to persuade them.

‘I didn’t want to do this, but…’

Raising her right hand, Siris shouted.

“Ignatius!”

Boom!

The fire giant was summoned, standing next to Siris. Ignatius crossed its arms and looked down at the elf maids with a blazing smile.

“Eek!”

“Eeek!”

The maids trembled like aspen trees under the immense pressure. Forcing a smile, Siris asked again.

“Hohoho, will you please do as I say for now?”

“Yes!”

“Please command us anything!”

Being ingrained with slave mentality, they moved more obediently when ordered. Siris let her shoulders slump and sighed once more.

“Sigh…”