“Aaaargh!”
Logan’s sword swept through the enemy knights with unstoppable force. Not a single one could properly receive even a single strike, but now that the cavalry charge had commenced, there was no stopping it. If Logan hesitated out of fear, he would be trampled under the hooves of the charging allies right behind him.
Just as the enemy knights were crumbling helplessly, suddenly, three red forceblades sprung up around Logan, attacking him from all sides. However, Logan’s expression remained unchanged. He had anticipated these foes.
Armored without any insignia. The highest ranking knights who had hidden amongst the free knights or soldiers’ attire had already been detected by Logan’s senses. Though it was surprising that there were three extra high-ranking knights present beyond what was known, their timing was too late.
However, the strange energy that suddenly pressed down on his whole body was something Logan had not anticipated at all.
“Magic?”
Starting from beneath his feet, vine-like strands of mana bound him, and the surrounding air also pressed on him like ropes. It seemed to be a powerful magic circle attack that was used without the presence of the caster being detected. But even this only slightly startled him and was not a threat.
“Flame Cutter.”
The moment his will was invoked, a golden ray of light severed the magic that bound him. And at that moment, the fates of the high-ranking knights who had approached him were sealed.
“Zzzzrrrek.”“Aaargh!”
The enemies collapsed instantaneously. A grim reaper with a cold smile dashed through the defeated ranks. With the magical assistance of the three high-ranking knights crumbling under Logan’s hand, the rebel uprising was essentially over.
“Pfffkek.”
“Cough.”
“Got the three of them.”
Despite suffering internal injuries, Richard, who had somehow managed to flee to the rear, had his spine shattered. Secured by Logan, he was tossed aside like a piece of baggage where two other high-ranking knights, already subdued with their legs severed, were groaning under the restraint of golems.
Over 500 rebel knights had been crushed by the hands of three superhumans, a minority of the McLean knights, and the offensive of Liberatio. The enemy troops’ morale had already hit rock bottom after the overwhelming bombardment at the beginning, and naturally, there was almost no damage to the McLean forces while subduing them.
“I, I am…!”
Snap.
Roll…
Before Baron Phenon, one of the fallen nobles and former member of the First Prince’s faction, could even utter his excuses, Logan had beheaded him. There was no need to listen to or interrogate fallen nobles who had thrown themselves into the rebellion after its commencement.
“The war is over! Kill all who do not surrender!”
At Logan’s roar, announcing the end of the battle, the majority of the surviving enemies threw down their weapons and knelt on the spot.
A victory forged with a force of knights outnumbered tenfold and a lacking number of soldiers. If anyone who had not witnessed the war perceived it solely as a disgrace, they would quickly label such an overwhelming victory as falsehood.
“This easily…”
“Truly Lord Logan!”
“I, I was actually a bit scared.”
“What I tell you, just trust in Sir Logan!”
“You… you peed yourself last night…”
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
Hahahahaha.
Amidst the demolished walls, the morale of McLean’s army was sky-high. And Logan, the first to enter the stronghold, approached:
Creeeeak.
“Hi, hiiek!!”
Inside the citadel, the manor house.
Logan headed to the deepest part of the manor, which had once been the residence of a border count.
“Don’t, don’t come any closer! Do you know who I am? I’m—”
“I’m well aware. Clavis von Grandia, formerly of the royal lineage. And… “
Sshlick.
“A traitor.”
Snap.
The nominal leader of the rebel forces met his end at Logan’s hands.
The suppression of the rebel forces ended with ease, but sorting out the battlefield was a headache. More than 7,000 soldiers had surrendered, and there wasn’t nearly enough prison space to contain them all.
Eventually, a strange structure was formed where McLean soldiers outnumbered the prisoners they guarded, who were spread out far and wide.
Of course, that didn’t mean the clustered thousands of troops had any will left to retaliate against McLean.
Their morale had been utterly devastated by the overwhelming defeat during the day. Moreover,
“I’m well aware that the common soldiers have no power! I promise to be as lenient as can be, as long as no trouble is made!”
With terrifying might, the enemy leader who had slaughtered knights himself had even given such a promise.
“My lord. But what will you truly do with the soldiers? Even if they did as they were ordered, they’re still rebels.”
“Yes, the standard is execution for rebels. Depending on the severity of their crimes, even their families could be executed under collective punishment.”
Viktor’s worry was met with Luther Kyle’s equally concerned response. It was a matter worth worrying about.
If he kept his promise, it would be as if he arbitrarily released those who should have been executed. But if he broke his promise, he’d gain a reputation for making false promises, leading to potentially being branded a mass murderer. Both choices were burdensome from any perspective.
But Logan’s answer was simple.
“Just say they surrendered to McLean and helped easily defeat the enemy. For instance, say they opened the gates.”
Logan gestured at the gate he had cut down himself and said this, making the faces of the following knights turn pale with shock.
“Hahahaha. Is that really what you intend to do? Surely, there will be those who challenge such a decision, are you okay with that?”
“It’s fine.”
There will always be people who are discontent no matter how you handle it, Logan thought to himself, his smile turning wry.
It was better to minimize sacrifices on his side. He hadn’t offered his name and called for their surrender for no reason.
‘Now, Your Majesty. Let’s see what move you make. I won’t be as forgiving this time.’
With a chilling resolve, Logan entered the inner sanctum of Jahid Castle.
“I have not found any trace of the mages you mentioned. I apologize.”
“No, that’s alright. I had expected as much.”
Seated at the head of Jahid Castle’s grand hall, Logan nodded at Viktor’s report.
‘Surely they must’ve received help from a magical artifact, but since they escaped my perception, they must be quite skilled.’
While it was the expected outcome, Logan couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
‘Derek Clang and Cooper Felson were indeed part of the First Prince’s faction. But the others…’
Excluding them, the situation implied that there were four top-notch knights that had never been heard of in the kingdom, and at least two mages who evaded capture were suspected to be of the 5th Circle.
Where exactly these people had come from was a mystery that churned in his mind.
‘It would be nice if we could interrogate them.’
Yet, he had an intuition that it would be difficult, and that ominous premonition proved to be correct.
“Those bastards won’t even make a sound under torture. Unless we have a high-ranking mage who can use mental magic, getting them to talk seems impossible.”
“As I thought.”
The report from the experienced middle-aged knight who had been in charge of interrogating them made Logan close his eyes for a moment. High-ranking knights often had great willpower, and some could even block their pain perception with the Force.
‘Mental magic is the exclusive domain of Class mages. Plus, to break through the mental barriers of a high-ranking knight, one would need to be at least a magecraft-level practitioner. Impossible.’
If they had a professional interrogator, it might have been a different story.
‘Maybe I should recruit a real interrogator.’
Such people existed.
Demons that made you leak everything upon capture.
They were known to be even more cruel and effective than any mental magic.
‘The Imperial Royal Family’s interrogators.’
These people made the Grandia Liberation Front abandon all hideouts the moment any high-ranking officials were captured.
‘Interrogators who regard torture as a pleasure. Plenty of rumors about that. But where would I find such people?’
As Logan mused over the faceless demons, all he could do was smile wryly.
‘No matter where they come from, one thing’s clear. The king has bared his teeth at me.’
In the end, there was only one thing to be done.
“Find out as much as you can. Until they are dead.”
One week later.
The little hope he had was met with disappointment.
“Logan. While being tortured, they all died. They didn’t say anything to the very end, so what now?”
“Nothing at all?”
“That’s right. Absolutely nothing.”
“There’s still what Ryan mentioned. We should look into that at least.”
“That mercenary story was also just speculation.”
“…We have nothing else right now.”
What they had managed to gather in the meantime was merely a guess that the middle-aged man with blue hair, Richard, resembled Maxim Grey, a top-class mercenary active in the eastern empire. That was based solely on the opinion of Ryan, a new knight in McLean who had previously carried out a mission for the empire, not from the words of the captives themselves.
“So, leave it at that?”
“What else can we do? Clean up the castle, Viktor.”
“Yes!”
“Keep the surrendered prisoners in custody and stand by. I’ll convey whatever directive comes from the royal family.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Lieutenant Luther.”
“Speak.”
“Come with me to the capital for now. Ailen, Henderson. Same for you. Follow me along with your units.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“We will follow your orders.”
“First, behead all the surrendered nobles and leaders. Then bring their heads to me.”
“…Yes?”
Mixed within the ready responses was a brief questioning voice.
Realizing their mistake, the knights bowed their heads and said,
“We will follow your orders.”
Just three hours later, Logan began riding towards the capital, Grand.
And during the days while he was traveling, the kingdom was abuzz with rumors started by McLean.
“McLean has subdued the rebel stronghold?”
“Yes, I heard too. They won a crushing victory with less force than half.”
“How could it be so soon? The other nobles haven’t managed to put down the remnants yet?”
“Well, that’s…”
Various rumors spread through the kingdom.
Among those, the most notable was that the Young Slayer Logan McLean had truly become a superhuman.
A young man who reached the realm of superhumans at the mere age of twenty-four.
The youngest Aura user on the continent.
Now, he seemed to follow in the footsteps of legendary heroes that only remained in myths, attracting the attention of the entire kingdom to this young hero.
* * *
– Count Logan McLean has arrived.
As the knight’s voice resounded, the doors of the grand chamber opened. Carrying a large grey bundle on his back, Logan appeared, drawing all the nobles’ gazes upon him.
“…Such overflowing spirit.”
“Incredible…”
“How could he become a superhuman at such a young age?”
Dressed in armor and carrying a bundle, even Logan’s attire seemed to reflect the confidence of a bodacious genius as the murmuring voices were filled with awe.
Walking through the revered stares, Logan moved forward in silence and unburdened the bundle in front of him, ten paces from the king.
Sshhhk.
Thump.
Roll…
Several dozens of heads tumbled out simultaneously.
“Ugh?!”
“What, what is that?!”
“How dare… in the royal palace!”
As everyone was astounded, Logan calmly took a knee.
“I, Logan McLean, have quelled the rebellion and brought the heads of its leaders.”
The grand chamber grew cold. The king’s heavy gaze shifted from the heads to Logan, holding a heavy silence.