059 – Escape
“Did you find out anything?”
To Granz’s question, Tigris said calmly.
“yes. there is.”
“yes? Is that true? May I know what it is?”
“But I can’t tell you right now.”
“······yes?”
“Because I don’t know if the information I’ve found is 100% certain, and whether it’s true or not, I thought that it would pose a great threat to the Empire if it was leaked outside.”
Tigris gave a lengthy explanation, but Granz immediately understood the meaning of the words contained therein.
Stay secure.
Before joining the Knights of the White Eagle, Granz knew the importance of information security very well because he had worked for the Knights of Gold.
“I fully understood.”
“Thank you for your understanding. Sir Granz.”
Granz and Tigris came out of the guard point.
Suddenly, a bright moon was floating in the sky.
There is no set time for returning to the Forest of Water Lilies, but the Nation Dean and many other instructors are probably worried.
I thought it would be better to move quickly.
“·················ogue.”
But strangely, the footsteps did not come off easily.
Tigris was convinced that this sense should not be ignored.
This was because it was like an instinct that was kicked out of the experiences and failures accumulated through numerous battlefields.
If Tigris thought it was just a simple forest keeper’s attack and didn’t sell his feet to investigate, he wouldn’t have been able to find out that ‘Teho’ and ‘Morgot’ are dangerous.
In the same vein, I thought that I should not be separated from them.
Why didn’t the shaman sacrifice the Train Guard and hide what he killed?
You must know that there is a rank battle going on nearby, so why did the magic happen at this time?
With unanswered questions and unknown dangers, the current situation of Granz’s unit was not very good.
On a night when the moonlight was weak, the rotting body vibrated, visibility was not open due to the geographical characteristics of the forest, and the military base to call for help nearby was at least 10km away.
If they were attacked by monsters or those who killed the Train Guards were attacked, they could be helpless.
Tigris’ gaze turned to Granz and the soldiers.
Tigris knew Granz’s level the first time he saw it.
Granz’s level was a five-star knight.
It was comparable to Horn, the leader of the Black Wolf Knights of the Norberd family, and similar to that of the head of the Nation Department at the Imperial University.
He knew how much a 5-star knight would be of great help on the actual battlefield, so there is no reason to doubt his power.
The other knights also seemed to have been trained quite well, and the posture of standing on the alert wasn’t bad, and I especially liked the way they looked around while nervous.
Although Tigris did not know the level of the wizards, as if he had quite a bit of experience in battle, he entered safely between the knights and the soldiers and was spreading search magic.
Overall, they were good morale and well-trained soldiers.
At this level, even if an ogre suddenly appeared, it seemed like it could be dealt with without difficulty.
However, the real enemies they should watch out for are not the monsters in the Heiden Forest, but the criminals who killed the Train Guards.
If they show up and attack them, will they survive?
Tigris couldn’t answer.
At that time, the bodies came out one by one at the entrance to the guard point.
Handkerchiefs and old clothes were on their faces.
Granz muttered to himself as if he was letting out a sigh.
“How did these young people with a bright future become like this?”
Tigris said looking at the corpses.
“What are you going to do with these corpses?”
“All the dead knights are of Count Heiden. The body must be retrieved and a funeral held according to the procedures. But if it is certain that these corpses are sacrifices to witchcraft, they should be burned rather than buried.”
Like a veteran knight, Granz knew well how to deal with the shamaned corpses.
He seemed to have had experience with an orc shaman or a troll shaman.
“Would your family be able to protest?”
“It should be rewarded and we should talk about it. If you do it wrong, zombies can pop out of the graveyard.”
Granz said looking at the crescent moon.
“By the way, it’s too late at night. Originally, I had no intention of staying here for a long time, but it seems to have taken a long time as I researched.”
“What are you going to do?”
“There is nothing more dangerous than moving through the forest at night…”
Granz glanced at the dead bodies and said:
“I don’t think it’s a very good option to stay and camp here.”
The other soldiers didn’t even want to stay here.
Tchrist did not recommend staying here.
This is where the magic was manifested.
I didn’t know what was going to happen.
“Turn, a small town, is just 15 kilometers to the east along the railroad. It’s late at night, would you like to go with me? I will lend you a horse so you can leave early tomorrow morning.”
He knew that Granz’s suggestion was not pure favor, but that he was more inclined to lean on Tigris’ help when a dangerous situation arose.
Tigris is such a great swordsman that he killed 6-star knights as well as 5-star knights identical to Granz.
Tigris said, conscious of the small crystal ball in his arms.
“Is there a communication area where long-distance communication is possible? I would like to contact the instructors who will be waiting for me.”
Granz’s expression brightened.
“Oh, of course. Reena!”
A wizard called Lina ran to Granz’s words.
“Did you call?”
“Lord Tigris wants to contact the Imperial University, is there any way?”
Lina looked at Tigris and said.
“Do you by any chance have a communication channel with the Imperial University side? If so, it seems possible.”
Tigris took out a communication crystal ball from his pocket.
“Would this be okay?”
Lina nodded her head.
“Enough. I need to get the opponent’s crystal ball identification number associated with this crystal. Is there a communication security protocol granted to this port by any chance?”
“no. It is a communication port for general reception.”
“Then it would be simpler. Please wait a minute.”
Lina put magical energy into Tigris’ communication port.
Then he started to touch things and nodded his head.
“It is definitely a communication port for general reception. I got the identification number easier than I thought. How far away are you from the person you need to contact?”
“It is about 30-40 km away.”
“I think that would be enough for the mastery. Would you like to follow me?”
Tigris followed Lina.
Lina approached the man with a large iron bag on his back.
Tigris knew what that iron bag was.
It was a long-distance communication artifact for military use.
The mastery of the crystal ball was only about 10 km, but that artifact was able to communicate with a place 40 to 50 km away.
Expensive ones are nag to say the least, and since they had to be operated with a special magic that only works on the artifact, a communication wizard like Lina was essential.
Lina magically manipulated the iron bag and handed the microphone to Tigris.
“Do the instructors of the Imperial University have this battlefield communication equipment?”
“In case of emergencies, we have communication equipment directly connected to the Imperial Guard.”
“If it goes well, we can have a conversation. If you need to have an important conversation, you should be careful as security may be compromised.”
Anyway, Tigris would simply say that he would move with Count Heiden’s soldiers.
There wasn’t really any important conversation going on.
Tigris spoke into the microphone.
“This is Tigris Security Officer. If you are receiving, please turn off the communication port twice and turn it on again.”
After a while, the red light in the iron bag turned off and on twice in a row.
meant to be received.
“I am currently joined by the soldiers of Count Heiden. It is dangerous to return to the water lily forest alone, so I will stay with them and head to the water lily forest as soon as the sun comes up. If you have received it, please turn off the communication tool twice and turn it on again.”
Again the red light went off and on twice in a row.
“That is all.”
Tigris handed Lina the microphone.
Lina looked at Tigris in surprise.
“You seem to be familiar with tactical communication techniques.”
“It’s something I learned on my own.”
“Instructors at the Imperial University seem to learn this as well. I didn’t tell you about this when I was in Imperial University.”
Before returning, Tigris had wandered the battlefield for several years, so he knew this communication technique by default.
In addition to this, he knew the emergency communication technique used when the crystal or microphone of the tactical communication equipment was broken.
“Then I’ll just go.”
“yes. If I get a call from the Imperial University, I will let you know.”
Tigris turned to Granz.
Soon, all the bodies were recovered.
The problem was to take these corpses to the small town of Tern.
It was impossible for the soldiers to carry them one by one.
Fortunately, when I searched the guard point, there was a cart used by the train guards.
And when we made about 15 stretchers using tent rods and tents, we were able to carry all 31 bodies.
“Let the wizards cast lightening magic on the corpses and wagons.”
Lightweight magic was essential as I had to march 20km with my personal luggage.
As soon as I finished tidying up my surroundings, I immediately moved.
Granz didn’t bring out a map or compass.
It was because I just had to follow the railroad all the way.
The stars and the moon floating in the quiet forest looked good for a walk in the mood, but the problem was that the light wasn’t just twinkling in the sky.
Red and yellow lights flashed even in the Heiden Forest.
-Crurrrr…
The monsters that came after smelling the corpses were wandering around.
Goblins, gnolls, and mankeys were standard, and there were even bumchi and saber tigers.
They seemed to be outraged because they wanted to eat the count’s soldiers.
But they didn’t rush.
It was because of the wizards.
The four wizards, including Lina, filled the surroundings with red balls of fire.
Those fireballs were not simple fireballs, but 3 circle magic ‘flame of menace’ that emitted waves that stimulated the dangerous instincts of monsters.
It was similar to the magic ‘blue flame’ made to drive out evil spirits.
Only monsters with the intelligence of a griffon would not be able to attack.
Still, seeing the monsters growling and drooling naked, the soldiers broke into a cold sweat and busily teased their feet.
He seemed to want to go back to the small town of Tern.
There were more and more red and golden eyes around them.
Despite the fact that they are in a food chain relationship where they eat each other, they fixed their gaze on the Count’s soldiers.
It was because of the smell of blood coming from the body and the smell of decay.
At this point, it seemed that a great Satan would arise.
Tigris drew his sword.
“I will clean up the monsters once.”
When the number of monsters increased like this, it was important to turn their attention to the outside.
The best way was to kill a moderate amount of monsters.
Rather than aiming for a difficult prey, it’s more convenient to eat the fresh meat of a dead colleague right next to you.
Granz tried to stop Tigris.
“no. I······.”
“Sir Granz is the leader and I am just an ordinary knight. It’s okay for me to move.”
Granz immediately understood the meaning of Tigris’ words.
Granz must command more than 50 men.
On the other hand, Tigris has neither the qualifications nor the position to lead.
So it was right that Tigris was moving.
It was a car where Granz was thinking about the relationship between top and bottom clothes, but Tigris took care of it and it was very comfortable.
“We would be grateful if you would.”
Tigris returned to the aft.
If you kill a monster in front of or next to the front row, it could get in the way of advancing.
On the other hand, if the monsters in the rear died, the monsters next to them were drawn back, and naturally, the monsters were able to break the siege.
Tigris swung his sword exactly 10 times.
Then, a silver sword cut the throats of medium-sized monsters such as Beomchi, Saber Tiger, and Gray Wolf.
They couldn’t even react properly and fell down, spilling fountains of blood.
– Wow!
When the nearby monster died, the monsters next to them took their eyes off the counts soldiers and ran towards the dead monsters.
They even fought among themselves.
When many of the monsters surrounding the battle line disappeared, Tigris returned to Granz’s side.
Granz looked at Tigris with admiration.
From the outside, it looks like a young knight who has just become a knight, but his every move was like a veteran.
If it wasn’t for Tigris, Granz might have tried to sign him right away.
“I thought you were only good with swords, but you seem to have a lot of knowledge about monster behavior and combat.”
“As an instructor, you have to teach students, and I think you should know this.”
“still······.”
‘I’m only 20 now…’
Granz didn’t utter the last word, just thinking.
Because he didn’t know it might be Tigris’ complex.
Tigris gave him a bit of leeway, so Granz glanced at Tigris and said.
“By the way, didn’t you say that the forest keeper invaded the water lily forest? And while tracking the trail of the forest keeper, he came to our side.”
“yes. That’s right.”
“Then you’re guessing it’s correct that the forest keeper appeared near the B-13 guard point?”
“yes. That’s right.”
“Hmm······.
Granz thought for a moment before opening his mouth.
“It’s a little strange. This is not the time for the Forest Keeper to be in the Forest of Heiden.”
Tigris’ expression hardened.
“…weren’t forest keepers active since late spring?”
“You are right, but the Forest Keeper moves south to the Marquis of Baros or the jungle in winter and spring, and then starts moving upwards in late spring. Besides, they only move properly when there is a lot of moisture in the ground, so the forest keepers start appearing in the Heiden Forest only in June and July when it rains in full swing.”
Tigris seemed to reveal the outlines of an unknown sense of déjà vu.
“That means the forest keeper should not be in the Heiden Forest at this time.”
“yes. In time, yes.”
If there is a connection between this train guard murder and this forest keeper’s appearance, it is clear that the forest keeper’s appearance is not just a coincidence, but someone’s intention.
‘That means… a summoning wizard?’
Tigris looked around.
There were more monsters again.
However, the types of monsters have changed.
It was not filled with small and medium-sized monsters such as Gnolls, Goblins, and Mankeys, but medium-to-large monsters such as Orcs and Trolls.
Granz swallowed his saliva.
“Why are there so many trolls……”
It is not that trolls do not live in Heiden Forest, but trolls are monsters that perform individual actions.
It wasn’t like there were 7 or 8 of them coming all at once.
And the number of orcs was too large.
Even if I counted them in the snow, there were more than 40.
Moreover, even when he saw the flame of threat, the four trolls standing in front of the line did not move as if they were a wall.
Eventually, the progress stopped.
-Crurrrr…
In an unusual atmosphere, Granz drew his sword.
The current geographical conditions were not very good.
There was a railroad to the left, but both front and right and back were full of orcs and trolls.
The only way to escape was the railroad, but a train was coming in the distance.
Granz came up with the worst-case scenario at the moment.
The moment the train approaches the soldiers, the trolls and orcs attack at the same time.
Then, it was clear that the soldiers and knights who could not evacuate toward the railroad would be slaughtered at once.
Granz didn’t think they were smart enough to plan such a plan.
However, if there is a summoning wizard to lead them, the story is different.
“·······Maybe a summoning wizard? Why the hell…?”
“Why doesn’t matter yet.”
Tigris drew his sword again.
“Because survival is the most important thing.”
Granz gave strength to the sword.
“…that’s right.”
“How many kilometers from here to Tern?”
“About 7km left.”
“It would be unreasonable to run all the way to Tern.”
“I think it would be best to ask for reinforcements and meet at the midpoint.”
The soldiers looked at Tigris and Granz with anxious eyes.
However, Granz and Tigris did not show any embarrassment at all.
He was just looking at the orcs and trolls with calm eyes.
It was because Granz and Tigris knew from experience that if they panicked, the morale of their soldiers would go down.
“Put away all corpses and baggage and arm yourself!”
At Granz’s command, the soldiers and knights threw away their bodies and were all armed.
The soldiers’ eyes felt a little uneasy, but he held the spear tight as if he was alerted to Granz’s magical voice.
“I run to Tern in wedges. Reena! Have you been contacted by Tern?!”
“yes. I have already contacted you. We have shared our current location, and we have agreed to send reinforcements!”
“good night.”
Tigris said to Granz.
“I will take the lead. Sir Granz.”
“Would you please?”
“Yes.”
Granz did not say when he would depart.
But all the soldiers instinctively knew when to leave.
It will run away when the train passes the lead in the distance.
Doo-goo- Doo-goo- Doo-goo-
As the train began to approach, the ground began to vibrate.
The soldiers swallowed their saliva and prepared to run.
As the train drew near, Tigris raised his voice.
“Everyone, don’t panic, look straight ahead and run!”
The soldiers thought that Tigris’ words were meant to boost morale, but it wasn’t.
It meant that Tigris would run without panicking about the inaction that Tigris would show.
Tigris immediately drew his sword as the train passed by.
A beautiful silver arc was shot forward.
The silver line passed through everything like a train without blockage.
Fuhua aaaaah!
The waists of dozens of trolls and orcs blocking the front were all cut off.
The pale moonlight then turned bloody into the fountains of blood that gushed from the waists of the orcs and trolls.
There were no screams from the monsters.
There was only the sound of blood gushing out, the sound of trees being cut and falling to the side, and the upper body of the monsters cut in half falling to the floor.
All the soldiers, including Granz, were astonished.
“What is this…”
The train passed, but the monsters did not rush.
They were all terrified by Tigris’ ferocious silver eyes.
Granz was the first to come to his senses and spoke in a loud voice.
“Escape everyone!”
“Woah ah ah ah!”
The soldiers’ feet were very light.
Because I could see hope that I would be able to live if I only looked behind Tigris and ran.