Published: July 3, 2025
Outside the walls of Seminton Castle, Baron Avon’s city.
“Damn it.”
The man muttered.
(Everything is unexpected… Can a band of thieves actually conduct a siege? Is that even possible?)
While pondering such thoughts, the leader of the band of thieves watched his subordinates attacking the castle.
(The guards, having been bribed, should have opened the castle gates. Why aren’t they opening? We were supposed to rush in and steal valuables as quickly as possible… What we stole would be ours… They said our role was to stay in Seminton for an hour, but at this rate, we're going to be at a loss.)
However, the man had no intention of abandoning the promise and retreating.
He knew that doing so would lead to his immediate death.
(I seriously wish they would hurry up… Empire.)
The first to ride towards Seminton from Carlyle was Baron Gas Hyde.
Only four attendants accompanied him.
(I was being cautious… but I never imagined they would attack Seminton. When did they gain such power? We’ve subjugated them many times, yet they revived every time; I always thought they were eerie. But how did they get this strong…?)
Now in his mid-twenties, Gas Hyde had been granted territory in the north due to his achievements in the War of Kingdom Liberation.
Although he came from a knightly family, he had never hoped for a baron rank.
Yet, through his efforts and becoming favored by his majesty the king, he achieved the title of baron!
Given that he was a baron in the still chaotic north, his territory was larger than those of barons in other regions.
Usually, barons own only one or two manors.
Gas had worked hard.
He devoted himself wholeheartedly to governing his territory.
Now, that territory was under attack.
Gas was galloping on his horse while thinking about such matters.
Perhaps because of this, he was slow to notice the attack.
“Guh!”
The bodyguard riding immediately to Gas’s left was struck by an attack of fire attribute magic and fell.
Furthermore, Gas’s horse lost its front legs due to an attack of wind attribute magic, the air slash.
“Ugh!”
Gas was thrown off his horse.
And then, he was immediately surrounded.
The attackers wore leather armor… but they had the aura of properly trained individuals.
They were not mere thieves.
The north borders the Empire to the immediate north.
However, the emperor had changed, and now, a delegation was being sent to the Western Nations along with the kingdom.
In such a situation, could it be that…?
(I’m going to be killed…)
Gas involuntarily shut his eyes.
But…
“Those who created the earth, those who created the world, the ancestors of all living beings, lend me your power! Stone Storm!”
As the rapid incantation echoed, hundreds of stones, used for area suppression, struck the men surrounding Gas.
Moreover, swordsmen, scouts, and spear warriors rushed in.
It happened in an instant.
All ten of the men who surrounded Gas were knocked unconscious.
Even Gas, who opened his eyes midway, could not comprehend what had happened.
He only understood that the three who intervened were quite skilled…
“Are you alright?”
A swordsman asked.
From behind the swordsman, a mage and a priest joined them.
Then, a female scout spoke.
“There’s nobody left around here. However, to the south, there are several hundred ambushers.”
“Ambushers… Could it be Lord Warren and your majesty Abel?!”
Gas shouted.
“Warren? Your majesty Abel?”
The swordsman asked in surprise.
“Yes. Most likely, Lord Warren is leading reinforcements coming after us. And if it’s your majesty… with his personality, he wouldn’t just wait in Carlyle.”
Gas briefly explained.
That his status and territory were under attack.
And that the Count of Carlyle and his majesty the king would probably come running to help.
However, it might be a trap…
“Ah… I see. Is your majesty’s command the main objective here?”
The swordsman responded while shaking his head at Gas's explanation.
“What should we do, Hector?”
“If the attack on the town is a trap to draw out your majesty and the others, they might face difficulties against the ambushers. They likely have considerable combat power hidden. As citizens of the kingdom, it’s good to assist his majesty the king… Shall we go?”