21st Century Archmage

“You say everyones playing?”

“Thats correct, my liege. According to the informants, he gave them a bonus a few days ago, telling the mercenaries to rest up. Then the man named Kyre went to the river and has been fishing since then.”

“Fishing? Kukuku. What a funny fellow. He should be thinking about how to survive at a time like this.”

“I think that perhaps the person himself has realized your strength and has given up, my liege.”

“No… Something is still fishy.”

Viscount Lukence shook his head at Delvado, the chief advising knight with whom he had worked for many years.

“In any case, when the ships depart in a short while, everything will be settled. And tomorrow, the bastard named Kyre will have to either offer his neck or flee.”

4 days of time had passed as swift as an arrow. Even though the convoy ships were large, they could still sink in rough waves. Lukence still had to avoid catching the eye of the commander, who was still formally governing Nerman, and just make it through the river. Once his ships made it onto the sea and he delivered the goods to the waiting people, everything would be over.

“Once the ships depart, distribute as much alcohol and meat as they can eat to the soldiers remaining. And then tomorrow, well go catch that guy.”

“As you command!”

The moment darkness fell, the convoy would depart on the river.

‘Little rookie, Ill cut open your belly to see for myself, just how bloated your guts are…

A dark smile floated on Lukences lips as he thought about tomorrows blood and slaughter.

‘Janice… Your turn will be next. Huhuhu.

The last formal noble left in Nerman, Janice. Up until now, Lukence had left her alone because of the consequences he would suffer from the commander, but now it was time to clean up.

Lukence was determined.

To formally take over Nerman within the next few days.

* * *

“Ryker, are those guys trustworthy?”

“Huhu. I specifically selected only the ones with clean records. Just believe in me, my liege.”

Handsome Ryker, flashed me a crafty smile while telling me to believe in him. I didnt want to, but I had no choice for now.

“Derval, have the other mercenaries departed?”

“Yes, my liege. They all shouted they were going hunting and left the city excitedly.”

‘Shall we get things going now, then?

The last few days had been spent fishing with Bebeto. Time passed and it was now the day Lukence would send off his convoy.

“Ryker, I will tell you again—the only thing I am doing is scattering the enemies. You must absolutely not confront them head-on.”

“I told you, just believe in me. Huhu.”

Giving me a greasy chuckle like a dandy, Ryker thumped his chest. I could believe in everyone else, but somehow, I really couldnt put my confidence in Ryker.

‘Alright, as long as he lures those guys out, Ill finally give him a wyvern.

Even I couldnt fight eleven wyverns at once. They werent defenseless wyverns like the Temir wyverns, but wyverns wearing enspelled protective gear that defended against 4th Circle magic and seasoned Skyknights who grew up in the sky. Because of that, I was forced to use a cheat.

“Is the camouflage perfect?”

“As long as they dont get close, theres no worry of them finding out. In any case, he is wearing the same magic gear and airplate as you, my liege.”

“Then Im departing right away. Derval, lead the mercenaries on standby outside the city. You must bring them to Gadain Castle when the moon is in the middle of the sky.”

“Please allay your worries. We have gathered every single horse in the city, so you dont have to worry about that.”

Like Derval said, we had collected every horse in the city. Then we distributed just under 500 mercenaries a horse.

‘Its all or nothing!

It was a rule that matters this big were finished with one victory anyway.

“Then, Im departing. May you have fortune in war, men!”

“We pray for your good health, my liege!”

“Hehe. I told you, just believe in me!!”

Other than Derval, I couldnt really believe in the mercenaries or Ryker. But the die was cast, and the wheel of fortune was now spinning.

‘Lukence, today, I will strip you down to the hairs on your butt! Uhahaha!

Here on Nerman, ground combat didnt mean much anyway. As long as Lukence and his goons were caught, I could swallow the whole chicken without even plucking it.

* * *

“Depart!”

“Unfurl the sails!”

A placid wind was blowing on the river. On the wharf in the vicinity of Gadain Castle, which was now shrouded in darkness, the convoy ships unfurled their sails.

Flap flap flap.

Filling with wind in moments, the sails rounded like a very pregnant womans belly.

“Skyknights, ascend and assume defensive formation!”

Flap flap, flap flap flap.

Five wyverns waiting in the air took up the back and the other six rose high into the moonlit sky. Then they made a diamond-shaped formation, a typical defense formation in aerial combat. This defense formation could block an attack from any direction.

Swoosh, swoooosh.

The formation drew a large circle and prowled in the sky above the ships.

“Modular defense formation!”

Viscount Lukence barked out a command from the rear. 4 wyverns made one team in a formation guarding the surroundings. Viscount Lukences Skyknights, who had always kept up with the thorough and exhaustive training regiment, split into teams of four and spread out in all directions.

‘Magnificent.

Even though Viscount Lukence didnt show his emotions for the most part, as he gazed upon the enspelled armor of his wyverns sparkling in the moonlight, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

It wasnt empty confidence; he truly believed that his flight formation was great enough to not fear even Skyknights of the Imperial Guard.

‘Rookie… come, why dont you. Huhuhu.

If the information that came in today was to be believed, the rookie had repelled and captured Temir wyverns attacking Count Yaix, the commander, using a spirit and magic.

However, Lukence didnt believe those words.

How could a mage possibly summon a spirit? Magic swordsmen were still heard of, but a summoner mage had pretty much never appeared in the history of the continent.

Viscount Lukence flew in the middle of the wyvern formation guarding in all directions. Underneath him was the convoy, which was progressing quickly along the water with the power of wind. Inside were todays trade items, which he had purchased using every bit of the fortune he had toiled for several years to earn. With these goods as a stepping stone, Lukence would expand his ambition even more.

Wooooosh.

‘The wind is good.

Spring was clearly in the air, so the wind felt very gentle. Because Lukence was wearing an airplate that insulated him from outside forces, he didnt feel cold or hot. However, he could tell the season and flavor of the wind from the sound of the passing wind alone.

A Skyknight.

No matter what anyone said, Skyknights were children of the wind.

* * *

‘The wind is good.

Bebeto could fly higher than other wyverns. With Ryker flying far ahead of us, we rode the wind much higher up in the sky.

‘When Ryker shows up, at least one formation will break away. If that happens, there should be seven or eight wyverns left. I have to take care of them as quickly as possible.

Now, there was no need to hide my skills. As long as Lukence was taken care of, no one in Nerman would be able to do anything about me anymore.

‘Janice, theres only your choice left. If you come to me only after today ends, then youre my enemy.

Before leaving Denfors, I sent a horse to Janice with a message.

I am leaving now to take care of Lukence.

If you want, you can participate in the battle.

But if we meet after today and you have not come, then I will take you as my enemy—that was the brief warning and attempt to win her over in the message.

It was my final consideration toward Janice, who had shown me goodwill.

‘If we keep going at this speed, itll be 10 minutes. Shall we get some exercise today?

Today of all days, the spring moon hung especially large in the sky. The beauty of the moonlight lighting up the earth with a gentleness unlike the sun made my breath stop in my throat.

This flavor could only be tasted by those who ruled the sky, a fantastic flavor no inferior to eating wild unagi with a glass of raspberry wine.

* * *

“… Is this a warning? Or an attempt to win me over?”

Janice clenched the white paper in her hand. Her brown eyes gleamed coldly.

“I heard two wyverns have sortied.”

“Two? Are you kidding me? Viscount Lukence is in command of eleven wyverns. And theyre controlled by top-level Skyknights.”

At Berkeths words, Atisann made a dumbfounded expression.

There was a law of invincibility when you had three times the numbers. No matter how outstanding a Skyknight was, against three times the enemies, it was an official tradition that they would absolutely be defeated.