Chapter 60

[Translator: Dawn ]

[Proofreader: Alissa ]

Chapter 60: [STAGE 3] A war fought with just the two of us

30 minutes ago. 

On top of the southern fort wall of Crossroad. 

“I’ll be going there by myself.” 

At my remark, everyone made a face saying they didn’t quite understand. 

Lucas, who was standing in front of me, awkwardly asked back. 

“…Pardon?” 

“The rescue team will consist of only one person, me. I alone will go save Evangeline.” 

I said, ‘none of you will be put into the rescue team’. 

It’s exactly as I said. None of you will be going. 

Instead, I’ll be going by myself, alone. 

“Just…” 

Lucas stuttered his words, followed by a very loud yell. 

“Just what kind of nonsense are you blabbering about, Master!” 

“Woah?! My ears, hey! Calm down, alright?!” 

“Do you really think I can calm down right now?! You’re the very person that pointed out that this rescue operation was ineffective, and now you want to go there by yourself?” 

Lucas made a genuinely angry face. His usually gentle face had been terrifyingly distorted. 

“Are you going on a suicide operation, or what?!”“……” 

“I cannot let you go! Even if it means that I, Lucas, will have to break your arms and legs! I will not let you go!” 

Lucas reached out his big hand and grabbed my arm. 

He was really putting force on the grip, enough to break my forearm. This guy, he really was planning on breaking my arm. 

However, I am serious. 

“Calm down, Lucas. And everyone else.” 

I was not joking around, nor was I planning to go on a suicidal operation. 

“I am not going there to die. I’m only going there because I know I have a chance.” 

This operation will save Evangeline while also defending the frontline. 

This was the only way to satisfy both conditions. 

‘Who is the character with the biggest variable in this game?’ 

In terms of performance alone, it would be Demian with the [Thousand-Miles Eyes], but in fact, Demian doesn’t have a lot of variables. 

Actually, he was a very honest character. He was just unpredictable because the absolute peak of his ability is grotesquely high. 

‘The character with the most variables is me.’ 

Then I have to do it. It is actually better that I go alone. If I bring additional units with me, it will only increase the number of casualties. 

‘I do have some last resort prepared for a situation like this.’ 

I was planning on saving it until the very end, but if I were to put all of those to work, I’ll be able to return alive with Evangeline. 

I’m not a combatant unit in the defensive battle in the first place. I am simply a commanding unit. And Lucas can take that place instead of me. 

Defend the frontline with all of the military power we have, 

While I, a lump of variables, go rescue Evangeline. 

‘But of course, there are still many unreasonable parts to this plan.’ 

But what else can I do? I’ll have to put hard work in if I want to catch both rabbits. 

It can’t be helped since the game itself is putting me through trials like these. 

I’ll have to gamble to some extent…! 

“All of you who have been under my command should know. That I know very well about those monsters and have succeeded in defeating them even in seemingly impossible situations.” 

I made eye contact with the party members one by one. 

“I have a secret plan this time too. There are enough odds to succeed. Please, trust me and let me go by myself.” 

I quickly explained the plans that I had and the approximate method for rescuing Evangeline. 

It was a pretty unreasonable plan, but it had plenty of potential. The other party members who understood it nodded one by one. 

“……” 

Only Lucas was staring at me with his face pale. 

“There’s no time for this, Lucas!” 

I pushed strongly. 

“You take over the general command of the front line. You just have to proceed as you have been trained. Even if an unexpected situation arises, I believe you will be able to handle it well.” 

“I’ll go rescue Evangeline. Master, please take charge of the command of the front line.” 

“No. There are roles that are more suited for each other. We need you on this front.” 

“Master, I—!” 

Lucas hesitantly said with suppressed voice. 

“We… need you.” 

“…Lucas.” 

“Why… do you use even your own life as a chess piece?” 

I put my hand on Lucas’s shoulder. 

“Trust my judgment. The judgment of your master.” 

“……” 

“I promise you. I will make sure to return safely.” 

Lucas shook his head slightly. 

“…Master, you don’t need to do this.” 

“True, I really don’t.” 

However, if I were to give up on Evangeline here, then… that means I’ll be throwing away the value that I had cherished so far. 

It will be no different from the last playthrough, where the lives of people were used like bullets. 

‘People who can be saved will be saved no matter what.’ 

And if things go according to my calculations, Evangeline can be saved even if it’s a little dangerous. 

I put strength in the grip of the hand I put on Lucas’s shoulder. 

“This is the only way to save both Evangeline and the frontline.” 

“……” 

“I leave the frontline to you, Lucas.” 

At my insistence, Lucas reluctantly nodded his head. I turned my head. 

“Lily and Jupiter.” 

The two mages nodded their heads in unison. 

“I think both of you are already fully aware of the importance of you who are as mages. Go on a rampage as much as you can.” 

“Y-yes, Your Highness…!” 

“Please, return safely, Your Highness.” 

There was nothing to say to these two since I already knew that they will do well by themselves. 

Lastly, I looked at Demian. 

“Demian.” 

“Yes, Your Highness.” 

“I have to ask you one favor. Could you do it for me?” 

Demian looked up at me with a trembling but straight gaze. 

“Of course, Your Highness. I am your trigger after all.” 

So trustworthy. I grinned at him. 

“Thank you, Demian. What you have to do is…” 

I told Demian what to do in a low voice. After understanding my order, Demian nodded his head. 

“Understood. You can count on me!” 

“Thanks, Demian.” 

I looked around at all the party members and shouted. 

“Alright, open the south gate!” 

Rumble…! 

I immediately heard the gate slowly opening up. 

I shrugged my shoulders carefreely toward Lucas, who looked at me with complicated eyes until the end. 

“Take care of our home, you lil puppy. I’ll be right back.” 

[Translator: Dawn]

[Proofreader: Alissa]

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And now. 

At the villa of Earl Cross located in the southeast of Crossroad. 

“…Sunbae?” 

I grinned at Evangeline, who muttered awkwardly. 

“I’m here to save you, my cute little Hubae.” 

Because the golems were so ferocious, the horse I rode couldn’t go further, so I tied it over there and sprinted all the way here. 

And I was able to make it just in time. 

“How… did you get here…?” 

I felt sorry for Evangeline muttering as she was covered in blood. How could they do this to a child like her… 

‘You don’t have to worry, Earl of the frontier.’ 

Just as you and your family risked your lives to protect this place, I will definitely protect your daughter. 

“Heal yourself up first. Drink this.” 

I took out the advanced HP potion and threw it at Evangeline. Evangeline exclaimed urgently as she caught the bottle. 

“I said what are you doing here?! You have to run now!” 

“……” 

“Do you not see that over there? It’s the golem corps! They’re much stronger than the ones we encountered in the dungeon! We have no chance against them!” 

“……” 

“Hurry up and run to Crossroad! I’ll buy enough time for you to escape!” 

However, it was too late to run away. 

Two beautifully designed golems floated in the air. 

Magical light scattered from both of their hands. Soon, the magic would shoot. 

It was my first time seeing them, but I guessed their identity already. 

[Enemy Information – STAGE 3] 

– Lv.30 Magic Crystal Golem : 5 

– Lv.15 Stone Golem: 103 

– Lv.20 Steam Golem: 149 (Kill counts: 3) 

Magic crystal golems. 

As golems specialized in magic, they could be said to be the strongest among the Golem Corps in terms of firepower. 

Although it was a high-tier monster, it was even tagged as elite. These guys can be considered the boss monsters of this stage. 

‘2 out of the 5 came here, I guess.’ 

As they prepared to use the magic, Evangeline urgently got herself up from the ground. 

“Urgh!” 

While dripping blood from wounds all over her body, Evangeline stood in front of me and raised her shield. 

“Oh, for crying out loud! Can you not hear me?! You will die if you stay here!” 

“……” 

“I’m an orphan now, so nobody’s going to be sad if I died here! But it’s different for you, Sunbae! You’re from the imperial family! You’re the new lord of Crossroad!” 

“…Hey.” 

“For the people who are counting on you, please! Please, just run away from here without even looking bac— Oomph?!” 

I snatched the potion bottle from Evangeline that she hadn’t drunk while holding it in her hand, uncapped the bottle, and put it right into Evangeline’s chattering mouth. 

“Umph?!”“Drink this and heal up, you little brat.” 

Finally, she was quiet now. 

I pulled Evangeline, who was just standing there blankly and gulping down the potion. I pulled her behind me and stepped forward. 

“How about you act your age sometimes? You can depend on an adult from time to time.” 

Fuu. 

I caught my breath. 

It was the moment I’d been waiting for. I really wanted to shout out loud like this while using this. 

“Summon!” 

Then a system window popped up in front of me. 

[Summoning Magic: Giant Steam Golem] 

– This magic is one-time usage. Upon usage, it will disappear from the skills list. 

– The level of the summoned object will be the same level as its summoner. You may summon only one entity at a time. 

– Please select the location you want to summon it. 

It was the boss monster summoning magic that I registered in advance last time. 

I specified the summoning location. And of course, that was right in front of Evangeline and me! 

Whoosh-! 

Summoning magic has been activated. 

The blue mana particles swirled like flames and drew a formation in the air, and eventually began to form a single shape. 

It started developing the head with a flashing eye, and the body with thick armor, and long limbs. 

Rumble…! In less than a second, a huge golem that had completed the composition of its entire body landed right in front of me. 

The ground shook like a wave when the monster of enormous mass suddenly landed on the ground. 

“Wh-wh-wh-what…. What is that?!” 

Unbalanced and staggering, Evangeline let out a scream with her mouth wide open. 

Well, that was a great reaction. Now that was worth the risk of coming all the way here to rescue her. 

《…….》 

The giant steam golem rolled one eye and glanced in my direction, then slowly raised its legs and stood on the ground. 

Unlike the one I met in the dungeon, this one was quiet. And I liked that. 

[Ash (EX) has control over the summoned boss monster.] 

[You have control.] 

At the same time that the message saying that the control had been transferred to me was printed, I felt a connection between me and the boss golem. 

The skills that the boss golem could use were displayed in front of my eyes. 

Hmm. It was a boss monster indeed. It had quite a variety of functions. 

And at the same time. 

Bzzz-! 

Ping! P-ping! 

Red beams of light poured from the golem corps. It was their attacking magic. 

I stretched my arm forward. 

“Block it.” 

Guooo- 

With the sound of the mana core operating, the boss golem stretched out one arm as if imitating my movements. 

The mana gathered at the fingertips of the boss golem and formed a rectangular shield. 

Boom! Kaboom!The enemy golem’s magic collided with the shield and caused a magnificent explosion. 

But not a single beam went through. 

Evangeline, who had been watching the fireworks exploding from beyond the magic shield, murmured awkwardly. 

“Just… what is all this?” 

“What do you think?” 

I muttered carelessly. 

“It’s the lottery ticket I won this time.” 

Not that I was aware I’d be using it right away. 

Then the magic bombardment stopped. 

It seemed like they had realized that projecting firepower from a distance was pointless.  The two magic stone golems slowly landed on the ground. 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

At the same time, the rest of the golem corps started running toward me, stamping their feet in unison. 

It looked like they were planning on pushing us with numbers. 

I waved my arms forward and ordered. 

“Attack.” 

Guooooo-! 

The boss golem let out an incredibly loud driving sound akin to a lion’s roar. 

And kicked off the ground, met them, and ran head-on. 

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