A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 394

394. Hunting the Water Demon God

The monsters and demonic beasts surged from the darkness, heading straight for the encampment where the territory’s forces were stationed.

Bathed in moonlight, the sheer number of monsters covering the plains resembled a surging crimson tide, far more than just a collection of beasts.

“Disgusting,” Old General No muttered from his post atop the fortress wall.

“It’s utterly horrifying,” Governor Hwang whimpered, his face pale with fear.

Even Sohn Bin couldn’t help but frown. Yet, General Vikram Singh watched the approaching horde without the slightest hesitation.

Dudududu.

The sound of the monsters grew louder with each passing moment. As the soldiers’ silence and tension reached a breaking point, General Vikram spoke in a low, commanding voice.

“Prepare.”

The adjutants immediately relayed the order, and the soldiers sprang into action. The initial flurry of activity quickly subsided as they braced themselves.

After a tense pause, General Vikram roared, “Fire!”

The commanders echoed the order, and the cannons lining the fortress wall erupted in a deafening roar.

Bang, Kwakwakwang.

With explosive force, the cannons spewed fire, as if they had been eagerly awaiting the command. Moments later, explosions ripped through the ranks of the approaching monsters.

Bang, Kwaang.

Flesh and gore rained down as gaps appeared in the crimson wave. But the relentless horde behind them quickly filled the void.

“Keep firing!”

Bang, Bang, Kwakwang.

The skilled soldiers worked tirelessly, reloading and firing the cannons.

The once-quiet plains were now a cacophony of explosions and flames. Yet, no one covered their ears or looked away.

General Vikram Singh, along with Old General No, Sohn Bin, and Governor Hwang, remained steadfast atop the fortress wall, their eyes fixed on the approaching monsters.

“Why aren’t those guys showing themselves?”

Old General No grumbled, his eyes scanning the monstrous horde for a specific target.

“Surely they haven’t abandoned us, have they? Tsk, Serin or Suyeon would be invaluable at a time like this…”

Muttering under his breath, Old General No continued to scan the darkness until he finally spotted his quarry.

“There they are.”

Old General No’s voice cut through the din of the cannon fire. Sohn Bin followed his gaze and saw them too.

Dudududu.

The monsters and demonic beasts surged forward like a relentless flood.

Among them, three particularly large and imposing demonic beasts emerged. Sohn Bin recognized them as the Water Demon God’s minions, the ones with black, red, and white fur.

“That’s a relief,” Sohn Bin murmured.

“The fact that those demonic beasts are here means the Water Demon God must be nearby.”

Old General No nodded in agreement. The Water Demon God himself remained hidden, but the presence of his demonic beasts confirmed his proximity.

Bang, Bang, Kwakwang.

The cannons continued their relentless barrage. Still, the wave of monsters and demonic beasts pressed on toward the fortress wall.

“The war elephants and ironclad cavalry are ready, correct?”

Sohn Bin asked General Vikram. The General smiled confidently.

“Don’t worry. They’re on standby.”

Nodding, Sohn Bin turned his attention back to the approaching horde.

“We must not deploy them prematurely.”

“I know. Under normal circumstances, I would have already unleashed them, but…”

General Vikram trailed off, his gaze fixed on the distance between the monsters and the fortress. To maximize the effectiveness of the ironclad cavalry, sufficient space was crucial.

The same held true for the war elephants. Opening the fortress gates while the monsters were too close would be a dangerous gamble.

“For now, we must hold our ground,” General Vikram declared, his expression resolute. Sohn Bin nodded, understanding the strategic necessity.

Dudududu.

The monsters and demonic beasts continued their relentless advance. With the war elephants and ironclad cavalry held back, the wave of monsters crashed against the fortress wall.

Bang, Bang, Kwakwang.

Amidst the continuous roar of cannons, the vanguard of the monsters finally reached the base of the fortress wall.

“Begin!”

General Vikram Singh’s voice boomed across the battlefield. The adjutant beside him raised a torch high, signaling the next phase of the defense.

The signal was repeated along the fortress wall, and a strange creaking sound echoed above.

Kkiiiiiik.

Thick ropes, extending from the fortress wall, stretched taut, groaning under the strain.

The ropes were connected to dozens of warhorses stationed below the wall, their power directly linked to the prepared wooden barricades.

Kureung, Kureureung.

Slowly, something began to protrude outward from above the fortress wall: sturdy wooden barricades, crafted from tightly woven trees.

These barricades served as makeshift extensions of the fortress wall. However, instead of rising vertically, they extended horizontally, creating an overhanging barrier.

Once the wooden barricades were in place, General Vikram shouted again, “Secure the barricades!”

The thick ropes were securely fastened to stakes driven deep into the ground. Wedges were hammered into the barricades on the fortress wall to prevent any movement.

By the time the horses that had pulled the barricades were released, the wave of monsters was within range of the strong bows [powerful composite bows known for their range and draw strength].

After a final check of the barricades, General Vikram waited for the monsters to draw closer before giving the order.

“Fire!”

Bababababak.

A rain of arrows descended upon the monsters. Many fell, but the crimson wave continued its relentless advance.

Kwaang.

The first monster to reach the fortress wall roared and leaped.

But instead of scaling the wall, it slammed headfirst into the overhanging wooden barricade.

Kung.

It was as if a lid had been placed on top of the fortress wall, preventing the monsters from climbing over.

The monsters continued to leap, but the thick wooden barrier blocked their every attempt.

Kung, Kugung.

The wooden barricade vibrated under the repeated impacts. However, its elevated position and sturdy construction absorbed much of the force. At that height, the monsters’ leaps lost considerable power.

“They’re still just beasts,” General Vikram observed, a slight frown on his face. Sohn Bin nodded in agreement.

“Yes. They lack the hands to overcome this obstacle.”

Against a trained army, such wooden barricades would only be a temporary impediment. They might even provide a convenient place to hang ladders or ropes.

But the monsters and demonic beasts lacked the dexterity to exploit such weaknesses.

The monsters, leaping blindly upwards, crashed into the barricades and fell back, only to be met by a hail of arrows from the strong bows.

In the end, they could only pile up a mountain of corpses at the base of the fortress wall.

“Then, next is…”

General Vikram’s words were cut short.

“Bin, look at that!”

At Old General No’s urgent shout, Sohn Bin turned his gaze. He saw an unusual energy gathering around the three demonic beasts.

It was impossible to miss. The flickering at the mouths of the demonic beasts was unmistakably flames.

Kaaaa!

The red demonic beast opened its maw and unleashed a ball of fire toward the fortress wall.

Kua! Kaaaa!

The other two demonic beasts followed suit. Their fireballs, though slower than cannonballs, flew directly toward the wall.

“Evade!” General Vikram shouted, sensing the danger. The soldiers scrambled for cover, raising their shields.

The fireballs struck the fortress wall.

Peong, Peobeong.

One fireball hit the lower section of the wall, while the other two struck higher up.

Something at the center of the fireballs shattered upon impact. Fortunately, no soldiers were directly injured, but some of the wooden barricades caught fire.

“Put out the fire! Quickly!”

The soldiers rushed to extinguish the flames with sand and dirt. Their training paid off, and the fires were quickly brought under control.

“Aim at those demonic beasts!”

Bang, Kwagwakwang, Bang.

At General Vikram’s command, the cannons roared once more, and the strong bows unleashed another volley of arrows.

“That’s a relief,” General Vikram said calmly to Sohn Bin, who was visibly shaken. “Since we’re using cannons, preparing for fire is only natural.”

While Governor Hwang translated a complex term for Sohn Bin, the cannon fire rained down on the demonic beasts that had launched the fireballs.

The three demonic beasts howled and began to charge toward the fortress wall. It was unclear whether they couldn’t fire continuously or were simply trying to evade the cannons’ aim.

The cannons struggled to target the erratically moving beasts.

“Damn it, there was nothing like that last time! Why are they suddenly spewing fire?” Old General No grumbled, his brow furrowed. Sohn Bin nodded grimly. He had never anticipated such abilities.

“Were they hiding their abilities, or have they grown stronger in the meantime?”

Perhaps the proximity of the Gate of the Abyss [a portal to a demonic realm] was amplifying their power, or perhaps the gate was opening further.

But there was no way to know for sure.

“Will Young Lady Suyeon and Young Lady Wola be alright? And Serin and Sword Saint…”

“They’re fine,” Old General No reassured Sohn Bin. “The attacks are telegraphed and not that fast. They’re not children; they won’t be hit. Focus on what you need to do now.”

Old General No glared at the monsters and demonic beasts with narrowed eyes.

“Because that guy has finally come out.”

Kung.

The moment Sohn Bin saw the figure, a heavy weight seemed to settle in his mind.

Golden hair blazed like fire, and white eyes shone with an unnatural light.

A gray giant with red and black lines covering its body stood amidst the monsters and demonic beasts.

It was the Water Demon God.

“Fire!” General Vikram ordered without hesitation. The cannons that could target the Water Demon God fired simultaneously.

Kwakwakwang.

Hmph.

Sohn Bin wasn’t the only one who thought the Water Demon God seemed to be sneering.

Kwaang.

The ground where the Water Demon God had stood exploded in a burst of fire. But the Water Demon God was gone.

He was already charging toward the fortress wall, a giant axe-shaped spear in his hand.

“Fire the arrows!”

A rain of arrows poured down on the Water Demon God. But the result was the same as at the previous imperial army encampment.

Kagagang.

The red and black lines on the Water Demon God’s body seemed to emit a subtle light, and the arrows bounced off his gray skin as if it were an impenetrable armor.

Kung, Kung, Kung, Kung.

The rain of arrows failed to slow the Water Demon God’s advance toward the fortress gate.

As he approached, the Water Demon God raised his giant axe-shaped spear.

Kwaang.

The ground beneath his feet exploded, and the giant figure vanished in a blur.

“He’s coming!” Old General No warned as the Water Demon God hurtled toward the fortress gate like a cannonball.

Woong.

The Water Demon God’s white eyes glowed, and a red aura swirled around the axe blade. The axe-shaped spear sliced through the massive fortress gate diagonally.

Swish.

The sound was barely audible. The heavy fortress gate, unable to withstand the force, collapsed.

Kung, Kugung.

The Water Demon God slowly rose. The opening where the gate had stood was now a gaping hole leading inside.

But the sight that awaited him was not what he expected.

Shining, black cannons were aimed directly at him.

“Fire!”

Kwakwakwakwang.

The fortress entrance became a fiery inferno. The Water Demon God’s giant form was engulfed in flames, and the monsters rushing behind him were obliterated.

“Is he dead?” Old General No shouted, leaning over the fortress wall. But his hope was quickly dashed.

Kwaang!

The cannons inside the fortress gate were smashed to pieces.

“Tsk, he’s not dead,” Old General No muttered, frowning. In the brief moment the cannons fired, the Water Demon God had leaped upwards, avoiding the brunt of the blast.

The fortress gate was large enough for war elephants to pass through, providing the Water Demon God with just enough space to evade.

“Kuaaa!”

Huoong.

The Water Demon God, now inside the fortress, swung his axe spear.

Kwang, Kwang.

The cannons were destroyed by the giant weapon. But the soldiers had anticipated the attack and dodged, suffering no casualties.

Kwaang.

The Water Demon God destroyed the last cannon. Old General No chuckled.

“Keukeul, but it seems he was grazed.”

The Water Demon God’s appearance revealed that he hadn’t completely escaped the shelling.

His golden hair was singed, and thin cracks appeared in his gray skin.

But this only fueled his rage.

“These bastards…”

Enraged by the surprise attack, the Water Demon God raised his head, ready to unleash his fury on the cannons and soldiers on the fortress wall.

It was at that moment.

Charararang.

With a loud clanging of metal, thick iron chains snaked down from above the fortress gate. A heavy sound shook the earth.

Kung.

The Water Demon God turned. A new gate, made of iron bars, was being lowered into place, sealing the entrance he had just created.

The iron lattice gate, hidden from view, fell, trapping him inside.

Eudeuk.

The Water Demon God gritted his teeth. It wasn’t just the iron gate.

The area inside the fortress wall was empty. There was no encampment, no soldiers, no supplies, nothing.

Everything, from the cannons that had been waiting to fire to the iron lattice gate that now imprisoned him, pointed to one conclusion.

This place was a trap.

From the beginning, it had been a giant trap designed to capture the Water Demon God.

“How dare you!” The Water Demon God roared.

“You think you can trap me with something like this?”

The Water Demon God’s cry echoed through the fortress. But the heavy iron gate remained unyielding, like a tightly closed mouth.

It was a sturdy cage, confining a ferocious beast.

But the Water Demon God didn’t believe he was trapped.

He wasn’t.

“I can destroy a gate like this in an instant…”

“It’s not about trapping you.” The low voice stopped the enraged Water Demon God.

Jeobeok, Jeobeok.

The Water Demon God slowly turned. He saw a man walking toward him.

“This is just providing a place.”

The man carried a sword, his collar fluttering in the breeze. The straight blade gleamed under the flickering light.

Jeobeok.

Sohn Bin stopped walking and raised his head. There was no fear in his eyes as he faced the giant Water Demon God.

“So, as you expected.”

Seuk.

Sohn Bin quietly raised his sword. The light danced on the blade of the Seon Sword Baekro [a legendary sword known for its purity and sharpness].

“Let’s give it a try,” Sohn Bin said, looking directly at the Water Demon God.

Facing those intense eyes, the Water Demon God laughed. His anger toward the soldiers and his desire to conquer the encampment vanished.

Nothing else mattered.

Sohn Bin stood before him with a sword.

(Author’s words)

The Water Demon God has entered the instance dungeon [a self-contained area for a specific challenge]. The boss monster is ‘Sohn Bin’ and the difficulty is ‘Hell’.