Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 334

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius – Episode 334

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius 334

The Storm Rises (4)

“It’s quiet.”

That was Tamamo’s reaction to the recent atmosphere within the Union.

‘What are you hoping for?’

Hoping for a war, perhaps?

“I do enjoy the tragedy of powerless soldiers struggling, and warriors disregarding their lives in a final battle. And then, failing to win and dying by a blind sword cut. It’s quite the spectacle.”

‘Your taste is really twisted.’

“But that’s not why I said that now.”

I know what she means.

After drinking like crazy.

The Union’s atmosphere was stretched to its limit, like a rubber band about to snap.

If someone were to pluck or break that rubber band, a second war could break out at any moment. The tension was that high.

But we spent three days in that tense state without anything happening.

The important thing here is that we spent it ‘without anything happening.’

“I don’t know who the leaders of the enemy camp are, but they won’t be ignoring the annihilation of the White Knight and his banner-bearers.”

The situation at the front lines is said to be the same as usual.

That’s the problem.

‘I took care of the White Knight, but I missed most of the other banner-bearers. In the process, countless soldiers and warriors gave their lives.’

About 30% of the combat personnel stationed in the Union lost their lives.

Wounded soldiers who can’t fight.

Sick people complaining of mental stress and mental illness.

If you include all of them, well.

I don’t know the exact number, but it’s certain that a huge number of people forming the Union are currently unable to fight.

Of course, the other side is aware of that fact.

But it’s too strange that there hasn’t been even a slight change on the front lines. What’s going on? They should be showing some other movements soon.

‘It’s more unsettling that they’re showing the same movements as before.’

Ah, seriously. This is beyond frustrating; it’s driving me crazy.

Thinking about the war situation makes my head feel like it’s about to explode with complexity.

‘Too many possibilities. Too many variables.’

It’s also a problem that the enemy isn’t human, nor are they simple-minded monsters like beasts, but banner-bearers.

I massacred the White Knight and his 100,000 followers, but the war situation was still overwhelmingly unfavorable to the Union. The difficulty of supply, the fact that we don’t know who the enemy’s leader is or what race they are, all these factors are holding us back.

“Wouldn’t it be better for the Union to charge into enemy territory first? If you were in command, there would be some sacrifices, but you could win more easily than the war has been going for the past 10 years.”

‘That’s not going to happen.’

What nonsense.

Why would I kill 100,000 members of the Union, not just 100,000 enemies?

‘I appreciate you thinking highly of me, but the Union’s human resources… the leadership to lead the group is overwhelmingly lacking.’

Aside from the upper echelons who have nothing but dung in their heads.

The talents who honed their skills in the war are only about ten people.

‘If I were to command, even if I don’t know the local front-line situation, I can take control of the overall flow of the war.’

I’m confident in that, and I have the experience to do so.

If I were to command, I could do it right away.

But if the front lines become much wider and the scope of the war expands, not only the overall flow of the war but also local battles become important.

To put it bluntly, even if you almost win the war.

War is a situation where you can easily lose if you lose a supply route with a narrow passage.

The most important thing in a fight is overwhelming force.

The most important thing in war is none other than wisdom.

‘If the Union can’t handle the mind games, it doesn’t matter if I command. It’ll only hasten the Union’s demise by 10 years.’

“10 years? Is that all? How much longer do you think the Union will last?”

‘2 years.’

No more, no less. Exactly 2 years.

That’s the best the Union can do.

“That’s a harsh assessment. Well, if you weren’t here right now.”

‘They’d all be dead.’

“Then I’ll ask the opposite. If the best is 2 years, what’s the worst?”

The worst?

This is really obvious.

‘Today.’

“Today? Well, considering the last attack, it wouldn’t be strange if we were attacked again at any time.”

The future of this Union is like a lamp before the wind.

It wouldn’t be strange if it went out at any moment.

“That’s precarious.”

In war, anything can happen.

It’s understandable that the enemies could launch a full-scale attack with a large force in an hour.

“…Hmm. Hearing you say that suddenly makes me uneasy.”

‘Don’t worry too much. The Union isn’t stupid; they must have a hidden card. Don’t assume the worst-case scenario too much.’

“Still, I’m uneasy.”

What does a person who died 1,000 years ago have to be uneasy about in all things?

I was dumbfounded, but I had no choice but to nod.

Since we’re on the topic, there’s no harm in doing some reconnaissance.

“Okay. Then let’s go right now.”

* * *

Clatter, clatter.

They walked proudly, pushing the ground with their hooves.

Clatter, clatter. Clatter, clatter. Clatter, clatter.

Such hoof sounds were heard simultaneously.

The size of the horses was mostly similar, but their colors were all different.

A fiery red horse covered in burning flames.

A black horse covered in the darkness of the night sky.

A blue horse with the form of a calm lake.

There were three colors like this.

The size of the horses was similar to that of a small building.

They were strong and enduring warhorses, comparable to high-ranking monsters of the 4th or 3rd tier [levels of power/threat].

The reason for the existence of such warhorses was only one.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all run together like this.”

“Usually, the four of us went separately.”

“But now, there will be no more running together for the four of us.”

To carry their masters while running.

That was the meaning of these huge and powerful horses.

To use these horses simply for transportation was a waste of resources. If they were used in war, they could easily turn about ten thousand people into dirt with their hooves.

However, conversely, this meant that the owners of these horses were such great beings that they could use these warhorses simply as personal vehicles.

“I think so too. This will probably be our last run. But the White Knight has already spread the plague on that land. All that’s left is for my fire pit to harvest.”

A knight in red armor holding a sword.

From the gaps in the Red Knight’s helmet and armor, the heat and flames of the fire pit, which could not be hidden, kept spewing out.

As the corrupted form of the Fire Spirit King, he is in charge of waging war over the plague spread by the White Knight, reaping peace, and covering the entire land with fire.

In simple terms, if the White Knight is the vanguard [the leading part of an advancing military force].

The Red Knight followed the vanguard and waged a full-scale war.

Massacre and slaughter were always his responsibility.

“Don’t burn too much. Especially the things in charge of food and supplies, that’s my job.”

A Black Knight wearing black armor.

Since it was a dark night, the dark black color was not easily visible, but the Black Knight, who was covered in such a deep black that it absorbed all the light reflected around him, was clearly visible even on a dark night.

Clang, clang.

A golden scale shaking violently on the horse.

Unlike the White Knight and the Red Knight, who were armed with bows and swords, the Black Knight led all wars to victory with just this one scale.

He is the corrupted successor of the Earth Spirit.

Thanks to this, the Black Knight, who can bless and harvest all land and crops, put a price on the land. The scale is the standard for pricing.

That standard always changed, and if the opponent could not pay the land price, the Black Knight would take back all the blessings he had given to the land and the crops that came from it, and rot them black.

Famine spread and drought occurred.

As a result, starvation deaths occurred and the economy collapsed, and the country collapsed.

“But, you know. Do we really have to move together like this? If we ignore the guys following behind and the three of us charge in, or if I attack alone, wouldn’t it be easier and faster?”

Lastly.

The successor of the corrupted Water Spirit King.

The Blue Knight, whose armor color constantly changed, rippling like the sea in shades of turquoise and navy blue, leaned his scythe on his shoulder and said casually.

He is with pale death.

Wherever the Blue Knight’s scythe points, there are always pale corpses’ faces and bodies scattered instead of red blood.

The Blue Knight’s actions are consistent with his power, and against creatures whose bodies are mostly made up of moisture, the Blue Knight’s power to control water makes his opponents pale in an instant without even having to see blood.

A power that massacres more effectively and reliably than the Red Knight, who sets fire and burns everything around him.

Thanks to this, the Union feared the Blue Knight the most.

Unlike the powers of the other knights, who could at least resist, the Blue Knight’s power touched the body’s moisture itself, so all they could do was be helpless.

It is truly a symbol of death.

It is no wonder that he is the most feared being in the Union.

That was why he was confident in hunting humans.

“Should I go alone now? I’ll take care of everything.”

He says it very simply, as if he were cleaning.

The reality was a chilling intention to massacre millions of people, including soldiers and civilians, alone, but the Blue Knight was capable enough.

Perhaps he would have nodded normally.

But the Black Knight shook his head this time.

“No.”

“Why? This is a waste of time. In the first place, there won’t be 300,000 enemy troops. There’s no need to lead the entire army of 300,000 like this.”

At the end of those words, just as the Blue Knight was about to stimulate his horse and gallop quickly.

The Black Knight opened his mouth.

“Someone killed the White Knight alone.”

Stop!

The Blue Knight, who was taking a big stance to run quickly, froze in that state.

His body was stiff as if he had rigor mortis [stiffening of muscles after death].

“What are you talking about? Didn’t the Union kill him?”

The blue helmet moved violently.

The helmet, which shook so violently that it was impossible to understand what he was saying, trembled for a long time and finally regained its peace.

“Don’t get excited.”

The Black Knight said to such a Blue Knight.

“I know that you enjoy fighting strong people, but the opponent is the one who killed our brother. He is not an opponent to be taken lightly.”

“…Were you caught being so excited?”

“I knew it from when your helmet was shaking.”

For knights, helmets are not the area where the head is located.

It is closer to a metal vocal cord that deliberately rings to communicate with the voice.

The fact that such a helmet shook violently without uttering a word is the same as wanting to say something, but the words not popping out of the mouth.

In the case of the Blue Knight, he is usually excited in such situations.

“Hahaha! You know me well. Then, do you know what I want to say next? Do you know how strong that guy is? Have you seen him in person?”

“I don’t know in detail either. I just crossed over through the land.”

“Really? If there is one strong person who can defeat the White Knight alone, then it’s a bit much to be alone. Then let’s all march leisurely together!”

The Blue Knight, who was being frivolous, gently drove his horse.

Behind him, the upper-class, middle-class, and lower-class banner-bearers of blue armor followed in formation.

“Why is that guy the strongest among us?”

The Red Knight, who couldn’t understand, trailed off and followed beside him.

Behind him, the great army of red armor moved.

The Black Knight silently joined their ranks and continued marching.

And that was just a day ago.

The legion was still far away, but their march was captured by the eyes of a man standing on the wall.

“What is that? An ant swarm?”

─If ants looked like that, the Earth’s ecosystem would have been the kingdom of ants long ago.

At that moment, the peace that had spread to the Union was shattered.

The past three days of silence were all the calm before the storm.