Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 67

1. The Prophet’s Disciple

1

Whishhhhh-!

A gust of wind swept through the forest.

The hazy dust, kicked up by Scarlet’s arrow of light, settled, revealing the scene.

Part of the mountain fortress, crudely built from wood, was destroyed, and several of the Gigants [large, powerful beings] surrounding it were knocked backward.

If even the Gigants were in such a state, the ordinary soldiers and knights were undoubtedly in worse condition.

“Ughhh!”

“Hold on to something and brace yourselves!”

Luke’s soldiers were sent flying, shields and all, or tumbled across the ground, crashing into trees.

The knights on horseback were all unseated, not a single one escaping unscathed.

However, Philip’s eyes didn’t register this scene.

His gaze was solely fixed on Luke. He was so startled that he froze in his tracks.

‘L, Lord…!’

Luke, his face contorted like a demon’s, had grown taller and more robust.

The muscles exposed through his shattered armor bulged as if about to burst, and his skin was as black as iron.

If it had stopped there, Philip wouldn’t have been so surprised.

The problem was Luke’s altered appearance.

Something like horns protruded from his disheveled hair, his arms were covered in snake-like scales, and his hands had sharp claws.

‘Could it be, did he use dark magic?’

Philip, knowing that Luke had learned dark magic, felt his heart sink.

If there were no witnesses, it wouldn’t matter, but there were too many people here.

“Kuhhh, what in the world happened?”

“It looked like an arrow of light flew towards the Lord…”

“Ah! Look over there!”

Before Philip could even try to salvage the situation, several soldiers who had gotten back on their feet saw Luke’s monstrous appearance.

A faint purple light swirled around him, and his appearance returned to normal, but many soldiers had witnessed his transformation.

“Did I see something wrong?”

“No! The Lord’s appearance was definitely strange!”

“You lot, can’t you be quiet!”

Philip raised his voice, trying to calm the situation, but the controversy didn’t subside easily.

There were witnesses not only among the ordinary soldiers and knights but also among the Rakan Knights [elite knights of the Rakan March].

As far as Philip knew, the only people in the Rakan March who knew that Luke had learned dark magic were himself and the old ministers of the Volga Kingdom.

If this became known, there would definitely be problems not only in the Holy Empire but also in the Rakan March.

“Didn’t you see the power of that arrow of light just now? If the Lord hadn’t blocked it, we would all be dead!”

“Y, yes, but the Lord’s appearance…”

“It’s hard to say, but… he definitely looked like a demon.”

It was one of the Rakan Knights who said that.

Philip glared at him, grabbing his collar.

“You bastard! Are you saying the Lord has become a demon! Don’t you know whose blood the Lord carries!”

“Y, yes, but…”

While Philip and the knight were arguing, Luke, who had been holding his right arm forward, let out a deep sigh.

‘I didn’t expect to face an ether arrow [a powerful arrow imbued with magical energy] here.’

The power of ether was indeed strong.

He, who thought he wouldn’t lose even against a Sword Sage [a master swordsman], had been defeated by a single arrow.

Heaving a sigh of relief, he looked around and shouted.

“What are you doing now? Immediately reorganize the ranks and attack the rebels!”

“B, but Lord…”

“What do you mean ‘but’? I said attack them now!”

Luke repeatedly gave orders, but the knights were reluctant to move. Moreover, the soldiers were just glancing around, looking for reassurance.

“Before we follow the Lord’s orders, there is one thing I would like to ask.”

The knight who had been grabbed by Philip earlier stepped forward.

Philip frowned, about to draw his sword, but Luke gave him a look that said not to interfere.

‘If I don’t resolve the doubts here, the suspicion will only grow.’

“Speak.”

With Luke’s permission, the knight opened his mouth.

“When the arrow of light flew just now, the Lord blocked it. At that time, the Lord’s appearance was very strange.”

“Ah, that? Did it look bizarre?”

“Yes, he was bigger than usual, his skin was black, and…”

“He had horns on his head and looked like a demon, right?”

Luke, rather than being defensive, chuckled and took the lead, leaving the knight who had been questioning him speechless.

Then, Luke’s sharp shout rang in his ears.

“Are you an idiot?”

“Yes?”

“If I were a demon or its minion, how could I have stood before His Holiness the Pope last time? Do you think the priests and paladins who were all over the Holy Palace would have remained silent?”

“T, that is…”

The knight was speechless at Luke’s rebuttal.

He was just an ordinary knight with excellent swordsmanship. He had no knowledge of the correlation between divine power, magical energy, and ether, let alone knowledge of gods and demons.

He only knew that demons could not hide their true nature in the face of the power of the great god.

“Then what about that appearance just now?”

“That? It’s a southern martial art I learned from Master Hwangbo Seong from time to time. I think it was called the Vajra Dragon Body Indestructible Art?”

Saying that, Luke looked at Hwangbo Seong.

His gaze was calm, but there was an underlying anxiety.

‘He needs to back me up well…’

What he had said just now was a lie.

He had never learned martial arts from Hwangbo Seong, and he didn’t even know if the Vajra Dragon Body Indestructible Art existed.

The power he used to block Scarlet’s ether arrow was not dark magic but a demon’s ability. It was the ‘Build Up’ he had recently developed to the third stage.

In the third stage, his defense power increased significantly, but there was a problem that his appearance became similar to that of a demon.

That’s why he couldn’t use it carelessly, but there was no other way in that situation.

If he had avoided it without blocking it, the subordinates behind him would have been annihilated.

“It’s not the Vajra Dragon Body Indestructible Art.”

Luke’s face contorted at Hwangbo Seong’s blunt words.

‘W, was I wrong?’

Hwangbo Seong’s lips curled up slightly as he saw him sweating profusely.

‘The joke ends here.’

He chuckled and opened his mouth again.

“It’s the Vajra Heavenly Body Indestructible Art. Lord, remember what I taught you correctly.”

“Ah, right! This southern continent’s language is difficult…”

Luke let out a sigh of relief and joked. He glared slightly at Hwangbo Seong for not backing him up right away.

Hwangbo Seong added credibility to Luke’s lie.

“When you use the Vajra Heavenly Body Indestructible Art, the energy in your body… no, the mana protrudes outward. That’s why your skin turns black, and it looks like horns or scales are growing.”

“I, I see. It was a misunderstanding.”

The knights scratched their heads and nodded in agreement.

They knew nothing about southern martial arts, so they had no choice but to believe Hwangbo Seong’s words completely.

Then, with a subtle expression, they spoke.

“Can we learn that too?”

“We will work hard, so please teach us a move…”

“With your current skills, it’s impossible. Only someone as strong as the Lord can learn it.”

“Tch, that’s a shame.”

Hwangbo Seong also saw Luke’s strange transformation. He immediately recognized that he was using a heretical art similar to apostasy [abandonment of religious belief].

Nevertheless, he was taking his side not only because of the favor of removing the curse of the demon soldiers.

He thought that even if he was learning demonic arts, he was a person who knew how to control it properly and use it correctly.

‘It was said that it is not the sword that harms people, but the heart of the warrior who wields it. The principle of the living sword must come from this!’

While Hwangbo Seong was contemplating the principle of the living sword with his eyes closed, Philip stepped forward.

Since the situation had improved, he had regained his original cheerfulness.

“Okay, everyone’s doubts are resolved, right? Quickly eliminate the remaining rebels!”

At his command, the soldiers, starting with the knights, reorganized their ranks and began to close the encirclement of the mountain fortress.

They were worried that the rebels would put up a last struggle, but surprisingly, the remnants surrendered willingly.

This was because the power difference was significant, and the leader of the rebels, Scarlet, had fainted as soon as she shot her arrow.

“Surrender! We surrender!”

“Don’t attack!”

Luke, who had entered the mountain fortress through the wide-open gate, looked at the motionless Scarlet and asked.

“Is she dead?”

“No, she’s alive.”

At Philip’s words after examining her condition, Luke nodded as if it was a good thing.

He had a lot of questions to ask about ether anyway.

‘I almost revealed everything. I’ll make her pay the price.’

Although he didn’t show it, Luke, who was inwardly determined, glared sharply at Scarlet and turned away.

2

The most common punishment for treason is death.

Bant was certain that he would die this time.

The new lord had once spared him, saying he would not dwell on the past.

However, Bant had ignored that grace and turned his sword against him to uphold his loyalty to his former master and his bloodline.

He deserved not just a simple beheading but to be torn apart in the square.

However, for some reason, the new lord, instead of doing that, brought Bant to his office as soon as he returned to the lord’s castle. And he didn’t even bind him.

“If you have anything to say, speak.”

“…”

At Luke’s question, Bant remained silent, kneeling with a heavy heart.

Luke, looking down at him with a pathetic gaze, hit the nail on the head.

“What was the reason for the night raid? You didn’t think you could regain the territory with such a small force… or were you planning to kill me to appease the spirit of the dead lord?”

“I have no excuse.”

“Why did you do something inexcusable!”

Bang!

Luke slammed his fist on the desk and stood up, releasing a storm of murderous intent.

Bant trembled as if he had a seizure. The shout was so loud that he felt like his heart would burst.

“If you made him a traitor by not serving your lord properly, shouldn’t you have properly supported his bloodline! Didn’t you even think of stopping him until the end!”

“…P, please kill me.”

Bant, ashamed to the point of having ten mouths but nothing to say, banged his forehead on the floor.

However, Luke’s voice grew even louder.

“Kill you? You still haven’t realized it! I could have killed you many times over! Yet, do you know why I spared you and Lady Scarlet! It’s because I didn’t want to shed unnecessary blood!”

Bant could understand Luke’s intention.

Although he had made the wrong choice due to his friendship, Count Alberville, the former lord, was a respected leader among the residents.

What would the people of the territory think if his bloodline and retainers were executed for opposing the new lord?

They might not show it immediately, but they would harbor resentment, and there would be radical individuals who would dream of revenge or carry it out.

“Blood begets blood. You can dislike me, and you don’t have to cooperate with us. But you must remember that your foolish actions can ruin the lives of the people the former lord cared for!”

If the residents revolted or engaged in violence, Luke would not stand idly by.

He would quell the discontent even if it meant turning the territory upside down.

In that process, a great deal of blood would flow.

Bant, who had thought this far, could not say anything. He just lowered his head and let tears fall to the floor.

“Step back. I will discuss with my subordinates and decide on the punishment for your faction, so stay confined.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Bant bowed countless times to Luke and retreated.

Two days later, Scarlet regained consciousness.

As soon as Luke received the report, he summoned her to his office. Perhaps she had heard the story from Bant, her face was flushed with reproach and shame.

‘She seems to know she did wrong.’

In fact, the reason Luke had raised his voice more than necessary to Bant was because of Scarlet.

Even though she had committed treason, it was difficult to kill the child of a respected former lord, and he was also interested in her talent.

So, he had deliberately scolded Bant to break her spirit from the beginning.

It seemed to have worked, as Scarlet was now quite subdued. The murderous intent and hostility she had shown when she aimed her bow at him in the mountain fortress were nowhere to be felt.

“Sit there.”

“…Yes.”

Scarlet, who was repenting for her mistakes, sat quietly on the chair Luke had offered.

After looking at her for a moment, Luke asked about the things he was curious about.

“Who taught you archery?”

“That is…”

“Let me tell you in advance, it’s better not to try to deceive or hide anything from me.”

There was no explicit threat, but Luke’s overbearing voice was enough to subdue Scarlet.

Come to think of it, it was a fight without much justification, and even though she had used the memento left by her teacher, she couldn’t win.

Moreover, the opponent had shown the audacity to summon her to his presence without any restraints, let alone killing her.

‘I can’t win. He’s not a man I can break.’

As she resigned herself to this, she felt rather relieved.

After taking a moment to catch her breath, Scarlet began to confess honestly.

“I learned from an elf who passed through our territory a long time ago.”

“I thought it was unusual, so it was indeed elven archery. What was the name of that elf?”

“Erenes…”

The moment a familiar name flowed from Scarlet’s mouth, Luke’s expression changed completely.

“Are you sure it was Erenes?”

“Yes, do you perhaps know her?”

Scarlet’s question caused Luke to frown slightly as he replied,

“She’s an elf I’ve known for a while.”

In truth, he had known her for over 500 years, but saying that would make people think he was crazy, so he just glossed over it.

‘Erenes taught this woman archery…’

While his specialty was elemental magic, he was also very skilled with a bow. If he had more aptitude as a warrior, he might have chosen archery over magic.

He never imagined that he would pass on his knowledge to a human, let alone a woman, who was not of his own kind.

But there was something else that bothered him more. It was the power Scarlet had used, the Aether [a mystical energy source].

“How did you obtain the power you used to attack me?”

“It was in a necklace my teacher gave me. She said it was the power of a god… and warned me not to use it carelessly because it was too much to handle.”

‘She had a divine artifact that sealed Aether? More importantly, she gave it to this woman…’

Erenes was revered as a prophet among the fairies.

Although there was some time difference in their fulfillment, almost none of her prophecies had been wrong.

There must have been a reason why she passed on the vision of archery and gave a divine artifact to a mere human woman.

“Didn’t she say anything else?”

“Well… she said that when the night is darker than ever, I should aim for the lighthouse built on the back of a giant sea turtle. Do you happen to know what that means?”

“No, not at all…”

Some of Erenes’ prophecies were straightforward, but others were metaphorical like this one.

The latter often involved very important matters.

The problem was that people only realized ‘that prophecy meant this’ after the event had already occurred.

‘This must be Erenes’ arrangement, right?’

Perhaps she knew that he would meet Scarlet like this.

That’s why she taught her archery, gave her the divine artifact, and even left a prophecy.

‘Well, even if that’s not the case, she’s too valuable to kill.’

It wasn’t just because she was skilled in archery.

Although Scarlet herself wasn’t aware of it, the power of Aether had permeated her body.

It was unknown when that power would awaken, but if she could control it properly, it would be incredibly powerful.

Enough to take down a decent sword master with a single arrow of light.

While Luke was thinking this, Scarlet, who had been anxiously waiting for her fate, hesitated before speaking.

“What do you intend to do with me and my retainers?”

“Well, I gave you a chance to live quietly, but you threw it away. The news has already spread outside the territory, so even if I let you go, it will be difficult for you to live quietly.”

“Hmph, I suppose so. If this reaches Grand Duke Gregory’s ears, he will try to completely eradicate the remnants of the rebels.”

Grand Duke Gregory was a staunch follower of the Pope.

He would never tolerate anything that could endanger the Pope’s authority or the Church.

Would he really leave the remnants of the rebels alone?

Absolutely not.

He would surely execute them in a very gruesome manner as an example.

‘I should have listened to Sir Bant…’

Seeing Scarlet sigh deeply with a dark expression, Luke smiled inwardly.

In fact, with Reina, the Pope, as his backing, he could easily handle this matter quietly.

However, to make this unruly young lady and her followers obedient, he needed to scare them a little.

“Since you’re Erenes’ disciple, I can’t just ignore you… How about we do this instead?”

“What are you proposing?”

“Leave the Holy Empire. I have a lord I’m personally acquainted with in the Baroque Empire, so if you have my letter of recommendation, he will hire you and your retainers.”

“So, you’re telling me to abandon my homeland?”

“Wouldn’t it be wise to do so for a few years until things calm down?”

Scarlet was lost in thought for a moment.

Living in a foreign land was not easy.

However, she decided that following this man’s proposal was the best way to save her retainers who trusted and followed her.

“I understand. I will follow your arrangements.”

“Good thinking.”

Luke immediately wrote a letter of recommendation for Scarlet.

Scarlet’s eyes widened as she received the letter.

The lord recommended by the new lord was none other than Marquis Rakan, who had recently become famous.

‘I thought he was an unusual person, but I never imagined he would be acquainted with the descendant of the hero!’

‘Hehehe, I wonder what kind of reaction she’ll have when she finds out that I’m Marquis Rakan?’

Luke was very curious, but he decided to save that fun for later.

“Oh, and about the power you used…”

“Are you talking about the power of God?”

“To be precise, it’s called Aether. That power is still within you. It’s a dangerous power as much as it’s great, so I’ll teach you how to control it to some extent.”

Scarlet looked slightly puzzled. How could he know how to control the power of God that even she couldn’t feel?

But she soon understood.

The other party was acquainted with her teacher and the descendant of the hero, and had even blocked her attack that used the power of God.

She thought that he might know how to control the power of God.

“Can you really control the power of God?”

“It’s not the power of God, it’s Aether. I have personal experience, and I’ve also heard stories from other experiencers, so I think it will be of some help.”

Luke taught Scarlet the meditation method he had devised and the secrets he had heard from Reina before coming here.

The reason he was sharing this knowledge with Scarlet, whom he had only known for a short time and with whom he had started on bad terms, was because she was a disciple of Erenes.

Moreover, she had not just received teachings, but also a divine artifact and a revelation.

‘I wonder if Erewin will be happy to hear this? Or will she be jealous?’

Luke was also looking forward to their reaction when they met.

He had no idea what kind of danger Erewin, Erenes’ direct disciple, was in right now.

3

The northern grasslands of the Rodisia continent.

This vast land, located between the Volga Republic and the Holy Artenia Empire, was a rough and fierce land where numerous nomadic tribes had risen and fallen.

A slender elf woman was walking alone across that harsh land.

She was Erewin, Erenes’ direct disciple, leaning on a golden staff as she crossed the grasslands.

“Huff! Huff…!”

Erewin’s appearance, as she breathed roughly, was terrible.

Her disheveled hair was matted with dried blood, and small and large wounds were visible through the torn parts of her robe.

A broken arrow was stuck in her back, and the arrowhead pierced her lungs every time she moved, causing her face to contort in pain.

She was in a state where she could collapse at any moment, but Erewin gritted her teeth and hurried her steps towards the southeast.

“I must… I must inform Marquis Luke…”

Erewin, who had been muttering the same words for days, stumbled and fell to the ground, as if her feet had gotten tangled.

She had already fallen countless times on her way here.

She tried to shake it off and get up, but this time her body wouldn’t listen.

‘Is this the end…’

She hadn’t even reached half of her destination yet.

She hadn’t even been able to warn Luke or Reina of the danger.

With a sense of despair, Erewin grasped the dry grass, and countless scenes flashed before her eyes.

Running away from slave hunters on her father’s back as a child,

The first time she met her teacher,

Creating the artificial magic stone that would revolutionize the continent,

And how she turned her back on the world as humans showed disappointing behavior, contrary to what she had intended.

‘And then I met that person.’

Luke de Rakan.

A man who possessed the soul of the black sage Seymon, who was called the Demon King 500 years ago.

He was a person with a strong heart that did not succumb to darkness, even while using the power of darkness.

That heart was also very pure.

Before he died, her teacher told her that he had fought to break down a world where those who killed his loved ones ruled, a world where people could not live like people.

That fight was still ongoing.

To protect the woman he considered to be the reincarnation of his past lover.

Erewin didn’t show it, but she was drawn to his strong and pure heart. And she wanted to fulfill his wish.

She was also very envious of Reina, who was loved by him.

‘What a fool I am.’

The reason she was in this state was because she had refused the fairies’ request.

She believed that their unyielding hatred for humans, and their resulting obsession with the glory of the past, would bring endless discord and darkness to this world.

But more than that, she didn’t want to oppress Reina, who had kept her promise.

Rather than for her sake, it was because she didn’t want Luke, who loved her, to be hurt or to take a wrong path out of anger.

‘If I had known this would happen… I should have been a little more honest.’

At the same time as the regret she had never felt before surged up, her vision blurred.

But just before she completely lost consciousness, she heard the sound of a horse neighing and sensed the presence of a person.

‘Who?’

Could it be the Lycanthrope [werewolf-like] warriors who had been chasing her?

But judging by the mana fluctuations, it was a human, and a knight who had some skill in swordsmanship.

As she vaguely saw the knight approaching, Erewin completely lost consciousness.

“Heh heh, I wondered why the crows were flying around… I never thought I’d see an elf in a place like this.”

The middle-aged knight, stroking his rough beard, got off his horse and examined her condition.

“She’s overused her mana, and lost too much blood. And her wounds are festering, causing a high fever…”

The knight carefully pulled out the arrow stuck in her back.

Then, he took out a small vial from his pocket and poured potion on the arrow wound and other wounds.

Chiiiiik-!

With a sound like burning with fire, the wounds healed quickly. Not only that, but her pale complexion also began to return to normal.

“It’s been a while since I used it, but the effect is still the same. Is it more effective because it’s a potion made by an elf? If I had known this, I should have asked for more.”

The knight, looking at the empty vial with regret, suddenly threw the vial hard towards the front.

“Kyak!”

As a scream erupted from the bushes, the knight nodded as if he had expected it and got up from his spot.

“Why don’t you show your faces? I don’t want to play hide-and-seek at this age.”

At those words, Lycanthropes with half-human, half-beast forms appeared from various places in the bushes.

They were warriors who had been tracking Erewin under the orders of the fairy representatives.

The knight, slowly counting their numbers, scratched his head as if he was in trouble.

“Oh dear, this is a problem. There are more than I thought.”

The knight slowly drew his sword from his waist.

The Lycanthrope warriors, who had been on guard and building up their momentum, looked dumbfounded at the sword the knight had drawn from its scabbard.

A sword with missing teeth and covered in rust.

Moreover, it was so short that it was embarrassing to even call it a short sword. It was full of flaws, except for the fact that it matched the knight’s shabby appearance.

The Lycanthrope warriors, who had been dumbfounded, soon had anger flashing in their eyes.

“Krr! Are you making fun of us…”

Thud!

They couldn’t finish their words. The knight, who had approached in an instant, kicked them in the chest.

The Lycanthrope warrior, who had flown away without making a sound, collided with the dark elf archers who were crouching and waiting in the rear.

“You bastard!”

Shukang! Kakakang!

Five Lycanthrope warriors, who had rushed in angrily, swung their swords at the same time.

But when the warriors’ swords collided with the rusty sword, they were cleanly broken with a rough metallic sound.

“T-This can’t be!”

“Be careful! He’s not an ordinary fighter!”

They, as well as the dark elf archers who were supporting from behind, quickly retreated and reorganized their ranks.

They were all renowned warriors from each race. They were not only skilled, but also had a cool-headed judgment.

As soon as they recognized that their opponent was stronger than them, they abandoned their pride and switched to a cooperative attack system.

“Die, human!”

As soon as the dark elf archers fired their arrows, the Lycanthropes rushed in like the wind.

Arrows imbued with aura flew in, but the knight was not flustered at all and deflected them with his rusty sword.

“Kyak!”

As the deflected arrows pierced the ground, screams erupted and short figures burst out of the ground and tumbled around.

They were dwarf warriors who had been secretly preparing an ambush.

“Tsk tsk, you should have shown your faces when I told you to.”

The knight, shaking his head, moved like the wind through the Lycanthrope warriors who were rushing at him, and then struck down with his rusty sword like lightning.

Whirr!

“Kuh-eok!”

“This is impossible…!”

In an instant, about a dozen warriors fell dead.

The last thing they saw was the crimson aura that flashed so sharply that the word ‘instant’ was a perfect fit.

All that remained were the dwarves who had been hit by arrows and the dark elf archers in the rear.

In the face of such a one-sided and shocking situation, everyone was sweating profusely, and the oldest dark elf archer pointed at the knight with trembling fingertips and opened his mouth.

“T-That’s right. That crimson aura is definitely…”

“Huh? Do you perhaps know me?”

The knight, looking surprised, gave a cold smile and readjusted his sword.

“Then I shouldn’t leave you alive.”

“Kuh!”

As the knight took a step forward, the dark elf archer who recognized him, as well as the surviving pursuers, hurriedly ran away.

It wasn’t just because they were afraid of death. They had a duty to report that an unexpected obstruction had appeared.

The existence of that knight could be a major hindrance to the Republic and the fairies.

Anyway, thanks to that, the middle-aged knight was able to save himself the trouble of swinging his sword.

“You guys don’t know how to take a joke. Well, I guess that’s the wise thing to do.”

He put the rusty sword back into its scabbard and turned his gaze back to Erewin.

Her condition had improved, but she had not yet regained consciousness. Apart from her injuries, it was the result of the accumulated tension and fatigue from enduring to the limit for several days.

“She’s in this state, I can’t just leave her alone… I should take her to the nearest village.”

Having decided that, the knight put her on his horse and headed south.

All that remained in the place where a thunderbolt had struck was the crows dancing in circles.