Chapter 189 — Cracks in the Wall
At the same time.
Inside the fort.
Ivaline and a group of adventurers stood in reserve.
Their duty was simple: reinforce whichever battlefield collapsed first.
Compared to the warriors fighting at the northern gate…
Or the soldiers holding the southern charge…
Their task should have been the least stressful.
And yet—
It was unbearable.
Because waiting was worse.
Will the north succeed?
Will the south hold?
Which side will collapse first?
Will we reach them in time?
Questions spiraled endlessly through their minds.
Restlessness spread through the gathered adventurers like a silent fever.
Huff… HUFF…
Three figures stood among them.
Gruthak.
Gertakt.
Gretukt.
The three orcish brothers breathed like beasts preparing for slaughter.
Bloodshot eyes.
Sweat rolling down thick green skin.
Muscles twitching.
They looked like warriors moments away from exploding.
Ivaline stared at them, puzzled.
She stepped forward and poked Gretukt in the ribs.
“WHAT!?”
The orc spun instantly—ready to strike.
Then he froze.
“…Oh. The child my brother acknowledged.”
Ivaline tilted her head.
“Why are you tense?”
The other two snapped their heads toward her.
“WE EXCITED!”
“WE HUNGER!”
“WE CRAVE BLOOD!”
“…?”
Ivaline blinked in confusion.
Chronicle sighed softly and explained.
‘Orcs are born with war-hunger instinct.’
‘When battle is near but they are forbidden to fight… the instinct builds pressure.’
‘Imagine you are starving… food is right in front of you… but you are not allowed to eat.’
Ivaline slowly nodded.
“…oh.”
That actually made sense.
She turned back to the three trembling berserkers.
“If you crave war… why not go?”
Chronicle froze.
‘…wait.’
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Too late.
The orcs’ eyes exploded with light.
“CAN WE!?”
“GOING OUT!”
“SMASH!!!”
“Un. If you’re that eager… everyone should understand?”
The three brothers turned toward the adventurers.
“[ACKNOWLEDGE!!!]”
They roared in unison and sprinted toward the gate like unleashed monsters.
For several seconds—
No one moved.
Then realization hit.
“WAIT!?”
“The three berserkers are gone!!!”
“WHAT!? WHY!?”
Panic erupted instantly.
Those three alone were worth an entire squad of elite fighters.
Their presence alone gave the defenders confidence.
If something went wrong…
They would fix it.
But now?
They were gone.
“Oh… you shouldn’t have said that, little lady.”
A calm voice spoke beside her.
Ivaline turned.
Garron.
Leader of [Meteor Fall].
“We knew they wanted to fight,” he said casually.
“But their strength is a strategic asset.”
“The Guild Master kept them here in case the battle turned.”
“Oh…”
Understanding dawned.
Ivaline bowed quickly.
“…sorry.”
Garron chuckled.
“Well. Milk’s already spilled.”
“HAHAHAHA!”
Borik’s booming laughter echoed across the courtyard.
“If they’re gone then we can’t do shit about it!”
He spread his arms wide, puffing up his chest.
Strangely…
The surrounding adventurers relaxed.
“Borik! Garron! This is serious!”
Sister Elysha stepped forward anxiously.
“We should inform the Guild Master!”
A large hand rested gently on her shoulder.
Thorne shook his head once.
That silent reassurance was enough.
Elysha sighed and stopped.
Ivaline looked at them curiously.
“I know you. Meteor Fall.”
“My friends say you are the strongest shield of the Barony.”
Garron raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? And who might those friends be?”
“[Four Bastion]. Aldric’s party.”
Garron burst into laughter.
“AHA! Those little brats!”
Borik nodded proudly.
“They became adventurers because they admired us!”
“Our fighting styles are different… but Bram planting his shield at the front?”
“That’s our lesson.”
“…We taught them how to fight.”
Thorne added quietly.
Elysha sighed.
“Sadly, Seraphine was too proud back then to learn healing magic from humans.”
The surrounding adventurers murmured.
Mentors.
These people were the mentors of the famous Four Bastion.
No wonder their presence alone calmed the room.
For a moment…
It almost felt like Aldric himself stood here.
Ivaline silently noted that.
Elsewhere in the city
Something ticked quietly.
Tik.
Tok.
Tik.
Tok.
A steady countdown.
Until—
KABOOM!
Flames erupted into the sky.
The western wall exploded.
The blast shattered stone already weakened by two days of bombardment.
The culprit—
Explosives planted by a werewolf who infiltrated the fort during Selvara’s rescue the previous night.
Another layer of Silva’s plan.
If the panic strategy failed…
Or if the defenders remained calm…
Then this would break them.
And now—
The damaged wall finally began to crack.
“Look! A fracture!”
“As the General predicted!”
“Focus your magic there!”
Elemental spells rained down.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The weakened stone trembled violently.
Then—
CRASH!
A massive section collapsed.
Dust and rubble filled the air.
A breach.
Wide enough for several beasts to enter at once.
“Now the wall cannot hide you, humans!”
SPLAT!
The beast’s head exploded instantly.
Garron’s war mace crushed it before the creature even finished speaking.
SLASH!
Borik’s halberd ripped another beast’s throat open.
CRUNCH!
Thorne’s axe split a third creature clean in half.
The three warriors stepped forward.
The beasts instinctively stepped back.
“Heh.”
“You made a hole?”
“So what?”
Borik grinned wildly.
“HAHAHAHA!”
“IF WE’RE HERE—”
Thorne planted his axe into the ground.
“…You shall not pass.”
The three members of Meteor Fall formed a living wall.
Behind them, commands rang out.
“Earth mages! Seal the crack from above!”
“Archers and casters — take the wall!”
“Inner line! Kill anything that gets past!”
The adventurers moved instantly.
Order returned.
Efficient.
Disciplined.
Yet—
One person was missing.
Ivaline.
Deeper inside the fort
The central plaza stood silent.
Civilians evacuated.
Soldiers deployed.
No witnesses remained.
Except two.
Ivaline stood alone in the empty square.
“I can feel you.”
A soft voice answered.
“And I’m honored.”
Selvara appeared from nothing.
Her form peeled out of the air like color returning to an invisible canvas.
“…You kept your promise.”
Ivaline watched her calmly.
“Hmm?”
“No signs of struggle yesterday. Someone rescued you.”
Selvara’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“Oh…”
For a brief moment, she looked embarrassed.
Then the warmth vanished.
Cold eyes replaced it.
“…Margrave assassination?”
Ivaline felt her presence earlier moving toward the Margrave’s location.
That was why she came here.
Selvara shook her head playfully.
“Nope.”
“Then… Selene?”
“N O P E ?”
Ivaline’s mind raced.
Selvara watched her thinking face with amusement.
Cute.
If she had more time, she might have enjoyed this conversation longer.
Unfortunately—
Orders were orders.
“General noticed you interfering with his plans again and again…”
“Silva the Slaughter?”
Selvara smiled.
“…Not many dare to say his full title like that.”
Her eyes stopped smiling.
“By order of Beast General Silva…”
Her chakrams rose slowly.
Two in her hands.
One coiled in her tail.
“[Silver Ward] Ivaline.”
“I have come to assassinate you.”
Dawn’s warmth vanished.
Cold killing intent filled the square.
Silva’s layered plan…
Had now fully begun.
