Chapter 17

The checkpoint, which was literally the "entrance" to the Lev Magic Empire, was a scene of chaos. The square where we adventurers once spent a night outdoors and the space where the adventurer guild's hut stood were now crowded with colorful soldiers from various countries.

"Hey, you can't pass through!"

"We're going inside!"

"Watch out, who bumped into me!"

"General! General—!"

When I talked to a few people, I learned that the General, the Supreme Commander of the Light Heaven Knights Kingdom, had already passed through the checkpoint and entered, and the soldiers chasing him were swarming in. Furthermore, the Deputy Commander of the Keithsgran Federation was also heading to the front lines, and additional soldiers were swarming in to support them. The Holy Kingdom of Kurvaan, with its former Holy King, Lord Glenzied, already at the front lines, was sending soldiers to confirm the situation, which only added to the chaos. On the other side, the thick walls were filled with troops, as it happened to be the time when the Keithsgran Federation's soldiers were being replaced. While the checkpoint was fulfilling its role, the situation was at its worst. And I—was late.

"Ugh... Is this what my Light Heaven Knights Kingdom has come to?"

Earlier, it was this Lord Wilhelm who stopped me as I was about to leave "Moonlight Beauty." He said that if I entered the scene in the guise of an unidentified knight, it would raise unnecessary suspicions and cause trouble. He suggested I go with him. However, since Lord Wilhelm was in formal attire, I had to wait for him to change into his knight's uniform. It was good that I could talk a bit with Lord Sylies, but being late meant I was caught in the chaos and couldn't get inside, which was meaningless. Lark was inside, and she was fighting.

"Lord Wilhelm, I can't wait for this to settle down. I'm going ahead."

"Going ahead... what are you going to do? Push through this crowd?"

"No, I'll go from above."

"From above?"

Lord Wilhelm and the other knights looked up at me with puzzled faces.

"It might be a bit conspicuous, but there's no choice, right? I'm already in this uniform."

"No, that's fine, but—hey, Lord Raze!?"

I started running—not towards the checkpoint, but towards the cliff surrounding the square.

【Body Reinforcement】, 【Support Magic】—【Leg Reinforcement】, 【Jumping Technique】!

As I crouched just before the cliff, my feet kicked the ground, and the earth there exploded.

"Whoa!?"

"What's that!?"

Some of the soldiers noticed the explosion and started to murmur.

My body soared about 7 meters high, but the top of the cliff was nearly ten times that height.

"That's not enough."

"No, wait—what's that!?"

I added 【Fire Magic】. With the explosion, my body was launched, and I accelerated with 【Wind Magic】. It still wasn't enough. I added more magic, more magic, more magic—.

Gah, and yah, such cries of pain came from the soldiers.

Indeed, it hurt. I was still not used to handling it.

But with the use of 【Healing Magic】, the wounds would heal quickly—more importantly, like this,

"I made it!"

"Awesome!"

My body reached the top of the cliff.

"Phew—"

Brushing off the burned uniform, I looked around. The cliff separating the "Uncharted Land Canyon" from the empire was a raised plateau, like a table mountain or Uluru.

To the far below, where Lord Wilhelm and the others were gaping, I raised my right arm and placed my right fist on my chest—performing the Light Heaven Knights Kingdom's salute. Lord Wilhelm and the others also returned the salute, startled.

"Alright, let's go."

Even from this height, the tip of the End Fang could be seen poking out.

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