Chapter 75

Swordmaster Healer Episode 75

TL: Boko

Editor: Ren

Chapter 25: Item Get! (2)

As Rishubalt shook his hand, the background melted away. When the change was complete, Sung Joon was in darkness. However, his eyes soon became acclimated to the darkness, and he regained his sight.

Isnt this a fortress?

The walls in the dark passageway looked like they were made of solid rock.

It seems like I wont need to use stealth.

He wasnt originally an assassin, but he at least knew how to hide himself in the darkness and completely conceal his presence. Because stealth consumed a lot of mana, he had to use it only when necessary, like Blink.

After Sung Joon had completely concealed his presence, he slowly advanced forward. Although it was dark in front, at some point, there were torches lining the walls.

Its a presence.

Sung Joon detected a presence from far away that was pacing around. Sung Joon turned his attention to Rishubalt and asked, Rishubalt, can you scout?

Although he had felt the presence from afar, he spoke extremely softly. Because he was so far, it was difficult to accurately make out the enemys location, as well as their numbers.

If it were possible for Rishubalt to scout, itd be helpful against ambushes.

Ill be back.

Fortunately, it didnt seem like there was any mana interference since Rishubalt scouted as soon as Sung Joon finished speaking. Sung Joon gripped the hilt of his sword and slowly advanced forward.

After he had walked for about five minutes, Rishubalt, who had gone ahead in order to scout, returned.

It seems like the soldiers destination is indeed the fortress. I only checked the nearby places, but there were quite a lot of soldiers.

How many enemies are in front of us?

There are two knights and twenty-one soldiers.

Are they normal knights?

Just because they were knights didnt mean that they could all use aura. Even in the Empire, aurusers were uncommon and were mostly a part of the Knight Brigade or another elite combat group.

Most of the normal knights in the Imperial Army couldnt use aura.

The knights and the soldiers werent part of an elite unit.

Then are they part of a regular group? Then it shouldnt be difficult.

However, since there are so many, you cannot afford to be careless, Rishubalt advised, and Sung Joon nodded his head.

How big is the fortress? Sung Joon asked.

He had prepared plenty of

food, but it would be best to know in advance.

Since I only scouted the surrounding area, I dont know the exact scale of the fortress. However, if we take into account the architectural style, I assume its the Empires forward base, Rishubalt replied.

Then it should be really big, Sung Joon said, furrowing his eyebrows.

Sung Joon could remember information regarding their forward bases. They were fortresses that were created in strategic positions and called forward bases, though they were actually much larger than a forward base.

Eventually, Sung Joon arrived at where the first enemies were gathered.

Is this a waiting room?

His black eyes gleamed in the darkness and he calmly drew his sword. His sword didnt even make a sound as the blade grazed the sheath.

Sung Joon intruded into the center of the room and ambushed them silently.

Ugh!

AH!

Sung Joon first swung his sword at the knights, who he assumed were the greatest threat, and killed the two knights first.

The soldiers on standby inside couldnt even see Sung Joon. The only thing they could see was the knights spurting blood and falling.

I-Its an enemy Ugh!

The soldier that had hurriedly rushed towards the sword stand died helplessly, and his severed head rolled on the ground.

Its an enemy attack!

Countermeasures!

By the time the soldiers had drawn and raised their weapons, more than half of the soldiers had already fallen.

AH!

Something had quickly passed by. Another soldier spurted blood.

W-Where the hell is he?

The soldier was alone by the time he had gotten a hold of himself. Fear invaded his entire body. He couldnt do anything, despite Sung Joon revealing himself in front of him.

Long live the Emperor!

The soldier lunged at Sung Joon with his dagger, but Sung Joon would never allow such an attack. He easily avoided the dagger stab and swung his sword, cutting off the soldiers head.

Youre weak.

When compared to the elites of the Knight Brigade, they were much weaker.

It seems like I wont even have to use my aura.

A wise decision. When fighting against several weaklings, its best to keep your mana consumption at the bare minimum.

Thats because its highly likely that therell be elite troops right behind them, Sung Joon replied.

Rishubalt smiled, then nodded.

Thats true.

At first, they would send out several weak soldiers, prompting him to use his mana, and then they would send out the elite soldiers. This was one of

of the Empires typical strategies.

What will you do with the bodies?

Im not going to move them. I plan to neutralize the area as much as possible before the patrolling troops discover them.

Rather, Sung Joon thought there was a high possibility that while he was moving the bodies, he would be discovered, or it would just take a lot of his time. Therefore, he didnt move the bodies and instead decided to make it a battle of speed; he would neutralize the area as quickly and as much as possible.

Rishubalt, scout. Report to me the enemies closest to me.

I understand.

I want at least fifteen or more. If there are too few of them, itll just be a waste of time.

Ill keep that in mind.

Sung Joon sent Rishubalt off to scout, absorbed the mana from the bodies, and hurriedly began walking.

He didnt know the route, but he couldnt just sit and wait for Rishubalt. He planned to slowly scout out his surroundings and cut down the enemys numbers.

They say the entire armys going to be put on alert.

I heard that too. I think its probably because of the Kingdom Alliance.

Sung Joon walked in the direction towards the presences that he had felt, and heard them converse.

There are two knights.

The knights heavy armor rattled. Sung Joon put out the nearby torches and melded with the darkness.

The torches over there Ugh!

It was already too late by the time they realized the unexpected event. Sung Joons dagger flew and lodged into the middle of the knights forehead.

How dare you!

The last remaining knight was furious at his comrades demise and drew his sword. However, Sung Joon was a little faster, and pierced the knights throat with his returned dagger.

Burp.

The knight weakly fell, accompanied by a gruesome sound.

Absorb.

Sung Joon finished with absorbing their mana and started walking again, but Rishubalt appeared right before him.

Theyre not close by, but I found the room where the Communication Squad is standing by. The communication equipment is set up and the messengers are on standby.

If he destroyed the communication equipment and incapacitated the messengers, Sung Joon would be able to disrupt the system of command inside the fortress.

Lead me.

Sung Joon decided that itd be best to neutralize the Communication Squad and so ordered Rishubalt to guide him there.

Its this way.

Rishubalt lead Sung Joon outside of the building. Because the building

the building was so large, he had to walk for about thirty minutes just to get outside.

The sky was dark and it was difficult to even see the moonlight. Just a little while ago, he had seen a few buildings that were about the same size as the one he had just left.

He saw a building with the Communication Squads flag in the center of those buildings. It was just like a small fortress, and was made up of solid rock.

There are three patrols with ten people each. And the next guarding troop numbers fifty

It wouldnt be a problem taking them on in a frontal assault due to how weak they were, but it would be impossible to kill them all without being caught.

The night sky was dark and the moonlight was silent, but since the fortress was in the center, there were several soldiers patrolling.

I have no choice but to use my stealth

After Sung Joon had examined his surroundings once, he opened his mouth.

Stealth.

Sung Joons body melted into the darkness. He walked carefully and went inside the Communication Squad building.

As he opened the door, his stealth was released. The knight that was guarding the entrance turned his attention to Sung Joon.

An enemy! Ugh!

However, Sung Joon stabbed him with his sword, piercing through his abdomen.

Its an enemy!

Since this was the most important place in the fortress, it was guarded by elites. As soon as the knight fell, armed troops flocked from everywhere and poured into the room.

Protect the communication equipment!

The soldiers, who raised their shields, attempted to block Sung Joon to protect the magical communication equipment, but it was pointless.

Slash!

Sung Joon swung his sword in a large arc and recited the activation words, shooting out an aura slash. The aura slash split the soldiers who had raised their shields in half and destroyed the communication equipment.

An auruser?

Dont panic! Buy time until reinforcements arrive! Lay down your lives for it! a certain knight yelled.

While the soldiers constructed their ranks, the Communication Mages,who didnt have any combat abilities, hurriedly evacuated.

However, Sung Joon had no plans to just sit still and watch.

No ones getting out of here.

His icy voice was accompanied by the release of his killing intent. The front soldiers who had met his gaze widened their eyes and fainted.

Sung Joons killing intent was much too strong for these normal soldiers, these normal soldiers, who werent even elites, to handle.

Sung Joon stepped over the unconscious soldiers and threw himself towards the escaping Communication Mages.

H-How dare you!

When the knight who was guarding the Communication Mages drew his sword, Sung Joon slashed his neck and blood spurted out.

AH!

Ugh!

The Communication Mages suffered the same fate as the knight. Whenever Sung Joon swung his sword, a stream of blood would spill from them.

Where the hell did this monster come from?

Everyone shook in fear. Even the knights couldnt track Sung Joons movements with their eyes. It didnt even take ten minutes before the entire Communication Squad was annihilated.

There are no survivors in the building, Rishubalt reported.

Sung Joon nodded his head. He couldnt feel any presences within the buildings at all. However

Theyre really rushing over here.

They had fought noisily, so the noise would have obviously leaked outside the building.

Ill go scout and come back.

Yeah, go ahead.

As soon as Sung Joon nodded his head, Rishubalt briefly went outside the building and returned.

The amount of soldiers theyve gathered numbers over two hundred. If they combine with the follow-up troops, it could number more than five hundred, Rishubalt reported.

Despite Rishubalts report, Sung Joon opened his mouth with a calm expression.

The number of weak soldiers doesnt matter. How many Mages are there? he asked.

To Sung Joon, who could utilize Mana Absorption, their strategy of sending several weak soldiers against him, prompting him to consume his mana, wouldnt be effective. Since he had confirmed that the knights skills were also unskilled, the only ones who were dangerous to him right now were Mages.

I assume that there are around nine Mages.

What about their level?

I didnt feel strong mana from them.

Good, I can do this.

Sung Joon swept the blood off his sword in one stroke and walked towards the door.

Do you plan to engage them? Rishubalt asked. Sung Joon nodded his head and opened his mouth.

I have to kill them before more gather.

Sung Joon kicked open the door and as he rushed out, utilized his high-speed movement. The Mages shot their casted magic at the area that Sung Joon had just been at.

W-Where did he go?

I didnt see him.

Ill use Searching Magic.

Protect the Mages! the noncom officer commanded and the soldiers moved busily.

H-How is this possible?

However, by the time they had finished forming their ranks, the Mages had already been killed.