The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 18

[Level]: 41

*Type: First Form Cranen Imperial Warhound

*Rank: Test Subject / Cadet

[Affiliation]: Imperial Hound Branch in Mira

*State: Berserk

*Traits: ???

“Phew. That’s a relief. Just as I expected.”

The warhound was not yet in its complete form. Logically, it had another year before players should even step foot here, so its unfinished state was somewhat expected.

In his past life, it was six months after the game commenced that Bae Dohyun first attacked the empire’s hideout in the free city.

A large mercenary quest appeared in the marketplace when the leading players reached level 51 and completed their second job advancements, graduating from the free city.

The expedition, consisting of dozens of players and hundreds from guild alliances who confidently assaulted the empire’s hideout, easily took the fortress.

However, the moment the real imperial soldiers hidden within swarmed out, the players were promptly swept away.

Only a few, including Bae Dohyun, barely escaped with their lives, and for the next six months, no one dared approach the vicinity of the empire’s hideout.

The imperial soldiers encountered at the time were not incomplete but fully complete warhounds with levels near 50. They were formidable foes the early 50’s level players struggled to handle.

But what about now?

The warhounds were not only incomplete but also of a lower level. Moreover, Raul’s three escorts were expert-level knights exceeding level 80.

No matter how much stronger the empire’s warhounds were compared to monsters and humans of the same level range, they were no match for Raul and his party.

As proof, the warhounds charging forward aggressively were falling one by one to the ground.

Raul had also blended into the knights, striking at the warhounds. While the knights focused on beheading them, Raul dealt with the warhounds more comfortably.

“Top right!”

This was because Raul could see the irregularly located vital spots of the warhounds at a glance. All it took was a slight stab with his aura sword through the warhound’s armor and tough skin.

Thud.

The last warhound face-planted into a pool of blood. The cabin was now destroyed beyond recognition, with dozens of warhound corpses strewn around.

“These monstrous bastards!”

Jake kicked a warhound’s head, cursing.

The grotesquely shaped warhounds did not stop moving even when their limbs were severed.

Impervious to pain, they launched themselves in suicidal attacks, their physical abilities not inferior to high-level sword users.

“How did the empire’s warhounds end up hiding here, so close to the kingdom, even though it’s a free city…?”

Pierce’s query was met with Philip looking down at a warhound, furrowing his brows as if he himself was uncertain.

“More importantly, what should we do, young master? It seems quite risky to proceed.”

While it was a natural concern from the escorts, Raul immediately retorted.

“We proceed. We can’t back down now.”

“Perhaps we should call for reinforcements…”

Despite Pierce’s suggestion, Raul shook his head.

“Time is of the essence. The captives’ lives grow more in danger with each passing moment. And we need to handle this before they can contact the outside.”

Raul’s firm stance led Philip and the knights to ready themselves, albeit reluctantly.

“Young master, from this point on, you must stay back. Jake and I shall take the lead while you and Pierce focus on searching for the missing persons.”

Raul nodded in understanding and stepped back. From the beginning, their sights were set on the empire’s hideout because they trusted the knights, including Philip.

Even though Raul had entered the rank of expert, he was still far behind the knights.

‘It’s disappointing, but let’s not be greedy this time. After all, I don’t have to handle it myself.’

Thanks to the guild and party system, a portion of the experience points earned by the knights was reliably making its way to Raul. There was no need to unnecessarily risk danger.

‘Might as well enjoy a boost like everyone else this time. I’ve worked hard enough.’

In his previous life, Raul had always been a ranker ahead of others, rarely receiving help from anyone. In fact, he was often the one providing a boost or acting as a “bus driver” to earn pocket money.

However, in this life, he had reliable subordinates. There was no reason not to utilize them when it cost nothing.

“I’ll go ahead.”

Philip and Jake, shields in hand from their inventory, made their way underground side by side. Raul followed behind them carefully, filled with an inexplicable sense of pride.

* * *

“Those bastards deserve to rot in this sewage!”

Jake was always expressive with his emotions, but this time his anger seemed exceptionally palpable.

It wasn’t just Jake. Philip, Pierce, and even Raul clenched their teeth and scowled deeply.

What greeted the group as they descended underground was a multitude of cages and a laboratory filled with indiscernible objects.

The issue at hand was the nature of the experiments being conducted.

Parts of bodies, seemingly belonging to humans and monsters, lay scattered around.

Unidentified creatures were contained in large glass tubes that resembled incubators.

Piles of bodies that appeared discarded and tubs filled with blood.

Organs stored in flasks and ominous-colored chemicals.

All of this pointed to one conclusion.

“Ah, the audacity. To research [Chimeras] within the territory of another nation. Then, the beast soldiers we just faced were…?”

Pierce sighed, and Raul responded with a sigh of his own.

“They must have been made from citizens kidnapped by Mira. I knew the empire was dangerous, but I never imagined they were this insane.”

It was a scene often encountered in the empire’s hideouts, but it remained just as chilling.

Turning humans into experimental animals and monsters for use as war tools was difficult to accept, even in a game setting, for a modern Earthling.

After reincarnating, Raul had considered allying with the empire.

If no major changes occurred, in 10 years, the empire and the grand guild alliance would dominate the continent. Aligning early with the victors didn’t seem like a bad idea.

However.

‘The emperor of the empire is a madman. Serving under him is no different than running into fire holding a bomb.’

Rumors about the emperor’s identity were rampant.

There were speculations ranging from him possessing godlike powers and an immortal body, to being a warlock who contracted with demons, or even a pawn of the demons seeking to swallow the continent.

Among players, it was hard to find someone who had actually met the empire’s emperor, so the truth behind the rumors remained unclear.

But one thing was for certain: the emperor did not regard humans as humans. To him, all humans who were not of the imperial bloodline were merely tools or slaves.

Thus, the empire strictly classified all imperial citizens based on their usefulness, subjecting them to a lifetime of labor until they were disposed of when no longer needed.

Either becoming experimental subjects or fodder for the empire’s beast soldiers.

Of course, those with abilities received special treatment. Wealth and honor were a given, and a system was in place to fulfill every desire.

But make a mistake or cross the emperor? Even the most formidable could hardly survive.

There was once a general who harbored discontent with the emperor’s tyranny and defected to the kingdom.

An expert knight of the highest level, the general successfully crossed the border, defected, and reached the royal city. However, he exploded and died abruptly while paying homage to the king in a grand ceremony.

Bae Dohyun, who was present at the occasion, still vividly remembered it. After the small tattoo etched on the general’s shoulder spread throughout his body, it turned red and then exploded.

“I have no intention of living my life on tenterhooks, branded by the [Emperor’s Mark].”

The reason for entering the world of Connect was to seek a free and egalitarian world.

There was absolutely no desire to cling to the empire—practically the pinnacle of those in power—and survive by leeching off the lifeblood of others.

How could one tolerate the creation of monsters by cutting up the bodies of living people and attaching them to monsters?

Suppressing their intense emotions, Raul and his companions finally reached the end of the passage. There, an artificial cave roughly the size of a university auditorium was situated.

“Four knights, three mages, and ten imperial cavalry. The mages seem to be activating a large magic circle at the back of the cave,” Pierce reported after finishing his long-range reconnaissance.

Philip spoke up, “I’ll take on the knights. Jake, you take care of the approaching cavalry by the prince’s side, and Pierce, handle the mages. Your Highness, as promised, please support us from the rear.”

The companions nodded silently. Jake seemed disgruntled, but he did not open his mouth under Philip’s stern gaze.

Swoosh—Thunk!

“Intruders!”

“Protect the mages!”

Pierce was the first to move.

Using stealth to move to the enemy’s flank, he pierced the head of a mage with his ‘Power Shot’ skill and charged towards the other mages.

Following that, Philip charged at the knights, and Jake stood in front of Raul with a shield, blocking the path of the cavalry.

And Raul—

Flutter.

A solid metal arrow vibrated as if screaming, imbued with a golden light. It was the C-rank archer exclusive skill [Charging Shot], which accumulates mana in the arrow to maximize its destructive power.

After charging for 30 seconds, Raul, with his arrow densely packed with mana, concentrated his mind.

As the battle commenced, two of the mages had already activated a translucent defense magic, a shield, around themselves.

The 3rd-circle magic shield could easily deflect regular arrows and could even block mana-imbued arrows up to a certain level.

‘I need a stronger and more precise shot to penetrate the mages’ shields.’

His target was a 5th-circle mage. Among them, the highest-level mage certainly had the strongest shield.

Raul overlaid psychokinesis on his bowstring, intending to increase the arrow’s force by enhancing the bow’s restoration power.

Moreover, he created a long passageway of psychokinesis, similar to a barrel, along the arrow’s trajectory.

This was to increase accuracy and assist the arrow’s serpentine movement, similar to how a bullet spins to increase its penetration.

Finally!

With a thud, Raul’s golden arrow, like a laser, pierced through the battleground and hit the mage’s shield.

Pop, Plop!!

Almost simultaneously, two sounds were heard—the shield bursting and the mage’s head being eradicated.

‘Good!’

Although he felt slightly dizzy from exerting himself, the result was satisfactory.

With two of the three mages down, their attempt to force-open a teleport gate and flee was thwarted.

If they could eliminate all the enemies here, they could delay the transfer of unnecessary information to the empire as much as possible.

Realizing this fact, an enemy commander-level knight shouted, “Curses, our retreat is cut off. Release the seals and annihilate the enemy! For His Imperial Majesty!!”

“For His Imperial Majesty!!!”

The enemy’s morale changed in an instant as the tattoos on their bodies began to turn red.

(To be continued)