The Duke's Eldest Son Escaped to the Military

The Duke’s Eldest Son Escaped to the Military (179)

Translator: ChubbyCheeks

58 Aren’t You Bastards Crossing the Line? (1)

Iron finally moved wildly in the Southeastern region of the Empire that was completely divided into three forces. Meanwhile, the Southern Kingdom was in a frenzy. 

Most of the small kingdoms had already been ruined so the remaining kingdoms had no choice but to form an alliance. However, the quality of their troops had fallen into the quagmire. 

Just when their masters had been reduced to only three and the number of their troops had fallen. The other-worlders from all over the continent began to flock to the South. Even the other-worlders staying in the Empire started to rush to the South. 

Chosen Ones →  West ― Divine Nation Alliance

Other Worlders → Southern Kingdoms’ Confederation

Just like that, the continent was split into the Empire, the Southern Kingdoms’ Confederation, and Divine Nation Alliance. Just like how the Southeast was largely divided into three forces, the entire Auzria Continent was also divided into these three. The Empire had become the safest area while the Divine Nation Alliance, which directly received God’s power, was slowly becoming stronger. 

“We can’t be pushed back any further than here!” 

“We have to take special measures…” 

The key figures of the Confederation have gathered together but they weren’t able to come up with any specific measures. 

“If we ask the Empire for a hand…” 

“That moment will spell the end of our confederation! We will definitely be devoured by the Empire!” 

They had the two family heads, who were competing for the strongest in the Continent, and even a new rising hero. So, what would happen to them in the future if they asked the Empire, who held these pieces, for a hand? Their confederation would definitely become a vassal country to the Empire. 

“It would be good if the other-worlders can grow further but…” 

While they were grabbing their heads in worry, the other-worlders from all over the continent started flocking to the confederation. 

The most active in the Empire’s Eastern Region, Kim Jungtae. The active figure fleeting all over the Empire, Harry Williams. The brave, most active in the war in the Center’s Capital, Rovanov. The most active in the continent’s Western Region, Jamie. And even joining them were the South’s most reputable, Hikardu, and the person who made a name for himself in the Southern Deserts, Al-Assad.

These other-worlders had all gathered together in the confederation. And following them were their guilds, making the confederation a sacred place for the other-worlders to gather together.

After a while, they began to spread rumors that these six people, who led the other-worlders, were comparable to the master-ranked individuals. 

At first, everyone snorted at their words. After all, one couldn’t become a master just because they proclaimed that they were a master. 

However, a while later, the public’s evaluation changed. They thought that they might probably have truly reached the realms of a master after watching them fight with their overwhelming power and inexhaustible bodies while they continued to grow day by day.

Since ‘Iron Carter’ had already reached the master-rank thanks to his divine beasts, despite his power being vague and unclear, there was no rule that no other person wouldn’t be able to do so. 

The only thing that they needed this time was to receive the other masters ‘recognition’. But the key figures of the Southern Kingdoms’ Confederation did not push for it at first. 

They did not allow for this to happen mainly because they feared that the power in their hands would be handed over to the other-worlders. They also feared that this peace, which they were only barely able to attain, could be broken and torn easily once news about a feud between the other-worlders and the Southern Kingdoms were spread. 

However, their judgment still eventually led to the confirmation of the emergence of six new masters. This in turn led to the establishment of the South’s Ten Strongest. 

Southern Kingdoms’ Confederation’s Masters – 3

Other-worlders’ Guild Coalition – 6

Free Mercenaries – 1

All of them were gathered and named as the South’s Ten Strongest. The number of their masters now exceeded the number of masters in the Empire. 

Of course, the Empire did not recognize this. There was no way that they would recognize the other-worlders as masters when they did not even recognize the ‘Mercenary King’, a free mercenary, as a proper master. 

However, even if the Empire did not recognize them, the Southern Kingdoms’ Confederation, without any other choice, continued to call them masters. Even the Divine Nation Alliance copied the South’s Ten Strongest and also recognized some of their cardinal-level individuals and chosen ones as masters, effectively recognizing them as masters. 

‘Since you acknowledged us, then we will acknowledge you too!’

The Confederation responded to this message from the Divine Nation Alliance. At the same time, they criticized the Empire’s behavior. They cited Iron Carter’s case and argued about why they wouldn’t recognize their masters when they had already done it once. 

Naturally, the news hit the entire Empire which focused all of their arrows towards Iron, who was working hard in the Southeast. 

⌈ Iron Carter, is he just a ‘master’ born for the Empire to create a Hero? ⌋

Anything related to the master’s level was a hot topic. It was, in fact, overheating to the point that such articles had appeared in the Empire’s newspapers. Some said that all of this started with Iron Carter.

And because of that, the entire continent was solely focused on Iron. 

“For real… This is really like an aura blade.” 

Carl watched the video that the Southern Kingdoms’ Alliance had released. 

The clear mana that was wrapped around Al-Assad’s, an other-worlder, sword truly looked like an aura blade. Mutant monsters would also be sliced like butter whenever he swung his sword. The same was true for Rovanov’s fists. The clear mana surrounding his gauntlets looked like aura as he mercilessly smashed the mutant monsters. 

Just looking at these two, one might believe that they really look like masters. 

“Do you think a real master will be fooled by something like this?” 

Iron clicked his tongue when he saw Carl letting out a gasp of admiration. 

“But…” 

The vivid and clear form of mana weapon truly looked like a master’s aura. However, Iron was sure. After all, this was a controversy that he had already experienced in his past life. And the result? 

‘They experienced a devastating and gruesome defeat under the hands of real masters. Well…’ 

Iron chuckled at the thought. 

They couldn’t even fight back properly. All they could do was go with the flow and be swung around like a ragdoll in front of the real masters. That was the extent of the skills of these ‘fake masters’. 

However, what was different was that all of the people that were shown in the video were people who had been through the beta test. Perhaps, that was also the reason why their level had definitely increased from before. They were now showing movements and power that were closer to a real master compared to the clumsy master play that they did before. 

‘Are you trying to say that you did not come back to play around?’ 

Iron smirked. 

“But these guys keep on talking shit about the Commander, what should we do?” 

Carl looked at Iron worriedly. But Iron just spoke nonchalantly as if this was not a big deal. 

“Reveal the video of our battles.” 

“Uhm… That would certainly…” 

Carl nodded as he recalled the scene back then.

The scene was extremely overwhelming that everyone would have no other choice but to just stare blankly. It was so powerful that Carl even thought that it was more powerful than a Magic Master. 

“Throw it to that punk, Faulden. Don’t pay it any mind after. This is not the time for you to pay attention to this kind of thing.” 

“I understand.” 

Carl bowed his head as he accepted Iron’s orders. 

Just like he said, they had no time to pay attention to these things. 

The imoogi had a horrible pace of growth and was already starting to make a fuss in the north while the manticore, a creature comparable to the imoogi in strength, firmly planted its feet in the south and was staring their way. In addition, the monsters had grown more clever and shrewd and were now constantly harassing the Mobile Field Army. 

Command was currently in a tight and hectic schedule thanks to these constant battles occurring in the Southeast. It even felt like they were fighting a war between ‘humans’ because their opponents had already started using the humans’ tactics and strategies. 

Iron and his Mobile Field Army couldn’t afford to pay any attention to these ‘trivial’ things. They ignored all of the requests and questions from the reporters as they devoted themselves to the things that they needed to do. 

By then, the reporters had made a press release saying that Iron had actually admitted it. 

At that moment…

The Southeast released a video crystal for everyone’s viewing. It was a video about the monster wave that happened in the Southeast just recently. The video that they had blocked before was released without any addition or cuts. 

It wasn’t just the doubting reporters, even the confused public as well as some of the nobles, who tried to take advantage of the situation, were as quiet as a mute as they all nodded their heads while watching this video. 

“Wow…”

“Crazy.”

“That’s right! This is the master-rank!”

The people of the Empire cheered loudly as they praised their hero once again.

Meanwhile, all of the people from the Western and Southern regions of the continent, who criticized the Empire, had their mouths forcibly shut. 

The Fusion Skills of Iron’s divine beasts had created a hellish scenery where all of the mutant monsters had melted to nothing. What kind of disagreement and criticism could they even make at this sight? 

The Southern Kingdoms’ Confederation, in particular, knew how powerful their skills were since there were mutant monsters in their region as well. How could they continue to slander Iron after watching his divine beasts melt these monsters like butter? Doing so would be a prick in their conscience. It was clear that they would be the ones criticized if they said such things. 

So, instead of questioning whether Iron’s strength was truly strong enough to match the master’s prestige, the Southern Kingdoms’ Alliance used a different approach. 

“This is because Iron Carter grew stronger.”

“That’s right. He wasn’t this strong before he left for the Southeast, right?”

“That’s right!”

The people of the Southern Kingdoms’ Confederation continued to push the fact that the other-worlders were masters. Of course, the other-worlders also spread the rumors harder for their guild leaders’ sake.

The members of the guilds all agreed with one fact so that their guild leaders could rise to the master’s level later.

The existing standards to be a master-ranked individual was too demanding and was not suitable for the other-worlders so they demanded that a new standard for a master-ranked individual was set. 

In that situation, one of the new masters, Kim Jungtae, spoke up. 

“I think it’s possible to compete with Iron Carter right now.”

One of the reporters asked after hearing Kim Jungtae’s words.

“What’s your basis for this?”

“I never thought that he was stronger than me back in the East. And the same is true right now.”

When Kim Jungtae’s interview was released, all the other guild leaders also expressed their opinion. 

“We haven’t shown all of our power yet.”

“If I do my best, I can do what Iron Carter can do.” 

“Iron Carter! Let’s go and fight!” 

“I hope that there will be a place where we can fight Iron Carter in the future!” 

Rovanov spoke pompously in her interview. 

“Iron is a coward. This is also the same for the other masters of the Empire. If you won’t recognize us then, come find us! We’ll show it to you!” 

The Empire’s people were furious at Rovanov. Even the nobles of the Empire were furious. 

‘We’ll make sure to strip you bare!’ 

The nobles could disparage and talk shit about the commanders because they were in different political positions but that was a different story if this came from other Empires. It was unacceptable for them to hear the other-worlders talk shit about their own. 

Iron could still laugh them off. 

However, Iron’s expression had turned rigid the moment their provocations had gone beyond his bottom line. 

And finally, Rovanov said something that she shouldn’t have said. 

“I heard that Iron is stuck at Command these days? Wasn’t he just lying down in pain these days after filming that. Rumors said that he’s a three-minute man but I think it’s true.” 

Iron sneered at Rovanov’s provocation. 

Although he had always led every large-scale battle that he had participated in to victory, rumors often circulated about him being a three-minute man because he always collapsed after every battle. 

Iron’s eyes had grown extremely cold. He was pretending to be calm but he was just holding everything in. 

“Ha… Aren’t you crossing the line?” 

It wasn’t only Carl, who was standing in front of him, but even Faulden and Gaon, who came to report, stood rigid at his cold aura. They had no choice but to straighten their backs. Just one cold and murderous look from Iron had coated the entire Commander’s office with a thin layer of ice. 

‘If you tread on the wrong path, then you’ll die.’ 

This thought flashed in their heads as they waited for Iron to calm his anger.

***

Notes

Three-minute man – yes it means premature e*******ion. Basically they’re telling him that he has a short battery life, like his power gets easily exhausted.

TL’s corner!

There’s a face slapping. I can feel it. I can feel it in my bones.

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