Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C39

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Chapter 39:

"Retreat," said, his gaze fixed on the forest as his expression grew grave.

"What?" could scarcely believe his ears. His youngest son was suggesting retreat? Though caution was prudent, this seemed excessive. And what of his dignity?

"Boy, I’m still alive. You don’t command here." Minty coughed sternly, dismissing the notion with authority.

"My lord, I fear the young master is correct," one of Minty’s knights interjected, his face equally somber. "We should fall back—"

"What’s going on?" Minty froze. These veterans wouldn’t jest about such matters. Unease crept into his heart.

Before he could finish, a shrill shriek pierced the air from deep within the forest.

Instinctively, Karglis looked up—a bright magical signal rose into the sky.

"Are they truly just rabble?" Karglis thought, dread sinking in.

---

It had been a full day and night since leaving .

Beyond the dark peaks, a group stood atop a summit where the land stretched endlessly in all directions. Fields formed a patchwork quilt of green, winding through valleys toward the horizon.

Brandon hadn’t expected such beauty within . He paused, momentarily stunned.

"That’s ," Yuta pointed down the mountain path. Red rooftops dotted the forest below, growing denser until they coalesced into a settlement.

The town lay nestled quietly among the mountains.

Though it was barely noon, they had already arrived.

Before departing, Chael’s words had opened new possibilities for Brandon. , a free trade port, was ripe with opportunity. Not only did he possess Ramona Darkglow’s artwork, but also a future Alchemist Master. Combined with his knowledge from another world, amassing wealth there wouldn’t be difficult.

Yet while Ampersal beckoned, Shafrend’s were no less critical to long-term plans. Thus, Brandon proceeded as planned, arriving at this secluded mining town.

"It’s beautiful," Cinnabar murmured behind him.

From the bushes came rustling sounds as mercenaries emerged—one by one, twenty-seven in total. Each moved with steady steps and sharp eyes, surveying their surroundings. These individuals were at least iron rank peak, veterans handpicked by Yuta. To gather enough forces, the female mercenary captain had borrowed men from smaller bands.

Even Brandon was impressed. Iron rank peak fighters stood on the cusp of silver rank; with proper training, they could become formidable warriors. Yet beside his own entourage, they paled in comparison.

Everyone present knew that the two maidens flanking Brandon were gold-rank warriors. Two silent attendants—angels whose wings Brandon had hidden due to their conspicuousness—possessed lower silver-rank strength.

For Brandon, constantly shuffling angels back into the deck and re-summoning them was an inefficient use of Light elements. Although his deck was small enough that drawing them wasn’t difficult, he lacked effective means to replenish his Light element pool. As a result, he opted to keep the two angels on the field, paying the daily cost of one Light element per angel instead. For now, he didn’t anticipate needing to use resurrection cards.

Brandon had calculated that when his remaining Light element pool dropped to five points, he would return the angels to the deck, leaving just enough resources for one resurrection card should it become necessary. Meanwhile, the hundred wealth points he had saved from subjugating the cave dwellers could finally be put toward unlocking the fire and wind elemental lands in his card compendium: Ember Volcano and Storm Nexus .

Now, within the independent mental space he had constructed, a dormant volcano lay still, its once-fiery heart extinguished, while above it, a swirling storm eye spun ceaselessly in the sky. The only land card left unclaimed in his compendium was the fire elemental land: Carnage Wastes .

With Storm Nexus active, summoning creatures like the Wind Spirit Spider became far less taxing. And with Ember Volcano unlocked, Brandon’s focus shifted to another card in his deck—a powerful creature waiting to be unleashed:

(Scorching Inferno X)

15 Fire

Creature – Elemental/Efreet, Level 36

Place horizontally. Deal massive damage to your enemies and shuffle back into the deck.

Pay 2 Fire daily while on the field.

"On scorched earth, the Fire Efreet strikes terror into its foes."

(Purchase Condition: 50 Fire Elements)

This card appealed greatly to Brandon, offering power without requiring wealth. With thirty-seven units in his Fire Elemental Pool, fifty seemed daunting—but manageable. As a fire-leaning Elementalist, practicing fire spells would naturally expand his pool. Many initial spells he’d chosen upon leveling up were fire-based, ensuring minimal mana drain.

Additionally, another coveted card entered his sights:

(Radiant Alliance VII)

12 Land (or Water)

Artifact: Relic/Fantasy

While on the field, reduce upkeep costs of all creatures by 1 (choose one type if multiple apply).

Place horizontally. Double the wealth generated by a specified card.

"Flowing silver..."

(Purchase Condition: 100 Wealth)

Brandon had long coveted this card, hesitating between it and land cards before Chael advised prioritizing land. Still, its utility was undeniable.

"What’s next?" Cinnabar asked, casually slinging her halberd over her shoulder despite concerns about her slight frame.

Before Brandon could answer, the mercenary captain spoke: "Shafrend thrives on its silver mines. Most residents are miners. The town’s prosperity depends on their livelihoods—shops, inns, and more cater to them."

"Inns? Here?" the red-haired girl interrupted skeptically.

"Not unusual. Shafrend is the deepest eastern outpost in Graharl. Adventurers frequent it, lured by rumors of exposed silver veins. Many dream of striking it rich."

"Exposed silver veins?" Roma chimed in, emerging last from the bushes, tugging her skirt free of snagging branches.

She wasn’t alone this time—Brandon had invited her along. Shafrend’s ledgers required expertise, and aside from Antietta, only Roma could read them.

"Some claim to have seen exposed veins, even profited from them," Yuta explained. "But successes are rare. Most leave empty-handed."

"Even so, why do so many come?" Cinnabar puzzled.

"People see only the few who succeed," Brandon remarked, gazing at Shafrend below. Though Yuta found his phrasing odd, she agreed.

"Indeed, my lord. Those lucky few often squander their gains gambling, losing everything quickly."

"Easily gained, easily lost," Metissa softly quoted an ancient Silver Elf proverb.

All nodded in agreement.

But Roma disagreed: "If some succeeded, then surely it exists? My aunt always said, ‘No crime in being poor, but possessing treasure invites trouble.’ Such discoveries surely catch noble attention—even ’s men might covet it."

"Yet none who find exposed veins ever locate them again," Yuta shook her head. "That’s part of this forest’s mystery."

"Really?" Roma’s wide eyes betrayed fascination.

Cinnabar flicked her fiery ponytail disdainfully. "Superstition. Success stories likely spread through hearsay, not truth."

"Possible," Brandon mused. "But let’s focus. Yuta, you know this place best. Share your thoughts."

"My lord, the mine lies two miles northeast of Shafrend. Workers use a guarded mountain path patrolled by cavalry. Infiltrating openly is impossible."

"No other routes?" Brandon asked. "Could we sneak through the mountains?"

"Not impossible," Yuta considered. "But the guard captain is a mid-tier gold-rank swordsman."

Brandon nodded. Such places inevitably housed skilled defenders. He recalled Tobarand Fortress’s overseer—a sword saint who had awakened elemental-affinity.

"Very well," he concluded. "Entering Shafrend itself shouldn’t pose much difficulty. Traffic is high; splitting up won’t draw suspicion. Everyone, secure lodgings separately and remember the rendezvous signs. We’ll regroup at dusk."

All nodded.

"Move out."

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