The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 52

The Forest Without Echoes was vast.

The inner forest, thick with tall coniferous trees like fir, spruce, and Korean fir, had no paths and was difficult to navigate since humans rarely ventured inside.

Moreover, beneath the tall coniferous canopy, a tangle of underbrush grew in dense clusters.

It was a paradise for herbivores.

However, where herbivores thrived, it also meant an excellent hunting ground for carnivores.

This was equally true for mid-to-large-sized monsters, which preyed indiscriminately on herbivores and carnivorous beasts alike.

Thus, this immense natural forest, about 20-30 kilometers wide and stretching east to west for 70 kilometers, with mountain peaks reaching over 2,000 meters in altitude and extending 100 kilometers from north to south, formed a perfect self-contained ecosystem.

One part of this ecosystem, specifically the 60 kilometers separating the Si-on Duchy from neighboring territories, was managed by the Buksan Elves, responsible for about 40 kilometers of the area.

This region was the Buksan Elves’ “domain.”

It was a territory given to them by Si-on, who had taken in these elves wandering in peril and danger and tasked them with tending and protecting the land.

The same was true for the elves of Namsan and Gosan, but the Buksan Elves especially cherished and loved their domain.

The fewer than 200 Buksan Elves learned the layout of their forest before they even reached adulthood, walking it with their elders.

Unusual trees, ancient trees, large boulders, small rocks.

The young Buksan Elves, who had spent their entire lives—sometimes decades—roaming the forest since birth, were almost perfectly familiar with every feature of their domain.

To them, the forest was not just their land and home; it was also the ‘playground’ where they had run and played since childhood.

And so.

The Buksan Elf Rangers easily navigated the forest, which the mercenaries and outsider elves hired by the Count Pamel family had struggled to cross.

They quickly found the invaders’ routes and traces of their battles with beasts and monsters.

And within just two days, they identified the location of the intruders’ camp, who had entered their land without permission and trespassed upon the territory owned by their benefactor and the master of this land, including the forest.

* * *

Swish. Sssht!

With the noise of a snake slithering through the underbrush, arrows shot out simultaneously from specialized elf longbows used exclusively by the Duchy’s elves.

The targets were the outsider elves standing watch, stationed at various positions atop the tall coniferous trees.

Even for elves, who were born hunters, it was impossible to perform at their usual level of skill in a place they were visiting for the first time.

Especially when their opponents were the Buksan Elves, who had lived in this forest all their lives.

The Buksan Rangers had pinpointed all the tree-top hiding spots the outsider elves had set up for their watch posts before sunset and, with longbows capable of shooting over 200 meters, sniped the watchmen.

Due to their near-supernatural archery skills, all the outsider elves on watch were shot through the head without even a chance to scream, dying on their perches.

A few fell from the trees with a thud, but because the watch posts were quite a distance from the campsite, no one noticed.

“Let’s go, brothers.”

Elf warriors, their skin smeared with mud to the point that only their whites of their eyes and pupils were visible, moved like swift beasts, pushing through the dense underbrush with their bodies low to the ground.

Just then, a long night wind blew, rustling leaves and branches, perfectly masking the small noises they made.

With over 200 mercenaries, the campsite was vast.

Unable to cut down all the tall trees, the mercenaries had set up small tents and tarps between the trees, or lit campfires around which groups of 7-8 slept wrapped in sleeping bags.

The 30 elf warriors began by permanently silencing those sleeping on the outskirts with their daggers.

After dealing with the mercenaries in a tent or tarp, they did not proceed to the next one immediately; their next targets were the occupants of the tent beside them.

The 30 warriors moved in groups of five or six, but the camp was so spread out that their progress was not quick.

Yet, these seasoned nighttime hunters never rushed or got excited, and they continued their silent slaughter like machines.

Three apex predators ruled the top of the food chain in the Forest Without Echoes, aside from the mid-to-large-sized monsters.

The mountain lion, the brown bear, and the black panther were the forest’s supreme predators.

The Buksan Elves had been familiar with the black panthers, which lived exclusively in the forest rather than in the mountains stretching north and south, since their youth.

They knew the black panthers’ behaviors and movements so well that they could mimic their hunting methods.

The black panthers, silent assassins of the forest, hunted large boars with soundless movements in the darkness, and the Buksan Elf warriors were now killing their targets by mimicking those hunting methods.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A dagger about a palm’s length kept stabbing into the soft necks of humans.

A person doesn’t die immediately just because their neck is stabbed.

However, by covering the victim’s mouth simultaneously, they couldn’t even produce a gurgling noise, struggling briefly before succumbing to eternal rest.

About five minutes of silent and brutal work passed.

The tents and tarps in the southern and western parts of the camp fell silent.

The snoring and sleep-talking that had been heard up until five minutes ago had completely disappeared.

Under normal circumstances, or at least two days ago, such a large number of people would never have died so quietly.

But the relentless monster and beast attacks that had kept everyone on edge over the past two days, along with the actual battles that had taken place, had left most of the mercenaries exhausted and weary.

So, they were utterly unprepared for the stealthy attackers who arrived in the dead of night.

After securing the south and west sections, groups of attackers emerged.

On the southern side were the warriors of Gosan and Namsan, while on the western side were the Paloma soldiers led by Yonas, Longlive, and Si-on.

“……”

The sight of dozens of mercenaries dying soundlessly in just five minutes left Yonas, Longlive, and the Paloma soldiers shuddering in silence.

They all knew that the Duchy’s elf warriors were exceptional.

They were also well aware that the Buksan Elves were responsible for guarding the Forest Without Echoes, which served as both the boundary and first line of defense for the Si-on Duchy.

But none of them had ever truly witnessed or experienced the full prowess of the elf warriors.

Only Yonas and Longlive had occasionally observed the Buksan Elf Rangers’ skills during the annual hunting competitions as beaters.

They had thought the elves were impressive.

They had thought of them as quite capable hunters.

They had believed these were reliable friends who had spent decades in the forest.

But that was all.

They hadn’t realized the elves were not just good at hunting—but were better killers than hunters.

‘If it were us…?’

The certainty that they would have fared no differently from the now-dead mercenaries sent shivers up Yonas’s spine.

If Yonas felt that way, it went without saying how Longlive and the other soldiers felt.

The pools of blood and the thick stench of iron didn’t even feel real.

“Impressive, but still a bit lacking compared to the previous generation.”

Si-on’s low voice brought Yonas back to reality.

Yonas, snapping out of his thoughts, whispered back.

“Are we continuing this way?”

Though not entirely sure, it seemed that the elves had taken down at least 50 enemies in just five minutes.

Even now, the elf warriors were continuing their silent, panther-like killing spree.

“For now. But unless all the mercenaries are idiots, we won’t be able to keep this up easily. Get the men ready.”

“Yes.”

Yonas answered quietly and turned his head, signaling to Longlive.

Nodding deeply, Longlive led his soldiers along the prearranged route, circling widely around the back of the already-cleared tents and tarps.

“Take care, Grandfather.”

“Don’t worry about me; just look after the soldiers.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

After all, who was really worrying about whom?

This was the hero who had slain a Dark Dragon when he established the family on this land.

With a mix of relief and pride, Yonas turned to follow Longlive and the Paloma troops when Si-on’s low voice stopped him.

“Yonas, stay safe.”

Overwhelmed by emotion, Yonas pressed his slightly trembling fist to his chest and bowed his head.

“I will, Grandfather.”

Yonas finished his salute and blended into the darkness with the other soldiers. Of course, Si-on’s eyes saw it all clearly.

“Now then…”

Si-on’s eyes gleamed ominously in the darkness.

His vision, as clear as daylight, scanned the ongoing assassinations of the Buksan Elf warriors, and his superhuman hearing pierced through the noise of killing to catch other sounds.

‘So, not everyone is asleep.’

He heard curses and groans as if someone were pleasuring themselves.

Ignoring all of these, Si-on’s hearing caught some laughter that was slightly louder than the rest.

More than one, there were several.

“Grand noble… indeed.”

“Just one drink each… can’t drink too much…”

“Hahaha…”

In a place like this, who else would be drinking and laughing openly in a group?

The leaders.

“Got you.”

Si-on grinned in the darkness.

Then it happened.

Piiik!

“What the—? Ahhhh!”

A whistle blast was followed by the first scream.

“Tch. So that’s the limit.”

Considering the camp had over 200 people and nearly a third had been silently killed, it was an incredible feat.

The plan for what would happen after the first scream had already been set in place.

Swish!

Si-on launched himself forward, extending his legs far back and lowering his upper body almost below his waist.

His bulging thighs and calves exerted force all at once.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

An incredible burst of speed.

If someone had timed him, he might have run 100 meters in under five seconds.

“It’s an ambush!”

“What the hell!”

Mercenaries who had just dozed off scrambled to their feet, grabbing their weapons.

But amid the chaos of the sudden attack, it was difficult for anyone to catch a glimpse of Si-on, who darted like a swallow only through the darkness.

“What—what is that?!”

Si-on’s ears caught the startled voice from his target point.

Simultaneously, three or four figures burst out of the largest tent in a panic, coming into Si-on’s line of sight.

Having reached his target in under ten seconds by traversing a shadowy path, Si-on focused his strength on his right calf.

Thud!

With a drum-like sound, the ground cracked as Si-on, fueled by acceleration, leaped into the air.

Zero seconds.

The distance to the tent was about ten meters.

None of those emerging from the large, ornate tent saw Si-on, who had leapt over five meters high with a single jump from the shadows.

As Si-on soared through the air, he slipped thin shurikens, each about the size of a palm, from his belt and into his fingers.

One second.

Si-on swung his arms as if flicking them.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Six shurikens flew out.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Two seconds.

Three men collapsed with shurikens embedded in their throats, foreheads, and eyes.

Almost simultaneously, Si-on landed on the ground and unleashed a lightning-fast punch.

Three seconds.

Thud!

“Guaaaah!”

With a shriek, Sanders, the knight from the Count Pamel family, collapsed, clutching his right thigh as it burst in pain.

Four seconds.

Leaving Sanders writhing on the ground, Si-on, dual-wielding daggers, leaped into the tent like a feline predator.

Slash! Slash! Slice!

“Ahhhh!”

“Eek!”

With four slashes, the Achilles tendons of the remaining two mercenary leaders were severed, sending them crashing to the ground with horrifying screams.

Five seconds.

“Ughhhh… ughhhh!”

Si-on knocked the screeching Sanders unconscious with a chop to the neck, then hastily tore the tent fabric to staunch Sanders’ leg wound.

All of this occurred in roughly seven to eight seconds after Si-on had propelled himself forward.

“What’s going on?!”

“That bastard…!”

Only then did the mercenaries, realizing that Knight Sanders and the leaders had been attacked in the camp’s center, raise their swords, axes, and maces and began surrounding the tent.

Heh.

For the first time in a long while, Si-on felt the thrill of a real kill-or-be-killed battle with no holds barred.

And against enemies who had dared to crawl into his land without permission and attack the territory Si-on had built with his wife and children, there was even less reason to hold back.

“I’ve spared the ones I need alive, so the rest of you can die now.”

The immortal superhuman, brimming with killing intent, charged into the swarm of enemies like a beast.