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Chapter 7
After that day…
Father immediately began preparing for war.
“We bought some time by eliminating Administrator Purville, but it won’t last long. Everyone, hurry.”
The knights began conscripting men throughout the territory.
The age range was from fifteen to fifty.
In my previous life, fifteen would have seemed far too young, but in this world, fifteen was considered adulthood.
Meanwhile, I continued my hellish training.
[Even if you hide behind the shield, keep your eyes on your opponent until the end! Watch the shoulders—if you can’t, then the feet! Never block your own vision!]
I forced myself to steady my ragged breathing and raised my shield.
Clang! Clang!
Golgol’s sword struck the shield repeatedly.
[Don’t block your view!]
Damn it!
If that were easy, would I be training to become a necromancer?!
How was I supposed to keep my vision clear while hiding behind a shield this big?
And the situation itself was unfair to begin with.
Look at this.
[Golgol, you idiot! When this happens, shove with the shield! That’s it, like that!]
I had only a shield, while Golgol had a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left.
Two weapons!
Why is a shield considered a weapon?
Because if you saw how Golgol used it, you’d understand.
Gol! Gol!
Clang! Clang! Thud!
If his sword couldn’t break through, he’d slam into me with his shield at full force.
Sometimes, if he spotted an opening, he’d even strike with the edge of the shield.
“Agh! Aaagh!”
[Good! Very good! Descendant, Golgol is improving—which means you are improving too!]
It was frustrating, but I had to admit it.
Golgol had more natural talent for physical combat than I did.
How long did we continue this brutal sparring?
[Let’s take a break.]
‘Yes…’
I collapsed onto the training ground, gasping for breath.
My arms and legs ached. My shins and forearms throbbed.
Even with a body strengthened by physical enhancement, nonstop training like this was unbearable.
[Still, your growth is remarkable. Giving Golgol a shield was the right choice.]
‘Really? I don’t feel it.’
[Even if we set swordsmanship aside, I can see your movements improving every time Golgol’s shield work improves. It’s definitely helping.]
It had been my ancestor’s idea to give Golgol a shield.
On the battlefield, you wouldn’t be fighting with just a shield, so he wanted Golgol to train in sword-and-shield combat.
I had asked if I could train that way too, but…
‘You said my attacks would improve naturally through Golgol, so I should focus on defense.’
I lay there staring up at the sky.
White clouds drifted lazily across a blue sky.
[Endure it. One day, this pain will save your life.]
‘Yes.’
They say patience is bitter but bears sweet fruit.
Honestly, patience just felt bitter.
And it didn’t always give fruit in return.
[Enough rest. Back to training.]
“Ugh…”
I stood and gripped my shield again.
At least the training wasn’t meaningless—the shield no longer felt foreign in my hands.
[This time, we’ll practice defending within a limited area. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Fix one foot, and draw a circle with the other. Yes, like that. Don’t leave the circle. And Golgol, you…]
Following my ancestor’s instructions, I drew a circle on the ground and took my stance.
＊ ＊ ＊
Crunch!
A massive sword smashed into the ground.
Splat!
Blood sprayed into the air.
As red splattered across green leaves, Wilhelm calmly withdrew his blade.
Click—clang.
The massive greatsword Cresius folded down with a metallic sound.
Wilhelm sheathed it, now reduced to the size of a normal longsword.
“That sword really is amazing, no matter how many times I see it.”
“……Ren.”
“Anyway, you’re done already?”
Bioren—better known as Ren—looked around with a smile.
They stood in the middle of a forest.
The ground stained red.
Bodies of attackers scattered everywhere.
‘That strength is monstrous, no matter how many times I see it.’
The bloodline of a greatsword wielder and divine power—truly terrifying.
A chill ran down his spine as he recalled their first meeting.
If they hadn’t cleared up that misunderstanding back then…
He might not have died, but he certainly wouldn’t have come out unscathed.
“So,” Ren said.
“Hm?”
“What changed your mind?”
“What do you mean?”
“You usually ignore me no matter how much I beg for help.”
“That was when it had nothing to do with Paladon.”
“And now?”
“I told you. One of them infiltrated my family.”
“Oh, right. When was that again?”
“The day I went to find the necromancer.”
“Ah.”
That had been recently.
As usual, Ren had been drinking when Wilhelm suddenly showed up and asked:
—Do you know anything about necromancy?
—About as much as anyone else.
—Enough to teach someone?
—No.
—You’re both mages. You really can’t?
—I told you, I can’t.
Ren had nearly snapped.
Did this guy think all mages were the same?
Sure, necromancers were technically mages, but there was a reason they were classified separately.
Then Wilhelm had asked:
—Do you have any books?
—What books?
—Necromancy texts.
The nerve of him.
Of course, Ren didn’t have any.
The conversation was about to end when an idea struck him.
—But I do know where you might find a necromancer.
—A necromancer?
—Might not be teacher material, but you could get books from him.
One of them who had crossed into the area recently happened to be a necromancer.
Ren had planned to deal with them anyway.
—So? Going or not?
—Fine. Tell me where. I’ll be quick.
—Then while you’re at it, take this box—
“That was the day,” Ren muttered.
“Hm.”
“If you’ve got something to say, say it while we walk.”
“Sure.”
Wilhelm pushed through the bushes.
Ren followed, glancing at him.
‘Strange…’
Until now, Wilhelm had only cared about Paladon.
No matter how much Ren warned him, he refused to act outside his territory.
Yet now…
Not that Ren minded the help.
Still, it felt odd.
“By the way, what about that necromancer? You made sure to clean everything up, right?”
“I did.”
“Good. You have to burn everything. Otherwise it comes back to haunt you.”
“I don’t recall you telling me that.”
“Tch.”
“Enough. Guide me. Things are getting tense back home.”
“Yeah… I heard Hadion’s preparing to declare war. You sure you don’t want to head back?”
Hadion hadn’t officially declared yet, but everyone knew it was coming.
Normally, Wilhelm would’ve been furious.
Yet strangely, he remained calm.
“Paladon won’t fall to Hadion that easily. Still… we should hurry.”
That was all he said.
Ren frowned.
‘From what I hear, Hadion’s been preparing thoroughly…’
Well, time would tell.
＊ ＊ ＊
Several days later.
A mounted messenger stopped before Paladon’s gates.
“Hiiih!”
The warhorse reared as it halted.
The messenger calmed it and raised his voice.
“Baron Paladon, hear this! I bear a message from Count Hadion!”
The voice echoed across the land.
Villagers stopped what they were doing.
Women with laundry, children at play, farmers resting from their labor.
The messenger raised his banner high.
When Hadion’s crest was revealed, gasps spread through the crowd.
Everyone knew what it meant.
The messenger spoke loudly:
“‘For many years, I have proven this to you. Among the lands you call Paladon’s, there exists territory passed down through generations of House Hadion. This right is recorded in ancient documents, sanctioned by heaven itself. Yet you, Paladon, have turned your back on truth!’”
His voice boomed.
“‘Despite clear records, you cling to false ownership! How shameless! How disgraceful! How dare you trample upon Hadion’s rightful claim!’”
Thud!
He slammed the banner into the ground.
“‘We have given you countless chances. For the sake of your people, we sought peace. We respected your pride. But no more. Reclaiming our land is our sacred duty to both ancestors and descendants!’”
The wind howled as he raised the banner high.
“‘Hadion now declares—if you possess even a shred of honor, do not flee. We will reclaim what is ours by force! Face us, Paladon, and reclaim your hono—!’”
Before he could finish—
A massive sword flew through the air.
Thunk.
It impaled the messenger cleanly.
“…re… re…claim…”
He collapsed.
Baron Paladon turned to Count Balt.
“Retrieve the sword. Cut off his head and send it back to Hadion.”
“At once.”
That was Paladon’s answer to Hadion’s declaration of war.
