ICSME 13

chapter 13

The Invincible Unit

For the past 100 days, Maier had immersed himself in Viktor’s world. Yet, it was clear that some distance still remained. No one spoke first unless Maier did.

Nobles and commoners—
especially the gap between the legitimate heir of a noble house and an ordinary soldier—was not something anyone could forcibly bridge.

But a single word from Maier touched everyone’s hearts.

Comrades.

A word that spoke of comradeship—people who share hardships together, whose backs and lives you can trust—revealed exactly how Maier had approached Viktor’s training over the past 100 days.

Maier had fought fiercely during those 100 days.

But he had never once given up.

Even if it took time, Maier never wavered and carried through everything he needed to do. Seeing him endure the training with such relentlessness, the soldiers’ perspectives on him naturally began to shift.

“Let’s see how far he goes.”
“He’s doing that too?”
“That as well?”
“Persistent.”
“Why go that far?”

The looks of distrust gradually turned into curiosity, then admiration. Even though Maier’s position in the house was miserable, he could have avoided mingling with them and enjoying such camaraderie as the legitimate heir—but he chose Viktor instead.

And he called Viktor a comrade.

He had called them comrades in a situation where no one could intervene, where everyone had to swallow their pride before the knights.

Maier’s confident word sent a huge ripple through the hearts of the five hundred Viktor soldiers.

And the one caught off guard was Sir Baek-eung as well.

Maier had thrown down his gauntlet. That was equivalent to challenging someone to a duel, staking honor on life and death.

The problem? Maier wasn’t a knight.

He was the son of the lord whom the knight served.
And yet, had he insulted someone like Maier?

To insult the son of the lord you serve was essentially to insult the lord himself. Politically, if one pursued this, losing even a mere knight would be trivial.

The knight’s face went pale as that realization hit. Maier, seeing this, inwardly rejoiced.

“I knew it would come to this.”

Maier didn’t act recklessly. He had a calculated reason for stepping forward. But he showed no joy; with a stern face, he addressed Sir Baek-eung firmly.

“What are you doing? Refusing a duel? Since this is a duel for noble honor, if you mock it, I will report directly to my father to have your knighthood revoked.”

The current lord was essentially neglecting Maier, yet that didn’t change the fact that Maier was still the lord’s son. Whether Maier would report this matter himself remained unknown—but the possibility was more than enough to exist.

Sir Baek-eung stammered.

“Th-That’s not it… I…”
“Are you making excuses, knight of the Garden house?!”

Once Maier seized the initiative, he pressed the knight relentlessly. Sir Baek-eung had come intending lightly to dominate Viktor and humiliate them. He had never expected Maier to intervene.

To them, Maier was still a weak, pitiful young noble.

“If dueling me is too burdensome, we can do this.”

Maier glared at Sir Baek-eung.

“Your squire and I will duel. If I lose, I will apologize to you and step back. If I win…”

Sir Baek-eung’s eyes lit up, believing Maier was giving him an opening. Despite being a squire, he thought:

‘They say I can win by taking advantage of the Iron Bear Commander’s squire’s carelessness. Only a hundred days have passed, but I can’t possibly lose to someone who has trained for years. I have a chance.’

Maier, reading the knight’s thoughts perfectly, spoke:

“Then your squire will be my opponent. What is your name?”

This knight didn’t even have a name that suggested many generations of noble lineage. But if Maier won, it would disgrace him greatly. Moreover, it would tarnish the honor of the Baek-eung knights as well.

“Sir Isaac Derun.”
“Sir Isaac. Do you swear to accept this duel, a sacred affair?”

Throwing down a noble’s gauntlet symbolizes honor. To refuse as a knight is to disrespect the opponent’s honor.

And since the opponent was the lord’s son, Isaac had no other choice. His only option was to accept the challenge and defeat Maier.

Isaac nodded.

“I accept.”
“Good. Then the duel will be in three days. Now…”

Maier turned to Sir Baek-eung and the other knights who had come to mock Viktor and glared.

“What are you doing? Leaving without bowing after this is over?”

Those who had foolishly crossed Maier hesitated, then bowed deeply in respect before disappearing.

Maier checked that they were gone, then looked back. Hundreds of Viktor soldiers were staring at him with burning eyes.

“Why are you all staring?”

Feeling their gaze, Maier chuckled softly.

“Does it upset you that I called you comrades?”

Comrades.

At Maier’s repetition of the word, a few soldiers stepped forward, knelt, and prostrated themselves before him.

“No, my lord. From now on, you are our comrade of Viktor.”

These were the squad leaders among the soldiers. If they recognized Maier, it meant all the others did too.

Maier clenched his fists inwardly.

“Done.”

Winning the hearts of Viktor.
This had been another goal Maier had nurtured during the past 100 days of physical training.

Most of the factions in the Garden house supported Kyle. Considering Kyle’s 5-star+ status, it was natural. Supporting a strong heir was common in the Garden house, which valued reverence and strength.

But not Viktor. Viktor was loyal solely to Erigo Garden, and only to the lord, Rando.

Moreover, since Viktor was composed of common soldiers, forming factions like the others was nearly impossible.

But even that was fine for Maier.

“The bond like family.”

The 100 days were not just for Viktor to observe Maier—they were also for Maier to closely watch Viktor.

And the conclusion was clear:

Viktor’s bonds were as tight as family. Enduring hellish training under Rando daily, surviving the harshest battlefields, the pride of being the “invincible unit”—all this bound them together.

If Maier could earn their hearts, he would gain a family of five hundred.

Though commoners, and often dismissed, even that was precious to Maier.

Above all, there was Rando.

“Rando Bellins.”

Winning Rando’s favor was like gaining a thousand troops. Maier helped the kneeling squad leaders to their feet.

“There’s no need to bow to your comrades like that. From now on… always.”

Excitement flashed in the eyes of the squad leaders and other soldiers. Viktor had always been the subject of jealousy, even for great achievements. They had never heard praise.

Yet, the lord’s son called them comrades, recalling the injustices they had suffered.

Maier smiled warmly at the squad leaders and soldiers behind them.

“From now on, take care of yourselves, comrades.”

That night, a visitor came to Maier’s annex.

“Sir Rando. And your lieutenant as well?”
“May we come in for a moment?”

Rando and Vector had come to Maier’s annex. Maier greeted them with an awkward expression.

“It’s humble, but please, come in.”

Rando did not arrive empty-handed. Maier happily received the provisions Rando brought.

“We were almost out. Looks like I won’t have to worry about food for a while.”

Vector was speechless at the desolation of the annex. He had heard of Maier, but not expected this.

Yet, despite being the lord’s son, Maier was delighted by simple provisions. This proved how hard his life had been.

Vector’s expression grew conflicted.

After tidying the provisions, Maier returned with a chipped cup filled with cold water and placed it in front of them.

“So… why did you come?”

Vector rose and prostrated himself before Maier.

“I heard you stepped in on my behalf. Thank you, my lord.”

Vector had been stunned, and then learned what had happened to the soldiers. Maier stepping in, and calling the soldiers comrades, compelled Vector to visit.

“There’s no need to thank me. I just didn’t want to see them behave badly.”

Even knowing Maier was present, they had crossed a line. They had underestimated Maier, not expecting him to intervene directly.

“I heard you were caught up in troublesome matters because of that.”

Including the duel challenge from Sir Baek-eung. Vector paused, then bit his lip firmly and spoke decisively.

“You didn’t need to do that.”
“Why?”
“It’s an internal matter of Viktor. It could have become a serious problem for you.”

An internal matter of Viktor—Vector was drawing a line.

Yet Maier was not offended. Vector was not being harsh—he was worried about Maier.

Previously, Maier had defeated Morgan, the Iron Bear Commander’s squire. Morgan was still recovering from his injuries.

Knowing this, the other squires would not underestimate Maier again. If the victory over Morgan had been a fluke, Maier could have been seriously hurt.

“Internal matter? That’s disappointing. I called them comrades, you know.”
“That’s…”

Vector was speechless at Maier’s words. Maier smiled wryly.

“Just joking. I figured it would be hard to win over a lieutenant. But there’s no need to worry.”

Maier looked at Rando.

“I don’t plan to lose. Isn’t that right, Sir Rando?”

100 days.

Even after 100 days, Rando had never given Maier a definitive answer. He allowed Maier to train with Viktor, but never offered more.

Yet here he was, visiting Maier.

“I realized it’s not just Sir Rando or Lieutenant Vector who make Viktor what it is. The soldiers are too closely bonded.”

Viktor was a unit forged by time and shared hardships, bound by an unbreakable camaraderie.

“Those soldiers called me a comrade. I called them comrades in return. So, the lieutenant’s matters are not only his—they concern all of Viktor.”

Rando remained silent. Maier reinforced his point.

“So, teach me, so the reputation of the invincible unit remains untarnished. Sir Rando. Even if you are not involved…”

Maier smiled.

“I am already part of Viktor, am I not?”