Chapter 44

When Kaisen returned from his reconnaissance mission, he was able to meet a familiar face…

Ria Alter Tas Alfo. Her once-blonde hair, a feature of her noble blood, had faded to white and lost its warmth and elasticity.

“Would it be strange if I said it’s been a while?” He gave a somewhat shy and awkward greeting.

Ria’s eyes turned to him, golden and draconic, just like his. Those ‘similarities’ made him sad rather than happy.

Was it the fate of Fake Warriors to have the same appearance and follow the same paths in life?

“You’ve already been appointed, huh?”

“I took the same amount of time as you.”

“I took eight months and you… Ah… I guess so.”

“Master was just laughing that she had something to brag about to Kamila, along with Chief Instructor Olliere.”

“Wasn’t my appointment process greatly shortened due to the urgency of the war?” Kaisen asked.

“What do you mean by that? You aren’t going to say that you were incompetent, right?” Ria narrowed her eyes and continued to argue.

They shook their heads and exchanged helpless laughter that brought about deep memories.

Maybe it was because their laughter still reflected the playfulness of their youth, back before they became heroes, but it vaguely reminded Kaisen of the time he was still with them all.

“You haven’t changed,” Kaisen said.

Ria smiled bitterly. “Thanks to you.”

“Me?”

“You saved me from losing my teacher. If you hadn’t done that, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

They’d said Sharon Alter Tas Alfo died after seeing Ria become a Fake Warrior. Unlike her old friends, she lived to see her disciple grow up and inherit her holy sword.

Unlike her friend, who died first, she was able to share many joys, sorrows, and memories in the quiet of a prepared farewell.

Unlike her friend, she was able to meet old comrades, reminisce about many things, and teach her juniors in the Temple of the Sword of Bravery.

“It’s all thanks to you. I’ll be grateful to you until the moment I die.” Ria’s words were full of restrained emotions.

Because Kaisen had experienced it first, he could read the sadness of never being able to meet someone again.

“I didn’t have much time when Master died. We had a lot to talk about, but we didn’t have time, so I had to just listen,” he said.

“Kaisen…”

“I didn’t want you or Senior Sharon to have to go through something like that. I’m glad.” Though he couldn’t go see them or talk to them again, the feeling of missing them never went away.

Whenever he talked about his teacher, he couldn’t help but feel pain in his heart.

“Thank you. It looks like you’re okay, seeing that you can speak so calmly. I was very worried.”

“Why?”

“Because… you don’t need to act like you don’t know.”

“What?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Surely, the scouting team told you? Was it only mentioned at the official meeting?” Ria frowned and hesitated several times before finally answering. “The leader of the uruk clan that holds Aurelinople is the Kiral Clan.”

“…!”

“They’re the clan that destroyed the White Bone Corps and the Black Rose Corps in Aristapo around this time last year…”

* * *

「As you all know, Aurelinople was a key strategic point in the old empire during the years of war.」

Perhaps it was only natural. After it had fallen, it had become the greatest base for the abyss’s invasion.

「The military might of the demon races in the central front is currently at its weakest due to the crushing defeat they suffered when they lost the Mauna Roa. This is a great opportunity for us to recapture Aurelinople.」

It was their first opportunity… also, at the same time, it may have been the last opportunity.

If they missed it, Aurelinople would forever be lost.

“What can we do?” Marshal Melvin asked.

“Aurelinople is one of the great cities of the past. Its defenses can be said to be impregnable.”

“Furthermore, the enemy force consists of 800,000 uruk troops led by the Kiral Clan and 200,000 bloodkin led by the Pale Baronets!” Deputy Marshal Renathil added.

“If you add up all the other minor demon races, I think the number easily exceeds five million. The entire central frontline army could gather there.”

“In comparison, even if the mountain range defense force were to be united, our number would only be 1.2 million. This figure, of course, would be if all defenses were given up.”

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous to give up defending the mountain range? In the last battle, we only won less than 20% of battles that weren’t defensive in nature,” Marshal Asiulf asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

“If you plan to launch an all-out war, who will break through the Kiral Clan’s cavalry?”

“The Kiral Clan has the largest number of cavalry units among the Hai-tark clans. The strength and brutality of its wolf cavalry have already been proven in countless battles!”

“Yes, the undefeated White Bone Corps was also annihilated by the Kiral Clan last year.”

The Marshals, deputy marshals, and rank-and-file officers discussed while sneaking glances at Kaisen.

Kaisen Alter Aradamantel was the direct disciple of Kamila Alter Aradamantel, who died at the time, and was the one who survived the massacre.

“As the war in the Red Mountains changes to a siege, commemorative skills are losing their momentum, but battles on the plains are still difficult…”

“The mountain defense line is still functioning well. Is there any need to take a risky gamble…?”

“Your Excellency, if you really want to go, how about luring out the Kiral from the mountain range first?”

That was the first time that commanders so actively objected to the Heavenly Castle’s judgment.

The Red Mountains were a comfortable place for humankind.

The Heavenly Castle quietly closed his eyes at the limitations of humanity, who only looked at the present. 「My decision will not change. The entire army will be dispatched at this time tomorrow.」

“Then who will be the Kiral Clan’s opponent?”

“Please leave it to me.” A voice suddenly emerged from the ranks of the otherwise silent Fake Warriors.

All eyes focused in that direction, and when they saw who’d spoken, most of them grew quiet.

Kaisen Alter Aradamantel… He’d acquired many military honors in the short period of time he’d been active.

“You’re going to do it?”

“Yes, Marshal Melvin.”

“This is different from cutting down 3,000 of the Tahuf Clan and rushing against the Nuwigin Clan. What can you do?”

“I will break through the west gate via the main road leading from the plains.”

“Are you serious? This battle is different. The enemy unit is different! Countless great generals have been trampled under the Kiral Clan’s feet and become the dew on the battlefield!”

“It’s not a problem.”

“It’s not just your teacher! Eltyre Alter Pladimarte was also killed by the Kiral when Aurelinople fell, but you’re going to break through them all by yourself? In three minutes?” Marshal Melvin’s concerns represented the doubts of everyone present.

Perhaps it seemed like an admonishment to the young man, who was the only one who spoke in favor amidst all the opposition.

The Heavenly Castle’s quiet eyes turned to Kaisen. 「Originally, I was planning to order the Iron Cross to lead a frontal breakthrough. Kaisen, I wanted to assign you to a different place. Do you know why?」

“I don’t know.”

「I have observed 100 futures in which you lost your rationale in your quest for vengeance. In 99 of them, you lose your mind and die there.」

The White Bone Corps appeared before his eyes—rain was falling on bodies that had been hacked apart by axes, crushed by blunt objects, and ripped up by wolves.

It reminded him of Eltoram, a white bear who had died after being ravaged by over a hundred arrows and axe blades, with his entire body crushed and his bones sticking out of his fur.

In the rain, he remembered Kamila’s smile as she died, laughing for the last time, and he remembered the heat of the tears flowing down his face.

He couldn’t collect their corpses.

Did they rot, or were they dried up by the volcanic ash?

In his head and mind, he grieved hundreds, no… a thousand times.

He alone lived. As such, he thought he had no right to see them.

A fire burned deep in his heart—a hole in the depths of his soul—causing his throat to dry up.

For Kaisen, his memorial service was a ritual of the sword where he repayed his comrades’ deaths with more death instead of mourning and crying.

“I don’t have confidence that I will be able to keep my composure. Nor do I have any intention of doing so.”

「…」

“I will make sure to cut through everything, and I will not die.”

Again, the noise in the room grew louder. Gorgothia Alter Zierda whistled, while Seria and Ria, who understood his vengeful spirit, quietly closed their eyes.

The Heavenly Castle asked again, 「Even if you are not allowed to release your seal?」

The Heavenly Castle knew the power of turning emotions into strength. The heat that gushed from within the body was a long stream of power for the warriors, and in that heat, they withered and died like firewood, burning to reveal the truth and then disappearing into ash.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Murmurs of concern grew louder.

“Without releasing the dragon spirit, The Kiral Clan…”

“If you don’t have dragon spirit, aren’t you worse than other Fake Warriors…?!”

As if cutting the commotion with a knife, the lead Fake Warrior, Loveris Alter Shirfang, spoke, “The Iron Cross will assist Kaisen Alter Aradamantel with all its might, so everyone, don’t worry.”

“What…?”

“Do you plan to join him…?!”

“Do you think we can achieve this absurdity…?.”

“If the Heavenly Castle gives an order, it is my duty as a Fake Warrior to follow it, and I can only do my duty.”

The Heavenly Castle closed his eyes for a moment. Behind his closed eyes, countless futures humans could not see were unfolding.

After a while, when all the chatter had subsided into silence, he quietly opened his eyes. 「I entrust the Knights of the Iron Cross of Loveris Alter Shirfang and Kaisen Alter Aradamantel to break through the gates of Aurelinople.」

* * *

“Thank you for your help.” After the expedition meeting concluded and they returned to the Iron Cross’s camp, Kaisen expressed his sincere gratitude to Loveris.

“You only need to promise two things…”

“Please speak.”

“Break through the front, but don’t act like a moth—we won’t come to help you then. I have no intention of ordering my subordinates to die.”

“You don’t have to worry.”

“Oh, and you don’t have anything to thank me for,” Loveris said, hitting Kaisen in the middle of his chest with her fist. “You’re not the only one who wants to avenge her, and the Kiral owe me something else…”

“…What else?”

“Make this the last time you show your emotions, especially those related to revenge.”

“Why?”

“A warrior must be like that—he must be able to create a positive atmosphere, not a negative one.”

Loveris looked like a sage looking beyond this world, into the source of all things. “Kaisen, surpass your teacher, and become a hero like her teacher, Raminea.”