Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (4)
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Ronan seemed to have no intention of backing down. Adeshan, who had been staring into his eyes for a moment, bowed her head deeply. Her lips parted softly.
“...There was a war.”
“War?”
“Yeah. Strictly speaking, maybe not a full war. Have you heard of the Night of Fangs?”
Ronan nodded. He had heard of it a few times while rolling as a penal soldier. It was the incident where the Northern Beastman Alliance led a great army to invade the Barza Frontier Count.
It was also famous for being led by Jaifa, who now held the Sword Saint's seat. Ronan nodded.
“To some extent.”
“Good. That makes the story quicker. My hometown is the Barza Frontier Count in the north. I lived there until the Night of Fangs happened.”
The two walked slowly through the forest, conversing. With each step, the accumulated fallen leaves crunched and shattered underfoot.
“My father was a tailor. He settled in the north following my mother, who was a sergeant in the Imperial Army. I had two older brothers much older than me.”
“You must have learned sewing from your father.”
“Yeah. My father was an excellent tailor. Not just fabrics, but he handled leather well too, so business was decent even in the north. He made me do a lot of the small tasks, so sewing became second nature. Haha.”
“What was your mother like?”
“Hmm... incredibly tough yet beautiful, and kind. The ideal soldier, I suppose? She often gave me piggyback rides, and since she was tall, it was a treat for the eyes.”
Adeshan spoke of her childhood memories with a voice full of joy. Her meticulous and gentle personality seemed inherited from her father, while her tall stature and refined appearance from her mother.
Adeshan had two older brothers, nearly ten years her senior. They were both very interested in martial arts and took great care of her.
“It was really happy. During the day, I'd help father with sewing, and at night, the whole family including mother would eat together. My brothers always sliced a bit of their meat onto my plate. Saying I needed to eat a lot since I was growing. I thought those days would last forever, forever...”
Adeshan's voice trailed off. A deep shadow fell over her face.
“Until the Night of Fangs happened.”
Finally, the story that made her dream of becoming Grand General began.
“I still remember it. It was the weekend, during dinner, when suddenly the horn from the castle walls blared. My mother, who had been unusually quiet that day, grabbed her sword and left the house as if she had been waiting. After kissing each family member's cheek.”
“The family knew.”
“Yeah. Everyone except me. Next, my brothers followed mother out. As always, placing their share of food on my plate. That was the last time I saw mother and my brothers.”
There had been signs of trouble with beastmen in the north for a long time. Though much improved now, many northern beastmen, who valued wildness and tradition, extremely despised mingling with other races.
But the Empire didn't stop expanding north. Friendly tribes were wooed with delegations, opponents crushed with armies.
When the sacred land Juvermaz became imperial territory, the opposing beastmen's fury peaked. Ultimately, beastmen gathered under Jaifa's banner ignited the Night of Fangs.
Ronan clicked his tongue. Back when fighting werewolves in the north under Armallen Count with Marya, he knew their danger well.
‘Few as annoying as those furballs.’
Beastmen had superior physical abilities to humans. Not to mention were-lions or were-tigers treated as living weapons, even werewolves or werefoxes could handle five or six human soldiers without mana.
The Night of Fangs was when 10,000 such beastmen invaded the frontier count. Barza's walls fell to the beasts in less than three days. Adeshan said.
“My father hugged the panicking me and put me on the cart. We fled to a refugee camp near the capital. That's when the death notice came. Blood-soaked dog tags... from mother and my two brothers.”
Most deaths then were soldiers, mostly from the frontier count.
They had to become the walls after the useless ones fell. Holding the defensive line with their bodies to buy time for the main force from the rear.
Unfortunately, Adeshan's mother and brothers' unit took that role.
“Mother and brothers died like pawns on a chessboard. Called a defensive line, but it was just meat shields. Everyone says it was unavoidable, but I don't agree.”
The survivor from mother's unit delivered the news. The soldier missing right arm and left leg told of that day's truth and horrors.
“We could have lived. Not just mother and brothers, but many more soldiers didn't have to die. The notice called it noble sacrifice, but really, they didn't have to die.”
The survivor said they were sent to slaughter without plan. Even soldiers and NCOs saw better strategies.
But command didn't change orders. They achieved the goal anyway, and after, pinned medals on their chests. Still, Adeshan hears the survivor's mutter as he left.
- Why did we have to die...
Adeshan continued in a hoarse voice.
“Every year, I visit the memorial in my hometown and search for mother and brothers' names. The letters are small and high up, hard to see.”
“Adeshan.”
“I will become Grand General. No more memorials needed on this land. At least not ones covered in names of those who should have lived...”
Finally, a tear rolled down her cheek. Ronan naturally turned his gaze to the forest as if admiring it.
Past or present, seeing the superior cry was uncomfortable. Soon, Adeshan wiped her eyes and smiled brightly.
“...Sorry. It was boring, huh.”
“Not a cheerful story.”
“Ahaha. Actually, that reaction is more comfortable.”
Ronan sighed. She was too different from her previous life self.
Who was Grand General Adeshan? The one who saw sacrificing pawns for generals as natural, who ground imperial legions for Ronan alone.
‘What the hell happened.’
Hard to believe same person. This era's Adeshan still held jewel-like hope and goodwill. Desk theory maybe, but Ronan thought it not bad. Stroking his chin, Ronan spoke.
“What about your father?”
“He returned to hometown and resumed tailoring. Right where the house was.”
“I see. Not scared of beastmen? Plenty in Phileon alone.”
“Can’t say not scared at all, but okay. What killed mother and brothers was incompetent command, really. And when enlisting, gotta interact with beastman soldiers too.”
“Positive, good.”
They walked in silence for a while. Soon trees thinned, a gentle but high hill appeared. Adeshan spread arms to the frontal wind.
“Ah, refreshing.”
“Yeah.”
“Climb up there, and the whole island in view, right?”
“Hm?”
Adeshan pointed to the hill with her index finger. Indeed, straight up, clearly the island's highest point. Glancing at the top, Ronan frowned.
“What's that...?”
“Huh? Yeah, something built there.”
Far, hard to see, but some structure. Couldn't guess what. Ronan nodded.
“Well, we'll see when we get there.”
They climbed slowly. Sky neared with each step.
Ronan silent whole way up. His mind swirled with Adeshan's actions so far and their talk. Girl unbroken by adversity. Future Grand General hating worthless deaths.
‘Ah, whatever.’
Finally, long deliberation since returning in time ended. Ronan's lips parted softly.
“Adeshan.”
“Yeah?”
“Senior, you're not talentless in mana.”
“What suddenly?”
“Your mana is special. Called shadow mana, I think. Needs separate awakening. Among all mana, most secretive, mysterious, unpredictable power.”
“...What?”
Adeshan stopped. Ronan ahead stopped too. Confused voice from Adeshan.
“Who told you that? Shadow mana...?”
“From someone I know. Don't know details of shadow mana. But remember the abilities from it were incredibly strong.”
Couldn't say from future her. Strong wind tousled their hair. Ronan looked at girl in his cloak and spoke.
“And, I'll help you.”
“Uh...?”
“Let's try it. Grand General.”
Ronan admitted his weakness. Couldn't tell her to go home and sew. Probably never could. Then, helping her achieve dream now was right choice.
“You...”
Adeshan stood frozen, staring at Ronan's face. Gray eyes swirled emotions. Then, voice from behind.
“Finally found you. Ronan.”
“Fuck.”
Familiar deep voice. Ronan scowled. Turned, familiar face. Schlieffen leaned against mysterious building.
“Searched long. Sliced all other rivals meanwhile.”
“Sch, Schlieffen...!”
Adeshan paled. Ronan sighed, hand to forehead. Face alone tired him.
“You're really crazy bastard... How many got?”
“51. Some decent, but only you worthy opponent.”
“Stay there, don't move. Let us see the view too.”
Ronan took hesitant Adeshan up the rest. Indeed, island's summit. Narrow dense forest, small plain, deep blue sea around. Ronan stretched.
“Great view. Right.”
“Y-yeah... nice... but... you okay?”
But Adeshan no time for view. Watched Schlieffen like facing beast.
This island's worst possible opponents surrounded her. Schlieffen, arms crossed, glanced at Adeshan.
“Instructor Naviroje's assistant. Always indebted.”
“Ah, yeah... hi.”
“Surviving till now, must have skill. But that cloak on shoulders not yours.”
“Th-that's...”
Adeshan blushed. Schlieffen no further pry. Ronan, looking around, spoke.
“But sure only three left?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Senior, come see this. What kind of building?”
Ronan touched mysterious building, called Adeshan. Thick pillar-shaped, purpose unknown.
“Huh? Yeah... wait.”
Interest in Adeshan's eyes. Ignored Schlieffen, examined building. Not beacon, domed roof. Not lighthouse, short. Sleek walls unknown metal.
“Strange... never seen this style?”
Moment Adeshan forgot two. Ronan's whisper beside.
“Sorry Adeshan. But three's not bad?”
“Huh?”
Slash. Ronan swung Ramancha. Adeshan's figure distorted, vanished. Schlieffen said.
“Not together, huh.”
“Too rough for senior.”
“Wise judgment.”
Shing! Schlieffen drew sword. Different from before. Unknown runes on blade, ominous aura rising.
“Good sword. Doron made?”
“Yes. Not Pale Lord, but.”
“Enough.”
They stepped back ten paces like arena duel. Ronan pulled hilt, thin blade like dragonfly wing emerged. Spun Ramancha, gripped, spoke.
“Then, shall we.”
Silence. Instantly, figures vanished from sight. Charging each other, collided mid. Kaaang!! Sharp metal rang, tearing wind.
“This time, show all.”
Schlieffen said. Blades crossed, grinding. Ronan no answer. Schlieffen again.
“Me too.”
Then, wind-shaped mana wrapped Schlieffen's sword, rising. Noticing Storm Sword, Ronan cursed. Kang!! Strong slash parted, Schlieffen shot sword aura at Ronan.
“Crazy bastard...!”
Ronan diagonal slash. Aura split two, fell at feet. Kwaaaa! Blade whirlwind radius 5m surged beside Ronan.