Chapter 6
Chapter 6
What does it feel like to be born a genius?
I didn’t know.
And today, I finally realized it.
When someone is born with talent worthy of being called a genius…
And there is someone capable of matching that rhythm with them…
Life alone becomes fulfilling.
“Kang-!”
Quereg’s practice Force Shield’s energy barrier was blocked by my sword.
On the second exchange, I succeeded in deflecting his strike.
“…!”
Shock colored Quereg’s face.
And at the same time, movements were assembling in my mind.
The sword form he had just used.
Weight applied.
A step forward.
A thrust.
And the release of a barrier.
BOOM—!
Quereg easily crossed his blades to block.
But his expression was one of disbelief.
“That was… Knight Order standard sword form 1…”
I had never trained in swordsmanship.
This morning, I had only swung a sword a few times alone.
And even that was a completely different form.
It wasn’t a complicated form, but it wasn’t something you could copy instantly either.
And yet—
“…You replicated the First Form perfectly after seeing it just once…!”
Originally, the duke never followed sword forms.
He didn’t need to.
His enemies were torn apart like paper in his hands anyway.
Even the invasion of Laviel had been the result of that arrogance.
When you already had monstrous power in your hands, why learn swordsmanship?
It was better to drink another bottle of stimulant serum—that was Ryan’s original mindset.
But now things were different.
And Quereg, knowing exactly what kind of man he used to be, felt his old warrior soul surge.
A lifetime of honed combat skill, acknowledged by his lord—now a physical monster of overwhelming talent.
And such perfect form at that!
He couldn’t help but get excited.
“Then please try this as well…!”
His momentum surged forward again.
The same pressure as before.
But suddenly, his presence vanished.
“…Behind!”
An instinct-like warning pierced my spine.
I turned—
Quereg was already charging from behind.
I rolled sideways reflexively.
BOOM—!
A blue energy barrier exploded where I had been standing.
That would’ve hurt.
“This is the second form of standard swordsmanship. Like a wolf forming a pack, it strikes both front and rear—”
Flash!
I rushed forward and accelerated mid-charge, instantly slipping behind him.
“…! You’ve already learned this as well?!”
But his counter was different from mine.
Without even looking, he grabbed my extended arm—
THUD—!!
And slammed me into the ground.
“Kuh…!”
“Against the second form, you must rely on sensation while facing forward. You must not take your eyes off the front even when defending the rear. Otherwise…”
“Then you transition into the first form.”
“…That’s correct.”
Swordsmanship… was it always this fun?
I stood up again.
“Do you have another?”
“Your Highness. Perhaps we should stop for today…”
“I’m fine.”
Normally, this is where a fat-bodied wastrel would quit.
But the stimulant serum was absurd.
Even though it was non-lethal, that was for knights.
For normal humans, just getting hit by a Force Sword’s barrier would turn them into pulp.
And yet… I could still fight.
And more than that… I didn’t want to stop.
This was too fun.
“You’ve been hoarding this all to yourselves and living like this?”
It felt like I had wasted half my life.
“Alright, next lesson.”
After our first sparring session, Quereg gave me several more “lessons.”
Naturally, I got beaten so hard I couldn’t breathe.
Then he assigned me a task.
“My assignment is dungeon clearing.”
“Dungeon clearing?”
“Yes. Starting with 100 regular knights.”
Not simultaneously.
Even so, it was not an easy task.
“Regular” knights still meant elite monsters of Amiratess—humans capable of overturning nations.
So I got destroyed repeatedly.
And the knights’ gazes weren’t exactly warm either.
They deeply distrusted the duke.
It wasn’t something that could be easily fixed.
Clang.
A knight’s sword was placed against my neck.
“…I lost.”
“Good work. I almost… lost myself.”
We shook hands.
“You still lost though. I learned a lot.”
“…Thank you.”
Their grit was impressive.
A duke like this would normally hold back and fake it.
But this wasn’t some casual playground.
Of course, I also took a few punches to the face—probably personal.
“Your name?”
“…Kylis.”
I remembered it.
Not because I was salty.
Just… because I wanted to beat him next time.
And so I participated in all the training courses alongside the knights.
Combat against the Krig required not just strategy, but individual skill and teamwork.
So I proposed a training regimen.
Field training.
And since it was in Fenrir territory, it naturally became winter survival training too.
Honestly, my inner self screamed.
Are you insane?
Why are we reliving this trauma again?!
But the voice quickly quieted.
Because this mission was important.
Otherwise—loss of duke position.
Empty castle.
Famine rising.
Civil unrest.
Enjoy that?
Anyway, I somehow succeeded in implanting the concept of field training into the knight officers.
And the result—
“PT Exercise Number 8! 950 reps!”
“Agh!”
“Louder! 1000 reps!”
“Aaaagh!”
“900 reps! Start!”
Not 9. Not 90.
Nine hundred.
Absurd numbers—but the knights didn’t even flinch.
I couldn’t even understand their bodies anymore.
I wasn’t physically tired.
It was my mind that was dying.
Ah… self-inflicted disaster.
“998… 999… 1000!”
Someone messed up the count.
Not me.
Definitely not me.
“WHO WAS IT!!”
The knights’ “warm camaraderie” immediately turned into violence.
Truly wholesome.
Human fear peaks at 110-meter rope descent buildings…
Blocking a full-speed truck with a shield…
Anyway.
One week passed.
It was time for deployment.
FWOOSH—!
A blue light spread across Zenith-IV.
Through it, over 100 knights appeared in reinforced suits and helmets.
Quereg, walking ahead, suddenly stopped.
Your Grace.
His voice was distorted through the helmet.
What is it?
From here on, please take command.
“…That’s sudden.”
It is appropriate both formally and practically. You are the one who knows Zenith-VI best.
He was right.
Without handing full authority to Quereg, confusion among knights was inevitable.
And I couldn’t skip either.
Only I knew the activation code.
Understood.
Yes, sir.
All units. Advance north-south formation.
Blizzard raged endlessly.
But navigation systems held steady.
Then—
A knight suddenly swung his sword.
What is it?
A Krig monster… ah, no. Just a frozen one. My apologies.
No. Good job.
“…What?”
He had just killed a frozen Bainrisk, a high-tier Krig unit.
If the Melter activated, it would thaw and attack.
All units. Any Krig encountered is to be eliminated immediately.
Understood.
Meanwhile, Quereg watched the duke’s back.
‘…As expected.’
The duke had changed.
Calmer. Sharper. More capable than during the war.
A true commander.
The burden in Quereg’s heart lifted slightly.
Then—
STOP.
The knights halted.
Before them stood a massive structure.
The Stellar Fusion Melter.
A knight muttered:
That looks like… a certain shape.
Hey! Don’t say it out loud!!
I ignored it.
We enter. Prepare swords and muskets.
The moment we entered—
Grrrrrr…
A beast’s growl echoed.
Combat ready!
Clang!
Knights drew Force Swords.
Thud thud thud—
Beasts approached.
Charge.
Quereg raised his sword.
FOR THE EMPEROR!!
WAAAAAH!!
The knights surged forward.
It was a massacre.
Riggling were torn apart like paper.
Firerisks spat acid—
SIZZLE.
It couldn’t pierce armor.
BANG!
Their heads exploded under musket fire.
Area secured. Your Grace, Melter is under control.
Proceed to engine core.
We advanced.
Inside the engine room—
There was nothing.
Only a grand piano.
“…What is that?”
“Looks like a typewriter…”
In this empire, Amiratess, culture and art were secondary.
Only war mattered.
Naturally, this was a hostile faction in the romance novel.
And this structure’s ignition system—
A piano.
I removed my gauntlet and pressed C.
Then G.
Am, F.
A knight whispered:
“…It sounds nice.”
DUNNNG—!!
The engine roared to life.
I-IT’S ACTIVATING!!
How did an ancient relic like this…?!
The knights were shocked.
Remove your helmets and focus.
Y-Yes!
We exited the room.
Outside, all knights stared at me.
Hope itself stood before them.
Then—
KRAAAANG—!!
The wall shattered.
Bainrisks poured in.
Formation! Defensive fire!
This was what the Winterwolf Knights had trained for.
All week.
For this exact moment.