The Practicality of Real Combat (Part 1)
This is troublesome.
Countess Elfrid, the intelligence chief of the Brigham Empire and a female archmage of the 7th Circle, furrowed her brows as she read a report.
“What seems to be the matter?”
Her adjutant, Baron Joseph, approached and asked.
“Adrian Lawrence has already been granted a title.”
“Ah, I see. You mean the man who reached the 7th Circle at the same age as me?”
“Yes. His Majesty the Emperor instructed us to recruit him, but it has become problematic. I never expected him to move so quickly.”
“Could the power struggle in the Lheinhatz Kingdom have hastened the granting of the title?”
“Correct. Failing to anticipate this is clearly my own fault.”
“The Lawrence Kingdom must come first anyway. Master has many other places to be concerned about as well.”
“No, that is merely self-justification.”
Baron Joseph, who had achieved the 6th Circle at twenty years old and was also Elfrid’s disciple, was a man who spared no effort when it came to his master’s affairs.
From a good perspective, one could say he held Master in the highest respect, but from a negative viewpoint, it could be said he loved Master too much.
“Master seems quite interested in Adrian Lawrence.”
“That goes without saying. You and I are the same age, but Master and I are at vastly different levels. Perhaps he will reach the 8th Circle before I do.”
“Haha.”
Joseph found it rather disagreeable that his master would react this way while thinking of other mages of their generation.
“Still, if we were to offer the Empire’s title, wouldn’t he at least consider it? The difference between the Lawrence Kingdom’s baron and Brigham Empire’s baron is considerable.”
“It is not that simple. He has been granted the title of earl in the Lheinhatz Kingdom.”
“What?”
Joseph could not help but be surprised that this was an unforeseen development.
Although titles could not be directly compared, an earl from the Lheinhatz Kingdom was undoubtedly better than a baron from the Brigham Empire.
But the truly awkward part came next.
“Moreover, the moment he received the title, he submitted simultaneous territorial war applications to four earldoms. Even during the title-granting ceremony, in front of the Lheinhatz King.”
“What… Is he insane? He is a newly titled noble, after all. Does he even have the strength to fight four earldoms?”
Such actions made no sense on the surface.
Yet the sheer oddity of it only made a smile spread across the lips of Elfrid, the Brigham Empire’s intelligence chief, whose reputation earned her the nickname “Icicle Flower.”
“I suppose we will see. Whether he is a fool with no plan, or a madman with some scheme.”
“Master?”
“I must go to the Lheinhatz Kingdom. With a bit of luck, I might even get to watch this man’s battle with my own eyes.”
“What? Does that mean you are leaving this place empty…”
“Yes. Leave the rest to me. If you can serve as my deputy, there will be no problem.”
At Elfrid’s declaration, Joseph felt a fierce burning of hatred toward Adrian.
He alone was to monopolize his beautiful master’s attention, yet that strange man had to barge in.
* * *
As long as the supply issues are properly resolved, it is better to wage war on enemy soil than on my own.
I therefore swiftly mobilized my army and positioned forces before the four earldoms that could be considered enemies.
This was both a choice to protect my assets and my people, and an intentional move to instill fear in my foes.
“Huff… Your Excellency the Earl, I understand the territorial war permit has not yet been issued. This does not appear to be an act of ignoring regulations.”
I divided my troops into four groups, assigning to three locations forces that were nearly equal but slightly superior, and placed all the rest in front of the first target, the Farmar Earldom.
The strength of the Farmar Earldom consisted of one Sky Fortress and fifty Vanguards.
However, the forces I brought with me numbered three Sky Fortresses and sixty Vanguards.
With me, an archmage, and Arsia, an Aura Master, accompanying, the difference in strength could be said to be triple.
Because of this, the Farmar Earldom’s representative who had come to protest grew angry but could not express it, twisting his lips into a forced smile.
“You must have misunderstood.”
“Misunderstood what?”
“We are currently in training, are we not?”
“What?”
“Did I attack your territory?”
“That is not the case, but…”
“Do not worry. I am also someone who follows the regulations. I will not attack before the territorial war permit is issued. So, please do not worry and tend to your affairs.”
At my deflection, he was left speechless.
It was an extremely brazen excuse.
“The territorial war permit will be issued, and you will attack right then, correct?”
“Of course. The enemy is right in front of us, training.”
“That is unreasonable! It violates the principles of justice!”
He sighed deeply and continued his protest.
“Fundamentally, this territorial war could never be permitted. The justification is far too weak. It would be better if we avoided clashing faces and straining our strength.”
Hearing him mention justification, I let out a contemptuous snort.
“Is that so?”
“Yes! Starting a war over a childish schoolyard brawl is nonsense!”
* * *
But at that moment…
My communicator’s bell rang loudly.
I activated Silent Magic to silence him, then pressed the call button.
“Yes?”
“Your Excellency!”
The Farmar Earldom’s representative suddenly heard his own voice and panicked.
I, however, ignored him and asked the territorial administrator who had suddenly called.
“What is the matter?”
“Effective immediately, the territorial war permit has been issued!”
A satisfied smile curved my lips.
“Excellent.”
Timing was perfect.
Even if I had been beside him, he could not have avoided hearing the news. The Farmar Earldom’s messenger turned deathly pale.
After the short call ended, I released the Silent Magic that had blocked the messenger’s voice.
“It seems the royal family’s thinking is different from yours?”
“T-this cannot be. Has the royal family abandoned us?”
“It is merely a judgment of which existence holds greater value.”
“Your Excellency, please… Make a rational judgment…”
“Go. Now you must persuade the Farmar Earl, not me. The only way for the Farmar territory to survive is unconditional surrender. There is no other path to avoid war.”
He tried to convince me with every effort, but I gave him a look of no further interest, spun my finger, and signaled my subordinates.
At that, Pessius, waiting in the rear, shouted loudly.
“Spatial displacement interference magic!”
“Magic activation!”
“Magic activation!”
“Sky Fortress! Vanguard unit! Advance! Target: Siege of Pessius Earldom!”
“All units advance!”
“All units advance!”
Amid Pessius’s voice, multiple voices replied in unison, and sixty Vanguards mounted on hoverboards, supported by three massive Sky Fortresses, advanced toward the Farmar territory.
The attack target was Petchida, a population of five hundred thousand, where the Farmar Earl’s lordship was located.
“Are you not returning? There will be no time for rest.”
“Ugh…”
At the obvious order to retreat, the Farmar Earldom’s representatives swallowed their complaints and left the makeshift command train.
Sitting beside Arsia, I extended my hand to her as if inviting her to dance and helped her to her feet.
“Starting now, Arsia and I will be directly deployed to the front line. Command during this period will be left to Sir Pessius.”
“What? Your Excellency? What does that mean…”
“Come along. Arsia.”
“Yes!”
“Your Excellency!”
I held a magnificent white robe equipped with Force Armor functions and a Magic Staff with Force Sword functions, while Arsia wore classic dark Force Armor and a dark Force Sword.
We left the command post.
“Vanguard unit! Earl Lawrence and Earl Klein will personally engage! Please provide your utmost support!”
“Yes!”
Despite the urgency in Pessius’s communication, the Vanguards were puzzled but answered resolutely.
Arsia and I, regardless of Pessius’s concerns, increased our speed, leading the unit from the front.
“Hahaha!”
Someone had once said that revenge yields nothing and only leaves a deep emptiness.
Ultimately, revenge breeds only more revenge.
But I do not think so.
‘Nothing provides a clearer sense of purpose than revenge.’
From Anna and Cedric to the academy’s ill-fated allies.
Their very existence could be called the starting point of a new future.
And above all…
‘Watching the enemies’ faces twist in agony as they scream is fun, isn’t it?’
Cutting through the fierce wind at high speed, I flew with the most cheerful smile, casting the 7th Circle archmage’s spell.
* * *
In a certain bedroom of the Farmar Earldom lordship.
‘You should prepare yourself. I will torment you in the most horrific way possible. I will make you regret having been born into this world.’
The Farmar Earl’s son, who had been under the surveillance of knights like a prisoner in the academy, recalled the words Adrian had once cursed and bit his nails fiercely.
At the time, he had dismissed them as nothing and laughed.
But now, the words had dug in like daggers and lodged deep in his chest.
* * *
Clank!
The Farmar Prince gulped down the whiskey on the table and slammed the glass down hard.
“Damn it. Damn it.”
During the academy years, he had never felt any guilt over beating or bullying his fellow students.
This was only natural. The world was a thoroughly hierarchical society, and he had simply been carving discipline into those inferior subordinates.
But he had never imagined that the past deeds would swell like a snowball and return to haunt him.
No, that was only natural.
He had never seen anyone rise from the lowest stratum in this hierarchical society to the highest overnight.
‘That Adrian fellow is abnormal!’
He had thought even a life-reversal case had limits, but this was far worse than any soap opera.
The Farmar Prince asked the high-ranking knight assigned to monitor him.
“If war breaks out, what are the chances we will win?”
The monitoring knight clicked his tongue shortly and replied.
“Honestly, it is difficult. Just the army protesting in front of our territory now is more than double in strength, and with an Aura Master and an archmage waiting as well, a fight is impossible. Honestly, we cannot win.”
When Adrian first applied for the territorial war, he had not thought there would be any major issue.
But seeing the huge army mobilized against his judgment made the Prince’s nails dig deeper.
“If we lose the war, what will happen to me?”
No one in the Farmar family pitied his current situation.
It was because of his past mistakes that innocent citizens, soldiers, and knights were the ones who would die.
Seeing the knight reach his limit, he spoke coldly to the Prince with a rudeness no one had ever seen before.
“Even in this situation, you only think of yourself.”
The Prince protested that his pride remained, but before the knight whose demeanor suggested he might draw his sword at any moment, he could not vent his anger.
“May I inform Your Lordship what can be done in this situation?”
“Is there such a thing?”
“Die directly at the hands of Earl Lawrence. If you achieve revenge against him, even a little satisfaction will be gained. This might reduce the damage to our territory as well.”
At the knight’s words, the Farmar Prince opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
“W-what are you saying… A son of the master…”
“The entire lordship will likely be of one mind. You were the one who acted tyrannically before, yet no one understands why we are in danger of death. Once we die, they will not blame Earl Lawrence but you.”
“What…”
“More than ten innocent people have already died directly or indirectly at Your Lordship’s hands. I have finally realized what ‘what is sown is reaped’ truly means. I thank you for the lesson.”
The surrounding knights, after agreeing with the high-ranking knight’s words, finally made the Farmar Prince realize his position.
Their hostile reactions were too strong to dismiss as mere bad luck and rationalize.
‘What is sown is reaped? I am part of the ruling class! What is the problem here?!’
As if answering the Prince’s cry, the captain of the family knights entered the room and placed something before him.
“Captain?”
“This is Force Armor and Force Sword equipment. You know how to wield Aura as well, do you not?”
“But why…”
“Wear it and challenge Earl Lawrence to single combat.”
“What?”
“It is Lord Earl’s order.”
“Father…”
At the captain’s words, the Farmar Prince finally understood he had been abandoned.
“H-however, the royal family has not yet granted the territorial war permit. Perhaps they will stop it? After all, the justification is absurd. Why go this far…”
“The royal family has just accepted the territorial war application. The territory will soon become a battlefield.”
At the news that the territorial war had begun, even the knights guarding the room gulped in shock.
“Time is short. Come on.”
“Damn it! Damn it!”
Under the captain’s pressure, the Farmar Prince finally screamed every curse and refused. The knights forcibly restrained him and put the equipment on him.