Chapter 46: The Knight Descending from the Sky
Chapter 46: The Knight Descending from the Sky
It was around this time—as my rookie year as a knight was nearing its midpoint—that I was assigned my first joint mission.
"Good to see you all."
The officer in charge was Julian. The participants were Tiana, Leon, and myself.
"The objective of this mission is assassination."
Julian continued calmly.
"The Imperial Intelligence Agency has intercepted plans and identified high-ranking members of the armed organization 'Gentra.'"
Gentra. They were a faction that had splintered off from the Revolutionary Group, but they were far more radical, focusing solely on crimes like looting, robbery, and raids.
"As you know, they have assassinated numerous Imperial nobles, and three years ago, they even attempted to kidnap a member of the Imperial family."
As their history suggested, they were so extreme that even the Revolutionary Group tried to distance themselves. They were closer to a cult of heresy than a revolutionary movement.
"The target is an executive named Emulen."
The target was a mid-level executive. Four knights were more than enough; in fact, it was overkill.
But in the past, we had failed. It was because we hadn't accurately gauged the enemy's strength.
There had been someone else there.
That one person was the problem.
The four of us couldn't handle him, and we only barely survived thanks to Julian.
"Their current location has been pinpointed to the Kanilan Independent State."
The Kanilan Independent State was a union of island nations established in the Kanilan archipelago. Its landmass was small and its population was a mere handful compared to the Empire, but it was a country whose technological prowess could not be ignored.
"According to local intelligence, they have planned a heist to steal weapons in Kanilan. If those fall into Gentra's hands, the entire Empire will be within range of their terror attacks. We must stop them."
Back then, I had run away.
To be honest, even now, the desire to flee hadn't entirely vanished.
I am still Maximilian. Even with regression, fear doesn't simply disappear. I am just in a position where I now recognize a far greater terror: 'destruction.'
"We will first infiltrate the area disguised as mercenaries. The advance party will consist of..."
Julian looked at me.
"Max. Can you do it?"
This was an opportunity to change my past and temper myself. If I ran away this time, there would be no future. I would die a weak, pathetic coward.
"Yes."
Besides, there was plenty of money to be made in Kanilan anyway. Going there under the pretext of a business trip would save time—killing two birds with one stone.
"Very well."
Julian handed me a manila envelope.
"Once you've finished your preparations, depart next week. After arriving in Kanilan, secure a hideout and make contact with the informant."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
I stood up. Leon and Tiana looked puzzled, seeing me volunteer for the advance party without a word of complaint.
"I'll take my leave first."
As I walked out, I called Dieter.
"Dieter. I need you to prepare some things. Identification to use in Kanilan, and..."
After relaying the business details to Dieter, I headed straight home to face Priya.
This time, it was an 'emergency tutoring session.'
"...The extra fee is triple."
Priya looked like she had just woken up from a long nap; her hair was a complete mess.
"Fine. I'll pay whatever you want."
She twitched an eyebrow and scanned me from head to toe.
"However, Maximilian. You have already fully mastered the First Form of the Ebenholtz style. The Extension is the basis, the foundation, and the core of Ebenholtz, and at the same time, it is one of the most difficult sword techniques in the world. What you need right now isn't to learn something else, but to internalize it. In other words, the process of making it second nature to your body."
She was telling me not to be impatient and to wait.
"I know. But I want to know how to deal with fists."
"...How to deal with fists?"
"Yes."
Priya suddenly spread her palm wide—the 'paper' sign in rock-paper-scissors. My expression soured instantly.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...What?"
"Oh, for God's sake."
Priya couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Pfft. Hahaha! It's a joke. But not entirely. Actually, scissors beats rock."
"..."
I let out a sigh and ran a hand through my hair.
"There is someone I absolutely must kill."
"If it's for a murderous reason like that, I definitely can't teach you."
"...There is an opponent I want to overcome."
I changed my wording. At that, Priya straightened her posture, leaning her back against a tree in the training grounds.
"What kind of martial arts was it? Show me."
"Like this... Bam! Bam!"
I thrust my arms out. Whoosh. Swish.
"...It was roughly like that."
"..."
"..."
"...Are you talking about a fight you had with the neighborhood kids when you were thirteen?"
"No. It's..."
I searched my memories. It was a style of fist-fighting I had never seen before. A literal martial art of the fist. His entire body was so hard that even a sword blade couldn't pierce it.
"Dark red mana bloomed from his fists. His body became incredibly durable as well."
Priya snapped her fingers.
"Ah~ You mean the 'Iron Heart Style'? That's tricky. Very tricky. However, if an Ebenholtz is the opponent..."
"Do I have the advantage in the matchup?"
"No. The Iron Heart Style holds a temporary advantage against almost all types of swordsmen. They force a close-quarters fight that swordsmen aren't used to. The moment you allow them to close the distance, you lose. Because a fist is much faster than a sword. However, the Ebenholtz style is a swordsmanship that doesn't allow the opponent to get close in the first place."
The sword of a noble. The Extension that blooms from a stationary position draws an insurmountable line between the enemy and oneself—elegant and arrogant.
"But if you only focus on blocking their approach, you can't decide the match."
"...Do I have to wait until his stamina runs out while blocking?"
"No. Ebenholtz isn't a style that drags out a fight. Rather, it ends the situation with a single draw of the blade. In that regard, you already have sufficient speed."
Priya looked at my legs.
"That's why... the most important things for you right now are the dynamic visual acuity to perceive the 'opening' to deploy your speed, and..."
Priya pulled a small sword from her robe.
"...moving your sword and body simultaneously."
She took a single step forward. I thought I heard the click of a scabbard, and then—
Whirrrrrrr—!
She vanished like the wind.
"The art of the quick-draw."
A voice came from behind me. I turned around. Priya was bathed in the moonlight. A faint smile spread across her lips. Her bluish silhouette felt suddenly mysterious.
"But before we start the lesson, here's a question. What did I just step on?"
"...What? The ground, obviously."
"Wrong. No lesson until you get the answer right. Figure it out yourself."
She yawned and sat down, leaning against the base of the tree, while I fell into deep thought.
* * *
...Five days later.
After a long flight, I arrived at Kanilan Airport. Without even a moment to recover from the travel fatigue, I immediately hailed a taxi.
"To the Kanilan Stock Exchange, please."
There was a place I had to stop by before meeting the informant.
"You got it."
The taxi driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror and asked, "You must be from the Empire?"
The Kanilan Independent State uses Atin—the common language of the Empire. Other cultural aspects and lifestyle habits are also very similar to the Empire's.
After all, the country was originally founded by people who fled the Empire's oppression.
"Yes."
"Haha. I thought so."
There is no class system in Kanilan. Instead, it's better described as a 'corporate state.' It's a place that follows capitalism more fiercely than any other nation. In fact, several islands in the Kanilan archipelago are operated by giant corporations.
They strictly maintained their status as a neutral country even during the World War before my regression, and they never joined the war until the foolish Empire blockaded their territorial waters on the suspicion that 'Kanilan is providing supplies to the Western Union.'
"You're tall and handsome, just like people from the Empire."
Anyway, because of that, there isn't much animosity toward Imperial citizens. If anything, they are more welcomed here than in other countries in the West or East.
Mainly because Imperial tourists spend a lot of money.
"We've arrived."
I gave the driver triple the fare. It was definitely not because of the compliment about being handsome.
The people of Kanilan know how to make money.
[ Kanilan Stock Exchange KNSE ]
The Kanilan Stock Exchange. It was located in the heart of the capital. The more money, the better, and Kanilan was the country where I could use the information I possessed most easily, quickly, and safely.
"...This should do."
I picked up my notebook. It was a list I had written down while meticulously searching my memories along with the Virus on the plane.
Kanilan had been a good investment destination even before my regression, and back then, I used to read the economic newspapers quite often. It was for survival. I didn't think Zebestian would leave me a single cent of inheritance.
I entered the stock exchange. The interior was chaotic. It was dizzying because of the price boards covering the walls and the sound of terminals ringing everywhere.
—Hey! Hey! I told you not to touch that!
—Ah~ This crap again. What the hell did these guys do?
—Sir, please think about it one more time. If we just hold out today, surely...
"Here. I believe I have an appointment."
I handed the identification and documents I had prepared in advance to the front desk. They very politely escorted me to the elevator.
"It's this way."
The top floor of the stock exchange. It was a reception room for VVIPs.
"Pleasure to meet you. I am Russell, Vice President of KNSE."
A man with slicked-back hair and a rather greasy impression greeted me. He offered tea first, but I handed him the notebook with the company names and a check.
"This is the first investment."
"...The first? This is quite a large amount for a first investment. And you've already decided on all the investment targets."
"I'll be going now."
I stood up. He looked quite surprised by the rapid pace.
"Oh, you're leaving already?"
"My representative will come from next time."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
I had a busy schedule today.
I headed straight to the meeting point.
At a random seat in a designated open-air cafe, I placed a chicken sandwich, a glass of lemonade, and some fries on the table, then waited quietly while holding a weekly newspaper folded three times so the advertisement on the back page was visible.
When five minutes had passed like that.
"You're a bit late."
An informant wearing a flat cap sat in the seat across from me.
"I had some business."
"Yes. I understand."
He placed a map on the table.
"The location is here. A point on the south side of Kallen Island."
The location was marked with a red circle.
"Next week, weapons from Escal Co. will be shipped to this area. Emulen and his lackeys will raid it, targeting those weapons, so you can strike them then."
The informant's intelligence was missing one crucial detail. It wasn't 'Emulen and his lackeys.' There was a monster named 'Dune Khan,' one of Gentra's core agents.
"Other mercenary groups hired by Escal Co., including Acarius, will also be there. You knights will participate in that operation under the identity of the 'Ambula Mercenary Group.'"
Dune Khan.
I quietly recalled him.
Sssssss—
The Iron Heart Style. The guy who emitted strange steam while his fists and entire body were stained dark red. A monster whose body wouldn't let a blade sink in, not even leaving a scratch.
He had crushed all the swordsmen there with nothing but his fists.
Back then, I barely survived thanks to Julian.
No, in fact, I might have already died then.
My life as a knight effectively ended in my rookie year.
Because after that guy, I became afraid of battlefields, combat, and duels.
"Acknowledged," I told the informant.
"And one more thing. I'd like to request the operation of a transport plane."
As a knight, I would personally execute the manual I was writing with my own body in this operation.
This, too, was a process of proof.
"...A transport plane?"
"Payment is this."
I handed him a small pouch. Inside were high-purity mana stones.
"Since this is Kanilan, it'll be easier to liquidate."
"Yes. I'll see what I can do. The next contact is 36 hours from now at the burger joint next door. The method is the same. Well then, excuse me."
I watched the informant's retreating back intently.
Was he someone to be trusted?
He didn't know about Dune Khan's existence, but all other information besides Dune Khan had been correct.
I should be suspicious, but I shouldn't be excessively distrustful either.
There were still many people left in the Empire who could become my allies.
* * *
A few days later, my colleagues arrived one by one. I guided them to the hideout I had secured in advance.
"It's not even a house... What is this? It's on the level of a luxury Imperial mansion."
The top floor of a very expensive residential building in Kanilan. Tiana and Leon looked bewildered, and Julian asked with his eyes.
"I purchased it in advance under a borrowed name a week ago. Because it's such an expensive place, the security will be tight."
Everyone's faces went blank.
"...I suppose so. No one would imagine someone would buy a house like this just to use for a few days and then discard it."
Julian muttered as if he found it absurd.
"I'll start the briefing."
I explained the operation in the spacious living room.
"The informant suggested a method where we escort the shipment as mercenaries and counterattack when Gentra strikes first to take Emulen's head, but..."
Gentra's heist operation was intelligence that the Imperial informant had painstakingly dug up. The company being raided was unaware of the fact, so the port's security personnel weren't numerous. There shouldn't be too many, either. Ultimately, our goal was the heads of the Gentra agents rather than the weapons.
"I propose a different method."
Julian tilted his head.
"A descent."
"...A descent?"
"Yes. An aerial assault. We must always assume the worst-case variables in an operation. Therefore, there is a possibility that someone much stronger than Emulen will appear."
That was why.
"We will wait while observing the situation from above, and when the incident occurs, we will strike the enemy's core instantly through a high-altitude drop—"
"What? Hey, are you crazy?!"
"No, no, no. Max, wait. This trip here was the first time in my life I've ever been on a plane!"
Tiana and Leon suddenly had a fit. I furrowed my brows.
"For people who call themselves knights, you're quite weak."
"Ha! Look who's talking. No, don't you think it's more strange to suddenly do something you've never done in your life?"
Tiana let out a hollow laugh.
As she said, a descent was certainly difficult. If you mishandled your body in the air, even a knight could die instantly.
I had done it quite a few times before my regression—though mostly for the purpose of fleeing—and I had practiced separately about twice a week ago.
"Sir Julian."
Julian looked at me.
"I'll do it even if I have to go alone."
I needed a direct application of my manual. I had to leave a record of performance for the Empire Points to trust my manual, and this method was also optimal for cutting down 'Dune Khan.'
"Understood, Max."
Julian nodded and stood up.
"The destination is the port of Kallen Island. On the ground, I'll be with Tiana and Leon. Max, you watch the situation from the air."
Julian was an ideal superior. He judged the rationality of even a rookie's first-ever plan and trusted me like this.
"Yes."
I just had to prove it to him.
"I'll show you."
The way to deal with the Iron Heart Style that I heard from Priya was simple.
"A knight—"
The weakness of rock is scissors.
A blade that can be faster than a fist, even if only for a single moment.
"—is strongest when descending from the sky."
A quick-draw plunging from the air.
I will sever that bastard's neck with my sword.