36. End of War (3)
36. End of War (3)
The war came to an end.
With the victory of the Astes Empire.
With the defeat of the barbarian kingdom Pyneton.
The Imperial forces who had retaken the southern wall, alongside the Dawn Revolutionary Group and the Hallow Mercenary Corps led by the Empire's 2nd Seat Heigelt—all were returning to the main base's barracks.
Leaving behind only the minimum troops necessary to hold the wall.
Jeobeok jeobeok
"Cloné."
Twenty-four years old. Cassiela, the red-haired commander of the Dawn Revolutionary Group, approached Cloné, the mage who had just delivered an impressive performance.
"I envy you, Cloné. The fact that you get to keep traveling with Yuma-nim."
The two had become quite close in just half a day.
The medium for their growing closeness was, without a doubt, Yuma.
Cloné gave a strange, bitter smile.
"Even though I'm with him all day, every day, I don't know much about Yuma-nim. And... I told you to drop the formal speech. Unni."
Upon hearing Cassiela's age, Cloné had immediately asked her to speak comfortably. But Cassiela couldn't bring herself to drop the formality so easily.
To Cassiela, the very fact that Cloné and Hestia were companions of the Martial God Yuma made them feel like chosen people.
That was why Cloné's statement that she didn't know much about Yuma even while traveling with him only sounded like a spoiled complaint to Cassiela.
"Still, I envy the fact that you travel together. Isn't there some kind of unique trait about Yuma-nim?"
The answer to Cassiela's question didn't come from Cloné's mouth.
"Yuma is strong!"
At the words of Hestia, the scarlet-haired Cat Tribe swordswoman, Cassiela burst into a chuckle.
"That's not unexpected; it's obvious."
Hestia's green eyes sparkled.
"That's true! But the overwhelming confidence of a strong person who always gives the enemy the chance to strike first...! I think that's really amazing!"
A glint of interest shone in Cassiela's eyes.
"The first strike... Has Yuma-nim truly never failed to concede the first move to an enemy?"
"Yeah!"
"Not even once?"
"Nope, not even once!"
The question Cassiela posed.
And the unhesitating answer from Hestia that followed.
At this exchange, a glint of interest also appeared in the eyes of all the Dawn Revolutionary Group members marching in formation behind Hestia.
And that same glint showed in the eyes of the Empire's 2nd Seat Heigelt and the Hallow Mercenary Corps, who were walking alongside them.
Cheolkeok—! Cheolkeong!
Even for those who tempered their bodies with the Aura Divine Technique, heavy armor worn right after a battle couldn't help but be a burden. Yet even as they walked, bearing the weight of that armor, the knights began to focus on Hestia's voice.
He unconditionally conceded the first strike to his enemies?
This was something that could only horrify those who wielded the sword, those who wielded the spear, those who practiced martial arts (武) with their bodies.
Commander Cassiela recalled the day she first faced Grand Marshal Yuma.
The magical train Halo bound for the transit city of Akan.
And her subordinate Hekad, the vanguard commander who had purged corrupt nobles back then.
He was a cherished subordinate, but a sore point; one who had established his own misguided justice, not the ideology of the Dawn Revolutionary Group.
And that Hekad had died by Yuma's hand.
Cassiela had never once resented Yuma for that. It was clear that Hekad, who had tried to slaughter not just corrupt nobles but everyone who simply belonged to the noble class in the special cabin, was a sinner.
And because of the conversation she shared with Yuma afterward, she had been able to remember her mother, who could be called the founder of the Dawn Revolutionary Group—a mother she herself had.
Because she had been able to correct the wrong path she had been walking until now.
'Certainly, even back then...'
Even when dealing with Hekad of the Iron Mask, who had been her subordinate, Yuma had deliberately refrained from striking first.
Though with the martial power he possessed, he could have surely ended Hekad's life before the man even lifted his sword.
Hestia was in a very good mood. The cumbersome robe that had covered her head down to her bangs was gone now.
Since her identity as a Cat Tribe member had already been exposed when she had performed a great service as a scout on the southern wall just moments ago, she could freely feel the cool breeze on her cat ears.
Now in very high spirits, the cat began excitedly recounting tales of Yuma's heroism.
"A dragon—!! A martial artist of conviction who gives even a black dragon bigger than a count's castle the chance to strike first. That's Yuma. Facing the breath of that very dragon, the Dragon Breath, he stood calm, raising a single sword! Tak!"
At Hestia's words, the Revolutionary Group and Mercenary Corps, who had been listening quietly out of fatigue, instantly grew noisy.
A young revolutionary member, seemingly getting goosebumps, stroked the back of his own hand and said.
"...Huh, so a dragon the size of a count's castle looked easy enough to grant the first strike to?"
A middle-aged mercenary, reeking of a veteran warrior at first glance, slowly shook his head.
"No, that's not it. It's the conviction of a martial artist, to give any existence the chance for one move... He upheld that conviction even against a dragon. The perspective of the Martial God who has reached the pinnacle of martial arts... his conviction. The weight of such things is beyond measure."
—Of course, Yuma had no such conviction...!
Since he had to 'counter' attacks, he naturally had no choice but to wait for the enemy's first strike!
But the misunderstanding of those who couldn't know this only grew and grew.
"Mortals with mediocre talent could never possibly understand the great Martial God's viewpoint."
It grew rampantly, ceaselessly, beyond all control.
The knife scar above the eyebrow of the Empire's 2nd Seat, Heigelt, twitched. It was proof that his competitive spirit was blazing within him.
Heigelt showed a smile so bright it nearly touched his ears.
"It's obvious I'll lose, but someday I will definitely fight him...!"
Heigelt felt he could never forget the storm of three Sword Auras he had just witnessed. The calamity demonstrated by one who stood at the pinnacle of martial arts.
Cassiela sighed inwardly.
She had intended to request to accompany Yuma, the Grand Marshal of the battlefield. The old friend of her mother. She planned to ask to be taken on as a subordinate.
But no matter how much she thought about it, she didn't think her own sword would be of any help to an existence possessing such power.
"There is one unexpected aspect, though."
Cassiela turned her head toward the low, beautiful voice.
It was Cloné.
While others were piling on misunderstandings about Yuma, Cloné, who had been observing Yuma's characteristics from a different angle, had organized her thoughts and opened her mouth.
"Uncharacteristic of someone with that kind of power, he takes good care of those around him."
In Cloné's mind, the image of Yuma had surfaced: the way he had unhesitatingly rescued the children imprisoned in the County of Rubelt, a jail used by the black dragon as a food storage.
And another image surfaced: the way he had stood beside Kaisen, the eldest son of the fallen Count Luvelt family, who had been in a weak position at the time.
"He doesn't show it openly, but he always considers the perspective of the weak."
Cassiela felt sincerity in Cloné's words.
"And he doesn't judge people easily."
Yuma had been the only one who hadn't cared in the slightest that her late mother had been a 'witch'.
"You mean he's a warmer person than one might think?"
At Cassiela's words, Cloné smiled bashfully.
"Yes, that sums it up."
Cassiela recalled.
The events of the day before.
-You've worked hard.
That touch that had patted her shoulder.
That touch had certainly been quite warm.
***
Yuma returned to the barracks of the Imperial Army's Commander-in-Chief.
Just as he was slumping his body down to rest.
Seureuk—
Someone opened the barracks door and entered.
It was Cassiela, the commander of the Dawn Revolutionary Group. Upon seeing Yuma, Cassiela bowed deeply at the waist.
"I greet Grand Marshal Yuma-nim."
At the uninvited guest's appearance, Yuma straightened his body, which he had slumped into the chair.
Yuma spoke indifferently.
"The war is over. There's no need to call me Grand Marshal anymore."
Cassiela suddenly knelt.
Just like the day before, when they had first met.
With a face betraying boredom, Yuma stared down at the kneeling Cassiela.
'Why is she doing this again?'
Of course, inwardly, he was considerably flustered.
Because she had knelt two days in a row.
Cassiela, from her kneeling posture, raised her right knee and demonstrated a salute of loyalty.
"Please appoint me as Yuma-nim's sword."
Yuma rose to his feet.
And looking at Cassiela, he bent his knees slightly.
He used <Searching Eye> on Cassiela.
[Lv.84] Cassiela
Race: Human
Class: Swordswoman
Realm: Sword Expert (Advanced)
Indeed, she was a useful asset.
It wasn't like taking her along would be a loss. But Yuma had no intention of bringing Cassiela with him.
'Having too many people around isn't much benefit.'
If Cassiela tagged along, the Dawn Revolutionary Group under her command as their leader would also try to come under Yuma's command. That would be no different from confessing to the 1st Prince Schubertche that there was a purpose other than this war with the barbarian kingdom Pyneton.
Of course, it was obvious that if Yuma told Cassiela he was uncomfortable with the Revolutionary Group members tagging along, she would immediately say she would follow him alone.
'Sending her to Princess Brigitte is the right move.'
Princess Brigitte would need another sword, not just a direct escort knight. Not only her, but the Dawn Revolutionary Group members themselves would be helpful enough as a fighting force.
Yuma gestured with his chin at Cassiela.
"Stand up, Cassiela."
"Yes."
Cassiela rose up from her kneeling position. Only then did Yuma fully straighten up and stare into Cassiela's two eyes.
"Go up to the capital. Become the sword of the 1st Imperial Princess Brigitte. That is the same as becoming my sword."
Cassiela's two brown eyes trembled fiercely.
"...Am I someone who cannot be of help to Yuma-nim?"
Yuma slowly shook his head.
"It's not that you only help by standing at my side. A truly trustworthy person is needed by the 1st Imperial Princess's side. An existence I can trust without the slightest doubt."
These words were genuine.
"I trust you."
Yuma stared at Cassiela with his blue eyes.
"I trust you, the daughter of my old friend. You, who have walked this rugged path alone."
Cassiela could not help but comply.
Because she felt the sincerity in Yuma's words.
"...Understood. Yuma-nim. I will definitely protect Her Imperial Highness. Together with the members of the Dawn Revolutionary Group."
"Thank you."
After patting Cassiela's shoulder, Yuma went outside the barracks.
Cassiela stood still in that spot, staring up at the ceiling of the barracks.
'I envy them. So much.'
Though she understood in her head that Yuma had made a rational choice.
She couldn't help but envy Cloné and Hestia.