Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion
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Floran entered the barracks and glanced around before asking one of the soldiers.
“Where is the Deputy Commander?”
“Well, I haven’t seen him since he headed to the training grounds this morning.”
“Still?”
Even if it was morning, he had left right after breakfast.
Floran turned toward the training grounds with a puzzled expression.
No way he was still there, right?
When Floran arrived at the training grounds, he burst into incredulous laughter.
“Haha….”
Isaac was indeed swinging his sword there.
And what immediately caught Floran’s eye.
It was the clear sword aura emanating from Isaac’s blade.
The sword in his hands was now radiating a destructive energy that tore through the air.
Though the wielder himself used it as casually as if it were the most natural thing.
‘He really is… a genius, huh…?’
Just two or three years ago, Isaac had been an ordinary soldier like them.
Aura? As if.
Floran still couldn’t forget the sight of Isaac fumbling awkwardly with his spear.
The image of him panicking at the rear during battles was still fresh in his mind….
‘Can a person change that much?’
He had discarded his spear and taken up two swords.
And Isaac had completely transformed.
No, usually people show some signs of brilliance beforehand, right?
There should be omens or precursors, but Isaac had none.
He had just changed overnight.
The more Floran watched, the more fascinating he seemed.
And even more astonishing was that this genius was putting in such effort.
Floran let out a small breath and called out to Isaac.
“Deputy Commander!”
He seemed too immersed in training to hear.
“Deputy Commander! Deputy Commander!”
Floran called out several more times.
He was too scared to approach closely with that terrifying sword aura.
As if hearing him at last, Isaac stopped his training and turned to Floran.
“Floran, what’s up?”
Isaac wiped the sweat from his brow as he spoke. Only then did Floran smile and approach.
“Still training? You’ll collapse at this rate.”
“I’m fine. So, what’s the matter?”
He seemed more curious about why Floran had come all the way to the training grounds than annoyed at the interruption.
Floran spoke.
“The Commander’s return message came. He should arrive at the unit within four or five days.”
“Really?”
Isaac’s expression brightened instantly.
Seeing this, Floran asked as if he couldn’t help it.
“You’re that happy about the Commander’s return?”
“Of course. I won’t have to watch you lot slacking off anymore.”
“When have we ever slacked off? We do basic training every day without fail.”
“Haha, joking. But… I’m a bit scared.”
“…Pardon? Why are you scared?”
Floran asked at Isaac’s unexpected response. Isaac replied with a genuinely worried look.
“The Commander’s leave was extended, remember?”
“What does that have to do with being scared…?”
“He’s not the type to extend it for no reason.”
“It was a personal mission. Maybe some errand or task?”
Isaac shook his head at Floran’s words.
“That was just an excuse. He’s not the type to go on a personal mission without telling us.”
“Well, that’s true, but….”
Wooong.
Isaac began channeling mana again.
As the sword in his hand vibrated faintly, Floran flinched and took a step back.
Isaac raised the sword and examined it.
‘Definitely….’
While everyone else was on leave, Isaac had stayed behind alone, devoting himself to training.
And when he heard Rian’s leave had been extended, Isaac instinctively knew.
Rian was preparing something. And probably….
“The Commander will come back much changed.”
“Huh? What, after just a few days of leave? Even counting the personal mission time off, it’s less than a month.”
Isaac put on a deliberately serious face in response to Floran.
“Tell everyone to stay on high alert. When the Commander returns, there’ll be more changes in the unit. If you’re not mentally prepared, you might end up in hell.”
It was less than a month, as Floran said. But Isaac was certain.
Rian would return even stronger.
‘…Me too.’
He wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Commander.
He didn’t want to be a burden.
He wanted to be his sharpest sword, always by his side.
“…Floran, want to spar for old times’ sake?”
“If you don’t use Aura.”
“Of course.”
Floran’s lips curved into a wide grin at Isaac’s reply.
Isaac was already exhausted from training all day.
Just looking at his sweat-soaked clothes showed his state.
Without Aura, Floran could probably overpower him.
“Then I’ll savor the sweet taste of victory against our weary Deputy Commander!”
Floran grabbed a training spear from the wall. Isaac set down his sword and picked up two training swords.
The two began their spar.
About twenty exchanges in,
“…Isn’t this too much?”
“Step it up. When the Commander returns, I’ll request harsh training from the officers.”
Floran couldn’t hide his bewilderment as he stared at Isaac’s sword at his throat.
‘H-How much stronger has he gotten…?’
Until recently, he thought the gap was enough to at least see Isaac’s back.
With effort, he might even touch his back.
But in this spar, Isaac’s figure had vanished from sight.
Floran didn’t know what to say at the sight of Isaac racing far ahead.
Tap tap.
Isaac patted Floran’s shoulder nonchalantly and picked up his sword again.
Watching Isaac resume training, Floran quietly began swinging his spear beside him.
* * *
“A, a gift?”
Dianal’s eyes widened at the item Rian handed her.
Rian grinned and said.
“Yeah, it was hard to get, so use it well.”
What Rian gave Dianal was the sword Walter had made for ‘him’.
Dianal couldn’t hide her joy upon seeing Walter’s emblem engraved on the scabbard.
For mercenaries who staked their lives on the battlefield every day, weapons and armor were like their very lives.
To obtain a sword from one of the kingdom’s three great blacksmiths, Walter—how could she not be thrilled?
Her current sword’s durability was nearly depleted from her Aura.
Yet she kept using it because she couldn’t find another that fit her hand.
Artisans wouldn’t sell to mere mercenaries, and auctions were for nobles only.
Shing.
Dianal drew the sword, her eyes sparkling.
The feel in her hand was like a custom fit.
‘That time….’
Come to think of it, not long after starting spars with Rian, Walter had visited.
He had fiddled with her hand, said it was a good one, and left.
Back then, she thought the old man had lost his marbles….
‘Artisans are artisans, huh.’
To craft something that fit perfectly after just touching her hand a few times.
Satisfied, she swung it lightly.
It felt as familiar as a sword used for over a decade. And, wooong—!
Was it the mana conductivity?
Forming Aura felt much easier.
Rian watched Dianal’s delighted expression and asked.
“Good sword, right?”
“Good… sword. Thanks. I didn’t expect such a precious gift. I just started this to settle the debt to Adelson.”
Dianal sheathed the sword and extended her hand to Rian.
Rian shook it and said.
“Let’s meet again someday.”
“Yeah, anytime you ask, I’ll grant one request. I swear it on the name of the Silver Wolf.”
Dianal’s unexpected declaration.
Rian’s lips curved widely.
“Keep that promise.”
With that, Rian bid farewell to Adelson and Walter too.
He had stayed quite a while, so now he needed to hurry back to the unit.
“Kekeke, kid. Still haven’t figured out that spear’s secret?”
“What, this?”
Rian pulled a rod from behind his waist.
About 50cm long, its purpose was ambiguous.
Seeing the rod in Rian’s hand, Walter looked mildly surprised.
“You already figured it out?”
A small smile played on Rian’s lips at Walter’s astonished question.
The rod was the spear Walter had made for him.
But injecting sufficient mana into the device midway on the shaft shrank it for easy carrying.
Since Rian mainly used bows, Walter had made it with spares in mind.
Walter burst into laughter.
“Kekekekeke, use it well.”
“Thank you.”
“Here, have this for the road. Who knows when we’ll meet next—probably months.”
Rian smiled faintly at the small lunchbox Adelson handed him.
“Who knows… Could be soon, or it might take a while.”
Rian boarded the carriage with a smile.
He was grateful to these people who always showed such consideration.
Soon, the carriage departed.
As it picked up speed, Rian felt the wind through the window and gazed at Velotra.
‘It was a time full of gains.’
Less than a month.
A short time others might call trivial, but invaluable to Rian.
Now….
‘Lots to do when I get back.’
Thinking of future tasks already made his heart race.
Of course, the guys would suffer for a while.
Clop clop!
In the rattling carriage, Rian relaxed, watching the scenery.
* * *
Three days after leaving Velotra.
He kept rest stops minimal, feeling sorry for the coachman, but eager to return quickly.
Now, just a day from the unit in Kurtein.
After a meal break, Rian called the coachman.
“Shall we head out?”
“You haven’t rested much. Sorry about that.”
“No, thanks to your care, I ate well and slept in good beds on the journey.”
The coachman smiled contentedly at Rian’s words.
At every stop, Rian had provided the coachman the same meals and lodging.
Unlike how most treated lowly laborers with disdain.
Thanks to that, despite the tight schedule, the coachman worked happily.
Just one more day to Kurtein.
“Then, we’re off.”
With the coachman’s words, the horses started again.
The carriage left the village and entered the forest.
The last forest and mountain path to Kurtein, fairly even for such terrain, allowing carriage travel—thus the usual route.
Dense trees shaded the path even at midday, giving it a dim atmosphere.
‘Almost there.’
Entering this forest meant Kurtein was near.
Rian smiled faintly at the thought. But, screeeeech—!
Boom—!
“Hiiiiiing—!”
“Argh! Whoa, whoa—! Whoa—!”
A sudden roar and tremor hit.
While the coachman struggled to calm the rearing horses, Rian leaped out and hid behind a tree to assess.
‘Enemies?’
The earlier attack.
The road ahead where the carriage ran had cratered and shattered. And the distinct mana aura.
‘Magic? Aura?’
But soon, someone emerged slowly from beyond the wreckage.
Face fully masked, identity unknown, but the eyes peering through were sharper and more menacing than any Rian had seen.
“I know you’re there. Come out.”
The man standing before the carriage said.
Rian stepped out from the tree and demanded.
“Who are you?”
Clear Aura flowed—not sword aura—from the sword in his hand.
Sword gang.
Why was a monster like this here…?
To Rian’s question, he replied plainly.
“The reaper sent to kill you.”