Heroes of the Comeback (1)
[Winchester City Outskirts]
In the distance, Curtis spotted a serene three-story mansion nestled quietly against the landscape.
"Ha! Persuasion's not really my style..."
Behind it rose a low hill, while a wide stream flowed in front—a picture-perfect scene that made even Curtis think it wouldn't be so bad to live there himself.
As he reached the entrance, a servant was just returning from the hill with firewood.
"Hey, you. Is Bastian Schwine the baron—"
"Sir Curtis, it's been too long."
"Oh! Ralph, good to see you. But why are you hauling firewood? Where are the other servants?"
The butler Ralph gave an awkward smile.
"Well, the baron dismissed them all. I'm the only one left now."
"What? Then what about Lady Marie?"
"She passed away six months ago."
"Whew! So it came to that in the end."
Curtis glanced up at the sky and let out a heavy sigh. The baron had always been a closed-off man, but losing his beloved wife must have sealed him off even tighter.
"The baron's heartbroken, I imagine."
"What's there to say? He fishes all day, and at night he doesn't leave Lady Marie's room. He barely eats, and I'm worried he'll ruin his health."
"You've got it rough. So, where's the fishing spot?"
"Follow the stream for about an hour, and you'll come to a deep pool."
"Got it."
As Curtis turned to go,
"Sir Curtis, I'll prepare barbecue and drinks for dinner tonight."
"Haha! You mean like old times?"
Ralph smiled. He hoped his master would at least laugh and drink like he used to, if only for one day.
The fishing rod bent sharply, the line dipping repeatedly.
"Whoa! Got one!"
Curtis rushed up from behind and yanked the rod upward.
"Ah! Damn it, it got away!"
"Curtis?"
"Baron Bastian! What the hell are you doing out here?"
"Can't you see? I'm fishing."
"Sigh! Might as well die sick."
Bastian rebaited the hook and cast the line again, glancing at Curtis.
"How's the instructor gig at the officer academy?"
"Quit that ages ago."
"Then you should just fish and take it easy like me."
"You think I've got a mansion like yours? Or piles of gold?"
Curtis shook his head.
"I heard about Lady Marie. Sorry I couldn't make the funeral."
"......"
"It's all that bastard Adam's fault! If he'd given proper battle orders, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Enough."
"Did you hear me? He was jealous of your skills and sent your squad and mine to die, then deliberately held back reinforcements. Cowardly son of a bitch!"
"Hey! If you're just gonna keep ranting, get lost."
Bastian shot to his feet. Curtis had more to say, but knowing the baron's temperament, he clamped his mouth shut with a frustrated huff.
"It's all in the past. Can't change it. Can't bring Marie back..."
Bastian looked up at the distant sky. His expression was so forlorn and sorrowful that Curtis turned away, unable to meet his eyes.
As his boiling anger cooled a bit, Curtis spoke up.
"Let's head down!"
"...?"
"Enough moping up here. Let's go back and get to work. A talent like you rotting away here?"
"Did your lord send you?"
"My lord, but not your lord."
"Have you been drinking since morning? Talking nonsense."
"I've sworn loyalty to a new lord."
"Are you insane? The lord's not even dead, and you're jumping ship?"
"Don't even get me started. The territory's a mess right now. While Marquis Frank's off at war, Adam's acting as proxy lord and purging all the nobles who opposed him as heir."
Bastian's eyebrows twitched.
"And the lord's just watching?"
"He's on the battlefield. No reports come up, no problem. Besides, the marquis is getting old. Most nobles left in the territory have sided with Adam, and half the Blue Knights' Gigant pilots have flipped already."
Bastian shook his head with a resigned look.
"Like this stream, you can't fight the current."
"Screw the stream! With Gigants, we can just dig a new one."
"Enough! I don't wanna hear it. Fishing's off—let's eat."
"Captain Curtis, long time no see."
"Yeah, you too."
The mansion was already filling with Bastian's old squad members.
"What brings you all here?"
"Caught a deer, figured we'd share."
"I brought some fine wine..."
Bastian eyed Curtis.
"Wasn't me."
Curtis played innocent.
"Anyway, we're here—let's go in!"
The once-stark mansion buzzed with warmth from the gathered people.
"So back then! Enemy Magic Knights popped out from behind the dune. And this runt panics, trips, and shits himself in his Gigant."
"Ugh! The smell!"
"Don't remind me! Seen guys puke, but shitting? First time."
"Damn it! How long you gonna drag that story? I'm a family man now."
"Gotta tell your wife too. Puahaha!"
One side had a bonfire going with stories flying, the other grilling meat. But Baron Bastian leaned on the terrace railing, sipping and gazing at the night sky.
Curtis rose from the fire and approached.
"Baron, isn't it nice to have some noise after so long?"
"Yeah. Brings back old memories. Thanks."
Curtis glanced around cautiously before speaking.
"About what I said earlier..."
"What?"
"I'm following Young Lord Wayne."
"What? That womanizing youngest son?"
Bastian looked baffled.
"Seemed indifferent, but you knew territory news?"
"Just scraps from subordinates."
"The womanizing's a front to fool Adam. He's got real talent."
"Stop."
"I can pilot a Gigant again."
"What?"
Bastian whipped his head around in shock.
"Healed the injury?"
"No, wound's the same. But I gather Odd in my heart another way. Not just me—Sara the vice-captain, squad leader Glenn, Mark too. We all got Odd from Young Lord Wayne and can pilot 3rd-class Gigants now. And he promised to heal our wounds for good."
Bastian looked incredulous.
"Your men already saw me in a 3rd-class Gigant. No doubts."
"So what're you getting at?"
"Why do you think I'm here? Young Lord Wayne said he'd make Odd Holes for you and your men. He's gathering people to defend the territory."
"Territory?"
Curtis explained about the barren land.
"So come with us. Like old times, piloting Gigants with your comrades, building a new territory ourselves."
"......"
Curtis pressed, but couldn't crack Bastian's sealed heart. He stared at the moon with empty, life-weary eyes.
Curtis played his final card.
"Think of your men. The lord gave them spots for now, but when Adam takes over? You think he'll look after 'sacrifices' from ops he sees as stains? Nah, they'll all get the axe."
Bastian's face turned serious for the first time. He'd always blamed himself for dragging his men into that botched op, costing them dearly. Losing Odd control was a death sentence for Gigant pilots. If Adam stripped their current posts too, they'd have nowhere to go. And Adam was just the type.
"Young Lord Wayne really take my men?"
"Of course. Promised Odd Holes so they can all pilot Gigants, assign machines, help settle in the new territory."
"Then take just my men."
Curtis gaped.
"You know these guys? They'd follow without you?"
Bastian turned to his men. They'd stopped talking, eyes teary as they watched their old captain.
"We ain't going without the captain."
"Yeah! Once a captain, always!"
The youngest, still grilling, dropped to his knees.
"Captain! I wanna pilot a Gigant!"
Bastian's heart lurched. His chest ached. These men were hurt because of him. With another captain, they'd never have crossed Adam, and by now they'd be captains or squad leaders themselves, rich and honored pilots. Yet these fools still called him captain and followed.
"Captain, let's go together!"
"Bastian, you gonna leave 'em like this?"
At Curtis's shout, Bastian turned away, unable to face them.
"Baron!"
"Captain!"
The calls tore at him; he bit his lip in agony.
"Damn it! Fine, we'll go. Gotta meet this guy myself to trust him with my men!"
"Perfect! Mission accomplished."
Curtis grinned in relief. He led Bastian and his loyal men to the rendezvous.
[Lava Cave]
"Kuok?"
"Kuo-kuk?"
The orcs tilted their heads at Wayne's actions.
Wayne erected massive pillars with a Gigant, hammer in hand, standing at the center.
"Everyone back!"
Clank!Crackle!
Slamming the hammer down sparked across the eight pillars. Soon, a massive translucent wave rippled on one side.
"Valhalla Gate!"
"Ooh! Valhalla!"
The dwarf trio cheered as their ancestors' legacy activated once more, chanting Valhalla.
"Ajul, go first and prep to move the orcs!"
"Wayne! Taking orcs too?"
"They worked hard. Time for a wash and some meat."
The lava cave was sweltering. A week unwashed, and their own stench was numbing. How bad were months-unwashed orcs? Like a gas chamber.
The orcs perked at "meat."
"Orcs! Line up!"
"Inside!"
Five hundred orcs formed four neat columns and passed through the gate. Barak guarded it; Wayne and Nancy entered too.
Before the bewildered orcs stood steel golems and lines of Gigants, plus hundreds of dwarves.
"Kuok! Orcs, escape complete!"
Chieftain Bardetu's last flicker of hope for flight vanished.
Wayne entered last; the gate closed.
'Phew! Finally linked.'
Wayne eyed the ceiling map; another light twinkled under the Sky Mountains. Now gates connected to Sierra Mountains and Sky Mountains entrance—two spots.
'My biggest edge now is mobility.'
Next, he'd activate the gate at Sailon Occupation Zone for Quicksand Desert access.