Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The Swordsman's Path
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A dagger slipped from Pavlov's sleeve like water and flew toward Thereseia.
Pfshuk!
With so many knights guarding her, such an attack wouldn't possibly get through. This was clearly just to gauge our level of skill.
Thwack.
I caught the dagger effortlessly.
"Don't do anything pointless."
"Huh? You're faster than I thought."
A confident expression.
And even knowing we were from the Strange family, they still charged in, which meant they were definitely mercenaries hired by the Rothschilds or the Glazers.
"You're from the west, aren't you?"
"How did you know?"
"The motion of your hand when you threw the knife. It's the same throwing technique used by a lot of western assassins."
"......"
"I don't remember exactly, but I heard they were a group carrying out missions for the imperial family."
Pavlov's expression hardened at my response. He'd only thrown a single dagger, yet this kid had figured out where he was from and even his affiliation.
'This little punk's no ordinary guy.'
He'd thought he was just some kid born into a good family with decent sword skills.
"Angelina, we need to change the plan. It's going to be tough taking both of them, so let's just grab one."
Pavlov glanced back and forth between Kaipa and Thereseia. In that case, Thereseia—who was close to me—would be impossible to reach, so he'd probably target Kaipa.
'If you can, go ahead and try.'
Now, he was no longer just a knight guarding the borders—he was the 'Black Falcon,' leading the Strange family's direct knight order.
Bang!
Flames burst from the muzzle of Angelina's gun.
The bullet spun rapidly toward Kaipa, but the moment it arrived in front of him, it seemed to slow down momentarily before dropping harmlessly to the ground with a thud.
"...Huh?"
Kaipa smirked at her. He hadn't moved an inch from his spot.
Yet the bullet hadn't even grazed him before falling to the earth on its own.
"To dare target the Strange family with such skill... You're not just one move short—you're a hundred."
Kaipa burst into laughter before charging straight toward Angelina. His movements were so fast it looked like he was gliding across the ground.
Whoosh—
No, he wasn't just appearing to fly—he was actually flying above the ground. The others might not see it, but beneath his feet, the wind spirit known as a 'Sylph' was flapping its wings vigorously, lifting his body.
This was one of the abilities granted by the 'Guardian Spirit' he'd received from Berddin—a power bestowed by an elemental sorceress.
Crack!
Kaipa's blade slammed down on Angelina's rifle. With a dull thud, the stock split in half, and the shockwave spread outward.
"Agh!"
Angelina dropped the gun and tumbled backward. Pavlov pulled out the twin axes hidden behind his cloak to help her, but...
Swish.
My blade was already at his throat.
"Move if you want to die."
"...I let my guard down."
"Let your guard down? You saying you could beat me if you fought properly?"
"Of course. If I hadn't taken my eyes off you for a second—"
I sheathed my sword and took a step back, speaking to Pavlov.
"Then come at me again."
The odds of him beating me were practically zero.
I didn't know what abilities his Guardian Spirit had, or even if he had one, but beating me as I was now was impossible.
"Raaah!"
He spun his body forcefully, swinging the axes. For a two-handed weapon, the motion was surprisingly quick, and the trajectory of the blades wasn't aimed at my body—but at my sword.
Swish.
I didn't parry. I stepped back once, then lunged forward, striking his side with the scabbard.
Thud!
It hit his liver dead-on.
He wasn't wearing iron armor—just cloth—so he couldn't fully block the impact.
"Guhk!"
Saliva burst from Pavlov's mouth. I didn't stop, slamming my fist into his solar plexus.
Thump.
Then kicking the back of his thigh with my boot, forcing him to his knees.
Thud.
"No need to even draw my weapon?"
Pavlov glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
"You damn bastards."
"Still, good attempt. Reading my movements and targeting my weapon... If I weren't your enemy, it would've worked."
"......"
"That woman had pretty good marksmanship too. With skills like yours, I'd call you upper-class assassins."
The fight was over.
Pavlov and Angelina knew they couldn't win. That's probably why they'd made this choice.
Crunch.
They bit down on something hidden in their mouths. After a few seconds, Pavlov rolled his eyes back and collapsed, while Angelina spat blood and went rigid.
Pfuw!
Failed assassins were nothing but trash. The assassin group they belonged to—the 'Scorpions,' known as the Desert Storm.
"Thereseia."
Thereseia immediately cast recovery spells on them. They'd been pulled back from the brink of death by force.
"Cough!"
"Guhk!"
Now we had two witnesses to declare war with this time.
One of the Five Great Generals, Clark, smacked his lips in annoyance.
"Damn it! What the hell are those idiots thinking, getting caught here?"
Wendy, hanging off his back, poked her head out and asked.
"Those guys down there—they're the Numbers working under Albus, right?"
"Yeah. Judging by their skills, probably the teens. I have no idea what gave them the confidence to go after the Strange family."
"...They went for it because their skills suck. You think they'd pull that crap if they knew that kid was stronger than his master?"
The two frowned as they watched the Numbers being taken by Berddin.
Clark was so furious he lost control of his emotions, accidentally leaking his aura outward.
Wendy gently massaged his shoulders and whispered.
"Careful. They could sense us at this distance."
"Hoo—"
"Anyway, what do we do? Too many knights—rescuing them looks impossible."
"What can we do? Just leave 'em."
"Just leave them? Then they'll find out we're working with the Rothschilds."
Clark pondered.
If the Numbers were handed over to the Strange family like this, it would reveal that the Papal Court and the Rothschilds had joined hands.
That would drag the Glazers—who were allied with the Rothschilds—into it too.
If things spun the wrong way, rumors would spread that the three had allied to destroy the Strange family.
"Damn it."
That would give the emperor an excuse to refuse war under the banner of 'preserving peace.'
In the worst case, the imperial army might side with the Strange family and fight.
"Those moronic bastards!"
"Clark, calm down. Let's do this."
"What?"
"It's too late to rescue them anyway, right?"
Wendy continued, wearing a skull mask on her head.
"Let's just kill those two."
"The Numbers?"
"Yeah! Berddin doesn't know Albus is behind them anyway. He won't turn against us."
Clark rested his chin on his hand, thinking long and hard before asking.
"What if we get caught?"
"No way. We worked with the Legion before."
"...True enough."
"We'll pretend we didn't know, join up acting like we're helping. Then kill them when we get the chance. If the opportunity arises, we can even grab that Kaipa guy and Thereseia and run."
"You won't fail?"
"Never! Think about it—this actually worked out great. If we hadn't arrived here now, we wouldn't have had this chance."
The two exchanged glances.
Then they slowly tailed the Strange unit, closing the distance.
On the way back to Strange Castle.
I conversed with Kaipa about the war ahead.
"There are too many enemies. I knew the Rothschilds would go to war with the Glazers, but they're moving faster than I expected."
Kaipa had fought in more wars in his youth than I had. Even combining my past and present lives, I'd lived less than him.
That's why I'd casually brought up the issue.
I thought a seasoned veteran like him might come up with a good idea.
"Doesn't the Family Head already know how to defeat them?"
Of course, I had a plan to beat them. If it went according to plan, there'd be no failure.
'However.'
I wanted to hear Kaipa's thoughts. What strategy would come from his mind?
"What I want isn't just victory over the enemy."
"Then what?"
"Through this opportunity, I plan to engrave such perfect terror in their minds that they'll never dare raise their heads against the Strange family again."
Kaipa blinked expressionlessly for a few seconds before bursting into laughter and slapping his forehead.
"Young master—no, Family Head, you really take after Lord Roys."
"Do I?"
"Yes. It keeps reminding me of him from when I was young."
If I'd heard this last year, I would've flown into a rage.
The misunderstandings and broken trust with my father from my past life had planted seeds of anger deep in my heart.
'But.'
Not anymore.
Now, even hearing I resembled him, I could remain as calm as a still lake.
"Sons take after their fathers."
"If Lord Roys were alive, he'd be over the moon hearing this."
"Really?"
"Yes. You're the only child Lord Roys ever bragged to me about."
"My father bragged about me to you, Sir Kaipa?"
"He did. He called you the future of the Strange family—his mirror image."
Siegfried scratched his nose bridge and muttered.
"Fail. The head of Strange can't be this sentimental."
I thought the same.
The Family Head must show only cold resolve and strength. In my past life, I'd learned and acted that way.
'No.'
Not just me—my father too. His sentimental side was something I only learned in this life.
And through a third party's words at that.
"I see."
"Oops—got sidetracked. To answer your question, young master... I think the faster the enemy moves, the better for us."
"Oh?"
"Yes. If the Rothschilds and Glazers have allied as you say, there'll definitely be friction internally."
Bingo. Correct.
In my past life, that's what led to their downfall against us—or rather, thanks to Gunter's exploits in that war.
We'd exploited the cracks of mistrust within, taking only the enemy commander's head.
"Then we wait until the friction arises. Dress low-tier mercenaries in Glazer uniforms and have them attack the Rothschilds..."
"To make them distrust each other."
Kaipa nodded curtly.
"Exactly. But until then, we'll have to employ a strategy of peace talks and war preparations—playing both sides."
Talk peace while preparing for war. Not ideal, but the best option now.
"Then let's do this. The Glazers haven't declared war yet, so we'll pursue peace and war prep."
I looked toward the horizon and continued.
"Tonight, we declare war on the Rothschilds. Hit them preemptively and show what happens when you touch the Strange family."
That would naturally restrict the Rothschild forces' range of action. I could use that to dismantle their key points one by one.
"Simple, right?"
"Yes, Family Head. But do we have cause to declare war on the Rothschilds—"
"We do. They tried to kill me. We have the evidence secured."
"Really?!"
"So, Sir Kaipa, prepare envoys to send to the Rothschilds."
The discussion on how to strike the enemy was over. Everything seemed perfectly prepared.
But the world doesn't always go as planned.
One of the Five Great Generals balancing this world.
"Greetings, Lord Berddin."
Clark had come to see me.