The One Who Walks the Blade's Edge

Even amid the chaos, the soldiers struggled to maintain their formation.

They were definitely not like those bandits.

But it wasn't enough to dodge the incoming arrows.

Thud-!

Pierce-!

Countless arrows pierced the soldiers' bodies.

Among them, the first target was the supply unit's commander.

An arrow flew straight through the throat of the man who looked like the commander.

"Hold the line... guk..."

"Captain!"

"The captain's down! Get it together!"

"W-We have to run!"

"Screw the captain, I'm saving my own ass first!"

"Just bolt!"

They were trained soldiers, but seeing their commander's throat pierced sent them into disarray.

The soldiers started scattering in all directions.

Then someone must have stepped on the last flame explosion mine, because another blast erupted.

BOOM-!

The chain of exploding mines plunged the supply unit into total pandemonium.

While they flailed about, clueless about where the attacks were coming from, the Sunogi crossbows shone relentlessly.

They were less effective against the undead, but nothing beat them against the living.

Arrows rained down like a storm from the two Sunogi crossbows.

"Aaaagh!"

"R-Rangers!"

"No, elves! You morons!"

"Explosions like that are mages, you shit-for-brains!"

"Who cares right now? Just run!"

Some spotted us and started yelling.

Pointing us out.

Saying to grab us.

But it was already too late.

"If we just catch those guys!"

A few soldiers tried to nock their bows.

But we'd already moved to the next position.

The black earth horses' mobility was overwhelming.

While Lena fired the Sunogi, I focused solely on maneuvering.

'Alright. On to position three!'

I was making full use of Jacob's map, pre-securing a few high-value strategic spots.

The fight was one-sided.

No, calling it a fight was an insult.

Sunogi arrows felled soldiers without respite.

Now corpses were piling up.

On top of that, Lena's skill with the Sunogi had improved dramatically since we first met.

Soon, no troops from Viscount Hart's army remained on the battlefield.

Just Lena and me.

The two of us alone.

"Theo-nim, did we... win?"

Lena asked in a voice full of astonishment, her face flushed with excitement.

The flame explosion mines had worked so well that we'd wiped them out effortlessly.

Most probably died without even seeing their attackers' faces.

She couldn't believe the situation.

"Don't let your guard down yet. Keep going."

My long experience as a hunter kept the tension taut.

Dying screams tugged at my ankles.

"S-Spare... me."

But my resolve didn't waver.

That's just how war is.

I've been through wars like this since my hunter days—I'm just used to it.

Lena, on the other hand, surprised me.

She wasn't hesitating, even though this kind of battle must be unfamiliar to her.

'Is even this part of noble education?'

No way.

Her past intrigued me.

But I held back the questions.

No slave has a storyless ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠life.

If she wants to tell me, she will.

For now, focus on the moment.

'Looks like it's all wrapped up.'

The supply unit's resistance had ceased.

A message appeared.

"It's over. Now for the rest..."

The missing ones seemed to have been too close to the explosions—no traces left.

I started checking the wagons.

Most goods were ruined by the flame explosion mines, but some survived.

And there was a substantial amount.

But there was a problem.

"How the hell are we gonna carry all this?"

My current space pouch had its limits.

No matter how much I'd expanded it with magic, this volume was impossible.

"Just a moment, Theo-nim."

Lena moved between the crates, inspecting the items.

Using her crafting assistant abilities to appraise their quality.

"There are magic stones and mana crystals here!"

"Magic stones and mana crystals? Ah, this... supplies for siege weapons?"

Wagons loaded with plenty of magic stones and mana crystals.

Having seen multiple mana cannons, I could vaguely guess their use from the scattered materials.

Viscount Hart's army seemed to be crafting siege weapons on-site.

'Lucky break.'

Contrary to my intentions, I'd not only cut off their food supplies but also their siege weapon production strategy.

Now I only had two mid-grade magic stones left.

Acquiring more magic stones and mana crystals as loot put my mind at ease.

But the issue was how to haul it all.

"Lena, gather all the usable items for now. I'll make something quick."

"Right now? Yes, understood!"

"Yeah. I trust you."

Lena no longer fretted over my projects.

She'd seen the flame explosion mines' effects with her own eyes.

'Alright, let's get started.'

I left item collection to Lena and began crafting.

Time to use the Space Compression I'd bought in Asterium.

'Should've prepped this earlier...'

I'd conceptualized it when I bought the spellbook.

Rushing here at the word "war" was a mistake.

I should've prepared more thoroughly.

Count Arno's surveillance had limited my prep, but regrets lingered.

I wanted to leave this battlefield strewn with traces quickly.

But I couldn't abandon the loot.

Burning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was an option, but wasteful.

Especially in war—supply goods were priceless.

Better to craft fast than ponder.

Before more of Viscount Hart's forces arrived.

* * *

I calculated in my head while eyeing the materials Lena ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had gathered.

Mid-grade magic stone and mana crystals.

This should work.

I pulled out my existing space pouch and emptied it.

No time or resources to craft a new space pouch from scratch.

So, reinforce the existing one.

"Starting with Space Compression..."

I began engraving new mana circuits onto the pouch.

A blue magic circle slowly formed.

Both were 2nd-class enchantments.

The space pouch showed signs of instability.

The messages were grave.

Space pouches were inherently unstable items handling space itself—enchanting them was no joke.

Space warped, emitting strange echoes.

Then Lena came running.

She'd sensed the danger too.

"Theo-nim, let me help!"

She dropped item sorting and joined the crafting process.

It must have looked that perilous.

With Lena watching anxiously, I proceeded delicately using Precise Control.

Lena approached and examined the mana circuits.

Her crafting assistant ability pinpointed the issues.

Even with Lena boosting stability, it wasn't enough.

But probabilities were just numbers.

I repeated that to myself, though anxiety lingered.

'This is risky...'

I gritted my teeth.

Couldn't stop now.

Quitting meant abandoning all the loot.

And it'd ruin the existing space pouch too.

Losing that would hurt too much.

Especially now, unable to enter the baron's castle—its importance was paramount.

"Theo-nim, the mana circuits look unstable!"

"It's fine. Just a bit more..."

"I-I believe in you!"

Warning messages kept flooding in.

Still, I gritted my teeth.

My fingertips trembled.

Mana was running low, but I couldn't quit.

That instant.

Crack-!

A clear chime rang out as the space stabilized.

And the awaited message.

'A title... The One Who Walks the Blade's Edge? Adds special effects to crafted items?'

The message grabbed my attention before the item itself.

Incredible utility.

I was S-rank as a hunter, but I'd never gotten a title like this.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Titles weren't easy to earn in the first place.

I hadn't even considered it, but this exceeded expectations.

'Unlocking new potentials in items? If I'd had this as a hunter, things might've been different.'

The unexpected title deepened my thoughts.

But I shook off the distractions.

Dwelling on the past was pointless now.

From the black earth horse crafting, to the Rage Flame Potion, and now the space-handling Deep Space Backpack.

Succeeding in back-to-back high-risk crafts must've earned it.

War accelerates tech, they say—and it fit me perfectly.

In peacetime, I wouldn't have taken such risks.

'First, check the item.'

Truth be told, it was a title I hoped wouldn't trigger often.

Risking danger bruised a crafter's pride.

"This is..."

Unique grade.

I'd made Unique items before, but this carried different weight.

It opened new possibilities.

Magical items could evolve to Unique with my enhancements.