Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Because It's War Right Now
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Squad Leader Ben was momentarily at a loss for words.
He struggled to continue the conversation.
"Explain what happened. Hurry up."
"While cleaning the training grounds early in the morning, I spotted suspicious movement. Upon checking, I saw three hulking figures—presumed to be Imperial scouts—slipping out of the camp."
As calmly and clearly as possible.
Damian continued.
"The situation was urgent, and I didn't have time to call for backup. I had no choice but to engage them alone. I killed two and captured one."
A murmur rippled through the surroundings at his words.
A rookie taking on three scouts by himself?
Scouts were elite soldiers, weren't they?
"Alone... against three...?"
Ben asked in disbelief.
"I got lucky. I threw a spear from afar and took one down, then used their panic to subdue them."
No matter how much he attributed it to luck.
No one there was buying it.
And why would they? They were soldiers too.
What scout in the world let their guard down?
"...Ha."
Ben muttered in a dazed expression.
He had acknowledged Damian's skill.
But he hadn't expected this level.
"What's all this commotion?!"
Right then.
The officers arrived late.
Knight Aaron Holt was among them.
"Sir Holt, over here."
Ben quickly reported the situation.
The shouts and noise from the northern training grounds.
And the current state of the scene upon their delayed arrival.
"...You again."
Aaron Holt's gaze turned to Damian.
"Damian Winter."
He glanced around.
Two killed on the spot, one captured alive?
It was a near-perfect response, no matter how you looked at it.
Aaron murmured in admiration.
"Impressive. The entire 6th Legion owes you for your quick thinking."
"You're too kind, sir."
"Hm."
Aaron issued an order to his aide.
"Transport the prisoner! And Damian Winter, come with me. You'll report directly to the Legion Commander."
The soldier who first discovered the scene.
And the one who subdued them all.
Whether to praise his merits or report the full details to the Legion Commander.
Either way, Damian was indispensable.
The Legion Commander's tent.
A massive table in the center.
Officers and knights gathered around it.
And the man seated at the head.
'6th Legion Commander, Christian Veil.'
Arger Veil's father.
Damian stood before him once more.
"Damian Winter of the 6th Legion's 1st Infantry Division, reporting as summoned, sir."
A crisp salute.
The perfect posture born of 'Exemplary Military Life'.
"I heard about the situation."
The Legion Commander got straight to the point.
"You single-handedly subdued three Imperial scouts who infiltrated the camp. Is that true?"
"Yes, sir."
"Explain in detail."
Damian opened his mouth without hesitation.
Exactly as he had told Ben and Aaron.
As calmly as possible.
And clearly.
"...That concludes my report."
As Damian finished.
Silence fell over the tent.
The officers' expressions were subtle.
Awe, mixed with doubt.
"Hmm..."
The Legion Commander was no different.
His gaze pierced Damian sharply.
"Damian Winter."
"Yes, sir."
"You were with the 5th Spear Unit until recently."
The 5th Spear Unit.
Essentially cannon fodder.
"Less than two months since you were conscripted."
"Yes, all true, sir."
"So how did a man like you subdue three scouts alone? Your service record says you were a farmer your whole life. Did you falsify it?"
Open suspicion.
A natural reaction.
'Here it comes.'
As Damian prepared to respond.
"Hold on."
The Legion Commander raised his hand to stop him.
Then called over a man standing in the corner of the tent.
"Squad Leader Ben."
"Yes, sir."
Ben, 3rd Squad Leader of the 1st Infantry Division.
He stepped forward.
"I distinctly ordered you to assign a swordsmanship instructor to Private Damian Winter. That was you, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you tell me."
The Legion Commander paused briefly.
Then asked point-blank.
"Do you believe Damian Winter could take on three Imperial scouts alone?"
All eyes turned to Ben.
The situation would change based on his answer.
If Ben denied it, Damian would be in a tough spot.
'What will he say?'
Damian swallowed dryly.
Ben was a prideful man.
But.
"...Yes, he could."
Ben answered without hesitation.
Firmly, with conviction.
"Damian Winter possesses superior swordsmanship to any soldier I know."
His eyes didn't waver.
"At first, I couldn't believe it either. But after sparring him directly... I lost."
A stir went through the tent.
The 1st Infantry Division's best swordsman defeated by a rookie?
"With that level of skill, plus the element of surprise, it's entirely possible."
Clean acknowledgment.
Objective evaluation.
That was Ben.
"Hmm..."
The Legion Commander stared at Damian again.
Still not fully convinced.
'Tricky.'
Of course.
He was the Legion Commander, responsible for countless lives.
He wouldn't be swayed by a few words.
"Is that so."
Was he finally accepting it?
Just as that thought crossed his mind.
Whoosh!
The Legion Commander suddenly hurled something.
No, fired it was more accurate.
It was a quill pen from the table.
"...!"
Damian reflexively jerked his head back.
The quill grazed his cheek.
And not just that.
Thud!
The flying quill embedded itself in the wooden doorframe.
A mere quill, into that sturdy timber.
"..."
Everyone in the tent was stunned.
Even the officers' eyes widened.
'Mana.'
The blue energy at the quill's tip.
It had hardened the quill like steel.
'This is... the realm of a Sword Expert?'
A swordsman who wielded mana with proficiency.
'Just as the rumors say, an incredible level.'
Cold sweat trickled down Damian's back.
If it had hit?
At least a serious injury, or instant death.
"Ho."
The source of it all.
The Legion Commander seemed unfazed.
"You dodged it properly."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Anyone who can take down three scouts should manage that much."
Now the Legion Commander nodded.
He seemed somewhat convinced.
"You've earned a great merit, Damian Winter."
He stood from his seat.
"I'd love to commend you properly right now, but given the circumstances, we'll handle the formal procedures later."
As the Legion Commander spoke.
His aide dragged someone in.
'The captured scout.'
The last one Damian had taken alive.
"Squad Leader Ben, you're dismissed."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"Damian Winter, you stay."
The key figure in this incident.
Only natural.
Thump!
The aide dumped the scout on the floor.
Already bearing clear signs of torture.
His eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
"Let's begin."
The Legion Commander approached the prisoner.
The overwhelming presence of a Sword Expert.
That alone was enough to crush him.
"State your affiliation and purpose."
The interrogation began.
Cold and businesslike.
"..."
The prisoner didn't answer.
"Two of our sentries were found dead. Your doing?"
Same response.
Instead, he glared at the Legion Commander and shouted.
"Just kill me already, you Coldwood mongrel bastards!"
Blatant provocation.
And defiance.
"I got nothing to say to you routed scum! Long live the Ironpole Empire!"
"Fine then."
The Legion Commander nodded.
A surprisingly simple reaction.
"Truth is, I don't care about your affiliation or purpose."
"...What?"
The prisoner asked in confusion.
He had steeled himself for death.
But not this reaction.
"You're Imperial forces anyway."
The Legion Commander smirked.
"And a scout's purpose is obvious, isn't it?"
In war, information was life itself.
Gauging enemy morale and movements was basic.
This was just the first time they'd been caught—both sides had been sending scout teams nonstop.
"So I'll grant your wish."
"Wh-what do you...?"
"Don't worry, we'll get the info we need ourselves."
The Legion Commander drew a dagger.
And tossed it at Damian's feet.
"You kill him yourself."
"...Pardon?"
Damian doubted his ears.
Did he just say for him to kill the man?
"Me, sir? This one?"
"Yes."
The Legion Commander nodded.
His eyes sharpened again.
"Your final proof."
Damian's mind cleared at those words.
'Final proof.'
Meaning he still harbored doubts.
'Of course.'
A rookie who rescued his son.
Now capturing three scouts infiltrating the camp.
'Standing out too much.'
Suspiciously so.
Could he be an Imperial spy?
A Legion Commander could certainly suspect that.
'No reason for me to refuse.'
Of course, killing wasn't pleasant.
Especially outside of unavoidable combat.
But.
'He killed allies, and I can gain his abilities.'
The discomfort of murder would pass.
Besides, he'd already killed nine.
Feeling uneasy now would be inconsistent.
"Can't do it?"
All eyes focused on Damian.
Tension hung in the air.
"No, sir. I can."
Damian gripped the dagger firmly.
"Y-you bastard...!"
The prisoner belatedly grasped the situation and thrashed.
But it was too late.
"Don't hate me too much."
"W-wait...!"
"Because it's war right now."
A dry voice.
Those were the last words the prisoner heard.
Stab!
Damian thrust the dagger in.
The alien sensation of piercing flesh.
Hot blood splattered his hand.
"Gahk...!"
The prisoner's body convulsed briefly.
Then went limp.
Instant death.
And at that moment.
'Proficient Tracking, huh.'
A useful ability acquired.
"..."
The tent was silent.
The officers watched Damian, holding their breath.
The rookie who had killed the prisoner without hesitation.
Overwhelmed by his composure.
"No hesitation."
The Legion Commander spoke softly.
"Are you used to killing?"
"No, sir."
Damian answered firmly.
Then pulled out his prepared response.
"But this is a battlefield. I was taught that showing mercy to the enemy means death for us."
The model answer crafted by 'Eloquent Speech'.
But the Legion Commander didn't take it at face value.
'His eyes are different.'
That wasn't the look of someone who just learned it.
The eyes of a born predator.
Just for a moment, but definitely.
'No ordinary man.'
Potentially dangerous.
But right now, that danger was needed.
As the rookie said, it was war.
"You're right."
The Legion Commander nodded.
No more doubts.
"You've earned merits, so a reward is in order."
It had finally come.
Damian's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"As I said, we're in wartime. Formal commendations and promotions involve too much procedure."
The same as before.
But he added.
"Instead, I'll give you something more tangible."