Sword Master Who Leapt Through Time - Chapter 39



Only Krnovel

#39 The Wild Horse with the Crown

“It’s a shame. You must have had a tough time in real combat. If you had received special training at this exact moment, you would have become a strong soldier in no time… … .”

At my words, Calceric looked around and whispered.

“Don’t say that in front of the soldiers. Even now, their morale is terrible… … No, are you really enemies with the soldiers? Humanly speaking, you should have given them at least two nights of rest. The very next day after returning, you’re telling them to go on a mission and, what? Special training?!”

“Is it my fault?”

“If it’s not the commander’s fault, then who’s to blame?”

“It’s Harun’s fault.”

Gale King Harun. He’s a very bad guy.

Honestly, if I had just returned yesterday, would I have wanted to go out again today?

I couldn’t just sit still when he showed his ambition so blatantly.

“No, but even so, there was no need to rush like this. Even if he was the King of the Winds, he couldn’t take down Kinalo in one breath… … ”

“I don’t feel well.”

“Are you feeling it?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

Of course I know.

It is well known that Kinalo, known as the city of wizards, is by no means an easy city.

It was also a situation where the Sea King Jafar was keeping the Storm King’s army in check thanks to Sea’s strategy.

Well, maybe it’s not worth rushing this much.

‘But still… I feel uncomfortable.’

Why are extraordinary people extraordinary?

It is extraordinary because it does things that go far beyond what is generally expected.

And to anyone who saw it, Harun the Storm King was extraordinary.

Ten years ago, Harun inherited from his father the city of Egira, a city of 600,000 people. It was the smallest of the five cities that made up the Ailun region.

And in just four years, he wrote the legend of conquering all four remaining cities of Ailun. Even Ilunnael, the largest city in Norberg, with a population of 2.3 million, was unable to stand a chance against him and surrendered. At that time, he was only thirty-three years old.

And when he was 35 years old, he came into conflict with Jafar, the sea king who was based in the south of Lake Naelund. He fought Jafar, who was one of the four kings at the time, in a duel that lasted a day and a half, and the result was a draw, and the four kings became the fifth king.

That’s the kind of person he is.

An extraordinary human being who cannot be easily predicted.

“Recovering Kashish comes first. Rest comes later.”

“… … Well, the commander’s intuition is important.”

Calceric agreed anyway.

After returning from the Demon Slayer expedition, he seemed to trust my judgment more.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. I was finally reunited with my brothers, but you dragged me out right away.”

“I’m used to it. We’re scattered all over the continent, and we make a living as mercenaries. There are many times during the year when we don’t see each other even once.”

While we were out on the expedition, all members of the Kalserik Brotherhood gathered in Kushan. Although he must have had little time to reminisce with his family whom he had not seen for a long time, Kalserik showed no discontent.

‘Wow, their lives are amazing too.’

An entire knight order from a fallen kingdom came over and started living together as mercenaries.

This is already the second generation.

It seems that there is no one in this Roverland who does not have a story.

“Calceric.”

“yes?”

“You won’t regret it. You decided to follow me.”

“Of course. I feel good too. I almost always win when I gamble.”

Even though I spoke to him seriously, Calceric took it lightly and asked me about the scenery that appeared in the distance.

“Ah! I see the snake sea over there. What are you going to do? Should I cross it now? Or tomorrow?”

It was a march that started in the morning, and the Broken Moon was already rising in the sky.

Under the soft moonlight, the Serpent Sea was truly visible.

‘We’re about a third of the way there.’

It’s the first time I’ve seen the snake sea since I killed Blood Count Deulkashu.

I had no intention of ever peeing in this direction again… …

After taking over Kushan City, you came here again to attack Kash. People are truly unpredictable.

“I’m going to cross. Even if I sleep a little late, I have to sleep comfortably.”

A sea of ​​snakes shrouded in darkness.

Although it was called the sea, it was low tide so there was no water to be seen.

There is just a long, black mudflat that absorbs even the moonlight and stretches out to the left and right like a black river.

A bright blue road stretches across the tidal flats to the other side.

The blue path that sucks us into deep darkness seems to lead us into a legend featuring dragons and wizards.

Hmm… …. Suddenly, the magic era comes to mind.

Back then, every single day was truly a legend.

anyhow,

“You arrived at just the right time.”

If you cross that road, you will reach Cape Busk, the land where the city of Kashish is located.

* * *

The vast ocean in the northern part of the continent runs long and narrow around the southern end of Cape Busk and continues to the east of Kushan City.

This long, thin sea was called the ‘Snake Sea’.

At high tide, the seawater reaches the level of a fairly large river, but at low tide, all that water disappears, leaving only the tidal flats exposed.

As a result, it was impossible to just cross this place.

Because you can’t cross the tidal flats that reach up to your waist while wearing heavy armor and pulling a cart and horse.

Fortunately, there was an ancient road that allowed crossing the Serpent Sea.

20 meters wide, 700 meters long.

They poured gravel into the tidal flats, compacted it well, and laid blue-green stone (靑影石), which glows blue at night, on top of it to pave the road.

Usually, it was not visible because it was buried in the mud and sand swept by the sea, but at night, the blue-green algae under the mud revealed its presence by turning the tidal flat itself blue.

Thanks to this, I was able to find a solid path to cross the mudflats without sinking even on a dark night.

“Huh… … . You’ve come all this way to see this place. The blue-lit night road. It’s considered one of the eight scenic views of Roverland.”

“The 8 scenic views of Roverland? What are those?”

Calceric looked at me with a blank expression.

“Don’t you know? Eight scenic spots in Robertland you must see before you die!”

“… … This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

“Whew… … Captain, you should live a captain’s life. Don’t always take care of your younger siblings. Go on a trip to another city. You probably don’t know since you’re always in the backwaters of Kushan.”

It wasn’t a wrong statement. When I was young, I only lived in Banroa’s palace, and after that, I only lived in Kushan City. The only other city I’ve ever been to was Kashish. That was the first and last time I went there to kill Blood Count Dulkashu.

“This is the place that romantic lovers and explorers would like to visit at least once. My dream is to see all eight scenic views of Roverland before I die… … I never thought that you would come here leading an army to conquer a city.”

“Really? But actually, it’s not such a romantic land.”

To be honest, from my perspective, it was a shitty land, not to mention romantic.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. This is the land of the berserkers.”

“Ah, the Berserker. I’ve heard of him. Are they really difficult to deal with?”

“They are such annoying creatures. They don’t feel pain or fear. If you cut off their limbs, they will crawl around and bite your heels.”

“oh…….”

Just then, in the distance, on a hill across the Serpent Sea, a lighted fortress came into view.

That place is the fortress village where we will be staying today, ‘Havelnor’.

Cape Berserk.

It was a large land, nearly 60% of the territory of the Kingdom of Banroa, but there was only one city, Kashish.

Even considering that the cities of Robertland were originally spread out here and there, this place was a bit too much. If it was the size of Cape Berserk, there would be room for two cities.

Instead, fortress towns like these filled the void left by the city.

A fortress and village of berserkers with a population of 2,000 at the smallest and 10,000 at the largest.

The home of a fighting people who have maintained an independent life without submitting to the city of Kashmir, which has a population of 850,000, and who have also fought bloodily among themselves.

Today we will stay at one of them, Havelnor.

And the day after tomorrow, at sunset, you will be able to see Kashish.

* * *

“Lansen! Great warrior! Welcome!”

The chieftain of Havelnor was an old man with white hair, but his body was so swollen with muscle that it seemed like it would burst.

“I’ve prepared plenty of boiled lamb and alcohol, so enjoy!”

“No alcohol, please. Fruit juice. We have to march all day tomorrow.”

“Ah, that’s right. Kids! Change it to fruit juice!”

“yes!!”

The fiery warriors answered the chieftain’s command with a roar. The beer kegs on the large table were instantly replaced with fruit juice kegs.

Calceric made a strange expression.

“That… … I thought he’d be rough because he’s a berserker, but he’s not that rough?”

“I have a connection with the light warriors here.”

Originally, the higher the level of a berserker, the more freely he could control his fighting spirit and murderous intent. So it is not strange that he appears to be gentler than expected.

But even taking that into account, the favor they showed me was special.

‘It’s been a while. Here too.’

In fact, this is where I stayed when Uncle Burson fled with me after killing Count Deulkashu.

Even back then, the Havelnor warriors treated me with the utmost respect, more than just a friend.

At that time, Deulkashu was a vampire who harassed the berserkers who did not submit to him, and I was the sword master who killed Deulkashu.

Of course, I paid for today’s meals and lodging, but the light warriors treated me more than I deserved.

Food pouring out in abundance. A pleasant environment.

Thanks to that, my soldiers were able to relieve their deep fatigue and regain some of their vitality.

After eating and drinking for a while, the chief asked.

“By the way, are you going to kill Ceceres?”

Cesares was the governor of Kash, appointed by Csias.

Since I’m going to attack Kashish, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that I’m going to kill Ceceres.

“yes.”

“Kk kk. They say there are still cowardly traitors who stick with those guys, and they’ll all go to their ancestors. It’s good to see them.”

They believed that warriors who died in battle became spirits and protected the land together with their ancestors.

“Wouldn’t it be good to go to your ancestors?”

“No way. Would our ancestors leave those weaklings alone? I don’t know, but they’d have to be beaten and trained every day? Hmm… … ? Is that a good thing? Oh, now that I think about it, it’s a good thing! They’ll get stronger! Isn’t that right?”

… …Why are you asking me that?

The Light Warriors were authors whose train of thought was unpredictable.

Even though we live right next door to each other, it’s hard to understand what goes on in their minds.

“Don’t you know anything about Kashish?”

When we changed the subject, the chieftain shook his head.

“It was just quiet. But that guy Ceceres is a really bad guy, so be careful.”

Hurrruk!

The rays of the blazing fire cast shadows that wavered across his face.

The single word, ‘Be careful’, remains in my mind as if it were some kind of prophecy.

‘He’s a bad guy… … .’

When the Berserkers described someone as ‘annoying’, they usually meant ‘they are smart.’

surely.

Cáceres was a smart guy.

You must have prepared something.

Unimaginable.

but,

“It doesn’t matter. No matter what you prepare, the stronger one will win.”

“Indeed! You are a warrior!”

I glanced at the patriarch with sparkling eyes and emptied the bowl placed before me.

The well-cooked lamb left me feeling pleasantly full.

And the next day.

“Kill them well! Great warrior Lansen! You are always welcome!”

“Yeah. You always win too. See you later.”

We left Havelnor and continued our march with greater vigor, and two days later, just as the sun was setting, we were able to cross a large hill and catch sight of Kashish.

Since the small forts and outposts in the village area were all empty, we were able to reach the outer wall made of wooden palisades without any fighting.

however…….

“Hey, Captain. I think we’re headed toward the minefield.”

It was just as Calceric said.

The moment I saw ‘that’,

Everyone froze with blank expressions.

“Ugh… … That’s it, a wild horse wearing a crown… … Isn’t that flag the flag of the Gale King?”

okay.

It was the flag of the Storm King.

“All that remains is the sound of horse hooves… … .”

Some of the terrified soldiers even recited one of the most famous lines from the poem of King Wulpung:

A city that had been taunting the Storm King collapsed in an instant, and the only noise was the sound of horses’ hooves.

Anyway, so,

That means there’s the flag of the King of Storms over there.

‘The city of Kashish has already fallen to the King of Storms?’

That’s ridiculous.

It was impossible.

What about Kinalo!?

* * *

Everywhere, every way.

Kinalosi, a city soaked in blood.

The King of Storms’ cavalry roamed the city, stabbing and killing the remnants.

Citizens were terrified and holed up in their homes.

The Storm King Harun rode his horse all the way to the top of the castle and beheaded the wizard Kalidora, who was the ruler of the city.

The great spells that Calidora boasted about were nothing more than the vain sleight of hand of a swindler in front of Harun, who was known to have escaped the Sword Master.

“You idiots. Did you really think I was afraid of magic and left you alone?”

At Harun’s words, Zahir, whose one eye was still dark, snickered.

“Actually, what was really annoying was the vampires’ intelligence. Whenever I tried to raise an army, they would sense it like ghosts and form a united front… … ”

“What I’m saying is.”

Multi-angled-

Harun rode his horse and looked down at the Kinaloshi spread out below.

“But it’s so comfortable that that vampire is my subordinate.”

“He is a guy who has great information power, but also has great strategy.”

“That guy, Ceceres. I was surprised when he came to me asking for the flag first.”

A playful smile appeared on Harun’s lips.

Even though he will be forty next year, his face still has a boyish innocence.

“Lansen. Did he see it by now? I wonder what his expression is like.”

“You must have seen it. It must have given you a chill.”

“Right? Then I should give you another chance at this timing.”

Harun called to the adjutant standing behind him.

“Send a letter to Lansen. He should be camped in front of Kashish by now.”

“What should the content be like?”

“Ultimatum.”

Wheeing-

A strong wind blew across the top of Yeongju Castle.

In the wind, the scent of the blood of dead wizards wafted.