Sword Master Who Leapt Through Time - Chapter 42



Only Krnovel

#42 Fraud

After the final warning from the Storm King, the warriors’ unrest was greater than imagined.

“This… shouldn’t we run away now? The Storm King is going to slaughter everyone.”

“Ah… … I’m going crazy. I went through all the hardships to get here… … .”

“So. Where else can I go and get paid this much… … . Why did I have to go to the Storm King?”

They were frustrated and resented Lanzen.

The vague fear of the five kings that had been nurtured.

The moment it saw the King of the Storm’s cavalry, it erupted like an explosion.

Who would have thought that a horse could jump over a wall… … .

Who would have thought that the famous Calceric would drop like a fly… … .

Of course, not all Ailun white horses could climb over the wall.

In fact, only a handful of carefully selected elites from the Gale Cavalry could perform such feats, but the soldiers’ thoughts at the moment did not reach that level.

I’m just scared and resentful.

“Oh, I can’t do this. I have to pack.”

“Hey, wait a minute. We’re not going to fight right now, and there’s a month to spare. The Count might bow his head.”

“But… … . Ah, why am I so anxious?”

Thinking rationally, it seemed absurd to fight the Storm King now.

The army of the Storm King, who ruled over the five wealthiest cities in Norberg, was now incomparably larger and stronger than that of Lancen, who had only taken over two border cities.

Wasn’t it the Wind King who had even conquered Kinaloshi and taken over Kushan?

He even made a generous offer to give in and treat him as a brother and friend.

But why are you anxious…?

The image that came to their mind was that hellish and ignorant operation that had to be completed in just one week to wipe out the demons.

Lansen’s reckless actions of taking over Kashish alone.

“You’re not saying we’re really going to fight, are you?”

“no way…….”

Even as the warriors spoke, they continued to shiver from the cold air that seeped into them.

* * *

Calceric’s face was serious.

“Captain. The morale of the soldiers is too low. We can’t fight like this. Everyone is thinking about running away.”

What should I say?

It felt like the whole world was shouting at me.

To give in.

You are not yet a match for the Storm King.

dream?

You can just put it off.

Isn’t survival the priority?

Isn’t it true that you just have to survive and use the Book of Destiny to travel back and forth through the past and steadily build up your strength?

‘It’s just a sweet lie to the ears… … .’

empire.

In the end, the dreams of our Banroa blood relatives could not help but be connected to the empire.

Either bring down the empire, or at least build up the strength to survive against it.

King of the Storm?

Ailun’s cavalry?

I admit it.

That they are strong.

However, that level of force was more than the empire could muster.

Was Banroa, the so-called Kingdom of Knights, weak?

No. There were pikemen and knights powerful enough to see even the gale cavalry below.

Although there was no Grandmaster, there were four Swordmasters, two of whom, like the Gale King, were considered to be close to Grandmaster status.

In fact, Ban Roa achieved the feat of defeating the imperial army on several occasions.

But the moment the Empire revealed its true colors, it all came crashing down in an instant.

The sword masters who protected the kingdom were slaughtered, and the kingdom’s proud heavy infantry and knights were defeated and razed to the ground.

But what if I… … we… … just back off here?

What if we have to break this good momentum that is in the midst of growth and wait for an indefinite tomorrow in an even more unfavorable situation?

Perhaps the dream will go away forever, never to be reached again.

‘If I can’t overcome this… … I will never be able to overcome the empire.’

I’m scared.

I was scared too.

Rather than dying in defeat, I’m more afraid of my brothers, Uncle Burson, and those who believed in me and followed me until now dying in vain.

But didn’t you already promise?

I decided to move forward even if the worst happens.

I have to lead my younger siblings.

“Captain, are you really going to fight the Storm King? If you said you would, I would have trusted you and decided to fight with you… … Honestly, fighting with this kind of deception right now is nothing but suicide.”

Calceric’s tone was mysterious.

At first glance, it seemed like he was urging the Storm King to submit, but upon closer inspection, that wasn’t the case.

He was appealing. Asking for some solution. Asking if you had any ideas.

Clearly, there was some expectation in that voice.

I’m there,

I’m happy to respond.

“So, you’re saying the penalty has increased?”

“Penalty?”

“Yes. From the soldiers’ perspective, the penalty of death is greater than the benefits I can give them. That’s why their morale is dropping.”

“Right… … right?”

“Then it’s simple. Just increase the gains. Big enough to offset the penalties.”

“Profit? How?”

I keep forgetting about Calceric.

We have so much money now.

“It’s just pouring out rewards. Anyway, if we win just this one time, everyone will change their minds. If we think about it, no matter how much we invest, it’s not a loss.”

good.

I made up my mind.

I gave an order to Calceric, who still couldn’t figure it out.

“All troops of the 1st Regiment. Gather in the square in front of the castle without exception. Including the captured Kashish warriors. Cavalry, Berserkers, Elite Warriors, Experts, everyone. Gather.”

Calceric took a deep breath and then answered with a sigh.

“Yes! I understand.”

A hint of relief and a certain anticipation shone on his face.

* * *

I feel it.

The soldiers’ anxiety.

Standing on the protruding terrace in the middle of the castle, I could see thousands of pairs of eyes.

Eyes that waver and waver and eyebrows that are distorted with worry.

It’s a bad idea to make excuses in this situation, especially for the warriors of Roverland.

In times like this, it’s right to just hit it with reality, with possibility.

after-

After taking a quick breath, I threw away all the introductions I had prepared and got straight to the main point.

“300 dollars for a normal warrior.”

Rumble-

There was a commotion.

Of course, that’s true. The salary I’m currently paying is 12 dollars, so 300 dollars is two years’ salary.

A large sum of money that could buy you a decent house within your means.

“Elite warriors will be given the promised ancient weapons immediately and unconditionally.”

The eyes of the elite warriors widen.

The ancient weapon of the highest quality is worth 1,500 dollars even if you just sell it, and in fact, it is a treasure that cannot be obtained even if you have money.

“In the event of a warrior’s death, a regular warrior will immediately pay 500 dollars to the heir designated in advance. In the case of an elite warrior, 2,500 dollars will immediately be paid to the heir.”

After saying this, the atmosphere has changed quite a bit.

Everyone forgot about the fear and anxiety that had been rising to their chins for a moment and was busy calculating in their heads. It must have been a reward they had never even thought of.

On the other hand, the experts’ eyes lit up. They wondered what would fall on them.

“Experts will be immediately given ancient weapons of various grades, from luxury items to treasures, according to their respective levels, and upon death, 10,000, 18,000, and 30,000 dallons will be given to their heirs according to their lower, middle, and upper levels, respectively.”

Ancient weapons of the highest quality are worth from 6,000 to 15,000 dollars or more, and treasure-grade weapons are worth from 20,000 to 50,000 dollars.

So, this is an offer that is difficult to refuse.

An offer that will always linger in front of your eyes, even if it means risking your life.

“All of this, as a special allowance for a single battle, will be paid immediately after the battle is over.”

The warriors’ reactions to those words were polarized.

On the one hand, there was surprise at the fact that such a huge price was paid for a single battle, and on the other hand, there was widespread discontent that this was money that could not be received if the battle was lost.

okay.

You must be anxious.

No matter what I promise, if I die in the battle with the Storm King, all of those promises will turn into scraps of paper.

But there’s nothing I can do.

Because I can’t give you a deposit.

What do you believe in that makes you give me a deposit?

This is Roverland.

This place is full of people who treat you like an idiot if you don’t just take the deposit and run.

so,

I had to convince him.

“You must be thinking now, what good is this promise if we lose?”

From now on is the most important.

To make the incentives I have proposed not in vain,

I had to convince them.

I’m staking everything I’ve done and everything I’ve shown them.

“But think carefully. Am I going to lose? Really? The difference in forces is not that big. As long as the Sea King is holding out in the south, the forces that the Storm King can mobilize will not be much different from our level.”

Not yet. This is not enough to convince the soldiers.

Some people were seen pouting.

I kindled a fire of pride in their hearts.

Because the firewood for that was already packed inside.

“Are you afraid of the gale cavalry? But you can stop them. Who stopped the charge of that demonic deer ox? Was it an expert? No. You stopped it with your shields, spears, and arrows.”

Those words brought a little light back to the soldiers’ eyes.

Because it was true.

No matter how scary the gallop of the white horse Ailun may be, it cannot compare to that of the demon Lockwoo.

We’ve repelled such attacks by Lockwoo. Several times.

“Are you afraid of Ailun’s cavalry? Fear not. Our black bows have a greater range and are more powerful.”

This is also true.

Light enters the archers’ eyes.

They clearly remembered the destructive power of the Black Bow, which had pierced through the hides of those tough demons countless times.

And finally… …

“I want to ask you. Gale King Haron. Do you think I would lose to someone like that? I, Lansen, who killed Ksias and took over Kash alone?!”

Actually, it was nothing special.

‘Do you think I’m going to lose?’ Even a neighborhood kid could say that.

But if it were me who said that, I think it would feel a little different, right?

I kept proving and showing.

He decapitated Ksias, who had destroyed a castle with his Aura Blade, instantly subdued four top-tier Experts and a group of Red Warriors, slaughtered countless large-scale beasts that even Sword Masters would be afraid of, and single-handedly conquered Kashu City through the Experts’ continuous battles and waves of Berserkers.

Can those who have seen my dance up close easily deny what I say?

‘Do you think I’ll lose?’

The stakes I’ve put on these simple words are my life and my everything.

Male-

The warriors are roaring.

But the heights were different from the beginning.

A rumbling, boiling hot noise spread throughout the square, like boiling water.

The mood is ripe. Now it’s time to wrap things up.

“You fight, you win, you get the rewards that I promised you. I make it happen.”

The warriors’ eyes turned straight toward me.

The raised eyebrows stretched out with will.

I stood upright and faced those thousands of pairs of eyes as if I was having a snowball fight.

I was satisfied.

At least those eyes were no longer those of a scared loser.

—————————

*Author’s Note: 100 dollars is worth about 100 million won. However, the average wage in Robertland is about half that of South Korea, and taxes are high, so 100 dollars is actually worth about 250 million won to the common people of Robertland.