“Dying out there would serve no purpose whatsoever! Besides, if the lord of Nayvil’s brother defected, I’m sure Mineria could spread the news to undermine him! You could even rule Nayvil as a vassal of Mineria—it wouldn’t be out of the question!” Her argument was certainly persuasive enough. I couldn’t deny that if I orchestrated things just right, I could actually improve my social standing from this. It was then that my younger sister, Altia, tottered into the room. “Welcome home, Brother…” Not a moment after greeting me, she went into a coughing fit. She’d been sickly for years. “Altia, if you’re not feeling well, don’t strain yourself just to come out and see me.” “But I heard talk of going to a fort… That means I won’t be able to see you for a while…” I sighed. “Laviala, scratch the betrayal plan. I can’t take Altia with me. If I defected, she’d be—” “That’s true… He would make an example of Lady Altia…” Geisel must have known from the start I couldn’t betray him. I didn’t have it in me to put Altia in danger. Besides, taking my sickly sister to a filthy fort wouldn’t be much different from locking her in a burning mansion. And if anyone asked, I wouldn’t be able to justify bringing my civilian sister along in the first place. I’d be a fool to think none of my brother’s lackeys would be at the fort; if I did anything suspicious, it’d surely be reported up the ranks immediately. “Guess I just have to go. I’ll go, and I’ll win this thing.” “But there can’t be more than two hundred and fifty men in the fort…,” said Laviala. “The enemy must number about two thousand… You can probably raise about a hundred yourself, but either way, it doesn’t look good…” Generally the attackers needed about triple the number of defenders in a siege, while conversely, you’d want about seven hundred soldiers to defend against two thousand attackers. Even then, multiplying the number of soldiers would be detrimental for sanitation, risking outbreak of disease and requiring a far greater food supply. In other words, it’d be better to defend with a small group of select troops if possible. The problem was that defending with small numbers meant everyone was always stretched to their limit. Extended hostilities under extreme stress were essentially not sustainable. If the enemy caught you off guard for just a moment, you could get totally destroyed. At the very least, there was no way you could drive the enemy back. “Even so, I just have to do this. It’s my duty.” Let’s pray this Oda Nobunaga job is insanely powerful… One hundred and twenty soldiers, led by Laviala and me, made their way toward Fort Nagraad. It rested on top of a low hill on our side of the river separating us from Mineria. The defenders’ morale did temporarily improve upon my arrival. They seemed to realize they hadn’t been abandoned. This was a very important point, since soldiers tended to desert or defect when they thought they were being sacrificed. Nobody was really happy to die. Of course, the enemy was always attacking some point or another, so no one could tell what would happen. But never mind that—there were rumors the opposition would soon unleash a full-scale assault. I spoke in private with Kivik Klute, the commander who’d been holding down the fort. Though an old man with a completely white beard, he was certainly a capable individual, having protected the fort for so long. For generations, the head of the Klute family had used the name Kivik, and the present head was no exception. “Actually, the enemy’s sappers have built a path up to our fort… I do think they will make an all-out attack before long. I don’t know when that will be, though.” “When that happens, will the fort hold?” “The fort itself is sturdy. That’s how we’ve held out for so long. However, the men are all exhausted. If the gate is breached just once, then…” The situation was worse than I’d thought. In fact, that must’ve been why I’d been brought in. If the fort survived longer because of me, then great, and if I died, my brother would still be pleased. I had to survive this, if only to get revenge on him. That night: “The enemy is attacking!” I sprang awake to someone shouting. So the enemy meant to take the fort in one go after all. To think we’d be attacked the first day I was here… Things just got worse and worse. But then something that absolutely should never happen happened. “The gate’s open!” “Where’s the gate bar?!” “Even the fittings are gone!” I heard cries of dismay. The gate was unusable and wide open—we had a turncoat among our ranks. There was no other explanation. This was no longer a siege; we had no choice but to drive out the enemy. “Laviala, stay close to me! We need to see what we’re up against first!” “Yes! I’ll use the healing magic I learned from my mother, so you stay close, too!” Laviala was born just a bit earlier than I was, so she was old enough to receive a profession, but she hadn’t gone to the temple yet. She must’ve been avoiding coming of age before me, her master. That was probably why she hadn’t married yet, either, despite being of marriageable age. Still, even without a profession, Laviala was already more than capable. She’d learned how to use magic on her own. Many elves were skilled in the arcane arts. She was also quite proficient with a bow. Laviala might’ve even wanted to live her life as a warrior. It wasn’t that uncommon for a woman. A whole slew of enemies had already breached the fort. The crests on their armor were plainly that of our neighbor Mineria. “They’re already here,” I said. “I doubt this is their full army, but there must be at least five hundred of them.” “Five hundred?! We can’t win against those numbers!” Some of the enemies had received cuts from our side, perhaps by wind magic, but it was too little against too many. With the attack coming at night, our soldiers’ movements were slower, too. If only we had a Spellsword, someone who could slay enemy after enemy single-handedly and give us the breakthrough we needed, but that was just something from war stories. It was plain as day that the fort was about to fall. Commander Kivik came over to me, an arrow sticking out of his leather armor. “I’m sorry to say this is it. Nothing left but to fight to the death…” He was right—too late for a retreat. What a disappointing life this had been. Not even a month had passed since I’d become an adult. It was so anticlimactic, I didn’t even feel sad. Now you see why I hated being the second son of some measly feudal lord. I’d at least like Laviala to escape. “Laviala, get out of here! You’ll be fine on your own. And don’t get caught by one of the male soldiers—you’re too cute for that!” “Is this really the time to be telling me I’m cute?!” cried Laviala. But she still hadn’t given up. “I’m going to fight. It’s my job to serve you!” “Well then, how am I supposed to save you?!” “Drive all the enemies away,” Laviala responded slyly. Like that’s gonna happen. What a joke. But at that moment… …I wasn’t sure why, but I felt a sort of confidence well up within me. You can overcome this. You see, concealed in your profession is the potential to become a conqueror. I thought I heard something like an inner voice. No way… Is my Oda Nobunaga job seriously that powerful? I drew my sword. I didn’t have time to waste on putting on heavy armor, but I was lighter that way. “Laviala—I’m going to protect you. Watch this.” “Y-yes, sir…! That’s the Alsrod I know!” For a moment, Laviala was too stunned to say more, but she flashed me a smile. I’d practiced my swordplay well enough. I wasn’t going down so easily. I leaped into the fray. In that instant, I heard that inner voice again. Special ability Conqueror’s Might activated. Physical ability doubled when in battle. What’s this voice? Did I gain some new ability? I’d heard that people got new abilities when they mastered their profession. But I’d never heard of a voice echoing inside your head. Besides, doubled physical ability was just ludicrous. That was enough to make an ordinary man into a superhuman. But all I could do was believe what the voice told me. Don’t let me down, Oda Nobunaga! My body really did move like you wouldn’t believe. Whether my opponents wore leather armor or iron, I pinpointed the gaps in their defenses and skewered one after another. My movements were perfectly precise. I was clearly moving of my own will, but it was as if it were someone else’s body. My heart must not have caught up yet with my profession’s new capabilities. I’d never experienced this kind of fighting, after all. I cut down ten soldiers one at a time; as a result, our surroundings became that much safer. “Lord Alsrod, were you always this good with a sword…?” “I can’t believe it, either, but I’m just gonna dive right in! I’m off to the front line!” I went on ahead, with faith that Oda Nobunaga could be just as good as Spellsword. There were enemies everywhere, all hell-bent on bringing down the fort. But they were all simply too slow; I didn’t feel in danger of getting hit at all. Of course they’re too slow. Only a conqueror can stop a conqueror. Like that damn Akechi Mitsuhide, who took over my country—granted, his reign was short-lived. I only know of his downfall because it happened before I’d even made it to the afterlife. There it was again. The voice had to be related to my profession somehow. It didn’t seem as if it was going to possess me or anything, though, so that was neither here nor there. Was it the name of a hero from some other world? I was starting to make sense of it. Whatever. All I need to do right now is get out of here alive. I went beside Laviala and patted her shoulder in encouragement. “Wait here. I’m going out. No matter what happens, I will be back.” “Y-yes, sir…” Laviala seemed to hesitate just a bit, but she agreed. She probably wanted to fight by my side for longer. Sorry—just wait for me. There was a saying that offense was the best defense. I plunged into a group running up the stairs to the gate, cutting down one after another. The bodies of the fallen knocked over more behind them. Excellent, they’re falling like an avalanche. I must’ve killed at least fifty already. Just a little more of that and they should start to turn tail. Once I convince them they don’t have a chance, I win. Even if I have to kill another hundred, at this rate, I might actually be able to do just that. There wasn’t a weary bone in my body. “I’ll slay anyone who approaches the gate! All of you, wipe out the ones who got into the fort!” Even the men ready to flee were reinvigorated by my call. “That’s right—we got this!” “Lord Alsrod is with us!” All right, make me proud. Unless more of them arrive, we should be able to mop them up. I kept slaughtering the invaders in front of the gate. They were coming up the stairs, so I kicked them down here and there. “He fights like a brute!” Unable to get through, they began to hurl insults. A brute? Like I give a damn. I wasn’t aware there were rules in a fight to the death. You were the ones who made one of our men betray his companions. I heard the sound of the gate closing behind me. Our men must have fixed it. All that was left was to clean up the group in front of me, and the crisis would be over for now. I plunged into them. I’d show them the power of my profession. I knew exactly where to thrust my sword to kill them. Out of my way, you bastards. I’m the descendant of a viscount—no, the successor to the Conqueror’s Might! Their cries of horror went on—and on. After every swing of my sword, a spray of blood soon followed. When a mage tried to throw a fireball, I closed in and ran him through instead. As a spearman tried to jab at me, I jumped onto his spear and sliced off his head as I dismounted. The tide of battle was turning bit by bit from my work alone. This would certainly drive them off, at least. I didn’t fully understand it, but this was definitely thanks to my profession. Otherwise, I’d have died having killed only twenty of them, at most. I’d made it to the foot of the hill. The enemy had largely already begun to retreat, so getting back to the fort seemed possible. However, upon climbing back to where I could see the fort, I heard a familiar voice. “I—I can still fight! I can…s-still…” Laviala was fighting outside the gate. Her clothes were torn, and she was surrounded by enemies. Despite her skill with a bow, she’d come out to fight on the front lines. “Lord Alsrod, I’m coming to your aid…” That fool! I told her to wait at the fort! And she told me she would! “I, Laviala Aweyu, refuse to let you die alone, Lord Alsrod!” Ah, so she does think I mean to die here. I was serious when I said I’d make it back and save her. It made sense, though. After all, she’d been by my side from the time I was born. It must have been natural for her to think we’d die together, too. But I’m not gonna die out here, so neither should you. I gripped my sword and dived in with all my might. “Don’t you touch her!” Before they could get her… …I swung my sword without a moment’s hesitation. Special ability Conqueror’s Pride activated. When attempting to protect your own property, attack power doubles on top of Conqueror’s Might. Doubles…? Looks like I’ve got another unbelievably powerful ability… I’d practiced my swordplay well enough, but to have quadruple my normal skill…? My sword is glowing red from all the power, I thought as the enemy in front of me was bisected at the torso. The lower half, now supporting nothing, fell over slowly. “Damn, quadruple strength is insane…” The remaining foes couldn’t disguise the fear coming over their faces. Our victory was practically sealed, but to protect Laviala, I was prepared for anything. “Aaaah… H-he’s a monster—!” He wasn’t finished, but I helped him to the afterlife anyway. I proceeded to hew through the last of them, and my blade seemed to dull a bit. The new special ability really didn’t last long. Just one attack was plenty, though. “Laviala, are you unhurt?” “Lord Alsrod… I’m sorry. I was just so afraid to leave you on your own…” “I’ll lecture you later. I’m just glad you’re all right.” I gently put my arm around Laviala’s back. It was warm. She was alive, all right. I’d succeeded in protecting her. “I’m…so happy you’re alive…” And yet she was happily crying that I was alive. “Hey, hey, that’s my line. You’re the one who was in danger…” “But you went out there all by yourself… I thought you were going to be killed… I was so, so worried…” Really, anyone would think as Laviala had. Berating her any more would be too harsh. Besides, I wanted to show her a smile, not scold her. She’d managed to escape from the jaws of death, after all. “Sorry. When you’ve had some rest, use some of your healing magic on me.” I patted her back. Hmm, but that special ability just now had the words “When attempting to protect your own property” running through my mind… Huh, so for me, Laviala is my childhood friend and therefore my property… I felt strangely embarrassed, so to hide it, I hugged her tighter than before. “Lord Alsrod, that hurts.” “I don’t want to lose you.” “You know I’m not going anywhere.” I hoped those words would prove true. “Even if you do, I’ll be bringing you back, you hear?”
Chapter 4
14 min read