Chapter 87

87.

After beating the trainees with wooden practice swords, a few more days passed.

The principle was similar to forcibly instilling vital point defense. Perhaps because they had already experienced it once, everyone adapted quickly.

“Ugh! Ow!”

“Either dodge fully or counter fully. If your movements are ambiguous, you’ll be controlled by the opponent and leave yourself open.”

After sending the battered Hekson away, I stretched a little.

The early part of training started with one-versus-many group battles.

Then, we divided them into groups according to their skill levels.

Those above the standard were paired against each other to fully adapt, while those still lacking received direct instruction to develop their instincts.

Morning was for personal training, afternoon for formation practice.

The rest of the time was spent on physical conditioning, rest, and refining the key points of the sword techniques they had learned, maintaining an intense schedule.

‘If this momentum continues, they might reach the level of an independent squad.’

Given the time constraints, even if their individual capabilities lag behind other knight-level forces, if the entire sword unit works together, they should be able to repel most troops.

Blocking the charge of a knight formation with proper formations won’t be easy.

If such a formation charges into a密集 formation of halberdiers, any knight formation would be shattered. But avoiding direct confrontation is enough.

Even in situations where a frontal breakthrough is forced,

‘We have mana wielders.’

A superhuman on horseback wielding mana.

The royal knight squadron may not have a mana wielder yet, but with me leading, that should suffice. With Calion assisting, our breakthrough can only be stopped by a knight formation including a mana wielder.

‘Time to start mobile command training?’

My teacher once said that the battlefield has a mesmerizing power that enchants both man and horse.

Most importantly, he emphasized the need to remain calm and move organizationally. If one loses focus, isolation occurs quickly.

This likely refers to the excited state caused by extreme circumstances. While training can’t completely resolve such an issue, it’s better than knowing nothing.

‘There’s so much to do…’

I was musing on the training schedule and external affairs while stretching my sore body when,

“Master.”

Charles appeared behind me.

“…Alright. What is it?”

“A reply to the letter has arrived.”

“Reply?”

The reply was to the letter sent to the northeastern region.

It wasn’t a mere well-being inquiry; it was sent for information transmission.

The fact that a reply came means there is information to share. An event significant enough for the northeastern region to send information was likely related to the eastern or northern territories.

“Deputy Captain! I’ll be away today, so focus on personal training!”

“Understood!”

I’ve already disclosed all the essentials and strengths of swordplay. Now, it’s up to endless practice and real combat experience for their self-development.

‘It would be fortunate if it’s about the commencement of the eastern operation.’

I had this premonition that I should quickly check the northeastern reply.

A subtle unease was gradually spreading within me. Usually, these intuitions are best followed immediately.

Leaving behind the team’s spirited shouts and the clash of steel, I headed to the Audience Chamber with Charles.

*

In the afternoon, the Audience Chamber was bustling with Iris’s administrative work.

Alberto and Rani diligently organized documents, which Iris took to process, and the finished paperwork left the office.

On most days, except meal times or short breaks, this routine dominated.

“Cain.”

Upon opening the door to the Audience Chamber, Iris’s cheerful voice greeted me.

Her expression remained calm, but her eyes softened.

Recently, with the knight training and other responsibilities, my visits to the Audience Chamber had decreased. So, seeing me pop up amidst her busy schedule at the training ground must have been a welcome surprise.

I nodded to the three hardworking individuals in the office, took my seat at the desk, and extended my hand to Charles.

Swish.

A simple, plain letter.

Checking the seal confirmed it was from the Hassen Viscount family. Carefully opening it with a paper knife, I skimmed through the contents.

‘Today, the administrator’s second child was born…’

The letter began with various pleasantries and daily updates.

The estate situation was not bad, the damaged manor was barely restored, the younger ones were growing well and looking forward to a meeting, and so on.

At the end of the small talk, the main point was written.

‘People will be planted in the port city and in the east, preparations should be completed in about half a year.’

Specific plans, objectives, and intentions to expand trade through the port city were outlined.

This was somewhat expected. The problem arose next.

“Is the north isolated?”

Uttered carelessly, the comment drew their attention. Iris looked at me curiously.

“What do you mean by the north being isolated?”

“Ah, that’s…”

I couldn’t explain it properly since I had just realized its content.

The first sentence was so striking that I hadn’t finished reading. I needed to finish the letter and calmly process the information.

“This is a letter from Hassen Viscount in the northeast. He helped me in my youth, so we occasionally exchange correspondence.”

“Is that so? Since he is a friend of Cain, I would like to meet him.”

“I’ll arrange a meeting soon. First, let me finish reading and explain.”

Istinctively nodding, Iris returned her gaze to the documents, and Alberto and Rani resumed their busy movements accordingly.

“Charles. Bring the usual.”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

Charles left to fetch tea leaves and cups.

A soft, sweet scent slowly diffused through the Audience Chamber. While waiting for Charles to arrive with the tea, I carefully read the rest of the letter.

“All the routes to the north have been closed.”

According to the letter, powerful blizzards were sweeping through the routes.

While some areas might not be affected, reconnaissance revealed that even moving through mountain ranges or forests, the blizzards were eerily lined up like boundaries, blocking any passage.

With snow piled up to waist-high and blizzards that seemingly devoured the sky, there was no way to break through.

The frequency of monster appearances has increased, and the north is now isolated.

“Damn.”

It’s a precursor to the collapse of the northern front.

There’s an issue with the mighty northern duchy. Frequent monster attacks hitting the northeast suggest that monsters are slowly seeping through the frontlines.

The extinction of Altain in the novel can be roughly divided into three major events:

One, the independence of the south; another is the escalation of conflict between two factions leading to the imperial war.

The last one being the fall of the northern front near the end of the war with Sylvest.

The final blow to the already weakened Altain.

Altain’s national strength had already declined, and with a war against Sylvest, they could not adequately defend against the rapid southward military advance from the north.

To the left was Sylvest’s vast army, and to the right was the sea. Above, the north’s army was pressing down.

The detached south couldn’t possibly provide any aid.

In this desperate situation, the imperial citizens and a small number of nobles sought survival by proposing Iris’s execution and surrendering to Sylvest.

Ultimately, the nobles and citizens of Altain survived, were absorbed as a defeated country by Sylvest, and the advancing army from the north was stopped by the protagonist and his army following him.

‘Why are events that were supposed to happen later occurring now?’

Considering the sequence, the fall of the northern front was supposed to be the last.

‘Since I’ve delayed the independence of the south and temporarily halted the civil war…’

My intrusion has altered the flow that should have taken place naturally. Is the rapid occurrence of anomalies in the north also a butterfly effect?

Feeling a sudden wave of fatigue, I massaged the corners of my eyes and stood up.

Since the situation has unfolded, focusing on the solution rather than the cause is necessary.

War with Kalgheigh and the abnormal phenomena of the north are intertwined.

The immediate priority is Kalgheigh.

“Ayris. And Alberto, please join me for a moment.”

I handed the letter to Ayris and explained the situation.

The abnormal phenomena at the northern front.

The routes to the dukedom have been cut off, leading to a halt in supply lines.

Alberto’s expression was serious after hearing the explanation.

“I suspect the seal has been undone.”

This was also mentioned in the letter.

The seal on the monsters has been broken.

Rather, it is in the process of being undone.

“It seems more like it’s loosened.”

“That’s true. If it were completely broken, an army would likely have marched south by now.”

Alberto nodded while stroking his chin.

Beyond the northern front, in the deep areas, a special creature is sealed away.

Typically, monsters resemble human or beast forms. Despite their grotesque, mud-dripping appearances, most retain shapes akin to humans or animals.

However, the sealed creature is different.

A dragon.

The monstrous dragon has a dragon-like form, with its imposing size, lizard-like body, sharp horns on its head.

Curiously, this beast possesses an organ that generates its own mana.

The overwhelming mana’s force combined with its wave of fear transformed into an extensive buff, strengthening the creatures around it.

Monsters reinforced this way mutated into formidable beings, difficult even for mana wielders to fell.

It was not an easy force for the northern front to handle under normal circumstances.

When the monster-dragon appeared in the past, the northern front faced its downfall, but my father Carlos and a dedicated team managed to seal it successfully.

Though most died during the breakthrough.

The protagonist, Theodor, awakened as a Swordmaster and stopped the advancing northern army by slaying this monstrous dragon.

“Now the teacher is here, recovering from injuries, making the situation uncertain.”

The teacher quietly rebuilds his strength away from Emperor Myers and Helsia’s eyes for a reason. It suggests difficulty in fully exerting his power.

“If the seal on the monsters is broken, the teacher or I, or both, will have to head north.”

There were no Swordmasters in the dukedom, though there might be mana wielders.

A troublesome situation indeed.

It isn’t a good time to leave my post.

Dealing with Kalgheigh is one concern, and the central nobility ready to move when I’m absent poses another problem. At least one of these needs resolution before heading to the north.

“Sending supplies to the north is… impossible.”

Powerful blizzards block the way.

Traders have given up on entering the north.

Pilgrimage groups wait for the blizzard to clear and dare not approach recklessly.

Sending a supply team to those extreme conditions guarantees they won’t reach the frontlines intact.

“First, Kalgheigh.”

Having reached that conclusion, I pulled myself out of my reverie at that moment.

“Cain. Alberto.”

Upon placing the letter down, Iris spoke.

“We will hold a meeting. Alberto, please gather the representatives of each palace and the officials.”

Her violet eyes met mine.

Iris declared calmly,

“Let’s strike Kalgheigh first.”