< 62. Interim Evaluation (4) >
#62
Ronan seemed to have no intention of backing down. Adeshan bowed her head as she looked into his eyes for a moment. Her mouth opened quietly.
“…there was a war.”
“war?”
“huh. Strictly speaking it’s not a war. Have you ever heard of Fang Night?”
Ronan nodded her head. He had heard of it several times when he was treated as a punishment soldier. It was an incident in which the Northern Beastmen Alliance led a large army and invaded the Barça Marriage Territory.
It was also famous for being led by Jaipa who is currently in the position of Sword Saint. Ronan nodded.
“To some extent.”
“okay. The story must be fast. My hometown is the Margrave of Barça in the North. “I lived there until the Night of the Fangs happened.”
The two walked slowly through the forest and talked. With each step the accumulated fallen leaves crunched and broke.
“My father was a tailor. He followed his mother a sergeant in the Imperial Army to settle in the North. “I had two older brothers who were older than me.”
“I guess I also learned sewing from my father.”
“huh. My father was a great tailor. He was good at handling not only cloth but also leather so he had a good business even in the North. He asked me to do a lot of the small tasks so I became completely comfortable with sewing. haha.”
“What kind of person was your mother?”
“Hmm…she was a very strong but also pretty and nice person. Should he be said to be an ideal soldier? “He often gave me rides on his wooden horse and he was tall so it was pleasing to the eye.”
Ade Shan spoke of his childhood memories in a voice filled with joy. Her meticulous and friendly personality seemed to have been acquired from her father and her tall height and beautiful appearance from her mother.
Adeshan had two older brothers who were almost ten years older than her. They both said that they were very interested in her martial arts and took very good care of her.
“I was really happy. During the day she helped her father sew and at night the whole family including her mother ate together. My brothers always cut up their share of meat and put it on my plate. They say you need to eat a lot because it’s time to grow up. I thought those days would last forever…”
Adeshan trailed off. The shadow on her face was dark.
“Until the Night of the Fangs happens.”
Her story that finally made her dream of becoming her general began.
“I still remember. While I was having dinner on the weekend a horn suddenly sounded from the castle wall. That day her mother who did not say anything took her sword and left her house as if she had been waiting. “Kiss her on the cheeks of her family members.”
“The family knew.”
“huh. Everyone but me. Next her brothers left home with her mother. Without fail he puts his share of food on my plate. “That was the last time I saw my mother and her brothers.”
She said there had been signs of trouble in the North involving the beastmen for some time. Things have improved a lot now but many of the northern beasts who value wildness and tradition have an extreme aversion to associating with other races.
But the empire did not stop expanding northward. Friendly tribes sent envoys to appease them and those who opposed them were killed or driven out by troops.
When even the holy city of Jube was taken over by imperial rule the anger of the opposing prisoners reached its peak. In the end the beastmen gathered under the flag of Jaipa caused the Night of the Fangs.
Ronan clicked her tongue. Ronan who was fighting werewolves in the north when he met Count Armalen that is Marya was well aware of their danger.
He said ‘There are few things as troublesome as furries.’
The basic physical abilities of beastmen were far superior to those of humans. Not to mention Were Lions and Were Tigers who were treated as biological weapons even Werewolves and Werefoxes could take on five or six human soldiers who could not handle mana.
The Night of the Fangs was an incident in which 10000 such beasts invaded the Marginal Territory. Barca’s walls allowed wild beasts to invade within less than three days. Adeshan said.
“My father picked me up while I was panicking and put me on the cart. We just took refuge. The news of his death came just as he was about to settle in a refugee camp near Jedo Island. “The blood-soaked dog tags belonged to my mother and my two older brothers.”
Most of those who died at the time were soldiers. Most of them were soldiers of the Margin Baekryeong.
They were to become walls to replace walls that had become useless. Their mission was to build a defensive line with all their might and gain as much time as possible for the main force to arrive from the rear.
Unfortunately the unit that Ade Shan’s mother and her brothers belonged to also played a role.
“My mother and brothers died like soldiers on a chessboard. The horse wasn’t a line of defense it was just a meat shield. Everyone says it was inevitable but I don’t agree with that opinion.”
It was a remnant of a defeated soldier from my mother’s unit who delivered the news of her death. The soldier whose right arm and left leg were cut off told us about the truth and tragedy of that day.
“I was able to survive. Not only my mother and brothers but many more soldiers did not have to throw their lives away. “The obituaries said they made noble sacrifices and all but in reality they were all people who didn’t have to die.”
The remnants of the defeated soldiers explained that they had been driven into a dangerous situation without any countermeasures. He said that there were many strategies that were much better in the eyes of the soldiers and non-commissioned officers.
However the command did not change the order until the end. Anyway they achieved their goal and after the incident was over they hung a medal on their chest. The words the defeated soldiers muttered as they left were still ringing in Adeshan’s ears.
-Why did we have to die….
Adeshan spoke in the main voice.
“Every year I visit the cenotaph in my hometown and look for the names of my mother and brothers. “The writing is small and engraved high up so it’s hard to see.”
“Adeshan.”
“I will become a general. There is no need for a cenotaph in this land anymore. At least the cenotaph is covered with the names of those who should have lived….”
Finally a single tear rolled down her cheek. Ronan naturally looked away as if admiring the forest.
Now and then seeing a superior crying was a very unpleasant scene to see. It wasn’t long before Ade Shan wiped her eyes and smiled.
“…sorry. “It wasn’t fun either.”
“It wasn’t a pleasant story.”
“Ahaha. Yes it’s easier to show that kind of reaction.”
Ronan sighed at her. She was so different from her previous life.
Who is General Adeshan? Isn’t he a great man who took it for granted to sacrifice a cow for the greater good and transformed the imperial army into legions for the sake of one Ronan?
‘What on earth happened?’
It was hard to believe that he was the same person. At this time Adeshan still had a jewel of hope and good will. In some ways it was just a rumor but Ronan didn’t think it was that bad. Ronan who was smoothing his chin opened his mouth.
“What about your father?”
“He went back to his hometown and now works as a tailor. “At the same place where the original house was.”
“okay. Aren’t you scared of beastmen? “There are a lot of them in Phileon right now.”
“I can’t say it’s not scary at all but it’s okay. It was actually incompetent command that killed my mother and brother. And if you enlist you will also have to interact with prisoner soldiers.”
“It’s good to be positive.”
The two walked for a while in silence. Before we knew it the trees began to become sparse and a gentle but high hill appeared. Adeshan spread his arms and faced the wind blowing in front of him.
“Ah it’s cool.”
“Sure.”
“Don’t you think you can see the island at a glance if you go up there?”
“hmm?”
Adeshan said pointing to the hill with his index finger. Indeed looking at its shape extending straight upward it appeared to be the highest place on the island. Ronan suddenly looked at the top of the hill and frowned.
“What is that…?”
“huh? I know. “Something is being built.”
I couldn’t see it clearly because it was far away but there was something like a structure erected there. Even after looking at it for a while I couldn’t guess what it was. Ronan nodded his head.
“You’ll find out when you get there.”
The two slowly climbed the hill. With every step I took the sky was getting closer.
Ronan didn’t say a word the entire way up the hill. The images of Adeshan and the conversations he had with her were floating around in his mind. A girl who does not get discouraged by the storms of adversity. A future general who abhors worthless death.
‘Oh I don’t know.’
The long agony that had been going on since I finally went back in time was over. Ronan’s mouth opened quietly.
“Adeshan.”
“huh?”
“It’s not that you don’t have talent for mana.”
“What does that mean all of a sudden?”
“Senior’s mana is special. I think she called it Shadow Mana but she said it needed a separate awakening. It is said that of all Mana she possesses the most secret secret and uncontrollable power.”
“…what?”
Adeshan froze in place. Ronan who was ahead also stopped. A panicked voice came out of Adeshan’s mouth.
“Who heard that from? “It’s the mana of shadows…?”
“I heard it from someone who knows something. I’m not sure what Shadow Mana is. “I remember that the ability that emerged there was incredibly strong.”
I couldn’t say that I heard it from my future self. The strong wind was tousling their hair. Ronan opened his mouth looking at the girl wearing his cloak.
“And I will help you.”
“uh…?”
“Just try something. “General.”
Ronan acknowledged his own weakness. He couldn’t tell Adeshan to go home and cut the cloth. He probably wouldn’t be able to talk in the future. In that case the right decision would have been to help her now achieve her dreams.
“you….”
Adeshan was still and frozen facing Ronan’s face. Numerous emotions were swirling in his gray eyes. At that time someone’s voice was heard from behind.
“We finally met. Ronan.”
“Fuck.”
It was a familiar bass sound. Ronan frowned. When he turned his head a familiar top appeared. Schlieffen was standing with his back against an unidentifiable building.
“I’ve been looking for it for a while. “To the point where he cuts down all his competitors.”
“Shu Schlieffen…!”
Adeshan’s face turned pale. Ronan rested his forehead and sighed. Just looking at his face made him feel tired.
“You are such a crazy bastard… How many people did you catch?”
“There are 51 people. “A few of them weren’t bad but you were the only one who could compete with them.”
“Don’t move and wait there. “Let’s take a look at the summit too.”
Ronan climbed the hill with a hesitant Adeshan. As Adeshan said this was the summit of the island. The dark blue sea surrounding the narrow dense forest and small plain slopes came into view. Ronan said stretching.
“The scenery is nice. Right.”
“Uh yeah…it’s good…is…are you okay?”
But Adeshan had no time to pay attention to the scenery. She was watching Schlieffen as if she had just encountered a wild animal.
Surrounding her were the worst opponents she could encounter on this island. Schlieffen who was crossing her arms glanced at Ade Shan and said:
“Navi Rose’s assistant. “I am always indebted to you.”
“Oh yeah…hi.”
“Seeing that you survived until now I guess you have some skills. “But I don’t think the coat over your shoulders is yours.”
“That…”
Ade Shan blushed her face. Schlieffen did not press further questions. Ronan who had been looking around her opened her mouth.
“But are you sure these three are the last?”
“Yes.”
“good. Senior come and take a look at this. “What on earth is this building doing?”
Ronan placed his hand on an unidentified building and called out to Adeshan. It was impossible to guess the purpose of the building which was shaped like a thick cylinder.
“Huh? So… just wait a minute.”
There was interest in Adeshan’s eyes. She left Schlieffen behind and began examining her building. The roof was covered with a dome to be considered a beacon tower and the height was low to be considered a lighthouse. The smooth exterior wall was made of an unknown metal.
“That’s fascinating… Is this a style you’ve never seen before?”
It was a moment when Adeshan forgot the existence of the two people even if just for a moment. Ronan’s whisper was heard next to her.
“I’m sorry Adeshan. Still third place isn’t bad right?”
“to?”
Suddenly. Ronan swung La Mancha. Adeshan’s form distorted and disappeared. Schlieffen said.
“You two weren’t coming together.”
“Because it’s a rough position for a senior to be in.”
“It is a reasonable judgment.”
Slurp! Schlieffen drew her sword. Now that I think about it she was a different sword than before. An unusual spirit was rising from the sword body whose name was engraved with unknown characters.
“The knife is nice. Did Doron make it?”
“That’s right. “I’m not as good as Pale Lord.”
“That’s enough.”
They retreated ten steps apart just like when they were sparring in the arena. Ronan tugged at the hilt of her sword revealing her blade as thin as a dragonfly’s wing. Ronan who took her La Mancha by a spin opened her mouth.
“Shall we do it then?”
There was silence for a moment. In an instant the two figures disappeared from sight. Ronan and Schlieffen rushed towards each other and collided exactly at the halfway point. Kaaaa!! A sharp metallic sound tore through the wind.
“This time show your all.”
Schlieffen said. The two sword bodies were facing each other. Ronan didn’t answer. Schlieffen’s mouth opened again.
“I will too.”
At that moment mana in the shape of wind rose up swirling around Schlieffen’s sword. Ronan who noticed the storm sword swore at her. Kang!! Schlieffen widened the distance with a strong slash and fired her sword energy at Ronan.
“Crazy guy…!”
Ronan swung her sword diagonally at her. The sword energy split into two and fell at his feet. Quaaaaa! A whirlwind of blades with a radius of 5m erupted from both sides of Ronan.
