Chapter 53

“…Just why?”

My head was dizzy and blank.

Did I mishear?

Or was it just someone with the same name?

Escapist thoughts dominated my brain.

At the same time, I felt like I could understand why Sergel’s name had come up.

Sergel was a man who loved his hometown of Ahinlab as much as Count Dman, the master of Ahinlab Fortress.

The only reason he had left Ahinlab was because he didn't want it to be split in two due to a succession dispute, not because he disliked the place.

And Sergel was a man with the courage to willingly jump into danger for the victory of Unit 917.

It meant that it wasn’t so strange for Sergel to declare that he would sacrifice himself for Ahinlab.

It was just that understanding and acceptance were two different issues.

“Did Count Dman accept it?”

“Of course, he desperately tried to stop him. But Sergel was so stubborn that the Count eventually decided to respect his opinion.”

“…Hah.”

My head ached.

If I had my way, I wanted to run over right now and slap Sergel to stop him, but as a mere field commander, I had no right to do so.

More importantly, if Sergel gave up, someone else would have to fill that spot.

It didn't make sense to say that Sergel couldn't, but that person could.

In the end, all I could do was quietly follow the decision of the higher-ups.

That was all a mere soldier like me could do.

“And what else do I need to know?”

“For the magic, the old man, the Count, and I will prepare a Joint Incantation. We plan to practice together for about three days, and we will deploy as soon as we are ready. You and Ririsa will be in charge of the escort.”

“Me?”

“Among the soldiers currently gathered at Ahinlab Fortress, you are the strongest, Rian. You also have the greatest achievements.”

“What about the knights?”

“In terms of pure strength, there might be knights stronger than you, Rian. But Count Dman said that there is no knight as accustomed to dealing with heroes as you. And Ririsa was the person who could best match your rhythm.”

It meant they had formed the team quite reasonably.

If I took on the escort role, I would most likely end up fighting the player’s ace hero who commanded the medium-sized airship.

It was a perilous role, but it wasn't necessarily bad.

I was more at ease holding the power over my own life and death, even if it meant taking risks, than entrusting my life to the hands of others.

“I understand for now. Then, finally, what about Odin?”

“I don’t think you need to worry about Odin.”

I had expected a negative response, like how Odin’s intrusion would be the biggest problem, or that they hadn't yet prepared countermeasures for it.

But Selina gave an answer that was the complete opposite of my expectations.

I became curious about the basis for her words.

“You must have judged it that way because you have some grounds for it, right?”

“We contacted our home country and requested them to track the location of Odin’s main fleet. And we received the information two hours ago. Currently, Odin’s fleet is located at the very forefront.”

“The forefront, you say….”

The forefront.

In other words, the center of the continent.

Considering that the front line managed by the Mergan Kingdom was located in the east, it would take Odin well over a week to reach Ahinlab Fortress, no matter who they were.

Common sense dictated that Odin's intervention would be difficult.

‘Under normal circumstances, that is….’

The 2nd rank wasn't the 2nd rank for nothing.

Although I had raised them, Odin’s heroes all had unconventional aspects.

They were the kind of people who would make things happen no matter what if they had to, so a sense of unease remained.

“The established theory is that the letter was probably moved using teleportation magic. Count Dman’s judgment is that Odin cannot intervene in the war, and the letter is merely a fake to cause confusion among our allies.”

“……”

“Are you anxious?”

“Are you not concerned at all?”

“Of course, I’m anxious. I also fought Odin’s hero with you at that place. It means Odin’s fleet is teeming with monsters even more powerful than that. But what can we do if we just cower in fear?”

“……”

Selina was right.

It was true that I was afraid of the coming future, but I couldn't just stand by without any countermeasures.

To survive in this world engulfed in the flames of war, one must always flee from the death that closely follows behind.

If you don't move forward, you die.

“You said my role is to escort the lead airship, right? I'll get ready right away.”

“Rian. Before that, this….”

Nodding her head, Selina took out a black wooden box from her favorite crossbody bag, which looked very luxurious at a glance.

A faint light was leaking through the cracks.

The moment I saw it, my heart pounded as if I had met my first love.

When the lid was opened, a golden orb about the size of a human eyeball was revealed to the whole world with a bright light.

“This is the Trace of the Dragon Vein that the Count promised. Originally, he said he would give it as a reward when the operation ended successfully, but since he will be on the front lines, it seems the Count was also considering the possibility of his own death. He said that if he died, there was a possibility the promise would not be kept. He told me as he handed it to me. He said to hold onto it and give it to you, Rian, when the operation ends successfully.”

“…I see.”

What should I say?

I thought he was a cool person, even from my perspective as another man.

A high-ranking noble and a low-ranking soldier.

Although he called it a promise, I was in a position where I couldn't protest even if he feigned ignorance, saying, ‘It was just a joke.

Did you really believe that?’

It’s frustrating and infuriating, but what can you do about the inconveniences of a class system?

And yet, he even considered the possibility of his own death and delivered the item in advance.

“Listen carefully, Selina. From now on, any hostility towards the Count… no, towards His Lordship, will be considered an act of hostility towards me. He is a man who deserves to be respected by all.”

“…It’s so transparent it’s almost absurd. More importantly, please check it with your Eye that Seeks Truth. There might be a hidden function like with that black jewel.”

At Selina’s suggestion, I immediately used the Eye that Seeks Truth.

I knew from experience that the Trace of the Dragon Vein didn't have any hidden functions, but one never knew.

A new system message appeared next to the still-cluttered chat window.

Information: Trace of the Dragon Vein.

A mass that has materialized where a special energy flowing underground, the Dragon Vein, has gathered in one place.

It contains powerful mana and is rumored to hold a special power that draws out latent abilities.

Its size and color can be used to roughly infer the amount of energy it contains.

Estimated energy size: 1 year, 0 months, 11 days.

Mana amount: 22.

Additional effect: Forcibly awakens a new authority.

Its performance was exactly as I had expected.

That's why I was so moved.

The amount of mana, which was hard to see in Stage 1, caught my eye, but the additional effect was just plain overpowered.

The awakening of a new authority was completely random, so there could be a mishap where an authority doesn’t awaken even after pouring in tens, or even hundreds, of mana.

With a top-grade Trace of the Dragon Vein, such mishaps could be somewhat prevented, making its value immeasurable.

Of course, there was no way of knowing what kind of authority would be awakened.

“Rian.”

“What?”

“I’ve been thinking….”

Selina stared at the Trace of the Dragon Vein in her hand for a long time with half-lidded eyes.

Then, for whatever reason, she suddenly grabbed my hand.

What she said next was a masterpiece.

“If the operation fails, we'll die anyway, and if it succeeds, this Trace of the Dragon Vein becomes ours, right?”

“…Don’t tell me.”

“……”

Selina said nothing.

She just smiled silently.

* * *

The three days passed by rather quickly.

White Hero still made no move, and the Alliance, wary of their movements, also made no notable moves other than occasionally launching reconnaissance airships.

The point of observation during these three days was the daily changing faces of Selina and the old man.

“Ughhh….”

Selina, her eyes full of fatigue, staggered on the deck like a zombie, letting out a strange groan.

She still looked somewhat human until yesterday.

It was only natural for her to be like this after not sleeping properly for three days.

She was muttering something like a curse while banging her head against the wall, which was probably the formulas and incantations she had been cramming for three days to use magic.

Still, Selina, who was not just young but on the younger side, was in better shape.

“Sir. Are you alright?”

“Making this old man… work like this….”

The dying old man was in such a serious state that I wondered if we would end up having to deal with a corpse.

Just three days ago, he was a gentleman who walked around with his hands behind his back, armed with leisure and dignity, poking his nose here and there and having a pretty good time.

Where did that vigorous gentleman go? Now, an old man who could barely stand properly without a cane was groaning.

The kind-hearted Ririsa couldn't just stand by and watch and was even helping to support him.

Well, if you didn't feel pity seeing that sight, you weren't human, just something on the fringes of humanity.

“Sir. Do you perhaps regret boarding the airship?”

“I wonder if there has ever been a time in my entire life that I have regretted as much as I do now.”

Judging by his deep sigh, it seemed he wasn't just joking around but genuinely regretting it.

The old man, who had been grumbling about this and that, suddenly fell silent.

His bent back straightened up, and the cane in his hand was naturally dropped to the floor.

The expression worn down by fatigue vanished without a trace, and his face was filled with solemnity and benevolence.

As I was wondering if it was okay for a person to change so suddenly, a voice came from behind me.

“I apologize, Archmage. You must have wanted to rest comfortably, but due to my shortcomings, I have made even a retired man stand on the battlefield. I have no excuse.”

The owner of the familiar voice was Count Dman.

I turned my back to greet him.

And.

“…Who are you?”

The nonsense slipped out of my mouth before I knew it.

It was indeed Count Dman.

But the Count Dman I knew was a man with a noble's elegance.

He was a person who visibly tried not to lose his dignity even during the war, but now, perhaps even that had become difficult.

His dark stubble, untidy clothes and hair, and especially how he seemed to have lost weight in the past few days made him look like a different person.

Well, unlike Selina, who only needed to focus on making this operation successful as a mage, he, as the commander guarding the fortress, must have had many times more work to do.

“You know how to joke? I’ve only seen your soldier-like side, so this feels fresh.”

“……”

It wasn't a joke; it was my true feelings that had slipped out unconsciously.

Fortunately, Count Dman laughed it off cheerfully.

The Count, who patted my shoulder twice, focused on his conversation with the old man.

“Does the Count intend to kill this old man?”

“Not at all. But among the mages in the fortress, the most trustworthy is….”

I had taken a step back and was watching the two converse when I felt a piercing gaze.