Chapter 169 - The Return of the Kind Teacher

“……”

Legion Commander Emma couldn’t give any answer.

To ask if she wanted to hang the First Son’s neck.

She couldn’t say anything, couldn’t react at all, and that was the right answer.

“It was a joke. A terrible joke thrown to lighten the mood. I apologize.”

“…It’s alright. I am.”

Emma’s voice broke.

Just like her voice, her thoughts were also momentarily cut off.

A gap had been created, and he had to strike before it closed.

Quickly, with words as sharp as a dagger.

“The war with Wisdom is imminent.”

The composure she had maintained even at the mention of the First Son was instantly shattered.

“…What do you mean by that?”

Her purple pupils constricted, and the whites of her eyes became bloodshot.

In contrast, the Youngest Son slowly paced around the room and spoke leisurely.

“You didn’t know, I see. It’s already an open secret among the clan members.”

“If something like that were an open secret, there is no way I, the Legion Commander of the foremost border, wouldn’t know.”

“But you didn’t know, and I did. This is a fact that no one has touched.”

With the war right around the corner, the Legion Commander, the gatekeeper of the great gate, didn’t know about it.

She was about to block the forces of another great family without even knowing when or why the enemy was coming.

She had to block the swords and spears that were right in front of her to survive, with no thought of escape.

“The Family Head-nim…. Did he not give us any word because he was afraid that we, the foremost border guards, would run away from the great war with Wisdom?”

The Youngest Son shrugged.

“How would I know the Family Head-nim’s intentions? But it is I who first delivered this news to you.”

“……”

Complexity filled Emma’s purple eyes.

“How can I know that this is the truth?”

“You can’t know. With your level of information, you can never find out the information that only the clan members know in secret.”

“…Then how can I trust you, Young Master?”

“Trust is not something that is spurred on by someone else. It is something that comes from within.”

The Youngest Son’s footsteps stopped in front of the wyvern’s head.

This one, which looked exactly like the one the First Son enjoyed riding, seemed as if it would open its mouth at any moment.

“However, there is one thing I can promise you.”

He turned his bloodshot eyes, which had met the wyvern’s, to the noble who had been ruined by a clan member.

“If you promise to believe my words, I will create an opportunity for you to cross swords with the First Son. An opportunity where it’s okay to kill him.”

The Youngest Son, who was both a Millesdusk clan member and a noble of blood, placed his hand on his heart.

It was a clear sign of an oath, and a sign that the Legion Commander could not take lightly.

However, the fallen noble’s hand only twitched and did not move rashly.

He knew the reason well enough, thanks to the Gatekeeper.

“I want to stand at the forefront when the war with Wisdom breaks out in the future. To do that, I need to know the border and beyond it well.”

The Youngest Son’s words were slightly different from the truth.

He already knew it well, but he needed a reason for how he knew it.

And that Legion Commander would create that reason for him.

“Wisdom will avoid the central empire and aim for Millesdusk in the east.”

“Are you certain that Wisdom will strike first?”

“I am certain. I am certain enough to say it over and over again.”

At his assertion, which left no room for doubt, Emma could no longer ask.

Because a legitimate reason followed that certainty.

Of course, the fact that the legitimate reason was the Youngest Son himself was a secret.

Therefore, the youngest clan member extended his pale hand.

“Millesdusk will not give up any gate of the border. If you don't want the soldiers to be excessively consumed in that process, you must take my hand now.”

“…I do not know you well, Young Master. It’s certainly not to the point of forming such a hasty alliance.”

“The soldiers seemed to know me well. That I am brave, know how to take care of my subordinates, and am also valiant.”

Wasn’t he ashamed to say it himself?

Emma thought so for a moment, but she gave up after seeing his unwavering bloodshot eyes.

If the words spoken in front of the soldiers were sugar-coating and the actions were a bluff, it would be revealed later.

“Outside the wall, where our border guards’ hands cannot reach, is similar to a demonic realm.”

Thud─

A hand in an iron gauntlet and a pale hand clasped each other.

“If you burst into tears, the monsters will smell your fear and rush in even more, so cry your heart out in your room beforehand.”

“Hmm….”

The Youngest Son, despite the heartfelt warning, only stroked his beardless chin.

“You certainly didn't get a handover….”

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s nothing. I was just surprised that such a way of speaking could be conveyed without a handover.”

He let go of the hand he had held.

Despite pretending to be as cold and sharp as an icicle, she was a person as hot as fire.

Her temperament and body temperature were very warm.

“I will be going now. I’ll look forward to tomorrow’s picnic.”

The Legion Commander nodded coolly.

“I will prepare the best picnic of your life. Outside that Polar Night Wall.”

“Try it.”

“Walter. Are you outside?”

“Ye-Yes! Legion Commander-nim!”

Walter, who had been waiting, entered like a ray of light and saluted sharply.

“Hand over your duties as an engine soldier to your junior for a while, and tomorrow you will prepare for the extermination mission outside the wall.”

“An-An extermination mission outside the wall, you say?”

“I will not say it twice. Tomorrow, you will ride the train with the Young Master, get off at Gate 15, and go outside the wall.”

“J-Just the two of us, the Young Master and I….”

He wondered how an extermination could be attached to a mission with only two people, but he didn’t ask.

Because he instinctively nodded at the sight of the Youngest Son’s martial prowess he had seen today.

“Walter, you will act as the Young Master’s attendant and inform him of every little detail outside. That is your only job.”

“I-I understand.”

He answered, but everyone saw his body tremble with fear.

He, who the soldiers all called a strong man and the Legion Commander called a genius, could not hide his nervousness.

That’s how dangerous it was outside the Polar Night Wall.

As the wall was originally built to block the beings coming from outside, that place was indeed a demonic realm.

The traces of the demon followers were strongest outside the Polar Night Wall.

Unless one flew over it, the outside was a very dangerous place.

However, the Youngest Son smiled, revealing his fangs.

‘The Bloodstone will charge well.’

Monsters would be drawn to the scent of a living person, and a large amount of blood for the Bloodstone would be prepared.

But if it ended there, it wouldn't be impressive. It would be better if more monsters flocked.

To reduce the number of conspicuous strong individuals….

The Youngest Son smiled.

“Gatekeeper. Come in.”

He entered quietly without a word and was still silent.

It was a relief. He wouldn’t be able to say no to the order he was about to give.

“Instead of Walter, you will stay by the Legion Commander’s side here and protect her as you would me. Do you understand?”

“…Understood.”

It took some time, but he still answered.

The Youngest Son wore a gentle smile on his lips.

“Use him as you please.”

“It is not a place to be taken lightly enough to leave a guard behind.”

“I am not someone you can take lightly either.”

“…We will see about that.”

“Yes. We will see. And whether my words today are true as well.”

“……”

The two parted with a final silence.

The Gatekeeper and the Youngest Son arrived at the room Walter had guided them to. At the same time, the Gatekeeper took off his helmet.

“You are petty.”

“Don't misunderstand. Do you think I placed you next to the current Legion Commander to take out my anger?”

“If not that, then what is it?”

“There is something.”

So it was to take out his anger.

The Gatekeeper grumbled and went to his own room in the divided two rooms.

The border was a harsh and rough place, but the bed he lay on after a hard day was still soft.

[Seeing as even your heart is irregular now, the outside of the wall seems dangerous. Another near-death experience?]

“It probably won't be a near-death experience. Probably.”

The Youngest Son wasn’t sure either.

Because it had always been like that since his player days.

Outside the wall, the monsters you met varied depending on the time and luck.

So, outside the monitor, there was even a calculator that calculated the timing, but there was no such thing here.

Even when there was, if you were unlucky, you would only meet a bunch of mobs.

“Still, if we’re going to see blood on an extermination mission, wouldn’t it be okay to leave a useful heart among them and use it as a private soldier?”

[…Your greed knows no bounds.]

“Thank you for the compliment.”

His eyes naturally closed as he answered.

With the clone, the magic power was doubled, so the fatigue was also doubled.

By the time the main body lay down in bed, the clone was receiving items from the Forest Witch.

The item he had requested from her in advance was an oak barrel.

A special oak barrel made from the wood the Forest Witch had grown.

Now, with that, he could bring about the second processing─

“Hello? You despicable little disciple?”

“…Teacher-nim?”

A beautiful face suddenly pushed in front of him. And a curse.

“If you know, then get up, you bastard!”

The bed he was lying on was flipped over by the messenger’s brute strength. He barely managed to get out before being crushed.

Unlike her neat uniform, she stood with her legs crossed in a slouching manner and scratched the back of her head nervously.

“What brings you here?”

“I came on the Family Head-nim's orders, you know? It's a matter of course, though.”

The Family Head's orders.

The last time Ransis had sought out the Youngest Son on the Family Head’s orders, it was for teaching.

It was unlikely to be different this time. Especially with this attitude.

“Your nose has gotten as high as a mountain just because you rode a Magic Dragon, huh? You need to start over from the Skeleton Soldier. From the basics!”

“……”

Let me sleep, you old hag.

***

“The main body intends to use this as a container for the first processing of Dark Elixir.”

The Forest Witch calmly affirmed the clone Young Master’s words.

“I suppose so. Oak barrels are originally used for storing alcohol. But I never thought it would hold something like this.”

“Isn’t this the first time you’ve made an oak barrel, too?”

“That’s true.”

For a first attempt, the quality was remarkable.

The size, which came up to a person’s waist, could hold two boxes per barrel.

A total of 30 oak barrels. A total of 60 boxes. A total of 1,800 bottles of Dark Elixir.

The entire reduced volume to avoid conflict with Wisdom was here.

The clone Young Master, having placed them in his spatial artifact, once again mounted the Griffin.

“I’ve prepared what you asked for. Is this all that’s needed for the second processing?”

“If so, it would have been done long ago. Another preparation has been completed at Dusk Citadel.”

“If you proceed with that completed preparation, you’re not avoiding a war with Wisdom, are you?”

“That is correct.”

At the clone Young Master’s affirmation, the Forest Witch’s head slowly lowered.

Her face, under the brim of her hat, clearly looked to be deep in thought.

A war was breaking out not long after she had left the forest, and there was a high possibility that this would lead to an East-West war.

“This second East-West war. I don’t think it will end ambiguously like the first.”

“Indeed. One of the two factions will kneel.”

“But I strangely don’t think it will be us.”

“I agree.”

Flap─

The clone Young Master flew towards the citadel.

At dawn, deep in the night.

Thirty oak barrels were secretly distributed to the Pandemonium Hall that the chairman had left behind.

The werewolf with good eyes, ears, and nose kept watch, and Edwin, wearing the Twilight helmet, secured the place.

“Young Master. This is the place.”

Having completely communicated with Hunger, he now handled it like his own limbs.

He spread Hunger’s slimy body on the floor like a swamp, filling it up to the ankles.

The oak barrels were placed on the newly finished underground floor. Hunger’s body communicated with the newly placed oak barrels and gradually increased its contact surface.

They were arranged in a line and settled completely.

“Now is the time for waiting.”

The clone Young Master stood in the center of the oak barrels and reported to the main body.

The second processing of the Dark Elixir, the war with Wisdom, had begun.