Chapter 141 : Chapter 141
Chapter 141: War Clouds Gathering
“It seems like a pretty big deal if it is war, but somehow you look peaceful.”
“Haha, is that so? Actually, it is not particularly a special event. How many years do you think there have been without war in human history?”
“Well. I have not really thought about it.”
“They say it wouldn’t even amount to eight percent, let alone ten percent of human history according to historians. That means war itself is not that rare of an occurrence.”
Edric added bitterly.
“Even so, this war might be quite big.”
“Is it the Eastern Union?”
“Did you already know?”
“Yes, well, I heard some stories roughly while wandering the continent.”
Edric’s gaze became strange.
“Hmm, if you know, then there is no need to deny it. You can see it as an extension of what happened in Bernhardt before. There were already movements from the Eastern Union from back then.”
“What will happen to Winter Castle?”
“Winter Castle also won’t be able to avoid the war. Of course, due to Winter Castle’s location, unless the Eastern Union crosses the Eastern Mountains, we won’t be directly swept into the war but…… there will be a separate request from the Imperial Household.”
“It’s a dispatch of troops.”
“It is an unavoidable matter.”
As seen in the post by CyberRekka9, the movements of the Eastern Union did not seem to be a secret anymore.
War is coming.
Honestly speaking, I had no reason to join this war, but I still belonged to Winter Castle.
Meaning the choice was not mine to make.
Of course, if I wanted to avoid the war despite that, I could avoid it as much as I wanted, but I didn't feel the need to do so.
Because this was a fairly good opportunity for me too.
“Will the 4th Special Task Force participate in the war too?”
“The possibility is high. There must always be resident forces in Winter Castle, and even if we dispatch troops, it is difficult to organize a large-scale force. The limit will probably be a few special task forces and one or two companies. On top of that, thanks to your recent activities, the performance results are quite good, so the Lord of the castle trusts us quite a bit.”
“I see.”
As expected, it was highly likely that the 4th Special Task Force would be utilized as support troops for Winter Castle in this war.
If so,
“What happens if soldiers who were former prisoners establish merit in the war?”
“It is no different from other soldiers. Appropriate rewards will follow according to the merit. Among those rewards, the discharge you wish for will surely be included. Is this what you wanted to ask?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“My heart wishes for you to stay at Winter Castle until the end, but…… well, one cannot catch the flowing wind.”
Edric seemed to have given up on persuading me about my decision to discharge.
“Then, I will take my leave now.”
“Right. The members were waiting for you a lot.”
“That is a bit unexpected.”
“Haha, that just means the camaraderie is excellent. Go on inside.”
Leaving the laughing Edric behind, I moved my steps into the 4th Special Task Force barracks, and Conlan, who happened to be inside the barracks, welcomed me.
“Oh, look who it is! It’s Vell!”
“It’s been a while.”
“What are we supposed to do if you just go out on vacation suddenly like that? What on earth happened? And who was that woman from back then?”
“Well…… let’s just say she’s an acquaintance, since that’s exactly the extent of our relationship.”
“Hmm, looks like there is a complicated story as expected. Anyway, be careful. It’s perfect for ruining your life if you make a mistake.”
“……I think I’ve already ruined it enough.”
It would not be easy to ruin a life more than being dragged to Winter Castle as a prisoner.
“Haha! Anyway, glad you are back. I was worried in case something big happened.”
“Useless worry.”
Leaving the laughing Conlan behind, I faced Albino who was grooming his dagger.
“You came.”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t die, so it’s done.”
A conversation that was exactly just that much.
But even that much was enough.
“Where is Alicia?”
“Ah, her? She is training alone even during break times these days. She’s become quite venomous.”
“Really?”
“It is good to work hard, but it was to the point of being a bit worrisome.”
It seemed Alicia, who could not tag along during this vacation either, devoted herself to training with venomous determination.
Well, since he said she went out to train, she would come on her own if I waited in the barracks.
“Lying down as soon as you arrive?”
“I was tired.”
I closed my eyes for a moment while laying my body on the bed.
I felt like I could finally live now.
Even if the Orb of Water was continuously recovering my fatigue, the fatigue from the arduous journey was not easily relieved.
Should I say it felt like dot damage was piling up without me realizing?
So for now, I wanted to rest.
***
When I was gradually falling into the demon of sleep amidst the living noise of Conlan and Albino moving around, I heard the sound of the barracks door opening.
“Ve, Vell?”
And the voice that was heard was Alicia’s voice as expected.
“He seems to be sleeping right now, so why don’t you share the joy of reunion a bit later?”
“No, I’m up.”
Alicia’s appearance after I got up from the bed was a look covered in sweat marks and dust here and there on her body due to intense training.
“You…… returned.”
“Have you been well?”
Alicia had a face that looked like she had a lot of things to say, but soon nodded her head slightly.
“I have been well. What about you, Vell?”
“Well, it was quite a meaningful vacation.”
“That’s a relief.”
Alicia spoke as if she remembered something.
“Ah, where did the lady who left with you go?”
“We parted ways on the way back because she had personal circumstances. She said she would stop by Winter Castle again later if she has time.”
At those words, Alicia made an unknown expression that I couldn’t figure out.
“Ah…… is that so?”
“Yeah.”
The conversation was exactly up to there.
Maybe because it had been a while, shall I say it was somehow a bit awkward, anyway it was like that.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“Nothing much. Stopped by a labyrinth once, and almost got killed by a bad guy on the way back. That’s about it.”
“Yes?”
Alicia looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.
“It’s roughly that kind of story. I will tell you slowly when there is time later.”
“Ah, yees…….”
Alicia, who had a slightly reluctant expression for a moment, opened her lips.
“Vell.”
And she spoke as if bringing up words she had held back for a long time.
“It’s…… really a relief that you returned safely.”
“You’re saying something obvious.”
Finally, I had returned to Winter Castle.
***
About a week had passed since I returned to Winter Castle.
Should I say the daily life during that time was…… exactly the same as before?
Training, eating, sleeping.
Lurking on the Anonymous Bulletin Board in spare time.
Of course, regarding the part about the 4th Special Task Force’s training, Edric was enjoying his freedom after a long time since the authority had been delegated to me.
Because Edric took his hands off the 4th Special Task Force training again starting from my return.
“It’s really a relief that you returned. How big your empty spot was…….”
“……Aren’t you taking it too easy? Even though you are the Captain in name.”
“Doesn’t that mean I believe in and trust you that much? Since a superior can trust his subordinate, this is also a good thing.”
“You sure are good with words.”
Even while conducting training like that, my phantom in Akiro’s Labyrinth was active diligently.
As proof of that, stories about him were still appearing intermittently on the Anonymous Bulletin Board.
-Ah lol I can't do this because of this son of a bitch Plague Mask Gunman.
-Agreed. Why the hell is that bastard an aggro mob? Is the original a character with a ruined personality?
-Possibility exists.
-Ah, I'm going to give up on the labyrinth.
-lol Is there still a guy running the labyrinth? That Divine Sword is just a fcking scam.
-Fr lol
The more the players suffered, the experience points of my phantom who was active as the Guardian of the Labyrinth piled up towards me one by one.
Since the main body was training and the phantom was continuing arduous fights in actual combat, naturally my stat growth also became incomparably faster than before.
[You are the guardian who protects the laws of Akiro’s Labyrinth.]
[Synchronization with the guardian’s phantom proceeds.]
[Current floor of the phantom : 2nd Floor]
.
.
.
[Torn muscles recover and muscles grow.]
[Stamina increases. (+1)]
[6 → 7]
[Torn muscles recover and muscles grow.]
[Strength increases. (+1)]
[6 → 7]
Both Stamina and Strength figures rose.
Considering how much I suffered to raise my stats until now, it was a ridiculous growth speed.
“Phew…….”
With this visit to Akiro’s Labyrinth, I gained quite a lot of things.
Starting from the ridiculous advantage of being the Guardian of the Labyrinth, to Akiro’s Ring and growth.
If so, exactly how strong had I become?
It is obvious that I can’t compare to when I was Cain, but even so, I came to possess a few exceptional strengths compared to my level.
‘Shall I try checking soon.’
First, starting with the easy 4th Special Task Force members as a warm-up.
“Hey guys.”
“Huff…… it’s tough, but why?!”
“That’s enough physical training, let’s do a different training.”
“What training?!”
It’s obvious.
“Bring it on, all of you.”
Along with that, the movements of the special task force members who were in the middle of continuing their training stopped.
“Haha…… It seems like we look very easy to this bastard after he put on the Squad Leader badge? Do you think we played while you were out playing?”
“Agreed.”
Conlan and Albino revealed a bestial roar with ferocious smiles.
“Vell, I will show you that I won’t hold you back anymore.”
Alicia also sent an intense gaze towards me not wanting to lose out.
“Then shall we check once. Attack me, all of you, right now. Ah, I won’t use magic so don’t worry.”
“Hey! Get him!”
Along with Conlan’s shout, the special task force members rushed at me all at once.
First of all, Conlan rushed at me threateningly holding axes in both hands.
Compared to Tychus whom I faced before, he was neither fast nor fierce, but I couldn’t just let him hit me.
“Where do you think you're going?”
I lightly wrapped Demonic energy around the soles of my feet and stepped on Conlan’s axe blade just like that and flew.
“W, what?!”
And a face kick right onto the bewildered Conlan’s face.
“Ugh!”
Immediately after, Alicia and Albino attacked me from both sides.
‘I can’t dodge in this posture. I’ll counterattack.’
No sooner had I finished thinking than Alicia’s sword and Albino’s dagger rushed towards me.
I stepped on the air a few times with Hermes’s Gale Boots just like that and swung the wooden sword while turning a somersault.
“What kind of movement is th─”
Whack!
“Ugh!”
Albino was knocked out at once by the swung wooden sword, but Alicia rushed again as if she wouldn’t miss the opening.
‘She certainly became faster.’
However, I am faster.
I, who quickly took a stance, parried Alicia’s attacks with the wooden sword and dug right into Alicia’s embrace just like that, aiming the tip of the wooden sword at Alicia’s neck.
“……I lost.”
“Everyone has certainly become strong.”
It seemed the 4th Special Task Force members weren’t playing around while I went to Akiro’s Labyrinth either, as they had become quite strong.
Especially in Alicia’s case, it was to the extent that she chilled my spine momentarily.
But despite that, the gap between them and me had now widened considerably.
I actually didn’t use more than half of the cards I had, but suppressing the 4th Special Task Force members now was too simple.
“What on earth did you do while on vacation?”
“Damn monster bastard.”
Conlan and Albino grumbled.
“Today’s training ends here.”
I confirmed everything I needed to check in this place.
“Already? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to meet the Captain for a moment.”
“The Captain? Why?”
“I thought I might try fighting him once.”
“……What?”
Whether Conlan and Albino made shocked expressions or not, I moved my steps.
“Captain.”
Finding Edric’s office, I saw Edric lazing around as usual.
“Hmm? It’s you. Is today’s training over?”
“Yes, well, roughly.”
“What is the matter?”
How strong have I become?
The last chapter of the test remained.
“I’d like to request a spar.”