Swordmaster of the Great Wall

The soldiers of the Black Citadel and the main force stood dumbfounded, staring at the group of soldiers approaching them.

No matter how you looked at it, by their attire or anything else, they were rebels—those same bastards who had been fighting them with swords just a moment ago.

But then—

"Isn't that... isn't that the Commander?"

In such a situation, the soldiers of the Black Citadel had no choice but to doubt their eyes, for the man leading the rebels at the very front was the lord commander, Erich.

"... W-What is going on?"

"The lord commander went outside?"

Everyone was murmuring.

It was a situation beyond comprehension. What exactly had happened that made a force of over ten thousand crawl over to their side overnight?

"... Could something like that even be possible...?"

"Maybe there really was a reason behind it all..."

In fact, ever since Erich became lord commander, it was true that there had been plenty who were not entirely fond of him.

No matter how recently he'd become famous, the Black Citadel was full of veterans who had served there for longer than Erich had even been alive.

Though he inherited the position as per the wishes of the former lord commander, the way he'd suddenly been thrust into the role overnight left members, regardless of rank, feeling rather disgruntled.

But right now, the gazes directed at Erich at the head of the group were peculiar—mixtures of surprise and awe. Such was the look on their faces.

Of course, it was not that Erich had subdued the rebels with his sword, but because he had slain the lich and dispelled the effects of the mental wave, allowing them all to think clearly again.

Either way, in the eyes of the soldiers, Erich simply looked like a man who had pulled off something impossible.

Soon, the loyalist fortress commanders who had come out to greet Erich exchanged looks with each other. The first to speak was Hern.

"You boasted so loudly, and you really did succeed. Oh, incensus..."

"... He is the talent whom Lord Commander August arranged for us. It's only fitting."

Meanwhile, Fortress Commander Grant accepted the situation calmly.

Richter curled his lips in satisfaction, while a look of discomfort, as if chewing sand, appeared on Günter's lips.

As Erich came closer, the four fortress commanders bowed their heads lightly—a respectful yet light gesture given by fortress commanders to their lord commander.

"Thank you for your hard work, lord commander."

Erich gave a slight smile.

Though it was Erich's deed that eliminated the lich, it was largely due to Grant's skill that Erich's absence was covered and the enemies thrown into confusion.

So Erich praised him as follows:

"Fortress Commander Grant, thanks to you, the work was much easier."

But even at Erich's compliment, Grant simply replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"No. I simply did as I was ordered."

"Not many could have done as you did."

The other fortress commanders had also played crucial roles. Erich glanced toward the back.

At this, the last remaining rebel fortress commander, Burton, hesitantly came forward.

Richter glared at him sharply.

"Fortress Commander Burton, did you dare raise your sword against your brothers of the Great Wall?"

"......"

Burton avoided his gaze in silence, but Erich waved his hand.

"The lich's power was beyond imagination. That thing's abilities were strong enough to alter the landscape into another world. For it, bewitching a man or two would be no trouble at all."

"... Are you saying that one lich seduced four fortress commanders?"

"It's entirely possible. Fortress Commander Daren, I believe, was intent on revolt even without the lich's meddling, however."

Hern looked around with a puzzled expression.

No matter where he looked, he couldn't see Daren. Realizing what must have happened, Hern let out a low, thoughtful hum.

"Seems Daren is dead."

"Even after the lich was slain, he kept his blade raised."

Erich then addressed the other junior officers who were waiting for him. His eyes fell on Frederick.

"Frederick, it'll be a troublesome task, but please deal with the processing of the defeated rebels."

"Got it. This'll be damned time-consuming."

Frederick said this, sweeping his eyes over the defeated rebels. Seeing his gaze, they shrank back in fear.

Erich then left for the commander's residence with only Burton in tow—he needed to settle all that had happened and prepare for what was to come next.

***

Back at the residence, Erich explained to the key officers what had occurred—including the nature of the lich's power, and mixing in information he already knew.

'This is a good chance to clarify the power possessed by the Lord of the Dead.'

If he were to suddenly act as if he knew a lot about the dead, it might seem suspicious.

But if he explained that he'd learned it from the lich, it would be easy to address.

"The Lord of the Dead has three loyal servants. One was the lich. The other two remain."

"... Are you saying the other two are monsters like that?"

The lich may have been slain easily, but his true strength had been astonishing—for he had bewitched nearly half of the Watch's forces and incited rebellion.

That there were two more such monsters remaining—some officers even let out sighs.

Erich continued his explanation.

"In the future, as we face the Lord of the Dead, the most troublesome will be those three. One of them will certainly be Albrecht."

"... Almost no one knew Albrecht's true swordsmanship."

Grant glanced at Mikhail. In response, Mikhail nodded, as if agreeing. Even Mikhail, who had fought beside Albrecht for so long, hadn't known he was a swordmaster.

Mikhail then spoke.

"Lord Commander, I have no idea when exactly that man became a swordmaster. Perhaps he joined the Watch for reasons we never suspected."

"I think so, too. Albrecht deceived those around him for many years. I don't know what his goal was."

Albrecht was a figure who oversaw administration within the Watch—he was not a warrior on the battlefield like Mikhail or August.

Yet such a man had suddenly become a swordmaster? Erich himself had no sense of Albrecht's true identity.

'He had simply disappeared before the regression.'

However, if the reports from Shadow's leader, King, were true and not fabricated, Albrecht truly was a swordmaster.

'Perhaps the story that, before the regression, he was swept up in the rebellion and died alongside August was not true either.'

If such a swordmaster had burned out his life at the end, naturally those who had fought him would have passed down stories about him.

Anyway.

Soon after, Hrung-ga began to speak in awkward imperial tongue.

"... We must not forget Ungrim as well, Erich."

"Hrung-ga. Your imperial tongue has improved."

Erich gave a faint smile. As Hrung-ga said, Ungrim no doubt commanded a powerful army. Erich continued.

"We must strike at Ungrim first."

All the fortress commanders nodded.

After all, it was uncertain where the Lord of the Dead even was—but they knew removing the threat of Ungrim, who led an army of hundreds of thousands, was a priority.

It was entirely possible that Ungrim, with his near-unmatched strength and countless barbarians, posed an even tougher challenge than the dead for the time being.

However,

Something continued to nag Erich.

In the flashback scenes from before, he had seen a warrior almost identical to Ungrim wearing the uniform of a Watchman and standing there—nearly a thousand years in the past.

If this was not just groundless worry, it could possibly explain Ungrim's hatred toward the Watch.

'If that's the case, it may be possible to change Ungrim's mind.'

Until now, Erich had seen him only as an enemy to be eliminated...

But if there was a legitimate cause and a solution could be offered, perhaps Ungrim's heart could be changed.

Of course, it would depend on where Ungrim's animosity originated from, and how deep it ran.

Erich slowly pointed at the map.

"Once our forces are reorganized, we will move them all to the Fuga Gorge."

"Can't we cross Haratakan?"

That was Hern's question.

Instead of replying directly, Erich gestured toward Hrung-ga. After thinking for a moment, Hrung-ga answered.

"Haratakan is the homeland of the shamans. If a great army tried to cross, they would never allow it."

"... Those shamans—are they really so formidable?"

At Hern's retort, Hrung-ga pointed at Ceres, who had been quietly listening. She started in surprise.

"Yes?"

"There are quite a few like her guarding Haratakan. Are you confident?"

Hern's eyes went wide. There were many as strong as Ceres in Haratakan? He shook his head immediately.

"No, never..."

Erich smiled and said,

"Crossing Haratakan is difficult. Instead, we will occupy Fuga Gorge and prepare to face Ungrim's vast army there. All fortress commanders are to make thorough preparations."

"... And the rebel troops?"

"The rebel troops will be reorganized and deployed under the fortress commanders."

Grant nodded at this. Erich continued swiftly.

"Under all five fortress commanders, that is."

Hern tilted his head. Why five? There were only four loyalist fortress commanders: Grant, Hern, Richter, and Günter.

Erich provided the answer.

"Burton's sins will be forgiven, at least by my temporary authority."

"Forgive me for saying, but to pardon rebellion..."

"You mean it might provoke another revolt?"

Grant answered with his eyes. The other commanders seemed to agree. But Erich saw things differently.

'Burton was originally a loyalist. He never would have defected if not for the lich.'

Besides, their fears proved groundless.

As things stood now, Erich was seen as a monster who had personally subdued the rebels, and rumors of such a feat would prevent further revolts.

"That won't happen. Isn't that right, Fortress Commander Burton?"

Burton's eyes trembled. Without a word, he bit his lips and then knelt.

"I'll lay down my life."

"... No need for that. Just do your best."

Mikhail let out a subtle laugh. In any case, the 'inevitable rebellion' that the Watch had to endure someday was now over.

What lay ahead for the Watch, led by Erich, was to march toward Ungrim—and to uncover the secrets behind the events of a thousand years ago.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Almost all the problems Erich encountered in his past life have been dealt with...

Only Ungrim is left....

After that, they would fight Albrecht and the Lord of the Dead...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】