Swordmaster of the Great Wall

Even though it was late into the night, the lights of the construction site for the new Great Wall did not go out.

Not far from there, in a quiet clearing, Erich sat, quietly watching the scene before his eyes.

Toward him approached the giant red-haired barbarian, Ungrim, who spoke.

[... It's astonishing. To think you'd consider building another Great Wall here.]

[It's thanks to you. When the lords opposed the idea, you actively supported it, didn't you?]

The construction of a massive barrier wall to block the dead. To execute that, he needed the consent of the lords.

However, their opposition was not insignificant.

Their reasoning was simple: With the Great Wall already established in the south, why spend more resources and manpower to build one here?

But Erich's thoughts differed.

Accommodating an army of barbarians of this scale in the south was utterly impossible.

If they were left outside the Great Wall, they would only become corpses that swelled the enemy's ranks when the immortal legions arrived.

That's why he thought of building a new Great Wall at the northern edge.

Everyone opposed, but Ungrim, who held great influence, actively approved.

Yet, even though he had gained Ungrim's support, Erich still didn't understand his intentions.

So he'd said, 'It's thanks to you.'

At those words, Ungrim let out a thoughtful hum and replied.

[There was someone else who thought as you have. When everyone was against it, she pushed through and was met with resentment. But in the end, it was thanks to that massive wall that we were able to stop the dead.]

[... Is that the Great Wall that stands now?]

[Yes. Commander Kaladia was that sort of person.]

From Ungrim's voice, caught in reminiscence, the word 'Commander' sounded somehow bittersweet.

Since the subject had come up, Erich focused more on the conversation.

In the first place, the reason he had called Ungrim out to this place was because of Kaladia.

[Yes, that's what I wanted to ask you. Why was Kaladia unable to eliminate the Lord of the Dead, even after repelling the army of the dead?]

[Kaladia never repelled the Lord of the Dead. You're mistaken about something.]

[... Mistaken?]

Ungrim went on to explain. According to him, kaladia wielded a power similar to Erich's.

Yet, despite wielding such power, it was still nowhere near enough against the Lord of the Dead.

Hearing this, Erich looked puzzled. Before his regression, he had already clashed with the Lord of the Dead.

Reflecting on the Lord of the Dead's strength, he didn't think he would suffer a total defeat with the power he possessed now.

In fact, he even wondered if he could handle the Lord of the Dead alone if things went well.

But someone who actually witnessed the Lord of the Dead's end might see things differently.

Erich pressed further.

[... Are you saying I could also lose to the Lord of the Dead?]

[No, I can't say. In my memory, commander Kaladia was weaker than you. I've never seen anything like your power.]

[Then what in the world did Kaladia do to deal with the Lord of the Dead?]

[He sealed him. Everyone from the Watch participated in that operation. Of course, those of us who'd participated in body enhancement experiments toward the end, like me, didn't join in.]

[... There was a seal?]

Erich tilted his head.

He definitely remembered seeing an illusion of Kaladia preparing something in the cave.

And there had indeed been something like a ritual there—it could've been a sealing.

[I don't know the details. But Kaladia sacrificed the imperial mages sent from the Empire. That's all I know.]

[... Then what were you planning to do to deal with the Lord of the Dead?]

[I managed to acquire the tome used back then.]

[I see. You never intended to go up against the immortal legion directly.]

At Erich's words, Ungrim grinned.

Apparently, Ungrim planned to seal the Lord of the Dead after seizing the Watch and taking the Great Wall.

That way, after fighting and overcoming the Watch, they could recover from their losses and buy time to prepare for the inevitable return of the Lord of the Dead.

Just as Kaladia had done in the past.

Of course, Ungrim didn't have mages, but he wasn't entirely without magical means either.

In every tribe, there tended to be a few shamans who broke away from Haratakan, and with Ungrim having united the tribes, he had a fair number of shamans at his disposal.

It was a different form of magical device, but the principle was the same. Ungrim must have intended to use that fact.

'But I have no intention of sealing him.'

However, Erich thought differently. He didn't intend to seal the Lord of the Dead.

His goal was to take this opportunity to annihilate the Lord of the Dead and completely sever the future in which the immortal legions would rise.

And Ungrim also agreed that eliminating the Lord of the Dead outright was wiser than sealing him.

That judgment was likely informed by having seen Erich's power firsthand.

But the tome that Ungrim possessed didn't seem entirely useless.

'Maybe there's a way to weaken the power of the dead.'

Sealing, after all, was 'to place a constraint and render someone powerless.'

If that sealing could be reappropriated, it might be useful in the immediate final battle with the Lord of the Dead.

[Then can you give that tome to me?]

[Weren't you planning to fight? Are you thinking of sealing him? This kind of chance might not come again.]

[I know that too. However, there's no rule that a seal can only be used for that purpose. We're lucky to have shamans and mages with us. If they can analyze it, maybe we'll find a way to weaken those creatures.]

[That's something to consider.]

Ungrim easily agreed.

A long silence followed. Both of their gazes settled on the rising structure of the Great Wall.

Erich felt a strange sensation.

'... Originally, Ungrim was my mortal enemy.'

Before the regression, Ungrim had brutally killed Erich's mentor, Mikhail, and had died after a long, bloody duel with Erich.

One of Erich's greatest goals in this life was to 'kill Ungrim'.

But ironically, they were now working together to stop the Lord of the Dead.

The feeling he got from that situation was complex and subtle in itself.

Yet Erich and Ungrim had always shared the same objective: to survive against the immortal legions.

Ultimately, their enmity had only arisen because of some misunderstanding that had developed between them.

Once that was resolved, the only thing left was their common, massive foe.

The Great Wall was rising steadily. Until the day of the final battle.

***

The next day, Erich stared blankly at the letter Barnes had brought.

Even more so because it was from someone he could hardly believe would ever write to him.

"... Did I mishear what you said?"

"You heard right."

"You're saying a letter arrived from the traitor, Albrecht?"

During dawn watch, Barnes had encountered a suspicious group and engaged them, he claimed.

However, Barnes said he had barely managed to put up a fight before being instantly subdued by the opponent.

But the enemy had then pulled down their hood, revealing themselves—emitting a white, glaring light from their eyes.

And they had told Barnes to deliver the letter to Erich. For what reason, Erich couldn't even begin to guess.

"With this sort of offer, there's usually only one reason."

It meant the sender wanted something from Erich.

What Erich and Albrecht wanted were completely different; Albrecht was an agent of the Lord of the Dead, while Erich had to destroy that king.

For their interests to align in such a scenario, only one possibility remained.

Realizing this, Erich's eyes flashed.

"... A traitor can never truly be loyal."

Erich unfolded the letter. And inside was exactly what he had suspected.

Watching Erich hesitating, Frederick spoke up, urging him.

"Hey, don't keep it to yourself! Read it out loud, will you?"

"... He claims to know a way to weaken the Lord of the Dead's power."

"Why would that guy tell us?"

"It's obvious."

Erich slowly judged Albrecht's intentions.

Who knew how long the man had been alive—most likely it was due to the power of the dead.

And he had continually weakened the Watch from the shadows while maintaining his cover.

What could he possibly gain by serving the cause of the dead? Immortality?

'... In the end, he's nothing but a puppet of the Lord of the Dead.'

If so, what did Albrecht truly want?

Erich tried to speculate.

'To enjoy his current power without being beholden to the Lord of the Dead.'

Or perhaps, to swallow the power wielded by the Lord of the Dead for himself.

Erich didn't know how that would work, but it wouldn't be impossible for someone versed in all manner of evil arts.

"... So what's the condition?"

"He wants a meeting. Near the ice lake, beyond the valley."

"You're not actually thinking of going, right? My boss isn't dumb enough to just waltz into a trap."

"Hmm..."

Erich ran the numbers. Would meeting Albrecht present a good opportunity? Or would he fall into a trap?

'... The question is, does Albrecht have any means to subdue me?'

If Albrecht did possess enough power to defeat Erich, then there was danger.

But given that Erich now had to face the Lord of the Dead, he couldn't be sure Albrecht possessed such strength.

Frankly, if he chose a select team of elites to meet him, no matter what trap Albrecht set, they could likely break through.

But Albrecht had not set any conditions, like demanding Erich come alone.

"... On the contrary, why don't we be the ones to deceive him?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

A slight smirk curved Erich's lips.

He didn't know what scheme Albrecht was plotting, but he had no intention of just playing along.

A smile gradually spread across Erich's face.

If he went to meet Albrecht, he was planning to deliver a little gift of his own to the man.