Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading

Chapter 129. In Other Fronts (5)

Sometime later.

“He really accomplished all of this?”

Laura, having received a report from the commander of the Red Wolf Unit, muttered to herself without realizing it.

The Red Wolf Unit commander, kneeling on one knee, nodded.

“I was quite surprised myself while investigating. From Platoon Leader of the transport battalion to the current Main Battalion Commander. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was involved in all of the 3rd Corps' significant achievements.”

It was already surprising enough that he had survived and produced results in the two rear disruption operations, which anyone could see were Michael's attempts to drive Roden to his death.

But on top of that, he had predicted the raid team's attack, identified the former Main Battalion Commander as a spy, and even turned the situation around to capture Kroxen Castle.

Furthermore, even though their forces were slightly inferior to the Black Bell Corps, it was Roden who had dealt with the March of the Other Shore.

At this point, he was practically a hero who had saved the 3rd Corps from crisis.

This was even more so considering that Michael, who had been active on the same front, had made a major, irreversible mistake.

At the same time, she understood why Michael acknowledged Roden.

In a sense, Roden's achievements could be said to be the greatest among the siblings.

This was because he had crawled his way up from the very bottom to create the current situation.

On the other hand, the other siblings had been given high positions from the start.

Simply because they were of Glockner blood.

For that reason, unless they performed exceptionally, their actions could be seen as simply fulfilling the duties of their position.

“The family head will surely take an interest in Ernst as well.”

“I looked into that part as well, but it seems he hasn't shown that much interest yet. It appears that some of the interest that was directed towards the third young master has now shifted to the youngest young master.”

Here, the ‘third young master’ referred to Michael, and the ‘youngest young master’ referred to Roden.

Currently, the direct bloodline of the Glockner family was as follows.

First, Leon Glockner.

Second, Malena Glockner.

Third, Paul Glockner.

Fourth, Laura Glockner.

Fifth, Michael Glockner.

Youngest, Ernst Glockner.

It was a composition of four sons and two daughters.

For reference, in the Glockner family, one could become the next head regardless of gender, as long as they were designated as the successor by the previous head.

That was why the six of them were currently engaged in a fierce succession war.

In any case, although Michael's prestige had relatively fallen, Roden's sudden rise was not good news for Laura.

Until now, Laura had thought of the succession war as something involving five people.

Furthermore, if he succeeded in dealing with the Black Bell Corps, Roden's position would rise even higher than it was now.

“By the way, why did Ernst accept Michael's offer of cooperation? To monopolize the family head's attention, it would be better to solve this problem alone.”

“That is also a question to me, but I believe the important thing is that a cooperative relationship has been established. If this continues, both young masters will achieve results.”

“That's also true.”

Certainly, if the 3rd Corps side solved the problem, Roden would advance in his own right, and Michael might be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with his other siblings again.

That meant that the task of dealing with the Black Bell Corps should absolutely not be left to those two.

And naturally, Laura intended to deal with the Black Bell Corps with her own hands.

It was late, but if she succeeded in defeating them now, she could make up for the achievements she had fallen behind Malena in.

“The Red Wolf Unit is fully prepared, I trust?”

“Yes. You need not worry. The next time we meet, those rat-like bastards will not be able to escape.”

“Good. While tracking the Black Bell Corps, keep an eye on Michael and Ernst's movements. And also investigate under what conditions Michael formed a cooperative relationship with Ernst.”

“As you command!”

The commander of the Red Wolf Unit raised his voice in response to Laura's order.

Watching him, Laura strengthened her resolve to defeat the Black Bell Corps with her own hands.

***

As expected, tracking the Black Bell Corps was not an easy task.

They disguised themselves as a patrol and roamed the 1st Corps' territory, and even pretended to be a supply unit and transported supplies, but the Black Bell Corps was very good at avoiding the main battalion led by Roden.

“Perhaps, as you said, it would be better to wait until the transport battalion is back to normal.”

Michael, who was moving with Roden, said.

Currently, Roden and Michael were on their way to examine a patrol that had been attacked by the Black Bell Corps since the main battalion had been dispatched.

With the thought that there might be some clues.

Of course, the possibility of there being no clues was greater than the possibility of there being any.

This was because similar incidents had already occurred several times, and on-site investigations had yielded nothing.

“I also think that would be best, but we can't just sit on our hands. That's why we're heading for an on-site investigation today.”

“It certainly will be difficult to catch the Black Bell Corps with just one chance. There's no guarantee that what you've prepared will work.”

Roden had explained his devised method to the main battalion.

He had judged that simply tracking the Black Bell Corps without a proper method could have a negative impact on the main battalion's morale.

Thus, Roden had even demonstrated the activation of the prepared artifacts, and in the process, Michael, who was cooperating, naturally came to know what method Roden had prepared.

“Yes. So we somehow need to meet the Black Bell Corps before the transport battalion is normalized and confirm how they use the mobility-type crystal orb. If we can just confirm that, we can not only modify the secret technique but also bestow its effects on objects.”

“Hearing you say that makes me covet that secret technique you use. Are you really not thinking of exchanging it?”

After the demonstration of Silence and Bind, Michael made a proposal to Roden.

To exchange his secret technique for Michael's.

He said he could even throw in a few more secret techniques if Roden wanted.

However, Roden flatly refused Michael's offer.

He could teach enchanting somehow if he tried, but modifying the secret technique according to the situation.

This was only possible because he could cast magic with aura instead of mana.

In the end, unless he taught magic, he couldn't pass it on even if he wanted to.

And enchanting wasn't very meaningful to pass on if one couldn't use magic like this.

For that reason, Roden had no choice but to refuse Michael's offer.

Though, even if it were possible to pass it on, he wouldn't have recklessly taught his trump card.

“As I mentioned last time, there are circumstances that prevent me from passing it on even if I wanted to.”

“Right. There must be circumstances. The circumstance of not wanting to give away your trump card.”

“……”

“Enough. I won't ask for more, so don't worry. I was just trying my luck again. By the way, are you learning the secret techniques of the Glockner Swordsmanship well?”

A while ago.

Michael had finally delivered the book containing the secret techniques of the Glockner Swordsmanship to Roden, as promised in exchange for his cooperation.

It was a book with a total of two secret techniques written in it, and he was asking how much Roden had learned.

“Yes. I'm learning them well.”

“How much?”

Roden thought for a moment before answering Michael honestly.

“All of them. I've learned them all perfectly.”

“……What?”

Michael was taken aback by the unexpected answer.

In his common sense, it was impossible to learn the secret techniques of the Glockner Swordsmanship so quickly.

This was even more so since it had only been a week since Michael had given the techniques to Roden.

For that reason, Michael denied reality.

“Ah. You mean you've learned one of the secret techniques completely. That's very fast. It makes me wonder why you were so bad before.”

“No. That's not it. I mean I've learned both secret techniques.”

As Roden confirmed it again, Michael's expression hardened.

It was because it had taken even him over a year to learn both secret techniques.

But to learn them in a week.

Michael simply couldn't believe Roden's words.

“Don't be ridiculous! How can you learn all of that in a week!”

“Is there a reason I shouldn't learn them?”

“It’s not that you shouldn’t, but……. Argh! Don't talk nonsense!”

“It’s not nonsense. It’s true.”

“I don't believe you! If what you say is true, get off your horse right now! And prove it here!”

“Do we really have to go that far? Let it be. Let’s just say I haven’t learned them all and head to our destination. What if the Black Bell Corps’ traces disappear because we’re late?”

“The Black Bell Corps isn't what's important right now! The fact that you learned two secret techniques in a week is more important! To be blunt, isn't it more likely that the traces of the Black Bell Corps will be gone even if we hurry there now?”

“So you really want me to prove it here?”

“Yes! Stop deceiving me and prove it at once!”

In the end, as Roden was about to reluctantly dismount his horse to demonstrate the two secret techniques as Michael wished.

Thudududududu!

Suddenly, a single horse galloped towards them from a distance, and Roden and Michael pointed the swords they had drawn for their duel in that direction.

However, the one galloping towards them was an allied cavalryman.

Belonging to the main battalion's cavalry company.

“Urgent news! The Black Bell Corps and the 1st Corps' main battalion have engaged in battle!”

“What? Is that true?”

Michael shouted in surprise, and the allied cavalryman nodded.

“Yes! It's certain! It was a force led by the 1st Corps' Main Battalion Commander herself!”

“So what was the result? Did they catch the Black Bell Corps?”

“No! They failed to catch them!”

“What?”

Laura herself had led the troops into battle, yet they had failed to capture the Black Bell Corps.

Roden and Michael couldn't help but be surprised by this news.

But the report didn't end there.

“Furthermore, the 1st Corps' main battalion is said to have suffered heavy damage!”