Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131. In Other Fronts (7)
Roden returned to Biluk and immersed himself in training.
In the meantime, the frequency of the Black Bell Corps' appearances decreased.
The proof was that they had not appeared even once in the week since their clash with Laura.
Michael commented on the situation.
“I expected them to seize the momentum and engage in more aggressive guerrilla operations. This is unexpected.”
Roden, too, had thought the Black Bell Corps would become more active.
But for some reason, the Black Bell Corps had reduced their appearances instead, and Roden couldn't help but find this part strange as well.
“Indeed. It is unexpected.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but if I were to guess, there would be two main reasons. They either felt a greater threat from the fight with Laura than expected. Or they are short on resources to carry out their operations.”
“By resources, you mean magic artifacts?”
“That’s right.”
“In that case, the latter is more likely than the former. A shortage of resources. Is the Empire's treasury finally showing its limits?”
“They could have simply judged that operating the Magic Artifact Unit is no longer meaningful. They’ve already achieved considerable results.”
“That could be it.”
In any case, the fact that relatively less damage was accumulating until the 1st Corps' transport battalion was normalized was a positive thing.
It was while Roden was diligently training and preparing for the future.
“What are you planning to do?”
One day, a rather unwelcome guest came to Roden and asked.
It was Laura.
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“You’re thinking the Black Bell Corps will reappear when the 1st Corps' transport battalion is normalized, aren't you? How are you planning to catch them then?”
For her to have figured it out this far.
Should I answer Laura honestly?
After a moment of thought, Roden opened his mouth.
“...I plan to silence them and immobilize them.”
“You must know by now that that method doesn't work, don't you?”
“Yes. I do. That a half-baked method won’t work.”
“Our operation was half-baked? How perfect is your operation that you can say something like that?”
“I can't guarantee that it's perfect, but it's not bad. Though there’s no particular reason for me to prove it.”
“What?”
“It’s exactly as I said. I am here as the Main Battalion Commander of the 3rd Corps, under orders from my superiors, to deal with the Black Bell Corps. There is no reason for me to prove how perfect my plan is to the Main Battalion Commander of the 1st Corps.”
At Roden's logical explanation, Laura bit her lower lip.
Then she spoke.
“You’ve grown a lot, Ernst. Very arrogant. But what can you do? I intend to make you open your mouth for sure.”
Laura replied, her hand fidgeting with the hilt of the sword at her waist.
Roden saw this but did not panic.
“You must have read the flow of my aura, so you should know that it's useless to waste your strength.”
“Useless, you say. I’ll show you that not all 6-star knights are the same.”
In the end, Laura drew her sword with a clang.
Then she rushed towards Roden in an instant.
Her speed was like a flash of lightning.
'A secret technique.'
The moment Roden witnessed Laura's movement, he instinctively knew it was a secret technique.
That was why he countered Laura's attack with a secret technique of his own.
Fortunately, Roden had a secret technique suitable for such a situation.
It was the Drawing Sword.
Swoosh!
In an instant, Roden's sword thrust toward Laura's body.
He had clearly reacted a step later, yet Roden's attack speed was much faster.
This was because while Laura had simply used a secret technique to increase her body's speed, Roden had used a secret technique that increased the attack speed itself.
Clang!
In the end, Laura had to withdraw her sword to block Roden's attack.
What blocked Roden's attack was the aura shield, the symbol of a 6-star knight.
“...Not bad.”
“I told you. This method is just a waste of time.”
As Roden answered leisurely, Laura's expression hardened.
Her pride was hurt by the counterattack after she had inwardly looked down on Roden.
Just as Laura was about to launch another attack.
“Ah. Stop it, Laura.”
Michael, who had been watching the situation quietly from the side, intervened.
“Shut up!”
“You’re the one who should stop being a pain. Before I join Ernst's side and teach you a lesson.”
As Michael drew a clear line, saying he would side with Roden, Laura's momentum subsided.
It couldn't be helped.
It would be a different story if it were one-on-one.
But if Michael joined in, Laura's chances of winning this fight would be as good as gone.
In the end, Laura sheathed her sword back at her waist.
“You’ve completely become Ernst’s dog, Michael. I didn't know you would change like this.”
“That kind of pathetic provocation won't work. You know it too. Ernst and I are merely in a cooperative relationship.”
“You can’t catch the Black Bell Corps by silencing them and immobilizing them. Are you going to maintain your cooperative relationship with Ernst even knowing that?”
“You should think of it the other way around. Why are the two of them cooperating despite knowing that? There must be something to it. Like that. Weren’t you already thinking that when you came here?”
“……”
Laura answered in the affirmative with her silence.
Michael sneered at this Laura.
“Anyway, Laura, you’re too honest for your own good. In any case, if you’re done talking, get lost. I don’t have any more time to waste on you.”
Michael ordered Laura to leave.
Roden also felt the same as Michael, so he watched quietly to see when Laura would leave.
But it was then.
“Me too… do it for me.”
Laura muttered in a small voice with her head bowed.
Michael frowned and asked back.
“What?”
“Let me… in too.”
“What are you saying? Speak up.”
“Let me join the cooperation too!”
Laura, who had lifted her head and declared her intentions, began to pour out her words as if a dam had burst.
“I don’t know what promise Michael made, but let me in on the cooperation too. If we can just catch the Black Bell Corps, I’ll gladly do anything. A sword? Armor? A famous horse? Or maybe a Superior Swordsmanship Manual? What do you want, Ernst? I’ll give you something better than Michael. Huh? I’m asking what you want.”
It was a sight that showed just how serious Laura was about catching the Black Bell Corps.
Michael sneered once more at this Laura.
“But what can you do, Laura? I don’t think you can give him anything better than me.”
“Why can’t I? Compared to a mere corps staff officer who rarely participated in battle directly, the spoils I’ve obtained as a Main Battalion Commander from the start would be incomparable.”
“Then make an offer. To give you a tip, Ernst likes Superior Swordsmanship Manuals more than anything else.”
“Really? In that case, I will give you the <Soler Swordsmanship Manual> as a reward for cooperation.”
At Laura's words, Michael's eyes widened.
That was because the Soler family was one of the renowned swordsmanship families in the Empire.
Of course, due to the vast size of the Empire, there were many renowned swordsmanship families, and Soler was a family that ranked in the lower tier among them, but it was an undeniable fact that the <Soler Swordsmanship Manual> was of high value.
After confirming Roden and Michael's reactions, Laura crossed her arms triumphantly and asked.
“How about it? The reward is much better than Michael’s, isn't it?”
However, Michael, who came to his senses first, answered Laura's question.
“I admit it’s a pretty good reward. But my reward is much greater.”
“What? A greater reward than the <Soler Swordsmanship Manual>? What on earth is it?”
“The two secret techniques of our family that Roden hasn't had the chance to learn because of the war.”
“Ah.”
Laura immediately understood upon hearing Michael's answer.
No matter what Superior Swordsmanship Manual she brought, it couldn't be better than the two secret techniques of the Glockner family.
But soon, Laura shook her head and shouted.
“No! That’s not it! If you think about it, my offer is much better! After all, he can learn our family's secret techniques after this war is over!”
“Who knows when the war will end.”
“But…”
“It’s no use arguing. Before the two secret techniques of the Glockner Swordsmanship, anything else is just a trivial thing. So give up on the cooperation.”
“Eek! Then I’ll give you one more Superior Swordsmanship Manual! The <Benoit Swordsmanship Manual>! And on top of that, I’ll give you the authority to use me and the Red Wolf Unit once whenever you want! This makes my reward greater than Michael’s, right?”
She was right.
At this point, Laura's reward had to be considered greater.
She had offered to hand over two Superior Swordsmanship Manuals and even a one-time use coupon for herself and the Red Wolf Unit.
For that reason, Roden could only nod his head silently at Laura's words.
“Huhu.”
Then, satisfied with Roden's reaction, Laura smiled.
On the other hand, Michael looked somehow resentful.
Seeing this, Roden thought.
'But why are both of them going this far? This is just like little kids fighting over who is more amazing.'
***
In any case, it was decided that Laura would also join this operation.
There was not a single reason for Roden to refuse Laura's offer.
'The only downside could be sharing the credit, but with Michael already on board, adding one more person won't change much.'
Above all, even with Michael and Laura together, the fact that Roden was the one leading this operation did not change.
That meant that when this operation succeeded, it was Roden who would take the biggest credit.
As her participation was confirmed, he demonstrated Silence and Bind in front of Laura as well.
After confirming it, Laura muttered to herself in an astonished voice without realizing it.
“To think such a secret technique exists… This is bound to succeed…”
Time passed, and finally, the 1st Corps' transport battalion was normalized.