Fairy Tale Survival with Ability Copying

Levi gave a faint, knowing smile when he heard that.

"I understand exactly what this campaign order means," he said. "The Grand Duke of Silverbrook is worried that we'll annex the Silverclaw Peninsula and grow even stronger. But he doesn't dare provoke me directly, so he issued an order like this. He's using the Silverclaw Viscount's territory as bait to lure other nobles here, borrowing their strength to keep me in check."

"I think the Grand Duke of Silverbrook's order is suspicious as well. Are you planning to..." Yalina asked.

"Hornreach is taking this piece of meat called Silverclaw," Levi said decisively. "And the Silverclaw Viscount's family will be swept into the dust of history as well."

"I understand. What about the Kingdom of Valeria?" Yalina nodded before asking another question.

After a brief pause, she continued, "The Kingdom of Valeria sent word through a secret channel. Their king claims this was all a misunderstanding. They're willing to withdraw their troops and hand over Silverclaw."

"They want to leave? Did I give them permission?" Levi said coldly.

Previously, because of Rune's injuries, he hadn't had time to deal with the Kingdom of Valeria.

Now, however, he had obtained Healing, and Rune's condition was under control. They wanted to call it quits? How could Levi possibly agree?

"You mean..." Yalina's expression shifted.

"Since they've come here, they shouldn't leave," Levi said expressionlessly.

"Keeping them here won't be easy," Yalina said, her eyes flickering.

"We simply don't have enough people."

Levi fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'll transfer the rest of the security forces from the territory over here. When that happens, your troop strength will increase to two thousand men."

"At the same time, I'll give you a secret weapon."

"A secret weapon?" Yalina's curiosity was immediately piqued.

Levi smiled slightly. Light from Synthesis flickered in his hand, and the outline of an alchemical cannon rapidly took shape.

He synthesized three alchemical cannons along with a massive pile of shells, filling the entire command tent to the brim.

Wizards couldn't easily appear on battlefields. If they did, the Church's Inquisition would catch the scent and come running.

But items such as alchemical firearms and alchemical cannons attracted far less attention from the Church.

After all, even the Church's own demon hunters and witch hunters used such firearms.

Looking at the cannons, Yalina froze.

"What are these?"

A mischievous thought suddenly crossed Levi's mind.

"These are Italian cannons."

"Italian cannons?" Yalina looked completely bewildered.

Levi then asked with a perfectly serious expression, "Yalina... do you know how to fire a cannon?"

"Uh... no." Yalina shook her head.

"Well, that's a bit of a shame."

Levi shrugged. It was only because Rune's life could now be saved that he was feeling so relaxed.

"Then study hard."

Levi began explaining the fundamentals of artillery operation to her. The knowledge came from short videos he had watched in his previous life. Thanks to his greatly enhanced Spiritual Power, those memories remained crystal clear, and he could even extrapolate beyond them.

The more Yalina listened, the more excited she became. She even wanted to drag Levi out for some live cannon-firing practice, but Levi refused.

He still needed to practice Healing, raise its proficiency level, and truly bring Rune back from the brink.

Before leaving, however, he reminded her, "The Silverclaw Viscount wants to surrender to us. He's planning to offer the Kingdom of Valeria's army at Frostfang Pass as a gift."

"But the King of Valeria has already learned about it through his animal network."

"The Kingdom of Valeria will move against the Silverclaw Viscount. Internal chaos should break out in about three days. That will be our best opportunity to attack."

This information came from Levi's Detection.

"The Silverclaw Viscount wants to surrender to us?"

Yalina was briefly stunned before a mocking smile appeared on her face.

"Has he really run out of options?"

"He acted so arrogantly back then! He sealed off Frostfang Pass and drove all those refugees into our territory!"

"If you hadn't been so capable, Hornreach would have collapsed long ago."

"And then he even brought the Kingdom of Valeria's army to attack us!"

"Now that the war isn't going his way and he's stuck here, he wants to surrender?"

"Does he think this is some noble's war where you can simply pay compensation and be forgiven?" Yalina sneered.

Levi's expression remained calm.

"I've already told you the situation. During these three days, you need to learn how to fire a cannon."

"When their internal conflict breaks out, you'll launch the attack immediately."

"None of those ten thousand men can be allowed to leave."

"Understood!"

Yalina nodded heavily.

A moment later, however, hesitation appeared on her face as she finally asked a question that had been on her mind for a long time.

"That wizard who attacked me, Rune, and Little Red Riding Hood that day... do you know who he was?"

Levi glanced at her and answered without any suspense.

"He was one of the wizards secretly supported by the King of Valeria. After the battle between the dragon and the angel, they entered the Mist Swamp hoping to find the dragon's hidden legacy."

"In the end, they found nothing."

"Nothing at all?"

Yalina blinked in surprise.

"Yes. I got there before they did and swept through the Mist Swamp, collecting everything the dragon and the four-winged angel left behind. I didn't even leave behind a single drop of blood," Levi said.

"..."

Yalina gave Levi a strange look.

So it really was you!

Not leaving behind a single drop of dragon blood...

Even the greediest noble wouldn't be that ruthless.

Thinking of the equipment Levi had given them, she suddenly realized something.

"So when that wizard discovered the items you gave us, greed got the better of him?"

"Yeah." Levi nodded. "Probably. But that doesn't matter anymore."

The Kingdom of Valeria was already on his list of targets to be destroyed.

"Fair enough." Yalina pursed her lips.

"Spend some time getting familiar with these alchemical cannons. Learn how to fire them."

"Though I recommend not actually firing them. That would put the enemy on alert," Levi said.

"Then how am I supposed to get familiar with them?" Yalina replied speechlessly.

"That's your problem," Levi said casually.

Yalina shot him an annoyed look before suddenly remembering something else.

"What if someone asks where these alchemical cannons came from?"

"Just tell them the lord purchased them from the south through secret channels. Everything else is classified information and cannot be disclosed."

After thinking for a moment, Levi gave that answer.

"Alright."

Yalina nodded lightly.

Levi raised his eyes and brought up another matter.

"Oh, right. Set aside an area for me inside the camp."

"What are you planning to do?" Yalina asked.

"Send the wounded soldiers to me. Tell them a doctor has arrived in the territory."

As he spoke, Levi activated Synthesis, creating a bird-beak mask and a wax-colored robe.

Once he put them on, his appearance changed completely. No one would be able to recognize him as the lord of Hornreach.

"What's all this..."

"Don't worry about it. Just send the wounded over. Oh, right, I should prepare some medicine as well."

As he spoke, Synthesis activated again, producing several potion bottles.

Yalina had no idea what Levi was up to.

Still, she followed his instructions and arranged a separate tent for him within the camp.

Battles were fought here every single day.

The allied forces under the Silverclaw Viscount launched probing attacks daily. Even though their leadership had already begun considering compromise and withdrawal, the war itself had not stopped.

Perhaps, they hoped, they could exhaust the Firearm Corps' ammunition and crush Yalina's force.

If that happened, there would be no need to retreat. They could simply divide the spoils among themselves.

Of course, that plan never succeeded.

The Firearm Corps still had ample ammunition.

However, the fighting remained intense. The Silverclaw Viscount's alliance possessed not only cavalry but also large numbers of archers. With volleys of arrows raining down every day, casualties continued to occur among Levi's forces.

Previously, the wounded could only be sent to the rear for care.

Whether they lived or died largely depended on luck.

But now things were different.

Now there was Levi—the Plague Doctor.

The wounded soldiers failed to recognize their lord. Instead, they were frightened by the bird-beak mask.

Yet after Levi concealed his use of Healing behind potions and herbal remedies, they could clearly feel their injuries improving.

Those with minor wounds returned directly to their units.

Those with severe injuries—even men who had effectively been given up for dead—were rescued by Levi in overwhelming numbers. All they needed afterward was a period of recovery.

One soldier's injuries had been so serious that amputation had been deemed unavoidable.

After receiving Levi's treatment, however, he no longer needed to lose the limb.

When the soldier finally realized what had happened, a man who had never once cried on the battlefield broke down in tears.

No one even needed to spread the news intentionally.

Before long, the entire camp knew.

A terrifying-looking doctor had arrived.

And despite his frightening appearance, his medical skills were extraordinary.

This doctor could snatch people back from Death itself.

Because of his presence, the camp's casualty rate plummeted off a cliff.

Where a single day's fighting previously might have claimed a dozen lives, now not a single soldier died.

The result was a tremendous boost in morale.

The soldiers became utterly fearless.

When fighting the allied forces under the Silverclaw Viscount, they threw themselves into battle without regard for their own lives, inflicting even greater losses on the enemy.

In turn, this caused morale among the allied army to deteriorate further.

Combined with their already severe internal conflicts, their situation became increasingly grim.

As for Levi, after several days of nonstop practice without rest, he finally raised Healing to the level of a Third-Ring Spell.

The moment he succeeded, he headed straight back to the castle.

Rapunzel, Odelle, and Little Red Riding Hood were all gathered beside Rune's bed.

Rune's complexion was still pale.

A First-Ring version of Healing could only prevent his condition from worsening.

It was nowhere near enough to fully restore his injuries.

Over the past several days, Rapunzel had tried numerous methods, but none had worked.

She felt utterly defeated and had cried several more times.

Only then did Levi realize that Rapunzel was quite the crybaby.

Of course, that wasn't important.

When the three women saw Levi suddenly return, something stirred in Odelle's heart.

"Lord Levi, have you found a way to heal Knight Rune?"

The moment those words left her mouth, the other two women immediately turned toward Levi, their eyes filled with anticipation.