A martyr of the republic.
This was a rather intense expression to use in front of the republic’s last sword. It blatantly revealed the belief that, no matter the effort, the republican camp was ultimately doomed to defeat.
Startled by the boy’s sudden remark, it was Justin who looked at him in shock.
However, instead of getting angry, Gale wore a bitter smile. In the end, the boy’s words accurately pierced through the currents of the time.
After the establishment of the republic in central Ortona, there was some initial chaos, but Ortona soon regained stability.
For about two years, the new government successfully governed, and their conciliation efforts towards the local nobles were very smooth. It was unlikely that a civil war would ignite so easily just from the remaining royalists’ minor provocations.
There were other unseen hands in Ortona’s civil war, hoping for the republic’s downfall.
Hands powerful enough to sway the powers and capital of the continent.
Now, even if a distinguished Sword Master were to fight valiantly, it was unlikely to change the outcome. It’s no wonder that the astute Prince Benicio, deeply despaired, was squandering his days in alcohol.
“Officially, it is said that the Brittanian army joined the war at the request of the King of Ortona.”
Gale silently listened to the boy’s calm voice.
As he said, after the establishment of the republic, the exiled King of Ortona promised Brittany a part of the western territory in return for their support. This was the same territory ceded to Ortona by Brittany a hundred years ago.
A sufficient pretext for the Brittanian royal family to get actively involved.
“However, it was the Delcross Holy Empire that mediated the territorial cession a hundred years ago. There’s a high likelihood that they are involved in this return of land too.”
But that’s not all. The Ortona Merchant Coalition was also supporting the royalists with massive capital.
With the royalists’ tacit approval, part of the southern region of Ortona, including the capital, was to be declared an independent free trade zone. Naturally, this free trade zone would be adjacent to Delcross.
“While the merchant coalition is ostensibly led by Archduke Asein, he is, in fact, a third party, ultimately having to maneuver with Delcross in the middle. If it were not the empire, there would be no need for him to actively intervene.”
Gale’s face had hardened. The boy, facing him, calmly revealed the truth Gale never wanted to hear.
“Behind all this is the Delcross Empire, General.”
The Delcross Holy Empire, the millennium-old sanctuary.
The land ruled by the continent’s most powerful absolute monarch, and a place that despised the Ortona republic more than anyone else.
No matter how hard Gale tried, he could never defy the flow created by this unseen hand of the continent.
That’s why the boy called it a meaningless fight. If Delcross decided to eliminate the republic, it was already an unchangeable outcome.
Realizing his vague suspicions confirmed by an unexpected source, Gale felt an odd calm settle in his heart.
“…Such a young friend yet with such remarkable insight.”
How long will this fight continue?
Until Prince Benicio, the spiritual leader and head of the republican remnants, makes a decision.
Will he become a martyr for the republic?
Of course, he is the republic’s last sword. He must become the complete symbol of the republic.
So that his death signifies the complete downfall of the republic in the eyes of the empire.
“You may see all this as meaningless flailing. But sometimes, even knowing the truth, one must silently endure.”
Gale was well aware of how his end would come. Seeing the faint smile on his face, the boy’s eyes flickered momentarily.
“Now, now. How about we stop this here? You’ve worked hard today, General. You should go back and rest.”
Unable to bear the increasingly heavy atmosphere, Justin butted in, making a fuss.
“And tomorrow, we’ll meet with a fresh mind to discuss the hazard pay again.”
Gale blinked.
Hazard pay? Hadn’t that been already given up?
Justin’s face, usually appearing carefree, suddenly turned serious.
“We’re talking about the Holy Empire joining hands with the royalists. The risk has doubled, so it’s only logical to renegotiate the hazard pay from scratch.”
Really? As Gale looked puzzled, the boy glared at Captain Justin with cold eyes.
“Does it matter who intervenes? How does that change the outcome? What’s so obvious about that? Not everything picked up randomly makes sense.”
“Huh? Hey… aren’t you being too harsh? Even if temporarily, you are part of the Astros Mercenary Group! Why do you always side with the General?”
Justin seemed genuinely aggrieved, prompting Gale to unwittingly support him.
“Right. On reflection, there is some sense in what the captain says. At least he spoke honestly. So let’s discuss it calmly tomorrow.”
But the boy remained firm.
“Do you believe in his sincerity? He’s someone who would distort even his own memories and feelings for a purpose.”
“Wow… Bart, are you really doing this?”
Justin trembled with a sense of betrayal.
Gale watched helplessly as the two bickered, only managing to return to his own camp after unexpectedly receiving some divine power from the boy.
“Bart, isn’t this unlike you recently?”
After Gale left the mercenary camp, Justin, who had been watching the direction Gale disappeared into, turned to the boy.
“…”
The boy didn’t respond, only slightly furrowing his brow.
He too was aware that recently his behavior was quite different from his usual self.
Originally, he would have just lent his strength to the mercenary corps as needed, never expecting to take the lead and behead the enemy commander. Moreover, he even used his rarely utilized divine power in front of others, just because General Gale looked extremely tired.
Above all,
Why did he ask and interfere in so many things concerning General Gale’s future? What did it have to do with him?
Yet, for some reason, the boy found himself greatly concerned about General Gale.
This man was the strongest swordsman in the east. Despite being an adult stronger than anyone, the boy oddly felt a vague urge to help him. He couldn’t understand why.
Well, there wouldn’t be many days left to feel this strange sensation anyway.
“The civil war is dragging on longer than expected. Soon, the Merchant Coalition will start adjusting the capital they’re putting in.”
Justin’s eyes widened in response.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we should start looking for other contracts.”
The boy waved his hand dismissively and turned towards the inside of the tent.
The territory of Ortona was already ripe enough.
All that remained was to tear and share the soft flesh of the fruit.
Not long after the boy’s prediction, reality caught up. Count Milo, who had been employing and supporting the Astros Mercenary Group, suddenly decided to cease his patronage. With the frontlines unexpectedly holding firm, it was likely that Archduke Asein, Count Milo’s backer, had pressured him.
Although they received a response that another mercenary corps would be sent soon, Gale felt that there would be no more support from that quarter.
The day before the Astros Mercenary Group withdrew, Captain Justin visited Gale and handed him a small box.
“It has been an honor to work with you, General. This is a small gift we offer only to our special clients.”
Inside the box was a gem no bigger than a fingernail.
It looked like an ordinary, nameless gem, but when it caught the sunlight, it emitted a surprisingly brilliant light.
“…What is this used for?”
“It’s an amulet for good luck. They say it relieves fatigue if you carry it.”
“……?”
It sounded like something a heretic would say.
Gale passed it off without much thought, but in less than a day, he realized the captain’s words were true. After carelessly putting the box in his pocket and walking around, his chronic fatigue began to noticeably decrease.
Sensitive to aura and the energy around him, Gale could feel that the effect was indeed coming from the amulet. It was somewhat similar to the feeling of receiving divine power.
Soon, the gem found its place at the end of the sheath of his sword, Arjuna.
The Astros Mercenary Group left the frontline as swiftly as they had arrived, like the wind.
After that, Gale maintained the front alone, without any additional mercenaries, and managed to hold out for about six more months.
* * *
He blocks the incoming arrows and parries swords.
Dodging thrusting spears, he cuts down one enemy after another in quick succession.
Arjuna, no longer flowing with aura, had become so dull that it was not cutting but tearing through the flesh of the enemies.
His vision blurred momentarily before clearing again.
Focus, focus!
It had been a long time since his aura had been depleted. Gale, hardly having a moment to breathe, forced his barely responsive arm to swing.
He never thought there would come a day when he felt Arjuna heavy in his hand.
He parries. Dodges. Thrusts. Cuts.
Movements that seemed to go on forever, repeating in what felt like an endlessly long duration, suddenly ceased. Gale realized that the barrage of arrows had stopped. He paused and looked around, noticing the silence.
He was the only one left standing in the republican camp.
Several knights in full plate armor surrounded him. They appeared to be a specialized unit with long shields and sharply pointed spears, a formidable sight. Gale, with his dulled sword and no aura, probably couldn’t break through their formation or pierce their armor.
Gale sensed the end was near.
“Indeed, you live up to your reputation as the finest swordsman in the east, General Gale,” said a figure stepping forward, presumably the leader. He towered a head taller than the other hefty knights.
“With due respect, it’s remarkable that even the combined forces of the royalist coalition took five days to reach you…”
Five days. He had held out longer than expected.
By now, the group he had diverted should have had enough time to cross the border and escape far away.
Finally, Gale relaxed his body and let his sword arm drop.
“…And you are?”
“I am Syllus Agen, commander of the 3rd Knights Division of the Delcross Holy Empire’s personal guard. I was dispatched here especially for you. It’s a pity to end your life this way.”
So he was indeed no ordinary knight, but a division commander.
The style of the armor and spears had seemed slightly unfamiliar; he hadn’t expected a direct intervention from Delcross.
Then, spears flew towards Gale from all sides.
He reflexively moved, but it was impossible to dodge every spear coming at him from every direction.
Crack.
The sound of spears piercing flesh echoed loudly, as if right next to his ear.
His body, utterly depleted, quickly drained the remainder of his life.
As Syllus Agen caught the slipping Arjuna from Gale’s hand, he whispered to him.
“I will remember your valor. Rest in peace.”
Thus, Gale, the last sword of the republic, met his end on the Andres Plains.
As he slowly closed his eyes, it seemed like he heard something cracking inside his head.
He didn’t fully remember what happened afterward.
All he retained was a vague feeling that his soul, just after death, was wrapped in a blinding white light, and it felt incredibly comforting.
It also seemed like someone gently stroked his head, as one would do to a child.
[Was it necessary to hold on so stubbornly?]
A question that seemed slightly reproachful.
Gale felt an inexplicable apology to this unknown entity.
But what could he do? Unskilled in taking the easy way out, he knew no other way to live.
With a sigh-like presence, the voice then said to him,
[You’ve worked hard, my son.]
Son?
Before he could ponder over it, his consciousness flickered out with those words, and everything turned dark.
* * *
He thought everything had ended.
But unexpectedly, he was reborn as a Delcross native.
And not just anyone, but the first prince of the Delcross Imperial Family, the root cause of all the turmoil.
‘…How am I supposed to live now?’
A deep contemplation was etched on the face of the young child with the neat features.
