Badlands Saga: Reincarnation in a Different World with Extreme Charisma - Chapter 16

Chapter 16   Emerald Sword 10

The fortress assault campaign that saw great success in its first battle also ended successfully in the second battle two days later.

The veterans’ strategy worked brilliantly, and we managed to slay nearly a hundred enemies with only minimal losses.

Morale continued to soar without limit, and as the entire castle buzzed with the news of our victories, preparations for the third assault quickly began.

And so, this morning, following the ambush squad that had left first through a secret passage from the castle to the port, the knights playing the decoy role shouted, “For the third conquest!” and set out with high spirits.

However, the army that was supposed to return under the cover of twilight did not come back… and even as the night grew late, not a single one of the brave warriors returned.

In the dead of night, only the sound of the howling wind echoed strangely.

The castle, now an empty shell with only enough personnel left to defend it…

In the greatly diminished great hall, we were holding what might be our final meeting.

“Lord Fusha, while the enemy is still inactive, you should flee at once.”

“Yes, indeed. At dawn, let’s take Lady Eila and Lady Muuna and head straight to Lord Koutasmas.”

“We, the knights, will take custody of the castle. Please, Lord Fushanklan, make your escape…”

A few of Kintman’s mercenaries who remained in the castle, as well as the knights led by Isara, said as much, but thinking of the role entrusted to me, I couldn’t bring myself to agree.

“There’s no way I can move without knowing the situation. What if I abandon the castle and flee, only for my father and the others to return to find it in enemy hands… how could I possibly live with myself then?”

If word spread that the younger brother had fled, abandoning his duty to defend the castle and leaving his father behind… it would make things incredibly difficult for my elder brother in the royal capital.

It wouldn’t matter if the kingdom’s reinforcements hadn’t come or if I was only ten years old.

Grandfather Gul had said that if there was even the slightest hint of a flaw, the aristocracy would attack it without mercy.

I had read many such amusing tales in the books stored in the library.

When I glanced at old Gul, who sat with the wise old men around him, the once-famous general who had been driven into the wilderness with his wounds laid bare smiled and nodded.

I understand.

Nobles live by their honor.

And thus, dying for honor is also the duty of a noble.

“…Kintman, I’m sorry, but could you take my mother, sister, and the children to the port at dawn?”

“Hey! That’s not fair! What if the enemy attacks while we’re gone?”

Kintman protested, but getting my mother and sister to safety was my most important task.

That’s why I wanted to entrust it to the most capable person I could rely on.

“I’m asking you because I trust you. Stay at the port, and if necessary, take my mother and sister to the capital. My brother will surely reward you.”

“Damn it… I don’t care about that! If you’re risking your life, what’s the point of a subordinate who’s not there by your side?”

“It’s the duty of those below to bury those above. Please, Kintman, give me peace of mind.”

As I bowed my head and asked him, he looked like he was about to cry and pleaded,

“Then… promise me! If you survive this, this will be the last time you make me draw the short straw!”

Just as nobles have their pride, I suppose mercenaries also have theirs.

If I had forced him to bend his pride, then I had wronged him.

“Alright, I promise. Even if I die by misfortune, I will never forget the debt I owe you.”

“Fine then… We’ll take everyone who can’t fight and leave at dawn.”

“Thank you. As soon as I understand the situation, I’ll signal with smoke. My brother is aware, but if the castle falls, leave without delay.”

I looked around at the remaining men and struck the table with my fist.

“For the rest of you, I’m afraid it may come down to dying together. If anyone has any regrets, leave with Kintman. I take full responsibility, and no one will be blamed.”

Hearing this, for some reason, the knights stood up and shouted with joy.

“There’s no one like that!!”

“If we run away from such a good place, we’ll get a beating from our fathers up in the sky!”

“My wife and children are already at the port! I have no regrets!”

“I’m glad I was born in this era!!”

“…Everyone, thank you.”

The knights, though acting as bravely as heroes from a story, likely didn’t truly believe they were invincible.

They were putting on a brave front to keep me from worrying. I couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for their kindness.

In reality, they too wished they could escape, but allowing that could lead to the enemy pouring into the port through the castle. Many of them had family left at the port, and there was no way everyone could board a ship.

They had no choice but to hold their ground, just like me.

“Anyone who hasn’t written letters to their relatives, do it by tomorrow morning.”

With these final words, the meeting concluded.

It was nothing special; I had merely chosen who would live and who would die.

I hoped that my father and the others were alive, but if they weren’t, no matter how hard we tried, the castle wouldn’t see spring.

We couldn’t reach the enemy’s wasteland, cross the snow-covered mountains, or traverse the sea without a ship.

Even if we managed to escape somewhere, we would have no place to go. If there was an alternative, we wouldn’t be clinging to this strategically meaningless castle in the badlands for hundreds of years.

Only this harsh land, the Badlands, was our home.

As I headed towards the tower from the large room, lost in these thoughts, I glanced up at a window in the corridor and saw the moon watching us.

The moon, standing forever in the sky, looked down on us, now a mere flicker of light, with a pitying gaze.

“Hey.”

As I looked at the moon, I felt as though someone’s voice had called to me.

“Hey.”

“What’s that? Did you hear it, Isara?”

“Yes, I heard it.”

It was certainly not the voice of the moon, but rather a weary, faint voice that seemed drained of vitality.

“Hey, Lord Fusha.”

Squinting into the dark corridor, I could tell the voice was coming from the entrance to the forge.

As I approached, I saw Kodara, the rock dwarf, standing in the dim light seeping from the forge.

His back was hunched, his eyes bloodshot, and he looked like a ghost, with a slight odor indicating he hadn’t cleaned himself.

“What’s wrong, Kodara? Haven’t you slept?”

“I was working on the task you gave me. It’s finished, so I thought I’d show you…”

“Task… Did the sword make it in time!?”

Kodara tilted his head in confusion.

“In time…?”

“None of the people who left this morning have returned by night. You’re supposed to retreat to the port by tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, that’s dangerous then. Come, come, take a look right away.”

I followed Kodara into the forge, which was dimly lit by a single lamp, but it didn’t seem dark at all.

That was because there was another source of light in the forge.

“Wow…”

Propped up on the foot-powered sharpening stone was the sword of a faint green color.

The sword I had asked Kodara to make, forged from the divine steel Chiyono Metal.

The sword that the Makiano tribe might have called the Sword Chiyonovagna.

It radiated a greenish light that seemed to assert its presence with every bit of its being.

“Why does it glow like this?”

“Oh…? It’s been glowing ever since it cooled down… Maybe that’s just how the material is?”

“I didn’t expect it to glow…”

Feeling as if I might get an electric shock, I cautiously picked up the faintly green sword.

Despite its length being more than half my height, the sword was surprisingly light.

“Why is it so light?”

“It was incredibly light even when it was in the crucible, much lighter than you’d expect from the material… Maybe it’s just how the material is?”

“I didn’t expect it to be light…”

I tried swinging it a bit, and unlike other swords, I didn’t feel the weight pulling me at all.

With this, it seemed like I could use it even now.

“With this, I might be able to fight.”

“That’s great! I’m glad I stayed up to finish it in time!”

“Thank you, Kodara. I’ll fight in a way that does justice to this sword.”

The sword was about the same length as the long swords commonly used by knights. The hilt, made of a different metal than the blade, was adorned with elegant engravings, and the grip was covered with numerous grooves for better hold.

The blade was semi-transparent, as if you could see through it, and its beautiful form, glowing green from within, resembled a lit emerald.

“…I’ll name it the Emerald Sword.”

“Emerald…? Is that a word from the Makiano language?”

“Well, something like that.”

I laughed, telling Isara, who looked at me with a puzzled expression, and then I sheathed the sword in the scabbard Kodara gave me and hung it at my waist.

Seeing this, Kodara seemed to collapse onto the floor as if the tension had left him.

He must have pushed himself quite hard; he looked as if he had exhausted his very life.

As I crouched down in front of him, Kodara turned his face towards me and began to speak in a low voice.

“Hey, Master Fusha, that sword is definitely the best I’ve ever made in my life.”

“Yeah, I’ve never seen such an amazing sword.”

“Did I really do a good job?”

“Of course, it’s perfect.”

“Did I really do my job properly?”

“You did it well. This sword is proof of that.”

“Was it really alright for someone like me to forge this sword?”

“There’s no other blacksmith for me but you. You shaped it well.”

“Well then, I’m glad…”

He let out a relieved sigh and lay sprawled out on the floor.

“Don’t be late for the retreat tomorrow morning. Make sure to follow Kodara.”

“I understand… So… the mercenaries… their escape… weapons…”

I draped a nearby leather apron over his body as he quickly fell asleep.

Thinking that this might be our final farewell, I left the forge without looking back.

Looking toward the window, the moon was no longer visible.

Only the faint glow from the sword hanging at my waist illuminated my path.

The news arrived the next day, in the early afternoon when my mother and sister were already likely at the port.

A knight who had escaped from the wilderness and come through the hidden passage arrived, and he had been part of the attacking force.

“They turned our strategy against us! We encountered an ambush of two hundred enemies! The main force has currently escaped the enemy and is hiding in the canyon area!”

“Is Father safe?”

“He is safe!”

“Oh!”

“That’s a relief!”

Along with the knights who were relieved, I also breathed a sigh of relief.

The news of the lord’s survival was significant, and the tension that had been palpable among everyone until yesterday seemed to suddenly ease.

“However, the enemy’s numbers are large, and there is hardly any chance to escape from the canyon! We have insufficient water supplies, and we are at risk of drying up! We are attempting to make a desperate move to escape to the castle under the cover of darkness and request some sort of diversion!”

“A diversion, huh…”

Hanging at my waist was a sword that was so brightly shining and conspicuous it seemed almost tailor-made for such a purpose.

If this sword is indeed the same as the legendary Sword, Chiyonovagna of the Makiano people, the shock of someone coming out of the castle with it would be immense.

It should serve as the perfect diversion.

However, I still don’t know if this sword is truly considered a treasure to them.

To confirm this, I went to visit the prison where the Makiano captives were held, carrying the sword with me.