Badlands Saga: Reincarnation in a Different World with Extreme Charisma

Chapter 17 Emerald Sword 11

“Fusha-sama.”

“Hello, Fusha-sama.”

“Karuru Fusha Iroiru Vagna.”

When Isara and I entered the prison cell, two men raised one hand to greet us, while the old woman asked, “What are you doing with a sword?”

I’ve come to understand the Makiano language well enough from learning it from scratch that I can understand this much.

“Yura na vagna.”

I told them to look at the sword and, stretching my small arm as much as I could, I drew it out…

The three of them, seeing the pale green phosphorescence it emitted, stood frozen, looking stunned.

“Chiyono… Vagna?”

“Judavagna? Chiyonovagna?”

“So, it does appear that way,” I replied.

That would be good enough.

As I struggled to return the sword to its sheath with my awkward movements, Isara took it from me and returned it to the scabbard.

Indeed, it’s hard for a ten-year-old to handle a sword hanging at his waist.

“Fusha-sama tonton laokan.”

“Laokan?”

When I asked back after hearing an unfamiliar word from one of the Makiano men, he, looking excited, kept repeating, “Laokan, tonton laokan!”

That didn’t help much.

I looked to Grandma Logos for an explanation, but she seemed bewildered, with her hands clasped together.

“Fusha, midi pilgrim. Fusha, witotara ken laokan. Laokan yuta griji, Iroiru Chiyonovagna, Lutos Rubra Chiyono.”

“Fusha-sama, what on earth is this person saying…?”

Isara asked, but there were so many words I didn’t know that I could barely understand it myself.

“I am the treasure… I might be Laokan… Laokan, something black… holding Chiyonovagna… something about gold…”

So, what exactly is this “Laokan”?

I’m curious, but dusk is approaching soon.

There isn’t much time to ask for details.

“Grandma Logos and the others taught me a lot. I’m grateful.”

I thanked them briefly in the Makiano language, and they raised their clasped hands, kneeling on one knee.

“Fusha Tura Pilm.”

“Mastek.”

After the old lady said, “Take care,” I thanked them once more and proudly left the cell.

This is the gamble of a lifetime, and I’ll give it everything I’ve got.

And then, dusk arrived quickly.

We confirmed the signal smoke rising from the direction of the ravine…

With the wilderness dyed bright red, about ten knights and I boldly rode out of the castle’s main gate on horseback.

Since I wasn’t skilled at riding, I sat in front of Isara on her saddle.

I felt her blonde hair hanging over my head, and then, at the same time, I heard her worried voice from above.

“Still, Fusha-sama, you really shouldn’t be going personally…”

“Enough of that. Is there anyone else here who understands the Makiano language? This is a strategy to strike at the enemy’s hearts; if you can’t speak, you can’t fulfill the role.”

I gently patted Isara’s arms as she continued trying to get me off the horse.

The key to this diversion was to pin the enemy to the fort.

We had considered provoking the enemy from the castle, but that would mean the enemy would surround the castle, preventing my father’s unit from returning.

So, I left the castle with only the necessary personnel to hold out for as long as possible, entrusting hope to those who stayed behind.

All the alchemical materials were turned into potions, and the non-combatants were left to Kintman.

Now, all that was left was for me to do my part properly.

With determination, I tried to draw the sword from my waist in one go, but I couldn’t manage it smoothly… After a bit of a struggle, I finally got it out.

The pale green light emitted from the exposed blade began to illuminate the wilderness, which was starting to darken, and the surrounding knights seemed a bit taken aback.

“Fusha-sama, that sword is…”

“It’s a very conspicuous sword, isn’t it? Perfect for a diversion. Now, Isara! Use your amplification magic!”

“…Understood.”

A fairy wrapped around the sword, causing it to glow with phosphorescence and start vibrating.

“Alright… Let’s approach slowly. We’ll buy some time with my speech first.”

As the horse began to slowly walk towards the fort, I stood up in the saddle.

Though the horse was swaying, the slow pace and Isara’s support meant I wasn’t likely to fall off.

I turned my neck, cracked it, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly.

“‘Sesidante! Listen, you weaklings of the Uthugil Makiano! I am Fushanklan! Haste! Makiano of Hasterl!! Death to the Uthugil weaklings! Gien Hasta, do you have the courage to fight me Fushanklan?!’”

With a proclamation like that, the Makiano in the fort should be unable to ignore me and would become fixated on us.

Or so I thought, but the reactions of the fort’s defenders were different from what I expected.

The two-meter high stone walls of the fort on the hill.

The enemy soldiers who peeked over the top neither showed anger nor shot arrows… they simply looked at us, seemingly stunned.

For a while, only the sound of our horse’s footsteps echoed across the wilderness.

As more and more defenders appeared on the wall, one Makiano finally spoke up.

“Hey! Your Vagna! Is that sword a Dearsoul!? What is it?”

As expected, just like when I showed the sword to the three captives in the cell, it seems that the Makiano cannot ignore this sword.

Well, if they’re asking, I suppose I should answer.

“‘Hesa Vagna! This sword is the Judah Vagna! The legendary sword, Hesa, is the Chiyonovagna!! The Sword! Hasterl, this sword will kill you Makiano!!’”

As I shouted this hoarsely, a murmur spread throughout the fort.

More and more people gathered on the walls, with some leaning out too far and even falling to our side.

“Lao-kan!”

“Lao-kan! Lao-kan!”

“Grijuta! Rubura Chiyono!”

The Makiano pointed at me and uttered these words repeatedly.

I was increasingly curious about what Lao-kan meant, but… what was important now was not that.

From beyond the fort, dust clouds began to appear, likely indicating the approach of my father’s troops.

Our job was to keep the fort’s defenders occupied.

For that purpose, we would use anything the enemy said.

“‘Ah! I am Lao-kan! I hold the Sword, Chiyonovagna! Hasterl, this sword will kill you Makiano!!’”

As I proclaimed this loudly, the enemy seemed to hesitate, almost as if taken aback.

Could it be that Lao-kan, holding the Emerald Sword, is a symbol of some fear?

“Lao-kan…”

“Midi Lao-kan…”

While I continued my speech, the horse gradually approached the fort, but for some reason, not a single arrow was shot.

Though some were readying their bows, they seemed confused by the Emeral Sword I held.

Well, I certainly didn’t want to die either.

If the enemy wasn’t willing to fight, that was fine with me, but…

“‘Udoro! Behind you, Yusta Clan! The army is coming!’”

At that call from one of the enemies, the Makiano who had been fixated on us all turned to look.

It seemed that getting through with just a speech might not be enough.

“‘Attach to the fort!’”

As I said this from the saddle, the knights began to gallop toward the hill with the fort.

“‘Isara, once we get close, throw me over the wall.’”

“No, you can’t do that.”

“Just do it!”

“You’re such a reckless young master.”

Grumbling, Isara stood up in the saddle, and then, lifting me up, leaped from the horse and cleared the fort’s wall.

“‘…Ah! I am Lao-kan! Two’s Bedama! Where is the general? Do you have the courage to fight me, Hasterl Lao-kan?’”

In the middle of enemy territory, I shouted these words with a desperate resolve, without dispelling Isara’s amplification magic…

Contrary to expectations, no swords were raised against me by the surrounding soldiers.

For some reason, the Makiano all knelt on one knee and raised their hands toward me.

“‘Two’s Bedama! Where is the general?’”

I was bewildered, but there was no time to be afraid now.

At this point, I had no choice but to see it through to the end, even if it meant dying.

As I shouted this out with a mix of desperation, a single man pushed through the crowd and approached me.

He was a one-eyed man, clad in unremarkable equipment, but exuding an imposing presence.

“Astel Lao-kan. I am Ruora Bedama, the general…”

He didn’t have a chance to say anything further.

The one-eyed man was decapitated by the full-force swing of my sword, Chiyonovagna.

Blood splattered across the ground, which was beginning to turn from red to black, and as the head rolled away, the nearby Makiano tribe members recoiled in fear.

The sword, stained with blood and continuing to emit light despite the darkening, was an ethereal sight.

The emerald sword, still glowing with its translucent blade, seemed indeed to have absorbed the deepening indigo sky, appearing oddly blue.

I thrust the sword high into the sky and shouted with all my might.

“‘Hesa! This is Chiyonovagna!! The Sword! Hasterl! This sword will kill you Makiano! Makiano!! The Makiano tribe will be annihilated! From Tanukan!! Get out, Bull! Hasterl! I will kill all Makiano!! This Lao-kan will!’”

Honestly, I didn’t think such a threat would have any effect on hundreds of enemies.

My goal was simply to keep the Makiano tribe occupied for as long as possible until my father’s troops arrived near the castle.

Preserve the castle’s soldiers, use deceit, confuse the enemy, incite as much anger as possible, and then be torn apart and die.

That was supposed to be my fate.

To my surprise, I didn’t expect to be able to take an enemy general down with me.

I knew that wanting more than this would likely result in punishment.

Yet, as I held my sword and awaited death…

To my astonishment, the enemy threw down their weapons.

“‘Narakan! We understand, Narakan! We understand, Lord Lao-kan! Lord Lao-kan!’”

“‘Lao-kan! Please, calm your rage, Gyazonbe! Please, calm it!’”

“Huh?”

“‘Rubalk! It belongs to Lao-kan! It’s Lao-kan’s!’”

Rubalk?

“‘Gurijuta Rao-kan! Lutos Rubura Chiyono! Asaputo Rubauruku!’”

“‘Gurijuta Rao-kan! Lutos Rubura Chiyono! Asaputo Rubauruku! Eka! Eka!’”

Confused by the unfamiliar words and attitudes of the Makiano tribe, a voice called out from behind me.

“‘Lord Fusha! Are you safe!’”

“‘Eight knights! All present here!’”

“‘Good work! Isara! You’re done now!’”

Isara, who had been amplifying my voice from behind, drew her sword and stepped in front of me to shield me.

Two knights, missing from our group, also spread out to protect me and readied their swords.

“‘Let’s do what we can! Push through!’”

“‘Yeah!’”

“‘Charge!!’”

We all charged forward as a group, but for some reason, very few enemies retaliated, and the enemy began to retreat further and further.

“‘Ha! Are you frightened by our martial prowess!’”

“‘Come at us!’”

As we advanced, the enemy continued to withdraw, and soldiers began to escape over the opposite wall. Soon, hundreds of Makiano tribe members were in a state of total collapse, starting to flee in a rout.

“‘Eka! Eka!’”

“‘Gurijuta Lao-kan! Lutos Rubura Chiyono! Asaputo Rubauruku!’”

“‘Eka!’”

With only ten of us, we watched in amazement as the Makiano tribe fled with all their might, leaving everything behind.

The enemies gradually disappeared from around us, and eventually, the fort became a ghost town.

When we climbed to the opposite wall and looked out with the help of the knights, it seemed that the enemy had ignored my father’s approaching troops and was running north without a second glance.

“They ran away…”

“A trap?”

“Did they give up the fort because of a trap?”

“Maybe the general you defeated was their leader?”

“I don’t know…”

Well, it’s not clear, but for now, the crisis has passed.

I was supposed to die, yet I’m still alive.

The enemy has somehow retreated.

For now, this should be considered a victory.

“Raise the victory cry!”

“Huh?”

“We won! We did!”

“Oh, right, yes! Then… on three…”

The knights looked at each other, took a deep breath, and then raised their swords to the sky.

“Uooooooooh!!”

“We won oooooooh!!”

“Makiano tribe, you’re pathetic!!”

“Lord Fusha has defeated the enemy commander! The Makiano are defeated!!”

“Victory for Tanukan!!”

“Long live Lord Fusha and Tanukan!!”

“We won! We won! We won! We won!”

Listening to the chaotic victory cries, I waved the glowing sword on the wall like a signal baton, waiting for my father’s troops to arrive.

“Lord Fusha, if you stay up there, you’ll fall!”

From below, I heard the worried voice of Isara, but I weakly shook my head.

As soon as I felt relieved, exhaustion suddenly hit me, and I could no longer put strength into my legs.

A yawn escaped me, and then a wave of intense drowsiness overwhelmed me, almost making me drop the sword.

“Please come down.”

With half of my consciousness fading, Isara’s hand gently guided me down from the wall.

It’s clear that a ten-year-old’s body can’t handle this kind of strain…

While I fought off the sleepiness, my father arrived shortly thereafter.

“What happened? Where did the Makiano tribe go?”

When my father asked, a knight who had participated in the diversion raised the head of the one-eyed man and answered loudly.

“I report! Lord Fusha defeated the enemy commander! The Makiano tribe, frightened, fled!”

“Fusha…? And the sword?”

“It was made by Kodara. Apparently, the Makiano tribe has such legendary swords… I thought it would be good for the diversion, and it seems it was highly effective.”

“I see… Well done, Fusha. You are the pride of Tanukan.”

My father picked me up and held me in front of his chest.

“Everyone! Listen! Thanks to Fusha, we have preserved our lives and repelled the enemy soldiers! But the fort is still standing! To ensure the enemy does not return, we will work through the night to destroy this fort…”

As my father’s voice echoed, my consciousness gradually faded…

Using his low voice as a lullaby, I melted into dreams.

◆◆◆

On the Day of Rebirth, he has arrived.

The Father of the Open Country.

The Hero of Demon Suppression.

The Standard-Bearer of Liberation.

Laokan has arrived in the demonic land of Rubaurk.

Laokan, having forgotten the ungrateful Makiano, now proclaims himself as the Hu-Shian Secret Arts Clan.

Born again as Laokan with black hair, he comes from the castle of those who do not submit.

Once more holding the sword, Chiyonovagna, and bringing with him Rubura Chiyo.

He who has appeared in that land as the Treasure of Success.