Badlands Saga: Reincarnation in a Different World with Extreme Charisma - Chapter 19

Chapter 19   Emerald Sword 13

As the sound of drums and trumpets echoed from afar, shaking the earth, I was having my hair combed and my crooked collar straightened by Riza, the maid.

” Riza, you’ve taken care of me well. Stay safe from now on.”

“May fortune be with you. I will not forget to bring the kettle so I can prepare tea for you at any time.”

“They’ll probably have a kettle over there. I’ll finally learn to make tea myself and just wait patiently.”

“I am looking forward to tasting tea brewed by Lord Fusha, the alchemist. When that time comes, please let me have a sip as well.”

“I can’t promise it’ll taste good. And, Riza, take this…”

I took the key from around my neck and placed it in her hand.

All the other women and children had left for the port this morning and escaped this place by ship, but she stayed behind to look after me before my departure.

I doubt this small token can truly repay her dedication, but I have nothing else to give.

“This is the key to the treasure chest in my lab. There’s not much left inside, but take whatever you like.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

She had been looking after me since the day I was born, and now, even until the very end, I relied on her care.

Dressed in the finest coat, I made my way to the front of the castle gate, where those who had come to see me off were waiting.

“Lord Fusha! Please, reconsider!”

“There is still time to flee!”

“You’re persistent. My decision is made.”

The knights were still trying to get me to flee, but with an enemy vast enough to cover the land approaching, if I ran, the women and children who had left by ship could be pursued.

At this point, there was no choice but to seek life in the midst of death.

“Fushanklan, I wish you good fortune in battle…”

“Thank you, Father. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

After exchanging a final embrace with my father, I was assisted by Isara as I mounted the largest horse in the castle.

Kintman took hold of the reins.

“Lord Fusha, you won’t be leaving me behind this time, will you?”

“There was a promise after all… So, Kintman, would you be willing to die with me?”

“Heh… Hahahahaha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

When I said that, he laughed.

With tears streaming down his face, he threw his head back and laughed heartily to the sky.

“Isara, you’ve really done so much for me. Take care of yourself.”

“What are you saying? I’m coming with you!”

“That won’t do. I can’t drag my father’s knight into cleaning up my mess. You must stay behind.”

This suicidal mission is something I should do alone.

It’s not something a skilled knight should be involved in.

But Isara, after taking a few unsteady steps backward, suddenly drew her sword, knelt before my father, and held it up.

“Lord Dentra! This may be an incredibly selfish request, but please! I, Isara, humbly request your permission to depart!”

As the surrounding knights watched with bated breath, my father took her sword, then patted her shoulder with his large hand.

“I see, Isara… Have you found your path? Very well, go.”

“Thank you! I, Isara, shall join Lord Fushanklan’s ranks! Farewell, everyone!”

Isara stood up and moved to the opposite side of Kintman.

Behind her, a line of Kintman’s subordinates had formed without me noticing.

“You guys, there’s nothing to gain from following me, you know.”

“What are you saying? We are the survivors of the Godol Mercenary Group.”

“Exactly. We just follow wherever Kintman goes.”

The number of followers increased in the blink of an eye…

Among them was Medubal, the merchant I recently employed.

“As your direct retainer, I see no reason why I should be left behind.”

He declared boldly, stroking his beard.

Well, having a translator could be useful…

I decided to stop thinking too deeply and quickly urged my horse forward, worried that if I hesitated any longer, more people might decide to join us.

When I glanced at Isara walking beside me, I noticed she was still unarmed, having returned her sword to my father.

“Hey, Isara, you’re missing a sword.”

“It doesn’t really matter, does it? With that many enemies, swinging it around would just be a drop in the ocean.”

“A knight unarmed? That’s not a good look.”

I removed the Emerald Sword, scabbard and all, from my waist and thrust it in front of her.

It might become a target for the enemy, but there’s no rule that says I must be the one to carry it.

“Is it really okay?”

“If the Makiano tribe wants it, give it to them. If not, it’s yours. I’m not quite ready for a sword yet.”

Though it was remarkably light compared to an ordinary sword, it was still a bit heavy for me.

Isara hung the scabbard at her waist and drew the sword.

The Emerald Sword emitted its pale green light today as well, and the lands of Tanukan remained desolate, with dust clouds swirling.

Even if I die or Tanukan falls, surely that will not change.

Thinking like this, dying today seemed like nothing more than a trivial matter in the grand scheme of things.

“Well then, this time I won’t get lost. I’ll laugh with Enma in hell.”

Isara gazed at me with a puzzled expression as I muttered those words.

What welcomed us was not a beating or insults, but a barrage of greetings in the Makiano language.

“Fuu of the Devil’s Land of Rub’alq! Heparin Donge! Good day to you.”

“Fuu of the Devil’s Land of Rub’alq! Heparin Donge! Good day to you.”

“Um… to all the Makiano of the Blue Makiano tribe, Heparin Donge, good day to you.”

“Fuu of the Devil’s Land of Rub’alq! Heparin Donge! Good day to you.”

“Fuu of the Devil’s Land of Rub’alq! Heparin Donge! Good day to you.”

I wasn’t entirely sure why I was being called “Fuu of the Devil’s Land of Rub’alq,” but in any case, I was relieved that we were not killed on sight.

Feeling a bit like a politician, I returned the greetings to the Makiano tribe while making eye contact.

And when the greetings finally ceased, what began was, for some reason, a polite apology from the Makiano tribe directed at me.

“…They say they have brought the heads of those who insolently raised their swords against Fuu, the reincarnation of King Laokan of the Wastelands…”

Medubal translated, looking perplexed, while a general, who had arrived with a massive army, knelt on one knee before me.

Around him were numerous jars filled with salt, likely preserving the severed heads.

How did things turn out like this?

As I stood there feeling as if I had just read a comic where the punchline arrived in the second panel, someone began massaging my shoulder.

“Whoa!”

“The young lad did something frightening. Who would have thought he would attack the Makiano tribe with the Sword Chiyonovagna? Of course, they’d be terrified. With black hair… and bringing along the blonde wolf girl… even speaking Makiano… Oh, truly, it’s the reincarnation of the young Laokan, how terrifying…”

The voice whispering in my ear from behind was none other than the long-eared teacher Isrortep.

I was startled not only by her sudden appearance but also by her knowledge of Laokan; could she really be that long-lived…?

The name Loakan sounded like it might have been a common surname in a past life… or perhaps not.

“Hey! Isrortep Erqualk!”

The Makiano general pointed at her and shouted.

“That woman is the Devil’s long-eared elf, Isrortep…”

“I know. So, it seems our teacher is known among the Makiano as a wicked one…”

“How rude. If it weren’t for me, wouldn’t your father have been dead by now?”

As she whispered this with a smirk, Isara tried to grab her by the shoulders…

But at that moment, like smoke, Isrortep vanished and reappeared among the Makiano crowd as if she had always been there.

“The current Golden Wolf has no composure. It’s unacceptable, unacceptable. A woman without composure has no charm.”

“Shut up…”

“Teacher. Did you predict this kind of development and teach me Makiano in preparation?”

When I asked this, she snorted in response and, perhaps feeling the cold in her hands, touched the tips of her long ears.

“Isn’t that what you wanted in the first place? You wished to understand the Makiano tribe… However, I never expected you to create the Sword Chiyonovagna. You might even surpass me in alchemy now.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, I don’t claim to be an alchemist either. Anyway… With this, you are no longer a small presence confined to this wasteland. It’s time for you to explore the world.”

With that, she vanished again into the crowd.

“Explore the world?”

When I said this, the Makiano general began to elaborate further.

“The Lord Fuu of the Wastelands is requested to travel to the capital, Tsutomuporita, and have an audience with the Emperor.”

“The capital, huh? Will the army withdraw if I go there?”

When Medubal translated, the general responded with exaggerated gestures of his hands and neck.

“He says that this army was assembled specifically for the ‘welcome.'”

“A ‘welcome’… with this many troops? It wasn’t even a contest to begin with… Tell them I’ll go.”

If going would make the army withdraw, then I’ll go wherever necessary.

Given that such a large army could threaten not just Tanukan but even the core of the Folk Kingdom, meeting the Emperor and establishing a rapport might be something I should wish for.

Thus, what turned out to be a short winter war, in the end, shaped up to be a case of winning the battle but losing the match…

I found myself setting out for the land of the Makiano, far from my homeland.

◆◆◆

Born into a proud knight’s family, raised as a brave and valiant knight, and dying surrounded by the honor of knighthood.

That was supposed to be the course of my life.

Isaramaru Winston’s life was meant to be just that from the very beginning.

“Becoming a splendid knight like your father.”

My grandparents said this to me, and I was taught the etiquette and manners required to serve as a lady-in-waiting to nobles in the future.

“Becoming a splendid knight like your brothers.”

My father said this to me, and I was taught the martial skills to handle any situation with a single sword.

“Your red hair… though it’s curly, it’s very beautiful. No matter how busy you are, make sure to take proper care of your hair every day.”

Only my mother said this, teaching me about hair and skin care, which wasn’t directly related to the path of knighthood.

The Winston family is a prestigious one.

I never doubted that I would one day serve royalty and die in glory.

Indeed, at the mere age of twelve, I was chosen to serve one of the princesses of Folk, Lady Ortmaru.

Given that we shared the name Maru, I was honored to be selected by the princess of the same age.

“Isaramaru, your red hair is so beautiful. Let me braid it for you.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

The places the princess frequented were her room, the palace gardens, and the resorts, but I performed my duties diligently without letting my guard down.

“Princess, there’s a step ahead.”

“Isaramaru, I do have eyes too, you know.”

Though I was sometimes smiled at for being overprotective, I couldn’t allow even a scratch on the precious princess.

Whenever an unfamiliar adult approached, I would question them. If a dog appeared, I wouldn’t let it come near. At times, I would serve as a stand-in for a doll, having my hair played with, and comfort the princess during her boredom.

Though I never had the opportunity to display my martial skills, I had no complaints about that.

I knew well that being a knight isn’t only about displaying martial prowess.

But such a peaceful life lasted only about two years.

One morning, while we were staying at a villa near the forest, a little distance from the royal capital, the princess suddenly went missing.

Only the window of the princess’s room was open, and it looked as if she had been taken away by someone…

However, on the long carpet in the room, there were childish scribbles, as if drawn by a child’s finger.

“There are fairies in these woods… Maybe the princess…”

Upon hearing the gardener’s words, I immediately dashed into the forest.

Others also entered the forest with me, but as we went deeper, one got separated, then two more…

By the time we reached the lake in the forest where the princess often spent time, I was alone, either because the others had disappeared or because I had become separated.

“Princess…”

In my anxiety, I muttered this, and then I heard someone giggling.

“Who’s there!”

Looking around, I saw a fairy peeking out from the shade of a tree.

“That fairy, have you seen a child about my age?”

When I asked, the fairy giggled and waved its tiny hand as if beckoning, then began to float away.

I hesitated slightly but eventually followed behind it.

“I’ve heard that deep in the forest, there is a fairy realm from which humans can never escape…”

Though I was filled with fear, if there was even a chance that the princess might be ahead, I had no choice but to press on.

I am a knight.

Without a master, a knight cannot be a true knight.

Grasping the hilt of my sword, I steeled my heart and continued forward.

After passing through the same type of place repeatedly and losing all sense of direction, I suddenly emerged into a place overflowing with light.

It was a vast meadow covered in blooming flowers, an unexpected sight in the midst of the dense forest.

“Oh! Isaramaru!”

“Princess! You’re safe!”

There, the princess was sitting alone.

“Isaramaru, I keep coming back here… No matter where I walk, I can’t seem to return to the mansion.”

As the princess cried and spoke, I gently rubbed her back.

“Princess, it’s alright. Now that Isaramaru is here, you can be assured.”

“Yeah… yeah…”

“Come, let me carry you on my back. We’ll escape immediately.”

“Thank you…”

I carried the princess, who was without shoes, and retraced my steps.

However, no matter which path I took, my feet always led me back to the flower meadow.

Even when drawing lines on the ground or marking trees, I would inevitably end up in the flower meadow.

“It seems it’s no use after all… I’m going to die here.”

“Princess, please don’t worry. I, Isaramaru, will surely save you.”

“I’m so hungry and thirsty… At least I want to see my mother one last time!”

As the princess began to cry loudly, I stroked her back, but she continued to cry and became weaker.

Then, someone started giggling at our plight.

It was the fairy who had guided me to this flower meadow.

“Hey, fairy! Will you not help us get out of here? We have no intention of eating you. If we get back, we will surely offer a fat cow as a tribute.”

I said, but the fairy just continued to laugh joyfully.

“Then what do you want? I, Isaramaru, would sacrifice even my life if necessary for the princess!”

Hearing these words, the fairy flew up to my ear and began to whisper something.

Then, it grabbed onto my red hair and slipped into it.

The princess, who had stopped crying by then, looked at the sight and murmured.

“That fairy, perhaps it wants to live in Isaramaru’s hair?”

“If that’s the case, then so be it… Fairy, please, if you can do anything, get us out of here!”

When I said this, the fairy flew to the side of my face, tapping my cheek, and pointed toward the forest.

Was it telling me to go?

“Princess, please hold on to me.”

“Thank you, my knight.”

I carried the princess on my back again and began walking through the forest.

The path seemed exactly the same as before, but strangely, we didn’t return to the flower meadow.

“Isara… you…”

“Princess, we’re almost there. Please don’t worry.”

“Your hair… Isara…”

“Is the fairy causing any trouble?”

The princess was saying something, but I didn’t have the luxury to listen too carefully.

We had to get out of the forest before the fairy changed its mind.

Soon, without feeling like we had walked very far, a lake appeared before us.

We had exited the fairy’s realm.

“Princess, we’re back! Do you see? That’s the lake we know!”

“Isara… your hair has turned golden.”

“What?!”

I quickly turned to look at the princess, but her hair was still the same chestnut brown.

As I exhaled in relief, I noticed that the golden hair on my neck had swayed with the breath.

“Ah… so it was my hair that turned golden…”

The red hair that my mother and the princess had praised had turned golden.

I didn’t particularly care about it myself, but…

This change led to me being dismissed as the princess’s knight.

“Your hair… it’s mixed… Isaramaru…”

Officially, it was a dismissal due to my failure to prevent the princess’s abduction.

When I returned to the Winston family after losing my position, my father looked at my golden hair and said this.

“What do you mean, ‘mixed’?”

“It means you’ve been possessed by a fairy. Right now, you are a fairy, and the fairy is you. Fairies have a life as fleeting as insects. Even if you live long, it won’t be more than ten years.”

“But Father—”

“Don’t call me that. You are no longer Isaramaru born into the knightly family. You can no longer be kept in the house of knights… You are now merely Isara, a woman tainted both as a human and a fairy.”

The man, who apparently could no longer be called my father, handed me a few gold coins.

“It’s just a monologue, don’t listen.”

“…”

“As a man born into a knightly family, I am proud of Isaramaru who died protecting the princess. But as a father, I am saddened that I cannot live with my daughter…”

He said this while shedding tears, kneeling on the ground, still holding my hand.

“The soul of Knight Isaramaru rests in the ancestral grave. Isara… find your own path. Reuluora.”

“…Reuluora”

Responding to my father, I left my family home as the tainted Isara.

From the window on the second floor, my red-haired mother kept waving her hand.

No matter how many times I looked back, she continued to wave her hand, always, always.

Although I was expelled from the knightly house, I could not stop living as a knight.

I was born a knight and lived as a knight.

I could say that I did not know any other way to live.

As someone who seems to have mixed with a fairy, I had become much stronger, more agile, and sharper than before… and even gained the ability to use magic.

“I am Isara! The unparalleled knight of all time!”

“That’s the one rumored…”

“I heard the Winston family formally submitted a report to the royal castle.”

“She’s tainted by fairies; it’s only natural for her to win. The match is invalid, invalid.”

Despite winning the swordsmanship tournament in the capital with that power…

There were no opportunities for official positions anywhere, only whispers behind my back.

Eventually, I came to be known as Isara the ‘Murky.’

To make ends meet, I worked as a bodyguard, helped mercenaries, but found no place to belong no matter where I went…

With the warfront against the Bent Kingdom and the tumultuous North as my goal, I endlessly drifted.

And at the far end of the North, where I had drifted to the end…

I was introduced to a lord who accepted me without regard for my background or rumors…

And my long journey continued until I met a child as radiant as the sun, while I searched for my own path.