I Was Reincarnated as a Mob Noble, and I Swear I'll Protect the Villainess Who Got Married Off to Me No Matter What ~To Dodge Our Total Downfall, I Went All Out Training My Trash Skill [Super Recovery] Through Crazy Hard Work, and Before I Knew It, I Could Totally Wreck the Game Protagonist Who Condemned My Wife Easily

Chapter 29: Praised by the Famous General Baldo as a Talent Surpassing Even the Sword Saint

“It’s an honor, sure, but there’s no need for you to step in, young Master Zenon! This battle’s already ours!”

Felix shouted to stop me, his voice booming across the field.

He was right. The whole point here was just to take Dalham Castle and flip the doomed fate hanging over me and Valeria.

“Yeah, I get that. But no matter what, you’re gonna have to fight me, General Baldo. Hmph!”

Right then, a shockwave blasted out from the swing of General Baldo’s sword—five or six Death Knights got hurled backward like ragdolls.

General Baldo was a master of wind magic. By enchanting his blade with wind magic, he doubled its speed. That shockwave came from the sword breaking the sound barrier.

“…I’ve already seen through all your tricks!”

Gawain charged in bravely at General Baldo, but in return his sword arm got cleanly sliced off.

“Gawain!?”

Even Valeria’s eyes went wide at that.

General Baldo’s movements were faster than Gawain’s speed, even though Gawain had been buffed up by the Demi Liches’ magic.

“I’ve enjoyed the show, Schwarz Ritter!”

General Baldo stepped in deeper and smashed Gawain—armor and all—in half. Gawain let out a groan and collapsed.

Three Death Knights rushed in to try to finish the general, but he cut them down in a single breath.

“I won’t let this castle fall. Not when it’s for Her Highness First Imperial Princess Leticia, who’s now become the supreme commander of the entire imperial army!”

A domineering aura rolled off General Baldo, making the very air crackle and vibrate.

I clenched my back teeth hard.

Baldo had been a tough boss even in the game, but the man standing here right now was showing power that went way beyond what the game ever showed.

Right… this guy isn’t some game character. He’s a living, breathing human being.

So it made sense. To repay the princess he’s served faithfully for so long, it’s no surprise he’d push past his normal status limits. General Baldo never had children of his own—he’d always treated First Imperial Princess Leticia like his own daughter.

“Come back, all of you!”

Valeria forcefully sent Gawain and the others back to the Netherworld so she could heal them. They vanished from the spot like smoke drifting away.

“The pests are gone. Now then, Zenon—it’s time for you and me, Baldo, to have our one-on-one!”

General Baldo pointed the tip of his sword straight at me, taunting.

Seeing his bold, heroic figure, the imperial soldiers’ morale surged back up.

“As expected of General Baldo!”

“With the general here, even that Sword Demon Felix is nothing to fear!”

Who would’ve thought one single man could flip the whole mood of the battlefield again like that. That’s why they call him a hero, I guess.

If I drag this out any longer the enemy’s main force is gonna show up. Gotta end this quick.

“What’s wrong!? Your big sister Alfin fought me fair and square!”

“…What did you say…?”

For a second I completely lost my words at General Baldo’s roar.

“…Don’t tell me… you’re the one who took down my sister?”

“That’s right. Your sister was still young, but she was an outstanding swordswoman. That’s why I challenged her to a proper duel on the battlefield and defeated her. It was a magnificent end, worthy of a true sword master!”

Finding out the guy standing right in front of me was my sister’s killer hit like a shock to the chest.

Rage bubbled up inside me without thinking, but…

General Baldo had shown her real respect.

Knowing that her final fight, her death, had been filled with dignity as a warrior… it actually eased my heart a little.

On a battlefield, that kind of thing was priceless.

“You… how dare you do that to Lady Alfin…!”

Felix—her former master—stepped forward, fury blazing in his eyes, ready to face General Baldo.

“This Felix will avenge my lady!”

“No—wait.”

I called out and stopped him.

“Felix, I need you to guard Valeria.”

“Young Master Zenon!?”

I moved close to Felix and handed over Valeria, who I’d been holding in one arm.

“Zenon, what are you planning, leaving me like this!?”

Valeria showed clear hesitation about being separated from me.

“I’m gonna settle this. General Baldo—I’ll accept your challenge!”

Sure, part of me burned to take revenge for my sister with my own hands… but more than that, when a man like General Baldo singles you out this passionately, something hot starts rising up inside any swordsman worth his salt.

Looks like the fighting blood of the Greivan frontier count family really does run in me too. And above all…

“If I want Father and the other military commanders to accept me as the new supreme commander, I need more than just leadership—I need a huge achievement as a warrior too! Right, Felix!?”

“Young Master…! Y-you’re seriously trying to surpass even the Sword Saint himself!?”

Felix’s voice cracked with emotion.

General Baldo and my father had crossed swords countless times on the battlefield over the years, and they’d never settled who was stronger—they were true rivals.

If I could beat General Baldo in a one-on-one duel, it’d prove I’m a greater warrior than my father.

“If that happens, there won’t be a single person left in the frontier count house who won’t acknowledge you as the strongest warrior, Young Master! Understood! You’ve already beaten Gawain too. Felix believes in your victory!”

Felix bowed deeply and stepped back.

“Zenon, I thank you! Everyone—stand down. Clear the way!”

At General Baldo’s order, the enemy soldiers opened a path.

With every eye from both sides locked on me, I walked straight up to General Baldo.

“Hah! The general’s mastered both sword and magic! Some brat who’s only had magic skills for a few days can’t possibly stand a chance!”

“Even if you’re the Sword Saint’s son, you’re nothing in front of General Baldo the Rigid Demon Sword!”

“Yeah! General Baldo is the strongest warrior in the empire—even the Sword Saint couldn’t beat him! Don’t get cocky, kid!”

The imperial troops showered me with mocking laughter.

Even though they were on the back foot, as long as General Baldo was there they still believed they could win. Their trust in him was absolute.

“Zenon Greivan. You’re strong… Someday you’ll become a far greater threat to the empire than even your Sword Saint father. That’s exactly why I’m crushing you here and now with everything I’ve got!”

General Baldo’s bear-like giant frame seemed to swell even bigger. The seams of his armor groaned and screamed, muscles bulging so hard they looked ready to burst.

【Rigid Demon Sword】 was a combat skill that massively boosted sword attack power and physical strength. He’d just released the limiter and cranked it to full power.

In the original game, whenever General Baldo got cornered he’d do exactly this. For the next five minutes he’d take massive damage to his own body but gain superhuman attack power in exchange.

A terrifying skill… but I already knew how to deal with 【Rigid Demon Sword】.

My plan was to turn this into a long fight using the recovery power of 【Excessive Recovery】 . If I could just survive the onslaught for five minutes, I’d win.

“Th-this is… Young Master Zenon…! Please be careful!”

“That shockwave from his sword—if it even grazes you, it’ll be a fatal wound!”

Felix and Valeria called out to me, their voices full of worry.

“…You’re only the third person I’ve ever released this power against on the battlefield. Your father and your sister were the first two.”

General Baldo’s muscles swelled even more, ripping his upper-body armor apart from the inside.

I quietly dropped my stance and held my sword in a proper middle guard.

An enemy even Father and the others couldn’t defeat…

I genuinely wanted to beat this man.

“It’s on, General Baldo!”

“Zenon… please win…!”

I could hear Valeria’s voice cheering for my victory and my safety.

That gave me strength.