The Loser Lord Who Kept Getting Sweet Revenge and Somehow Rose to the Top - Chapter 16: Another Piece of Trash

Chapter 16: Another Piece of Trash

As I flew, my mind still drifting between old memories and hazy thoughts of the future, I finally reached the battlefield—where the Kingdom and Empire armies were already locked in a head-on clash.

If General August was here, he’d definitely be on the front lines. Sure enough, when I scanned the field, there he was, astride his horse, swinging a massive halberd one-handed.

“―General! My apologies for arriving late. It’s Sean.”

“You’ve come well, Sean.”

Every sweep of his halberd cleaved Imperial soldiers clean in half, blood and entrails spraying through the air. This—this was the might of the kingdom’s strongest! Not only had time failed to dull him, he looked sharper than ever. His sheer presence was overwhelming.

“I was thinking of bombing the enemy camp from the rear, but―――”

“Best not. The enemy commander this time is Reebok, one of the Empire’s Three Great Generals—the Strategist. Even if you can fly, recklessly plunging into enemy lines would be far too dangerous.”

So, even General August was being cautious when facing one of the Empire’s top three.

“Reebok’s movements are strange. Don’t overextend. And remember—taking land is not the only goal. More important is cutting down the enemy’s capable officers. Kill those with high command or recovery ability first—it will deal the greatest blow.”

General August barked those words up at me as he kept cutting down Imperial soldiers. Always the teacher, that man. …Well, not like he isn’t actually my teacher, so fair enough.

Back when I served under him, he often told me: “Observe the battlefield.”

So I did—scanning the field from the sky, my vision sharpened by Comet’s boost. And that’s when I spotted them. In the chaos of battle, where little gaps opened up like ripples in water, four riders were slipping through, moving from the Kingdom’s side toward the Empire’s.

At the center was a man with long, wavy black hair parted down the middle—he looked more like a scholar than a soldier. Heavy black-armored warriors guarded him as they pressed forward.

And trailing right behind them—Count Shakara and Talia!

So that rat really did guide the Empire in… and now he’s trying to flee with them?

Yeah. No mistaking it. Those four were traitors bolting from our side to the enemy.

“General August! I see four figures fleeing from our lines toward the enemy. Among them are Count Shakara and his wife—the collaborators!”

“I leave them to you. But remember—no reckless pursuit.”

With his permission, I turned Comet toward the fleeing four. Fireball breath charging, heat building in his throat, I raised my voice toward the scum trying to escape.

“Where do you think you’re going, huh?”

“Gyaaahhh! A-Ahhiiiii! Y-you’re Sean!? W-What the hell are you doing in a place like this?!”

“Obviously—I’m here to vaporize you! …I’ve been waiting for this moment!!”

No allies nearby—perfect. Nothing to hold me back now! I fired Comet’s breath straight at them. Oh yeah, this blast hits hard! …Ah, crap. I forgot Talia and those two random guys were there too.

Eh, whatever. Details, details.

―But then, the fireball—powerful enough to wipe out an entire squad of knights in one shot—was cleaved apart midair by the black-armored warrior’s greatsword. It detonated nearby, but failed to scorch the four riders.

Whoever that guy was, he had serious skills. And that was a problem—because he was standing between me and turning Shakara into ash.

“Well done, ‘Pursuer’! Keep protecting this genius, and cut a path straight to the Empire!!”

The middle-parted scholar-looking man slapped the black knight’s shoulder. The one called Pursuer said nothing, only glared up at me as he drove his horse forward.

In his place, Shakara piped up to the man with the middle part.

“Haah… haah… thought I was dead for sure. A man like me can’t die in a place like this. I’m counting on you, Van Nod Ryber!!”

…Van Nod Ryber. That name rang a bell. He was Gou and Kiriko’s biological father—the very man Gou had been searching for.

“Hey, you!!”

“Oh? Do you have a question for me?”

When I shouted at the man called Van, he answered with smug calmness, shielded behind the black-armored knight. What the hell is with this guy?

“You’re Van Nod Ryber, aren’t you?! Gou’s been looking for you—why the hell are you here?!”

Circling above them, I kept my guard up, ready to strike the four at any moment. Van stared up at me, and then—as if some memory clicked—he broke into a wide, self-satisfied grin.

“Indeed. I am Van Nod Ryber—the unparalleled genius of this age, and father to Kiriko and Gou. And you, young Tourmaline boy…”

His expression brimmed with sheer amusement, like he’d just stumbled onto the funniest joke in the world. That unrestrained joy twisting across his face made me narrow my eyes.

“Hah-hah-hah! I see, I see. You’ve come to avenge your foolish father, then? Too bad! As long as the Pursuer guards me, your attacks will never reach!”

…What? …Wait. What the hell did this guy just say? Avenge? Whose… father?

“―What’s the matter? Why that dumb look? Overcome with emotion at seeing your father’s killer? That won’t do for revenge. You see, I killed your father—the man who dared undervalue my genius and refused to invest in me. Isn’t that why you’re here? To claim vengeance??”