Chapter 85 : Because It Was Ransen

Chapter 85: Because It Was Ransen

“Going there to have a conversation...?”

Rivera couldn’t quite understand those words.

Was that just a roundabout way of saying he would simply kill Kashimir?

The sight of my lord’s back grew smaller and smaller as his pace quickened until he disappeared from view.

A conversation...? What could that possibly mean?

At some point, Seah approached and spoke up.

“Before, when he marched into Ilunael, he said the exact same thing. That he would have a conversation.”

“...But he killed Haarun back then, didn’t he? So he’s going to kill again?”

“No. Even then, he at least tried to start with a conversation.”

“With what...?”

“A call to surrender.”

Kalserik, who had been listening in silence, let out a sigh.

“He’s going to kill this time too.”

Shaking his head, he added,

“Didn’t they say he was the one who watched Haarun get slaughtered right before his eyes? And even then he declared resistance—there’s no way he’s going to surrender now.”

Rivera’s face turned pale, perhaps because he agreed with that.

“That would really not be good.... Kashimir is the most respected hero in Gellan City. If someone like him were killed recklessly, the backlash would be enormous.”

Seah also nodded.

“Maybe it’s because it borders Gloryland, but the people of that region are said to have a strong sense of loyalty and honor. Unlike the rest of Roberland.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Since we have the Message Artifact, we should convince our lord right now...!”

Rivera grew increasingly anxious. But Seah shook her head slowly.

“It’s fine. It’s Ransen Oppa.”

She judged that this was a different case than with Haarun.

‘If it’s Ransen Oppa... this time he’ll really persuade him. That must be why he chose the Stratagem of Moral Influence instead of the Counter-espionage Stratagem.’

She couldn’t quite guess what method he would use, but at least one thing she knew for sure.

‘Oppa never acts without thought.’

She had already passed along every piece of information she could gather to Ransen.

She had even seen him read her reports and strategies until they were worn thin.

Once he made a decision, he acted more lightly than anyone. But the process of making that decision weighed heavier on him than on anyone else.

So... if it was Ransen, he would make it work.

“We just have to do our part.”

At that moment, both Kalserik and Rivera found themselves staring at Seah.

Her indigo hair braided to one side. Eyes as deep as the abyss.

Her voice devoid of emotion, yet firm.

All of it carried a magnetic power that pulled people in.

Somehow, just because she said it would be fine, it truly felt like it would be fine.

Seah walked past the two of them and called out to her friend, who was idling nearby.

“Asha!”

Was it because they were the same age?

Unlike when she dealt with others, her tone lifted a little higher when she spoke to Asha Krona.

The only magician among the Family, Asha had been pretending to teach the children, but once Ransen disappeared, she had immediately slipped into the shade and sprawled there.

“Huh...? Seah, what is it?”

The corners of Seah’s lips lifted ever so slightly.

“The Soul of Flame. Did you manage to paint it in your mindscape?”

That was about the ancient magic that Asha and Seah had been training in recently.

Modern magicians wove mana to design magical power, and by manifesting it into the world, they implemented magic.

But ancient magic was entirely different.

Just as ancient swordsmanship, unlike modern swordsmanship, used the power of the soul—called Will-image—ancient magic did the same.

The beginning of ancient magic lay in imitating the ‘souls’ embedded in all things, then painting them within one’s mindscape.

That was the very first step of magic.

“No. I still couldn’t draw it.... It’s too hard.”

Asha twisted her lips awkwardly.

She had thought that when it came to talent in magic, she bowed to no one.... But that notion of a ‘soul’ simply didn’t click with her.

Too abstract, perhaps.

What even was the soul of flame?

How was she supposed to paint that within her mindscape?

But then—

“I painted it.”

Snap!

Fwoosh!

At the snap of Seah’s fingers, a faint flame rose.

That sight burned itself deep into Asha’s eyes.

And then—

Smirk—

A rare smile formed on Seah’s lips. A smile a little twisted, almost mocking.

Spring!

Asha, who had been leaning lazily against a roadside tree, bounced to her feet.

“You...! You!”

Her eyes darted between Seah’s face and the faint flame dancing at her fingertips.

It was nothing more than a tiny flame, barely enough to set paper alight.... An inferior force, far weaker than her own magic.... But still—

‘This, peculiar mana wave!’

It was unmistakably ancient magic!

“Youuuu...!”

Asha scrunched up her face and bolted away.

Without a doubt, her destination was her research lab.

She had gone straight to train.

Only then did Seah let her forcibly lifted lips fall back down.

“This way, she’ll work harder.”

Because that was the kind of person her same-aged friend Asha was. She only drew out 120% of her talent once she was given some spark to ignite her.

Seah watched Asha’s retreating figure for a moment before she, too, turned her steps.

“Time for me to do my part.”

With the lessons wrapped up, it was now time to return to her office and devise new strategies.

The Three-War Strategy was progressing at a pace far beyond expectations, so she had to keep revising her plans accordingly.

‘I thought it would take at least three years to conquer Ailun....’

Because he had accomplished that in just a few months.

Thanks to it, Norberju—or perhaps the entirety of Roberland—was thrown into turmoil. Like the waves spreading far and wide when a giant moves but once.

‘The next move, and the one after, and the one after that. I need to predict them all and prepare in advance.’

A new variable had appeared, so I had to rework my plans by adding that variable.

The new variable this time was...

‘On the premise that Oppa persuades Kashimir and brings Gellan under control.’

That Kashimir Gulak would kneel before Ransen without a drop of blood spilled.

Seah’s belief was that firm.

*         *         *

I went to have a conversation with Kashimir Gulak.

The journey was smooth.

Riding one of Haarun’s prized steeds, I passed through Loensi and Egira and reached Gellan in less than a day.

There had been an unusual increase of demonic beasts in the borderlands, but that was something I had already been briefed on.

I simply shredded the blocking horde of beasts with my Aura Threads and rode straight on to Gellan.

Upon arriving at Gellan City, I tied my horse at a suitable spot and slipped secretly over the castle walls.

Since I had truly come to converse, I wanted to avoid conflict as much as possible.

So I went straight to the Lord’s Keep.... but in front of it, Gellan’s warriors had set up tents and were encamped in full force.

“Ransen...?”

Sharp eyes.

The warriors noticed me as I walked calmly among the people.

Deng! Deng! Deeeng!

Urrruuuu—!

Alarm bells rang and in an instant, warriors poured out.

Hostile energy and killing intent bristled, surrounding me from every side.

Woooooong—

The aura emanating from their bodies blocked my path like a fortress wall.

‘Not bad.’

These were the Red Warriors, once the pride of Kushan City.

And their momentum even surpassed that reputation, did it not?

Warriors numbering over a hundred....

So these were the men who had clashed head-on with the Empire and held the gates of Roberland.

‘Like wolves.’

That was my first impression of them.

Wild fighting spirit. Unbending pride.

And come to think of it, Kashimir Gulak, the man currently ruling Gellan, was the very image of that.

Proud, loyal, and fierce as a wolf.

Even after witnessing Haarun fall dead in a single strike, he had still pointed his sword at me until the end.

‘Impressive.’

He could have just bowed and returned quietly to Gellan, only to resist later.

But instead, he had drawn his blade right in front of me.

Even knowing he would die.

He truly was unlike a typical man of Roberland.

And that, I liked.

So—

“Ransen! You came at last!”

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

“You may kill us all, but you’ll never make us back down...!”

This time, I truly intended to have a ‘conversation.’

Of course, I had felt the same back when it was Haarun, but this time—truly, truly.

So no one would die.

Those warriors baring their fangs to protect their wolf leader—I rather liked them.

“Is that so? You won’t back down?”

They were certainly strong, but this wasn’t enough. Far from it.

The experience I had built while crossing back and forth through the ancient era ten thousand years ago far surpassed the common sense of this age.

Step—

Taking a step, I asked them.

“Then go ahead, try to move.”

Step—

I walked.

I myself became a single sword.

“....”

“....”

In the hall boiling with fighting spirit, a strange silence fell.

Step—step—

I simply walked.

As if I couldn’t even see the warriors blocking my way.

Past gleaming blades, past raised axes, I brushed through without the slightest concern.

Tok—

Tok—

No one could move.

Sweat only dripped endlessly from their faces, soaked with cold perspiration.

Precisely because they were wild men, like wolves, they couldn’t move at all.

For my soul held but one will.

‘Cut.’

Sword and I as one.

The will united with the sword.

That pure will met the Aura honed to the limit of a Swordmaster, and the synergy was tremendous.

The Aura grew sharper, while the will of ‘Cut’ amplified on its own and flooded the surroundings.

I was merely walking, yet the winds split around me, and the Aura flowing between the warriors was severed.

All of them here must have felt it.

The moment they moved even a single step, they would be cut down. That they would die a meaningless death.

Even if it didn’t truly happen—

My will had already drawn a blade across their very souls, so to them, it was no different than reality.

Thus,

Until I passed them all by, walking straight through, not a single one moved.

Entering the Lord’s Keep, I glanced back.

The warriors still stood like statues, sweat dripping from them in streams.

Unlike with Haarun, not a single one had so much as a hair harmed.

‘So if I used Unity of Sword and Self well... there was no need to cut at all.’

A blade honed to the extreme cut the enemy’s heart without even being drawn.

“Khk...!”

“Ransen....”

There were many warriors within the Lord’s Keep as well, but they were no different. They couldn’t move.

They merely served as my milestones.

If I walked in the direction most heavily guarded by warriors, at the end of it, Kashimir Gulak would be there.

*         *         *

“Frightened you, did I?”

Kashimir’s face looked as if he had seen a ghost.

“...Absurd. You grew even stronger in that time?”

“Well, I just got more accustomed to it. Anyway, surrender.”

But Kashimir shook his head.

Even though my will still pressed a blade against his soul, unlike the other warriors, he did not freeze. Though he sweated cold, he did not falter.

“Just kill me. It’ll be easier for both of us. In fact, it’s fortunate you’ve grown even stronger. Since it’s come to this, spare my men. They’re good lads.”

As I thought.

I liked him.

I didn’t want to kill him.

“If I kill you, won’t the citizens of Gellan hate me? They say you’re quite respected.”

“Is there even a ruler in Roberland who cares about such things?”

“I care.”

I walked past Kashimir and sat myself down on the sofa in his office.

Creaking, he turned his body to face me.

And yet, determined to die fighting, he had drawn his sword. Admirable.

Leaning back against the cushions, I began.

“Truth is... there are far too many ways.”

All of Seah’s intelligence, her plans—they were all in my head.

“I could just do as you said, lop off your head right here, cut down any who resist, and rule through fear.”

Kashimir’s face hardened.

“Or I could cut off the supply of Ailun White Horses, or erect tariff walls, and slowly choke you out. Or perhaps lure you into infighting with the bait of an ancient relic.”

Each and every one was possible.

No matter how great Kashimir’s popularity, when the economy weakened and the military strength waned, internal cracks would surely form.

“But... here’s what I’ll actually do.”

Now came the real point.

I leaned forward and asked Kashimir:

The most fatal weakness revealed in Seah’s report.

I dug into it.

“Your son’s thirteen, isn’t he? Said to have extraordinary talent in swordsmanship?”

At my words—

“...You!!!”

Kashimir, who had seemed resigned to death, suddenly wavered. Wooooong—! He overcame his fear and released a crimson wine-hued Aura from his sword tip.

As though ready to fight me to the death here and now, he faced me. And I made my proposal.

“I’ll take him as my disciple.”

“...What?”

Kashimir’s lips parted slightly.

“I mean, I’ll make him my direct disciple. Your son will train with my younger siblings, and as I’ve always protected them, I’ll protect him as well. I’ll pass on my own vision swordsmanship and cultivation method.”

It wasn’t a loss for me, either.

Kashimir’s son had a reputation as Norberju’s greatest genius.

Judging from his father’s character, the boy could be trusted as well. Perhaps even a talent worthy of becoming the second Knight Burson.

And you, Kashimir....

Yes. Your eyes are shaking.

The greatest swordsman you’ve ever seen in your life becoming your son’s master—

Well? Doesn’t that sound new?

“My only condition is this: stop being stubborn and retire. Hand over Gellan City to me.”

All those warriors who had guarded you couldn’t so much as twitch in front of me.

Your son was, in effect, held hostage by me.

And yet you, to honor Haarun, would retire.

I gave you both justification and gain.

You see what I mean?

Retirement is my mercy to you.

Thunk....

The sword dropped from Kashimir’s hand and sank with a thud! into the floorboards.

At that moment, Gellan City fell into my hands.

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