1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

96. The Wandering Band (2)

It was common for the narrative’s main characters to be retired.

…In truth, it is only natural.

There are over a hundred playable characters.

Isn’t that far too many for a single world?

Of course, important figures must survive until the end.

But for those who do not, it usually goes like this:

Those born sickly, dying without timely treatment.

Those who lose the chance for fate’s favor as the user’s choices create a butterfly effect.

And those who belong to opposing factions, dying in battle against one another.

Thus, the moment of culling inevitably arrives when the time is right.

* * *

I chased the smoke rising from the lowlands.

Belman spoke to me as he ran.

“Hursel, we’re heading toward the Adel district.”

At some point, our paths diverged from theirs.

With Belman’s stronghold in that direction, he would want to check if the things we left behind were safe.

I made my way toward the Shulafe faction.

This raid was the work of the fledgling wandering band.

The Shulafe academy students were the most vulnerable prey for them.

Limberton glanced at the backpack slung over my back and asked,

“Why are you taking the whole backpack? It’s not like we’re fleeing.”

“…Just in case, I’m bringing it along.”

Upon arriving at the encampment of Shulape, I beheld the throng of souls immersed in the throes of transformation.

Rix was sweating profusely, directing the chaos.

His face was a grim tapestry of sweat and ash.

“The Ministry of Magic! Form into squads of four and extinguish that fortress! The Knights, fetch water from the nearby stream! And you lot, check for any stragglers who might still be trapped!!”

Rix darted about, conjuring water with frantic gestures.

We too lent our hands to clear the debris, engaging in the labor of survival.

“Hershel?”

“I saw the smoke and came to help.”

At my reply, Rix cautiously inquired.

“Where on earth have you been all this time?”

“This is a competition. I won’t share the fortress’s location, not even with you.”

Rix grunted, then nodded as if he had come to terms with my words.

Though we banded together in this endeavor, a trial remained a trial.

He was not foolish enough to deny that truth.

As the evolution of the clustered fortresses began to draw to a close, a voice rang out.

“Rix! Oh? Hershel and your lot. When did you arrive?”

Hapal, Rix’s friend, emerged, a boy bound in his grasp.

I sensed the moment had come and quietly withdrew a handful of gold.

Rix asked, bewildered.

“What’s with the kid? Why is there a child here…?”

Hapal’s expression turned grave.

He produced a holder filled with blades from his left hand.

“This little wretch started the fire. I caught him trying to flee, and he had all this gear with him.”

Rix approached the child with quickened steps.

The boy trembled, fear dancing in his eyes.

I shouted urgently.

“Get back! Hapal!!”

With a swift motion, I shoved the boy aside with the gold.

Just as Rix turned to me, astonishment etched on his face, a thunderous explosion erupted all around.

Boom!

Blood splattered across Hapal’s face and clothes.

The boy had met his end, leaving only such horrific traces behind.

Limberton, trembling beside me, muttered softly.

“Could it be that you asked such a question…?”

It seemed he recalled the question I had posed.

“Indeed. The choice you made. Now you shall learn whether it was mere empty words, Limberton.”

There are two ways to deal with the wretched little vagabonds.

You can hesitate to kill and wait for them to blow themselves up.

Or you can send them off without pain.

Both methods are cruel beyond measure.

* * *

I had Rix gather the leaders of the Shulafe faction.

There were more children who had perished, and others had witnessed it.

Moreover, there had been a fire, and they gathered without much fuss.

The location was a fortress, slightly charred on the outside.

I taught the leaders about the vagabonds, wrapping the future knowledge in just the right amount of mystery.

“According to what I heard from my father, in the Kingdom of Bellam, an organization mimicking the Pathfinders was established.”

Thanks to this, no one raised any questions about Aol.

It was well-known that he was a graduate here and frequented the magical realm as a hobby.

“It wouldn’t be strange if there were rival organizations, would it? To think they could keep rumors of such resources in the magical realm hidden until now is a stretch.”

I explained one by one about the little vagabonds, a copy of Frost Heart, their objectives, and the cursed explosive magic.

“…This is their test. Orphans are of no consequence if they die, so they’re treated like bombs.”

Rix gritted his teeth, fists clenched tight.

“These b*stards are using children for…”

The other leaders nodded in agreement.

“I suspected Frost Heart wasn’t normal, but there are worse ones out there.”

Of course, the majority accepted this situation with grim realism.

The first to voice their opinion were the leaders of the unit made up of Lethe.

“So what now? If they come for us, we must kill them. They’ve burned through all our food.”

“I think so too. Isn’t it common to kill when a child steps onto the battlefield?”

Other captains nodded in agreement with their opinions.

To be honest, I shared their thoughts.

Having lived in this world for a while, my modern sensibilities had become somewhat tainted by its values.

As they said, the death of a boy soldier was not an uncommon occurrence.

Once weapons are drawn, age or gender matters not; all become enemies.

Thus, it could be seen as strange to react against their opinions.

Yet, I secretly despised siding with them.

It wasn’t merely a matter of morality…

It was also about what lay ahead.

Even in the wandering troupe, there were playable characters.

And those characters, if they grew, could become a significant force in the future.

“Hm.”

In truth, it was only natural.

Just as there are those who begin their narratives in the Frost Heart, it wouldn’t be odd for a fledgling troupe to serve as a starting point.

It was also a training ground for talents entering the same magical realm, and there were far too many protagonists in the stories.

“So, we’re to kill them? There is such a thing as chivalry. If one hopes to become a knight, there are lines that must not be crossed. The same goes for wizards. They bear the responsibility to benefit the people.”

Rix’s opinion seemed to resonate with some of the captains, who nodded in agreement.

It certainly provided a justification that made hasty decisions difficult.

Though the origins of chivalry and wizardry stemmed from the notion that ancient knights and mages were such ruffians that they ought to adhere to some manners, still…

No matter how much one argues that the beginnings of chivalry or wizardry were merely about moral responsibility, time has passed, and with the addition of religious perspectives, they have long since solidified in public consciousness.

After all, what guilt could there be for a child, barely aware of the world, thrust into the battlefield?

The boy soldier is viewed not as a sinner, but from the perspective of a captive.

Of course, if there’s no other choice, killing may be excused, but if alternatives exist, it is the unspoken rule of knights and mages to consider them.

To put it simply, at the very least, one must feign a struggle.

We could say we wrestled with our conscience.

Yet, many would rather act without considering such matters, fully aware that they would face scorn even in death.

Thus, Rix’s statement could be seen as lacking the most crucial element.

If one is to speak, it should be done this way.

“What if there is a way to save them?”

First and foremost, one must present a direction.

“To kill knowing that truth, that’s a different path altogether. Isn’t it?”

The second was a tug on the remaining conscience.

“Tonight’s events will be remembered for a lifetime, whether for good or ill.”

The third was a threat.

“Years from now, the memoirs of the one who rises among us will surely contain phrases like these: ‘The scion of such-and-such a family, a cold-blooded killer who chose to slay a child despite having the option to save them.’ If that’s the case, even in death, they’ll be cursed. A name that descendants might wish to erase from the family tree, a mark of shame.”

The eyes of the leaders flickered with unease.

“Are you… thinking of becoming a whistleblower after you rise to power?”

“Frost Heart is an academy that the Empire itself conceals. Do you really think they’d let such things be made public?”

I clicked my tongue, looking at those leading Lethe with disdain.

“How long do you think you can keep this secret? It’s already been a long time since the Pathfinder’s imitation group emerged. Sooner or later, it will all come to light. It could be next year, or the year after. Ah, of course, you won’t face punishment. You haven’t broken any laws. But to throw away your honor here is the same. Think carefully about that.”

As the radicals fell silent, Rix let out a bitter laugh.

“Indeed, your way is the answer in times like this.”

A foolish young lord who speaks of honor even in death, handling noble ladies is no challenge at all.

Yet, the reason I hesitated in my choice was this:

“I said there’s a way to save them, but to be honest, I can’t guarantee it will work. This is merely an attempt.”

The method I had in mind wasn’t even an option in the game’s choices.

It was a cleverness born solely of reality.

Thus, I lacked certainty.

As I offered this somewhat bleak response, Rix’s expression darkened.

“First and foremost, we need the cooperation of not just Shulafe, but also Adel and the entirety of the Bürger Guard. Just that alone is no small condition.”

I, too, was but one person.

To save the children they sought to kill, I needed that much manpower.

Moreover, I had to bear the corresponding risks.

“Above all, I believe this matter should be decided by a majority vote among all the leaders, regardless of the dormitory. If we’re not careful, there could be casualties. If these conditions aren’t met, we’ll consider our moral responsibility fulfilled. I’ll abide by your opinions.”

Rix asked me, “…What exactly is that method?”

“To explain would take time. If all the leaders gather, I’ll tell you at once.”

I rose from my seat and left the fortress.

At the door, Asley and Limberton were waiting.

“What was the decision?”

—

I answered Limberton’s question with a roundabout response.

“You asked me in reverse, didn’t you? Could you kill a child intent on killing you?”

“······.”

Seeing the half-terrified look on his face, I slung the backpack I had left on the floor over my shoulder.

“For now, I’ve decided to try. To save them.”

Limberton let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew.”

“So, here’s the thing. There’s something you all need to do.”

The instructions I gave them were as follows.

“By now, Adel and the ones from Burger are probably racking their brains just like us. Pass this on to them. We have a good method here. If they doubt it, say this: wouldn’t it be better to stick together than to be hunted down scattered?”

Asley and Limberton nodded and took off running.

I found myself questioning, recalling the playable characters in the little wandering troupe.

Is it truly possible for me, belonging to the Frost Heart, to save Merlin’s life?

No, let’s abandon such a meaningless question.

I would know soon enough.

* * *

A meeting was also held in the Adel quarters.

Due to the small number of participants, not just the captain but everyone was present.

Having already witnessed the child who had perished in the explosion, they had surmised through reconnaissance that the enemies were of considerable numbers.

“There are countless footprints of different sizes. Moreover, with so many broken twigs visible, it seems there are those who move by climbing the trees.”

Once a man finished his report, a discussion on how to respond ensued.

Opinions were largely divided into two camps.

Riamon sat, using the great sword he had plunged into the ground as a backrest.

“Then, shouldn’t we kill them? Our squad is in favor.”

“Riamon, I am the captain! How many times must I say it!!”

“You agree too, don’t you?”

“Well, yes, but······.”

“Why? Is it because it seems like we might actually do it that you don’t want to? When was it that you boasted you could kill a little brat?”

“Th-that time···. I had the justification of deceit. If it weren’t for my older brother’s interference, it would have happened. Probably······.”

“Tsk, just a smooth talker.”

—

Someone felt a chill, yet the atmosphere was predominantly one of agreement.

It was the same for Shila.

“We all saw them burst apart. Isn’t it more humane to strike the neck without pain?”

“But, Shila. I think this is a matter that requires more caution.”

“Yet, you almost got hurt. If you hadn’t quickly wrapped yourself in aura, it could have been fatal, don’t you think?”

While Shila and Leana were chattering, Belman, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up.

“The topic seems overly focused on whether to kill or not. Shouldn’t we consider it from multiple angles?”

Belman held considerable sway even within the Adel Council.

Though the top student was Riamon, his unilateral actions and twisted personality posed a problem.

Thus, it had long been an unspoken acknowledgment of Belman as the de facto leader.

Everyone turned their ears to his words.

“For now, we lack information about those children. We don’t even know why they seek to take our lives. And as for the explosions, it seems like a form of Sadomagic, but if anyone has knowledge in that area, I hope you’ll raise your hand. We need to know if there’s a way to unravel the spell.”

If there were, gathering information would become possible.

It could also quell the dissent from the opposition.

As they exchanged glances, someone raised their hand.

“Dalrum. You’re in the Knights’ Division, yet you seem well-versed in magic.”

As Belman spoke with surprise, Dalrum scratched his head.

“No, that’s not it. I just thought there was a Sadomagic class after school, so I mentioned it.”

“…Could it be an obscure form of magic?”

“Yeah. I happened to see that only one person signed up for that class.”

Belman’s eyes sparkled.

“Who was it?”

“It was Hershel.”

The students murmured among themselves.

Eruzel spoke up, incredulous.

“Your brother?”

“Why? Did your ears perk up? You’re definitely a coward, aren’t you?”

“Shut up over there!”

Eruzel shouted at Riamon and turned back to Dalrum.

“Is it really your brother?”

“Isn’t that right? He’s such a noisy character, how could I have possibly imagined I saw something that wasn’t there? It was only because I happened to be passing by and got curious that I found out Hershel was studying demonology.”

“Ugh, of all people, it had to be him. I need to be able to trust someone.”

Perhaps due to the accumulated impressions, the reactions of others were not much different from Eruzel’s.

Moreover, all the intense training over the past month had been because of that man.

Gambling is one’s own responsibility, but still, money was lost.

Even if one wanted to see it positively, there was a sense of rejection.

Yet, one had to acknowledge the truth.

“Hershel achieved a tie for first place in the written exam. Even if demonology isn’t a regular subject, I believe he possesses a certain level of knowledge.”

He had also solved the difficult runic script problems.

And the way he had acted when surrounded by the wolf pack was anything but ordinary.

Belman recalled the fresh shock he had received and continued speaking.

“Perhaps he has already thought of a method.”

Belman picked up his staff.

“In that case, it would be wise to take note. I will head to the Shulafe camp right away.”

“Wait a moment.”

Riamon, who had only been snickering, stood up and pulled the great sword he had planted into the ground.

“I want to go see too. Is it alright if I tag along?”

The students stared at him wide-eyed.

Belman found it surprising as well.

Though his personality was unpredictable, it was rare for him to participate so actively.

“Do as you wish.”

Belman replied and turned to leave.

But from a distance, he could see Asley and Limberton approaching.

Riamon blinked.

“That’s Limberton over there. That foolish guy…”

“You knew Limberton?”

“Of course. Hmm. Now that everyone knows, I guess it doesn’t matter if I say it?”

Riamon looked up at the innocent sky before continuing.

“It must have been during the third exam. That idiot asked Hershel for help, causing a ruckus and giving all his coins to me. If he hadn’t done that, the top student of the Adel Hall would have been Hershel, that guy.”

The eyes of all the students from Adel Hall widened in shock.

“W-what does that mean…?”

“What? You mean to say that scoundrel was the top one?”

Riamon replied with a smirk.

“Indeed. But for some reason, he relinquished the first place. Truth be told, if he had set his mind to it, he could have snatched every coin from me.”

Belman felt a surge of curiosity and was about to ask.

But now was not the time.

“I’d like to hear more about that later.”

Limberton approached, gasping for breath.

“Ugh. Ugh. Hey, Hursel is calling all troops to Shulafe right now!”

“All troops, you say? Hmmm.”

Belman nodded thoughtfully.

“Very well. Do we all agree to head to the Shulafe front?”

As Belman sought their opinions, the commanders nodded in a daze.

Limberton’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Wait, wait. You’re just going to agree without even asking why?”

“No need to ask. It’s obvious. You’ve all been wrestling with the same issues as us. Hursel must have found the answer. Am I wrong?”

Limberton blinked as if struck by a revelation.

“…You’re right, Belman. Just as you said. But what do we do about it? The Burger faction hardly ever cooperates.”

Belman shrugged, dismissing the concern.

“It’s not a difficult matter. If the Adel faction joins the Shulafe faction, their target will naturally be the Burger faction. Just mentioning this will be enough to get them to join us.”

Moreover, the mere fact that the Adel faction was moving was persuasive enough.

It was only natural to think that a top performer had their reasons for acting.

As Belman had anticipated, it was not hard to win over the Burger faction.

Thus, they all began to set their steps toward the Shulafe front.

* * *

The movements of the Shulafe faction were anything but ordinary.

Troops were gathered, and the remnants of the ‘Multi Fortress’ were being dismantled to resume construction.

Melin turned to the squad leader beside him.

“Was that thing even recyclable?”

“Don’t underestimate the Empire’s technology. What we burned was merely the building. As long as the core device remains intact, the instructor said it can be reused with just a surge of mana.”

The fortress was newly completed.

Even now, the troops that had once marched in grim formation were shouldering logs, replenishing their supplies.

Yet, the arrangement felt strange.

It was as if they were merely constructing a circular fence around the fortress.

The central clearing was obscured, hidden behind the rising stronghold.

The squad leader ground his teeth.

“…Damn it, what on earth are they thinking?”

“Well, I don’t know…?”

Perhaps feeling anxious, the squad leader turned to Melin.

“We have to push forward.”

“Are you serious? You want to do it now? The raid is the day after tomorrow, right? That’s why we set fire to the food supplies, isn’t it?”

Originally, the plan was to strike while the enemy was hungry.

Moreover, it was believed that the enemy would be most vulnerable around the time the exams concluded.

The squad leader explained, exasperated.

“Think about it. If we just drag this out, it’ll be us who are at a disadvantage. They’re gathering for a large-scale assault, and with them clustered like that, there’s no opening.”

“I know that much.”

The enemy consisted of nobles trained through specialized education.

Except for the leader of the fledgling troupe, the individual strength of the rest was incomparable.

Even under such dire conditions, their numbers were roughly equal.

To take down such foes, the only option was to wait for a few to stray and then ambush with the majority.

“But…”

Their level was stronger than anticipated.

Even the instructor hadn’t expected to wipe out the wolves in just two days.

“…We’re likely to face near annihilation.”

The squad leader let out a deep sigh, as if resigned.

“Do you think time is on our side? They’ll leave in two days, but we won’t. The conditions are abysmally poor.”

Melin fell silent.

As much as she wanted to deny it, his words rang true.

They would leave within two days, but if they couldn’t raise their heads and return by then, they would die.

“So now is our chance. The knights over there are exhausted from just finishing the fortress, right? The mages too. Some are on the brink of collapse from replenishing mana in the mana stones. And like you said, we’ve burned our food supplies. They might not be starving yet, but they won’t be at their best either. If we wait until tomorrow, our chances of success will only diminish.”

With justifiable grounds, Merlyn had no choice but to nod.

“Merlyn, I know what you’re worried about. But we’ve always been this way. If you fall behind, you die. Look at the ones who’ve survived here. The ones who’ve perished were tenfold.”

“…I know that too.”

Only the ones who survive are chosen.

Merlyn understood this truth about the Wanderers all too well, to the point of her teeth grinding.

“Then let’s take it as acceptance. I’ll inform the other leaders, so keep your team on standby.”

While he went to share his thoughts with the leaders, Merlyn approached the instructor who stood at the back.

The instructor wore a satisfied smile.

“Are you about to begin? Quite a wise decision, I must say.”

“It wasn’t my choice, but… it has been decided. Instructor, I ask that you grant me magic.”

“Very well, let’s do that.”

The instructor waved his staff, drawing an electric sigil, and infused it with mana.

Merlyn inhaled the shimmering essence that floated in the air.

“Whoosh.”

“Ha ha ha, it’s always a peculiar talent, isn’t it? Remember, Merlyn, it’s that mystery that allowed you, somewhat lacking as you are, to become a leader. Now go and make use of your gift.”

With that, the preparations for the entire unit were complete.

Just then, the moon had passed its zenith.

Only a few sentinels had awakened on the Frost Heart side.

It was a night ripe for ambush.