A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

14 – Weapons of War (2)

According to experience and statistics, the peak of budget embezzlement is in military supplies.

They say they will gather supplies to prepare for war, but who would put up a fishing pole there?

When many families in Nostrum commit embezzlement, they mainly commit corruption focusing on military supplies.

For example, they fill wheat sacks that should be stored in food warehouses with sand, then steal the wheat and embezzle it.

For example, budget is taken under the pretext of purchasing consumables for soldiers, and soldiers are made to use existing goods with a ‘soldier spirit’.

For example, like I’m trying to do now, only use some of the given materials and steal the rest.

Of course, externally it can be called ‘strategic operation’.

The royal capital will send rebar as the minimum amount required, but what if the actual amount required is much less than that?

Return the remaining surplus?

It would be foolish to put it on a carriage and send it to the royal capital.

Since Gibraltar is the front line fighting the empire, it is extremely reasonable and efficient to repurpose surplus resources on the front line.

“As expected, father doesn’t know much about this.”

My father is a very honest person in this regard.

And since such people have inherited the earldom from generation to generation, there are many people who work within the family and have an incorruptible nature.

Those who want to commit corruption do not want to come to Gibraltar in the first place.

Even if you try to bribe, it doesn’t work, and Gibraltar refuses to entertain you.

Until now.

“There’s no need to act like I’m being corrupted by my father. I can just do it myself.”

Corruption, embezzlement, extortion, smuggling, tax evasion, etc.

All actions that have not been done in Gibraltar will now be done through me, Gray.

-Unlike his honest father, Gray Gibraltar was not an ordinary asshole.

Those who came after hearing the rumor will one by one seep into the shadows surrounding me.

My surroundings will be full of scammers, corruption experts, embezzlers, and traitors.

“Gray, a traitor and traitor who would sell his country. Rewriting the history of Gibraltar. Good.”

So this is preparation to welcome them.

“Later, when everything is over, you can just line them up and shoot them with one shot.”

I held the practice wooden sword like a musket and aimed it into the air.

“Ta-ang.”

If there are no teeth, use the gums.

Although it is only a wooden sword, the posture is vaguely similar.

I wondered if I could possibly receive the ‘Imperial Weapons’ that my father kept in his study, but unfortunately, I failed.

“Write….”

Although you are familiar with using firearms, your skills will get rusty if you do not use them often.

‘You have to shoot it in person to get a feel for it.’

I know how to operate my head, but my hand muscles are still awkward.

“…….”

Hold the handle of the wooden sword, held like a musket, with both hands.

“Ha.”

Immediately, the posture appears.

It is a more familiar posture than a firearm, and the sword power that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Gibraltar family immediately pops out.

Boo-woong.

Lightly work the sword down.

Before the regression, the trajectory that was swung close to 10,000 times a day unfolds in front of you.

“…….”

Once is enough.

This body has never held a sword before, and it must be trained through much effort in the future.

To become strong like my father.

It would be difficult to achieve my father’s level of power with a sword, but I also need to become just as strong.

‘Because there is an emperor.’

No one knows.

The current crown prince, the strength of that monster who has not yet ascended to the throne.

‘The strongest on the continent.’

All the masters of the kingdom except his father were killed by the emperor.

Luckily, it was still 10 years before the war.

‘The current imperial army is weak, but the imperial army 10 years from now will be strong.’

The empire had stockpiled national power for decades to rule the kingdom.

‘To cross the Gibraltar Gorge, which has never been crossed before.’

After realizing that he could not catch up with Nostrum, the country of knights, through chivalry, he immediately attempted to make up for the gap in national power by researching magic engineering.

Freshly conscripted soldiers were made to hold muskets that shoot magic missiles and shoot them.

Slightly more experienced soldiers were taught ‘imperial bayonet techniques’ by inserting a blade into the end of their muskets.

Even within the empire, talented people were nurtured in earnest at military academies and engaged in daily battles with the kingdom’s knights.

“…….”

It’s only me in the room.

Even if you practice swordsmanship with a wooden sword here, no one will notice.

The only possible father is….

“…….”

Close your eyes and focus all your attention on hearing.

To check whether it is the right time for me to check martial arts –

Creak.

“…Huh, that’s a relief.”

It looks like he’s busy spending time with his mother right now.

‘It’s so funny that we only practice this on nights when couples are together.’

I don’t know anything else, but I don’t want this to be discovered.

Boo-eu-ung!

Grip the sword lightly, pull it out of the scabbard on your waist, and swing it wide.

A cleaner trajectory than the traces of previous swings.

Although it is not visible in reality, the image of the line curved like a crescent moon flashes clearly to the eye.

“Ha.”

My fingers are numb.

I only swung it once, but my hand muscles are already screaming.

“Not only should I embezzle, but I should also train hard.”

There is a lot of time.

10 Years can certainly be said to be a short time, but everything will change depending on how you compress and use that time.

“Then let’s start acting in earnest.”

To become the king of traitors, you must first create an image.

“There is time until the rebar arrives from Morgania.”

* * *

Morning, meal time when the family gathers together.

As usual, my father and mother ate while wearing long clothes despite the hot weather, and my two younger brothers looked at each other and nibbled on bread.

Rattling.

A quiet table filled with only the sound of dishes being moved, and not even the sound of food being chewed.

“Father.”

When I open my mouth, the whole family flinches.

I don’t know about other people, but the reason my father does that is probably because he’s nervous about what he’s going to say again.

“I need a tutor.”

“…Okay. That’s fortunate.”

“Yes?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

The father exchanges glances with the mother and clears his throat.

‘Just by looking at it, you went through a difficult time talking about me after completing your official duties.’

We must have had a serious discussion about how to treat people in a country that suddenly changed overnight.

-Madam. Even though Gray has changed, he has changed so much.

-Yes. Really, I became an old man overnight.

A 10-year-old child who suddenly seems to have gone through puberty and become an adult.

The common denominator is the same, and each of them would have had an in-depth conversation as noble parents, hiding the elements of ‘partner in rebellion’ and ‘secret oath’.

“A tutor. That’s good. Your younger siblings are also learning right now.”

So, you may be relieved that I mentioned a tutor, an element that noble parents can generally prepare for.

“Do you want to take classes together?”

The mother asks in a secretly expectant voice.

After all, home education is the mother’s domain.

“I will talk to Lady Myrddin. She can prepare the level of trouble for you.”

Perhaps she wants me to take classes with her younger siblings and become friends with them again, but-

“I want to learn martial arts.”

In that case, she would have called her mother from the first time.

“Martial arts?”

“Yes. If possible, I would like to learn from a ‘master’ level person. Other than my father.”

“……Hmm.”

A bold and arrogant statement.

At the same time, it is a story that has little possibility of being realized.

“Are you suggesting that we invite the Archduke of Morgania?”

“No. It is unlikely that he will come.”

“Then?”

“Do you really have to be the master of the kingdom?”

I flinch.

The mother becomes contemplative, and the father closes his eyes.

‘Your feelings must be complicated.’

You may have noticed that this is ‘Imperial Bird Gray’, a paving stone for treason, but this is something that may secretly hurt your pride.

“I will teach you myself.”

“I don’t like it.”

“…….”

“I saw my father teaching knights. That’s violence.”

“Practical sparring is true training-“

“Yes. Even when lions catch rabbits, they do their best. That’s why I don’t like them.”

I have already received countless lessons from my father.

“Rest assured, all of this is for the future 10 years from now.”

“…….”

You probably know.

However, permission is rarely given.

In the Gibraltar family, the relationship between father and son has been a priestly relationship for generations.

Future.

My father was my teacher.

-Raise your sword. Make full use of the blood of Gibraltar that you inherited from me. Son.

And as my father taught me, he finally began to recognize me as the ‘son of Crimson Gibraltar’ rather than the ‘son of Shalott’.

The conversation between the sword is virtually all of the conversation between the father and son.

This life is made up of treason and treason, so I don’t want to have any more conversations between swords.

To be honest, I don’t want to be beaten in the name of swordsmanship training.

Because my body is precious.

“It’s a shame. I prepared a wooden sword after a long time.”

The sight of my father clicking his tongue and regaining his appetite gives me goosebumps.

The disappointment is so deep that it looks like they will try to persuade him again later, even if he leaves right now.

If you want to become a father who teaches swordsmanship to your child.

“If you want to teach swordsmanship yourself, how about Noir?”

“Hyung?!”

Noir, who had been quietly holding his breath, shouted in surprise.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden…?!”

“Noir is now 7 years old. Even if it’s too early to pick up a sword, it’s perfect for preparation.”

“Hmm….”

The father closes his eyes.

“I see. Noir.”

“Yes, yes!”

“After the meal, follow me to the training hall.”

“……Yes?”

“And Gray.”

My father looked at me with big eyes and grabbed the knife.

“You should find the martial arts teacher you want on your own. I will at least write you a letter.”

Perhaps it was a small revenge against me, but it was something I had hoped for.

“Yes, father.”

Because there is someone already thinking about it.

“Does nationality matter?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m hiring them as tutors, so their nationality and social status don’t matter.”

Is it because I decided to rebel?

Or are they just wondering, ‘How can I summon such an amazing master?’

‘It’s scratched.’

Either way, I won.

“Noir.”

“Uh, uh….”

“You must be more talented with the sword than me. You can definitely follow in your father’s footsteps and become a sword master.”

“Huh…?”

I smiled brightly at Noir.

“Stay diligent in learning the sword, okay?”

“Ah….”

Noir Gibraltar.

My younger brother, who is three years older than me, and Gibraltar’s second son.

“Ah, uh, yes…! I’ll work hard…!”

A person who has become a Sword Master through the blood of Gibraltar.

Although his ending was a mess, he is clearly a human being with the talent of a master.

“I hope you enjoy your time with your father.”

To become a true traitor.

“It might be a bit difficult.”

It is a law that even one’s family must be sold.

That day.

Afternoon.

At the training ground, a seven-year-old child was seen running until his eyes went blank, but since it wasn’t me, it wasn’t a big problem.

* * *

The Sword Master is a war weapon in human form.

“Sir Robert. How much would a sword master be likened to a soldier?”

“Are you giving a history quiz?”

Sir Robert, who received my call, taps his chest as if asking what should be obvious.

“Of course, it’s the same as 10,000 elite soldiers!”

“10,000 People?”

“Yes, of course. Doesn’t history prove it?”

Sir Robert tapped the seal of Gibraltar on his uniform.

“200 Years ago, the Margrave of Gibraltar, Cadian, fought alone with 10,000 imperial troops.”

“That’s right.”

1 Sword Master = 10,000 Imperial troops.

This is the official figure recorded in history books.

As always, the Empire sent tens of thousands of soldiers to cross the canyon, and 10,000 people were killed by the Earl of Gibraltar at the time.

It is not a casualty.

It is a ‘dead’ sleep.

“Then do you think it is right to raise one knight to increase the national power, or do you think it is right to raise the power of each soldier like the empire?”

“Hmm… If you can only raise one master, isn’t the master much more profitable in the end?”

As Robert said.

“As they say, the magical engineering being developed by the Empire could someday put an end to the era of swords and spears. But not now.”

“Yes. I think so too. At least…300 Years will have to pass.”

No matter how easy it is to turn a magic rifle into a soldier.

“Right now, I can easily cut down 100 magic bullets. If I am prepared to die, I can take 200, or even 500, to the afterlife with me.”

“The units are jumping around. That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”

“That means I have the same skills. hahahahaha.”

In the end, if you only fire magic missiles, they will all be annihilated by knights who know how to use aurors, let alone sword masters.

“Yes. If you invest about 20 years to raise one master, that will be your armory’s strength.”

“Yes. So now the Count is also looking at Master Noir…”

“If you learn like that and become a master, it won’t work.”

“Uh, um….”

Sir Robert’s eyes are shaking.

“Sir.”

“Yes, master.”

“Even if I die and wake up, I won’t be a sword master.”

“…….”

‘Sword’ Master.

“Young master…. Well, it’s okay! I will take good care of you!”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know what will happen later, but no matter what his talent, the eldest son is a master!”

“No, that-“

….

…Oh.

“Sir Robert.”

“Yes, master!”

“Thanks to you, I thought of something fun.”

“…Yes?”

“Yes. If there is light, there is darkness.”

Under the scorching sun of the training ground, Noir is stretched out in a large shape.

The father approached Noir and forced Noir to stand up and hold his sword.

“Wow. Really, I’m glad I have a talented younger brother. hehehehe.”

I am truly fortunate to have someone who will become my father’s disciple instead of me.