Illusion Sword Master

＜ The Life of a War Hero (1) ﹥

Sera Zephyr was in a state of confusion.

The practical training in a safe environment had suddenly turned into real combat due to the Orcs’ surprise attack.

It was an intense battle in a harsh environment she had never experienced before.

The Orcs, who had their limbs cut off, continued to charge forward with blind ferocity.

What’s more, the magic didn’t work properly against the tribal-level Orc, Grola.

For Sera, who always thought she was the best, the feeling of powerlessness at that time was hard to swallow.

“There’s no time to be discouraged.”

Sera reminded herself of who she was.

She was the daughter of the great Zephyr Duke and a magical prodigy renowned throughout the empire.

She could shake off fear with ease.

The fear of being eliminated was not a subject to be feared, but a means to gain honor and prestige.

Magic would also take a leap forward with this incident as a catalyst. At the moment when life and death hung in the balance, she had found the key to take her magic to the next level.

If she thought about it calmly, it was ultimately a problem that could be solved.

But no matter how hard she thought, the great confusion in her mind remained, refusing to clear up.

‘Ethan.’

Sera gazed at the man lying on the bed with complex emotions.

The man who had been an eyesore, hindering her plans to dominate the Magic Department and even snatching away Roem and Mencas, her targets for recruitment.

Ethan had shown stronger impressions and skills than her, reducing her influence.

He had even dragged the Third Prince into the factional politics, leaving a warning.

By using Roem as a pawn, he had provoked her and even taken the position of chairman of the Magic Research Association.

─ “You’re at your limit, so run away quickly!”

And yet, he had risked his life to protect her.

─ “If you die, my life will be meaningless too!”

Leaving behind a romantic phrase that would only be found in a clichéd novel.

“It’s definitely not a lie.”

As the daughter of a prestigious family, Sera had been involved in numerous political situations from a young age. She believed in her own judgment.

“In fact, I think I’m quite charming. There’s no lack of courage to risk my life.”

Family background, talent, appearance, personality – she gave herself the highest score in every aspect that people used to judge others.

“But, it’s too unexpected.”

Looking back, Ethan hadn’t been entirely bad. He had agreed with her words and even subtly taken her side when Roem and Mencas had clashed.

If he had revealed such feelings earlier, she wouldn’t have made a big deal out of it.

“Do you dare to aim for me? Wake up from your dream.”

With these words, she could have pierced his heart and slept with a triumphant smile.

But his confession, which had risked his life, had shaken her heart, which had been living a luxurious but dry life.

It was an unprecedented confusion that had filled her life, which had been full of confidence.

“What is this?”

Sera wished the man lying in front of her would get up soon.

There was no one else who could answer her questions but him.

#

As people live through a rough life, they get used to a few things.

“Were am I?”

Losing one’s mind and seeing an unfamiliar ceiling.

“I must have defeated Grola… and the Zephyr Duke’s support troops had arrived.”

Trying to revive memories by piecing together a complicated mind.

“My body is completely exhausted. But I can still move.”

Confirming that one’s muscles, which had screamed in agony, were still functioning.

“Phew… I thought I was really going to die this time.”

I had survived the series of events, and I felt relieved.

I then looked around at my surroundings.

I was lying on an excessively comfortable bed that didn’t match the temporary tent I was in.

Next to me, Seraphina Zephyr was sitting in a chair, dozing off.

“This is unexpected.”

I never thought she would be keeping watch by my side.

“Hey, Seraphina?”

“Hmm?”

Her lazy eyes suddenly widened as she opened them.

“Ah! Ethan!”

She let out a loud cry, her voice cracking as she spoke. She seemed embarrassed by her reaction and cleared her throat to continue.

“Hmm. You’re awake. How’s your body?”

“Ah… Yeah. I can feel my limbs.”

“Thank goodness… Hmm. Of course, that’s to be expected. We used a few doses of the Zephyr family’s medicine to treat you.”

“I feel surprisingly fine, considering I almost died. But what about Roem and Mencas?”

I asked, trying to gauge her mood. There were many things I needed to confirm.

“Roem is injured, and Mencas is recovering from the side effects of the Mana Overuse. Don’t worry, they’re both fine. As for the other students…”

Seraphina’s expression darkened.

“When the incident occurred, the 6th Corps Commander personally rescued the students, so most of them survived. However, seven students were caught in the Umbra attack and died.”

It was as I had expected. The sudden emergency situation was like an orc’s surprise attack. It was impossible for everyone to return unscathed.

In fact, it was lucky that only seven students died. But to the young lady who was experiencing war for the first time, the death of her friends was a heavy burden.

“What about the current situation?”

The story that came out of Seraphina’s mouth was even more dismal than the deaths of my colleagues.

The Zephyr family’s reinforcements, which had saved the 7th Corps, immediately headed towards Umbra and managed to drive the orcs back.

However, this was only a half-victory.

The western front, which had been holding off the orcs until now, had collapsed. The defense system of Umbra, the heart of the 6th Corps, had been paralyzed.

Currently, the surrounding corps and the Zephyr family’s soldiers were temporarily joining forces to defend, and the 6th Corps was giving up its previous front lines to regroup.

“The orcs who wield the power of the devil. And the king who appeared to them.”

The change that had occurred in the orcs seemed even more serious than I had feared.

It was not good for my mental health to hear such news after almost dying. I naturally changed the subject.

“Are you okay, Seraphina?”

“I’m fine. I’m a Zephyr noble. This level of battle is nothing to me. Well…”

She spoke naturally, as if she had been programmed to do so, but suddenly trailed off.

“Thanks… I’m grateful.”

Then she bowed her head deeply. It was difficult for her, with her strong pride, to express gratitude to someone she had kept at a distance.

“It was worth the trouble.”

This was a good sign.

It meant Seraphina recognized me as the one who had saved her life.

This was my chance.

I could use Seraphina’s connection to the Zephyr Duke and the Crown Prince to get a free pass to the paradise route.

“Thanks to you, I almost died, so send me to the rear lines quickly! I don’t want to stay on the battlefield for even one more day!”

Those words stuck in my throat, but I decided to create a good atmosphere instead of scoring points with a hasty remark.

“No, I just did what I had to do as a colleague. I’m glad Serah is safe.”

“Liar. You didn’t do it as a colleague, but for some other reason, didn’t you?”

Huh? Has she already caught on?

“What do you mean by that?”

“Answer my question first. I’ve been waiting for a while to hear your response.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Ugh… Are you really going to pretend you don’t know? You’re the one who said it yourself! If I die, it’s meaningless for you to live!”

Ah, that.

It’s like, if you die, will the Duke of Zefer take it lying down?

But Serah’s reaction was unusual.

Her face turned red as she became flustered.

‘What kind of misunderstanding has this crazy woman gotten herself into now?’

My survival sensor refused to acknowledge the truth. I didn’t know what it was, but she seemed to have realized her mistake, and I had no idea what kind of backlash would follow.

“Heh, it’s fine. Anyway, you mentioned earlier that you had something to ask me? Go ahead and say it. As someone who owes you their life, I’ll listen as much as I can.”

Serah spoke in a sarcastic tone, as if she felt I was still pretending not to know.

The process might have been twisted, but we finally got to the main point. The atmosphere had become ripe enough for me to bring up the story I’d been wanting to tell.

“That… I was wondering if you could put in a good word for me with Father and the Crown Prince…”

“With Father and the Crown Prince? What should I tell them?”

“It’s just that…”

I hate war.

Please send me to the rear lines.

I was about to reveal my long-held, fervent desire.

“There’s no need for that.”

Someone else’s low, husky voice replied instead of Serah.

“…”

Someone had entered through the open door.

“I’ll hear it directly.”

At a glance, he looked similar to Serah, but exuded a much more intimidating aura.

“Ah, Father?”

It was Serah’s father, the Duke of Zefer.

“Serah, I’d like to have a conversation with this friend for a bit. Could you please step aside?”

“Yes? But…”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Understood…”

Even the mighty Serah was like a mouse in front of her father, the Duke of Zefer.

She couldn’t argue anymore and glanced back and forth between me and the Duke before leaving with a troubled expression.

We were left alone with the Duke of Zefer.

“Kuh… Glory to the Empire!”

I belatedly came to my senses and tried to salute, but my entire body screamed in protest.

“Just lie down. I don’t have any intention of intimidating you.”

Duke Zephir replied expressionlessly.

It was a strange situation, lying on the bed while facing the powerful noble next to the royal family.

“I heard you risked your life to save my daughter. That’s also against the demon’s authority.”

Duke Zephir looked at me as if analyzing me, his eyes piercing.

“No. I just did what needed to be done.”

“Don’t give me a trite response. You’re not going to fool me with a cliché.”

Duke Zephir was more cunning than I thought.

I could sense he was a sociopathic monster who didn’t believe in humans, and if I said something wrong, I wouldn’t even be able to save my own life.

“In fact, I have something I’d like to request.”

“As expected.”

Duke Zephir remained calm, his demeanor giving off an oppressive feeling, as if he had already seen through me.

“I’ve been investigating you since you stood out among Sera’s peers. I thought you were just a loyal servant of the Three Emperors, but it seems your ambition is greater than I thought.”

So, he had already figured it out.

It wasn’t a grand ambition, but in this world, wanting to live a safe life was a small ambition.

“You’re a young hero who has already gained fame before graduation. Just being under my wing would give you value.”

The duke sent a positive signal.

I swallowed my dry saliva, waiting for his next words.

“But you’re still young. You overestimate yourself. You think you can take my daughter with just that much?”

“What?”

“If you wanted to become a vassal of the Zephir family, I would have welcomed you. But if you want to take my daughter and become family, that’s a different story. My daughter’s worth is not something you can afford right now.”

Why was the conversation flowing like this?

“Go, Duke. It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I can explain…”

“Misunderstanding…”

The duke, who had been thinking with his arms crossed, suddenly glared at me with eyes full of anger.

“Do I look like someone who would do that?”

I recalled the background information on Duke Zephir’s character.

He was a symbol of ambition who had spent his life chasing power, a capable person who had achieved his goals and won every competition.

However, there was one flaw in such a superior figure.

Their self-confidence was too strong.

They always thought they were the smartest and most capable, so they wouldn’t even consider the possibility that they might be wrong.

Here, saying “You’re misunderstanding. Please send a servant to the back room” would be pointless.

The duke snapped his fingers and continued speaking.

“I understand. Sera is a perfect child who resembles both me and my wife. Of course, I would risk my life to protect her and make her my reason for living. However, compared to those who have promised to marry into a noble family with a fertile land, you’re still lacking.”

I didn’t know what calculation he had just finished, but the duke, who had been intimidating me, spoke in a softer tone, as if comforting me.

“Luckily, you have potential. Your skills and position as the Three Emperors’ close aide are valuable assets. Become a powerful figure who can unite the neutral nobles and stand before me again. Then, I’ll consider it positively.”

And this ambitious symbol, who had mistakenly thought I was a candidate for his son-in-law, was trying to use my feelings (or misunderstanding) towards Sera as a political asset.

“If you lay a hand on my precious daughter, you’ll turn the Zephir family into your enemy.”

I didn’t know if this person was a sociopath or a monster, but either way, they were infuriating in this situation.

“Regardless of that, I don’t think of being stingy to the capable young man who helped my daughter. The Duke of Zephyr precisely calculated the favor and grudge. It’s okay to expect a great reward.”

“Ah… Yes, thank you.”

The Duke of Zephyr, having finished his words, casually left his seat.

I was left alone, feeling helpless and murmuring to myself.

“This can’t be real.”

I didn’t know what he would give me, but it wouldn’t lead to a peaceful life.

＜ The Life of a War Hero (1) ﹥ End