Illusion Sword Master

＜ Inspector, Use Your Magic Sword (1) ﹥

“The Orcs are coming. With only the 13th Division’s personnel, it’s difficult to maintain the front line. The situation is desperate for the mage squad’s support.”

I shouted towards the communication device.

The remnants of anxiety on Sera’s face disappeared instantly. She spoke in a businesslike tone.

[We didn’t need to discuss this, but I’ll take a part of the Magic Squad to the 13th Battalion’s Great Magic Circle.]

The Great Magic Circle was a facility where numerous magicians connected their mana, serving as a launchpad for magic missiles in this world.

The 13th Battalion’s role was to bind enemies here until the magicians could launch their attacks.

It was a punishment battalion, where the risk of being exposed to bombardment was the reason for its existence.

But, it was Sera, not the Duke, who was commanding the magicians… The story was becoming less believable.

“What about Duke Zephyr?”

[My father will head to the main base.]

Sera’s face darkened at the mention of her father.

I couldn’t afford to upset her in a situation where my life was at stake, so I immediately took a submissive stance.

“Please hurry as much as possible.”

[Of course, I’ll do my best. However, it’ll take at least six hours to arrive and cast the magic.]

Six hours. Though it wasn’t a long time, it was almost impossible to hold out in a disadvantaged situation.

“Can’t you come any faster?”

[Is this a negotiable issue? I’ve already minimized the time to six hours.]

My vague hope was firmly denied.

[For precise bombardment, you need to set the coordinates on your side. Do you remember the Zephyr family’s magic I taught you? When we’re ready, use that as a signal.]

Sera had learned some of the Zephyr family’s lightning magic. I nodded.

[Anyway, time is of the essence, so I’ll depart immediately.]

“Yes, please hurry.”

Sera spoke in a small voice, pausing for a moment.

[…Survive, no matter what. I’ll be there soon.]

Sera disappeared from the communication device.

However, the communication didn’t end there.

Sera’s father, Duke Zephyr, the commander of the Magic Squad, appeared in front of the communication device.

[I know the situation is urgent, but I have something to say. Take a look around and stay for a moment.]

You can do it later if you know it’s urgent. What’s the point of saying something when you’re not even coming directly?

Of course, I didn’t express this thought out loud and instead gave orders to Belam and Yelina, who were with me in the communication room.

“Gather the unit members.”

“Yes!”

I then looked at Ollek, my adjutant. He was ready to draw his sword at any moment, his hand on the hilt.

His fearless and unwavering demeanor in the face of war was truly admirable.

‘If only his swordsmanship was half as good as his spirit…’

I ordered him to switch equipment.

“Ollek, leave that and find a large shield or something.”

“What? You want me to leave my sword behind and go into battle…? No, I’ll follow your orders.”

Ollek seemed to have doubts, but he had promised not to question my judgment, so he soon carried out my orders.

Once I was alone, the Duke clicked his tongue.

[Tsk. You’re always looking for an easy way out. I told you to build your reputation and prove yourself to get Sera, but you’re still not getting it.]

No. I’m not looking for an easy way out; danger is finding me.

The parties involved and the duke had their own misunderstandings, but I didn’t have any ambition to obtain Sera from the start.

My ideal type is an ordinary woman who doesn’t have a terrifying father obsessed with power.

I had plenty of arguments to refute, but what could I do in this situation?

I nodded in agreement with the duke’s words, having no choice.

[You’re not investing in me to make me a hero who dies in battle, but to have me survive and be of help to the Zefer family. Remember that.]

The Duke of Zefer, who was trying to use me as a political asset, seemed discontent with my attitude of devoting myself to the empire with my life on the line.

This was also a misunderstanding, but what could I do?

“Yes, I’ll remember.”

[Let’s just leave it at that for now. The role of the magic squad is to provide rear support. Don’t put Sera in danger by being too reckless.]

— Click.

The communication ended with the father’s fierce threats.

#

The 13th Regiment was a small fortress built on a mountain pass leading to the main camp of the 6th Army Corps. Although it had a geographical advantage, it was too weak to withstand a large army.

The orc army, which was targeting this place, was getting closer, their outline becoming clearer.

“Damn it.”

What’s more, these orcs were clearly elites among their kind, known for being born warriors.

Some of them were even wearing armor, unlike the ones who would just charge in naked.

And there were orc cavalrymen riding boar-like creatures, a type of soldier I had never seen during my time in the imperial army.

The black-robed figures, who had revealed themselves with the king’s appearance, were the orc dark mages.

But what was most despairing was the giant orc standing in the middle of their formation.

A monster wearing a necklace made of human skulls, holding a massive hand axe in each hand.

“That bastard, is he still alive?”

I knew him. He was a being who had survived for over a decade, deeply etched in the memories of the western front as a nightmare.

He had a strange habit of holding back his strength until our knights appeared, and then he would charge and slaughter them.

“Bushaku, the skull collector!”

The skulls around his neck were those of the knights he had killed, which was why the soldiers on the western front called him that.

“Damn it. I miss Grola.”

He was a level higher than Grola, whom I had taken down with Troyka during my student days.

I looked down at the approximately 800 soldiers lined up below me, fragile beings made of bones, flesh, and a little muscle.

We still had five hours and fifty minutes until the Zefer family’s firepower support arrived.

“Damn it. Can we hold out for just an hour?”

I couldn’t tell them to retreat.

Abandoning one’s post and fleeing was a serious crime punishable by law, regardless of status. Not even the inspector’s influence or the backing of the three emperors could resolve this issue.

Instead, I had to encourage them to march towards death.

“Just a moment. There’s still hope.”

I suddenly had that thought.

“What if they were to start a riot again?”

Most of the soldiers were people who had been dragged here against their will and mistreated by their commanders, hadn’t they already turned against their leaders and started a riot?

The independent regiment commanders who should have taken control were just a bunch of fools who only watched and did nothing.

“If I were to die like this, I’d definitely cause another riot.

The soldiers have already lost trust in the command and refuse to fight. What can I do?

Blame everything on the dead commander. That’s it.

‘It’s a small problem, Zefer will take care of it.’

Even Zefer said so. I have a greater purpose than dying here.

A faint glimmer of hope arose.

However, that expectation was crushed before it could even sprout.

‘For the glory of the Empire! Inspector! 207 elite soldiers, including Yelina, request to be placed at the forefront!’

Yelina shouted with a stern face. Originally, they should be monitoring other soldiers, but they’re asking to be at the forefront.

‘…What’s the reason?’

I tried not to show a surprised expression and asked again.

‘Although it was the previous commander’s order, we couldn’t raise any objections and were unfairly treated like the Empire’s sons.’

I looked at the soldiers standing behind Yelina. This situation wasn’t just her unilateral decision, but the common thought of the soldiers, who also nodded with stern faces.

‘Inspector, you showed us the way. The path to rebirth as Imperial soldiers! We’ll atone for our sins with our own blood!’

‘…Alright. I permit it.’

As I accepted, a cheer erupted from among the elite soldiers.

I couldn’t understand why they were so enthusiastic about being the first to die.

‘Haha, it seems like we have no choice but to yield the forefront to the elite soldiers.’

Olek, carrying a large shield, walked towards me with a hearty laugh.

I turned my gaze to Belram. I secretly hoped he would use his charisma to rouse the soldiers again.

Belram, noticing my gaze, nodded and turned around. His nod hinted at something, and I felt a sense of unease.

‘You stupid fools! What are you waiting for? Are you going to let those elite soldiers take the forefront?’

Belram’s sharp voice echoed loudly.

No, why was the story going like this?

‘It can’t be!’

‘This damn 13th Battalion, who’s to thank for not being destroyed yet? Let’s show them!’

‘Anyway, it’s a worthless life. Let’s die with honor!’

They were actually burning with passion.

‘Why is that? You guys weren’t like that. You were the problem children who caused a riot.’

As Belram continued to speak, I understood the reason.

‘Inspector, you pardoned us, who should have died for our crimes! You killed the commander and gave us freedom! That’s not all? You promised to use us, who were already discarded, with value!’

The lip service I received until I left was excessively exaggerated.

‘We’re willing to die as rebels, but it’s better to die as Imperial soldiers with Inspector! Who knows, we might even get a reward.’

‘Yes! Even if the Emperor doesn’t know, we’ll risk our lives for Inspector!’

‘Inspector is a hero who defeated the Orc tribe’s leader and killed 1,000 Orcs! If we fight together, we can win!’

Similarly, the soldiers became fanatical followers due to my excessively exaggerated achievements, chanting my name.

‘Ed-dan! Ed-dan!’

The voices of hundreds of soldiers, willing to risk their lives for me, pierced my conscience like a dagger.

‘Ed-dan! Ed-dan! Ed-dan!'”

My heart was racing and my temples were throbbing.

“Hmm, it’s come to this again.”

People learn through experience.

I regained my composure faster than before.

If you can’t avoid it, might as well enjoy it.

“You must not forget that the glory you have earned here is not to atone for unpunished crimes, but to fight for the Empire’s honor!”

I spat out those words, and with a flourish, I pulled out Black Thunder and held it high.

“Waah─!”

“E─dan! E─dan! E─dan!”

“The Hero is fighting alongside us!!”

Hmm, not a single one of them was enjoyable.

#

Two hours into the battle, the orc army had successfully scaled the not-so-high walls of the 13th division’s fortress.

Yellina, who had cut off an orc’s arm as it tried to climb the wall, quickly surveyed her surroundings.

Before she knew it, more than five orcs had surrounded her.

“For the Empire…”

Yellina muttered to herself, gripping her sword tightly. Her blade was smeared with aura.

“I may not have received a noble title due to my family’s shame, but I’m a knight. I can handle this much.”

She encouraged herself, then swung her sword with her tired body.

Every time she swung her sword, she precisely cut down her enemies, and the five orcs surrounding her soon lay beheaded and dismembered.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

After momentarily regaining her composure, Yellina surveyed her surroundings.

Despite her efforts, the battle situation was rapidly deteriorating.

The problem was the boar-like monsters and the orc black mages riding on them. They were the ones causing trouble.

Whenever they chanted spells and swung their hands, crimson flames would erupt, burning the soldiers.

“I need to take them out first.”

Yellina leapt off the wall, swinging her sword with all her might. The black mage, who had let his guard down, hastily raised a defense shield, but her aura reached his neck first.

─Thud!

It was done.

Yellina wore a triumphant smile as she climbed onto the monster’s back. She was about to stab its neck, but the monster’s struggles caused her to lose her balance and fall to the ground.

The monster bared its fangs at her, and her exhausted body couldn’t move quickly enough.

“Is this the end?”

It was a miserable life.

Because of her father’s shame, she had to give up on her dream of becoming a knight, and afterwards, she had to endure humiliation in the army to reclaim what she had lost.

“But at least I’ll die with honor.”

The corrupt 13th division, changed overnight by the heroic Inspector Eдан.

He would surely prove that she had fought with honor.

This was enough. Yellina closed her eyes, ready to accept her own demise.

Whirr.

“Ughhh!”

The arrow shot with intense energy pierced the demon’s eyes.

“Commander! Get up!”

As the sweet voice called out to her, Yelrina regained her senses and managed to stand up again.

“Belram?”

Whoosh. Belram jumped onto the boar’s back with an elf’s agile movements, shooting an arrow at the last remaining demon’s eye.

“Ughhh!”

As Belram flew backwards, doing a flip in mid-air, and landed beside Yelrina, the demon thrashed about, having lost its sight.

“There’s no need to thank me. Didn’t the inspector say to forget the past and get along?”

Belram said, scratching his cheek with a sheepish expression.

“No, we should thank you. You’ve done us a huge favor.”

Yelrina smiled wryly.

“Whether it’s gratitude or apology, we’ll do it many times over if we survive.”

“···. That’s going to be tough.”

Belram looked around and said.

“That’s right.”

Yelrina also nodded in agreement.

Before they knew it, dozens of orcs had surrounded them.

“Belram, I’ll try to open up a path for retreat. Take this chance to escape.”

Even as she said it, she couldn’t guarantee the success of this plan. Now, she couldn’t even wield her sword without getting tired.

‘I have to do it anyway.’

To save her comrade, Yelrina gripped her sword tightly once more.

She hoped that her lifelong training in swordsmanship would grant her a brief miracle.

“There’s no need for that.”

“Don’t give up, Belram. I’ll somehow…”

“No, it’s not that. Look over there.”

Belram pointed to the sky with an expression that was hard to believe was that of a soldier surrounded by enemies.

Yelrina’s gaze reflexively followed Belram’s finger.

“Inspector…?”

A black greatsword floated in the air, with the western front’s hero standing proudly on top of it, befitting his reputation.

“Sorry I’m late. The other side of the wall was also in a tough spot. It’s a pity I only have one body.”

─ Whoosh!

With a light gesture from Ethan, the four swords with a will of their own flew freely, piercing the orcs.

The massacre had begun.

Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, and the orcs let out screams that sounded like clashing metal.

‘···It’s beautiful.’

Yelrina watched in a daze, knowing it was wrong to think so, but unable to help it.

The four swords moved with precision, targeting only the vital spots, as if they had a mind of their own.

To her eyes, which had once dreamed of being a knight and loved swords, this was like a noble dance performed by four skilled knights.

＜ Inspector’s Swordsmanship (1) ﹥ End