Illusion Sword Master

＜ Imperial Elite Inspection Special Forces (1) ﹥

After the battle with the mage Maktobre, I had to rest for a month due to my injuries.

“It seems like I spend more time recovering from injuries than doing actual work.”

My body, which had been through a lot, had adapted to recovering from near-death states, and I was almost fully recovered without any aftereffects.

The news that I had achieved a great feat and got severely injured in the process was a great opportunity for the high-ranking officials to show off.

The Crown Prince Benedict, Duke Zefer, the Third Prince Dietrich, Commander Krenek… Under their prestigious names, all sorts of luxurious and valuable items flooded my quarters.

“What do these people want from me?”

I felt more burdened than grateful.

Their favors were not “Take a break and rest!” but “Get well soon and get back to work!”

As I processed the backlog of documents, I confirmed that I was alone and took out a gray gemstone from my pocket.

It was a strange item that had been mounted on Maktobre’s staff.

“I’m sure it absorbed magic.”

I recalled the scene where the Okra black mages’ vitality was converted into the devil’s crimson magic and absorbed into the gemstone.

The artifact that Maktobre had risked his life to create, containing the devil’s power.

The gemstone in my hand was likely a crucial material for the ritual.

“What should I do with this?”

Although it was used in a black magic ritual, if utilized properly, it could become a useful tool against black mages.

“I’ll keep it for now. When I return to the capital, I’ll investigate what it is, and if it’s useless, I’ll dispose of it then.”

I’ll take whatever I can use.

It was a resolve to survive.

“Inspector Olek reporting. May I enter?”

“Come in.”

I heard Olek’s voice from outside the door and put the gemstone back in my pocket.

“Glory to the Empire! Good morning, Inspector!”

“No, Olek. It’s still early morning. The sun hasn’t risen yet.”

“Ah! Good morning, Inspector! I’ve come to brief you on today’s schedule. First, you have a meeting with the 6th Army Commander, followed by…”

The manager listed out the tasks I had to do.

Even if I started now, it was a tight schedule that would be difficult to finish before the sun sets.

“Ugh.”

I died and came back to life, only to be faced with another series of tasks.

“Alright. Let’s get started.”

I reluctantly accepted it. There was no point in delaying it, anyway.

The great master, Maktobre, had reported to the Three Princes about the existence of a huge dark force, and as soon as my work here was done, I would receive an order to return to the capital.

I wanted to leave the battlefield quickly and take a break.

#

Inside the personal quarters of the 6th Army Commander, Krenek.

“Edan!”

The commander opened his arms wide to welcome me.

“Come on in. Have you eaten? Considering the time, you must be hungry. How about we have a meal together first?”

“I coincidentally just finished eating. Thank you for your concern, but we can get straight to business.”

In reality, I was starving, but I firmly declined.

This guy must have something to say, and I knew what it was.

He would ask me to stay in the western front and delay my return to the capital.

“What a joke. I’m not even part of this team, and I caught two named Orcs for you. You should be grateful.”

It seemed like he was thinking of sucking me dry, but I wouldn’t fall for it this time.

“How about a cup of tea, then?”

“Unfortunately, I’ve already had three cups of tea.”

“Haha, you really love tea, don’t you? Alright! How about a drink? They say drinking in the morning is good for your health…”

“I apologize, but I’ve been drinking all the way here.”

“Hehehe, you’re amazing. It’s not even dawn yet, and you’re already…”

The commander finally got to the point after a series of rejections.

The issue was the inspection work after I left.

“We’re preparing for the Umbra recovery, and it’s a problem that there’s no one trustworthy.”

The commander gritted his teeth as he spoke.

The result of this inspection would be a complete loss of trust in the commander’s subordinates.

Incompetent commanders had formed factions, pushing and pulling each other, and even colluded with Orcs and used dark magic.

“I’m living day by day, dealing with those Orc bastards, and you’re telling me to worry about what’s behind my back? Is that what you’re saying?”

Since there was no one trustworthy, I had to be thoroughly monitored to feel at ease. And I was the one who would be leaving this place soon.

“So, what I’m saying is… would you stay a little longer?”

Of course, he couldn’t stand it and asked again.

“This guy is really annoying.”

It was the expected reaction.

I had already thought of a way to deal with it.

“I have a proposal that I can make.”

“What is it? Are you going to ask the prince to delay your return to the capital? If so, I’ll ask him too!”

That was his wishful thinking.

“Let’s put a capable officer who knows the situation of the troops directly under the commander-in-chief and give them power.”

“Hmm, I don’t see anyone I can trust with such an important task.”

The commander-in-chief asked, taking a bite of his rice cake.

“I recommend 8th Division Commander Belmont.”

“That sloppy guy?”

The reaction was lukewarm. It seemed the commander-in-chief didn’t have a good impression of Belmont.

Well, that person did have a sloppy side.

“Although he hasn’t shown his skills yet, I guarantee his loyalty and abilities. If you use him like your right-hand man, you’ll get good results.”

Belmont was an excellent soldier in every way, except for his inability to fight dirty. He had been looked down upon by other officers due to his poor background, but he was especially skilled in managing troops, which was the commander-in-chief’s weakness.

“I’ll make sure to cooperate fully and establish military discipline after I leave, so please take care of that.”

“Hmm…”

I dealt the final blow to the commander-in-chief’s doubts.

“To be honest, as an inspector, I couldn’t express it before, but I consider you like a father.”

I told a white lie with a hint of embarrassment.

“Really? That’s amazing… Haha, what a coincidence. I’ve been thinking of you like a son too.”

The commander-in-chief’s ears perked up at the shameless flattery.

“Commander Belmont is also someone I trust like a brother. If we form a good bond, it’ll definitely create a strong connection, won’t it?”

“Haha, well, if you say so, I’ll trust him. If he’s your brother, then he’s like a son to me too.”

Everyone was happy with the story.

The 6th Division Commander was happy to have a trusted aide.

I was happy to hand over the inspection duties to Belmont and return to Hwangdo with a clear mind.

Belmont was also happy to have a strong connection with the commander-in-chief and legally deal with the other officers who had looked down on him.

“Haha, anyway, come back here as soon as possible. You have to be there when we reclaim Umbra, don’t you?”

Umbra, the fortress city.

Now, it was the orc’s stronghold, the former 6th Division headquarters. I imagined myself fighting fiercely against the orcs there.

I suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

‘Am I crazy to come back here again?’

I hid my emotions and responded calmly.

“If the situation allows it, we’ll definitely work together.”

And I quickly added.

“Anyway, make sure to use Belmont well. He’s always complaining about not having enough work, saying he wants to prove his loyalty with all his heart and soul.”

“Haha, really? Then I’ll make sure to use him well. There’s no one I can trust, so there’s nothing to do.”

Uh, other people’s misfortunes are my happiness.

Thinking of Belmont, who would be treated like a slave under the commander-in-chief, made me feel a little better.

#

Right after the meeting with the commander-in-chief, I had another meeting with a higher-up waiting for me.

Zefer’s figure was projected in the communication room.

The duke was busy with the magic squad’s advance deployment for the Umbra reclamation operation, so this was our first conversation since I started my inspection duties.

“I heard you’ve achieved great success again this time.”

We skipped the small talk and went straight to the main topic. I was relieved that there was no need for pointless conversation with this stubborn person.

《With the number of long-distance dark magic users decreasing, the movement of the magic squad has become more convenient. If we can reclaim Umbra like this, it’s possible to put the western front line under the control of the Zefer family.》

The duke revealed his grand ambition. He wasn’t leading the magic squad to block the orcs out of a sense of duty, but to increase his influence.

《I heard that the special forces within the corps hold great power. It seems you’ve found your direction. Keep doing what you’re doing. Building power is what the Zefer family needs.》

“Hahaha… I’ve just done what needed to be done.”

I awkwardly smiled at the duke, who was nodding his head in satisfaction.

This wasn’t something I did for him, nor was it something I did for myself.

《Since you’ve achieved results, you deserve a reward. From now on, I’ll allow communication with Sera. If you bring even greater achievements, I’ll even consider a meeting.》

However, the sociopathic daughter who thought I was head over heels for Sera was trying to manipulate me by using her as collateral.

“Ah… yes, thank you.”

I played it cool again. It wouldn’t be worth it to argue, and I had to thank Sera for her help, even if it was just a courtesy.

《Before that, let me give you a warning.》

The duke’s tone turned colder.

《I won’t tolerate any sloppy talk about how much you missed me or how much you wanted to see me. Don’t think about disobeying my warning again, okay?》

“I understand.”

Ah, I see. So, the duke was also present when I asked Sera for help last time. He must have heard my careless words.

After the communication with Duke Zefer was cut off,

《… Ethan?》

Sera’s muffled voice came through the dark screen.

“Long time no see, Sera. How have you been?”

《Hmph. That’s right. I’m Sera Zefer. I have no reason to be unhappy.》

She spoke confidently, as if nothing was wrong.

“I’m worried. Where are you now? The screen is dark. I heard the duke locked you up in the family’s punishment room, are you still there?”

I asked, filled with concern. I thought the punishment room was just a luxurious facility, but it seemed he really had locked his own daughter in a place without a single ray of sunlight.

《No, no. I was only in the punishment room for a short time. I’m in my room now, and I’ll be returning to the magic squad soon. The screen is dark because… it’s a personal matter.》

Her voice trembled slightly at the end.

‘Oh, I’m getting worried for nothing.’

Sera, who had a strong sense of pride, would never show weakness. I didn’t know she was putting on a brave face again.

‘It’s not like it matters.’

Worrying wouldn’t change anything. I wasn’t going to get involved in the Zefer family’s affairs and start a fight with Duke Zefer.

“Then that’s good. I was worried you might be depressed.”

《Hmph! As if I would be. It’s great to be back home after leaving the stinky battlefield.》

Ah, that’s really enviable.

《You’re the one who didn’t listen to my words and almost got yourself killed again, despite my father’s warnings.》

The nagging started, and I just listened quietly. I didn’t understand why I had to get scolded by her, but in this situation, it was better to keep my mouth shut and end it quickly.

《Huh… I don’t know why you’re trying so hard to gain favor with my father…》

It was a strange thing to say. I didn’t know why things always ended up like this, but Sera seemed to know.

《Anyway, be careful. If you die because of me, it would be a waste, and it would weigh on my mind.》

Ah, this woman still thinks I’m trying to gain favor with Duke Zefer.

We need to clear up this misunderstanding before it gets any deeper… Now, I’m afraid of the consequences. At least, let’s try again after we’ve physically distanced ourselves from the Duke of Zephir.

I hastily changed the subject.

“How have you been lately?”

As if we were old friends, we started sharing trivial stories with each other.

There was an event at the Zephir family’s estate…

I scored 121 points in a single set of foot volleyball…

We also discussed magic, a topic we hadn’t touched on before, since we were fellow magic practitioners in college.

“Right, I’ve been researching a new attack magic since I fought that arrogant orc tribe leader. I’ll show you just once, so watch closely.”

A dark screen flickered with a purple current, illuminating the surroundings.

Sera was eager to show off her magic, but coincidentally, her entire room was revealed.

“Like this, compressing the current…”

Sera was so excited to boast about her achievement that she didn’t even notice.

And I, with my keen observational skills, took in all the information within my sight.

Sera’s sloppy pajamas, the worn-out blanket that didn’t match her glamorous exterior, and the cute, simple dolls that seemed out of place in her cluttered room.

And the portrait on the wall…

That’s definitely my face.

I thought I must have seen it wrong…

“The Inspector is watching you”

The phrase written on it was the same as the “Ethan Poster” issued by the 6th Army for military discipline.

“Why is that…?”

At times like this, it’s only proper to respect a lady’s privacy, but I couldn’t help asking due to the shock.

“What’s going on? I’m sharing my hard-earned insight, so please focus… Ahh!”

Only then did Sera realize that her room had been live-streamed, and she quickly cut off her mana.

The screen went dark again.

“Who put this here? It looks like a thief broke into my room!”

“Is that so?”

It’s not like some crazy thief would break into the Duke of Zephir’s daughter’s room, steal something, and leave it there…

I nodded in agreement.

“I’ll take care of it. I’ll report it to the guards.”

─ Tchik.

The communication ended.

“Well, let’s just pretend we didn’t see that.”

#

Writing a report as an Inspector.

Meeting with high-ranking officials.

Attending a military trial…

Even with a busy schedule, there was still work to be done.

As the head of the Inspector’s special task force, I had to manage the remaining tasks.

“Ugh, to be honest, it’s a bit unsettling.”

Dealing with hundreds of fanatical fans who pledged their loyalty to me, not the empire, required considerable mental preparation.

I headed to the corner of the 6th Legion’s headquarters, where my subordinates were waiting.

“Do you not know the meaning of ‘oderation’?” he asked.

“I do. I’m even more familiar with the meaning of ‘ufficiency.’ Our members are still not sufficient.”

A man and a woman were arguing. The man, a high-ranking officer in the legion’s command, was furious with the woman, Yelina.

I quietly approached them and eavesdropped on their conversation.

“Take it easy, take it easy! Do you know how much we’re scolded by the legion commander? That guy still directly intervenes in our training!”

For some reason, the officer was showing off his bruised leg, folding his arms.

Yelina frowned.

“So, you’re saying that we should stop training because you don’t want to be scolded by the legion commander?”

“That’s right! If you guys continue to act like you’re superior, we’ll suffer. It’s all about living together, isn’t it?”

Ah, I roughly understood the situation.

Yelina was in charge of the members’ training.

I had asked her to teach them the advanced swordsmanship, but it seemed she was being too harsh on them.

The legion commander, who had compared them to the regular soldiers, was dissatisfied with the officers. He must have said something like, “Why can’t we do this?”

Since my status was too high, the officer couldn’t complain directly to me, so he came to Yelina instead.

“It’s not acceptable until you reach the level that the inspector showed us.”

“You… daughter of a traitor… Do you believe in the inspector’s nonsense? Do you think the inspector will always be by your side during military life?”

The officer, who had previously belittled Yelina, was now furious and insulting her with vicious language.

“How dare you insult the inspector?”

Yelina placed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist.

If I let this go, a huge incident would erupt.

“Stop it.”

“Ah, Inspector! For the glory of the empire!”

I acknowledged Yelina’s salute with a bow, then turned to the officer.

“T-this…”

He avoided my gaze, looking like he was struggling to decide whether to salute or not.

Although my authority was extremely high, as a matter of courtesy between the inspector and a high-ranking officer from a different faction, I spoke first.

“Is there anything else you’d like to say to Yelina? If you’re willing to understand, she has a task to attend to.”

“Yes, that’s right! I’ll just leave then.”

“Just a moment.”

He, who had been about to flee, stopped.

“Yelina is not the daughter of a traitor, but the commander of the Inspector’s Special Forces. And the Inspector’s Special Forces is the 13th Battalion. Do you know that?”

I spoke softly, but it was a warning to treat Yelina with the same respect as a high-ranking officer.

“Of course, I know.”

“Then you should also know who appointed her as the commander of the Special Forces. I’m just saying this out of concern, so please don’t take it too seriously.”

“A-ah… Yes, I remember.”

“It seems I’ve kept you busy for too long. You may leave now.”

After sending off the officer, I warned Yelina in a stern tone.

“The Special Operations Unit is bound to draw attention in many ways. You’ll need to work closely with the 6th Corps from now on, so learn to get along with other officers. Stiffness is a virtue for a knight, but in human relationships, you also need flexibility.”

“Yes… I’m sorry, Inspector General.”

“It’s good that you refused the unfair request. Training is the duty of soldiers, after all.”

I patted Yelina on the back and headed towards the training grounds where the Inspector General’s Special Operations Unit was training.

“Hmm, this is a bit excessive.”

And I understood the sentiment behind the officer’s scolding of Yelina earlier.

＜ Imperial Elite Inspector General’s Special Operations Unit (1) ﹥ End