The time before the sun rises, in the darkness, two people arrived at the training ground relying on the light of torches.
After a brief warm-up, they immediately began their training.
Over time, Erka naturally became their dedicated instructor, and she was an excellent leader.
Perhaps it was due to the one-on-one tutoring from a skilled practitioner, but their shield skills improved rapidly day by day.
“Hmm, hmm, follow along well today too!”
Every time I saw her at the training ground, she seemed as excited as a child.
Did she enjoy training that much?
Well, it was better than always frowning and looking grumpy.
Anyway, it was good that she taught martial arts well, but there was one unbearable hardship.
Her innocent expression and youthful appearance made it incredibly difficult to maintain a serious demeanor during training.
It felt like a child pretending to be an adult.
Especially when she occasionally tried to act dignified as the tribe leader, it was harder to suppress laughter than the training itself.
And when I failed to hold back my laughter…
“…Why are you suddenly laughing? Are you mocking me? Your attitude as a student is wrong. Today will be a lesson. I’ll thoroughly beat you up.”
That day’s training was brutal.
I clearly saw the trajectory of her attacks and blocked them with my shield, but the sword swung to the right came from the left, and the sword swung forward came from behind.
How did she do that?
It was a 100% accurate attack.
As a result, my whole body ached, and I lay sprawled on the ground.
Erka, using her scabbard as a cane, approached me with a satisfied expression.
“Good work today! Let’s play again tomorrow!”
It seemed like her true intentions slipped out.
Perhaps the training was just a pretext, and she really needed someone to play with.
But it didn’t matter.
As long as we both achieved our goals, that was enough.
“Erka.”
“What is it?”
From the perspective of those who had trained and practiced for a long time, my combat skills probably felt like cramming.
But still, I called her over to discuss something I had been thinking about for a long time.
“Can I join the war too?”
“Just stay in a safe place. What’s gotten into you to think like that?”
When I first entered the northern lands, I only thought about my own safety.
But now, my thoughts have changed a lot.
Many people died.
Of course, compared to previous times, the damage could be considered minor, but the fact that many people died remains unchanged.
How hard must it have been for Frennila, who endured all that alone in previous times?
It must have been like hell.
It’s not forgiveness, but now I understand.
I saw, heard, and felt with my own skin how many misunderstandings and slanders there were.
That’s why I couldn’t stand staying behind anymore.
I wanted to see the conclusion in the north with my own eyes.
“I want to see the end of this event with my own eyes.”
*
Once a significant amount of the cure was stockpiled, Frennila immediately took action.
“All troops, march out.”
A thousand-strong legion began to march across the great plains.
Their destination was Karakorum, the land closest to the Spear Tribe’s territory and where her father had met his death in the Bow Tribe’s land.
The golden jasmine petals brought from the empire had all been used up, and the infected’s momentum was growing fierce again, but she didn’t care.
There was no need to carefully behead or pierce their hearts as before.
Just one proper stab anywhere on their bodies would grant them eternal peace.
She thought it was that simple.
But the war situation soon took a strange turn.
The soldiers’ morale suddenly plummeted.
“It hurts, it hurts so much.”
“Ugh, I don’t want to die.”
The infected, who seemed to return to their original state after being stabbed with the cure-coated blades, soon let out the most horrifying screams a human could make and died.
This was a huge shock to the soldiers.
Previously, it felt like slaughtering monsters, not fellow humans.
But now, it felt like taking the lives of their own kind.
Naturally, they hesitated.
“If you can’t do it, step aside.”
But Frennila didn’t care.
Due to the location, there were more infected from the Bow Tribe than the Spear Tribe.
Familiar faces.
People she shared daily life and battlefields with.
Without hesitation, she swung her weapon and reaped their heads.
Seeing her and her guards, the soldiers had many thoughts.
Warriors who remained unshaken in any situation, or heartless people who had lost their humanity.
Though the evaluations were mixed, no one denied her outstanding achievements.
Under her leadership, Karakorum was quickly reclaimed.
Gradually, all the lost lands were recovered, leaving only the Spear Tribe’s land, the source of the nightmare.
No infected were seen at the border.
They were probably preparing for their last stand in Kazein.
Kazein, the capital of the Spear Tribe.
Below it lay the swamp of death, and above it, the rugged Apalek Mountains.
There was no escape for them.
In a corner of the Karakorum village, a burnt, empty lot caught her eye.
The place where her father had died fighting the infected.
She wanted to praise his bravery and offer a flower, but she hadn’t thought to bring one.
“Frennila.”
“Your Highness.”
Her dark expression brightened instantly.
No matter how hard it was, she wanted to show only her best side in front of him.
“This place is dangerous. Why did you come here?”
“Ah, well… Werhe told me.”
The prince, having plucked a small, nameless wildflower from somewhere, placed it on the empty lot.
He was indeed a considerate person.
Frennila struggled to hold back her tears.
Exchanging glances, the two slightly bowed before the lot.
“Thank you for the flower. I almost felt ashamed.”
Without a word, I stood behind her and gently patted her back.
“But this place is dangerous. Please go back.”
“I also want to see the end of this event with my own eyes. Is that not possible?”
Frennila fell into thought for a moment.
The prince always proposed the most ideal solutions to problems but left the final choice to us rather than insisting strongly.
Perhaps he wanted to clarify his own position.
In that sense, his words seemed to carry a lot of meaning.
That he too belonged to Saka.
What would be the right choice to respond with?
I wasn’t sure.
But just as he left the choice to us, I wanted to leave the choice to him.
“…As long as you take care of yourself.”
“Thank you, Frennila.”
The two continued to gaze at the empty lot for a while.
Though it was a place to honor the dead, it didn’t feel empty.
They comforted each other.
Setting up new barracks in Karakorum and preparing for the camp, the events on the great plains were nearing their conclusion, and the situation would soon be resolved.
*
“Hurry up, you brat!”
Thwack!
The masked man smacked the back of his slow, bumbling subordinate’s head.
Unable to stand it, he stepped forward, gathered the documents, and stuffed them into a bundle, preparing to leave the hideout.
‘Is it even possible to create a cure in just a few days?’
Indeed, the saint and the staff tribe’s leader.
It took us decades to understand and utilize the art of voodoo, but they achieved such results in just a few days.
We never imagined that in our wildest dreams.
Because of that, the barbarians’ offensive was becoming too fast, and this hideout was likely to be in danger soon.
‘In the end, we’ll have to use those.’
The Minister of War had authorized their use if necessary, but I hadn’t wanted to use them out of pride.
But if they keep chasing us, we’ll have no choice.
After all, the barbarians aren’t that numerous, so their value as sacrifices isn’t that great.
Still, it’s better than nothing, which is why I was sent here, but now it seems we’ll have to give up.
“Boss, we’ve gathered all the research materials.”
“Good, then scatter the items appropriately. We’ll leave immediately after.”
The hideout was in chaos, as if they had fled in a hurry without packing properly.
Among the piles of documents, one stood out—a sheet of paper with the emblem of the Rontania Empire.
The black rose symbol, representing the empire’s highest flower, Kaela, caught everyone’s eye.
We recently obtained intelligence that General Bellot was siding with Kaela.
If that happens, the balance of power will collapse instantly, so we need to keep them in check.
The barbarians, though I hate to admit it, fight better than expected.
If we can direct their anger towards the northern territories, it will make our future plans easier.
We’ve seen enough in the northern plains.
The experiments are complete, and we’ve accumulated enough research data.
We’ll hide in the secret hideout in the Apalek Mountains for a few months and then slip through the northern steppes when their guard is down.
“Samarat, buy us some time!”
Among the infected, a particularly large figure with menacing eyes stepped forward.
The crimson spear in his hand exuded an ominous aura, like flowing blood.
Samarat, the Spear Tribe leader, wandered the cursed land without rest.
His gaze turned towards the horizon.
At the edge of Kazein’s ridge, the thousand-strong legion appeared, ready to end this situation.
As they approached, the masked men hurriedly fled towards the Apalek Mountains.