I realized several mistakes while riding my horse and heading north without any plan.
First, I set off without any preparation, not knowing the distance to the North.
Second, being used to modern night roads, I overlooked how dangerous they could be.
“How many times is this now?”
I frowned at the wild animal in front of me. Monsters like horned wolves, winged jackals, and boars with hard scales like a hippo kept attacking relentlessly.
If I were an Aura User, I would have been bitten to death by these beasts long ago given their frequency.
“There are no bandits, so why are there so many beasts?”
Then again, it’s laughable to think bandits would live in mountains full of dangerous monsters and beasts.
With that kind of skill, they could make a living anywhere with just a sword. Why bother becoming bandits?
Unless they had some mental issues making social life impossible, there was no need for it.
“Too bad.”
Before heading north, I wanted to kill a human once. Orcs were no problem to kill since they didn’t look human, but I couldn’t be sure about actual humans.
What if I hesitate during my first kill while fighting barbarians in the North? It could lead to a fatal injury.
That’s why I wanted to check if I’d hesitate to kill someone…
“There’s no helping it. That’s what real combat is all about.”
Even if I am someone who hesitates to kill people—I’ll endure it too. With that thought, I slowly rode my horse until I reached the border between the North and Central regions.
“This is…”
It’s snowing.
One step back and the Southern region appears, where the night breeze is only slightly chilly, but one step forward and it’s as if the ‘map’ in a game has changed—snow begins to fall gently.
Having lightly jumped over the boundary dividing the two regions, I realized why Yuri always wore such a cold expression.
“If I smiled around here, my face might crack.”
It was a place where you couldn’t naturally smile. Feeling the coldness of steel against my skin, I entered the North.
* * *
There were only two types of people coming to and from the North.
Those who committed crimes and were dragged to the North, or soldiers leaving the North wounded.
And merchants trying to do business in such a Northern area, carrying goods haphazardly.
The former came and went on designated dates, and the only ones visiting the unprofitable North on a regular basis were those targeted individuals.
So, guarding the boundary connecting the North and Central regions meant soldiers injured in battle were temporarily stationed there for rest—a dead-end post. True to its nature, the soldiers here lacked discipline significantly.
“Two pairs.”
“My win. Triple.”
“What? Is that even possible? Shit—this bastard cheated!”
“No evidence, no talk～.”
Rail, having won the card game, hummed a tune while sweeping all the money off the table. The only entertainments in the North were booze and warm embraces from prostitutes, but money was needed to enjoy even that.
While collecting the money amidst banter, Kasim, who lost his cash, frowned in irritation and tilted the liquor bottle.
“Shit, does this make sense… Huh?”
As Kasim tilted the liquor bottle, he frowned upon seeing someone riding a horse approaching from afar. No one should be coming to the North at this time.
Moreover, wearing a tattered cloak and coming alone to the North? Kasim wondered if he was seeing a ghost instead of a person.
“Someone’s coming?”
“What nonsense are you spouting? You think I’ll return the stakes just because—”
Hearing Kasim’s words, Rail turned his head and noticed someone riding a horse from afar, snapping to attention.
Isn’t it suspicious for someone to come alone to a place like this? Though it was unlikely that barbarians beyond the Great Wall secretly crossed over to get armor and horses before returning, it was still suspicious.
The two quickly regained their military bearing, raised their spears, and aimed them at the approaching unknown man.
The man riding the horse saw them and began slowing down his horse gradually.
“Halt! Who goes there!”
“—Is this the North?”
“Who are you?!”
“Kail Meyer.”
Hearing that name, the two men tilted their heads. It sounded familiar, but they couldn’t immediately recall it.
Judging by the surname, he was a noble—but why would a noble come alone to a place like this, especially fully armed?
Kail, seeing the soldiers still aiming their spears at him, lightly dismounted his horse and threw off the hood covering his face.
“I am the son-in-law of Duke Grace Walter and the fiancé of his daughter, Yuri Grace.”
“…Eh? What do you mean—”
“Didn’t hear me? I said the Duke’s son-in-law.”
When the name of the Duke left his lips, the two soldiers belatedly realized whom they were facing.
Kail Meyer. The heir of the Meyer Clan that Duke Grace lured to advance into the Central region.
They didn’t know why he was here, but they understood he wasn’t someone they could treat carelessly. Swallowing hard, the two cautiously lowered their spears aimed at Kail.
“…Do you have any way to prove your identity?”
“I didn’t bring any ID.”
Kail, pondering how to prove he was Kail Meyer, suddenly snatched the spear Rail was holding.
Rail, a veteran soldier, didn’t realize his spear had been taken for quite a while.
Only after noticing the spear in Kail’s previously empty hand did he realize his own spear was missing.
“Will this serve as proof?”
Holding the spearhead he had just snatched, Kail enveloped his palm with Aura and crushed the spear entirely. Zzzzzip! Rail and Kasim heard the sound of tearing steel for the first time in their lives.
Kail’s palm, which had effortlessly crushed the spear, bore not a single scratch, and the two knew only one type of person could perform such a feat.
“Au, Aura…”
“Will you believe me now?”
“Of, of course! Lord Kail! Welcome!”
The two fussed over him and promptly guided Kail inside. Upon entering, they flinched at the sight of rolling bottles and scattered cards.
However, Kail, well aware of how idle guards could be in his past life, deliberately ignored it. He hadn’t planned to stay long anyway. His goal was the barbarians beyond the Northern Great Wall.
But there was no need to explain such details to mere soldiers. Mounting his horse again, Kail spoke.
“Where is Duke Grace?”
“The Lord is at the frontline…”
“Where?”
“Oh, this way. Just keep going straight…”
Rail astutely informed Kail of what he wanted to know. After hearing about the location of the Duke’s castle and the Great Wall where the barbarians attacked, Kail immediately headed in that direction.
Watching Kail’s retreating figure in the distance, Kasim realized Rail had said too much and cautiously called out to him.
“Hey, will that be okay? What if that guy isn’t Lord Kail?”
“He’s probably legit.”
“Why do you think that?”
“He didn’t kill us and just left.”
Rail lifted the spear Kail had shattered. The steel was completely torn, spinning around, and the shaft fixing the spearhead had burst in the middle.
The monstrous strength to crush a spear with one hand and the quick reflexes to snatch it without them noticing.
If Kail were a spy aiming to strike the Northern army from behind, there would be no reason to spare them. Couldn’t he have quietly disposed of them without anyone noticing?
“By the way… How old is the young master this year?”
“Well, I heard he’s the same age as the young lady.”
“So, fifteen?”
“Nah, no way someone using Aura that well is only fifteen.”
“Haha, right? Then maybe he’s over twenty—”
Once Kail disappeared from sight, the two swiftly relaxed unbelievably fast and started drinking, using Kail’s story as their drinking snack.
* * *
The Great Wall of the North.
A ridiculously large wall built to prevent barbarians from easily crossing over.
Upon arriving here, I realized the rumors weren’t false.
“Crazy, even I can’t climb this?”
I could easily jump over ten meters, but the wall’s height far exceeded that. It was so high, I wondered if the knees of the soldiers stationed here could handle it.
Arriving at the foot of the wall on horseback, I heard shouts and clanging metal from above and beyond the wall, realizing they were currently in battle.
“Perfect timing.”
Jumping off my horse, I ran straight up the stairs of the wall without stopping. Soldiers shooting arrows through small holes inside the wall tilted their heads curiously at my sudden appearance.
But in the chaos of war, no soldier found it strange to see an unfamiliar knight appear behind them. They probably assumed I was a newly arrived knight.
Thanks to that, I reached the top of the wall without any interference and could instantly assess the situation from atop the towering Great Wall.
“This part and this part are about to break through, so I’ll block them here—Ah, there. The Duke is over there.”
Thump thump thump!
My heart pounded wildly in anticipation of my first real battle.
Not a fake battle, but a real battlefield where my head might roll at any moment.
Taking a deep breath, I immediately leapt off the Great Wall.
Whooooooosh—!
Facing the wind whipping past my ears, I landed fiercely in front of the barbarians mercilessly slaughtering the soldiers.
“Huh? And who are yo—”
“—Nice to meet you.”
Without time for greetings, I swung my sword immediately.
Meyer Style Third Form: Nameless Slash
The barbarian’s upper body rolled on the ground.
Any aversion? None at all. My swordsmanship, trained to move unconsciously even when my body was breaking down, worked seamlessly.
“Good…”
I smirked as I looked ahead.
Plenty of prey remained.
Gripping my sword tightly, I charged forward.
