A scene of two knights piercing each other and bleeding. What would you even say if others saw this? They suddenly stabbed each other?
‘Would they believe me?’
A situation where it’s hard to imagine anyone believing, and even if they did, accepting it seemed impossible. I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.
If I were an ordinary Master, there would be nothing I could do in this situation. I’d just stand by with my hands tied until the two died, then maybe move afterward.
In this scenario, neither a sorcerer nor a cleric would be of any help. The blade that pierced their carotid artery would lead them to death within seconds. Even if a Master quickly brought a cleric, it wouldn’t prevent both from dying.
That’s what would happen if I were an ordinary Master.
“Dear God, please watch over these two and heal their wounds.”
As I channeled Aura into my right hand, a cross-shaped tattoo sprang forth—STIGMA bestowed by the Virgin Saintess.
At first, I could only use it to heal my own wounds, but who am I? An Aura Master unparalleled in controlling the power flowing through my body.
Naturally, I could also control the holy power within me.
‘It was a bit of a struggle, though.’
When I infused sacred energy into the wounds of the two stabbed individuals, the injuries that were supposed to kill them healed instantly.
As their injuries recovered, the two who had been bleeding began groaning and crying out in pain.
I stepped out of the tent now turned into a bloodbath and gestured to the soldiers guarding outside.
“You guys, go back to your unit and bring a medic.”
“Huh? What for…?”
“Bring a priest.”
With a sharp glare, the soldiers took off running to their respective units, already looking terrified.
Watching the soldiers run off in the distance, I let out another deep sigh when Mingwol, who had been enjoying the breeze outside alone, approached.
“The smell of blood is overwhelming.”
“Not my problem.”
“Couldn’t you have stopped it?”
“I was lost in thought… Besides, if you had been there, it wouldn’t have happened.”
“I find enclosed spaces suffocating.”
“Nonsense.”
Sighing deeply, I watched the medics riding horses rushing towards us.
***
After taking the knights who stabbed each other back to their respective units, the atmosphere between the two units grew increasingly tense.
Had they not been separated, had two Aura Masters not been standing guard, the tension could have escalated into spears and swords being drawn at any moment.
[So… the commanders of the two units suddenly drew their swords on each other?]
“Yes.”
[Why didn’t you stop them?]
“They weren’t aiming for me, they weren’t emitting any killing intent, how could I stop them from suddenly stabbing during a conversation?”
[So you couldn’t stop them?]
Under the pressing questions, Kail offered the excuse that Mingwol wasn’t there. Though Mingwol started glaring fiercely at him, so what? It was true he had slacked off.
Seeing the princess sigh deeply through the crystal ball, Kail instinctively knew she hadn’t intended or orchestrated this situation.
After all, both territories were led by nobles under her command. If her subordinates fought, it was ultimately the princess herself who would suffer losses.
[Well, at least they didn’t die, that’s something.]
“So, what should we do?”
[About what?]
“After hearing their stories, it seems both sides have valid points.”
Both the Peoni Barony and Azural Baronetcy had legitimate grievances. A situation where neither side could be deemed entirely right.
Kail shrugged and asked again.
“I didn’t come here to wield a sword, I came for politics. Your Highness must make a clear decision.”
To begin with, aside from wielding a sword, he couldn’t do much else. Kail trailed off, waiting for the princess’s response. After a while, having organized her thoughts, the princess voiced her opinion.
[First, keep them from fighting, and I’ll think about it. Oh, if possible, go personally and verify if both sides are correct.]
“Yes, yes.”
Though it felt like too much work for just handing over a sword, Kail cut off communication and immediately exited the tent.
Mingwol followed him out and spoke.
“So, what’s the plan now?”
“What plan? We need to split up.”
“How?”
“Our princess wants to see the site personally… those staying here and those going to check the river stream. Two groups.”
Kail extended his hand immediately. Rock-paper-scissors. By the sacred rules, it was decided that Kail would go inspect the river stream.
The defeated Kail looked down at his hand suspiciously, wondering if Mingwol had somehow cheated. It was strange for someone good with a sword to also excel at rock-paper-scissors.
“Why are you staring?”
“…Ah, frustrating.”
Scratching his head furiously, Kail summoned two soldiers familiar with the path from each unit and set off to examine the river. In just a few days, the once-dry riverbed had eroded, leaving only traces behind.
Heading upstream, Kail belatedly realized that the people of the two territories were fighting solely over the water flow.
“…What is this?”
A hole was punched in the sky above.
An endless torrent of water poured through the hole.
It was the only way to describe it. Even for an Aura Master like Kail, the cliff was impossibly high, with a waterfall continuously cascading down.
No matter how fantastical, the sight was unrealistically surreal.
Kail asked the soldier guiding him,
“That water, where’s it coming from?”
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“I-I’m serious! There’s speculation it might be pumping groundwater from beneath the mountain…”
The waterfall fell precisely at the center boundary between the two territories, naturally flowing along a formed path into the territory.
This water flow, which should have flowed into the Peoni Barony originally, was now flowing into the Azural Baronetcy via a newly claimed route.
‘Let’s take a look.’
Following the water flow, Kail unsheathed his Aura Blade and split the river. Beneath, an artificially constructed riverbed appeared, soon erased by the surging water.
“This looks man-made, doesn’t it?”
“A-Ah no! We really didn’t make this!”
“Geez, who said you made it? I just said it looked man-made.”
“S-Sorry…”
When the Aura Master snapped, the soldier who had shouted quickly bowed deeply and apologized. Kail waved his hand, signaling for him to step back.
He easily discerned that they hadn’t directly created this path, as the soldier claimed.
Having served in the military, Kail knew how many soldiers it would take to construct such a river path. Dozens, hundreds of men working nonstop for days might barely finish it.
And there was no way the Peoni Barony wouldn’t have noticed such a large-scale troop movement. Creating this path was simply impossible.
‘Well, exceptions exist…’
But what if one person completed this project alone? Small troop movements could easily go unnoticed.
And in this world, there were individuals capable of performing better than heavy machinery alone—Aura Masters or sorcerers who reached a certain level.
The problem was…
‘What are they doing here?’
There was no reason for superhuman-level experts to be in such rural territories. Could those destined to become dragon heads settle for snake heads?
Unsurprisingly, the case plunged once again into mystery.
Kail, who had been feeling the riverbed with his hand submerged in the water, let out a deep sigh and stood up.
“Let’s head back.”
“Y-Yes!”
Matching the soldier’s pace, Kail descended from upstream after quite some time, only to pause upon seeing the chaotic downstream.
“…Seriously, what the hell is this now?”
Far in the distance, the two units, which had been kept apart, were clashing.
***
After Kail went upstream, Mingwol settled in the middle of the two units, staring blankly into the air.
While meditating and contemplating swordsmanship, a strange vibration passed through him briefly.
An ominous magical tremor mixed with ill portents. Mingwol slightly frowned, gripping his sword and rising.
‘What was that?’
Too weak to be considered an attack, the purpose remained unclear. However, the sudden use of magic was undeniable, so Mingwol remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings.
Shortly after, as if on cue, the two units charged at each other.
“What… has the Master’s word become so laughable?”
Watching for a moment, Mingwol unsheathed his sword. His draw, surprising even Kail, blocked the path of the two charging units.
The ground caved deeply, causing soldiers to stumble and fall—but neither unit halted.
Determined to fight to the death, as if controlled by something, they charged insanely toward each other.
Despite Mingwol blocking their path, they eventually reached each other, thrusting spears and swords.
Blood splattered everywhere, staining the river red.
It was the beginning of war.
“Such…”
Mingwol muttered under his breath.
Even as a Master, he couldn’t stop a war already in motion.
All he could do was ensure one side emerged victorious.
And now, wasn’t he supposed to remain neutral, unable to swing his sword against either side?
Ironically, despite knowing only how to wield a sword, he was utterly powerless on this battlefield.
