In the early dawn, Erich and Frederick Barnes led a group of about 300 men, marching along the shoulder of the Black Citadel. It was to avoid drawing attention as much as possible.

The direction they took led from the Black Citadel, crossing the Great Wall, and heading north. At the end of that road stood an enormous gate.

'... Main Gate.'

The main gate of the Great Wall, said to have never been breached in its history.

As befitting its reputation, there was a military camp and facilities on a scale rivaling any fortress.

And as they approached the Main Gate, guards of the gate blocked their way.

The guards visually estimated the size of Erich's unit and then held out their hands.

"Do you have authorization papers?"

"Here is the commander's order. It was an urgent mission, so we couldn't notify the Main Gate in advance."

"Hmm... It's genuine. However, you'll have to wait a moment."

"Why?"

"Because those are our orders."

Erich's eyes narrowed. Who could have known about their advance in advance and ordered a halt?

A sense of foreboding welled up. Had the 'power behind' the scenes intervened here as well?

Just then, a familiar voice was heard.

"Tsk, tsk. Where are you all rushing off to in such a hurry?"

—Whoosh! Thud!

Everyone's eyes turned in that direction. It was because someone had jumped down from a guard post embedded in the Main Gate, a height that seemed at least ten meters.

And the one who landed as lightly as a feather from such a reckless height was—

"... Sir Mikhail. We meet again."

It was Mikhail, the chief watchman of the Watch. Smiling wrinkly, he strode toward Erich's unit.

Somehow, Frederick seemed to shrink back.

"I heard from August that you're heading out. As it happens, I have some business outside as well, so let's go together."

"... Are you joining us, perhaps?"

"If it's something I had to take care of myself, there'd be no need to send you, would there?"

As expected, that's what Erich thought. The Watch's most powerful swordsman and chief watchman, Mikhail, was needed in countless places.

One could argue—how could a single person handle so much? But Mikhail's presence in the Watch was almost equivalent to a strategic weapon capable of responding to virtually any situation.

With the frontlines now expanded beyond the Great Wall, there was nowhere in the current Watch that didn't need his hand.

That's why Erich felt regret. With the danger lurking wherever they were going, having Mikhail join them would have been the best outcome.

But as Mikhail said, other members existed precisely because he couldn't show up for every situation.

Mikhail should do what only Mikhail could do.

"Understood. The route will be safer than ever."

"Will it? That fellow over there doesn't look so well."

Mikhail grinned at Frederick.

One way or another, the formalities at the Main Gate were all sorted out smoothly thanks to Mikhail. Erich's unit opened the great gate and marched outside.

"By the way, is there a particular reason you're really coming with us?"

"Is that so important?"

"Obviously, it's not because Sir Mikhail finds it dangerous. So there must be a reason."

"Hmm. Trying to read someone's thoughts... just like a certain someone I know."

Erich guessed he meant Commander August.

Even if he didn't think hard, it was something Mikhail—his pre-return teacher—had always said.

He often told him, "Stop doing those August-like things."

Mikhail continued.

"Still, that's just what commanders do. As you said, I didn't just come for nothing. Any guesses?"

"... Hmm."

Erich pondered as they walked.

The reason Mikhail followed him on this sortie.

It was probably—

"Sir Mikhail is most likely headed toward the frontlines. My unit, on the other hand, will head east at the junction for the front. The distance to that junction is about two weeks. Isn't your business with me during those two weeks?"

Mikhail stroked his graying beard.

"That's right. You're sharp—almost annoyingly so. August gave instructions to 'do something' with you during those two weeks."

"... Like training, for example?"

"Don't like the idea?"

Erich's eyes widened.

Of course, he didn't dislike it. Mikhail, the Watch's greatest swordsman—a swordmaster who'd reached the peak. There were dozens in the Watch yearning for his training.

Erich too had felt the need, but hadn't had the justification or standing to request training from Mikhail.

'... I've recently felt, for the first time since returning, the necessity of becoming stronger. This is a good opportunity.'

Erich smiled.

"Please go easy on me."

"Bah. Would anything be gained by going easy? It's just two weeks, but I'll have you begging for mercy."

"Understood, master."

"Tsk, tsk, I haven't acknowledged you as my disciple yet, you rascal."

Mikhail's cold smile. Frederick, listening nearby, swallowed hard.

Somehow, Mikhail's jokes never felt like jokes.

And in fact, that was true.

*

"Huff... huff..."

"Again."

Mikhail's first spar was taxing even for Erich. As proof, sweat streamed down Erich's forehead like rain.

Erich stared at Mikhail, who stood before him with a sword.

'... No openings. I thought things would be different this time, but nothing's changed.'

Erich was much stronger than before the return, having reached a level otherwise impossible for his current age.

Yet, as he crossed blades with Mikhail for the first time since returning, he realized his feelings were exactly the same as before.

—Craaash! Crackle!

Erich's sword clashed with Mikhail's, sending sparks flying. But Mikhail skillfully shifted his center of gravity.

—Bang!

Mikhail charged and his shoulder slammed into Erich's chest, forcing Erich back as he gripped his sword again.

"...!"

But in that instant, Mikhail vanished.

—Tap.

"Once again, you've died."

Mikhail appeared at an angle, his sword against Erich's neck.

It wasn't that Erich was weak. Nor that he had failed to predict Mikhail's strike.

It was just that his body couldn't keep up.

"Your sword is full of thoughts right now."

"My eyes and mind read your sword, sir Mikhail. Isn't it simply a lack of physical power?"

"That's right. You even anticipated my move, but that's why you died."

"... Pardon?"

Mikhail brushed snow from his cloak.

"If you hadn't tried to counterattack me, you'd have made a big sweeping retreat on the diagonal. Then you wouldn't have lost your life."

"But that wouldn't have allowed me to score a valid hit."

"That's exactly what you need to fix. Right now, you're trying to wield the sword like a swordmaster at the pinnacle. Not in the best possible way."

Erich's eyes narrowed.

Mikhail's point hit home.

'... Thinking at too high a level, huh.'

Certainly, Erich had once reached the pinnacle as a swordmaster. But he had never considered that would now become a hindrance.

"Being able to glimpse such heights even without having reached them is a rare talent. But against opponents far stronger than you, it becomes a flaw."

"Does that mean I should approach things more simply?"

"No. That's something you'll have to learn as you go."

Mikhail curled his lips into a cold grin.

Training proceeded rapidly from there. Having grasped what Erich needed to improve, Mikhail used aura for the next spar.

—Shraaa!

"Khk!"

"Again!"

Each time, Erich sustained minor wounds and repeatedly shattered his aura against Mikhail's.

—Bang!

"Urgh!"

"Again!"

Even as Mikhail's aura shattered Erich's directly, Mikhail adjusted his strength so as not to break Erich's sword.

Mikhail's intentions were clear.

'... Increase the amount of aura.'

As aura users keep using their aura, their reserves grow. But there was a faster method—to repeatedly clash against another aura user.

Yet even in the Empire, swordmasters were few and far between, and using them for this purpose was extremely inefficient.

Thus, the handful who had made effective use of this method were close friends who attained enlightenment at the same time—August and the Mikhail duo.

Later, only the Watch, when the number of swordmasters grew after battles with the dead.

—Bang!

"Khk!"

Fragments of Erich's blue aura scattered. Mikhail broke through the gap and struck Erich.

—Thud!

"Ugh!"

But this time was different. Erich blocked Mikhail's fist and stepped back.

Instead of attacking, he chose to defend perfectly.

"You're starting to get it now."

"... Not yet."

"Stop, you rascal."

However, Mikhail gestured to stop as Erich gritted his teeth and pushed himself up, gripping his sword.

Erich looked at himself and forced a wry smile.

'Already in this state, huh.'

Without realizing it, he'd become a wreck.

—Drip.

Blood dripped from Erich's hand. This kind of training put enormous strain on the body.

Unless he had exceptional regenerative ability like Barnes, it was a shortcut to ruining oneself.

But Erich knew—Mikhail was intentionally pushing him just to the limit without destroying his body.

Thus, the first day of training ended.

During the day, Erich marched with his unit. In the evening, after setting up camp, he trained with Mikhail—an arduous routine.

A week into the march, Frederick handed Erich—who was changing his bloodstained bandages—a cup of water.

It was steaming hot.

"... Thanks."

"Man, that barbarian pharmacist will kick the bucket before I even meet him at this rate. Take it easy, will you? What's got you so worried, especially when you're leading three hundred men?"

"If I'm leading three hundred, shouldn't I be even more worried?"

"I'm too uneducated to get what you mean."

"All the more reason to try and save as many as possible."

"...."

Frederick's eyes twitched.

He seemed oddly troubled.

'Though I have no idea why.'

Erich's appraisal of Frederick was, 'an exceptional lieutenant, far beyond expectation.' With new recruits joining and even soldiers from Heinkel—who didn't get along with the Watch—Erich expected management headaches...

'But not at all.'

Surprisingly, within just a week, Frederick won over not only the original members but even the newly joined Heinkel soldiers, being acknowledged as a firm commander with high command capability.

'Outstanding lieutenant' was almost an understatement.

Yet Frederick seemed to hold a grudge against the very idea of 'superior officers' itself. Even now, when he faithfully followed Erich's orders.

Perhaps it was related to Frederick's past. Yet, what could have caused such talent to become known as 'Frederick the Mutineer'?

Erich found himself growing curious.

But instead of pressing Frederick, he simply stood up.

'If he's to be inspired, it'll come from within himself.'

Talking further wouldn't change much.

One day, after natural conversations, he'd learn what he didn't know. That's what Erich believed.

That was Erich's pride in his own abilities as the commander who, before his return, led the Watch against the undead in despair.

Erich left the squad's campfire and walked toward the clearing where Mikhail waited.

There, before the coming great battle, he planned to make the most of his last chance to grow stronger.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=It's my first time encountering Erich's issue of having glimpsed at the pinnacle being a hindrance...It's a nice touch...And the chapter also explains why Erich wanted to become Mikhail's disciple again...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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