TOPWL 201

The soldiers who had seen Yudit’s sword skills properly were impressed, but at the same time they thought. “Maybe it wasn’t protection he needed, but a human scarecrow.”

Noban thought the same. He also became a little curious.

“But why did you choose a duel?”

Yudit’s swordsmanship was excellent. Enough to surprise Noban. It was above the level of ordinary soldiers, and he also knew how to fight while overcoming differences in size. But it was not to the extent of easily defeating knights who had trained their whole lives. If his opponent hadn’t been Lucius, he might have been disgraced or seriously injured.

“Mm… I thought I should make the first move.”

“Pardon?”

“The mood among my guards wasn’t normal.”

Especially Shane’s mood was very serious. As if he might challenge to a duel any moment. Seeing his guards desperate to make the one who insulted their lord’s pay, Yudit thought it would be better for him to step forward himself so there would be fewer problems afterward.

“And besides… I can’t say I was entirely without fault.”

“Fault? What fault do you mean?”

“The fault of standing by?”

Yudit said it like a joke. Noban frowned.

“Commander, you have no fault. Anyone who blames you, I will not let them be.”

“No, it’s not that kind…”

When Yudit looked flustered, Noban blinked in confusion. When the veteran, well over forty, showed that kind of look, Yudit sometimes felt like he was seeing his boyhood.

“Mm… can you keep this to yourself?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I know the starting point of that accident on the hill. I know who it was.”

Yudit tapped his desk as he spoke. Even when he was so busy, Yudit had seen it. He saw Edmond, son of Lord Devlin, striking a knight’s head even after his cloth was taken. And the knight, enraged, turning his head. The fight spread like a storm from a butterfly’s wings. Yudit did his best to contain it, but he could not stop that brawl.

After the incident was contained, everyone looked fiercely for the instigator. But he was the son of the lord. Even if Edmond’s identity was revealed, there could be no proper punishment. But resentment would remain. If left, it could cause turmoil or even a three-way conflict. Yudit thought it better to turn those angry eyes toward himself. That was why he chose the duel. Whether he won or lost, his original purpose was achieved.

“But if he was punished, it would put us in a very difficult situation in many ways. So I drew the attention to myself.”

“You became a scapegoat?”

Noban asked, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Rather than that… I made the best choice.”

Noban stared silently at him for a while after Yudit’s words. It wasn’t a rude gaze.

“I will not doubt that the choice you made was the best. You are far wiser than someone like me could compare to. But don’t put yourself too low.”

Yudit felt a little embarrassed at Noban’s serious tone.

“Mm, well. I’ll do that…”

Noban wrinkled his nose, as if he was not satisfied with Yudit’s answer.

“On the battlefield, lives have weight. At times, you must choose one life over a hundred. You are in such a position, Commander. So do not sacrifice yourself too much.”

“Mm, I understand.”

“I feel like I’ve said something similar before….”

Yudit knew that Noban was serious, so he nodded.

“Alright. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Noban went on nagging for quite a while before finally preparing to leave. Yudit asked him.

“Are you already leaving?”

“Yes. Do you have something more to say?”

Already tired of his nagging, Yudit shook his head.

“No, just… go.”

“…Yes, understood. Oh, one last thing I’m curious about. Why did you beat that bastard Lucius like that?”

Yudit chuckled at Noban’s words, who didn’t know how to speak indirectly.

“I thought it was just because of emotions, but now that I think about it, since it’s you, Commander, I figured there must be a reason, so I asked.”

“Mm, there were a few reasons. First, I thought I might at least get some sympathy when we got back. Second, it’s true I wanted to land at least one blow. Third…”

Yudit glanced at Noban and then opened his mouth.

“It might sound strange, but I thought if I became a superior who was hated, the three knight orders could unite. So I treated your subordinate a bit excessively. I want to apologize for that.”

Noban’s expression turned dumbfounded.

“He not only disrespected you, Commander, but also tried to sell out his comrades. If he had been beaten to death, I wouldn’t have blinked. But what do you mean by a hated superior?”

“The mainstream opinion was that an Omega prince had made too many injured with training. If I beat the one who voiced that opinion…”

“You thought the three knight orders would unite while badmouthing you, Commander? Is that what you were thinking?”

“Yeah. Is it strange…?”

Yudit rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed expression. Noban, who had been staring at him expressionlessly, twisted his lips and grinned. The smile looked quite mean.

“Commander, you truly don’t understand men.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. I can say for certain that won’t happen. Instead, the number of people fawning over you will increase.”

“No way.”

Noban smiled with confidence.

“Just watch.”

***

The next day, after thoroughly beating Lucius during morning training, Yudit headed to the mock battlefield in high spirits. On the first day, they had been divided by knight orders, but today, after discussion, they decided to split each knight order in half.

In the morning, the 1st and 2nd parties would defend the hill, and in the afternoon, the 3rd and 4th would take over. Yudit was in charge of the 1st party. From the top of the hill, Yudit looked down. The brush was still thick, so it was hard to see where people were.

“Commander, it’s dangerous there. Please step further inside.”

Markel spoke with a worried voice. He was one of the centurions of the 9th Knight Order and was of fallen noble origin. Perhaps because of that, his speech was polite and gentle.

“Mm.”

Yudit adjusted the cloth tied to his helmet and stepped back from the hill. When he coughed from the cool breeze, Markel showed a startled face.

“You didn’t catch a cold, did you?”

“No. Maybe it’s just that my throat is a bit dry.”

“It would be good if you drank some warm tea… Anyone with water?”

Before Yudit could stop him, Markel had spoken up. The soldiers, hesitating and glancing at each other, rushed to bring waterskins. Yudit looked at the six or seven waterskins set before him with a troubled gaze.

“……”

After thinking about what to do, Yudit picked up the one that looked the cleanest.

“Thanks.”

The soldier whose waterskin was chosen lit up with joy. The others looked at him with envy.

“Thanks.”

Yudit carefully drinked without letting it touch his lips, and handed the waterskin back. The soldier received it as if it was a treasure. Some soldiers even tried to sneakily touch the waterskin, though Yudit wasn’t a saint. Seeing them, Yudit sighed.

‘It won’t happen. Instead, more will fawn over you.’

He hadn’t expected Norban’s words to prove true so quickly. Markel had been gentle from the start, but he hadn’t thought even the regular soldiers would act like this.

It wasn’t only because he had beaten Lucius. Yesterday, he had promoted some noticeable fighters and those who had lasted until the end from regular soldiers to squad leaders, and that seemed to have influenced it more.

He had thought earning the soldiers’ hearts would be the hardest part, but now that he had gained it so easily, it was hard to believe. Besides waterskins, they were also doing their best in their own ways to get in his good graces. Of course, it was only some of them, and it would be temporary, but compared to yesterday, when they were itching to find fault with him, the atmosphere was much softer, which put his mind at ease.

“They’re coming! The enemy is approaching!”

Someone shouted loudly nearby. Yudit ran in the direction of the sound. Just as the voice said, one party was pushing through the brush and approaching quickly. After scanning the surroundings and assessing the situation, Yudit gave orders.

“All archers, over here! Soldiers, prepare for battle!”