Late at night.
I finally made it back to the Fifth Army’s camp.
I was a total wreck. At least the food had been pretty good, even if there hadn't been any cake.
The reason I was so drained was entirely Osiris-san’s fault.
"Try again."
That single phrase was burned into my brain.
We’d had dinner around six o'clock, followed immediately by a war council. I had presented my idea for how to overcome the two-to-one disadvantage we faced—one thousand men against two thousand.
"For now, I'll just go around and kill all the enemy Knight Commanders," I’d said.
"Don't be ridiculous. Rejected."
Looking back, it was an obvious response. It was true that I thought it had the highest probability of success, but apparently, it was far too much of a meathead strategy.
After that, he’d made me think until my head spun.
Rejection after rejection. Redo after redo.
Even after everyone else had been dismissed, I was the only one kept behind until the middle of the night for a dense, grueling lecture. I’d never experienced it myself, but it felt like what I imagined a brutal cram school for elite entrance exams would be like.
"In the first place, do you even understand the strategic intent of this operation?"
"Uh, well... I figured if we broke through from the flank, they’d be surprised, and we’d have the advantage?"
"Wrong. Think about the adjacent battlefield. Once combat begins, word will spread immediately. That is precisely why we are using only a thousand men. With such a disparity in numbers, a breakthrough should be impossible. That is exactly what makes it worth doing. If we prepared enough numbers to win a conventional fight, the enemy would simply bring in an equal amount of reinforcements. We must strike where they do not expect it. If we don't, there is no point to this. That is why the role given to you is that of overwhelming martial prowess—strength enough to overturn the disparity in numbers."
"Then my first plan was actually—sorry, never mind."
He had thoroughly grilled me after that.
He reminded me of a teacher at some high-end prep school, but Osiris-san’s critiques were incredibly easy to follow. His aura was quite similar to Jin-senpai’s, which made me realize they really were father and son.
Jin-senpai claims he has no interest in himself, but I think it’s slightly different. It’s not that he lacks interest in himself; it’s that he allocates every ounce of his consciousness toward the tasks he has to accomplish. That’s the feeling I got.
It made me want to know more about what kind of person Osiris-san really was.
To have risen to the rank of Five Star Sword with that kind of strength... there had to be a reason he reached a peak that talent alone couldn't account for.
When I finally returned to the base, I heard a chorus of deep, gruff voices.
"Ooooooh!! Nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-eight!!"
"Move it, move it!! You’re not done yet!! Crack! Sound off!!"
"Noooooooo!! Nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine!!"
"I can’t hear you!! If you don’t drain your Crest power by tomorrow morning, you’re dead!! What’s wrong with you?! Crack! Keep going!!"
"Hnnnghhhh!!! One million!!"
I headed toward the noise and found Flare, Dial, and the others.
The prisoners were all doing push-ups. Flare was sitting on Dial’s back, using her Crest Sword like a whip to smack their behinds. She looked like she was having the time of her life.
"You maggots! Is that the best you’ve got, you maggots?!"
"Sir, yes sir!!"
"Flare, what are you doing?" I asked.
No, really, what was she doing?
"Oh, Leo. Welcome back! Everyone, five-minute break!"
"Ughhhhhh..."
Roughly five hundred prisoners collapsed simultaneously. Flare trotted over to me.
"You’re late. What were you up to?"
"Osiris-san was putting me through the wringer."
"Ahaha. I guess even you found his scrutiny tough. I had a class with him back at the Academy, and he had everyone half-crying. That man is pure logic and shows no mercy, even to kids. Did he make you do everything over?"
"I don't even want to hear that word right now. What about you?"
"I'm draining their Crest power. Since a Master’s Emblem supplies power to the Vassal Emblems, it’s more efficient if everyone burns it together! Obviously, as prisoners, they’re forbidden from manifesting their Crest Swords, so we’re stuck with muscle training. At this rate, we should be tapped out in a few more hours!"
"They look like they're about to die, though."
"They'll be fine. Nobody ever died from push-ups."
"I... I guess..."
Flare turned back toward them with a smile as bright as the sun. She slapped her sword against her palm—crack, crack—just like a whip. Strangely enough, it suited her perfectly.
"Alright, break’s over!! Back to work!!"
"Yes!! Flare-sama!! With pleasure!!"
They were calling her "Flare-sama," and since Dial and the others actually seemed weirdly happy about it, I decided to leave them to it.
I let out a massive yawn. My brain felt like it was about to shut down, so I decided to get some sleep to prepare for tomorrow.
The next day.
I was summoned to the main headquarters.
All the unit commanders of the entire army were gathered there—fifty veterans, plus me. Even though I was a unit commander in charge of a thousand men, seeing everyone together made for quite a crowd. I felt a bit out of place. They were all terrifying, middle-aged knights.
Eisen-san was there, too. It was a little awkward, considering I’d pointed my sword at him. I’d have to apologize later.
Osiris-san stepped to the front.
"Today marks a great step forward for us. I am truly grateful to all of you who risk your lives in battle every day. Tonight, let us drink the fine wine of victory together."
Osiris-san clenched his left hand and placed it over his heart in a knight’s salute. The unit commanders all followed suit in unison.
"We will win."
"Sir!!"
His words were few, yet my chest burned with excitement. I found myself clenching my own fist.
This was a Great Hero Ordained by the Stars. He could bring morale to its peak with just a few words. That was a presence that couldn't be imitated overnight. You could mimic the voice or the gestures, but the weight of his words came from the trust he’d built through a lifetime of achievements.
I realized then that the words I’d spoken yesterday were light. Without the strength and the results to back them up, they meant nothing.
That was why I had to start today. I had to start building that foundation. I would win decisively, show overwhelming power, and slowly make a name for myself—all while upholding the justice I believed in.
"Leo, come here."
"Yes, sir."
After the meeting, Osiris-san called me over.
"Speed is the lifeblood of today’s operation. I wasn't sure if he would make it in time, so I didn't intend to say anything, but it seems he has arrived. I am attaching an excellent Knight Commander to your unit. He is a Two-Star, a man I personally acknowledge."
"Really?! That’s a huge help."
"Yes, he should be arriving momentarily. Once he joins you, commence the operation immediately."
"Yes, sir!! So, who is it?"
"You’ll know when you see him."
"Huh? Okay."
A Two-Star Knight Commander. That was General-class. He would be incredibly reliable. Since most unit commanders were Two-Stars, I’d been a bit uneasy about my own experience level as a One-Star leading a thousand men. I’d thought Osiris-san was just pushing me into the deep end, but it seemed he had been looking out for me after all.
I headed over to the Eleventh Squad’s position. I had a thousand subordinates now, but since that essentially meant ten groups of a hundred men each with their own veteran Knight Commanders, I wasn't truly alone. Zain-san’s order, which had fought alongside me yesterday, was also part of the group.
And then there was...
"Wait, Flare, you're a Knight Commander too?"
"Ehehe, Osiris-san told me this morning that I passed. That man is usually so cautious, but he can be surprisingly bold, can't he? Well, I did earn merit by taking out a Knight Commander yesterday, and he knows how strong I am. So, work me hard, Unit Commander!"
"If it’s you, Flare... yeah, I can use you without holding back. You’re easy to work with."
"Doesn't that make me sound like a 'convenient woman'?"
Now, all that was left was to wait for the Two-Star Knight Commander.
Right then, he appeared.
He was charging in on an Emblem Horse at breakneck speed. For some reason, he was standing upright on the horse's back with his arms crossed. I wondered why he wouldn't just sit down, but maybe he was just prioritizing a flashy entrance. Knowing him, there was probably no deeper meaning to it.
The performance worked; most of the unit was already staring at him in awe. I felt a bit sorry for the horse.
But I was genuinely happy to see him.
"M-y! S-o-u-l! Brotheeeeeeeer!! My deareeeeest frieeeeeend!!"
He leaped into the air just before reaching us, spinning pointlessly in circles before sticking a perfect landing right in front of me. He looked at me, grinned, and stood tall.
"I have arrived. Let us drink until dawn with the Goddess of Victory! But first, a Welcome Chocolate."
He gently placed a chocolate into my mouth. It was already melting from his body heat and dissolved instantly.
It was delicious, but also a little gross. He hadn't changed a bit.