Chapter 15
On the train to the Belrus Barony, Rohan stared tensely at the woman before him. Outwardly, she appeared young and beautiful, but Rohan knew that her youthful appearance signified the extraordinary level she had reached.
Sabina Leston was a living legend of the Leston Duchy. She was a hero who had stormed the imperial palace in the dark times when the tyrant ruled the empire and restored justice. It was daunting to face Sabina, but she remained unaffected by Rohan's unease.
"Show no mercy with your strikes. Real combat is nothing like a duel or training. If you can't kill, you'll be killed. Leo, do you understand?" Sabina asked.
"But Lady Sabina, this is Caron's first time too…" Leo began, but he was soon interrupted.
"Caron would sell you out in a heartbeat to save himself. That's why I'm more concerned about you, Leo," Sabina retorted.
"Indeed, Teacher! You know me so well," Caron chimed in.
"Teacher! That title sounds so much better than great-aunt, which makes me sound like some kind of antique. Let's refer to each other as teacher and disciple during this mission," Sabina declared.
Sabina had been busy offering fervent advice to her grandsons, although most of it was directed at Leo.
"Caron, do you have a plan?" Sabina asked.
Rohan held his breath, and his ears strained to hear Caron's answer. He had heard that this reckless boy was a genius. Perhaps Caron had some brilliant strategy to save his barony.
But Caron's response was a disappointment. He merely admitted, "No, not yet."
"A successful mission requires more than just brute strength. You need a flawless plan and the ability to adapt to unexpected variables," Sabina lectured.
Not everything could be solved by strength alone. Especially in an environment filled with numerous external variables, being able to adapt to the situation was just as important as strength.
The first missions undertaken by new Azure Wolves often had low success rates. It was not because they were lacking strength, but rather because they were unable to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. Warriors who had only trained with swords on Oceanwolf Island couldn't possibly have any real world experience.
Even now, that was evident. Leo, for instance, was distracted by the novelty of the train.
"Wow, the train is amazing! Caron, isn't it so cool?" Leo exclaimed.
"Have you never ridden a train before?" Caron asked.
"No… I've never had a reason to leave Azureocean Castle. I've been training in swordsmanship with Father since I was a kid," Leo said.
"And yet, you're still worse with a sword than I am," Caron teased.
"That's just mean," Leo muttered, even as he watched the rapidly passing scenery through the train window with wide eyes.
If I dropped him off in some back alley, he'd be stripped clean in no time, Sabina thought as she observed Leo.
It was her responsibility to make sure they were ready. Sabina wanted to use this opportunity to test her grandsons' adaptability. She needed to know if the boys she had painstakingly raised were ready for the world or if they still needed more training. This mission was the perfect opportunity.
"Young Baron of Belrus," Sabina addressed Rohan.
"Yes, White Empress," Rohan replied.
"...Just call me Lady Sabina," Sabina said.
"Yes, Lady Sabina," Rohan replied.
"The fact that I'm going with my dear grandsons must remain a secret. You do understand why, right?" Sabina asked.
"Of course." Rohan nodded immediately.
If word spread that Sabina had arrived at the Belrus Barony, the bandits who were plaguing the region would vanish without a trace. Few in the empire, or even the entire continent, could match her strength. Bandits would need an elite division armed with the best weapons to even think about facing an 8-Star knight such as her.
Rohan didn't want the bandits to flee. He wanted them to pay for the suffering they had inflicted on his father and the people of his land.
"My presence in Azureocean Castle was a secret. If you want to hold these bandits accountable, you must avoid making mistakes yourself," Sabina warned Rohan.
"I will remember that, Lady Sabina. But, may I ask you something?" Rohan asked.
"Go ahead," Sabina said.
Rohan glanced around the train compartment, then said, "This train goes directly to the Belrus Barony. If you get off with us, it will be impossible to keep your presence a secret—"
"I have a plan for that," Sabina interrupted.
Rohan figured that someone of Sabina's caliber would have access to plenty of concealment artifacts to use for her plan. Given her connections, she likely had ties with great mages. And the treasure vaults of Azureocean Castle would certainly contain such artifacts in abundance.
While Rohan was nodding, lost in thought, Caron broke the silence by asking, "Young Baron of Belrus, I can just listen to the briefing when we arrive, but do we know the locations of the bandits' hideouts?"
Rohan hung his head and replied, "...I'm sorry, but we don't."
"But you mentioned you conducted a raid before," Caron said.
"Yes, but we couldn't get past the entrance of the mountain," Rohan answered.
"...I see."
They had no information. The rugged terrain of the Belrus Barony was notorious, and now they'd have to find the bandits' hideouts themselves.
Well, that's going to be bothersome, Caron thought as he clicked his tongue and shrugged.
He had wondered whether the military power of the territory could really be as poor as he'd heard. But when he considered the situation of Belrus Barony's territory as described by his father, it made sense.
Oh well, that's alright.
If there was no information given, they would just have to find it. Caron smiled as he fiddled with the handle of Guillotine, which was beside him.
"But I do have an idea," Rohan offered.
"What is it?" Caron asked.
"There are quite a few traitors within the lord's castle. We can use them," Rohan suggested in a bitter tone.
Caron slowly nodded and said, "That's a good plan."
Time passed, and an announcement eventually echoed through the train.
"In twenty minutes, we will arrive at the Belrus Barony."
When she heard the conductor's voice, Sabina slowly stood up and said, "It's time."
"Um… Lady Sabina," Rohan called out.
"Yes, Young Baron of Belrus?" Sabina replied.
"There are still twenty minutes until we arrive," Rohan said.
"Yes, exactly," Sabina said.
She then looked down at Leo and Caron, saying in a solemn tone, "You must complete this first mission using only your own strength. As we agreed before we left, I won't intervene unless you're in mortal danger. I'll be watching from a distance."
"Okay!" Caron replied energetically.
"... Okay," Leo replied hesitantly.
"Such spirited responses. I like that," Sabina remarked. She then walked slowly to the window, then opened it. Fierce winds rushed in through the gap.
"I'll look forward to it," she said, then leaped out of the moving train through the window.
Rohan, who had been watching the shocking scene, suddenly stood up and shouted, "L-Lady Sabina!"
Rohan had never imagined that the method she was referring to involved jumping out of a moving train. Anyone else would have been horrified, but the two boys in front of him remained unfazed.
With a trembling voice, Rohan asked them, "Are you both… okay with this?"
Caron looked at him with wide eyes and asked, "Why wouldn't we be?"
"Lady Sabina just jumped out of the train window…"
"Yes, so?" Caron responded nonchalantly.
"... Excuse me?" Rohan was stunned.
"That's how our great-aunt is. She's always full of surprises. Who would think of jumping out of a train? I've learned something new today. Leo, we should try that sometime," Caron said.
"Please… If you're going to do it, do it alone. Don't drag me into your crazy ideas, okay? Please…" Leo pleaded.
"Good things should be shared. Don't you agree, Young Baron of Belrus?" Caron asked.
Rohan couldn't find the words to respond. He wondered if these boys could really save his barony. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the future of Belrus Barony looked increasingly bleak.
***
When the train arrived at the station, Caron and Leo disembarked with Rohan.
"...What's that smell?" Leo grimaced, covering his nose as soon as they stepped onto the platform.
The foul odor reached them from all directions, emanating from heaps of garbage scattered around. Typically, a train station was the face of its territory, but this place had clearly been neglected.
Unlike Caron, who was accustomed to such smells from the experiences of his previous life, Leo needed time to adjust. Rohan noticed Leo's reaction and said apologetically, "I'm sorry. Most of the people who can fight have been drafted, so the management of the territory has been lacking. I ask for your understanding."
"Young Baron of Belrus," Caron began.
"Yes, Young Master Caron?" Rohan replied.
"Do you have enough food and water?" Caron asked.
Rohan nodded at Caron's abrupt question, then said, "We have enough to last for two weeks. The railroad is still operational, and my father always stocked emergency supplies in the castle. For now, the residents are surviving on those supplies. We also have wells within the castle grounds."
"What an admirable lord. Usually, in such situations, the first instinct is to flee," Caron commented.
"My father is a good man," Rohan said.
In reality, most lords would prioritize their own safety over the lives of their people. With many soldiers injured from the failed raid, the situation was dire. The lord could have fled to a neighboring territory to plan for the future. And yet, he remained in Belrus Barony, showing his dedication to his land and people. Just from that alone, it could be understood how much he loved this place.
But he was too complacent, Caron thought. He understood the lord's love for his territory and people, but from an objective standpoint, the lord had failed in his duties. Caron, however, didn't want to criticize him.
This territory was economically weak to begin with, Caron reasoned. For a barony like Belrus to strengthen its military, they would have had to heavily tax its residents. But because the lord was a man with a kind heart, he hadn't taken such measures, leading to the predicament they were facing right now.
Blaming anyone wouldn't change the situation. The real culprits were the bandits. Debating who was at fault wouldn't help. They needed to deal with the bandits to resolve the crisis.
"I apologize for not having a welcoming party prepared. I had to keep my visit to Azureocean Castle a secret," Rohan said.
"We're not so immature as to expect a welcoming party in these circumstances," Caron replied.
"Thank you for understanding. Let me escort you to the castle now," said Rohan.
Caron and Leo followed him through the streets of Belrus Barony. The atmosphere was bleak and people walked with downcast faces, paying no attention to the newcomers. Everyone seemed to walk with slumped shoulders, devoid of hope, as if all color had drained from the place.
As they walked silently, Leo called out quietly, "Caron."
"Yes?" Caron replied.
"We really did grow up in happy circumstances, didn't we?" Leo's voice was filled with realization. He seemed to have had a change of heart just by facing the sight of this place.
Caron smiled slightly at his cousin's newfound awareness and replied, "Did you just realize that? The outside world is like hell."
"How would you know? This is your first time outside the territory too," Leo pointed out.
"That's why you should've read more books. They tell you about the world," Caron replied.
When Leo first arrived at the mansion, he had been a rebellious boy, even going as far as to curse his parents. But now, he had grown into a considerate and upright young man. If Leo continued on this path, he would become a distinguished gentleman.
"My elder brother has grown up. Your younger brother is proud," Caron continued as he patted Leo on the back.
"Stop it. I'm still older than you," Leo grumbled.
Caron thought to himself that a little discipline through sparring had been an effective means of reform. Although Leo still needed some refining, Caron was satisfied with his cousin's transformation.
"Don't worry, Leo. Everything will turn out fine," Caron reassured Leo while patting his back.
Caron then lightly gripped the handle of Guillotine, the sword hanging at his waist.
Whoosh.
The sword had been subtly vibrating since earlier, as if it was reacting to something unseen. Caron didn't know exactly what the mad sword was responding to, but one thing was certain. The time was approaching for Guillotine to taste blood for the first time.
…What kind of sword is that?
Rohan wondered, shivering slightly as he looked at Caron, who was fiddling with Guillotine. Ever since the train ride, the mere sight of that sword had filled him with dread.
He shook his head lightly, trying to dispel his fear, and spoke in as calm a voice as he could manage. "We've arrived."
Caron looked up at the lord's castle of Belrus Barony. Compared to Azureocean Castle, this castle was small. It was almost worryingly so, which reflected the dire situation of the barony.
"Please rest first, and then—" Rohan began.
"No," Caron interrupted, looking at Rohan with a steady gaze. In a low voice, he continued, "I want to see Baron Belrus immediately."
There was no reason to delay. If the bandits learned that the Ducal Family of Leston was getting involved, they wouldn't hesitate to flee, which would mean that the mission had failed. From this point on, it was a race against time.
"There's no need to drag this out," Caron added.
"Alright then. I'll take you to my father right away," Rohan replied.
Caron had no intention of failing the mission or allowing it to be prolonged unnecessarily. Swift and decisive action was the key.
"Let's deal with this quickly before any more pests show up," he remarked.
Even in Caron's previous life, he had always been good at dealing with such matters. He clenched and unclenched his fist as he walked into the castle, ready for whatever lay ahead.
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