Ch.59Chapter 59: Subjugation Festival (3)

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As our march toward the barren, frigid horizon neared its end, Night Haven—our gathering point for the duration of the subjugation festival—suddenly revealed itself.

It appeared instantaneously at my sister’s call, having cleverly deceived our vision through some form of magical barrier.

True to its name, which means “sanctuary for knights,” this fortress city was designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the northern territory.

While its overall scale couldn’t compare to the Empire’s major cities or even an average mid-sized town,

I could easily tell how much effort the Empire had invested in building this small fortress from the moment it revealed its presence.

Just look at the magical protective barrier that had concealed it—covering a considerable area and deceiving many eyes.

‘They can’t do this in the Imperial capital.’

The maintenance costs for the mana stones needed to sustain this magical barrier would make many magic scholars dizzy with calculations.

‘If I remember correctly, they sometimes extract hearts from dragon zombies that migrate south through the Dragon Claw Mountains and feed them into the mana channels.’

Just recalling knowledge from my previous timeline filled me with amazement.

Among the mana crystals used to power the mana channels that ensure the comfort of imperial citizens in the Empire’s capital, Solar Urubus, dragon hearts from ancient dragons are considered the highest grade.

Even though these hearts from undead dragons are of lower quality, they’re still being used to maintain this small fortress. Anyone would be surprised to hear this.

‘That just shows how important this place is.’

Maintaining this fortress as the forward base for the subjugation festival to stop southward-migrating monsters is one of the most crucial elements of the Emperor’s domestic policy.

No matter how expensive building and maintaining this fortress might be,

Compared to the wasteful expenditure of national treasury and manpower that occurred in the distant past before this fortress was built—when large-scale troops had to be conscripted and deployed on long-distance expeditions every one to three years—this is incredibly cost-effective.

‘There’s a reason why the heads of prestigious families responsible for one-tenth of the Empire’s annual tax revenue send their children here regardless of their cradle, no matter what.’

Literally.

This fortress.

If it’s not properly defended and gets destroyed, the taxes owed to His Majesty the Sun Emperor will increase.

In my previous timeline, I’d abandoned all responsibility and fallen to the status of a mere mercenary, so I’d let such trivial facts go in one ear and out the other.

But visiting this place now as a student of the Cradle and a scion of a prestigious family supporting the Empire, I truly realized the importance of this fortress.

‘Let’s do well. Do well.’

With that heavy sense of responsibility, I organized my tasks in my head.

Creeeeak-!!

Not long after passing through the fortress gate, I heard it close behind me with a loud noise.

Having moved past thoughts about the magical barrier protecting the fortress, my eyes were now taking in something else.

It was the harmonious blend of building materials and the craftsmanship of the artisans who finished them—easily revealing that the Empire’s latest architectural technology had been employed in constructing this fortress.

Truly, this fortress displayed elements that would amaze anyone—no, anyone setting foot here for the first time.

The Empire’s consideration for easing the burden on Imperial Knights who would toil under harsh working conditions had permeated throughout.

From accommodations that would put high-end lodgings in decent-sized cities to shame,

To the commercial district equipped with various amenities to relieve mental fatigue no less burdensome than physical exhaustion,

Each element was carefully designed to boost the morale of Imperial Knights who would spend considerable time in this fortress city.

It was almost appropriate to use the contradictory expression “small-scale metropolis.”

And there would be very few people who wouldn’t express amazement at the sight of this fortress city.

Only myself, having experienced this fortress in a previous timeline,

And my sister, for whom this place was essentially her workplace,

Would likely be the only two.

Suddenly curious about how the others would react to their first time here, I thought,

‘I should watch them carefully.’

Having made that decision, I shifted my gaze from examining the fortress to observing the reactions of those walking ahead of me.

First, Excel.

“Hmm…”

Though it seemed like a simple murmur, his expression suggested otherwise.

Unlike his slightly dazed expression while following my sister, he was now looking around the fortress with a rather serious, rational expression.

Even a rotten fish is still a fish—it was reassuring to see that, befitting a scion of a prestigious family, he knew how to adjust his behavior according to the situation.

“No matter how impressive a fortress might be, compared to the sister’s back view I was watching until just now…”

…Cancel that.

[Arthur would really cry. He really would.]

For once, I agree with Fafnir’s voice echoing in my head.

Turning my head again, I looked toward Dan, who wore the most serious expression of anyone here.

“To cast an invisibility spell over such a wide area…”

I heard his voice, awestruck at the traces of incredible magic.

As expected, though in a different category, he had the most magical knowledge among our group.

The impressive scale of the invisibility spell activated to protect this fortress seemed to have made quite an impression on him.

‘At least that’s normal.’

Though his voice betrayed him momentarily, I could see he was trying to maintain a composed expression.

Deciding there was nothing more to observe, I turned my head again, this time toward Rufus.

“Hmm…”

A sudden murmur escaped his lips.

Accompanied by an equally gloomy expression.

What’s wrong with him?

Is he shocked to see such an ultra-modern fortress not far from his family’s territory?

“I must immediately suggest to the family head that we build a fortress city of this caliber at our border.”

…Stop that, or your border earldom will go bankrupt.

Well, he’ll realize the reality eventually.

That seemed enough observation of Rufus.

Despite their initial outbursts, Excel and the other two were now calmly examining various parts of the fortress.

Though they didn’t show it outwardly, it wasn’t hard to tell they were quite impressed by the reality of Night Haven, which they had only heard about in rumors.

And watching them, I thought,

‘That’s nothing to be amazed about.’

I barely suppressed a bitter smile and continued walking silently.

Remembering the simple fact that no matter how impressive a fortress might be, it’s the quality of its garrison that determines whether it serves its purpose.

I walked on with the mischievous thought that while Excel and Rufus might be fine, Dan might faint from shock when he saw the full view of this place just a few more steps ahead.

Though it was a bit mean, I understood their feelings.

Who wouldn’t be surprised?

A fortress suddenly revealing itself, having been hidden by a magical barrier in what was believed to be an empty plain.

Only Shizu, who stayed close to me and expressed pure admiration without showing surprise despite seeing this place for the first time, seemed unusual.

By the way, how did she detect the fortress’s presence during our march?

Even I, with experience from a previous timeline, had only vaguely sensed the fortress through the flow of fighting spirit from far away when we first started marching.

I recalled her calm expression, looking toward where the fortress towers would be, as if saying “Here it comes!” the moment my sister gave the stop signal.

Unlike me who wasn’t good at anything,

Was it your exceptional ability to sense things through your fighting spirit, which was superior to anyone else’s even before awakening your special talent?

…Well, that must be it.

Thinking about how she would overcome all sorts of adverse conditions in the not-too-distant future and become a hero standing at humanity’s pinnacle, it wasn’t really surprising.

If it were me from the previous timeline, I would have felt unwarranted jealousy and inferiority seeing you like this, harboring twisted thoughts.

But now, after a long time has passed and I’ve returned to the starting point,

Seeing you excel even in these small aspects, only your brilliance was being etched into my eyes.

Recalling the crisp night air when we honed our skills together, saving even sleeping time, with the moonlight as our companion.

“Ah…!”

Suddenly, Shizu let out a sigh beside me.

Hmm…?

Why is she sighing suddenly?

Did she see something strange?

Though various assumptions began forming in my mind in that brief moment,

“Cal, you’re smiling.”

The moment I saw you smiling broadly while saying this,

“Ah. Your mouth corners are rising too much. Hehe.”

I could hear Shizu saying that my expression was so uncontrolled that I needed a mirror right away.

Ah, I can’t control my expression this time either.

Today, regardless of the direction of emotions I harbor in my heart, whenever I think of you, I strangely can’t manage my expressions well.

As a result, you, watching me from beside, can read all my inner feelings.

“Why are you suddenly smiling so brightly?”

Perhaps because she had seen me maintaining a calm or gloomy expression since our spatial transfer to the northern territory, Shizu asked why I was suddenly smiling.

In the past, I would have dismissed it saying it was nothing, not giving a proper answer to the question.

But not now.

“Because there’s something uniquely shining in front of me in this dreary place.”

I simply honestly conveyed the thought I held.

Revealing emotions I couldn’t possibly hide while looking at you, in a subtle way.

Well, it wasn’t that direct an expression, so this should be fine, right?

But Shizu’s reaction to my expression was much more dramatic than I expected.

“U…um.”

She suddenly stammered and even bowed her head deeply, trying not to meet my gaze.

…Why is she acting like that?

There’s no need to be embarrassed by this level of expression.

[Oh… my goodness.]

Fafnir’s teasing voice echoed in my head again.

[Lumen, your descendant seems to have a thicker face than you.]

He spoke in a very polite manner, different from his usual casual way of addressing me.

My head was already aching from Shizu’s sudden strange behavior.

And now I was about to face a dragon behaving strangely in my head, making my headache worse.

After keeping silent repeatedly, it seemed like his speech had finally opened up, but if I let him continue, my head would hurt more, so,

‘Please be quiet, it’s noisy.’

I inwardly requested silence.

[Ha….]

Fortunately, Fafnir’s voice, with a sigh close to lamentation, was not heard again.

‘I’m dizzy, so dizzy.’

Thinking I wouldn’t be able to respond properly during the upcoming “event” at this rate,

I began preparing for a quick reorganization.

The procedure wasn’t complicated.

First, I raised both hands to my head.

Tap tap tap

Then, joining the three fingers—index to ring—of both hands, I lightly tapped my head.

It was a gesture I’d often made since childhood to intentionally cool my head when thoughts became complicated.

The effect was tremendous.

With each tap on my head, complicated thoughts escaped outward.

‘Phew….’

After sighing inwardly with relief at the successful reorganization,

I accelerated my pace toward the fortress interior and moved to stand right beside my sister at the front.

My sister, who had been walking with her gaze fixed straight ahead, sensed my presence and slowly turned her head toward me as she spoke.

“It’s quieter than I expected. When I first saw this, I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t speak. Is that happening to you too?”

In response to my sister’s question directed at me—who, unlike the others, hadn’t shown any particular emotion while entering this place—I slowly shook my head and said,

“Seeing the flow of fighting spirit from inside, I don’t think I should be surprised by this.”

I gave a smoothly oiled answer, and,

“…”

My sister, who had maintained a calm expression since setting foot in the northern territory, changed her expression slightly as her eyes widened.

“Oh ho…”

She uttered a short exclamation.

“My cute little brother. Seems you weren’t just playing around at the Cradle if you can sense all this.”

My sister’s expression was filled with satisfaction.

It seemed that compared to the lack of good news she’d heard about me, my actual appearance in person was more satisfactory than she had thought.

But I couldn’t just be happy about my sister’s reaction because,

“This energy is so obvious that it would be strange not to sense it.”

Honestly, wouldn’t the person who can’t sense this be the problem?

I can hear it all clearly now.

Boom-! Booom-! Boom-!

The disciplined footsteps that seemed both boisterous yet orderly,

And the vibrations coming through the soles of my feet, making it feel like the ground was shaking slightly.

These were traces unmistakably created by the welcoming crowd awaiting us.

Surely even the others, not just Shizu, would feel this?

Thinking so, I turned my head to observe how they would react to the welcoming footsteps reaching their ears, but,

“…”

Except for Shizu, the others were so distracted by this increasingly amazing fortress that they were just looking around the interior.

“Hmm…”

I scratched the back of my head and was about to speak to draw their attention, but my sister beside me raised her hand to stop me.

“Hehe… Leave them be. I was like that too. They need to experience it once.”

Hearing my sister laugh lightly while looking at the three, my worry lessened somewhat, though not completely.

…They shouldn’t be so unfocused.

Soon there will be a warm, affectionate initiation ceremony for the Cradle students participating in the subjugation festival.

If they’re careless, they might end up confined to the fortress without any practical experience.

With such thoughts, I continued walking, and just as we were about to enter the barracks located deeper beyond the central small town,

The density of fighting spirit I had faintly sensed since setting foot in the northern territory reached its peak, and,

“Attention! Attention! Attention!”

“””!!!”””

A voice so powerful that it startled everyone except me, my sister, and Shizu filled the entire fortress.

It was so loud that my head rang despite having preemptively plugged both ears with my fingers.

‘Some things never change.’

Just like in the previous timeline.

Except for His Majesty the Sun Emperor, the long-standing tradition of the garrison here to assess the capabilities of combat personnel setting foot in this fortress for battle purposes for the first time,

The initiation ceremony begins with the resounding shout of all Imperial Knights.

…I wonder who’s waiting for us.

As long as it’s not that person with the rough voice just now, it should be fine…

“We’ve been waiting for you, Deputy Commander!”

Ah.

We’re screwed.

That person is in charge of the initiation?

We’re really screwed.

My gaze focused on the giant at the barracks entrance, clad in battle-scarred armor that exuded traces of countless battles.