Ch.8989. The Sigurdian Raid

# The Raid of the Sigurdians

The main scenario “The Raid of the Sigurdians” unfolds similarly to what’s commonly known as tower defense.

The core objective of the main scenario was to prevent the tribal coalition from invading Bismark and stop them from infiltrating the city.

It might sound easy just hearing about it, but each Sigurdian was a warrior in their own right. Most began wielding weapons as soon as they could walk and talk, and they utilized the mystical powers of their ancestral gods in battle.

Their elite warriors were said to rival even the high-ranking knights of the Infractus Empire—their military strength was not something to be taken lightly.

The Sigurdian raids, in particular, determined the fate of the tribal coalition, so the most renowned warriors from each tribe would participate, making this main scenario one of the most challenging in the game.

Because of this, the game was designed so that the story could progress even without direct player participation in the main scenario. It became a benchmark scenario that veteran players would use to test their skills.

Of course, for hardcore players like Gilbert who were obsessed with achievements or those focused on speedruns, it was known as a “filial scenario” that could be skipped if needed.

Depending on how the war unfolded, it could take up to a month of in-game time to clear, which was simply too cumbersome for achievement hunters or speedrunners.

However, most users agreed that it was appealing as the first large-scale war players could experience in Tactical Combat. That’s why quite a few users enjoyed this main scenario.

Gilbert himself used to diligently clear this main scenario before he became fixated on achievement hunting. After all, large-scale warfare using divine soldiers was always fun.

Of course, now that it had become reality, it would be better if such wars didn’t happen at all.

“Hey! Gilbert!”

“I’m busy.”

Gilbert, who was reviewing Fermo’s report, ignored Camilla who had suddenly appeared, raising one hand dismissively.

A glance at the message window showed that about one day remained.

Tactical Combat, notorious for its unfriendliness, didn’t normally notify players of raid times like this. The game’s motto seemed to be “learn or die,” so players typically learned through trial and error.

But somehow, after returning from reconnaissance, the system had notified him of the Sigurdians’ raid time through a message window. He briefly doubted whether to trust it, but ignoring a system message would be foolish.

Fermo’s analysis had also indicated that the Sigurdian raid would occur within a week, so Gilbert had been preparing based on the system’s notification. In any case, there was no harm in preparing quickly.

“You’re just working all day here! You’ll hurt yourself! You need to know when to rest!”

Camilla, who had approached him, snatched the report Gilbert was reading.

She had been quiet for a few days, which was unusual. Gilbert hadn’t expected someone like Camilla, who moved based on interest, to stay quiet for long.

In Tactical Combat, this aspect of Camilla’s personality often created variables when managing a party.

While playing the game, she would sometimes suddenly leave the party if she decided it wasn’t fun anymore.

The standard approach was to recruit Seraphina first and then add Camilla to the party, but quite a few users avoided including her due to her unpredictability.

In terms of potential, she was on par with Seraphina, but she was difficult to develop and predict, which made some users avoid her.

As for Gilbert, it depended on which achievements he was targeting in a particular playthrough. Since some achievements required her presence, he would definitely use her when clearing those achievements.

But now…

Gilbert looked at Camilla, who was waving the report with a bright smile, and fell into deep thought.

Objectively speaking, having her around now had more disadvantages than advantages.

Her unpredictable personality often led to troublesome situations. Even now, she was making a fuss about being bored while he was busy.

Judging by her sparkling eyes, she was likely to keep bothering him until he agreed to spend time with her. From this perspective alone, sending her away would be the right decision, but…

‘I don’t really know about that? I just thought Gilbert was a good person. No matter what others said, that’s what I saw in Gilbert!’

‘Are you feeling better now?’

‘You’re just working all day here! You’ll hurt yourself! You need to know when to rest!’

Most of what Camilla said to Gilbert was either comforting or showed concern for his condition.

In this world where he had suddenly been possessed and branded as a scoundrel, she was someone who saw him without prejudice and worried about him.

Perhaps it was because she moved based on interest that she could do this.

Even Seraphina, who treated him amicably, would undoubtedly move to eliminate him the moment she judged him harmful to the Empire. That’s how the Seraphina he knew was, and the Seraphina he had directly experienced was the same.

Moreover, it was thanks to Camilla that Gilbert, who couldn’t hide his anxiety during the Academy Raid part, was able to calm down. Her harmless smile had given him considerable comfort, allowing him to save Briana, whom he couldn’t save even in the game.

It would be ridiculous to push away such a benefactor just because she was a bit of a headache.

Gilbert reached out to her.

“Alright. I’ll hang out with you after I finish this report.”

“Huh? Gilbert, are you really sick…?”

Was Gilbert’s response unexpected?

Camilla, who rarely showed surprise, was taken aback.

Cautiously handing over the report, she began to genuinely worry whether Gilbert was ill.

“Is it because I was too noisy? You’re not sick, are you?”

Gilbert couldn’t help but smile at her flustered appearance. It was amusing how she had come asking him to play, but was now surprised when he agreed.

“Gasp! Gilbert, you really are sick?! I’ve never seen you smile before!”

“You’re being distracting. Be quiet. We’ll play after this.”

“Oh no! This is serious! Lily! Where are you, Lily!”

Thinking Gilbert’s condition was poor, Camilla made a fuss and ran out of the office. Her expression was so serious that anyone who didn’t know better would think Gilbert was gravely ill.

She might be distracting, but… this isn’t so bad either.

Gilbert smiled once more and began reviewing the report.

Thinking that taking a short break wasn’t such a bad idea.

***

“I’m telling you, it’s serious! Gilbert must have a terminal illness!”

“Gilbert. Is that true?”

“First Brother!!”

Damn it.

Gilbert grabbed his throbbing head as he looked at the three who had come to his office shortly after.

Perhaps seriously considering sending Camilla away wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

***

Brynhild.

Even among the Sigurdians, each a warrior in their own right, she was the great warrior of the Vanir tribe, renowned for her valor. Despite the impending war with the Empire, she was intensely focused on physical training.

With each movement, her finely defined muscles could be seen rippling. Even her extremely compressed muscles were exerting all their strength to bear the tremendous weight.

Shouting “one more,” she put in her all until the very end, and only after completing the final repetition did she throw down the iron mass she had been carrying on her back.

Thud-!

The ground dented and dust rose, but Brynhild wiped away the pouring sweat as she caught her breath.

To an observer, it might have seemed like an ascetic practice testing the limits of the body, but for her, it was routine. Each of these training sessions had accumulated to make her the great warrior Brynhild she was today.

No matter how imminent the war with the Empire was, skipping training was unthinkable for her.

“Working hard again today.”

“Especially at times like this, I can’t skip training. You got caught up by me because you skipped your training, brother.”

Tarhall, who had been quietly watching until her training ended, gave a bitter smile at his sister’s sharp words. The child who once followed him around asking to be held had now become a warrior representing their tribe.

If there was a moment to realize the passage of time, it was now.

“Why are you here? I thought the tribal council was in session.”

“The departure date has been set.”

Brynhild, who had been drinking water she had prepared, wiped her mouth at Tarhall’s words.

“Seeing you here, it must be tomorrow?”

“Yes. Tomorrow.”

Tarhall still hesitated about waging war at this moment. Considering the tribe’s situation, war was inevitable.

The situation was too dire to use peaceful methods. In just a month or two, their food reserves would be depleted.

But begging the Empire for help would likely be a worse move. The moment they showed weakness to the Empire, being torn apart was a foregone conclusion. The emotional rift between the tribes and the Empire had deepened beyond repair.

“Tomorrow will decide everything…”

“I worry that I’ve placed too heavy a burden on you.”

“It’s what I must do as the tribe’s great warrior. That’s what I’ve been training for all this time.”

Brynhild’s eyes looked at Tarhall without wavering. Tarhall thought he saw some kind of firm resolve in them.

“You’ve staked your life.”

“That’s the same for everyone. That’s what war is.”

Although waging war against the Empire was something that hadn’t happened for decades, Brynhild was an experienced warrior who had seen battle. Even within the tribal coalition, conflicts weren’t absent.

And on those battlefields, it was always the role of the great warrior, her, to stand at the vanguard. This time would be no different.

Doing her duty as the great warrior.

It was a simple and clear task.

“Yes. All we can do is pray that Sigurd watches over us.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely bring victory.”

Tarhall nodded in belief as he watched his sister quietly burning with fighting spirit.

But Tarhall was worried about what would come after.

The Empire’s strength wasn’t all visible. Even if they won tomorrow’s battle and secured food, what came after was the problem.

The Empire wasn’t made up of pacifists who would let a fight go unanswered.

They would move to deal with the tribes that had bared their fangs.

Tarhall questioned whether the coalition could stop the enraged Empire when that moment came.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, perhaps their extinction was inevitable.

May Sigurd watch over the tribe.

That was all Tarhall could do.

And the next day dawned.

[Main Scenario “The Raid of the Sigurdians” has begun.]

At last, the curtain rose on the prelude to war.