Ch.9292. The One Who Sings the Ballsong Saga

Brynhild Vanir was a named character who could never be encountered unless the player progressed through the Sigurd Invasion part.

She was a character belonging to the Sigurd Tribal Alliance who had an approximately 80% chance of dying if the player didn’t intervene in the main scenario. Even in the 20% chance she survived, she would wander the border regions seeking revenge against the Empire before ultimately meeting a lonely death.

Of course, even if one progressed through the Sigurd Invasion part, recruiting her as a companion was difficult. Relations between the Tribal Alliance and the Empire were poor, and since their first meeting occurred during wartime, hostility levels were nearly through the roof.

In such circumstances, abruptly asking her to become a companion would never result in her joining.

There was, however, a method to recruit Brynhild. Among users, the established route was to pursue the non-Academy path.

Brynhild understood what it meant to flee the Empire without completing the Blue Blood Certification. Considering that one must have had desperate reasons to escape, she would accept the player as a dependent of the tribe.

From there, gradually building trust would eventually lead to recognition as a tribal member, at which point she could finally be recruited as a companion.

However, this method carried the risk of being unable to recruit companions from the Empire’s side, making it an unpopular approach.

Naturally, not many people played the non-Academy route in the first place.

But isn’t it the nature of veteran players to find a way through any visible angle? If there was a wall that could be challenged, they would somehow find and exploit a glitch.

Gilbert wasn’t that type; he was aiming for all achievements, but the principle was the same.

And there was one achievement related to Brynhild.

Moreover, it was an extremely difficult achievement that could only be completed while on the Academy route.

But so what?

Gilbert grinned.

An achievement that stimulated his desire for challenge actually made his mouth water.

When asked why climb a mountain, people often answer: because it’s there.

This was the same.

An achievement that wasn’t at 100%? How could he tolerate that?

That was no joke at all.

***

Brynhild acknowledged that the Imperial knight riding the giant war beast before her was no pushover.

She was a great warrior, one of the few in the Tribal Alliance.

How long had it been since she had fought dozens of exchanges without reaching a conclusion?

That alone was enough to make her heart pound with excitement.

If this hadn’t been a battlefield determining the tribe’s survival, she might have exchanged names and tested each other’s skills without ulterior motives.

But that was a pointless supposition. This was a battlefield where victory was necessary by any means.

Besides, wasn’t her opponent an Imperial, whom she despised?

Exchanging names, a sacred act, would be a luxury.

However, unlike the despicable Imperials, this one didn’t rush at her recklessly when she created distance. Perhaps they were thinking something similar to her.

It was worth confirming.

“Who are you?”

[Gilbert Lion Heart. The commander-in-chief of this war.]

A bold, thick voice.

Though she couldn’t see his face, she could tell he was a man of integrity.

Commander-in-chief?

Brynhild was somewhat surprised. Her perception of Imperials was that they only knew how to hide cowardly behind others.

Yet the Imperial before her stood at the vanguard despite holding a position equivalent to the Great Chieftain.

This was an act showing the highest valor and honor in the Sigurd Tribal Alliance.

Brynhild abandoned her previous contemptuous attitude. Her opponent was a warrior worthy of respect.

“I am Brynhild Vanir. Great Warrior of the Sigurd Tribal Alliance.”

[Great Warrior of the Sigurd Tribal Alliance, I have a proposal.]

Normally, she would have swung her sword without listening, but having acknowledged him as a warrior, she was willing to hear his proposal.

Regardless of what he proposed, a war of life and death was inevitable.

However.

[I request a Volsung Saga.]

“W-what?”

Brynhild was shocked by this unexpected request.

She had never imagined an Imperial would remember that ancient tradition.

A saga is an epic. A story, a tradition passed down to future generations.

Among them, the Volsung Saga was a warriors’ duel depicting battles to be passed down to posterity.

A desperate fight between only two people, without any external assistance.

That was the Volsung Saga.

Brynhild couldn’t understand how an Imperial knew about this old tradition, which few even in the Sigurd Tribal Alliance were aware of.

What should I do?

Normally, outright refusal would be the right choice.

The Volsung Saga was a duel ritual wagering valor and honor.

The victor could make one demand of the loser, binding them in a covenant that must be kept.

Rationally, she shouldn’t accept. Even if it meant dishonor as a Great Warrior, this war carried the future of the tribe.

Of course, she had no intention of losing the Volsung Saga. But she couldn’t guarantee victory.

Even from their brief exchange, she had felt that this Imperial called Gilbert possessed exceptional skill.

If she were to lose the Volsung Saga, how could she bear the consequences?

The right decision now was to refuse, even at the cost of dishonor.

[Descendants of Sigurd! Prepare for the Volsung Saga!]

Just as she made her difficult decision, the Great Chieftain’s shout came from behind.

At his command, the giant war beast unit guarding her withdrew in perfect order.

What is this fool doing?

She hurriedly connected a communication spell to Tarhal, who was suddenly doing something stupid.

“What are you doing, you idiot!”

[You really have no filter with the Great Chieftain, do you?]

Unable to contain her rising anger, she shouted, and Tarhal shook his head.

No matter how great a warrior she was, being this brash wouldn’t help her find a man.

As her only blood relative and older brother, Tarhal worried about that.

“Of course! Have you lost your mind, ordering to prepare for a Volsung Saga?”

[Not at all. I’m perfectly sane.]

“Then what were you thinking? Don’t you know once it’s declared, it can’t be taken back?”

The Volsung Saga duel ritual was an offering to the ancestors.

Once the start was declared, it could not be stopped until a winner and loser emerged.

[That’s precisely why we must do it. Once you acknowledged that Imperial as a warrior, refusal became impossible.]

“But…!”

[I understand your concern. But we are descendants of Sigurd. Even if extinction is imminent, we must not forget our roots.]

“That’s…”

[Great Warrior Brynhild Vanir. Return victorious against that arrogant Imperial warrior, with the tribe’s honor at stake.]

“I accept your command, Great Chieftain.”

Brynhild sighed.

She had anticipated this since the Imperial mentioned the Volsung Saga.

Born as warriors, living as warriors, and dying as warriors—that was the way of Sigurd’s descendants.

Even facing extinction, this aspect could not change.

“Gilbert, was it? I’ve kept you waiting. I, Great Warrior Brynhild, descendant of Sigurd, will participate in the Volsung Saga.”

[I, Gilbert, Shield of the Empire, will participate in the Volsung Saga.]

As the Imperial soldiers behind also withdrew, an inexplicable light enveloped Brynhild and Gilbert before disappearing.

It was the signal marking the beginning of the Volsung Saga.

Brynhild gripped the controls of her giant war beast.

She firmly resolved to win, preserve honor, and save her tribe.

***

[You have discovered a branching point in the main scenario “Sigurd Invasion.”]

[Achievement “Volsung Saga with the Imperial Warrior” completed.]

[Hidden route “One Who Sings the Volsung Saga” will proceed.]

Gilbert grinned at the message windows appearing.

The prerequisites for his perfect clear had been met.

He had found this hidden route thanks to his achievement hunting.

While organizing his remaining achievements as usual, he discovered one with a peculiar name.

“Volsung Saga with the Imperial Warrior.”

An achievement that could only be completed by gaining recognition as a warrior from the Sigurd Alliance and proceeding with the Volsung Saga.

At first, he thought it was an interesting achievement to attempt, but the conditions proved more difficult than expected.

On the non-Academy route, it was impossible to be recognized as an Imperial warrior.

Staying with the Empire resulted in hostility levels too high to proceed.

The route he discovered after exploring various options was to be recognized as a warrior after clashing with Brynhild and then requesting the Volsung Saga.

Of course, this route also had several requirements.

A certain level of fame and ability was necessary.

The current Gilbert had accumulated enough fame to be appointed commander-in-chief. As a 5th-rank knight, his abilities more than met the conditions.

His only concern was whether a hidden route existed here as well.

A hidden route was an alternative way to clear the main scenario.

To put it simply, it was like the true ending hidden in a multi-ending game.

And the hidden route “One Who Sings the Volsung Saga” was a beneficial route that could achieve the “Zero Unit Loss on Clear” achievement depending on how it was played.

Gilbert was confident that this was the definition of killing two birds with one stone.

All that remained was to defeat Brynhild.

The victor of the Volsung Saga could demand anything from the loser, and the loser must accept regardless of circumstances.

In Tactical Combat, this was called a covenant, and Gilbert could achieve the Zero Unit Loss achievement through it.

For that, he had to win the Volsung Saga, but…

“Let’s go, CT.”

[Understood, Gil.]

Gilbert had no confidence.

No confidence in losing.