episode_0042

=======[Knut]========

I hate the sound of horses’ hooves.

Nightmares always come with the sound of hooves.

—-

My ancestors’ homeland, Dane, was a weak nation.

Each of the men was a great warrior, but there were not many of them.

From the moment it endlessly resisted the empire and was finally driven out as a victim, it was a country doomed to live in a state of perpetual weakness.

Fortunately, my ancestors were wise enough to foresee Dane’s fate.

Therefore, the moment the Dane Kingdom broke away from the Empire, he chose to commit himself to the Empire.

Even so, it may have been a shame to completely abandon his hometown, although the land he settled in was near the border with the Dane Kingdom.

Anyway, thanks to him, our family was able to live free from the eastern nightmare that was sweeping the Dane Kingdom.

Until that day comes.

—-

It was fall.

I remember it was the height of harvest season.

A cool breeze blew pleasantly, and golden barley filled the farmland, swaying like waves.

I could often see the village elders rejoicing, saying that this year’s crop was good.

I returned home, hung up the ax and wiped off the sweat.

“Did you just train all day today? Brother Knut. Let’s play with me sometimes…”

“Astrid, not neglecting training is a virtue of a warrior.”

My younger sister, Astrid, clung to me and whined.

He stroked the golden hair that was bouncing around his waist as if to comfort him.

“Even if you are a warrior, there is no need to fight here anyway. Brother, do you want to be a soldier?”

“Well…”

Certainly, this town was peaceful.

Although the northern and eastern parts of the empire were always at war, the war never reached here.

I had no intention of joining the imperial army.

I was able to live in peace thanks to the Empire, but it didn’t change the fact that the Empire drove my compatriots into sacrifice.

Father and father’s father. Even the ancestors above them. It was a teaching that was passed down from generation to generation so that it would never be forgotten.

Honestly, I wondered if that fact had any meaning now.

Even so, following the ancestors’ instructions was also a warrior’s duty.

“Don’t bother your brother too much, Astrid. Knut is trying to keep the oath he made to the warrior god.”

Her father came through the door and comforted Astrid.

He was carrying a deer on his shoulders.

My father was a hunter.

“Dad!”

Astrid approached her father and hugged him.

In the kitchen, my mother welcomed me and my father.

“Thank you for your hard work, Sven. Today I will be able to eat deer meat for the first time in a while.”

“Yes. I’ve been there.”

Astrid cheered at her mother’s words.

Astrid’s father hugged her and walked towards her mother.

Both of them were smiling brightly looking at Astrid.

okay. Something like this happened…

—-

Swear.

What was my first vow?

Did you say you would become stronger to protect your sister and family?

Funny.

—-

The village burned down.

It was Kahar’s doing.

For the first time since the Berengeria Wall was built, a powerful army succeeded in bypassing the wall and advancing.

It was an attack by Ishangior, led by the giant Orhan.

All the men except me died that day.

Terrible blood, screaming, ugly laughter, and the sound of horses’ hooves filled the entire village.

My father, who was fighting back, was impaled on the blade of a horseman’s spear and lost his life.

To follow my father’s will to protect my younger sister, I picked up Astrid and ran.

The house was already on fire.

I couldn’t meet my mother. Even after that.

I hope that my mother was able to follow my father without being caught by them.

I ran away, leaving behind the village that was dyed red.

My younger sister’s tears were so hot that they seemed to be boiling down my spine.

I couldn’t run away for very long.

In the end, he was hit by an arrow in the leg and collapsed, groaning.

Astrid, who was carrying him, rolled to the side.

“…Bölberg.”

In the end, preparing for the inevitable fight, he grabbed the ax and chanted the name of the warrior god.

A giant riding a large horse put away his bow and raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at me.

A body that resembles a rock rather than a person.

Black eyes that seem to burn like coal.

He was a man who seemed to have brought a monster from a fairy tale into reality.

Behind the man, a girl was seen riding a smaller horse.

It was a child with flowing black hair and wearing a long sword that did not suit him.

The precious blue eyes looked at me expressionlessly.

I rushed at the man with my ax raised.

I had to somehow defeat it, steal its horse, and run.

– Quaaa!

With a single blow, the ax shattered and blood spurted out.

It was an attack that I couldn’t even guess where and how it happened.

My legs lost strength and I fell to the floor.

“Oppaaa!”

Astrid, who was running towards me while crying, was caught by the man’s hand.

Astrid, holding on tightly to her arms, stumbled and resisted.

“Hmm. This kid seems to be about the same age as you. Would you like to receive a gift from even a female slave, Hashal?”

The man let out a disgusted sound.

I coughed up blood and wriggled desperately.

in action…! Stand up and fight…!

Even though I gritted my teeth and twisted my body, my legs had no strength.

Wake up!

What did you swear for, Knut?

I dug into the dirt with my fingers and crawled, struggling.

The half-lifted upper body fell back to the ground with its elbows bent.

The bleeding was so heavy.

Consciousness began to blur.

No. I have to protect my younger sister, Astrid…!

“…No need. Whether you kill him or give it to another warrior, do whatever you want.”

The girl called Hashal turned her head and answered in a cold voice.

The man walked away from the girl, holding onto Astrid.

no. It can’t be like this. Warrior God, please…!

Beyond my fading vision, I saw my younger sister crying and reaching out to me.

—-

It was Dane’s compatriots who saved me from dying.

Did you say that you crossed the border and arrived at the village, following Kahar’s raid?

The imperial army, which was supposed to protect the border, was defeated by Kahar and fled.

It was truly ironic.

—-

For the next four years, I devoted myself to training as if I had thrown my life away.

My sister’s safety had already been given up.

There is no way the child who was dragged away by those demons would be alive. I was sure of that.

Until I heard from the Dane knights that they had found a slave named Astrid, Sven’s daughter.

He threw the ax and ran like crazy.

Astrid. My sister, Astrid…!

He was alive, he was there…! He was alive…!

Oh God! Thank you, warrior god!

Joy mingled with my steps.

…until I saw that child.

—-

Astrid.

no.

The woman who was Astrid was lying in a hospital bed.

She had nothing.

Eyes, tongue, arms, legs.

All that was left of my sister was her body wrapped in bandages.

Even that is about to go out.

I hugged my sister, who was taking her last breath in my arms, and swore anew, shedding bloody tears.

I will sacrifice my life to kill all of those demons.

—-

While fighting Kahar in Dane while hiding his identity, he heard an unbelievable story.

Rumor has it that the empire has decided to accept Kahar.

The story was that the princess of Kahar, Hashar Aishangior, came to the empire as a token.

I remember that name.

The name of the girl who was watching from behind Orhan that day.

The devil’s daughter.

Before I knew it, I was a ghost who had grown up and slaughtered my compatriots just like my father.

I was just hoping to meet you on the battlefield.

Peace…? Are you going to bow down to the empire now?

I can’t understand it.

I can’t forgive.

I returned to the Empire with the ax in hand.

Since my identity was still that of an imperial citizen, it wasn’t that difficult.

The Dane Kingdom had been in contact with the Danes, who had imperial nationality, and had already created an intelligence organization within the empire.

With their help, she was able to enter the academy she was attending.

—-

The woman I met for the first time in 8 years was quite different from my previous memories.

Height has grown significantly. Blue eyes with dulled ears.

He had a grumpy attitude and always had a magic candle in his mouth.

Neither the freezing coldness that I felt when I first saw him nor the madness of the massacre that I had heard about was visible.

Except for the hideous flesh and the foul bloody smell that is deeply ingrained in his body.

The smell of my compatriot’s blood.

I watched her fight as if she was tracking down prey.

Just like his father, he had strength beyond human strength.

Like an animal, he fights according to his instincts and uses violent movements without hesitation.

Considering that it is somewhat weaker than rumored, is it that it is hiding its strength?

I guess that means they are also conscious of me.

On the other hand, when she was not fighting, the woman looked almost like a girl with a bad temper.

The way he was joking and laughing with the half-racial girl, or chatting with the boy named Damien and the girl next to him, didn’t look like a devil at all.

It occurred to me that perhaps saying that I wanted peace might not be a lie.

Like a wolf with its own leash.

As if he was trying to suppress his true nature and become tamed.

So, do you think I will leave it alone?

I didn’t forget my oath.

I still remember my father’s death.

I still remember my mother’s laughter.

Astrid’s last moments…I will never forget them.

I’ll throw your daughter’s head through a spear, Orhan.

Come fight the Empire again.