Price of Management

* * *

Everywhere Patrick looked, it was hard to find the path because they were all the same green logs. But that's not what the nomads who were born here look like. First Battalion Commander Balac leads the way on Patrick's behalf, and soon arrives at a hidden location.

“Dig the ground. ”

As soon as I gave the order, the crew got off their horses and started digging. After selling for a long time, a sack of food appeared. Each sack contained a bottle of dried meat, biscuits, and wine.

The men who saw the wine looked at Patrick eagerly.

“Fine. Let's have a drink today. ”

“Waaaah!”

“However, excessive drinking is prohibited. If the enemy shows up, we might have to go on horseback. ”

“Old-fashioned! ”

“You're drunk and you're fine! ”

“Wa-ha-ha!”

Their own little banquet was held there.

Dry meat had to be chewed hard, and hard biscuits had to be crushed with a knife and soaked in wine, but the Condol Cavalry enjoyed a sweet time. Happy to be able to spend this time in the area.

Patrick, who doesn't drink that much, empties out a bottle of wine on his own. I wanted to wash some feelings that were tied to my chest with alcohol.

“Are you all right?”

“No problem. It's okay. ”

It was a special day.

As the Condol Cavalry devastated the area, all the tribes in the meadow felt fear and thought of preparing a countermeasure. Those with a strong heart decided to fight back rather than flee.

Combatable personnel have gathered in all parts of the prairie to form resistance forces.

That day, the nomadic resistance encountered by the Condol Cavalry.

Because most warriors were mobilized for war, most of them were older, retired, or young boys who were not yet warriors.

In that fight, Patrick stands at the forefront, as always.

“... One more bottle. ”

“Here you go. ”

Balac hands over the remaining bottle of wine he drank. Patrick takes a deep breath.

I barely managed to kill the old man and the boy with the weapons. He killed the most. I didn't think it would be an emotional burden for an enemy to resist with a weapon. Whenever I see the boys spraying blood on their swords, I think of my childhood.

That was really crazy. It seems like you're going crazy as many times as you swing your sword.

I felt like I was unmanned to do this.

"Unmanned"?

Patrick suddenly becomes curious.

By the way, when did I become unmanned? ’

I became a mercenary with a sword because I just wanted to live, but there was no way to say it was unmanned. It was a different concept to walk the path of nothing than carrying a weapon as a means to kill enemies for a living.

‘No, what's different? ’

Patrick learned to breeze with a slightly remembered family sword, and then, as a mercenary, he sharpened and polished it in action and served as Lord of Caroc, followed by a thorough swordsmanship by Earl Basque Kunt.

What I learned from the great unmanned Earl Basque Kunt, who became a master of error, was how to kill his enemies more efficiently, just like in the days of mercenary life.

Then the way of the unmanned will be no different than killing an army of old men and boys in broad daylight today.

It was taught to me by the master of error, so I would say martyrdom.

What the hell does that mean?

‘Just... just a form of violence. ’

Patrick wept for no reason.

What have they been so entangled with? Even though he had never been an unmanned person, since when did he become an unmanned person and only act to survive? Since when did there become guidelines for a life of justice and honor?

What is "nothing"?

‘It's just a fight. ’

Patrick jumps out of bed, putting down the bottle. Walk out to where no one is.

“Sir?”

Patrick doesn't hear Balac's curious voice. Standing alone, two eyes without his focus are looking at the scene of the battle in the daytime.

‘Because they are alive, they struggle to survive. ’

The rabbit grazes the grass, and the wolf just lives, like a fang in the rabbit's neck.

Nothing is alive. It was to do with this living body.

If so, am I alive?

"Am I alive? ’

Those questions filled my head.

It was not the answer to the question of reason.

It was to ask the breasts.

I don't really know what I know with my head. Acceptance with your heart is a true realization.

Patrick's mind was in the middle of the bloody battlefield one day.

Srung...

The sword is drawn.

As the sun sets, Patrick starts swinging his sword alone. He dances by himself, but in Patrick's position, he slashes his enemies with a lively sword.

But I kept coming up with one question.

Am I alive? ’

Ecstatic.

I forgot everything and became conscious of the deep questions.

pushed.

Where he was, what he was doing, it was all erased from his mind, and only the question lingered in his mind.

Am I alive?

Patrick doesn't realize it.

His movements are getting closer and closer to perfection.

Years ago, I went to Orion with Lord Carroc. That's when I met Master Joel Britain and had the chance to challenge him.

“Did you say Sir Condol? Would you like to have a duel? ”

Yes, I want to

Duke Brighton overpowered Patrick in an instant.

“I'll give you two more chances. ”

Thank you, but it won't be easy for you this time.

Duke Britain grabbed Patrick's sleeve and beat him.

There's only one chance left.

“I'll go first this time. ”

Duke Britain strikes first with aggression. And at that moment, a terrifying life erupted.

Yeah, it is.

I remembered.

That life was really scary and painful then. I tried to think again, but I couldn't help but remember the horror of that moment. Duke Britain strikes to kill with his blade raised. He is a beast.

“A talented young friend. Remember how scary I am. ”

I remember very well, but now I'm not so afraid of you.

“The road to the Master is far, far away. If you don't know the way, you won't reach it. So I will be your path. Impress me today. It's so scary and overwhelming that you won't even dare to stand up to it. But over time, when I have the confidence to confront me someday..."

It is no longer scary and overwhelming I can stand against you all I want. I'm confident now.

“Only then did you become a master. ”

"Ah!"

A ritual deeply submerged beneath the surface slowly begins to come out. I started to feel the sensation of moving my arms and legs violently again.

Yes, it is.

I felt it.

"Alive!"

After a brief moment of forgetting everything and enjoying the senses of being pushed all over again, Patrick was impressed for no reason.

He was alive.

It was living like this.

You're free!

I felt like I had forgotten something a long time ago.

Extend your arms and legs. Swing the sword freely, as your heart desires.

Why didn't I know that?

In fact, I was so free, I lived a confined life as if I were confined to the body.

Patrick is ecstatic with a ferocious sword. Balac and the rest of the crew stopped chatting and stared at him dazed.

Another great legend is about to be born in the Meadows of the Horn Empire.

Legend of a time when no longer existed, the so-called mercenary king.

[Continues in 20 books]