Illusion Sword Master

＜ Heading South (2) [Revised] ﹥

As we headed south from Hwangdo, there were a few things that stood out prominently.

Firstly, it was the climate.

“It’s scorching hot.”

If the inspector’s uniform wasn’t made of special material imported from the Elves, I would have shed it along with my dignity due to the heat.

Ollek, who was directly exposed to the sun on horseback, was worrying me.

“Are you okay, Ollek? We don’t need to rush, so take it easy.”

“I don’t need to worry. I’m strong enough to withstand heat and cold.”

Ollek’s incredibly sturdy body seemed to be resistant not only to shock but also to climate.

In fact, even after several days of riding outside, there wasn’t a single sunburn on his skin, which was within the range of his defensive abilities.

“I’ve been curious about this for a while. Do you, really, have special training or not?”

“Yes. I’ve only trained in swordsmanship as a knight’s disciple for a few years.”

“Then, did you perhaps get seriously ill as a child and take some mysterious medicine, or get experimented on by a crazy magician?”

“Hmm… Yes. There’s nothing special to note.”

I’ve asked him several times, but Ollek’s answer remained the same.

‘Ollek wouldn’t lie.’

It was surreal to think that such a body was natural, a wonder of the fantasy world.

Ollek wiped the sweat from his forehead and said,

“Still, the south is hot. The east is pleasant and in its prime, though.”

Unlike me, who had only been to the west and the front lines until I entered the War College and came to Hwangdo, Ollek seemed to have traveled all over the empire.

“What’s the east like?”

“Yes. The weather is great all year round. People are also relatively laid-back. At least, they were a few years ago.”

Roem, who was from there, had said something similar.

[My hometown is beautiful and peaceful. Even now, with the war raging on, it’s not accustomed to fighting.]

“I see. If I were to live a comfortable life, the east would be a good choice, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s right. The east has many scenic spots. There are countless forests and islands perfect for relaxation.”

I closed my eyes and imagined the east in my mind.

To be exact, I imagined myself free from all responsibilities, living a comfortable daily life there.

‘Perhaps an island would be better than a forest.’

By then, I would have amassed a fortune, so I would buy an island, build a mansion, and create a large brewery. I would also bring in dwarves to build a large smithy.

I would have a fox-like wife and rabbit-like children, enjoying my daily life while watching my kids grow up.

‘It can’t get any better than this.’

It was a truly sweet dream, but the more I thought about it, the more depressing it became.

‘But can this really happen?’

The dream felt too distant, too far-fetched.

“Inspector. We’ll arrive at the checkpoint soon.”

“It’s done. The horses must be tired, so let’s switch them out. We should take a break too.”

As the carriage approached the checkpoint, the soldiers stopped it and approached Ollek.

“State your identity and business.”

“The person in the carriage is Imperial Inspector Edan. I’m Ollek, his assistant inspector.”

“Do you have any proof of identity?”

I opened the door and stretched out my hand, revealing the golden imperial badge that proved my authority from the imperial court.

The soldiers looked closely, exchanging skeptical glances and whispers.

It was no surprise, given that they rarely saw an imperial badge.

“If you need to, take it and examine it closely. Just make sure to return it properly.”

The soldiers hesitated, passing the badge back and forth, seemingly unsure.

“What’s taking so long? Can’t you see it clearly?”

A officer approached me, pushing aside the soldiers.

“Glory to the Empire. Your identity has been confirmed. Please wait for a moment.”

He spoke nonchalantly and walked away, leaving me to wait without explanation.

It was an annoying behavior, but I didn’t feel particularly bad.

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for this kind of lukewarm response. It’s great to just exchange information without any fuss.”

I was relieved that my influence in the south was minimal.

Unlike the west, where people would tremble with fear and respect whenever they met me, or try to flatter me with excessive praise, the south was much more bearable.

After waiting for a few minutes, the officer who had left earlier returned with another man.

The man was a knight, clad in armor and moving with balanced movements, despite the heat.

“He’s around my age, or maybe a bit younger.”

The knight approached me, wearing a gentle smile.

“It’s an honor to meet the famous Inspector Edan. I’m Vermuth, a knight of the southern army. I’ve been waiting to guide you.”

Despite his friendly demeanor, I remained cautious.

There was no reason for the south to welcome me with such enthusiasm.

To them, the inspector’s existence was a thorn in their side, a symbol of the central government’s control.

“Thank you for your consideration, Vermuth. However, my assistant is skilled enough to find the way and handle the carriage. I wouldn’t want to waste your busy time.”

I kept my tone neutral, trying not to reveal my suspicions.

“Haha, no need to worry. There have been reports of bandits in the area, so I’ll make sure to guide you safely.”

“Is that so? But your arm seems to be injured.”

I shifted my gaze to Vermuth’s right arm, which was bandaged.

“It’s nothing serious. Injuries like this are common in battle. Guiding you is no trouble at all.”

He laughed awkwardly.

It was true that knights often got injured, but a knight who pretended to be injured was another story.

Vermuth seemed to think he could deceive me perfectly, but after dealing with them for a long time, I had developed a keen sense to detect such tricks.

“I’ll see what kind of tricks you’re up to.”

Vermuth’s movements seemed unnatural to me, not because he was injured, but because he was deliberately fixing his uninjured arm.

“Let’s see what kind of scheme you’re cooking up.”

I didn’t reveal my emotions.

Until I could understand Vermouth’s intentions and those of the emperor who sent him, I had to be cautious in my actions.

“Yes. Then I won’t refuse and will accept your help. Thank you.”

Vermouth didn’t respond to my words and instead turned to Olec, speaking harshly.

“Hey, drive straight. If you drive like those fools in the central area, I’ll break your arms.”

“……”

Olec seemed offended by Vermouth’s rudeness, but since I didn’t react, he continued driving.

I was exercising my patience.

Since I didn’t know what kind of tricks Vermouth had up his sleeve, I had to be careful in my actions.

I had chosen the southern route instead of the western one to avoid danger and trouble, so I didn’t want to cause any problems.

Luckily, I had strong patience.

‘I’ll watch over you, so just do your job.’

But that didn’t mean I was infinite.

On the way to the southern front, an unpleasant companion had appeared.

#

Vermouth had a talkative and tactless personality.

“In the east, there’s Roem Carl, in the west, there’s Sera Zephir. And in the south, we have Mencius Admine. And in the central area, there’s you, right? During our magic academy days, people called us the ‘Four Heavenly Kings.’ Who came up with such a childish nickname?”

“I don’t know. There are always people who like to gossip. Giving nicknames is their hobby.”

Or maybe he was trying to provoke me, speaking carelessly and testing my patience.

“I heard you have a deep connection with the Duke of Zephir’s daughter. Does the Duke, known for being strict, allow your relationship?”

“I did attend school with the Duke’s daughter and we have a bond from our time on the battlefield, but that’s all.”

“Hmm. The Duke wouldn’t welcome a commoner son-in-law, would he? Ah, I forgot – you’re not a commoner, but a junior noble, right?”

“You don’t need to worry about it. I’m committed to my responsibilities, not my social status.”

It was clear that he was trying to provoke me, speaking rudely and testing my reactions.

‘I can hear the sound of your eyes rolling.’

But it didn’t work on me, who had eaten a lifetime of bitter experiences.

When I responded calmly and avoided the provocation, Vermouth increased the intensity of his remarks.

“How about the south? Isn’t it a place where real men are born and raised? Isn’t it different from the west or the central area?”

“Regionalism and factionalism are chronic problems in the empire. As an inspector, it’s difficult for me to comment on that.”

I gave a calm and appropriate response.

“I heard you single-handedly defeated the bandit leader, Bushaku. Is that true?”

“It’s an exaggerated story. I did defeat him, but I had help from others.”

“I knew it. Rumors are unreliable. If liars work together, even a coward can be packaged as a hero, right?”

Now, Vermouth didn’t even bother hiding his intention to provoke me, but I wasn’t particularly angry.

‘That’s just the truth.’

You can mock or insult me all you want. Just don’t cross the line I’ve drawn.

─ Thud!

The carriage suddenly shook violently.

It was because we had changed direction suddenly.

“I apologize! We had to change course suddenly because of the demons in the area, so please bear with us!”

Mabuseok’s Olec shouted.

Beyond the window, gigantic beastly figures appeared in the distance. As the day grew dark, the surroundings turned gloomy, and the characteristic red glow of the demonic eyes gleamed eerily.

I looked at Bermus.

“What is this kid?”

The carriage had not deviated from the path he had told us, yet the demonic eyes had appeared.

“I heard that Bermus’ escort was to guide us to a safe route.”

“Hahaha… There’s no need to be modest. The situation at the front lines changes daily, doesn’t it? Moreover, it seems like the inspector’s subordinates are incompetent at handling the carriage.”

Bermus spoke brazenly.

Despite his words, his attitude was calm, as if the current situation was unfolding according to his plan.

I roughly grasped his intentions.

The guidance was just an excuse, and he was actually trying to throw us into the midst of the demonic eyes.

“Heh heh heh. This little brat keeps testing people.”

I lowered my voice and said.

“Bermus, I have a strong sense of patience. I can laugh off most insults. However, there’s one thing I can’t tolerate. Do you know what it is?”

“I’m not particularly curious, but do I need to know?”

It wasn’t a question expecting a response. I continued speaking without regard.

“It’s when an accident occurs while riding the carriage. As someone who’s always busy, I want to rest while moving.”

I conveyed my sincere, long-held desire.

“Heh, it sounds like a threat, saying that something will happen to me if I don’t do as you say. Inspector, this is the southern region.”

“It’s not a threat, but a request.”

It was genuinely a request.

“I understand what you’re saying, but no matter what happens, isn’t it just an ‘accident’? Shouldn’t you blame your own misfortune rather than me?”

─ Thud!

The carriage shook violently again.

This time, it was due to an emergency stop.

“Ah, it’s finally happening.”

I hastily opened the carriage door and got out.

The scenery outside the window was a manifestation of my worst fears.

Olec, who had been thrown out of the driver’s seat, was lying on the ground, and dozens of demonic eyes surrounded us.

“This is bad. I want to help, but… my arm is like this.”

Bermus, who had followed me out, said with a sly smile, holding out his broken arm.

“It’s finally crossed the line.”

I drew my Black Thunder and alternated my gaze between Bermus and the demonic eyes.

“Which one should I take care of first?”

The conclusion was the demonic eyes.

They were more hateful.

I would deal with the remaining one later, taking my time.

#

Bermus hated Inspector Edan.

He disliked the inspector’s dispatch, which was an interference from the central government, and he disliked it even more because the inspector was Edan.

“‘That despicable wizard who brought down the esteemed Deimbat Lord.'”

He was the arch-nemesis of Deimbat Lord, the knight he respected.

Of course, Deimbat Lord had committed a crime by colluding with the criminal organization in the imperial capital and engaging in interspecies human trafficking.

But, couldn’t it be justified?

Was it really a huge mistake to make the dwarves work for humans?

The empire’s laws were the empire’s laws, and the knights of the south had their own laws.

Even the prince didn’t see it as a problem; instead, he took Deimbat Lord’s side and presided over the duel trial.

However, Ethan won the duel.

Deimbat Lord’s honor was shattered.

He lost to a wizard, not even a fellow knight, in a one-on-one duel.

“It’s unbelievable.”

Burm couldn’t accept it. Deimbat Lord, defeated by a wizard, and a novice at that?

“He must have used underhanded tactics.”

Although he didn’t witness it himself, he was convinced of it. Perhaps Ethan had lured him into a trap and struck unexpectedly.

[Ethan, you fought well. You’re a talented individual.]

When Burm asked the prince about the details, he only replied with this.

As a knight, it was shameful to distrust the words of his lord, but Burm didn’t believe it.

“You’re saying that to save Deimbat Lord’s face, aren’t you?”

Knights in the south considered each other as brothers. If Deimbat Lord, his brother, was wronged, he had to avenge him.

One day, he would find him and make him kneel, inflicting all sorts of humiliation.

However, the opportunity didn’t come easily.

Ethan, that existence, rose too quickly and went beyond Burm’s reach.

He became the Imperial Inspector and achieved brilliant results on the western front.

He even gained the favor of the First and Third Princes, and rumors spread that he was closely related to the daughter of the powerful noble, Duke Zeper.

The despicable wizard who brought down the esteemed Deimbat Lord was becoming the hero of the legendary tale. Burm couldn’t accept this either.

“This can’t be true.”

Didn’t the nobles in the central government, including the First Prince’s faction, deceive people as easily as eating a meal?

They must have exaggerated the rumors and fabricated his achievements to portray him as a hero.

The testimony of Menka Admin, Ethan’s colleague from the Magic Academy, also played a significant role in solidifying this thought.

[Ethan? Every time I saw him, he ran away. He was afraid of dueling and didn’t do well.]

When he casually asked the newly appointed southern inspector about Ethan, he received this response.

Could a coward like that be a hero who dominated the front lines?

“I’ll strip away his exaggerated reputation and reveal his true, ugly face someday.”

Finally, the opportunity arrived.

The Imperial Inspector was coming to the south.

[Inspector Ethan is coming to the south, not the west. Burm, didn’t you want to know what kind of person Ethan is? Go and find out what he’s plotting. Is he coming to help us or to pick a fight?]

Coincidentally, the prince entrusted Burm with monitoring Ethan.

[Crush that inspector’s pride and put him in his place. Make him unable to show his face in the south again.]

Even the senior knights subtly supported Burm’s revenge.

Burm gladly accepted this.

“I’ll show you what’s what.”

The southern region was only nominally part of the empire’s territory, a private domain of the Imperial Prince’s faction, already separated from the central government by a wall.

No one outside of the southern region could assert their authority within its borders.

Even the Inspector’s position and the empty fame of the empire’s prestige couldn’t protect him from the harsh realities of the south.

“Hmph. You’ve managed to groom yourself like a proper knight.”

Upon closer inspection, his appearance was indeed worthy of his reputation. His physique, which seemed almost magical, looked every bit the embodiment of a warrior.

“Indeed. He’s just a pretender on the surface.”

As it turned out, the substance beneath was far from heroic.

Inspector Ethan was known for his exceptional insight, which could see through any hidden plan, and his proud personality, which would never tolerate absolute humiliation.

In reality, he took Burmus’s open insults and humiliation with ease, as if it were a trivial matter.

“It’s true that rumors can’t be trusted.”

If the Inspector was truly the person rumored to be, he wouldn’t tolerate such humiliation.

“I won’t kill him.”

The Imperial Prince had only ordered him to bring the Inspector, without specifying how.

Burmus had confidently led the carriage into an ambush, thinking he had already succeeded in his revenge.

There were so many demons lurking about that even Burmus himself wouldn’t dare to venture alone.

If the Inspector’s abilities were even half as rumored, he wouldn’t be defeated by the demons.

If not, Burmus would pretend to be struggling and then “rescue” him.

“In any case, I’ll make sure to cripple one of his limbs.”

Of course, he didn’t forget to prepare for any unexpected situations.

“If that guy tries to take revenge on me after dealing with the demons, this is the south. He wouldn’t dare to harm me without a fight.”

In reality, there was no need to prepare.

The south was practically a separate nation, with the Imperial Prince as its king, and its knights were as close as brothers.

An Inspector wouldn’t be unaware of this.

“Welcome to the south, you wretched fool.”

So Burmus smiled triumphantly as he watched the Inspector, surrounded by demons.

Everyone had their perfect plan.

＜ Heading to the Southern Front (2) [Revised] ﹥ End