Chapter 37
The commander-in-chief suddenly called for a feast, bringing in drinks and food.
The militia leader, relaxed, spun a dashing tale of valor, but unexpectedly, my story took center stage.
“Kyaa! Flashing east, then west! Moving like a ghost, he sniped their small-scale plans—bam! bam!—stopping them cold! Like a well-trained hunting dog, he was!”
Being called a dog felt weird, but it was praise, praise.
‘Hm.’
While most clapped, so wore grim faces.
Participants qualified for the dungeon tournant’s officer eting.
One, in particular, showed clear displeasure.
‘Prince Kazaks.’
Raised hearing tales of his brilliance, grood early for the crown prince role.
Compared to his rival, Princess Adela, his influence was laughably dominant.
But he wasn’t one to cheer a budding talent.
No wonder he’s Gilbert’s rival.
Anyway, the strategy eting ended in high spirits.
Hard’s finesse was admirable—easing tensions while getting the job done.
“Wait.”
As the eting adjourned, Hard called the militia leader again.
Sure enough, in ten minutes, he returned with orders to take out a barbarian warrior division arriving in three days.
“….”
The Holy Knight commander, stunned, clamped his mouth shut.
“Uh… Holy Knight Commander?”
“…Fine. We’ll go. May the Order of the Universe protect us…”
Having roped in the Holy Knight commander, the militia leader gave a pitiful, puppy-like look.
This guy, bandit-like in appearance, was slyly cunning.
“…Alright.”
I checked my status window.
[Na: Martin von Targon Ulvhadin]
[Age: 17]
[Gender: Male]
[Barista Lv 5]
[Cooking Lv 4]
[Writing Lv 3]
[Know-It-All Lv 2]
[Firearm Proficiency Lv 1]
[Wild Instinct Lv 2]
[Movent Lv 2]
[Riding Lv 1]
[Strength Lv 2]
[Endurance Lv 2]
[Stamina Lv 2]
[Agility Lv 2]
[Mana Lv 2]
[Stellar Force Lv 1]
[Remaining Points: 791]
‘Barbarian warriors, huh… how will this go?’
The Rangers were unexpectedly lethal.
I’d never thought my firearm skills lacking, but I pushed them to level 10 in a rush.
Firearm Comprehension evolved into Firearm Proficiency, guarding with superior skill.
Even then, 791 points remained, thanks to the watching nobles.
But who knew?
No guarantee I wouldn’t burn these points against the Barbarians.
***
The Defardly Empire’s duke dropped his cup.
The calming tea his aide brewed spilled rcilessly.
After a grueling day holding off the allied forces, he was greeted by news.
“What…? The barbarian warrior division was annihilated…?”
At the sa ti, the allied officers’ strategy room was festive.
“You did it! I knew we’d pull it off!”
Hard, eyes wild, bounced with joy.
Despite the all-night siege, he showed no fatigue.
“Hey! Militia leader! Tell more! How was our Black Knight’s sniping?”
“It was phenonal! Barbarian warriors charged in, different from the cunning Rangers! When their raw lee overwheld us, his sniping cut their flow—snap! You should’ve seen it, Commander!”
“And then? And then?!”
“We lured them to the trap! Those fearless tank-like warriors, floundering in the pit, totally routed—you had to see it!”
“Haha! I missed it! Hahaha! Such a sha!”
In just two battles, I beca a hero among the allied forces.
Turning, I saw Elisha, Bord, and Mary staring in awe.
They’d joined the barbarian subjugation, witnessing my feats.
Prince Kazaks’s face grew even sourer.
My mood wasn’t much better.
‘The point consumption was massive…’
I burned all my points for this.
Bullets wouldn’t pierce the barbarians.
As Hectia once said, ‘Mana Cultivation’ was my only flaw.
With quick resolve, I dumped all points into raising Mana and learning Mana Cultivation.
It was a huge loss, and it stung, but no regrets.
‘Well, I’ve got to earn what the Princess paid for.’
The Black Knight armor was powerful.
It doubled my physical abilities—an exceptional piece.
Unbuyable with money.
Doing this much was only fair, right?
Above all, Princess Adela was a calamity.
This was an investnt to keep her close.
***
anwhile, in the imperial palace’s banquet hall, where the dungeon tournant raged, most nobles fixated on the Black Knight’s hologram.
“Mana? He can wield mana? That wasn’t his skill before?”
“Ahem. So the empire’s Rangers didn’t even need mana?”
“What’s that flashing teleportation? A Blink magic artifact? It can’t be that versatile…”
The Princess’ Black Knight was studied and evaluated on the spot.
Beyond the throne succession race, his feats were extraordinary.
“The Defardly Empire’s barbarian warriors have skin tougher than steel, don’t they? How could a gun…?”
“He aid for the softer neck. Slipping through the gap between helm and breastplate. Monstrous marksmanship.”
Amid the praise, William, the Ulvhadin patriarch, hid a chill.
‘…He’s… still growing.
His firearm skills are on another level now.
He’s crossed a threshold.’
The growth process was invisible.
The greater the crisis, the fiercer the Black Knight he beca.
Not even a polished gem.
How much more dazzling a marksman could he be?
‘As the Princess said, a true Gun Master might erge…!’
Thinking this, William recalled soone, sinking his mood.
His youngest son, exceptionally talented from childhood.
As a father, he’d been stricter for that promise.
He’d disowned him but never banished him from noble society.
He was still his son.
‘To really leave ho… that insolent boy.’
Each night, he soothed his bitter heart with liquor.
Information guild reports said Martin was fine.
More constructive and diligent than at ho.
He’d returned to the Academy…
And word ca of his positive presence there.
William’s instincts flared.
The ‘Wild Instinct’ of the Ulvhadin bloodline.
‘…No way.’
***
Having crushed the Rangers and barbarians, the allied forces’ morale soared.
They thought only the fortress’s capture remained.
But the Imperium Fortress, led by the Defardly Empire’s duke, was far tougher than expected.
The strategy eting’s air was heavy.
The promised week lood.
“…I’m sorry, brothers. Despite your efforts, we haven’t taken the fortress.”
It was inevitable.
30,000 elites were diverted to stop 3,000 Rangers.
A third of the forces were committed against 15,000 barbarians.
Capturing the fortress intact was impossible.
With troops diverted, success was unlikely.
Yet no one said, “It’s okay.”
“He’s coming soon.”
Sir Dominic, the Defardly Empire’s war hero.
The empire’s sword, the continent’s terror.
Failing to capture the fortress before his arrival ant facing that demon on equal ground in the plains.
“We must stop him sohow. That’s why we gathered.”
Officers convened briefly to prepare for the worst, while the army engaged in the siege.
“…We’ll split the army in two. Another excellent commander, not , must lead the siege.”
Soone had to hold the fortress.
Otherwise, its freshly ard troops would strike from behind.
“anwhile, I’ll form an elite force to face Sir Dominic.”
Officers sensed Hard would lead the anti-Dominic force.
“I’ll fight there… as a re general.”
Murmurs spread.
The commander-in-chief on the battlefield!
Hard stood before one man.
“Militia leader, I’m counting on you. You’ve succeeded in impossible battles. You’re our hope. Take command.”
“C-Commander, I…”
As always, the militia leader tried to refuse.
“…Leave it to .”
He finally resolved.
The army’s reorganization began.
Those with notable achievents joined the anti-Dominic force without exception.
The implication was clear.
The siege army was a decoy ‘second army.’
The militia leader’s anti-Dominic force was the true ‘first army.’
The eting ended.
Officers rushed to relay outcos to their units.
Normally, I’d have joined the militia leader and Holy Knight commander, but the commander was busy rallying church forces.
Today, it was just and the militia leader.
As the soon-to-be first army commander, this was our last private talk.
“…Hey, Black Knight.”
“Speak.”
The militia leader confessed conflicting emotions.
“I can do this. If we work together, I believe we can. That’s what I think. …But Sir Dominic is the continent’s terror. The empire’s strongest Sword Master. Even a country bumpkin like knows his strength.”
He’d resolved to succeed but wavered before reality’s towering wall.
“Just do as you’ve done.”
“…Will that work?”
“Yes.”
No long words needed.
A short, confident statent sufficed.
“Right? You’ll fight with ?”
“I’ll fight alongside you.”
Seemingly relieved, the militia leader left for his first army duties.
“….”
Alone, I extinguished the campfire and looked around.
No one idled.
I returned to my tent and checked my gear.
Inspecting bullets, I counted piercing and buckshot rounds.
The Princess’ ammo pouch was filled with high-quality rounds.
‘This… won’t be enough.’
I reached into my usual ammo pouch.
My hand grasped a faintly glowing Rosary and diamond bullets.
The Rosary of Grace is recharging the finest holy diamond bullets.
Charge level: 97.3%.
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