Chapter 3

When I returned to my mansion, Raviara immediately snapped at her brother's treatment.

"It's too much! Sending me to Naglad Fortress! It's like the purpose from the start was to have me killed, isn't it!"

"There's no choice. It's a fact that the fortress needs to be defended, and it's also a fact that the morale will be higher if someone close to the lord goes."

"If that's the case, the lord himself should go! The only reason he's not going is because he's afraid of war! Besides, if the fortress falls, the Naevel territory will be in danger too!"

That, well, is true.

I said something unnecessary to my stupid brother and made him angry. He's really stupid, so I ended up retaliating.

"Hey, what about secretly communicating with the enemy, the Minalia territory?"

Raviara's eyes were serious. Serious, but it's a dangerous topic.

"You... If there's a spy of your brother here, what will you do!"

"The lord is loved by his vassals because he shows them kindness. If there's no kindness and only cruel treatment, the vassals have the right to abandon him. Besides, during the 'Hundred Years of Chaos,' betrayal isn't rare!"

Raviara is desperately trying to keep me alive. The defense of Naglad Fortress is a fierce battle. Even though it's on a terrace by the river and is hard to attack, it could fall at any time after repeated attacks.

"Lord Arsrodd, if you die here, it will be for nothing! Besides, if the enemy on the Minalia side learns that the lord's younger brother has betrayed, they will use it as a banner! As a vassal of Minalia, it's not a dream to govern the Naevel territory!"

Raviara's words made my heart waver a bit.

Indeed, if I play my cards right, I might even be able to elevate my position.

But then, my sister Althea, who was unsteady, entered.

"Brother, welcome back..."

As soon as she greeted me, Althea started coughing. She has been sickly since childhood.

"Althea, if you're feeling unwell, don't force yourself to come out."

"But I heard that you're going to the fortress... If that's the case, we won't see each other for a long time..."

I sighed.

"Raviara, the betrayal plan is off. I can't take Althea with me. If I betray, Althea will—"

"That's right... Althea's life will be used as an example..."

My brother Gaisel probably knew from the beginning that I couldn't betray.

I can't put Althea in danger.

Moreover, taking a sickly Althea to the unsanitary fortress is almost the same as putting her in a burning house. If I were to be questioned about why I took a sickly sister, I wouldn't have a defense.

It's odd to think that there are no people loyal to my brother in the fortress. Any suspicious movements will be reported immediately.

"I have to go. I have to win."

"But there are only about 250 soldiers in the fortress... The enemy's forces are probably around 2,000... Lord Arsrodd, you can take about 100 more, but it's still a small number..."

Generally, the attacking side needs three times the number of the defending side.

In other words, to defend against 2,000 enemies, you need about 700 soldiers. On the other hand, if the number of soldiers doubles, the risk of an epidemic increases, and more food is needed. It could be said that a smaller, elite force is better.

The problem is that when you defend with a small number, you never have any leeway.

It's almost impossible to continue a war for a long time under extreme tension. There's a risk of being taken down when you let your guard down. At the very least, you can't push back the enemy.

"We have to do it, no matter how inadequate. That's my job."

I hope Odanobunaga is a great profession...

●

With me and Raviara leading, 120 soldiers headed for Naglad Fortress.

It's a fortress on this side of the river, which is the border with the Minalia territory.

Indeed, the morale temporarily rose with my arrival. The soldiers seemed to realize they weren't abandoned.

Once soldiers think they're expendable, they tend to run away or betray, so this point is important. No one wants to die willingly.

However, the enemy's attacks continued sporadically, and there was no room for complacency. Moreover, there were even rumors that the enemy was about to launch a full-scale attack.

I secretly talked with the castle commander, Seveek, who had been in charge of the fortress until now.

"Actually, the enemy's sappers have been steadily building a climbing path to the fortress... They will likely attack all at once... We don't know when, though."

"If that happens, do you think this fortress will hold?"

"The fortress itself is sturdy. That's why it has held so far. But the soldiers are quite exhausted. Once the gate is breached..."

The situation was worse than I thought.

In fact, that's probably why I was sent here. If my arrival extends the life of the fortress, that's good. If I die, my brother will be personally happy. Damn, I'll get revenge on my brother Gaisel someday!

However, I had to survive first.

It was the night when I was talking with the castle commander Seveek.

"The enemy is attacking!"

Such a voice came, and I jumped up.

Indeed, the enemy seems to be trying to take the fortress all at once!

But then, something that absolutely should not happen occurred.

"The gate is open! Where's the bar! The hinges are even removed!"

The gate was useless.

This means there was a soldier who had betrayed us. We are outnumbered. If they get inside the gate, it's over!

"Raviara, don't leave me! First, we need to assess the situation!"

"Yes! I'll use the healing magic I learned from my elf mother, so Lord Arsrodd, don't leave Raviara!"

Raviara is a bit older than me, so she is of an age where she could have a profession, but she hasn't gone to the temple yet. She probably didn't want to become an adult before her lord, me. She's probably also not married yet because of that.

However, even without a profession, Raviara already has considerable power. She has learned magic on her own. Elves have a high proportion of those who excel in magic, so that's probably why. She's also quite skilled with a bow.

A considerable number of enemy soldiers had already entered the fortress grounds. The emblems on their armor were clearly from the neighboring Minalia territory.

"If the enemy has entered, it's probably a full-scale attack. There's a possibility that even if not all of them, at least 500 are attacking."

"500! We can't win with that many!"

Some of them seemed to be able to use attack magic, cutting the enemy soldiers with whirlwinds, but they were still outnumbered. Because it was a night attack, our soldiers were already moving slowly.

If there were a magic swordsman here, he might be able to take down the enemy one by one and turn the tide, but that's a story from a military chronicle.

Realistically, the castle will fall.

The castle commander Seveek came to me. His leather armor was already pierced with arrows.

"Unfortunately, it's over. We can only fight to the death..."

Indeed, it's probably too late to retreat.

It was a rather uneventful life. I just became an adult, and it hasn't even been a month.

It's so uneventful that I can't even feel sad. That's why I didn't want to be the second son of a minor lord.

I want to at least save Raviara.

"Raviara, you run. You can probably make it alone. Don't let the male soldiers catch you. You're very cute."

"Don't say I'm cute at a time like this..."

Raviara was crying, but she still hadn't given up.

"I will fight. That's my job as Raviara, who serves Lord Arsrodd!"

"Then, how can I help you?"

"Drive all the enemies away."

Raviara said it playfully.

That's impossible. It's a joke.

But then,

For some reason, a vague confidence welled up inside me.

—You can overcome this. After all, you have a profession that holds the potential to become a tyrant.

I felt like I heard a voice from within.

Could the profession of Odanobunaga be... something so incredible?

I drew my sword.

I don't have time to put on heavy armor, but that makes me more agile.

"Raviara, I'll protect you. Watch closely."

"I, I understand...! That's what Lord Arsrodd is like!"

Raviara was momentarily taken aback but still gave me a smile.

I've trained in swordsmanship. I won't die easily.

I charge at the enemy.

At that moment, I heard the inner voice again.

—Special Ability [Tyrant's Power] activated. Physical abilities doubled during combat.

Special abilities are supposed to be something you can only get after accumulating considerable skill in your profession. It's impossible for someone who doesn't even know their profession to use one. Moreover, doubling is absurd. It's a change that immediately turns a normal person into a superhuman...

However, since I clearly heard it, I have to believe it.

Come on, profession Odanobunaga!

I plan to update multiple times tomorrow! Thank you!