Chapter 7

< The Story of the Second Son of the Baron – Chapter 7 – >

In the end, the red alert did not sound. This meant that they had either prevented the monsters from climbing over the wall or had quickly eliminated them if they did. As the sun reached its zenith, the monsters gave up their attack and began to return to their own land.

“It’s over.”

“I’m really relieved.”

“Congratulations. Now that you’ve experienced a yellow alert, you won’t be at a loss for heroic tales wherever you go.”

“Haha, hahaha.”

As Yild said, there would be no place where I would be at a loss for heroic tales. Fighting against thousands of monsters is something that can hardly be experienced outside of the Terra Wall. It would take ten years of perseverance to escape this place, but even so, it was not a situation to laugh about.

“Tough, huh?”

“...Yes. I thought I was prepared, both mentally and physically, but it’s tougher than I expected.”

While looking at my forced smile, Yild suddenly asked if I was having a hard time. I could have answered in a way that sounded good, saying that it wasn’t hard at all and that it was an honor to protect the empire, but I felt a sincerity in his words, so I spoke honestly. Whether it was the right or wrong answer, Yild’s mouth opened after a brief moment.

“Don’t forget that feeling and cherish it.”

“...Pardon?”

I asked again, not understanding his response. I was so exhausted that I could fall asleep the moment my head touched the ground, yet he told me not to forget this feeling and to cherish it. Wouldn’t it be better to get used to it as quickly as possible? With this question in mind, I looked at Yild, who met my gaze with a bitter smile.

“How long have you been here?”

“It hasn’t been three weeks yet.”

“Three weeks, really not long at all. In that time, you’ve done a great job. You handled your first battle with such composure that it was hard to believe it was your first, and today you did your best to stop the monsters.”

“Thank you.”

“That’s why I’m telling you this. This place is not a place where you won’t die just because you have skill, nor is it a place where you will die just because you lack skill.

Only those with luck that reaches the heavens or those who don’t let their guard down can survive for a long time and dream of the front lines.

Occasionally, people like you come here. Talented and always giving their best effort, yet such people often die earlier than ordinary people. Do you know why?”

It was an unexpected question, but I didn’t take it lightly and thought deeply. Yild had taught me a lot so far, and he wouldn’t ask a question without a reason. It must be an important lesson. After a moment of deep thought, I found the answer in Yild’s words.

“Bad luck or letting their guard down. Since you wouldn’t say it’s due to luck, it must be because they let their guard down, right?”

“That’s right. It’s because they let their guard down.”

“Letting their guard down, the word that’s most distant from the Terra Wall.”

Yild nodded, indicating I was correct, but my doubts were not fully resolved.

Letting their guard down.

A word that means [not keeping one’s mind focused and letting it wander]. It was one of the words most distant from the Terra Wall. The reason is simple: if you let your guard down, you die.

“Yet, a considerable number of talented people die because they let their guard down. Have you thought about why?”

“...I don’t know.”

Until the monsters are completely gone, it’s a well-known fact that you can’t let your guard down, whether you’re a new recruit who has been here for a month or a veteran who has been here for years. Yet, a considerable number of talented people die because they let their guard down, which is an ironic situation.

“It’s because they get used to it.”

“Because they get used to it?”

“No matter how difficult and challenging something is, if you experience it many times, you get used to it. Moreover, the Terra Wall is an invincible fortress that has never been breached in all its history. As victories repeat and experience gradually accumulates, confidence builds. As confidence builds, it can turn into overconfidence, and then in a moment of ‘oops,’ it’s all over.”

Because they get used to it, it was a story I couldn’t fully grasp yet. The reality of the yellow alert I experienced was something that couldn’t be easily gotten used to.

“You have the potential to become an excellent mage. It’s tough and challenging now, but you will adapt to this place soon. That’s why I’m telling you this. It would be a great loss if an excellent mage were to die because of a moment of carelessness.”

“Thank you for the advice. I will keep it in mind.”

“Keep it in mind. Remember that this place has an order for coming but no order for leaving, and a moment of carelessness can take everything away.”

#

More than a month passed. Blue alerts were a daily occurrence, and I had experienced several yellow alerts. However, I still couldn’t empathize with Yild’s words.

Every moment was a continuous state of tension. How could one relax and let their guard down in a situation where one’s life was on the line?

I had almost been devoured by wyverns more than once and nearly crushed by rocks thrown by monsters. If I had let my guard down even a little or moved a bit slower, I could have ended up a corpse, and there were countless such instances.

“You survived another day.”

“Haha, you almost fell to your death just now, yet you’re so calm?”

“You survived. No matter how the process went, you survived, so I’m calm. You’ll understand if you stay longer, but this kind of thing doesn’t even count as a crisis.”

During this time, I gained recognition from them. Considering that many people still don’t approach my fellow new recruits like Gaius and Laurent, or other mages, it was an extremely unusual situation. If I had to pinpoint a reason, it might be a combination of the fact that I was doing my part stably, unlike other new recruits, and that I was close to Yild.

“By the way, is it about that time?”

“Yeah, it’s about that time.”

“That time? That thing?”

The conversation was heading in a direction I couldn’t follow. It was a pronoun that meant something, but nothing came to mind. However, the senior mages around me smiled with a mysterious look and said it would be fun, but they didn’t explain what [that time, that thing] meant until we parted ways to our respective rooms.

“Fun, it’s a thrilling moment.”

“A moment where you can shed a layer as a man. Once you experience it, you’ll feel grateful to be alive.”

#

Another yellow alert swept through the Terra Wall. In the meeting room of the castle within, people gathered for an important meeting.

The commander of the Terra Wall, Duke Zik, the six knights who command nearly three hundred knights, the representative of the mages, Wunder, and the three squad leaders. And the six battalion commanders who command the soldiers. The meeting room, with a total of 17 people, was the brain of the Terra Wall.

“Are we all here?”

“From the 1st Knight Captain to the 6th Knight Captain, Elder Wunder and from the 1st Squad Leader to the 3rd Squad Leader, from the 1st Battalion Commander to the 6th Battalion Commander, excluding the two on guard duty, a total of 14 people. All present.”

“Good. Let’s start the meeting now.”

Usually, knight orders are named with a symbol in front, such as the White Horse Knights because all the knights ride white horses, or the Laurent Knights named after the knight captain. Or they might use the name of a fierce animal to convey strength and toughness. However, in the Terra Wall, such names have no meaning. The word that dominates the Terra Wall is efficiency. It’s inefficient.

Therefore, the knight orders in the Terra Wall simply exist from the 1st Knight Order to the 6th Knight Order. The areas they are responsible for are also clearly divided from left to right.

“Since time is short, let’s get straight to the point. Winter is approaching. I assume everyone has some idea of what we do every year, so let’s decide who will go.”

“Already that time, I hope everyone returns safely, but it’s difficult.”

“Last year, Sir Unos and Sir Duo went, so this time, Sir Quatro and I will go.”

“Hmm, is that okay?”

“Of course. Please trust us.”

“Good. The knights will be Sir Tres and Sir Quatro. The rest of the personnel will be decided by the captains and the list will be made by tomorrow.”

Since it was something done every year, the meeting progressed quickly. It wasn’t a task that could be avoided just because someone didn’t want to do it, nor was it something that could be skipped without a reasonable reason.

“Then, for the mages...”

“Since Yild went last time, I’ll go this time.”

“I’ll go one more time.”

“Yild?”

Interrupting Squad Leader Boto’s words, Yild raised his hand. Boto was flustered. It was a task that someone had to do, but it was so dangerous that it was usually avoided. Therefore, they took turns to maintain fairness. However, Yild, who had gone last year, volunteering to go again surprised not only Boto but also the others.

“It doesn’t matter who goes, but is there a reason?”

“There’s someone I want to train. It’s a rare experience, so I want to take them along and train them.”

From Yild’s words, the mages, including Boto, easily understood who Yild wanted to train. There was a new recruit whom Yild had been teaching a lot lately.

“Wanting to train someone, are you considering them for the next squad leader?”

“While they are still a novice, it’s a bit early to say, but they have the potential to be an excellent mage. With more experience and time, I believe they can take on the role of a squad leader.”

“If that’s your intention, then do so. Although it’s a heavy burden for a new recruit to go on the autumn expedition right after arriving, I don’t think there will be a big problem if they go with you.”

“Thank you.”

“Alright, the personnel are decided. Let’s discuss the schedule.”

“The important thing is to finish before winter arrives. We’re already a bit late, so we should depart as soon as possible.”

The lights in the meeting room didn’t go out until late at night.

#

“What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure. The squad leader will be here soon, so we’ll find out in a bit.”

“You’re still on good terms with other mages. Haven’t you heard anything?”

Gaius and Laurent kept asking, but I could only guess from the conversation I overheard a few days ago that the time was approaching. I didn’t know the details. I just waited for Yild. Just then, Yild opened the door and started calling out names.

“Camilla, Shu, Daren, Malcolm, Otto...”

After calling out nearly twenty names, the list was complete. What was interesting was the varied reactions of those whose names were called. Some closed their eyes in resignation, some sighed, and some shook their heads. Overall, the reactions were not positive.

“And lastly, Renil, you’re going too.”

“Huh? Yes!”

I answered without knowing what it was. From the reactions of those around me, it seemed that if your name was called, you had no choice but to go. It seemed like we were going somewhere, but where? The question was answered by Yild’s next words.

“As you all know, it’s the autumn expedition. The goal is the same as always: to reduce the number of large monsters. We will depart three days from now, at sunrise, from the Terra Wall. Until then, those involved should take a break from all duties unless a red alert sounds. Any questions?”

“Um, leaving the Terra Wall...?”

I asked, just in case. Maybe I had heard wrong. But my hope was in vain.

“Yes. Three days from now, we will leave the Terra Wall and head north, to the land of the monsters.”

< The Story of the Second Son of the Baron – Chapter 7 – > End