Chapter 11
Havel let out a hot breath.
At first, everything had clearly gone smoothly.
He had caught so much game that carrying it all back had become difficult.
-Grrrk.
Perhaps drawn by the smell of blood, greedy goblins swarmed in.
But Havel had not come alone, and goblins were easy opponents for the tribal warriors accompanying him.
Even if he had come alone, he could have dealt with this many without difficulty.
The goblins who attacked without knowing their place paid for it in blood.
The problem came after that.
Goblins, along with beasts like wolves, came pouring in.
Their numbers were clearly abnormal to anyone who saw them, and they attacked ferociously without the slightest regard for their own lives.
Anyone who was not an idiot could figure out the cause and effect.
Havel scowled.
“That damn old man···.”
Who would have thought that someone who was actually the tribe’s priest would resort to such a low-level scheme?
Had he really thought he could get away with this? Or had fear clouded his judgment?
In any case, that was not something to think about right now. First, he had to survive.
One day, he too would meet an honorable death and enjoy the glory of standing beside great Valdor.
But today was not that day.
He could not die until he had restored his brother’s honor, at the very least.
Havel was a seasoned warrior as well as an excellent commander. Under his command, the warriors moved as one.
Even so, they could not overcome the overwhelming numerical disadvantage.
After being forced into a one-sided war of attrition, Havel was left a complete wreck.
He had no choice but to admit it. At this rate, they would all die.
Having made his decision, Havel ordered the tribal warriors who had followed him.
“I’ll buy you time. Go and call for reinforcements!”
“How···while we’re surrounded?”
“They’re all focused on me. I can create enough of an opening for you to escape. Go!”
His companions hesitated for a moment, then followed Havel’s orders.
Well, being killed by beasts like those could hardly be called an honorable death.
Still, sacrificing himself for his comrades would count as a fairly honorable death, wouldn’t it?
Death was right before his eyes, but he was not afraid. Still, it would be a lie to say he had no lingering regrets.
“···Sorry, brother. It looks like I won’t be able to keep my promise.”
Blood running down from his forehead momentarily obscured his vision.
The wolf did not miss that fleeting opening and drove its sharp fangs toward the nape of his neck.
And—a hand axe flying from beyond smashed the wolf’s skull.
Even after shattering the wolf’s skull, the hand axe continued onward and buried itself deep in a tree.
“What do brothers have to apologize for?”
A voice he had missed came from behind him.
Havel could easily guess who it was without even turning his head.
“You’ve been through a lot. Leave the rest to me.”
His brother had returned.
***
Ivan examined Havel’s condition.
There were no deep wounds, but the amount of blood he had lost was alarming. An ordinary person would have died long ago.
Havel wasn’t the sort to die from something like this, but Ivan felt the need to hurry a little.
‘Could his master have known even this in advance?’
Ivan recalled his sinister master, then promptly dismissed the thought.
In any case, that was not important right now.
With his eyes half rolled back, Ivan looked at the approaching pack of beasts.
They clearly were not in a normal state, but he had no reason or time to take that into account.
Ivan gripped the sword with both hands.
As the hot-tempered goblins rushed at him all at once, Ivan kicked off the ground and swept his sword horizontally.
The sword’s path sliced through the goblin’s bones and flesh with absurd ease.
It would be more accurate to say that the sword passed straight through its body than that he had cut it.
-Splatter. Blood sprayed a moment later.
Then, when he stomped on the wolf trying to latch onto his leg, brain matter flew in every direction.
When a goblin clumsily stabbed at him from behind with a spear, he grabbed it by the forearm and swung it around. The impact felt quite satisfying.
“Kerrk?”
When he kicked the goblin with its vacant expression, its body flew out of sight with a bang.
The beasts, having lost all reason, instinctively backed away. Ivan grinned and leaped into their midst.
Then the one-sided slaughter continued.
His body was drenched in blood, but Ivan himself did not shed a single drop.
The enemy’s movements were terribly slow and completely predictable. Before he could even think, his body reacted on its own. His keen instincts and accumulated experience made that possible.
Corpses piled up in layers.
Havel could not take his eyes off the scene of slaughter and stared as if entranced.
That figure was nothing less than···the very incarnation of the battlefield.
Before long, the surrounding ground was stained completely red, and he stopped swinging his sword.
Only two living, breathing beings remained here.
“Ivan, how could you···.”
Perhaps because he had lost too much blood, Havel felt dizzy and staggered precariously.
Ivan strode over and supported Havel.
“You look like you’ve got a lot of questions, but let’s get you treated first. We can talk anytime.”
Havel felt secretly relieved. Even after acquiring such terrifying power, Ivan was still his brother.
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it···.”
The two slowly walked toward the edge of the forest with their shoulders pressed together.
***
When the warriors who had gone hunting failed to return until late at night, the tribe’s atmosphere grew uneasy.
They still lacked experience, but they were all capable of leading the tribe.
Just as people began voicing concern that they should form a search party even at this late hour, warriors drenched in blood from head to toe returned.
“Havel’s in danger!”
Gasping for breath, they hurriedly explained the situation.
They had suddenly been attacked by a pack of beasts that had lost their reason, and had barely managed to escape because Havel had created an opening for them.
The great chieftain stared at them.
“So you left him there alone and ran away?”
“Th-that was the best we could···do.”
“He must have wanted a more honorable death. Don’t make excuses like a coward.”
Their ugly true motives were laid bare. The warriors lowered their heads in shame.
“It’s not too late. We can send reinforcements even now···.”
“It’s too late. If several of you couldn’t handle it and ran away, what can one man do?”
Unless a miracle had occurred, there was no chance Havel had survived.
The great chieftain judged the situation objectively, even though his only child had been sent into mortal danger.
No one dared question the credibility of that statement.
Amid the cold, subdued atmosphere, only the priest felt a vicious thrill.
‘You little brat, serves you right!’
The priest turned his head while feigning a solemn expression, then met the great chieftain’s eyes.
That gaze seemed to bore straight through to the depths of his soul. The priest shrank back involuntarily.
A small flame flickered in the great chieftain’s eyes, but quickly died down.
“We should at least recover the body. Lead the way.”
While he was speaking, the great chieftain sensed the presence of exactly two people approaching.
When he turned around, two men were slowly walking toward them with their shoulders pressed together.
That meant···. Everyone’s eyes focused on one place.
A miracle had happened.
***
Ivan leaned close and whispered into his ear.
“You look pale. Shouldn’t you get treated right away?”
“I’m fine. I’ve waited so long for this moment. I can’t afford to show weakness.”
Havel looked at the people gathered before him and began to speak.
“Three years ago, at this very place, a warrior was exiled after being branded with a disgraceful accusation. I was powerless, so even though I knew the truth, all I could do was watch him be driven out.”
Since that day, Havel had been forced to shoulder many burdens.
At times, it had been difficult, but because it was for his brother, he had been able to endure it.
“Now, three years later, the priest has finally acknowledged his innocence. And today, he saved my life.”
His voice gradually grew louder and echoed through the area. It was impossible to believe he was a dying man.
“Even so···if there is still anyone who wishes to insult his honor, I will face them here and now.”
Havel’s eyes flashed with a chilling light. No one brave enough to step forward appeared.
“No one? Then, in the name of Havel, son of Eirik, I declare that the honor of my brother Ivan has finally been restored! Everyone here shall bear witness!”
Havel squeezed out his last remaining strength and raised their clasped hands high into the sky.
In the brief silence, someone began a small round of applause.
The applause gradually grew louder, and soon thunderous cheers erupted.
The intense fervor spreading through the crowd pounded against Ivan.
He felt more dazed than happy. Ivan was unsure what expression he should make.
It was good to be back, but···it wasn’t as though he had any memories here to begin with.
Ivan silently looked around and met the priest’s gaze. The priest was staring at him with eyes full of fear.
‘Come to think of it, I did have one shitty memory, didn’t I?’
When Ivan glared at him, the priest wheezed as if he were having trouble breathing.
Ivan felt a little better. He smiled, feeling refreshed.