MTLNOVEL Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Death
“I have returned, Mother.”
“Welcome back, Elwin.”
Only after Brilda finished speaking,
did the tightly shut mouths of the vassals open.
“Welcome back, Sir Elwin.”
“Welcome back, Sir Elwin.”
***
The Frontier Viscounty.
The central city, South.
The place I stayed for 2 years after transmigrating into this world.
“To think I considered this place heaven.”
They say human memory gets distorted.
That was the case for me.
When I was living arduously in the Vampiars Duchy,
I had longed for the Frontier Viscounty.
However, only after coming here did I see reality.
Complete isolation.
My father, the Frontier Viscount, married twice.
His first wife bore one son and one daughter.
That son is this body, Elwin,
and the daughter is Elena.
It's said she passed away shortly after giving birth to the second child.
The second wife who came in after that.
She is the current Viscountess Frontier, Brilda.
She also bore two children.
The third and fourth sons.
“It’s no different from a prison.”
It was a room with the antique feel of a noble house.
The furniture was also artisan-made.
The space was large too.
It was well-cleaned.
But to me, it was a prison.
“Not a single person comes to visit.”
At least it wasn't like this 4 years ago.
Before I went to the Vampiars Duchy, I had people on my side too.
Because no matter what anyone said, I was the eldest son of the Frontier family and the Young Lord.
“Now… what am I?”
A Young Lord in name only.
Since I have no magic talent, I cannot protect the territory.
Monster Island.
Literally the land of monsters.
Humans are just living on a part of this land.
That's how numerous and strong the monsters were.
In such a situation, the lord must protect the territory and its people.
Power for that purpose is essential.
“Being stripped of the Young Lord title is probably certain, right?”
Then what should I do and how should I live from now on?
What is it that I can do well?
I left the room.
It felt like I would go crazy from frustration if I didn't go outside.
Several maids were walking around in the corridor.
They greeted me formally.
‘This is new.’
The maids at Vampiars gossiped behind my back.
Saying I wasn't manly.
Saying I seemed more like Alencia's attendant than her fiancé.
Anyway, they said all sorts of things.
But here…
Ignoring. Distancing.
These words felt appropriate.
They greeted me because I was a noble,
but that was the end of it.
They didn't show even the minimum expression of emotion.
They didn't smile, nor did they make small talk.
They didn't try to get close to me, but they didn't criticize me either.
“If the Vampiars maids were malicious commenters, are the ones here non-commenters?”
It's something celebrities sometimes say.
That no comments are scarier than malicious ones.
Experiencing it myself, those words proved true.
Because it felt as though I didn't exist here.
Feeling the solitude within the crowd,
as I was walking down the corridor,
someone called me.
“Sir Elwin!”
My name was heard,
and hurried footsteps followed.
“Sir Elwin!”
I, who had been a non-existent being.
Came into existence again.
Just by someone calling my name.
“What is it, Sir Wilson?”
Friendliness naturally seeped into my voice.
I was that grateful for him calling my name.
“The Madam is looking for you.”
“Madam? You mean Mother?”
Following Knight Wilson, I left the estate.
Knights and soldiers were gathered there.
“Elwin, line up in front.”
“Yes, Mother.”
As I stood before the knights,
Brilda resumed her speech.
“According to the messenger, Black Orcs are heading this way. To minimize damage to the residents, we have decided to intercept them.”
Brilda paused her speech and met my gaze.
“This operation will be commanded by the Young Lord, Elwin.”
“Me, you say?”
Why me?
I am not a knight.
Far from being a knight, I'm not even at the level of a Sword User.
Despite being of Frontier blood, I can't use magic either.
I have no experience commanding an army.
So why me?
“Since the Lord is absent, isn't it natural for the Young Lord to do it?”
“That is correct, Madam.”
“Wise words.”
Before I could even answer, the knights responded in agreement.
The atmosphere was such that I had no choice but to go.
Logically too, it was right for me to go.
Because the lord has a duty to protect the territory and its people.
“...Understood. I will stop the Black Orcs.”
Let's think positively.
If I show my abilities here, my situation will improve.
I turned my head and surveyed the surroundings.
Two knights and one hundred fifty soldiers.
With knights present, subjugating the Black Orcs seemed unlikely to be a problem.
‘To minimize casualties… should I deploy a dense formation?’
I had no direct combat experience,
but I possessed countless indirect experiences.
Because I played all sorts of games,
and fought countless wars.
In an ancient Europe game, playing as Rome, I conquered from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to Egypt in the east.
When playing a Romance of the Three Kingdoms game, I led a million-strong army and succeeded in the Northern Expedition.
In medieval Europe games, I built empires not only with major nations like England, France, and Spain, but also with small states like Venice.
What about World War games?
I led Germany's 3 million troops and conquered the Soviet Union.
Conversely, with the Soviet Union's 5 million troops, I stopped Germany and took over Europe in return.
‘Yes, I can do this.’
Although games and reality are different,
I should somehow be able to handle 150 soldiers.
I called a knight.
And told him my plan.
“I understand Sir Elwin's words, but the Madam has already issued the operation plan.”
“There's already a plan?”
The existing plan was this.
I lead the soldiers and hold the center.
Meanwhile, the two knights lead small numbers of soldiers and attack the flanks.
It wasn't bad.
The Black Orcs of Monster Island.
Stronger than the common orcs of the continent.
Even so, they were no match for Expert Knights.
“Understood. Please proceed that way.”
A forest area far from South Castle.
We encountered the Black Orcs.
As planned, we divided into three units.
One knight led 30 soldiers as the left flank.
The other knight led 30 soldiers as the right flank.
And I took charge of the center flank with 90 soldiers.
The Black Orcs, having spotted us, charged.
Similar height to humans.
But their shoulders were 1.5 to 2 times wider.
Their muscles were also larger than humans'.
The sight of them charging with axes
stimulated a primal fear.
“Raise shields! We just need to hold on a little longer!”
Thud. Thud.
Black Orcs and soldiers clashed.
Befitting soldiers of Monster Island, they bravely fought against the Black Orcs.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The Black Orcs struck the shields randomly with their axes.
The soldiers blocked the axes and counterattacked with spears.
Five minutes that felt like an hour passed.
But…
‘Why aren't they moving?’
The Black Orcs' attention was already focused on the center flank.
Now was the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack.
If the knights and soldiers attacked from both sides,
the Black Orcs would collapse.
But why?
Thud. Thud. Crack.
“Kuaaaak!”
A shield shattered under an orc's axe.
The soldier whose shield was gone was attacked directly by the axe blade.
“Sir Wilson!!! Now is the chance!!”
I shouted out of urgency.
“Sir Wilson!! Attack immediately!!”
Thud. Crack.
The number of shields split by orc axes increased.
Along with that, soldier casualties accumulated.
“Young Lord!”
“We can't hold out any longer!”
The situation was serious.
‘At this rate, morale won't hold.’
A strategy often used when playing war games was the 'morale break'.
A word combining 'morale', the English word for fighting spirit, and 'bbang', meaning zero or bursting.
In short, it meant morale had hit rock bottom.
A unit suffering a morale break has its combat effectiveness severely damaged or flees out of control.
That situation befell me.
“Just a little. Just hold on a little longer!”
“Young Lord! Kuaaak!”
The ninety soldiers were down to seventy.
20% casualties occurred.
A situation where a morale break wouldn't be strange at all.
And then, the dreaded event happened.
One soldier deserted the front line.
This was the beginning.
Other soldiers also began to flee one by one.
‘This is…’
It was over.
There was no way to command them.
To survive, I had no choice but to flee with them.
“Retreat!!! All troops, retreat!!”
I shouted loudly and turned my body.
“Kuaaak!”
Human screams were heard from behind.
“Kuaaaaaak!”
“Ugh!!”
The screams grew closer.
And then.
“Keoheok...”
A groan escaped my lips.
Strength drained from my legs.
I tried to run away somehow, but my legs wouldn't move.
The ground rushed closer.
Splat.
The burning pain I felt in my back gradually faded.
Conversely, my consciousness grew clearer.
It seemed like the terminal lucidity I had only heard about.
Thwack.
An orc struck my exposed back again.
It must have been a finishing blow.
I had already suffered a fatal wound from the first attack.
Considering Frontier's medical standards, I would die anyway.
Yet, the orc delivered an additional blow.
And the sound of bone breaking was heard.
It seemed the orc shattered my spine.
I completely abandoned hope for life.
I would die 99%, and even if I were lucky, I'd live as a cripple for life.
“All troops, attack!!”
“Attack the orcs' flanks!!”
Only after the center flank collapsed did the voices of the two knights sound.
‘Attacking only now.’
As my physical senses diminished,
my mind became clearer.
‘No, was this actually intended? To kill me?’
Even if left alone, the position of Young Lord would pass to the third son, Gibson.
Even so, Brilda must have wanted to make sure.
Even my clear consciousness began to fade.
This was truly the end.
Through my reddening vision, my gaze fell upon the notification.
It looked blurry.
But…
The last word had changed.
[Mission]
Tutorial (Completed)
‘I thought I wouldn't clear it before I died. But I finally did.’