The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 3

< The Story of the Second Son of a Baron Family – Episode 03 – >

“What’s going on? Are you alright!”

Despite my warning, the sentries who heard the explosion rushed over in a panic. After assuring them it was nothing and calming them down, I headed to the source of the explosion with the sentries. There, we found a small pit and shattered pieces of stone. Judging by the traces, it seemed to have the power of a fireball, similar to the one that burned the Orc during the day.

‘Should I consider it a degraded version of Word of Power?’

It was incomparable to Word of Power, which grants power through the words themselves. I also needed to verify how much of the dream’s content was fact and how much was fiction. However, if the dream’s content was true, it could be applied quite usefully and diversely. The problem was why I suddenly gained this ability through the medium of a dream.

“…Is the experiment over?”

“You must be tired, yet you caused a commotion in the middle of the night. The experiment is over, so you can go back. I’ll be returning as well.”

I returned to the barracks assigned to me and lay in bed, lost in thought, but nothing particularly stood out. If I had to pick something, it would be that I killed a monster for the first time.

It was something that could be considered trivial, but aside from that, there was nothing particularly unusual. So, I soon stopped thinking about it. Rather than worrying about why I was given this ability, it was more important to figure out how to use it to increase my chances of survival.

It was, in a word, a stroke of luck.

#

While heading towards the Terra Wall, I focused on understanding this ability, whether it was a coincidence or fate. I couldn’t start full-scale research while moving, but thanks to the ample time, I was able to arrive at the Terra Wall with quite a bit of preparation completed by the time I passed through the northern part of the Empire.

First, I inscribed the character 防 [fang – defense] on the robe I was wearing. I wanted to engrave words like ‘Defense’ and ‘Protection,’ but as I was now, one character, even just one, was my limit. So, I found a way.

If I couldn’t engrave multiple meanings on one piece of equipment, I could engrave one meaning on multiple pieces of equipment. I prepared for any possible situation by inscribing 敏 [min – agility] on my shoes, 力 [li – strength] on my gloves, and 堅 [jian – hardness] on my clothes. I also prepared as many stones as possible with 爆 [bao – explosion] inscribed on them. Once engraved, the characters would remain as long as the magic within them didn’t disappear, so the more, the better.

‘I have a feeling of how to use it.’

This ability, which I tentatively named Engraving, was very similar to magic. However, just as magic had its own advantages, Engraving also had advantages that clearly surpassed magic.

First, preparedness.

Unlike magic, once an engraving was inscribed, it could be stored indefinitely. I didn’t know how long it would last, but it seemed to be storable for quite a long time, as the engraved item remained in place until it was broken or used. This was a huge advantage compared to being able to use it only on the spot and being unable to do anything when magic power ran out.

Second, versatility.

It could be used in a wide range of ways. Not only could it be used to attack or defend against opponents, but it could also be used to find paths, purify water, and more. Furthermore, even with the same engraving, it was possible to guide it in the direction I intended – as long as it didn’t deviate from the meaning of the engraving.

Of course, there were disadvantages as well. Unlike magic, which could be used immediately, it had to go through the intermediate process of an object. Also, if a strange engraving was inscribed, it might not perform as well as expected. However, these disadvantages were bearable compared to the advantages.

As I engraved my whole body with engravings and packed enough explosive stones, I became greedy. I wondered if I could engrave my body as well.

However, I put that greed aside for a moment. It was my only body. Unlike inanimate objects, I couldn’t rashly act without knowing what side effects or influences it might have. Moreover, since it was an area that didn’t even appear in my dreams, I needed to be extremely cautious.

In the meantime, we were getting closer to the Terra Wall.

#

The carriage, which had been moving at the pace of the soldiers, suddenly sped up. As we were used to being informed of any special events, we were taken aback. I opened the window and looked outside to see what was happening.

“What’s going on suddenly!”

“Look ahead!”

To my loud question, the knight responded with an equally loud answer, pointing forward. I looked ahead and understood why we had sped up without warning. A mountain range boasting tremendous height, and blocking the gaps between them, the Terra Wall, also boasting tremendous height and length. Black smoke was rising from it.

“We may have to participate in the battle as soon as we arrive! Be prepared!”

I explained what I saw to the other mages inside, and they showed various reactions. Some sighed and lowered their heads, some clasped their trembling hands and prayed to someone they didn’t know, and some calmly checked their condition. The one who moved the least was the most noticeable.

“Such a welcoming ceremony as soon as we arrive; the rumors I heard before coming here were not exaggerated.”

The Empire’s largest battlefield, where dozens of battles take place every day, and several times a week. A battle between humans and monsters, not between humans. The Terra Wall was welcoming us.

#

Not long after quickening our pace, we arrived inside the Terra Wall. The battle seemed to be over, but the situation inside was so terrible that I could only describe it as miserable. As a result, we were left hanging without anyone to welcome us, despite having come a long way.

“It’s over. We’re all going to die…”

“Mother… Father. Your unworthy son is going first.”

“Damn it. They want me to last ten years in a place like this? It’s practically exile…!”

As a result, the morale of the soldiers and knights plummeted. The fear they had before coming here was a fictional fear based on rumors and imagination, but now they realized that the fictional fear was not fictional but real, so the future was even more bleak.

“Who are you!”

“I am Baron Battery, leading reinforcements from the Imperial Capital. What in the world happened?”

A large army appeared from the rear. However, it was not difficult to confirm that they were allies, as they came from the Empire’s territory and the flag with the Empire’s symbol was raised high.

As soon as he showed the order stamped with the Emperor’s seal, the knights knelt. Except for Baron Battery, the commander of the reinforcements, and a few knights who would control the soldiers, we headed to the location of the person in charge of the Terra Wall. In the meantime, we were able to hear what had happened from the knight.

“There was a large-scale attack by monsters.”

“A large-scale attack?!”

“I’m sorry to say this, but it would have been better if you had arrived just a week earlier. It would have been much easier to stop the attack then.”

“You did your best.”

“Of course. Not only I, but also His Excellency Marquis Zieg knows that very well.”

Guided by the knight, we approached the wall and could feel a tremendous presence. The armor and face, which should have been shining in the sunlight, were stained with monster fluids, but this only served to highlight his strength as a knight.

‘That man is Marquis Zieg!’

Ziegmund Zieg.

One of the three swords that protect the Empire. His reputation had spread even to my hometown, which could be said to be the most rural part of the Empire, so I couldn’t not know him. Seeing him in person, he certainly had a presence worthy of his reputation.

“Your Excellency Marquis. Reinforcements have arrived from the Imperial Capital.”

“Reinforcements?”

“Your Excellency Marquis! I have arrived with reinforcements under the Emperor’s strict orders!”

“Welcome. You must be tired from the long journey. As you can see, the situation is such that I cannot give you a welcoming ceremony; I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing. I am just sorry that I arrived only after the situation was over.”

“Guide them to the place where they will stay. Let’s talk in earnest tomorrow. Both you and I need to rest today.”

#

“Mr. Renil, you can use this room.”

“Thank you. But… it seems like someone is using this room…”

“I’m sorry. We didn’t have time to clean up because of this attack. I’ll clean it up for you right away today, so please wait a moment.”

The room we arrived at, guided by the servant, still had the warmth of a person. As I questioned why I was assigned a room that clearly had an owner, I was able to understand the situation from the servant’s words.

“It’s okay. I’ll take what I need and put what I don’t need in the hallway, so please just clean those up.”

“Will you do that?”

‘Stay alert. There’s no guarantee I won’t end up like this guy.’

“Then, please pull the string next to the bed when you need help.”

With those words, the servant left the room. Left alone in the room, I unpacked my luggage and began to remove the traces of the previous owner one by one. I took the necessary items – as it was a mage’s room, the bookshelves were filled with books related to magic – and put the unnecessary items in the hallway. In the meantime, I found a book in the desk drawer.

“What is this?”

There was no title. Out of curiosity, I opened the book and realized it was the previous owner’s diary. It had been written for quite a long time, as the diary was written up to the middle of the book. The most recent date was five days ago, probably the last thing he wrote before he died. The last content of the diary, scribbled so illegibly that it was hard to understand whether he was out of his mind or out of time, was as follows.

[August 3, 127. Sunny.]

[I can’t take it anymore. I haven’t slept comfortably for a single day since I came here. I’ve applied for a transfer several times, but it hasn’t been accepted. I’d rather die than stay in a place like this for a few more years.]

Fear soared. But at the same time, the will to survive burned even brighter. I still had so many things I hadn’t done to die in vain in a place like this.

< The Story of the Second Son of a Baron Family – Episode 03 – > End