Count Sandwy.

A knight who rose from serf origins to upper-level Sword Expert.

In the Empire, such talents overflow.

But in the kingdom, severely lacking in capable individuals, he was one of merely five elite knights.

Thanks to that, a mere common serf not only received the rank of count.

But grew to manage the kingdom's eastern region as a border count……

Simply put, think of him as a bridge between the royal family and eastern nobles.

Similar to the military.

Like a single soldier directly approaching a regiment or division commander causing issues.

Eastern rural nobles faced various restrictions even approaching the king directly.

Instead, they went to Count Sandwy.

Even paying taxes through him.

Undisputed ruler of the east—that was Count Sandwy.

Why past tense?

The answer is quite simple.

Count Sandwy is no longer of this world.

A pitch-black greatsword, far too massive for human use, was first thrust into the ground.

And at the opposite end—the hilt of the greatsword—something was there.

None other than a human head.

The head impaled on the greatsword was brazenly displayed at the castle gate for all to see.

Displaying severed heads in war is exceedingly common.

The only issue is that head belongs not to a criminal, but to Count Sandwy.

“My lord, that head……?”

“…….”

Naturally, I've never seen the count.

Yet I could boldly be certain.

That it's Count Sandwy's head.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be displayed like that.

Never imagined stepping into the count's domain and first finding Count Sandwy's head.

“I am Thomas, captain overseeing this castle's guards.

What purpose brings you here?”

“Cain Blackguard, lord of Blackgard.

Came evacuating from Imperial forces.”

“……Proof?”

“Deed proving ownership of Blackgard territory.

Even bears the royal seal.”

“May I inspect briefly?”

The previously overbearing voice immediately regained humility.

No matter how rural the border.

A noble is a noble.

At least higher rank than a guard captain.

I wordlessly handed the deed prepared from the territory to the captain.

Formally checking, Thomas nodded and returned it.

“Verified.

Apologies for prior rudeness.

Please forgive…….”

“You can read?”

“Sorry, but I cannot read.

But the seal is definitely confirmed.”

“……How the hell did Count Sandwy end up like that?”

Ideal choice would be turn and flee the moment seeing the severed head.

But even that's not an option.

Insufficient food, exhausted evacuees.

And crucially…… nowhere to return.

Guard captain Thomas still manning the gate is clearly the count's man.

Thanks to that, at least from him, I believed I could hear the truth.

And he didn't betray that belief.

Thomas sighed deeply, forcing unmoving mouth.

“How could I dare hide anything.”

“Explain everything from the start.”

“The count gladly accepted nobles and people fleeing the Empire.”

Summarizing guard captain Thomas's story, the count was a rigid man.

Positively, dutiful.

Negatively, close to an old fogey.

But at least no cowardly weakling bending before the strong.

“The count wished to fight to the end for homeland and His Majesty.

But…… those damned bastards……!!”

“I understand it's hard to explain.

But speak clearly.

That's the way not to waste the count's death.”

“Sorry, emotions surged momentarily.”

Momentarily grinding teeth, veins bulging in neck—not ordinary.

And as expected, quite an ugly truth behind the count's domain fall.

“Some nobles the count accepted sneaked open the gates at night, welcoming Imperial forces.”

“Betrayal?

All eastern nobles?”

“Not all.

Nobles loyal to the count till the end died fighting with him…… or imprisoned.”

“…….”

“Honestly…… now I don't know what's right or wrong.

Weren't nobles noble because honorable and upright?”

Choking indignation.

But suppressing, barely spitting bone-deep words.

I couldn't offer any reply.

In the end, had to settle near the count's domain.

Nowhere else to go.

Above all, evacuees in poor state.

No proper rest past month.

Finally force-marching through downpour, all visibly exhausted.

Reality and ideal.

Never felt the gap this stark.

Damn it.

Truthfully, don't think surrender itself bad.

Wanting to live isn't sin.

‘The problem is this damned defeat regression surely won't just watch.’

I too initially tried surrendering to overwhelming force.

No choice.

Or die.

Even later tried fleeing.

All failed.

Do I have qualification to blame those sneaking open gates at night……?

‘Don't know.

Headache problems later, focus on now.’

Place I settled: charcoal burner's site in forest not far from count's domain.

Naturally needs kiln and water for charcoal, stream nearby.

Charcoal burners fled, leaving tools and firewood—survivable for now.

“How are territory folk?”

“Warming by fire seems better.

But food issue…….”

“No choice.

Permit hunting.

Catch all visible animals for food.”

“What?

But poaching is hanging?”

“I'll take full responsibility.”

Crime even modern times, especially medieval poaching capital offense—hanging.

But so what.

Starving right now.

Hanging?

Try if you can.

But first, somehow expel occupying Imperials from kingdom.

“Any among territory folk still able to bear arms?”

“Yes, some.”

“Then draft twenty again.

No need fight, just hold weapons, watch surroundings.”

“Understood.”

Before, drafted indiscriminately—elderly, middle-aged—to somehow swell to hundred.

This time no need.

Just relieve soldiers briefly by watching.

Of course not free.

Extra food ration for volunteers.

Fortunately, caught fish from stream, hunters brought decent game.

Not abundant, but in dire straits, sweet like rain in drought.

Doing assigned tasks, sun set quickly, cold night returned.

“Mom, why aren't we entering the castle?”

“Because bad people occupied that castle.

But don't worry, our lord will handle somehow.”

“…….”

Patrolling just in case, overheard interesting talk passing by.

Reason I didn't enter castle not loyalty or honor to count.

Just bad feeling.

Entering that castle, something definitely erupts.

‘Imperials occupying surely garrisoned inside.

Entering practically suicide.’

Really sorry to those seeing me as kingdom hero, noble loyalist.

But my safety first priority.

No more enduring horrific pain.

……Still, really hard, but seeing living territory folk like this.

‘Feeling not that bad.’

Of course never want again.

Anyway, first night passed uneventfully.

But anomaly came far quicker than thought.

Very next day.

Early morning, messenger from castle.

With letter bearing count's seal.

[Lord Blackguard, well aware of your prowess.

Have matters to discuss urgently, please come to the castle?]

“…….”

Death's scent familiar from letter surely not imagination.

Next Chapter View

I died countless times.

Pierced all over by arrows.

Flank transfixed by spear.

Neck severed by sword.

Died and died again.

But despite so many deaths, apparently still insufficient.

Death pushes my back once more.

The intent behind this letter is utterly transparent.

“Definitely a trap, my lord.”

“Absolutely do not go.”

“…….”

Even quick-witted soldiers immediately saw it as a trap.

But…… if asked can I refuse the invitation and flee, well.

I exhaled a deep sigh, summarizing the situation in one simple phrase.

“A perfect checkmate.”

“Yes?”

“If I don't respond to the invitation…… they'll send troops here.”

“But how would they know this location…….”

“They sent a messenger here.

Means they already know our position.”

Fleeing impossible.

Even preparing to flee takes time.

And even if somehow flee, cavalry would catch up immediately.

Of course, then I could block pursuit with few deaths.

But.

Then soldiers or territory folk could truly die.

Previously lucky.

Imperial assault focused solely on me, miraculously no one died.

But if someone dies and defeat regression stops, can't revive them.

“No choice.

Cut trees, erect barricades.

Prepare to meet the enemy here.”

Of course, abandoning all and fleeing alone might save me.

But well, would that work?

Already tried abandoning territory folk and fleeing, triggered defeat regression, returned.

This time likely no different.

Then only one choice remains.

“Yes.

Can't just send my lord like this!”

“We'll fight to the end!!”

Perhaps from previous victory.

Soldiers' morale pierced the sky.

At least ambushing in forest better odds than throwing myself alone into castle.

Remaining time at best a day.

In time-scarce situation, sparing as much as possible.

Unexpected guest arrived.

In a way, familiar face.

Revealed with loud hoofbeats: knight in white armor.

“Pleasure to meet again, Lord Blackguard.”

“You're the Imperial knight Randkul, right.”

“Yes, honored to be remembered.”

The captain of the Imperial patrol encountered en route to count's domain.

At first, hearing hoofbeats thought enemy attack.

Never imagined coming alone.

I tilted my head.

Surely not suicidal, coming solo.

“What brings you here?”

“Before getting to the point, first something to return to you.”

“This is……?”

Randkul carefully handed a box.

I opened it immediately upon receiving.

Inside was a human head.

But Randkul held no malice.

The head in the box was the one I faced yesterday at the castle gate.

Count Sandwy.

The kingdom's loyalist knight who resisted with life to the end.

“This is Count Sandwy's head?

Why does an Imperial knight like you have……?”

“Though circumstances made us enemies, Count Sandwy was never a knight deserving such mockery.”

“Wait, then that act wasn't the Empire's?”

“……Can't reveal details, but there were many who disliked the border count.

Quite a few.”

Feels like hammered on the head.

Believed Empire irreconcilable enemy.

But now what is this.

Same kingdom nobles betray, enemy nation's knight retrieves the body.

“And the reason I came alone…… to persuade you, Lord Blackguard.”

“Persuade me?”

“Your prowess and loyalty already known.

But no matter how outstanding, limits exist.”

Randkul's gaze turned behind me.

No need to look to know.

Barely twenty soldiers, evacuees never held weapons.

Shoddy barricades.

Equipment, resources, manpower, food.

Not a single area sufficient.

He's indirectly advising.

Stop futile resistance, surrender.

Those words so warm and sweet.

Wanted to truly surrender like this.

“Like unable to change parents who birthed me.

How abandon homeland heaven decreed.”

That's the problem—I can't.

“F*cking Imperial bastards!!”

Baron Demus couldn't contain rage, kicking an innocent tree root.

F*cking bastards.

Of course, thanks to them removed the eyesore count—fact.

But their actions no different from the count.

Clearly yesterday too.

[Send letter via messenger.]

[Need for that?

Just send troops and crush…….]

[At least give chance to surrender.]

Same.

Same eyes.

Like that damned count, eyes as if teaching him.

But surrendered nobles have no choices, had to obey.

So secretly swapped the letter.

With content obviously a trap.

Thanks to that, as expected, no surrender by next day.

Now can eliminate.

Thought that.

Until the Imperial knight who visited enemy camp alone yesterday proposed.

“This time, how about testing the abilities of nobles surrendered to Empire?”

“Hmm, not bad.

Baron Demus, surely about 200 disarmed troops assigned under you?”

“Y-yes, but.

Wouldn't just overwhelming better?”

“You mean refuse because can't win even 200 against 20?”

Empire already precisely grasped Baron Blackguard's forces via intel.

Questioning accuracy would only anger, obvious.

In the end, Baron Demus had to lead troops, crying and eating mustard.

“R-really just us?”

“Then what.

Hire mercenaries?”

“But rumors widespread.

Said he alone slaughtered 200…….”

“Ha!

Believing such bullshit, idiot under me!”

Baron Demus dumbfounded.

Already fuming to head top.

Subordinate's frustrating stupidity poured oil.

Inevitably, very familiar roar burst from Baron Demus's mouth.

“I know Blackguard well too.

Mere rural bumpkin.

And such a guy? Alone slaughter 200?”

“But he actually evaded Imperials to here.”

“Just lucky.

Or spread nonsense to cover incompetence.”

Thinking about it, yes.

Failed pursuing 250 evacuees.

No excuse even with ten mouths.

So to recover mistake somehow.

Deliberately inflated enemy strength in reports.

That spread as rumors.

Body greatly puffed.

No one knows better than Baron Demus.

Spreading rumors what he's done most from past to now.

At least thanks to subordinate, arrived without boredom—consolation if any.

‘Tsk, look at that shoddy state.

Barely different from pigsty.’

Upon arrival, Baron Demus's eyes caught utterly crude barricades.

Even entrance improperly blocked, interior fully visible from outside.

At least until familiar face stood middle, blocking view like a gate.

Black hair, black eyes.

Indeed Cain Blackguard as baron knows.

“Long time, Blackguard.”

“You know me?”

“You forgot me?

Well, not surprising.

Your head never was that good.”

“I know Baron Demus, but not sure about dog bastard who gladly sold his lord?”

“You dare……!!!”

Moment indignation boiled inside, lightning-like good idea struck.

Yes, Blackguard.

Somehow lucky, came here without abandoning territory folk.

Can you keep stiff neck after next proposal?

“Yes, Blackguard.

Heard you didn't abandon single territory folk to here?”

“What do you want to say.”

“Hand all territory folk to me.

Then gladly spare your life.”

“…….”

“Of course, handed ones will all die.

Very horribly!

Gladly promise that.”

Expose puffed rumor substance before all.

Strip dirty pretense.

Loudly so all hear.

Now, prove it.

You're not noble as rumors.

In end, you and I all same!

At unexpected proposal, all gazes focused that moment, finally he spoke.

“Territory folk are back there.”

Knew it!

Baron Demus smiled with ecstasy, thinking it worked perfectly.

“Yes!

That's it.

Of course!

Noble life more precious than such lowly…….”

“Soldiers in front of them.”

“……?”

“And foremost, me.”

But baron's repulsive smile didn't last long at Cain's calm reply.

“What are you…….”

“Still don't get it?”

Kill me if you can.

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