Chapter 26
026. One Person is Enough
Time flowed faster than the falling snowflakes.
Seven months passed in the blink of an eye.
All that time had been poured into preparing to subjugate the calamity of the snowy mountains.
We trained the unit members to deepen their understanding of magic and to build up their physical endurance.
“They say mana charging into an engraving comes from willpower, but that willpower also comes from stamina. Got it?!”
When I barked at them, the unit members only shook their heads with faces that said they didn’t understand, as if begging for mercy.
“Even if you don’t get it—run!”
Of course, that didn’t mean they were spared.
Day after day, they collapsed from exhaustion.
They trained their bodies even harder than the combat unit did.
That wasn’t because the combat unit slacked off.
In addition to basic physical training, they received special combat drills under Gardner’s command, moving as one.
Naturally, Ronan went through all that training as well.
Afterward, he received individual training from Siruela.
Whenever I asked Siruela about Ronan:
“He’s keeping up well.”
…was all I got in reply.
I couldn’t teach Ronan about the sword myself, so all I could do was trust Siruela.
But Siruela hadn’t been lying.
Within the combat unit, almost no one could win a one-on-one duel against Ronan.
Rumor had it that unless you were the adjutant, Gardner, you couldn’t even be confident of victory.
“That guy’s the real deal.”
Even the usually stingy Gardner acknowledged him.
But Ronan himself didn’t.
“The seniors don’t use mana, but I can’t use it. That’s the difference.”
He never once forgot his situation.
While the combat unit and Ronan were busy training, I tossed Hogg into the mix.
“D-do you really think I’ll be of help?”
“Of course.”
I smacked Hogg’s broad back hard as he hesitated.
Physically speaking, Hogg had the best build in Icerock.
No one in the entire unit could hold up a shield as long as he could.
And he held one in each hand.
With two rectangular shields, Hogg was practically a moving wall.
Surprisingly, he adapted well to training and was a huge help to the combat unit’s drills.
“But it feels like a waste to make him use only shields with that strength.”
Gardner handed Hogg something “just right” for him—a sledgehammer.
Not a weapon, but a tool.
It was something normal men had to lift with both hands, used for smashing rocks or driving in wedges.
Hogg wielded it freely in one hand.
“Th-this actually feels pretty good…!”
Though he was clumsy with blades or spears, Hogg handled the hammer with ease.
Swinging it whenever he had free time, after seven months he had reached the point where—
Crunch.
He could crush a Snow Worm’s skull in one blow.
“That was the last one?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“We cleared the other side too.”
As Hogg brushed off the worm’s remains from his hammer, Ronan approached from behind.
“No other people, right?”
“Right.”
“Yes.”
After hearing both answers, I glanced over at the rookies huddled together nearby.
They blinked their eyes wide, staring at us—who had suddenly appeared and slain the Snow Worms.
A grin spread across my face.
There was one thing we could never prepare for, no matter how much effort we spent over the last seven months.
A shortage of manpower.
“Welcome, recruits.”
And now, here they were, right before us.
* * *
All the people dragged into Icerock were men.
No one lived in the snowy mountains infested with Snow Worms.
There was no way to bring in reinforcements from within.
The only option was to wait for new recruits sent from the garrison.
“A total of 108 left from the garrison, all present and accounted for. However, 11 were injured…”
“Any dead?”
“None.”
Ronan reported what he’d confirmed upon returning to the fortress.
“No deaths…?”
Siruela nodded, satisfied.
“That’s a first.”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’d bring them all.”
Since the fortress at Icerock had been built, never once had every recruit made it here alive.
The Snow Worms weren’t the only danger outside the fortress walls.
The deadly cold of the mountains, starving beasts, and even infighting that often led to death.
Most of the recruits were criminals to begin with, so it wasn’t unusual.
What was unusual was that everyone had survived.
“Aren’t you boasting a bit too much? This was also the first time anyone went out to escort them in the first place.”
Though Siruela’s words were sharp, there was a smile tugging at his lips.
Escorting them to ensure their safe arrival had always been an obvious idea.
But until now, the Guard simply hadn’t had the resources.
Now, things were different.
Siruela chuckled.
“Still, well done.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, we’ll need to assign them to units. Any thoughts?”
Siruela first turned to Gardner, who stood by his side.
“I think Captain Esric’s opinion is more important than mine. He’s the one who brought them all here safely.”
As Gardner humbly deferred, every gaze in the room shifted toward me.
The members of each unit, especially Hagen, adjutant of the Magic Unit, stared at me with hopeful eyes.
With more men, the workload could be spread out, making things easier.
But I had to disappoint them.
“Our Magic Unit doesn’t need that many people.”
Wishful thinking.
“I’ll take just one.”
The new recruits gathered in one place.
“Why are we here?”
“They’re forming units.”
“There are different units here too?”
“How should I know? We all got dragged here the same way!”
“Then shut it if you don’t know! You’re hurting my ears!”
“What did you just say, you bastard…!”
As they bickered, someone stepped forward.
“Quiet.”
A large, rough-looking man emerged.
The rookies shut their mouths, though their eyes still burned.
Who the hell are you?
They didn’t say it out loud, but some glared at him with that thought.
“My name is Hagen. I am adjutant of the Icerock Magic Unit.”
Ignoring their looks, Hagen continued.
“We’re starting unit assignments. Only one of you will join the Magic Unit. The rest go to the Combat Unit.”
At that, the rookies began murmuring again.
Just by the sound of it, the Combat Unit sounded harsher.
But since only one would be chosen, the Magic Unit suddenly seemed more appealing.
All of them bore engravings useless in battle.
Still, the very existence of a Magic Unit gave some hope, and a few puffed out their chests.
After all, some here hadn’t even engraved anything at all.
“We’re screwed…”
Barent, one of the unengraved, cursed under his breath.
Then—
“Sir! I engraved [Lumo]! I’m sure I can use it for combat!”
One rookie shouted with his hand raised high.
Not to be outdone, others quickly followed suit.
“I engraved [Aqua]! I can create water—!”
“My [Cladio] will be more useful! Pick me—!”
“If terrain is considered, my [Fringus]—!”
Chaos.
Like peddlers in a marketplace, they shouted over each other, their voices overlapping into noise.
Barent winced, covering his ears.
At that moment—
“.”
Hagen’s low voice cut through the air.
Whoosh.
A flaming arrow formed in his hand, flying straight over the raised hands of the recruits.
Fwoosh—Bang!
The arrow struck the wall and exploded, scattering sparks.
The rookies gasped.
“Didn’t I tell you to be quiet?”
His warning silenced them instantly.
“I don’t give a damn about your engravings. Don’t answer unless asked. Otherwise, I’ll roast your head whole.”
His eyes flashed cold.
Those who had raised their hands shrank and lowered their heads.
They now understood their shabby magic couldn’t even compare.
“Wow…”
Only Barent, without an engraving, lifted his head to look at Hagen.
Awe for magic stirred inside him.
Maybe—because he hadn’t engraved anything yet—it was still possible for him?
“Um, excuse me!”
He raised his hand high, voice trembling.
“What the hell is this guy—?!”
“I-I brought a letter!”
Before Hagen could fire another , Barent pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his chest.
“Just make sure you take it with you. Show it, and they’ll take care of you.”
The coachman had stuffed it into his hands, saying it was for the Magic Unit Captain.
“A letter? What letter?!”
“We’re supposed to pick one recruit, not scare the shit out of them!”
Hagen suddenly toppled over with a thud.
Behind him stood a blond boy.
The mage who had saved the recruit last night.
Esric Spelder.
“N-no, that’s not it… That brat, he has some letter—”
“A letter?”
The once overbearing Hagen now rubbed his kicked backside, flustered.
Seeing this, Barent realized who he had to give the letter to.
“Th-this is for the Captain of the Magic Unit! The coachman gave it to me!”
“Ah.”
Esric’s face lit up as he walked over.
This is the Magic Unit Captain?
Barent stared at him in disbelief.
He looked barely older than Barent himself—still boyish in the face.
But his bearing was different.
He felt like a noble lord.
Esric stopped in front of him, hand outstretched.
“Dyke gave it to you?”
“Uh… the coachman, I don’t know his name… He said since I had no engraving, I’d definitely be sent to the Guard, so…”
Barent nervously handed over the letter.
“That’s right. I told him to do that.”
“…What?”
Esric’s clear blue eyes turned to Barent.
“What’s your name?”
“Uh, I-I’m Barent…”
“Barent…”
Esric nodded thoughtfully, repeating his name, a faint smile on his lips.
And Barent couldn’t help but wonder—
…Why is he smiling?
