I’m a Rebel in Another World

Chapter 9: A New Identity

Half a month later, Kavizé summoned Henwil to the tea room.

After gesturing for Henwil to sit down only to be politely declined, Kavizé tossed a small pouch onto the table: "Don't complain it's too little—any more would be more than you can handle, enough to crush your very life!"

Henwil picked up the pouch, finding inside some copper coins and a scattering of silver coins.

Kavizé set down his wine glass: "This is pocket money! Buy something you like! Now, for your real reward.

I cannot let you go! Nor can I make any promises, but I have personally visited your hometown.

I supplied your family with additional food and supplies so they can continue hiding safely.

Furthermore, I can teach you some skills. I know you've been training your body all along. From now on, besides guiding your physical training, I'll also teach you some combat techniques.

What do you want to learn? Archery? Or swordsmanship? I can teach you either, but how much you actually learn depends entirely on your own capabilities."

Henwil said quietly: "I don't know what I should learn. I just want to learn skills that can kill people!"

Kavizé lightly clapped his hands: "Excellent! This is what I like about you—you always see straight to the essence of things.So-called sword techniques, secret arts, footwork—they're all just means to kill more effectively. What we call learning is merely simulating responses to various situations.

Be prepared tomorrow. For the remaining time, I'll teach you with all my heart. I hope when you look back on these days someday, they won't be completely filled with humiliation!"

For the next two months, besides attending to Kavizé's daily needs, Henwil continuously received training from him.

During this period, the war situation underwent new developments.

Because Worui Duchy had not only made significant contributions to the previous major campaign but also captured the strategic stronghold of Plains City.

They gained substantial merit within the Allied Forces, which made the remaining two nations in the alliance feel somewhat embarrassed.

Especially the Billie Kingdom side—during the Plains City battle, they disobeyed the orders of vanguard commander Count Obiken, recklessly attacking the city and suffering considerable losses.

The three legions of Billie Kingdom felt they were being looked down upon, so under the Billie Kingdom's direction.

They took one legion from Worui Duchy and another legion from the alliance's other nation, Ogiro Kingdom.

Totaling six regular legions, over forty thousand regular troops, plus even more noble forces.

This allied force of one hundred thousand soldiers used Plains City as a stepping stone, attempting to thrust into Ika Kingdom's largest eastern city—Kuka City.

Capturing this city would essentially split Ika Kingdom apart, with at least one-third of its territory falling under allied control.

More importantly, if Ika Kingdom lost here, they could only retreat west of the Mist-Shrouded Mountains.

The war could completely end with this campaign as the turning point!

As for the possibility of Allied Forces failure, nobody considered it, since everyone believed such an outcome was impossible.

After the army departed, Kavizé noticed the change in Henwil's mood.

"What? Are you worried about your homeland being defeated?"

Henwil sighed: "I'm worried about the Allied Forces being defeated! The good fortune of using traitors to open city gates won't keep happening.

Kuka City isn't Plains City—it's the pivotal city of the kingdom's eastern region, garrisoned by tens of thousands of troops. If tricks fail, then there will be trouble!"

Kavizé: "If they fail, just lay siege! The Allied Forces have overwhelming numbers—they won't fail!"

"Supplies!"

"Plains City can send them!"

"That's six hundred miles! How do you protect the supply line? Draw troops from Plains City garrison? What if the kingdom's army counterattacks?"

Kavizé understood Henwil's meaning—fighting in enemy territory meant that if their retreat was cut off, those one hundred thousand allied soldiers would become lambs waiting for slaughter.

However, Kavizé didn't care who won or lost: "Isn't this good for you? If your homeland recovers its territory, you'll have a chance to leave!"

Henwil sighed: "Ah~! I'm worried I won't live to see the kingdom fight back! After a major defeat, soldiers of the Allied Forces might very well simply execute prisoners like me!"

Kavizé heard the implication in Henwil's words: "Alright then, little one. Tell me what you want to do!"

Henwil: "I need a new identity—one that won't get me killed by angry Allied Forces soldiers after a defeat!"

Kavizé didn't respond directly.

However, several days later, Kavizé made Henwil stop going outside while using a special potion to dye Henwil's hair brown.

That day, Kavizé invited an officer to his home, and Henwil behaved quite properly.

The officer asked curiously: "Who is this? That little slave you captured?"

"No! That little thing tried to escape, so I killed him! What a waste—I should have sold him off instead!"

As he spoke, Kavizé showed a look of regret on his face, then pointed at Henwil: "This is the child of an old friend. His father was a knight of Billie Kingdom who unfortunately fell in battle at Raging Bay.

He's the second son with no inheritance rights, entrusted to my care. I'm bringing him along to see the world during this war—he might become a wandering mercenary like me someday!"

Dressed in servant's attire, Henwil performed a noble salute from Billie Kingdom toward the officer.

The officer nodded slightly in response, then said to Kavizé with a smile: "Why did you refuse Count Obiken's recruitment offer? It came with an immediate knight title and land inheritance rights!

With your skills, earning merits in this war wouldn't be difficult. You might even become a baronet before me!"

Kavizé shrugged: "Forget it! I don't like constraints, and I especially dislike staying in one place too long. I love freedom, seeing the world's magnificent scenery, and meeting beautiful women from various places."

Over the next few days, Kavizé frequently invited various officers to drink, intentionally or unintentionally introducing Henwil to all of them.

Among them, the most frequent visitor was that first officer.

He was an officer from Worui Duchy's Third Legion, commanding a squadron of two hundred soldiers.

The officer was named Fabio, a knight in title only without actual knightly combat abilities—he was the descendant of a major noble from Worui Duchy.

Having met numerous times, Fabio developed quite a favorable impression of Henwil, sometimes chatting with him for a while.

He harbored no suspicions about Henwil's current identity.

After all, Henwil could speak the language of Billie Kingdom, even with a certain accent.

Henwil also appeared somewhat unfamiliar with Worui Duchy's language, and as for Ika Kingdom's language—Henwil never spoke it again after that day.

Thus, another month passed.

Then terrible news arrived, though not about Allied Forces retreating.

The situation was even worse—those one hundred thousand allied soldiers had their retreat route completely cut off.