Wolves of Hader

Chapter 26

Tat-

Tatata- tutung-

A lively striking sound rang out.

The sound that resonated every time I struck a training dummy never failed to lift my spirits.

Wiping off my sweat, I stood by the window.

A clear view of the village spread out before me.

It took four years for this fortress to become what it is now.

When I finished the overall planning and started construction, it all seemed so overwhelming.

Where I stood was a ten-story castle.

It was a structure combining Dran architectural style with the construction methods I knew.

I built a basement and used steel reinforcement and cement techniques.

The castle's basement was an entryway to a secret area. If you looked at the village from the outside, you'd only see the castle and some buildings.

But if you entered the castle's basement, there was a secret area hidden from the view of the plaza.

On both sides of the castle were cliffs, and I had greatly expanded the underground space beneath them.

Various manufacturing materials and blueprints were stored in this space, as well as Urald's and my own laboratory.

Thus, the castle's basement and underground warehouses were top-security areas.

Since there were still many empty warehouses, all sorts of items would pile up there in the future. Racrill ore and gold bars were also kept here.

"Youngest! Breakfast is ready!"

"Okay!"

It was Elder sister Rozie calling out.

She was now 21 but still single. She was too busy running the household to have time to meet men.

I hung my wooden sword on its rack.

This was the training hall on the castle's sixth floor.

Ross and I mostly used it, but since last year Donnie had also come up to train with us.

We started training three years ago.

I mastered basic sword technique within three months, and now, to join body and sword as one, I repeated the same movements over and over.

Although I had yet to acquire the Level System, this allowed me to solidify my fundamentals.

This sort of foundational training was something I hadn't done back in the game Rac.

My daily life over the past three years had been consistent.

I woke up around 5 a.m. to train basic stamina, then began martial arts practice.

Martial arts, as I defined it, was a system I developed myself by integrating basic fighting techniques and grappling arts.

Once martial arts training was done, I started sword technique training.

Now was about the time to hone sword technique, and I also practiced imbuing magic power into my sword.

After sword training, I would eat breakfast and read.

After lunch, I entered my private workshop to experiment with potion manufacture or research various buff and debuff skills.

Back in the game Rac, there had been plenty of equipment that simply didn't exist here.

When the sun set, I resumed martial and sword training, then retired to my room to write.

I was neatly organizing the bestiary I'd written so far, and, as I recalled them, drawing maps of the continent.

After washing up in the training hall, I headed down to the lower floors.

Since the castle wasn't particularly large, each floor had a single dedicated use.

Its shape was rectangular, and it was the only structure in the fortress with glass windows.

10th floor, meeting room. 9th floor, Ross's room.

8th floor, Rozie's room. 7th floor, my room.

6th floor, training hall. 5th floor, dining room.

4th floor, kitchen. 3rd floor, guest rooms.

2nd floor, lounge. 1st floor, lobby.

Everyone who visited the castle for the first time was always surprised.

Because this building had an elevator. Depending on the lever's direction, the counterweight on the elevator's rope moved up or down.

When I entered the dining room, the family had gathered.

Ross, now 19, had become a sturdy young man.

His sword technique was now so advanced that even when sparring with Russell, he would not lose easily.

"Hey, little brother. When will you return from your trip?"

"Not sure. About a month, I think."

"You'll be all right? You do know Ta-iki has a pirate den, right?"

"I know. I've prepared for that much."

Elder sister Rozie brought out a dish that let off clouds of fragrant steam.

While we had a cook, she occasionally cooked for Ross and me. Today's breakfast was venison stew, freshly baked bread, and fruit.

"Eat plenty. So, who are you bringing along?"

Elder sister Rozie asked as she ladled out stew for me.

Ross, wanting to come along, glanced at me hopefully. He only knew I was going in search of something related to sword technique.

"Donnie and Urald are definite. Priest Roman will come as well. There's a divine order not far from Ta-iki, and that's Roman's home."

"What about soldiers?"

"If there are too many people, it will be more inconvenient. We'll stand out. Don't worry. I can at least protect three people."

"What if someone attacks while you're gone, youngest?"

Ross picked up Rozie's concern.

"Let them try. I'll make sure they regret it—thoroughly. We may only have Russell as a knight and just sixty soldiers, but we are the elite of the elite. Everyone is capable with sword, spear, and bow."

"The probability of us being attacked is slim."

"Probably, yes?"

"Since Father died, it's likely Grand Duke Syren has lost interest in us."

"Well, even if he suspects we're alive, he won't think much of what a bunch of kids could do. The fortress burned, and we were left with nothing."

Rozie asked cautiously.

"They don't know our situation yet, do they?"

"They wouldn't. If they did, they'd just leave us alone. Or maybe they're waiting for us to grow stronger."

"That possibility is more frightening."

"It's much more likely they don't know. Goose and lord Urke have helped hide the news about us."

We were currently a wiped-out house.

Even a completely destroyed house maintains its bloodline for at least ten years.

Because a hidden descendent might appear.

So we siblings still maintained our status as members of House Hader.

Since we were marked as missing, the imperial family hadn't issued any decree to appoint a successor.

The imperial family hadn't bothered to manage our fortress in the first place.

As an exiled house, we didn't even pay taxes. With the house wiped out, they didn't send any investigators.

It was the ideal scenario for quietly growing stronger.

It felt as though they'd deliberately sent us to this remote land so we could secretly build our strength.

"Just like we've done these past four years, elder sister, keep running the household, and Elder Brother, keep acting as head of house. I'll focus on business."

Rozie and Ross nodded.

It suited our aptitudes, but it was more that no one could replace another's role.

"I'll head up first."

"Food aboard the ship will be lacking. If there's something you want to eat, let me know and elder sister will make it for you."

"Sure. Thanks."

After breakfast, I went up to my room.

As I'd be leaving in a few days, I decided to pack in advance. Packing only meant clothes and a dozen medicine bottles.

I only packed a single dagger as a weapon, and I also packed the necklace. The one that had been around the Demon Legion Commander's neck.

I discovered its secret three years ago. I'd wondered why the guildmaster always wore this necklace.

This necklace was an amazing accessory that could endlessly absorb a certain energy.

Strangely, it absorbed only cold energy, leaving the magic power untouched.

I discovered, too, that the amount of cold energy it absorbed matched the magic power I poured in.

The guildmaster's mana was of the Rage attribute. Rage increased attack power, and his ultimate skill was of the Flame type.

I'd always wondered where the fiery energy had come from, since there was none in his mana, and now I knew—it had been stored in this necklace.

With practice, I managed to store cold energy separately in the necklace.

Normally, I only kept pure magic power, but I could call on the cold energy when needed.

Because whenever I used magic power, cold energy radiated.

///

When I went to the lounge, Urald was waiting.

Priest Roman had returned from the 'sanctuary' as well.

"You're back, priest."

"Yes. Thanks to you, the food shortage is over and my training ended safely. My position in the order is so weak that I regret not being able to repay you."

"You seem much changed since six months ago."

"I achieved a little."

Urald stepped in.

"It seems your divinity has grown much stronger. Well, you did train in that sanctuary for four years, after all. So, are you going to return to the order now that you've finished your training?"

"I should. My master is waiting for me."

"Your master recommended this place, didn't he?"

The priest smiled at my question.

"Yes. He said there's a great training ground up north where I could achieve my goals within five years. The order has excellent training grounds too, but I never had a chance to use them."

"How did your master know about that cave?"

"My master heard about it as a young priest. He said there might be a sanctuary from legend in the north. So I wandered north without a plan. I didn't even know there'd be a barrier here."

From Roman, I sensed a powerful divinity. For a knight, he'd be at the level of imbuing magic power into their sword.

He seemed two or three years older than me—it was an impressive achievement at a young age.

"Then you can join us on this trip."

"Yes, that's why I rushed back when I heard. It's shameless, but I was going to ask for a ride to the order."

"Luckily, the timing works out."

Roman smiled again.

"In fact, I have felt strangely uneasy these past weeks, so I was about to finish my training anyway."

"What sort of unease did you feel?"

"I can't really describe it. Pardon me for bringing it up. Please don't worry, young master."

It seemed to be the priest's intuition.

Had something happened in the order?

Urald spoke up again.

"Are you heading straight back after stopping by Ta-iki?"

"I'm not sure yet. We might stop at a central continent port for supplies before returning to Mouk. Oh, Urald, you have a friend in the central region, right?"

"That's right. It's been three years since I last sent word, but I haven't received a reply. So, about that—could you drop me off in the central region on the way back?"

"You want to meet your friend?"

"Yes. I miss him, and he's an artisan the house needs. Didn't the young master also ask that I someday bring him over?"

"I did. If you go, I'll go too."

"The crew will be waiting."

"I'll grant paid leave."

We laughed over tea.

I wasn't relying on luck or coincidence—just hoping the journey would go as planned.

///

I headed to the barracks outside the village.

There, in the training grounds, stood a notably tall figure—Donnie, practicing swordsmanship alone with fierce concentration.

I watched for a while.

He was wielding his own greatsword, its power so overwhelming the soldiers were left stunned. He'd been training with that sword for a year now.

His sword was longer than I was tall.

I couldn't even lift it, but Donnie hefted it upright easily. While he still found it difficult to swing, it was nothing like before.

Boom, boom, boom—

Donnie spun with the greatsword. He started turning slowly but, as he gained speed, he twirled so fast it was almost uncontrollable.

The sword's wind was like a storm.

It was Berserker's Whirlwind skill.

Of course, he was just spinning now. If he added magic power, it would change completely.

Donnie stopped spinning and lowered the sword.

Thud—

The sound of the sword striking the ground echoed.

"You're here?"

"You seem more in control than last month."

"I'm getting used to it. Last year I kept losing my balance and falling."

He was even taller than before.

Muscles incomparably larger than before.

And a huge sword.

That sword was for training.

I planned to forge him a real weapon later—a Dran-forged sword, lightened with magic.

At that moment, someone shouted from the castle gates.

"Someone is coming from Goose's merchant guild!"

They must have found a ship.

Finally, it was time.

Toward Ta-iki!