Siegfried spoke with a meaningful expression.
"Brunhild is not a mage."
The founder of the Glazer family, renowned for magic, a half-human, half-demon with the knowledge of the gods—she wasn't actually a mage. It seemed this was what he wanted to tell me.
"So?"
"…What?"
"Whether Brunhild is a mage or not, she is incredibly strong, isn't she?"
"Well, yes, that's true."
"Then that's all that matters. My goal isn't to learn magic. I just want to become stronger."
My current objective is not to become a mage. It is to become strong enough to slay the dragon, a task I couldn't accomplish in my previous life. Bringing her as my Guardian Spirit is just one step towards that greater strength.
"Fine! Do whatever you want with Brunhild!"
"Yes, I will do as I please."
"...You never back down."
"There's no winning or losing between us, Master. Just think of it as me speaking my mind."
"Ah, yes. My assertive apprentice, go ahead and do whatever you want."
Siegfried floated into the air, grumbling, and pointed to Galasvind's necklace with his finger.
"And... be careful with her. Even a single word can set her off."
"Like you, Master?"
"Exactly... Wait a minute. What did you just say?"
"I said Brunhild has a bad temper."
"No, not what I said. What did you say?"
"I said, even a single word can set her off, like you, Master."
He rolled his eyes for a moment, then tilted his head.
"Did I say that?"
"You did."
"Anyway! You'll find out soon enough if you try to learn her skills. It's not easy to please her."
I almost wanted to retort, "As if it's any easier with you," but I just nodded slightly.
I've already experienced plenty of situations where I had to please someone to learn their skills in my past life. Siegfried's specialty back then was canceling lessons if he didn't like something. He would even refuse to talk if something didn't please him.
I raised Galasvind's necklace and answered.
"Well, I'll do my best to get along."
"Of course, if there's anything you can't do. I'll leave for a while, so spend some good time with Brunhild."
"Why are you leaving?"
"I'm nervous about seeing her after so long. I need to relieve myself."
"Spirits need to pee?"
"Hey! Can't a soul pee?"
I shrugged my shoulders slightly.
"Alright. And I won't summon Brunhild right now."
To be precise, I can't summon her just yet.
"Why?"
"This stone is tougher than I thought. I can't break it."
"Breaking the stone?"
"Master, you know as a Guardian Spirit that I need to break the seal to form a contract."
"Oh! Can't you just cut it with a sword?"
"I tried. Even hit it with a hammer, but it didn't budge."
"Did you use your aura?"
"Yes, and mana too. Seriously! Didn't you hear the loud banging earlier?"
Siegfried scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.
"I was asleep."
Sleeping through such loud noises right next to his head. The domain of the Sword God is truly remarkable.
'By the way.'
It's truly remarkable. I knew it was protected by high-level magic, but I didn't expect it to be this hard.
"So, did you find a way to break it?"
"I'm thinking about it."
Of course, my answer about thinking was more about when to release the seal, not how to handle the necklace.
I already know how to release Brunhild.
"Can thinking alone get you an answer?"
"No rush. I have the necklace anyway."
"That's true, but... wouldn't it be better to release her quickly since you have it?"
"You didn't want to see her yesterday, why are you rushing now?"
"No, just... never mind! Do whatever you want."
I can't tell if Siegfried dislikes or likes Brunhild.
I can't grasp his thoughts. What happened between them to make him act this way?
I wondered but didn't ask. He'd just go on endlessly about useless stories.
'Besides.'
It's too soon to introduce Brunhild. Revealing her presence in the castle and the fact that I'm a dual Awakener would only increase the scrutiny from my siblings.
At least until I leave the castle and become independent, I need to keep a low profile.
"By the way, you know we have sword training today, right?"
"Of course! Is there anything specific you want to learn?"
"How to slay a dragon."
"Hey, I've told you over a thousand times, that technique is still too advanced for you."
"Just teach me. The sooner, the better."
"No, starting too early isn't good. I know from experience."
"So, what will you teach me? Not the basics we practice every day. Teach me one of your special techniques."
Siegfried pondered for a moment before snapping his fingers.
"You're right. Today, I'll be generous and teach you one of my special techniques."
With a 'woomph' sound, Siegfried landed on the ground, pulled out a long red sword from his waist, and made a downward slashing motion towards the ground.
"Have you heard of 'Aura Blade'? It's a technique that allows you to pour everything into defeating an unbeatable enemy. It's a technique I created, so only I can use it."
"Yes, Aura Blade. It's a bit dangerous to use, but it's a very powerful technique."
'Aura Blade.'
One of Siegfried's special techniques, it's a double-edged sword that, although dangerous, can unleash immense power.
In my past life, Siegfried never taught me this technique—he only ever showed it. Why is he so willing to pass it on now?
I don't know the reason, but it's a great opportunity to become stronger. I nodded enthusiastically at Siegfried.
"Okay."
* * *
"Hyah!"
Silver-armored knights rode their horses through the forest. Their number was in the hundreds.
Without pausing, they crossed into the forested territory of the Stranges, heading toward an uninhabited gorge.
"Whoa!"
The leading knight pulled the reins, and the others behind him began to slow down and survey the area.
After a thorough search, they stopped between two large rocks.
There was an entrance, possibly to somewhere, but it was only visible if you concentrated hard. There was an ominous feeling, as if a barrier had been set up.
This was a place they would not normally have found.
"The compass points here, Sir Gunther."
A middle-aged man, who appeared to be the captain, reported the direction indicated by the compass.
Gunther raised his hand, signaling the knights to draw their swords and shields, ready for battle.
"From now on, destroy any monsters you see."
The knights responded in unison.
"Yes!"
"This place is a Level 4 danger zone. Attack immediately if you see the enemy, even without orders."
"Understood!"
"No exceptions. If it's an enemy, cut down everyone, old or young."
At Gunther's command, the captain had his subordinate blow a horn.
Bwooo! Bwooo!
The knights charged between the rocks with a roar.
"Hyah!"
Bearing the cross of Strange, the knights soon reached the ogre stronghold and began slaying the ogres mercilessly.
The ogre stronghold, unprepared for the attack, quickly fell. Galasvind, the chieftain, fought valiantly but could only manage to fend off the immediate threats.
"Capture her alive. She's a gift for the Glazers."
Gunther eyed Galasvind coldly, not joining the battle himself. Two men standing by him took care of everything.
The two men advanced toward Galasvind.
One was of a colossal build, with a helmet adorned with two horns, almost inhuman. The other was thin to the point that his armor seemed loose, yet he was abnormally tall, almost as tall as an ogre.
"At your command."
"We will handle it, young master."
The two men simultaneously lunged at Galasvind.
It wasn't long before the fortress was in flames and Galasvind was bound and dragged away by the knights of Strange.
It was a one-sided battle, overwhelming enough not to be called a war.
The knights of Strange demonstrated the true meaning of annihilation. They showed no mercy to their opponents. Even those who surrendered or begged for mercy, including the elderly and children, were all slaughtered.
Bwooo! Bwooo!
At the sound of the horn, the knights began to retreat, stabbing the bodies of fallen ogres with their weapons as they went.
Thud, thud!
Thus ended the Strange knights' raid on the ogre stronghold. When the battle was over and the fortress was silent.
Clank.
A chest in the largest tent opened.
"...Is it over?"
A boy with emerald eyes cautiously peered through the crack.
"Mom..."
Seeing no one around, he emerged from the chest and stepped outside, only to be met with a scene of devastation.
The sight was horrific. Just hours ago, those he had shared laughs and conversations with were now dead.
The boy couldn't believe what he was seeing. As he checked the fortress, he clutched his head in agony and screamed.
"Aaah!"
His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees.
Thud.
"This... this can't be happening..."
Everywhere he looked, there were burning tents and the bodies of ogres.
He ran around desperately searching for his mother, but it was in vain.
She was already gone. In his despair, the boy wept, but even then, he tried to understand the situation.
'Who attacked us?'
He got his answer from a surviving ogre.
"Strange..."
"Strange?"
"Yes... it was the knights of Strange..."
His mind went blank.
The continent's most renowned family of swordsmanship, the Strange family. Wasn't the boy from that family who visited the fortress earlier?
The boy with green eyes, Roks, clenched his fists in rage.
Crack.
He squeezed so hard that his nails dug into his flesh, causing blood to flow.
"Indeed, humans cannot be trusted."
The boy made a vow.
He would never trust humans.
And then he went into his house, grabbing his mother's weapon, the warhammer.
"...Strange, Verdin, you said."