Chapter 24 – When the ancient pact is fulfilled

“Oh…! Truly…!”

“Vyril…!”

Carried on horseback, we returned to where the nomads were. Those who heard the situation gathered in large numbers.

“Vyrillllllllll!!”

Rina came and hugged me. Her sun-tanned skin, thick blond hair and sharp eyes. Different from how I remembered her, I think she has become quite beautiful.

Or rather, too different. She used to look like a boy before…!

“…It’s been a long time, Rina. And Mayo-sama too. I’m late, but…we managed to reunite somehow.”

“Vyril…! Fufu, I never thought this day would come…! You’ve saved my life twice. I don’t know how to thank you enough…”

“No need…”

Next to show their faces were Karan and my master.

“Vyril…”

“I’m back.”

The two patted my shoulder, as if confirming my existence. And then my master fixed me with a serious gaze.

“…It seems you’ve been through quite an ordeal. Have you reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship?”

“Not at all….No, I wonder. The truth is, I still don’t understand myself.”

It had been a long time since I fought against people. I strongly felt a sense of dissonance, wondering if my swordsmanship had really become like this.

“You were amazing, Vyril! Before I knew it, all the men had been cut down by you!”

“…Indeed. The moment I swung my blade, I could see, but I only became aware that I had swung after I finished cutting them all down.”

Ah…I don’t sense any hostility here. Despite so many people around, I don’t feel my life is in danger.

I should have expected this and yet this situation still feels dissonant to me. Well, it’s understandable after the environment I’ve been through. Mayo-sama continued speaking.

“Come to think of it, Vyril, you could see with your left eye.”

“..Yes. I wore an eyepatch to conceal this mark. But there’s no need for that anymore.”

Saying that, I turned towards Karan-san.

“I’ve heard the general situation of the grassland before arriving here. Karan-san, could you gather the Eight Tribes? I intend…to fulfil the pact with the grassland people.”

“Wha…!?”

Karan-san was the only one who reacted clearly to my words. The others likely didn’t know about it or had heard of it but didn’t know the details.

“Vyril…! That is…no, why would you…!?”

“…I possess the qualifications to fulfil the pact. This mark on my left eye should prove it.”

“That can’t be…Could it be…! Has the one finally…appeared…! We…the grassland people’s sin…! Oh, there is a way…to atone…!”

Karan-san’s reaction caused a stir among the surrounding people. My master also furrowed his brow, wondering what was going on.

“Vyril. Just what are you talking about…?”

“Master. There is something I have decided before coming here. From now on, I will…overcome the corpses of many brethren and this time, seize the future I desire. The resolve for that…I have already made.”

Karan-san’s whole body trembled as I spoke up.

“We should gather them immediately…! Rina, go and call father!”

“Eh…?”

I turned my gaze towards Mayo-sama as well.

“Mayo-sama, please join us. And…Master, I would like you to come too.”

“…So it seems there is an important matter to discuss?”

“Given the current situation, it is necessary, is it not?”

I nodded to the two of them.

Ah…From here on, I will become the Grim Reaper that hunts tens of thousands of lives.

■

Night fell but the chieftains of each tribe had gathered inside the yurt. Besides them were Mayo-sama, my master and Karan-san.

“Karan. That man is…?”

I stepped forward and surveyed everyone once more. Then, with a look of resolve in my eyes, I spoke.

“My name is Vilgard Zeltreich. I am the son of the former Emperor Ragmark.”

“…………………!?”

“Wha…!?”

“Zeltreich bloodline…!”

Upon revealing my name again, Mayo-sama’s eyes went wide open.

“I’ve heard of the current situation on the grassland. The empire has finally dispatched its army to this land and many Paras have been captured…I am deeply concerned about the current state of the empire and the continent.”

To urge the fulfilment of the pact, I first explained the greater cause.

“The empire, divided into three, has continued its strife for over 10 years, creating many refugees and impoverished people. Countries being invaded, tragedies without end. They trampled and pillaged. The effects are no longer contained within the empire, but spreading across the continent…But I will not allow this. If no one else can end it…then I will.”

For that, I need the power of the grassland people. And there is a reason why it must be them.

“Long ago, Gnochein rid the continent of demon beasts, bringing peace to humanity. But the hero Gnochein was slain by his nine subordinates for a certain reason.”

“Eh…?”

“What…?”

Here, Mayo-sama and my master were surprised. However, the tribal chiefs listened quietly to my story.

“While there was reason enough for them to slay him, the fact remained that he was the protector of humanity. And his subordinates felt immense guilt over killing him. So one of the nine…Gnochein’s son, made a certain pact with them.”

That if an event like the demon beasts threatened to throw the continent into chaos again, they would take Gnochein’s place and bring peace to the lands once more.

To prepare for that time, the eight settled on the grassland and the Eight Tribes began. They spent their days fulfilling the roles entrusted to each, awaiting the fateful day.

And Gnochein’s son became king of a small nation, fostering friendship with the grassland people until his life’s end.

More time passed and his descendants conquered and unified many nations, eventually giving rise to the great continental empire – the Zeltreich Empire.

The inexplicable friendship between the empire and grassland people was a remnant of that time. Until now, the empire refrained from undue interference with the grassland people.

“But to fulfil the pact requires one of Gnochein’s bloodline to give the command. The current imperial family likely knows nothing of this ancient pact…it has already been lost. No, perhaps intentionally obscured from later generations.”

When speaking of Gnochein’s bloodline, this refers to children born from his intimate relations. The legends say that merely meeting his gaze would cause a woman to conceive his child…but the truth of such matters is unknown to me.

Gnochein’s son himself also felt immense guilt. He took forgetting the pact as his own sin to bear.

And though the Eight Tribes knew the pact was highly unlikely to be fulfilled, until today they…continued honing their martial might, enough to take to the continent itself.

Preparing for the potential calamity that may one day arrive. Taking this as the sin entrusted to them.

An army that originally should never have seen the light of day. Undoubtedly formidable but not necessarily enough to defeat the current empire alone.

However, I have already made my resolve and believe I can do it. It is something I must do.

Here, the one to raise his hand was Karan-san’s father, Rhoban, chieftain of the Muga Tribe.

“Vilgard-sama, where did you learn of this pact? And to fulfil it would mean we fall under your command. Are you capable of such leadership?”

No doubt a question on everyone’s mind here. Even with a formidable army assembled, it would be a waste if the one commanding lacked ability.

“I’ll be honest. While I have fought on the frontlines before, I have never held a command position.”

“…………….”

“However, I am confident I can do it. I will demonstrate that in the battles to come. As for the pact…there was guidance from Gnochein himself. And that is also why I could not come to these lands until today.”

The underground space will be difficult to explain…I’ll talk about it when we have a calmer moment. For now, a vague answer will suffice.

“My desire is simple. To secure a place for myself and peace, even if I must pay with blood and life. Specifically, it means reunifying the empire and taking back the Amatsuki Imperial Domain.”

“The Amatsuki Imperial Domain…!”

As long as Mayo-sama lives, the imperial bloodline continues. I cannot leave that land under the empire’s rule.

“…But what proof is there that you are of the Zeltreich imperial bloodline, Vilgard-sama?”

“There are two proofs. One is this mark on my left eye. In the capital’s records, it is documented that Vilgard, son of former Emperor Ragmark, manifested this crest mark in his left eye. And second, Master Kirimune can verify it.”

The chieftains’ gazes turned to my master. He nodded deeply.

“Without a doubt. I was once employed by Vilgard-sama’s mother to teach the sword in the imperial palace of the capital. And when the civil war escalated, I took him away from the capital, journeying to arrive here. The rest…you know.”

“Incredible…!”

“Then…truly…!”

“One qualified…to command us, of Gnochein’s lineage…!”

I understand that the grassland people have continued their duty until this day. To be honest, it is quite dutiful considering how old these stories are.

But it is precisely because of their dedication that I can place my firm trust in them.

“To think a qualified heir would appear when I was agonising over how to save the Paras…!”

“Indeed. And Vilgard-sama has already graced us by rescuing our brethren.”

“That alone would suffice to repay the debt. More than that, it would be too regrettable to let the skills we have honed over the long years simply rot away…!”

It was unfortunate that the Paras were the first targeted.

They are a tribe skilled in crafting bows, arrows, armour and horse tack. Compared to the other tribes, their combat ability is admittedly a step behind.

The chief of the Paras stepped forward and bowed his head.

“We Paras will follow your command. More than anything, you offer to rescue our brethren – what reason could we have to refuse?”

Following his lead, the other tribal chiefs also bowed.

“We of the Dorga tribe, who race across the land like the wind, shall answer Vilgard-sama’s call.”

“The Muria’s bowmanship that we have honed until today will surely be of use.”

The Dorga tribe has mastered various means of communication, no matter how far apart they are.

The Muria tribe is one that has purely trained their skill with the bow. While all grassland people are basically proficient with bows, the Muria excel particularly.

“The Ruto tribe will not be outdone either. No matter the enemy, we shall crush them utterly.”

“For us to be put to use on the battlefield, horses are essential. The Gagaru have raised many formidable horses until today. Please make full use of them.”

The Ruto tribe has honed their skills as heavily-armoured cavalry who can also use bows. While most grassland warriors are lightly armoured horse archers, the Ruto can likely provide powerful shock troops when needed.

And the Gagaru tribe raises many horses. Basically all tribes keep horses but the Gagaru have studied selective breeding, producing horses ideal for battle, transport, and more in great numbers.

“For scouting missions and the like, leave it to the Utto tribe. Working with the Dorga, we shall always provide you, our king, with the latest intelligence.”

“Stable supply lines are directly linked to victory in battle. We of the Kyamura tribe shall support the army by managing logistics and replenishing resources on the battlefield.”

The Utt specialise in battlefield intelligence gathering. The Kyamura will handle the quartermaster role. Each excels in combat as well, undoubtedly reliable assets.

“The Muga tribe joyfully welcomes the triumphant return of our new king. Leave diplomacy and intelligence to us.”

The Muga tribe is well-suited for handling interactions with other factions. They also excel at sending many of their people as merchants into enemy territories to gather intelligence.

In the preparatory stages before battle, they will undoubtedly play an indispensable role.

“…The ancient pact has been realised here. From these lands, I, as a prince of the empire, shall…reclaim our homeland. First, we must crush the enemy before us and rescue our brethren. There is no time to waste and we need information. Let us commence a war council immediately.”

“Yes sir!”

“Understood!”