Chapter 41 - Epilogue: The Harsh Reality of the Frontier
--- I began preparing to return to the village.
I had retrieved the clear-colored magic stone that served as proof of defeating the Elad Arachne. I also managed to recover a portion of its highly durable exoskeleton. However, I refrained from collecting its lure—it was simply too distasteful for my liking.
Still, my curiosity got the better of me, so I took a closer look at it nearby. What I discovered left me standing in silence for a moment.
At first, I thought it was modeled after an ordinary human woman, but there were subtle differences. Its skin was a pale greenish hue—perhaps because it was merely a lure. It had thick, dark body hair, unnervingly abundant. This too might have been an influence of the Elad Arachne's main body. But one thing was unmistakably unlike any human.
Its ears.
They were long, pointed, and stretched horizontally—completely unlike anything I had ever seen. The soldiers stared in bewilderment as well. And yet, something stirred in my memory. I recalled a race with similar ears depicted in an illustration from some novel I had once read. A race that shouldn’t exist in this world.
Yes... they were called elves.
According to my memories, they were a race that lived in forests and were adept at using both bows and magic... huh. They were a staple of countless stories in those lighthearted entertainment books.
But this... this information was something that existed only in my own memories.
Thus, I felt no obligation to report it. The tale of a race that doesn’t exist in this world would surely be dismissed as a mere fabrication. Worse, it could lead to the same alienation and misunderstanding I endured in my previous life, condemning me to a future of isolation. If I wished to live quietly as one of the people of this world, I knew in my heart that this knowledge must remain hidden.
---
After collecting what I could from the Elad Arachne, I placed my hand on the ground and dug a large hole. I lacked the ability to cast the kind of Flame Magic necessary to completely incinerate such a large creature.
Partially burning it would only attract various carnivorous magical beasts, and this area was perilously close to the Middle Forest. If another monster were to be drawn here, it could spell disaster. The only thing I could do was bury it deep beneath the earth.
I carved a bottomless pit into the ground and let the Elad Arachne's lifeless body fall into its depths. Once I heard the sound of it hitting the bottom, I closed the deep hole. With it buried so far below, no stench of blood or rotting flesh would seep up to the surface.
This was the only way I could handle the remains of any medium-sized or larger magical beasts or monsters I defeated, given my lack of powerful Flame Magic.
With the clean-up done, I left the forest. Staying vigilant, I avoided unnecessary combat. The scouting magitech tool had proven its worth once again, and the soldiers were beginning to recognize it as an incredibly useful magitech tool.
As we walked along the small paths of the Shallow Forest, where sunlight filtered through the trees, I felt a quiet relief that everyone had made it back alive. Even now, I found myself hesitating to rely on guns. Reflecting on this incident, the fact that such a formidable creature had been defeated with a single bullet made it clear—it must be used only under the strictest supervision.
Old Man approached me quietly, his footsteps soft, and spoke in a low voice.
"How should we report this to His Lordship?"
"The first campaign yielded extraordinary results—an achievement born from the dedication and hard work of the soldiers. Truly, their commitment humbles me. I expect they will continue to hone their skills and further elevate the honor of the guerilla unit."
"......Young Master. Are you certain that will suffice?"
"It’s everyone’s honor, after all. Oh, and make sure to express my gratitude to the fifth-year soldier who served as the spotter. His contribution to this victory is paramount, but as it stands, I cannot offer him any substantial reward. A good bottle of liquor... that’s about all I can manage right now. Thank you, Old Man, for always supporting a powerless commander like me."
"You honor me, Young Master. Very well, I shall convey your words to everyone. You must be exhausted as well. Once we return to the village, you should rest for a while. I’ll also ensure a runner is sent to inform His Lordship about the successful subjugation."
"Please handle it. I have much to consider myself. While the term assault reconnaissance sounds impressive, I cannot ignore the unease I feel about using soldiers' lives for such operations. Are there no better defensive tools? More effective weapons? If gunners are to dominate ranged combat, then infantry must excel in close quarters. No matter how much humans train, the events of this mission reminded me that ordinary people are powerless against monsters and magical beasts. I need to find a solution."
"Infantry equipment... is it? That’s a tricky matter. Without proper equipment, they can’t perform at their best, but equipping them requires enormous sums of money. Even with your wealth, Young Master, it might be a stretch to achieve that."
"......I’m considering all possible approaches, Old Man."
Despite the triumph we had achieved, I wore a gloomy expression—a far cry from the morale-boosting demeanor a commander should maintain. I knew this wasn’t appropriate, but...
...the weight of so many issues pressed heavily on my mind.
I couldn’t leave things as they were. The lives of the soldiers in the guerilla unit were too precious. It was my duty as their commander to ensure they returned alive—to the town, to their villages, to the people they cherished. That was a responsibility I could never neglect.
With a renewed sense of determination, I continued down the forest path leading to the village.
---
After marching along the highway, we returned from the village to another small village and then to the town. Exhausted as I was, I went directly to the knightly family’s manor to deliver my report. My destination was Father’s office. The runner had likely already arrived ahead of me and relayed the news. Father was undoubtedly aware of the situation.
There hadn’t been time to send multiple updates. No—just one more was dispatched. I sent a runner carrying the news of the successful subjugation. I could imagine it must have caused Father some concern. The timing of the arrival of the runner reporting the successful subjugation and the return of the guerilla unit probably didn’t differ by much.
Indeed, when I entered Father’s office, Lord Knight (Father) was fully armed, standing before a spread-out map of the northern Demonic Forest. Alongside the commanders of the main force unit that had remained in the town, he welcomed the returning guerilla unit commander (myself).
The sheer force of that martial pressure... As I requested entry and stepped into the office, I was met with a piercing "glare"—a sharp, unwavering gaze—from Father. The very atmosphere he exuded was akin to that of a courtroom prepared for harsh reprimand (judgment)—one could scarcely call it anything else. True to form, Father wasted no time; the moment he opened his mouth, his voice, heavy with anger, delivered a scolding without hesitation.
"What were you thinking?! Why didn’t you wait for reinforcements? ...Is it true that you defeated the mid-size monster, Elad Arachne, which resides in the forest’s middle layer?"
"Yes. Here is the proof of subjugation—the magic stone retrieved from the Elad Arachne. Please confirm it."
"......It’s true, then. You didn’t just repel it... you defeated it? How many casualties were there? Sacrificing soldiers recklessly is a disgrace for a commander!"
"I am fully aware of that, Sir. All responsibility lies with me."
"Do not be reckless! The soldiers are not your playthings—they are precious to this town and its people!"
Father was furious. It was well-known throughout the territories governed by the knightly house that he was a kind-hearted man who deeply cherished his soldiers. Allowing them to be recklessly exposed to danger was something he could not tolerate, not even from his own son.
His unspoken reproach stung: "Are you any different from Uncle?"
Even now, the actions taken against Granduncle were understood, though not entirely accepted. I could only bow my head, unable to argue against the truth of Father’s unspoken words. Perhaps my decision, despite the time and circumstances, had indeed been the wrong one as a commander of the guerilla unit.
At that moment, the old man (my adjutant) spoke up, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"My Lord, there were no casualties among the soldiers. None at all. Young Master demonstrated exceptional leadership, adhering to the tradition of leading from the front while devising a "plan" to ensure no unnecessary harm befell the troops. His brilliance impressed even the fifth-year soldiers, who marveled at the expertise he displayed—a testament to his training in the royal capital. There is no cause for rebuke. If anything, My Lord, should we not speak of your own first campaign?!"
"Y-you! W-well, that’s different..."
"Is it, though? My Lord, why not simply praise him with a 'Well done for returning safely'? Did the late head scold you after your first campaign?"
"......No."
A voice suddenly called out from outside the office door. It was clear and familiar, belonging to someone I held dear. His words rang through the room, capturing everyone’s attention.
"You’ve done well to return safely. We were preparing to send the town’s remaining soldiers on a full-scale deployment, but to think you managed to subjugate a mid-size monster! A truly splendid first campaign. I am proud of you! Isn’t that so, My Lord?"
"Ah, yes... yes, indeed. To defeat a mid-size monster without any losses among the soldiers is certainly a credit to the knightly family... You’ve done well. I’m relieved to see you’ve returned safely."
Overwhelmed by Eldest Brother’s words, Father eventually expressed his congratulations. Yet, despite their words of praise, my heart remained heavy. How long could I keep my men safe before tragedy struck...
This couldn’t go on.
I must find some sort of solution. Something (peace) built on sacrifice is ultimately fragile. This mission had driven that point home. One misstep... one stray bullet... and countless lives, mine included, would have been left to rot or devoured in the Demonic Forest.
The belated realization chilled me to the core.
But I couldn’t let fear win. I had to use this feeling to drive myself forward, to rise higher. To do otherwise would be to betray not just my soldiers but the people we swore to protect.
The harsh reality of the frontier left my heart trembling with fear.
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