Chapter 18: The First Achievement (2)

The cacophony of clashing steel and splashes of goblin blood filled the air. The goblins found themselves in disarray, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught. Panic gripped their ranks as Karyl's forces surged upon them unexpectedly.

The remaining goblin sorcerers let out bizarre noises and shouts, but the soldiers mercilessly cut down the already panicked creatures without hesitation.

This will be over quickly. Being overwhelmed by these creatures would be laughable

, Karyl thought as he decapitated a goblin.

It didn’t take long to clean up the leaderless remnants.

“?οκ υφχ?φφ...!!!” A sorcerer in the distance began chanting a spell, grasping a staff with both hands.

That’s the last one,

Karyl noted, having already eliminated the two other goblin sorcerers besides this one.

The monsters around the goblin sorcerer turned blue, a sign of a low-tier buff spell that enhanced their physical prowess. The goblins, now empowered by the auxiliary magic, attacked more fiercely.

Karyl smirked.

Even with their enhancements, they're just goblins.

His sword cleaved through a goblin's body effortlessly. Despite being in a twelve-year-old body, his understanding of swordsmanship had reached the peak, and unlike in his past life, he now had ways to compensate for his physical shortcomings—namely, auxiliary magic.

Unbeknownst to others, Karyl's body was laden with numerous auxiliary magic, powered by his overflowing magical energy. Strength to enhance his muscles, Haste to quicken his reaction speed, Dex to improve his agility, and Eagle Eye to sharpen his vision, among others.

Simultaneously using this many low-class auxiliary magic spells might be hard to imagine for a knight, let alone a normal person due to the immense drain on magical energy.

However, this was possible for Karyl, who had consumed the heart of a dragon.

I don’t need to use the conspicuous aura blade, this is enough against goblins.

Suddenly, he felt a tightening sensation in his chest. Karyl grimaced slightly.

What's this... This pain again...

It was a familiar sensation he had felt before. Despite the unknown discomfort, Karyl had no time to dwell on his worries.

Ignoring the pain, Karyl darted among the goblins, using their heads as stepping stones as he closed the distance to the sorcerer. All eyes were fixed on Karyl.

What in the world is happening...?!

How can someone who can't even use magic fight like that?

Tiren and Randol’s astonishment was palpable as they watched Karyl’s prowess. However, the thoughts of the Valsar family's soldiers carried a different tone entirely.

Is his body made of steel or something? How can he fight so fiercely and still be unharmed?

It's unbelievable. Every attack is unpredictable. I've never seen anything like it.

The soldiers fighting alongside Karyl felt a kind of unity that transcended the distinctions of their families.

"Charge! Push forward! Narrow their range!"

"Yes, Sir!!!"

"Swordsmen, flank the sides! Don't break the formation!" Karyl's commands rang out.

These border-guarding soldiers had seen far larger battles, yet never had they seen a mere twelve-year-old commanding them with such authority.

What will he be like as an adult...?

I want to see that.

Even amidst battle, the soldiers found themselves excited by the prospect.

Whoosh—

Karyl's blade sliced through the air, decapitating the last sorcerer in a swift motion.

“At last.”

Seeing the sorcerer's head spinning through the air, the goblins began to falter. The soldiers sensed that it was now nothing more than a hunt. Their cheers echoed through the ravine. It seemed as if the image of this small boy was being etched into their minds.

Behind his mask, Karyl's face bore a satisfied smile, feeling a surge of exhilaration he hadn't felt in a long time. He gripped his sword tighter, ready for what was to come.

***

The rumors spread quickly. Even after several days, the tale of the goblin subjugation remained a hot topic of conversation.

One voice, filled with admiration, chimed in. “Have you heard about the skill of the sixth son brought in by the Count? It’s no joke.”

Another joined in, eager to share what they knew, “They say he sliced through hundreds of goblins with just his sword.”

“Hey, it wasn’t just any goblins—he took down the Goblin Chief all by himself.”

“Ha, that’s really something.”

“There are rumors that even the royal family has taken notice.”

“A tremendous treasure has arrived.”

As rumors tend to do, they grew more exaggerated with each retelling. Yet, the fact that the Count’s adopted son had become the talk of the fief within a mere month of his arrival was unusual.

The sound of horse hooves interrupted the farmland's tranquility. Farmers, previously focused on preparing for the harvest, paused their work to see who was approaching.

“It’s the Count!” someone shouted upon recognizing Kuwell's face. The crowd quickly showed their respect by either kneeling or bowing their heads.

“Have you heard? From the outskirts of the fief to here, everyone is talking about young master Karyl. The word has even reached the royal palace. A spy from the Lurein Principality... It’s no small matter.”

“Indeed.”

“It's quite a remarkable achievement. Anyway, those Lurein Principality folks... they are still eyeing our empire, it’s ludicrous.”

“The war with them isn’t over yet. They must be aiming for the moment the knight order is absent.”

“It could have been a disaster. Had young master Karyl not been there... not just the other young masters but the whole fief could have been in danger.”

Kuwell nodded slowly to his subordinate’s words. Though he pretended to be calm, a faint smile lingered on his lips.

He has made a significant achievement right after arriving.

Whether he likes it or not, Karyl’s standing within the family would undoubtedly change due to his deeds.

Either he would be acknowledged, or he would be disliked even more.

“The spy is still detained in the mansion, I hear. He is soon to be sent to the royal palace, right?”

“It must be so. We cannot keep him here forever.”

“The commander can’t return to the capital again... And His Majesty must be informed of this news by now. Perhaps they will summon the young master to the palace?”

“Who knows? His Majesty would hardly take interest in a child barely twelve years old.”

The Emperor was a distinguished yet already frail man, who spent most of his time bedridden. It was unlikely he would pay attention to a child from the borderlands.

However...

The princes could prove troublesome.

They would undoubtedly be curious about a child who stood out even among the formidable children of the MacGovern family.

They will need to decide whether he can be swayed to their side or if he poses a threat.

Kuwell looked ahead silently. His inscrutable gaze seemed to flicker slightly.

I have already declared my support for the Second Prince. Because of that, Karyl has attracted even more attention.

Those aligned with the Second Prince would naturally expect Kuwell’s loyalty, and by extension, his family’s too.

But would the First Prince’s camp give up?

Unlikely.

Martte, for one, would be different. He was Kuwell’s own blood, while Karyl was adopted.

The First Prince would exploit that. Moreover...

If it became known that Karyl was a barbarian at birth, he would be exposing a vulnerability to those who support the Second Prince.

“If the young master is summoned to the capital, what do you plan to do?” the lieutenant asked with a concerned voice. “Will you send him?”

“Hmm...”

More than the joy of Karyl’s achievement, worry etched itself deeper into Kuwell’s face as they neared the mansion.