The Place Where He Was Reincarnated Was Hell - The 300-Year-Old Frontier Defense Line of the Margrave Family - Episode 13

In a corner of the Frontline Fort

Conference room —

The space, originally an old warehouse, has been renovated and is now used as a command center, with rectangular tables and maps lined up.

The members of the Vanguard Knights were gathered there solemnly.

Darius von Vanguard stood in the center of the room, surrounded by the Knight Commander, Lois.

Vice Commander of the Knights, Lynel.

And the captains up to the fifth captain sat quietly.

Whereas once the walls were decorated with armor symbolizing the pride of knights, now the room was filled with spare spears and miscellaneous supplies, and the sense of fatigue of those who had been through carnage permeated the room.

“…What I’m about to tell you is a difficult decision for me.”

Darius’s low voice tenses the atmosphere in the meeting room. The knights hold their breath.

Everyone knew that the situation surrounding the Frontline Fort was already at its limit, but the fact that they had all gathered here was proof that there was something even more serious going on.

He continued gravely, looking down at the table.

“-Victor will be called up to the front lines once he turns 10 years old.”

The moment those words were spoken, it felt like the temperature in the entire room dropped by several degrees.

The gathered knights all had their eyes wide, some groaning in pain, and some twisting their faces in shock.

The silence may have only lasted for a few seconds, but it dominated the atmosphere of the room like an eternity of pressure.

“Your Excellency… is that an official decision?”

The first to speak was the Knight Commander, Royce. His tone, usually loyal and calm, was agitated.

Darius nodded slowly.

「Yes, that’s not my intention. However, I am convinced that Victor’s talent will be the key to breaking the current situation.

I have already sent a letter to the rear support messengers to officially convene you as a knight.”

“…But 10 years old is too old…”

Lois’s fists tremble. He knows Victor from when he was a child, and it makes his heart ache.

He also has a 13-year-old son, Alphonse.

It’s shocking to think of what would happen if I had to send my son to this kind of hell so soon.

The Vice Commander of the Knights, Lynel, standing next to him, was also biting his lip with a bitter look on his face.

“Even Lord Raven started competing at the age of 12. Those around him lamented that it was ‘too early’ and were heartbroken. And yet, now he is competing at an even younger age of 10…”

The commanders nodded in agreement at Lynel’s words.

Everyone, including the vice captain of the first division and the healers of the fifth division, felt the same way.

It’s just too dangerous.

However, Darius shook his head as he accepted the voice.

“I know. It’s a reckless gamble. But we don’t have much time right now.”

He continued, pointing to a map hanging on the wall, which showed the great forest beyond Frontline Fort painted black, with red marks scattered all over the place indicating the locations of countless Eclipse outbreaks.

“The death toll has exceeded 6,600 in a year. The number of injured is even higher. Eclipse’s offense shows no sign of slowing down. The fire stones and magic crystals may run out in another year or so. In that case, we can only hold out for five years…or less than three at worst.”

The captains’ eyes became dark and grim.

“…It’s true. The attacks are getting more intense with each passing day, and the number of monsters appearing is incomparable to anything we’ve seen before. “Special individuals, Chimera species, Abnormal mutation

Georg, the fourth unit commander, nodded seriously. His unit specializes in defensive and earth magic, but even though they repair the fort walls every day, they can’t keep up.

“If Victor’s lightning magic and magical power control are effective enough on the front lines… No, but…”

Elias, the captain of the fifth unit, also choked up. He is a medical support professional, but he couldn’t help but imagine the danger of a 10-year-old boy dying from bl00d loss or sustaining serious injuries.

Darius’s eyes roamed the table, looking at each person’s face in turn.

“As a lord, I can say that our backs are against the wall. If Victor’s potential can change the current situation… even if he is still young, we have no choice but to send him out to this hell as a knight.”

“Your Honor……!!”

Lois clenched her fists and pleaded with eyes full of anguish.

“No matter how much talent Victor-sama has, and no matter how much swordsmanship he impresses Garland-sama with, his body is still in the process of growing. If he pushes himself too hard, it could have serious consequences for his future…”

After Darius finished listening to what Lois had to say, he lowered his eyes for just a moment.

A sharp pain ran through his chest, but his will as a lord forced him to suppress it.

“…I understand. That is why, after much consideration, I have concluded that this is the only option. This is my final decision as the head of the Vanguard family.”

The Lynel took a deep breath and pursed his lips. It was clear that even the normally calm and collected Lynel could not accept this.

However, there was a hint of resignation in his eyes. He bowed deeply and spoke in a strained voice.

“…I understand your feelings, Your Excellency. However, in return, we must support and protect Lord Victor no matter what.”

“That’s right. Even if he is only 10 years old, as a Vanguard knight, his responsibilities are even greater. If he is swallowed and thrown into a hell from which he will never return, then it is all the more important that we risk our lives to protect him.”

Following his words, Royce slammed his fist on the table. The other captains nodded and said, “I agree,” and looked at the knight’s oath with blazing eyes.

“…Thank you. To repay everyone’s loyalty, I will make even more determination.”

Darius’ voice was trembling, but deep inside was unwavering determination. As the knights around him exchanged painful looks, he continued speaking with a steely gaze.

“Victor is no longer a ‘child who deserves special treatment.’ Now that he has been called a knight, he is a warrior who stands on his own merits. He is not someone who needs to be protected. I ask that you all also give him guidance that is in line with his abilities and not swayed by emotion.”

The captains all nodded in unison, their emotions tangled in confusion.

Although he is a beloved child, he must be treated as a warrior who sheds bl00d on the front lines. However, that is the reality of Vanguard.

If you allow yourself to be complacent at this stage, the only outcome that awaits you will be death.

“…Hell.”

Someone muttered softly.

But no one can argue.

This fortress, no, Vanguard, has already become hell, but if they were to drag a young child into it, there are no more words to describe it.

“But still, we have to survive.”

Darius stated firmly.

“If we don’t hold our ground, the entire southern part of the kingdom will be devoured. This isn’t just a problem for Vanguard. To protect the lives of the people of the country, we have no choice but to take such extraordinary measures.”

The knights in the room fell silent, as if mulling over their resolve.

There was a faint creaking sound of a chair, and then Lois stood up.

“Lord Darius… we will do everything in our power to hold the fort until Lord Victor arrives. Please, let’s hold out until that day.”

“Yes… I’m counting on you, Lois. Without your power, Vanguard would crumble in an instant. That’s why we need Victor’s power as well.”

The captains nodded at his words and stood up to move on to their next move.

For just a moment, a tense atmosphere hung over the room, and I keenly felt that everyone was harboring an indescribable anxiety in their hearts.

Still, no one complains. Whether it’s a righteous cause or despair, there’s no turning back now.

“…We are knights. We will survive even in hell.”

As if responding to Lois’ powerful words, everyone raised their heads. As they eventually leave the room, their backs may look dignified at first glance, but the emotions running through their minds are immeasurable.

Darius, who was left behind, tapped his fingertips on the table, then looked up at the ceiling and quietly closed his eyes.

“___Sorry”

The apology muttered to no one in particular fell silent in the room after the Knights had left, leaving only a faint echo before disappearing.

________________________________

After the Knights had left the Frontline Fort’s conference room, Darius remained seated in his chair for a while, unable to move.

My mind and body are exhausted to the max.

But he could not escape the heavy responsibilities of being a lord, and once again his eyes fell on the maps and battle reports.

At that moment, quiet footsteps were heard approaching, and it was her eldest son, Raven, who appeared from the other side of the door.

At just 15 years old, he boasts outstanding physical abilities and swordsmanship and has already achieved many military feats on the battlefield. He is impressive with his dignified appearance in his grey hair and his sharp gaze, somewhat reminiscent of his father.

“Father… At the meeting just now,

I heard about… Victor.”

Raven quietly closed the door and walked up to Darius. There was a slight trembling in his voice.

It seems as though, even though it was his own decision, he can’t hide his hesitation about involving his younger brother in it.

Darius looked up, his eyes narrowing in fatigue.

“Raven. I’m sorry… even at a time like this.”

“No, please don’t apologize. I heard from the knights I just finished discussing it with… that Victor would be called to the battlefield at the age of 10.”

Darius nodded painfully.

This is the first time I have spoken directly with my son about what I expressed at the meeting.

For Raven, the story will likely remind him of his past.

When he first took to the field at the age of 12, people around him repeatedly tried to stop him, telling him it was too early.

“…You left when you were 12 years old. At the time, it was like my heart was torn apart. However, the current war situation has become even more desperate. To be honest, I know that being a 10-year-old is not sane.”

Darius’s voice was trembling as he said this.

Raven quietly pondered those words. He had also been told he was too young to go to war, but when it came to his 10-year-old brother, it was beyond imagination.

If it’s not Vanguard

Anyone would probably think that giving someone a sword in itself is too cruel.

“Father… I, too, have been watching the battles over the past few months, and I am keenly aware that we cannot continue as we are now. Every day, our comrades are shedding bl00d, and the attrition on the front lines is accelerating. On the other hand, if we continue to weaken little by little like this…”

Words choked in his throat, and Raven bowed his head. As a knight who had raced into battle more than anyone else, he knew the reality of that hell all too well. At the same time, he had a strong desire not to let his younger brother suffer the same fate.

Darius rose from his chair and placed a hand on Raven’s shoulder.

“As your brother, I will make you feel sad. But… I beg of you. When my younger brother goes to the battlefield, I want you to be by his side to support him. More than anyone else, you should… understand, right?”

Raven nodded slightly, eyes downcast.

I remember my father saying something similar to me when I was 12 years old. At that time, I saw Darius struggling with the contradiction between the expectation that “Raven can win” and the “I don’t want to play him.”

Now it’s his younger brother’s turn to take on the role.

“…Yes. I’ll be by your side. I’ll support you and guide you so that you can use your best power. I won’t let you die. I’ll protect you.”

Darius let out a short sigh at those words. Raven’s resolve was unwavering. How crazy was the situation in which he should be protecting his 10-year-old brother on the battlefield?

Both of them have experienced this firsthand.

“It helps… Because you’re here, I haven’t given up hope yet.”

As he said this, a deep sadness was floating in Darius’ eyes.

Raven saw his father’s expression and lowered his gaze apologetically.

I came close to death many times when I was 12 years old. The risk would be even greater for my 10-year-old brother.

“…But Victor has a strangely bold side to him. Even though he tried to pry open the library’s lock with magic and got severely scolded by Garland, he showed no signs of being discouraged. Normally, he would be devastated, but instead, he made it a joke and said, ‘I guess it didn’t work after all.'”

He couldn’t help but smile wryly. Even though those around him were astonished by his younger brother’s carefree boldness, there was also something comforting about it.

Darius also let out a slight smile at those words.

“Yeah, that’s right… He might have a strange kind of courage, even more so than you. …Maybe that’s why I reached for this worst possible option.”

Silence fell. Distant thunder rumbled again in the grey sky, and somewhere in the Keep, the faint roar of Eclipse echoed.

Both of them had survived this hellish battle. Adding a young brother to the mix must have been a nightmare, but without a solution, tens of thousands of people would die. The fact that they had no choice weighed on the hearts of both father and son.

Raven turned gently forward and straightened his back.

“Father, for now, we have no choice but to grit our teeth. Both Victor and I have to go along with the ‘unsalvageable choice’. But… we must live and find the answer.”

“…That’s right. If you all survive, we might be able to escape from Hell someday.”

Darius let out a small sigh and lightly tapped Raven on the shoulder. Their eyes met for a moment, and silence filled the air as if they shared the same pain. It was a precious moment for them to share the same feelings as father and son, commander and subordinate, and warriors.

Eventually, Raven bowed and headed for the door. Outside, the sounds of soldiers running and the impact sounds of fire magic could be heard.

“I will be returning to my post shortly. Victor will receive a letter. It will be another year before he arrives here.

I will let you have this fortress by then.”

“Yes, I’m counting on you…Raven, please don’t push yourself too hard. If you fall, there will be no one to protect Victor.”

“I know.”

The reply was short, but there was a firm determination in it. The door closed softly, and cold silence returned to the room once again.

Darius leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Despite the nightmarish reality, he could not help but feel a faint hope – a future in which his eldest and second sons would fight for their lives.

“Please, Raven… and Victor…”

His prayer-like mutterings were soon drowned out by the grey sky. The roar of Eclipse could be heard from outside, coldly telling him that hell would continue today as well.　

However, now that the feelings of father and son had been exchanged, just a little-but still just a little-a flame of hope flickered in Darius’ heart.