The place where he was reincarnated was hell - the 300-year-old frontier defense line of the Margrave family - Episode 3

 

“–Vy, hold on tight.”

This happened after his father, Darius, jumped from the fortress, chased after a group of Eclipses, and caused an explosion.

Naturally, my brother Raven carried me on his back and ran towards Vangard Castle. The castle was about 500km away from here, and Middle Line Fort was about 150km north of Front Line Fort, the forward base.

Even if you enter the fort, your brother

We should be able to reach Vangarde Castle within eight hours.

I know this all too well from my training.

My brother is a physical monster.

I’ll be carried for 6 hours…

To be honest, even though my mind is that of an adult, my body is that of an 8-year-old. Being carried on someone’s back is something that would have been impossible in my previous life.

What kind of guy is that!!

Embarrassing.

I want to see my parents’ faces.

Damn it.

….I felt sad.

…in the end

“It’s embarrassing, put it down”.

I don’t even have the time to say that.

Without any preparation

I’ve witnessed real cosmic horror. I can’t calm down.

But it’s strange…

It seems like I’ve just received a shock, but I have a strange feeling, like all the strength has left my body.

“…I’m sorry, brother. Something feels strange. I can’t move my body at all.”

“Don’t worry about it. Vie is only eight years old. Her first Eclipse is tough, even for the adults of Vanguard.”

“I saw that when I was 10 years old, and my bl00d went cold and I fainted. Vee is amazing because she’s still conscious.”

There was a hint of a smile in his older brother Raven’s voice.

But his kindness saves me.

“Also, Eclipse has a special ability that allows it to instill fear into the minds of its opponents. The effect is especially strong on those who have never seen Eclipse before.

Like I said before, even grown adults can lose consciousness.

That’s why Vee’s body is losing strength. I’m surprised that she was able to resist Eclipse’s mental contamination to some extent.”

“Also, if anyone outside of the Vanguard territory comes face to face with Eclipse, their consciousness will be snatched away without question.”

I get tired of it.

said his brother, Raven.

I get tired of it.

No way.

I see.

If the design is like that, then the abilities must be like that too.

That’s too much.

At least there’s an explanation, but you should have told me first…

Such comments swirl around in my mind.

“…It would be nice if they’d let us know a little bit in advance. The Vanguard family has always shared far too little information.”

My brother was grumbling to me from behind.

“Sorry,” she replied with a wry smile, and carried me more firmly on her back.

As I continued driving through the wasteland, the surrounding scenery flashed by at a dizzying pace.

Although he’s trained a lot since coming to this world, his physical abilities are still far superior to his older brother, Raven.

Is it possible that an age difference of just six years can make such a big difference?

The training content should be the same to some extent.

Even I am in the mid-ranking class of the Knights.

He’s skilled enough to win a mock battle.

I think even my physical abilities have ceased to be human, considering my past life.

“…Big Brother, you are amazing.”

I blurted out my true feelings without thinking.

No matter what my past life was like, when I see my brother’s back

(That won’t happen…)

You will feel this keenly.

“Brother… are you okay with that battle?

I hate to say it, but… I don’t feel like fighting. Right now, all I want is to run away.”

For the first time, I was able to honestly tell someone that I wanted to run away. Because this was my first time doing something like this, I was shaken.

I whined to Raven, trying to contain my embarrassment at the fact that I was an adult at heart.

But my brother just smiled and shook his head.

“It’s not okay at all. It’s scary. There are several different types of Eclipse, but each time it takes on a different shape, and it’s disgusting.

So I’m not used to it.

I wonder…I guess it’s called a physiological aversion.

I think this feeling of loathing is also a part of that ability.”

“But… in the end, I can’t run away. I have a reason for wanting to protect Vi and everyone in the Vanguard territory. …And you know, I’ve been protected to get to where I am today. I’ve received the baton of life. That’s why I can do my best.

…I’m sure Vee will find his reason to fight.

If you do that, I think you’ll become even stronger than I. However, even if you become stronger, there are times when you still can’t reach your goal.”

“My reasons…”

Raven’s eyes were straight, and there was not a trace of hesitation in them.

My desire to run away hasn’t changed. But…Raven’s desire to run away was dazzling to me, and I felt a little envious.

______________________________________

The walls of Vangarde Castle came into view.

So, I had finally returned from that hellish front-line base.

It took about five hours from then.

Perhaps because I felt relieved, I finally felt like my body was regaining its vitality.

The guards at the castle gate also seem to have noticed us, as they straighten up and salute.

My brother and I – Raven – nodded slightly in greeting to them, and after a while, we stepped into Vanguard Castle.

Upon entering the courtyard, the head maid and butler will welcome you.

“Mr. Raven, Mr. Victor, thank you for your hard work. Your wife is very worried about you. Please let her see you once you have adjusted your clothes.”

My mother, Elicia, had been worried about me for a long time.

Come to think of it, my mother doesn’t show up much while we’re training.

Well, my son is covered in bl00d.

I think it’s crazy to want to see a scene like that.

His mother was originally the daughter of the Aqualumen Count family, which was located northeast of the Vanguard family.

It probably had nothing to do with fighting.

He seems not to be too happy about the harsh training of the Vanguard style.

Even so, my mother never interferes, and after training, she always casts healing magic on me with a worried look on her face.

After it’s over, I get a full treatment from the Knights’ healers, but my mother still makes sure to apply extra treatment.

That’s probably a mother’s kindness.

First of all, I need to get my clothes ready, so I wash off any sweat or dirt and clean myself up.

Then I went to my mother’s room.

“Mother, it’s Victor.”

I knocked and called out, and a soft voice answered from inside the room, saying, “Come in.”

When I opened the door, I saw my mother’s maid, Shaluwi, pouring tea into a pot.

I wonder if he predicted when I would arrive.

As expected from Shallwe

The work is too perfect.　

I’m sure you’ve seen it somewhere.

“I’m back, mother. I returned safely. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

With those words in mind, he stepped into the room.

When you step into the room

My mother, Elicia, sat in her chair, gazing at me with a gentle smile.

At the same time, the maid, Sharwi, handed me a cup of tea.

The faint scent rising from the air makes it seem like a completely different world from the desolate battlefield from a moment ago.

“Victor, I’m so relieved to have you back safely.”

My mother’s voice was as calm as ever…

But there was still a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

Feeling a little awkward, I scratched my head helplessly.

For some reason, I can’t act my usual jokey self in front of my mother.

I feel a very maternal feeling.

“Um… well, I’m fine.

Something. Yeah. I was a little scared, I guess.”

My mother nodded slightly and patted the chair next to her.

“Come on in, have a seat. Your tea will get cold.”

I sat down in a chair as instructed, and Shallwe gently placed the cup in front of me.

The pale amber colored black tea has a slightly fragrant aroma and seems to be blended with calming herbs.

“How is it? The tea is made with some herbs that I received from my parents’ home in Aqua Lumen. I hope it will help ease your fatigue, even a little.”

“Thank you, mother…

It smells good. It’s so relaxing, I feel like I’m going to fall asleep.”

It certainly feels a bit reassuring.

I held the cup with both hands, took a quick sip, and then looked back at my mother.

“Mother. Today, I went to the Frontline Fort, the forward base, with Father… and we saw the Eclipse.

It was completely different from an ordinary monster. I felt a fundamental fear.

Even though I was the one who brought up this topic, the memory of the Eclipse I saw on the battlefield flashed through my mind, and the sense of fear came back to me.

This caused me to suddenly lose my words.

What’s the point of bringing up such a devastating topic with my mother? Am I socially awkward?

You idiot.

Mother seemed to sense my state and gently reached out and touched my shoulder.

“It’s okay, Vee.

Darius and Ray did a great job protecting you, didn’t they? You returned safely, and that’s enough for me.”

As my mother spoke, she gently poured her gentle healing power into me.

Even though the healer had cast healing magic on me many times before,

Mother’s magic is like warmth, a different kind of “sense of security.”

Is it because he’s from Aqua Lumen territory?

I hear she’s skilled in water and healing magic.

…She’s beautiful, after all.

It’s good to say that a mother’s love is strong.

“…Thank you, mother. This magic is incredible. I wonder what it is.

It makes me feel lighter, and even my heart feels healed.”

When I muttered this, I felt like the sliver of anxiety disappeared from my mother’s eyes.

Sharwi watches them with a smile and gently places a plate of sweets on the table.

“Victor, eating something sweet will help you recover from your fatigue. These cookies are made with herbs that are a secret recipe of the Count of Aqualumen’s family.”

“Wow… does your mother’s family have that many different herbs?”

Out of curiosity, I picked up a cookie and took a bite.

The crumbly texture and subtle herbal aroma make it a perfect match for black tea.

The ominous afterimage of Eclipse

It felt like it was fading in the face of the soft sweetness.

“Aqua Lumen is a beautiful place with an abundance of water. It is dotted with springs and lakes, and the herbs that grow there all have great healing properties.

There are no conflicts at all, and even monsters stay away because of the healing powers.

…I hope one day we can all go together as a family.”

It’s the polar opposite of the Vanguard territory, where hellish battles continue.

If I could live in a place like that

How happy I was.

I can’t help thinking about such things.

Did it have some of the fantasy world elements that you had in mind?

It was a fine line.

However, my mother married into the Vanguard family and has come to accept the reality that is almost the complete opposite of Aqua Lumen.

I thought it was simply amazing.

When talking about Aqua Lumen

For some reason, my mother has a look of sadness and a sorrowful smile on her face.

I suspect there may be something complicated going on.

“Hey, mother.

I… will become stronger and fight that battle.

I’ll finish it. And once I’ve finished, let’s go.”

…Even though I feel like running away, I end up acting tough in front of my mother.

My voice was trembling slightly, but I wondered if he could tell.

My mother’s eyes widened in surprise, but her smile quickly returned to normal.

“Thank you, Vee. But you’re still eight years old. Please don’t push yourself too hard. If you try too hard, it will only make me more worried.”

「……Yeah, well, that’s true.

Understood.”

It had been a long time since I had been exposed to that ordinary sensibility, and it made my heart ache.

That’s right.

That’s how it’s supposed to be.

I’d be worried if an eight-year-old tries too hard.

Normally!!!

My mother’s hand gently strokes my head.

As the soft sensation and herbal scent permeated my body, I felt a slight relaxation.

The threat of Eclipse still looms in the back of my mind, but just having moments like this where I can feel the kindness of my family makes me feel a little better.