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Briana Tepeo Malchirab.

She was the heir of a marquis family representing Infractus, known as the strongest military power among the existing powers on the continent, and was also called the Empire’s First Sword.

In Tactical Combat, she was a character who died early in the game, consumed for the protagonist’s awakening and the game’s tension, and no matter which route you took, her death was inevitable.

At first, Gilbert struggled to save her, partly due to personal preference, but also because he was dazzled by her selflessness in sacrificing herself to save cadets.

It wasn’t easy to disregard one’s life for others. People have a survival instinct, so it’s natural to worry about one’s safety in the last moments of danger.

Anyone would think of themselves first when their life is at stake.

That’s a natural phenomenon and shouldn’t be criticized.

But even so, in any era, there are people who sacrifice for others. Parents saving their children, or people rushing to save strangers at accident scenes.

People called them saints, and Professor Briana in Tactical Combat was worthy of being called a saint. Even in her dying moments, she worried about cadets who couldn’t evacuate and mourned those she couldn’t save.

Though it was a scene created for the game, it resonated with Gilbert, or rather, Kang Do-jun, who was devastated by war. Looking back, people like him went to war for similar reasons.

Knowing they might die, they boarded fighters, and many comrades perished on the battlefield.

The same was true for the enemy. They were people who risked their lives to protect their families, homeland, and citizens.

In the special circumstances of war, they hated and killed each other repeatedly, but when everything ended and they returned with broken bodies, all that remained in their hearts was guilt.

Guilt for surviving alone.

Guilt for killing people.

Despite counseling and medication, the relentless guilt gnawed at him.

Kang Do-jun started playing Tactical Combat around that time. As his mental state deteriorated, he needed something to immerse himself in, and that’s when he noticed the game.

Despite the criticism, he chose Tactical Combat because many people played it, thinking there must be a reason for its popularity.

Indeed, Tactical Combat was a game packed with all the elements that make a game popular. Its vast story and freedom were superior to any game released so far.

One problem was that the game was too hard. Not just hard, but ridiculously hard.

He didn’t know how much time he spent on the game until he became a veteran. He had to immerse himself to forget the guilt, so he invested most of his day in the game, and by the time he regained some sanity, he had reached veteran status.

Eventually, immersing himself in something helped him avoid being overwhelmed by emotions, and his condition naturally improved. It was a bit funny that his mental illness, which hadn’t improved with hospital visits and medication, was cured by the game, but Kang Do-jun, now mentally healthy, didn’t dwell on it.

Having become deeply attached to the game, Kang Do-jun aimed to clear all achievements, the ultimate content, and eventually found himself transported into this world.

Here, he managed to save Briana, something impossible even in the game, and did his best to prevent unnecessary sacrifices, but he couldn’t understand why things turned out this way.

Gilbert sighed as he saw Briana’s face, mixed with obsession and desire, just like Seraphina.

It was a face unrecognizable from the cold, rational Briana who cared for her cadets. The fact that he was the cause made it hard to pinpoint where things went wrong.

“What does being a companion of the sword mean?”

First, Gilbert thought he needed to understand what it meant. She said it was because he was a companion to walk the ancient Path of the Sword with her.

He thought he could take the next step once he understood what she meant by a companion of the sword.

After a brief pause to collect her thoughts, Briana smiled slightly.

“Literally. As you know, seeing the end of the sword is not an easy path. Even I doubt if there’s an end to it, it’s so vast. So, those who pursue this path are inevitably lonely. We can’t expect anyone’s understanding, just silently walking.”

Her gaze seemed to look into the distance. Gilbert knew Briana’s interests could be divided into two categories.

Mentoring cadets and the sword.

Mentoring was heavily influenced by her childhood spent on battlefields.

Having seen countless young lives fall on the battlefield, she came to the academy to teach cadets, hoping to save as many as possible from this harsh world and to honor those who had gone before.

But the sword was different.

The sword was purely Briana’s passion, unaffected by anything else.

She had a natural talent for the sword.

The saying “learn one, understand ten” was made for her.

Within a few years of picking up the sword, she surpassed her sword instructors. After her first instructor, the turnover rate of her teachers increased rapidly.

She eventually met the previous successor of the Winter Sword, the only one she called her master. After years of training under him, she became the successor of the Winter Sword at the age of twenty.

Since then, she never stopped training and never let go of the sword.

Gilbert could quickly build a rapport with Briana because of the sword. She mistook his extensive gaming experience for talent with the sword.

Perhaps, seeing someone as young as herself rapidly advancing, she thought they were kindred spirits. For Briana, who stood alone on the path of a genius, he might have been a ray of light.

“But, Gil. You and I are different. Only we can walk the same path together. We are in such a world. Only we can stand at the same place, see the same direction at the same level.”

“Master.”

“So, Gil. Take my hand. Let’s walk this path together.”

Briana extended her hand. Gilbert hesitated, lost in thought.

The system informed him he had reached the first branching point of the second seeker, Briana. If he refused outright, her Twisted Index might increase, leading to a destruction ending, just like Seraphina.

Here, it was right to accept her proposal. Delaying the answer, like with Seraphina, wasn’t a good choice.

“If it’s okay with me.”

“I knew you’d feel the same.”

When Gilbert took her hand, Briana smiled brightly.

Her face, which had been dripping with obsession moments ago, now radiated warmth.

Moreover, it was the first time Gilbert had seen Briana smile so brightly. Her emotional changes were usually minimal, but the prospect of walking the Path of the Sword with him seemed to bring out such dramatic emotions.

“I look forward to working with you.”

Gilbert felt a bitter taste in his mouth, unable to say more.

***

Left alone after Briana’s whirlwind visit, Gilbert quickly opened the mission window.

He needed to check the progress of the sub-scenario to plan ahead.

<Sub Scenario – Seekers of Twisted Desire>

Type: Sub

Clear Condition: Guide the seekers to the right path.

Seekers: Seraphina, Briana, ???

Reward: Reward grade determined by progress (F~S)

– ???

Progress: 20%

Info:

– The seekers have lost their way, twisted by their desires.

1. Seraphina – Twisted Index 70%

– Princess Seraphina’s desire for possession has grown too strong, twisting her.

– Her once brilliant eyes are now filled with insatiable desire.

– The first branching point has been chosen.

You refused to become her possession. (Twisted Index increased by 30%)

– The second branching point has been chosen.

You proposed to serve her if she becomes the Emperor.

* You must guide her back to the right path.

* If the Twisted Index reaches 100%, the destruction ending begins.

2. Briana – Twisted Index 40%

– Briana’s desire for a companion on the Path of the Sword has twisted her.

– The once cold and rational woman may break if she can’t walk the path with her acknowledged companion.

– The first branching point has been chosen.

You agreed to walk the Path of the Sword with her. (Twisted Index did not increase.)

* You must guide her to stay on the Path of the Sword.

* If the Twisted Index reaches 100%, the massacre ending begins.

3. ???

Twisted Index at 40%… Massacre ending?

Gilbert felt dizzy seeing that phrase.

Seraphina had a destruction ending, and Briana had a massacre ending.

If he refused to walk the Path of the Sword with her, would she become a mass murderer?

It was hard to imagine the woman who spared no effort to save others becoming a mass murderer.

But Gilbert, who knew well what people could do when pushed psychologically, couldn’t ignore this. There was no guarantee she wouldn’t go mad and become a killer.

First, he needed to ensure her Twisted Index didn’t rise.

But the bigger problem was Seraphina’s Twisted Index, which was already nearing 70%.

Perhaps his severe injury was the cause.

Now he couldn’t even get hurt at will.

It was laughable, but he needed to take action. If he didn’t quickly inform her of his recovery, her Twisted Index might increase.

He quickly called the attendant waiting outside. During the punitive mission, they needed extra hands for chores, so some personnel were assigned.

“Inform the Commander that I’ve woken up.”

“Understood.”

The attendant bowed politely and hurried out of the tent.

About five minutes after he left, Seraphina entered the medical tent with her aides in tow.

“Priest. Are you alright?”

“Fortunately, my body is fine.”

“I was told the Mana Road was severely damaged. How does it look to you?”

“It’s quite damaged, but it can recover. It will take some time, but the situation has improved significantly.”

“I see…”

Seraphina’s tense expression relaxed upon hearing that. Being in a position where she always had to prepare for the worst, she had thought Gilbert might never be able to pilot the Colossal Mech again.

No wonder her Twisted Index had risen so much.

With her strong desire for possession, her obsession likely grew when faced with the possibility of losing something.

Thinking the Mana Road was severely damaged and might leave lasting effects, her Twisted Index skyrocketed. It was fortunate it stopped at 70%.

“Professor Briana has also checked, so it should be fine.”

“That’s the most reassuring news. Confirming the Priest’s condition is enough.”

[Twisted Index slightly decreases.]

The system, which had been delivering bad news, finally sent a welcome message.

The 70% figure was unsettling, but the slight decrease made Gilbert sigh in relief.

“By the way… How is the punitive mission progressing?”

Having put out the immediate fire, Gilbert asked about the next steps. The unusual situation of the monster punitive mission turning into a demon punitive mission was still on his mind.

“We’ve reorganized the punitive force around the professors. It will take time to gather troops, so the mission will proceed with academy cadets. So, Priest, focus on recovery without worry.”

Gilbert, unable to pilot the Colossal Mech, was of no use to the punitive force.

No matter how naturally skilled he was at piloting or capable of handling a monster ogre alone, that was only possible when he was in normal condition—able to pilot the Colossal Mech.

With the Mana Road damaged, he couldn’t pilot the mech, so he was naturally excluded from the punitive force.

“How is the morale of the punitive force?”

“Morale?”

“Given the sudden appearance of demons, this is the cadets’ first real combat experience. Facing a non-standard demon, their morale must be low.”

“Morale…”

Seraphina nodded at Gilbert’s point.

She had been so preoccupied with Gilbert’s injury that she hadn’t considered that.

“I see. It’s time to boost morale.”

She had motivated the punitive force out of duty, but that didn’t translate to morale. The fear of death isn’t easily shaken.

In that sense, Gilbert, who walked into danger without hesitation, was strange. Despite pushing himself to the point of damaging his Mana Road and risking his life, his calm reaction was different from ordinary people.

“In that sense, preparing a feast tonight would be good. Nothing boosts morale like that.”

Gilbert’s goal was not only to boost the punitive force’s morale but also to test the skill he had acquired.

The skill “Einherjar’s Feast,” of unknown rank, drastically increased the efficiency of regeneration when a feast was declared. Literally, holding a feast after combat would boost regeneration efficiency.

He was already benefiting from regeneration, and if its efficiency increased sharply, he was curious about the potential synergy. It wouldn’t heal all wounds instantly like an elixir, but it was worth expecting.

Seraphina thought Gilbert’s suggestion wasn’t bad. Hosting banquets or feasts was a method she often used. There was no better way to boost morale than acknowledging efforts and reaffirming purpose.

After some calculations, she glanced back.

“Prepare a light feast for tonight. Ensure all punitive force members can attend.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

The attendant waiting behind quickly rushed out. With the punitive force’s large numbers, preparations would be tight even if started now.

“At the feast, I’d like the Priest to say a few words. After all, you’re the slayer of the monster ogre. I think your words could lift the morale that’s hit rock bottom.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Rest until the feast is ready.”

Seraphina left the tent, barely hiding her desire for such a talented individual.

***

Knights, raise your glasses.

You who have boarded the Colossal Mech to protect the Empire, who have burned your lives to protect the Empire’s people.

Even if we die tomorrow, be grateful for surviving today.

Knights who know honor.

Warriors who pursue glory.

Raise your glasses.

Even if this is our last gathering.

Enjoy the feast tonight.

Knights, raise your glasses.

***

After finishing his speech, Gilbert raised his glass and downed it in one go.

Following him, the punitive force members cheered and emptied their glasses.

[Einherjar’s Feast is declared.]

[Regeneration efficiency drastically increases.]

Einherjar’s Feast was truly an impressive skill. The moment it was declared, the speed of recovery became noticeable.

Feeling the punitive force’s morale surge and the feast’s effects, Gilbert smiled deeply.

 

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