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Brynhild Vanir was a named character you could never meet unless you progressed through the Sigurdian raid part.

She was a character from the Sigurd Tribe Union, and if the player didn’t intervene in the Main Scenario, there was an 80% chance she would die in battle. Even if she survived the remaining 20%, she would wander the borderlands seeking revenge against the Empire, only to meet a lonely death.

Of course, even if you did progress through the Sigurdian raid part, recruiting her as a companion was no easy task. The Tribe Union and the Empire were on bad terms, and since the first encounter happened during the war, the hostility level was through the roof.

In such a situation, even if you bluntly asked her to join your side, she wouldn’t become your companion.

Of course, there was a way to recruit Brynhild. It was widely accepted among users that you had to take the non-Academy route to make her your companion.

Brynhild knew the significance of fleeing the Empire without proving her “Blue Blood.” Considering the desperate reasons for fleeing, she would accept the player as a guest of the tribe.

By gradually building trust, you could eventually be recognized as a member of the tribe, and only then could you recruit her as a companion.

However, this method came with the risk of not being able to recruit companions from the Empire side, so it wasn’t a preferred approach.

After all, not many people played the non-Academy route to begin with, so it was a natural outcome.

But isn’t it the mark of a true veteran to find a way through any crack?

If there was a wall to push against, they would find a glitch and exploit it.

Gilbert wasn’t one of those types—he aimed for 100% achievements—but in essence, he was the same.

And there was an achievement tied to Brynhild.

An achievement of extreme difficulty that could only be done while on the Academy route.

But so what?

Gilbert grinned.

If an achievement sparked his desire for a challenge, it only made him more excited.

When asked why he climbs a mountain, he would say, “Because it’s there.”

This was no different.

How could he stand having his achievements at less than 100%?

That was no joke.

***

Brynhild acknowledged that the Empire knight piloting the Colossal Mech before her was no pushover.

She was a Grand Warrior, one of the few in the Tribe Union.

How long had it been since she had fought dozens of rounds without a decisive outcome?

That alone was enough to make her heart race with excitement.

If this weren’t a battlefield that determined the fate of her tribe, she might have exchanged names and tested their skills without any ulterior motives.

But that was a pointless assumption. This was a warzone, a place where you had to win by any means necessary.

Moreover, wasn’t her opponent a hated Imperial?

Engaging in the sacred act of exchanging names was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

Yet, unlike the despicable Imperials, he didn’t charge at her mindlessly. Perhaps he was thinking the same as her.

She needed to confirm.

“Who are you?”

[Gilbert Lion Heart. The Commander-in-Chief of this war.]

His voice was firm and deep.

Though she couldn’t see his face, she could tell he was a man of integrity.

The Commander-in-Chief?

Brynhild was slightly surprised. Her perception of Imperials was that they were cowards who hid behind others.

But this Imperial, despite being in a position equivalent to a chieftain, stood at the forefront of the battlefield.

This was an act of bravery and honor highly regarded in the Sigurd Tribe Union.

Brynhild dropped her guarded stance. Her opponent was a warrior worthy of respect.

“I am Brynhild Vanir, Grand Warrior of the Sigurd Tribe Union.”

[Grand Warrior of the Sigurd Tribe Union. I have a proposal.]

Under normal circumstances, she would have swung her sword without hesitation, but having acknowledged him as a warrior, she was willing to hear him out.

No matter what proposal he made, the war of life and death was inevitable.

However.

[I propose a Volsung Saga.]

“W-what?”

Brynhild was stunned by the unexpected request.

She had never imagined an Imperial would remember such an ancient tradition.

A saga is an epic, a story, a legacy passed down through generations.

Among them, the Volsung Saga was a duel between warriors, depicting battles to be passed down.

A fight between two individuals without any external interference.

That was the Volsung Saga.

Brynhild couldn’t understand how an Imperial knew of this ancient tradition, known to only a few in the Sigurd Tribe Union.

What should she do?

Normally, she should have refused outright.

The Volsung Saga was a ritual duel of bravery and honor.

The winner could make one demand of the loser, and both would be bound by an unbreakable oath.

Logically, it was right to refuse. Even if it meant dishonor as a Grand Warrior, this war was for the future of her tribe.

Of course, she had no intention of losing. But she couldn’t guarantee victory.

From their brief exchange, she could tell Gilbert was a formidable opponent.

If she lost in the Volsung Saga, how could she bear the consequences?

It was the right decision to refuse, even if it meant dishonor.

[Sigurd’s descendants! Prepare for the Volsung Saga!]

Just as she was about to make her decision, the chieftain’s shout came from behind.

At his command, the Colossal Mech unit guarding her retreated in unison.

What is this fool doing?

She quickly connected a communication spell to Tarhal, who was acting foolishly.

“What are you doing, you idiot!”

[You really don’t hold back with the chieftain, do you?]

Unable to contain her rising anger, she yelled, and Tarhal shook his head.

Even if she was the tribe’s Grand Warrior, her brashness made him worry if she’d ever find a man.

As her only sibling and older brother, Tarhal was concerned.

“Of course! Preparing for the Volsung Saga? Have you lost your mind?”

[Not at all. I’m perfectly sane.]

“Then what were you thinking, ordering the preparation of the Volsung Saga? Don’t you know it’s irreversible once declared?”

The Volsung Saga was a ritual duel offered to the ancestors.

Once declared, it couldn’t be stopped until there was a winner and a loser.

[That’s exactly why we must do it. The moment you acknowledged that Imperial as a warrior, refusing was out of the question.]

“But…!”

[I know what you’re worried about. But we are Sigurd’s descendants. Even if extinction is near, we must not forget our roots.]

“That’s…”

[Grand Warrior Brynhild Vanir. With the tribe’s honor at stake, defeat that arrogant Imperial warrior and return.]

“I will obey, Chieftain.”

Brynhild sighed.

She had expected this the moment the Imperial mentioned the Volsung Saga.

Born as warriors, living as warriors, and dying as warriors—that was the way of Sigurd’s descendants.

Even with extinction looming, this was an unchangeable truth.

“Gilbert, was it? I’ve waited long. I, Brynhild, Grand Warrior and descendant of Sigurd, will participate in the Volsung Saga.”

[I, Gilbert, Shield of the Empire, will participate in the Volsung Saga.]

As the Imperial soldiers behind him retreated, an unknown light swirled around Brynhild and Gilbert before disappearing.

It was the signal for the start of the Volsung Saga.

Brynhild gripped the controls of her Colossal Mech.

She vowed to win, protect her honor, and save her tribe.

***

[Main Scenario: Sigurdian Raid branching point discovered.]

[Achievement: Empire’s Warrior and Volsung Saga completed.]

[Hidden Route: The One Who Sings the Volsung Saga is now available.]

Gilbert grinned at the rising message window.

The perfect conditions for his flawless clear had been met.

He had found this hidden route entirely thanks to his achievement hunting.

While clearing leftover achievements as usual, he stumbled upon one with an unusual name.

“Empire’s Warrior and Volsung Saga.”

The achievement required being acknowledged as a warrior by the Sigurd Tribe Union and completing the Volsung Saga.

At first, he thought it was an interesting achievement and took on the challenge, but the conditions were tougher than expected.

On the non-Academy route, being acknowledged as an Empire warrior was impossible.

Staying in the Empire made hostility levels too high to proceed.

After exploring various routes, he found the one where, after clashing with Brynhild, he could be acknowledged as a warrior and propose the Volsung Saga.

Of course, this route also had its conditions.

A certain level of reputation and ability was required.

Gilbert, now the Commander-in-Chief, had a high enough reputation. As a 5th Grade Knight, his abilities were more than sufficient.

The only uncertainty was whether a hidden route existed here.

Hidden routes were alternative ways to clear the Main Scenario.

In simpler terms, they were like hidden true endings in a multi-ending game.

And the hidden route “The One Who Sings the Volsung Saga” was a golden route that allowed for a zero-unit loss achievement upon clearing.

Gilbert could confidently say that the phrase “killing two birds with one stone” existed for moments like this.

Now, all that remained was defeating Brynhild.

In the Volsung Saga, the winner could demand anything from the loser, and the loser had to comply.

In Tactical Combat, this was called an oath, and Gilbert could use this oath to achieve the zero-unit loss achievement.

But to do that, he had to win the Volsung Saga…

“Let’s go. CT.”

[Understood, Gil.]

Gilbert wasn’t confident.

Confident he would lose.

 

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