How to Live as a Swordmaster of the Enemy Nation

Monster Subjugation

The abyss where not a single ray of light could seep in.

They headed to the Forest of Annihilation, where even the barely grown trees exuded a sinister aura.

Here, unidentified impure mana would flow freely, causing the native animals to mutate naturally.

The reason Walter had brought Gregory and the others here was because of an order from Hemingway.

Due to an urgent request handed to the Dawn Knight Order by Hemingway, the commander of the Radiant Light Order, even the veteran knights who had just returned from an expedition joined in.

The mission was the subjugation of monsters.

If the monsters dwelling in the Forest of Annihilation were not regularly hunted, they would come down to the nearby villages and cause harm.

Walter, thinking it would be a good opportunity to showcase the new recruits' abilities, decided to carry out the subjugation while letting the senior knights observe.

Walter sent the cadets ahead and then shared the good news with the other knights.

"This time, it seems the blessings are truly upon the Dawn Knight Order."

Leonyx and Amelia displayed expressions of interest. Leonyx and Amelia did not use honorifics with Deputy-Commander Kylas and Commander Walter. It seemed that, having journeyed together for a long time, they had naturally become informal.

"So, finally, some interesting newcomers have arrived? For the Commander to say so, it must be true."

Because the Forest of Annihilation did not produce too many powerful monsters, thanks to regular subjugations, the senior knights decided to offer assistance only in emergencies and would otherwise observe from afar.

Tatadadak—!

Monsters began rushing out from the depths of the forest at high speed. As this was the initial stage of the subjugation, it was to be expected. Yet these newcomers were all 3-star knights—they split up freely and swept away the monsters in no time.

To them, these monsters were nothing—child's play.

Blood splattered in all directions as monsters were cleaved in two.

They moved with perfect coordination as if they had trained together for years, thoroughly covering each other's blind spots.

All of this was a testament to Gregory's commanding abilities.

Gregory had participated in countless wars in his previous life, accumulating invaluable experience.

The memories of his comrades' deaths and the tragic deaths of innocent people from his past life stabbed at his heart like a flying dagger.

They say humans are creatures of adaptation, but even so, he continued to hurt from these powerful emotions no matter how much he adapted. For that reason, Gregory had worked to shore up the flaws in formation and command to save as many lives as possible from the ravages of war and monsters.

Thus, his insight had grown sharp, and he could clearly discern the weaknesses of both allies and enemies.

If one kept fending off attacks, an opportunity for a counterattack would inevitably arise. By commanding at such moments, he would display even greater strength.

Kylas grinned and asked,

"Still, isn't it a bit much that we don't even get a turn?"

Leonyx and Amelia joined in.

"That's right! Commander, we want to fight too!"

"Yeah, me too. I was getting restless anyway."

Walter spoke confidently. Their performance in the Order's entrance test had given him certainty.

"Just watch what the ones I've brought can do."

At that moment, an unpleasant, beastly scream echoed out.

Kuaaa—!

A heavy thudding sound followed. The source was an ogre, striding purposefully toward the cadets.

The startled senior knights drew their swords.

Kylas, usually unwavering, spoke with a tremor in his voice.

"It's an ogre! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

But Walter raised his hand to stop them and said,

"Don't interfere. They can handle this on their own."

Despite Walter's restraint, Leonyx and Amelia could not help but doubt. An ogre was a formidable monster, requiring at least a 5-star knight to bring it down.

At a glance, the highest-ranked among the new cadets was barely a fourth-rank knight.

Knowing the huge difference between fourth and fifth ranks, the senior knights thought they ought to step in now if they wanted everyone to emerge uninjured. Thus, they were reluctant to sheath their swords again.

Still, at the Commander's firm assurance, the veterans stepped back, keenly watching every move.

What stood out the most was Gregory's movement.

Though he hardly seemed to move, his speed was abnormally fast.

Walter observed,

"Now, you'll see their true value."

***

Gregory and his companions were busier than ever.

With the sudden onset of the subjugation, none of the Dawn Knight Order showed any intention of helping.

Still, Gregory guessed their purpose: it seemed they refrained from assisting to see if the new recruits were fit for the Order.

In urgent situations, humans are driven to their limits. In other words, perhaps the intention was to apply pressure, just as in the entrance exam—they would not present us with a hardship we could not overcome.

Gregory recalled his previous life's command. Doing his best to keep calm, he made his decisions.

When Gregory issued commands, the anxious flow of the battle changed.

"Adrian, Alessandro—take the left flank."

The orders were issued one after another.

"Brea, cover the rear. Elisabeth, take the right. Ernest, push forward with me."

Gregory and his comrades began the subjugation with practiced ease, as if they'd faced this situation countless times.

With every swing of their blades, monsters fell as if swept away in a single stroke.

'Is it over?'

Just then—a strange, disquieting sound seemed to echo. It felt even creepier than when facing the one-eyed troll before.

From deep within the forest, the mana surged, more intense than during the entrance exam. Clearly, a creature fiercer than any troll was emerging.

'This smell and sound... Haven't I encountered them before?'

Before long, Gregory came face-to-face with the monster. With an explosive roar, it appeared: an ogre.

An ogre, known as the natural enemy of trolls. Jutting fangs, a muscular body, green-hued skin—it was unmistakable.

The moment its true nature was revealed, everyone froze with fear. There was no guarantee they could defeat such a monster without injury.

The ogre approached and swung its gigantic arm.

Everyone gripped their swords tightly to survive the crisis, but the sheer force was sufficient to shake them to the bone, like an earthquake.

Their formation began to break apart.

Another attack followed—the ogre slammed the ground hard.

Their bodies trembled violently, but everyone barely managed to maintain their balance.

Gregory glanced at Walter, who was still preventing the senior knights from helping.

Gregory still could not fully gauge the extent of his own strength. He was far above a second-rank knight, but at best, his skills were at the fourth rank.

And this was an ogre—could he truly defeat such a foe?

Yet, despite these dire circumstances, there was now no option to retreat.

Gregory shouted to his comrades.

"This thing's weakness is its neck, just like a troll's! Aim for the neck!"

Upon learning the weak point, everyone's expression turned serious, their attitude shifting immediately.

Morale soared with even that small piece of information.

However, simply knowing the weak spot didn't make it any easier. It was incredibly difficult to close in, let alone actually land a hit.

Each time the ogre swung its arm, Gregory's companions could barely deflect the blows, and the damage piled up.

Suddenly, Gregory's nose and ears responded oddly.

He felt a peculiar displacement.

A whisper echoed in his ear.

—How pathetic.

The onslaught continued. His comrades were already on the ground, coughing up blood.

At that whisper, Gregory's memories surged back.

Who he was, why he had joined the Order, what purpose made him fight so desperately.

The ogre's contemptuous glare made his past flash before his eyes.

He'd been here before.

In his previous life, there had been such moments—trial set by his father, an ogre he couldn't overcome while being weak and frail.

After his father passed away, he'd grown strong enough to easily dispatch ogres—he'd simply forgotten about it. Or perhaps he'd pretended not to remember, not wanting to revisit that humiliation.

Before the ogre's blow landed, Gregory's furious red aura burst forth.

"Did you think I'd just let you look down on me?!"

As Gregory charged at the ogre, Ernest, coming to his senses, simultaneously released a blue aura.

Locking eyes, they rushed in perfect synchrony, striking at its neck.

Their blades met both the front and back of the ogre's neck. The monster's face twisted in pain.

Kreuugh—!

Gregory's attacks rained down mercilessly, and the once-impenetrable skin began to split, blood spraying out.

Zaaash—!

But that was all. Gregory's sword became stuck in the ogre's neck, refusing to budge.

Dangling from his embedded sword, Gregory stood defenseless. If this continued, the ogre would rip him apart—he had focused for far too long on offence.

Before the senior knights could intervene, his limbs would be torn asunder. Even so, Walter continued to block them from assisting.

Why aren't they helping? Is this betrayal again? Am I to die such a pointless death?

Gregory slowly closed his eyes.

Just as the ogre was about to swing its arm, Brea and Alessandro leapt at its face.

Its attention diverted, the ogre swung at them instead.

"Hurry, help Gregory!"

At that, Adrian and Elisabeth leapt at the ogre's neck.

There was something Gregory had overlooked.

He had comrades who believed in him.

Ernest was not his only companion.

Gregory's eyes opened wide.

But now, that wasn't the priority.

At last, Gregory's final strike—he took a deep breath, drew out all his mana, and summoned his aura to the limit.

His comrades helped him extract his stuck blade from the ogre's neck, and a moment later, the obstinate sword came free. Upon landing, Gregory leapt high.

He switched his grip on the sword, holding it reversed, and brought it down with all his might.

"Ssseeee, DIE!"

The blunted blade pierced the ogre's neck, brilliant light radiating out in all directions.

For a few seconds, dazzling light shone through the pitch-black abyss. We had demonstrated not only individual prowess, but also teamwork and responsibility.

When the ogre at last fell and everyone lay exhausted, Walter and the Dawn Knight Order approached, clapping.

"Congratulations on becoming true knights of the Dawn Knight Order."

Up until now, even with companions, Gregory had always fought alone and seized victory.

But the feeling of being protected, not betrayed, in a moment of crisis—it felt surreal.

For the first time, that feeling transformed into trust toward his companions.

'Is this what a true comrade is....'

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
It feels a bit fast... but I'll take trustworthy companions anytime...
I can't really describe why, but the pacing of this novel seems off and all over the place...
If you've reached chapter 10 you should be able to get a feel if this novel is for you or not...
As for me... I've had better... huthut...
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