Reincarnated with the King’s Power

Chapter 78

A woman bent her knees and stroked Hazard.

[Grrr~]

The wolf, with its green and black fur mixed together, let out a pleasant cry.

“Our Hazard has such fine fur.”

[Kkya-roong~]

“A wolf shouldn't cry like that. If you rely on cuteness, you'll be looked down upon by your enemies.”

[Grrrrr~]

“That's right.”

The woman, the Annihilation Squad's 1st Sword, Serena Constantine, scratched Hazard's chin with a satisfied look on her face.

The scene was the very picture of a dog and its owner.

“He’s grown a lot. He was like a puppy when he first came.”

Aron, who was watching from the side, muttered as he recalled his first meeting with Hazard.

“His name is Hazard. Starting today, this guy is also a member of the Annihilation Squad.”

“Are you planning to raise him as a hunting dog?”

“What are you talking about? He’s a wolf.”

At first, they thought it was a prank by the fun-loving Annihilation Squad Leader.

But it wasn't. Haman, Killian’s chamberlain and the Annihilation Squad’s exclusive apothecary, began to personally take charge of Hazard's meals and walks.

It seemed he had already spoken with the Head Apothecary, as he even showed the dedication of periodically taking Hazard to his private lab to feed him nutritious food.

Several months passed like that.

‘He’s too small to be a wolf, and too big to be a dog.’

The small dog that grew rapidly became a large dog.

And now, the creature was enjoying the luxury of monopolizing the affection of the two female knights.

“Hazard, give me your paw.”

Tuk.

Hazard’s thick paw rested on Gala’s hand.

“He listens well now.”

“Because Hazard is a genius.”

Serena and Gala said as they stroked Hazard’s fur.

“Shouldn't we start his detection training soon?”

“He's only big in size, but he's still a child. I wonder if he’ll have a seizure after tasting blood……”

Seeing the two female knights worrying about Hazard’s education, Aron, Portran, Zodiac, and Philip, who were nearby, made strange faces.

“I’m feeling a bit jealous.”

“I got my finger bitten while scratching his chin the other day. I’m still receiving treatment.”

“I was scratched by his claws. It left a scar.”

“That’s nothing. I heard Sir Yulian got bitten in an important place while trying to train him.”

“……!!”

“No way……”

“That son of a……”

The Annihilation Squad members, who were all saying a word about Hazard, turned their heads at the glare from the two female knights.

“Ahem. The Commander must have his reasons.”

“He’s not one to cause unnecessary trouble.”

“What does it matter if he’s a wolf or a dog.”

“Sir Yulian’s important place doesn't have much use anyway.”

The four men exchanged strange glances and focused on the battle unfolding in the training grounds.

The duel between Killian, who had recently declared a kingdom and become the Fourth Prince, and Yulian, who had grown to 6-star, was nearing its end.

***

Kkang. Kang. Kang. Kkaaaang.

The sound of steel clashing against steel echoed through the training grounds.

Killian's gaze turned to Serena and Gala, who were petting Hazard.

‘They probably don’t know. That that merely cute creature is a member of the extinct dragon race, and a hybrid of black and green at that.’

The only ones in the family who knew Hazard's true identity were Loen and Haman.

The Annihilation Squad members believed (?) that Hazard was a well-bred wolf.

‘It’s because he hasn't fully grown yet.’

He was a creature that might become Eurasia's greatest military power in the future.

And such a creature was rolling over on its back, acting cute in front of the two female knights.

“Where are you looking during a duel!”

Kkaang!

Killian easily parried the sword coming for his side.

Yulian, who had aimed for a surprise attack, was pushed back significantly.

Yulian caught his breath and raised his sword again.

“Prince Killian, it seems your movements have dulled since marriage talks began.”

“Such a clumsy provocation. More importantly, you know that Philip succeeded in manifesting the Shik, right?”

“……”

Yulian's forehead twitched.

“Still, I am the 2nd Sword.”

“The 1st and 3rd Swords are mid-level 6-star, but our 2nd Sword is at the entry-level of 6-star.”

A week ago, all the Annihilation Squad members returned to the family and sparred with each other.

Yulian, who had reached 6-star, defeated Philip by a narrow margin and maintained his position as the 2nd Sword.

Philip was pushed back in swordsmanship, but he achieved growth in his Mana Heart and reached mid-level 6-star.

‘Three 6-star knights with excellent skills in handling mana.’

If the rest of the Annihilation Squad, who remained at 5-star master, reached 6-star, they would surpass the previous generation in terms of quality.

Kkang. Kang.

Killian appropriately parried Yulian's sword and narrowed the distance.

Two months had passed since he returned with Hazard.

‘Has it already been three years since I was reincarnated into this body?’

A while ago, Eurasia and Cornelia successfully completed their Declaration of the Kingdom.

If there was an unexpected variable, it was the fact that the Cornelia Family had formally arranged a marriage with the Eurasia Family.

Currently, Killian had expressed his refusal through Escardo.

‘As if I have time to waste on things like marriage.’

With the family's status elevated, there was a mountain of work to handle.

For instance, forming an intelligence network for the hundred or so families in the eastern frontier that comprised the Eurasia Kingdom was an urgent matter.

And there were also rumors that the vassal states under the Empire were preparing for war against Eurasia and Cornelia.

‘The Brussels Kingdom.’

The kingdom located closest to the eastern frontier.

It was a small to medium-sized kingdom composed of about fifty families, but recently it had been expanding its military with the support of the Empire.

‘It’s confirmed as the first opponent.’

While he was thinking that, Yulian used Carpe.

“Throwing your decisive move now?”

Killian shook off the pressure of a 6-star knight and raised his sword.

They had promised not to use Carpe, Carpe Illusion, or Haki.

They would only surround their bodies with mana to strengthen themselves.

Sssss.

The Sword Membrane Yulian deployed blocked the path of retreat.

“This is a teaching the Commander gave me himself. Please, try to take this.”

Eurasia Style, Meteor Flash.

Killian parried the relentlessly thrusting sword.

Was it after he had deflected the sword ten times?

Yulian closed the distance as if he had been waiting.

First Flash.

It was a simple thrust, but it was imbued with stronger mana than ever before.

‘It’s not that I can’t dodge it, but……’

For Yulian’s growth, it would be better to break through it directly.

Killian ran forward and deflected the sword.

Chaeng!

As his trump card was blocked, Yulian’s face stiffened.

Following that, as Killian lowered his center of gravity and took the stance of First Flash, Yulian instinctively retreated diagonally.

However.

Sssss.

A blue Sword Membrane blocked Yulian's path of retreat.

“……!!”

There was no time to cut through the Sword Membrane.

Yulian gritted his teeth and deployed his own Sword Membrane to protect his front.

Kwajik.

Then, Killian embedded his Aether into Yulian’s Sword Membrane.

“A new lesson.”

Eurasia Style.

Drrrrr.

The Aether vibrated with the immense mana that passed through the Mana Heart.

“Explosive Flash.”

Kwwaaang!!

With a deafening roar, the Sword Membrane exploded, and the shockwave swept over Yulian.

“Keuhak……”

He screamed and rolled on the ground, leaving the training grounds.

Aron and Portran hurriedly gave him a recovery potion.

“I’ve seen enough of the 2nd Sword’s skills.”

Killian looked at Serena, who was hugging Hazard.

“This time, I want to see the 1st Sword's skills. If you want, you can attack with Hazard.”

“It’s too early for Hazard to battle.”

[Grrr~]

Serena entrusted Hazard to Gala and stepped onto the training grounds.

“You’ll regret this.”

“I am different from Yulian.”

As green mana coiled around her Aether, Carpe instantly unfolded and dominated the training grounds.

‘The purity of her mana is incomparable to Yulian’s or Philip’s.’

After learning Haki, the power of her Carpe had become such that it was not inferior to that of a 6-star master.

“Was it 12 seconds that you could imbue your sword with Haki?”

“It’s 13 seconds.”

“It increased by one second?”

Among the 6-star knights, there was probably no one who could defeat Serena alone.

“Come at me.”

“I refuse.”

“……?”

Serena quietly raised her mana.

Then, the Aethers of the squad members watching from below the training grounds reacted, and green mana stirred the area.

“You wouldn't call this cheating, would you?”

The Annihilation Squad was an organization that had to complete its missions by any means necessary.

Just because it was a duel didn't mean it had to be fair and square.

“Of course.”

Eurasia Style, Green Zone.

Carpe Illusion unfolded, and the area turned into a jungle.

Dozens of vines stretched out and bound Killian.

The presence of Serena, the caster, couldn't be felt, but the level at which it absorbed mana had become even higher.

‘It will take some time to break through this technique without Carpe and Haki.’

Killian circulated the mana in his body and burst the clinging branches.

Sssss.

Serena’s sword, hidden by stealth, aimed for his back.

Kkaang!!

Parrying a sword imbued with Haki with one imbued with mana made his wrist throb.

Having failed her surprise attack, Serena’s presence vanished again.

“We were supposed to have a comprehensive report after the duel.”

So, it would be better to defeat her to an extent that wouldn't cause a reflux.

Chzzzz.

After compressing the mana wrapped around his sword to increase its density.

Seogeok!

He swung his mana-imbued sword and cut through space.

Beyond the cut space, the large dog could be seen rolling over on its back at Gala's touch.

“Hazard!”

[Grrr?]

The moment Hazard tilted his head, looking at Killian.

Kkaang!

Killian strongly deflected the sword that was swung at his back in a surprise attack.

And, he aimed his Aether towards the spot where a stream of fresh blood had scattered.

“Bite!”

[Grrr!]

At his master's command, Hazard dug into the Carpe Illusion.

[Grrr! Grrr!]

Hazard, who had knocked down his target with just her scent, began to lick Serena.

“Hazard! Stop, stop.”

[Grrr~ Grrrrr~]

It was when Serena was struggling to push away Hazard, who was licking her face.

“You wouldn’t call this cheating, would you?”

Killian, who had approached at some point, was looking down and aiming his scabbard at her.

“……!!”

While appreciating the flustered expression on Serena’s face.

Killian released the mana he had stored in his scabbard.

***

After the duel in the training grounds, Serena visited the Annihilation Squad Leader's office.

It was for the scheduled regular report.

“The Yellow Knight Order under Commander Xenon has successfully completed its first training.”

“I see.”

Xenon, the vice-commander of the Blue Knight Order, was inaugurated as the commander of the newly founded Yellow Knight Order.

The name Yellow was based on the commander's mana color; Xenon, who had bloomed his talent after meeting Killian, grew rapidly and stabilized his 5-star.

After Xenon became the commander of the new knight order, 200 low-ranking knights from the Blue Knight Order, which had grown to 400 members, were selected and moved under his command.

The Yellow Knight Order appointed Huan, who had entered 4-star, as its vice-commander, and placed Vasago in the position of Centurion.

In the Blue Knight Order, Julian was keeping his position as commander, and Jesse, who like Huan had entered 4-star, was said to have taken the position of vice-commander.

In addition, reports on the Black Knight Order and the White Knight Order followed.

“So the Stone Family’s Black Cloud Knight Order ended up under brother Demian’s command. The neighboring families must be relieved.”

“And this is the most recent information. They say the Empire’s Second Prince has conveyed his intention of marriage to the Cornelia side.”

“Oho. Has the western intelligence network finally been activated?”

“Are you alright?”

“With what?”

“I understand that there are marriage talks with Princess Sharle.”

“Not interested.”

“……”

Serena looked at Killian with a strange expression.

“What about Brussels?”

“The continent’s intelligence network is still under construction.”

“It’s taking longer than I thought. Is it a lack of personnel after all?”

Creating a new intelligence network required a significant amount of time and manpower.

Until that work was finished, they had to ally with those who already held the information.

“You said the one holding the intelligence network of the Brussels Kingdom is a Walker guild called Hennessy?”

Walkers were beings specialized in stealth and information gathering.

The stealth and footwork that the Annihilation Squad learned were also the specialties of Walkers, and he had previously been reported that a guild called Hennessy held the information on the Brussels Kingdom.

“Why don’t we just try contacting the guild master there?”

“Crimson Wolf is a Walker who has overcome the wall. Unlike his arrogant and impudent personality, he is cautious when it comes to missions.”

“You speak as if you know him well.”

“What will you do?”

Serena asked back with her characteristic cold expression.

‘Is there something going on?’

If there was a reason Serena didn't want to reveal it, he could just hear it from the others.

What was important now was the expansion of the intelligence network that would decide the outcome of the war.

“What do you mean, what will I do.”

If they couldn't build a new intelligence network, they just had to absorb the existing one.

“Hennessy, let’s take it.”