A forest somewhere in the Karhu region of the North.
A wind laden with the unique chill of the North swept through the temporary camp of the Red Wolf Tribe.
Inside the leather tent, Chieftain Kanuhan, seated with a frown, muttered.
"Only forty percent, huh."
A voice laced with irritation and impatience.
The subordinate who had reported hurriedly bowed his head.
"I am ashamed, Chieftain."
"Don't mind it. It's not the warriors' fault, is it."
If this had been an internal tribal problem, he would have taken up an axe and resolved it.
But the cause of the problem the tribe currently faced lay outside.
"Tch. A single Black Sorcerer is ruining everything."
Kanuhan clicked his tongue.
Black Sorcerer. An accursed name.
A monster who had burned twelve wyverns with powerful sorcery and brought ruin to the Black Troll Tribe.
According to the original plan, the Steel Scale Tribe was supposed to raid once, weakening Kkazan's defenses, and then they would attack to meet twenty percent of the target quota.
But due to that monster's appearance, they had no choice but to revise the plan.
Ignoring the honeypot called Kkazan and trying to make up for it elsewhere, there was no way results would come.
"Chieftain. At this rate, it's dangerous. At this pace, we cannot meet the target within the remaining time."
"How much time is left until winter?"
"About seven weeks."
"Seven weeks."
Kanuhan swallowed a groan.
Winter in the North, especially winter on the plateau, was brutal.
Heavy snow cut off the roads, and the wind froze men's bodies.
Therefore, abundant supplies were essential to survive winter on the plateau.
If they failed to meet the target within seven weeks, many tribespeople would starve to death.
'Damn it. What the hell am I supposed to do.'
Kanuhan's irritation flared.
He was confident in fighting and pillaging, but clumsy when it came to using his head.
Scratching his head fiercely, Kanuhan gripped his axe and rose from his seat.
"Chieftain? Where are you going?"
"To get some night air."
He went outside.
The bright moon in the night sky and the cold wind greeted him, soothing his churning stomach even if only a little.
He walked aimlessly with his subordinates.
As they walked, they eventually arrived at the supply area where the wagons loaded with plunder were parked.
"Salute! We greet the Chieftain!"
"Yes. Nothing out of the ordinary?"
Kanuhan casually checked the supply wagons.
The wagons, covered with thick leather cloth, were packed with all kinds of things—dried meat, alcohol, blankets, leather, salt, blood-stained ornaments, and more.
The soldiers grinned widely seeing this, but Kanuhan could not smile.
His stomach churned with the responsibility and pressure of having to inflate the supplies here by more than twofold within seven weeks.
'Damn it. If only the answer would fall from the sky.'
Having used his head too much, his head ached.
With a frustrated heart, Kanuhan looked up at the sky.
He saw a blue moon.
And a black moon as well.
"Huh?"
A pitch-black circular mass that felt ominous.
Kanuhan's eyes went wide as he confirmed it falling toward the earth at a terrifying speed, like a shooting star.
"Wait...!?"
Kanuhan's last words ended with that single phrase.
-Kwaaaaaang!
The answer he had so fervently wished for devoured him.
Kanuhan's head no longer hurt.
His vision went dark as he stopped thinking.
*
Black calamity struck the camp.
"Kraaaaack!"
"Hee-hee-hee-hee-heek!"
A firebolt falling from the sky devoured everything around it.
The chieftain, his subordinates, horses, supply wagons—there were no exceptions.
Black flames fairly burned everything and turned it to ash.
The bitter gales of the North fanned the embers fiercely, carrying the flames into the camp.
Panic and screams one would only see at a fire scene echoed through the camp.
The arsonists, hidden in the shadow of a tent that did not catch others' eyes, muttered.
"They'll be arriving soon."
"Yes. Let us prepare."
The signal had been given. All that remained was to wait.
Before long, the awaited sound reached their ears.
"Kraaack! Save me!"
"Roll on the ground! Hurry!"
"Damn it! Who set the fire?!"
"Is that important right now! Put out the fire first!"
-Prroooooo!
"What? Who's blowing a horn?"
"Wait, wait! That's not our horn!"
"What? Then—!"
The horn was not sounding from inside.
It was from outside the camp.
Before long, along with the horn, the sound of horse hooves could be heard.
The soldiers' faces turned pale.
Now they understood.
This was not an accident, but a raid.
"Iron Cavalry! Charge!"
-Kwang!
"Kraaack!"
"It's the enemy!"
"The dirt-eaters have attacked!"
Heavily armed cavalry smashed the palisade and charged fiercely into the center of the Red Wolf Tribe's camp.
The barbarian warriors, thrown into chaos, could not stop them.
Warriors were pierced by the cavalry's spears.
Soldiers were trampled by the horses' charge.
In an instant, over a hundred warriors died en masse.
"Don't panic! The enemy is few in number! Respond calmly!"
"Light infantry, put out the fire! The rest, grab your weapons and form ranks! Hurry!"
In the chaos of having lost the head of their tribe, the chieftain, Great Warriors stepped forth.
Their response was swift and accurate.
The soldiers quickly came to their senses and moved according to the Great Warriors' orders.
Seeing the barbarians' movements gradually improving, the Iron Cavalry's momentum showed signs of flagging.
The Great Warriors, gaining courage, raised their voices again and commanded the soldiers.
"Are they the ones?"
Without knowing, even in their dreams, that this was a trap.
The assassin who had taken the chieftain's life gestured.
The small demons around him soared into the sky.
"Volley fire."
"Kieeeek!"
"Wh-what?!"
"Kuk!"
A rain of black arrows poured from the sky.
The Great Warriors, defenselessly struck by the magical barrage falling upon their heads, fell with short cries.
"Kuk! What is this?!"
"Protect the commander!"
Some Great Warriors survived thanks to outstanding martial arts, or because their subordinates threw themselves in the way.
Those who barely survived tried to move their bodies away in a sense of crisis.
The assassin did not allow it.
"Lunatic Flame."
"Kieeeek!"
-Pueoong!
"Kraaaaack!"
The blue flames that had caused wyverns to crash exploded.
Great Warriors were thrown aside.
Covered in explosions and dark demonic energy, they could no longer raise their voices.
"Commander!"
"It's a sorcerer!"
"Kill that bastard!"
The barbarian warriors ran at him, their eyes burning with beast-like roars.
Dark Bolt exploded above their heads.
Most fell, but some succeeded in approaching Danil, using their comrades' sacrifice as stepping stones.
"Die!"
-Sskak!
A silver flash split the moonlight.
At the curve drawn by the giant scythe, the barbarians' heads floated up cleanly.
"Are you safe, Chief Danil."
"Thanks to you."
Irina's eyes were as cold as ice, having blown away the necks of four warriors in a single strike.
"Further approach is prohibited. Barbarian."
"You bitch!"
"Kill her!"
"Hmph."
Irina rushed forward.
The giant scythe she wielded was faster and heavier than any warrior's weapon.
Those who blocked the attack lost their weapons.
Those who could not dodge lost their heads.
The barbarians could not hide their bewilderment at being unable to overcome a single woman far smaller than themselves.
"Wh-what is this?!"
"It's a witch! The witch is using sorcery! Kraack!"
"Sorcery, you say? Please refrain from remarks that cause misunderstanding. Call me a traditionalist."
Having scolded the one who spread the rumor, she shook off the traces on her scythe.
Glaring at the hesitant warriors, her gaze was exceedingly cold.
'Just as Chief Danil said, they have no experience fighting mages. This will be easy.'
Irina is a traditionalist, a Battle Mage who uses Classic magic, not Circle magic.
Ancient magic from before Circle magic was invented had few varieties and its power was pathetic.
Sometimes swinging a blade a few times was better than using magic.
So the ancient mages changed their thinking.
'Wouldn't it be more efficient to create magic that helps with blade-work instead?'
Starting from this idea, the research into ancient magic eventually succeeded in completing body reinforcement magic.
Thus were born the traditionalist mages who fought like warriors—Battle Mages.
"Kraaack!"
"Damn it! It's not even sword aura, what kind of power... Aaack!"
"Don't block it, dodge it!"
"Ridiculous! Are we supposed to fight like cowards against just one woman!"
"True words."
"Kuk!"
"Words that deserve a beating."
The combat style of a Battle Mage is a one-hit kill.
Therefore, when attacking once, they activate at least three magics.
Currently, Irina is activating a total of five magics, including Weight, Haste, and Strength.
Since the power of a single blow surpasses that of an average knight's strike, it is no wonder that even warriors who handle mana are at a loss.
But if there are advantages, there are also disadvantages.
A Battle Mage's attacks are powerful, so the user's mana consumption is high.
Therefore, Battle Mages are forced into short-term battles.
Naturally, forcing a long war of attrition is the best counter.
But her opponents showed no such movement whatsoever.
Seeing the enemies forming short melee formations suited to fighting strong knights, she re-gripped her scythe.
"Don't be afraid! There's only two of them at most! Press them!"
"That will be difficult. Reinforcements have come out to greet us."
"What?"
-Pabababak!
"Keok!"
"Aaaack!"
A rain of arrows flying from behind embedded in the warriors' backs.
David, commander of the Iron Cavalry, appeared cutting down the warriors vomiting blood and shouted.
"Sir Danil! Let us escape!"
"I've been waiting."
Grabbing the hands the cavalry extended, Danil and Irina mounted the horses.
The warriors' resistance melted away into futility before the Iron Cavalry's spears.
"Break through!"
The Iron Cavalry broke straight through the center and withdrew into the forest.
Having lost the majority of its command, including the chieftain, the Red Wolf Tribe could not even form a proper pursuit force, and simply stood dumbfounded amidst the repeated chaos.
Morale plummeted and fear spread.
"I-it's the Black Sorcerer. The Black Sorcerer took the chieftain's head!"
Having lost its leadership and with its supplies turned to ash as well, the time remaining until the Red Wolf Tribe's collapse:
One day.
*
"Somehow, it worked out well by luck again this time."
"Worked out well, you say? It's a great success, Sir Danil!"
The moment they returned to friendly lines, the Iron Cavalry let out cheers.
"Miracle of Kkazan! Danil of the Black Flame!"
"Dragon Slayer! Magic Knight Danil!"
"Your reputation was not undeserved, Sir. This is already the fourth victory against the barbarians. It is no longer plausible to dismiss it as mere luck. Sir Danil, you are truly a knight and hero of the North!"
At David's earnest praise, the Iron Cavalry nodded unanimously.
Danil smiled and spoke calmly.
"I am honored by your words. But I was able to achieve these consecutive victories thanks to your help. Without your courage and strength, today's victory would not have been possible."
Danil bowed his head.
"I am an insufficient man. Therefore, to continue winning, your strength is absolutely necessary. Please continue to help me greatly in the future. May I ask this of you?"
"Of course!"
"『『『We will serve you, Sir Danil!』』』"
At the excessively humble words of the hero who had led them to victory, the Iron Cavalry answered with thunderous voices.
'Good. It worked.'
Convinced that he had succeeded in winning the Iron Cavalry's favor, Danil laughed inwardly.
'With this, for the time being, they'll follow my orders without complaint. To make a big project succeed, having subordinates like chess pieces who follow my orders immediately is basic.'
The barbarians weren't fools either.
Before long, they would obviously realize what he was after and establish countermeasures.
What he had to do was amass as many merits and achievements as possible before they responded.
He knew himself how vain a hope and wish this was, but there was no other way.
The contract worker, tryharding to cover his sins with merits, prayed earnestly.