All members of the Special Forces Unit were able to learn the Wave Device. They were all exceptional talents who had caught Irene’s eye and entered the Special Forces, so their learning speed was quite rapid. Once they started using the Energy Accumulation Technique and the Wave Device together, their combat power could increase almost fourfold. However, it was still not enough. The Wave Device had to spread widely enough to surpass the Energy Accumulation Technique in the future. Otherwise, it would be impossible to reverse the foretold destruction of this world.
“I lost. Thanks to that, I learned a thing or two.”
“I learned something too.”
This time, I was engaging in duels with the Knights Order’s foot soldiers. However, one noticeable difference was that they now treated me with respect. It had already been seven years since I came to the Northern Front. As I had long persevered, the composition of the Knights Order had also changed.
Since the Radiata campaign, the knights who were my seniors, excluding Irene and her aide, had all been replaced by other knights. Even Sir Dolphin, who had been close to me, lost a leg during the last Greater Demon Beast campaign and retired. The new recruits were spirited young foot soldiers who had just graduated from the Academy. With this, I achieved my 21st consecutive victory. Having grown through countless battles, I could now guarantee a 100% win rate against the foot soldiers.
“Ian, may I ask one question?”
“Go ahead.”
“In the recent duel, did you use the secret technique that’s being secretly taught in your unit?”
“Yes. It’s a technique called the Wave Device. It hasn’t been properly verified yet, so we are only operating it within the unit.”
The young knight who lost to me asked with shining eyes.
“Could you possibly teach it to me as well?”
Starting with that knight, others who had been listening nearby gathered around.
“Could I also learn it?”
“If possible, I would like to request that too!”
“Me too!”
It seemed that among the soldiers, the Wave Device was becoming known as a special secret technique only taught to Special Forces members. This likely happened because the unit members who mastered the Wave Device began to show incredible achievements, such as defeating high-ranking demon beasts. Naturally, I had no intention of treating the Wave Device as a secret technique.
“The method of acquisition is still too complicated for it to spread widely. We need to establish a better system so that we can teach it to more soldiers.”
In order to pass on the Wave technique, Rie and I had to stay up for over a day to infuse the wave. Just because we infused it didn’t guarantee the recipient would feel the wave. Sometimes, it took over a month. This was the reason it had only been taught to Special Forces members. To supply the Wave Device to the Northern Front, we needed to set up a more structured system and gradually increase the number of wave recipients.
“Ah…”
“Don’t be too disappointed. I will definitely teach it to you.”
***
After finishing the hunt for the high-ranking demon beast, Irene lightly said while sitting atop the remains.
“Ian, I heard you are teaching the Wave Device to your unit members. Is that an advancement of the wave you mentioned two years ago?”
“After continued research, I was able to find a way to pass it on.”
“But it’s still not systematized, right?”
“That’s correct. It’s currently only barely possible for Rie and me to stay up for a whole day to infuse it.”
As Irene pulled out the frost spear lodged in the remains, she came down.
“Good.”
She turned around, her silver short hair fluttering. I saw her blue eyes drawing a gentle curve. Irene continued with a playful smile.
“I’ll grant you all the authority of the Special Forces Unit that I hold.”
“…What?”
“Thus, you will gather those with potential.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
Without answering, Irene grabbed my hand. She lifted me to my feet and held up the frost spear beside me. In an instant, her previously playful expression turned serious.
“In the name of Irene Krause, Commander of the Empire’s First Knights Order, I hereby delegate all operational authority, personnel authority, and organizational authority regarding the Special Forces to Ian, the Special Forces Captain.”
“Wait a moment. What is going on here—”
“The Special Forces will move according to your will from now on. Irene Krause will not object to this.”
I was momentarily taken aback by Irene’s actions. Originally, the Special Forces was a combat organization that gathered the talents she favored. Why was she transferring this to me now—
Irene added with a gentle smile.
“It’s a sign that I trust you. I believe that this Wave Device could be the key to turning the tide of this war.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes. I’m serious.”
I looked into Irene’s eyes. The eyes of the commander always gaze steadily toward the future overlapped with the eyes of a human who hesitated yet tried to move forward. Instinctively, I sensed that no matter what I said, I could not overturn her choice. Rubbing my head, I faced Irene directly.
“Understood.”
I knelt in front of her and bowed my head.
“Special Forces Captain Ian, I will faithfully carry out the orders.”
***
I actively utilized the authority delegated to me by Irene. First, I disbanded the six-member unit of the Special Forces and reorganized it into six special squads of seven members each. When Rie heard the news, she smirked.
“Captain, did you get promoted again? This is why you need to charm women.”
“I didn’t charm anyone. It’s pure friendship, 100%.”
“Right, right, I thought you’d say that. Anyway, since I’m already in your good graces, doesn’t that mean my path to promotion is open?”
“…Not really.”
Rie giggled as she didn’t pay attention to my words at all.
“This is how you need to be well-placed. With a single flick of your finger, you can achieve a great career.”
“…Don’t say that outside.”
“Isn’t it natural? If I say something like that, I’ll get scolded behind your back.”
“Then why say it in front of me?”
“Since I figured that a man who has attracted the Duke’s Daughter and the Knights Commander would have the grace to understand such remarks… I thought so?”
“Seriously.”
After that, I traveled along the front lines for scouting. I meticulously examined both newly enlisted soldiers and veterans who had been there for more than two years. After spending so long in the front, I developed a special instinct. I could sense who would survive a long time and who would last at most three months.
What I meant by seeing people was not gazing into their faces but observing the attitudes and movements often exhibited by those with talent. They could instinctively find and adjust to the most efficient posture within the realm of instinct. Such characteristics became even more pronounced on the snowy fields of the North.
I strolled through the battlefields where small-scale local wars were happening and killed both monsters and demon beasts. At the same time, I searched for talented soldiers.
“Hey! Join the Special Forces.”
The soldier I pointed at hurriedly wiped the blood from his eyes with his sleeve.
“Y-Yes? What did you just say—”
“As soon as you return to the unit, come to the Special Forces dedicated barracks.”
Next, I pointed at a soldier who was struggling against a monster. The soldier who collapsed on top of the demon beast with its head severed wore a bewildered expression.
“You too, join the Special Forces.”
“…The Special Forces? The one where the secret technique is taught? Is that true?”
“Uh, me?”
“Let’s see if the rumors of you single-handedly slaying the Greater Demon Beast are true this time.”
“I have only been stationed here for two months—no, I haven’t… but…”
.
It took less than a month to fill the ranks of the Special Forces. The existing members of the Special Forces were assigned as squad leaders for each squad. The squad leaders taught the Wave Device to the squad members in accordance with the methods they had learned. As the system and the number of wave recipients increased, the speed started to pick up. Gradually, I planned to increase the scale and speed of spreading the Wave Device.
***
About five months later, the location of the first demon beast was finally pinpointed.
Underground Operations Room of the Northern Front Command.
The heavy iron door closed as the meeting began.
In the center of the conference room surrounded by gray stone walls, giant pieces on a massive map were set up. A staff officer from the Intelligence Bureau came forward and began the briefing.
“The source of the demon beast, presumed to be the first entity, has been revealed.”
“What is the location?”
The staff officer raised his right hand to point at the red spot.
“Here. The northernmost area of the Northern Mountain Range, deep within the Hirem fault, a cave area. Ancient magical responses were detected near the old Velgas sulfur mine, and subsequently, signals of the same amplitude were detected three times in succession.”
Acting Supreme Commander, Major Brian Selb turned his head.
“Is that certain? It has been left as barren land for a hundred years. There have been no reconnaissance missions until last year.”
“Precisely because of that, there was no doubt.”
The staff officer continued speaking.
“Amplitude period, density, and most importantly, the phenomenon of visual distortion. These are characteristics that are on a different level than regular Greater Demon Beasts.”
“This occurrence is not just a simple manifestation. It is the original source tracing back to all the demon beasts we know.”
The true beginning.
An existence that could distort the very laws of battle.
So far, any entity that had appeared was merely a derivative of it.
“How many units can operationally deploy the Wave Device?”
“As of now, there are 43 individuals who have completed the training. Out of those, 22 can be deployed in real combat. Any more would require more time.”
“Ian, form a strike force centered around the Special Forces. This is an opportunity that has come after 120 years. We cannot let it slip away.”
She continued to gaze intently at the red spot on the map as she spoke.
“We will hunt the first demon beast, Erebeon.”
