Chapter 5, Remembrance of Things Past

Violating military orders may result in the commander executing you

Where did you serve before? That knife does not appear to be standard issue for regular troops; the veteran assumed Asa was a single mercenary

"Clearly knowing that one is heading to certain death, yet still being directed by others, who would act in such a manner?" Asa felt perplexed. "Of course, one must find a way to survive. If he wants me to go to my death, why doesn't he go first to show me?"

The clattering sound reached Asa, who knew it was Captain Sanders arriving, for only he would still be patrolling in his steel armor at this hour

The old soldier laughed heartily again: "Where can you find such soldiers"

Although Asa had significant doubts about the profession of soldiering after conversing with the veteran, he could not help but nod vigorously in agreement

This battalion of about one hundred people has half of its members recruited temporarily near Blakada. There are farmers, vagrants, and seemingly a few fugitives mixed in, creating a disorderly yet lively atmosphere. Among them, the most peculiar-looking veteran surprisingly turns out to be a regular soldier

The alarm outside the camp suddenly sounded, its sharp tone tearing the silence of the wilderness night in two

The Karendo Basin has a history of metallurgy and casting that spans several centuries. The surrounding mountains are rich in mineral resources, seemingly inexhaustible, and the dwarves who inhabit the area are accustomed to interacting with humans, even living among them. This has led to the highest level of metallurgy in the continent. The people have grown accustomed to this tradition, making their living through metallurgy and casting for generations. Very few individuals venture outside; while the basin restricts their physical movements, it seems to have also solidified their hearts within. Having lived in an environment of mining, smelting, and forging since childhood, they grow up only to inherit and become a part of this environment.

Years of habit have led to an unwritten rule in the basin: when a man reaches the age of twenty, he must inherit the craft of his forefathers, whether as a farmer, a merchant, or more commonly, as a miner or blacksmith. Although it is unclear when and from whom this rule originated, it has been strictly adhered to, becoming one of the few spiritual symbols in this culturally barren basin

It has been over a month since I left Kalundo. Yet, as soon as I recall, the smell of iron and coal immediately revives in my nostrils, and the sound of the hammer striking the wrought iron seems to have faded only a minute ago. The image of my father swinging the hammer on the night before my departure is so deeply etched in my mind that it almost replaces all the feelings accumulated over twenty years of living in Kalundo

Father is taciturn and is the owner of a small weapon shop, while mother passed away long ago. In Asa's impression, home is merely a place to rest, and father is just an elder living together with him. He has always lived in the distant gaze of his dreams, exercising every day, secretly accumulating minerals, intoxicated by the gradual approach to his aspirations.

"Yes," Asa replied. Sanders nodded and said in an approving tone, "Your skills are quite impressive. If you work hard, you will definitely succeed."

"Because there is nothing else to do, I was actually thinking of becoming a robber," Asa said honestly

"Why aren't you asleep yet? There are tasks to attend to tomorrow." Captain Sanders was still fully equipped. Clad in steel armor, wearing a steel helmet, with a sword at his left hip and a shield at his right, these items seemed to be a part of him, as he was never seen without them. Both the armor and the shield bore an embossed Holy Cross, which Asa heard was the emblem of the Paladin Order, well-known even in his dull and dreary hometown, as it was the strongest unit in the Empire. Both the armor and the shield bore an embossed Holy Cross, which Asa heard was the emblem of the Paladin Order, well-known even in his dull and dreary hometown, as it was the strongest unit in the Empire

We are exchanging insights and experiences about military service. Asa also said to speak honestly.

It seems that not all nobles are as arrogant and unpleasant as one might think. Hearing compliments always brings joy, especially since Asa has already forgotten when the last time someone praised him was

Unlike other children who merely enjoy listening to and fantasizing about these stories, Asa believes that this is the true essence of life, the realm that truly belongs to him. Thus, he begins to learn everything about the outside world from seasoned adventurers. He learns how to survive in swamps and deserts, how to identify various plants, the habits of different subhumans, how to fight, and how to set traps. His footprints can be found in every desolate and uninhabited corner of the basin, where he would stay for months, imagining it to be the wondrous world outside, practicing his survival skills. To build a strong physique capable of standing up to orcs, he trains his body daily, engaging in fights with individuals much larger than himself. By the age of fourteen, all the rogues and bandits in the basin no longer dared to approach his village. When he turned fifteen, he ventured into the iron ore mines, seeking to secretly bring out high-quality ore as soon as he found it.

Sanders nodded and said kindly, "I will take a look around." His tone and expression were very approachable, and even his appearance gave off an inexplicable sense of warmth. This young captain held a high reputation among the regular soldiers, while the others hired alongside Asa seemed somewhat dismissive.

One side of the face was sunken in, with a mixture of muscle and shattered bone forming an uneven mass of flesh, a testament to the marks left by a blunt weapon. The other side of the face was marred by a deep and long knife scar that stretched from the forehead to the mouth, interspersed with several smaller, shallower scars crisscrossing in various directions, causing the facial features to be somewhat displaced. This was a face rendered strange by its scars, but what was even more peculiar was that this person, despite having sustained so many injuries, was still alive. The other side of the face was marred by a deep and long knife scar that stretched from the forehead to the mouth, interspersed with several smaller, shallower scars crisscrossing in various directions, causing the facial features to be somewhat displaced. This was a face rendered strange by its scars, but what was even more peculiar was that this person, despite having sustained so many injuries, was still alive

Then you just don't charge, if you need to escape, then escape

Then the only option is to first behead the commander and then escape Asa thought to himself

The moonlight gently spreads its silvery tenderness across the ground, and the bizarrely shaped rocky terrain, under this affection, no longer appears so sharply defined. Asa leans against a stone by the campfire, gazing at the moon, reluctant to close his eyes.

The moonlight is so beautiful and gentle that even the exposed skin seems to feel this cascading caress. Such moonlight is absolutely unattainable in Kalendo. The clouds and coal smoke that shroud the basin year-round render all attempts to reach the sky utterly hopeless

Asa offered a friendly smile to the veteran. This was a soldier who had fought on the battlefield for decades yet had never succumbed to death, reportedly bearing over a hundred wounds all over his body. Because he always managed to survive, many in the unit referred to him as "the immortal one".

The steadfast and stoic face, illuminated by the glow of the furnace, resembled a shrine. Muscles coiled like tree roots around his arms, as the hammer struck down repeatedly, each vibration palpably transmitted through the blade to Asa's hand. This was a shock from his father, a sensation that made him feel for the first time a connection with his father that was distinct from that with others.

This will be a fine knife that even a father's shop does not possess, forged from high-quality iron ore secretly accumulated over five years by Asa

Before the age of five, Asa was no different from other children, growing up amidst the sounds of the forge and hammering. At the age of five, he became fascinated by the tales of the old adventurer from behind the village, stories of the world beyond the basin. He heard of gigantic dragons that could easily snatch a cow into the sky to devour it, beautiful mermaids who enchanted sailors with their songs, animated corpses, mud men, various subhumans, nations that worshipped natural elements, peculiar customs, and the endless azure sky adorned with wisps of white clouds, the mysterious and boundless ocean, and the vast grasslands that one could gallop across for three days and nights without reaching the end.

The fingers gently glide over the blade; this knife embodies his entire twenty years of life. A flick of the finger produces a low hum, akin to a lament in a certain poem, yet also reminiscent of a hymn of praise

The shape of the knife gradually became clear, and the father took the knife from his hand and turned it over. Asa lost the pulsation of resonance with his father, and he understood that the connection with his father would dissipate with the forging of this knife. Accompanying this was a surge of excitement; this knife symbolized the beginning of his new life, the true beginning of his life. This anticipation was also hammered into the knife with each resonant clash.

The father did not stop him, nor did he ask where he was going. After a long silence, he helped him deliver the ore to the smelting plant and forged the refined iron into a knife. Then, Asa left Kalendo with the knife, accompanying a caravan of merchants from outside who had come to make purchases.

The old soldier shook his head, the remaining eye revealing a look of confusion. His distorted features twitched slightly, forming a twisted expression that was incomprehensible to others, murmuring: "Once you become a soldier, it is like this."

He is the most rebellious among the tens of thousands of children in the Karendo Basin. He was not mischievous in his childhood, nor did he indulge in the same reckless behavior as others during his youth, so he will not return to life like others do after growing weary of rebellion. His rebellion is not against life itself; rather, he seeks to rebel against the entirety of life from the very beginning

A week before his twentieth birthday, he handed over all the secretly hidden ores to his father, requesting him to forge a knife, and informed his father that he was going to leave this place

The old soldier Kakadi let out a laugh that sounded like a pot being smashed. Asa noticed a scar on his throat, likely injuring his vocal cords as well. "The young man is interesting. In fact, sometimes being a robber is better than being a soldier; at least there’s no danger of being a soldier. If you can fight, you rob; if you can’t, you run. As a soldier, when you should clearly run, the officer might still order you to charge"

"Captain, why are you still awake? We will be going to sleep soon." The veteran, fearing that Asahu might speak up, quickly took over the conversation.

The veteran probably couldn't sleep and struck up a conversation with Asa: "Young man, you seem quite capable. What made you decide to join the army?"

Asa shook his head; he had joined after seeing a recruitment for mercenaries in Brakada. It was only after he left Kalendo that he realized living freely outside was not an easy task. Food and adventure items all required money. Just as he was considering joining a band of mountain bandits or helping thugs in fights, he saw a reconnaissance unit recruiting temporary soldiers and immediately signed up.

"Good blades." It sounded like the unpleasant noise of two dull blades scraping against each other. The old soldier by the campfire woke up, gazing at Asa with one eye open, the firelight casting an eerie glow on his face, which hardly resembled a human visage

The lower-class commoners generally harbor little fondness for the nobility, and the absence of hatred has already proven that this young man possesses considerable charm. However, Asa holds a certain degree of awe towards him; although he has never witnessed him in action, it is evident that this captain is far more capable than himself

Sanders looked at Asa and asked, "Are you the recruit who defeated four infantrymen during the conscription?" During the conscription of soldiers, recruits are required to compete against several infantrymen to assess their physical strength and combat capability. Asa easily took down several soldiers who were much larger than him.