***

Three days after Edmund regained consciousness, the sharp clang of swords rang out from the backyard of the Aschwin Family Mansion, right above the training field.

Edmund lunged forward quickly, creating significant distance between himself and them.

His hand gripped a blunt iron sword, and in front of him stood five exhausted family soldiers.

There is no time to waste. I have to get used to Edmund’s swordsmanship.

He raised his sword and pointed it forward, "Come!"

The five soldiers rushed forward, holding their own blunt swords, just like Edmund’s.

They were worried about injuring him if they used real blades. The punishment for harming a noble was fatal for them.

The sound of clashing swords echoed again. Edmund moved swiftly and agilely, too fast for them to keep up with.

From inside the mansion, Oleander Aschwin watched through a corridor window, accompanied by a woman dressed in black trousers and a suit, a butler named Helena.

Oleander’s eyes did not leave the young man. The recovery of her 22 year old son was so rapid it defied common sense.

However, what mattered most to her was Edmund’s recovery. After all, he would become the heir of the Aschwin Family.

"Viscount Edmund is showing remarkable recovery progress," Helena praised.

"I knew he would recover quickly. He is just as strong as Julian was at his age," Oleander said.

"Madam Aschwin, you have a scheduled meeting with Count Siegfried today."

Oleander nodded in understanding, turned, and instructed Helena to prepare the carriage and her escort.

Helena placed a hand on her chest, bowed obediently, and left.

On the training field, Edmund swung his sword, striking down all five soldiers.

They fell onto the ground, groaning in pain even though he used a blunt weapon.

"I think that is enough. You may leave," Edmund ordered, and the five soldiers nodded obediently.

Edmund looked at his hand and the sword he held. His movements were improving, his reflexes and anticipation becoming sharper.

He felt that he could already fully control these sword skills thanks to Edmund’s memories.

There should be no problem for me with this.

One of the servants entered the field carrying a tray with a towel and a glass bottle of water. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Edmund nodded and wiped his sweat, but his attention shifted.

From an unexpected direction, Sebastian appeared, dressed in a black suit and wearing glasses.

Edmund immediately noticed his presence.

"Sebastian?"

"Good afternoon, Viscount Edmund," Sebastian replied.

He was tall, well built, with slicked back hair, an athletic physique, a handsome face, and glasses.

Edmund gestured for the servant beside him to leave, allowing Sebastian to step forward and report everything he had done, as instructed.

Sebastian tapped his magic pouch and handed a document to Edmund.

"I have investigated Tuca Village, but there is no woman named Leonor Reimard," Sebastian reported.

Edmund narrowed his eyes, scanning the document listing all individuals named Leonor across the Archie region.

None matched the name he was searching for.

The novel Sword Fate did not introduce Leonor Reimard at the beginning. She would appear around Chapters 20 to 40.

"What about Lucas Twain?" Edmund asked, handing the document back.

"About him, I have found information."

Sebastian took out another document containing detailed information about Lucas Twain, a young man born in a small village in the southern region.

Slowly, through determination and effort, he would become an important figure in the story.

That’s right. Lucas Twain is the protagonist.

The story begins when Lucas is still struggling in his village. There is a possibility that I transmigrated into Edmund’s body at the very start of the novel.

"Let us talk in my study, Sebastian."

"Of course, Viscount Edmund."

They walked into the mansion, went up to the third floor, and entered his study.

The door opened, revealing a spacious room with bookshelves lining the walls, along with sofas and a glass table.

"What about the recruitment of assassins?" Edmund asked.

"The news has spread throughout the city. Many have applied, but we have not conducted further selection yet," Sebastian answered obediently.

"I need them," Edmund said, stepping behind his desk and looking at Sebastian again, "Make sure they are trained harshly and made obedient to my commands."

"Of course. I will handle it."

"And what about Leonor Reimard?" Sebastian asked.

Edmund fell silent for a moment, picking up a bottle of wine and pouring it into a glass.

He walked toward Sebastian, occasionally taking a sip.

"She will appear in Tuca Village. I am certain of it," Edmund replied.

He glanced sideways at Sebastian, who still stood beside him, "Send ten of our soldiers there. They must disguise themselves and blend in with the villagers until the right time."

"If they hear any news about Leonor, they must inform me immediately," Edmund said coldly.

Sebastian did not object. He placed his hand on his chest and bowed obediently.

He would carry out Edmund’s orders without question.

Edmund returned to his desk, looking at documents about girls and women named Leonor.

The name Reimard was not her original name.

In the story, the Reimard Family adopted Leonor.

During the kingdom’s destruction in the middle of the novel, only the Reimard Family survived because Leonor considered them her benefactors.

However, after Leonor was killed by Lucas, the Reimard Family was judged and humiliated, leading to their downfall overnight.

Edmund thought about this and considered taking the Reimard Family’s position in the story.

His main goal was to prevent destruction, then plan how to ensure Leonor would defeat Lucas.

To complete my plan, I need to save Leonor before the Reimard Family finds her first.

***

Two days later, a knock came at Edmund’s study door. A soldier entered, carrying a rolled message in his hand.

"What is that?" Edmund asked.

"A message from Tuca Village."

Leonor?

He opened the message. Sebastian had sent it from Tuca Village.

It stated that refugees from the east had arrived there.

And one of the refugee children was Leonor. Sebastian included a description of her appearance.

Black hair with a reddish tint, dark pupils, and a scar on her hand. Edmund immediately stood up.

That is Leonor. My villainess.

Edmund crushed the message in his hand and ordered the soldier to prepare his mount.

The soldier nodded obediently.

He quickly prepared himself, putting on a shirt and a white fur coat, and carrying the sword at his waist.

Once his horse was ready, Edmund rode swiftly out of Archester City toward Tuca Village, accompanied by two mounted soldiers guarding him.

The journey between the city and the village took only two hours on horseback.

The trip stopped when Edmund reached the top of a hill, overlooking the valley where Tuca Village was located.

A large castle stood at its center, with oil lamps lighting up the village.

Among them, Edmund spotted his soldiers blending in naturally with the villagers.

"Lord Edmund," Sebastian greeted. Edmund turned.

"Where is the girl, Sebastian?"

Sebastian pointed down toward a small wooden house where Leonor lived with her parents.

The mission requires me to save Leonor. I cannot just go there and persuade her directly. That would raise suspicion.

"I already invited them to stay in Archester, but her parents refused," Sebastian explained.

As Edmund silently observed Tuca Village, the ground beneath the cliff began to tremble.

A strong wind blew from the east, drawing everyone’s attention.

Edmund focused his gaze and saw a red glow of torches burning brightly from within the forest. His eyes widened.

So... this is what the mission meant when it said I had to save her?

This is bad. The distance from Archester to Tuca takes two hours.

"What is that?" another soldier asked.

From the direction of the village, a man ran out of the eastern forest, shouting loudly, his face pale.

"Monster... attack!"

"The Mughort Kingdom is attacking again!"

"Call the Baron!"

Edmund froze in shock. He had not expected a monster attack to occur at the exact moment Leonor arrived in Tuca Village.

Curiosity arose about her true identity and why the Mughort Kingdom reacted so quickly.

"Sebastian!" Edmund ordered. Sebastian turned immediately.

"Return to Archester and gather troops. We need reinforcements quickly. Send the cavalry!"

"Should we inform the baron of the neighboring village?" Sebastian asked.

"Yes. Have the two soldiers who came with me do it. Tell the barons I am the one requesting their aid."

"If they refuse, they will face the gallows tomorrow!"

Sebastian and the two soldiers nodded obediently. However, Sebastian asked what Edmund intended to do.

Without hesitation, Edmund drew his sword and gripped it tightly. "I will hold them off."

────[WARNING!]────

[Death Flag detected]

[Probability of death >65%]