Chapter 167: I had a pleasant time after a long while (1)
Imperial Calendar May 12, 377.
“Sir General, the scout has returned.”
“Let him in.”
There’s no way to directly break through the mountain range that stretches from the west to the south of the Narvis Plain. One or two people might be able to, but it’s impossible with a large number of personnel and supplies.
The only passage, the Narvis Tunnel, is already occupied by the Herduke Kingdom Army. In the end, the Western Army has to go around the mountains and head towards the central part of Narvilt.
The person leading the estimated 30,000 troops is Baius Ectoria, the vanguard of the Western Army. He’s one of Artshever’s unpleasant friends, and the one I’ve decided to definitely catch in this war.
By the way, only 30,000 men remain out of all those soldiers? The discipline of the Western Army is quite something. Well, we did secure a huge number of prisoners.
The Kingdom Army’s staff decided not to pursue them.
Because how high could the morale of the defeated soldiers be? And by the time they cross the mountains and reach the central part of Narvilt, the Kingdom Army would have already occupied ‘Naksil’, the direct territory of the Duke of Narvilt, according to the analysis.
In fact, once the Narvis Plain is secured, the Western Army has practically lost the war.
As proof, the territory near the exit of the Narvis Tunnel unconditionally sent a message of surrender, and the military units and territories near the Narvis Plain also expressed their intention to join the Kingdom.
There aren’t any real battles other than the Naksil offensive, but my battle has just begun.
Thus, a total of 6,500 men, consisting of the 2080th Division, the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae (Thousand Soldiers Unit), and the 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division of the Herduke Kingdom Army’s 8th Legion, set out to pursue the defeated soldiers with the strong will of their commander.
Unless Magnolia Beming returns, it’s impossible for 30,000 people to move without a trace. The 2080th Division’s search unit has already changed its activities from searching for enemy traces to confirming them.
“There are no signs of sentries. And there seem to be no more wounded. Their movement speed seems to have increased slightly, but we’ll have to go further to know for sure. And they don’t seem to be guarding their rear.”
The scout’s report can be summarized in one simple sentence: ‘They are fleeing with all their might.’
I stroked my chin while examining the map. Their escape route seems to be becoming clear. Levidian took a bite of a cookie and said,
“If they continue like this, they’ll go up the Biston Valley.”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Hmm, it’s a terrain that unexpectedly reveals the pride of a warrior. We’re running away, but if attacked, we’ll turn around and fight back at any time. That’s the thought I see.”
Levidian was just unskilled at reading military maps, but the insight she naturally acquired while mastering swordsmanship was exceptional.
These days, I often talk with Aila because I need information based on facts, but in a situation like this, her insight shines even brighter.
“Risel, you’re thinking of attacking this place, right?”
“Correct. Actually, this is the most suitable terrain.”
“So, you’re saying you’re rejecting the surprise attack that Aila and I are proposing. I don’t think it’s because of ambition, but are you giving the enemy that much credit?”
“If I’m the hero of the Kingdom Army, he’s the valiant general of the Western Army. It’s only polite to treat him accordingly.”
Levidian and Aila, with their brilliant careers as infiltrators and assassins, argued that we should quickly capture him. However, I refused.
What I said could be a reason, but there’s a more important reason. He is Artshever’s friend, and he will be prepared for the methods Aila and Levidian mentioned.
I don’t know what kind of preparations they are, but Baius Ectoria will probably be thoroughly prepared for other things as well.
Just like us, they’ll be quite busy thinking of all sorts of tactics that can be utilized in the surrounding terrain, reading the methods I might use while considering all possible situations.
The near-magical tactics I’ve shown against the Western Army are powerful, but they lack the durability to be used repeatedly. And people are more impressed by things that explode and disappear than things that are solid.
There will be considerable misunderstandings about me among the Western Army, and their staff will rack their brains to counter my methods, which are unrivaled in cunning.
First, let’s have a moment of silence for the staff who will be pondering what kind of extraordinary tactics I will use against the defeated soldiers this time.
The tactic I’m actually using this time is……
“I still don’t understand. Is this the world of men? If the opponent wants to show off, you praise them to maintain your own dignity at a high level, and give them the opportunity to prepare a last resort that could even defeat you. Isn’t that too much showing off?”
“Well, isn’t that usually the case? The opponent also has a reputation. Since we have the leeway to consider that, even though they are the enemy, we should save face to some extent. That way, even if we win, it looks good.”
“In war, only victory is right. Risel, you always said that, and you’ve used all sorts of cunning tricks to win so far. But now you’re talking about being a gentleman, it feels a bit awkward. More than anything, being generous to an opponent you’ve almost defeated seems a bit foolish.”
“Don’t women do that?”
“At least they don’t make their opponents look good. They can only dress themselves and their allies.”
I thought for a moment about what women are thinking, according to countless philosophers (men) and scholars (men).
Usually, when you see an opponent who puts on a brave face even though they know they’ll lose, shouldn’t you win while acknowledging their spirit to some extent? If you can win overwhelmingly, at least praising their bravery is common courtesy in the world.
This time it’s quite different, but anyway, that’s how it seemed to her.
I scratched my head and snatched the cookie from her hand, putting it in my mouth. Ugh, it’s too sweet.
“Well, anyway, there’s a reason for everything.”
“You know that’s the cheapest excuse men use to refute their lovers who don’t understand why they do things even though they know it’s useless, right?”
I blinked for a moment. I wouldn’t have known if it were anyone else, but for her to say this! I don’t need to think to know who made her like this.
“Is it Aila?”
“She’s quite knowledgeable for her age.”
“I agree. I’m a bit envious. Anyway, it’s a little sad that you’re comparing me to other common men. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, I’m the Sword King’s lover.”
“Oh, is that so?”
She widened her eyes in surprise.
When did this woman learn to tease people? Aila, is that you?
I shook my head and sighed.
“Sigh, where did the Ibi go who used to blush just by getting close to her face? The old days were good. Sigh.”
“Risel, you’re just an ordinary man after all. You enthusiastically change your lover, and then you’re disappointed by the changed appearance. That’s how men are. They don’t appreciate how hard their lovers try to change for them.”
“Did you try hard? I thought you were trying to half-kill me.”
“Correction. I was trying to kill you completely.”
“You’ve learned a lot.”
“Of course. A good teacher raises a good student, and a good student makes a good teacher.”
She spoke calmly and then chuckled, and I, too, looked at her with a sullen expression before smiling back.
Yes, it’s different from before, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad now. Even though she blushes less often, doesn’t it also show a new kind of cuteness?
She sat down on the table casually, stroking her long, abundant hair and said,
“Come to think of it, it’s been over five years since we met.”
“That’s right. Time flies.”
“If I hadn’t met Risel, what would I be doing now? Who knows? Maybe I would have fought Aila and we both would have been destroyed.”
“If I hadn’t met Levidian, I would have been dead a long time ago. I would have been a corpse lying somewhere.”
I approached her. She tilted her head slightly and looked up at me.
She said,
“At first, you were just a cute student…… Hmm. Whose permission did you get to become such a man?”
“I became a man for Ibi. I wanted to be recognized by you.”
“By the woman? Or by the teacher?”
“I can’t really separate them, because it’s all you.”
She smiled brightly. I wanted to be recognized by Levidian, the person, not a woman or a swordsmanship teacher.
The phrase “who suits whom better” will never be used between us. I just think it happened because it was each other, because it was me and her.
What if we weren’t meant for each other?
Well, I didn’t think about what would happen next. I couldn’t think about it. Especially since this was my second life that I had regained, I didn’t even want to think about the possibility of another life.
In the unlikely event, in the one in a million chance that it happens, even though it shouldn’t…… If I were to live a third life, I would probably be very disappointed.
In this life, I have gained everything I could. Unlike my frustrating first life, this second life has given me the greatest happiness.
Since I reset, I haven’t lived a single day without being fulfilled. That’s why, looking back now, every single day is full.
More than anything, if I had another life, I wouldn’t be confident in receiving Levidian’s love.
She and I looked at each other. We exchanged emotions that cannot be expressed in words through our eyes, sharing expressions and smiles. And as I gradually moved closer to her……
“Sir General, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Creon is looking for you!”
A soldier’s voice could be heard from outside.
Ugh! Lucy, of all times……!
I smiled bitterly and scratched my head.
“Lucy is looking for me. Tsk.”
“Yes, you should go.”
Levidian also had a look of disappointment. She seemed a bit let down, which made me feel even more complicated. Lucy, you damn bastard. You’re always interfering with other people’s love lives, that’s why you don’t have a lover!
I cursed Lucy inwardly while tidying up the table. My curse, that he’ll get married later than Al, will surely reach the heavens.
It was then, as I was picking up the map and rolling it up, that Levidian tapped my arm.
“Risel, wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
Something soft touched my lips. It was warm, tasted like cookies…… and above all, the world that unfolded before my eyes was the best world.
Levidian’s face, filling my vision, conveyed embarrassment along with happiness.
A short and shallow, but the best kiss.
“What I couldn’t do earlier. Then, I’ll go ahead.”
She smiled bashfully with a slightly flushed face. I watched her back as she left with movements as light as a fairy…… and grinned from ear to ear.
I welcome this kind of change anytime.
“Huh? Risel, you look happy for some reason. Are you enjoying this chase that much?”
“Hmm, uh-huh. I can finally compete with Artshever. Even if he doesn’t show up this time. So, what’s up?”
“Ah, right. What you’ve been waiting for is complete. We just need to stabilize it. The finished product will be ready in three days, but I wanted to show you the prototype.”
“Oh, really?”
Lucy had somehow become an advisor to the Iperfect mages I had hired.
They were all middle-aged and experienced, but seeing them bowing their heads to Lucy without hesitation to learn from him, I thought, “As expected, a mage is a mage.”
Anyway, unlike his usual behavior, Lucy is a skilled individual in the world of mages. I sometimes forget, but he’s a powerhouse who later becomes one of the Eight Strongest on the continent.
Come to think of it, it was about time it was completed.
Thanks to his help, the mass production of Iperfect’s basic imbuement magic was completed faster than expected. According to those mages, the battlefield is the best product testing ground, so they followed along.
Lucy and I headed to an open space within the encampment. There, an officer of the 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division was in the process of putting on his armor.
“Ah, Sir General! Salute!”
“Hmm. Continue what you were doing. But, Lucy, I don’t see much difference?”
“Yeah. I engraved the Magic Inscription (魔法呪刻) on the inside. Basic imbuement magic isn’t applied during the creation process, but after it’s made. Of course, the effect is greater if it’s used during creation, but this should be fine.”
“What effect did you add?”
“Well, I designed the inscription with a focus on weight reduction. And then I increased the strength of the material, and at the same time, adjusted the hardness because it breaks easily since it’s stronger.”
Lucy’s explanation was easy to understand even for a warrior like me. In other words, he strengthened the three main principles of armor.
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