Chapter 169: I had a pleasant time after a long while (3)
Cynical people might say it’s because I’m out of ideas, and to be honest, that thought makes me feel a little guilty.
No plan is the best plan. We decided on this approach from the moment we left Dakard Barony. Levidian never quite understood it though.
Anyway, by now, Baius might have realized I was teasing him.
He’s not a passive person, and he’ll be furious that I made fun of him.
I looked at the three commanders and said,
“Alright, let’s go over the operation plan. There shouldn’t be any major problems if you each carry out the tasks I assigned. Everyone, look at the map.”
For the record, I may not be good at making people angry, but I am good at handling angry people. Maybe it’s thanks to having a good lover.
2:15 PM.
“Did you feel lighter! Huh! After sitting heavy, does it feel refreshing and like you could fly! But if anyone dares to lift their butt off the saddle, I’ll trample you with my horse’s hooves!”
Hwisler Mezin, the First Sword, swung his cavalry spear as he moved in front of the 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division, which was in a charge formation. Behind him, the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae and the 2080th Division were mixed together.
It’s a straightforward charge formation, no matter who looks at it. The cavalry charges, and the infantry follows. With limited troops and numbers, the formation becomes simple.
Hwisler Mezin shouted to his subordinates,
“Did you eat well!”
“Yes!”
“Are you ready to exercise!”
“Yes!”
Mezin, who had turned his horse to face forward, stopped. His cavalry spear pointed upwards and then forward.
“Let’s have a delicious dinner too―! Charge!”
The 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division, in a central breakthrough formation, charged towards the top of the valley, their horses’ hooves pounding the ground. It was the typical speed of medium-heavy cavalry.
And from the top of the valley, a classic countermeasure began to fly.
“Prepare to fire―! Spearmen forward-!”
At the same time, seeing the spears being aimed forward in sequence, one might even have the illusion that they’re about to launch the spears themselves. If that were the case, it would be a new weapon that would go down in the history of warfare.
However, instead of pulling out new weapons, the Western Army remnants launched their old weapons into the air.
“Fire―!”
At the same time, the charging 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division cleanly split in two.
They instantly increased their charge speed.
Thanks to the overall weight reduction, the Medium-Heavy Cavalry of the 2627th Division, capable of high-speed maneuvers that other Medium-Heavy Cavalry could only dream of, split into two and aimed for the flanks of the infantry. The arrows landed a moment later where they had been. Thud!
One truth passed down from ancient times. Spearmen are extremely vulnerable to attacks from any direction other than the front.
While spearmen can bring down even cavalry from the front, if you attack their tightly packed formation, prepared for cavalry, from the side, they crumble as easily as straw dolls.
With a high-speed movement that other Medium-Heavy Cavalry would call foul play, the 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry dug into the flanks of the Western Army remnants.
As soon as I saw the spears up above wavering in confusion, I gave the order.
“Prepare to advance!”
“Yes! Prepare to advance!”
The 2080th Division and the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae prepared to advance. I stood in their center, and I could feel the soldiers glancing at me.
When will we advance? When will we charge? I want to run quickly. I want to break through the enemy wavering in front!
Finally, the anticipated movement came from the enemy.
“Charge―!”
“Commence charge!”
With the shout, I ran forward, and the soldiers also charged forward in unison. I smiled at the sound of heavy footsteps coming from behind as I ran towards the enemy lines.
At that moment, the 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division appeared, trampling the remnants.
“Division, spread left and right! 1024th, prepare to fire!”
“Spread left and right!”
“Commence fire!”
The movement of the 2080th Division changed dramatically. They retreated to the left and right with me at the center, and at the same time, the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae gathered around me.
Thus, two paths were created between the three divided infantry groups, and the 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry, having broken through the enemy, charged along those two paths in a straight line.
“Commence fire!”
“You bastards! Turn them!”
With First Sword Martin’s voice, the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae began to mercilessly crank the automatic heavy crossbows.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The sound of the bowstrings snapping was deafening. Although the firing rate is 3 shots per minute, one shot every 20 seconds, due to the individual time differences, 40 red heavy crossbow bolts per second, 2,400 per minute, cut through the daylight sky like a meteor shower.
The enemy formation wavered again at the long-range barrage that came flying towards them. However, they were generally showing unified movements.
I could see the spears, which had been pointing towards the sky, being shifted sideways to create a path, centered around a specific point.
I raised my sword and pointed at that spot.
“Concentrated fire―!”
“The fun of honeycomb-making begins! Uhahahaha―!”
With a strange order, the Red Comet Unit poured a red river into the sky. The firing density was so high that I worried if the arrows might collide with each other in the air.
The wavering red river began to descend on the enemy formation. A high-density barrage, which even Levidian would struggle to block, poured down on the Western Army remnants.
“Whoa! Who can withstand that?”
“They’ll die before they even see our faces. Goodbye, Babius.”
“It’s Baius, Al-ssi.”
“Whatever you say.”
The high-density barrage, incongruous with the leisurely banter of Lucy, Al, and Aila, pounded the area for about a minute. A tremendous amount of firepower was concentrated, and the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae began to reload.
Levidian, who had been covering her ears because of her sensitive hearing, finally looked relieved.
“Phew. That was a tremendous sound. But will anyone survive behind that? Even the Western Army who retreated to the sides can’t seem to approach.”
“Well, in my opinion, Baius Extoria would have been fully prepared for a night raid.”
“I agree. But then what?”
“What kind of preparations did he make?”
Levidian gave me a reproachful look as if to ask if this was the time for riddles, but then she frowned and fell into thought. Perhaps she realized that I was different from Lucy, who constantly plays pranks.
She looked suspicious.
“Could it be?”
“Yes. That’s it. Night is the time of shadows.”
“Then Risel is……”
“Through the arrows, I told Baius Extoria. There’s no use hiding. It’s time to show yourself.”
My words must have been heard by all my friends around me. They all looked at me and Levidian, then suddenly turned their heads at the scream.
“Wh-what is that―!”
As if in response to the scream of a male soldier, dozens of writhing shadow tentacles sprang up from the center of the enemy formation.
I smiled triumphantly.
“Silvan Harcian. I believed that Baius Extoria, in his desperate situation, would ask for help. From the closest ally.”
The shadow emerged from between the Western Army infantry, where a path had been cleared. The pitch-black darkness made it impossible to see what was inside.
Shadow Manipulation. Advanced sorcery that gives substance to shadows and gives them form. The shadow thus created defies the laws of the world and manifests as a physical entity.
And through the barrier of shadows rising from the ground, a group of heavily armored cavalry charged out.
I immediately took the planned steps.
“Joey, forward! Namias, support him!”
“Yes, Hyung-nim!”
“Oh God of Light! Grant the power of light to the knight who follows your will!”
With Namias’ clear cry, a white barrier of light enveloped Joey’s body. At the same time, the Divine Engraving on the greatsword on Joey’s back shone brightly.
Joey, who exuded an overwhelming presence just by standing still, further emphasized his existence. His thick arms rippled as he drew the greatsword from his back.
Joey, holding the greatsword in one hand, walked forward. A group of cavalry charged towards him, but it was clear to anyone that Joey alone was overwhelming.
My sworn brother raised his sword high. It was as if a 5-meter pillar had suddenly appeared. Everyone held their breath, and even my heart trembled at the overwhelming sight.
“My name is Jounin Yuse! Shrine Knight of Lynin!”
His booming voice echoed loudly. Joey started to run forward. Thumping footsteps. A giant figure runs with a monstrous weapon.
The holiness of a Shrine Knight was not visible, but I understand why Lynin chose him as a Shrine Knight. Joey, desirably enough, is like a light that attracts everyone’s attention just by standing there. There would be no one more suitable than Joey to spread the overwhelming power of God to the world.
“Every life is precious! I will not allow those born under the light to be carelessly sent into darkness!”
The cavalry charged, thrusting their spears forward as if to trample Joey. However, Joey, with an unshakeable momentum like a mountain, tilted his sword and swung it behind him.
I knew what he was going to do.
Joey shouted,
“Don’t die―!”
The siege weapon-like greatsword struck the charging horse with a backhand full swing.
Hey, your words and actions are too different.
The horse, struck by Joey’s blow, flew in the opposite direction without even screaming. It wasn’t cut because he hit it from the side, but its neck was completely twisted.
The horse, flung to the side, crashed into another horse trying to go around Joey. A chain reaction began, and the following riders had to stop their horses or fall.
Joey swung his sword in the opposite direction. Although it seems slow because of the sword’s size, to Joey, that sword is no different from the swords I or Levidian wield.
A blow containing terrifying speed and destructive power struck the other side this time.
The horse’s chest was crushed by the force of the charge and the greatsword flying towards it head-on.
The horse, foaming at the mouth and turned into a lump of meat, was pushed back and tumbled with the following cavalry.
With just two swings of his sword, Joey had stopped the advance of twenty cavalry.
And behind him, more than a hundred cavalry began to pour out through the shadows. Joey gripped his greatsword firmly and ran forward.
“으아―!”
Joey’s roar was not drowned out by the sound of the cavalry charge. I decided to send reinforcements to my powerful and proud sworn brother.
“2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division! Charge―!”
“Yes, General-nim!”
The Medium-Heavy Cavalry, who had retreated and then turned around while Joey bought time, began to charge again. At the same time, I charged after Joey.
“Let’s go!”
“Ooh! I can’t lose! Lucy of the Staff is going!”
“Don’t come.”
“Ahahaha! Let’s all be serious! Yes?”
The 2627th Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division charged from both sides of the 1024th Cheonbyeongdae, and in the center, I and my companions advanced with Joey at the forefront.
The cavalry poured out and split into two in front of Joey, clashing with the unprecedented Medium-Heavy Cavalry Division that had achieved a groundbreaking weight reduction.
The sound of a peddler’s cart crashing into a hardware store could be heard. All sorts of sounds of clashing, breaking, and shattering echoed from all directions.
Where are you, Baius Extoria!
My enemy, who should be with Silvan Harcian! Can’t you show yourself!
Joey’s back moved closer and closer towards the increasingly dense shadows. The densely formed shadows swayed in front of Joey, extending their tentacles as if to engulf him.
Oh my God! Joey is in danger!
“Joey―!”
“I’m alright! The God of Light grants me his protection, so darkness cannot touch me! Ru Ikellainin!”
The Prayer Construction Method that Shrine Knights can use?!
Oh my God! Hey, when did you convert?!
Joey’s loud cry was definitely the voice of constructing a Holy Spell.
The voice of the apostle who follows God’s will summoned holiness to the earth.
The 2.5-meter tall figure began to shine.
The way to counter Shadow Manipulation is surprisingly simple. Shadows are darkness, and only light can tilt darkness.
Joey, shining brightly, charged into the shadows!
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