Chapter 150: Checkmate, you bastard! (5)
Even from 100 meters away, I can tell. It’s because that gaze is the one I wanted to see the least.
The owner of those eyes, filled with scorn and disdain, shouted in a triumphant voice. It sounds like a voice amplified by magic.
“Do you think you’re some legendary hero?! Playing hero is costing you your life!”
I chuckled. There were two mages beside him. He must be saying this because he trusts them.
“And is some young master being protected in the middle of a large army like a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes because he’s so realistic?”
My voice gently echoed through the sky. Thanks to the Holy Spell, my amplified voice seemed to make him even angrier.
“Nonsense! You, who were only allowed a mere 5,000 soldiers! Even if you are the second son of the Duke, you and I are of different classes!”
“You still haven’t learned your lesson. Or were you beaten up the wrong way?”
“What?”
“The reason I came here with 5,000 soldiers is because I have the ability to do so. Because I was confident that I could achieve maximum efficiency with minimal labor! But what are you?! You kidnapped the city’s ruling class and lowered morale, and as soon as the city’s hardship passed, you slowly crawled in. You’re even lacking in ability and relying on numbers, aren’t you?!”
Everyone here, except my friends, is a soldier. Everyone will instinctively know whose words are militarily correct.
The murmuring of the soldiers seemed to hurt Pilledvan’s pride.
“Narvilt is different from poor Orknesia! The amount of resources we can consume is different!”
“Does that mean you treat soldiers as consumables?!”
Pilledvan shut his mouth. And so did the soldiers. What a fool.
His habit of digging his own grave hasn’t changed since the old days.
It’s harsh, but in the battlefield, an individual soldier is virtually a consumable. However, if you say that in front of them, even those who know will get angry.
I raised my sword and pointed it at him.
“The reason I appeared here is to cherish my soldiers! As you said, it may be a small number, but the reason I stepped forward is to reduce their sacrifices!”
I spoke with sincerity.
The reason I rushed in with such a reckless special operation is also to minimize casualties. It’s the worst thing a commander can do, isn’t it?
“War is inevitable! Then I will actively jump into it! Only then can we minimize the casualties! To reduce the number of people who die unjustly and the number of people who grieve over the dead, all I have to offer is my body and this one life!”
“Can you wage war with such sentimentalism?!”
“War is something that humans wage―!”
My voice struck him like lightning. I forged a thunder from the voice drawn from my heart and spat it out.
“Animals don’t wage war! Only humans do! Those with hot blood flowing through them point their weapons at each other! A human life is worth no more than the ink on the casualty list! It’s sad, miserable, and ruthlessly cruel! How can you wage war without accepting that?!”
I swung my sword. I see the illusion of the gathered light scattering like dust.
I firmly gripped the sword that I had swung diagonally.
“A war waged by humans can be stopped by humans, and can be controlled by humans! Are you going to say it’s impossible?! Even though I’m standing right in front of you? Even though I can point my sword at your neck? Answer me! Pilledvan!”
“Th-That’s……!”
“Answer me!”
Standing here right now, I have no shame. Although there may have been casualties, I am confident that I have minimized the damage.
“It seems like there’s no point in listening anymore. Seize him! Whoever brings me the enemy commander’s head will receive ten helmets filled with gold coins!”
I grinned broadly.
Pilledvan, you really haven’t changed at all. You don’t know what you need to realize, what you’re lacking.
There’s no need to teach you that, is there?
“I’m coming! To where you are!”
I jumped off my horse. At the same time, my friends also dismounted. The path between him and me was filled with those blinded by gold or forced to follow orders.
No, we were already surrounded. Haha.
The foolish second son of the Duke shouted confidently.
“Come! To where I am!”
I scoffed at his shout and called the High Priest of Lynin.
“Namias!”
She withdrew the Holy Spell, and the white light disappeared in an instant. Then the soldiers, unable to adjust to the suddenly vanished light, briefly fumbled.
“Ugh?!”
“Ugh! I can’t see!”
However, I, who had not suffered any damage because it was a light source, immediately rushed towards the soldiers.
Now, it’s time to show the results of my winter training!
Pakang! Pow!
“Ack!”
“Ugh!”
I punched one in the face with my left hand and kicked another, knocking them both down at once. Then, I thrust my sword in and swung it left and right, knocking down two more.
From here, the soldiers’ attacks began.
The soldiers coming from the front, sides, and back tried to unleash their skills to bring me down.
However, they couldn’t stop Levidian.
“Chaaaat―!”
Two or three people were hit with a single swing of her sword. Whenever her legs drew an elegant curve, someone’s bones were sure to break. Even if they were only hit by the side of her sword, they would collapse, clutching their broken ribs.
Al, Joey, Aila, and Kun took on the role of protecting Lucy and Namias in the center, guarding all sides. They wouldn’t move and would help Lucy interfere with magic.
The only ones moving forward were Levidian and I.
I uppercutted a spear thrusting towards me. As the faltering spear shaft pointed upwards, I immediately went in and delivered a left straight to the spear’s owner.
Kwak!
My left hand’s gauntlet conveyed the feeling of crushing teeth. As a bonus, the soldier, bleeding from his nose, collapsed. Before he could fall, soldiers with daggers rushed in from left and right.
Are they trying to get close and grapple? However, that’s the tactic I’ve used on Levidian too many times. The countermeasures are practically engraved in my bones!
I charged at the man rushing from the right with my shoulder. I slammed my shoulder guard into his chest, and the soldier let out a suffocating scream. Then, I raised my left foot and kicked the soldier rushing from the other side in the jaw.
Almost simultaneously with the collapse of the first soldier who held the spear, the two other soldiers also fell. And I took a step forward, and this time, five soldiers thrust their spears simultaneously.
Simultaneously? No. There’s a time difference.
The spear from the right diagonal. It’s honestly aiming for my side. I’ll just twist my waist slightly to avoid it. The spear on the far left is still a long way off. Then let’s avoid the spear aiming for my neck from the front first. Move my head.
The right spear coming to sweep my legs, I’ll lightly step on it with my left foot, and the one from the left diagonal aiming for my heart, I’ll knock it away with my sword. The spear on the far left. You’re really slow, aren’t you? What are you trying to catch with that? Besides, aiming for the thigh is so boring. Alright, good. Come on, hurry up! I’m bored to death!
Kaaak!
I grabbed the spear coming from the left as if lifting it up. The spear aiming for my thigh was forced to change its trajectory because of that, and my hand instantly twisted the spear shaft upwards.
“Uh-huh?!”
He must be a pretty clueless soldier.
He let go of the spear, and in the meantime, the three who had missed tried to thrust their spears again.
This time, I let go of my left hand and kicked the spear shaft I was stepping on. The flexible spear shaft bent and struck the chests of the three who were thrusting their spears.
A variety of screams erupted. But the power wasn’t that remarkable. However, the spear I had thrown rolled back along their spear shafts, and I forcefully stepped on those shafts.
Tadadak!
With a splendid sound, the spear shafts fell to the ground, and the spear shaft I had just let go of was falling in front of me. I stretched out my left hand, grabbed the spear, and immediately thrust it three times.
“Keuk!”
“Ack!”
“Ugh!”
Three screams in one breath. I stabbed lightly, so they didn’t die, but they’ll be in pain for a while. By swinging the spear shaft again and hitting their legs, I was able to take three more steps forward.
“Hiyaap!”
Did they think it was a surprise attack?
I stepped on the shoulder of a soldier from the right, and a female soldier rushed at me with a sword. It’s difficult to change direction in mid-air unless you’re a mage. Fool.
I tucked the spear shaft under my arm and adjusted the angle almost reflexively. And when I struck, a counter landed squarely on the side of the face of the rather cute-looking female soldier.
“Kyaak!”
I felt a little sorry seeing her fall, spitting out teeth. But this is war, after all. There’s no reason or time to show mercy.
“Haaa……!”
I took a deep breath and thrust the spear forward repeatedly. The soldiers dodged, easily creating space. I quickly moved into that space and spun my whole body with the spear shaft tucked under my arm.
Screams rang out. Soldiers collapsing and blood splattering.
Once again, I could feel how much stronger I had become. With every punch, every kick, every spear swing, soldiers were falling down.
The endless line in front of me was depressing, but with Levidian by my side, there was no time for sentimentality. She occasionally leaned against my back to let me know she was safe, and I gained courage.
Forward. Forward. Forward.
In a melee, even a unit that is perfectly aligned in a ceremony, down to the millimeter, will have its individuals’ abilities determine life and death on the battlefield. This place was already a fierce and desperate melee.
An individual who has reached the limit of their abilities is dancing, and one who holds an unbreakable resolve is advancing, radiating their will with their entire body.
Forward. Forward. Forward.
Falling leaves like autumn wind is not just a figure of speech. My body is light as if dealing with a haystack, and they are slow as if watching caterpillars.
I do what I can.
Strike, cut, and sweep.
I do what I want.
Right foot forward. Pull the left foot to where the right foot was. Don’t forget to push your body forward. My body is steadily advancing.
I do what I have to do.
I strike with the back of my hand, stab with the sword, headbutt, but don’t kill. It’s not that I admire the knights of old tales who vowed not to kill. It’s because I don’t even have time to kill.
Forward. Forward. Forward.
“으랴―!”
A hot roar rises from my chest.
Don’t get in my way!
The path of one who has decided to become the master of war!
Don’t block me!
The one who wields the weapon of time!
I am now in control, just as I want!
Just twice.
Just two sword strikes were enough to deflect Pilledvan’s spear.
It’s ridiculous that I once fought this guy on equal footing. Even if Artshever helped him, at least back then he had some form.
“Ah, uh……! Th-This can’t be……!”
Along the nearly 100-meter path I had passed, numerous soldiers were groaning or unconscious, unable to control their bodies.
It was possible thanks to Levidian, but I didn’t suffer any injuries other than scratches.
Pilledvan, who had fallen on his butt, was crawling backwards, as if he didn’t even know he was a bipedal animal.
Neither the 32,000 troops, nor the five mages, nor the numerous veterans and advisors could help this guy now.
A guy who is thoughtless enough to call his soldiers consumables in front of them can’t train himself. The punishment for not honing the only weapon that no one can take away always comes at the most crucial moment.
“Ah, ah……! Don’t come closer!”
I approach.
On either side of me, the mages Levidian had defeated were groaning, but even that couldn’t distract me. Even if Lucy is strong, the five of them couldn’t stop the interference of one person, so this is also karma.
In the end, Pilledvan seemed to have lost all strength in his body and stopped with a blank expression. My steps were slow, but I was able to reach him in the end.
“Ah……! Ah!”
The sword, dripping with crimson blood, touched his neck.
I gave a scornful smile.
“Checkmate, you bastard.”
“Ugh, ha……!”
Pilledvan, his face pale as a sheet, finally lowered his head with a look of despair.
Today, at 10:31 PM.
Pilledvan Bre Salain, the second son of the Duke of Narvilt, became a prisoner of the Eastern Army.
Re.Extra: Swords Pointed at Each Other
Although it’s known as the ‘Defense of Atzuma,’ it was actually a special operation in which Arisein Pen Herduke used a small elite force to break through the center and capture the battle commander, Pilledvan Bre Salain. After the successful operation, the Western Army, having lost its battle commander, completely withdrew from the vicinity of Atzuma.
The Western Army, according to the Imperial War Law, requested an exchange of prisoners and ransom, but the Eastern Army refused the request for prisoner transfer and exchange.
In September of the same year.
The Eastern Army’s 3074th Legion, 2206th Division, and 2020th Division were stationed near Atzuma.
The commander of the 3074th Legion took over the duties of Arisein Pen Herduke in the capital, and Arisein returned to Baekslan with the Five Thousand Elite Troops, whose numbers had dwindled to 4,900.
Arisein Pen Herduke, who made possible the occupation and securing of strategic points through unimaginable defensive battles and counterattacks with a small number of troops, began to be talked about as a hero of the Eastern Army.
In October, the harvest season ended safely, and Orknesia, having occupied the three regions of Atzuma, Oksen, and Impelord, amassed a vast amount of military provisions.
By merging these three regions, Orknesia’s chances of victory increased dramatically. In addition, a significant number of lords within the neighboring non-Orknesia territories voluntarily surrendered and pledged their allegiance, allowing many lands to be incorporated into the territory.
The following January.
Duke Ecaledon Uck Herduke of Orknesia declares a new national system based on the lands merged with Orknesia.
The world watched with bated breath as he completely turned his back on the Empire. And when Ecaledon Uck Herduke ascended the throne as a king, not an emperor, numerous speculations arose about the meaning behind it.
The new Kingdom of Herduke was founded.
His eldest son, Donthernon Herduke, was chosen as the crown prince, and his second son, Arisein Pen Herduke, was granted the title of Duke.
At his strong request, he was appointed Duke of the Gray Forest, the land whose inhabitants call ‘Grenoian.’ It is unknown why he chose that land as his territory.
It was the birth of Duke Arisein Uck Herduke of Grenoian.
Thus, the story that would heat up the winter swept across the continent, and as the cold air, which hadn’t played much of a role, retreated, spring came alive.
People once again focused on the movements of the Kingdom of Herduke and the Anopuri Empire.
The aura of war that hovered over the two nations was only now beginning to take proper shape.
The two swords are still pointed at each other.
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