How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 102】

 

Fundamentally, when large numbers of troops clash, defense is easier than offense.

 

From the attacking side’s perspective, they have to break through the enemy’s defensive lines and perimeter forces, so they’re bound to suffer heavy casualties when the attack begins.

 

But that only applies to full-scale wars where massive forces collide head-on.

 

In surprise attacks, especially in densely forested and rugged mountain terrain like the Blood-Soaked Land of Kuberin, the attacking side has the advantage.

 

There are many places to hide and take cover, making it easy to neutralize enemy vigilance and creating an environment favorable for surprise attacks.

 

That’s why not only the barbarians but also Decaron’s army operates elite soldiers to launch surprise attacks on the barbarians.

 

And such offensive operations are usually called [hunts].

 

So it was common to tell soldiers heading out on operations to have a [pleasant hunt].

 

Perhaps because of this, the scout members gathering their equipment and packing their gear looked more cheerful than usual.

 

“Don’t think about doing anything foolish, just do what you’re told. Then nothing will happen to you. Got it?”

 

“Yes!”

 

As the scout leader, Begman gave Adrian various pieces of advice as he was being deployed to his first real combat, paying him special attention.

 

“Heh.”

 

Carlisle couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

“Are you reminiscing about the old days?”

 

Kudo asked suddenly, as if he had read Carlisle’s mind.

 

“It’s hardly the old days when it was just a few months ago. About three months, I think.”

 

“That’s true, but still.”

 

“Everyone goes through that phase.”

 

“Heh heh!”

 

Kudo giggled at Carlisle’s response.

 

“Why are you laughing?”

 

“Anyone watching would think you’re someone with a long military career. Heh heh.”

 

“…”

 

“Still, you have served longer than that guy, so it’s not entirely wrong. Haha.”

 

“But aren’t the barbarian engineers strong too?”

 

“They’re much stronger than our engineers.”

 

Kudo answered Carlisle’s question.

 

“Barbarians learn basic combat skills regardless of whether they’re engineers or warriors, so it won’t be easy.”

 

Barbarians worship strength and have a culture that considers combat sacred, so even those who aren’t warrior class are stronger than most continentals.

 

So even the engineers who mine magic stones, who aren’t warrior class, would possess considerable combat ability.

 

“Even so, is it okay for us to go on an offensive operation by ourselves?”

 

“What’s there to worry about? We have a mage with us.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Only then did Carlisle remember Lieutenant Melvin’s existence and understand why the offensive operation had been approved.

 

No matter how strong the barbarian engineers were, a single attack magic from a mage could sweep them all away.

 

‘Good thing the Grand Duke kept his promise.’

 

Carlisle thought this as he gathered the supplies needed for the operation and stuffed them into his pack.

 

* * *

 

The scout team that left the fortress moved quickly toward the operation zone.

 

“It’s been a while since we had an offensive operation, but there’s so little tension.”

 

Wilson grinned as he voiced his complaint that wasn’t really a complaint.

 

If it were any other scout team, even when going on operations, they would move slowly and cautiously with the mindset of testing even a stone bridge before crossing it.

 

Since they might encounter enemies or be ambushed themselves, they had no choice but to approach operations as if walking on thin ice.

 

However, in the case of the 3rd Company’s scout team, they had excellent detection methods (?) in Carlisle and Marder, making it possible to move boldly and quickly to the operation zone.

 

With Marder providing aerial reconnaissance through Hugin and Carlisle giving advance warning of surrounding threats through Grimgand’s killing intent detection, the operation’s difficulty level dropped significantly.

 

Of course, that was only the case for those who knew Carlisle and Marder’s abilities.

 

The new recruit Adrian and the newly commissioned Lieutenant Melvin were clearly very tense.

 

Trembling!

 

Adrian was scared out of his wits, clutching his sword as if it were his mother while constantly rolling his eyes around.

 

Flinch!

 

Lieutenant Melvin, being an officer, wasn’t quite that bad, but it was obvious that his nerves were on edge as he reacted to even the smallest sounds.

 

“There’s no need to be that scared…”

 

“Leave them be.”

 

Begman cut off Wilson’s words and whispered in his ear.

 

“Even if you tell them, they’ll just get more flustered. Just pretend you don’t know and let them stay tense. They’re a new recruit and a newly commissioned officer – it would be troublesome if they relaxed already.”

 

“Yes, Captain.”

 

Wilson understood Begman’s meaning and nodded.

 

Being able to move this quickly outside the fortress was entirely thanks to Carlisle and Marder, so it would be problematic if this became a habit.

 

If they moved without tension when Carlisle and Marder weren’t there, wouldn’t they be perfect targets for barbarian ambushes?

 

When they arrived about 100 meters from the operation zone.

 

“Any unusual activity?”

 

“None.”

 

“Nothing.”

 

Carlisle and Marder answered Begman’s question.

 

There was nothing particularly unusual in Marder’s aerial reconnaissance, and Grimgand wasn’t vibrating especially, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there were no danger factors.

 

“Then…”

 

Begman’s gaze swept over the scout members.

 

“Kudo, Marder, Carlisle. You three follow me. Let’s deal with the sentries first.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Begman took Kudo, Marder, and Carlisle to eliminate the barbarian sentries.

 

The process went very smoothly, and it was all because of Carlisle.

 

Since Carlisle could detect surrounding enemies through Grimgand, he was able to easily locate the Barbarian Warriors hiding in various places.

 

‘There, there, and there.’

 

‘Confirmed.’

 

When Carlisle sent hand signals, Begman, Kudo, and Marder scattered simultaneously and approached the hiding Barbarian Warriors from behind.

 

Stab, stab!

 

“…”

 

The Barbarian Warriors whose positions were revealed by Carlisle died without even letting out a single scream.

 

It was a death that perfectly fit the phrase “without anyone knowing.”

 

Thanks to this, a hole was punched in the vigilance of the barbarians who were focused on mining work, and Begman led the scout team through that route.

 

‘Move quietly.’

 

‘Confirmed.’

 

At Begman’s hand signals, the scout members approached the barbarians’ camp with the most stealthy and quiet movements possible.

 

The place they arrived at was a low hill from which they could clearly see the barbarians focused on mining work.

 

Clang, clang!

 

“Dig faster! You lazy bastards!”

 

“Damn it! I’d rather fight! I can’t stand mining magic stones!”

 

The barbarian engineers were so focused on their work that they had no idea enemies had approached.

 

Usually in terrain like this, it was common to deploy multiple archers to sweep away enemies, and the scout team’s combat doctrine was the same.

 

Scout members carried not only weapons for close combat but also short bows and arrows, precisely for situations like this.

 

However, instead of ordering them to draw their bows, Begman turned to Lieutenant Melvin.

 

“Lieutenant Melvin.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“Shh.”

 

Begman cautioned Lieutenant Melvin.

 

“Lower your voice. If we’re discovered, we’ll lose the advantage of surprise.”

 

“S-sorry.”

 

“As you can see, our scout unit has currently occupied tactically advantageous terrain.”

 

“Ah, yes…”

 

“If Lieutenant Melvin launches a surprise attack on them with magic from here, we should be able to inflict tremendous damage.”

 

“I-I see.”

 

Lieutenant Melvin seemed quite nervous, breaking out in a cold sweat.

 

“Please, Lieutenant.”

 

“Ah, understood.”

 

Lieutenant Melvin gripped his magic staff.

 

That staff was a standard issue staff given to mages belonging to the Decaron Army, equipped with a crystal orb that amplified magical power.

 

It was known to be extremely durable so it could be used as a weapon in case close combat broke out.

 

“Then… huh?”

 

Thud!

 

Lieutenant Melvin stumbled and fell as he walked forward, tripping over a rock.

 

“S-sorry. I didn’t see the rock in front of me.”

 

“…”

 

“Ugh.”

 

Melvin rubbed his knee and started walking again.

 

* * *

 

‘Ohhh!’

 

‘It’s magic, magic!’

 

The eyes of the scout members watching Lieutenant Melvin were filled with anticipation.

 

There was no need to shoot arrows or engage in close combat.

 

They could simply annihilate the enemies with one shot of mass-destructive magic, then clean up the remaining stragglers, and this operation would end very successfully.

 

“Ahem. Ahem.”

 

Lieutenant Melvin cleared his throat very quietly, then gripped his staff and began chanting a spell.

 

“P-primordial flames, red breath dwelling in the heart of chaos… essence. Cutting through darkness, burning the wind… the wind…”

 

Lieutenant Melvin’s voice trembled as he chanted the spell, showing how nervous he was.

 

Carlisle, who had been watching silently, suddenly blurted out a comment.

 

“Isn’t he going to fail? He looks anxious. We should stop him now. If he makes a mistake, we’ll all die.”

 

“Shh.”

 

Begman cautioned Carlisle.

 

“Don’t say such things. It brings bad luck.”

 

“What bad luck? This isn’t fortune telling.”

 

“Hey.”

 

Begman glared at him.

 

“He’s already nervous since it’s his first real combat, and if you say things like that from the side, he won’t be able to perform.”

 

“Tch.”

 

Carlisle pouted.

 

“No matter how I look at it, it seems risky…”

 

For Carlisle, this was also his first time seeing real magic in action, but no matter how he looked at it, it seemed so risky that it was bound to fail.

 

However, contrary to Carlisle’s thoughts, Lieutenant Melvin succeeded in creating a fairly large fireball.

 

Whoosh!

 

A bright red fireball about the size of a ball used in games blazed with intense heat.

 

“Ooh.”

 

“Is that the fireball magic?”

 

“I heard exploding fireball is more powerful.”

 

The scout members whispered quietly, worried the barbarians might hear them, as they shared their opinions.

 

“Oh, he succeeded.”

 

“See?”

 

Begman scolded Carlisle.

 

“Don’t say unlucky things for no reason, just watch.”

 

“Yes, well. Sure.”

 

Carlisle replied indifferently, but then Melvin made a strange sound as if something had gone wrong.

 

“Huh? Huhhh?”

 

Whoooooooooosh…!!!

 

The fireball’s flames began burning more fiercely, and its size started growing even larger.

 

“Lieutenant Melvin! Throw it quickly!”

 

Begman shouted in a whispered voice.

 

“T-that’s! Ugh! The fireball won’t be controlled… Argh!”

 

“…!”

 

Begman’s face froze like frost.

 

Even Begman, who was ignorant about magic, could instinctively sense that something had gone wrong with Lieutenant Melvin’s magic.

 

“I-if this continues… it will explode… Arghhhh!”

 

“Just throw it already!”

 

“I-I can’t throw it…!”

 

“Damn it!”

 

Finally, an urgent cry burst from Begman’s mouth.

 

And in a situation like this, there was only one decision Begman could make.

 

“Everyone ruuuuuuun!”

 

The very moment Begman let out a scream-like shout.

 

Boooooooom!

 

Melvin’s fireball exploded, and bright red flames centered on Melvin devoured the surrounding area.

 

Whoooooooooosh!

 

Carlisle, who had thrown himself away first, was able to avoid the approaching flames by hiding behind a large rock.

 

“Ah, shit.”

 

An angry grumble flowed from Carlisle’s mouth.

 

“That guy was a trash-tier mage among trash-tier mages. Ha.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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