How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives - Chapter 55
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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 55】
Tremble tremble tremble…
Grimgand vibrated so violently that Carlisle’s waist and thighs were shaking.
‘This is not normal.’
Grimgand had never vibrated this intensely before.
Even during the night battle three days ago, it hadn’t vibrated this violently…
‘I need to move first.’
Carlisle ran toward the nearest work site.
In times like this, the role of Scout Members like Carlisle was to buy time for the retreating Allied Forces.
Since Scout Members were elite troops, they had the duty to fight at the rear and help the Allied Forces retreat safely.
Especially in a unit like Bowden Fortress where most of the forces consisted of Engineers, a non-combat branch, the role of Scout Members was even more crucial.
“All troops, grab only your weapons and move!”
“Yes!”
“Stay calm! Maintain formation! If you run off trying to save yourself, you’ll be the first to die!”
The Engineers were retreating according to Helen’s orders, abandoning all their carts and tools.
Whiiiiiing, boom!
Meanwhile, another red signal flare exploded from the distant location where the first signal flare had gone off.
‘What on earth is happening?’
Carlisle looked toward the work site while guarding the surroundings at the rear of the retreating Engineers.
Two consecutive red signal flares meant 【Do not come for support no matter what】.
In other words, it meant there was no hope, so don’t think about coming to rescue them and just abandon them.
Since they would all be annihilated anyway, coming to rescue them would only result in a meaningless death…
‘Damn it.’
Carlisle forcibly suppressed his desire to run toward where the red signal flare had exploded.
If he had been alone, he might have done so.
However, Carlisle’s priority now was to protect the Allied Forces retreating with him.
He didn’t have the capacity to help anyway.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Seeing Grimgand vibrating constantly, it was certain that numerous Barbarian Warriors were approaching the area.
‘Getting out of here first is the priority. I need to safely return the Allied Forces currently moving with me to the fortress before I can help the others.’
Swoosh!
The old, crude bracelet on his left hand glowed softly.
It was [Whisper of Earth], an artifact that Earth Spirit Mage Evangeline had made using his grandmother’s keepsake.
[Alert: 【Guide of Earth】 effect is activated!]
[Alert: The earth spirit guides you to a safe route!]
[Alert: 【Guide of Earth】 effect is activated!]
[Alert: The earth spirit guides you to a safe route!]
[Alert: 【Guide of Earth】 effect is activated!]
[Alert: The earth spirit guides you to a safe route!]
[Alert: 【Guide of Earth】 effect is activated!]
[Alert: The earth spirit guides you to a safe route!]
[Alert: 【Guide of Earth】 effect is activated!]
[Alert: The earth spirit guides you to a safe route!]
Ding!
A green arrow that appeared in the distance floated temptingly toward Carlisle.
As if going that way would be safe…
On the other hand, a red arrow appeared in the direction the Allied Forces were heading, looking obviously dangerous.
“Wait!”
Carlisle quickly moved from the rear to the front of the formation and shouted.
“Not this way, let’s go that way.”
“What are you talking about?”
The Engineer Platoon Leader frowned.
“That’s a detour. Two red signal flares have already gone off, and you want us to take a roundabout route? Are you crazy?”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“Get out of the way! You bastard!”
The Engineer Platoon Leader pushed Carlisle’s shoulder hard and passed by.
“You may be that great Sigmund, but you’re still a scoundrel private who’s giving orders around here? Do you want to get us all killed?”
“Just listen to me for a moment. There’s a good reason…”
“Shut up!”
“…!”
“If we all die, will you take responsibility?”
The person who responded to his words wasn’t Carlisle.
“I’ll take responsibility, so what.”
“You, you are.”
“Even if he’s a private, you don’t listen to what he has to say and just throw a fit?”
The owner of the unnatural shaggy hair.
The person who stepped up for Carlisle was Wilson, a fellow [Barber].
“B-but…”
“He must have a reason for saying that. Right?”
When Wilson asked, Carlisle nodded silently.
“See.”
“Hmm.”
“And…”
Wilson whispered in his ear.
“Even if he’s a private, if you call our guys ‘this bastard’ or ‘that bastard’ one more time, I’ll kill you.”
“Gasp.”
“Know that your scalp will be peeled off by my hands before you die to those Barbarians. Got it?”
“Y-yes.”
“Hmm. Come to think of it, you have quite thick hair. How about donating some to me?”
Shake shake!
The Engineer Platoon Leader trembled like an aspen tree and shook his head vigorously.
And for good reason, as Wilson was an object of fear even within the Scout Unit.
Anyone who had seen him scalp Barbarian Warriors even once would inevitably come to fear him for his madness and cruelty.
“Hey, youngest.”
Wilson, having sorted out the situation, turned to look at Carlisle.
“You’re saying it’s dangerous to go this way?”
“Yes.”
“Then we should go that way. You take the lead, youngest. I’ll handle the rear.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Wilson let out a snicker.
“We’re the ones who should be grateful. We’ll save our lives thanks to you.”
“Haha…”
“What are you doing? Hurry up and guide us. Let’s go quickly before those guys catch up to us.”
“This way.”
Carlisle led his allies along the path revealed by [Earth’s Whisper].
* * *
The path revealed by [Earth’s Whisper] was truly safe.
Rumble, ruuumble!
While Grimgand repeatedly vibrated and then fell silent, Carlisle’s unit didn’t encounter the enemy even once until they nearly approached Bowden Fortress.
Despite clearly choosing a roundabout detour route, they were able to return to the fortress safely.
But even that had its limits.
“There they are!”
“Catch them!”
When they had nearly reached Bowden Fortress, dozens of Barbarian Warriors caught up closely from behind.
“We’ll hold them here.”
Carlisle quickly moved to the rear, facing the charging Barbarian Warriors alongside Wilson and the Scout Members.
“R-run!”
“Uaaaah!”
“Kyaah!”
The Engineers screamed for their lives as they ran toward the fortress.
“Fight while slowly retreating! If we get surrounded, we’re dead too!”
“Yes!”
The Scout Members under Wilson’s command bought as much time as possible so the Engineers could escape safely.
And among those Scout Members, Carlisle’s performance was truly dazzling.
Swooosh!
“Urgh!”
Every time Grimgand traced a sword trajectory, a Barbarian Warrior would invariably fall spurting blood.
Carlisle’s swordsmanship was extremely simple.
It was merely a repetition of the most basic fundamentals of swordsmanship – slashing and thrusting.
Nevertheless, the Barbarian Warriors couldn’t properly block Carlisle’s sword.
While Grimgand’s sharpness was one thing, it was possible because Carlisle’s swordsmanship had such high completion.
Soul Severing Sword [World Opening] and [Loyal Heart].
It was swordsmanship perfected through a lifetime of training by the hero who had protected the Northern Region and Dekaron from past Barbarian invasions.
Thus Carlisle sent the charging Barbarian Warriors one by one to their heaven, Valhalla.
Like an angel of death.
“What a monster-like guy.”
Wilson clicked his tongue watching Carlisle’s performance.
“Is this what they mean when they say the bloodline is different…?”
No matter how much of a Scout Member he was, Wilson was a soldier, not a Knight.
From Wilson’s perspective, the Sigmunds seemed like a different species entirely.
Even Carlisle, who was such a scoundrel that the Sigmund Family treated him like a discarded child, was slicing through Barbarian Warriors effortlessly, so it wasn’t unreasonable to think that way.
Swooosh!
A rain of arrows poured down over the Barbarian Warriors’ heads.
“We’ll provide cover! Retreat quickly! Hurry!”
Helen’s shout could be heard from the distant fortress.
“Let’s go! Run for now!”
“Yes!”
The Scout Members all ran toward Bowden Fortress at once.
The Barbarian Warriors didn’t dare pursue the Scout Members.
Bowden Fortress was right in front of them to continue the chase, and they didn’t have enough troops to dare continue pursuing through the Dekaron army’s Cover Fire.
Thoom!
With Carlisle as the last one, the wide-open Castle Gates closed tightly.
[Notice: 【Noble Proof】 progress has reached 70%! (7/10)]
[Notice: 【Noble Proof】 progress has reached 70%! (7/10)]
[Notice: 【Noble Proof】 progress has reached 70%! (7/10)]
[Notice: 【Noble Proof】 progress has reached 70%! (7/10)]
[Notice: 【Noble Proof】 progress has reached 70%! (7/10)]
“Huff, huff!”
“Hah hah hah!”
The Scout Members who returned to the fortress panted breathlessly.
Having sprinted at full speed for nearly 100 meters, it was natural to be gasping no matter how excellent their stamina was.
Only one person.
Only Carlisle looked as calm as usual.
This was thanks to drinking plenty of potions that permanently increased stamina from the Sigmund Family Secret Warehouse before coming to the battlefield.
“Where are you going?”
“It’s too sticky.”
At Wilson’s question, Carlisle wiped the blood on his face with his hand.
“I got so covered in blood that even a handkerchief won’t clean it well. I’m going to wash it off with water.”
How many people had he cut down in that short time…
Carlisle was covered in blood to the point where it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had a bucket of blood poured over him.
But that also had a strange charm.
Even with that handsome face covered in blood, rather than looking hideous, it exuded a decadent beauty.
It was to the point where Wilson couldn’t help but praise Carlisle.
“Bastard, you’re handsome.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, man.”
“Yes, well. Thank you.”
Carlisle scratched the back of his head awkwardly and headed straight to the well.
“Acting all shy.”
Wilson smiled softly.
* * *
Despite safely returning to the fortress, Wilson didn’t seem to have any intention of resting.
“Sir Helen.”
“Speak, Corporal Wilson.”
“Please allow us to sortie again. I’ll go bring back our comrades.”
“That’s…”
Helen couldn’t easily make a decision.
Sending out troops that had already safely returned was too harsh a command.
Why?
Because outside the fortress was that dangerous.
They still couldn’t know exactly what was happening, but with two red signal flares having gone off, they couldn’t carelessly send out troops.
Nevertheless, requesting to sortie again without hesitation meant Wilson was that brave a Scout Member.
“If you really want to sortie again… I’ll allow only volunteers to deploy.”
“Thank you.”
Wilson looked around at the Scout Members.
“You all heard, right? If you’ve caught your breath, let’s go quickly.”
“Yes, we’re going. Let’s go.”
“Oh my, my back and knees.”
The scout members got up one by one, dusting themselves off.
“Where are you going?”
Carlisle, who had returned from washing off blood at the well, asked Wilson.
“You’re back? I’m going to retrieve our comrades.”
“Ah.”
“What will you do? You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. This redeployment is only for volunteers.”
“I have to go, don’t I?”
Carlisle did not avoid the redeployment.
‘Whether I die outside or inside, it’s all the same. It’s just a matter of dying a bit sooner or later.’
Judging from how the situation was unfolding, unless reinforcements arrived immediately, the fortress falling was a foregone conclusion.
Who knows, in a few hours the enemy’s massive forces would come rushing in to begin the siege, and then it would be over.
Moreover, it was no exaggeration to say that Carlisle was the only one who could save the comrades who would be fighting desperately outside the fortress.
Not only in terms of combat ability, but Carlisle was the only one who could guide the allied forces to safety.
If there had been a replacement, given Carlisle’s personality, he wouldn’t have stepped forward, but…
“Kid. The more I see you, the more I like you.”
Wilson grinned toward Carlisle.
‘Ugh.’
Carlisle found Wilson’s smile burdensome.
It was probably meant to show favor, but from Carlisle’s perspective, it only looked menacing because of that unnatural wig.
“Hey! Open the castle gates!”
“Yes!”
The scout members exited through the castle gates.
“Let’s go, to our deaths.”
Grinning, the smile of a brave warrior who did not fear death appeared on Wilson’s lips as he headed toward the battlefield.
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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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