I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 70

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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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#70. Declaration of War (4)

 

Purosange Territory spread across the Frozen Earth.

 

Rugged mountains made of Eternal Snow stood tall, breathing in silence and cold.

 

Below them, the Northern Sea could be seen frozen in the shape of a tidal wave.

 

A place forsaken by time.

 

Nothing flows in that place.

 

Where the coastline once was, lumps of sand and ice mixed together stood like embankments in round clusters.

 

“….”

 

Featherback went deep into Purosange’s land.

 

A hilly area dominated by dense coniferous trees.

 

Inside the forest, animal footprints remained faintly.

 

From who knows where someone had caught it, a large sturgeon lay sprawled out, half-devoured.

 

Eventually, Featherback stopped his horse.

 

“So this is the place.”

 

This was where the attack had taken place.

 

Broken weapons were scattered everywhere.

 

The trees were all broken and burned, and sword marks remained clearly on the rock surfaces.

 

Featherback was looking at flesh that was skewered and frozen on a sharply broken tree branch.

 

Just then.

 

“I have no idea what happened here. This isn’t even our patrol zone.”

 

Thoroughbred, the Family Head of Purosange, spoke up.

 

Featherback gripped the leash attached to his son Pinin even tighter.

 

“Are you lying, or are you incompetent?”

 

“Watch your reckless words. I am the Family Head of the Purosange Family and considerably your senior.”

 

“I came here representing the Family Head of Mörsolt. Just answer what I ask. Are you a despicable liar who attacks and then pretends ignorance, or are you a fool who lives unaware of what happens in his own territory?”

 

“….”

 

Thoroughbred kept his mouth shut for a while, trembling all over.

 

Then he spat out words as if retching.

 

“I truly didn’t know.”

 

“Are you admitting to being a fool?”

 

“…What benefit would Mörsolt gain by making me a fool? At least examine the scene.”

 

“I’m not trying to make you a fool for some benefit. Why would I bother making someone who was already a fool from the start into a fool?”

 

“….”

 

Thoroughbred gave no response.

 

Featherback handed Pinin’s leash to Hounded beside him.

 

“If he tries anything foolish, cut his throat immediately.”

 

“Yes. I’ll cut it very painfully with my serrated sword.”

 

The Mörsolt Knights glared at the Purosange Rangers and answered in unison.

 

* * *

 

Featherback came down below the hill.

 

A path retracing the traces of battle.

 

‘It started from here.’

 

Featherback walked along the frozen coastline.

 

Beyond the thick snow piled on the sand, a salty layer of ice was visible.

 

This is an area where what was once the sea has frozen solid and remained as an ice sheet for several years.

 

After sweeping away the snow and ice fragments, the horse hoof prints were clearly visible.

 

Beside them lay timber and cloth that had been burned partway through.

 

‘Cavalry came and threw oil jars. Then they shot fire arrows?’

 

These were well-prepared attackers.

 

Definitely not your typical bandit gang.

 

‘They came from all directions, and the blood stains that weren’t there before appeared while moving, so they shot arrows. Everything matches the survivors’ testimony.’

 

Featherback examined the bark of the half-burned tree.

 

Ash, charcoal powder, and snow were mixed together, making it look like nothing more than dirty tree bark.

 

Featherback raised his fingers and peeled away only the tree’s bark.

 

Rip—

 

After completely stripping away the dirty tree bark, the sword marks remaining on the inner flesh were clearly visible.

 

The attackers probably thought their traces had disappeared since the tree was burned, but surprisingly, the traces of malice that humans harbor toward other humans are carved very deeply in various places and don’t erase easily.

 

‘The sword marks remaining on the tree’s inner flesh are definitely traces made by Purosange Dagger Technique.’

 

Featherback carefully compared the testimony of the knights who survived the attack with the scene.

 

And several hours later.

 

‘There’s no plot twist. The culprits are the Purosange Rangers.’

 

The conclusion was reached.

 

He had checked just in case, but what was already clear had only become even clearer.

 

The hypothesis that Purosange had attacked Mörsolt was proven to be true.

 

Featherback swept his hand once over the traces of bonfires and blood drops.

 

‘Now then, what should I do next?’

 

After organizing his thoughts for a few minutes, Featherback begins to move his steps.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, outside the forest, a battle of wills between Thoroughbred and Hounded continued.

 

Thoroughbred ground his teeth fiercely.

 

“Release my son immediately. Quickly!”

 

“Didn’t you just hear what the Acting Family Head said? He said to cut if you do anything foolish. Painfully with a serrated sword.”

 

“That serrated sword nonsense was something you said! How dare you do such a thing to Purosange’s Grand Prince!? Do you think you can get away with this unharmed!?”

 

“Is that a threat right now? The misunderstanding that was about to be resolved is getting tangled up again.”

 

This was Hounded, who hadn’t retreated even from attacks by wild monsters like Yate and Sasquatch.

 

Even though someone who was no less than the Family Head of Purosange was openly radiating killing intent, Hounded and the other Mörsolt Knights weren’t backing down in the slightest.

 

Just then.

 

“Enough.”

 

Featherback, who emerged from the forest, dispersed the tension between both sides.

 

Featherback looked back at Thoroughbred and spoke.

 

“The investigation is finished.”

 

“…How was it? I imagine you couldn’t see anything with all the snow piled up.”

 

“It seemed like the work of a bandit gang.”

 

Featherback replied calmly.

 

Thoroughbred spoke in an urgent tone.

 

“If it’s the work of a bandit gang, then it has nothing to do with us!”

 

“I never said it was related, did I?”

 

“Then why did you cut off my son’s arm and take him hostage? You’ve been creating an uncomfortable atmosphere from the start!”

 

There is a tense atmosphere hanging between Mörsolt and Purosange.

 

Like scouts from two armies at war meeting in the border region.

 

Originally, it was hard to believe this was the atmosphere when people from allied forces, especially a feudal lord family and vassal family, had met.

 

But Featherback’s response was as calm as always.

 

“What are you talking about? A hostage? I’m simply disciplining an ill-mannered child. Didn’t he suddenly shoot an arrow at me upon first meeting?”

 

“He, he apologized for that! He also explained that he mistook you for a bandit gang! You just said yourself that you saw traces of bandits inside the forest!”

 

“I nearly lost my life. What would have happened if Mörsolt’s acting Family Head had died from an arrow carelessly shot by Purosange’s Grand Prince?”

 

“Well…”

 

Thoroughbred let out a deep sigh.

 

After maintaining silence for a while, he opened his mouth.

 

“My son’s right wrist was cut off by your sword. And seven guard rangers who had shared friendship with my son since childhood were killed with their throats slit. Is that still not enough atonement?”

 

“No, that’s sufficient. The discipline is finished anyway, so I’ll release this little rat.”

 

Featherback took over the iron chains that Hounded had been holding.

 

Pinin, standing at the end of the leash, glared at Featherback.

 

Then, Featherback met Pinin’s gaze.

 

Red eyes shining through snow-white bangs.

 

It was like seeing the gaze of a monster hiding beyond a blizzard.

 

“… … …”

 

Pinin broke out in cold sweat and lowered his head.

 

Even the pain from his severed wrist couldn’t be felt in this moment.

 

Finally, Featherback spoke.

 

“But you know what. There’s one thing that worries me.”

 

“What?”

 

Thoroughbred looked as if he had a headache, not knowing what Featherback might say next.

 

Featherback spoke in a calm tone.

 

“If we let this rat go, you might shoot arrows at us, right?”

 

“Are you mad? How could we dare do such a thing to Lord Mörsolt!”

 

“Since when have you ever cared about lords and vassals?”

 

“Do you think we’re trash!”

 

“Don’t appeal to emotions without basis. If you’re not trash, then show proof of it.”

 

“…?”

 

Thoroughbred tilted his head.

 

Featherback pulled on Pinin’s leash as he spoke.

 

“It’s simple. I want to leave this place, and you want to take this guy with you. So I’ll go my way, and you go your way.”

 

“If you release my son, we’ll definitely do that! Why are you making things complicated!”

 

“But I find it hard to believe. It would be troublesome if you don’t go your way and instead follow my path. It would be even more annoying if you request reinforcements with fireworks or beacon fires. So let me make a proposal.”

 

Featherback continued.

 

“We are thirty-four in total. How many are you?”

 

“We were eighty. Seven Rangers died by your sword, so now we’re seventy-three. Excluding Pinin, that’s seventy-two.”

 

“I see. Then subtract thirty-four from seventy-two.”

 

“?”

 

Thoroughbred tilted his head.

 

Then Featherback provided further explanation.

 

“Kill thirty-eight horses.”

 

“What? Wh-why!”

 

“What do you mean why? Don’t follow us. If you’re thinking of pursuing us, match our numbers when you do.”

 

What Featherback was saying was clear.

 

A demand to prevent all the cavalry and Rangers here from pursuing them.

 

And confidence implying that if they came with equal numbers, his side could win without taking any damage.

 

“…. …. ….”

 

Thoroughbred, the leader of Purosange, clenched his teeth tightly.

 

Featherback said.

 

“I’m not asking you to kill the Rangers, just to kill some horses. Is that so difficult?”

 

“…No.”

 

“Are you hesitating now because you feel sorry for the few horses you’d have to sacrifice to get your son back? Or because you want to pursue us right now and take my head, but you’re disappointed that you can’t?”

 

“Neither. I’ll do as you say.”

 

Thoroughbred drew his sword while grinding his teeth.

 

Soon, the heads of the horses the Knights had been riding stained the white snow field red.

 

Fine horses that had been part of Purosange’s military strength met a senseless death.

 

After seeing this, Featherback nodded.

 

“Take this little rat.”

 

Then Hounded stepped forward and cut Pinin’s leash with his sword.

 

Then he kicked his butt with his foot and pushed him away.

 

Crash!

 

Pinin fell face-first into the snow field in an unsightly position.

 

Thoroughbred rushed toward Pinin, who was getting up while trembling.

 

“Son! Are you alright!”

 

“Ah, Father… It’s, it’s, it’s so c-c-cold…”

 

A tearful reunion between father and son.

 

But Featherback showed no interest in it whatsoever.

 

“We’ve seen everything, so let’s go.”

 

Featherback spurred his horse and left the forest.

 

The Mörsolt Knights immediately followed behind him.

 

“Damn, he came right into the heart of enemy territory and stirred things up before leaving.”

 

“Even though Purosange’s Family Head is quite a formidable expert, he couldn’t do anything in front of the Young Master.”

 

“Prince Featherback’s courage must be ten times greater than others. Wow— how can someone be so bold.”

 

They chattered while looking at Featherback’s back as he rode ahead.

 

Soon, Hounded caught up to ride alongside Featherback.

 

“That was magnificent, Young Master. Are we now heading straight to Mörsolt Castle to prepare for war?”

 

“Go to the castle? What are you talking about.”

 

Featherback continued with a calm expression.

 

“The war has already begun.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“We’re not returning to Mörsolt Castle, but setting up an ambush.”

 

“!?”

 

Hounded and all the Knights gaped in shock.

 

It was already a miracle to infiltrate Purosange’s inner sanctum alone and return safely, but now he wanted to wage war here?

 

With just thirty-four men?

 

But Featherback showed no sign of joking.

 

“Facing Purosange’s Family Head and numerous Rangers head-on, especially inside the forest, would be burdensome. That would cause heavy casualties on our side too. But ambushing with a surprise attack is different.”

 

The vengeful spirits of Purosange, including Thoroughbred, have not yet emerged from the coniferous forest.

 

They will probably escort Grand Prince Pinin to the fortress first, then launch a full-scale pursuit.

 

“I thought they would send thirty-four Rangers immediately… They lack good judgment.”

 

For Thoroughbred to succeed in his revenge, this case would have had the highest probability.

 

But Thoroughbred showed no signs of doing so.

 

He probably worried that deploying thirty-four Rangers now would compromise the safety of the returning forces.

 

“That judgment was a bad move. Now Purosange’s chances of winning have completely disappeared.”

 

Featherback calculated the time.

 

The Purosange bastards would return to the castle first.

 

Then they would treat Grand Prince Pinin while lighting beacon fires to send pursuers.

 

Rangers following from the main castle, and Rangers who would respond to the beacon fires to form an encirclement ahead.

 

Featherback was planning to annihilate all of them at once.

 

With just thirty-three Knights.

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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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