I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 75

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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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#75. Change of Hands (3)

 

“Damn it all!”

 

Thoroughbred, who had been grinding his teeth furiously, reversed his order.

 

“Those bastards are few in number! They can’t defend the entire castle with so few! Surround them! Don’t retreat, surround them!”

 

However, both the one giving the order and the Rangers following it all knew the truth.

 

Purosange’s Main Castle, ‘Tochika Fortress’, was an invincible stronghold.

 

It was an impregnable Iron Fortress that had never once allowed foreign invasion.

 

The Northern Deep Moat was much deeper than the castle walls of most fortresses, and beneath it flowed seawater covered with thin ice.

 

To the south rose sharp Eternal Snow peaks like blades, making it an impassable path for humans.

 

The Western Narrow Path was only wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side, so it was only natural that Tochika Fortress was called the most dangerous pass under heaven.

 

“How… how did Tochika fall to that bastard? Why on earth?”

 

Thoroughbred muttered with bloodshot eyes, muttering again and again.

 

Then, Featherback’s voice came from atop the castle walls.

 

“Surrender.”

 

The Mana-Infused Voice was quiet but rang clearly in everyone’s ears.

 

It wasn’t something one surrounded in a castle should say, but if that castle was Tochika Fortress, such words became possible.

 

Thoroughbred shouted in bewilderment.

 

“What kind of outrage is this, suddenly invading someone else’s castle!”

 

“You were the ones who first attacked Mörsolt’s Trading Company.”

 

“Nonsense! Do you have proof!?”

 

“Plenty. I’ll cut off your head and reveal everything beneath it.”

 

“You, you damned bastard!”

 

Thoroughbred raised his bow.

 

Thwang—!

 

The arrow he shot flew toward the top of the castle walls.

 

However, the castle walls of Tochika Fortress were far too high, and even the wind was fierce, so the arrow quickly lost its strength.

 

…Clang!

 

The arrow flew sluggishly and bounced off the Dragon Scale Shield attached to Featherback’s left hand.

 

Featherback shrugged his shoulders.

 

“That’s not how you shoot a bow.”

 

Soon after, Featherback also picked up a Strong Bow.

 

Crrrrrrrrreak…

 

The bowstring, drawn to its limit, snapped forward at tremendous speed.

 

BANG!

 

An explosive sound that was hard to believe came from an arrow being fired.

 

The moment Thoroughbred stepped back in surprise, the waists of two Rangers beside him bent like bows.

 

The arrow that pierced through the chest of the Ranger in front also pierced through the stomach of the Ranger behind him and stuck into the ground.

 

At the same time, arrows began to rain down like a storm.

 

Right at that moment.

 

Hissssssss…

 

Purple Mist began rising from the Snow Field, starting to conceal the Rangers.

 

Featherback turned his head toward the point where purple mana began flowing.

 

There stood a Mage with light purple hair fluttering in the wind.

 

She smiled brightly at Featherback.

 

“Even thievery can look cool when done with such confidence.”

 

“What are you?”

 

“The girl is called Shedyoldis.”

 

Featherback furrowed his brow.

 

Shedyoldis smiled with her eyes as she continued speaking.

 

“They say Mörsolt is the bloodline of the Demon King Exterminator, and it seems that’s really true. To have such presence at that age…”

 

But she couldn’t finish her words.

 

Kwa—bang!

 

Because an arrow shot by Featherback came flying toward her forehead.

 

“Huk!?”

 

Shedyoldis hastily solidified her Mist Wall to create a defensive barrier, but the arrow pierced through even that.

 

Kwa—jik!

 

The arrow pierced through Shedyoldis’s left shoulder.

 

“Kyaak!?”

 

She had to be shocked by the cold sensation of the arrowhead digging into her flesh.

 

Jjeojeojeojeojeojik!

 

The flesh around where the arrow was embedded was turning dark blue.

 

Extreme Cold Energy was penetrating into her body, spreading acute frostbite.

 

“Re, retreat! Retreat!”

 

Shedyoldis shouted urgently.

 

Thoroughbred immediately responded.

 

“Everyone withdraw! Head to the Eastern Fortress and reorganize our formation!”

 

The Purosange Elite Forces led by the Family Head had to be driven out helplessly.

 

Leaving behind family, relatives, friends, and everything else inside the main castle.

 

* * *

 

Whiiiiiiing…

 

A bitter cold wind blows over the castle walls of Tochika Fortress, which stands taller than most mountain ranges.

 

Featherback’s hair, leaning against the battlements, was disheveled by the snowfall.

 

‘Shedyoldis.’

 

It was a name he had never heard before his regression.

 

But the aura she gave off was quite familiar.

 

‘She reeked terribly.’

 

He had smelled it so many times that he could recognize it just by passing by.

 

The smell of rotting corpses.

 

And an extremely concentrated one at that.

 

‘The Corpse Puppets controlled by J’ba FoFi also reeked, but not to that extent. It was even worse than the Undead I encountered in Mörsolt’s dungeon.’

 

There was no way a living human could smell of rotting corpses.

 

Featherback reached a conclusion.

 

“I’ll have to chase her down and kill her.”

 

Having finished his thoughts, he immediately moved into action.

 

Featherback called for Hounded.

 

Hounded, who had been organizing the inside of Tochika by commanding his newly assigned subordinates, came running hurriedly.

 

“Did you call for me, Young Master.”

 

“We will pursue the Purosange Family Head who fled to the east. Select only ten elite soldiers.”

 

“…You’re saying you’ll pursue the Purosange Rangers with just ten men?”

 

“We’ll use guerrilla tactics. Select only those who can run around for ten days in the frigid snowfield without eating or sleeping.”

 

“I’ll do as you say. However, Baron Thoroughbred commands quite a number of Rangers. It seems there’s a remote fortress to the east, and if their forces join up, there would easily be five hundred soldiers alone, wouldn’t there?”

 

“That much would be enough for me alone.”

 

“!”

 

At Featherback’s words, Hounded’s mouth fell wide open.

 

Prince Mörsolt was saying he would fight five hundred soldiers single-handedly.

 

But this fifteen-year-old boy’s confidence was not unfounded.

 

After all, he had once severed the necks of over three hundred and fifty Orcs in a single night.

 

Featherback continued in his characteristically indifferent tone.

 

“Hunting humans is easier than hunting Orcs. Especially in a place this white and cold.”

 

“If Young Master said it, I’d believe you could grow barley in a snow field.”

 

“However, before that, there’s something you need to help me with.”

 

“Just give the word.”

 

Hounded thumps his chest.

 

Featherback nodded and gave his instructions.

 

“When I leave Tochika Fortress, Baron Thoroughbred will attempt to retake this place.”

 

“Can we hold it off without Young Master?”

 

“It would be difficult. They also know the geography inside Tochika well. Once their formation is reorganized, they’ll try to break through somehow.”

 

“I’ll defend it to the death.”

 

“There’s no need to go that far. If they want it, you can just give it to them.”

 

“…?”

 

Hounded didn’t understand Featherback’s words and tilted his head in confusion.

 

Featherback said.

 

“Of course, ‘if they want it,’ that is.”

 

“Of course they would want it, wouldn’t they? It’s their own castle.”

 

“From now on, I’m thinking of damaging this castle a bit. So they won’t want this castle anymore.”

 

“Ah!”

 

The clever Hounded quickly understood what Featherback meant.

 

Tochika Fortress was a castle with high defensive capabilities.

 

That defensive power didn’t come solely from the high and sturdy castle walls.

 

The enormous amounts of military rations piled high in the food storage.

 

The confidence that sustained Tochika Fortress was that they could easily hold out for three years just by barricading the fortress gates and eating the grain supplies stored inside.

 

Featherback said.

 

“Distribute all the provisions in the warehouse to the residents inside the castle. But only as much as they can carry.”

 

“And then we’ll relocate them to Mörsolt Territory.”

 

“The knights and soldiers here will escort them so they won’t be attacked by monsters.”

 

“Won’t the Purosange bastards come attacking?”

 

“Those bastards won’t be interested in the territory residents who left the castle. Of course, since the rangers’ family members are being held hostage, they’ll come chasing eventually.”

 

“We’ll need to hurry our steps before that happens. I’m concerned whether the territory residents will comply with the relocation obediently.”

 

“After distributing the provisions, we’ll burn down everything inside the castle. With no place to live, they’ll have no choice but to leave.”

 

“Won’t that worsen public sentiment?”

 

“We can’t fight a war while worrying about such things. If we lose in the battles ahead… public sentiment might cease to exist altogether.”

 

“…?”

 

Hounded didn’t fully understand Featherback’s words.

 

But it couldn’t be helped.

 

A child born in a wealthy, peaceful country who enjoys Reading, Music Appreciation, and Horseback Riding.

 

A child born in a poor country where war is daily life, whose routine consists of Theft, Violence, and Corpse Searching.

 

Could these two understand each other? It would be impossible.

 

Like this, those who have lived through an age of destruction and those who haven’t can never understand each other for their entire lives.

 

Featherback had witnessed the entire process of the handful of remaining Humanity gradually perishing before the Demon King’s army’s offensive.

 

That’s why he knew well.

 

How meaningless a concept public sentiment was.

 

That in the end, borders, racial conflicts, gender conflicts, and generational conflicts would all disappear, and everyone would unite under the single banner of being human.

 

Featherback spoke.

 

“After distributing sufficient Provisions and Drinking Water to the Territory Residents, burn down all the warehouses and water sources.”

 

“There are several warehouses where Gold and Silver Treasures are stored. What should we do with those?”

 

“They’re just heavy and useless things. Burn them together. Make sure to only take things that won’t hinder quick movement.”

 

“I’ll do as you say.”

 

Hounded bowed his head.

 

Soon, Tochika Fortress would become an empty, masterless mountain.

 

Since it would be a space with nothing inside except sturdy Castle Walls, the Purosange family wouldn’t try to forcibly reclaim this place either.

 

If Baron Thoroughbred still couldn’t give up his greed for this Fortress despite that, then they would just cut off the Supply Route and besiege those who entered until they starved to death.

 

‘By now, the main force Father sent should be crossing the Frozen River.’

 

Soleil was only sending Featherback as a Scout, thinking that the real war would begin after Mörsolt’s main force crossed the Frozen River.

 

But Featherback’s thoughts were completely different.

 

‘Take ten Elite Soldiers and end the war.’

 

Not the original 33 men he had brought, but 10 carefully selected from among them.

 

With those 10 men, he intended to annihilate the Purosange Family.

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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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