The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 101
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (101)
Shweeeeeng!
In the swirling snowstorm.
A suffocating tension pressed down on the gorge.
And at its center.
Swoosh!
Lucael’s sword left a blue streak as it swept in a straight line.
“Kragh!”
Even drawing his mana to the maximum, blocking Lucael’s attack was impossible.
He barely avoided having his arm severed, but red blood was dripping steadily from his already tattered hand.
“Huff… huff…”
Iryakl breathed roughly as he looked at Lucael.
He had thought he was strong, but he never expected such a vast difference.
“…”
But Lucael silently watched him and approached.
Normally, he could have finished this in less than ten exchanges, but he couldn’t fully unleash his power.
If he carelessly discharged his aura and caused an explosive impact, it could create ripples in the canyon walls.
If that happened, the canyon walls and the snow piled above would all come crashing down at once, leading to an avalanche.
One mistake could endanger all the special unit members who had entered the gorge.
“Huu.”
Lucael exhaled cold breath as he raised his sword.
“If that’s all you have, you die here.”
“Grgh…!”
Iryakl couldn’t retreat and looked at Lucael with a frustrated expression.
If he failed to stop them here… he couldn’t guarantee his daughter’s safety while she was held by the Kar Tribe.
A situation where he could neither retreat nor attack.
Iryakl raised his wounded hand and sharpened his claws once more.
“You bastards… absolutely cannot pass through this place.”
“Die.”
Whip!
Along with Lucael’s movement that seemed to vanish, Iryakl also hid his body in the snowstorm.
And Arteon, who was watching this scene.
‘…Strong.’
He inwardly marveled at Lucael’s combat unfolding before his eyes.
His swordplay seemed like the rumors had actually been understated.
‘Each strike… each strike is at an incredible level.’
He was overwhelming his opponent so perfectly it could be called beautiful.
In a way, it was completely opposite in feeling to the Vargas Northern Spear Technique that Arteon used.
The flow of the sword continued unbroken, not overwhelming the opponent but rendering them unable to do anything.
However…
Swish.
Arteon soon heightened his senses and turned his gaze elsewhere.
There was one reason why Lucael had stepped forward first to face that guy.
‘Surely… there must be another one somewhere.’
It was to draw out another Chevilk Tribe member who would be watching from somewhere.
If they were the type to cherish their kinfolk terribly, they wouldn’t just stand by and watch their comrade get beaten.
‘We need to eliminate them here for certain before moving on.’
Otherwise, they would have to endure their containment until reaching the end of the gorge.
Arteon narrowed his eyes.
Now it was time for them to reveal themselves…
Rustle.
“…!”
Then, a small presence felt from beyond the snowstorm.
Arteon immediately launched his body toward where he felt the movement.
Swoosh!
It was quite an urgent-looking movement.
It had to be, because the Chevilk Tribe member fighting Lucael was already bloodied and gradually being pushed back.
No matter how tough their bodies were, if they sustained more injuries in this cold, it would be difficult to preserve their life.
And toward the one who was secretly moving toward Lucael from behind the snowstorm.
Swoosh!
Arteon charged while gripping his spear.
“Got you.”
“…!”
At Arteon’s appearance right behind her, the Chevilk Tribe woman panicked and hastily attacked.
It was an instinctive attack, but the movement and power of her mana was strong enough to threaten Arteon.
However, only the power was like that – Arteon wasn’t one to allow such an attack.
Swish!
Arteon lightly dodged her attack and put strength into the hand gripping his spear.
But the moment her body turned with the attack.
‘…A woman?’
At the unexpected sight, Arteon grabbed her throat with his left hand and slammed her against the wall.
Thwack!
The wall shook with a rather dull sound.
A few chunks of snow fell from above, but it wasn’t enough to cause an avalanche.
“Gah!”
The Chevilk Tribe woman slammed against the wall screamed.
But even so, she looked at Arteon with sharp eyes.
Click.
Arteon gripped the spear shaft short and pressed it to her throat.
She flinched for a moment.
When her movement stopped, Arteon asked her.
“Are you from the Chevilk Tribe?”
“…”
At Arteon’s question, her pupils shook slightly.
She hadn’t expected there would be those among the Empire bastards who knew about them.
Arteon asked.
“What’s your name?”
“…Pweril.”
“What about other comrades besides that guy and you? You’d better just answer obediently. We won’t lose anything by just killing you two and moving on.”
At Arteon’s gaze, Pweril unconsciously swallowed her saliva.
His words were too far removed from simple threats.
“We… we’re all there is. We were guarding here after receiving orders to stop you.”
“…I see.”
With that one answer from her, the entire situation was resolved.
The fact that she gave this answer meant he could judge that she intended to continue answering other questions as well.
For now…
“Let’s stop that fight first. If you resist, you could die that instant, so it would be best not to do anything suspicious.”
At Arteon’s words, Pweril nodded.
Soon, Arteon bound her hands with rope he had and hurried toward where Lucael was.
Lucael, who had already grasped that Arteon had captured another Chevilk Tribe member, was moderately engaging Iryakl while pressing him.
I never intended to kill them anyway.
However….
‘I’m not sure if that strategy will really work….’
But it doesn’t matter.
If it goes wrong anyway, I’ll just kill them as I originally planned.
“Are you mocking me?”
“That might be the case. There’s a predetermined plan, you see.”
“…What?”
At Iryakl’s words, Lucael slightly raised his chin and pointed behind him.
At Lucael’s action, Iryakl frowned and turned his head.
“…!”
And Iryakl was startled in shock.
It was the most surprised expression he had shown so far.
“Pweril!”
Iryakl screamed and looked like he would rush toward Arteon at any moment.
But Arteon pressed the spear closer to Pweril’s neck and said.
“Move even one step and I’ll kill her.”
This kind of hostage situation….
I don’t particularly like it, but there’s nothing more effective than this to restrain him.
‘To safely pass through this Gorge and enter the Kar Tribe’s Camp….’
This method is absolutely necessary.
“You bastard… Do you think you can die peacefully after doing this!”
Tremendous killing intent erupted from Iryakl’s body.
He looked bloody and ready to collapse at any moment, but the aura he was emitting seemed willing to face even death.
But Arteon received his killing intent with his whole body and spoke as if nothing happened.
“I want to talk. If you promise not to fight, I’ll release this woman.”
“Do you think I’d trust the words of Imperial bastards?”
“The Kar Tribe doesn’t keep promises well either, does it? And….”
Arteon’s eyes sank coldly.
There was no need to emanate aura until now, but.
Swoooooosh!
When Arteon drew up his mana, Iryakl flinched and stepped back.
He had thought he was just an insignificant young Imperial Soldier….
‘How could someone of that age….’
It was a moment that sent chills down his spine.
At the very least, he was equal to himself….
‘No….’
He seemed to be beyond that.
Iryakl looked at the Imperial Soldiers surrounding him front and back.
No matter what struggle he put up here, he couldn’t escape.
‘One thing….’
If there was a way, it would only be to signal the operation’s failure and create an avalanche by impacting the opposite canyon wall.
“….”
But that would also mean their own death.
Iryakl squeezed his eyes shut.
Then he soon opened his eyes, looked at Arteon, and spoke.
“Those words about sparing us if we don’t fight… Are they real?”
“I don’t lie. I can’t release you, but I won’t kill you right now.”
“As expected, you’re playing with words like Imperial bastards. So you’ll kill us later?”
“If you’re worthless. But if you help us, I guarantee… you won’t lose anything.”
“….”
Iryakl fell silent at Arteon’s words.
His mind was complicated.
Because he had no other choice in this situation.
‘But….’
Could he really trust that bastard?
It was a situation where it was hard to make a decision, but then Pweril, who was captured by Arteon, slowly nodded her head.
Then Iryakl lowered his head.
“…I won’t resist.”
The aura flowing from Iryakl’s body completely subsided.
Lucael looked at him with a calm expression as he even withdrew his mana.
‘No way….’
I can’t believe this method actually worked.
Unlike his quite fierce resistance, he obediently bowed his head.
It seemed that for them, their tribe… no, family was such an important existence.
However….
“I’ll talk with that person. Whatever demands you’re trying to make… I’ll decide after hearing them.”
“Very well.”
He could pressure him a bit more here and force him to submit completely.
However, Arteon didn’t do that.
There was only one reason he would listen to him, an Imperial Army member.
It was because of the things he had been oppressed by the Kar Tribe all this time.
When Arteon looked at Lucael.
Lucael nodded.
“I’ll take care of that woman.”
“Please do.”
Arteon handed Pweril over to Lucael and looked at Iryakl.
Iryakl moved his steps and guided Arteon.
It was a small cave nearby where they could avoid the snowstorm.
“Is it alright to talk here?”
“Of course.”
At Arteon’s words, Iryakl still stood in place and asked.
“What demands are you trying to make of me?”
Suspicious eyes.
He was ready to fight at any moment if the situation went wrong even slightly.
That’s why….
‘If I beat around the bush unnecessarily, it would rather be a mistake.’
Arteon got straight to the point.
“It’s simple. Take me to the Kar Tribe’s stronghold.”
“…What?”
“After that, while I’m dealing with them and drawing their attention, you can rescue your tribe.”
“Do you think that’s possible? Maybe that person from earlier, but you….”
But Iryakl soon shut his mouth tight.
That power this guy had shown earlier.
Because he could still vividly feel that intense aura that couldn’t be expected from his young appearance.
Perhaps this Imperial Army member might actually be much better at catching those Kar Tribe bastards off guard.
With that, Iryakl’s expression became calm.
He couldn’t completely trust the words of this bastard in front of him.
‘Still….’
Compared to the Kar Tribe, it was rather a plan worth trying.
After all, even if this matter ends, the Kar Tribe bastards won’t let them go anyway.
He had thought to fight and die against them, but before that, at least once…
‘It might be worth trying.’
That other choice… that is.
Moreover, strangely enough, looking at the boy in front of him gave him a mysteriously calm feeling.
Because he could sense something very deep within the eyes of this boy who didn’t yet appear to be an adult.
“…I’ll try believing you. When do you plan to execute the plan?”
“Tomorrow immediately. It’s urgent, but there are things we need to prepare.”
Once the conversation began flowing, it continued without obstruction.
After all, the entire plan was already in his head.
‘However….’
There was no guarantee that it would succeed properly.
Just….
‘I have to do… everything I can.’
He didn’t know of any other method that could succeed besides this operation.
Even when the Kar Tribe had invaded this place in the past, what they had ultimately chosen in the end was to explode the walls of the Gorge to cause an avalanche.
‘They would do the same thing even in the opposite position. And they probably already have such a plan anyway.’
That’s why he had to completely enter those bastards’ camp.
And before those bastards could pull their tricks….
‘Eliminate them all.’
If this operation succeeded, the Empire would obtain Iculed’s Gorge intact.
Then….
“….”
For a moment, Iryakl, who was standing across from Arteon, felt a chilling sensation throughout his body.
The gaze of the boy who remained silent and still.
‘How can he have such eyes….’
It flashed so sharply that it gave him goosebumps.
Eventually, Arteon looked at Iryakl and spoke.
“Then tomorrow. Let’s begin.”
Iryakl nodded his head.
And he could instinctively tell.
‘Perhaps….’
Tomorrow… something would happen at Icicle Red Gorge, where the standoff had continued for so long.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————