The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 102
—————
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 (102)
Whiiiiing!
Between the gorge where the snowstorm was raging.
Lucael and Isaac were taking shelter from the snowstorm in a small cave they had made.
Outside, it was impossible to even breathe properly, but this place was at least a small refuge where they could rest their bodies for a moment.
‘To think they were ambushing by making caves like this.’
Lucael admired the cave that Iryakl of the Chevilk Tribe had created.
He had never even thought of making small caves between gorges to avoid snowstorms like this.
Moreover, the caves made at regular intervals became even harder to find as their traces couldn’t even be seen when the snowstorm blew strongly.
‘There was a reason why the reconnaissance unit had no choice but to fall victim.’
The Chevilk Tribe suddenly appearing after hiding like this would have been terror itself.
But what was complicating Lucael’s mind more than that was something else.
“…”
Lucael just sat in place and looked outside where the snowstorm was raging.
And then it was at that moment.
“You seem very worried.”
Isaac, who was in the cave with Lucael, glanced at him and carefully opened his mouth.
At those words, Lucael turned his gaze.
“Aren’t you worried?”
Looking at Arteon who suddenly came and spoke of an absurd operation, Lucael couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
What came to his mind was the absurd operation that Arteon had just proposed.
‘I will pretend to be captured by the enemy and infiltrate their camp.’
An idea that anyone would say was insane.
Even Lucael was momentarily speechless and had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
So Lucael asked Isaac.
“It’s a dangerous operation. But… did you just accept it like that?”
At Lucael’s question, Isaac fell into thought for a moment, then answered in a low voice.
“It reminded me of something from the past.”
“Something from the past?”
At Isaac’s words, Lucael made a puzzled expression.
Isaac nodded and said.
“There was exactly the same thing at Helikel Gorge before.”
Isaac recalled that incident.
His operation to cross the strong current river in front of Helikel Gorge and climb up the gorge.
He thought it was crazy.
Naturally impossible, and bound to fail.
But Isaac still couldn’t forget the sight of Arteon crossing that strong current river with a rope tied to him.
Isaac continued.
“It must be an operation with solid grounds. And… if it succeeds, it’s also an operation that can definitely seize control of this gorge without any variables.”
“That may be true, but…”
Lucael trailed off.
Both Legion Commander Belkain and Captain Isaac who came as deputy commander of the special unit.
They were strangely giving strength to that boy.
‘…Perhaps.’
Is there something I’m missing?
Lucael fell silent.
Eventually, at his appearance of seeming to be in deep contemplation, Isaac also looked at him wordlessly.
But the contemplation didn’t last long.
Eventually, Lucael nodded as if he had made up his mind.
“Let’s try believing once. But we can’t leave everything to Lieutenant Arteon alone. We must be fully prepared to enter immediately when he causes a commotion after entering enemy territory.”
“Of course. I’ll prepare what’s needed.”
Eventually, Isaac got up from his seat and moved to where the unit members were.
Lucael remained alone in the cave and sat down heavily.
The day’s battle flashed through his mind.
But then, a voice suddenly came.
“…May I ask you one thing?”
“What?”
Pweril, who was sitting bound, spoke to Lucael.
Lucael’s eyes grew coldly calm.
Although she had surrendered, wasn’t she from the Chevilk Tribe that had killed their soldiers?
Naturally, there could be no good feelings.
But Pweril continued speaking without hesitation.
“Are all the Empire’s young soldiers… at that boy’s level?”
“…”
As if.
Lucael’s pupils shook momentarily.
He himself had never seen such a guy before either.
‘From the Imperial Capital…’
Even among those who grew up receiving elite education from childhood, that level was rare.
Just thinking of faces that came to mind immediately, there were only about one… no, two at most.
But even if lined up against them, it didn’t feel like Arteon would be inferior.
‘I’m curious too, where on earth did such a guy appear from.’
But Lucael hid his inner thoughts and said to Pweril.
“The Empire’s nobles all have outstanding abilities. If the Empire properly steps forward, they could sweep away not only the Kar Tribe in this north… but all of you as well.”
“…You’re bad at lying.”
Pweril turned her body.
But soon…
“Still… I hope those bastards all get killed.”
“…?”
At that muttering that seemed to just flow by, Lucael unconsciously turned his gaze toward Pweril.
At the same time, a question arose.
Perhaps… the relationship between the Kar Tribe and Chevilk Tribe might be different from what they knew… he thought.
* * *
“…You have a calm expression.”
Iryakl, sitting face to face with Arteon, asked.
The sight of him sitting defenseless without even being bound.
‘But…’
At the solidity that didn’t look defenseless anywhere at all, Iryakl inwardly gulped down dry saliva.
He was just sitting in the small cave he had made, leaning against the back, but he seemed to show the appearance of a seasoned warrior.
Iryakl asked.
“Do you really… think you can succeed? There’s a warrior stronger than you on the other side of the gorge.”
“That warrior will be handled by Lord Lucael anyway. Since he’s not my opponent, there’s no need to worry about it.”
“…By Lucael, do you mean the warrior who fought me earlier?”
“Yes.”
“With his skills… I see. It seems like none of the Kar Tribe here would be able to handle him.”
If only he could properly enter enemy territory and draw his sword.
Iryakl swallowed his remaining words.
Originally, such a thing wouldn’t have happened.
If he and Pweril had been defeated here, those guys would have immediately caused an avalanche by impacting the gorge walls.
Kereilkarun, the Kar Tribe general guarding Icicle Red Gorge, was both clever and possessed tremendous skills.
The aura he emanated possessed such tremendous power that it could instantly bring down the snow accumulated on the canyon walls.
Even if he fought with all his might, he couldn’t win…
But if this boy’s plan really worked…
‘This place… would fall into the Empire’s hands.’
If that happened, how would the war situation in the Northern Region change?
‘No.’
What would happen to our tribe…?
Until now, they had been used like slaves under the Kar Tribe.
It wasn’t simply because they held their families hostage.
The Chevilk Tribe was also in a situation where they couldn’t escape the Northern Region, and to resist them… those bastards were far too strong.
“Does the Empire… believe it can achieve victory in this war?”
“Of course.”
At Arteon’s unhesitating answer, Iryakl’s eyes darkened.
Iryakl continued speaking.
“You don’t truly know the power possessed by real Kar Tribe warriors. Those you’ve faced so far are merely warriors of average level. Above them…”
Iryakl’s body trembled slightly.
Just thinking about it sent chills throughout his entire body.
Especially…
“…”
The moment that memory surfaced, Iryakl fell silent.
The memory of what he suffered at their hands would never be erased for as long as he lived.
But then.
“…I know.”
“What did you say?”
At the quiet murmur, Iryakl raised his head to look at Arteon.
The gaze of Arteon, who sat with one knee raised, stretched out coldly.
Under his gaze that was like a hidden blade, Iryakl looked at him silently.
He had felt it before too.
‘What kind of eyes are those…’
How many times in his life had he seen such sharp eyes?
But more than their fierceness, what made him think deeper was their depth.
Those endlessly deep eyes possessed a magnetism that seemed to draw the observer in.
“…How does a young bastard like you know about that?”
“Because I’ve seen it too.”
Arteon spoke calmly.
He knew what kind of beings Iryakl was referring to when he said ‘them.’
‘If it’s the elder-level members of the Kar Tribe… that’s certainly possible.’
The Kar Tribe was formed by numerous northern ethnic groups gathering together.
Among them, the ruling class that actually dominated them.
And those positioned at the very top.
“…”
Arteon too had met one of them exactly once in his past life.
The thought he had then was.
‘If a god of war existed… wouldn’t it feel like this?’
With a single swing of a long spear, dozens of soldiers died.
Thinking of the aura that bastard had emanated.
‘The aura I use now… is just child’s play in comparison.’
Lucael too had reached the edge of 5th Star and shown tremendous martial prowess, but objectively evaluated, he inevitably fell short compared to them.
1st Star and 2nd Star.
2nd Star and 3rd Star.
The higher the level, the greater the difference became.
Of course, advancing to that level was an even more difficult task.
Arteon wore a bitter expression as he recalled the past.
Though it would take a long time to reach that place now.
‘One step… at a time.’
Without hesitation, one step at a time.
And after a day passed, as darkness slowly returned to the gorge.
“Shall we go now?”
At Arteon’s words, Iryakl nodded with a tense expression.
And at the same time.
“…”
Isaac looked outside the cave where the snowstorm was raging with a hardened expression.
Though it was an operation he had undertaken because he truly believed in him.
‘But…’
That didn’t mean his anxious feelings disappeared.
If this operation failed, the Imperial Army would lose their most outstanding prospect… without being able to do anything.
Even though they held Pweril hostage, if the Chevilk Tribe member who went with him had a change of heart, this side would inevitably become more disadvantaged.
“Phew.”
A sigh escaped naturally, but he forced himself to pull his thoughts together.
Right now…
‘I can only believe.’
He knew it was an irresponsible thought.
But hadn’t Arteon walked his own path until now?
‘If it’s that guy…’
Thinking of Arteon who would be moving away beyond the snowstorm, Isaac could only look in that direction with a complicated expression.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————