The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 103
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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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The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (103)
It goes without saying that night in the Northern Region comes far too quickly.
Moreover, once you start feeling like it’s about to get dark, thick darkness instantly devours the gorge.
Crackle, crackle.
Kereilkarun, who had been watching the flames rising from the campfire, saw his subordinate approaching him.
Judging by the guy’s expression, there didn’t seem to be any particular issues.
“Haven’t Iryakl and Pweril returned yet?”
“Not yet. I thought they’d be finishing up around this time… They seem to be exercising some caution.”
“Let’s wait for now. Inside the gorge, his skills are… worth expecting.”
Judging coldly, Iryakl’s skills inside the gorge were strong enough that even he, a 4-star, would find it difficult to handle.
His movements hidden in the blizzard that blew thick enough to obscure vision were impossible to detect with ordinary senses.
On top of that, his surprise attacks were literally specialized in wearing people down to death.
‘The cold weather of this gorge also plays a part.’
Moreover, if you’re paying attention to Iryakl, before you know it, the gorge’s cold will freeze your entire body.
It might not seem like much, but as time passes, your frozen body loses control.
Even if you want to move, you can’t move properly, so you can’t fight against enemies.
“But even if they’re the Empire’s special unit… it won’t be any different.”
Probably strong guys have gathered.
They must be guys who are skilled even within the Empire’s units.
‘Having obtained Helikel Gorge and Elvarfiel Lake… it’s natural to covet Icicle Red Gorge.’
That’s why he was here.
Someone who knew the terrain of Icicle Red Gorge better than anyone else and could prepare for special situations.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel like I might not be able to see the scenery between that gorge anymore.”
“Heh, do you think those black bastards will fail?”
“I’m preparing for a contingency.”
Kereilkarun spoke quietly.
His special ability was
to explode his aura and create tremendous destructive power in an instant.
‘It takes a lot of time and… the efficiency is poor, but…’
Since the power alone was certain, he could shock the walls of that massive gorge and create an avalanche.
If the Chevilk Tribe, those black bastards, failed
and the Empire’s army entered the path between this Icicle Red Gorge,
‘I’ll just create an avalanche and bury them all.’
No human can stand against massive nature.
That’s why they could enjoy this darkness with peace of mind.
But when the darkness had become thick enough to obscure vision,
Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!
The warrior standing guard at the gorge entrance began rapidly ringing the emergency bell.
Not only the Kar Tribe warriors who had been sleeping, but Kereilkarun also emerged from the barracks.
“What’s happening?”
“Taman, the black one has returned.”
Black skin with only his eyes visible.
Iryakl of the Chevilk Tribe had returned.
Carrying an Imperial soldier on his shoulder.
“Where’s the other black bitch? And who’s that guy on your shoulder?”
“…Guide me to Taman. I’ll speak to Taman.”
“Crazy! Do you think Taman is that idle! You haven’t been beaten enough lately!”
The Kar Tribe warrior who had been arguing with Iryakl drew the axe from his waist with killing intent in his eyes.
At that moment, Iryakl also lowered his stance and concentrated mana in his left hand.
Just as the atmosphere became menacing in an instant,
“Stop it.”
“Ta, Taman!”
The Kar Tribe warrior who had drawn his axe quickly hid it behind his back upon seeing Kereilkarun approaching.
Kereilkarun looked down at him and spoke quietly.
“Just do your assigned guard duty properly. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Ah, understood.”
As he bowed his head and stepped back, Kereilkarun turned his gaze toward Iryakl.
“What’s with that Imperial bastard on your shoulder?”
“…Pweril was captured by them. There’s a lot of information I need to get from this guy.”
“Pweril was captured? Didn’t you eliminate them?”
At Kereilkarun’s question, Iryakl bit his lips tightly.
An expression as if suppressing the urge to shout something immediately.
Soon, Iryakl, whose fists were trembling, continued speaking.
“Among the Imperial bastards… there was someone with outstanding skills.”
“To what extent?”
“Taman, he was stronger than even you.”
As soon as Iryakl finished speaking,
“Does this black bastard want to die!”
“How dare you spout such nonsense!”
The surrounding Kar Tribe warriors shouted at Iryakl with murderous expressions.
However, Kereilkarun lightly raised his hand to restrain them.
His eyes, which had turned coldly calm, faced Iryakl.
Kereilkarun asked.
“What level was he?”
“He seemed to be at least a warrior with five feathers. No, perhaps… he might have been even stronger.”
“That’s nonsense. If he was such a strong opponent, it wouldn’t make sense for you to return alive.”
“The arrogance the Imperial bastards possess saved me. I was lucky enough to bring a hostage too.”
Kereilkarun stared at Iryakl intently.
His broken nails and wounds carved all over his body.
The thick smell of blood that suggested an intense battle had taken place added credibility to his words.
But…
‘That guy… watched Pweril get captured?’
Considering the Chevilk Tribe, that would be an impossible situation.
People who cherish their family above all else.
Among them, Iryakl especially…
‘No… maybe not.’
Kereilkarun’s gaze turned toward Iryakl’s hands as he carried the Imperial soldier.
Trembling and extending his claws, it seemed like he was holding back the urge to kill immediately.
If Pweril had really been captured by the Imperial bastards, this guy’s current state of mind would be like standing at the edge of a cliff.
“Taman.”
“…Do as you wish. However, when you interrogate that Imperial soldier, our warriors will also participate.”
“As you please.”
Iryakl turned around. But then, Kereilkarun called him.
“Iryakl.”
“…?”
Iryakl stopped in place.
Facing him as he turned around, Kereilkarun said.
“It would be best not to have any foolish thoughts. What you need to protect isn’t just Pweril.”
Clench.
Iryakl, who had stopped walking, clenched his fist.
Blood flowed from his tightly bitten lips along with his trembling fist.
“…Don’t worry.”
With those words, Iryakl walked off somewhere.
From his faintly trembling shoulders, Arteon could truly feel that he was enraged.
And…
“Tell me everything you know.”
Iryakl said while looking at Arteon inside the iron-made prison.
Both his hands were bound with restraints that suppressed mana, and because of this, the other Kar Tribe Warriors seemed to accept the situation.
Of course they would.
Iryakl of the Chevilk Tribe was someone they used, not someone they could trust.
When such a person suddenly brought an Imperial Soldier alive, they couldn’t trust him completely.
However, during the process of Iryakl interrogating the Imperial Soldier, such suspicions completely disappeared.
Every time Iryakl’s nails dug into the Imperial Soldier’s body, he screamed in agony, and Iryakl’s cries that were close to screams gave even more chills to those watching.
“…Crazy bastard, isn’t he going to kill him at this rate?”
“I’ll report to Taman. Stop him from going too far. We also have information to extract.”
“Understood.”
However, the lengthy interrogation had to be stopped before long.
Because the Imperial Soldier had completely fainted and lost consciousness, making further interrogation impossible.
“Iryakl, we also have things to find out from that guy, so don’t kill him.”
“…”
The Kar Tribe Warrior who had approached fled from his position as if running away from Iryakl’s gaze.
“…When will we start?”
Iryakl said while looking at the collapsed Arteon. At that, Arteon, who had been closing his eyes as if unconscious, slowly opened them.
“You act well?”
“You too. It must have been quite painful… Are you okay?”
“I avoided all the vital spots.”
Arteon fumbled around and touched his sleeve, then immediately swallowed something with his mouth.
It was medicine that helped with pain relief as well as hemostasis.
To avoid the Kar Tribe’s surveillance in the first place, this level of torture was inevitable.
‘However…’
This guy.
He seemed more knowledgeable about the body than expected.
His force control that seemed excessive yet was appropriately moderated was also impressive.
‘…If I could only win him over.’
He might be of great help.
But at Arteon’s gaze, Iryakl narrowed his eyes and said.
“What are you thinking about? Don’t you know this is a crucial moment?”
“Don’t worry. More importantly, where is the person you need to save?”
“They’re confined inside the camp. It’s important to move immediately now.”
“Then…”
Arteon lay down comfortably on the ground and then drew up his mana.
The mana suppression restraints had already lost their effectiveness while he was pretending to be tortured.
It was something he had prepared with the timing in mind from the beginning.
Crack.
With a light application of force, the restraints binding his hands were destroyed.
Soon, he moved his mana to quickly spread the medicine he had just taken throughout his body.
The throbbing pain gradually disappeared, and the flowing blood stopped.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was without injuries.
“It’s 20 minutes after the signal flare goes up. In that time, Lord Lucael and the unit members will arrive here.”
30 minutes.
He just needed to endure that time.
However…
‘Against this many guys… will I be able to hold out?’
Lucael, along with Isaac and the unit members, were waiting in a cave that Iryakl had made about halfway through the gorge.
Moving closer might have gotten them spotted by scouts, so it was a decision made with maximum caution.
Thanks to this, there was no risk of being discovered, but they had to complete the mission of buying 20 minutes of time.
Something that absolutely could not fail.
Soon, the silver moon was covered by clouds, and even the moonlight that had been illuminating the darkness completely disappeared.
Dense darkness where even visibility disappeared except for places lit by torches scattered here and there.
In that darkness.
Swish.
Arteon and Iryakl moved carefully.
And…
‘…What’s with this guy.’
Iryakl couldn’t hide his surprised expression at Arteon’s movements, which were as stealthy as his own… no, even more stealthy than his own.
Stealth and covert maneuvering were originally Iryakl’s greatest weapons.
That’s how he could hide in darkness and snowstorms to ambush enemies and take their lives.
He thought he wouldn’t fall behind compared to anyone, but…
“Focus.”
“…Right.”
His thoughts had wandered for a moment.
At Arteon’s words, Iryakl nodded and guided them toward their destination.
And the closer they got to that place, the clearer the crying sound became.
‘…A baby?’
Could it be… that what was being held hostage was…
Along with the baby’s crying, Arteon saw Iryakl’s back, which seemed somewhat anxious.
A baby born between Iryakl and Pweril.
Were they using that child as a hostage to chain them down?
‘…Bastards.’
Arteon tightened his grip on Iglis.
And he said to Iryakl who was in front.
“How many guys are guarding that place?”
“Six. They’re all guys who can handle mana, and among them is a strong one with three feather tattoos.”
It was someone even Iryakl couldn’t guarantee victory against without a surprise attack.
But at Iryakl’s words.
“It doesn’t matter how many there are. I’ll handle those guys, so you retrieve the child.”
At those words, Iryakl glanced over and looked at Arteon.
The guy’s eyes seemed deep in thought.
And as the barracks where crying could be heard gradually came into view.
“Let’s go.”
Arteon’s form shot toward that place like an arrow.
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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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