The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 119

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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 (119)

Dawn was beginning to break.

A cool atmosphere covered the sky of Belikezel.

Though it seemed like it would be a more refreshing morning than usual, Korzan’s expression was not bright.

“….”

He had waited all night, but Valark’s report never came.

They had definitely agreed to make contact every half day without fail.

Though he was a guy who was half out of his mind, he was someone who followed Taman’s orders like a ghost.

That’s why he was chosen as Valark to manage the Madman Battalion.

For there to be no contact from such a guy meant.

“It seems there was trouble last night.”

Though it hadn’t reached Krelmuuk’s ears yet, the moment this news was delivered, he couldn’t even predict what kind of fury would descend.

Korzan let out a deep breath and stood up from his seat.

“Call Ulk and Bowkartaon.”

“Yes, Lord Korzan.”

A warrior who had been waiting outside the barracks hurriedly ran off somewhere.

Not even a few minutes later, there were two warriors running toward the barracks from far away.

It was Ulk and Bowkartaon.

A few days ago, they were the warriors who had grumbled about the deployment of the Madman Battalion and received a scolding from Korzan.

Korzan called the two warriors.

“Ulk, Bowkartaon. There’s work for you two to do.

“Just give us orders.”

“We’ll do anything, Lord Korzan.”

At the two warriors’ response, Korzan spoke in a low voice.

“Take your direct units and move to the Frontline Plains immediately. We need to check what happened there right away.”

“…What?”

“What do you mean….”

The two couldn’t hide their puzzled expressions at Korzan’s words.

Wasn’t the Madman Battalion already deployed there?

Ulk asked.

“Aren’t those perverted bastards deployed at the Frontline Plains?”

It was a choice that wasted military power, like deploying a butcher’s knife where you only needed to slaughter chickens.

Therefore, Ulk crossed his arms with an indifferent expression.

However, Bowkartaon, who was beside him, asked with a stern expression.

“Did something happen to the Madman Battalion?”

“…There’s been no contact from him.”

“…!”

At Korzan’s single statement, Bowkartaon’s eyes wavered.

Above all, Taman was strict about command and reporting systems.

Since they were under such a Taman, they knew well how dangerous it was not to report on time.

“We’ll move right away.”

When Bowkartaon spoke, Ulk beside him also finally recognized that a problem had occurred.

“I, I misspoke. We’ll move right away.”

At the two men’s words.

“You’ll need to hurry. If by any chance the Empire’s scouts entered the plains and took geographical information of this place….”

Korzan’s expression hardened coldly.

“Lord Taman will be extremely displeased.”

The two knew all too well what this meant.

However, if there was any consolation.

“If they collected information during the night and returned, there shouldn’t be a big problem.”

The nights of these plains were covered with thick darkness that blocked vision to an excessive degree.

If they had conducted reconnaissance at night, no matter how exceptional their senses, there would have been limits.

But now was different.

If those guys wanted to conduct terrain reconnaissance, it would be right now when the sun had risen.

They had to kill them before those guys finished collecting information and escaped.

“Hurry.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

Ulk and Bowkartaon’s footsteps hurriedly faded away.

Left alone, Korzan looked outside with a stern expression.

‘If by any chance….’

If the Madman Battalion was taken out, the situation would become serious. And if those guys even obtained geographical information and escaped….

“I don’t even want to think about it.”

Whether he should report this matter to Taman.

He was troubled for just a brief moment.

However, Korzan shook his head.

If he clumsily tried to handle it on his own level and things went wrong, he might have to take all the responsibility.

His footsteps heading toward where Krelmuuk was.

Korzan’s footsteps were quite heavy.

*    *    *

“Now I can finally see something.”

As dawn broke, the darkness receded like a lie.

Isaac muttered quietly as he watched the gradually revealing outline of the plains.

However, looking at the plains revealing their form, Isaac’s expression gradually hardened.

“….”

Isaac fell silent.

There were too many irregularities to simply call it plains.

Human-height rocks were scattered here and there, and between them, reed beds thick enough to hide one’s body grew densely.

“There are more tough reeds than I thought. If enemies are lying in ambush… it would be quite difficult to advance.”

“It seems so.”

Arteon and Isaac climbed up a low hill.

The terrain spread below their eyes was just as Isaac had said.

Due to the rocks and reeds that allowed for both cover and concealment, advancement would not be easy.

‘But….’

This wasn’t all of the terror this plain possessed.

In the middle of places that looked like ordinary grasslands, there were marshes that would swallow you up to your shins.

Because of this, if you didn’t know the exact locations, cavalry or infantry would suffer considerably when moving.

‘If you’re stuck and receive enemy arrows or surprise attacks… you’d end up in an impossible situation.’

Even in his past life, hadn’t over a hundred soldiers been completely annihilated without being able to do anything because of this?

Arteon recalled his past memories and began fitting together information about the plains in front of Helikel Gorge like a puzzle.

However, one regrettable thing was that he couldn’t remember all the locations of such marshes.

‘Even if it’s troublesome, I need to identify everything up to the midpoint before returning.’

He thought that how much information about this terrain they could gather might determine the outcome of this war.

Less than two weeks remained until the Main Force advanced.

Arteon said.

“Let’s hurry, they’ll probably notice and move too.”

“Right.”

The annihilation of the Madman Battalion would be quite a big blow to them as well.

Naturally, they would move to check what had happened.

They had to move expecting at least a force equal to or greater than the Madman Battalion to come.

Thud, thud!

Arteon and Isaac came down the low hill and ran quickly toward the formation of those guys.

Even while running, they assessed the terrain with their eyes, stopping intermittently to pull out a map and make simple markings.

Isaac looked at Arteon’s back as he ran.

‘This guy…’

It was something he had felt from before.

‘In every field… he’s too skilled.’

How could such a guy exist?

He experienced it every time, but each time he couldn’t help but be amazed.

Now he was starting to think that maybe he was wrong for being surprised.

But setting that aside.

‘Then it’s important to… make the most of the current situation.’

Isaac shouted to Arteon.

“Arteon! How about we go over there?”

Getting a bit greedy as the situation was going better than expected, Isaac pointed beyond a small hill and shouted.

At that, Arteon hesitated.

“That place…”

Arteon’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

If they went beyond that point, they would be able to see where the Kar Tribe’s main force was gathered.

They could obtain significant information from here, but.

‘…conversely, the risk is too great.’

Arteon shook his head.

“Going further would be dangerous. If we delay unnecessarily, we might be discovered by those guys.”

The Kar Tribe of Belikezel was by no means to be taken lightly.

Even just Taman here was a warrior with five, maybe six feather tattoos.

Even the officers under him were elites with three or four tattoos.

If Lucael were with them it might be different, but with just himself and Isaac, they absolutely couldn’t handle it.

It seemed best to retreat at this point.

At Arteon’s dissuasion, Isaac hesitated for a moment.

But soon he nodded.

“Well, this alone is sufficient gain. Then let’s hurry and go.”

Right now he completely trusted Arteon’s judgment.

Being able to come this far was all thanks to Arteon, wasn’t it?

At Isaac’s words, Arteon nodded.

“Yes.”

Soon the two quickly turned toward the path they had come from.

But it wasn’t long after the two had left.

“…There are traces here.”

One of Bowkartaon’s subordinates said, looking at footprints clearly carved into the ground.

“Judging by the depth, it seems they haven’t been gone long. And…”

The subordinate who raised his head to look in the opposite direction said quietly.

“Anyway, the place those guys are trying to go is probably Helikel Gorge. If it’s that place, we can arrive there first.”

“Can you catch those guys?”

“There’s a faster route.”

At his subordinate’s words, Bowkartaon narrowed his eyes.

Soon, nodding, he said.

“We absolutely must not let them escape. We must pursue and catch those guys without fail.”

“Understood.”

Soon the subordinate began running quickly in another direction along with his response.

Bowkartaon, who was following behind him with the warriors.

“I will never let them escape.”

Muttered quietly while looking ahead with sharp eyes.

*    *    *

The sun was gradually setting.

Red light was coloring the edge of the plains, but Arteon and Isaac still had not returned.

“…”

Inside the command tent.

Belkain’s expression grew increasingly stern.

“Has nothing entered the sentries’ field of vision?”

At the low question, Claw immediately answered.

“We keep checking but… there’s been nothing reported yet.”

He was equally worried.

How else would he be going up to the watchtower himself every few minutes to look ahead?

Belkain tapped the desk with his finger.

Only hollow echoes resonated through the barracks.

‘Could it be…’

Had they failed?

Anxious thoughts bit the tail of his thoughts with a snap. But Belkain shook his head.

‘They’re not the type to be easily taken down.’

They weren’t the type to die in a place like this, were they?

But contrary to his conviction, as time passed, his anxiety grew thicker.

Claw, who was looking outside the barracks again, said.

“If the sun sets completely… the situation will become really serious.”

Not only would they be unable to confirm the two’s survival, but they would also miss the timing to move soldiers for rescue.

Claw said urgently.

“We need to move some forces to the plains. We cannot lose those two like this.”

It wasn’t simply personal feelings.

Thanks to Arteon and Isaac’s activities, the Empire had accomplished many things it had never achieved in history.

Considering what they could accomplish in the future, they absolutely had to move a rescue unit.

But…

“…I refuse.”

Belkain’s voice cracked.

“We won’t move soldiers until they enter our field of vision. If we make a mistake and get hit by enemies lying in ambush on the plains… we won’t even be able to execute future operations.”

It was an excessively strict decision.

Sometimes when seeing him say such things, one could truly understand why he was called the Ogre of Benhard.

The commander of the Iron Legion.

A merciless commander who could accept any sacrifice for the victory of war.

But contrary to such decisions, Belkain’s insides were burning up as time passed.

As Claw said, if the sun set completely… then they would have to prepare for the worst-case scenario of losing the two.

But that was the moment.

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!

The emergency bell echoing throughout the main base.

As heavy and urgent bell sounds spread continuously, soldiers moved in unison with commotion.

Instantly, the air inside the tent became explosively tense.

Belkain’s gaze became coldly sharp.

“…What’s happening?”

Along with that.

“St-Steel Heart! I report!”

A soldier who had been on sentry duty urgently entered the barracks.

It was the soldier Claw had ordered to report immediately if anything happened.

Claw shouted.

“Report immediately!”

“Th-that is…!”

At his following words.

“Prepare the soldiers at once.”

Belkain shot up from his seat.

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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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