The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 121

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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 (121)

Swoosh!

Dodging the arrows flying from behind, Arteon entered the reed bed.

But the moment he cut through the reed bed.

Whoosh!

A hand that suddenly popped out from the side grabbed Arteon’s nape and pulled him toward the rocks.

“…!”

“Crazy bastard, you’ll die before your time at this rate.”

What came with the rough breathing was Isaac’s low voice.

Arteon smiled slightly and retorted.

“Doesn’t that mean I might live longer than usual?”

“Usually it means the opposite, you idiot.”

Isaac’s eyes flashed sharply, but a faint smile spread across his lips.

He knew it well too.

That he could endure this moment thanks to Arteon beside him.

Isaac glanced at the outside of the reed bed.

Wind was blowing fiercely, making the reeds sway.

Between the violently shaking stems, he could glimpse enemies swarming and charging.

Usually he always cursed this wind for bringing cold, but today this fierce wind felt particularly welcome.

Isaac said.

“The wind is strong so the entire reed bed is swaying. Even if we move a little… they won’t easily find where we are.”

Arteon nodded at those words.

Because all the reeds in the reed bed were continuously swaying due to the wind.

But soon Arteon looked up at the sky.

The reddening sun was casting long shadows over the reeds.

“If we hold out for just… 1 more hour, the sun will completely set.”

“1 hour…”

Isaac’s eyes narrowed.

“That won’t be easy.”

He could feel fierce presences rushing beyond the reed bed.

They didn’t know when these enemies would push through the reeds and charge in.

At least the human-height reeds kept them out of sight, so those guys would have no choice but to hesitate.

But that was also a matter of time.

Along with the Kar Tribe’s shouts from outside, warriors began entering the reed bed one by one.

Isaac and Arteon tightened their grip on their weapons.

There were no other options anyway.

They had to endure.

They absolutely had to survive.

Then Isaac nodded with a stern expression and whispered.

“Let’s return alive.”

“Yes.”

Both men’s gazes turned toward the Kar Tribe Warriors who had entered the reed bed.

And as the wind whirled and the reeds swayed like waves.

Swoosh!

Arteon was the first to charge at them like a beast.

*    *    *

A massive base camp built on the northern side past Helikel Gorge.

The Empire’s reinforcement forces led by Brentar arrived there.

Belkain, who had already come out to greet the tremendous number of troops that would become the backbone of the upcoming war, saw Brentar at the front.

“Welcome, General Brentar. You must have had a hard time coming all the way here.”

At Belkain’s low voice, Brentar smiled faintly and said.

“Thank you for welcoming us, Legion Commander Belkain.”

Soon he dismounted his horse and asked.

“How is the atmosphere here now? Is immediate deployment possible?”

“We are currently making full preparations for battle. However…”

Belkain’s brief answer carried a strange heaviness.

Brentar narrowed his eyebrows and asked.

“Is there some problem?”

Belkain was silent for a moment, then looked at the soldiers behind them.

“First, you must be tired from the long journey. Shall we go inside and talk?”

“…Let’s do that.”

With Belkain’s guidance, Brentar entered the barracks with him.

The barracks, entered to escape the cold air, was warm, but a strange tension swirled around.

“How are things currently at Central?”

“They have great interest in the Northern Region. Especially First Prince Sedrian has been paying considerable attention.”

When Sedrian was mentioned, Belkain’s expression hardened.

It reminded him anew how important this place was.

But soon.

“But… what problem is there?”

“…A small problem has arisen.”

Belkain sighed softly and explained about the recent death of the reconnaissance unit.

As the story continued, Brentar’s face darkened.

“…It’s not an easy situation. Then… it means there’s something we don’t know.”

The plains beyond this gorge.

Unlike what they thought would be nothing, there seemed to be quite many variables.

Brentar asked.

“Then shouldn’t we give up on reconnaissance?”

“But the danger that could arise from entering without understanding the terrain is too great.”

“That’s true…”

The air in the barracks sank even deeper.

Then Belkain continued.

“So there are elite reconnaissance soldiers we sent as a last resort, and we’re placing our hopes on them.”

“When is their return?”

“By tonight. Precisely… they need to return before sunset to have a chance of survival.”

“…Isn’t the sun already setting?”

At Brentar’s words, Belkain just pressed his lips tightly shut.

Seeing that, Brentar shook his head.

“Looking at it coldly… I think we should consider this operation a failure as well.”

Brentar pondered what to do next.

As Belkain said, they couldn’t recklessly deploy without any terrain reconnaissance.

They had to find a way.

But…

“…No.”

Belkain’s eyes flashed coldly.

At his stern expression, Brentar unconsciously flinched momentarily and looked at him.

Belkain stood up from his seat and said.

“They are absolutely not people who will die.”

At that resolute tone, the air in the barracks trembled.

And…

“If they don’t return, tonight. I plan to execute a rescue operation for them.”

Brentar’s expression also hardened at his words filled with determination.

*    *    *

Whiiiiiiing!

The reeds swayed like waves in the fierce wind.

Silver leaves rustled against each other, mixing with the sound of wind.

And into that place.

Rustle.

Kar Tribe Warriors carefully extended their axes, pushing the reeds aside.

“…Where are they.”

Cautious footsteps.

Due to the violently swaying reeds, it was impossible to determine their location.

Right now, even if they moved slowly, they wouldn’t be found immediately.

‘Definitely somewhere around here…’

He took a deep breath, but only the scent of wind and reeds hit his nose.

However, his senses honed through long battlefield experience were telling him.

That the enemy was right nearby.

But the one following behind chuckled and said.

“They’re hiding so well they have no intention of coming out. Who knows? Maybe they escaped to the other side of the reed bed.”

However, the Kar Tribe Warrior leading shook his head.

“If that were the case, Lord Bowkartaon would have already given us a signal.”

Wasn’t he standing on the large rock overlooking the reed bed, monitoring this place?

His arrows could easily pierce through enemies at distances over 200 meters.

With that, the Kar Tribe Warriors swallowed nervously and slowly advanced into the reed bed.

It was difficult to distinguish whether the reeds’ movement was due to wind or someone’s movement.

Tension weighed down on their shoulders.

But then.

Swish!

The reeds beside them split apart to both sides.

“Enemy…!”

One Kar Tribe Warrior’s eyes widened as he urgently shouted.

But before his warning could leave his lips.

Thunk!

A spear tip pierced straight through the warrior’s torso. 

A wheezing sound leaked out as his lung was punctured.

“Kkeuk…!”

Unable to even finish his scream, the speared warrior’s body collapsed helplessly.

Arteon quickly retrieved his spear and twisted his body.

Because he saw another warrior’s axe from right behind charging toward him.

Swoooooosh!

A split-second distance.

Arteon held his spear shaft sideways and deflected the axe’s trajectory.

“…!”

Ghostly movement.

How could he show such delicate movement with a spear?

If the angle had been even slightly insufficient or excessive, the axe would have chopped his wrist along the spear shaft.

“You…!”

The Kar Tribe Warrior retrieved his deflected axe and turned his head toward Arteon again, but.

Thunk!

The spear tip pierced through his nape, splattering red blood on the reed leaves.

He too met his death without even letting out a death cry.

“Huh, huk!”

Two men were taken down in an instant.

Not an exaggeration or embellishment, but truly two men died in less than 5 seconds.

And they were ones who bore two feather tattoos.

‘I’m, I’m no match for him…!’

The remaining warrior’s pupils shook greatly.

Normally he should have screamed to alert others that the enemy was here, but his reason was shattered by the absurd scene.

“Sp, spare me! Kkeok!”

He turned his body to flee.

He had no thought other than somehow escaping from this place.

But before his body could even turn 180 degrees, the judgment of the Death God with a spear fell upon him.

Thud.

“…Huh.

A short breath.

The thick smell of blood scattered in the wind.

Arteon pulled out the spear that had been embedded in the one who turned his back and immediately withdrew his mana.

The power that had explosively extended disappeared as if seeping into the reed bed, concealing even that presence without a trace.

What probably appeared in their eyes was just.

Reeds swaying in the wind.

And within that.

Swish.

Arteon’s figure melted away secretly like a shadow.

And soon the Kar Tribe Warriors who stood in that place again discovered the corpses of the dead warriors.

Piiiiiiiiii!

Along with a whistle warning of danger, warriors quickly gathered to that location.

Warriors who had died without even being able to put up any resistance.

The expressions of the remaining warriors hardened.

Because the realization that they were facing enemies far more dangerous than they had thought shook their entire bodies.

But the one more shocked by the current situation was Bowkartaon.

“…That mana.”

Control that emanated for a very brief moment, then was withdrawn without leaving a trace.

He had even faintly sensed traces of aura during the moment mana was emanated.

‘But how…’

Could he withdraw it so quickly without leaving any trace?

He had tried to find the location through the mana reaction the enemy emitted, but the enemy’s traces had already disappeared.

It was truly a level of mana control that a talented person would need to polish for over ten years.

“…Perhaps it might be us who won’t be able to return.”

Bowkartaon’s throat gulped involuntarily as he gazed at the reed bed.

Whiiiiiiing!

Soon a gust of wind blew, causing the reeds to sway greatly.

And within that, it felt as if an invisible beast was targeting them instead.

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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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