The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 122
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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 (122)
“…What do you mean by that, Korzan.”
In an instant, a crushing pressure descended upon the training ground.
Korzan quickly bowed his head at Krelmuuk’s gaze that subtly contained killing intent and said.
“I, I apologize for the delayed report.”
Despite the sun having set, they still hadn’t caught the Imperial Army’s scouts who had entered the plains.
Ulk and Bowkartaon could be considered the main force within Belikezel.
Since they had mobilized them but received no reports for a long time, he had to report to avoid future punishment.
Of course, the current situation wasn’t pleasant for Korzan either.
“…Korzan.”
“Yes, Taman.”
At Krelmuuk’s call, Korzan felt cold sweat trickling down his spine.
He hadn’t expected the matter to be delayed this long.
Just catching a few guys, he had thought using Ulk and Bowkartaon was rather excessive.
But….
‘If the situation has come to this.’
He would have to accept whatever punishment came his way.
The Taman he knew wasn’t lenient with mistakes.
“Lead the warriors and move out yourself.”
“…What?”
It was completely unexpected words.
Korzan raised his head to look at Krelmuuk.
Cold eyes looking down at him.
Krelmuuk continued speaking.
“The fact that those two couldn’t resolve the matter even after sunset means the opponents far exceed your expectations.”
“B, but….”
“Variables must be completely eliminated. At this point, no variables should be allowed.”
Soon the Empire’s army would gather at the base camp in Helikel Gorge.
Belikezel had never allowed anyone’s intrusion until now.
But having fought the Empire for a long time, Krelmuuk knew well what their terror was.
Massive supplies and countless troops.
And the Empire’s ‘formation’ where those troops moved as one posed a considerable threat to them.
Moreover, hadn’t they been fighting on the Empire’s territory until now?
‘But….’
Now it was the opposite.
That’s why they absolutely couldn’t let the ‘terrain advantage’ they could gain in the very first battle be taken away.
Placing the Madman Battalion at the entrance of the plains to block the Empire’s reconnaissance unit was also for that reason.
Krelmuuk said.
“Go, go and definitely eliminate the Imperial bastards who entered this land. Not a single one… not even one must be allowed to escape.”
At Krelmuuk’s sharply flashing words.
“Understood.”
Korzan stood up from his seat and bowed his head in response.
Now that the sun had set, further reconnaissance activities would be impossible.
Those guys would try to escape using darkness as a shield.
‘This is our land.’
Rather, darkness becomes a powerful weapon for hunters.
Absolutely… won’t let them escape.
Watching Korzan turn around, Krelmuuk’s eyes sank with complex emotions.
* * *
After killing nine elite Kar Tribe warriors, no more of them entered the reed bed.
Isaac glanced toward the outside of the reed bed and soon let out a small breath.
“…The sun is setting now. When darkness falls, we need to escape through that gap.”
“Even when it gets dark, we won’t be able to escape.”
“What do you…?”
At Isaac’s question, Arteon also sat down heavily.
Because he had been keeping his senses sharp continuously, fatigue had accumulated more than expected.
Arteon said.
“This is their land. Even if we try to escape under cover of darkness, we won’t be able to completely avoid their attention.”
In the end, they would be pursued.
Hearing those words, Isaac narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Then you’re saying we should stay in this reed bed? As time passes, we’re the ones at a disadvantage.”
They had no water or food.
If just one more day passed, that difference would create an enormous gap between them and the enemy.
In the end, they would have no choice but to sit and die in this reed bed.
But at Isaac’s question, Arteon shook his head.
Swoosh.
Soon Arteon looked up at the sky.
The red light stretching from far away colored the entire plains.
Probably 30 minutes.
Within that time, these entire plains would be covered in pitch-black darkness.
Arteon sat next to Isaac and leaned his back against a rock.
“Captain, until the day completely sets… could you stand guard for me?”
“What?”
“The darkness of the north can be a shield, but sometimes it can also be a sharper hidden blade than anything else.”
“…What do you mean?”
Isaac asked at Arteon’s incomprehensible words.
He should know well how serious the current situation was.
Moreover, didn’t he know they had to return before it got any later?
But Arteon calmly closed his eyes and exhaled.
And….
“When it gets dark… I plan to kill all those guys and return.”
“…!”
I’ll go buy an apple from the store in front.
It felt like hearing such casual words.
Unlike the surprised Isaac, Arteon looked at him with extremely calm eyes and said.
“So please stand guard for just 30 minutes, Captain.”
Then Arteon closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Watching him, Isaac couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.
“…This crazy bastard.”
Fortunately, those guys also seemed to be waiting until it was completely dark, as there was no movement.
Thump! Thump!
With the feeling of his heart beating madly, Isaac turned his head to look where the Kar Tribe was.
‘Those guys….’
Kill them all and leave.
When darkness descended, vision would be obscured.
Naturally, it would become difficult for them to pursue from their perspective.
But as Arteon said, this was their land.
If there was an option to escape, it felt like giving wings to them.
But….
‘They would find it hard to even think that they… are being hunted.’
Is he striking at that opening?
Though there are far too many dangerous elements.
“Anyway, you’re a madman, Arteon.”
Something in his chest felt like it was boiling and overflowing.
And before long, as the sun set, the entire plains began to be dyed in darkness.
* * *
Whoooooosh!
It was the same wind that always blew.
Carrying the cold chill of the Northern Region.
But strangely, today that wind felt even more eerie—was it just his imagination?
Bowkartaon, who had been looking toward the reed bed, fell silent.
It had already been well over two hours since they began this standoff over the reed bed.
In that time, six warriors from Ulk’s unit had died, and three of his own subordinates had lost their lives as well.
“Are we just going to keep watching like this?”
“Wait a little longer. Now that night has fallen, they’ll move again under cover of this darkness.”
Those guys would know that there was no point in holding out for much longer.
Especially since the reeds could only block the wind so much.
‘They can’t stay still doing nothing for long in this cold.’
The cold of the Northern Region wasn’t something that could be endured with mere winter clothing.
As proof, weren’t even the other warriors constantly moving their bodies to generate heat?
He too would have frozen solid long ago if he hadn’t used mana to ward off the cold.
So how much worse must it be for those guys who had completely concealed their mana to hide their presence?
“They’ll move soon now.”
At Bowkartaon’s words, Ulk nodded.
And at that same moment.
“Ugh… uugh…”
Isaac, gradually reaching his limit, trembled his lips and let out a small groan.
If he used mana, those guys who were sensitive to mana reactions might detect them.
So while hiding, he couldn’t use mana either.
Perhaps that was why.
Before long, the cold chill of the Northern Region was penetrating into his body, bringing unbearable cold.
But the strange thing was.
“…This bastard, he’s not dead, is he?”
Isaac muttered while looking at Arteon, who had his eyes closed.
Though he had grown considerably compared to before, Arteon still had a smaller frame than himself.
And sleeping in a situation like this.
“Are you worried?”
But with a question that was almost like a murmur, Arteon opened his eyes and stood up.
When Isaac looked at him with surprised eyes.
“Thank you, thanks to that I’ve completely recovered my stamina.”
Arteon said while looking at Isaac.
Soon, seeing Isaac’s lips turned blue, he removed the bracelet he was wearing on his right wrist.
Swoosh!
The moment he removed the bracelet, tremendous cold rushed in.
Right… this is the cold of the Northern Region.
It seemed he had forgotten about it for quite a long time thanks to the artifact he obtained from the Imperial Treasury.
Arteon handed the bracelet to Isaac.
“Wear this, if you’re exposed any longer your life could be in danger.”
“What is this…?”
“When I move, escape in the opposite direction.”
“Crazy talk, you want me to run away alone?”
“Of course not.”
Arteon smiled slightly.
Similar to the smile he had shown before when going ahead to save them.
But the result would be very different.
“I’ll follow right behind.”
“…”
At that sight, Isaac paused for a moment and stared at him.
Certainly… he was still not even an adult.
Even if he had rolled around on battlefields, Isaac himself had rolled around much more.
‘But why…’
Why did he feel like he was looking at a massive mountain?
“…Hey, this thing’s effect is incredible. Were you the only one wearing something like this?”
Once he put on the bracelet, the penetrating chill was gone.
His body, which had been trembling from the cold, seemed to be gradually calming down.
Isaac said.
“I’ll go ahead, so follow quickly. Don’t overdo it trying to take down all of them.”
“Understood.”
With those words, Isaac slowly moved in the opposite direction in a crouched position.
And…
Swish.
Arteon turned his body.
‘I’ve rested… enough.’
He was able to rest thanks to Isaac.
Probably even if you searched the entire Northern Region, there wouldn’t be many people who could rest so comfortably with enemies in front of them.
‘I need to return quickly.’
If they delayed any longer, the main base might take other actions.
If they just left them alone, it would be one thing.
‘But if by any chance they move troops to rescue us…’
There could be creaking sounds from the very start of their Northern Region advance.
“Huu.”
Arteon, who exhaled softly, looked forward.
He could clearly sense the movements of those guys bustling around outside the reed bed.
Arteon, who had memorized their positions in his head, slowly parted the reeds to the side and moved outward.
And…
Thump!
With a strong kick off the ground.
Swoooosh!
Arteon’s figure shot forward like an arrow toward the Kar Tribe Warrior at the very front.
“Now!”
Whoosh!
At Arteon’s signal, Isaac drew up his mana and began running in the opposite direction.
And at that moment.
“…!”
The intense mana reaction felt from within the reed bed.
The Kar Tribe Warriors also noticed that they had begun to move.
“They’re escaping! Chase them!”
Bowkartaon shouted loudly while pursuing the mana reaction moving in the opposite direction.
Indeed, that was the only choice those guys could make.
However, what was puzzling was.
‘To think they would reveal themselves so openly.’
I thought they would move a bit more cautiously.
But at the same time as the mana reaction moving in the opposite direction.
“…?”
Bowkartaon’s eyes wavered slightly.
Why that direction….
‘Our side?’
Before that question could even finish.
Thud!
With a dull sound, the subordinate who had been in front of the reed bed collapsed to the ground.
He couldn’t even figure out what had struck him.
But….
“A-attack!”
Along with his subordinate’s cry.
Slash! Thunk!
A brilliant crimson painting was being drawn across the snowy plains where darkness had descended.
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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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