The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 124

—————
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 (124)

“Bring blankets first! Hurry!”

“Platoon Leader! Platoon Leader!”

“Are you alright, Platoon Leader!”

It pierces his eardrums to the point of giving him a headache.

Looking at the 4th Squad members surrounding him, Arteon frowned and said.

“…I’m fine, so be quiet, you bastards.”

“Phew… I really thought something terrible had happened.”

“Hey, this is definitely something terrible happening. I’m in serious pain right now.”

Arteon, lying on a stretcher covered with no less than 6 blankets, spoke in a sullen voice.

Bartell, the 1st Squad leader holding one side of the stretcher, nodded his head.

“Yes yes, you do look like you’re in pain.”

“…Son of a bitch.”

Arteon muttered quietly, then relaxed his body and lay back on the stretcher.

It was really just for a moment… but he thought it was over.

Arteon recalled the dizzying situation.

But then.

‘…Who would have thought the Heart of Ether would react at that moment.’

Arteon quietly closed his eyes and checked the energy of the Heart of Ether inside his body.

Certainly much more had been absorbed than before.

Though there had been a great crisis, that crisis had instead become a blessing in disguise for Arteon.

Arteon relaxed and lay on the stretcher.

Though he looked completely drained, he seemed to feel at ease as the tension was released.

But then.

“Are you alright?”

“…I’m sorry, Sergeant Claw.”

Arteon spoke quietly while looking at Claw who was walking right beside him.

Claw shook his head.

“Haha, don’t say such things. When they said they were dispatching a rescue unit, I was the first to volunteer.”

Arteon doesn’t really know what level Claw’s skills are at either.

Only that he killed quite a lot of Kar Tribe bastards in his younger days.

When Arteon joined the military, he had already become an aide assisting the big shot Belkain.

Such a person who hadn’t come to the battlefield even in his past life, had taken up the sword again.

For Arteon’s sake.

“…”

His mind was complicated.

Whether he as a person really had such great value.

But perhaps reading Arteon’s thoughts?

Claw, who was walking beside him, smiled faintly and said.

“Are you curious? Why I came here?”

“It would be a lie to say I’m not curious. No, actually I’m so curious I could go crazy.”

Though the situation of lying down was a bit embarrassing, Arteon spoke his true feelings.

To that, Claw said.

“I still think of that first time we met.”p>

Like that time when he endured in the Punishment Cell without letting out a single groan, and that time when he returned from the Snowy Plains…

“And that time when you said you needed a space to train in return.”

Though he had been in military service for quite a long time, he had never seen a soldier as tenacious as Arteon.

That sight of him not letting go of his spear even when his hand wounds burst and became mangled.

Along with growing at an impossible speed.

At that time, Claw was certain.

Perhaps this soldier… might be able to change the situation of this Northern Region.

That’s why, knowing it was a reckless operation, he volunteered as the commander of Lieutenant Arteon’s rescue unit.

Because he thought they absolutely must not lose him.

“For now… rest. Your injuries are more serious than expected.”

Looking at the base camp of Helikel Gorge that was beginning to come into view, Claw said.

Soon in front of the base camp’s City Gate, along with about a hundred soldiers.

“We have successfully completed the rescue operation and returned, Lord Belkain.”

“Good work.”

With those words, Belkain’s gaze turned toward Arteon lying on the stretcher.

Though embarrassment washed over him at the feeling of receiving everyone’s attention.

“Everyone move inside the base camp.”

Belkain simply turned around with a short command.

The reconnaissance mission to the plains in front of Helikel Gorge, which seemed to have many eventful incidents.

With Arteon and Isaac’s return, that operation ended successfully.

But at the same time.

Crack.

“…”

The handle of a chair made from black steel, said to be as hard as steel, was torn off like rotten wood.

Korzan in front unconsciously lowered his head.

“…You let them escape?”

Just one sentence.

But along with that question came a pressure so intense he couldn’t even breathe.

Ulk, who was standing beside Korzan, unconsciously staggered and dropped to one knee on the Ground.

At that moment.

Bang!

“Kugh!”

In an instant, something seemed to flash, and Ulk’s body was sent flying backward.

Something that happened in the blink of an eye.

Looking at the unconscious Ulk, Korzan turned his head and said.

“Take Ulk to the medical room.”

At that single word, several warriors who had been waiting outside supported Ulk and left the area.

Soon Krelmuuk looked at Korzan and continued speaking.

“The Empire’s army will come rushing soon. Prepare for it.”

“Understood.”

“Korzan.”

“…Yes, Taman.”

Looking at Korzan who answered while bowing his head.

“There must be no more incidents that disappoint me. Keep in mind that this is the last time I’ll show forgiveness.”

“Understood, Taman.”

The angry Krelmuuk was too much to handle even for Korzan, his closest aide.

Just responding to his words.

There was nothing else he could do besides that.

Soon after Korzan left as well, Krelmuuk, left alone, slowly rose from his seat.

Though he didn’t know what kind of guy it was.

“To escape from This Place…”

Bowkartaon, Ulk.

These two guys were definitely not pushovers.

Though they remained at the level of middle-ranking officers here, if they were deployed south beyond Helikel Gorge, they were capable enough to be called Taman of a tribe.

He was already curious about what kind of bastard it was.

‘But…’

No one could possibly cross this Belikezel.

“Come, dogs of the Empire.”

Krelmuuk had already finished preparing for battle with them.

*    *    *

Step, step, step.

Along with the sound of soldiers’ footsteps marching in unison, a quiet silence descended upon the base camp.

Arteon stood silently, watching the soldiers busily moving supplies and preparing for battle.

“How’s your body feeling now?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

Arteon gave a brief answer as he looked at Isaac approaching him.

Since there were no major external injuries, he appeared to have no problems on the surface.

However, the internal injuries twisted from forcibly blocking Bowkartaon’s strike could not be considered 100% recovered yet.

Isaac spoke while watching the soldiers moving busily.

“We’ll advance within a few days now.”

“I’ll be fully healed by then.”

“You’d better be, since the battlefield isn’t easy enough to go out with an injured body.”

Hadn’t they already experienced it once?

To speak coldly, they were guys of a different class from the ones they’d met on the northern battlefields so far.

‘Especially that guy with the bow…’

His archery skills and above all, his senses were ridiculously good, weren’t they?

He was a guy who could detect and attack like a ghost even with just the slightest use of mana.

If he met that guy again…

‘I’ll have to repay the debt from that time.’

Isaac clenched his fist tightly.

“Anyway, take good care of your body. I also have preparations to make until then.”

Arteon unconsciously smiled at Isaac’s words.

Though he seemed to be smiling on the surface, you could tell just by looking at his eyes.

How much he was burning with competitive spirit right now.

‘He’s probably trying to make up for the parts he couldn’t perfectly execute in the last reconnaissance mission.’

He accurately grasped his own shortcomings and worked desperately to improve them.

The Isaac he knew was like that.

But Isaac, who had been turning away, hesitated in his steps.

“Oh, and. When you have time, why don’t you visit the 4th Squad once.”

“Why is that?”

“Those guys. I don’t know if it’s because you came back injured this time… but they’re really fired up.”

“…What?”

“You’ll know when you go see.”

Isaac left only incomprehensible words and walked toward the outskirts of the base camp.

Come to think of it, it had already been five days.

He hadn’t seen those guys’ faces while treating his wounds.

‘I should be able to move around now.’

As long as he didn’t use mana, there would be no problem.

Arteon moved his steps toward the barracks where the 4th Squad members were.

But…

“…?”

The barracks were completely empty.

It was quite early, so where had they all gone?

‘Morning run time has already passed.’

Arteon caught another soldier passing by nearby.

“Where are all the 4th Squad soldiers?”

“Heart of Steel! Ah, if you mean those guys, they should be at the 3rd Training Ground by now.”

“3rd Training Ground?”

“Yes, they go there every day after morning meals. I don’t know what kind of secret training they’re doing… It seems impressive, Squad Leader.”

At the soldier’s words, Arteon turned toward the 3rd Training Ground without hesitation.

Both Isaac and that soldier.

Though they spoke in ways that seemed incomprehensible at the moment, he had some idea of what it might be.

And when he arrived at the 3rd Training Ground.

“…Huh?”

Grain, the deputy squad leader of the 4th Squad who was guarding the front of the 3rd Training Ground, saw Arteon.

“Are they all doing mana cultivation method training inside?”

“Yes.”

The day Arteon returned with injuries.

The 4th Squad members had to feel an unfamiliar shock.

Because they knew how strong Arteon was and how much of a gap there was between them and him.

But…

“…Such a squad leader came back injured. From our position, we couldn’t just sit still.”

Therefore, since that day, they had been devoted to training, saving every minute and second.

Especially the mana cultivation method that Arteon had taught them.

Most of them still hadn’t surpassed the 1st Star level due to insufficient physical time, but.

“Our goal is for everyone to gather 1st Star mana before the main force departs.”

“So that’s why you were standing guard at the entrance to prevent other soldiers from entering.”

“That’s right.”

Grain nodded.

However, if that were the case, while it could help other squad members secretly train in mana cultivation methods, Grain’s training time would inevitably be reduced.

‘…Doesn’t matter.’

Arteon’s gaze turned toward Grain’s lower abdomen.

A mana sphere that was faint but clearly gathered and formed.

“Congratulations on reaching the 1st Star level, Sergeant Grain.”

“As expected, you noticed. I was able to complete it just yesterday.”

When it’s felt this clearly, there’s no way not to notice.

Just from this, he could tell how much effort they had put in during the past time.

‘…1st Star.’

It seemed he could advance the plan faster than he had thought.

If all the squad members really gained 1st Star mana, they would have distinctly different body movements than before.

If so…

“Grain, make sure to tell all the squad members.”

“Please speak.”

“If everyone achieves 1st Star, the vanguard of this war…”

Arteon’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Tell them that our 4th Squad might be able to claim it.”

Until now, Arteon had thoroughly moved alone or operated in units composed of elite troops.

There was one reason.

The squad members weren’t yet at a level where they could follow Arteon.

But if they became able to use mana, the situation would change from then on.

Now…

‘With unit tactics… we’ll strike them.’

They had to face the stronger Kar Tribe, but there was no fear.

This side had also become incomparably stronger than before.

For a moment, the faces of those guys called Bowkartaon and Ulk flashed quickly through Arteon’s mind.

They were certainly threatening guys, but…

‘This time it’s my turn.’

In Arteon’s mind, a clear picture of the battlefield was already being drawn.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————