The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 134

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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 (134)

“What the fuck, what kind of bullshit is this!”

“…?”

At the sudden outcry, not only Arteon but everyone present turned their gaze toward the source.

Despite the cold northern wind, the man’s face was flushed bright red, and white steam was rising from his body.

He appeared to be around middle age, perhaps?

The man with fierce eyes threw the helmet he was holding onto the ground and spoke.

“They said the Independent Unit would deploy a hundred men, so shouldn’t we fill that hundred?”

When Claw tried to say something in response, Arteon slightly extended his hand to stop him.

“I’ll handle this.”

“…Yes.”

As Claw stepped back, Arteon addressed the man.

“It would be nice to fill a hundred spots, but I should have mentioned beforehand that those who can’t pass this level of test aren’t worth taking along, so we won’t select them.”

“Who are you?”

“Were you such a fool that you don’t even know the face of the unit commander you applied to serve under?”

“…!”

The man’s pupils shook for a moment.

He had wondered what young punk had popped up to annoy him, but this person was Arteon.

Soon he suppressed his anger with effort and continued speaking.

“No, how can you know whether they’ll die or not? Frankly speaking, can you survive just by being good at running around like this? A soldier’s skill requires spear technique and sword technique—ultimately the ability to fight well, doesn’t it!”

But it seemed difficult to completely suppress his emotions.

At his rather agitated words, Arteon looked at the other men behind him.

Though they weren’t speaking, it seemed many of those who had failed shared similar thoughts.

Arteon extended his hand to the side.

“Spear.”

“Here it is.”

Receiving a standard spear used by regular soldiers, Arteon pointed to the soldier in front.

“What’s your name?”

“Th-Thomas, sir.”

“Good, Thomas. Take up your spear and shield and assume combat stance.”

“…?”

The one called Thomas wore a puzzled expression but soon took up his shield and spear, assuming a stance.

Though he took a fairly decent stance, his body was trembling due to his already depleted stamina.

“Everyone watch.”

Arteon pointed to Thomas, who was maintaining his stance, and spoke.

“The Independent Unit I lead basically performs operations specialized in guerrilla tactics. Naturally, we must consider the distance traveled and speed aspects more than ordinary units.”

Slowly.

“However….”

Arteon’s spear tip, which had been pointing at Thomas, gradually lowered.

This was because Thomas’s shield was slowly dropping.

“Though we used a kite shield for testing purposes unlike what’s used in actual combat, when stamina drops, even holding up a shield becomes difficult like this. Moreover….”

Thwack!

“Argh!”

Arteon lightly thrust his spear, striking the man’s shield.

At the sudden attack, Thomas screamed and collapsed to the ground.

Arteon continued speaking with an indifferent expression as if nothing had happened.

“I didn’t use mana in that strike just now. I didn’t put much force into it either, just accurately struck the center of the shield. But what was the result?”

Everyone kept their mouths shut at the sight of Thomas rolling pathetically on the ground.

However, Thomas sprang up from his position and spoke to Arteon.

“Even among those who passed now, there are plenty who wouldn’t be able to endure and would collapse!”

“That statement could be right or wrong. Someone with worse conditions than you might have passed. I won’t deny that. However….”

Arteon’s gaze turned coldly serious.

He was merely looking silently, yet it felt like goosebumps were spreading all over one’s body.

“Urgh…!

Thomas, meeting that gaze, unconsciously stepped back.

Arteon spoke to him.

“We don’t have the luxury of time to consider various conditions comprehensively. We just need those who meet minimum conditions and survive… the rest can be taught later. And you possess conditions that fall short of that standard. Yet instead of reflecting on your own inadequacies, you voice complaints first? In such a public place?”

The surrounding gazes turned piercingly toward Thomas.

To the extent that one might think this was what it meant to be slapped by words, each of Arteon’s words flew painfully toward Thomas.

Eventually, Thomas looked at the soldiers staring at him, bit his lips tightly, and then.

“Fuck it, do whatever the hell you want!”

He ran down the hill as if fleeing.

However….

Crash bang!

When someone whose legs had already given out goes down a slope at that speed….

The man who had fallen pathetically got up and ran again, but only disappeared completely from view after tumbling several more times.

Arteon turned around and spoke to Grain.

“Wrap things up, and have the soldiers who passed form ranks and wait at sunrise tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, understood.”

“You worked hard today. Hurry and finish up so you can rest.”

“You’re the one who worked hard, Unit Commander. Then I’ll finish up quickly.”

With those words, Arteon headed toward the barracks.

With so many soldiers gathered, quiet training was impossible.

However….

‘A preemptive strike.’

Timing-wise, it was quite a good situation.

If their preemptive strike drew attention in that direction, the Main Force could target the opposite side.

‘With a unit of barely a hundred men… how much effect we can achieve is uncertain.’

It was even a hastily assembled Independent Unit that hadn’t properly coordinated.

Arteon visualized the combat situation in his mind.

They wouldn’t achieve as great an effect as hoped.

Enemy casualties would be minimal, and ultimately they would have to flee while drawing the enemy’s attention.

‘But… he must have planned the operation with even these aspects in mind.’

Arteon recalled his past life and Belkain’s reputation.

Before he was killed by a spy who had infiltrated from Central Command, hadn’t he achieved incredible military accomplishments in countless battles?

Such a commander wouldn’t fail to consider variables of this degree.

There must surely be another move.

For now, he could only.

“Do his best with the given task.”

Arteon lay down on his bed and quietly closed his eyes.

*    *    *

From far away, sounds from enemy territory carried on the wind, echoing through the frozen air.

Over the snow scattered like sprinkles on the ground, Kar Tribe Warrior Kamoltan approached and spoke.

“It seems the Empire bastards have been up to something strange.”

At Kamoltan’s words, Bowkartaon silently gazed toward the forward position.

A brief silence settled deeply between the two men, but eventually Bowkartaon continued speaking.

“They’ll move before long. They won’t let the momentum gained from their previous victory go to waste.”

Bowkartaon spoke in a calm voice.

A cold assessment of the situation.

At his flawless tone, Kamoltan questioned.

“Still, what could those Empire bastards possibly do? In the end, they’ll all die before the warriors’ axes and swords.”

“Kamoltan, do not underestimate the Imperial Army.”

Bowkartaon knew well how terrifying the Imperial Army’s tactics and unity could be.

If it were simply a battle of strength against strength, they would win without a second thought.

The warriors who survived in this harsh Northern Region possessed not only strong bodies and stamina, but also incredible combat prowess.

However, despite that.

“The reason we haven’t been able to overcome them is… because they possess excellent tactical abilities that can completely hide their weaknesses.”

The tactics that changed mysteriously with a single command were something the Kar Tribe could not imitate.

It was their unique tactics learned through long history and education.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I spoke carelessly.”

“Our problem is that we look down on the Imperial Army too much. The fact that they’ve maintained their formation so solidly and made it this far means they have the strength to do so.”

At Bowkartaon’s words, Kamoltan bowed his head deeply.

Bowkartaon looked toward the forward position again and pondered.

‘If I were them… how would I move?’

He visualized the Imperial Army advancing across the plains in his mind.

The total forces of allies and enemies were similar.

But that’s exactly why it was so surprising.

To think they had forces similar in level to his own, who had been camped here from the beginning.

He could directly understand how great the Empire’s desire for the Northern Region was.

‘If we face them head-on, our casualties won’t be negligible either.’

A force of nearly 30,000 men.

But having many personnel meant that the amount of supplies they used would inevitably be enormous as well.

And obtaining those supplies on-site in this frigid Northern Region was virtually impossible.

“Kamoltan.”

“Yes, Lord Bowkartaon.”

“What happened with the report sent to Taman?”

“I understand measures are already being taken.”

At Kamoltan’s answer, Bowkartaon nodded with satisfaction.

Eventually, he spoke.

“If their supplies are cut off, they’ll have no means to hold out.”

No matter how exceptional they might be, humans cannot survive while starving.

Just by cutting off supplies, they could neutralize that massive force.

And if that caused them to turn their backs…

‘I can’t just let them go.’

That bastard, at least, must definitely die.

Bowkartaon looked at Kamoltan and said.

“After cutting off supplies, if the Imperial Army shows signs of retreating, we’ll bite at them without delay. So prepare the warriors to march out at any time.”

“Yes.”

Bowkartaon recalled that defeat and turned his eyes coldly.

*    *    *

Heavy silence descended.

Belkain, sitting alone in the barracks, stared intently at the map placed on the desk.

But then.

“Commander-in-Chief.”

Claw entered and spoke to Belkain.

Belkain’s gaze shifted from the map to him.

“Has the letter arrived?”

“Yes, it should arrive in about a week.”

“A week…”

That much time was still sufficient.

There were supplies that could be received immediately from Hellikel Fortress as well.

However…

‘Perhaps the important battlefield… might be somewhere else, not here.’

Though they had stored additional supplies for resupply at the fortress in Helikel Gorge, that alone was woefully insufficient.

For rapid advance, they had no choice but to create distance between themselves and the movement of supplies.

Being stable was good, but if they matched that pace, it would be impossible to swiftly launch surprise attacks on enemies.

Belkain handed Claw a letter.

“Deliver this to the messenger who arrived. Before reaching the base camp at Helikel Gorge, no other variables must arise.”

“Yes, understood.”

And when Claw left, Belkain was looking at the map with heavy eyes.

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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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