The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 145

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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 (145)

The wind of the plains blew coldly.

The setting sun beyond the hill turned red, as if swallowing the smell of battlefield dirt and blood into the flames.

That place where tremendous flames were pushing back the darkness.

But the expressions of the soldiers lined up before the burning flames were more solemn than ever, blazing with anger.

Silence.

Everyone had prepared for the possibility of meeting death during war, but they never expected to be used in such a miserable state.

Comforting the souls of comrades who had been used for such cruel means.

That was the only thing Arteon could do right now.

But then.

Thud, thud, thud.

A tremendous group approaching from afar.

The sound of clanking armor and soldiers’ footsteps marching in unison echoed across the plains.

The commanders at the front saw the large flames burning.

“…You’ve done well.”

Belkain, who approached Arteon, spoke to him with a heavy expression.

He had already heard the report and knew.

What kind of death they had met.

That’s why he had allowed their cremation even in the midst of an ongoing battlefield.

Whoooooooosh!

The flames soaring high without knowing the height of the sky would probably be clearly visible even from enemy territory.

But such things didn’t matter.

Whether those bastards saw it or not.

Such things no longer had any meaning.

“Do not forget the soldiers who died for the Empire. All the history we will build from now on is built upon the blood they shed.”

At Belkain’s words, the soldiers silently bowed their heads.

When the flames gradually weakened.

Thud.

The soldiers stepped forward one by one and planted the spears they were holding around the pile of fire.

The flags hanging on the spears fluttered in the northern wind and firelight, burning red.

Like a legion of flames guarding the graves of the dead.

Along with that, Belkain stepped forward and stood before the flames, then turned around.

“Imperial soldiers, listen!”

The resounding cry seemed to stretch not toward the soldiers, but toward enemy territory.

The eyes of the soldiers looking at Belkain flashed more seriously than ever.

Belkain continued speaking.

“Tomorrow when the sun rises, we will prepare to advance. Now we will cross these plains, take Belikezel, the northern land, and make rivers flow with the blood of those bastards below!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

A thunderous roar shot up as if it would pierce through the night sky of the plains.

With the soldiers’ morale rising tremendously, Belkain turned his gaze to look at Claw.

“Claw.”

“Sergeant Claw. Please give your orders, Supreme Commander.”

“Record the names of the dead. If this war is victorious, that victory will be achieved through their sacrifice.”

“Understood.”

“Arteon.”

“Lieutenant Arteon. I await the Supreme Commander’s orders.”

When Belkain called Arteon, Arteon clenched his right fist and placed it on his left chest as he spoke.

Belkain’s gaze toward Arteon became even heavier.

Because he thought that perhaps he was always burdening him with too much.

“Thank you for honoring their souls. You did what I, as commander, should have done.”

“I only did… what needed to be done.”

Although they were fighting in this land of death, weren’t they all comrades and brothers-in-arms?

Such comrades had died receiving treatment worse than dogs.

Honoring their souls was natural.

Belkain smiled faintly at Arteon’s appearance.

“When this war ends, your name will be clearly carved in the Empire’s history.”

“I will work even harder.”

With those words, Belkain turned his gaze to look at the soldiers.

“From the moment the sun rises tomorrow! We will crush those cunning and beast-like bastards!”

The time for crouching and waiting for opportunities was over.

“The entire army will move, and before the Empire’s great army, they will meet death without being able to do anything!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaah!”

Along with the soldiers’ tremendous roar, Belkain’s eyes flashed murderously.

“Now prepare to advance.”

With that command from the Supreme Commander, the soldiers’ morale soared and ignited fire in their chests.

And on the battlefield plains…

Whiiiiiiing!

A tension deeper than death began to descend.

*    *    *

Bang!

The thick wooden table split in half.

Wood powder scattered from where Korzan’s fist had struck.

“Nonsense!”

His voice echoed inside the tent.

Because it was an unbelievable matter.

“Bowkartaon is dead… does that make sense?”

After his leg tendons were severed, Bowkartaon had chosen to become a madman to make a comeback.

It was a dangerous choice that could have killed him, but by taking the drug to become a madman, he gained much stronger power than before.

With a body that couldn’t feel pain, he could explode mana to destroy the earth, and his increased mana even enabled the manifestation of more intense aura.

Of course, as a price for that, he had only a few years left to live.

‘Even I… defeating him wouldn’t be an easy task.’

Such a Bowkartaon was dead?

Korzan’s pupils shook greatly.

Was there such a monster in the Imperial Army?

All sorts of questions tore through his mind.

His head was filled entirely with questions, and his confused pupils just kept shaking.

But then.

“K-Korzan sir!”

One subordinate came running frantically from outside the tent.

Korzan frowned and looked in that direction.

“What is it?”

“K-Krelmuuk sir… is calling for you.”

“…!”

Instantly, Korzan’s complexion turned white.

Taman, Krelmuuk.

Because he knew what it meant for him to call at this timing.

However…

“…I’ll go now.”

Korzan fell silent and moved his steps toward where Krelmuuk was.

A solemn expression.

What was certain was that he would have to take responsibility for this defeat in some form.

That might be….

‘It could mean offering my head… perhaps.’

When Korzan finally arrived at the tent where Krelmuuk was.

“…?”

Korzan showed a surprised expression upon seeing those present.

It wasn’t just Krelmuuk, but all the top executives in Belikezel had gathered together.

A woman who was seated there spoke.

“If you’re late, hurry and take your seat, Korzan. Taman is waiting, is he not.”

“I apologize for being late.”

Korzan bowed his head to Krelmuuk and sat in the empty seat.

The executives sat two by two on either side of Krelmuuk.

Though each had different expressions, their presence alone made the air inside the tent grow cold.

The two seated close to Krelmuuk.

On the left sat Baolk Sravan, and on the right sat Herkan Belot.

Both were elders among elders who had long protected Belikezel.

Though they weren’t directly deployed in combat, they had guarded this place since the time of the previous Taman.

And in the second row, the woman sitting opposite Korzan.

Heritikan Belot.

The Taman of the Belot Tribe, a woman who possessed both strategy and martial prowess.

Despite being younger than him, she was already a warrior who had received five feather tattoos.

Korzan’s gaze was fixed on Heritikan.

But then.

“Now that everyone is gathered, wouldn’t it be good to speak, Taman.”

At Baolk’s words, Krelmuuk nodded and spoke to the executives.

“I heard we suffered another defeat in this battle. Truly a sorrowful matter.”

Though he was somewhat calmer than usual due to the elders’ presence, he couldn’t completely hide the anger dwelling in his eyes.

Krelmuuk looked at Korzan.

“Korzan, have you considered responsibility for what you have done?”

“…If you ask me to offer my life, I will do so right here.”

Korzan said while bowing his head.

However, at those words, Baolk who was present shook his head.

“If such a capable warrior dies, it would only cause greater damage to our forces. However… the Imperial Army’s strength seems stronger than expected.”

Belikezel had never once allowed the Imperial Army’s footsteps until now.

Yet they had not only entered right up to this place, but had blocked their attacks several times and achieved victory.

Moreover, last night.

“There was an enormous blaze from the Central direction. According to reports… a funeral was held for the Imperial Soldiers who died in battle.”

“A funeral during war. Just how much leisure did they have to do such a thing.”

Herkan, who was sitting on the opposite side, spoke with an displeased expression.

In the middle of a battlefield where combat could break out at any moment.

They had done as they pleased without paying any attention to them at all.

At this, Baolk looked at Krelmuuk and said.

“We cannot continue to stand by and watch them like this.”

“From the previous generation and even the generation before that, Belikezel has never once allowed the Empire’s footsteps.”

To suffer such humiliation from them now would inevitably be a tremendous blow to Krelmuuk as Taman.

Krelmuuk also knew this, so he looked at them with calm eyes.

“Are you confident?”

Until now, they had never been the first to attack and advance on this land.

Because no one had ever entered this far.

There had been no need to do so.

But now the situation was a little different.

There was a need to completely crush the Empire’s army whose arrogance reached the heavens with overwhelming force.

At Krelmuuk’s question, the four executives fell silent.

Though he had asked a question, they knew the answer was already decided.

Swoosh.

Krelmuuk rose from his seat.

The reason this fight had to keep being lost from the beginning was.

“Because we weren’t fighting in a way that suits us.”

They were always raiders and hunters.

This wasn’t the style of fighting while holding a fixed position.

Krelmuuk spoke to Baolk who was in front.

“Baolk Sravan.”

“Yes, Taman.”

“Herkan Belot.”

“Yes, Taman.”

As the two elders bowed their heads and answered, Krelmuuk looked at Heritikan and Korzan and said.

“From this moment, inform all warriors.”

Along with his eyes that had already made the decision.

“That we’re going hunting for the Imperial bastards who entered this land.”

The order to advance had been given.

*    *    *

“The soldiers’ morale is… incredible.”

At the completely changed atmosphere of the army, Grain couldn’t hide his inwardly tense expression.

From right after sunrise, preparations for advance had begun, leaving the barracks behind.

Arteon approached Grain who was watching the soldiers busily preparing.

“From now on, you’ll need to stay sharp.”

The air of the battlefield had changed.

Though their own formation was also preparing to advance.

‘The Kar Tribe bastards… must be even more restless.’

They weren’t the type to keep cowering anymore. If they had suffered this much damage, they would never just stand by and watch.

This was a prediction Arteon could make because he had fought the Kar Tribe for a long time.

No… it was certainty.

“Probably in the next battle… many soldiers will die.”

“…What?”

At Arteon’s words, Grain’s expression hardened coldly.

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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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