The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 17

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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 (17)

“…A crushing defeat, you say?”

Looking at his warriors who had fled back, Braktus wore an expression of disbelief.

Turak bowed his head to him.

“I, I have no excuse.”

“What happened?”

Originally, this attack was supposed to be an operation to withdraw the warriors when it got dark.

The plan was to keep their attention until dark, then deploy Jirn.

But they hadn’t withdrawn—they had fled back.

To Braktus’s question, Turak answered.

“Some of the enemy soldiers attacked from behind in the Central Area.”

He never even imagined that the formation fighting on the side would be breached.

Hadn’t they deployed far more warriors to prepare for any contingency?

Braktus’s expression hardened.

A place that absolutely should not have been breached was breached.

That meant.

‘…Is there a variable beyond my expectations?’

This had never happened before.

He thought he knew fairly well about the Empire soldiers defending the 1st Defense Line.

“Did new forces arrive as reinforcements this time?”

“Yes, but from what we’ve learned, official reinforcements dispatched from the Empire’s Central haven’t arrived yet, and they pulled some forces from other defense lines for support.”

“There must be a variable I don’t know about among those reinforcements.”

Breaking through warriors more than twice their number.

‘A soldier capable of moving to Central and attacking in such a short time…’

Had newly appeared.

Therefore, now.

“It’s time to update our information about the enemies. Are there still no new spies?”

“Yes, since the one who used to provide us information died, there doesn’t seem to be anyone significant yet. However, the higher-ups are also looking for those who can pass along the enemy’s internal information, so they told us to wait a little longer.”

“Hmm…”

The atmosphere had become strange recently.

The fairly high-ranking Empire soldier who had been providing them information had died.

For no reason at all.

‘That means they must have somewhat noticed he was a spy.’

Braktus let out a small breath as he looked toward the battlefield of the 1st Defense Line.

This battle at the 1st Defense Line was more important than ever.

‘Only by breaking through this defense line…’

Could the prepared Kar Tribe army advance to devour the Northern Region.

Right now, it was important to break through this 1st Defense Line while hiding their strength as much as possible.

That’s why the higher-ups sent him here, wasn’t it?

Even reinforcing with three times more warriors than usual.

“Jirn will move according to plan, right?”

“Yes, regardless of how the results turned out, the enemies must be quite exhausted from one round of battle. No, they might actually be intoxicated by their sense of victory, making their guard even more lax.”

“A better situation might have been created.”

Braktus’s eyes flashed sharply.

While those guys were singing songs of victory.

‘My sharpest blade reaches toward their commander.’

Jirn was meant to kill the enemy commander.

Braktus looked toward where the Empire dogs were.

Perhaps the situation had actually improved.

‘Though this small defeat was irritating.’

If he could take the enemy commander’s head, it might actually be divine assistance.

Braktus simply waited in silence for their victory.

* * *

“Steel heart! Corporal Arteon! Reporting to the Company Commander!”

Called by Fearland and entering his barracks, Arteon gave a sharp salute.

Fearland, who had been busily writing documents.

“Come closer.”

Seeing Arteon, he stood up from his seat.

Swoosh.

Fearland’s gaze turned toward Arteon.

Could he be around mid-teens at most?

Fearland’s eyes narrowed at the quite youthful appearance.

‘Such a young soldier… accomplished such great feats?’

He heard that not only did he play a major role in breaking through the Western Defense Line, but he also brought down the warrior in the Central Battlefield to make the operation successful.

With such achievements.

‘Age isn’t what matters.’

No, what was more peculiar was something else.

Fearland looked at Arteon and said.

“I’ve heard of your achievements. Without you, the operation might have failed.”

The look in his eyes and his expression.

He had such a resolute appearance that it was hard to think of him as an ordinary soldier.

He thought it was a bold operation for the timid Hendris. He wondered why he made such a decision…

‘He had this kind of soldier with him.’

Fearland looked at Arteon and asked.

“How long have you been in the military?”

“It’s been just over a year now.”

“…What?”

Fearland couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

A soldier who had enlisted just over a year ago looked like this?

It wasn’t simply about achievements or abilities.

Such a natural demeanor.

He thought it would have been at least 4-5 years.

Fearland asked.

“Which squad do you belong to?”

“Though I’m lacking, I’m serving as the 4th Squad leader.”

‘Certainly the 4th Squad of the 3rd Company’s 4th Platoon…’

He heard it was a place where they gathered particularly troublesome criminals.

Among them, the 4th Squad was where they gathered the worst ones even within the 4th Platoon.

He could see why Benhard’s Ogre appointed a first-year soldier as the 4th Squad leader.

Fearland nodded.

“I’ll look forward to your future achievements. Though it’s embarrassing to call it a reward for this operation, I’ll provide additional supplies including meals.”

“Steel heart! Thank you for the Company Commander’s consideration!”

“Then go back.”

Arteon immediately turned around and headed toward the barracks where his squad members were.

Receiving additional supplies in the north meant they could spend the cold nights even a little warmer.

However…

Step.

Arteon, who had been heading toward the barracks, soon turned around and walked off somewhere else.

The battle from earlier.

‘I’m still far from ready.’

Far from properly utilizing Vargas’s Spear Technique, there were too many forced and awkward aspects even in his mana movement.

During the journey here.

‘I thought I had worked hard enough…’

It was arrogance.

While teaching the squad members Combined Tactics, he had neglected the most important thing – his own training.

‘I need to become stronger.’

Arteon knew.

He knew how harsh this northern battlefield was.

Though he had been fortunate enough to learn a Mana Cultivation Method and supreme spear technique.

‘There’s no way to achieve results without effort.’

Arteon quickly walked toward a location he had spotted earlier.

Improving the squad members’ skills was important too, but.

‘Right now, I need to lead from the front.’

If that collapsed, the current formation could crumble like a sandcastle.

Just a few days of training wouldn’t be enough to defeat those vicious Kar Tribe bastards.

Eventually, Arteon moved to a good spot where tall trees and rocks provided cover, sat down, and quietly closed his eyes.

Any posture would work, but according to Wolfhart’s memories, this was the best way to enhance concentration.

Whoooooosh.

As he closed his vision, his other senses seemed to become more acute.

Especially his hearing, along with the cold temperature of the Northern Region, felt much more vivid.

With that, Arteon began the Vargas Mana Cultivation Method.

Wooooong!

The surrounding mana began to tremble slightly and resonate with Arteon.

With his breathing, mana repeatedly entered and exited Arteon’s body.

In that process, the mana within Arteon synchronized and writhed.

‘Compared to before…’

It definitely felt like mana was gathering faster.

Hadn’t it taken quite a long time to first create a mana hole?

Now that he could move mana, the acceleration was incomparable to before.

But how much time had passed?

Eventually, when the sun had completely set and the pitch-black darkness of the north descended.

“…?”

His senses had been sharpened to an extremely sensitive degree due to the Mana Cultivation Method.

And Arteon’s senses detected unfamiliar movement.

‘These aren’t soldiers from inside the base. And this movement…’

Fast.

Arteon could tell immediately.

These were definitely not allies from within the base.

‘Surprise attack!’

Jump!

Arteon quickly rose from his position.

Due to the Mana Cultivation Method, his mind was clear and his condition had improved considerably.

“Is it this way?”

Arteon moved in the direction where they had been moving.

Soon he could tell what they were targeting.

‘How… how can they know the location so precisely?’

The Company Commander’s Office barracks that Arteon had visited earlier.

They were moving toward that place without a moment’s hesitation.

And…

“…These bastards.”

On the way to the company commander’s barracks.

Seeing a soldier collapsed and bleeding, Arteon frowned.

It wasn’t a mistake.

It was an enemy surprise attack.

“Enemy soldiers! Enemy soldiers have infiltrated the barracks!”

Arteon infused his voice with mana and shouted loudly.

At that moment.

Piiiiiiii!

Someone’s sharp whistle sound echoed long and loud.

“Where?! Who is it!”

“A surprise attack?! Where’s the surprise attack?!”

Soldiers inside the barracks came rushing out frantically, shouting loudly.

This would greatly confuse them too.

Arteon quickly launched himself toward the barracks where Fearland was.

Swoosh!

And…

‘Found them…!’

Black-masked men rushing toward the Company Commander’s Office barracks.

Arteon’s eyes flashed.

Though they wore masks, he could tell at a glance they were Kar Tribe warriors.

‘I can recognize you bastards just from seeing your backs…!’

Arteon immediately grabbed the rod at his waist and infused it with mana.

At that moment.

Clang!

Iglis revealed its true form.

Simultaneously, Arteon kicked off the ground and launched himself toward them.

Swoosh!

“…?!”

The Kar Tribe warriors’ expressions twisted in shock at Arteon’s sudden appearance.

This guy’s movement.

It felt as if he had come knowing exactly where they would be.

“Strike!”

Rokudam, the leader commanding Jirn, immediately gave orders to his warriors upon seeing Arteon charging at them.

Along with that, three Kar Tribe warriors nearby rushed toward Arteon.

“Hyaaaaa!”

“Die!”

Since they’d already been discovered, there was no reason to fight passively.

Kill this guy quickly and then kill the commander of this place.

With the same thought, they swung their axes toward Arteon.

However…

Clang clang clang!

“…?!”

“What, what is this?”

“Kugh!”

Almost simultaneously, the attacks of all three Kar Tribe warriors were deflected.

Impossible spear technique.

How could this young guy, who didn’t even look like an adult yet, have such spear technique…?

But there wasn’t time to think for long.

Before he knew it, the guy was charging forward at tremendous speed.

Slash!

“Grrk…!”

A red line appeared on the Kar Tribe warrior’s neck and his body collapsed to the ground.

Thud.

Having lost their comrade in an instant, they flinched and looked at the guy in front of them.

A youthful face.

But eyes that were terrifyingly fierce, completely at odds with that face.

Though they themselves had rolled around battlefields for over ten years.

‘What kind of… look is that.’

‘Such incredible bloodlust…’

Due to his pressure that seemed to weigh down their bodies, they unconsciously swallowed their saliva.

Then…

Scrape.

Arteon, who had lightly scraped the ground with his spear, raised it up.

Before they knew it, the spear blade was pointed at the captain leading Jirn.

Arteon spoke.

“Your operation has failed. So…”

Flash!

“Just become my sacrifice here.”

Kill these guys.

‘And climb to higher places.’

Arteon’s form charged toward them like a wild beast.

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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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