The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 20

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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 (20)

An unexpected peace had come to the 1st Defense Line.

Of course, it would be a brief peace lasting only as long as a blink of an eye, but for those who had fought day after day, it was a desperately needed time.

“To think those damned bastards would retreat.”

“They took considerable damage this time. Compared to that… we had almost no casualties.”

One soldier said while looking north.

A middle-aged man listening to him frowned.

“Hey, you! Don’t go around saying things like that. Even if we say there were no casualties, over fifty soldiers died.”

For those who lost close comrades, it could only be a source of grief.

Because they died without leaving anything behind.

But…

“For now, savor the joy of victory rather than sorrow. You never know when you’ll be able to feel it again.”

“St-Steel Heart!”

“Steel Heart! Platoon Leader, you’ve arrived!”

1st Company 3rd Platoon Leader, Tertian.

With some breathing room, he looked around the formation and reorganized the situation.

This was to prevent any possible accidents while the atmosphere was excited with the long-awaited victory and merit evaluation.

Then the middle-aged soldier spoke to Tertian.

“Platoon Leader, are you alright from the injuries you sustained in the last battle?”

“Just a slight scratch. Thanks for your concern.”

“N-Not at all!”

The wound on his left back from fighting three warriors of Jirn sent by the Kar Tribe.

It could be considered quite deep, but in this Northern Region, such a wound was nothing.

At Tertian’s words, the middle-aged man hurriedly replied and then glanced around before continuing.

“But have you heard about that?”

“About what?”

“There’s talk that the Division Commander is coming here.”

“…The Ogre?”

The monster among monsters who commanded all of Benhard in the Northern Region, including this 1st Defense Line.

The Division Commander called the Ogre of Benhard was leaving his post to come to the 1st Defense Line.

Tertian burst into laughter.

“That must be wrong information. There’s no way that heavy-assed monster would come here.”

“R-Right? Well, I only heard it as a rumor too… haha.”

“Anyway, forget the sorrow and savor the victory for now. But don’t neglect guard duty.”

“Understood!”

“Steel Heart! Thank you for your hard work!”

Tertian waved his hand and soon moved to another location.

But then…

“Platoon Leader! Orders for everyone except those on guard duty to assemble!”

At the words of a soldier running from afar, Tertian nodded.

Finally, the merit evaluation for this victory was about to begin.

* * *

Quite a lot of soldiers were bustling about.

Though no one was making noise, with about five hundred soldiers gathered, it couldn’t help but be noisy.

Then…

“Attention!”

An officer shouted loudly toward the assembled soldiers.

At the resounding voice, the venue instantly became quiet.

“We will now begin the merit evaluation for the Northern 1st Defense Line defensive battle!”

“Waaaaaaaaaah!”

“Kiyaaaahoooo!”

With the shout announcing the start of the merit evaluation, thunderous cheers erupted from the soldiers’ mouths.

With the atmosphere instantly heating up, he raised his hand to the sky and clenched his fist tightly.

When the cheers stopped, Fearland stepped onto the crudely prepared platform.

Fearland looked at the soldiers and spoke.

“Great Imperial Army of the North. Through your sacrifice, dedication, and efforts, we achieved an unprecedented great victory in this battle.”

Though not loud, his mana-infused voice was clearly delivered to the soldiers.

“Before this merit evaluation, do not forget that the greatest contributors are all of you.”

“Yes!”

“Yes, understood!”

“Understoooood!”

Following someone’s response, the soldiers shouted loudly in succession.

Fearland smiled faintly and continued.

“However, even so, there are those who distinguished themselves particularly in this battle. First, all members of the 3rd Company’s 4th Squad.”

“As representative, 3rd Company’s 4th Squad Leader, Lieutenant Hendris, step forward!”

With the call, Hendris stepped onto the platform. Fearland spoke to him.

“The 4th Squad not only blocked the enemy’s attacks in fierce combat but also broke through their encirclement and attacked the enemy’s rear, greatly contributing to the victory of the battle. Therefore, Lieutenant Hendris is promoted by one rank, and additionally awarded 50 gold.”

“Ooooh! Congratulations, Squad Leader!”

“Congratulations on becoming a Captain!”

Several 4th Squad members shouted loudly, but soon shut their mouths tight under the glares from around them.

The merit evaluation wasn’t over yet.

“And to all 4th Squad members, 10 gold along with a reduction of 2 years in service period is awarded.”

The 4th Squad was a punishment unit that came after committing crimes. Therefore, most were under forced military service, with periods ranging from 6-7 years at the shortest to 20 years at the longest for some.

But a reduction of 2 years in service period.

This was something irreplaceable for them.

“T-Two years…?”

“I… then I’ll be discharged next year…?”

The atmosphere suddenly became solemn.

While it was true they had committed crimes, it was undeniable that most were unjust cases or excessive punishments.

Some soldiers shed tears at the fact that they could leave soon.

The merit evaluation continued.

“Next, as the guardian of the 1st Defense Line until now, as the grim reaper to enemies who has protected this battlefield, 1st Company 3rd Platoon Leader, Sergeant Tertian! Step forward!”

At the officer’s words, Tertian stepped onto the platform without hesitation.

With each step, scars were clearly visible on the glimpses of his skin, but everyone knew.

Those scars were the grace that had saved their lives.

And that without Tertian, the 1st Defense Line would have long since fallen to the Kar Tribe.

Until now, there had been the grievance of not receiving great merit due to lack of proper victories.

“F-Finally, the Platoon Leader…”

“Sob… I must have stayed alive all this time to see this moment…”

The 1st Company 3rd Platoon members looked at him with expressions overwhelmed with emotion.

Fearland looked at Tertian standing before him and spoke.

“…This award is too late. I’m sorry for not recognizing your hardships until now.”

“Steel Heart! I’m just doing what must be done!”

“1st Company 3rd Platoon Leader, Sergeant Tertian has killed countless Kar Tribe warriors on the battlefield of the 1st Defense Line until now, and saved countless allies. Moreover, in this battle as well, he is the unsung hero who silently blocked the enemy alone in the center, which everyone acknowledges!”

The officer who paused briefly glanced at the soldiers below, then shouted loudly.

“In recognition of his merit, Sergeant Tertian is promoted by one rank! Additionally, 70 gold along with 30 days of special leave is awarded.”

“…!”

In that moment, Tertian’s eyes shook greatly.

It wasn’t because the reward felt excessive or insufficient.

The 30-day special leave at the end.

Military law stipulated that soldiers serving disciplinary sentences could not take leave.

And there was one reason why someone as strong as Tertian was merely a platoon leader, and only at sergeant rank.

It was because of a single incident that occurred when he was in the Central Army.

Due to that, he had been demoted to this Northern Front as disciplinary punishment.

Looking at Tertian with his surprised expression, Fearland spoke.

“Regarding this reward, the division commander put in considerable effort. I understand he’s been continuously petitioning Central about this.”

“…Is that so.”

So Benhard’s Ogre had done such things for him.

Tertian smiled slightly.

“I should express my gratitude when I get the chance.”

“Don’t worry about that, you’ll be able to do so soon.”

“…Pardon?”

“Next, the final merit recognition will be conducted not by the 1st Company commander, but directly by the division commander himself.”

“…!”

With the staff officer’s exclamation, not only Tertian but all the soldiers in the venue showed surprised expressions.

What did they just hear?

But soon.

“The division commander is entering!”

With a loud shout from the opposite side, someone slowly approached on horseback.

Clop, clop.

The sound of hoofbeats, small but clear. Even the clanking sound of armor.

Eventually, with a fierce wind, a large man revealed himself.

Benhard’s Ogre.

The supreme commander of the Northwestern Region, Belkain Kaeron.

He dismounted and crossed between the soldiers.

Swoosh!

As if rehearsed, the soldiers of the 1st Defense Line split to both sides.

And Belkain passed between them and climbed onto the platform.

Fearland, who had stepped aside, looked at Belkain and placed his clenched right fist against his left chest.

“Steel heart.”

“Right.”

With brief words, Belkain stood on the platform and looked at the soldiers below. Then he spoke, infusing mana into his voice.

“I’ve received all the reports. The greatest contributor to the 1st Defense Line battle, Arteon. Step forward.”

Belkain called out the name directly.

The soldiers murmured among themselves.

“Arteon? Who’s that?”

“Which unit is he from?”

But the moment Arteon walked forward, the soldiers who saw him couldn’t hide their surprised expressions.

An appearance that seemed somewhere between boy and young man.

Because of this, even the soldiers from the 1st Company didn’t know how to react.

However, they soon found themselves watching him with serious expressions, unconsciously impressed by Arteon’s boldness as he walked forward without hesitation.

Though he had a youthful face, the boy standing on the platform showed no sign of being intimidated even before Belkain, the 1st Division commander called Benhard’s Ogre.

Arteon climbed onto the platform, looked at Belkain, clenched his right fist and struck his left chest.

Thump!

“Steel heart!”

“3rd Company 4th Platoon 4th Squad leader, Arteon.”

Belkain called out Arteon’s unit and name precisely.

And he continued, gazing steadily at him.

“Arteon achieved the most distinguished merit in this Kar Tribe attack by defending against enemy attacks while simultaneously breaking through their assault to strike the enemy main force’s rear in a surprise attack. Furthermore, he not only detected the surprise attack of the special forces called ‘Jirn’ early, but killed five special forces warriors, and moreover demonstrated martial prowess by defeating a Kar Tribe intermediate warrior, the leader of Jirn, in single combat, greatly contributing to raising military morale.”

Just a few short days.

It was almost unbelievable that a single person, moreover an ordinary soldier, could achieve such feats.

“Therefore, I award Corporal Arteon a special promotion of 2 ranks along with 100 gold. Additionally, I grant him 30 days of special leave and a reduction of 5 years from his additional service period as rewards.”

The disciplinary service period Arteon received when he was dragged here was 10 years.

But with this single battle, a full 7 years of his disciplinary service period had disappeared.

However, Arteon looked at Belkain with a calm expression.

Whether it was 10 years or 3 years anyway.

He had no intention of leaving the north until he achieved his goal.

But still…

‘Leave…’

The unexpected 30-day reward was a golden opportunity that would allow Arteon to obtain the things he currently needed.

Arteon was already beginning to think about his next plan in his head.

But first.

“Steel heart! I will do my utmost to defend this northern battlefield!”

Arteon saluted toward Belkain in front of him and shouted loudly.

At that sight, Belkain simply gazed at Arteon with the same expressionless face as before.

What this boy truly intended to pursue.

“This concludes the merit recognition ceremony.”

He became curious about the boy’s future actions.

The 1st Defense Line, reeking of blood.

For the first time, it was a day when sunlight shone down instead of bitter wind.

And when the merit recognition ended, all the platoon members approached Arteon and offered their congratulations.

But then…

“Sergeant Arteon.”

The staff officer who had just conducted the merit recognition approached Arteon.

“The division commander is calling for you.”

Benhard’s Ogre had summoned Arteon once again.

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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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