The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 245

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (245)
The Neolth Kingdom, which bordered the Empire’s eastern frontier.
Among the kingdoms adjacent to the Empire, it possessed the largest territory, and its military might was formidable enough to pose a genuine threat to Imperial forces.
Yet as the saying goes, the greater one’s holdings, the more one must defend.
At some point, the Neolth Kingdom had shifted its focus from expanding territory through conquest to preserving what it already possessed.
Or more precisely, the Empire’s increasingly heavy interference made further territorial expansion impossible.
And then, an unexpected visitor arrived at that very place.
“…A letter sent by Belkakrode, the Second Prince of the Empire.”
The Blacksmith broke the seal in his hand and unfolded the letter, then turned his gaze toward the messenger standing before him.
He had never imagined such a prominent figure would come in person.
“For Count Adrian Valenluke to travel all this way, the matter must be of considerable importance.”
“It is precisely because this matter holds such significance for His Highness that I have come.”
At Adrian’s words, Marcello, the Second Prince of the Neolth Kingdom, opened the letter and read through it swiftly.
His expression, initially marked by intrigue, gradually grew more rigid.
Adrian maintained an outward composure, but internally, he swallowed hard.
Soon, Marcello’s gaze reached the end of the letter.
“….”
A chill silence descended upon the room.
Not a sound could be heard, yet it felt as though an icy wind swept across his spine.
Adrian’s lips moved slightly before he spoke with careful deliberation.
“Should this matter succeed, His Highness will ascend to the throne of the Empire. He has instructed me to convey his profound gratitude for your aid at that time.”
“That is already written in the letter. There is no need to speak of it twice.”
His response was matter-of-fact.
Yet soon after, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the letter once more.
“A proposal to undertake something grand together, as those in similar circumstances would.”
There was neither mockery nor anger in those words.
Rather, it was as though he were calmly acknowledging a long-standing reality.
Adrian simply stood in silence.
Without his cooperation, Belkakrode’s operation could not succeed.
His assistance was absolutely necessary, and sweat was beginning to bead on his palms.
But soon, Marcello’s gaze grew cold and settled.
Then Marcello, who had been observing Adrian, spoke.
“Tell the one you serve this: promises must be kept without fail.”
It was a brief but resolute statement.
Within it lay no conditions, no room for compromise.
Adrian nodded.
“It shall be so. You need not worry.”
At his firm reply, Marcello nodded in turn.
“Then I too must make haste and take my leave. Let us see what can be accomplished.”
“I bow in gratitude for Your Highness’s resolve. In time, His Highness will repay your decision most generously.”
“I will place my trust in you.”
With that response, Adrian immediately departed from Marcello’s room.
Once Adrian had left, Marcello folded the letter and placed it upon the table.
Then he lifted his gaze toward the subordinate standing beside the door.
“I will go to meet His Majesty at once. Make the preparations.”
“Understood, sir.”
Marcello—a man of exceptional ability who had been sidelined merely for being second.
Yet now, a fierce light kindled anew within his eyes.
‘In that letter….’
Whatever contents were inscribed upon it, if it was something capable of reigniting Marcello’s flame….
‘It could hardly be an ordinary matter.’
A thought crossed his mind—that perhaps this entire continent was about to be shaken once more.
Soon after, his subordinate hurried outside and moved toward the Great Hall.
And following that.
“Hah.”
Marcello exhaled softly and began to move with quickened pace.
* * *
Preldior.
Along the waist of the colossal mountain range, the Imperial Army’s flags were being planted one by one.
Centered on Preldior, the mountain terrain was being divided and organized into distinct territories.
Within the narrow passes, towers and palisades were erected, and along the ridge lines, small fortresses woven from timber and stone were rapidly taking shape.
The troops responsible for construction and those dedicated to defense were deployed separately.
And at the center of the bustling encampment.
The core main force—the vital nucleus of all operations—had now turned their gaze not northward, but in another direction entirely.
Precisely toward the conflict zone between Belikezel and Preldior.
Since it had not yet become fully Imperial territory, a considerable number of Kar Tribe Warriors remained there.
Should they seize that region completely, they would control the northern lands beyond the Empire’s established border.
Roughly half of all that territory would fall into their hands.
Within the Commander’s Barracks, a conference for that war was proceeding swiftly.
The eyes of the officers within the conference room had settled into calm focus.
Across the map that covered the wall surface, red pins and blue lines were densely interwoven.
“According to current intelligence.”
The intelligence officer stepped forward.
“Among the regions between Belikezel and Preldior, the areas wielding the greatest influence are Karzadin and Rohar Gorge.”
He indicated two points on the map.
“The combined number of Kar Tribe Warriors stationed in these two regions is approximately ten thousand. Around six thousand in Karzadin and roughly four thousand in Rohar Gorge.”
The conference room fell silent.
“Furthermore, according to the intelligence division’s assessment from Belikezel, no 6-Star or higher-ranked warriors have been confirmed in either location. The majority possess five stars or fewer, and their command structure remains fragmented.”
To achieve this preparation, countless soldiers had endured the harsh northern weather and moved accordingly.
Thanks to that effort, they could now observe their movements as if gazing down from the heavens.
As Belkain listened to the report, his gaze traced slowly across the map.
The closest point from Preldior was Karzadin.
But the problem was distance.
‘If I move this force… it will take a minimum of three weeks.’
During that time, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Kar Tribe would move first.
Moreover, if I mobilized the main force here during that period, it would inevitably become vulnerable to attack.
Now was the time to fortify the defensive positions here more solidly.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to move the troops stationed here.
But then it happened.
“Commander.”
Arteon’s voice rang out through the conference room.
All eyes turned toward him.
When Belkain looked up to meet his gaze, Arteon spoke without a moment’s hesitation.
“Please grant permission for the Silent Spear Unit to sortie.”
“What?”
“My squad members and I will subjugate both Rohar Gorge and Karzadin simultaneously.”
The conference room stirred with murmurs.
Though the enemy forces weren’t particularly large,
Karzadin alone had over six thousand Kar Tribe Warriors stationed there.
The proposal to pacify two regions with a special unit of roughly a thousand seemed reckless by any reasonable standard.
Yet no one in this room could voice such objections to Arteon.
The military achievements Arteon had demonstrated thus far.
The movements of the Silent Spear Unit under his command.
Above all, everyone understood the extent of Arteon’s power—he who had been granted the title of God of War.
All of this made clear that the proposal Arteon had just made was far from mere empty words.
But then.
“I shall accompany you as well.”
Lucael, who had been listening quietly throughout, spoke.
Then, with a faint smile, he asked Arteon,
“Would it be acceptable if I joined in?”
“Acceptable? It would be an honor to have you with us, Lucael.”
Arteon answered respectfully.
Lucael had already firmly reached the 6-Star realm.
His very presence was equivalent to gaining hundreds of soldiers.
Lucael turned his gaze toward Belkain.
“I will move together with the Silverwolf Knight Order who came with me.”
The Silent Spear Unit and the Silverwolf Knight Order.
Belkain nodded his head.
“Good. Are you satisfied with this arrangement?”
Belkain asked, looking at Arteon. Arteon nodded in response.
“All squad members have recovered from their injuries. Battle preparations are complete. We can deploy at any time.”
At those words, Belkain closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.
And he nodded.
In that instant, Sedrian spoke, looking toward Svein.
“Why not come along with us as well?”
If Svein, a 7-Star warrior, joined them, the operation would become considerably easier.
But Svein shook his head without hesitation.
“My participation in this battle was only because the circumstances demanded it.”
His gaze was clearly directed at Sedrian.
“My duty is, above all, to protect the Prince.”
Moreover, even moving with a small force would require more than a week just to reach Rohar Gorge.
He could not leave Sedrian unguarded.
Belkain accepted that judgment.
Besides, there were Arteon and Lucael.
Those two alone were sufficient.
“Then I grant operational command of that region to General Lucael.”
Arteon’s ability was far superior, but military hierarchy could not be ignored within the army.
Arteon, fully aware of this himself, simply nodded slightly.
And…
“Complete the suppression and return without fail.”
As those words ended, Arteon and Lucael each took a step back.
Thump.
Then, clenching their right fists and placing them over their left chests, they offered a formal salute.
“Heart of Steel. We shall obey your command.”
Watching the two figures depart from the conference room, Belkain found himself wearing a faint smile.
* * *
The standoff on the southern front was dragging on longer than anticipated.
As the Imperial Army ceased its advance, the forces of the Kaerbaldt Kingdom and Ermatir Kingdom, facing each other across the front line, could not move recklessly either.
Spear tips still pointed toward the enemy, yet time flowed on without further advance or retreat.
The silence did not diminish the tension of the battlefield.
Rather, it only deepened it.
“…”
Harben von Draken, Supreme Commander of the Kaerbaldt Army, gazed down at the plains with a stern expression.
The battlefield viewed from atop the watchtower was excessively quiet.
Just ten days ago, the Imperial Army had pressed forward as if determined to breach this front line at any cost.
Yet now, as if it were all a lie, their movements had ceased entirely.
‘…What in the world are they plotting?’
Harben’s eyes narrowed.
After the forces of the Ermatir Kingdom joined, our camp had visibly swollen in size.
Though troop numbers had increased, the supplies consumed necessarily grew proportionally as well.
Perhaps that was why.
Harben recalled a single possibility.
‘Could it be… they’re dragging out time, waiting until our supplies run dry first?’
Of course, the Empire’s supply replenishment capability was worthy of considerable praise.
But even so, it was difficult to believe they had devised an operation that relied on waiting for supplies to be exhausted….
‘That would be… far too simplistic a strategy.’
The Empire could not possibly make such a foolish choice.
But there was no harm in verifying.
Harben immediately summoned the officer managing supplies.
“What is the current state of our supplies?”
The supply management officer responded at once.
“With the supplies we currently have secured, we can easily sustain operations for three weeks without issue. Furthermore, our rear supply lines are operating stably, and the Ermatir Kingdom is also providing sufficient quantities, so there should be no cause for concern.”
Harben nodded at the near-perfect supply situation.
Yet his expression remained troubled.
In fact, the very absence of any problems only accelerated his unease.
“Hmm….”
What exactly were those guys plotting?
Harben’s gaze turned once more toward the Imperial Army Camp.
But then it happened.
“Commander!”
With an urgent cry, a messenger came sprinting toward him, gasping for breath.
Military boots caked with dust, a sealed letter clutched in his hand.
Harben furrowed his brow as he accepted the letter.
“What is it?”
Harben took the letter from the messenger and swiftly tore open the seal.
And as he unfolded it and began reading, his expression gradually hardened.
“…That madman.”
Harben gripped the letter, momentarily at a loss for words.
The contents revealed a situation he had never anticipated.
Harben’s gaze shifted toward where the Imperial Army was positioned.
‘So they truly… have resolved to do this.’
The pupils of Harben’s eyes, fixed upon the Imperial Army Camp, began to tremble violently.

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