The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 26

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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 (26)

“Why are you returning from leave so early?”

Hendris couldn’t hide his bewildered expression as he looked at Arteon, who had returned after only ten days.

It was a whole month of leave, so what need was there to return this quickly?

Arteon replied with an awkward expression.

“It just turned out that way. Could you possibly hold the remaining 20 days for me?”

“According to regulations, used leave cannot be held. But having a soldier on leave present at the unit is also… Ha, really. This is the first time I’ve encountered such a case, so it’s troublesome.”

Hendris burst into laughter.

He knew Arteon was an eccentric soldier, but he hadn’t expected him to act like this.

However, Hendris soon smiled slightly and said.

“For now, wait in the barracks. The situation is complicated in various ways right now.”

“…What’s happening?”

At Arteon’s question, Hendris let out a small sigh.

“Didn’t we achieve a great victory at the 1st Defense Line thanks to you? Due to that battle, the Kar Tribe pulled back their formation and moved to the gorge behind…”

Hendris told Arteon about the story related to the official document that came down from above.

“For that reason, they’re currently recruiting soldiers who know the terrain of Helikel Gorge.”

“Helikel… Gorge?”

Arteon’s expression hardened for a moment.

Although the victory at the 1st Defense Line was overwhelming, could it be that with just that one victory, the Kar Tribe abandoned their existing formation and retreated all the way to Helikel Gorge?

‘If that’s the case…’

From our army’s perspective, it was an absolutely golden opportunity that couldn’t be missed.

If they could capture Helikel Gorge, they could build a solid defensive fortress based on that location.

Moreover, hadn’t Arteon lived in the fortress built in Helikel Gorge for about 8 months?

He knew the terrain of Helikel Gorge better than anyone else.

Arteon said.

“I know it, the terrain of Helikel Gorge.”

“You do?”

“Yes, please recommend me. I know it well.”

At Arteon’s resolute answer, Hendris couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

What kind of fellow was he to know the terrain of Helikel Gorge that lay beyond their territory?

And he was only 15 years old at that.

However, considering Arteon’s actions so far, hadn’t he shown too many unbelievable things?

Hendris nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

“Good, I’ll report it to the higher-ups. Then wait in the barracks.”

“Steel hearts! Yes, understood!”

Soon after Arteon returned to the barracks.

“…?”

“What, why did you come back so early?”

“Has 30 days already passed? It feels like only about ten days have gone by.”

The bewildered squad members each spoke up. Arteon chuckled and held out what he had brought.

“It’s dried fruit. Share it among yourselves.”

“Fr, fruit!”

“Wow! As expected, Squad Leader’s sense is extraordinary…!”

Although they occasionally picked and ate fruit from fruit trees, eating fruit in the Northern Region wasn’t easy.

Especially dried fruit like this had much more concentrated sweetness than usual, making it a precious snack for soldiers.

Arteon chuckled as he watched his squad members sharing the dried fruit he had brought.

It was worth spending every last coin he had to buy it.

But it wasn’t long after.

“Sergeant Arteon! The Division Commander is calling for you!”

It was a messenger sent by Belkain.

Seeing how hurriedly he came…

‘It seems to be quite an urgent matter.’

Perhaps returning early from leave had been a stroke of genius.

Arteon immediately followed the messenger to the barracks where Belkain was.

“Steel hearts! Sergeant Arteon. I pay my respects to the Division Commander!”

It was the Division Commander’s barracks that he had barely visited a few times in his past life.

But now he was becoming familiar with it.

Belkain looked at the saluting Arteon, raised his hand slightly, and immediately got to the point.

“You said you know about the terrain of Helikel Gorge?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“How do you know it?”

At Belkain’s question, Arteon thought that what he expected had come.

‘If I said I lived there before I died, I’d be called crazy…’

So he had already thought of a suitable excuse.

“Before coming here, I learned from my father.”

“Your father?”

“Yes, my father was very interested in the Northern Front, so he told me many stories about the former terrain that’s now lost and about battles.”

“…You had such an experience.”

Even Helikel Gorge itself had been Empire territory about ten years ago.

It had just been a long time since the Kar Tribe pushed down and took it.

Belkain looked somewhat puzzled, but soon nodded.

Then Erban, who was beside him, approached Arteon.

“Then can you also draw the terrain of Helikel Gorge?”

“Yes, my drawing skills aren’t good so I can’t draw it exactly the same…”

Arteon roughly drew the gorge’s terrain on the paper placed on the table.

Helikel Gorge remained vividly in his mind.

He quickly drew not only the area crossing the center of the gorge, but also the branches extending to the sides and the terrain inside.

At the sight of the terrain being drawn on paper, not only Belkain but even Erban couldn’t hide their surprised expressions.

“Hmm… At this level, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you’ve been there before.”

“However, it seems impossible to educate other soldiers using this drawing.”

The only regret was that his drawing skills didn’t quite follow through.

The drawing of the gorge that Arteon drew had remarkably many similarities to the known terrain of Helikel Gorge.

Just from this, they could tell that his words weren’t lies.

Belkain said.

“Currently, the Kar Tribe has pulled back their formation to Helikel Gorge and is reorganizing their forces. If more time passes, they’ll replenish their forces again and move south toward the 1st Defense Line.”

Arteon was silently listening to Belkain’s words.

“We don’t intend to miss this opportunity. So we plan to form a special forces unit with a small number of troops, cross the gorge, then move inside to strike the enemy’s rear, and at that time attack the gorge with the main force.”

If they could succeed, they would recapture Helikel Gorge again after more than ten years.

“Can you become the guide for the special forces?”

The eyes of Belkain, who asked the question, settled calmly.

This could be more dangerous than any operation so far.

Even if they succeeded, there was a high possibility they wouldn’t return alive.

It wasn’t an operation where they could forcibly push in a soldier who refused.

It was truly difficult work that could only succeed with a desperate resolve, not fearing death.

However…

“If you entrust it to me, I will risk my life and do my best!”

There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation in Arteon’s answer.

At that sight, Belkain stood up from his seat.

“You may go.”

“Steel hearts! Sergeant Arteon. I’ll be taking my leave now!”

Soon after Arteon left.

“It may not be certain.”

“It wouldn’t be too late to make a decision after conducting reconnaissance with that soldier.”

This operation could become a very important turning point in the Empire’s history.

They couldn’t execute it carelessly, but they also couldn’t just keep being overly cautious.

The current situation where nothing was certain might be frightening and dangerous, but.

“Now is the time to draw our swords and advance.”

Belkain showed firm conviction.

Erban nodded at this.

“I also think it would be good to proceed if we see potential after conducting reconnaissance through that soldier first…”

“Then summon the officers immediately. We’ll conduct reconnaissance through the Special Forces first.”

“Understood.”

As Erban nodded and went outside, Belkain also came out of the barracks and looked north.

‘Now…’

It’s time for us to attack.

* * *

The atmosphere of the unit began to change little by little.

Rumors started spreading.

“What… have you heard anything about us preparing to attack first?”

“Well, it’s true that some official document came down regarding Helikel Gorge this time…”

“Come on, no way.”

The Empire had only been defending the Northern Front for a long time until now.

But an attack?

Most soldiers didn’t believe the sudden rumor and were somewhat afraid.

Just blocking the Kar Tribe warriors at the defense line was overwhelming enough, so entering their formation wouldn’t be welcome.

However…

“Arteon, the Company Commander is calling for you.”

At Hendris’s words, Arteon stood up from his seat.

The signal had finally come.

Arteon immediately went to where Captain Raihen Brahms, the 3rd Company commander, was.

Come to think of it, he had met Division Commander Belkain several times, but he had rarely had a direct meeting with the 3rd Company commander.

“Steel hearts! Sergeant Arteon. I pay my respects to the Company Commander.”

“Sergeant Arteon. You probably have a rough idea why I called you?”

An angular face with thick lips that seemed stubborn.

Raihen, who had quite piercing eyes, looked at Arteon and asked.

Arteon nodded in response.

“I have an expectation.”

“We’re currently forming a Special Unit for reconnaissance to Helikel Gorge. You’ll accompany them as a guide to that place.”

It was a decision that the higher-ups had made with considerable caution.

It was an important operation, and at the same time, something that absolutely could not fail.

If successful, it would become a historic moment of recapturing Helikel Gorge.

‘But if it fails…’

The 1st Defense Line might be pushed back due to losing elite soldiers instead.

No, the worst case scenario could occur where they’d have to pull back not just the 1st Defense Line, but the entire Northern Front.

Raihen spoke with a stern expression.

“This is an operation that must succeed. Your performance… is very important.”

“…I will do my best.”

That was all Arteon could say in his current position.

But as if those words were satisfactory enough, Raihen nodded and said.

“Then follow the soldier outside. I pray that good fortune will be with you.”

“Steel hearts!”

Arteon clenched his right fist, placed it on his left chest in salute, then immediately turned around.

The soldier waiting outside looked at Arteon.

“Steel hearts!”

“Steel hearts. What’s your rank?”

“Corporal Bilk, sir. It’s an honor to guide you, Arteon sir.”

“…You know me?”

“I went to the 1st Defense Line as a supply soldier. I saw you fighting a Kar Tribe intermediate warrior right before my eyes.”

He looked at Arteon as if he had met a great hero.

Arteon had already become very famous throughout the company and even the division due to the battle at the 1st Defense Line.

Arteon nodded and followed him.

And then…

“It seems everyone has gathered now.”

“…!”

The moment he saw the person who appeared to be the commander at the location where the Special Unit had gathered, Arteon’s eyes wavered.

‘I never expected this person to be here…’

Perhaps this operation.

He felt like it would create a new page in the Kingdom’s history.

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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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