The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 27

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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 (27)

“Arteon.”

“Why are you making such an uncharacteristic expression?”

A long scar that crossed his left eye and extended down to his lower cheek.

Though not burly, his well-trained body was solid enough to be clearly felt even through his uniform.

Usually called a cold-blooded man, but to those close to him, he was like a playful neighborhood older brother of a superior.

Though he had risen to the position of minor nobility, he still didn’t discriminate against commoners like himself and recognized their abilities.

When Arteon asked about his unusual demeanor, the man answered.

“If we win this battle, we’ll be able to advance into their heartland. When that happens… we can completely end this damn war.”

“…What’s this, like an old man? Anyone listening would think the war’s already over.”

“…”

At Arteon’s words, the man just smiled silently.

But soon after.

“Arteon.”

“…?”

“If I die, I want you to take over. You’re the only one I can trust.”

“…Stop saying unlucky things and keep leading from the front. If a commoner like me becomes a commander, would the soldiers even follow?”

“Hehehe, anyway, 90% of the soldiers here are all commoners, so what does it matter? And who knows? Maybe commoners will band together and cause some real trouble.”

He always had composure.

With his mid-4th Star level ability to handle aura, he was both an idol and object of respect for Arteon.

Though his unusual behavior brought a strange uneasiness, Arteon didn’t think much of it.

As long as he led from the front, defeat was unthinkable.

And indeed… they won that battle.

As they always had.

But didn’t they say ominous premonitions always come true?

In that battle where they could pierce the heart of the Kar Tribe.

“Ah… no, no… it can’t be… it can’t beeeee!”

Seeing him with his chest pierced, Arteon screamed and cut the throat of the Kar Tribe general who was exhausted from fighting him.

“Hehehe… as expected. The one to… succeed me… *cough*!”

“D-don’t speak! Medic! Mediiiic!”

Arteon’s desperate scream echoed, but he gripped Arteon’s hand tightly and said.

“I’m… leaving… everything to you. Those bastards… definitely… kill them all…”

“Mediiiic! Mediiiic!”

Thud.

“No, no! Nooooo!”

Amid Arteon’s tearful screams, he ended his life like that.

Being able to survive in this hellish place, being able to endure… his help had been significant.

In a way, he had become Arteon’s mental pillar – a superior, commander, and… comrade.

His death saddened all the soldiers, and afterward Arteon led 5,000 soldiers according to his will and massacred 30,000 Kar Tribe members.

When he could have ended the northern war by eliminating the Kar Tribe as per his dying wish, he was betrayed and killed.

“…”

Momentarily, past events flashed by like a revolving lantern.

Seeing Arteon with a dazed expression as soon as he entered the barracks, the Special Unit commander asked.

“What’s with this guy with the stupid look in his eyes?”

“Sergeant Arteon from 3rd Battalion 3rd Company. He’s the soldier recommended by the division commander as a guide for this Special Unit.”

“…Arteon? You mean the top contributor of the 1st Defense Line?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Bilk, who had guided Arteon, answered without hesitation.

But Arteon, who was beside him, couldn’t take his eyes off the Special Unit commander and unconsciously muttered.

“…Major Isaac… sir.”

His former direct superior and the commander who possessed strength greater than anyone else.

Until the end, he had been passionate about his unit members and victory over his own safety, and his figure that shone brighter than twilight still remained.

But at Arteon’s muttering.

“Did I introduce myself? But don’t say things that’ll cause trouble. I’m still a lieutenant.”

“…Ah, I apologize.”

Isaac’s voice echoed low through the barracks. Only then did Arteon come to his senses and quickly brought his feet together while clenching his right fist.

“Heart of Steel! Sergeant Arteon. Reporting to Lieutenant Isaac.”

“Now it seems everyone’s gathered.”

Pleased with Arteon’s proper bearing, Isaac slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

Then he looked at the map spread on the table and said.

“The personnel assigned to this Special Unit is thirty men. We wanted to deploy more, but due to the nature of the operation, we judged that moving large numbers would be too risky.”

Isaac then pointed to a spot on the map.

“We’ll move along this route, following the low-gradient path on the western side of Helikel Gorge. From here we’ll move to the center, confirm the enemy’s troop deployment inside the gorge, then withdraw.”

At Isaac’s words, all the unit members present nodded.

Though only thirty men, they all had 1st Star level abilities or higher.

But then…

“Lieutenant Isaac. May I offer an opinion?”

“Speak, Sergeant. Since you were recommended as a guide, I’ll actively consider your opinion.”

At Isaac’s words, Arteon looked at the spot he had indicated and said.

“Your operation is stable and an excellent method, but since this is a place we can climb, enemy sentries will be positioned there. We won’t be able to avoid combat with the enemy in any case.”

Then he immediately pointed to a section of the map.

The eastern side of Helikel Gorge.

In other words, the opposite side from where Isaac had pointed.

“In contrast, the eastern cliff wall of the gorge is steep and dangerous, but there’s a river flowing directly below, so it’s possible to move to the cliff wall through the river without being detected by the enemy.”

“…?”

“And after reaching the cliff wall along the river, if we climb up the cliff wall, we can avoid enemy detection and…”

Tap.

Arteon’s finger pointed to the center of the gorge.

“Enter toward the center and move directly to the rear of the gorge. If we can use Explosive Blast here to blow up part of the gorge’s central wall, we can cause great confusion to the enemy. As a bonus, we can also attack them from behind while blocking their retreat route.”

If the main force attacks from the front then, they’ll be annihilated with both front and rear blocked.

At Arteon’s words, those present looked at him with stunned expressions.

“…What unit did you say you’re from?”

“3rd Company 4th Platoon.”

“That… what was your name again?”

“Yes, it’s correct.”

It was so absurd that he momentarily couldn’t even remember the name.

At Arteon’s words, Isaac exhaled softly and said.

“It would be nice if things went as you say, but there are many problems. First, though there is a river toward the eastern cliff wall, the current is strong and the water is deep, making it impossible to cross. And second, even if we cross that river, the cliff wall is steep and high, making it impossible to climb.”

Isaac spoke calmly based on data remaining from when the Empire had controlled Helikel Gorge in the past and recent information gathered by scouts.

At this sight, Arteon had to barely suppress a smile that unconsciously emerged.

‘…This is Isaac’s true nature.’

Not ignoring the words of subordinates and accepting them as much as possible while facing reality and making cold judgments.

His military prowess was one thing, but this broad tolerance and coldness was his most fearsome aspect.

Then a man beside him spoke.

“Stop talking recklessly. I heard you’ve only been enlisted for one year, but this battlefield isn’t so easy. Does everything look trivial because you got lucky with one achievement?”

At the sharp words, the surrounding unit members looked at him.

Arteon turned his gaze to him.

The rank engraved on his shoulder insignia was sergeant.

Arteon asked.

“What’s your affiliation and name?”

“I’m Sergeant Fonlaron, 4th Company 2nd Sub-squad leader. It’s a different position from yours as a squad leader.”

It seemed he already knew that Arteon was the 4th Platoon 4th Squad leader.

However, Arteon turned his head away from Fonlaron and looked at Isaac again.

“As you said… the river flowing below Helikel Gorge has a strong current, making it not easy to cross. But… crossing it isn’t impossible. And the eastern cliff wall as well… we can’t climb it, but couldn’t you climb it, Lieutenant Isaac?”

“…What?”

“What is this bastard saying? So you’re telling Lieutenant Isaac to climb that wall because we can’t?!”

Fonlaron suddenly interrupted and shouted.

Arteon nodded at him.

“That’s right. If Lieutenant Isaac goes up with rope and sets it up, we’ll be able to climb up too.”

“Isn’t this guy crazy?”

Telling a superior to climb that treacherous cliff wall.

He thought it wasn’t something a sane person would say.

But then.

“…Kekekekekekekekekek.”

Isaac, who had been looking at Arteon, began laughing with his shoulders shaking.

Though he was biting his lips tightly, he couldn’t contain the laughter that was forcing its way out.

At that sight, not only Fonlaron but all the other unit members looked at Isaac.

Fonlaron said urgently.

“Lieutenant Isaac, please ignore what this bastard is saying. He doesn’t seem to be in his right mind.”

“Kekekek, ah… it’s been a while since I had a good laugh.”

Isaac, who had been laughing for a while, muttered quietly and looked at Arteon.

“You think I can climb up here?”

“Yes, definitely.”

“…Interesting.”

Isaac’s eyes flashed sharply.

Soon he asked Arteon with a serious expression.

“Then can we definitely cross this river? Do I need to do something for this too?”

“No. The river’s current is fast, making it difficult to cross, but there’s a shallow spot in the middle. If we cross there, we can definitely make it across.”

“A shallow spot… how do you know? Isn’t the risk too great?”

Isaac’s expression slightly twisted.

He was angry at the unrealistic operation. But Arteon shook his head.

“If one person crosses first and sets up rope on the other side of the river, the rest of the personnel can cross.”

“So who’s going to set up that rope? It’s not like the river depth is clearly visible, so who’s going to take on that risk?”

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

But at that moment, Arteon answered briefly.

“I can cross it.”

“What?”

“The width of Helikel Gorge’s river is less than about 40 meters. If we use thick rope, we can definitely withstand the current.”

“…You can cross it? If you get caught in the current, you could die.”

Isaac’s gaze shot fiercely toward Arteon.

But despite that gaze.

“I can do it. No, I will definitely do it.”

Arteon answered without a moment’s hesitation.

At that sight, Isaac nodded.

“Good, let’s do it that way.”

“Lieutenant Isaac!”

“What’s the problem, Fonlaron?”

“Are you really saying you’ll climb the cliff wall alone, sir?”

“Then is there someone else who can climb that cliff wall?”

“But how could you do such a thing, sir…”

“Fonlaron, are we going on a picnic?”

“…Pardon?”

Isaac’s gaze turned coldly serious.

Isaac looked at the Special Unit members around him and said.

“If there’s a way to do it, we do it by any means necessary. Whether that means me climbing a cliff wall alone as the commander, or rolling around in a dung field.”

At Isaac’s words, Arteon unconsciously clenched his fists.

‘…This is Isaac.’

The real commander he knew.

A man who would jump into flames without a moment’s hesitation if he could lead the war to victory, even by sacrificing his own body.

Isaac spoke to the Special Unit members without hesitation.

“We’re definitely winning this war. And I’ll do whatever it takes for victory. Anyone with half-hearted resolve should leave now. I won’t penalize you.”

The unit members’ eyes changed at his words filled with determination.

And in the changed atmosphere.

“No one’s leaving, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“We’ll definitely follow you!”

“We’ll stay with you even if we die!”

The unit members gathered there shouted loudly.

Isaac then took out his watch.

“…Everyone finish preparations and gather here by 23:00. We depart then.”

Before dawn breaks tomorrow.

“We cross Helikel Gorge.”

At those words, all the unit members began moving busily.

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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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