The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 290

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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 (290)
The air inside the tent was strangely oppressive.
It was late at night, with faint sounds of battlefield preparations drifting through the darkness, yet this space alone was suffused with such heavy tension that even breathing felt like a cautious act.
A map lay spread across a long table, surrounded by seven warriors.
All of them were at least 5-Star Level warriors.
One might call it merely seven, but considering that a single 5-Star Level warrior possessed the ability to cut down roughly a hundred soldiers, it was a military force that could not be dismissed.
And Belkain, standing before them, gazed at them intently before finally opening his mouth.
“As I explained before, I intend to execute this operation.”
His voice was calm, yet the weight it carried was far from light.
“But the moment we move, they will notice.”
Belkain’s finger traced slowly across the map.
“The instant Major Arteon leads the Silent Spear Battalion to penetrate enemy territory… those bastards will target this position as well.”
The warriors’ eyes flickered quietly.
None of them failed to grasp the meaning behind those words.
“In a sense, it’s a remarkably simple operation, a straightforward battle one might say… but.”
Someone would have to stake their life for this operation, and that someone would be the Supreme Commander directing it.
Belkain’s gaze swept slowly across the warriors in the tent.
“In truth, there’s no need to take such risks. After all, we have Major Arteon.”
Possessing a 8-Star Level warrior was itself equivalent to earning the right to indulge in pride.
Numerical superiority?
Such things hardly mattered.
It would simply require time—Arteon alone could theoretically eliminate Pride’s entire army.
Consider it.
If Arteon were to move to the enemy’s flank or rear and repeatedly strike and withdraw, there would be nothing they could do.
The only limitation was that Arteon’s physical strength and Aura had their own limits, making it a matter of time.
In that case, the only option left to them would be to advance against us.
Unless they were fools, they wouldn’t simply endure passively.
However…
“If that happens, our soldiers will inevitably shed considerable blood as well.”
When Pride’s Allied Forces advanced, holding them back with merely ten thousand was no simple task.
Even fighting defensively, unless one held a fortified position, one had to accept that more than half would fall.
Then Belkain’s eyes settled with quiet, resolute determination.
“I wish to win this war while spilling as little of our soldiers’ blood as possible.”
In that moment, Kailun’s pupils trembled slightly.
A flicker of recognition crossing his gaze.
Belkain noticed this and turned to regard him.
He wondered if something was troubling him.
But then it happened.
“However, Commander.”
Isaac, standing beside Kailun, carefully opened his mouth.
He too had recently ascended to the 5-Star Level, which was why he could stand in this place.
Belkain turned his gaze from Kailun to Isaac.
Isaac opened his mouth carefully.
“If a 7-Star Level warrior comes directly to us, there is no way to stop them.”
Isaac’s words were a cold reality.
“The casualties among our soldiers would be… considerable.”
The air inside the tent grew heavier.
It was an operation impossible to wage war while minimizing Allied Forces casualties, just as Belkain had said.
At that, Belkain slowly nodded his head.
“That would be true in ordinary circumstances.”
“…Pardon?”
At Belkain’s response, not only Isaac but several warriors nearby looked at him with astonished eyes.
Then Belkain rose from his seat, picked up the command baton he had placed beside him, and pointed to the map.
“I intend to move the Silent Spear Battalion through the side path of this hill.”
The eyes of those present followed the command baton.
“If we move using the hillside wall as cover, we can hide Major Arteon’s entry onto the Battlefield as much as possible. With luck, we might even conceal it until the enemy’s flank center.”
But the enemy would not be so naive either.
There was a high probability they would be discovered before then.
If that happened…
“If my prediction is correct, those bastards will surely move a 7-Star Level warrior to the opposite side of the hill where Arteon is moving.”
He was certain of it.
The two warriors had already completely lost their will to fight in their battle against Arteon.
They would not even consider facing him again.
“If they launch an attack from this direction…”
Belkain pushed the blue flag planted at the tip of his command baton from side to side.
“We can withdraw our soldiers and minimize casualties.”
“Commander.”
“This is…”
Minimizing casualties was correct, but wasn’t it essentially the same as opening the way for them?
But Belkain continued speaking calmly as he observed their expressions.
“As you say, 7-Star Level warriors cannot be stopped by soldiers. We would merely be buying time at the cost of their lives.”
But how much time could we buy?
One hour? Two hours?
“If the minimum number of soldiers who must die to buy that time is a thousand, then I believe it is better to open the way for them instead.”
After all, what those bastards are after is…
“The Command Post. Me, in other words.”
Belkain’s gaze swept across the tent.
Someone swallowed hard, the sound of a dry gulp audible.
A moment of silence.
No one dared to speak carelessly.
The Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces had wagered his own life on achieving absolute victory in this war.
“But that doesn’t mean I intend to simply die. That’s precisely why I’ve called you all here.”
Belkain’s gaze sharpened with cold intensity.
Behind the silence, a blade-like tension descended upon the Conference Room once more.
Belkain spoke, his eyes sweeping across the Warriors before him.
“Can you all hold back those… Warriors?”
….
No one answered.
If Arteon, an 8-Star, were to launch an attack, everyone here was merely 5-Star or 6-Star level.
Moreover, only two of them—including Kailun—were even 6-Star level.
But then it happened.
“I will hold them back.”
…!
At Kailun’s single declaration, those standing beside him turned to stare at him in shock.
Only Arteon and Belkain regarded him with calm, measured eyes.
Belkain questioned him.
“Your opponent is a 7-Star Warrior. Are you truly certain you can face them?”
“Otherwise, wouldn’t we have no choice but to fight alongside the Soldiers?”
“…That’s true.”
Without a means to stop them, they would have no choice but to sacrifice Soldiers to buy time.
It was only natural, wasn’t it?
A Commander couldn’t simply offer his head to the Enemy Commander.
That’s why Belkain’s voice was resolute.
“I will hold them back. No—I will absolutely hold them back.”
At Kailun’s unwavering declaration, Belkain regarded him quietly.
“Can you do it?”
A brief question.
Kailun’s gaze didn’t waver for an instant.
“I will hold them back no matter what.”
An unshakeable answer.
Witnessing his resolve, the other Warriors began to speak up.
“…I will stand with you.”
“I will as well.”
One by one, the Warriors in the room pledged their strength to Kailun’s determination.
It was certainly a difficult task.
7-Star Warriors were different from them—monstrous beings entirely.
One Warrior exhaled softly.
“Sigh… Honestly, even if all of us fight together, I cannot guarantee we can stop them.
No one objected.
Because it was the truth.
But…
Belkain’s gaze remained fixed on Kailun.
Kailun’s eyes did not waver.
Within them burned a resolve far stronger than fear.
One figure observed this quietly from the shadows.
Arteon.
After a moment of silence, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Isaac.”
“Yes?”
“You stay here as well.”
Isaac’s eyes widened at those words.
“What?”
Arteon’s gaze turned toward Kailun.
“Remain here and support Kailun.”
Isaac fell silent for a moment.
Then Belkain slowly nodded.
“Good.”
His voice was quiet but resolute.
“Then let us execute the operation.”
Belkain’s gaze swept across the warriors.
“I place my trust in you all.”
The air within the tent fell silent once more.
But this time, it was different.
Within their eyes burned the determination of each warrior.
Toward the battlefield that would soon arrive.
Time moved like a sharpened blade, slowly and deliberately.
* * *
Soldiers moved busily between the tents of the camp.
The metallic clang of armor colliding, the snorting of horses, the barked commands of officers—all mingled together to fill the air.
The tension and fervor unique to a military camp on the eve of battle rose steadily.
Amidst this commotion, Kailun in his personal quarters donned his leather armor, then reached for the combat coat hanging beside him.
A deep navy coat.
Along its side, a brilliant crimson pattern—matching the hue of Kailun’s red hair—was embroidered with ornate flourish.
Arteon had purchased it for me personally before my first battle.
Kailun gazed at it for a moment.
So much has transpired…
‘Truly, so many things have happened.’
I cannot count how many times this coat has saved my life.
Kailun gripped the coat tightly.
“Once more, I entrust myself to you.”
Kailun donned his coat.
As the fabric settled across his shoulders, a peculiar heaviness descended upon him.
Seated on the edge of the bed, he bowed his head.
Without realizing it, his fists clenched tight.
On this battlefield, what I must face are 7-Star Warriors representing each kingdom.
Those at that realm were monstrous beings far beyond the scope of humanity—creatures standing leagues above even myself.
A bitter smile crossed Kailun’s lips.
It would certainly not be easy.
In fact, it might be nearly impossible.
But….
‘…I will see it done.’
His eyes gradually sharpened.
Belkain’s words from last night’s meeting in the Conference Room echoed in his mind.
—I wish to end this war without spilling the blood of our soldiers if possible.
That single phrase.
Those brief words touched something deep within Kailun’s chest.
A childhood memory.
In a city drenched in blood and screams, a commander who had driven soldiers into a death trap and fled.
Because of him, not only soldiers but innocent people in the city were massacred and desecrated.
Yet Belkain would throw himself into danger rather than allow his soldiers to die meaninglessly.
To that resolve.
‘I too….’
I add my own will.
Though fear made his body tremble, Kailun clenched his teeth and rose to his feet.
Now… it was time to head to the battlefield.
Flutter.
Kailun roughly pushed aside the tent flap at the Barracks entrance and stepped outside.
But in that moment.
“…What? Why are you here?”
Seeing Arteon standing before his Barracks, Kailun asked with a bewildered expression.
Arteon turned his head to look at Kailun.
“I have something to say.”
“…?”
At his following words, Kailun’s pupils began to quiver slightly.

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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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