The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 318

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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 (318)
“Count Cameluk, we’ve finally found it!”
The man called Count Cameluk lifted his head as a middle-aged figure rushed toward him in evident urgency.
“Found what?”
“The incident involving the disappearance of several graduates from prestigious academies, including the Baltireon Tactical Academy.”
“Is that truly the case?”
Cameluk sprang from his seat.
He held the position of Minister of Education in the Hollendrum Kingdom, located in the eastern-central region of the Continent, overseeing all academies within the realm.
Yet late last year, a peculiar incident had unfolded within the Kingdom.
Several graduates from various academies had vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by shadow and silence.
What made it remarkable was that most of them had graduated as top scholars or with exceptional distinction from their respective institutions.
Nearly all had been scheduled for recruitment by various government departments immediately upon graduation, making their sudden disappearance a source of widespread bewilderment.
Yet now, the reason had finally come to light.
Cameluk posed his question.
“What is the cause?”
“The cause remains unclear, but their last known location was Croctal, the northern port city.”
“…Croctal?”
Cameluk’s expression hardened slightly.
Though called a port city, Croctal’s waters ran treacherous and violent, making fishing activities nearly impossible.
Was the city itself developed, then?
It was not.
It was merely a modest town of middling size, positioned at the Kingdom’s northernmost reach, where even travelers rarely ventured.
Yet why would they have gone there…?
But the man continued immediately.
“However, what is strange is that they apparently boarded a ship from the northern port.”
“…Surely not.”
Cameluk’s pupils trembled.
Boarding a ship from such a desolate place could mean only one thing.
“Smuggling?”
Such cases occurred from time to time.
The Hollendrum academies possessed far deeper historical roots and superior systems compared to those of other kingdoms.
Talent scouts from rival kingdoms would attempt to poach promising graduates and change their allegiance.
Though laws had been enacted and strict oversight implemented to prevent this, such reckless smuggling operations still occurred occasionally.
Cameluk’s expression twisted with displeasure.
“If a ship departed, it must have reached a destination. If we know where, we must inform His Majesty at once and resolve this through diplomatic channels.”
This was a form of diplomatic warfare that could inflict considerable damage upon the Kingdom.
Yet at Cameluk’s words,
“I… have considered that possibility as well…”
“…?”
At the man’s hesitation, Cameluk regarded him with a puzzled gaze.
The Blacksmith spoke cautiously to him.
“I attempted to track their movements, but… I could not locate any destination they reached.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Cameluk asked.
There was a point of departure, yet the destination remained unknown.
Had they prepared so thoroughly?
“Request the Royal Pursuit Unit. There are none on this Continent who could evade them.”
“We have already investigated through the Royal Pursuit Unit.”
“What?”
Cameluk’s eyes wavered.
The Blacksmith continued immediately.
“Before I make my report… I have verified this multiple times, but they did not seek asylum in another Kingdom.”
“Then where did the ship that departed from the Northern Region go? There is nothing but barren land in that direction…!”
Yet in that moment, Cameluk paused.
It was not entirely barren.
A place that was the Continent, yet not the Continent.
If one traveled northwest through navigation from the north of Hollendrum, one could reach a place that bordered the Empire.
‘Then… could it be that those Empire bastards…?’
Recently, the entire Continent had been in turmoil over the emergence of a new 8th Star warrior.
Cameluk clenched his lips tightly.
To provoke the Empire now would be like plucking scales from a dragon.
‘But…’
Still, I could not simply ignore such a matter.
If such a precedent continued to be set, other Kingdoms might also covet their own talented individuals.
Cameluk rose from his seat.
“We shall discuss this matter again later.”
“What are you planning to do…?”
The Blacksmith asked cautiously.
Cameluk replied.
“…I shall go to have an audience with His Majesty. And I intend to consult with him regarding this matter.”
It was something that could not simply be overlooked.
A hint of grim resolve began to frost over Cameluk’s eyes.
* * *
A gray bedrock region that stretched along winding Mountain Ranges.
The Gracekal Mine, situated at its heart, carried a cold and ominous energy befitting its name.
The Imperial Army had already completely secured the entrance leading into the front face of the Mine.
“Maintain Formation! Pull the supply Carriages further back!”
“Reconnaissance Unit, move immediately to the northern Ridge Line!”
Orders fell without pause.
The soldiers moved busily, constructing fortifications, raising watchtowers, and inspecting bowstrings.
It was a movement that allowed them to respond at any moment should combat commence.
And….
“Are the preparations complete?”
“Yes, Commander. We can deploy immediately upon your order.”
Belkain nodded at Claw’s response.
“Send the Reconnaissance Unit to that location at once. If even the slightest sign is detected, withdraw discreetly and report back to me.”
“Understood.”
Claw nodded at Belkain’s command and hurried away.
The beginning of this war.
Before engaging in full-scale combat, resolving the doubts I harbored was paramount.
‘There’s definitely… something hidden up their sleeve.’
I turned my gaze toward Gracekal Mine.
But from a distance.
Piolak Beurin, observing from behind, exhaled quietly.
“Unnecessarily ostentatious.”
His gaze carried obvious displeasure.
Harosel, the Adjutant standing beside him, nodded quietly.
“I agree, General. Against such barbarians, is there truly a need for this level of preparation…?”
Harosel’s eyes gleamed with confidence.
For two men who had traversed countless battlefields together, a conflict of this scale was hardly burdensome.
“They lack anything that could be called tactics. They may have relied on momentum until now… but in terrain like this, they’ll be no different.”
Piolak’s lips twisted into a smile.
“Still, the Supreme Commander’s dignity must be maintained. Don’t create unnecessary problems with careless words.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll observe for about a day, then speak at an opportune moment.”
“Truly worthy of you, General.”
At Harosel’s words, Piolak drew a smile across his lips and turned his gaze toward the mine.
An entrance carved as if from the mountain itself.
The cliffs and gorges surrounding it.
And somewhere within, the Kar Tribe forces positioned inside.
In terrain so advantageous for defense, the defending side could only grow stronger with time.
He wanted nothing more than to lead his Knights in a flanking assault on the mine immediately according to plan.
If he did so, they could penetrate inward and then open the front gate from within.
But….
‘I cannot disregard the Supreme Commander.’
Piolak clicked his tongue and turned away.
Merely one day.
Nothing would change significantly in that span.
‘By then, he won’t be able to refuse my proposal outright.’
For now, adhering to the Supreme Commander’s direction was best for maintaining the Army’s morale.
The cold wind swept across the Central Command, carrying with it the weight of uncertainty.
Piolak Beurin turned and made his way toward the hastily constructed Command Tent.
Meanwhile, at the Central Command’s war camp.
Belkain stood motionless, his gaze fixed upon the Map before him.
“Based on current intelligence, we’ve detected no significant movement from the Kar Tribe even within the Mine itself. It’s as if… they’re waiting for something. The silence is almost unnatural.”
Claw’s report continued quietly.
“We’re currently conducting searches across all the points you mentioned—the Mine’s Outskirts, the Ridge Line, the Gorge…”
Belkain nodded slowly.
“Those bastards must be after something specific.”
I studied the Map intently.
While it was true that the Kar Tribe displayed ferocity and simplistic tactics, the shifting circumstances we’d witnessed convinced me they harbored a hidden stratagem.
Which meant…
“They’re not the type to merely defend. There must be forces positioned outside, targeting us from without.”
And there was one detail of paramount importance.
“The moment our Operation is exposed, it becomes irreversible.”
We would commit flanking forces to tear through the enemy’s Rear Position.
That was the crux of this Operation.
The flanking forces couldn’t be withdrawn once committed, and if the route was discovered, the Operation couldn’t be executed a second time.
Which left me no choice but to proceed with absolute caution.
I trusted Piolak Beurin, recently recognized as a 6-Star Warrior, but this would be his first Northern campaign.
‘The Northern Region alone creates tremendous variables through its environment…’
Should we be swept up in those unpredictable shifts, even a commander with extensive Battlefield experience would find himself in a bewildering predicament.
My finger traced slowly across the Map.
The narrow passage on the flank.
And at its end, the vulnerability leading into the Mine’s interior.
“We must succeed on the first attempt.”
My voice dropped to a grave whisper.
“If we fail… we’ll have no choice but to wage a Battle where Soldier casualties are guaranteed.”
Those words carried the weight of immense sacrifice.
My eyes darkened with the gravity of the moment.
‘I must minimize losses while achieving Victory in this War.’
That was my responsibility as Supreme Commander.
And a day passed.
But…
“We still haven’t discovered anything, sir.”
Upon hearing the report, Belkain’s brow furrowed deeply.
“We’ve searched the entire Outskirts of the Mine… but found no Ambush Positioning.”
“That can’t be right…”
His gaze fell once more upon the Map.
In this Terrain, the locations suitable for Ambush Positioning were severely limited.
And to attack them….
‘That number would need to be at least a thousand.’
If that many Kar Tribe Warriors hadn’t emerged outside, there would be no point in considering this battle any further.
That was precisely why I had been certain the Kar Tribe Warriors would be positioned in ambush beyond the perimeter.
“There can’t be no traces….”
Yet there was nothing.
The situation felt profoundly wrong.
“Let me investigate a bit more. Their ambush capabilities have become far more….”
But it was at that very moment Belkain continued speaking.
Click.
The Command Tent door opened.
Piolak Beurin entered immediately after.
“Commander.”
His voice was brief and resolute.
“Now is the time to move.”
His eyes burned with conviction.
“The longer we wait, the more fortified their defenses become. Any further delay will only work against us.”
He stepped closer and continued.
“We must proceed with the operation as planned. I will lead the vanguard.”
A faint smile played across his lips.
“I will tear through their defensive line and return with news of victory.”
The air inside the tent grew heavy and still.
Belkain, who had been issuing commands, simply watched him without speaking.
What he said was true—as time passed, the advantage indeed shifted toward the defending Kar Tribe.
Moreover, was I not the one wasting time through reconnaissance, driven by my own instincts rather than necessity?
One cannot indefinitely stretch time with nothing but the word “unease.”
And yet….
….
Belkain’s gaze shifted to the map.
Something unseen.
A missing piece.
My intuition continued to insist that it would determine victory or defeat on this battlefield.
“…Sigh.”
At last, a deep breath escaped.
At that, Piolak Beurin stepped forward and spoke.
“Please issue the order to advance, Commander.”
Faced with his unwavering confidence.
….
Belkain could only regard him with anxious eyes.

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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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