The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 326

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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 (326)
Deep within the mine, a makeshift Command Post had been established between the roughly hewn stone walls.
Torches blazed, casting long shadows that writhed across the rock face as if possessed by some unseen force.
And from the center of it all.
“They fled?”
A single, terse utterance.
Yet the moment those words fell from his lips, the very air itself grew heavy and suffocating.
Berkal’s gaze pierced through the Warrior who had delivered the report like a blade through flesh.
Though his question seemed casually thrown out, it concealed a razor-sharp suspicion and cold calculation beneath.
Under that penetrating stare, the Warrior spoke with careful deliberation.
“Yes, it has been confirmed. The Imperial Army is… preparing to retreat.”
A man bearing seven Feather Tattoos—even Morganteron himself would not dare act carelessly around him.
I felt that a single misspoken word could cost me my life.
Yet Berkal did not respond to the Warrior’s report.
He merely tilted his head slowly.
‘A retreat, then…’
Countless possibilities interlocked rapidly within his mind.
The original plan had been simple.
Use the Special Forces under Morganteron’s command to strike the Imperial Army’s flank and shatter their Formation.
Throw the Imperial Army into chaos, allow them to falter as they scrambled to stabilize their ranks, buying time to assess the situation.
For an expeditionary force like the Imperial Army, every meaningless moment that passed would work against them.
Simple, yet the most certain and efficient Operation possible.
But now…
‘The Imperial Army is already considering withdrawal…’
Honestly, it was an unexpected variable.
I had never anticipated such a development.
That prideful Imperial Army, retreating with me standing before them.
There could be only one reason.
‘They must feel threatened by Taman’s presence.’
Which meant, in turn, that the Imperial Army’s Formation currently lacked anyone capable of standing against Taman.
The corners of Berkal’s mouth rose ever so slightly.
‘An opportunity.’
It was obvious, of course—striking a fleeing enemy was far easier than meeting one head-on in open battle.
Their Formation would be shattered, their Command structure destabilized.
Naturally, the Soldiers’ Morale would plummet, and even the slightest impact would trigger a complete collapse.
This moment, then, was when I could most efficiently cut down the Imperial Army.
“However…”
The Warrior continued.
“They are scattering in multiple directions, making it difficult to pursue them all. The Terrain is complex, and if nightfall compounds the problem, we risk losing significant numbers of Troops.”
Berkal’s gaze shifted once more.
“So what of Taman?”
“He said he would target the enemy’s Supreme Commander. That he would kill Belkain and return….”
Berkal’s eyes gleamed with sudden intensity.
“The enemy’s Supreme Commander.”
His voice repeated the words slowly.
A name surfaced in his memory.
Belkain.
During his studies in the Hollendrum Kingdom, a name he had heard countless times.
A case that appeared throughout tactical treatises.
An analysis subject repeated in every lecture.
The Baltireon Tactical Academy.
Belkain was an existence treated as a curriculum unto itself even at the continent’s premier institution of tactical education.
He was no mere commander.
A commander of commanders.
A true Supreme Commander who could read the flow of the battlefield itself.
Berkal’s fingers began tapping slowly against the table.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The fingers moving in steady rhythm soon came to a halt.
‘Could he actually be killed.’
It was no simple matter.
In truth, he had thought it virtually impossible.
But if the enemy’s camp possessed no warrior capable of stopping Morganteron.
‘There is the variable that they are scattered across multiple routes, making them difficult to find….’
Taman would transform even that into possibility.
If by some chance Belkain could be killed….
‘The entire balance of power in this Northern Region could be completely overturned.’
Berkal’s gaze sank deep into the darkness.
A vision took shape in his mind.
The moment Belkain’s head fell.
The Imperial Army’s command structure collapsing.
Conflicting orders crossing in the chaos.
The Imperial Army crumbling entirely.
‘If it were possible….’
His heart surged with a powerful beat.
Thump.
A burning sensation spread through his veins.
“Excellent.”
His conclusion was brief.
Berkal lifted his head.
“We will not waste our strength on pointless pursuit. That place will be handled by Taman anyway.”
Then there is only one task to accomplish here.
“We merely observe the variables.”
The warrior straightened his posture.
“Monitor every strategic pass leading into Gracekal Mine.”
“Yes!”
“And ascertain whether Imperial reinforcements are coming. The numbers matter not—whether a hundred or fifty. If even a single soul marches toward us, I want complete awareness.”
“Understood!”
The warrior pivoted swiftly.
His footsteps faded into the distance.
Silence descended once more within the Command Post.
Berkal rose slowly from his seat.
He gazed toward the mine entrance, in the direction where the Imperial Army had been.
Beyond the darkness.
In that unseen place dwelt Belkain, the Supreme Commander of the Empire.
“Belkain… Supreme Commander.”
The name escaped his lips in a low whisper.
Merely uttering that name sent a tremor through him.
‘Can I truly… kill him.’
His eyes trembled faintly, and his lips slowly parted.
And across Berkal’s face, a smile touched with madness gradually spread.
“Hehehehe….”
Though I tried to suppress it, laughter escaped.
Never did I imagine that in my first battle against the Empire, such an opportunity to prove myself would arrive.
This northern night.
‘To think it could feel so… comforting.’
By now, the arc of Berkal’s smile stretched wide, nearly reaching both ears.
* * *
“Gasp… gasp… gasp…!”
The officers and soldiers fleeing alongside Belkain exhaled ragged breaths.
Not only was the terrain of the Northern Mountains treacherous, but they had also spotted the black shadow pursuing them relentlessly.
“How… how did they get here….”
“Damn them. They are clearly… targeting the Commander.”
At one officer’s words, the atmosphere grew cold.
Though we had anticipated this to some degree, we never expected the enemy’s Special Forces to locate Supreme Commander Belkain.
‘Is this also… an ability they possess.’
We employed a retreat strategy, dividing our forces across more than ten routes.
In such mountainous terrain, this was the method that would confuse the enemy and allow the greatest number to survive.
But there was one disadvantage: the more dispersed our forces became, the more perilous it was for those on the pursued route.
And now.
“Commander.”
“Huff… huff….”
Belkain breathed heavily, glancing back over his shoulder.
Though I couldn’t determine the exact distance, it wouldn’t be long before they discovered our position.
Then Claw spoke.
“Commander. Remove your coat.”
“…What?”
Belkain questioned him, watching as Claw suddenly seized his sleeve.
But Claw didn’t answer—instead, he stripped off his own outer garment and helmet.
“Those bastards are after you, Commander. You absolutely… absolutely cannot die in this place.”
We were being pursued by a 7-Star warrior.
To think we could shake them off was nothing but arrogance and hubris.
Belkain cried out at those words.
“What are you saying!”
His voice was laced with fury, but Claw turned calmly to another officer beside him.
“General Zeulrons, we’ll divide our forces into two groups and move from here. General, please… support the Commander.”
“Claw…”
Hesitation flickered in the eyes of the officer called Zeulrons.
He understood what Claw intended by saying this.
But Claw smiled faintly and spoke to Belkain.
“I’ve served you for twenty years now. Do you think I’d die in a place like this?”
Claw’s gaze remained unwavering as he addressed Belkain.
“When I retire later, didn’t you say we’d spend our days together somewhere warm and sunny, not in the North?”
Claw’s eyes hardened with resolve.
“I won’t die. Don’t worry.”
“…You.”
Belkain clenched his lips tightly.
Perhaps this moment was…
But Claw cut him off, speaking urgently.
“So hurry, please! They’re coming soon!”
At Claw’s words, Belkain removed his coat and handed it over.
A deep blue-black overcoat.
And on the left shoulder was a golden-embroidered pattern that represented Belkain.
As Claw received the symbolic coat that Belkain had worn for so long on the battlefield.
“I’ll see you alive again.”
He bowed respectfully while donning the coat.
And then immediately.
“Captain Bassel. May I ask for your help?”
“…Of course.”
At Captain Bassel’s response, the 1st Company Commander, Claw nodded.
“Then Captain Bassel, you’ll move with me and the 1st Company soldiers. Above all, hold the Commander’s flag high.”
“Yes, understood.”
Bassel, the 1st Company Commander, nodded with a solemn expression.
They too understood how perilous this mission truly was.
Yet, knowing that all of this was for the Empire’s Supreme Commander—
Belkain—they harbored not a shred of hesitation.
Soon after Claw departed.
“Commander, we must proceed in this direction.”
At Zeulrons’s words, Belkain glanced toward the direction Claw had moved.
But immediately after—
“Come back safely.”
With that fervent wish, he turned his body in the opposite direction and began to run.
And moments later.
A thunderous sound reverberated through the mountain terrain, and the entire mountain began to shake.
* * *
The frigid air pierced through my lungs.
The horse’s breath came in ragged bursts.
White vapor streamed from its nostrils, dispersing behind us.
Arteon leaned low in the saddle, gripping the reins with an iron hold.
Veins bulged across the back of his hands from the sheer force he exerted.
His gaze was fixed upon a single direction alone.
Gracekal Mine.
Not much remained now.
The sound of hoofbeats thundered ceaselessly along the winding mountain path.
Clop, clop, clop-clop-clop!
Not irregular bursts, but a rhythm synchronized as one.
And those running alongside Arteon—
The Silent Spear Battalion.
They were already pushing themselves to the brink of their limits.
Though mounted on horseback, they sometimes dismounted to take faster routes, climbing mountain paths and crossing rivers.
It reminded me of that grueling forced march from the Capital to the Southern Region long ago.
Yet no one slowed their pace.
Rather, whenever a comrade faltered, they encouraged one another and pressed forward.
Where they were headed—
Everyone knew that the life and death of the Empire’s Supreme Commander hung in the balance.
“….”
Arteon’s eyes narrowed.
The terrain was growing increasingly treacherous.
Dense trees flanked a narrow passage ahead.
From here began the outskirts of the mine.
It meant we would arrive at our destination very soon.
But at that very moment, Arteon and the Silent Spear Unit were charging through the narrow pass.
KWAAAAAAAAAANG!
A thunderous sound erupted as if the entire mountain itself were wailing.
The earth trembled, and the horses reared up in terror, their front hooves striking the air.
“NEEEEEIIIIIGH!”
“Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!”
“AAAAHHHHH!”
Several horses lost their footing and stumbled.
Curses erupted from the rear ranks.
“What in blazes is that!”
“What kind of madness is this…?”
But everyone’s expressions had hardened.
An explosion of such magnitude, powerful enough to shake the mountain itself—
“Captain, that sound…”
“Damn it.”
It could only mean a warrior of at least 7-Star caliber was present.
Already knowing who the strongest warrior among the Imperial Army forces in this war was, Arteon’s face contorted with grim realization.
Arteon’s heart pounded violently.
His lips pressed into a thin line, and his grip on the reins tightened with renewed intensity.
“Increase speed. Now.”
A brief, resolute command.
In that same instant, tension settled over the previously chaotic formation.
Squad members controlling their mounts quickly pulled hard on the reins.
“Hyah!”
“Forward!”
Hooves hammered the earth as the unit exploded into a burst of speed.
Leading the charge, Arteon bit down hard on his lower lip.
‘Please… just a little longer…’
Arteon prayed with desperate urgency.
‘Let them all survive.’
With fervent prayer in his heart, Arteon and the Silent Spear Unit charged toward the entrance of the mountain terrain.

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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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