The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 34

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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 (34)

“Hurry! We must get across quickly!”

“How did this collapse…?”

The right canyon wall had collapsed, and the debris completely blocked the path at the bottom of the gorge.

Fortunately, it wasn’t impassable, so the Kar Tribe warriors in the rear hurriedly climbed over the rocks.

With their forces split in two, their comrades in front were in a dangerous situation.

But…

Swoosh!

“Gah!”

“Aagh!”

“…!”

“Enemy archers! Empire archers are positioned on top of the canyon walls!”

Kar Tribe warriors climbing the rocks suddenly fell to the ground under a rain of arrows.

Why had so many Empire forces suddenly gathered here?

No, more than that, the fact that they had taken control of the canyon walls meant…

“…Could it be.”

Urkalon, a senior Kar Tribe warrior in the rear, deflected arrows while looking beyond the rock-blocked area.

And at that moment, a sound reached his ears.

Boooooooooo!

“Waaaaaaaaaaah!”

It wasn’t the cry of allies.

As the ominous horn sound echoed throughout the entire gorge, Urkalon stepped on the rocks and instantly climbed up.

The desperate sight that met his eyes.

“We don’t need prisoners! Kill them all!”

“Gaaaaaaah!”

“Sp-spare me… Gack!”

Seeing Empire soldiers breaking through the gorge entrance and pushing in, Urkalon bit his lips hard.

But then.

Thunk!

“Ugh!”

Urkalon’s body swayed as an arrow lodged in his right shoulder.

Someone spotted Urkalon and shouted loudly.

“There’s a senior warrior here! Target him!”

Swish swish swish swish!

Instantly, the archers concentrated their fire on Urkalon.

Under the pouring rain of arrows, Urkalon leaped down below.

“Retreat! Retreat!”

Piiiiiiiii!

In the end, all they could do was flee.

As the whistle signaling retreat echoed through the gorge, the Kar Tribe forces in the rear began to quickly withdraw.

And seeing this.

“Don’t pursue! Maintain formation and finish off the remaining ones!”

“Hold the formation!”

Officers shouted loudly, giving orders to their soldiers.

And in the battlefield that was gradually being cleared up.

“…Phew.”

Arteon sat down heavily, breathing slightly.

“…Did we win?”

In front of Arteon lay Turak, whose breath had ceased.

A senior Kar Tribe warrior bearing three feather tattoos.

Killing him held great significance for Arteon as well.

Though he hadn’t yet surpassed the 3-Star Level.

‘…It works, my strength.’

His skills were effective against the Kar Tribe.

Of course, he still had a long way to go, but through his fight with Turak, he could clearly understand his shortcomings.

“I need to become stronger.”

Having used his mana to the very bottom, his muscles felt torn from the overload on his body.

But Arteon used his spear as a staff and stood up.

It seemed to be ending, but it wasn’t over yet.

But then.

Grab.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“…?”

Fonlaron, who had approached at some point, grabbed Arteon’s arm and supported him.

All those who had gone up were covered in blood along with minor wounds.

Arteon asked.

“How’s it up there?”

“All cleaned up.”

At those words, Arteon let out a chuckle.

“For something that’s cleaned up, you look terrible.”

“And you look fine?”

“Heh heh heh heh, true enough.”

Arteon finally burst into laughter.

An impossible operation.

It seemed like he had gained a comrade he could trust to watch his back in this fierce battlefield.

But soon Arteon picked up a Kar Tribe spear that had fallen to the ground.

His mana was completely depleted, so he couldn’t use Iglis.

“Then… let’s go finish this.”

“Follow behind me. This time I’ll lead the way.”

Arteon’s legs were trembling just from standing.

As Fonlaron casually moved forward, pretending not to notice, Arteon nodded.

“Let’s go then.”

And as dawn slowly broke.

“Victory is ours!”

Benhard’s ogre.

Though he was cold enough to never show emotion, even he couldn’t help himself at this moment.

The moment his faintly trembling voice echoed throughout the entire gorge.

“Waaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Victory is ours!”

“We’ve taken Helikel Gorge!”

The Empire soldiers raised great cheers.

After a full 10 years.

Helikel Gorge had returned to the Empire’s embrace.

* * *

“…What did you say?”

What happened at the 1st Defense Line spread throughout the entire Northern Region in an instant.

The middle-aged man holding a wine glass filled with cold wine couldn’t hide his surprised expression at the news delivered by the messenger.

“Belkain recaptured Helikel Gorge?”

The Northern Region is largely divided into the Northwest, Central Northern Region, and Northeastern Region.

The area Belkain is in charge of is the Northwest.

Among them, the 1st Defense Line was known as the most fierce and dangerous battlefield in the Northwest.

Recently, he had heard stories of a great victory at the 1st Defense Line.

But how much time had passed since that news was delivered…

“Huh.”

The man’s expression twisted strangely.

Whether he was flustered, or something that shouldn’t have happened had occurred.

It was hard to determine what emotion it was, but one thing was certain – this wasn’t exactly a celebratory atmosphere.

The middle-aged man looked at the soldier in front of him and said.

“Depart for the 1st Defense Line immediately. Find out in detail what happened there.”

“Yes, understood!”

Soon after the soldier hurriedly left, the middle-aged man moved to look out the window.

Through the frost-covered window, the gray sky characteristic of the Northern Region was visible.

“…Helikel Gorge.”

Everyone in the Northern Region knows what kind of place that is.

Literally signaling the end of the 1st Defense Line battles, and at the same time.

“Has a fortress been created in the Northwest…”

A thick shield had been firmly raised in the Empire’s Northwest.

And…

“Now they’ve created a foothold to advance into the Northern Region.”

This could bring tremendous repercussions to those in the Empire.

For some, it could be a golden opportunity to expand their territory.

“But for those who need fierce conflict in the Northern Region…”

It was a major event that could shake their power.

The man soon sat back down and began quickly writing a letter.

If it was truly fact that they had taken Helikel Gorge, he had to move first before the news reached them.

‘At most a week from now.’

He just hoped nothing would happen, but these uneasy premonitions had never been wrong.

“Is anyone outside!”

“Yes, did you call?”

“Deliver this letter to Count Kalbillon immediately. It’s an important letter, so it must be delivered as quickly as possible.”

“Understood.”

The man hurriedly took the letter and left.

Since he had said it was an important letter, those delivering it would need significant preparation.

There are always those in politics who try to interfere with the delivery of news.

And in the now quiet room.

“…Phew.”

The middle-aged man’s sigh spread softly.

* * *

On the blood-stained ground, dust and the smell of blood still lingered.

In just one night.

Though the sun was high in the gorge that had changed owners, traces of fierce war still remained.

“Over here! Carry it this way!”

“Move all the barbarian corpses over there and take the wounded to this barracks! Hey hey! You there, stop slacking and move quickly!”

Between the gorge.

In the narrow pass where the fiercest battle had taken place, soldiers were busily moving, clearing corpses and collapsed rocks.

Outside the entrance, barracks for the wounded had been built, and survivors were cleaning up the battlefield while recovering their fallen comrades.

And near the command tent.

Arteon sat leaning against a rock, soaked in fatigue.

His left arm was splinted with a tree branch and tightly bound with bandages, and every time he breathed in, he felt throbbing pain in his side.

Nevertheless, Arteon’s eyes calmly and steadily watched the soldiers in the gorge without wavering.

But then.

“What are you doing here?”

Someone approached Arteon and spoke to him.

Blonde hair with a slight red tinge.

A man with impressive blue eyes like a lake.

Isaac Duraik.

He was looking at Arteon sitting there.

Arteon stood up from his seat and saluted.

“Steel heart.”

“Forget it, what’s an injured person doing saluting. Sit and rest.”

“I’m fine.”

“Your left arm and ribs are broken. It might not be a major injury, but broken ribs can lead to serious injuries if you’re not careful, so focus on recovery.”

“…Understood.”

At Isaac’s words, Arteon sat back down on the rock.

Normally he should have been lying on a bed in the barracks where the wounded were, but he didn’t particularly want to do that.

‘This kind of injury…’

Compared to those who lost their lives or suffered greater injuries, it was nothing.

Isaac stared at Arteon intently.

He had been watching the guy for several days, but it really didn’t make sense.

Isaac asked Arteon.

“Arteon. Are you really 15 years old?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. Or maybe you’re actually a 40-year-old veteran who got younger through magic? Or perhaps you were a general in a past life and reincarnated.”

“…I didn’t know you had such an active imagination. You probably would have been very successful as a bard.”

“Haha, I do have quite an imagination. Anyway, it doesn’t make sense that someone like you is 15 years old.”

“Actually… I do feel like I’ve lived for quite a long time.”

“…Hmm?”

Isaac, who didn’t understand those words, looked at Arteon with a puzzled expression.

But then, someone approached the two of them.

The clanking sound of armor.

A man of massive build with a longsword at his waist approached.

The division commander, Belkain.

“Steel heart!”

“Steel heart!”

Isaac and Arteon quickly straightened their posture and saluted toward Belkain.

Belkain looked at Arteon and said.

“The barracks for the wounded should have been built.”

“I gave up my spot for those with more serious injuries than me. I couldn’t let them have no place to rest because of me.”

“…I see.”

Belkain looked at Arteon and slowly nodded.

But then.

“Well done.”

At those unexpected words, Isaac and Arteon’s eyes wavered slightly.

It wasn’t Belkain’s usual way of speaking.

But Belkain didn’t mind and continued speaking.

“You are no different from having saved thousands of soldiers.”

The 1st Defense Line produced tremendous casualties every year.

But now, that hellish war was virtually over.

“Once things are organized, the fortification of Helikel Gorge will proceed. The moment news of this victory reaches Central, elite troops will likely come as reinforcements immediately.”

If the fortress at Helikel Gorge was completed, it would be able to block the Kar Tribe’s invasions for decades to come.

No, perhaps it could be hundreds of years.

For this tremendous achievement, Belkain spoke without a trace of shame.

“You were the protagonists of this war. The Special Unit’s merit will be written in the Empire’s history.”

Unprecedented rewards would be granted.

Perhaps some of them might even receive noble titles.

However, at Belkain’s words, Arteon’s eyes grew coldly distant.

‘Soon now…’

The victory at Helikel Gorge would be transmitted to Central. When that happened…

‘They’ll move.’

Those who had been waiting.

On the battlefield where victory cannons were firing, Arteon’s gaze was reaching toward what came next.

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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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