The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 37
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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 (37)
It was a moment more brilliant than starlight.
The moment when a single word from the seated Emperor fell.
“Now! We shall begin the merit evaluation for the recapture of the Northwest, Helikel Gorge!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Along with the Secretary’s words, prepared drum sounds echoed loudly throughout the Great Hall.
With a majestic feeling, people revealed their respective emotions through their expressions.
Excitement and joy at being able to witness this historic moment.
Someone was thinking about the changes that would come to the Empire due to the great achievement of recapturing Helikel Gorge.
Of course, there were a few who hid those thoughts with expressionless faces.
The Secretary fidgeted with the Crimson-Covered Book clutched in his hands.
Soon he shouted.
“First! Second Lieutenant Tertian of the 1st Division! Step forward.”
When Tertian heard his name called, he straightened his uniform and slowly walked up to the Platform.
Despite his straight shoulders and confident gait, his expression was somewhat stiff.
Soon as Tertian climbed onto the Platform, the Secretary looked at him and said.
“Kneel on one knee and pay your respects.”
Thud.
Tertian knelt on his right knee and bowed his head.
Then the Secretary spoke.
“Second Lieutenant Tertian, as deputy commander of the Special Unit that invaded Helikel Gorge, made great contributions to defeating the brutal barbarians and recapturing Helikel Gorge. Therefore, he is granted a special promotion of 1 rank, along with 100 Gold and one Silver-grade treasure from the Imperial Treasury.”
“Ooooh…”
“A young-looking soldier… How impressive.”
“I heard he was called the Death God of the 1st Defense Line.”
As the Secretary finished speaking, people burst into applause.
It became quiet again the moment the Emperor rose from his seat.
“Raise your head.”
At the Emperor’s words, Tertian raised his head. Then the Emperor held out a short Wooden Sword carved from wood.
“With this, you will be able to enter the Imperial Treasury. I commend your achievements.”
“I shall engrave Your Majesty’s grace in my heart!”
Tertian shouted loudly as he received the Wooden Sword.
As the Emperor nodded with a satisfied smile, Tertian slowly rose from his position and returned to his seat.
Then people’s gazes turned to Isaac and Arteon, who were beside Belkain.
Indeed, who would be called next?
Amid people’s anticipation, the Secretary called the next person of merit.
“Next, Sergeant Arteon of the 1st Division, step forward!”
“Ooh!”
“That boy is going up.”
People’s attention focused on Arteon.
In response, Arteon also saw the high-ranking officials gathered in the Great Hall.
Surely among them was someone connected to Moldrek.
But now he dismissed such thoughts.
‘Anyway…’
He would find out when the time came.
Now he just needed to do his best in this situation.
Step.
Arteon took a step toward the Platform.
His straight shoulders and upright gaze toward the Platform were not something that could come from a 15-year-old boy.
Far from being overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
Rather, the expressions of people watching Arteon became somewhat more serious due to the strange pressure that seemed to dominate the surroundings.
And when he climbed onto the Platform.
Thud.
Arteon knelt on his right knee and bowed his head to the Emperor.
The light coming down from the ceiling felt as if it was pouring over the boy’s head.
The sight of a boy with a youthful face in the position of the hero who had achieved the greatest merit was both incongruous and strangely sacred.
The Secretary unconsciously fell silent at his calm and composed etiquette.
But soon.
“Sergeant Arteon, as a member of the Special Unit that invaded Helikel Gorge, played the most important role in recapturing Helikel Gorge.”
“…The most important role?”
“That young boy?”
The Great Hall stirred for a moment.
But the Secretary continued speaking as if he didn’t mind.
“Having knowledge of Helikel Gorge’s terrain, he served as a guide so the Special Unit could enter the gorge, and crossed the fast-flowing River with his bare body to install Rope so soldiers could cross the River.”
At the Secretary’s words, people recalled the harsh cold of the Northern Region.
It might seem like nothing special, but those who knew the Northern Region couldn’t help but be shocked.
The Secretary’s voice grew louder.
“Therefore! He is granted a special promotion of 2 ranks, 300 Gold, one Gold-grade treasure from the Imperial Treasury, a mansion on the outskirts of the Capital, and permission to be assigned to a Unit other than the Northern Region.”
“…!”
“To a Unit other than the Northern Region?”
“That’s exceptional.”
“Cases of sending Northern Army elsewhere… are extremely rare.”
It was an extraordinary reward.
Being able to be assigned somewhere other than the Northern Region was like pardoning the crime that brought him to the Northern Region in the first place.
“Raise your head.”
The Emperor rose from his seat and looked at Arteon. And like with Tertian, he handed over a Wooden Dagger with many patterns carved on the blade.
“I wish you good fortune on your path ahead.”
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
A short but powerful answer.
Arteon rose from his position and came down from the Platform.
And next was Isaac.
Isaac also received a special promotion of 1 rank along with money and treasures as rewards, like Tertian.
And Belkain was promoted from Major General to Lieutenant General, receiving recognition for both his long service protecting the Northwest and this achievement.
Perhaps now he had gained the minimum qualifications to rise to Corps Commander, above Division Commander.
Thus the merit evaluation ended.
After the merit evaluation concluded with the Emperor’s speech, those in the Great Hall approached where Belkain was and congratulated him.
No matter that he was in the Northern Region, his influence on the Empire was great.
As people approached, Belkain immediately looked at Isaac and said.
“Captain Isaac. Take these two to the Imperial Treasury. There will be a guide waiting outside.”
“Understood.”
Isaac immediately answered and left the Great Hall.
Several people there tried to catch Isaac and Arteon.
“The rewards bestowed by His Majesty are not yet finished.”
When the Emperor was mentioned, they all hesitated and only showed disappointed expressions.
A merit evaluation in which the Emperor directly participated.
They had tried to make connections with the young soldiers who were the main figures.
Knowing such intentions, Belkain had immediately sent the three outside the Imperial Palace.
“Phew.”
As they came outside, a guide was waiting as Belkain had said.
It was Taolk, the Imperial Guard Captain who had first come to guide them.
“I thought you’d be quite late, but you came out faster than expected. Did you finish greeting the people inside?”
“The division commander told me to go ahead first, so I came out. Are you the Imperial Guard Captain who will be helping guide us?”
“That’s right. We can’t have any unpleasant incidents occur while the merit evaluation isn’t completely finished.”
“….”
Perhaps it was because he was someone from the imperial palace.
Arteon found his words strangely concerning.
The recapture of Helikel Gorge.
It was certainly a great benefit to the Empire, but he had heard that not everyone in the imperial palace was pleased about it.
“Then follow me.”
Taolk guided the three men along with his soldiers as they moved toward the imperial treasure warehouse.
The treasure warehouse was located in the underground depths within the imperial palace.
Clank, clank.
As they descended the stairs leading underground, a large door blocking the entrance came into view, and a caretaker approached them.
“You’ve arrived.”
“These are them. Please proceed after confirmation.”
Having already heard about the merit evaluation, the Curator approached the three men and received their tokens.
“Captain Isaac and Lieutenant Tertian receive Silver grade. Sergeant Arteon receives… Gold grade.”
The Curator showed a somewhat surprised expression.
The imperial treasure warehouse had grades starting from the lowest Iron, then Silver, Gold, and finally Crown.
Crown grade could only be used by marquis-level nobles or higher, or members of the imperial family, and Gold grade was also something only high-ranking nobles could receive.
But for a common soldier who wasn’t even a noble…
“Please come this way.”
The Curator placed his hand on the door and injected mana.
Along with that, complex formulas were drawn and the magic circle began to dissolve.
He had seemed like just an ordinary person…
‘Was he a mage?’
Mages, of which there were extremely few even within the Empire.
To guard the imperial treasure warehouse, an ordinary caretaker wouldn’t be sufficient.
It made sense somehow.
“Only you follow me. The other two will be helped by different guides.”
Whether it was a privilege for being Gold grade, Arteon nodded and followed him inside.
But as they entered deeper, they came to a dead end.
In a space with no treasures or anything else, Arteon tilted his head in confusion.
“Step back just one pace.”
The Curator stepped forward and placed his hand on the wall. And at that moment.
Clank, rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!
A large magic circle appeared on the wall surface, and the wall split in half, revealing the real treasure warehouse inside.
Arteon unconsciously swallowed his saliva.
‘This is… the imperial treasure warehouse…’
It was different from what he had imagined, thinking there would be gold and silver treasures displayed magnificently.
But the moment the door opened, he could feel the complex mana reactions from inside.
Seeing Arteon’s expression, the Curator asked with some surprise.
“It seems you’ve already awakened to mana.”
“Yes.”
“A common soldier from the Northern Region… with mana. How curious.”
Arteon entered with the Curator and looked at the items placed on the shelves.
Starting with small accessories, one wall displayed armor, while the other side had various weapons.
Every single item was crafted with exquisite precision.
Seeing Arteon’s amazed expression, the Curator smiled warmly and said.
“Most of the things here have been touched by the hands of the most skilled craftsmen in the Empire’s history. Ah, this one is from about 30 years ago, obtained from a dungeon in the Southern Region. When you inject mana into it, you can use 2nd Circle Fire Magic once. It can even be reused after some time passes, so we keep it in the Gold grade treasure warehouse.”
“…Magic.”
On a continent where mages were precious, being able to use 2nd Circle Fire Magic would be tremendous.
If he had this, he might have been able to destroy the walls of Helikel Gorge more easily.
But…
“May I look around a bit?”
“Of course, there’s plenty of time, so take your time looking around.”
At the Curator’s words, Arteon bowed lightly and began examining the items.
This might be one of the few opportunities he’d have in his lifetime.
It was important to check with the utmost care and caution.
And while Arteon was walking around the treasure warehouse.
“…Huh?”
Arteon’s steps stopped at something glinting silver.
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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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