The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 62

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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 (62)

 

The front where thick fog hung heavily.

 

It was a place where waist-high bushes intertwined, blocking even the view a step ahead.

 

In that place where silence had settled.

 

A group of warriors were breathing roughly while checking their weapons.

 

Kar Tribe warriors facing the cold without even being able to light a campfire for any unforeseen circumstances.

 

At their center, Ulgrak sat perched on a rock, gazing forward.

 

“Will this be alright?”

 

A low voice.

 

Footsteps were heard from behind as Adjutant Moldur approached.

 

His eyes trembled slightly with anxiety as he spoke carefully.

 

“Our main force’s situation isn’t favorable either. We’re short on warriors due to the wounded.”

 

But in this situation, organizing over a hundred warriors into special forces and sending them out…

 

“I think this might be too reckless a decision.”

 

Moldur revealed his thoughts without hiding them.

 

At those words, Ulgrak slowly raised his head to look at him.

 

His reddened eyes flashed sharply as if piercing through something.

 

Ulgrak spoke.

 

“The Empire bastards wouldn’t advance without any intelligence. They’ll surely send reconnaissance units to learn our position and operations.”

 

Ulgrak spoke with certainty.

 

The reason was simple.

 

Until now, those bastards had never penetrated this far.

 

At most, they had occupied the edge of the southern lake region and acted triumphant.

 

This place they were currently defending.

 

This was the place they absolutely had to take to completely control the southern region of Elvarfiel Lake.

 

Moreover…

 

‘From here, they could advance straight to the upper lake region.’

 

It was an equally important strategic point for the Kar Tribe.

 

But precisely because of that, those bastards would have no choice but to feel anxious.

 

“They’ve never come this far, so naturally they can’t know the terrain. If they advance without organizing reconnaissance units… they’ll experience the same disaster as before.”

 

That’s why he organized special forces to focus on cutting off the Imperial Army’s reconnaissance units.

 

As Moldur said, the main camp was short on warriors.

 

Nevertheless, organizing special forces and moving them meant.

 

“Because that is currently the most important operation.”

 

“…”

 

Moldur fell silent.

 

He understood what Ulgrak meant, but if by any chance those bastards just ignored it and advanced here…

 

“The special forces sent forward can’t do anything. They can’t strike the Imperial Army’s main force.”

 

If that happened, it would only waste the special forces’ stamina.

 

They might not be able to exert proper strength here where they truly needed to fight.

 

But at those words, Ulgrak rose from his seat.

 

At his appearance that gave tremendous pressure just by standing up, Moldur unconsciously swallowed his saliva.

 

“Moldur, don’t doubt it. The current Imperial Army… will absolutely not move that way.”

 

“…What?”

 

At Moldur’s question, Ulgrak closed his eyes.

 

What flashed through his mind were the Empire’s soldiers who had attacked them just before.

 

One of them.

 

He had a considerably young face, but his spear-wielding skills were sharper than anyone’s, and his eyes were like those of a beast.

 

Practically skill almost equal to his own.

 

That fact alone made them completely different from the Imperial Army they’d faced until now.

 

“Forget the appearance of those we’ve fought until now.”

 

Ulgrak’s voice resonated lowly.

 

“We must be extremely cautious now. A single moment of carelessness and our heads will fly.”

 

His hand gripped tightly the handle of the axe that had been resting on his knee.

 

The throbbing pulse, the heavy sensation of the blade transmitted to his fingertips pulled him back to reality.

 

“If those bastards march here recklessly without reconnaissance…”

 

Ulgrak slowly turned his gaze to stare outside where thick fog had settled.

 

“Then this place will become their grave.”

 

Silence.

 

In that silence, Moldur simply nodded.

 

Because he trusted Ulgrak.

 

However, in that situation, Ulgrak felt some indescribable strange sensation flowing down his back.

 

“…”

 

An intuition too clear to be called simple anxiety.

 

Though he couldn’t grasp its form, Ulgrak tried to steel his mind again and again against that unease.

 

‘It has already… begun.’

 

It was a fight that couldn’t be turned back anyway.

 

Whoever lost in this battle would never rise again.

 

Perhaps that’s why.

 

“When are the warriors expected to arrive?”

 

“Considering the distance… it will take about 5 more days.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Ulgrak turned his gaze.

 

If they could hold out for that time, the warriors sent as support from the north would arrive here.

 

If that happened, there might be political problems.

 

‘But we can definitely defend this place.’

 

Five days…

 

Ulgrak’s gaze was quietly staring at the darkness beyond the fog.

 

* * *

 

Dense gray fog was rolling down the hill, spreading out as if swallowing the surroundings.

 

On the opposite side, a man was staring at that place.

 

Hadel let out a deep sigh.

 

“Huu…”

 

To identify not only the enemy’s position but their situation within just 3 days.

 

In the current situation, it was practically impossible.

 

Desperation dwelt in his eyes as he bit his lips and muttered.

 

‘What a hard-won opportunity this is…’

 

If they approached just a bit more carefully, they could achieve a great victory.

 

No, perhaps something that hadn’t happened at the 4th Defense Line until now could occur.

 

—I’ll move the army again in 3 days, so understand that.

 

Leorn’s voice, who had left after making that firm statement, still echoed in his ears.

 

His words were tightening around Hadel’s neck like a rope, chillingly.

 

Swish.

 

Hadel looked at the map he was holding.

 

The direction the reconnaissance unit had moved was an area marked only faintly on the map.

 

Only rough markings of hills and terrain were indicated, meaning there was no detailed map.

 

They had never properly conducted reconnaissance in that area before.

 

That’s why they had to move only after obtaining reliable information.

 

Clench.

 

Hadel clenched his fist tightly as he looked ahead.

 

For now, all he could do was wait for the reconnaissance unit to return.

 

But then.

 

“…?”

 

At the loud commotion coming from the front of the unit, Hadel turned his gaze in that direction.

 

As an uneasy feeling crept up his spine, his pace toward that location gradually quickened.

 

“What’s happening!”

 

When he arrived, a blood-soaked soldier was being supported by others.

 

Below his knees was already soaked in blood, and one eye was closed shut.

 

He gritted his teeth and raised his head at the sound of Hadel’s voice from ahead.

 

He was one of the reconnaissance unit members Hadel had sent out.

 

“…Company Commander.”

 

His voice cracked and blood mixed with his words at the end. But he squeezed out his last bit of will as if he absolutely had to report.

 

“Our operation… seems to have been exposed.”

 

“What?”

 

Hadel’s face instantly hardened.

 

The soldier continued speaking.

 

“Those bastards… had already secured the key positions. As if they knew we were coming… they ambushed… Ugh!”

 

As he continued speaking, he coughed up blood and staggered.

 

A medic beside him urgently laid him down on the ground and began wrapping his wounds with bandages.

 

But the fallen soldier continued to speak.

 

“I’m, I’m the only survivor from our team… I don’t know the situation of the other reconnaissance units. But so far… many soldiers are presumed to still be alive.”

 

His vision was already blurring, but his eyes remained undimmed.

 

He had risked his life to return and deliver this news in a desperate situation.

 

And with those words, he dropped his head and lost consciousness.

 

The medic hurriedly placed his ear to the left side of his chest.

 

“He’s alive.”

 

“Hurry and take him for treatment. Go!”

 

“Yes!”

 

After they took the reconnaissance soldier away, Hadel stood silently for a long time, looking at the bloodstains that had soaked the ground.

 

Cold sweat ran down his spine, and no sound from beyond the fog reached his ears.

 

“…Sergeant Volgren.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Form an emergency special forces unit. If the enemy is targeting us, the soldiers will be in danger.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to report to the commander and move the main force?”

 

“That’s nonsense. Are you planning to get all the main force troops killed?”

 

Hadel spoke firmly.

 

This was something he had to resolve himself.

 

If they approached it the wrong way, they would suffer unimaginably massive casualties.

 

“Prepare quickly.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

As Volgren quickly ran off somewhere, Hadel turned his head to look beyond the fog.

 

A battlefield where even proper visibility couldn’t be secured.

 

That place began to look like the gates of hell.

 

* * *

 

Slash! Thud!

 

With a dull sound, Erukalon’s body flinched.

 

He looked at the spear that had pierced through his chest with an expression of disbelief.

 

“How… could….”

 

He hadn’t let his guard down.

 

Having clearly seen his skill level that fought evenly with Taman, two warriors with 2 tattoos had launched a combined attack.

 

And it was a surprise attack at that.

 

But the surprise attack had failed, and without even being able to properly fight back….

 

Thud.

 

Erukalon met his death without even being able to close his eyes, as if he couldn’t believe it.

 

But Arteon wiped the blood off his spear tip and looked at Grain.

 

“Report.”

 

“All enemies eliminated without a single casualty. But Platoon Leader, how… did you know?”

 

“I once heard about bastards who used similar methods to lure and ambush enemies. I was lucky.”

 

“….”

 

It didn’t seem like something that could be dismissed as just luck.

 

Though he wanted to ask more, Grain remained silent and looked at him.

 

But then.

 

Whoosh!

 

With a sharp sound, a pure white flash tore through the fog and shot up into the sky.

 

A signal flare.

 

It was a rescue signal flare issued to the reconnaissance unit.

 

For a reconnaissance unit that needed to move stealthily, it was like a last resort.

 

The fact that a reconnaissance unit, whose life depended on stealth, had fired a rescue signal flare meant they were already facing imminent death.

 

Grain, who had been watching the signal flare, quickly turned his head.

 

“Platoon Leader.”

 

Arteon raised his gaze and quietly looked at the light blooming in the sky.

 

That flash was flickering and fading through the fog.

 

“…It seems the situation elsewhere isn’t much different.”

 

His tone was calm, but it carried a heavy weight within.

 

The eyes of the platoon members wavered.

 

Someone swallowed hard, and someone else gripped their spear tightly.

 

Their hearts were still pounding from the recent battle.

 

Arteon looked at his platoon members.

 

“…The situation has already unfolded.”

 

His voice was low but firm.

 

“If we retreat from here now, we can definitely preserve our lives.”

 

Arteon’s eyes flashed.

 

Determination and fire flickered within them.

 

“But if we withdraw, those who fired the signal flare will all die. When our comrades who fought alongside us are dying, we can’t just go back to preserve only our own lives.”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“You speak truly, Platoon Leader.”

 

“We will all follow you.”

 

Grain and the other squad leaders each spoke up.

 

The other platoon members also steeled their resolve in silence.

 

Arteon nodded.

 

And turning his gaze, he quietly gave his orders.

 

“Maintain defensive formation and move toward the direction where the signal flare rose. Slow the pace but absolutely do not break formation.”

 

Arteon’s voice was like steel, and even the fog that had been following like a shadow behind them seemed to grow still.

 

And with his command.

 

Pabaht!

 

The 3rd Platoon soldiers quickly began sprinting toward the direction where the Signal Flare had burst.

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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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