The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 84

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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 (84)

 

“The Legion Commander is coming!”

 

Hoooooooo!

 

Along with a loud shout from a soldier on guard duty, a horn announcing the Legion Commander’s arrival rang out loudly.

 

“Hurry and form ranks!”

 

“Commander, what should we do with the wounded?”

 

“Even the wounded who can walk should all come out! The Legion Commander is coming, where do they think they can just lie around!”

 

Leorn shouted angrily at an officer’s question.

 

Though they had achieved victory, he instinctively knew that now was the time to make an absolutely good impression on the Legion Commander.

 

Rumble!

 

Soon, Legion Commander Belkain along with the army he led entered where the forces of the 4th Defense Line were stationed.

 

The number of troops accompanying him wasn’t very large, but the dozens of carriages that followed drew the soldiers’ attention.

 

And then…

 

“Legion Commander, you’ve arrived.”

 

Leorn stepped forward first to greet Belkain.

 

“…”

 

Belkain silently looked around.

 

Quite a number of soldiers had formed ranks because of his arrival, and among them he could see soldiers with bandages or splints made from tree branches.

 

Then Belkain asked.

 

“Are the wounded also out here with the others?”

 

“Of course. How could they just lie around when the Legion Commander is coming?”

 

Leorn spoke to Belkain with the biggest smile he could manage.

 

But Belkain frowned and said.

 

“Have all the wounded rest. What kind of treatment is this for those who led this war to victory?”

 

Belkain clicked his tongue and looked toward the soldiers.

 

“All wounded should go inside and rest. Fellow soldiers, help them move.”

 

“Ah, understood. All wounded, go inside and rest!”

 

Leorn hastily shouted at the soldiers.

 

The officers seemed momentarily flustered by the sudden situation, but quickly moved the wounded inside the barracks.

 

And at that sight.

 

“…”

 

Arteon unconsciously smiled faintly.

 

The Ogre of Benhard.

 

Like his nickname, the intimidating aura emanating from his body was still tremendous, but his caring attitude toward the soldiers remained the same.

 

And when the atmosphere had settled somewhat, Belkain looked at the soldiers.

 

The mood instantly became solemn, and several soldiers looked at him with tense expressions.

 

Some worried that another harsh reprimand might come.

 

But Belkain swept his heavy gaze over the soldiers and opened his mouth.

 

“You’ve done well.”

 

Though it was just one sentence, those words penetrated deep into every soldier’s heart.

 

A strange strength seemed to surge through their weary bodies, and something hot resonated in their chests.

 

Belkain continued.

 

“This Elvarfiel Lake of the Northeastern 4th Defense Line has changed hands countless times over the past ten years, but it has never once been completely ours.”

 

He too had been involved in the Northern Front for a long time. He knew better than anyone the strategic value that Elvarfiel Lake held.

 

Strength entered Belkain’s voice.

 

“But now, we have for the first time seized the opportunity to make this lake completely ours.”

 

Those words made the soldiers’ hearts race.

 

“This is the most important opportunity that may never come again.”

 

Belkain looked into each soldier’s eyes and raised his voice.

 

“Take pride! What you have accomplished will be remembered in the Empire’s history. With this achievement, the Empire will claim more of the Northern Region’s land and be able to withstand foreign invasions even more strongly!”

 

Suddenly, one soldier shouted loudly.

 

“Waaaaaaaaaah!”

 

That cry instantly spread, and the battlefield was covered with cheers.

 

Something hot surged up from their chests. It was the moment when they were acknowledged that what they had accomplished was never in vain, that it was a victory where countless deaths and bloodshed had meaning.

 

“Waaaaaaaaaah!”

 

All the soldiers roared.

 

Then when Belkain raised his hand.

 

The cheers instantly subsided, and quiet returned once again.

 

He opened his mouth again.

 

“Tomorrow, a Merit Ceremony will be held here. Those who achieved victory will receive great rewards befitting their deeds…”

 

He turned his head toward Sergeant Claw who was beside him.

 

When Claw smiled and nodded, Belkain grinned and looked at the soldiers.

 

“Today, eat and drink to your heart’s content. Just for today, drink until your noses are crooked!”

 

As food and alcohol poured out from the carriages entering in a line, the soldiers burst into cheers.

 

“Wooooooo!”

 

Their shouts mixed with victory cries and shook the night sky.

 

Then Belkain turned his gaze to Rauben, the commander of the 2nd Defense Line.

 

“You’ve had a hard time coming all the way here.”

 

Rauben answered calmly.

 

“I only did what needed to be done.”

 

Belkain smiled and said.

 

“Then… come see me for a moment.”

 

“Yes, Legion Commander.”

 

Leorn, who had been watching from the side, hurriedly interjected.

 

“Legion Commander, I’ll escort you.”

 

However, Belkain looked at him with cold eyes.

 

“I’ll see you later. First, I have something to discuss with Major Rauben.”

 

At that, Leorn bit his lips and stepped back.

 

When Rauben turned and entered his barracks with Belkain.

 

Anxiety flashed in Leorn’s eyes as he watched from afar.

 

Grain approached Arteon, who was watching that scene, and said quietly.

 

“Something… doesn’t seem right about the atmosphere.”

 

Arteon nodded and answered briefly.

 

“There were many things that happened in this battle.”

 

His gaze turned to Hadel, who was with the soldiers preparing for the festival.

 

‘If that person hadn’t been here…’

 

Arteon recalled the past.

 

Hadel too was one of the people who couldn’t shine in his past life.

 

But now it was different.

 

‘Perhaps… the reason the past war was so long and difficult was because of their scheming.’

 

Arteon clenched his hand and repeated in his mind.

 

‘But this time is different.’

 

Many things had already changed, and many more would change.

 

In the flow that had completely changed from his past life, Arteon simply clenched his fist tightly.

 

* * *

 

“Drink!”

 

“Waaaaaaah!”

 

The soldiers held meat in their hands, tearing at it while eating, clinking their cups together and patting each other’s shoulders as they laughed.

 

“Wow, how long has it been since we had meat!”

 

“The alcohol tastes amazing too! Today I’m just going to drink myself to death!”

 

The faces that had been soaked in fatigue were all brightly blooming without exception.

 

Around the crackling bonfire, someone was singing, while other soldiers clapped and cheered in response.

 

It felt like all the hellish times they had experienced in this place were momentarily forgotten.

 

With the food and alcohol that Belkain had provided, the soldiers of the 4th Defense Line enjoyed a truly long-awaited carefree festival.

 

Since the forces that Belkain had brought were taking care of the watch, everyone could drink their cups with peace of mind.

 

“Platoon Leader, won’t you have some alcohol?”

 

When Grain asked while holding up a cup, Arteon answered with a grin.

 

“Did you forget that I’m a minor?”

 

“…What?”

 

The age recognized as adult in the Empire was 18.

 

But Arteon’s age was still only 16. Grain, who often forgot his age due to his developed physique, showed a momentarily flustered expression.

 

At that moment, Myro from the 3rd Squad, whose face was red from the alcohol, spoke loudly from beside them.

 

“What does that matter! On a day like today, you should just chug it down!”

 

“That’s right! Platoon Leader, you should enjoy yourself on a day like this!”

 

Other soldiers, also getting tipsy, spoke to Arteon.

 

Grain was about to scold them, but Arteon raised his hand to stop him and grinned.

 

“Alright, then everyone line up. I’ll drink one cup each of all the alcohol you give me.”

 

“Ooh! All of it?!”

 

“But every time I receive a cup, you drink with me too. Anyone scared should drop out.”

 

“What are you saying! Today we’ll show you the terror of adults, Platoon Leader.”

 

At his slurred speech, another squad member nearby shouted.

 

“Come on! Fill the cups! Line up!”

 

“I’m first!

 

“I’m next, so line up properly!”

 

Soon the soldiers filled their cups one by one and poured alcohol for Arteon.

 

Arteon clinked cups with them and emptied one cup, then another.

 

After quickly emptying more than twenty cups of alcohol.

 

Before long, the squad members’ eyes were becoming hazy.

 

And…

 

“Ugh… no, no more…”

 

“Blegh!”

 

Thud!

 

Finally, even the last remaining soldier staggered while trying to hold his cup and collapsed to the ground.

 

Seeing this, Grain, who had been watching from the side, couldn’t hide his bewildered expression and muttered.

 

“…Platoon Leader?”

 

“Would you like a drink too?”

 

Arteon, with a slight red tinge on his cheeks, asked.

 

At those words, Grain waved his hands in horror.

 

“…I’ll decline. Right now… all the squad members are completely wasted.”

 

Arteon quietly exhaled and put down his cup.

 

“Phew… It’s quite tough drinking after so long.”

 

His past life.

 

Arteon had never lost in a drinking contest anywhere.

 

As Arteon muttered while looking at all the squad members who had gotten drunk and collapsed on the ground.

 

Grain spoke with a puzzled expression.

 

“After so long? You said this was your first time drinking today…”

 

“Ah, I must be drunk too. It’s nonsense, forget it.”

 

Arteon staggered as he got up from his seat.

 

Grain hurriedly tried to support him, but Arteon brushed off his hand saying he was fine and came out to a quiet place.

 

It was the place where he had previously trained aura with Seran.

 

“Phew…”

 

With a deep breath, Arteon drew up his mana and expelled the alcohol from his body.

 

He wanted to maintain the tipsy feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time a bit longer, but he couldn’t afford to pass out too.

 

But then.

 

“Did you also escape and come out here?”

 

“…?”

 

When Arteon turned his head, Seran was walking over.

 

His face smiling under the moonlight seemed relieved while simultaneously carrying other worries.

 

“Sir Seran.”

 

Arteon called to him. Then Seran approached Arteon and sat on a nearby protruding rock.

 

“The drinking party was too noisy. I also came out to get some fresh air for a moment. But… did you drink alcohol?”

 

“It just happened that way.”

 

“It seems like all your squad members collapsed… impressive.”

 

“How could this be something to brag about. I just… matched the mood since it’s a good day.”

 

“…Sometimes when I talk with you, I get confused about your age.”

 

Seran chuckled.

 

But soon he fell silent and lowered his head.

 

He clearly had frustrating worries, but he couldn’t readily bring this up to Arteon.

 

But that’s when it happened.

 

“If you keep only making comparisons, that will someday strangle you, Sir Seran.”

 

“…What did you say?”

 

At those words, Seran’s eyes shook greatly.

 

When he raised his head to look at Arteon, he said.

 

“Comparison can sometimes be good fertilizer. It can become the driving force to continuously whip yourself and climb to higher places. That’s why the existence of a rival is also quite important. But…”

 

Arteon’s eyes sank deeply.

 

Arteon continued.

 

“For the current Sir Seran, it’s important to first perfectly handle what you have. If you keep comparing yourself to others and driving yourself in an unstable state, you won’t be able to have even what you could have.”

 

“…”

 

He knew it, but hearing it from someone’s mouth.

 

Especially when Arteon said it directly, it felt like a hidden blade flying and piercing his heart.

 

But…

 

“I see. I was too greedy.”

 

Until just recently, he was someone who couldn’t properly handle aura.

 

But now he could not only handle aura stably, but also knew the method for how to become even stronger.

 

It’s just…

 

‘When you see a monster like yourself directly… everyone would have the same worries as me.’

 

But he had to acknowledge what needed to be acknowledged.

 

That he and Arteon… weren’t subjects for comparison in the first place.

 

Seran, who suddenly felt relieved inside, got up from his seat.

 

“Then would you have a drink with me?”

 

“…What?”

 

Looking at the grinning Seran, Arteon made a troubled expression.

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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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