The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 9

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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 (9)

“Urgh… Uuuurgh…!”

“P-please spare us…!”

“Huff! Huuuff…!”

The three men who came out to the training ground were truly experiencing something completely new that they had never encountered before.

Arteon looked at the three soldiers moving in unison and curled up the corners of his mouth.

“If it’s too hard, you can rest. I’ll accept it anytime, so feel free to do so.”

“No sir…!”

Upon arriving at the training ground, Arteon made them crawl like dogs.

It wasn’t a metaphor—it was literally training that made them walk on all fours.

The only difference was that they had to move forward with their knees barely lifted off the ground.

Arteon, who was walking slowly beside them, said:

“The moment your knees touch the ground, you die. If you think my words are lies, I’ll allow you to show the courage to put your knees on the ground.”

The three men shook their heads frantically.

They had clearly seen what happened earlier when Raphelson’s knee touched the ground for just a moment.

‘I-I’d rather you just kill me…!’

‘What kind of torture method is this…?’

This couldn’t be called training.

From the moment they took this position, their entire bodies began trembling like crazy.

Arteon looked at the guys trembling like aspen leaves and curled up the corners of his mouth.

This was one of the training methods he had developed through various research when he became a platoon leader in the future.

While watching squad members who really wanted to die.

“Attention.”

Snap!

With Arteon’s command, the guys sprang up from their positions.

Now it finally felt like proper discipline had been established.

“If you have any complaints, feel free to challenge me like Bert did anytime. I’ll accept any challenge.”

“N-no sir!”

“That will absolutely never happen!”

The completely frozen guys shouted loudly.

The image of Bert, who was now lying on his bed with his face so messed up it was unrecognizable, flashed through their minds.

And then.

“S-Squad Leader sir. I’ve brought water.”

“Give it to those guys. From now on, you’ll also join the training.”

“Yes sir!”

Graphil, who had already switched sides to Arteon, answered without a moment’s hesitation.

He was definitely quick-witted.

He had already figured out that Arteon hated half-hearted wavering.

If you weren’t going to follow, then clearly rebel.

‘Or… you must respond immediately and unconditionally.’

That was Graphil’s assessment of Arteon’s personality. And his prediction was accurate.

Arteon immediately lined up the four soldiers.

The three except for Graphil looked completely disheveled.

“From now on, wake-up time is unconditionally when the first guard goes out on watch. There are no exceptions, so everyone remember this.”

“Th-when the first guard goes out on watch? What do we do after waking up?”

Jalbarog, who had a scar running across his left eye, asked.

Arteon said:

“Training, of course. In your current state, you’d be perfect for dying the moment you step onto the battlefield. So we’ll conduct training in three sessions: morning, afternoon, and evening.”

“T-training? But it’s dark at that time and you can barely see ahead.”

“Besides, the cold wind is terrible at that time. You could freeze to death if you’re not careful.”

The other guys began to resist.

Considering the harsh environment of the Northern Region, it certainly wouldn’t be easy.

However…

“If you have complaints, then challenge me.”

“…”

Arteon’s single statement ended all complaints.

Soon, Arteon recalled his future plans.

“To avoid those bastards’ interference… I need stronger power.”

Specifically, the higher-ups of the Empire.

Those bastards who thought of them as nothing more than chess pieces to be used and discarded.

‘Even if I killed Moldrek, nothing would change.’

After all, the bastards behind him were the real problem.

In the end, they would continue to sacrifice the soldiers here for their own power.

They needed to maintain appropriate tension in the Northern Region… for the ‘politics’ they desired to be possible.

There was only one way to avoid that.

‘I must become stronger.’

Build up power and completely unify the Northern Region, which was a conflict zone.

Of course, they wouldn’t just leave him alone.

But if he became strong enough to shake off even such interference… that would be enough.

“First…”

The road was long, but he would handle the immediate tasks first.

Arteon muttered as if making a declaration.

“Not just me… the entire unit must become stronger.”

Being used by those bastards and dying a dog’s death once was enough.

Arteon clenched his fist tightly.

But then.

“Squad Leader Arteon sir.”

“…?”

A soldier approached the training ground and called out to Arteon.

When Arteon turned his gaze:

“The platoon leader is calling for you.”

“…?”

There shouldn’t be any particular reason to call him.

Soon, Arteon followed the soldier to the 4th Platoon leader and:

“…Could you please say that again?”

He couldn’t help but make a stern expression.

* * *

Benhard was largely divided into five battlefields.

From the 1st Defense Line to the 5th Defense Line.

While there were some differences in scale and terrain, there weren’t many major distinctions.

However, only the 1st Defense Line was somewhat of an exception.

“You’re saying to move to the 1st Defense Line?”

“Yes, due to this battle, the 1st Defense Line is severely understaffed. The order is to draw personnel from each defense line… and our 4th Platoon has been assigned to go there.”

Damn it.

He could understand why 4th Platoon leader Hendris’s expression wasn’t good.

Unlike other places, the 1st Defense Line was an open plain with no cover on all sides.

They had managed to build barricades by piling up corpses and rocks, but they weren’t very effective.

That’s why….

‘The battlefield… with the highest casualties.’

It was considered the most dreaded battlefield in the Northern Region.

However….

“When do we depart?”

“We move out in ten days. There won’t be any combat until then, so rest well and prepare.”

“…Understood.”

There was no way to refuse an order that had already been given.

But….

‘The 1st Defense Line….’

It was the most dangerous place in Benhard, but it was also where the greatest opportunities lay.

‘The timing is too early, but….’

Perhaps he could advance his plans much sooner than expected.

Arteon’s eyes flashed with determination.

Only ten days remained until they would go to the 1st Defense Line.

And there was something he had to do during those ten days.

Arteon immediately headed to the barracks where his squad members were.

“Everyone assemble. I have something to announce.”

At Arteon’s single command, the squad members quickly gathered.

Even Bert, whose face was so swollen it was hard to recognize his original appearance, was no exception.

Unlike before, they looked extremely tense, and Arteon spoke to them.

“In ten days, we move to the 1st Defense Line.”

“…What?”

“The 1st Defense Line?”

“No, wait. Isn’t our area the 4th Defense Line?”

“Wha… what… do you… mean…? Why… are we… going… there…? (What do you mean? Why are we going there?)”

Even Bert struggled to open his mouth and added his comment.

However….

“The order has already been given. It can’t be changed. The entire 4th Platoon will be moving.”

Arteon said, looking at the squad members in front of him.

“So for the next ten days… we’re going to learn how not to die.”

“…What?”

“It’ll be tough, so follow along with everything you’ve got.”

Combined Tactics, learned through inheriting Wolfhart’s knowledge.

Within ten days.

‘I’ll make sure they master it completely.’

Arteon clenched his fist tightly.

* * *

Whooooosh!

The occasional blizzard seemed to show the true face of the north.

The breath of death that takes away all life.

In the blizzard blowing through the darkness after sunset.

There stood a man alone, gazing somewhere in the distance.

“….”

The 1st Defense Line.

It was a battlefield where they had been confronting the Empire bastards for several years now.

Braktus, a warrior of the Kar Tribe, stared intently at the 1st Defense Line.

But then.

“Braktus!”

“What is it?”

As his aide approached, Braktus turned his head.

Braktus’s aide spoke.

“Orders from Taman have come down.”

Taman meant the commander who gave orders in the Kar Tribe.

As Braktus looked at his aide.

“He wants to advance the timing of the attack.”

“Many warriors are already injured. The current situation alone is overwhelming, and now Taman wants to rush even this?”

“According to new intelligence we received, the enemy’s reinforcements will be delayed.”

“…Is that so.”

But even so, their own situation wasn’t good either.

Both sides had suffered great losses in the previous battle.

However….

‘How many warriors’ sacrifices must have been demanded to obtain this information.’

Braktus’s expression hardened.

He knew there was an Empire spy who was in contact with them.

But he also knew they were making considerable expenditures each time to receive their information.

Weren’t the tribe’s warriors literally shedding blood and sweat to raise that money?

“…This time for sure.”

If they could seize the 1st Defense Line.

‘We won’t have to waste any more warriors’ blood for the old men.’

No enemy reinforcements?

The unfavorable situation was the same for their side, but.

“Turak.”

“Yes, Braktus.”

The aide called Turak bowed his head and answered.

Braktus spoke in a low but resolute voice.

“With this battle… we will claim the 1st Defense Line as ours.”

At his more resolute voice than ever, Turak nodded.

* * *

“Combined…Tactics?”

“What’s that?”

“Combined tactics, something similar to that.”

Raphelson, who was beside him, answered Graphil’s question.

But Jalbarog, who was listening to the conversation, frowned.

“When it snows heavily, it comes up to our shins, making movement difficult. Would Combined Tactics be possible in this north?”

“Of course.”

Arteon dismissed it with a single word and set down the weapons he had brought on the ground.

“From now on, we’ll switch to weapons suited for each role and master them.”

“…What are all these?”

“It looks like you just brought stuff that was lying around in the warehouse.”

What Arteon had set down were weapons that weren’t even properly maintained.

Two axes that looked somewhat large to wield with one hand.

Plus two shields with holes big enough for fingers to fit through here and there.

And one bow was all there was.

Not one of the weapons was in good condition, but.

“Bert. Take this axe and try attacking me.”

“…What? I’ve never used an axe before though?”

“But you must have swung clubs or swords before.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Stop making excuses and listen. I’m just trying to see if you can swing it or not.”

“Something like this? Swinging it isn’t a problem.”

Bert picked up the two axes that had fallen to the ground.

They certainly had a heavy feel to them.

“There shouldn’t be any major problems using them.”

“Good.”

Arteon nodded.

While other guys would barely be able to swing such weapons with both hands, Bert’s situation was different.

Then Arteon called out his squad members one by one.

“Raphelson, Jalbarog. You two take one of these shields each and stand on either side.”

“…We’re using shields?”

“That’s right, and cut the spear shafts in half to make them shorter for thrusting.”

And next.

“Graphil.”

“Yes!”

“From now on, you put down your spear and shoot a bow. You’ll be doing nothing but archery training for the next ten days, so keep that in mind.”

“…”

Graphil, who had suddenly become an archer, couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

He had never shot a bow in his life.

But their personal preferences didn’t matter.

‘The next ten days…’

If they kept fighting like this, they would all be wiped out.

Arteon, who knew the nature of the Northern Region better than anyone, could be certain of this.

Then Arteon continued.

“Everyone, consider yourselves dead for the next ten days.”

He wouldn’t let his first assigned unit members get wiped out.

And…

‘This upcoming battle…’

Since it would be a difficult battlefield, if he could achieve even a small merit.

‘I can rise up quickly.’

Thinking of the battlefield at the 1st Defense Line, Arteon’s eyes sank with more seriousness than ever before.

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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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