The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 96

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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 (96)

A damp basement.

It was a space where the stench of mold and blood mixed together, making even breathing uncomfortable.

“Kekekekekek… Kekekekekek…!”

Water droplets dripped from the ceiling, and iron chains were tangled like spider webs on the stone walls.

And at the end of those chains, a man hung with his head drooped, cackling with laughter.

It was Vashnell, a high-ranking assassin of Nocturne.

“What a tenacious bastard.”

His arms and legs were already broken and unable to function, and his skin had been torn countless times by torture instruments.

Blood flowing from all over his body had pooled on the floor, forming a thick puddle, but a grotesque smile spread across the bastard’s lips.

“If you speak now, I’ll kill you without any more pain.”

“Hehehehe… There’s nothing… you bastards can hear from me.”

Refined killing intent was deeply embedded in his bloodshot eyes.

Seeing this, Rishiven nodded at Keyton who was beside him.

Chiiiiiiiiiiik!

“Kuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaak!”

An ear-splitting scream filled the basement. Then Rishiven asked.

“I ask again, tell me the reason you targeted Lord Arteon and your bastards’ purpose. Next, I’ll cut off your fingers one by one and shove them into your mouth.”

“Heok… Heok… Kekekekekek…!”

The bastard shrugged his shoulders and let out laughter, then eventually looked at Rishiven and said.

“Whatever you bastards do… it’s already too late. Even if you go to Aikuled… you won’t achieve what you want.”

“…Aikuled?”

When Rishiven spoke with puzzlement.

“Isn’t that where Lord Arteon’s next operation site is?”

At those words, killing intent flashed in Rishiven’s eyes.

Crack!

“Kuk!”

Rishiven grabbed Vashnell’s jaw with one hand and said.

“You’re saying you’re targeting Lord Arteon in Aikuled too!”

“Kekuk! Keok!”

“Lord Rishiven, wait a moment!”

At Keyton’s words, Rishiven quickly released his jaw.

Blood mixed with saliva dripped to the floor along with his already half-dislocated and drooping jaw.

Vashnell trembled and said.

“Even if… Nocturne doesn’t move… that bastard… will die.”

It felt like the corners of his mouth between his bloodshot eyes and drooping jaw had slightly risen.

Vashnell smiled with all his might and said to Rishiven.

“Because… a ghost… lives there. Kekekekekek!”

Along with the bastard’s laughter, silence flowed through the torture chamber.

Though it was something that could be dismissed as a joke, there was a strange chill in his words.

Sling.

Then Rishiven took a heated long skewer in his hand.

“From now on, you’ll have to tell me everything you know.”

Grab!

Rishiven firmly grasped the bastard’s head and brought the iron skewer up to his eyes.

“Please don’t die. There’s so much I need to find out.”

And…

“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!”

The secret chamber where darkness had descended.

From there, only Vashnell’s screams continuously flowed out.

*    *    *

Above the endlessly stretching snowy plains.

The place situated between the dark blue mountain ranges was like a fortress that gripped the Northern Region’s lifeline.

‘…Fortunately, I’m not too late.’

Arteon looked down from the edge of the frozen hill.

Aikuled.

It was a strategic point with strange terrain located at the midpoint between Helikel Gorge and Elvarfiel Lake.

Arteon exhaled lightly.

The cold air was struggling desperately to seep into his body, but the artifact on his wrist pushed away the Northern Region’s cold.

Arteon brushed off the snow accumulating on his shoulders while not taking his eyes off Aikuled.

“…”

When the word Aikuled came from Belkain’s mouth, his heart had momentarily surged greatly.

For Arteon, Aikuled wasn’t just a simple place name.

Memories of the past quickly flashed through Arteon’s mind.

―You must flee! Otherwise, everyone will die!

The memory of that time when they were miserably pushed back.

However, considering the geographical advantage that Aikuled possessed, it wasn’t a place they should retreat from.

Perhaps that’s why.

―We must defend this place! If this falls, everything ends!

At that point when Helikel Gorge and Elvarfiel Lake were recaptured.

Arteon at that time didn’t know how important this place was.

Only the desperate cry of his superior who had blocked Aikuled still echoed in his ears.

Wails and screams soaked in despair.

The eyes filled with determination to somehow block them became a handful of red blood and slept in this place.

Dark red blood scattered in the snowstorm, and countless comrades disappeared buried in the cold snow.

‘If only… I had been a little stronger then.’

The surviving self was cowardly and nothing but a loser who abandoned his comrades.

The excuse that he had to save his life in the midst of devastating defeat to plan for the future.

Arteon had to flee, leaving behind the corpses of his comrades piled layer upon layer on the freezing snow.

‘I barely escaped through the narrow pass and survived, but…’

That fierce situation at the time.

The terrible smell of blood still vividly came to mind as if it were engraved in his brain.

Though it was filled only with empty regret, there was nothing Arteon could do at that time.

“Huu.”

The breath he exhaled quietly became white smoke and scattered in the air.

Though Arteon’s cold resistance had increased due to the bracelet obtained from the Imperial Treasure Vault, regardless of that, wasn’t he about to be buried in snow.

Arteon lightly brushed off his body and immediately turned around.

Step.

In the past, he could only be helplessly defeated.

‘This time… it’s different.’

Helikel Gorge too.

Elvarfiel Lake too.

Unlike then, now they’ve become ours under the Imperial Flag, haven’t they.

And now…

‘It’s your turn to flee.’

If they take this Aikuled, a base for advancing to the Northern Region will be perfectly established.

Then, using Rishiven’s merchant group, more efficient supply will be possible, and they can rapidly advance north.

If that happens.

‘Surely Central Command will also actively make moves.’

Arteon clenched his fist tightly.

A cold gaze stretched long across the snowy plains.

But soon, Arteon slowly moved his steps and walked along the snow-covered path toward Aikuled’s temporarily constructed base camp.

Traces of frozen campfires and hardened blood remained scattered throughout.

These were the remnants of those who had been defending this place.

And when Arteon entered the base camp.

“…Huh?”

His footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

Because a single soldier standing under the dim firelight in one corner of the base camp came into view.

‘How is that guy here…?’

Arteon’s eyes wavered slightly at the completely unexpected sight of him.

He had thought that at this time, he wouldn’t have set foot on the northern battlefield yet….

“…Who are you, sir?”

Despite his solid build and sharp gaze, he still seemed somewhat naive, as if not yet properly adapted to the army.

Arteon silently observed the man who was questioning him.

But soon.

“I’m Lieutenant Arteon, dispatched here today under orders. What’s your name and rank, soldier?”

“Ah, steel heart!”

The man hastily saluted at Arteon’s introduction and shouted in a clear voice.

“Corporal Teobalt, sir!”

Teobalt.

On that day of horrific death.

He was the comrade who had died in Arteon’s place while trying to save him.

*    *    *

Kereilkarun was a Kar Tribe commander who had been confronting the Imperial Army at Aikuled for three years already.

Though their troop numbers weren’t large, the Kar Tribe, having already grasped Aikuled’s importance, had stationed an excellent warrior to guard this place.

Aikuled’s terrain was disadvantageous to whichever side attacked first.

Kereilkarun simply sat alone on a snow-covered rock, silently gazing toward the forward position.

Despite his lean frame, his eyes flashed as sharp as blades.

But then, cutting through the falling snow, one of his subordinates came running breathlessly.

“Taman! The Empire bastards are receiving reinforcements.”

“How many?”

“About a hundred or so… it seems.”

“….”

Kereilkarun narrowed his eyes.

Additional forces gathering to that extent meant….

‘They’re finally making their move.’

But he didn’t even twitch an eyebrow, looking at his subordinate with an indifferent expression.

“I see.”

“…Sir?”

The subordinate showed signs of anxiety at Kereilkarun’s response.

The guy hurriedly continued speaking.

“Shouldn’t we hurry with defense preparations? They’ve already crossed Helikel Gorge and reached Elvarfiel Lake. The Empire has no choice but to focus their full strength here as well.”

Then Kereilkarun shifted his gaze toward the narrow gorge where the blizzard was raging. 

The wind blew like sharp blades, fierce enough to cut through human flesh.

He slowly moved his thin lips.

“Those who enter through that narrow path… are no different from coming to commit suicide. Whoever they may be, all those bastards trying to pass through here will end up buried in this snow.”

His fierce gaze pierced through the distant snowy plains and gleamed.

With no other route except entering through this narrow pass, what could those bastards possibly do.

A brief silence followed, but soon Kereilkarun rose from his seat.

If the Empire bastards were preparing plans to attack this place….

“I have no intention of just sitting still and taking it.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Tell those guys. Don’t leave anyone alive who crosses the gorge.”

“…You mean those guys?”

“Hehehehe, in that place at least, there’s no one who can handle those guys.”

Even he himself couldn’t guarantee victory against those guys, could he.

His subordinate nodded at that.

“Understood.”

“And… ‘that thing’ is being well guarded, right?”

“Of course.”

To control those guys, the presence or absence of that thing was most important.

It was the most precious thing to them, and could be called their Achilles’ heel.

Soon Kereilkarun’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Anyone who tries to cross that gorge… will die.”

No matter how many troops the Empire bastards gathered, there was nothing to fear.

After all, the number of personnel who could move within this gorge was limited.

And inside that gorge where even visibility was blocked by the blizzard.

‘It will soon become hell for those bastards.’

The corners of Kereilkarun’s mouth kept twitching upward.

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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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