The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 99

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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 (99)

Whoooooooosh!

An endless blizzard was devouring the gorge.

Arteon quietly gazed at that place, recalling what Lucael had said.

―The night when the blizzard is at its worst. That’s when I plan to move. They’ll have difficulty securing visibility too, so it’ll be hard for them to notice our movements.

‘Certainly… at that moment, we could escape the enemies’ sight. But…’

While the blizzard could conceal our appearance, at the same time, that very blizzard would pose a great risk to us as well.

If we moved in a situation where even the path wasn’t visible, our allies could scatter or slip and fall into the gorge. 

Moreover, hadn’t an even bigger problem arisen now?

‘The Chevilk Tribe…’

Had the Chevilk Tribe appeared in Aikuled in the past?

At least when he was there, there had never been any problems caused by them.

That meant.

‘This too… is the future’s outcome being twisted somewhat…’

A slight anxiety washed over him due to the subtly but gradually changing future.

Arteon took a moment to catch his breath and narrowed his eyes.

Soon, the image of the Chevilk Tribe that Arteon had seen in the past clearly surfaced in his mind.

‘I’ve clashed with them a few times but…’

The Chevilk Tribe’s combat power far exceeded that of ordinary Kar Tribe members.

Those among them who could handle mana were capable of easily displaying 3rd Star level skills.

Compared to the Kar Tribe, who usually belonged to the 1st-2nd Star level, it was safe to say there was roughly a ten-fold difference.

But the reason the Chevilk Tribe, despite possessing such strong power, was treated as slaves by the Kar Tribe was one thing.

‘In the end… it’s because of the family members held as hostages.’

The Chevilk had a stronger concept of family than of tribe.

Moreover, due to the Chevilk Tribe’s characteristic of not having many members, their attachment and bonds to family were extremely strong.

They were ones who considered it natural to protect aging parents who had grown weak or children.

The Kar Tribe had properly exploited that strong sense of responsibility that the Chevilk Tribe possessed.

‘No matter how much the Empire bastards curse them as uncivilized barbarians…’

Arteon, who had fought the Kar Tribe for a long time, knew.

How cunning and vile they were.

That’s why they were making deals and joining hands even with their mortal enemy, the Empire.

His thoughts continued in an endless chain.

Arteon shook his head.

Now was the time to think about how to deal with the Chevilk Tribe, not the Kar Tribe.

‘If only I knew some information about those bastards… it would be a bit easier.’

But entering the gorge without proper preparation in this blizzard weather would be suicide.

Even if he wanted to find out information about them, there was nothing he could do right now.

Thud.

Arteon leaned his body against the bed.

There was nothing he could do right now.

‘For now… I’ll have to wait.’

Soon Lucael would make a decision in some form.

After that decision was made, that’s when he could think about it.

Several days passed like that.

There weren’t any particularly noteworthy issues, but during that time Arteon was adapting to Aikuled’s temperature.

A place where the blizzards were more severe and the temperature was lower than other regions in the north.

Perhaps because of that.

Unless they were on guard duty or had special business, the soldiers were avoiding coming outside the barracks as much as possible.

“…The cold is the key issue.”

Arteon muttered quietly as he slightly lifted the barracks entrance and looked outside.

Despite being in the same northern region, Aikuled definitely had a different perceived temperature than other places.

‘Bringing this bracelet… was the best choice.’

It might just be considered a trivial effect, but in the north, cold resistance alone becomes a great weapon.

Arteon raised his head to look at the sky.

The blizzard seemed to have calmed down slightly since a few days ago.

“…It looks like a big one is coming soon.”

Arteon, who had been in the north for a long time, knew.

That this current precursor phenomenon was like a brief rest period that continued before a tremendous blizzard hit.

Probably when that fierce blizzard struck…

‘We’ll be scheduled to advance.’

Arteon’s gaze turned toward the barracks where Lucael was.

And at the same time.

“…Is that so.”

Lucael muttered while sitting face to face with an officer who had been stationed in Aikuled for a long time.

At those words, the officer nodded.

“Probably in about two or three days… the blizzard will blow fiercely. I estimate… visibility won’t even be half a meter, let alone one meter.”

“Then, those bastards won’t be able to monitor us either.”

“But… will it be alright? It will be a harsh blizzard for us too. Even walking won’t be easy.”

“We have to pull it off. Without doing so, we won’t be able to seize this opportunity.”

Lucael’s eyes sank coldly.

Of course, he knew that it wouldn’t be an easy task, as the officer said.

He had learned enough about how harsh Aikuled’s blizzards were since coming here.

‘But…’

Only by breaking through this could they pass through that ridiculously narrow terrain of the gorge.

‘It would be impossible for us to pass through without taking risks either.’

It was because he had been thinking about this that he had gathered only the elite from the north.

At Lucael’s words, the officer sitting in front nodded.

“Then I’ll immediately prepare the necessary items. Above all… you must be careful.”

“I’m counting on you.”

After finishing the conversation, Lucael got up from his seat and immediately assembled all the special unit members.

Some showed puzzled expressions at the sudden assembly, but most had expressions that said ‘what was coming has come.’

“Is everyone gathered?”

“Everyone except the injured are assembled.”

“What’s the current condition of the injured?”

“There are three. One is still seriously injured… and two are now at a level where movement is possible.”

Of course, even so, participating in the operation was impossible.

Lucael nodded and spoke to the special unit members.

“In about 2-3 days, when the blizzard blows strongly… we will pass between that gorge and move to the Kar Tribe camp.”

Finally, the advance.

At those words, the unit members present clenched their fists tightly.

Because this was the most fundamental reason they had gathered here.

The path between Aikuled Gorge, which could be called a road of death for both sides.

That’s why both the Kar Tribe and themselves.

Had to remain in a long standoff without being able to invade each other’s territory.

But now that balance was about to crumble.

It was natural since Helikel Gorge and Elvarfiel Lake had fallen to one side.

If they crossed the path of Aikuled Gorge and seized the Kar Tribe camp, the route to the north would be completely opened.

It’s just that fitting that last piece of the puzzle was extremely difficult.

“Originally… we’d have to break through even by pouring in tremendous forces, but as you all know, doing so could upset the balance elsewhere.”

Whether the path was narrow or not, nothing could beat sheer numbers.

If we pile corpse upon corpse and keep pushing forward over those corpses, we could break through.

However, doing so could collapse the balance of the Northern Region.

The Northern Region’s battle was about defending all areas using limited forces.

“So if we fail this time, we can’t guarantee when we’ll be able to attack this Gorge again.”

It meant they would have to wait endlessly for another opportunity they had barely managed to seize.

Clench.

Lucael clenched his fist.

“This one time, I will definitely open the path through this Gorge to the Northern Region.”

If that happens… tens of thousands of Imperial Army soldiers could enter Kar Tribe territory and end the long-standing war with them.

‘No longer… will soldiers have to shed blood in This Place.’

For the past several decades.

The Northern Region had shed far too much blood.

The war passed down through generations was a disaster in itself, which is why the Northern Region had always been a land of terror.

However, if they could cut it off this time…

“Everyone be careful of the cold and prepare. The fierce Snowstorm will serve as a shield for us, but at the same time it will strongly hold back our feet.”

“Understood!”

“Yes!”

The Unit members gathered there responded loudly. But then…

“But what should we do about preparing for the Chevilk Tribe that appeared this time? I heard those guys are much stronger against cold and snowstorms than ordinary Kar Tribe members.”

Isaac asked Lucael.

Though they were a suddenly appeared variable, they were far too threatening to them.

Lucael hadn’t failed to consider that aspect either.

However, there was no immediate solution to block those guys right now.

But…

“When those guys start attacking, I’ll immediately strike at them.”

There was something only Lucael could do.

Arteon looked at Lucael.

‘Has he already… entered 6-Star?’

No, timing-wise, it would be more accurate to see him as still at the end of 5th Star.

However, even at the end of 5th Star, he possessed transcendent power incomparable to ordinary humans.

But there was one concern.

Aikuled’s terrain was completely different from the places he had fought until now.

Of course, a swordsman of Lucael’s level possessed senses in a completely different dimension from others.

This Place was where Snowstorms so fierce you couldn’t see ahead struck down.

Moreover, wielding a Sword at will on the uneven Canyon paths was not an easy task.

“…Unit Commander. May I offer an opinion?”

“Hmm?”

When Arteon slightly raised his hand and spoke, Lucael and the Unit members turned their gazes to Arteon.

Lucael nodded and said.

“Speak. What’s your opinion?”

“If you’re concerned about their Containment, how about having a small number of people move separately using that Snowstorm as cover to find those guys?”

“That seems dangerous. If you don’t completely know the Canyon paths… you might fall.”

It was a place with irregular terrain that was narrow in width but split into two or three branches in the middle.

If they happened to fall because the Snowstorm blocked their vision, they could be defeated individually.

Moreover…

“They might use protruding parts on the cliff face to climb up to about the middle of the wall, or hide their bodies in deeply carved areas. This kind of terrain would be a good place for those guys to set up Ambush Positioning.”

Aikuled’s pathway.

On the cliff faces facing that path, there were deep Caves here and there that could be used as hiding places.

Information obtained through soldiers who had been in Aikuled for a long time.

If they couldn’t properly grasp that, dividing their forces would rather be dangerous.

However…

“Recently, I gained an opportunity and my senses were activated. No matter how fierce the Snowstorm is, I can detect them.”

He couldn’t say he knew the terrain of This Place.

But reaching the 4-Star Realm was sufficient justification to persuade them.

The problem was that there was no information about how many Chevilk Tribe members there were… or what level they possessed.

‘If we were just fighting in an ordinary place it might be different, but this kind of Rough Terrain would be more advantageous to those guys.’

But even so, it seemed they could buy time.

Arteon, having organized his thoughts, said.

“I will find those guys.”

“…Are you confident? It’s a very dangerous task.”

Lucael asked.

Normally, this would be an opinion he should immediately reject as dangerous.

But wasn’t this Arteon who had fought and defeated two commander-level Kar Tribe members at Elvarfiel Lake earlier?

As he said, his enhanced senses from his growth could be of great help in this battle.

Arteon nodded.

“Please trust me.”

An unwavering voice.

At that, Lucael seemed to hesitate for a moment.

“Deputy Commander. When we enter the operation, you’ll command the Unit.”

“…Excuse me?”

When Isaac looked at him with puzzled eyes, Lucael looked at Arteon and said.

“I will search for the ambushed Chevilk Tribe together with Lieutenant Arteon.”

At those words, everyone looked at him with surprised expressions.

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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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