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Volume 3, Chapter 202 - Retreating Battle III (1/2)

The Red King brought their entire army in pursuit of the goblins west. The commander of the vanguard, Saldin, wanted to hit the doctor when he heard how grave Carlion’s sickness was, but Cell the Sword Dancer stopped him with a severe blow. Because of that he was currently sulking and

Normally Saldin would be talking a lot to try and increase the morale of his platoon, but now, he wasn’t even making an eek. Because of that the wild soldiers under him were sneakily whispering to each other.

“What’s wrong with the general?”

“…It doesn’t seem like he’s eaten anything bad.”

“He’s not you, stupid. Maybe it’s because of a woman?”

“Oh, now that you mention it, his cheeks are swollen.”

Meanwhile, the person in question was sighing. He looked up to the sky and thought the light of twin sisters, Ervi and Navi, to be dazzling, but even their dazzling red light failed to ward off the sadness within his heart

He would be leading a battle this time too, but for some reason, he just wasn’t in the mood.

The death of a comrade.

He has experienced that countless times now, but this sort of death was something he still wasn’t used to.

“That’s not like you,” the old enchanter, Grave, called out to him.

Normally, they’d be at each other’s neck whenever they crossed each other’s path, but when Saldin turned around and Grave saw his face, Grave just couldn’t find the mood to poke fun at him.

Instead, he just sat down beside him and poured him some liquor.

“I don’t need your pity,” Saldin said.

“Unloveable as ever, I see. All I want is to ease some of your grief,” Grave said to Saldin, who already reeked of alcohol.

“You know, gramps. It was the clan leader who picked me up, but I actually owe more to Carlion than to the clan leader.”

“…I remember that, actually. That guy was always the helpful sort. Made a fuss when he found himself a younger brother.”

Saldin took a mouthful from the cup before him. “I haven’t repaid Carlion enough just yet.”

Maybe it was because he drank too much or because the liquor was too strong, but regardless, Saldin suddenly became very drunk. The more he spoke the more the emotions he kept in his chest came together.

“…You sure think some strange things. The title of ‘Genius Tactician’ isn’t just for show. As long as you follow his orders, we’ll win this time too.”

Grave suddenly took the cup that was violently placed on the table by Saldin and slowly drank.

“Everyone dies someday. The god of time, Jurana’s, blessing doesn’t pour forever for anyone.”

“…No, I will pay him back. I’m going to pay him back in my own way. If he’s going to die, then I’m going to cut down all sources of his worries and let him have a peaceful death.”

As Grave put down the cup, Saldin grabbed it and took another mouthful, then Saldin looked up at the night sky.

“I will take Carlion’s place— No. I don’t have to go that far. Just half is enough, and I will help the clan leader become king. Yes! That’s how it should be!”

Seat Brandika in the highest throne!

As Saldin remembered Carlion’s favorite saying, he swore.

“While that guy is alive, huh…”

As Grave looked at the bottom of the emptied cup, he became thoughtful.

“…You might have to overcome the goblins or Pena,” Grave said.

“I’m not saying this just because I lost,” Saldin said. “But the goblins are strong. They’re much stronger than the Kushain Believers.”

“I have 1,000 elite cavalry in my platoon,” Grave said. “Take them with you. They’re not as good as Shushunu’s sorcerer cavalry, but they’re well trained.”

Grave was one of the most successful adventurers among the commanding officers under Brandika’s direct supervision. It was such that his success could rival even his.

Saldin wasn’t expecting Grave to suggest that. Because of that he couldn’t help but open his eyes as he stared at the old enchanter in amazement.

“Gramps…”

“Win. And let Carlion have his peace. I too am in his debt, so… Go. Exterminate the monster threat by the roots and bring peace to the south. That will also bring our clan leader, Brandika, closer to the throne.”

As Saldin wordlessly nodded, the fire of resolve could be seen burning within his gaze.

As he stood up, he ordered his platoon to depart

.

“We’re going, you bastards! How long are you planning to sleep!?”

When Grave heard that, he wryly smiled.

“The young shine so brightly. It’s just for today, but… I’m actually quite envious of Jurana’s blessing.”

As someone whose time was short, he couldn’t say that he would take Carlion’s place.

Saldin yet had time to grow, which is why he could afford to set Carlion as his goal and chase after him.

The sons of men did not posses the tenacious body of demihumans, or the long life of elves, or the strength of monsters, or the ferocity of beasts, but they still conquered the continent.

The reason for that was because of their endless potential.

Yes. It was because of that that the humans became the strongest force in the continent. They received the divine protection of the gods, they were granted favor, they were awarded blessing, they learned to defend themselves, and they fought with the invaders.

Right now, before Grave’s very eyes, was a man who resembled those sons of men that the gods watched over.

The old enchanter looked up at the yet dark sky.

The mixed army of Pena that relied mostly on the clans went straight north. They obeyed the orders of the supreme commander, the knight-commander of the Blue Knights, Allen, and postured to pursue the goblins passing through the borderlands.

Clans that had many adventurers with skills like hunter and ranger - which made them ideal for finding the enemy - were picked out and given the task of scouting the enemy.

Those that could come back with good info would be rewarded handsomely, so the adventurers were eager to do their job.

In the past few days, Allen had gotten used to handling the mixed army.

As far as rewards went, honor and glory weren’t very appealing to the clans, but money and a safe place to rest were. Allen had to raise the monetary rewards in order to maintain morale and reward those with big achievements. But the reason he could do that was because the elder council had given their approval.

Allen himself had no idea what caused them to change their tune, but it was better to have money than none.

Allen threw all those coin at the clans, and they became much easier to handle.

Once, when Allen was looking for a clan to send out as a scout, the clan he recruited asked if there would be a special reward. That man was actually the reason why Allen changed the way he thought about the clans, for when Allen asked his aide to stop yelling at the man for his impudence and asked the man why he was fighting, the man looked at him with a dubious face and gave a simple answer.

‘To feed ourselves.’

When Allen heard that, he was deeply embarrassed.

Allen was also once a commoner. He was not wealthy by any means. Had he not met Aizas and were he not skilled in the sword, he would surely not be where he was today. He could be one of these adventurers who chose to walk the path of the sword to feed themselves.

That’s why he stopped in his tracks when he heard the clan leader’s simple answer. Fortunately, they had enough money to splurge. Using that money as the reward, he was able to successfully send out some scouts.

It was Allen’s suggestion to give a bigger reward to those who could give quick and accurate information. Word of that bonus quickly spread throughout the mixed army, and in no time at all, information had been collected. The speed at which they gathered info left even Allen in shock. It was almost as if all that talk about the mixed army being bad was a lie.

“The goblins are a day’s distance to the north, huh.”

As Allen held the map with one hand while riding his horse, he thought back to the previous battle.

The night was the hour of the monsters, so he had to think up a plan that would not go into the night.

“We’ll make use of the cavalry and do a hit and run strategy. Or if they go to us instead, we’ll have to intercept them.”

Allen wasn’t sure how the goblins would move, but then he remembered something. The villages in the border were empty. If so, then perhaps the goblins had taken hostages with them.

They tried a hit and run the last time, but the goblins were easily able to meet them. Given the current circumstances, it seemed only right to intercept the goblins, but the army Allen was leading now had some uncertain factors.

One was the lack of food and the other was the lack skill.

Although Pena had given them plenty of money, there was no telling how far they would have to chase the goblins who’ve abandoned the borderlands. In other words, Allen and his men had no idea how much food they would need.

Feeding 20,000 mouths needed a lot of food.

The other issue was due to the fact that they were a mixed army composed of soldiers and clans. As such, it was clear as day that the level of skill they had as an army was a lot lower than normal.

An army wasn’t strong because it’s full of strong soldiers. Rather, it was strong because the supreme commander is able to see everything, be it the bad habits of the commanders or the movements of each platoon. An army can only be strong when all of its parts are able to work together.

No matter how strong the clans were individually, without any time to coordinate everything, their current strength as an army was weak. An army like that would surely have a hard time intercepting the enemy.

Those were the two reasons that worried Allen, so in the end, Allen decided to take a proactive offensive position.

“Prepare for an attack in the night! They will surely come when night falls!”

Allen ordered half the army to remain alert in the night as he maneuvered the army into an offensive position.

Gold dangling before their eyes, the clans kept a watchful eye out even their break.

Inside the camp that was firmly defended, half the army kept a watchful eye.

As they gradually closed in on the goblins, when the distance between them and the goblins was only half a day, the attack came.

“GURuUoOOaAAA!”

The black of the night shook as a howl that could shake courage itself bellowed.