Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Mine
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Frontier Viscount's Mansion.
Anna checked the gifts for Brilda as usual.
With New Year's approaching, there were an unusually large number.
Her hand paused for a moment while jotting down the gift list.
Then it moved again, slowly writing out the name.
'Elwin.'
She opened his box more carefully than the others.
Just in case.
Her hand stopped once more.
Because there was a gift for her inside as well.
[Wishing Anna a year filled with blessings. -Elwin-]
She read the short note and examined the item.
A pretty hair pin.
Not flashy, but with an air of refined elegance.
She inspected the hair pin closely.
Every detail of the craftsmanship was flawless.
She placed it in a small box in her room.
Knock. Knock.
"Lady Anna, Madam is looking for you."
Anna picked up the papers listing the gifts and left the room.
Frontier Mansion, third floor.
Brilda's room.
She handed the papers to Brilda.
Brilda read through them with a pleased expression.
When her gaze reached the bottom,
"Elwin? Elwin sent a gift?"
"Yes, Madam."
Tap-tap.
Tap-tap.
Brilda's fingers drummed rapidly on the table.
"Why? What's he scheming?"
Tap-tap.
Tap-tap.
"At least it means he doesn't know about our plan. That's why he sent a gift."
Her recent focus had been the Terra Castle Lord contract.
Whether the clause "Monster Limited" defense treaty was included could sway the heir competition.
"I was worried when the Innocent Mercenaries left so suddenly... but the gift suggests Elwin's in the dark."
It felt like a throbbing tooth had finally fallen out.
Relief from the prospect of a half-abandoned plan succeeding.
Brilda hummed a tune as she marked a few gifts.
"Bring the marked items to my room. Dispose of the rest as you see fit."
"Understood, Madam."
As Anna turned to leave with the papers,
another maid rushed in.
"Madam, a letter from the Innocent Mercenaries' captain has arrived."
"Really? Bring it here."
Anna left and closed the door behind her.
After a few steps,
"You bitch!! How dare you defy my orders!?"
Brilda's furious voice echoed from beyond the door.
***
Mine Search Unit.
Slave Soldiers: 2,000
Mercenaries: 500
Hunters: 300
Others: 500
A force of 3,300 passed through Terra and entered the western monster territory.
Commanders' meeting.
Hans, senior mercenaries, and Uncle Miller gathered.
They unrolled the map they'd prepared.
A perfect copy from memory of the ducal report.
He drew a line across it.
"We move west from Terra."
The horizontal line reached a specific point,
then he drew a vertical line upward.
This path was longer than a straight crossing.
But they'd chosen it anyway.
The goblin areas were easier to traverse than orc territory.
"Is there an iron mine there?"
"Yes. It's from the ducal report, so it checks out."
After the briefing, he handed command to Hans.
Hans was better at handling actual troops.
.
.
They entered monster territory,
and the routine proceeded smoothly.
At sunrise, march west;
at sunset, make camp.
The next day, and the day after, the same.
"No goblins attacking."
"Our numbers are overwhelming them instinctively."
Time passed, and they reached the pivot point.
From here, north.
As if sensing it, Hans rallied the troops.
"Stay sharp, everyone! We're crossing orc territory now!"
Orc territory differed from goblin lands.
They attacked aggressively.
But only the combat numbers increased; the outcome didn't change.
No matter how many orcs came, 3,300 troops couldn't be beaten.
Crossbowmen struck first,
phalanx units formed the front line.
Mercenaries mopped up after inflicting heavy casualties.
They reached the mountain with the iron deposits without losses.
"Uncle, handle the scouting."
"Don't worry. That's why I brought 300 hunters."
"Thanks."
The hunter unit departed,
and we built camp at the mountain's base.
Hunters would return, we'd rest a day, then move.
Days later,
the hunter team arrived.
"What!? There's a mine entrance?"
The spot marked on the map.
Not just deposits—it had been an actual developed mine.
'They're even saving on construction costs?'
He silently thanked Alensia.
Thanks to her, things had gone smoothly.
"But here's the thing."
"A problem?"
Uncle Miller explained.
While scouting the mountain, they spotted many orcs.
Hunters observed from hiding.
"They were all heading to one place. The mine."
The long-abandoned mine had become an orc village.
"Orcs instead of trolls should be manageable, right?"
"Troll remains were found scattered around. Orcs hunted them."
Normally, trolls prey on orcs.
But large orc packs turn the tables.
"Not easy opponents."
"And it's mountainous terrain."
He turned to look at the mountain with the mine.
Steeper slopes.
Dense trees covering it.
Hard for main phalanx and crossbow units to shine.
"Someone fetch Sir Hans and the senior mercenaries!"
Moments later,
Hans and the senior mercenaries arrived.
He briefed them on the situation and asked for opinions.
The first to speak was a senior mercenary leading a mid-sized group.
"Lure them to the plains."
"How?"
"Well..."
Another mercenary spoke up.
"Hit them piecemeal."
"They'll spot us in hours. It'll turn into a full battle anyway."
More mercenaries offered ideas, but none satisfied.
"Hans, what do you think?"
"We maximize our strengths."
"Strengths?"
"We have the unbreakable phalanx for defense and hunters specialized in stealth and scouting. So..."
After hearing Hans's full plan,
the first thought was this.
'He's grown a lot.'
Hans was Frontier's most talented knight.
That's why he'd become the Heir's guard at a young age.
Now he showed commander-level skill too.
"Good. We adopt Hans's plan. Everyone, prepare accordingly!"
"Understood."
"Understood."
.
.
The next day,
Hans.
100 elite phalanx.
30 elite hunters assembled.
"Retreat if needed. Don't push too hard."
"We'll hold until the Heir arrives."
Hans and the soldiers departed with resolute expressions.
After they left,
three hours later,
mercenaries divided into 20 teams of 25 each.
Assigned a hunter scout per team.
"Good luck."
"Don't worry."
"Orcs are no problem."
Another three hours passed,
and the main force entered the mountain.
Phalanx front and rear, crossbows in the center.
Even adapted for mountains, formation was tough to hold.
"Slow the front!"
"Crossbows, four-way alert! Watch surroundings!"
Less than twenty minutes in,
orc corpses appeared.
Thirty minutes later, more orc bodies.
By the time discovered corpses exceeded 100, they reached the goal.
Trees blocking view cleared,
a large clearing emerged.
In it, elite phalanx in circular formation.
Their spears and armor soaked in orc blood.
Orc corpses ringed the circle outside.
And at one spot.
The mine entrance fully blocked by orc bodies.
"Hans! I'm here!"
"Heir!"
"Woooaaah!!"
"Woooaaah!!"
The elite phalanx roared in cheer.
Main force soldiers cheered back.
At our arrival,
orcs lurking nearby fled into the forest.
Or tried to.
Slash.
If not for the mercenaries emerging from the woods.
Hans's stratagem was this.
Hans takes elite phalanx to block the mine entrance.
Meanwhile, mercenaries hunt scattered orcs on the mountain.
Main force moves last.
Orcs would prepare upon sighting humans.
Toughest task: Hans and elite phalanx holding the entrance.
"Good work, Hans."
"The phalanx made it manageable."
He said that, but Hans was covered head to toe in orc blood.
"Numbers inside?"
"Killed at least 200 orcs inside the mine. No idea how many deeper."
"Leave the rest to main force. Rest with your vanguard."
Crane.
"Thank you."
Main phalanx formed crane wings at the entrance.
Crossbows behind.
Orc corpses cleared from entrance, orcs poured out instantly.
"First rank, fire!"
Orcs emerging from narrow mouth.
Easy targets.
"Second rank, fire!"
"Third rank, fire!"
Divided crossbow units kept bolts flying nonstop.
Still, orcs charged relentlessly.
To break through.
"Give them credit for bravery. Phalanx, brace for impact!"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Pierce. Pierce.
Orcs surviving first arrow volley
couldn't breach the second phalanx wall.
Nearly 500 dead before orcs halted.
Ten minutes, twenty,
one hour of waiting, no more orcs.
Gathered commanders for input.
First idea: starve them out.
We've surrounded; wait till their food runs dry.
He eyed the suggesting mercenary.
Continental origin; clueless about island realities.
"Won't work. Our supplies will run out first."
On the continent, hunt game, pick fruit, forage grass.
Impossible on the island.
Then Uncle Miller stepped up.
"Looks like we're the experts here."