Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: To the Battlefield (2)
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Clatter-clunk, clatter—
Inside the jostling carriage.
Lian asked Pablo, who knew the military well, about their current destination.
"The Northern Conquest Army's 14th Legion. More famously known as the Suicide Squad."
Pablo's explanation instantly made sense of the subtle reactions from the generals during the strategy meeting.
"And it's the unit I was discharged from."
"Ah, right. I think you mentioned something like that before."
It had been back when they were tailed at the northern port.
He vaguely recalled Pablo mentioning it in passing then.
"But Suicide Squad? Just what kind of place is it...?"
"I've heard of it! It's for convict soldiers, right? They throw in guys convicted of crimes on reckless missions!"
"Yeah, pretty much."
If that was the case, then Pablo being from such a unit meant...
As Lian and Firka stared at him silently, Pablo scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and gave an embarrassed grin.
"Of course, the unit doesn't consist only of convicts. Though that doesn't mean I wasn't one..."
"It's fine. I kind of figured after seeing you buddy up with Nico."
"Anyway, you're no ordinary guy yourself. I hardly ever hear of convict soldiers surviving to discharge!"
Birds of a feather, as they say.
An extraordinary pair far from ordinary.
Though Lian hadn't known from the start when he took Pablo on.
"But are there really that many convicts to feed into the grinder? From what I remember, they're only sent there if they appeal their sentence in court."
It was gambling your life against your punishment, so unless the sentence was harsh, no one would dare.
Yet they kept getting reinforcements.
"Ah, that..."
Firka started to say something but darkened and trailed off.
Pablo took over the explanation.
"It's what they call alleyway cleansing."
"Alleyway cleansing?"
"Yes. They grab vagrants off the streets and throw them into penal units without proper trials."
Lian recalled Valua II's words from the council meeting about the previous king and such.
Doing such things yet preaching about inspecting from the bottom up.
What a brazen king.
"Still, the general won't put you in danger, right, Lian?"
"Well. From the forest story alone, this guy's the type to rush into danger himself. Thinking about it, it's a perfect match!"
The forest teeming with curses of death and madness.
When Lian said he'd volunteer to enter it, Firka had nearly screamed.
"Hold on! You're not thinking of dragging me in there too, are you?"
"Why not? You're a mage too."
"No! Did you even listen to my explanation this morning? Charging into a prepared mage's domain is suicide even for another mage!"
"It's fine. We already have one countermeasure, right?"
"Huh? Was there?"
Firka tilted her head, reviewing the strategy meeting.
But nothing stood out to her.
"Divert attention to the forest. That's the prerequisite for the magic, right? Remember?"
"Yeah."
"So just enter the forest without looking at it."
He didn't know the exact mechanism yet, but it was likely vision-based magic with high probability.
Block the vision, and it's solved simply.
"So we go in blindfolded?"
"Well, that works."
Sssss—
Firka pressed her temples and took a deep breath.
"You think that'll work? Even if we dodge the curse, we'll get lost in the forest! Don't underestimate it! And you think the mage is alone in there? What if we're ambushed blind?!"
But Firka was right.
Honestly, Lian had no confidence navigating the forest safely blind.
"Actually, there's an even better way. Though I'm not certain yet."
Lian's hypothesized counter was still theoretical.
He needed more on-site investigation.
"Anyway, to use that method, I need you, Firka."
Lian patted her small shoulder and smiled.
"Sigh. Whatever."
Firka flopped back in resignation.
"Yeah. If he saw through my magic in one go, he'll handle the forest curse just fine."
It'd bruise her pride if Lian struggled with it.
So she decided to quietly cheer and trust him.
The carriage carrying Lian's group arrived at a garrison on the plains after three days.
"You've arrived. The general is waiting over there. This way."
They followed an officer into the garrison.
At the entrance, kingdom soldiers in familiar uniforms bustled, carrying supplies.
But deeper in, shabby figures barely resembling soldiers appeared.
Probably the convict soldiers they'd heard of.
For friend-or-foe identification, a red-dyed "14" marked their chests.
Chained in groups of three, they truly looked like convicts.
"Pablo. No one you know among them, right?"
"No. All my enlistment buddies are long dead."
"Hm. Sorry for asking unnecessarily."
"It's fine. Lots of scum among them, so no camaraderie."
After passing long rows of tents,
The officer finally stopped.
A slightly larger but plain tent, unremarkable.
Hard to imagine a general staying there.
"General. They're here."
"Send them in."
Inside, a mild-mannered middle-aged man in armor sat at a desk.
An unexpected image for the Suicide Squad's commander.
He looked more like a civil official than a soldier.
"Welcome, Mage Hunter Lian. I'm Tullio, commander of the Northern Conquest Army's 14th Legion."
"Pleased to meet you, General."
"Ho? Quite a familiar face here too. Right, Pablo?"
Tullio brightened seeing Pablo follow Lian.
"Hope you've been well, General."
"Yeah. You up and discharged against my advice, and now you're back? What twisted fate."
"Tell me about it. Who knew..."
"Haha. Why not reenlist while you're here?"
"Ugh. Don't even joke about that nightmare. Pay's way better here anyway."
"Pay matters, of course. We're all just trying to eat."
Pablo glanced awkwardly at Lian.
Lian had business with the general.
Yet Pablo had stolen the spotlight.
Reading his expression, the general chuckled slyly and finally turned to Lian.
"Oops! Got carried away reuniting with an old subordinate and neglected His Highness's guest."
"It's fine. I'm not the type to get upset over trifles."
Was it really a mistake?
No trace of apology on the general's face.
"Here's the order from His Highness."
"Hm. Let's see..."
Tullio's eyebrows twitched reading the scroll.
It was just a lengthy directive to cooperate with Lian.
But interpretable as temporarily handing command to Lian.
"Heard the rumors. Soon to be Madela's governor? Quite enviable."
"Too early to say. I'd appreciate your help, General."
"Humble one."
Tullio crumpled the scroll and tossed it aside, leaning back.
"So, what's your plan, Mage Hunter? Some special operation?"
"No real plan. I'll handle the interfering magic, so advance worry-free afterward."
The general's forehead wrinkled deeper at Lian's reply.
"So we're just supposed to stand by uselessly?"
"If it sounds that way, my apologies."
"No, no. Spot on. Cowards who fled from magic before—laughable to strut now."
Unlike the palace generals, well self-aware?
Felt more sincere than sarcasm.
"No intent to butt heads, so do as you please. Supplies, troops—whatever you need."
"Thank you, General."
"But don't mistake that for authority over my command."
Valua II's mission wasn't just resolving the forest curse.
That was merely a necessary step.
The true goal: seize enemy territory beyond the border.
Post-forest battles were Tullio's domain.
"Of course. No need to interfere and clash."
"Right. Just do our jobs. We're not barbarians making farmers wield swords. Haha."
A faint bitter smile crossed Lian's lips.
Unlike his mild looks,
Conversing with him felt like chewing a spiny fish whole—uncomfortable.
Tullio stood atop a dirt pile by the irrigation ditch, pointing at the forest.
"That's the forest. Notice anything?"
"Can't tell from here. You sure it's safe?"
"Curse doesn't reach here. But ten more steps, and it's dangerous."
"At this distance, hard to see what's in there clearly."
Lian didn't ask how he knew the limit.
Obvious, given the general's nature.
Probably tested with convict soldiers.
"Any curse-maddened in the unit? I'd like to examine one."
"Isolated them already. This way."
Tullio led them to a remote tent in the garrison corner.
Three convict soldiers bound to posts, limbs tied.
Gagged with cloth, eyes covered.
They whimpered in agony, twisting occasionally—eerie.
"Recommend not removing gags. They chant curses, they say."
"Good call."
Lian focused on magic sounds, examining the cursed.
Foamy bubbles mimicking human voices.
Originating near the head.
"Why is this one so bloodied?"
One convict had black crusted blood on clothes, incomplete magic traces on body.
"Keeps self-harming. Also drew weird patterns wherever he touched—wiped them off as creepy."
"The other two didn't do that?"
"They just laughed, cried, screamed alone. Bled from eyes and nose till death."
Same curse, different symptoms.
Likely due to individual differences.
"All convicts, right? Can we check their charges?"
"I know them—no need to look far."
"All of them?"
"My lovable subordinates. I keep tabs."
Didn't seem loving, but saved effort.
"These two: street thugs. Violence, theft—too many to list."
"And this one?"
"Con artist. Forged documents, posed as officials."
"I see."
"Learn anything?"
"Maybe not crucial, but I have a rough idea."
If Lian's guess was right,
Paula's lord seeking the forest mage for revenge made perfect sense.