Chapter 429: Jane
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 429: Jane
A little time passed.
“The rescue team…”
“They seem to be late, don’t they? Maybe they never considered a situation like this?”
It was understandable. This was an expedition they had launched with confidence, a war they had intended to wage with conviction. They must have thought they could at least retake a few regions or, failing that, force a war of attrition. But that wasn't the result.
No other ‘guests’ had arrived at the Black Rock Mountains where I was since the first attack force, but the situation was different in other regions. Second, third, and fourth attempts were ongoing, and the results were utterly disastrous.
At the Wasteland Forward Base, for instance, they still hadn't found a way to defeat the Twin-Headed Ogre, Gara. It seemed they wouldn't figure it out until after he'd finished looting all the supplies from the warehouse he was occupying. In the Thornbush region, the Black Spear Clan's front line had collapsed, but they had regrouped their forces and succeeded in turning a specific area into a contested zone.
For those who needed to break through at all costs, this was an unwelcome development. They were stuck in a pointless war of attrition.
The higher-ups were probably in an uproar. The fact that even the dwarves were starting to join the battlefield told me just how desperate they were.
“Damn… if this keeps up, won’t their basic livelihood be at risk, let alone the supplies for the war? I think I'm already starting to see some small cities and towns becoming isolated…”
“Not our problem.”
“Kim Taesung, you've gotten really evil.”
I always say this, but I'm not so bad as to deserve that from Choi Seulgi. Still, it was an undeniable fact that we were tightening the noose around them.
Across the entire continent, the Green Skins were hunting them relentlessly, scorching the earth everywhere except for the small and large cities. Those living in small cities and towns began to fear leaving their walls, and the result was the extreme outcome of isolation.
Supply routes to the major cities were completely cut off, and they couldn't even go out to gather resources. Ironically, the units sent to retake the supply lines became supplies for the Green Skins themselves. It made me wonder how they had ever waged war against the dwarves.
On our continent, the Green Skins had been so rampant that humans had always maintained their own exclusive supply routes. Green Skins usually didn't know about the paths humans used, and vice versa. But these guys had nothing like that. Perhaps because they had lived in peace for so long, their continent was focused on development rather than defense against enemy attacks.
You could say their continent felt like a developing nation.
They were trying to open new supply routes now, but it was impossible to push back the Green Skins who were already firmly entrenched in several regions.
It wasn't just the forces from the Brother's Land that had crossed over.
Werewolf Silver Fang and the others who had suppressed their wild nature for so long moved without rest, as if determined to unleash everything they had held back.
Thanks to them, my reputation was slowly rising. They were only holding back because I hadn't yet recommended entering the cities. If I had permitted an invasion, the smaller cities would have undoubtedly fallen.
“By the way, are you sure it's okay for you to stay here?”
“Of course. There's nothing for me to do back at the main force anyway. I'm much more useful here. All I have to do is go back and relay information. It's no big deal.”
“Hmm…”
“Kim Taesung, you're not actually interested in that woman, are you?”
At Choi Seulgi's sudden question, I swallowed hard. Even though she knew what I was thinking, the suspicious look she gave me suggested she still didn't quite trust me.
“No way.”
“For someone who says that, you were being awfully nice to her… Honestly, she's pretty, and she's got curves in all the right places. Isn't that totally your fucking type, Kim Taesung? Plus, she's a Westerner, someone you've never seen before… A white girl. A white girl.”
“N-No. I told you, I'm not interested.”
For a moment, I almost agreed. But I knew full well that a terrifying fate awaited me if I did.
“It's really not like that.”
“You say that, but… looking at how you've been acting, it's not convincing at all…”
“What are you talking about? Ever since I met you…”
“…”
“Umm, now that I think about it, you're right.”
Thinking about it, it really was true. Since meeting Choi Seulgi, I hadn't taken in any other women. I hadn't even had any physical contact with anyone else. There were times I'd gotten entangled with others against my will at inopportune moments, but I had never once had a relationship with them or brought them into my fold like the women I was already with.
Realizing this anew, Choi Seulgi patted my back with a very satisfied expression. It was probably her way of complimenting me. I had a feeling that bringing up Kim Yoora or Han So-hye in this atmosphere would bring great disaster upon me, so I quickly changed the subject.
“It's just…”
“Just?”
“I just thought she could be useful. That priestess. From what I've heard, she seems like a decent person.”
Choi Seulgi started looking at me with curiosity. Seeing her expression, I slowly began to share the information I had on the woman. It wasn't anything extraordinary, just intel gathered from the testimonies of those captured by Baek Ahyeon. Choi Seulgi might have already known it, but seeing her eyes sparkle, it seemed she just wanted to talk with me.
“Jane, known as the Golden Saintess. She's the only priestess of note among the famous figures of the Western Continent. Unlike others who build their power by creating large guilds, she lives a relatively humble life, leading a small-to-medium-sized clan. She joined the expedition to the Black Rock Mountains. I heard she doesn't indulge in any luxuries, helps those in difficult situations, and even provides free healing to those who can't be cured by ordinary holy power.”
“A saint.”
“Yep. A saint by this continent's standards. Her nickname isn't 'Saintess' for nothing. If she just had a lot of holy power, she'd probably be called something else.”
“So, a good person like that is your type, Kim Taesung. Is that it?”
“…”
“Just kidding.”
A hint of mischief played on Choi Seulgi's face. It seemed she was enjoying teasing me.
“So?”
“Imagine a woman like that suddenly siding with us. From their perspective, it would be absurd—the Saintess they trusted has backstabbed them. It would give them a lot to think about. If she steps forward at the right time, their society will fall into chaos. Especially in difficult times like these. It would start with suspicions that there must be some dirty reason, then progress to doubts about the competence of their current leadership, and finally, to mutual distrust.”
As I muttered this with amusement, Choi Seulgi muttered back with a look of genuine disgust.
“Kim Taesung, you're a fucking evil bastard…”
Unlike before, this time she sounded quite serious.
“You think so?”
“Yeah. To be honest, even though we lacked intel on the dwarves, I didn't think the Western Continent was an enemy we couldn't beat if our continent went all out… There are risk factors, but if you wanted to end the war quickly, it's not like there aren't ways, right?”
“…”
“You could move the main forces, including yourself, into their major cities. Or you could drop something similar to a magic tower on them.”
“That's right.”
“I thought you were just trying to deny the enemy even the slightest chance of a comeback… but you're deliberately refusing to fight them.”
I nodded at Choi Seulgi's words.
Our continent's main army is currently advancing slowly toward the Western Continent. Of course, the Western Continent is also moving its army east to block our advance. Soon, the two armies will face each other.
But even then, we won't fight. We'll raise an ice fortress and start applying pressure, making them feel like we could invade at any moment. The key is to maintain the front line while probing their reactions.
From their perspective, it must feel like their feet are on fire. When two armies that have tacitly agreed to fight end up in a prolonged standoff, the most crucial thing is supplies.
Our continent will continue to consume resources steadily, but the Western Continent cannot. The reason is obvious: the Green Skins have settled here. The supplies consumed by their massive army will be beyond imagination. The precious metals and jewelry they once valued will become useless, and eventually, the prices of various daily necessities will skyrocket.
“It's not that I don't want to just hit them head-on… but personally, I want them to become a little more miserable.”
“Them?”
“A reaction is bound to come. The cancer spreading through their body will grow, and removing the large tumor will be a life-or-death risk. A great enemy stands before them, but their own body is getting sicker and sicker. They'll be trapped in a situation where they can't choose either path. It sounds funny, but they might even start begging for us to invade.”
As I muttered this, Choi Seulgi immediately continued my thought.
“Or… they might charge at you with reckless abandon.”
“Of course. If that happens… what they're thinking is obvious… They'll believe their main fighting force is still intact and that they can replenish their supplies later. They might be having the same fucking stupid thought that a single victory in a major battle will turn the tide.”
“Hmm…”
“And if we shatter even that, it'll truly be the end for them. Their last remaining hope will vanish, and the citizens will begin to starve. Looting will break out everywhere, and at that moment, a voice with great appeal will emerge.”
The inside will begin to fracture, and the situation will deteriorate to a point their leaders can no longer control. I couldn't even imagine what they would think when our main army resumes its slow advance at that very moment.
“If it really goes as you say… you could receive their surrender without even a proper fight. With very few casualties…”
“It's just a rough plan, but if it works out, we might be able to get it. That would be after we've reviewed whether the terms are to our liking and whether they are genuinely repentant, of course. And crucially, while it's up to them to offer their surrender, it's up to us whether we accept it.”
Finishing my words, I began to tap one of the armrests of the Iron Throne. Seeing this, the corners of Choi Seulgi's mouth lifted into a definite smile.
“You…”
“…”
Putting together everything we'd discussed, she must have already figured out what I truly wanted. Her expression was a mixture of disbelief and something like pride. Choi Seulgi looked at me with that complex face and spoke.
“You plan to bleed them dry.”
“Correct.”
I smiled.