Chapter 485: Mock Battle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 485: Mock Battle
“As expected of Lord Blood Dagger. If everything he said back then is true, this will be no ordinary mock battle.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what it sounds like, Lady Yoora. Hehe.”
Laveua nodded at Lee Wanyong and Kim Yoora’s conversation. She couldn’t grasp the exact details, but she felt she understood the gist of what they were saying.
The goblin aunties were still shouting as Kim Yoora rode silently atop a Giant Wolf toward the Eastern Forest of Mist. Despite the exhausting, continuous meetings, she had to admit she was actually enjoying herself. It felt like going on a picnic, and also like the long-awaited hunt she had always dreamed of.
Even with adults accompanying them, this was the first time she had left the Brother's Land and the Land of Glory without her mother and father. She could find a special meaning in the fact that her first campaign was a test.
As she was lost in thought for a moment, Lee Wanyong’s voice broke through.
“This isn't just about combat. We have to think about where to establish our position and consider our supply lines. It may seem short, but this is a temporary settlement we’ll be using for a period that is by no means brief. Hehe. We have to consider what level of defense is needed, whether those defenses will even be meaningful, and whether it’s better to send out troops to strike the enemy or to hunt to stockpile food—there are many things to consider.”
“Do you have something specific in mind?”
“To be honest, I'm not that well-versed in the art of war… so I can't give you specifics, but I have a general idea of how they'll move. Lord Ratga will probably…”
“Try to expand his settlement, right?”
“Correct. Given how conservatively he chose his personnel, he's certain to establish a temporary settlement as soon as he arrives in the forest.”
Lee Wanyong was right. Her brother would surely think that way. Even on the children's battlefield in the Brother's Land or the Land of Glory, her brother always placed great importance on having a base. He creates a base of operations and then gradually expands his territory from that central point.
Assuming no one checks him, his ever-expanding territory will become very difficult to deal with.
“After all, he needs to protect the priests Lady Baek Ahyeon brought with her. If we assume Lord Ratga's territory grows larger and larger after the mock battle begins, the areas where we can move will become extremely limited.”
“But launching a surprise attack is risky, with Lady Lapura's faction to consider.”
“Yes. The fact that it's a three-way battle is crucial. No side will want to lose their members in the early stages. If any two sides clash, the remaining side will be very grateful. Hehe.”
“…”
“A situation where everyone is just watching each other means Lord Ratga's room to maneuver will expand. That's likely the scenario Lord Ratga wants most. He'll want to prepare a single, heavy blow and then unleash it. He's undoubtedly thinking of this mock battle as a game of territory control. He won't even consider options like giving up his rear to a teleportation attack. Because even for someone like Lady Choi Eunju, stopping Lord Gark with her magic restricted in various ways would be a difficult task.”
“So you're saying the longer we all just watch each other, the more of an advantage Lord Ratga will gain.”
“Hehe. As expected of Lady Yoora.”
“Lady Lapura's faction is probably wary of Lord Ratga, too.”
“Most likely. Even with their high firepower, it will inevitably be spread thin as the area expands. Still, Lady Lapura will choose to lie low at first.”
“If I were Lady Lapura…”
“Even if I were Lady Lapura, I wouldn't want to drag things out, but if you consider her personality, the answer becomes clear.”
Laveua spoke up softly, having anticipated Lee Wanyong’s words.
“Lapura will probably want to observe the situation. After she heard Ratga was with Uncle Gark, she brought Uncle Hark. After she heard I brought Uncle Wanyong, she brought Uncle Hakajin. Lapura likes to watch how things unfold…”
“Correct. Hehe. Lady Lapura knows that a decisive, short battle would be to her advantage. However, she has a very strong perfectionist streak, doesn't she? She won't want to move until she's made at least some minimal preparations. Lord Hakajin is the same. His way is to resort to gambles only at the very last moment.”
“So, what do you think is the best course of action?”
“For now, there's nothing we can do but leave them be. While we don't like Lord Ratga expanding his territory, it's not entirely bad for us either.”
“You mean he'll restrain Lady Lapura from using the battlefield too broadly.”
“Yes.”
“A very delicate balance is important. It's advantageous for us to use a wide battlefield as well, but if it gets too wide, we'll face a counterattack from Lady Lapura. In that sense, Lord Ratga's wall will be a good deterrent. The key is to shape the battlefield to our advantage. I believe the point is to ensure our mobility is superior to Lady Lapura's. Hehe.”
“Is that possible?”
“Spells have casting times. And they can't be used continuously. The space just needs to be not too wide and not too narrow. Creating a battlefield of just the right size will make it easier for us to move. Hehe.”
*
“They'll want to create a battlefield of just the right size. Or perhaps they've already started. Unless we're willing to take some damage, we might not be able to stop Lady Laveua from securing an advantageous battlefield. He's surely calculated for the scenario where we interfere. Preparing for every possible situation is that human's specialty.”
“Isn't there anything we can do, Uncle Hakajin?”
“If the battlefield were a bit larger than the Forest of Mist, it would be easier to think of something, but this is certainly tricky.”
Lapura nodded. The fact that it wasn't too small was reason enough to be pleased. However, the more Ratga expanded his base, the more her range of movement would be restricted, which was a fatal blow to her side. Even with high firepower, she couldn't just charge into the middle of the enemy camp and unleash a barrage of spells.
“We have no choice but to move busily at the start. It would be best to draw a clear line. We must show Lord Ratga that if he expands his territory any further, we won't hesitate to engage in an all-out war. This game of territory control is very delicate. If it gets just a little wider than the space Lady Laveua has in mind, the situation will likely shift in our favor. The more we reduce Lord Ratga's footholds, the more advantageous it becomes for us. We must build a wall from the very beginning. With you and the clan's shamans, Lady Lapura, it should be possible.”
“That's right.”
“If we leave just enough space to satisfy Lord Ratga, we can achieve a mutually satisfactory result.”
Lapura nodded.
Bringing Uncle Hakajin was the perfect choice.
First, he knew Lee Wanyong and Kim Yoora well. Second, he had a keen understanding of the surrounding environment and locations.
She had heard that during a past battle against the humans called the Saint Knights Order in the Earthworm Den, he had mapped out the entire internal structure of the den in a short amount of time.
He hadn't gone inside to map it. Although he had help from Mother's roots, the fact that he had memorized the entire layout without entering the den was certainly extraordinary. It was for reasons like this that Father, knowing his own life was on the line, had recruited Uncle Hakajin.
“What about countermeasures for Kim Yoora…”
“That child likes to use the battlefield broadly. It's thanks to the Giant Wolves, no doubt. Using your magic to block paths or establishing a base in muddy or swampy areas could also be a solution. They'll likely be reluctant to even enter such places. The same goes for the heavy Minotaurs.”
Choosing the land for their initial settlement was also extremely important. After many meetings, they had already decided on a location, but it was hard to say for certain if it was the right answer.
It was a place that Uncle Hakajin and her great-aunt had decided on after careful deliberation. She believed there would be no major problems after they first entered the Forest of Mist.
“It's the Brother's Land.”
Uncle Hark’s voice rang out.
She naturally lifted her head, and the sight of the Brother's Land, which she hadn't seen in a very long time, came into view.
The land Father built.
Unlike the pre-existing Land of Glory, every small space in the Brother's Land was alive with her father's breath. She could feel the gazes of the Goff Clan and the Black Spear Clan watching them. News of this test had already reached them.
“It's been a while.”
The bones of the Eastern Demonic Beast, visible beyond the great walls—it was a place she had seen every day, yet it felt incredibly nostalgic.
It wasn't just her. The others were also lost in sentiment. They were surely looking back on the blood shed to gain this land and the years they had lived here.
Loud drumbeats and cheers erupted, celebrating the visit of the brothers' sons and daughters. They wouldn't enter the Brother's Land. That wasn't what the people there wanted, either.
“They're probably watching. It must be quite a spectacle for them. They've likely never heard of a test to choose the clan's successor.”
“Yes. If it weren't for Father, no one would have thought of it. Father is special.”
“You are as well, Lady Lapura.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Uncle.”
Passing through the Brother's Land was a deeply meaningful act. Even just walking on the ground, various thoughts flew in and struck her. Her brother and sister were surely feeling the same thing.
She could see her brother Ratga and sister Laveua in the distance. Ratga, with a stern expression, was greeting the cheering crowd, while Laveua was smiling brightly and expressing her gratitude.
“I'm going to win.”
“I'm sure you will.”
“My sister and brother are certainly Father's children, but I am the one who inherited his blood most strongly.”
“…”
“I will win.”
The moment she set foot in the Forest of Mist, Lapura began to watch Choi Eunju.
From the moment they entered this land, Father's test would officially begin. The space started to open, and she could see large numbers of troops entering it one by one.
Her sister, moving quickly in the opposite direction with the wolf riders. Her brother, likewise disappearing from view with Uncle Gark and the others.
It was obvious what choices the two groups would make. This was a battle of whether she could stop them or not.
I will win. For Mother.
“Victory.”
“For victory alone!”
It wasn't just her own faction. Voices exalting Blood Dagger echoed from all around.
“For Blood Dagger!”
“For Father.”
She took another step forward.