Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Red Signal Flare
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Helen gathered the reconnaissance members and the combat engineer platoon leaders to deliver the mission briefing.
“The mining operation will proceed in three areas: here, here, and here.”
Tap, tap, tap.
Her command baton pointed to the three spots on the map.
“Platoon leaders will focus on mining the mana stones, but maintain strict perimeter security so you can retreat at a moment's notice in case of a surprise attack. Furthermore, ensure all personnel carry their weapons at all times to respond to any enemy assault.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Additionally, in the event of a retreat, abandon all carts loaded with mana stones. Prioritize your lives over the stones.”
Carlyle's eyes gleamed as he listened to the briefing.
'The distance between each mining site is just right. Not too far, but not too close either. The withdrawal routes planned for emergencies are also good. Ordering us to abandon the carts is to save as many soldiers as possible. It's the most rational decision she could make while still following the command headquarters' orders.'
Even to Carlyle, Helen's orders were flawless.
She was someone who had enlisted as a mere private and served as a combat engineer mining mana stones.
For her to have been promoted to an officer and simultaneously granted a knighthood meant she possessed considerable ability.
The very fact that she had survived for a full seven years in the Blood-Soaked Land of Kuberin was proof enough of her competence.
“The reconnaissance team will also be divided into three squads, just like the engineers. You will be deployed to each mining site to guard the perimeter and assist in our allies' retreat if necessary. And...”
Helen's gaze swept over Carlyle, Marder, and Kudo.
“Corporal Kudo, Corporal Marder, Private Carlyle.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
“You three will move without a fixed location and carry out reconnaissance patrols.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
“As you know, the mission you've been assigned is critical. It would be no exaggeration to say that the lives of your comrades are in your hands. Therefore, do your utmost in carrying out your duties.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Deploying and utilizing subordinate troops in the right places at the right times was one of the most crucial skills for a commander.
From that perspective, Helen was a commander with outstanding tactical acumen.
She had, after all, entrusted the reconnaissance patrol mission to Carlyle, Marder, and Kudo.
“I will remain at the fortress on standby to prepare for any potential enemy offensive, as we cannot leave it completely empty. All platoon leaders and reconnaissance members, do not forget to take your signal flares.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
“The operation will commence in approximately one hour. Those assigned to reconnaissance patrol will depart ahead of time to secure the safety of our forces. That is all.”
As per Helen's orders, Carlyle, Kudo, and Marder left the fortress as soon as the briefing ended and deployed for their reconnaissance mission.
* * *
“Well then, I wish you good luck.”
Kudo flashed his usual grin before disappearing into the undergrowth.
“Let's meet again alive.”
“Wait a moment.”
Carlyle stopped Marder.
“Did you happen to learn anything from that thing?”
“Huh? What's it going to teach me? It's just a hawk, isn't it?”
Marder glanced at Hugin, perched on his left forearm, and asked.
“Hmm.”
After hearing Marder's response, Carlyle thought for a moment before speaking.
“Why don't you try letting it fly?”
“Alright.”
*Flap, flap.* As Marder sent Hugin into the air, Carlyle spoke.
“Repeat after me. Vision Link.”
“Vision... what?”
“Vi. Sion. Link.”
“Vision... Link.”
*Swoosh.* Marder's eyes turned white, just like Hugin's third eye.
“Whoa? Whoa, whoa!”
Marder staggered on the spot, completely disoriented.
“Heh heh.”
Carlyle chuckled at the sight.
'He must feel like he's flying. Looking down from tens, hundreds of meters in the air.'
The [Vision Link] Carlyle had taught Marder was a skill that, true to its name, linked Hugin with its master.
In other words, Marder was currently flying through the sky.
To be precise, he was sharing Hugin's vision...
Was that why?
*Shiver, shiver!*
Marder's legs trembled like an aspen leaf.
No matter how brave a scout he was, he couldn't help but feel a fear of heights when experiencing such an altitude for the first time in his life.
“Agh, ahhhhhhh!”
*Thud!*
Marder fell flat on his back.
He had clearly been startled by Hugin's sudden dive, thinking he himself was falling from the sky.
“Bleeeaaargh!”
Unable to hold back his motion sickness, Marder threw up the mess hall food he'd eaten for breakfast.
“Wh-what was that just now? I was flying... ugh!”
“You were just sharing its vision.”
“Sharing its vision?”
“Exactly. You see what Hugin sees.”
“I-I see.”
“It'll be difficult at first, but we don't have time for you to build proficiency, so you'll have to adapt somehow.”
“So, it's not actually me flying, right?”
“As you can see.”
Carlyle shrugged.
“Alright. I'll try to get used to it.”
“Oh, and while Vision Link is active, your own sight will be blocked, so...”
“You're saying I should use it while hidden somewhere safe? Since I'd be defenseless against an enemy attack.”
“You catch on quick.”
“Experience counts for something. I've been rolling around in this dirt for years. But I don't think I need to worry too much. I've got the camouflage suit you gave me.”
Marder grinned.
Even for someone with a keen eye, spotting a person wearing the [Adaptive Camouflage Suit] was no easy task.
If one was distracted, they could walk right past someone wearing it, even if they were hiding right under their nose.
“Still, you should be careful. You never know.”
“Yeah, don't worry. I'll be careful with it. Well, I'm off. You be careful too.”
Marder gave a playful two-fingered salute and headed off toward his assigned area.
'Let's go.'
Thanks to the [Guerilla Spirit] boots, his steps felt several times lighter than usual.
His movement speed was much faster as a result, and the strain on his knees and ankles was only a third of what it would be with other footwear.
'Ugh.'
Carlyle shuddered, feeling a strange tickling sensation in his feet from the [Guerilla Spirit] boots.
'Nah, it can't be.'
Carlyle prayed fervently that neither Antiros nor Begman had suffered from athlete's foot as he moved quickly toward his assigned area.
* * *
The mining operation, which began early in the morning, continued past noon and late into the afternoon.
'It's too quiet.'
Carlyle felt a persistent unease.
'Are they waiting to strike when the mining is done and we're withdrawing?'
It was a possibility.
Mining was grueling labor, so the engineers were bound to be exhausted by the end of the operation.
If Carlyle were the enemy commander, he would aim for the moment the work was finished.
The best time to attack would be when the engineers were dead tired.
'Hmm. The Butcher Tribe took a big hit, so I can understand them lying low, but there's no reason for Crowley to do the same...'
With the enemy unexpectedly quiet, Carlyle's thoughts grew more complex.
'No. From Crowley's perspective, going into hiding might be the better choice.'
Being a necromancer was a profession that demanded caution at all times. Once discovered, it was better to flee for one's life or lie low and play dead.
Foolishly loitering about would only get him hunted down by a subjugation squad.
In a way, the wisest course of action for Crowley right now was to either hole up in his dungeon and live quietly for a few years, or to flee far away and relocate his base.
Of course, since Carlyle knew the location of Crowley's dungeon, hiding at home wouldn't be a very good option.
“Butler.”
The hatchling suddenly poked its head out.
“What is it now?”
“H...”
“Hungry? You want food again?”
“Yeah. I'm a newborn, so I need to eat often.”
What newborn in the world was this insolent...?
“Sigh.”
Carlyle let out a deep sigh and offered it some dried jerky and hard rye bread.
“Not this stuff. The thing I had this morning.”
“Do you think I'd have that on me during a mission?”
“You could just go get it and come back. Can't you?”
“I'd go to prison for deserting my post. Leaving my position in a situation like this would probably get me beheaded.”
“Tch.”
The hatchling pouted.
“Fine, give me that for now, but from now on, carry something tasty. How can anyone live on this stuff, even on a mission?”
“Everyone else does.”
“Northerners are so pathetic, anyway.”
The hatchling shook its head and spoke while chewing on the jerky.
“I'll let it slide this time, so take good care of me starting tomorrow. Nom nom nom.”
“...”
“Answer me.”
“...”
“Answer me.”
“Just eat and sleep.”
Carlyle gently pushed the hatchling's head back into his coat and continued walking.
With the constant threat of an enemy attack, even a slacker like Carlyle couldn't afford to neglect his reconnaissance duties for a single moment.
A few hours later.
“Good work, everyone. All personnel except those on guard duty, get some rest.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
At Helen's command, the soldiers dispersed to their respective posts.
In the end, neither the Butcher Tribe nor the necromancer Crowley had launched an attack.
“What's with that look on your face?”
“It's just... strange.”
Carlyle replied to Begman's question.
“I can understand the necromancer laying low, but there's no way the Butcher Tribe would back down this easily.”
“They're probably just taking a day to catch their breath. Or maybe they've given up. It's not like we were the only ones who took damage. If anything, their losses were probably greater.”
“Hmm.”
“If nothing happens, that's a good thing. Don't be so anxious. It's not like there's anything we can do until reinforcements arrive anyway.”
“That's true.”
“So get some sleep. You haven't slept since yesterday. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. If you stress over every little thing, you won't last long. You'll suffer a nervous breakdown and eventually go crazy.”
“Right.”
With a whatever-happens-happens attitude, Carlyle flopped onto his cot and tried to sleep.
Just as Begman had said, there was no point in getting worked up over something that hadn't even happened.
* * *
The next day.
Just like the day before, Carlyle was deployed on a reconnaissance mission, patrolling the area around the mining site.
“*Screee!*”
In the distance, he could see Marder's pet, Hugin, soaring through the sky, conducting aerial reconnaissance.
Of course, the Blood-Soaked Land was mostly a vast, primeval forest, so perfect reconnaissance was impossible, even from the sky.
The dense undergrowth and trees would obstruct Hugin's view.
Though, that might change later on, once Hugin matured...
'If we can just get through today safely, reinforcements will arrive. Please, let us just get through today.'
Carlyle was thinking this as he fed the hatchling in his coat a piece of bread baked with plenty of butter.
*Fwoooosh, BANG!*
A red signal flare lit up the sky.
“Ah.”
A gasp escaped Carlyle's lips.
It didn't matter who had fired the flare.
The important thing was its color.
The Decaron army currently employed three types of signal flares.
First, a green flare meant , and a blue flare was a <request for="" support="">.
Finally, the red signal flare meant .
In other words, whether it was the Butcher Tribe or the necromancer Crowley, a large-scale offensive was underway.
And...
*Vroooom!*
Grimungandr began to vibrate violently.
[Notification: has been detected!]