Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Your Base is Under Attack
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Your base is under attack.
“Following the Great Descendants of Light, we too shall bask in that radiance together.”
A male elf with a thoroughly haggard expression recited the prayer like that before rising to his feet.
Many comrades had been injured while herding monsters from the mountain range's start all the way to the other side, and he himself was utterly exhausted in body and mind from the unending missions.
Even after leaving their beloved homeland and enduring all sorts of hardships in foreign lands, the reason they never gave up.
It was to lead their comrades to the promised land of glory and peace.
“Novasi.”
“We just got word that the monsters have reached the canyon.”
“What kinds and how many?”
“About the same as before.”
“The good news is there are no trolls.”
“Phew.”
“Just thinking of the comrades we lost to that green giant makes my blood boil in reverse.”
“What can we do?”
“This is all part of the greater cause.”
“Sacrificing is the righteous path.”
The male elf called Novasi nodded vigorously in agreement.
Even if everyone died and vanished, others would fill the voids.
And when this continent was filled with chaos, hatred, and resentment, salvation and light would finally descend.
When that happened, even the fellow kin who had been hounding them until now would reevaluate and accept them as true saviors.
“The first wave should be charging into human territory after exiting the mountains, right?”
“Yeah.”
“We only attacked up to the mountain entrance and let them bolt out on their own after that.”
“Monsters are so simple, it’s great.”
“They just charge straight ahead if you push them with force.”
Monsters stronger than trolls were too risky for them to handle, and the sacrifices on their side would be too great, so trolls were the limit for monsters that could deliver shock and terror to humans.
Still, it was enough to disrupt the humans’ rear lines and amplify their unease.
‘Humans are a primitive, stupid, backward race that fears, dreads, shuns, and hates anything different from themselves.’
‘So this much is plenty.’
Novasi believed it without a doubt.
They were nothing but culprits who polluted the continent with their numbers and herd mentality, aside from wildly procreating through promiscuous sex lives and claiming this vast land.
At least, that’s how they appeared in the eyes of these radical elves.
“How’s the operation to shake up Nudia’s humans going?”
“A letter just arrived.”
“They’re about to start.”
“If we succeed in rattling the humans and persuading them, war will break out between Hispania and Nudia right away.”
“We just keep pressing the rear of that Claussen territory.”
“Yeah.”
“While keeping them from sending out news or requests for aid.”
In truth, it didn’t matter much if Nudia won or Hispania won.
But if they were to sow great chaos across the continent, it needed to be accompanied by powerful shocks and terrifying fear.
Imagine this.
The shield that had steadfastly guarded Hispania until now had finally crumbled.
That alone would be shocking and frightening enough, but if word spread that it wasn’t just Nudia’s assault—it was that they’d been surrounded on all sides by suddenly surging monsters and torn to shreds—that would leave how many humans able to rest easy?
“By now, the first wave of monsters we sent should be dying in front of the humans’ walls.”
“Send the second wave right away.”
“So they don’t even get to feel a sense of victory.”
Their goal from the start wasn’t to send monsters to burn territories and lay them waste.
It was to divert the enemies’ attention even a little, to keep their focus from locking onto one spot.
At the same time, to demoralize them and fill them with dread as they watched these insanely charging monsters—ones that barreled forward knowing full well they’d die—making them shrink back in the real war to come, unable to bring their full strength.
‘The main stage is out there, not here anyway.’
‘We’re just the heralds hyping up the excitement.’
As Novasi moved to signal the comrades waiting in the canyon to drive more monsters, he spotted a face that absolutely shouldn’t be here.
“Duria?”
“Why are you here?”
“Weren’t you supposed to confirm all the first-wave monsters were dead before coming back?”
“It’s way too early.”
“N-No, Novasi!”
“Big trouble.”
“Big trouble, I tell you!”
“Calm down.”
“Don’t act like those humans—keep your dignity, your dignity.”
The usual Duria would have immediately replied, “Ah, I see. Sorry. I must have gotten carried away for a moment,” with graceful poise.
“This isn’t the time!”
“T-The humans slaughtered every monster heading for the castle!”
“Not a single one left— all of them!”
“What?”
“You mean their regular army finally came out of the castle?”
“No.”
“If it were that, would I be acting this undignified?”
“There were exactly five humans outside the castle—five!”
“And those five butchered the entire first wave of monsters!”
In an instant, the image that flashed in Novasi’s mind was the group of humans heading to the castle yesterday.
Being deep in these mountains, their intelligence was always delayed, and naturally, they had no idea who was in that procession or its purpose—but now it was clear.
“...Looks like the count’s son, who went to the royal capital, has returned.”
“That means the advanced knight we were so wary of has come back too.”
“Seems like it.”
“No one but an advanced knight could cut down monsters that easily.”
Novasi clicked his tongue at Duria’s response.
From their investigations, the Claussen Margrave Territory possessed exactly three advanced knights: one was the Knight Commander, and the other two were senior knights.
In any ordinary territory, they’d have mobilized their top forces to exterminate the monsters and clear up to the mountain entrance—but these foes were ones they could never take their eyes off.
Right next door was the Kingdom of Nudia, close enough to touch if it fell.
That’s why they focused entirely on defense against monster attacks while staying perpetually ready for any provocations from Nudia.
Novasi had sneered at the humans every time.
It was hilarious how busy they were biting and clawing at each other, unable to properly react even to arrows flying at their backs, just staring ahead.
‘But yesterday, another advanced knight joined them.’
‘Now they judge they have enough leeway to deploy one, backed by a mage and support forces, to counterattack directly?’
The strongest monsters they sent were trolls at best.
Lethal to low knights or soldiers, but not much of a threat to mid-tier knights skilled in mana handling—and to advanced knights with even greater prowess, they were no different from goblins.
“...With an advanced knight and a few support personnel, they can smash our monsters without overtaxing their soldiers.”
“Tell me more precisely about them.”
“The one swinging the sword and clearing monsters is a woman—just as expected, an advanced knight.”
“And behind her, one woman and three men.”
“The woman was using magic to support the knight.”
“As expected, they figured support from a mage would suffice.”
“Did you confirm the three human men?”
“Two young men and one old man.”
“All three looked like knights.”
“...Location?”
“Relatively far from the mountains—closer to the castle, actually.”
Just as he’d thought.
In the end, they’d played their strongest card.
Deploying an advanced knight meant effortless monster slaughter.
To them, large numbers of allies were just hindrances, so naturally, they operated in a small unit like that.
Novasi let out a groan.
Advanced knights were near the pinnacle of human martial prowess.
Even followers of the Light’s descendants like themselves could end up gravely injured—or killed—if they slipped up; they were that formidable.
‘Killing an advanced knight, or at least crippling an arm, would be our greatest gain.’
‘Our main goal is sowing confusion, so wrecking their strongest weapon before the main force even moves would be the ultimate win.’
‘But...’
Still, anyone could see the suspicious points piling up.
Advanced knights were so elite that even a massive territory like this only had three—and they were the most precious assets.
Yet they’d hoarded that card until now, only to suddenly commit it all at once.
‘Did one extra knight make them think they could finally deploy one?’
Possible, sure.
Three versus four advanced knights wasn’t just an increment—it was a qualitative leap.
But even so, choosing a battlefield not near the castle for support, but closer to the mountain entrance—which could be considered enemy territory—was plenty suspicious.
No matter how elite, advanced knights were still living beings who needed to eat, rest, and sleep.
If perfectly surrounded and forced into a war of attrition, even an advanced knight had no answer.
‘That’s why I thought even if they sent one out, they’d fight where castle support was viable.’
‘This is suspicious—too suspicious.’
‘It’s like the humans laid out tasty bait, tempting us to stick our heads in.’
A trap.
Yes, a blatant trap.
Humans couldn’t advance into the mountains themselves, so this was to lure them down instead.
“Novasi.”
“What do we do?”
“Against an advanced knight, these monsters are useless.”
“It’ll just boost the morale of the humans in the castle.”
“Probably.”
“Could we take out the advanced knight?”
“If we gather all comrades and ambush at once, it doesn’t seem impossible.”
“Out of the question.”
“That’s exactly what the enemy wants.”
“The monsters are smoke and mirrors—they’ve realized there’s a real foe shoving them our way.”
His comrade nodded, signaling agreement.
But Duria, standing beside them, seemed to hold a differing view.
“To me, this looks like an opportunity?”
“The perfect chance to teach those arrogant humans—who think themselves so superior—a solid lesson.”
“Calm down, Duria.”
“The enemy is an advanced knight.”
“Human or not, the strong are strong.”
“That’s exactly why we need to kill her.”
“When have we ever feared death?”
“Even now, dozens of comrades have died to ambushes by large monsters while herding them from the far side of the range.”
“And you’re not furious that some sword-swinging human bitch is wrecking all our efforts, Novasi?”
“Of course I am.”
“But that’s precisely why we must be more cautious—for our comrades’ sacrifices.”
“Our goal is to sow chaos when our allies use Nudia to attack Claussen—not to fight head-on.”
“That’s why we need to eliminate the advanced knight—or at least injure her.”
“If we leave it, we’ll just sit idle while she ruins everything.”
“We’ve almost used up our monsters anyway.”
“Nudia’s humans lost last time too—now with an extra advanced knight, aren’t their odds of defeat even higher?”
Duria had a point.
Their objective was to ‘wear down’ Claussen bit by bit.
In that sense, rendering an advanced knight combat-ineffective and sidelining them from the war was the pinnacle of ‘wear and tear.’
Not just losing combat personnel, but crushing human army morale, heightening territory unease, and prompting even more passive responses from human nobles.
‘It could give our comrades working in Nudia a huge boost.’
‘Hmm, what to do?’
‘It’s an obvious trap.’
‘But the bait’s too big and tempting, even knowing that.’
Novasi’s deliberation dragging on was only natural.
Even Duria—who’d been pushing aggressively—now quietly awaited his decision, as did the others.
In the meantime, one of the male elves nearby spoke up cautiously.
“How about this?”
“A great way to land a hit on the advanced knight without exposing ourselves to those lowly humans.”
“What is it?”
As all the gathered elves turned to him, the man stroked his chin and continued.
“The ones our herders caught—‘those guys.’”
“Not full-grown adults, but that makes them smaller and nimbler—plenty to trouble even an advanced knight.”
Duria and the other elves let out gasps of admiration at his words.
As if they’d completely forgotten about it until now.
“...Not bad.”
Novasi nodded, clearly taken with the idea.
Once a rough plan formed, his hesitation vanished like mist, and the mood shifted to: if we’re doing this, let’s do it right.
“Might as well go all in.”
“Send every monster in the second wave first.”
“Then, once the advanced knight engages, unleash those guys.”
“Right after, we snipe the advanced knight with arrows from afar.”
“If it works, great—but prepare for failure too: we’ll need to check her pursuit, so everyone joins except essential comms personnel.”
“Pfft.”
“Even an advanced knight—I wonder if she can handle monsters solo, block those guys, and bat away our arrows.”
“She’ll end up a porcupine.”
“Can’t kill her? Just injure—that’s our win.”
With the plan set, the elves scattered with their signature nimble movements.
The herders drove the monsters toward the territory once more.
Some prepared the something bound with eyepatches and ropes.
The rest readied bows and arrows.
‘If the plan works, it’ll make things easier for our Nudia comrades.’
‘Humans will drown in their own chaos and fear, bringing us one step closer to the glorious day the Great Descendants of Light descend.’
Anticipating that day of glory, Novasi clenched his fist tight.
...Completely oblivious to the nightmare about to unfold.