Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: I've Made It (6)
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There was no time for long deliberation.
Not that thinking about it would have changed anything.
Rangfin Haime simply walked.
“Hah!”
“Gack!”
The moment a shout was heard, a scream followed.
A path opened.
Beyond it stood the orc chieftain.
Clutching his severed forearm and floundering, he belatedly spotted him and picked up his axe. The sight was utterly pathetic.
He quietly extended his sword.
There was no loud cry, no dazzling flash, nothing.
It was the most ordinary strike he had ever delivered in his life.
Thud, roll, roll, roll.
The orc chieftain’s head fell.
The strength left his legs.
He was caught.
If someone hadn’t supported him at just the right moment, he would have collapsed disgracefully.
He turned his creaking neck.
The insolent kid was looking at him.
His eyes, his expression, seemed to say:
It’s not time to fall yet.
Rangfin Haime straightened his back.
Nodding, the kid carefully let go and bent over.
Then he picked up the orc chieftain’s head rolling at his feet and held it high.
“The Knight has slain the enemy commander!”
The kid’s shout echoed across the entire battlefield.
At that moment.
Rumble.
The surrounding orcs all turned and began to flee.
Rangfin Haime stood ramrod straight, watching them go.
He didn’t remember much after that.
Only fragmented memories.
All he could recall...
“Knight.”
“Knight.”
...was the youthful voice he heard every time he was about to lose consciousness.
He held on, relying on that voice, until he could no longer, and then he passed out.
Before he lost consciousness for the last time.
“Knight. Congratulations on your victory.”
It seemed the youthful voice had said something like that.
But he wasn’t certain.
Snap.
When he came to his senses again, Rangfin Haime was in some kind of tent.
Blink, blink.
For a long while, he stared blankly at the yellowish ceiling of the tent.
Jolt.
He shot up with a start.
The first emotion he felt was dismay.
“Don’t tell me…”
Had he disgracefully lost consciousness in front of the soldiers?
He tried to recall, but nothing came to mind.
“I let no one in, thinking it might disturb your recovery.”
Fortunately, it seemed that wasn't the case.
From the sound of it, he hadn't been carried in on someone's back.
“There happened to be an abandoned garrison nearby.”
The kid chattered on, explaining the situation without being asked.
The wounded soldiers were in such bad shape they couldn't endure the rain, but they got lucky.
Soldiers who had been hiding all over the plains saw the orcs retreat and joined them.
Many of them were uninjured, so they would soon join the search efforts.
They planned to stay here for a while to gather the remaining forces.
“It’s all thanks to you, Knight, for repelling the orcs.”
Rangfin Haime felt a strange emotion.
Struggling against lowly orcs, his current state—it was all a disgrace, unbefitting his station.
Yet, strangely, he didn't feel bothered by it at all.
Thinking it over, he realized it was because of the kid’s peculiar way of speaking.
Instead of saying he had lost consciousness and fainted, he used the expression ‘recovering your strength’.
The decision to stay here was also framed as a choice made for the wounded soldiers, not for him.
“All the soldiers are grateful.”
Just hearing him talk, it sounded as if he had performed some great deed.
What was so special about cutting down a few damn orcs?
Rangfin Haime quietly watched the kid.
At first, he hadn’t given it much thought.
He had lost his squire, and someone had to take his place.
He had merely made the offer because a suitable candidate happened to catch his eye; he had no serious intention of raising him as a knight or training him as a squire.
He certainly had no intention of making a kid of unknown origin a true member of the Haime family.
Even after learning he was a cadet from Yoram, his opinion hadn’t changed.
His subsequent offers for the kid to become his squire were made mostly out of spite.
If he had to find another reason, it was simply to teach a lesson to an insolent kid who didn’t know his place.
‘Knight, I’ll watch your back.’
Watch his back? The words were far beyond presumptuous.
A knight did not entrust his back to just anyone.
It required trust built over a long time by their side, as well as the ability to live up to that trust.
Only after satisfying both conditions could one become a ‘shield bearer’ and guard a knight’s back.
And in Rangfin Haime’s eyes, the kid was far from ready to be a shield bearer.
It was a hasty judgment.
‘Knight, I shall open a path!’
The kid had proven himself by appearing at a desperate moment and clearing the way.
If he couldn’t trust someone who risked their life to break through enemy lines for him, who could he trust? If he couldn’t call someone capable who single-handedly broke through a horde of savage orcs to open a path to the enemy leader, then who could he call capable?
Rangfin Haime was beginning to truly covet the kid before him.
***
For a little while now, Rangfin Haime’s eyes hadn’t left me.
Wherever I went, his persistent gaze followed.
I wondered if there was something he didn’t like.
Which made it all the more confusing.
I’d treated his wounds properly and chosen my words carefully.
I’d given him all the credit for the victory and even flattered him with pleasantries.
No matter how I thought about it, there was nothing I’d done to displease him… well, almost nothing.
I was the one who had dragged him from his comfortable rest with the main army and thrown him into a fight with orcs.
Recalling that fact anew made me feel uncomfortable.
“Since I have to direct the search operation…”
I’ll be on my way.
I fled the tent as if escaping.
Soldiers were resting all over the garrison.
These were the men who had hidden from the demi-humans and only showed themselves after the battle was over.
Seeing me, they staggered to their feet and saluted.
“Stay down and rest.”
I ordered them to rest, considering their condition, but it was no use.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You saved our lives.”
“We thought we were done for.”
The soldiers who had risen to their feet offered their thanks.
I’d heard those words ad nauseam on the way here.
Realizing it was useless to try and stop them, I chose to leave the area instead.
“Centurion.”
The Sipbujangs were gathered in the makeshift command tent.
“You charged the orcs too, Centurion.”
“And you’ve been attending to the Knight. You should rest when you can. Leave this to us.”
Quentin and another Sipbujang took turns voicing their concerns.
Ignoring them, I asked about the current situation.
“Based on information from the survivors, Over-ten Gordo is searching the vicinity.”
“Over-ten Quentin and I plan to scout from here to here tomorrow.”
Whether it was because of the victory against the orcs, or because they were encouraged by the unexpectedly high number of survivors.
Or maybe it was both.
In any case, the Sipbujangs were full of motivation.
The strategy map laid out before them was proof.
The operational area marked on the map was excessively large.
“Give up on this area. It’s too deep.”
“This place is no good either. It’s a perfect spot for an ambush.”
“This one, only half.”
I erased the areas they had marked one by one.
“Exactly five days. After that, we’re leaving without looking back.”
“Isn’t that too soon?”
I shook my head at the Sipbujangs’ reluctant question.
“Honestly, we’re already pushing it. Any longer is too risky.”
We might have defeated the orc unit, but the plains were not yet friendly territory.
The enemies who had annihilated the 3rd Thousand-man Legion could strike at any time, from anywhere.
“Evacuate the wounded immediately.”
“If we have to handle evacuations at the same time, we’ll be short on search personnel…”
“Why should we do it? There are plenty of able-bodied guys among those who joined us yesterday. Make them do it.”
“It’s just that I don’t really trust them.”
“And you’re fine with taking them on search missions?”
“Well, no, but…”
“If you’re that worried, assign a few of our sharpest guys to them.”
“…Yes, Centurion.”
Seeing the Sipbujangs glance back at the map with lingering regret, I felt the need to remind them of our priorities.
“Our mission is to rescue the survivors stranded on the plains, not to create more work for the main army.”
There was nothing more ridiculous than rescuers becoming stragglers themselves.
“Saving our allies is important, but it’s just as important that we make it back alive. Keep that in mind.”
“…We will.”
After warning the Sipbujangs, I gave a few more orders and concluded the meeting.
***
The days were so busy I barely had time to breathe.
Directing the search, managing a separate reconnaissance team to prepare for a potential enemy attack—it was all my responsibility.
“We’re out of food.”
On top of everything, I had to procure more food.
I thought I’d packed plenty, but with more survivors from the 3rd Thousand-man Legion than expected, it ran out quickly.
The able-bodied men could manage, but the wounded needed to be well-fed.
“Go to the garrison the 21st Hundred-man Company used. They didn’t have time to take everything, so they buried some supplies. Dig some up and distribute them to the soldiers.”
“I’ll go at once.”
“Don’t go yourself, send some men. You were on watch right after yesterday’s search, weren’t you?”
“You say that, Centurion, but you haven’t slept in two days.”
“I’m still fine. I’m young. Not like an old Over-ten.”
“Not young, but a child…”
“Tsk.”
Even after exchanging silly jokes, the fatigue didn’t fade.
Nevertheless, the Sipbujangs and I didn't stop; we continued the search for survivors.
“Centurion. Today is the fifth day.”
“What are your orders?”
Before I knew it, the deadline we had initially set had passed.
“Hmm.”
I was the one who said not to get attached, but now that it was time to leave, my feet felt heavy.
But continuing the search any longer was suicidal.
The soldiers who went out on patrol last night had yet to return.
I could guarantee they never would.
They must have already been taken by the demi-humans.
The answer had been decided from the start.
“We’re leaving. Now.”
The Sipbujangs bit their lips.
Their faces were filled with frustration.
But instead of questioning my order, they hurried to prepare to leave.
Everyone knew that the enemy who had devoured the 3rd Thousand-man Legion was now right on our doorstep.
While the Sipbujangs gathered the soldiers, I went to Rangfin Haime’s tent.
“Knight.”
As if he’d been waiting, he was already prepared to leave.
Though ‘prepared’ just meant light clothing with a sword at his side.
“We must leave now.”
With a small nod, Rangfin Haime led the way out of the tent.
I paused for a moment, watching his back.
From his gait, it seemed his depleted energy had fully recovered.
Though his injuries didn’t look completely healed.
Even this was more than I could ask for.
If the demi-humans were planning to attack us, they would nine times out of ten target us on our way back.
Without Rangfin Haime’s help, we couldn’t escape the plains safely.
“Move out!”
Most of the wounded had been evacuated the day before.
Those remaining were my search party and soldiers from the 3rd Thousand-man Legion who were healthy enough to volunteer for the search.
The search party quickly left the garrison and headed toward the main army.
The withdrawal was smooth.
The drizzling rain and soft ground slowed us down, but our pace was still swift.
We marched for a day, then another, and were just about to take a break.
“Oh, if we’re lucky, we might just get out of here quietly.”
Some nameless soldier muttered under his breath.
I flinched and stopped walking without realizing it.
But I quickly feigned indifference and started walking again.
“When I get back this time, I’m just going to get discharged and open a bakery. I’ve saved up enough money.”
The soldier’s chatter once again reached my ears.
“And I’m definitely going to propose to her…”
Before I could stop him, the soldier poured out his aspirations.
“Hah…”
I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
Why would he say something like that now, of all times?
“Hey, you idiot! If you say stuff like that on the battlefield…”
A veteran belatedly shouted at him, but it was already too late.
Fwump.
Just as the sound of flapping wings was heard.
“Aargh!”
A scream followed.