Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Once Upon a Time (2)
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The devastation left in the wake of the magic was several times more horrific than Jacob Casimir had imagined.
The ground was gouged out as if a meteor had crashed down, charred black, with heat still rising from spots here and there.
Every place in sight looked the same.
But what shocked him wasn't just the scorched earth.
"Mages."
Corpses were scattered everywhere.
"These are Astoria troops?"
"This is Thracia territory, but they're not regulars."
The Bluecoats chimed in with their opinions one by one, and Jamal summed up the situation.
"Whatever happened here, it's clear a full-strength mage battalion fought in this place."
It had been a proper mage unit, complete with heavily armored escorts.
"No sign of the lieutenant, and now these random Astoria bastards..."
Before he could finish, the sound of clanking metal echoed from the distance.
"State your identity and affiliation!"
Hundreds of soldiers appeared a beat late.
"They sure got here quick."
The Bluecoats grumbled.
It was the 15th Legion's troops.
"Hey? It's the Schrelgrad heavy cavalry!"
"NCO Jamal?"
The 15th Legion veterans recognized Jamal and the veteran Bluecoats, their eyes widening in surprise.
The tension drained from the soldiers' faces.
Then...
Clack, clack.
Soldiers appeared from another direction.
"No sign of the guy we're looking for, and now more randoms."
This time, it was Astoria infantry.
* * *
With soldiers from both sides facing off, the commanders met in the middle.
In the meantime, the captain leading the 15th Legion infantry gave the Bluecoats a rough explanation.
"Not that it's an excuse, but as you know, the 15th Legion doesn't have proper magical firepower. Deploying our few mages and infantry against wide-area spells on this scale isn't easy for us either."
They'd first thought it was Kazan forces clashing with Astoria troops, then been too stunned by the sheer scale of the magic to respond immediately.
So they'd watched from afar until the barrage died down enough to intervene.
"Who the hell were they? Who were they that they'd engage Astoria forces? I've never heard of anyone like that on the front lines."
He seemed to have more questions for the Bluecoats than they did for him.
Jamal and the Bluecoats exchanged glances.
-Looks like the lieutenant's handiwork, huh?
-No wonder it felt too far north.
As they whispered among themselves, the captain kept firing off questions.
"What are men who should be around Schrelgrad doing here? And why show up here at this exact moment?"
After exchanging looks with the Bluecoats, Jamal suddenly shoved Jacob Casimir forward.
"...?"
"We got a call for support and mobilized, so we don't know the details. Talk to this guy here..."
He winked with one eye and slipped back.
"...Royal Guard Cavalry, Mounted Guard Regiment, junior NCO Jacob Casimir."
"Great. Now even Redcoats."
What the hell is going on here?
The captain spoke irritably.
"Unfortunately, we're on a top-secret mission, so I can't clear up your questions right now."
But when the Redcoat replied in a mild tone, the captain couldn't press further and just sighed heavily.
Meanwhile, the 15th Legion commander returned from meeting the Astoria commander.
"I explained enough for them to understand, but whether they buy it is another story. We made it clear we had no idea what was going on, so we'll see how they react."
The commander glanced toward the Astoria side.
"Not that they can do much after their mage battalion got stripped bare."
Like they were ready to fight a war right here in the dead of winter.
Frontline soldiers are all this aggressive?
Jacob Casimir stared in bewilderment at the calm 15th Legion commanders and Bluecoats, even as combat could break out any second.
"More importantly, what were you people doing in the tri-nation border zone?"
Once again, Jamal pushed him forward as a shield.
"Unfortunately..."
He deflected again by claiming it was a royal top-secret mission.
The 15th Legion commander went off to meet the Astoria commander again and returned.
Soon after, the Astoria troops began withdrawing slowly after recovering their dead.
"We're heading back too!"
The commander shouted loudly, then added,
"Everyone, come with us all the way to Killigrad."
He couldn't just report that some mystery group fought Astoria forces bloody in friendly territory, especially since it tied to a royal secret mission, without asking questions.
"So forget your top-secret whatever—report to the army commander in person."
And so they headed to Killigrad.
"Tch. If there's no word in three days, head back."
And there, they reunited with the culprit behind it all.
"This tea is really good."
"Perfect for warming up. Have another cup."
The Bluecoats were stunned to see a man leisurely sipping tea across from the 15th Legion commander.
* * *
"I could tell at a glance this wasn't something a few days would fix."
He said, setting down his teacup.
"Pushing through wasn't easy, and waiting for the 15th would mean massive casualties anyway."
Thracia's magical forces had been wiped out in the last war.
Of course, HQ had scraped together what they could and deployed them north afterward, but sadly, most had been reassigned elsewhere post-armistice.
"I racked my brain. Where could I find forces to handle that many mages? Then it hit me."
"Astoria troops?"
"Astoria's got magical firepower to spare, right? If they kill each other off, that's a win for Thracia either way."
Ah, this tea is top-notch.
As he smacked his lips in appreciation, the 15th Legion commander refilled his cup just in time.
"Oh, thank you. This seems like fine stuff."
"What are you saying? You and the 15th Legion aren't strangers. No need for thanks between comrades who've fought together."
After the old commander moved to deputy army commander at HQ, he'd taken over as new legion commander. He'd benefited greatly from us Bluecoats in past battles, so he was consistently friendly toward me.
Plus, now he'd effortlessly looted an Astoria mage unit that had been facing off against his 15th Legion, so he was even more so.
"Anyway. Killigrad's right on the tri-nation border, conveniently enough."
I'd wondered if the lure would work, but it hooked them nicely.
The enemy were elites, but not regulars, so they were clueless about how sensitive this area was.
"Once I dragged them to the border, well, you know the rest."
The enemy realized too late and tried to break off, but battles don't end just because one side wants out—especially not when you're bombarding each other like mad.
Pulling back your magic in that situation was suicide.
"So you lured the enemy into clashing with Astoria forces, and slipped into Killigrad meanwhile? Was that even possible?"
"If it wasn't, I wouldn't be sitting here like this."
Of course, it wasn't as easy as it sounded.
Maintaining that precarious distance while fleeing, and baiting both sides' magical barrages—it would've been impossible without the royal gift horse.
One slip, and I'd have been caught in the middle, pulped by both sides' spells.
"Yeah, I get the gist."
The Bluecoats nodded. Got it.
"That's it?"
"It ended well. What's the problem?"
I'd been ready to recount the countless perils I'd overcome, so their lukewarm reaction left me deflated.
"The lieutenant who wiped out a mage battalion using a Winged Hussar platoon as bait."
"Made Astoria knight orders and Doppelzoltner fight each other too."
"Come to think of it, this isn't the first time. Habitual offender."
The Bluecoats chuckled, wondering how Astoria would react once they learned the details.
"React? They'll be rolling on the floor clutching their stomachs."
I was looking forward to it myself.
"Hahaha."
As I started laughing, the 15th Legion commander joined in slyly.
"Not laughing? Laugh."
The dumbfounded Redcoat finally chimed in late.
We spent a good while snickering like that.
Afterward, I called the Doppelzoltner into the fortress.
I tossed the weary, frostbitten bunch into barracks provided by the 15th Legion and let them sleep.
Then, at dawn, I headed to the nobleman's quarters.
"You've come."
He'd clearly expected me, showing no surprise.
"You still won't accept my offer to come along...?"
"I'm sorry."
He bowed lightly.
"The 15th Legion is one of Thracia's top elite units. They'll protect you from any threat. With them, you'll have no trouble fulfilling your mission."
Then he added,
"But not as well as you, who single-handedly annihilated two mage battalions."
The nobleman said wistfully.
"Then I wish you safe travels."
For Thracia.
I rose, saluting as I finished the business.
"My mission is negotiations with Kazan."
His voice caught me as I turned to leave.
For real? Like this?
He'd gone to such lengths to keep distance.
"The information's already leaked—I've been ambushed twice. No point making a fuss about secrecy now."
Once in Kazan territory, he'd have to pose as an official envoy anyway, so it'd go public soon enough.
"...I sincerely hope the negotiations go smoothly."
Still, I had to keep my distance.
"You really won't ask to the end."
I'd spoken stiffly and perfunctorily on purpose, but he didn't mind.
"What the negotiations are for. My true identity. I could tell you one, both—or more—if you want."
If I stayed, I'd hear things I didn't need to. I edged backward stealthily.
Seeing me, the nobleman laughed.
Probably the first time.
He'd never seemed human before, but now he did—truly.
Step, step.
The nobleman approached, smile fading.
And whispered.
-.........................................
It was an utterly bizarre experience.
I heard a voice clearly, but couldn't grasp what was said.
It wasn't a matter of understanding.
It was something more fundamental—completely different.
If I had to put it in words, it was resonance, not language.
"That's part of my name."
His voice snapped me back.
It felt like waking from a dream.
-We'll meet again soon.
When I came to, I was outside the room.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"Can't reveal your name, huh."
He really couldn't.
No human language could convey that eerie resonance.
"Well, time to go."
After two more days in Killigrad fortress to rest,
A Redcoat blocked our path as we left.
"Someday, I want to stand on the battlefield with you and the others, Lieutenant."
I chuckled at the impulsive words and rode out.
"Then I want to wear a coat the same color as yours!"
The immature Redcoat suddenly shouted.
I didn't reply, just waved casually.
"That kid's a bit slow, isn't he?"
"Doesn't even realize what he just said."
"That alone dooms him to a thorny path."
The Bluecoats murmured.
"But from what you're saying, you'll take him if he shows up?"
"Any reason not to?"
Even these guys who used to scorn Redcoats were fairly friendly this time.
"True. The kid's not hopeless in a fight—just inexperienced."
"Turns pale at the first sign of trouble in the field."
"Kinda cowardly."
"Riding skills are subpar too."
...Enough, you lunatics.
"Could be fun, though."
Having one ex-Redcoat Bluecoat might liven things up.
Turning a toy soldier into a real cavalryman would take work, but if I could flip their uniform, it'd be worth it.
"By the time he gets back from Kazan, he'll man up a bit. Not that he'll qualify for this blue coat right away."
I said, inching forward.
"Race to the fortress!"
The royal gift horse bolted as if waiting.
-Show-off again!
-Northern purebloods make life miserable for the rest!
-Just ride!
I ignored the jealous shouts and complaints from my pathetic Bluecoats.
"Hiya!"
And galloped southeast.
"Oops."
Then I remembered the slow-footed Doppelzoltner and reined in.
"......."
I stood still, staring blankly at the approaching Bluecoats and clowns.
Awkward.
* * *
We returned straight to Schrelgrad after that—pacing for the Doppelzoltner.
A guest awaited us at the fortress.
"Lieutenant."
"General Langrid?"
Langrid Guldiv, former 15th Legion commander who should have been at HQ, was waiting for me.
< Chapter 9: Once Upon a Time (2) > End