Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Your Back of the Head Looks So Juicy (3)
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The forest was quite a distance from the castle, but we could still make out the bright glow of torches inside, and the raucous chatter of the people within carried clearly on the wind.
"Whoa, this booze is killer! Long live the baron! Yeah, what the hell is life anyway? You either drink and die, or die without drinking."
"You idiot, screw the booze—eat the expensive meat!"
"That's why I hacked down every last one of those pig bastards climbing up the ladders, right?"
There were braggarts spinning tall tales full of bravado, guys focused solely on chowing down booze and meat like it was their last day on earth, and all sorts...
Watching them carouse so wildly even in the middle of a war, it hit me—these bastards' lives really did end here.
'Unlucky sons of bitches.'
"Karin, think you can nail that guy standing guard with the torch?"
Karin gave a thumbs-up.
"Alright, then before we launch the surprise attack, one more rundown of the plan. Clean out your ears and memorize this, you lot."
Everyone nodded in agreement at my words.
"Those isolated guards you see over there? Squad Leader Karin handles them. Then the five of us—including me—hook the rope and climb straight up the wall."
In movies or dramas, you often see them climb the wall and immediately signal their allies.
But that's just for dramatic flair. In a real fight, what happens if you kill a couple of perimeter guards, climb up, and send a signal?
The drunken bastards inside catch on, the whole plan goes to hell, and we all get wiped out.
'Lucia's half-turned too, not just Karin. Can't die this pathetically.'
"Once we're on the wall, we hustle south to the gate, open it, and fire the signal. Any thick-skulled idiots not get that far?"
"Why not make the most of the sneak attack? Once we're up top, why not loose some fire arrows? Why just quietly open the gate?"
Deep down, sure, I'd love to rain arrows on those sprawled-out drunks the second we hit the wall...
But do that, and those booze-soaked idiots figure out we're raiding. They'll drag their sorry asses up the wall to fight.
"You with rocks for brains. Think straight—what would you do first if enemies started peppering the wall with arrows?"
The soldier who'd asked me smacked his own forehead.
"Oh, right—Seik Baron's troops rush the wall, surround us. Gate slams shut. We're done for..."
I smacked him upside the head.
"Exactly, you empty-headed moron. Once the gate's open, the drunken idiots will stumble over. We hold it till the captain arrives. Good—no more questions?"
No matter how plastered the enemy was, there were still about 150 to 200 soldiers inside. If they all swarmed to kill our platoon, stopping them wouldn't be easy.
But what can you do? That's mercenary life if you want promotions and paydays—you risk your neck.
Everyone nodded to show they got it.
"Alright, Karin, Baker, Ain, Bolton—with me. Time to send those lazy-ass Montmartre guards to hell."
"Yes, sir."
"The rest of you: when I wave the torch at the gate, haul ass there."
"Got it, Platoon Leader. See you alive on the other side."
In a way, this was the riskiest mission we'd pulled yet.
My palms were slick with sweat, and I could feel rivulets running down my back.
But men have to strut around pretending to be brave and full of swagger, right?
"Worry about yourselves, assholes. You think I'll buy it?"
"Even when we're worried for you?"
"Watch your own necks—the gate opens, you're in the shit too. Eyes on the signal, and don't lag. If you do, our five are dead meat."
With that final warning, I crept toward the out-of-the-way watchtower I'd scoped.
No torches lit. Each step deliberate, muffling the grass underfoot—it took time, but...
We reached the target watchtower.
I signaled to halt. Luckily, they hadn't spotted us yet.
"Ugh, damn it. I wanna party too—why am I stuck on watch this late?"
"Shift change in an hour. Hang tight. We'll blow our saved-up coin on a village girl. Who knows? Might get lucky here."
"What bullshit. That's why you're still a virgin."
Chatting away on guard duty like the world's most chill guys. For some reason, I felt sorry for them.
Born into this world and dying without ever getting laid once.
'Poor bastards. I'll send you off easy.'
"Karin, can you hit both their throats?"
"Leave it to me."
Karin lined up on the torch-bearers' necks and loosed arrows in a blur.
Slight delay between shots, but neither let out a peep before dropping.
"......"
Only 30 to 50 meters away, but nailing both throats silent?...
Buy her a better bow after this war, and she'd make a hell of a sniper.
"Hook the ropes, boys. Up the wall."
We slung grapnel ropes over the wall.
Yanked hard to set the hooks, then I climbed slow and silent first.
In my past life as a merc, I'd scaled walls like this a few times. Doing it again at night felt oddly fresh.
Once up, I scanned around...
"Clear—no one's onto us."
I gestured for the others to climb.
"No point sneaking now we're up. No talking—just sprint."
Anyone below who looked could spot us anytime now.
Better bolt to the gate and open it ASAP.
Sprinting south, I glanced down at the scene below.
Soldiers devouring booze and meat nonstop. Knights, mercs, serfs—drunk off their asses, some passed out on the ground.
"Booze, one more... round..."
"Ahh, feels good. So sleepy? Nap time."
"That's why I say—flail the ladder-climber's skull with my flail, bam!"
Some had hooked up, grabbing women's sleeves and staggering to dark corners...
"Yeah, enjoy it while you can. Life's short—fuck, eat, live till your number's up."
Griping like that, we reached the south wall—then bam, two soldiers right in our faces.
"Enemy! Enemy!!"
I whipped out my sword and slit one's throat before he could scream.
Finger to my lips, and the other shut up too.
"Where's the gate mechanism?"
"...... Can't tell you that."
"Then you die."
I raised my blade; he waved his hands frantically, trembling.
"Spare me?"
"If you spill right."
"Stairs right ahead. Follow me."
We followed him down the stairs; he stopped at a door.
"Gate mechanism's here."
"Ain, grab this bastard's arm—don't let him bolt."
"Yes, sir."
I channeled my full aura and slashed the door diagonally clean through.
Inside: a sturdy rope mechanism for the gate... and a couple banging away in the corner.
Woman half-naked top, guy lost in bliss...
"Pervert prick—fucking even here?"
I beheaded the guy and flopped his corpse face-down.
Couldn't let Karin see another man's ugly junk.
"You, shut it and do as told if you wanna live. No rape or murder planned. Schmitz, gag her mouth with rope so she can't scream, bind her tight. She resists, kill her."
"Yes, sir."
Then we all heaved together on the gate mechanism.
Gate was heavy as hell, tough to turn... but it finally stopped—open.
"Kill the traitor who 'helped' open the gate, then to the gate."