Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Backstab (3)
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Clarice's eyes widened at Gunther's story.
“……?”
Seeing her reaction, Gunther laid bare his thoughts.
“There's something that's been nagging at me.”
“What?”
“The idea that all of this might be Yuri Holland's scheme.”
“…And? What does your suspicion have to do with me leaving the alliance?”
“If this is all Yuri Holland's doing, then him wanting you to defect would fit right into his plans. He might even be planning to rally the defecting squads into a new force.”
“…….”
“If that happens for real, and you leave the alliance to join Yuri Holland's side…….”
“Then pass their info to you?”
“…Yeah.”
“Ha? So you want me to play spy. Based on your baseless hunch.”
Gunther had no words for Clarice's incredulous stare.
What he'd just said deserved not just that look, but a thorough tongue-lashing.
Clarice's brow furrowed.
“Why the hell should I do that? If you're so worried, go do it yourself.”
“I already clashed with Yuri Holland once.”
“You mean the Black Ship incident last time.”
“Yeah.”
Clarice shot Gunther a mocking sneer.
“That's a pretty flimsy excuse, don't you think? I'd have at least respected it if you'd just admitted you were too lazy to do it yourself.”
“…….”
“Fine, whatever. Say you did make an enemy of Yuri Holland over that. Why me? There are plenty of others who could handle it.”
“…Because you're the only one I can trust.”
“Trust? That's rich. When have you even seen me in action?”
“It's not you I trust. It's your family.”
“…….”
“The environment you grew up in. The education you've received since birth. I trust the honor of the family that shaped you into Clarice.”
Gunther, too, had been raised in a knightly house, learning the pride and honor of knighthood.
That's why he believed Clarice—raised in a renowned house of noble sacrifice—would never betray her honor.
That she wouldn't sell out allies or feed lies.
He believed that.
Clarice showed no particular reaction to Gunther's faith.
“…….”
She stared at him silently for a long while.
Her face was etched with worry. At last, she let out a quiet sigh.
“Haah… You trust people way too easily.”
A hint of irritation.
Resignation laced her sigh. Gunther smiled faintly.
Seeing it, Clarice grumbled again.
“Dragging family honor into it just to use me.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Spare me the lip service. Fine… I'll do it. I'll pull out of the alliance like you want and keep tabs on Yuri Holland.”
“Thanks.”
“But on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“First, I still suspect Suleiman, so you'll watch him for me and report back.”
“Got it.”
“Second, if your feared scenario doesn't play out, I plan to return as is. And if things go south, you'll vouch that I'm on your side.”
“Of course. Don't worry.”
Gunther nodded with a reassuring look.
Then, with a touch of concern, he asked.
“But how do you plan to convince the rest of your squad? Think they'll go along quietly?”
“Probably not. They all wanted to stay here.”
“So what then? Convincing them won't be easy.”
At Gunther's question, Clarice gave a sly smile.
“Don't worry about it. Only I'll be leaving.”
“Just you?”
“Even squads that want out don't all agree to defect. They're just following the crowd.”
“……?”
“So I'll swap with someone who wants to stay. Problem solved.”
“……?!”
Gunther marveled at Clarice's clever idea.
“Ha, right. The Black Troops never said anything about not swapping squads. How did I miss that?”
Clarice shrugged at Gunther's amazed stare, as if wondering how she'd thought of it.
“No big deal. It wasn't my idea. I heard it somewhere.”
“I see.”
Gunther nodded nonchalantly.
That wasn't the point anyway.
What mattered was that Clarice had agreed to his request.
He extended his hand to her.
“Take care, then.”
Clarice shook it without a word.
A few hours later, he slipped away with the latest group of defectors, leaving the alliance behind.
* * *
Clarice snapped out of his reminiscence.
His arm now bore a 12-9 armband instead of 9-1.
Demoted from squad leader to squad member, but he felt no regret.
If anything, a sense of relief washed over him.
Leaning against a tree, he observed the others.
‘For people forced into this, they sure look chipper.’
Clarice had watched firsthand how Yuri had gathered them.
Not persuasion, but threats.
Intimidation over talk, forcing them together—yet no anxiety or worry showed on their faces.
Maybe at first.
But as more squads joined what they were calling the 'Yuri Alliance,' their unease faded.
By the time five squads had gathered, the mood had flipped.
‘This might actually work.’
‘Even if Yuri Holland's only half as good as the rumors, we can take them.’
‘Either way, we're getting used. In the end, we fight to leave one squad standing. Might as well be here!’
Back in the alliance, after taking out Yuri's Squad 1, they'd still have to fight among the remaining 13 squads for the winner.
In other words, eliminate 12 others.
But if the 'Yuri Alliance' beat the alliance, they'd only face four rivals.
Sure, Yuri's Squad 1 would be one—but…
‘Anything can happen.’
‘If it turns into a big brawl, they'll target Squad 1 first. Even if we win, they'll take heavy losses….’
Those who'd joined Yuri were convinced probabilistically that fighting here favored them.
Meanwhile, Clarice clicked his tongue at how obvious their thoughts were.
‘They defected over fears of Yuri Holland spies… and jumped straight to his side.’
What a contradiction.
As Clarice chuckled inwardly, Yuri appeared.
“Alright, everyone, listen up.”
His voice hummed through the clearing on threads of mana.
All eyes turned to him.
Yuri strolled in casually, hands in pockets, with Arin and Poppy flanking him like bodyguards.
Just the three of them—Squad 1—but they exuded an odd presence.
The crowd waited in silence.
Yuri stopped dead center.
Grinning, he bellowed.
“Comrades, the time is ripe. At dawn today, we crush those villains!”
He clenched his fist dramatically, like an actor, then opened it and waved lazily.
“So, all you squad leaders—front and center.”
At his call, the squad leaders gathered.
Huddled close, Yuri spoke in a low voice.
“The key to this op is hitting them from all sides while they're half-asleep. Simultaneously.”
Someone asked uneasily.
“Do we have to do it now? Why not wait for more squads to join us?”
“No, now's perfect. They're cocky with their numbers—off-guard. Once we're even, surprise gets harder.”
“B-But… will the ambush work? We're six squads including yours; they've got eight.”
“We're outnumbered in squads, sure. But manpower's 55 to their 74. And Squad 1 will handle about twenty. Good?”
The squad leaders' faces lit up at his assurance.
Their burden lightened.
Squad 1's increased.
Even in victory, Squad 1 would suffer.
Perfect for the others.
Seeing their brightened expressions, Yuri pressed on.
“Now, your squads' infiltration routes. Anyone who forgets or shows up late… you're dead meat.”
The squad leaders nodded vigorously at his heavy warning.
Yuri pointed each out, assigning directions.
The briefing happened openly, under everyone's eyes.
“…….”
Clarice's gaze darkened as he watched.
Time passed. Night fell.
* * *
Past midnight.
The 'half-asleep simultaneous strike' was moments away when Squad 12 went on alert.
Squad members rushed back from all directions.
“Found him?”
The squad leader's anxious question got shakes of the head.
“Nope.”
“Not here either.”
Seeing them all deny it, the squad leader snapped.
“Damn it, where the hell is he!”
His frustration stemmed from Clarice's sudden vanishing act.
At first, he'd thought nerves sent him to the bathroom.
But when he didn't return by op time, they realized something was off and searched.
No sign of him anywhere nearby.
The squad members whispered anxiously to their edgy leader.
“What now? Op time's closing in.”
“We gotta move if we don't wanna be late.”
Urged on, the leader exploded.
“I know! Just shut up!”
Gnawing his lip, he steeled himself.
“Fine, we go without him! One missing won't change much. Better than being late.”
“But… losing someone of Clarice's caliber hurts our strength bad.”
“Argh! Then we wait here for that bastard?”
“N-No, but…”
“We'll deal with the deserter later. Time's up—move!”
The squad followed the leader's hardline stance.
They set off into the woods per Yuri's instructions.
Squad 12 reached their assigned spot, a short distance from the enemy camp.
They peered into the darkness.
A few sentries by the campfire.
Dozens of dark shapes sprawled nearby, seemingly asleep.
Squad 12's faces brightened.
‘Light sentry detail.’
‘Out cold.’
‘No way they saw us coming.’
A good feeling they might pull off the ambush.
They held their breath, awaiting the signal.
Then—
*Whoosh—fwoosh—*
A tiny spark arced into the black sky.
‘Fire arrow!’
‘Go time!’
The long-awaited signal—Arin Hellga's fire arrow—ignited the charge from all sides.
“Attack!”
“Waaah!”
Just two days ago, this had been home. Now they stormed it as raiders.
The attackers pressed relentlessly. Sentries scattered in panic from the sudden onslaught.
But with foes closing every escape, they were trapped.
The sentries boxed in.
Raiders smirked slyly.
But those smirks didn't last.
“Haha, sleep tight, you… Huh?”
“Up you g—wha?!”
Raiders lunged at the 'sleepers'—only to falter in shock.
*Crunch—*
Powerful strikes meant for sleeping foes hit dummies: mannequins of brush, branches, and clothes.
Realizing the trap too late, raiders whipped around.
A voice rang out.
“Ha, these idiots actually came.”
The 'panicked sentries' who'd seemed to flee inward now grinned viciously at the raiders.
Furious grins.
They bellowed.
“Traitors are here! Everyone up!”
Figures poured from the shadows.
Raiders gaped, encircled.
“W-What the—?!”
“How?!”
Shouts of shock erupted everywhere.
Laughter followed gleefully.
“Punish the traitors!”
“Punish them!”
Surrounding squads charged.
“Damn it! Numbers look even—fight!”
“Come on!”
“Bring it!”
A massive brawl erupted.
Meanwhile, a short distance from the fray.
*Uwaaaah! Clang—!*
Amid the chaotic din rang a light, jaunty hum.
*Hum~ hum-dee-dum~*
Yuri, whistling cheerfully, bounced toward somewhere.
Arin and Poppy watched from afar, baffled.
“…Our side's losing, and he's thrilled why?”
“Hungry?”
Bemused, they shook their heads and trailed after him.