Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Riding the Momentum (2)
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Clang! Clang!
The sound of armored soldiers' footsteps echoed through the air.
Tension was etched on the faces of the countless soldiers and the knights leading them.
“Today, we’ll put an end to this long war! Warriors of Talua, charge!”
“Waaaaah!”
Just a little further, and they’d reach the high ground where the enemy camp lay.
Tedric pulled his helmet low over his face and exhaled roughly.
‘They’re definitely trying to lure us as far into the center as possible.’
The Kainzel Kingdom forces were gradually falling back, drawing them in deeper.
Just as Duke Gail had predicted, the enemy had seized the rear via a secret passage and was planning to concentrate their scattered units, enveloping them from both flanks.
Though their own forces held the advantage in numbers, it could still turn dangerous if the enemy pulled off that encirclement.
Yet Duke Gail was playing right into their hands. He had something to rely on.
‘Sir Banheart.’
And Tedric was one of those who shared that faith.
While most questioned why Clay Banheart had been entrusted with such a critical role, Tedric supported Duke Gail’s judgment.
‘He’ll definitely pull it off.’
In their spars, Tedric had sensed something extraordinary in Clay.
He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.
But looking at him inspired an unfounded belief.
That he would accomplish something incredible once more.
* * *
“Captain, report: the enemy has crossed the ridge and is nearly at the central high ground.”
“Kekeke, you idiots. You’ve finally taken the bait.”
Count Povet, commander of the Kainzel Kingdom’s detachment, couldn’t suppress his leaking laughter at the report.
‘Stupid Aldin fool. To miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this.’
Thanks to Aldin Marquis’s demotion from the previous operation, he’d seized the chance to command the detachment.
For Count Povet, who’d lacked opportunities to shine, success in this mission was non-negotiable.
He had no intention of following in Aldin Marquis’s footsteps.
“Alright, everyone, move quickly! Take out their main camp and stab them in the back!”
“Oooh! Glory to the Kainzel Kingdom!”
Emerging from the narrow, dark secret passage, Count Povet grinned at the sheer cliff face before him.
The only challenge in this operation had been scaling the cliff.
Every knight in the detachment was a Sword Expert. Count Povet himself was an upper-rank Sword Expert.
Sweeping through the Talua Kingdom’s main camp, now stripped of its main force, would be a simple task.
They began climbing without hesitation, and it seemed they’d reach the top in mere minutes.
Rumble!
“Argh!”
If not for the boulders suddenly plummeting from above.
The knight struck directly by the rocks plummeted down the cliff. Even a Sword Expert couldn’t survive a fall from that height unscathed.
“You idiot! A knight who can’t even dodge falling rocks?!”
“C-Captain! Look up!”
Count Povet, veins bulging in his neck as he bellowed, whipped his gaze upward at the other knight’s shout.
In that instant, rocks poured down like rain into his view.
“What the hell?!”
It was like a full-blown landslide.
Count Povet gripped the cliff with one hand, then swung his sword at the boulders hurtling toward him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As expected of an upper-rank Sword Expert, he successfully blocked them. But not everyone did. Other knights were struck one by one, screaming as they fell.
They’d worn light armor for the climb, so even small rocks proved fatal.
‘Damn it, what the hell is this?!’
A landslide at this exact timing?
No way. Those rocks had clearly targeted them.
The realization sent chills down his spine.
“Damn it! Everyone, watch for falling rocks—”
Sizzle!
“Gaaah!”
It wasn’t just rocks raining down.
Boiling oil poured along the cliff, knocking knights loose.
‘Damn, damn it all!’
Like hell he’d die here.
Forget the operation—surviving this came first.
Count Povet forgot to issue orders and climbed with all his might.
Retreating was no longer an option.
To live, he had to summit the cliff somehow.
“Huff, huff huff.”
Emerging between falling rocks and boiling oil, Count Povet was a battered mess just from the climb.
“Greetings, Count Povet?”
He’d barely planted his feet on solid ground and caught his breath when an unfamiliar voice reached his ear.
Turning, he saw a man looking down at him.
A man with black hair, blue eyes, and a chilling gaze.
The emblem on his armor was Talua Kingdom’s.
‘He knows me. Wait—does that mean?’
Panting heavily, a thought struck Count Povet.
The man’s face suggested he’d expected Povet’s arrival.
There was only one explanation.
“Has the plan leaked?! Who the hell would dare—!”
Eyes bloodshot, Count Povet squeezed out his remaining strength to roar.
The secret passage being discovered was surprising but plausible. But knowing his name as commander? That was different.
Nothing but a leak explained this.
‘First, I need to get out of here!’
The plan had failed, but survival mattered more. He had no desire to throw his life away for merit.
‘Wait, why’s it so quiet?’
Snapping to attention, he scanned the surroundings.
His subordinates were all elites. If they grouped up, they could break through.
But no matter how long he waited, no one else crested the cliff.
Only then did Count Povet realize.
He was the sole survivor.
“Now, Count Povet. I’ll give you a chance.”
The black-haired man approached slowly, a cold smile on his lips, leveling his sword at Povet’s heart.
“Will you surrender quietly? Or go join your comrades like this?”
The gentle tone terrified Count Povet more than any demon’s whisper.
* * *
“According to our gracious Count Povet, this secret passage leads straight to the enemy’s main camp.”
We’d captured him as a prisoner and extracted some valuable intel.
Perhaps valuing his life, he’d spilled everything without much interrogation.
Details on the passage’s interior, what lay on the other side—prime info obtained surprisingly easily. I was in a great mood.
“It connects that far?”
Gelvin said, face full of awe.
Of course it did.
The enemy camp sat midway along Rakmes Ridge.
It was close to the Kainzel Kingdom border, and the distance from here was no short jaunt.
I had to admire the demonic power that carved such a passage.
‘If mid-level demons can do this, what about high-level ones?’
Per Povet, a mid-level demon remained in the enemy camp.
Fortunately, no others, but still a threat.
“A demon still there...”
The knights, elated from repelling the foe, looked like they’d been doused with cold water.
Everyone knew the tale from Artuha Mountains: Tedric Eaton, an upper-rank Sword Expert, felled in one blow by a lesser demon’s ambush.
So a mid-level demon from Povet’s mouth? Their reaction was natural.
“I’ve heard taking down a mid-level demon requires Sword Master level. This is dangerous.”
Even Gelvin, tense about facing one, showed clear worry.
But cowering wouldn’t help.
I rallied the knights firmly.
“Everyone, focus on the plan and forget the demon. No need to fear prematurely!”
Per Gransesia, I could handle up to mid-level. No big issue.
‘...You’re sure this time, right?’
I whispered to Gransesia, still stung from the Dragon Calamity slip-up.
[I said ‘probably’ back then! This time it’s certain. You’ve extreme advantage against demons—mid-level’s doable, somehow.]
‘Somehow’ was slightly unnerving, but I’d trust her once more.
As I quelled my unease, Gelvin, impressed by my words, shouted with shining eyes.
“As expected! You overwhelmed a demon in Artuha Mountains, didn’t you, Captain?”
“Y-Yeah.”
Did it look that way?
Not entirely wrong. I’d made the demon attacking Duke Gail retreat back then.
But no room for complacency.
A lesser demon had one-shot Tedric via ambush, after all.
‘Why didn’t they use them from the start?’
It begged questions.
If Kainzel had deployed demons early, the war might’ve ended swiftly.
Gransesia chuckled at my doubt.
[Demons don’t step up for humans easily. No idea why they aid Kainzel, but they only move for their own gain. If ‘war victory’ was their goal, they’d have been active already. Right now, it feels like token support.]
‘So demons don’t care much about the war’s outcome?’
[High chance. Anyway, some deal exists between Kainzel and the demons, for sure.]
Some deal...
Whatever the reason, inactive demons were a blessing.
‘It’s almost over now.’
Succeed in this op, end the war—mission accomplished.
Duke Gail would remember my merits and prove a huge future asset.
[By the way, why’d you send that maid to the duke? What’s the plan?]
Gransesia asked as if just remembering.
Duke Gail was in the rear for contingencies.
With his okay, I’d sent Mone there.
“No plan. Just...”
[Then why send her to the duke?]
“Luck totem.”
With the kingdom’s hope, Duke Gail, having Mone nearby felt like things would go smoothly.
[...Don’t get into weird voodoo later.]
I lightly ignored Gransesia’s mutter.
* * *
Pour.
“Duke, care for some tea?”
“Hm. Thank you.”
Duke Gail took the warm cup from Mone, inhaling the aroma appreciatively.
“The scent is exquisite.”
“It’s our hometown’s pride. Glad it suits you.”
Duke Gail nodded, pleased at Mone’s gentle smile, then sank into thought.
‘But why send his maid to me...?’
Mone was attending him at Clay’s suggestion.
Initially baffled by the odd proposal, he’d accepted, figuring some intent behind it.
Clay wasn’t one for pointless antics, from what he’d observed.
Maybe this maid was a hidden expert to protect him in emergencies?
‘Yeah, that’s most likely.’
Disguised as a maid, enemies would drop their guard.
Duke Gail found his theory plausible.
“You—do you know how to use a sword?”
“A kitchen knife...”
“I see.”
Apparently not.
“......”
“......”
In the awkward silence, Duke Gail vowed to ask Clay the reason later.