Chapter 344: Bread and Dagger (42)
Chapter 344: Bread and Dagger (42)
The blast of a horn reverberated through my skull.
Armed soldiers were pouring out from every direction. Each held a weapon in their hands, their momentum sharp and murderous.
It was a surprise attack under the cover of night.
Originally, the location of the Yurdina family’s military camp was a secret. It should have been difficult for the Elves to discover its position, especially since they were at such a severe disadvantage in terms of military strength.
Even if they sent scouts, they were usually caught quickly by the surveillance network.
In fact, it was the Yurdina army that was currently scouring the coniferous forest. The probability of the Elves overcoming those numerous obstacles to reach the camp was infinitesimally low.
Furthermore, the Elves were suffering from a lack of manpower. They didn't have the luxury to consider an option that was essentially a suicide mission.
Thus, for the Yurdina side, this was a night attack the likes of which they hadn't experienced in a very long time.
Anyone else might have panicked and run about in confusion. After all, they were being forced to face the enemy before they could even mentally prepare themselves.
However, among the hundreds of soldiers, not a single one stood dazed with shock.
They simply gripped their weapons with stoic expressions, as if they had known this moment would eventually come.
This was truly the front lines.
A place where one lived with death always before their eyes—the soldiers guarding the border of the coniferous forest were already prepared to fight.
It was a relief.
In the end, it was my misjudgment that had spared Beneta’s life. If this night attack had resulted in heavy casualties, it would have been difficult to bear.
As I let out a sigh of relief and looked around, a familiar voice reached my ears.
“…Young Master.”
His tone was strangely nonchalant, despite the battle being right at our doorstep.
When I turned my head, I saw an old knight clad in heavy armor. It was Sir Alex, a loyal retainer of the Yurdina family and a seasoned veteran.
He spoke to me with a calm face.
Even as he did, several soldiers brushed past me.
“The Elves have launched a night attack. Fortunately, a sentry spotted them early, but the scale is quite large.”
“How many are there?”
“There seem to be as many as there are soldiers in this camp.”
Their forces were equal.
A groan escaped my lips. There was no way hundreds of Elves could have finished their war preparations all at once.
That meant there was only one answer.
“It was a prepared raid.”
“Yes. I do not know how they discovered our location, but…”
“Beneta.”
It was a blunt confession.
I felt a sense of shame as I spat out the name, but Sir Alex only stared at me blankly.
It seemed he hadn't understood what I meant at first.
So, I had to elaborate.
“The Elf woman we took prisoner. She had a tracking device on her.”
“Ah, that Elf… Hmm, how peculiar. Our mages certainly didn't see anything unusual when they inspected her.”
“It seems she underwent body modification surgery.”
It was still only a hypothesis.
However, the hideous lump of flesh that had appeared inside Beneta’s mouth looked exactly like the one that had been implanted in Avian’s body.
The only difference was that Beneta didn't seem to possess the transcendent regenerative abilities that Avian had.
Perhaps each piece of flesh possessed its own unique ability. Even if one modified their body, there would still be limits.
Despite the somewhat shocking revelation, Sir Alex didn't seem particularly flustered. If anything, he nodded as if it made sense.
He let out a dry chuckle.
“Did I not tell you? Elves are a race that should never be trusted… It is better to kill them without asking questions.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
It was advice that felt a bit excessive, but as the one who had committed the blunder, I couldn't argue. I simply nodded in silence.
Seeing my gloomy expression, Sir Alex clicked his tongue and offered some comfort.
“You needn't worry too much. Even if the numbers are equal, the difference in quality cannot be ignored. Every single one of our Yurdina soldiers is an elite. And also…”
The old knight’s gaze quietly fixed on me.
I wasn't so dense that I couldn't read the implication in his eyes. I gave a heavy nod.
“I will join the fray. My companions as well.”
“Then we shall win easily. Provided they are the ‘Elves’ I know.”
His addition left an ominous lingering feeling.
I frowned slightly, but Sir Alex had already begun walking away, his footsteps heavy as he headed toward the coniferous forest dotted with lights.
The Elves seemed to have decided that further stealth was pointless.
They were approaching with torches held high. Because they were obscured by the trees, their exact numbers were unknown, but the eyes glowing in the darkness were fierce.
It was a gaze filled with murderous intent.
I spoke to Senior Neris, who was standing silently beside me.
“Senior Neris, please support the soldiers from the rear for now. And look after Avian as well.”
“Yes, Lord Ian.”
Senior Neris hurriedly bowed her head. Her identity was a secret to the public anyway. She was currently hiding her skills as an Expert.
It was better for her to provide support from the shadows.
Besides, Senior Neris likely didn't want to take the risk of fighting on the front lines if she didn't have to.
Immediately after giving the orders, I walked behind Sir Alex. All my companions were already gathered in front of the tent that served as the command post.
From Senior Elsie to the Saintess, Yuren, Emma, and even the Princess.
Except for Emma, they were all combat-ready assets.
The first one to notice me was the Saintess, who was pacing anxiously.
“Ian! I heard the Elves have launched a night attack…”
“This is a battlefield.”
I said those words while trying my best not to show any panic.
Only then did the somewhat chaotic atmosphere of the group settle down.
I was the one leading this group. It would be a problem if I didn't keep my composure.
“It wouldn't be strange to be attacked at any time. We came here to support the Yurdina family, and therefore, we will help the Yurdina army here.”
“H-How?”
The question popped out abruptly.
The eyes of the group turned toward the source. There stood the Princess, looking restless.
Her eyes were brimming with tears.
Seeing the girl on the verge of crying, I wore a bitter expression.
It wasn't that I didn't understand how she felt.
She was a woman who had been pampered in the Imperial Palace since childhood. It wasn't just her; an underlying sense of reluctance was visible on the faces of the rest of the group, excluding Yuren.
Elves were people.
They were different from the clear-cut monsters we had killed until now. This was a task much closer to murder.
Killing someone.
Unless one was a natural-born killer, hesitation was inevitable. Nevertheless, this was a battlefield.
“…We have to kill them.”
With that single sentence, the atmosphere of the group plummeted.
The Princess opened her mouth to say something, but then clamped it shut. She couldn't deny the fact that my words were logically correct.
I deliberately ignored those drooping eyes and continued.
“Emma, you stay in a safe place for now. Saintess, please focus on treating the wounded in the rear. Senior Elsie, join the Yurdina mages in the interception… Yuren?”
“I’m already looking forward to seeing what Elven swordsmanship is like.”
Yuren stroked his sword with a savage smile.
He was a strange fellow, no matter how many times I saw him.
As long as he wasn't holding a sword, he was a perfectly normal friend with good social skills, so why was he like this?
Regardless, it was a good thing for me.
The psychological trauma of killing was most severe on the front lines, as one had to endure the sensation of murder with their own hands.
However, Yuren seemed as if his aversion to killing had been surgically removed.
He was an excellent companion to have by my side. I stepped forward with a wry smile.
And in the next moment.
Thud! I kicked off the ground, and my body shot forward. Space was mapped out in thin lines, and the cold northern wind lashed at my cheeks as if to tear them open.
I felt Yuren’s presence chasing right behind me, refusing to be outdone.
The Elves, having closed the distance to a certain point, came to a halt. And as we drew closer to the front, the true nature of the lights scattered among them was revealed.
It wasn't just torches.
Fire arrows.
As if they had already anticipated such a strategy, the Yurdina soldiers holding shields stepped to the very front.
“Fire!”
A faint voice drifted over.
It was likely the commander leading the Elves. One could tell just by looking at the fire arrows that covered the sky in perfect unison following that command.
The flames in the night sky were like stars.
The only difference was that death drew closer with every passing second. Despite being fired from within the forest, the trajectories of the arrows exquisitely avoided the trees.
It was the Elven archery I had only heard of in rumors.
Did they say they even twisted the trajectories using spirits?
However, even the rain of fire arrows could not stop me.
Maintaining my sprinting posture, I drew my sword and hand axe. Because I drew them in haste, a sharp clink of friction echoed through the air.
And with every step I took, several arrows were snapped and driven into the ground.
My sword and hand axe crossed at high speed. Beneath the two blades, which meshed together like precise gears, the arrows were sliced into pieces and lost their momentum.
It took only four steps for every fire arrow passing near me to be driven into the earth.
As if dancing, as if treading lightly upon a snowfield, my body shot forward without delay. It was the Elves who were flustered.
They probably hadn't expected a human to charge straight through a rain of fire arrows.
With a couple of leaps, I landed heavily atop the Elven front line. The Elves who were nocking arrows wore dazed expressions.
“W-What…?”
“A human.”
With a short reply, my sword cut through the air.
And then, an Elven head flew into the sky.
His expression showed that he hadn't understood the situation until the very end.
Gush! Blood erupted, scattering a warm rain. The surrounding Elves screamed in shock.
“It’s an Expert!”
“An Expert has joined the battle! Call the swordsmen!”
It seemed that to the Elves, the word ‘Expert’ was a synonym for terror.
There are a few more of us, you know.
Hiding that grim news within me like a blade, I flicked the blood off my sword.
I felt disgusting.
Truly.