Chapter 244: It’s Fun to Stab Others in the Back (1)
Chapter 244: It’s Fun to Stab Others in the Back (1)
In the end, I managed to squeeze the information about Ronia’s main force out of them.
However, the method was a bit different from what I had expected.
“Now, please take a look at this. Since everyone seemed to despise my previous method so much, I’ve created a new one by combining Lord Grix’s theory with the theories of the Magic Kingdom.”
“Right, right. Good job.”
At least that soul-sucking slurping sound was gone.
Even so, it seemed his mouth still had to make contact with their faces.
The majors sprawled on the ground were small animals, so the sight of them basically fitting into his mouth was still bizarre.
It felt like a nightmare traumatic enough to scar one's soul had simply been downgraded to a regular, albeit horrific, nightmare.
Setting aside Al’shel’s subtly pointless improvement...
There was a reason I had to witness that gruesome act again.
Even after experiencing the Sixth Step and having their bones scream in agony, they hadn't opened their mouths.
When I brought down the Seventh Step, snapping or twisting their limbs, most of them had simply fainted.
Those who endured even that had their eyes tremble for a moment at the horrific sight, but they ultimately refused to speak until the end.
So, I stopped before the Eighth Step—which would have likely killed them—and personally knocked them out with a blow to the head.
Thus, the situation had devolved into Al’shel using the unconscious personnel as his personal juice boxes to gather information.
“Sigh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing much.”
It really wasn't a big deal.
But who knew? Maybe Un-ho could provide an answer to the question weighing on my mind.
“Why are they so loyal to that Ronia?”
It wasn't as if they were superhumans with incredible mental fortitude. They had some power, sure, but compared to disasters like us, they were nothing more than mere animals.
That was why they were terrified of me. They stuttered and couldn't think straight.
I had even given them an out by explaining that their silence was meaningless, as I had ways to extract memories from the unconscious.
Yet, they kept their mouths shut until the very end.
Even after showing such un-soldier-like cowardice.
That left two possibilities.
One: Their mental conditioning as soldiers was top-notch.
Two: As I asked Un-ho, they were genuinely loyal to Ronia.
Considering the place was crawling with people like Ronia and Un-ho, who were anything but soldierly, the first option was dismissed.
So, I figured it had to be the second...
But I mean, it’s Ronia, right?
He’s a pig, he’s sleazy, he holds grudges, he smokes right in people's faces, he has a nasty way of talking, and he even resorts to threats.
“Hmm. I don’t know much about Commander Ronia, so I’m not sure, poyo...”
Un-ho began to answer my question.
Since Un-ho occasionally made surprisingly sharp points, I listened closely.
“Maybe those people know a side of Commander Ronia that we don’t, poyo?”
A side of Ronia we don’t know.
“...For example?”
“How should I know, poyo? Maybe he fills a void in them... something like that, poyo.”
Filling a void.
Hmm.
I looked at the fainted soldiers for a moment, but nothing particular came to mind.
To be blunt, looking at them now, they just looked like residents of a petting zoo.
...Whatever.
Since when did I care about the mental state of my enemies?
“Al’shel! Did you find the location of Ronia’s main force?!”
“Yes! I found it! However, the memories are a bit vague—things like ‘under the sun’ or ‘somewhere under the clouds’—so the accuracy might be a bit low. It shouldn't be a major problem, though.”
What the hell does ‘under the sun’ mean?
Is it some kind of code?
Well, if he says he understands it, I guess it’s fine.
“Then let’s move! Lead the way!”
“Hmm. I think we can take our time. It seems they are still testing the waters with Lieutenant General Par. It’ll likely take some time before the two sides truly clash.”
Hmm. Is that so?
Even so.
I tilted my head slightly, glanced at the sky above, and spoke again.
“I think it’s best we get out of here quickly. If we’re going to rest, let’s go there and rest.”
“...Is there something up there?”
“No, nothing major. Let’s just go.”
Saying that, I looked at the sky one more time.
Leading Al’shel and Un-ho, I left the now-cleared ground and stepped back into the forest.
Hoping the opponent could hear me, I left a very quiet remark toward the rear.
“Then, make sure to evacuate the wounded properly, Mr. Guardian.”
* * *
“Heave-ho.”
We reached a hill where Ronia’s main force was visible, though at quite a distance.
I had positioned us a bit far off to avoid being spotted, but there was no major issue in observing Ronia’s formation situated between the ridges.
“Let’s see, they’re all bunched up.”
The silver-purple pillars slowly manifesting in the air were also positioned at the rear of the camp.
Unlike Lieutenant General Par, it seemed everyone was gathered in one place.
While observing The Enemy camp...
“If they stay like that, they’ll be wiped out by a single surprise attack, poyo. The rear is wide open, making it a perfect entry point, poyo.”
Our master of guerrilla warfare pointed out the weaknesses in Ronia’s formation after just one glance.
“Hmm. If it were you, could you go in there and flip the place upside down?”
“Hmm. I think I could take out a few weak ones and get back out, poyo. But I don’t know if I could beat someone like Commander Ronia, poyo.”
...The fact that you think you can even do that is impressive enough.
But it’s a shame. The battlefield situation doesn't support that.
“If this were a war of attrition, we could wait for nightfall and pick them off one by one, but I don’t think this will last that long, right?”
“Ummm. Commander Ronia seems intent on sticking to a thorough defense, so wouldn't it last longer than you think, poyo?”
Hmm.
Would that even matter according to the rules?
Well, there’s no set time limit, so it’s possible, but...
It feels a bit off.
Only about 200 people... No, 11 major-level officers were wiped out earlier, so is it 182 now?
Maybe the number has decreased further due to skirmishes, but that’s the number we’ve tracked.
Anyway. It’s a bit much for 182 people to take more than a day to settle things.
If it turned into such a long-drawn-out battle, I’d probably get pissed off, grab my hammer, and just charge in myself.
By the way, thinking about the numbers reminded me of something.
“Hey, Al’shel.”
“Yes?”
Al’shel, who had been quietly lying low and observing The Enemy camp, spoke without changing his posture.
“Those guys we knocked out earlier. Was there any reason in their memories for why they were there?”
No matter how I thought about it, there seemed to be no reason for them to be in that forest.
“Ah, I certainly obtained that. It seemed they were trying to set up some kind of magic catalysts.”
“Catalysts?”
“Yes, it appears they intended to create a Large-scale Magic Circle spanning the entire park.”
A Large-scale Magic Circle.
“The effect?”
“I’m not sure about that. Even if they are catalysts, they were just large stones that react to mana. Additionally, it seems Ronia, who gave the order, didn't disclose what kind of magic it was.”
Tsk. He’s Ronia after all. He doesn't leave room for information to leak.
“But it’s certain they’re laying out a massive Magic Circle, right?”
“Yes. There’s no other reason to place such useless catalysts otherwise.”
I see.
If that’s the case, I can guess why he’s sticking to a defensive stance.
Ronia is hunkered down like that to secure victory, believing that the detached force he entrusted would complete the Magic Circle.
If that’s the case, the MVP so far is Un-ho.
“Good job, Un-ho.”
I spoke while stroking Un-ho’s fur as a compliment.
“What’s this all of a sudden, poyo?”
Un-ho looked at me with wide, surprised eyes.
“No, it’s just that thanks to you, it seems we’ve crushed Ronia’s wicked and devious plan.”
If it weren't for Un-ho’s bizarre pivot, we wouldn't have run into those major-level petting zoo guys wandering the forest.
And they would still be actively installing magic catalysts right now.
Presumably, they’ll eventually realize those units have left the battlefield and organize a replacement team, but the resulting time loss is a loss in itself, and the defensive formation will surely weaken as personnel are pulled away.
So, taking out those who were roaming in places no one knew about was all thanks to Un-ho, who found them with that strange pivot.
Un-ho being unreliable and airheaded is one thing.
A merit is a merit. So, it’s only natural to praise him.
And so, while absentmindedly staring at Ronia’s camp and stroking Un-ho’s soft fur attached to his plump flesh...
...Wait a minute.
A great idea suddenly flashed through my mind.
“Un-ho. I have one thing to ask.”
“What is it, poyo?”
“If about five or six people slip out from over there, can you track them without being noticed by anyone?”
“Hmm. It depends on the opponent’s skill, but for most of them, it should be possible, poyo. Of course, that’s if you follow my lead well, Ha-ram.”
No need to worry about that.
In a situation like this, following an expert’s instructions is only natural.
In that case...
Let’s do some hunting.
“Then, let’s rest for a bit. Until there’s movement from them.”
“What kind of movement, poyo?”
What kind of movement do you think?
“Until a new detached force slips out to install the magic catalysts.”
I grinned.
With that smile, I used my arms as a pillow and closed my eyes to take a short rest.
* * *
About thirty minutes had passed.
Un-ho woke me from my nap and reported the situation, saying the enemies were moving out.
I looked toward The Enemy camp, but...
“Where?”
I don’t see them.
No matter how hard I look, I can’t see any enemies moving.
“Look at that thicket over there, poyo. There are about four people moving right now, poyo.”
Un-ho committed the rudeness of climbing onto my head and turning it as he pleased, but since I had no clue which thicket he was talking about, I forgave the insolence and let him be.
In the fixed field of vision, there was a low thicket next to Ronia’s base.
I applied sensory amplification and observed it for a moment, but...
...I really can’t tell.
Wait, four people went in there?
It’s not just the wind blowing?
“Al’shel, can you see them?”
“I can’t tell either.”
“That’s because they’re experts too, poyo! But four people really did go in, poyo!”
...Uh... okay. If Un-ho says so, then I guess they did.
“Then, let’s go.”
“Where to, poyo?”
Where else? I explained it earlier.
“To beat them up. We probably won’t get away with it next time, but we should be able to safely pick them off this time.”
Once is a coincidence.
Twice is a pattern.
“So, I’m counting on you to track them.”
“Hmm...”
Un-ho stared intently at the thicket.
He twisted his head around for a moment, then...
“Leave it to me, poyo! I can track them at that level, poyo!”
He untwisted his head and answered confidently.
“Right, I’m counting on you.”
“Now, follow me, poyo!”
At those words, Un-ho dashed across the ground.
I tried to crouch and run fast to follow him, but...
“Have a safe trip. I shall stay here and keep watch.”
Thanks to Al’shel, who uttered those words nonchalantly, I paused.
“You’re not coming?”
“Yes, it seems something interesting is happening in The Enemy camp.”
Hmm.
Something interesting.
I quickly scanned The Enemy camp, but nothing particularly special caught my eye.
I was about to ask Al’shel for an explanation, but...
“What are you doing, poyo! Hurry up or we’ll lose them, poyo!”
Un-ho called out to me from up ahead.
“I’ll hear about the interesting stuff when I get back. Keep a good eye on them.”
“Leave it to me.”
Leaving Al’shel behind, I followed Un-ho.
* * *
Deep inside a forest that wasn't particularly dense.
Two fairies and two animals.
They were dressed quite casually and were stronger than the majors from before, but...
“Ta-da. The hunter is here.”
Knowing they were no match for me, I revealed myself boldly.
“Hunters don’t reveal themselves while tracking, poyo...”
In the midst of that, Un-ho, in his olive-drab patterns, dampened the mood. But it wasn't a big deal.
The delightful time of harvesting backstabs had begun once again.