Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Whose Hand Do the Gods of War Raise?
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About a thousand people who had exited through Sodomora's gates trudged endlessly across the fields.
Even to my eyes, the sight of armed folk marching in a long column across the plains was fairly majestic.
But no one explained where we were headed or what we'd do when we got there.
I felt like a last-minute party filler, a body just to make up the numbers, with no real purpose beyond that.
How long had it been since I'd lost myself in a crowd like this?
Lost in thought after walking for a good while like that.
Someone tapped my back.
I glanced over my shoulder to see a blond man with a short beard and a bow slung over his back staring at me.
Of course, a stranger.
"What?" I snapped.
"Heh heh, overheard everything earlier. You're that famous Samaritan, right? What's with the stuff smeared on your face? Made you look too scary to approach."
"What'd you hear?"
"That pretty pink-haired girl was yelling earlier. 'Hassan, come back safe!' Black hair, name Hassan—clicked right away."
I pictured Luna at the gate, waving frantically amid the women bidding farewell to their families.
Hard to believe that just a day ago, I'd been with that pink head, and now here I was, trudging through a field with these drab guys.
"Damn, seeing you up close, the rumors aren't exaggerated. Most tales aren't worth a damn."
The guy kept chattering while I was lost in memories.
"I'm Jack the hunter. Not some adventurer like you, just skin deer and rabbits from the woods to get by."
"I see."
"Still, pretty confident in my archery. Can drop most beasts with two shots. Heh heh, hope I get a chance to shine on the battlefield."
At Jack the hunter's words, I imagined a frantic battlefield, archers loosing arrows.
Bows, huh. Come to think of it, that's a thing. Tried it a few times back in the day, but no talent, so I quit quick.
"Stick behind you, and I won't die. Fuck, good formation too. And with Lady Enya leading, victory's in the bag. Heard there are even a few mages on this expedition."
I peered at the lead riders as he spoke. Too far off—even on big horses with long banners, they looked like ants.
But her reputation and trust were clear enough.
"That lady or whatever, she's that impressive?"
"You don't know? Never lost a battle. Blessed by the goddess of wisdom, Minerva. Uses strategies beyond mortal ken."
"Strategies..."
Good at tactics and maneuvers, maybe?
"Word is, she's the one who planned this subjugation. Heretics won't expect a massive force hitting them just a day after their raid."
So this ragtag subjugation force was that lead lady's idea.
A thousand strong, gathered in a day after the city attack? Impressive turnout.
But rushed recruits meant poor quality—no proper gear or training. Would they even help?
Smart lady, though, so she must have some plan.
"So, where the hell are we fighting who?"
I finally spoke to Jack the hunter after holding my tongue awhile. Guy seemed chatty, probably knew stuff.
"No clue. Was gonna ask you. But damn, your continental's sharp as hell."
Even this blabbermouth didn't know the destination. Right then, the turbaned guy ahead spoke up.
"Valdes. Mountain stronghold."
He was a head shorter than me, dark-skinned desert folk. Curved scimitar like a crescent at his hip.
Shit, real sandman—Hassan suited him better than me.
"We go Valdes stronghold. Kill heretics. Me Dorgo. Get citizenship. Marry continental woman. Two sons. Two daughters."
Fuck, guy can barely talk—ain't giving him citizenship.
Anyway, from Dorgo's words, we were headed to Valdes stronghold.
Jack behind me chimed in.
"Valdes stronghold. Used to hunt boars there. At this pace, we'll hit it by morning."
March till morning?
Shit.
Riders up front had it easy on horses, but us footsloggers trailing? Already dreading the grind.
We walked and walked and walked.
Only the scenery changed.
Endless plains started getting boring when Jack, who'd gone quiet behind, spoke up again.
"Fuck, dying here. You handle it well, though. Nomad blood? Good at plains walking?"
"Just empty your head or fill it with thoughts."
Truth was, I was beat too. After hours nonstop, maybe a break? I eyed the front.
Boom, boom. Boom.
Drummers midway through struck up a steady rhythm, like a round.
Clop, clop, clop.
An adjutant knight riding beside us bellowed.
"Lady's signaling with the drums! Pick up the pace! We'll reach Valdes stronghold before sunset!"
He urged everyone to speed up.
Wait, we were already hauling ass—faster? Thought it was a joke, but no.
Clank, jingle, clatter.
Faster steps made armor and gear clang louder.
I'd been chatting easy before, but now under the weight, focusing on speed left me breathless, speechless.
"Fuck, how we makin' it by sunset?"
Jack grumbled at the forced march. Dorgo ahead panted curses too.
"Citizenship. Wanna quit. Desertion. Harsh punishment."
"Shut your yapping! You without citizenship get to join glorious battle, become proper folk! Thank Lady's mercy!"
Adjutant fucker on horse didn't get our pain.
Minutes in, throat burned, legs numbed.
Summer nearing? Scorching sun beat down cloudless, sweat poured from my brow.
Seriously.
Dehydration before battle?
Uncorked my waterskin for precious sips—then.
"Halt! Halt!"
The marching mass slowed from the front. Leader spotted the madness?
Lady never lost—smart enough to know overmarching sapped strength for fight.
Anyway, we got a breather when the column stopped.
But sweet relief was short.
Front mood turned weird; I looked up. Lady Enya Sardici in bronze armor, high banner flying, rode toward us.
"Sh, shit."
Adjutant panicked, armor rattling.
"You! Shape up! No slacking on break! Lady's coming!"
"Fuck, break discipline my ass."
"Hurry!"
Adjutant's desperation made us—me, Jack, Dorgo—stand straight despite the rest.
Lady arrived quick. Yellow banner fluttered to a proud halt.
"First Adjutant Bayona."
"Yes, Lady Enya. Bayona here."
She hailed the adjutant walking beside us. Bayona his name?
Up close, she was all plated armor—no telling if the beauty rumors held.
Kinda hoped to check. Bummer.
Smacking my lips—then.
"Bayona. We're starting Gale Tactics now."
"G-Gale Tactics? What's that? Never heard in field manual..."
"Just made it. Gale Tactics: speed like a gale. Everyone strips armor now."
"St-Strip armor?"
Clank.
Adjutant Bayona's armored body shook hard. Sounded insane.
"Wh-Why armor...?"
"Armor protects. Vital as life. But pierced, you die anyway. Better ditch for agility. Hence Gale Tactics."
"Ar-Armor..."
Her calm explanation left Bayona trembling, doubting his ears.
Even I thought it was bullshit. Adjutants knew warfare; he'd take it worse.
Tell soldiers to strip for battle? Lunatic talk.
Maybe heretic spy in yellow armor, faking command? Deep in thought—
Clank, clank, thud.
Bayona started shedding his armor. Short-cropped gray hair, square-jawed rugged face emerged.
He gaped and yelled.
"Oooh! Stripping feels lighter than armored!"
"See."
"Such tactics! Lady Enya, genius! What're you waiting for? Strip, strip quick!"
Bayona ordered us too, not just himself.
"Strip to boost speed! Beyond mortal genius!"
Grimace.
Sweat? Shame? Some complex shit? Face flushed red.
Eyes on us screamed "play along."
So we—me, Dorgo, Jack, troops—dumped heavy plate and gear, stretched.
Sure, lighter without—duh.
"You too! Feel lighter?"
His enthusiasm forced our hand in this awkward play.
Shit, acting time again.
"Whoa, so light...! Why...? Why's stripping make me light?!"
"Dorgo light. Like feather. Dorgo sand grain."
Dorgo and my lame acting moved her? She rattled—
Muttered "See..." soft, just for us nearby.
Then I knew.
Death march.
Follow this woman, we're all dead.
"Lady Enya!!! Such strategy!! Heaven's grace!!! Sage of Midrealms, Lady Enya forever!!! I, Bayona! Joy flip in air!!!"
"Calm, Bayona. Not my wisdom. Minerva's loan. More importantly, black-haired Samaritan..."
Clank.
On horseback, owl-helmed gaze felt aimed at me. Tensed—what's this weirdo want?
Like a grunt with brigade commander calling.
"L-Lady Enya. Problem with him...?"
"No, personal curiosity unrelated to war. Now, all. Shed foul metal. Nothing stops us! Agile gale—sweep heretics!"
"U, UOOOOOH-!"
Lady bellowed; Bayona roared back.
Bayona sneaky-waved for us to join—we did.
"OOOH OOOOH! OOOH UWAA!"
Cheers erupted everywhere, ground shaking.
Not soldiers—beasts unchained from armor, howling.
"Peak morale! Gale charge—like wind! Hiyah!"
Lady spurred hard toward distant mountains.
Noble steed—sports car fast, streaking.
Clop clop.
Each stride like wings, distance flew.
That beast cost more gold than I had for a hoof. Shit, to chase that thunder, we hauled ass too.
Ditched armor? Yeah, but packed in bags—weight same.
But like loosed arrows, unstoppable.
"Me Dorgo. Go home. Sand. Desert. Miss. Savage continent. Can't take. Mother—"
"Deserter! Grab! Whip him!!"
No mercy for runners—instant judgment.
Morale spiked weirdly.
"There! Valdes Mountain!"
[End of chapter]