Rock Island (2)
I'd heard that Margel Island definitely had an ancient orc ruin.
'The orcs... in ancient times, they worshipped dragons. The ruins on Margel Island are remnants of that.'
In his previous life, Owen had obtained that information just before he was assassinated.
He'd even learned that the ruins housed a special dragon egg revered by the orcs.
He'd wanted to visit the ruins with Tanares, but back then, he was too busy with battles to go.
With human enemies lurking everywhere, waiting for any opening, there was no time for leisurely exploration.
'What a coincidence. The island I took interest in during my previous life is coming up again after my reincarnation...'
And who would have thought that dark elves and orcs were conducting secret trade there.
"Your Majesty, how long has this trade on Margel Island been going on?"
"Not long, Sir Leire."
Only then did Owen realize.
The reason he'd overlooked such crucial information in his previous life was that it had started relatively recently.
"Hmm..."
Owen felt he had to insert himself into this matter somehow.
'The red dragon egg from orc legends. I heard it's definitely on Margel Island.'
Even he, who knew everything about dragons, had no idea what that legendary egg was.
It might even be the egg of a large dragon treated as a strategic weapon.
Securing such an egg would give his future knight order a massive advantage, no need to explain.
'If I can secure it. Fortunately, it seems I'm the only one who knows about this.'
But the problem was when to attack Margel Island.
On this, opinions in the command staff were divided into two camps, regardless of race.
"The troops are exhausted from the fierce battle with the orcs. We should retreat to Bris, regroup, and then attack."
"That's sound advice, but I oppose it. If we do that, we'll miss the most critical timing."
"Timing?"
"Yes. Her Majesty the Queen has joined us. In the end, they'll realize we've caught on to their gunpowder trade."
"Hmm..."
"Isn't that island a natural fortress? If they prepare in earnest, even tens of thousands of troops would struggle to take it. Couldn't we get help from Her Majesty's fleet?"
"But if we prepare calmly from Bris, we can attack with far more troops. And gather all the equipment we need."
Both opposing views had merit.
In the end, it boiled down to relying on timing versus relying on manpower and supplies.
Naturally, it wasn't an easy decision, and heated debates ensued.
Compromises were even proposed, but they couldn't reach a conclusion.
It seemed a leader's decisive judgment was needed.
Soon, the Suffolk Duke conferred with the dark elf queen, and after a long discussion, they both nodded. Then the Suffolk Duke spoke.
"In this operation, timing is paramount above all. We complete the mission before the enemy can properly fortify the island. That's Her Majesty and my shared opinion."
However, the Suffolk Duke and the dark elf queen decided to head to Bris with the wounded and their guards.
As leaders of both camps, they had many priorities before capturing the island.
Especially, the queen establishing an exile government in Bris and denying the legitimacy of the rebels was crucial.
In the end, the deployable force numbered about 1,500.
It was decided they would undertake the Margel Island expedition with just that.
Since it meant a dangerous operation with a small force, the Suffolk Duke added a condition.
"If the merchant ship disguise doesn't work, withdraw immediately. It'll mean we've missed the timing anyway, so then we'll regroup with manpower and supplies to overwhelm them."
Soon after, the expedition commanders were appointed. As it was a joint force, there were two commanders.
For the humans, Betshel, an elder of Bris, was selected.
He was also the Suffolk Duke's cousin and a capable man.
"Betshel, your joints must creak with age, and I'm sorry to assign you such a mission. But there's no one else suitable."
"My lord! I've been rolling with mercenaries and wandering battlefields since childhood. No need to worry."
Betshel was a veteran thick in the bone from battlefields.
In his youth, he'd been pushed out due to interfering with the Suffolk Duke's succession, wandering abroad.
That had gifted him vast military experience.
"Arwen. Please show us a fight we won't be ashamed of."
This time, the queen named a dark elf of noble blood.
She was the heir to the Shadow Bat Family and the matron's most cherished daughter.
The matron had to accompany the queen, so the next in line, Arwen, was chosen.
"Your Majesty! Thank you for entrusting me with this glorious mission. I'll chop off the heads of everything on that island and toss them into the sea."
Her speech was soft and beautiful, but the content was brutal—truly fitting for a dark elf woman.
Now, the only thing left was assigning the dragon knights.
The Suffolk Duke looked at Owen.
"Owen Leire."
For once, he called him properly by name instead of "you bastard."
"This time, I must give a dangerous order."
The Suffolk Duke looked apologetic, but Owen was inwardly delighted.
"My lord! I will gladly fulfill my duty. My father taught me that's the way of a true knight."
"Splendid."
In truth, it was lip service because he planned to hunt for the egg, but the Suffolk Duke was pleased.
The others were equally impressed by Owen's resolute attitude.
The only one grimacing was Count Russell.
"Owen, lead the dragon knights on this expedition. Including you, there will be seven in total."
Everyone's expressions relaxed at the news of seven dragon knights joining.
That was how powerful a force they were.
In fact, ten dragon knights had come this time.
They'd split into teams of five for the team matches.
But three from the 1st Dragon Stable had been sidelined by injuries during the orc war.
So the remaining two were assigned to Owen, making seven.
"I will complete the mission entrusted to me, my lord."
Though young, Owen held the highest rank among the remaining dragon knights.
Becoming leader was natural.
Owen felt a surge of emotion.
Born the son of a rural knight, his future had seemed blocked, but now he was commanding dragon knights.
"Owen, your resolve is admirable. But assigning you this tough mission weighs on my heart."
"Not at all, my lord. The orcs shockingly crossed the Arcane Mountains. We need an even bolder surprise."
"Good! Well said. That great chieftain will rage when he learns his gunpowder route is cut. Go show the East some spice!"
"As you command."
Thus, the dragon knights' participation was settled.
The rest of the agreements proceeded smoothly, and the 1,500-strong expedition force was to move to the northern coast where the dark elf fleet waited the next day.
At the meeting's end, the queen issued an order to Arwen, the eldest daughter of the Shadow Bat Family.
"Please look after Sir Leire. He is our friend."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Arwen didn't like the order to look after a human man.
But it was the queen's command, so she bowed her head reluctantly.
Two days later, at the northern coast.
Owen parted ways with his stingy servant Ben.
Because of a letter errand.
"Young master, are you sure this old man can't come along?"
"No, Ben... You're too old to follow me to the battlefield? You might break a bone."
"Still, this old man can go anywhere you go."
"I'll take your heart. Delivering this letter is an important mission too."
"Alrighty then. To that scary fella, right?"
The scary fella Ben mentioned was the great mage Bellatel.
Owen had sent a letter asking Karaku, the orc legion commander, about the Margel Island ruins.
Karaku owed Owen from the Edel incident before.
If he knew anything, he'd surely tell.
"Yeah. If there's no reply when I rummage the ruins on the island, it might be for nothing."
"If it's that important, this old man can't refuse."
Ben thumped his chest, saying trust only him, then led his mule away.
Owen watched the little mule nimbly climb the sand dune to the end.
Ben stopped midway, turned back to Owen, grinned, and waved vigorously.
"Haha."
Owen, sitting on the sand, laughed and waved back.
The noisy old man—now that he was leaving, it felt a bit lonely.
But soon, his gaze was stolen by the grand sight around him, and that feeling was blown away with the salty sea breeze.
"Impressive..."
The dark elf fleet lined up on the coast numbered over 70 ships, large and small.
Truly the greatest force in the North Sea.
The dark elf queen must have taken nearly all usable ships in her escape.
Supplies and fresh water were being loaded aboard right now.
It was chaotic, but they'd be ready to depart tomorrow.
"Hmm..."
Seeing the sea after so long reminded Owen of Tanares, his true dragon partner from his previous life.
'He really loved the sea.'
He'd heard Tanares's homeland was a distant island.
That was why he enjoyed flying over the ocean, communicating with or commanding sea creatures.
It was an amazing ability.
With mere will, he controlled sharks or rays, and when flying over the sea, he'd gather dolphin pods on the surface.
'Maybe I can do it too?'
The thought struck Owen.
Tanares's power was infused in his soul.
Thanks to it, he could share senses with dragons or check intimacy levels.
Abilities over sea creatures should be possible too.
What Tanares could do, Owen could as well.
It might even be useful for this island assault.
"Let's see..."
Recalling Tanares's past and focusing his power, he felt a vague sensation, like it might work.
With some effort, he might awaken a new ability.
As Owen pondered alone, a sharp voice pierced his ear.
"What the hell are you doing here, Parte Leire?"
Turning, he saw a tall dark elf woman with an irritated expression.
She had an intimidating aura but was stunningly beautiful.
Excluding the queen, she was the most beautiful dark elf Owen had seen.
But her attitude was overbearing; even now, hands on hips, she looked down at him.
"Lady Arwen."
Owen brushed the sand from his butt and stood.
Her somewhat slippery attitude made Arwen narrow her eyes.
He even sighed softly while looking at her.
'Such rudeness!'
Arwen was the heir to the Shadow Bat Family, serving the queen.
She was the dark elf commander for this expedition.
Yet Owen didn't bat an eye, which couldn't help but offend her.
Having dealt only with men bowing to her in her family, seeing Owen made her blood boil.
'A mere parte dares!'
By dark elf ranks, Owen was below Arwen.
But as the dragon knight leader for this expedition and an Eastern baronet, she couldn't treat him freely.
Plus, with the queen's order to use honorifics, everything irked Arwen.
Owen, aware of this, clicked his tongue inwardly.
'Tch... She doesn't seem bad at heart.'
While marching to the beach, he'd chatted with her a bit.
She was enthusiastic about the mission and diligent in command.
Like a true dark elf, she basically looked down on men, but her effort not to mistreat them unfairly was surprisingly decent.
Her troops treated male and female soldiers almost equally.
That made her popular with dark elf men.
Owen knew this, so he didn't see Arwen as purely bad.
But treating subordinates high-handedly needed addressing.
"I asked what you're doing, Parte Leire."
"Admiring the ships."
"Ha?"
"What's so shocking?"
"Didn't I clearly call for a strategy meeting?"
"I wasn't informed."
"What?!"
The two soon started bickering.
The surrounding dark elves and humans took it in stride.
Since the expedition formed days ago, these arguments had been nonstop.
The power struggle showed no sign of ending, but it never escalated seriously, so everyone lost interest.
At first they'd intervened, but now it was like morning birdsong.
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"Fighting again."
"Maybe they like each other?"
"Oh! Expressing interest, huh?"
"Yeah, hard to admit our lofty lady is drawn to a human man."
Two dark elf sentries atop a galleon's mast looked down, chattering idly.
"Man, what a picture. Rare handsome pair. Lady Arwen's beauty is peaking lately. When's she getting married?"
"Married? She's the next matron. The family's pride and most dignified woman. She'll just swap men every night."
"Think so? Hm?"
One sentry, mid-chat, tilted his head at the front.
"What's up?"
"No, that rock island over there."
The sentry pointed to a rock island.
It blended perfectly with the sea, as if there since primordial times.
But the sentry felt something off and cocked his head.
"That island... Doesn't it seem closer than this morning?"
"What?"
Only then did the other narrow his brows suspiciously. Then, with a chilling expression, he asked back.
"Wait, when we landed on this coast, was there even a rock island like that to begin with?"
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