Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Fall of Kim Seohyeon
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Ita-in, covered head to toe in blood, approached and handed me his broadsword.
"Use this to cut him down."
I gripped the broadsword tight and shouted at Kim Seohyeon.
"Farewell, General!"
Whether he heard me or his strength finally gave out, Kim Seohyeon dropped his head. I swung the broadsword down on his pale nape, streaked with white hair, severing it in one clean stroke. Nausea surged up instantly.
"Urk... ugh!"
Kim Seohyeon's severed head tumbled forward. Ita-in swiftly scooped up the bloodied head and bellowed.
"We've beheaded Nangdang Commander Kim Seohyeon! Silla forces, surrender!"
The retainers and men echoed Ita-in's cry. The news of Kim Seohyeon's death and the call to surrender rippled through the air like an echo. Geom Mojam sighed and came up beside me.
"That was close. Nearly a disaster."
"Without you, it would've been."
"I was too late myself."
"Then what?"
Instead of answering, Geom Mojam pointed to Kim Seohyeon's slumped torso. A throwing blade like those used by ninjas was embedded in his back.
"If he hadn't staggered from that dart, I wouldn't have gotten to his side first."
Not an arrow, but a dart meant it had been thrown from very close range. The chaos of melee made it impossible to tell who. Of course, I had my suspicions.
"Your master, Channo?"
"Seems like it. Heard he infiltrated disguised as Silla troops."
"Not exactly deus ex machina."
"Pardon? What's that?"
"Oh, nothing."
I waved off Geom Mojam's question. No point trying to explain Latin to someone who didn't even speak Korean.
Kim Seohyeon's death tipped the scales of victory decisively. The Silla forces, who had been holding on, crumbled at the shout of his demise. They'd sensed something amiss from the rear and surged toward us. Seeing that, I yelled to Geom Mojam.
"Take our wounded and dead up to the hilltop. They're far outnumbered; a head-on clash is too risky."
"Understood. We'll bring Kim Seohyeon's body too."
As Geom Mojam issued orders, I looked at Ita-in.
"Thanks."
"Never dreamed we'd win like this. Truly impressive, sir."
Ita-in's admiring gaze felt burdensome.
"Just luck. Let's move, quick."
Meanwhile, Yang Man-chun griped about losing the fine steed he'd paid a fortune for. Godolbal stood dazed, clutching his blood-soaked curved sword. Despite his bravado, the shock seemed profound.
The Silla troops discarded weapons and banners, fleeing to our rear. Officers screamed at them to halt, but the momentum of defeat spread uncontrollably. Ango the General's men counterattacked, sparking fierce skirmishes.
"Incredible."
It was more brutal and wretched than any war film I'd seen. Our spearmen advanced in tight shield walls. The disorganized Silla ranks either fled or fought piecemeal, skewered by spears. No matter how fierce, they couldn't withstand dozens of thrusting points. Then Iri's Malgal horsemen reappeared like the wind.
"Kill them all!"
At Iri's shout, the Malgal riders charged. They closed in at breakneck speed on swift horses, loosing arrows or hurling javelins. Against solid formations, they had little impact. But now, with lines broken, it was different. Like eagles snatching rabbits, they plucked lives from the fray.
Amid the chaos, some Nangdang troops rallied without breaking ranks. Geom Mojam muttered at the sight.
"Worthy of Nangdang."
Shield walls clashed, devolving into a brief shoving match. But Goguryeo's overwhelming numbers soon pushed the Nangdang men back. Even as they resisted stubbornly, the Goguryeo troops suddenly raised their spears high.
"What're they doing?"
The spears arced up on command, then plummeted like clubs swung from overhead.
'Heard Sengoku pike units used something similar. Didn't expect to see it here.'
The falling spears whistled through the air. Though helmets and armor protected some, many Nangdang soldiers crumpled or collapsed. Raising shields overhead left them vulnerable to frontal thrusts; outnumbered, they couldn't cope. Finally, even the diehards dropped spears and raised hands. Organized resistance ended there.
Not a few Silla troops fled south along the coast. But many fell wounded or surrendered, weapons cast aside. Iri's Malgal cavalry dragged in droves of captives. The battlefield, moments ago alive with combat, now stank of blood amid corpses and moaning wounded. Our blood-soaked men stood frozen in shock. I raised Ita-in's bloodied broadsword high.
"We've won! Long live Goguryeo!"
"Long live Goguryeo!"
The survivors roared with all their might. Their thunderous cheers startled seabirds into flight from the surging waves. Then Godolbal shouted.
"Someone's coming."
He pointed toward the retreating Silla main force. A warrior in blue armor, spear at his side, galloped toward us at full tilt. He looked in his forties, but moved with uncanny agility.
"May I take him on?"
Godolbal's eagerness for glory made me chuckle.
"Fine. Don't get hurt."
"As if."
Godolbal charged with confident grin, curved sword raised. I moved toward the hill with Geom Mojam. He tilted his head.
"Strange."
"What?"
"Looks highborn, yet charging alone without retainers."
"True, he's in a real hurry. Cut off from his main body."
As we spoke, Godolbal clashed head-on with the blue-armored Silla officer. Metal spearheads rang out as they crossed paths. Geom Mojam murmured.
"That Silla warrior's no pushover."
"That bad?"
"Godolbal's the best spearman among the retainers. Yet he's handling him effortlessly."
As Geom Mojam said, the blue-armored Silla fighter matched Godolbal masterfully. Godolbal even seemed in peril at times. I worried he'd get hurt.
'This is just warm-up; the real game's barely started.'
In urgency, I asked Geom Mojam.
"How do we stop the fight?"
"Sound the gong for retreat. But Godolbal's pride won't let him back down."
"Pride over life?"
"For a warrior, yes."
His reply reminded me of the era's mindset.
"Still, too dangerous. Sound the gong. Or I'll go myself."
"Together, then."
Geom Mojam wheeled his horse, signaling a retainer with the gong. We rode side by side toward Godolbal. At Geom Mojam's gesture, the gong boomed. Sweat-drenched Godolbal shot a resentful glare.
"Master!"
"Silla main force is close. Too risky—fall back."
"I won't show my back to Silla scum."
"You've got bigger battles ahead. Retreat."
At my stern tone, Godolbal eyed his foe.
"I'm withdrawing on my master's order, not because I'm lacking."
The opponent nodded.
"Of course. Next time."
"Agreed."
They parted amicably. The Silla warrior could've struck as Godolbal turned but held honorably. As Godolbal rejoined me, the warrior eyed me.
"Who are you?"
"Yeon Namsaeng, eldest son of the Eastern Division Leader of Goguryeo."
"I am Kim Yushin, chief of Nangdang's Jungdang. Did you behead my father, Nangdang Commander Kim Seohyeon?"
His rage-filled voice chilled me like ice water.
'Kim Seohyeon and Kim Yushin were together?'
Speechless, I let Geom Mojam answer.
"Indeed. Our master took your father's head."
"How unjust! A son fails to shield his father—what recourse is there?"
His words mixed fury, grief, and resignation. Kim Yushin glared at me.
"You're my father's killer! I'll have your head to avenge him."
The name snapped me back. Geom Mojam stepped up.
"Fight me in his stead. I am Geom Mojam, his bodyguard!"
Then a horn wailed from the withdrawing Silla main body. Kim Yushin gnashed his teeth at the long blast.
"Infuriating. Leaving my father's body behind!"
It signaled retreat. As Kim Yushin turned, I called out.
"Meet here at dawn tomorrow."
"What?"
"We'll return General Kim Seohyeon's body."
Startled, he yanked his reins.
"Truly?"
"Yes. We'll talk then."
"Very well. I'll be there."
He spurred back to his retreating lines. Geom Mojam beside me asked.
"You're giving back the body?"
"Why not?"
"He's no mere general—he's Nangdang commander. Better take the head to Jang'an."
"What I'm bringing to Jang'an is my surviving men and victory. Nothing more."
Geom Mojam gazed admiringly. I clapped his shoulder.
"Let's go. You saved my neck today."
"Protecting you is my duty."
The Silla main force retreated south, leaving Ango the General's Goguryeo troops and the captured stragglers. Seeing them go, our soldiers raised hands in cheers. Merchants and sailors on Maemul Guild ships offshore waved and shouted joyfully.
Ango the General rode up. Blood stained his right arm. At my glance, he shrugged it off.
"Just a graze. Heard you took Nangdang Commander Kim Seohyeon's head?"
"Yes."
"Impressive. A few years back, he and his son crushed us at Nangbi Fortress. Stung my pride."