Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Dawn Ambush
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Crackle, crackle.
Staring at the blazing campfire, Raymond remained silent.
'Not yet...'
They had to move out soon, so they were resting without even setting up a temporary tent.
The pre-dawn wind was cold enough to cut into the skin, but Raymond didn't notice it at all.
"Captain, dawn is about to break."
"...Did it fail?"
It had been a difficult mission from the start.
Even if they arrived on time, there was no guarantee they'd find a shallow spot in the river.
And even if they did, crossing it would be another question.
"He's probably doing his best out there."
"From what we've seen of him so far, it's obvious. It failed, but there's no need to blame him."
Raymond spoke in response to Tyler's words.
There was some regret, but they had moved with failure in mind.
They would just proceed according to plan.
Raymond brushed off his seat and stood.
The moment dawn broke, the entire unit had to move.
They needed to arrive as quickly as possible to set up the ambush before the barbarian forces did.
"Alright, then the whole unit—"
But at that moment,
Pheeeeeew—!
A sudden sound echoed from far away.
Raymond's head snapped toward the source.
Tyler, standing beside him, widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Captain, that can't be...?"
"We're moving now! Find the location of that signal flare!"
* * *
Splash.
The moment he stepped into the river, a bone-chilling cold gripped his ankle.
Kyle clenched his lips and slowly waded in.
Squelch!
"Ugh!"
"Kyle!"
He stumbled momentarily on a rock underfoot, but quickly regained his balance and began crossing.
'The current is insane.'
It felt like a bull was charging from the left.
The powerful torrent made even a single step difficult, but that only made Kyle grin.
'Good thing I came.'
If their young squad leader had entered, he wouldn't have made it a few steps before being swept away.
They all knew, despite his tough act, that he gritted his teeth and endured to set an example for them.
"Urgh...!"
The river was about fifty meters wide.
A normal walk would take one or two minutes, but with the fierce current and the need to watch the riverbed, progress was slow.
The squad members holding the rope were on edge too.
"Stay sharp—anything could happen in an instant."
"You hold on tight. You've been slacking since earlier."
"What are you talking about!"
Brandt gripped the rope tighter and shouted.
In case Kyle slipped or the current overpowered him, the squad was on high alert.
Lian, standing nearby, fired lit arrows intermittently to illuminate Kyle's path.
It was a breathless wait.
After about ten minutes,
"I've crossed—!"
A roar like a bear's bellow cut through the darkness.
Lian clenched his fist at Kyle's shout piercing the night.
"Yes!"
"We did it! Success, squad leader!"
"Fire the signal flares now! Launch every one we have, one minute apart!"
"Yes, sir!"
Signal flares shot into the sky, and Lian pulled the rope Kyle had taken across, tying it to a stake.
Now they just waited for the main force.
"Hoo..."
Lian sat with the squad, gazing at the rising sun.
* * *
Saleron's lord, Baron Viertal, felt his mouth go dry.
The barbarians were already visible in the distance from the castle.
"Has the reinforcement army not arrived yet?"
"We got word from Temeron two days ago. They'll be here in half a day."
Just a thousand troops.
But if they didn't arrive on time, it would be the worst for Saleron.
The barbarians had arrived faster than expected.
Once the sun rose, their assault would begin in earnest.
Saleron's own forces couldn't hold them off.
"We have to buy time somehow. Keep them from advancing so the reinforcements can enter the castle."
...
Dior, the strategist, fell silent at Baron Viertal's words.
The situation was too dire for any clever schemes.
They had repaired the walls and set traps outside, but no one knew how much time that would buy.
At best, sharpened stakes at an angle to slow their advance, followed by archer fire for the first defense.
But without archers in the reinforcements, it would be pointless.
Saleron had fewer than thirty who could even draw a bow.
The tense standoff continued.
The barbarians set up temporary camps and lit fires to rest.
The choice was theirs anyway.
Garell stared silently at Saleron ahead.
He wanted to storm the castle now, but his warriors needed rest after the long march.
The cold intensified at nightfall.
No reason to fight through it when his hardy warriors could wait.
"Chief! No changes on their side!"
"How much food do we have left?"
"Some personal rations, but... practically none."
"When you wake, eat everything you have. Fill up before battle."
A prolonged fight favored the enemy.
While their foothold wasn't secure yet,
'End it quick and seize Saleron.'
Saleron was just a waypoint.
Plunder food here, then head south to take the kingdom's north.
By then, Damian's direct army would cross over.
"The real war with the kingdom begins."
It might even be a golden opportunity for them.
Artian Kingdom's internal affairs were a mess, their proud army weakened by power struggles.
"Once we breach Saleron's walls, the rest falls fast."
And those walls didn't look so high now.
Let them have this dawn's peace.
Come morning, a storm of blood would ravage Saleron.
* * *
Gripping the sturdy rope, Eagle Company crossed the river without issue.
Drenched to the bone, but it didn't matter.
"Captain, full crossing complete!"
Despite the rapids, not a single injury—perfect success.
Raymond stared at the opposite bank in disbelief.
'In just a few hours...'
Three hundred men across.
Impossible, yet it happened.
"This pace saves us at least two days."
"No complacency—hurry. We can't predict their moves."
They had patterns on the southward barbarians, but not guaranteed.
Just do their best.
"Where's Lian?"
"With his squad. Formations are ready."
"Move out!"
At Raymond's command, Eagle Company raced toward Saleron.
* * *
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before battle, they beat the drums—a tradition of Garell's band.
It signaled attack prep.
"Th-they're comin' now...?"
"Give it hell on yer legs! How they gonna climb here!"
"If we break, we're all dead! Don't go soft—eat 'em alive!"
Wall soldiers gripped spears, lips tight.
Half were territory folk, no training, lifelong farmers.
Harsh, but
'I'll protect my family...!'
'Come on! I'll roast ya!'
Thud thud thud thud—
The ground shook as barbarians charged, hearts pounding.
When heartbeats rang clear in ears,
...?
"What's that?"
Fire suddenly blazed along the barbarians' flank, flames roaring toward warriors. Boom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
Explosions chained, screams as they fell.
"Gaaah!"
"Enemy! Enemy attack!"
"Where's it coming from!"
Garell panicked at the blasts, scanning around.
No attacks from Saleron yet.
No arrows—how explosions?
'M-mage?!"
Kingdom mage here?
He shook his head.
Why for northern Saleron?
Like sending a swordmaster for a minor skirmish.
No time to think.
Pheeeeeew—!
Dozens of flares launched post-blast.
A black mass appeared on their left flank.
"Slaughter every barbarian!"
"Now! Sweep them all!"
Red-eyed golden eagle banner.
Eagle Company's arrival shook Garell's eyes.
Two hundred? No, three hundred?
Outnumbered, but flank ambush overwhelmed.
"Handle the left flank enemy! They have nowhere to run or hide! Surround and kill them all! Saleron after!"
Garell shouted, turning. But not over.
"Waaaaah!"
"Kill them all!"
Roars from rear—over a thousand strong.
Where did they come from?
Then,
Screeeeech—!
Air-ripping whoosh—Garell ducked instinctively.
Bang!
Arrow pierced his helmet top, knocking it off.
Reeling, he glared at the source.
"...Kid?"
A small, slender man stood there.
Small, thin, but
"You bastard—!"
Those piercing eyes made Garell roar unwittingly.
"Hoo..."
Perfect chance, gone.
No matter.
It fixed his gaze on him.
'Wipe them out now...!'
Barbarian strength from strong leaders.
Pinned leader, subordinates scatter.
And now...!
"Come on, boss."
Capturing the enemy general's ankle was his job.
Lian nocked another arrow, glaring at Garell.