Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion
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“What? This absurd shit happened in just this short time...?”
“...It seems the Keren group operating on the outskirts of Boreol has been completely wiped out too.”
Boom!
“So what the hell were you doing until then! When those bastards were all banding together, were we just twiddling our thumbs?!”
Jexter of the Black Ogre Band couldn’t hide his rage.
In just over a fortnight, only two bandit groups remained out of the dozen or so that had been in Boreol—including their own.
Even they had taken the first hit, so they couldn’t even assert proper authority.
‘That idiot Rialkan...!’
Rialkan had gone missing after leaving with a hundred subordinates.
No—he’d been captured and handed over to the kingdom.
If so, he’d probably be dragged to some labor camp up north and forced to toil until he dropped dead.
Grind!
Jexter ground his molars tight.
He had no idea where it had all gone wrong...
“It might actually be for the best.”
“...What?”
At his deputy Rolf’s words, deep wrinkles furrowed Jexter’s brow.
His fierce glare seemed to warn that one wrong word could mean big trouble.
Rolf continued, looking at Jexter.
“Weren’t there too many?”
“Too many of what?”
“Guys doing the same shit in this tiny patch of land. Sure, they acknowledged us to avoid pointless squabbles, but honestly, as their numbers grew, there was less for us to take, wasn’t there?”
“Hmm?”
Rolf’s words drew an intrigued expression from the other deputy, Jekalin, who sat across from them.
“Still, wasn’t it easier collecting tribute from them?”
“Fuck that, easier my ass. It was just a drag. We barely get that satisfying kill anymore, like back in the old days when we’d stab ‘em deep!”
Rolf scowled as he spoke.
He was usually bad at controlling his emotions and pretty violent, but his point held real weight this time.
Jexter fell silent, pondering Rolf’s words.
“Hmm... So you’re saying we should just go back to the old ways?”
“Not better or worse—just that it’s an option. And it’s not like the boss needs to step in personally, right?”
Rolf wasn’t thrilled about having to hold back on the slaughter in their current situation.
At least the tribute had drawn in other disgruntled bandits, giving him some action,
“But why not clean house now and start fresh? This crisis could turn into an opportunity.”
“I agree with Deputy Rolf this time.”
Even the usually calm Jekalin was on board, leaving Jexter no room to outright refuse.
Jexter let out a small breath, clenching and unclenching his fist—a habit when he was deep in thought.
Soon, having sorted his thoughts, he asked Jekalin,
“Can we find them?”
“No need to seek them out. They’ll come to us first anyway.”
Jexter sighed softly and nodded at Jekalin’s response.
“I don’t like it... but you’re right.”
It felt like slamming on the brakes, but as Rolf said, it could be a chance turning point.
Absorb the remaining bandit group first to replace their losses.
Then, when those damn fools came charging in without a clue...
“Alright, let’s reset this place from scratch.”
A bit premature, but not a bad time for a purge.
At Jexter’s words, his two deputies grinned.
Now the real war would begin.
* * *
Whoooosh—
The barren plain was empty, but scattered trees dotted the landscape, filling the void somewhat.
They’d already been on the move like this for weeks.
They hastily pitched tents of cloth and branches to shield from wind and rain each time, but the near-camping life wore everyone down.
Even so, Lian encouraged those holding up well and climbed a tall nearby tree.
Scouts tracked the remaining bandits’ movements, but he always kept watch from on high to guard against surprises.
Just then, a voice called from below.
“Sir Lian!”
It was Herilda.
Lian looked down, and she tilted her head back to meet his gaze.
He cocked his head curiously, and she gestured for him to come down.
He dropped down promptly and asked her,
“What’s up?”
“Come rest. You’ll collapse like this.”
Lian smiled faintly at her words.
She was the only one who came checking on him like this every time.
Others cared too, but something made them hesitate to approach.
Herilda said to him,
“You haven’t slept much lately. What if you crash when we really need to fight?”
True, Lian had barely slept these past few days.
Nights were spent raiding nearby bandit camps for battles, days moving with the group and watching from trees so they could rest.
But he shook his head, glancing toward the others.
“They’re suffering more than me. This mobile life isn’t what they’re used to.”
Staying put was risky, so weeks of near-camping on the move.
Herilda shook her head.
“I don’t think so.”
“...?”
She turned toward the group, a small smile playing on her lips as she eyed Lian’s puzzled look.
“Out of the years here, this is the happiest time.”
Forced into this neutral zone, they’d come seeking escape from hell for something better—but it was hell here too.
Bandits attacking daily, wild beasts raiding when hunger struck.
Day to day was a desperate fight for survival.
“And the saddest part was knowing we could never escape this hell on our own.”
Going to the kingdom meant getting bled dry by taxes anyway.
“For burnouts like us to do something ourselves—it’s meaningful in itself.”
“...I see.”
It suddenly made sense.
Herilda beamed at Lian’s words.
“So we don’t find it tough now. Like you said, we’re just curious about the changes after this ends.”
“You’ve really committed.”
“Yeah, at first I couldn’t wrap my head around it.”
Clearing the place in a month? Hard to buy.
Especially since Lian just looked like a young guy with nothing to his name.
But after a fortnight with him, her mind had changed completely.
She didn’t know what unit he came from, but he was worth following, regardless.
“There are only two bandit groups left now.”
“But the Black Ogre Band is more dangerous than all the others combined.”
They were the endgame anyway.
Blocking their first attack had been a fluke of multiple factors aligning.
Now they’d scouted their moves and were moving cautiously with forces massed.
‘They’re hunting us, and we’re hunting their gaps.’
That’s why they kept mobile in this not-so-vast neutral zone.
Finding their weakness came first.
Then,
“Sir Lian!”
A man came panting up, calling him.
One of the scouts he’d sent out.
“What’s wrong?”
“The Black Ogre Band is on the move.”
“Toward us?”
If so, they’d need to relocate fast. Fighting them now required shifting to advantageous ground.
He shook his head.
“Not us... toward the bandit group we targeted next.”
“...!”
Herilda’s eyes flickered at that.
Those haughty bastards moving there? Only one reason.
“We have to stop them. If the Black Ogre Band grows stronger, it’ll be bad for us in the fight.”
She was spot on, and it’d make the later battles hell.
But at her words, a thick smile spread across Lian’s face.
‘Finally making a move?’
Honestly, he’d hoped they’d act sooner.
Their hunkering down had been a bit unsettling...
“They’ve jumped into the fire themselves.”
“...Huh?”
Herilda tilted her head at his cryptic words.
If their power swelled unchecked, it could turn dangerous for them.
So why was he smiling?
Lian told her,
“Send non-combatants to the safe zone like we planned, and gather everyone who can fight.”
“What’s the plan?”
She asked, and he replied,
“Do you know why I didn’t hit the Black Ogre Band from the start?”
“Because they’re strong, obviously.”
The biggest bandit group in neutral-zone Boreol.
Not just numbers—their boss and deputies were seriously skilled.
Hitting them before clearing the rest risked getting hit from behind.
“So we eliminate that threat first, right?”
“Half right. But you missed the biggest reason.”
“What’s that?”
“Their position.”
Regrettably, the Black Ogre Band held terrain hellish for attackers.
Arrowhead Unit troopers could bulldoze it without a care.
But leading ordinary folk—lacking tactics or skill—into an unfair fight was suicide.
“Taking them down matters. But winning without losses matters more.”
A fight stacked with disadvantages.
So Lian had been ultra-cautious.
“As surrounding bandits fall one by one, they’ll get desperate.”
He’d hoped they’d snap sooner, but better late than never.
‘Means they saw us as easy pickings.’
Would they if facing proper soldiers?
Nah, powerless burnouts banding together? How tough could they be?
Lian told Herilda,
“Now it’s time for that final battle you’ve been waiting for.”
Herilda’s face hardened with resolve.