Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Betrayal Before Dawn
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The Duke of the Golden Eyes and commander, Nix Robey Sulla, lay awake reviewing the plans for tomorrow's assault on Daimerit.
Even commanding a massive force of 18,000, having the enemy right in front of him was nerve-wracking.
Moreover, Robey had never experienced a war on this scale.
The only battles I've fought were crushing small groups of traitorous sub-species before they could even band together, using our well-trained Nix soldiers who vastly outnumbered them.
Those weren't battles requiring tactics.
Superior soldier quality, numbers, and intelligence made it straightforward.
Throwing troops in at the optimal moment usually led to the rebels surrendering.
In fact, when dealing with local lords' rebels, letting it escalate to actual combat just to minimize casualties often drew criticism from other lords for poor handling.
The only times I've used anything resembling tactics were against Yekgwa, Danyeom, and those Blackrin bastards.
Blackrin, the clear enemy state, shared borders with Yekgwa and Danyeom, leading to sporadic clashes despite not being full-scale wars.
Especially Renar, the general leading the Yekgwa forces, was known for frequently clashing with Blackrin's armies.
He was the one who recaptured the "Red Fortress," which Yekgwa had built to watch the wasteland, after it fell to Blackrin's lizardmen.
I'm glad to have him by my side.
Robey couldn't help but tense up hearing that Danyeom had suffered heavy losses despite commanding 30,000 troops.
Even the seasoned Yubaem Dolan general had been crushed by Blackrin, so Robey knew he might suffer the same fate.
Especially with Blackrin's scheming forces right next door.
The assumption that they'd just hunker down behind the walls didn't sit right with him.
No matter how thoroughly he ordered reconnaissance, he couldn't relax.
But thanks to the oracle, Tobe and I can watch each other's backs.
They hadn't fully merged forces due to chain-of-command issues, but with their camps nearly touching, they could shrink recon ranges and redirect saved resources to probe weak spots more thoroughly.
Exchanging intelligence between commanders was a huge bonus too.
Maybe that's why nothing's happened yet today. If this holds, we can start the siege as soon as Mangul's army arrives.
Daimerit's walls were famous, but Danyeom rebels had joined their ranks and provided ways to breach them.
The waterways were lightly guarded, and the western wall was so dilapidated that cannon fire might collapse it easily.
If the intel holds, victory might come easier than expected. Not sure if those stubborn lizards will give up easily... but at least we can reclaim Daimerit from Blackrin's grasp and restore Danyeom.
Robey's chest swelled with anticipation of victory.
Then a soldier rushed into Robey's tent.
"Commander! Are you there?"
"What is it?"
The soldier bowed deeply and reported.
"The Yekgwa forces are stirring up a commotion, so I thought you should know..."
"What do you mean? Explain in detail."
"The Yekgwa forces... are preparing for battle."
"Preparing for battle?"
Robey jumped in alarm and pressed for more.
"Any movement from Daimerit?"
"Uh, I don't know. Fellow Baron sent me..."
"He's probably checking. If not, tell him to. Come back once confirmed."
"Yes, sir!"
Robey frowned.
If Daimerit was moving and Yekgwa spotted it but Golden Eyes missed it, that screamed recon failure.
Another soldier entered the tent entrance.
"Commander, I have news."
"What?"
"General Tobe Volko of Yekgwa is heading this way."
As the words finished, the elderly Renar general, barely reaching chest height to the Nix, stepped inside.
It was Tobe Volko.
"What brings you here?"
"Sorry for the ruckus."
Tobe Volko said.
"Our spies report movement from Daimerit."
"Spies... you say?"
Robey sighed in relief.
Good, not a recon issue.
Golden Eyes couldn't match Yekgwa on spies—they were too far away, while Yekgwa had infiltrated both Daimerit and Orazon.
They had to rely on Yekgwa for that.
But in another sense, Robey tensed.
The whole Yekgwa army moving meant Blackrin in Daimerit was on the move too.
"What kind of movement?"
"Luckily, fortune favors us."
"Fortune?"
Robey's ears perked up eagerly.
Tobe Volko continued.
"There are Danyeom rebels inside Daimerit too."
"Besides the 2,000 who joined us? But they said no more rebels left inside."
"They wouldn't know. These are the noble faction rebels. Not many in number, but in Danyeom, 'noble' means private troops."
"Oh ho."
Tobe Volko went on.
"Anyway, with their private soldiers, it's about 500. Small number, but enough to do plenty."
"Hm, like what, for example?"
"Seizing one of Daimerit's gates?"
Robey said.
"Really? Is that possible?"
"Not easy. Especially once the sun rises and Mangul arrives—Blackrin will reinforce all gates against assault."
"True."
Tobe Volko smiled.
"So we move before then."
Only then did Robey understand the Yekgwa troops mobilizing.
"Then we...?"
"No. We're targeting the east gate. Rebels say it's lightly manned and poorly defended. Probably because it's opposite us. We'll move fast, cross the ridge before dawn, and hit the east gate."
"Ah, then we attack the west gate—closest to Mangul—once they arrive."
Tobe clapped his hands.
"Exactly. Pincer attack."
Robey nodded.
"Dawn as the signal?"
"Mangul should arrive by then, right?"
"Yes, perfect."
Tobe bowed to leave but turned back.
"Oh, almost forgot. This is why I stopped by."
"What?"
"To cross the ridge to the east gate quickest, we need to pass between Golden Eyes tents. Also fools Blackrin's eyes nicely."
"Ah, by all means."
"Thanks."
Tobe Volko left the tent beaming.
Back in his own tent, Tobe addressed his generals.
Some looked resolved; others hesitant.
One Renar general cautiously raised a hand.
"General Tobe, we proceed as planned?"
"Yes. It's settled. Confirmed noble and command tents haven't swapped."
Another general spoke.
"Is this... truly the right thing?"
Tobe scoffed.
"'Right' you say?"
"Yes."
"What of the Transformation Fruit?"
The general pulled a fruit from his pocket.
"Why haven't you eaten it?"
"...I haven't resolved myself yet."
"Hmph, it's not lack of resolve. Eat it first."
"I..."
"Now!"
Urged by Tobe, the general popped the fruit in his mouth.
He blinked in surprise at the taste.
"How's the flavor?"
"I've never tasted anything so sweet and delicious."
"Good. Remember that taste."
Tobe said.
"'Not right'? Doesn't matter. It's not your will. It's our god's. Manjeol has already decided. Everything is planned; we merely awaken to it late. Our ignorance at the crossroads... is to await divine will."
Tobe exited the command tent, generals following.
The Yekgwa army led by General Tobe Volko marched through the Golden Eyes camp.
A few Golden Eyes sentries, already tipped off, let them pass; soldiers woken mid-sleep and stumbling out stared in shock or bleary confusion.
Tobe strode into the Golden Eyes command tent.
Robey and other commanders greeted him smiling.
"Off already? Wishing you blessings."
"Thanks."
Tobe smiled too, drew a dagger from his bosom, and plunged it straight into Robey's heart.
The Golden Eyes commanders blinked puzzled as Robey's back jerked.
Tobe shouted.
"Attack!"
Yekgwa troops began slaughtering the Danyeom rebels mingled with Golden Eyes camps.
The three gods gathered urgently.
Changwan arrived last.
Changwan asked Krampus.
"Contact with Runda?"
"No response."
"No idea where?"
"Dunno. Not far, probably."
"Why think that?"
AR1026 sporadically worked miracles amid his assaulted troops.
But they were constantly countered.
Runda was hiding somewhere, matching AR1026's miracles.
AR1026 muttered.
"Have to admit it."
Krampus and Changwan fell silent.
It left a bitter taste.
Krampus summoned Wisdom.
When he explained, Wisdom seemed calm, but Changwan knew it was an illusion.
No facial expressions, after all.
"Damn it!"
Changwan said.
"We gods must intervene. Send down creations and wipe them out..."
"No!"
Wisdom's shout halted Changwan.
"Why?"
"Didn't you just say Yekgwa succeeded in the surprise attack? And now—checking—Daimerit's gates are opening, Blackrin troops pouring out."
"That's why I'm pushing my forces at full speed. If they clash..."
"You'll lose!"
Changwan nearly retorted but bit his lip.
Hard to refute Wisdom's prediction.
Golden Eyes was already routed from within.
Soldiers fleeing without looking back—half surviving would be lucky.
As an expeditionary force in enemy territory without supply and key commander lost, losses would be worse.
Above all, Changwan had the lowest divinity here.
No confidence even intervening could beat Nebula.
"Then what?"
"Did we screw up? Yes. Who could've known a traitor? But defeated? No."
"But..."
"Changwan. This isn't the end. We have the second expeditionary force. Another chance. Maybe more. Time reveals Nebula wants a quick war. Makes sense—all nations total war, Blackrin gains no trade. Time favors us. Recall your troops. Blackrin cavalry will pursue. Run to Golden Eyes border."
AR1026 nearby shook his head.
"What about us? Abandon the army?"
"...Yes. Already routing, right? Whether you call it retreat..."
"No. To save as many as possible, I must intervene."
AR1026's eyes were resolute.
Changwan understood.
Betrayal from trusted allies cuts deep.
Can't just take it and wait for next time.
As Wisdom moved to speak, Krampus cut in.
"Sorry, I must intervene too."
"Krampus."
"I've only 2,000 left. Got to struggle."
"Daimerit isn't all of Danyeom."
Krampus interrupted.
"Not all, but most. Hand it over like this, and satyr-led ops are done."
"We can always pivot."
"But we'll lag. Have to abandon Yekgwa border zones too."
"But..."
"Talk later."
Krampus cut the connection unilaterally.
Krampus told Changwan.
"What about you? Helping?"
Changwan anxiously watched the battle—no, massacre—then looked up.
"I..."