Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Winds of Change
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"Instead, I'll grant you something far more tangible as a reward."
At the legion commander's signal, his adjutant brought something over.
'Armor?'
To be precise, it was black leather armor. It looked light and flexible even at a glance.
"This is armor made from black viper hide."
Black viper. The name might make you think of a mere snake, but the reality was different. A predator of the western deserts stretching fifteen meters long. Armor made from the hide of such a monster would surely aid survival immensely.
"I bestow this upon you, Damian Winter. I expect great things from you going forward."
"This humble soldier is deeply grateful for such an excessive honor, Legion Commander."
Dawn, and now Black Viper Leather Armor. A solid combination was complete.
After Damian left the tent.
"He's a soldier full of surprises in many ways."
Knight Aaron Holt spoke up.
"That's exactly why he makes me suspicious."
It was understandable. He was exceptionally talented. A farmer-turned-conscript, only two months into his service, acting like a well-trained spy.
"Suspicious, you say."
The legion commander slowly turned his body. His gaze was as cold as ice.
"Do we have anything solid to go on right now?"
His eyes scanned the officers in the tent.
"Amid countless anxieties, suspicions, and guesses, the one certain thing is that Damian Winter, that soldier, is outstanding."
His voice carried cool-headed judgment.
"We just need to make use of that talent."
If he continued to perform? It would prove his loyalty as a soldier. That was the legion commander's conclusion.
"I agree with the Legion Commander. No need to make a fuss over a single soldier. We're the 6th Legion, not some backwater territory guard."
Officer Elias Gunther stepped forward.
"More importantly, we need to view the war situation with unprecedented seriousness."
His expression remained consistently grave.
"Look at today's incident. Imperial scouts penetrated deep into our encampment."
The atmosphere in the tent grew even heavier at his words.
"They're checking how much damage we've taken, if we've reorganized, if the main force has support—before resuming battle."
"And that's not all."
Elias unrolled a map. It showed the eastern front.
"The situation on the eastern front seems far from normal."
To be precise, he pointed to the Red River basin.
"Intel reports a massive imperial force assembling near the Red River. And... rumors even say the emperor himself is leading the charge."
The emperor's personal command. That meant an all-out imperial offensive.
"The emperor on the eastern front?"
The officers gasped in shock.
"Doesn't that mean the empire's main force is in the east? If the eastern front collapses, the capital will be in danger!"
"Depending on the situation, our 6th Legion might have to march south! Even if it means abandoning the northern front..."
"No."
The legion commander shook his head firmly.
"That's precisely what they're after."
His eyes gleamed sharply.
"Exaggerating the eastern threat to scatter our attention and lure us into rash moves."
As long as the 6th Legion held the north, the empire couldn't win the war.
"The rumors of the emperor in the east, the great host at the Red River—they could all be deceptions. We need to discern their true intentions."
Legion Commander Christian looked at Aaron.
"Sir Aaron."
"Yes, Legion Commander."
"Assemble our own scouting team this time."
An eye for an eye, a scout for a scout.
"We need to confirm what they're plotting ourselves."
The weight of war pressed down on them all.
It started exactly that day. When everything began to change.
"Hey, Damian."
"That armor—real black viper hide, huh?"
"Man, it's shiny. Stuff like this, guys like us could never even dream of touching."
Just days ago, they'd looked down on Damian with contempt. But not anymore.
"Whoa, the feel of this is no joke."
"This thing would bounce arrows right off."
Before long, soldiers gathered around. Their eyes drifted to Damian's waist.
"And that sword. You're basically a knight now."
"Stirring up a fuss every dawn paid off big time, huh?"
"Haha..."
The soldiers chimed in one after another. Damian just smirked.
'Not bad.'
Along with the welcome winds of change, they naturally fell into casual talk.
"Man, when's this damn war gonna end?"
One soldier grumbled. Heavy topic.
"It should be over soon, right? It's been quiet since they retreated last time..."
"Over? This is just the beginning."
Veteran Jackson shot back.
"The empire's coming at us full force. Word is their emperor's personally leading."
"Damn bastard. Should've stayed put in their own lands—why covet ours?"
"Obvious. Our granary regions near the border—they want to swallow them whole."
Ironpole Empire. The mighty nation on the barren northern lands. They'd always coveted Coldwood Kingdom's bounty.
"Speaking of, you all hear the rumors?"
Jackson glanced around warily before murmuring.
"Eastern front got totally smashed."
"What? For real?"
"The east... isn't that a huge problem?"
The soldiers' faces hardened.
"They're hushing it up, but seems legit. Our 6th Legion's barely holding. They say the empire's pushed all the way to the Red River basin on the eastern front."
Red River. The massive river crossing the kingdom's east. If it fell, the capital Faerspeta would be at risk.
'It's serious.'
Damian got the gist. He'd been focused on immediate survival, but the war's scale was bigger than expected.
"So what happens to us?"
"If even our northern front crumbles..."
Jackson trailed off, his face saying he didn't even want to imagine it.
"We might really get pushed all the way to the capital."
Gloomy mood. Right then—
"Pushed to the capital? Who's spouting that bullshit?!"
A booming voice. The man arrived with a ferocious aura.
"S-Squad Leader!"
The soldiers jumped to attention. Ben, leader of the 1st Infantry Division's 3rd Squad. He stood there, arms crossed, glaring at them.
"You lazy shits. All you do when you gather is whine like that?"
The reprimand rained down.
"Know what's the most dangerous thing on the battlefield? Groundless rumors and defeatism! The guys who buy into that crap die first! Got it?!"
The soldiers bowed their heads. He wasn't wrong.
"Don't believe the empire's bullshit rumors. Don't get swayed. As long as the northern front holds and our 6th Legion stands, Coldwood won't fall."
His voice rang with conviction. Loyalty to the kingdom dripped from every word.
"So instead of yapping nonsense, swing your sword one more time!"
"Y-Yes! Understood, Squad Leader!"
The mood straightened in an instant. A true veteran squad leader.
"Tch."
Ben clicked his tongue, then turned to Damian.
"Damian."
"Yes, Squad Leader."
"Come with me. We've got a mission."
Mission. Damian's heart raced. The moment he'd been waiting for had arrived.
"What kind?"
"Simple. Our turn this time."
Ben answered curtly. His eyes were sharper than usual.
"Scouting mission."
Scouting. Infiltrating deep into enemy lines to gather intel.
'Finally.'
A smile tugged at Damian's lips. A chance to devour new abilities.
Central tent. The operations command post. A heavy tension hung inside.
'Familiar faces.'
Knight Aaron Holt. He examined the map with a grave expression. And unfamiliar faces surrounding him.
'None of them are ordinary.'
Sharp gazes, controlled movements. Veterans among veterans who'd seen countless battlefields. A different kind of strength from the 1st Infantry Division.
"You're here."
Knight Aaron Holt looked up.
"No time. Let's start the briefing."
He unrolled the map.
"Our target is here: the Black Forest."
Black Forest. The name alone felt ominous.
"Recently, massive imperial troop movements were spotted in this area."
His gaze swept over the assembled members.
"Our mission is to infiltrate the Black Forest and ascertain the enemy's movements."
What was the nature of this large force? Where from, where to? Which front were they targeting?
"I'll lead the scouting team myself this time."
Aaron Holt stepping up personally. That showed how critical the mission was.
"And the team members for the mission..."
Aaron surveyed the gathered personnel.
"The six of us here, including me."
Some members' eyes widened.
'Even that rookie?'
A natural reaction. A conscript of barely over two months, and Damian Winter was included?
'No way.'
Especially the scout soldiers' faces soured. They weren't pleased a rookie was intruding on their specialty.
"...Sir Holt."
One spoke up cautiously. Marcus Sinclair, veteran of the 2nd Scout Platoon.
"I'm not questioning your judgment, Sir Holt, but bringing a rookie is too risky, isn't it? This mission demands utmost stealth and speed. Even if he racked up merits taking down those scouts last time..."
Open opposition. But Aaron was firm.
"The legion commander approved it."
The legion commander's approval. Marcus shut his mouth at that.
"And I agreed."
Aaron's gaze turned to Damian.
"Squad Leader Ben, who watched him closest, agreed too."
Legion commander, Aaron Holt, and Ben. Unanimous selection by three.
"Any other objections?"
"...None."
"Good. Prepare to depart now."
Knight Aaron Holt concluded. He issued the order with resolute eyes.
"We leave at midnight tonight."
The abilities gained from killing those three scouts. It was time for them to shine.