Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Strange Soldier
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Six set out on the mission.
Only two returned.
Even one of them was hovering between life and death.
"Medic! Hurry! We've got a critically wounded man!"
As soon as they arrived at the garrison, Ben was carried off on a stretcher.
His face was pale from excessive blood loss.
But he was still breathing.
'He has to survive.'
Damian watched his back for a moment.
Then he headed straight to the legion commander's tent.
Time was of the essence.
'What a mess.'
His entire body throbbed.
The aftermath of the fierce battle was, of course, tremendous.
But there was a sensation even sharper than the pain.
'Mana.'
Acquired mana sensitivity.
Ever since gaining that talent, the world had changed.
He still didn't know how to handle or accept it.
'Mission report first.'
Legion Commander Christian Veil's tent.
Damian stepped into the place that always hung heavy with tension.
Just like last time, all the key officers were gathered.
"Damian Winter of the 6th Legion's 1st Infantry Division, returning from mission complete."
A crisp salute.
All eyes turned to Damian.
"......I see."
The legion commander's gaze stopped at Damian's hand.
More precisely, at what he held.
Knight Aaron Holt's broken knight insignia.
And the dog tags of Marcus, Charles, and Bailey.
Mementos of his comrades, grabbed in the heat of the moment.
"Knight Aaron Holt and three scouts were killed in action."
A calm report.
But its weight was anything but light.
"Even Aaron......"
The legion commander's eyes flickered faintly.
He had lost his son Arger, and now his loyal knight Aaron too.
The officers couldn't hide their somber expressions either.
"Continue your report."
The legion commander composed himself and gave the order.
He had returned to the form of a cool-headed commander.
"First, the large-scale Imperial Army movement spotted in the Black Forest...... was a fake."
"What? A fake?"
"It looked like a massive force assembling on the surface, but in reality, it was little more than a scarecrow unit filled with mercenaries and conscripts. Their discipline was a mess, and from direct combat, their fighting strength was pathetic."
Damian continued his report.
"However, there was a 'real' one watching them. An Imperial Sword User."
Sword User.
That term froze the air in the tent.
The cause of the four scouts' deaths, no doubt.
"Knight Aaron Holt and the team fell in battle with him."
"Then how did you make it back alive? Did you take down that Sword User?"
"Knight Aaron Holt gave his life to create an opening. Thanks to him, I landed a fatal blow, and after a chaotic melee, I barely managed to finish him off."
The truth, backed by witness Ben.
Everyone stared at Damian in silence.
'This guy again.'
The rookie's unbelievable achievements.
A chilling level of survivability.
"I can gauge the situation."
The legion commander rose from his seat.
He moved to the large map.
"A double deception operation, clearly."
Anger laced his voice.
"The Black Forest army was bait. A ploy to sow confusion."
Spread rumors that the east was in danger.
Meanwhile, station a seemingly massive force in the north, but secretly.
Make the scouts panic from afar and report 'the Imperial Guard has come themselves.'
"Make it seem like we've seen through their scheme, forcing us to defend the north to the end—a double bluff."
So what was the Empire's real goal?
"The east, ultimately!"
Chief of Staff Herad stepped forward.
"They're feigning an attack on the north to make a play in the east. If they pin down our 6th Legion here and throw everything at the eastern front, the capital will be in danger!"
His voice grew urgent.
"We need to head south right now! Take the entire 6th Legion and reinforce the eastern front!"
The other officers nodded in agreement.
It seemed the most logical choice.
But.
"No."
The legion commander shook his head firmly.
"That's exactly what they want."
His eyes gleamed sharply.
"If we head south now, the north will be left empty. The Empire won't miss that gap. They've laid the groundwork for flexibility."
The moment they turned east.
The empty north would fall to the Empire.
An enormous risk.
"Then what should we do?"
A difficult situation.
As everyone struggled for an answer.
The legion commander spoke.
"Not south."
His gaze shifted to the northern border on the map.
Toward Ironpole Empire territory.
"We advance."
"......Pardon?"
The officers doubted their ears.
What did he just say?
Advance north?
"The 6th Legion crosses the Empire's border and advances."
A shocking order.
The tent buzzed.
L-Le-Legion Commander! That's insane!"
Chief of Staff Herad cried out in alarm.
"Advancing with our current forces alone? We could get cut off and isolated! Isolated without supplies, we'd be annihilated in no time!"
A natural backlash.
To anyone, it was a reckless plan.
Suicide.
"Of course I know."
The legion commander didn't waver.
"That it's difficult."
Calmer than expected.
And his voice.
"But this is the only way."
He pointed at the map.
"We target each other's capitals. At least make them believe that."
"......!"
"If they threaten our capital, we threaten theirs. The more we smash their fake army and push into the Empire's heart, the more pressure they'll feel. They'll have to pull back some eastern forces or rethink their plans."
A gamble.
The one strategy to flip the board.
"The only move to aid the eastern front, defend the capital, and hold the north."
Resolute will burned in his eyes.
No more debate.
"Order to all troops."
The legion commander issued the final command.
"Prepare to advance north. Sweep away the rabble in the Black Forest and cross the border."
The tide of war had shifted.
Immediately after the strategy meeting ended.
The legion commander issued a separate order.
"Assemble thirty elites."
The selected soldiers accordingly.
Veterans among veterans in the 6th Legion.
Damian Winter was among them.
'What's this about?'
The thirty soldiers gathered in the tent.
A chilling tension hung in the air.
"Everyone's here."
The legion commander surveyed them.
"From this moment, I assign you a very special and crucial mission."
He pulled out a thick stack of documents.
Exactly thirty sealed letters.
"Deliver these sealed orders to Eastern Front Command. Notify them of our northern advance and the Empire's double deception. A mission on which this war's fate hangs."
A simple courier mission.
But its importance was incomparable.
"It won't be easy."
The legion commander's expression grew grave.
"They'll try to intercept and kill every messenger we send. With elite trackers infiltrating."
Information blockade.
That was the Empire's goal.
"To counter that, you move out at staggered times and routes."
The legion commander paused briefly.
Then added firmly.
"Even one success. Make it happen."
An order premised on twenty-nine deaths.
Yet no one wavered.
They knew the mission's gravity.
"Yes, sir!"
As they turned to disperse at the dismissal.
"Damian Winter, stay behind."
The legion commander called him.
"Yes, Legion Commander."
"Sorry to do this to you."
An apology.
And a bitter smile.
Both felt genuine.
"You barely made it back alive, and now I'm sending you into the jaws of death again."
"It's fine. Just doing my duty as a kingdom soldier."
The model answer crafted by 'Eloquent Speech'.
"You're a strange soldier."
Those words carried layers of meaning.
A rookie's sudden rise.
Expectations and suspicions alike.
"I'm betting on that strangeness again this time."
Damian Winter's luck, or skill.
It had even felled an Imperial Sword User.
At this point, he had to trust it.
"Succeed, no matter what. Damian Winter."
"I shall obey."
Damian bowed his head.
Another heavy mission assigned.
Damian's assigned departure was dawn the next day.
With staggered starts, he had some personal prep time.
'Gotta fix the armor and sword first.'
The battle with the Sword User had wrecked his gear.
But there was a stop before that.
'The medical tent.'
Damian headed there.
A space filled with herbal scents and groans.
"Where's Squad Leader Ben?"
"That way inside. He pulled through the worst."
Guided by the medic, he entered the inner tent.
Ben lay there.
"......You're here."
Ben opened his eyes with effort.
His face was still pale, but his mind was clear.
"How's the body?"
"As you see, not dead yet."
A gruff reply.
"Thanks to you."
His gaze went to his bandaged thigh.
"Stupid bastard. Safer to just let me die."
His eyes turned serious.
The rational choice.
Common in war.
"......"
Damian didn't answer.
He just looked at Ben silently.
'I don't know either.'
Why he saved him.
As Ben said, abandoning him would've been easier.
Would've secured the mission and even gained abilities.
"I just wanted to."
Damian answered dryly.
At that moment, that's what he wanted.
That was all.
"Wanted us both to return alive."
"......Ha."
Ben laughed hollowly.
"You're truly unfathomable."
He looked straight at Damian.
"Heard the story. Courier mission, right?"
"Yes."
"Dangerous. Odds of returning alive are less than half."
"Figured as much."
"Survive, no matter what."
Strength entered his voice.
"I owe you my life. Gotta give you a chance to collect."
Encouragement in true Ben fashion.
"Understood. I'll return alive."
"Good."
As Damian turned to leave the tent.
Ben's voice came from behind.
"Thanks, Damian."
Sincere gratitude.
Damian nodded instead of replying.
"Damian!"
Outside the medical tent.
Familiar faces appeared.
Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division.
"Heard you got an important mission?"
Veteran Jackson approached.
"Yeah."
"Man, a hero from our squad!"
Jackson clapped Damian's shoulder.
Different from before.
Acknowledgment and trust as comrades.
"Be careful. Don't get cocky and die."
"Come back alive, and we'll get properly drunk."
"Yeah, never shared a beer with the rookie."
The surrounding soldiers chimed in.
Eyes filled with worry and expectation.
"I'll return alive, no doubt."
Dawn.
Before the darkness fully lifted.
Damian exited the garrison's south gate.
Alone on a perilous journey.
'Now it begins.'
The feel of the Black Viper leather armor.
Dawn at his waist.
The flow of mana he sensed.
'I'll survive.'
And grow stronger.
Strong enough that mere survival isn't the goal.
Damian's eyes gleamed coldly in the darkness.