Chapter 126 – Deception (New Illustration Rough)
“Captain! It’s a big deal! A detached team investigating the disappearance of Raman village…!”
The commander of the 3rd Centurion, Sir Raoul, opened the door of the command post.
In his hand was a military communication artifact. It was something commonly referred to as a ‘signal’. At first glance, the lamp inside the small wooden box that looked like a compass was flickering with a faint red light.
—Blink!
It was clear what the signal meant. A serious crisis emerges, urgent support is desired.
It was an urgent situation.
‘Shit.’
I made a quick judgment, uttering a low curse in my heart.
The distance from here to Rahman village is not too far. Even considering the rugged mountain road, it wouldn’t take long if the knights ran with all their might.
… However, what if a force of only ten people encountered the mutant monsters they met yesterday?
To be honest, it was difficult to expect an optimistic outlook. No matter how quickly reinforcements arrive, there’s a high chance that misfortune has already occurred.
— Kwakak
I gritted my teeth to try not to think negatively at the anxiety creeping up on my skin. Even if the possibility is slim, I can never give up unless it is zero.
Then, pretending to be calm, he gave the order.
“Okay. So that we can send reinforcements right away. If you encounter an enemy in the middle, please report immediately.”
“Yes!”
Somehow, even though it was time to return, I still couldn’t get in touch…
The atmosphere at the top of the leadership suddenly became gloomy at the sudden sad news.
Even if the damage was small, it was definitely a battle in which deaths occurred. Because of this, it was a car that everyone was chewing on only a vague victory.
“This mission is not easy…”
“I agree. When something is going well, it creaks in another place. The flow of this mission is not very good.”
“This, the situation seems to be a bit serious. If you are a teenager, it is a force that can deal with a moderate group of monsters without difficulty. If the enemy they cannot handle goes to the frontier village in the mountains…”
“Last night’s night raid might just be a skirmish. There’s no way the monsters would be swarming around like this. Someone must be calling the monsters around here like Viscount Bartok.”
Centurions, each with a single word. To sum up their response in one word:
It wasn’t easy.
“Heaven, please give the light of hope to the lost lambs.”
Even Ophelia, who had been staring blankly at me with her hands clasped together in the calyx, corrected her posture at this moment and began to recite her prayers diligently.
I looked around the crowd once and then calmly changed the subject.
“Then, let’s discuss the final goal of this mission, the recapture and purification operation of Baron Argon. It was delayed because of the battle, but if it went according to plan, we would have already entered the situation.”
Because I couldn’t just sit there and worry.
It’s a harsh expression, but time is running out and there are too many things to do to be entangled in the crisis situation of the Byeoldongdae, which is only on the scale of ten people.
If it takes longer than this, you will be faced with a number of annoying challenges, including problems with morale and supply of your subordinates. This is something any sane commander wants to avoid.
It is better to finish the mission as quickly as possible. Especially when such a large army moves.
“If you have any opinions, feel free to share them. Oh, and you guys too.”
When I let go of my rhyme, the first to speak was Cardinal Malleus, who was quietly listening to the meeting with his arms crossed.
Originally, he had been half a step away from the party as an advisor and protector of the saintess, but when the situation began to take a turn for the worse, he began to actively step forward after the battle last night.
It was fortunately out of misfortune.
“Um, as a result of investigating Magi’s reaction by moving the Heretic Questioners separately… It is estimated that among the monsters, individuals with particularly strong demons are constantly roaming around the Argon Territory.”
“Then, if you enter the wrong way, you may be surrounded. This has become difficult.”
“Chuck… Personally, I think it’s okay to try to break through head-on with you and me as two wings. That would be too risky. Too bad.
I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the remarks of the Grand Inquisitor, who stroked his chin in frustration and mumbled half-jokingly and half-seriously.
Break through the front That’s my preferred method. It would be nice if everything could be solved so simply. As I lived, things in the world were not so easy.
Especially in practice. As I reflect on the countless experiences of seeing blood while installing trusting only in my strength, scars appear on my face and chest.
“I also want to just wipe them all out, but shouldn’t I consider the variables. The whereabouts of the captain object that Lord Fractal mentioned is also unclear.”
“Tsk. A demon with tentacles hanging around. An enemy that isn’t listed in any document. I hate demons like this. They change all the time.”
In times like these, you need to be more careful. The enemies have yet to reveal their core strength.
If you act rashly in a situation that is nothing more than a search battle, you will not be able to avoid failure.
“For now, how about approaching carefully? It wouldn’t be bad to slowly move the wires towards the Argon territory.”
“If things don’t work out, wouldn’t it be a good idea to retreat? We’ve already requested support, so a legion-sized force will arrive in a few days. The saintess’ safety is our top priority, so why take the risk? “
Like that, in the middle of a strategy meeting that was not very nutritious in a damp atmosphere for a long time.
—A jump!
“Captain! I’m the 3rd centurion commander! We’ve returned to the current time with the detached unit!”
A bright light began to shine through the dull gray haze.
As if the Heavenly God helped them, the Byeodongdae were not destroyed even after encountering mutant monsters.
Of course, there were many deaths, and most of the survivors were seriously injured, so they were immediately handed over to the priests.
Surprisingly, there were still people who could stand on their own two feet and report the situation.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on the female knight standing in front of the leadership with bandages wrapped around her.
“Chu, loyalty! I’m the rank knight Ruel!”
“It’s okay. Relax and explain slowly. It will be very difficult, but first, can you tell me the results of the investigation step by step?”
“Old! So, while investigating the whereabouts of the missing villagers. I rescued a herbalist who was on the verge of starvation in the nearby forest. But he was in very bad condition…”
First of all, the statements about the survivors found were quite gruesome.
Once alive. However, it is said that the herbalist, who had been healthy until his disappearance, was completely out of his mind and died after repeating the same sound over and over again.
‘Ah! Tower! Top! A tower built with corpses… !’
If you mentioned towers built with corpses, would you have witnessed human sacrifices unique to cultists?
Ordinary civilians would go crazy if they saw such a scene.
“Oh my gosh…”
“Oh, celestials. Salvation to poor souls.”
And, the detached team, which continued to search, had to face the attack of mutant monsters.
The next story was obvious. Everyone fought hard, but in the end, they were heavily overweight. Annihilation was inevitable. Up to this point, everyone nodded and listened.
However, the story of a heroine who survived a desperate situation was more like a bard’s song than a report.
“At that time, the spirit appeared! The white eagle owl spirit appeared and wiped out all the monsters with invisible movements!”
“Hey, Ruel! What are you talking nonsense in front of the captain? If it’s a pure white spirit, it’s a snow spirit! Why is there a spirit that only lives in the northern part of the country! I wonder if it’s a mountain spirit…”
“I-I really mean it!”
However, as I listened to it, in the middle of the story, something outrageous remarks popped out.
“Wait, a white eagle owl?”
At that, I slightly frowned and paused the female knight’s words.
“Hee, hee!”
“Oh, look at the look on the captain’s face! I’m sorry, captain! He looks like he’s got a head injury!”
“Ouch! It hurts, Captain Centurion!”
But, did my reaction misunderstand something?
The captain of the 3rd Centurion, who was supporting Sir Ruel, slaps her on the back of the head and bruises her, so I urgently have to raise my hand to stop him.
“No, no. Continue.”
It’s a suspiciously strong eagle owl. No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one corner that I could guess.
Could it be that Alicia couldn’t stand the bird and became obsessive again?
I remember that during the mission, she told me to be patient with her and to understand her even if I couldn’t contact her often.
Also, on the other hand, it is very confusing.
It was almost certain that Alicia had intervened on her own, given the circumstances, but if it weren’t for her help, she would be a cold corpse right here living in front of my eyes.
‘Sigh… Should I scold this or not?’
Well, anyway, that didn’t matter right now.
“And there’s one more special thing! The monster in black whistled, and the monsters surrounding the surroundings retreated in an instant!”
“…Okay. Let’s go and get some rest. You did a great job, Sir Ruel.”
“Old! Loyalty!”
A black-clad monster with signs of human sacrifice and the ability to control monsters.
After all, they were guys again. Damn rebels who call themselves Eclipses.
From the circumstances, it seems that they are trying to commit a miniature version of what they tried in the Earl of Persen to the Baron of Argon…
The problem is that once you switch sides with them, there’s no reason to do that.
Of course, it is not a new moral standard for those who perform human sacrifice. It was a matter of efficiency.
Considering the size and strength of the monsters that attacked us the night before, it was unusual. To the extent that it could easily push away one of the self-made vassals.
But, mobilizing those guys just to devour a mountain territory? And the real boss doesn’t even show his nose?
No matter how much I think about it, the spirit prey doesn’t fit. There must be some other purpose.
While I was thinking about it for a long time.
—Yomnyomnyom!
In my field of vision, Ophelia’s puffy cheeks come in as she gulps down a handful of almonds from the plate in the middle of the desk.
The atmosphere will be much better now. It seems that he couldn’t stand the boring meetings any longer.
“The saintess really likes nuts. It’s really nice to see her happily eating them.”
“Haha. This, the daughter of a heavenly god also has a human side. It’s surprising.”
“He seemed like someone who couldn’t be touched. Looking at him like this, he seems to be looking at my niece.”
Hee hee… I’m sorry…”
Around the time when a girl like that gives everyone a small smile.
Suddenly, an ominous idea flashed through her mind.
