Karon Village, a few days ago.
âAustin, from now on we must move faster and more covertly. First, take five thousand soldiers from the Tale Legion and march north towards the national border.â
âYes, understood.â
Austin quickly replied.
It was plot that he already heard before leaving the capital, Miller Castle, and had memorized
At that moment, a young man with a familiar face approached from Daivâs fleet.
âMy lord, greetings after a long time.â
âPens, good job coming all the way here.â
âNo, it wasnât much.â
The young man was the vice president of Agens and Chrisâ right hand man, Pens.
From his chest pocket, he took out a bundle of papers.
âThese are the information on the Byron Kingdom troopsâ size, routes, and its commanders.â
Roan briefly glanced through it then directly handed it to Austin.
âThis is the intelligence that Agens has meticulously searched for and investigated. Itâs crucial information for the ambush.â
âPresident Chris is amazing. It was only a few days ago that we requested them, but to think he would complete the preparations so perfectly.â
Austin showed a surprised expression as he looked through the report.
Pens faintly smiled and shook his head.
âItâs information we already knew beforehand. Thanks to that, we were able to quickly organize them and make the report when the request came in.â
âThatâs amazing in its own way.â
Austin marvelled once again.
At that moment, Clay, who had been quiet, interrupted.
âAfter destroying the Byron Kingdom troops, please change into their armor and head towards the eastern region of the Coat Barony.â
A detailed explanation of the strategy continued for a while.
The designer of this strategy was Clay.
âIs this really a feasible strategy?â
Austin asked with a slightly nervous expression.
With a confident face, Clay nodded his head.
âYes, itâs feasible.â
There wasnât a hint of hesitation.
âCan we really meet up with Elton if we go to Wines Forest in the eastern region?â
âYes. We will be driving him into Wines Forestâs entrance.â
Clay once again answered with a confident face.
Ultimately, Austin nodded his head and didnât raise any more questions.
âAustin, your role is the most important one in this strategy.â
Roan looked straight into Austinâs eyes.
âI trust you. Make sure you succeed.â
âYes, understood.â
Austin gave a short salute and bowed.
At that reliable figure, Roan tapped Austinâs shoulder.
This was Roan and the Amaranth troopâs secret strategy meeting before leaving the Karon Village.
âAustin answered my expectations.â
Roan cut off the head of a panicking Coat Barony troop soldier and gazed towards the left wing.
âCorner them! They are the core of the rebels! Behead them all!â
The man that unstoppably roamed the battlefield as he gave orders.
That man was Austin.
âWe arenât the Byron Kingdom troops!â
âWe are the Tale Legion!â
âWe are the Amaranth troop!â
Cheers exploded out from all directions.
Elton and the Coat Barony troop were helplessly surrounded.
âUaaah! Damn! Damn it all!â
Elton raged.
No, he became wrapped in madness.
âAgain! Again! Iâve been done in by that bastard again!â
He couldnât take the truth that he was once again tricked by Roan.
âRoan! Kill Roan! Forget about the others!â
Elton shouted with a bright red face.
But the Barony troopâs soldiers couldnât carelessly move.
They were terrified by Roanâs seemingly possessed spearmanship
âDamn, stupid bastards!â
In the end, Elton raised up his sword high and went up to the frontlines
âIf I can do something about that Roan bastard, I could bring back the chance for victory.â
The one final move to turn the unfavorable situation around.
That was to hit the head rather than the body or the tail.
He planned to personally face the Tale Legionâs commander, Roan.
From a certain point of view, it was a rational and efficient decision but.
âYou picked the wrong opponent.â
âTo dare to try and fight our lord.â
âItâs impossible with only that much skill.â
The Amaranth troop as well as Tale Legionâs soldiers snorted as they looked at Elton.
To them, Elton was like a moth.
Like a moth that jumps into fire without knowing that itâs body is burning to cinders.
âDie! Roan!â
Elton shouted as loud as he could and swung his sword.
Befitting of a warrior-noble of the kingdom, he had also learned a mana technique.
Psss.
The mana flowed through the swordâs edge.
Swnng!
The sound of the impact exploded.
It truly was a fast attack.
But the opponent was bad.
Chang!
Roan shook the Travias Spear left and right and lightly blocked his attack.
âItâs fast, but itâs an extremely light sword.â
With a sharp evaluation, the spearhead moved once again.
Spat!
When he twisted and moved his two wrists, the spearâs handle shook in every direction.
The black spearhead slashed the wind and danced.
âHuhuk!â
At the attacks that rained down from head to waist without a single place to dodge, Elton gasped.
Chang! Chachang! Paat! Spaat!
Elton blocked some and dodged some, and barely kept his life.
âFor a brat who was a lowly commoner to use this high level mana technique!â
He couldnât accept it.
The hand holding the sword clenched harder.
âDie!â
He once again gritted his teeth and pulled his reins.
Then.
Ssuug.
The Travias Spearâs length suddenly extended.
Instantly, the sharp end of the spear reached his chest.
âDamn!â
Elton quickly pulled his sword and parry the spearâs tip.
No, he tried to do that.
But.
Cheng! Zhzzuk!
The moment the spearâs tip touched the flat of the sword, the entire sword cracked with an unpleasant sound.
âN, no wayâ¦â¦â
Elton looked at Roan with a dumbfounded look.
Roan faintly smiled as he shook his head.
âI wonât see you off for very far.â
Simultaneously, he twisted his wrist.
âN, no!â
Elton screamed but it was in vain.
Puuk!
The sword shattered into pieces and the Travias Spear pierced Eltonâs chest.
âKuuk!â
Elton eyes dilated completely as he cried out a death throe, and his whole body trembled.
And when the short trembling stopped, the head that had been stiffly raised up bent and fell down.
âElton, I contemplated much on whether to let you live or not.â
The reason was clear.
At the moment, the people of the world, even including the nobles and the royalty, thought that Elton had close relationship with the Second Prince Tommy Rinse.
But in reality, Elton was the Third Prince Kallum Rinseâs subordinate.
âThe reason Prince Kallum wanted to be the commander for the suppression force was probably to silence Elton with death using his own hands.â
He most likely wanted to erase his secret relationship with Elton for good.
If Elton was kept alive, Tommy and Kallum would have been pit against each other over the inquiry into the truth.
To Simon, there would have been no situation better than that.
While the two princes pointed their swords at each other, Simon could solidify his base even further
âBecause of that, I thought about whether I should keep him aliveâ¦â¦â
But on the day he captured Tradi Castle, Roan had discovered the letters that Kallum and Elton had exchanged and the evidence of an illicit collusion from Eltonâs castle.
âInstead, this evidence is more effective in shaking and controlling the nationâs politics.â
Furthermore, he could use them to gain something even bigger.
From Simon as well as from Tommy and Kallum.
âThere no longer was any need to specifically keep Elton alive.â
Instead, keeping him alive would greatly lower the effective value of the other evidence.
âIâll cut off Eltonâs neck.â
In the first place, King Deni Von Rinseâs order was also to cut off his head.
Roan pushed aside the various thoughts in his head and swung his spear.
Sssk!
Eltonâs neck was slashed off clean.
Meanwhile, the Coat Barony troop was at the brink of annihilation.
âP, please donât kill me!â
âIâll reveal all of the lordâs secret if you let me live!â
âPlease forgive me!â
Vice-captains and the adjutants as well as Eltonâs closest soldiers begged for forgiveness.
But Roan and the Tale Legionâs swords and spears didnât stop.
Although Roan was usually full of compassion, he wouldnât leave behind any seeds of trouble on the battlefield.
âUaak!â
âKuuk!â
Screams rang out one after another.
And just like that, Elton and the rebel forceâs leading members all lost their lives.
It was a complete victory.
The panic of the entire rebellion force and the destruction of their formation thanks to Clayâs strategy was the driving force behind the complete victory.
When Roan gave a hand signal, the flag bearer waved a small signal flag.
The Tale Legion quickly went into formation and lined up.
Their figures were without a single disorder or a single soldier out of place.
Roan stood in front of them and raised Eltonâs head high into the air.
âWe have cut off the traitorâs head and suppressed the rebellion!â
He shouted with a sonorous voice.
The faces of the Tale Legionâs soldiers flushed red.
Their hearts beat rapidly.
Roan looked over the faces of the troopâs soldiers and shouted at the top of his lungs.
âItâs our victory!â
The very moment he shouted those words.
âWaaaaa!â
âRoan Tale! Roan Tale!â
Cheers exploded.
The soldiers genuinely rejoiced.
The feeling of accomplishment at completing the monumental mission of suppressing the rebellion, the feeling of relief at their survival, the sense of awe towards Roanâ¦â¦
Their cheers were mixed with numerous kinds of feelings.
Roan smiled as he watched that sight then pulled his reins.
He could see Mills and Chester standing far away at the foot of the hill.
Their faces were much more stiff than before.
Their expressions were more serious than the ones when they were conflicting between pride and conscience.
Mills and Chester.
At that moment, their evaluation of Roan began to change for the first time.
***
âDoes this make sense to you?â
Mills asked with a stiff face.
Chester didnât answer.
No, he couldnât.
âAre you telling me that not only did they annihilate the Byron Kingdom troops, they disguised themselves as the troops and approached Elton?â
Mills asked again.
Only then did Chester speak with a heavy voice.
âPerhaps it may be that Elton had been unknowingly chased and led towards this Wines Forest.â
The kingdomâs two geniuses.
Mills and Chester watched Roanâs battle and correctly surmised the entire series of situations.
Gulp.
The two gulped nervously.
âIs he really from a commoner vice-captain background?â
âI thought the rumors had been exaggeratedâ¦â¦â
They had fully heard and learnt of rumors, reports, and information about Roan.
But they couldnât believe all those great achievements word for word as they were told.
It was because they simply werenât a level of achievements that a young man in mere twenties, and especially a vice-captain from an ordinary commoner background could raise.
They simply thought that he was a guy who had merely caught Prince Simonâs eyes and was promoted by luck.
âNo. Our judgments were wrong.â
âThe guy is real. Heâs several steps above us.â
Mills and Chester couldnât do anything but recognize Roanâs abilities.
Going against the Teluo River on a fleet and capturing Tradi Castle.
No, in the first place, the very act of crafting and owning a fleet of that size was impressive.
And even separately annihilating the Byron Kingdom troops and perfectly suppressing the rebellion by leading Elton into a corner.
Everything was realized just like the picture Roan had drawn and as he had planned.
âRoan Taleâ¦â¦â
âIt seems it wonât be a easy fight from now on.â
Mills and Chester deeply inhaled.
From afar, Roan and the Tale Legion approached.
Mills looked at Chester.
âWe canât end it like this, could we?â
âRight.â
Chester replied shortly and nodded.
Making peculiar expressions, they stared at Roan.
âHhm.â
Roan looked at Mills, Chester, and the five thousand elite soldiers lined up behind them and leaked a quiet sigh.
âDo they perhaps plan to fight?â
The light in his eyes calmly dimmed down.
Mills, Chester, and the five thousand elite soldiers maintained formation and looked directly at Roan while lined up.
A strange vigor could be felt.
It wasnât something like killing intent or pressure, but pure military discipline.
âEach sideâs numbers are more or less the same.â
Five thousand against five thousand.
But while Roan was fighting, Mills and Chesterâs soldiers were resting.
âIt looks like it wonât be a easy fight if we fight.â
Roan gritted his teeth.
If the chance showed itself, he planned to attack first.
But at that moment, Mills rode his horse and went up towards him.
His expression was stiff.
A strange silence fell down.
Then.
âHahahahahaha!â
Mills suddenly burst out laughing.
His stiff expression had also turned bright all of a sudden.
Even clapping his hand, he greatly rejoiced.
âSir Baron Tale! Youâre truly amazing! Hahaha!â
At the completely unexpected situation, Roan slightly creased his brows.
Mills stopped laughing and nodded.
âI, Mills Voisa, received quite a big lesson today! This rebellion suppression war is my complete defeat, a complete defeat. Hahaha!â
He acknowledged his defeat.
Roan, after only meeting nobles who were thoroughly clumped up in arrogance and selfishness, felt refreshed meeting someone like Mills.
âEven so, theyâre the geniuses representing the kingdom, is it?â
At that moment, Mills spoke with a slightly humorous expression.
âBut please do remember that the ones who caught Eltonâs tail was Chester and I.â
âOf course.â
Roan lightly nodded.
There was no need to go out of his way and reveal that that too was a part of his plan.
Mills gave a short salute.
âHahaha.â
He heartily laughed and then turned his horseâs head around.
For a short moment, he met Chesterâs eyes.
âFor now, admit defeat and step back.â
In this moment, pointing a blade at Roan was the worst of the worst possible moves.
âYeah, since this isnât the end.â
Chester slightly nodded his head.
Mills showed a faint smile and then led his troops and disappeared over the hill.
Only then did Chester ride his horse towards Roan.
He didnât say much unlike Mills.
âSir Baron Tale.â
Chester rode up right next to Roan and extended his right hand.
Roan faintly smiled and shook that hand.
A burning warmth, no a heat, no his pride was conveyed.
Chester stared directly into Roanâs eyes.
âI definitely will not lose next time.â
He spoke with a brusque voice and expression.
Roan nodded his head.
âI look forward to it.â
The twoâs hands lightly shook.
Chester then turned his horse around and led his troops over the hill.
Roan, who was left alone, gazed at the direction the two had disappeared to and deeply inhale.
âMills and Chester.â
He didnât expect that the two would possibly react like this.
Of course, he couldnât know whether their demeanors were true or false.
It was because Mills and Chester were also very famous people in the last life.
âMills betrayed Rinse Kingdom and defected to the Estia Empire, and Chester started a rebellion after losing a political power struggle and was killed.â
If their current attitudes were true, those events seemed impossible to occur.
âJust what could have happenedâ¦â¦â
Just what broke Mills and Chester?
Or just what broke the two peopleâs masks?
Roan, who was a mere common spearman, couldnât knew.
He couldnât knew of the truth that the royalties and the noblesâ veiled strifes were fiercer and more hideous than he had thought.
Roan forcefully shook off the distracting thoughts and raised his right hand up high.
âFor now, we go to Tradi Castle!â
The northern wind blew.
âAfter resting, we will return to the capital, Miller! Weâ¦â¦â
A smile hung on Roanâs mouth.
âWill return with confident and proud steps in triumph!â
The northern wind blew once more.
The wind headed towards the capital, Miller.
Gazing towards the south, Roan whispered in a quiet voice.
âNowâ¦â¦â
He spoke with a soft voice and light in his eyes.
âIt is time to go home.â
End.
Translator: CSV
Proofreader: st8_lupe.