Chapter 267

There is no happy ending for the hero.

That’s the name of this game.

The word “hero” itself symbolizes the protagonist.

It’s that important of a word.

And in this game, I had gained heroism.

Because my unique trait, Lust, had activated after clearing Hiresia’s character route.

Moreover, thanks to Hiresia’s high fame as my love interest, my heroism had increased proportionally.

The numerical value had jumped by 621 in one go.

Anyway, heroism was a hidden stat, even I didn’t know about it.

So I had no idea how it worked, but I soon realized something.

Because hidden traits had been unlocked in succession.

– Hero’s Intuition.

– Hero’s Growth.

– Hero’s Eye.

Three hidden traits had been unlocked in total.

I could roughly guess what they meant based on the special word “hero” attached to them, but after reading the descriptions, each one was unbelievably overpowered.

These hidden traits were the source of my current confidence, a confidence that was on a different level compared to the past.

And right now, Hero’s Intuition had activated.

Of course, I couldn’t ignore it.

Because I knew how accurate this intuition was.

“Wait.”

I stopped Regina.

“What is it?”

“I have something important to tell you.”

My serious tone made Regina’s eyes sparkle with curiosity.

“Go ahead.”

“It’s something I need to tell you in private.”

“…”

Regina thought for a moment.

Then she stopped the march.

“Halt.”

* * *

I knew we didn’t have much time.

So I quickly organized my thoughts, staring intently at the map in front of me.

As my intuition and the surrounding circumstances aligned, I started to see something.

“This is the path we’re currently taking, right?”

I pointed to the wide road that stretched from Whiteheaven.

The fastest and widest route to the snowy plains.

“Yes.”

Regina nodded.

“Obviously, this route is out of the question.”

“What do you mean?”

“An enemy counterattack.”

Regina’s expression changed, a strange look in her eyes.

“A counterattack… You think the enemy will launch a counterattack in this situation?”

“You think it’s impossible?”

I understood Regina’s thoughts.

Because I had thought the same thing until just a moment ago.

The Ernbert family had launched a surprise attack with a large army, and they had even dispatched a cavalry unit to seize Polaris Canyon.

The barbarians would be scrambling to respond.

But it was one thing for a single tribe to react quickly, but it was a completely different matter for multiple tribes to form a united front.

They had to reach a consensus, decide on a countermeasure and a battlefield, and then actually mobilize their troops.

It would take time, as it was impossible for the tribes to agree on everything immediately.

And yet, they were going to attempt a counterattack in this situation?

It seemed highly unlikely.

Until now.

“That’s right. They would be pressed for time just forming a united front. But…”

I voiced the scenario that had started to form in my mind.

“What if someone moves independently? If that happens, it’s a possibility.”

“Independently?”

Regina narrowed her eyes.

“Responding to a 15,000-strong army alone?”

“Of course, an ordinary person wouldn’t do such a thing. But what if there’s someone who’s willing to take a risk and launch a bold and unexpected counterattack?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Darkhan.”

I replied with conviction.

The Great King of the Barbarians.

The hero who had unified the snowy plains and threatened the entire north, led by the Ernbert family.

He could do it.

He might only have the strength of two tribes at his disposal right now, but his personal abilities were already extraordinary.

“You speak as if you know him well.”

“Sometimes, you can know someone well just by hearing about them.”

Regina stared at me intently, her chin resting on her hand.

“He’s definitely an extraordinary individual. But the fact that you’re so certain about this means you have a reason, right?”

“My intuition activated. A bad feeling. And if I narrow down the possible candidates who could cause such a feeling, there’s only one.”

I honestly told her about my intuition.

Regina was one of the few people who knew about my intuition.

She also knew that I had used it to resolve several dangerous situations at the academy.

It meant that she would believe me.

That’s why I was honest with her.

“At this point in time?”

Regina frowned slightly.

We were currently on our way to the enemy.

We were still far from encountering them.

There was no reason to feel threatened.

But she understood what I was thinking, because she could imagine the scenario I had envisioned.

She was a genius, after all, having never lost her top ranking at the academy.

“So that’s why you mentioned a counterattack.”

As expected, Regina was seeing what I was seeing.

“Yes, but it’s impossible here.”

We were on a wide road, with a large army marching.

Even if they launched a surprise attack here, the disadvantages would outweigh the advantages.

So this location was out of the question.

“That’s right. If they’re really planning something, their only target would be…”

Regina’s finger pointed to a location on the map.

Whiteheaven.

The Ernbert family’s base.

There were some defensive troops stationed there, but with the main army deployed, it was only a minimal force, enough to buy some time.

If Darkhan attacked with full force, it would fall quickly.

“We’re thinking the same thing.”

I nodded.

It was good that we were on the same page.

It meant that we were seeing a highly probable scenario.

“The problem is, how can they even get here?”

I wasn’t from the north.

It meant that I could only understand what I could glean from the map.

I needed Regina’s local knowledge and expertise.

But first, I had to give her a clue based on my intuition.

“My intuition felt it from the west.”

I didn’t know the exact location.

That’s why it was called “intuition.”

But I was certain about the direction.

However,

There were no proper roads on the western side of the main road on the map.

That’s why I was asking Regina for her opinion.

“The west…”

Regina fell into thought.

Then she said, “There are no paths there that a normal person would use for military maneuvers.”

“What do you mean by ‘no paths’?”

“Too narrow, too treacherous, or too long of a detour.”

I quickly processed her words.

Too narrow?

It wouldn’t be able to accommodate a sufficient number of troops, so it was out of the question.

Too treacherous?

It wouldn’t be suitable for the barbarians, who were a cavalry-based force, so it was also out of the question.

Finally, too long of a detour?

My eyes widened.

It would be impossible for infantry.

But what about cavalry?

The barbarians’ mobility was unmatched.

They could take the risk, even if it meant a long march that would tire their troops.

It was a risky tactic, after all.

It meant…

“This is it.”

I jumped to my feet.

“It’s that long detour route.”

* * *

I was incredibly grateful that Regina was my fiancée.

If it wasn’t for her, even if I had predicted the enemy’s movements, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it.

Especially not something as drastic as diverting a crucial part of the allied forces to another location.

It was an insane move that could get any commander court-martialed.

But it was different with Regina as the commander.

She was the beloved granddaughter of the legendary former head of the family, and the wielder of the Hanbing Sword, a treasured sword passed down through generations of the Ernbert family’s best swordsmen.

She was the current head’s daughter and the acting head’s only sister.

Her lineage and abilities were impeccable.

That’s why she could do it.

Act first, report later.

She would move immediately and report afterwards.

“I-Is this really okay?”

Even Camian, a third party, couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

But I chuckled.

“It’s fine.”

I continued, “Because it’s Regina Ernbert.”

* * *

“T-This is… The right flank is moving in the wrong direction!”

The adjutant panicked.

Anyone would have reacted the same way.

But Lobel remained unfazed, like a rock.

“Wait. There must be a reason.”

“B-But…”

“We’ll receive a report soon.”

Lobel was calm.

Diverting the right flank to another location right before a major battle?

It was an insane move that would make anyone curse.

If it had been any other commander, he would have immediately dispatched a messenger to order them back and then reprimanded them severely.

But the commander of the right flank was Regina.

No one knew his sister better than Lobel.

He knew that she was a calm and collected individual, as cold as ice.

Mistakes? Recklessness? Strange behavior? Insubordination?

They were all out of the question.

She wouldn’t act without a good reason.

And her judgment was usually correct.

Because she wasn’t just calm and collected, she was also incredibly intelligent.

He had felt a sense of rivalry with her ever since they were children.

“A-A messenger is approaching!”

“See?”

Lobel nodded.

A moment later, a messenger from the right flank arrived and presented a letter to Lobel.

Lobel took the letter and unfolded it.

It was definitely Regina’s handwriting.

-I have detected suspicious enemy movements towards Whiteheaven and have diverted the right flank to intercept them. We will rejoin the main army as soon as the situation is resolved.

“What? Really?”

Lobel’s eyes widened in surprise.

His own scouts hadn’t detected any such movements.

But his sister wouldn’t lie.

The barbarians were targeting an undefended Whiteheaven.

He finally understood the situation.

“Those barbarians are bolder than I thought.”

But it didn’t matter.

Now that they had been detected, his sister would handle it.

“There’s no problem. Everyone, continue the march.”

The Ernbert main army resumed their advance.

* * *

Darkhan and the White Eagle Tribe.

They were racing towards Whiteheaven, taking a long detour.

It was a grueling journey that drained the stamina of both the horses and the warriors, but they had no choice.

They knew it was a race against time.

They had to reach Whiteheaven as quickly as possible and conquer it.

That would turn the tide of the war in their favor.

‘Everything is going smoothly.’

Darkhan thought, calculating the time.

The White Eagle Tribe had the best mobility on the snowy plains.

It was a long and arduous journey, but it was no problem for his warriors.

They had been riding non-stop, taking only brief breaks.

And finally,

They saw the white walls of Whiteheaven in the distance.

“We’re almost there, Your Majesty.”

One of his subordinates said excitedly.

“Heh, yes.”

A triumphant smile appeared on Darkhan’s lips.

The thrill of seeing his bold gamble pay off.

It was an unparalleled feeling.

“We’ll attack immediately, without giving them a chance to react.”

Darkhan intended to launch a swift and overwhelming attack, giving the enemy no time to prepare.

He was certain that everything was going perfectly.

*Whoosh!*

A sound like tearing wind reached his ears.

Darkhan immediately recognized it as the sound of an arrow.

“Ugh?!”

An arrow flew towards them from ahead.

A single arrow.

One of his subordinates hurriedly blocked it with his shield.

But at that moment,

*BOOOOOM!*

A massive explosion erupted.

“Ugh?!”

“Aaaaaargh!”

His subordinates screamed.

*Neigh! Neigh!*

The horses also neighed in terror.

Darkhan’s face contorted in anger.

The problem wasn’t the explosion itself.

It was the fact that an arrow had been fired, which meant someone was lying in wait.

Darkhan made a quick decision.

“Charge forward!”

They had to break through.

Once they reached the open plains, they would have room to maneuver.

That was their only chance.

“T-The enemy is already here!”

“Break through, even if they’re here!”

“Ugh! T-The pressure is too strong!”

The enemy blocking their path was also cavalry.

And they were heavy cavalry.

In contrast to the White Eagle Tribe, who were light cavalry.

Of course, light cavalry could fight heavy cavalry.

If they had enough space to utilize their mobility.

But on a narrow road, with no room to maneuver, light cavalry was no match for heavy cavalry.

The White Eagle warriors were being pushed back, unable to break through.

Darkhan, seeing the situation, realized that there was no chance of breaking through.

He had only one option left.

“Damn it! Retreat! Everyone, retreat!”

He gritted his teeth and ordered a retreat.

But.

“You came in as you pleased, but you won’t leave so easily.”

Heavy cavalry appeared from behind as well.

“D-Damn it, they’re behind us too?!”

Despair filled Darkhan’s eyes.