Supplies 2

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The supply unit Doyun was part of consisted of 400 soldiers, with around 30 Disciples across 5 teams including Leona’s team.

Leona’s team exchanged brief greetings with the other Disciple teams in their unit.

“We’re Leona’s team from the World Tree.”

“It’s a pleasure. To have comrades from the World Tree by our side, I’m relieved. Hahah!”

The opposing team leader greeted them amiably with some lip service.

From their perspective, there was no downside to making a good impression on Disciples from a massive guild like the World Tree. Especially since the World Tree’s stock had recently skyrocketed thanks to the unveiling of a long-hidden top-tier Disciple and a newcomer.

Particularly when greeting Doyun individually, they were excessively ingratiating.

“Ah, you truly exude a divine aura as rumored! I’m the tank Kodan. Please take care of me!”

“…I’m Han Doyun. Likewise, please.”

They seemed to already know about Doyun to some extent.

None of the team members pointed out that he was a 3-month rookie parachute – aware that he was a talent strongly pushed by the World Tree and numerous Heroes, they simply smiled while emphasizing his name.

Of course, they didn’t actually expect any great deeds from him. They just wanted to establish some connection with a promising talent, no matter how slim.

No matter how bright his future prospects, no one pinned any hopes on a mere 3-month rookie Disciple.

Soon after, the knight-cadet battalion commander overseeing their unit arrived.

“Being from renowned guilds, I trust you Disciples will perform well. I’m counting on you.”

As he addressed the two teams alternately, his tone carried a subtle, thorn-like sarcasm when speaking to Leona’s team – obvious enough for everyone present to sense his disdain towards Doyun.

‘Parachute brat… just try holding us back during the operation.’

He absolutely loathed those nobles and certain Disciples who used the battlefield merely to pad their resumes.

Although Disciples were guaranteed independent autonomy in combat, they still had to follow the army’s overall command structure.

In other words, he was currently Doyun’s superior for all intents and purposes – even more so given Doyun’s 3-month rookie status.

“The battlefield is no joke. I hope there won’t be any whining about sore feet during the march.”

The atmosphere instantly froze.

The unit members realized the knight-cadet was openly mocking Doyun.

“Wait here until our departure.”

He growled those words with emphasized force before turning away.

The other teams in the unit hesitated, wondering if they should try consoling Doyun.

But the man himself didn’t care in the slightest.

Having lived as a wandering mercenary through repeated regressions, he was all too accustomed to such discrimination.

Soon after, the supply unit’s march began.

As soon as they entered the demonic realm, a system message appeared before Sophie’s eyes.

She whispered to Doyun, ‘Your trait effect has activated. It says I’ll maintain peak condition on the battlefield…’

‘How does it feel?’

‘Amazing…!’

Thanks to the First Guild Master effect and the dense life force she had absorbed daily until yesterday, Sophie felt overflowing vigor coursing through her body.

It was as if she could tackle anything right now.

‘Doyun’s buff is truly incredible…!’

Setting aside the growth acceleration adjustment, it was no wonder Millaine had been so impressed.

The unit departed under the cover of night to avoid enemy detection, as supply units faced high risks of interception.

“Fire team, forward!”

The soldiers doused the forest ahead with oil and ignited it.

The forests in the demonic realm grew back rapidly. This was a path they had burned just a month ago, yet it had already become overgrown again.

Hence, they had to blaze a trail by burning the trees.

However, this would reveal their position to enemies, so they would advance while deploying a wide-area concealment magic.

Witnessing this method for the first time, Sophie marveled as she spoke to Doyun, “We don’t need to worry about ambushes, then?”

“The concealment magic hides us from enemies, but it also blocks our rangers’ senses due to the fire – the smoke, heat, and noise. Since there are countermeasures against concealment magic, it’s still a risky approach.”

“I see…”

“Wow… how did you know that?”

Leona asked in amazement.

What Doyun had stated was a fact known only to the most experienced ranger like herself among the team members.

“From my previous life’s experiences. I’ve been on some battlefields before.”

“…You’ve fought in wars too?”

Leona asked tentatively, and the other eavesdropping team members and unit soldiers turned their heads.

The more Leona’s team heard about Doyun’s past, the more awestruck they became – from what little they had learned, they couldn’t even fathom the hardships he must have endured.

Whenever Doyun mentioned his home dimension, a solemn melancholy would arise, as his outstanding skills and experiences naturally evoked the harrowing processes behind them.

But the knight-cadet listening from the front clicked his tongue instead.

‘Experience, my ass…’

Even supply unit veterans barely knew such details, so how could a 3-month parachute rookie possibly know from ‘experience’?

He must have overheard it from the women and was simply pretending to know.

And so, they continued their advance, burning trees along the way. Two days passed.

Crrrk-

Leona’s ears perked up.

“Demon beasts incoming!”

At her shout, the camp ground to a halt.

“Prepare for battle!”

At the commander’s order, the soldiers began moving in disciplined unison.

Although the fire had blocked the rangers’ senses, Leona’s skills were sharp enough to detect them early and prepare.

The combat troops encircled the supply wagons and rear personnel, while the Disciples readied for battle too.

As Doyun and Sophie moved to the front lines, the knight-cadet who had greeted Doyun contorted his face and forcefully shoved his shoulder.

“Where do you think you’re going? Have you lost your mind?”

Doyun silently watched as the fuming knight-cadet growled at him.

“Does war look like a joke to you? As a parachute, stay in the rear and guard, got it?”

Doyun sheathed the sword he had drawn and calmly nodded.

He understood the knight-cadet’s sentiments – this was the treatment parachutes faced on the battlefield. As he had said, war was no joke.

Sophie, likely having heard similar from Doyun, showed no particular reaction either.

And so, the battle between the demon beast horde and the supply unit began.

Encounters with demon beasts agitated by the fire were common occurrences, and this was a skirmish the soldiers could handle alone.

The Disciples were meant as a contingency against possible Demon Lord’s army interceptions, but had simply joined the supply unit without any specific roles – in other words, Doyun’s presence was ultimately irrelevant for this battle.

Or so it should have been.

‘…What’s this?’

The knight commander overseeing the battlefield began narrowing his eyes.

The demon beasts’ state was abnormal.

‘They’re excessively frenzied, consumed by madness – not even caring for their wounds or fallen kin as they charge.’

Their numbers were also unnaturally high, with various species mingled together – an impossibility for demon beasts to form such diverse packs.

Something was clearly amiss.

“Si, sir! The demon beasts are acting strangely!”

The knight-cadet overseeing Doyun’s unit came running to report, shouting.

The soldiers couldn’t make sense of it, and even the Disciples who had initially held back were now fighting with all their might.

It was far too different from the norm – some variable had emerged.

But the knight berated him, “Don’t panic! Staying composed is a commander’s basic virtue! This isn’t an unwinnable battle, so get back to your post!”

“Ye, yes sir!”

Flinching at the rebuke, the knight-cadet hurried back.

The knight rode along the front lines, bellowing:

“We’re a supply unit! The lives of our comrades fighting on the vanguard depend on us! A supply unit’s retreat means the vanguard’s annihilation! There will be no retreat! Fight on!!”

“Waaahh-!!”

Simultaneously, he dispatched messenger soldiers on horseback to call for reinforcements.

In case they were overrun, this would allow a second supply unit to be swiftly assembled and ensure the supplies got through.

Although the current situation was unexpected, it didn’t pose a threat of total annihilation – yet.

“Fight with composure! What you’re protecting aren’t mere supplies, but the lives of your comrades!”

And the knight unsheathed his sword, saturating his body with mana. It was time for him to join the fray as well.

But just as he was about to dismount…

Paang-!

“Hm?”

The knight heard a series of distinctive shattering sounds.

He turned his head towards the source of the noise.

“He, help me! Help! Help! Fuck, I’m gonna die!!”

The tank from the other team who had greeted Doyun earlier was screaming at the top of his lungs.

He was precariously grappling with the front paws of an enormous 3-meter bear demon beast.

“Grrraaawwwrr!!”

“Aaaarrgghh!!”

Just as the bear’s sharp claws were digging into his shield, nearly snapping his waist…

Paang-!

“Ugh, huk!”

Something flew in from the rear, generating an intense shockwave at the front that caused the force bearing down on his shield to abruptly lessen.

Knocked backwards by the shockwave, the dazed tank hastily raised his head.

“Wh, what…”

Thump!

The bear collapsed to the ground.

The bear he had been grappling with now lay limp in a slightly shrunken state, its head missing as it gushed blood.

And in the severed stump were lodged small wooden shards as if something had exploded outwards.

“Kodan!”

“Ughuhuhuh…!”

His teammates came running to assist the tank.

But soon, a wolf-like demon beast charged towards them as if lying in wait.

“Yeek…!”

His teammates’ response came a beat too late, and the woman braced for the impact.

But once again…

Paang-!

The wolf demon’s midsection exploded outwards.

“Huuh…?”

The tank let out another dazed sound.

In bewilderment, they turned their heads towards the rear.

Ssak-

What they saw was Doyun, calmly surveying the battlefield from atop a supply wagon while firing javelins.

Paang-!

His eyes rapidly scanned the battlefield at every moment, and whenever he spotted someone in need of aid, he would unfailingly retrieve a wooden javelin from a black void in midair and unleash it.

The javelins he fired struck their targets relentlessly, instantly blasting apart the demon beasts, and those unable to withstand the force would shatter along with the javelins, generating ferocious shockwaves.

“Th, that guy…”

“A parachute…?”

They muttered in astonishment.

The chaotic battlefield, caused by the demon beasts’ inexplicable frenzy, immense numbers, and diverse species’ coordinated assault, gradually became more organized thanks to Doyun’s timely and overwhelming rear support.

Seeing the emblem on his clothes, the knight nodded in understanding.

‘The World Tree.’

That Disciple’s prowess was undoubtedly overwhelming.

While he didn’t remember all 30 Disciples individually, he had heard that this particular team held considerable prestige even within the World Tree – clearly living up to that reputation.

‘Did they assign a capable Disciple to compensate for the parachute rookie?’

It seemed they had included a skilled Disciple to make up for the parachute’s presence.

‘I should get a look at his face once the battle ends.’

Just as he was about to dismount and join the fray, he refocused on commanding instead.

“The Disciples are fighting alongside us! Maintain your composure!”

And so, the unusually chaotic battle gradually came to a conclusion.