Supplies 3

+++

The soldiers tended to the casualties and deceased.

The unusually intense battle had left far more casualties than expected.

Out of the 400-strong unit, 20 were killed and over 50 suffered injuries rendering them unfit for combat. There were also some casualties among the Disciples, though fewer.

This level of loss had occurred despite it being an anticipated, routine encounter with demon beast hordes they had prepared for.

‘It seems I should be thankful for that parachute.’

Had it not been for that javelin-wielding Disciple, at least half the unit would have lost its combat capability – essentially amounting to annihilation.

‘Truly the World Tree.’

Unlike other major guilds, they had supplemented the parachute’s insertion with additional manpower.

Supply units frequently attracted parachutes solely seeking resume padding, as supply missions tended to have lower mortality rates.

As the supply unit commander, the World Tree’s rational approach felt quite unfamiliar to him.

No wonder their stock had recently skyrocketed through the heavens.

The knight summoned the knight-cadet overseeing Doyun’s unit.

“Loyalty!”

Yet strangely, the knight-cadet didn’t seem to be in good spirits.

“That Disciple who performed spectacularly with the javelins. What was his name?”

“Well, that’s…”

The knight-cadet hesitated in his response, suspecting he had misjudged the person.

‘Did I vent my frustrations on the wrong person? Shit… I should have sensed something was off about his aura…’

The realization that he had offended a high-ranking Disciple caused his stomach to churn unpleasantly, despite having only consumed a simple meal of stew and bread.

“…You don’t seem to be in good condition.”

“Sir?”

“Go and rest. I’ll ask for his name directly.”

“Ah, I, I…!”

The knight-cadet mumbled urgently, but the knight had already turned away, prompting the knight-cadet to reluctantly follow suit.

As the knight walked across the cleared battlefield, he approached the high-ranking Disciple.

The surrounding area was littered with demon beast corpses sporting gaping holes in their bodies as if struck by artillery shells – a testament to that Disciple’s exploits.

The Disciple was surrounded by others from his own unit.

“My word… No wonder Lord Haineken and the Vagabond Hero value you so highly! You’re a javelin genius!”

“I thought you were a swordsman because of the blade at your waist. But to think you’d unleash an infinite javelin barrage from thin air! I’ve never witnessed such a sight! Hahaha!”

The knight focused on the unexpected names being mentioned.

‘…Haineken? The Vagabond Hero?’

So he was someone the Heroes valued highly to that extent?

With some trepidation, the knight approached them, and the Disciples soon noticed his presence.

“Ah… it’s the commander, sir.”

One of the other team’s Disciples whispered to Doyun.

He extended his hand towards Doyun.

“Thank you for your efforts in the previous battle.”

“I merely fulfilled my role.”

Doyun shook his hand.

“If I may be so bold, could you tell me your name, Disciple?”

“Han Doyun.”

“Han Doyun. Han Doyun… Hm?”

As if committing the name to memory, the knight’s eyes narrowed with a sense of foreboding as he repeated it.

And behind the knight, the knight-cadet flinched.

“I’m relieved our lack of experience didn’t cause you too much trouble.”

Doyun’s indirect remark made the knight swallow hard.

“Huuh…! You’re saying you’re only a 3-month rookie?”

“Embarrassingly, yes.”

“…It seems my discernment was still lacking.”

Recalling how he had frowned at the mention of a 3-month parachute from the World Tree back in the tent, he felt ashamed.

The Disciple before him was no mere parachute – he was simply an overwhelmingly talented individual more than qualified for the battlefield.

“…I hope my subordinates didn’t show you any disrespect.”

It was obvious – there was no way a 3-month rookie would have received proper treatment on the battlefield.

At his words, the knight-cadet behind him turned deathly pale.

Doyun calmly responded, “I would have acted the same way in their position.”

“…I’m deeply embarrassed. My sincere apologies. I will have a talk with them later.”

Doyun didn’t say any more. It wouldn’t reflect well on him to immediately defend the likes of the knight-cadet, as it could be seen as a Disciple interfering with military discipline.

While the knight-cadet’s perspective was understandable, to Doyun, the army came first.

“I’ll be counting on your support for the remainder of the march.”

“I will continue fulfilling my role.”

The knight sensed a certain reassuring quality in Doyun’s response and withdrew to the front lines.

Thereafter, Doyun and his team were able to travel comfortably atop the supply wagons during the march, thanks to the knight’s consideration.

Naturally, no one objected to Doyun conserving his strength, as everyone had clearly witnessed his formidable protection extend across the entire battlefield – for Doyun to preserve his stamina directly improved their survival chances.

And up ahead, Doyun overheard the knight conversing with his subordinates.

“Just what made those monsters…”

“I’ve never encountered such enemies…”

It was a serious variable, but they couldn’t turn back – they were a supply unit.

The failure of supplies meant the annihilation of the vanguard forces. Moreover, being in the demonic realm, they couldn’t even resupply on-site.

All they could do was pray such incidents wouldn’t reoccur and continue their march.

However, Doyun had an inkling of the cause.

‘It must be her.’

He was all too familiar with such phenomena.

She was an existence Enoch had encountered on the battlefield multiple times, often causing him trouble.

Of course, Enoch had managed to kill her on a few occasions, but regrettably, he had failed to do so in this 18th regression.

‘We can’t halt the march.’

Doyun couldn’t reveal this fact.

This was an entirely different matter from the veteran explorer demeanor he had displayed. It would be far too strange for him to recognize her presence.

‘Instead… I should use this opportunity.’

Would it be possible to kill her?

Before engaging in battle, Doyun began mentally reviewing the paddors he possessed.

His eyes hardened with resolve.

+++

Another day passed, and the unit arrived at the forward base.

As the last trees burned away, a fortress came into view.

“We’ve arrived!”

“Waaahhhh-!!”

With a final cheer, they deactivated the concealment magic.

Unlike the sturdy 20-meter stone walls of Amasbin, it wasn’t a formidable fortress. But for a makeshift forward base, it was quite well-constructed, surrounded by palisades, moats, and solid wooden ramparts.

A tall watchtower rose high, and the interior was brightly illuminated by torches despite the late hour.

“Wow… how could they build such structures in the demonic realm…? The military really is amazing.”

While Sophie marveled at this fresh sight, Doyun and Leona’s faces stiffened gravely.

“Sophie. Stay on guard.”

“Huh?”

Doyun cautioned her.

“Everyone, prepare for battle.”

Leona murmured quietly to the team.

The knight took the vanguard position, awaiting the customary identification procedures before entry.

But no one emerged from within.

“…Hello! The Muspelheim supply unit has arrived! Open the gates!”

There was no response.

No, it was more than that.

An eerie silence hung over the fortress interior, devoid of any signs of life.

Moreover, upon closer inspection, the walls’ condition was abnormally poor, riddled with claw and bite marks.

Only then did the knight and soldiers sense that something was amiss.

Shortly after…

Grrrr…

Grrrrr…

Without any warning, countless animal sounds suddenly emerged from all directions.

At the chorus of growls that filled the forest in an instant, breaking the stillness, the knight’s eyes widened.

The soldiers felt chills run down their spines, the gaps between their armor and napes prickling.

It was the bloodlust of demon beasts.

The knight saturated his body with mana.

“We’ve been surrounded!! The base has been overrun!! Form defensive lines and prepare for battle!!”

Accompanied by his mana-infused, throat-straining roar, the clamor of weapons being drawn rang out loudly.

“Do, Doyun? Just what is this…!”

“Sophie.”

The flustered, fidgeting Sophie regained her composure upon hearing Doyun’s voice.

“No matter what unfolds, don’t be surprised – this is the battlefield. Always maintain your calm.”

“……Yes.”

Etching this new lesson into her heart, she forcefully steadied her trembling body amidst the bestial bloodlust.

The team members who had experienced battlefields before had already adopted combat-ready stances.

The soldiers hurled the oil canisters they had been carrying into the forests on either side, then swiftly took cover in formation. Soon, the fires ignited, engulfing the woods in unrestrained flames.

As the radius of the blaze widened and trees gradually crumbled away, the immense numbers of beasts lying in wait amidst the darkness beyond began to reveal themselves one by one.

Grrrrr…

Grrrr…

Yet even as the burning trees collapsed onto them, their flesh sizzling in the flames, the creatures showed no reaction whatsoever.

Despite being mindless demon beasts, they maintained the encirclement formation until the very end, simply collapsing lifelessly amidst the inferno.

“Th, this is insane…”

The horrific sight caused the soldiers’ spear tips to tremble.

Witnessing this, Doyun felt assured of his suspicions.

‘As I thought…’

A Demon Lord’s high-ranking officer capable of single-handedly commanding armies.

Moreover, an existence that could instantly muster forces wherever demon beasts swarmed across the demonic realm.

“Are you kiddies hungry?”

A bright, girlish voice utterly mismatched with the location rang clearly in everyone’s ears.

“Shhh shhh shhh… Oops! Wait! Listen! Wait!”

She handled the ferocious demon beasts with affectionate tongue-clicks, as if training adorable pet dogs, and stern rebukes.

“There, there… good kids~ Since you behaved, you get treats~?”

From the darkness emerged a petite girl wearing a witch’s hat atop her pink hair, mounted on a massive 5-meter wolf.

“Eat up.”

Grrrrrrrwwwwwwwl-!!

The seemingly endless demon beast horde that had been crouching amidst the darkness and flames surged forth like a tsunami.

“Stop them-!!”

The battle against the Demon Lord’s high-ranking officer, the ‘Tsunami Tamer,’ had begun.