episode_0088

Gilbert felt puzzled as he saw Leila suddenly eagerly setting out to search. She was leading the unit with a frown on her face, but as soon as she said a few words, she suddenly looked happy and started to be overflowing with motivation.

When he thought about it, Leila’s appearance was also different from what he knew.

In Tactical Combat, she appeared as the leader of a Ranger unit wearing an eyepatch over one eye. The setting was that he injured his left eye while avenging his family’s death at a young age by a monster-level beast.

Although I couldn’t remember all the details, I did not forget that Leila, who inherited her father’s blood as a famous hunter, had extremely high hunting skills.

There was even an opinion in the community that if she had grown up intact without losing her eye, she would have become the best ranger in Tactical Combat.

In fact, Leila, who did not lose her eyesight, was currently serving as the commander of the Hart family, which had the best ranger unit in the empire.

From what I found out, I heard that you graduated from the Ranger Academy at the top of your class?

Leila’s growth rate, without any missing organs, was beyond imagination.

However, I was curious why this change in settings suddenly occurred. There is no way to say that everything will be the same as in the game, but I wanted to know what was the variable.

And the answer ironically had to do with the custom character Gilbert.

I never imagined that such a scumbag would do something to help others.

Gilbert truly thought so, recalling the previous ‘Gilbert’.

The contents that remained in his deep memory were as follows.

Shortly after Leila lost her family, the former ‘Gilbert’ was intrigued by the news that a monster-level beast had appeared and immediately ordered it to be subjugated.

It was not an order made with the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of the people of the territory. It was just interest, and a very personal reason to taxidermy a monster-level beast.

But that personal reason prevented Leila’s rise. Because the monster-level beast was subdued before she could avenge her family, she was able to avoid losing her eyes as she was destined to do.

After that, going to the Ranger Academy and joining the Hart family remained the same, but the fact that her eyes were still intact completely changed her future.

The possibility of becoming the best ranger in the empire that users have imagined remains open.

“Gilbert, I think you should come here for a moment.”

Gilbert, who was lost in thought for a moment, heard Leila’s urgent call and quickly moved to where she was.

She was examining footprints hidden among the bushes.

“Did you find something?”

“I cleverly erased the traces, but I found it. It looks like the Sigurdians have approached this area.”

“…”

Gilbert turned on the minimap and measured the distance between Wiesbark and this place.

It was a fairly close distance, about 6 to 7 kilometers away.

Considering that he had approached this place without being noticed by the search team, it seemed that there was someone among the Sigurdians who was good at infiltration.

“Lord Fermo.”

“We will finish preparations for war as soon as we return.”

The talented Fermo knew exactly what Gilbert wanted.

The fact that Sigurdians came this far proved that the attack was really not far away.

“Commander Leila.”

“Yep!”

“As of the current time, search party operations are suspended. We will select 20 quick-moving rangers and change the search to a team of 2.”

“Is this your role as a messenger?”

“That’s right. If the search party encounters the enemy’s vanguard, they may be annihilated. As the risk has increased, a crew that can step out at any time is needed.”

“I will follow your orders.”

Layla lowered her head. A list of twenty senior rangers, including Johnson and Roel, appeared in her mind.

“Are you going back now?”

In response to Fermo’s question, Gilbert remained silent for a moment. When I looked at the mini-map out of the corner of my eye, I saw that there were too many areas that had not been revealed yet.

However, it was impossible to reveal all maps due to time constraints.

Now, it was not strange for the Sigurdians to attack at any time. At a time like this, it was too risky to go around claiming to reveal the entire map.

Gilbert made a decision.

“Have you seen all the places where Sigudrians could infiltrate?”

“There is still one place left. Because the terrain is a valley, it is hard to see even from the guard tower.”

“Then just look around there and withdraw.”

“Okay!”

Leila called the guides, Johnson and Roel, and ordered them to steer towards the valley.

Was it because he knew the enemy was just around the corner?

Unlike before, the march continued without making a sound. Johnson and Roel, who had been shy and fussy, also carefully led the way with a stern expression on their faces.

After moving forward for about two hours, we were finally able to reach our goal, the valley.

Gilbert called Leila again this time and ordered her to search the surrounding area.

However, perhaps because it was a valley, no traces could be found. Further searches seemed pointless because advancing along the valley could have erased any traces in the waterway.

“Going back.”

As soon as Gilbert confirmed that the map near the valley had been revealed, he ordered a withdrawal. It was obvious that the search party members were already exhausted from the long march, but rest in a place like this was actually poison.

On the way back to Wiesbark, no one spoke.

When the gates of Wiesbark were finally visible, long-held sighs of relief burst out everywhere.

“Such nonsense. I was so nervous I almost got tired.”

“Asshole. The foul smell is spreading all the way to here. Some kind of groundwork is being laid.”

“What are you, you idiot?”

Johnson and Roel, who were at the forefront, began to argue again.

The search party members were finally able to realize that they had entered a safe zone.

“These bastards are real! Stop embarrassing the unit and please just shut up and go!”

Raella’s eyes rolled back when she saw the two people humiliating the team in front of Gilbert. She had a strong desire to show only a good side of herself, and vowed that when she returned to her unit, she would immediately tear the mouths of those two bastards to pieces.

However, when she realized that she had also said something harsh in front of Gilbert, she flinched and looked at his thoughts. No matter how shy she was, she wanted to act like a gentle sheep in front of Gilbert.

I knew it didn’t suit me, but I always wanted to show my best side to the person I cared about.

But Gilbert actually felt a strange sense of nostalgia from that sight.

This was because traces of a comrade who died long ago could be found in her.

Like Layla, she had a temper and was quite foul-mouthed. He mercilessly punched those who crossed the line.

But she cared for her colleagues more than anyone else.

Although it is now a faded memory, Gilbert, who was able to look at that memory for the first time in a long time, smiled faintly.

While watching the three bickering, Gilbert returned to the mansion and began discussing the results of the search with Fermo. Among the facts discovered by participating in this search, the most notable thing was that their reconnaissance reached the vicinity of Wiesbark.

“Lord Fermo.”

“Yes, please say so.”

” From your perspective, when do you think the Sigurdians will attack? ”

The fact that they took the risk to come here meant that they would soon take action. It may be difficult to determine the exact time, but we had to estimate it roughly.

“When comparing their situation with today’s search results, at least tomorrow. I think it will be within this week.”

“I see.”

Gilbert also shared the same opinion as Fermo. Considering the reason why the Sigurdians decided to go to war, it would not have been surprising if they invaded right now.

However, the reason they did not attack recklessly was because the life and death of the tribal alliance was at stake in this war.

For the Sigurdians, defeat was a path leading to the destruction of the tribal union.

If they were to be defeated while deciding to completely split from the empire, they would have to face the worst possible situation of not only having to deal with food shortages, but also having to deal with the wrath of the empire.

And what remains at the end is, of course, extinction.

“The one elected as warchief would be the Vanir tribe, known to be the most powerful in Sigurd’s tribal union.”

“Were you gathering information?”

“It was just necessary.”

Fermo was speechless for a moment. It was keenly felt that Gilbert had changed since he became commander-in-chief.

It was not unusual for his frivolous words and actions to change to those of a nobleman.

I was so surprised to see that he took the initiative to practice training that even knights avoid.

But what surprised me the most was the sharp insight and preparedness just like before. Fermo did not believe that people could change, but he did not consider it impossible.

I haven’t seen such a specimen until now, but there could be someone like that somewhere.

But that and this were different issues. The keen insight and preparation for war that Gilbert sometimes shows was like seeing an experienced soldier.

Objectively, the ability to establish a strategy is lacking, but isn’t Fermo himself the one who exists for that time?

Ultimately, the decision rests with Gilbert, the commander-in-chief, but he has never made a wrong decision so far.

Although there was a conflict of opinion with Fermo about participating in this search party, Gilbert’s words also made sense. I just had a different opinion with Fermo.

And now Fermo was once again surprised by Gilbert. His accurate understanding of the Sigurdians’ power structure was enough to surprise him.

At the same time, I felt like I knew why he had asked to be delegated full authority over this war. I don’t know how much information he has gathered, but he probably knows more about the Sigurdians than anyone else in the Hart family.

“Then I will ask you this time. Gilbert, when do you expect the Sigurd Tribal Alliance to attack?”

“Two days later.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Let’s call it persimmon.”

Fermo had a feeling that the first master of the Hart family knew something more, but he did not inquire.

Instead, we only judge the information he released.

“We will prepare it in two days.”

“I understand.”

“Then I will leave now.”

As Fermo went out, the breath he had been holding in came out of Gilbert’s mouth.

He washed his face with both hands and glared at the notification message that appeared while he was talking to Fermo.

[There are two days left until the main scenario, Sigurdian Attack, begins.]

The countdown to war has begun.