episode_0074

* * *

“Everyone, don’t get agitated and stay calm! The enemy army will be few in number!”

Chell Brans, who was conducting the surprise attack, was urgently shouting to maintain the chain of command, but-

He too was just embarrassed.

‘The surprise attack was discovered? why?’

Before coming here, how many messengers had you sent to hear about the current situation of the fortress?

It looked like they were preparing for a memorial service, and I heard that soldiers were also on tight guard.

Crucially, hadn’t I heard that Commander Epinel was moving around here and there and leading the way?

Because there was no possibility that the messenger lied… … Eventually… … .

‘Did he at least see through our plan in advance? … ?’

When I thought of the word “see through,” I suddenly remembered what Farfalle had said to me.

‘Swen is an extraordinary general. He actually saw clearly that the Aethus army was planning to deceive us in consultation with the Alefel army and the Charam army, and that a rebellion would break out in the north. ‘They must have made thorough preparations for the defense of the fortress.’

‘Could it be that all of this is according to the calculations of a man named Swen…? … ?’

At that time, Farfalle said, ‘As long as Swen is there, you must not touch the fortress’… …

No, all of this… … So, the fact that Farfalle would think and act like that… … Could it be that he was able to see through it one more time? … ?

‘What… … !’

Now that I think about it, the first time I met Swen was when I went to attack the now-defunct Lunarien army after hearing that my lord and sister, Rin, said that ‘an outstanding talent is hiding’.

As I thought about it, I felt like my head was getting more and more complicated, but I quickly shook my head.

Just because it showed something similar to a strange miracle, it is only evaluated highly.

There is no guarantee that it was Swen who accurately saw through this plan.

In an uncertain problem like this, you can’t do anything if you decide on an answer and are scared.

‘Anyway, since we’ve been caught, should we take out the soldier right away?’

Farfalle says.

There is a small chance that this plan will fail, but if it does –

In other words, if the Aethus army is caught using the unit before a proper siege war takes place.

I clearly remembered that he immediately advised me to withdraw the remaining troops, leaving only the minimum number of soldiers to block the pursuit.

That’s the way to minimize damage.

I felt resentful about running away like this, and I felt a bit out of shape, but…

Farfalle was a tactician by his own admission.

He knew that in most situations, listening to her would be the right decision.

‘Then you have to give the order right away… … .’

Around the time I was making up my mind like that.

“It was here.”

A familiar female voice came to Chell’s ears.

I turned my head and looked towards where the voice was coming from… …

On the saddle of a horse, a female warrior raised to serve the Brans family.

Irene Juliette was looking at herself with cold eyes.

“… … Who is this? Wasn’t she a dirty traitor who abandoned her country and ran away?”

“… … .”

Iren glared at Chell without saying a word.

“Your complexion has improved a lot, right? After doing something like that. If it were me, I would have committed suicide because I couldn’t overcome the guilt, but I am still alive and well with my head held high. I guess you learned that from your father, right?”

Although Chell was clearly speaking in a provocative tone, Iren did not fall for it.

“You pity me, Chell Brans. Because of your cursed blood, you can’t even get off the collapsing ship. So, how does it feel to be the helmsman of a country destined for destruction?”

“What? This damn bitch… … !”

Chell shouted in anger, pointing the knife at her.

“Are you mocking Chell Brans right now?!”

“Ho? Are you planning to attack me? If you want to go on a rampage, now is the only time.”

“Funny!”

visor!

Chell rode up to her and swung his sword.

After competing with him a few times, Irene took a stance and glared at him.

“You can’t stop our army with this many troops anyway! Accept your damn fate. I’ll hit that dirty traitor’s head off myself!”

“You are just as shallow as your sister. If you want to urge Myeongjul so much, I won’t stop you any longer. Come on!”

“Oh, you damn bitch! This will be your grave for years!”

Irene did not give up and continued to confront Chell Brans.

After sharing the sword a few times, Chell was clearly powerful. It was not for nothing that he was called Brans First Sword.

However, since I practiced swordsmanship every day without missing a single day, I felt like I was more capable of dealing with him than before.

Plus, definitely… … I even thought that it was weaker than Lunarien.

‘good. ‘It would be enough to provoke something like this.’

Swen said that if we were to see through this ruse, our army would inevitably be in an advantageous situation.

He also said that it was important to organize as many of the Brans army’s troops as possible.

What Swen wants is to liquidate the Brans army’s forces.

In that case, Irene just runs to achieve that goal.

In the same vein, it was her idea to provoke Commander Chell and tie him up here.

Irene, who had once assisted him closely, knew Chell’s personality well.

He was clearly a powerful general. It was no exaggeration to say that it was the final weapon of the Brans army, playing a tremendous role in over 100 per day.

His only weakness was that he was somewhat hot-tempered.

A powerful and ferocious general who is most obsessed with the honor that comes with the name Brans.

Provoking Chell like that was as easy as eating cake.

It’s so easy if you just touch the name he takes pride in… …

“Haaa!”

visor!

‘… … Because it’s over… … !’

The moment Irene took Chell’s sword, she felt her arms shaking slightly.

Of course, from the Aishus army’s point of view, it was an excellent operation to provoke him, prevent his retreat, and eliminate the disorganized forces of Branth’s army –

It wasn’t such a perfect method if the focus was on Irene herself rather than Acious.

Until the soldiers are sorted out to some extent, we have to compete with him to buy as much time as possible… …

No matter how much he got to a level where he was worth fighting against, objectively defeating him was close to impossible.

Because I wasn’t so inexperienced that I didn’t know that much.

but.

‘In order to achieve Swen’s will… … I have to work harder here… … !’

A man who freed his cursed fate from the shackles that bound him to the Brans family.

A man who truly told me that protecting me was more important than anything else.

The man… … For Swen, there was nothing Irene couldn’t do.

With that mindset in mind, I continued to unite with him.

So, how much time has passed?

Irene’s expression crumpled slightly as she sensed that her stamina was slowly decreasing.

Chell didn’t miss that moment and said with a bitter smile.

“Ha! Slowly, I can feel those tiny hands shaking. Even though you were shouting proudly, you turned out weak! Irene! I bet you didn’t really think you could beat me!”

After hearing Chell’s words, Irene said with a very provocative smile.

“… … You have a long tongue. Chelbrans. I pity you.”

“… … What?”

“Because of his proud blood, he can’t leave Brans County, which is ruled by a stupid monarch, and he will be doomed to rot there for the rest of his life… … !”

“What… … ?”

I felt Chell tremble.

It was anger.

The true anger of Chelbrans, something Irene has never seen before.

“… … Irene Juliette. I swear by my sword. Four years will die here.”

visor!

‘… … ‘Tsk!’

Chell’s attacks began to become more fierce.

How many generals are there who can attack so freely even on horseback?

Irene continued to be attacked and sometimes gave him effective hits, but at this moment, she had no choice but to focus on blocking the onslaught of attacks.

‘You have to hold on…’ … If you don’t hold on… … !’

“I’m glad you’re safe, Irene… … .”

now… … Because there is someone waiting for me to return.

Because the person who found me and affirmed my existence is waiting for my return.

‘I’m here…’ … If you die… … It doesn’t work… … !’

Wow!

‘this… … !’

The sword that was blocking the attack was lost from my hand.

After checking it, Chell let out a bitter laugh again.

That eerie laughter filled this battlefield filled with the shouts of soldiers.

“That’s it, Irene!”

‘Damn it, Swen… … !! I am… … !’

That moment.

“Aaaaa!!”

“… … !!”

In her ears, Chell’s painful moans were heard.

Iren quickly grasped the situation.

On the back of Chell’s left hand… … One arrow stuck properly.

When I turned my head –

Emma with a bow and Hernandov with a huge club were riding this way on horseback.

Apparently, the soldiers who had left to invade Alefel County arrived here after hearing the news from the messenger.

“Damn… … !”

Chell cursed and grabbed the arrow stuck to the back of his hand.

And then… …

“… … Aaaa!!!!”

I just pulled it out.

From the wound where the arrow was pulled out, red blood began to flow.

Even in that situation, Chell was keeping his head up while maintaining a clear view.

When I turned my head, I saw Emma and Hernandov, masters of the Aishus army whom Chell knew well, running towards here.

‘shit… … Have enemy reinforcements arrived?’

Only after some of the blood had drained from my body did my rational thoughts return.

This was not the time.

I should have pushed the soldier back as quickly as possible… …

If things continued like this, there was no chance of winning.

Let alone killing Irene in front of him, if Emma and Hernandorf had joined in, he could have been the one to die here.

‘Even now… … I have to step down… … !’

“Everyone! Retreat! The operation is halted! Prioritize retreat!”

He belatedly tried to give an order, but his order did not reach the helpless soldiers and only echoed in the air.

Only then did Chell realize that she was too late.

‘… … shit… … !’

If you, the commander, die, it will truly be the end.

Chell turned his horse around, shouted at them to retreat as much as possible, and left this place.

Emma came closer and spoke to Iren, who was watching.

“I’m glad you arrived on time, Irene. It’s been a while since I used a bow, so I was a little nervous, but I’m glad it worked out well.”

“… … General Emma. Thank you.”

“No. Rather, this is what we should be thankful for. If the surprise attack had not been prevented in advance, Balharat Castle would have been lost.”

As Emma said, if Irene had not camped here first and stopped the soldiers from launching a surprise attack, it was clear that a very difficult situation would have unfolded.

“You had a hard time. Let’s organize the remaining troops first.”

“Yes, I understand. I will help too.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

So, Irene followed Emma’s lead and began to organize the forces of Brans’ army, which could not even retreat properly.

A surprise attack targeting Balharat Castle failed.

Due to this failure, the Brans army lost all of its major troops, numbering over 45,000.

This was the biggest failure since the Brans army virtually conquered the central continent.