novelraw Chapter 73 : Chapter 73
Chapter 73 : Chapter 73
Chapter 73
“Draw swords!”
Someone from the Alliance shouted.
That person didn't have the authority to command the entire force, but there was such a thing as atmosphere.
As if possessed, all the Alliance soldiers drew their respective weapons.
I was no exception.
“Charge!”
Simultaneously with the thunderous shout, a large-bodied man shot forward rapidly.
A roar like thunder followed.
The soldiers flew toward the enemy lines at high speed in unison.
“Enemy attack! It’s the Alliance army!”
“Increase altitude!”
The Purity army, which had been dealing with Galakal, raised their altitude without a single sign of panic.
This wasn't the first time the Purity and the Alliance had clashed over Galakal’s mana source here on Tet Island.
Both sides were accustomed to attacking and being attacked by each other.
“Char—Keck!”
I grabbed Latia by the scruff of her neck as she was about to charge forward, drunk on the atmosphere and thoroughly excited.
I had thought that Latia, who was filled with a strong thirst for revenge against the Purity, would easily fall for this kind of atmosphere, and I was right.
I was glad I had been watching her.
Unlike Latia, Squad 2 and the other members did not act rashly and waited for my instructions.
I felt like praising Byan for not moving on his own, even though he could have, now that he was a field commander like me.
“Everyone, listen up. Our goal is not to reduce the enemy’s numbers, but to subjugate Galakal.”
A soldier defeating an enemy in war was not something extraordinary.
Just as it was natural for a farmer to plant seeds in a field and a fisherman to cast a net in the sea to catch fish, it was also natural for a soldier to fight the enemy on the battlefield.
As always, there was no great profit in doing what was natural.
Of course, depending on the case, such as killing a named enemy or recording a high kill score, the achievement would be honored with promotions, fame, prize money, and the like.
Still, one couldn't deny that the price of life was on the cheap side because it was based on the premise that it was natural for soldiers to fight the enemy.
On the other hand, subjugating Galakal offered a direct benefit.
“There are a total of three mana sources that can be obtained by subjugating Galakal. Both eyes, and the heart. Two of them belong to Ederka, but the person who records the greatest achievement is given the right to choose one of the mana sources to take.”
The value of Galakal’s mana source was on a level incomparable to the mana sources we had secured on Tet Island so far.
Obtaining even one would become a stepping stone for Unit 917 to grow significantly.
“So don’t go in too deep. Fight only to the extent of checking the enemy on the outskirts and look for an opportunity. Then, when Galakal’s health drops…”
“That will be troublesome.”
A voice came from behind me.
I could see the expressions of my comrades, who were staring at me, turning to astonishment.
I instinctively raised my shield and turned my body.
A loud noise rang out as metal clashed with metal.
SCREEECH!
The sharp tip of a spear scraped the surface of the shield.
The spear tip extended past me, leaving a long wound on my cheek and ear, cutting off some of my hair as it sliced through the empty air.
Before my eyes was a man’s smiling face, filled with glee.
I quietly called the name of the man wearing the Purity uniform.
“Hobelerus.”
“It has been a long time, Commander. It is a great honor to meet you, even like this.”
He whispered in a small voice.
Then, as if the previous blow had been a light greeting, he moved away with a nonchalant face.
I checked the wounds on my cheek and ear.
Thanks to my regeneration ability working properly, I could confirm that the wounds were healing at a rapid pace.
“Byan.”
I called for Byan without taking my eyes off Hobelerus.
Byan, his hand gripping his weapon with more force than necessary, approached my side.
I didn’t need to explain; Byan knew as well.
That our opponent was one of Odin's heroes.
“I’m listening, Field Commander.”
“Do you remember what I said just now?”
“Just now… You mean about how subjugating Galakal is important?”
“That’s right.”
I pointed at Galakal below with my empty hand.
“From now on, we split the unit in two. Squad 2, focus on subjugating Galakal.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And Squad 1 will engage the enemy with me. Our opponent is Hobelerus, a Level 4 hero from Odin. It could be more dangerous than facing Galakal, so do not let your guard down for a single moment.”
“Understood.”
The members’ thunderous replies rang out, but since our opponent was who he was, I didn't exactly feel reassured.
Squad 2 broke off to carry out their orders, and the remaining personnel drew their respective weapons.
Latia, of course, but especially the new recruit, Mars Bang, and Byan, who had transferred to become the field commander of Squad 2, had naturally been joined by the new recruit Korsa Douglas in Squad 1.
These two were panting so heavily it seemed as if they might pass out.
Lirisa, on the other hand, was extremely calm.
Was it because she had gotten used to this kind of situation, or because she had become more daring with experience?
I didn't know the exact reason, but it wasn't a bad thing.
Hobelerus was not alone.
Four squad members were with him, but since I didn't recognize any of them, they seemed to be regular soldiers, not heroes.
Of course, even if they were regular soldiers, they had received support based on Odin’s vast capital, so we couldn’t treat them like ordinary Purity soldiers.
“I’ll keep Hobelerus occupied, so take care of the soldiers first.”
“Leave it to me!”
The engagement began with Latia dashing forward and Lirisa firing an arrow.
Although they had received some training, Mars and Korsa, who still lacked experience in interpersonal combat, were being pushed back a little, but Lirisa and Latia were overwhelming their opponents.
With those two, it would take less than five minutes to deal with all the soldiers.
In other words.
The maximum time I had to talk with Hobelerus was five minutes.
“Hobelerus.”
“Speak, Commander.”
Should I call this fortunate?
Hobelerus was not as outright hostile as Balta, nor was he a stuffy person who couldn't be reasoned with.
The Hobelerus I knew was an intelligent person who enjoyed battle but also loved poetry and books, and he liked to converse with others based on that knowledge.
I held the expectation that if Hobelerus was my opponent, I could get some explanation about the situation I was in.
Of course, Hobelerus, who belonged to the lower ranks within Odin, would not have much information.
So what question should I ask first?
After some thought, I opened my mouth.
“The things that are happening within Odin right now. And what has happened to me. To what extent do you know?”
“Everything.”
“…Everything?”
“After the Commander left Odin, all information regarding every incident that occurred has been shared with not only Lady Reysia and Sir Joshua, but also with soldiers of the lowest rank, like myself.”
In other words.
What Reysia, who held the highest power in Odin, was secretly doing in the Frey Archipelago was also known to Hobelerus, who was nothing more than a low-ranking soldier.
My heart pounded.
I clutched my trembling chest and opened my mouth.
The question I had harbored in my heart ever since I fell into this world.
“Who am I?”
“You are Odin’s great and respected Commander.”
“Right. I am Odin’s commander… But that’s not what I want to know. Is the commander you all serve Rian Kaltz? Or is it ‘me’?”
“……”
Hobelerus fell silent for a moment.
He seemed to ponder for a bit before finally smiling.
That smile felt similar to the one Reysia had shown me in the skies above Achimlab Fortress that day.
Just like Reysia back then.
Hobelerus kept his mouth tightly shut and said nothing.
Did it mean he would not answer?
Or was there another reason he could not answer?
I didn’t know.
“Then can you tell me this? What is Reysia doing here in the Frey Archipelago? Why did she give me the message ‘Frey Roka’?”
“Commander.”
He called to me softly.
Perhaps because his voice was so pleasant, it brought a certain sense of calm to my complicated and chaotic mind.
His faint smile seemed to harbor a sad emotion.
“I am merely a tool. You will come to know everything when the time is right, and until then, I cannot speak of it. I cannot ruin Lady Reysia’s plans because of one person like me.”
As expected.
I couldn’t get any significant information.
I had known it would be this way, but that didn’t make the feeling of frustration disappear.
“Haa… Then a final question. What is the reason for this dual attitude you all show me? The reason you treat me as a commander yet act hostile and attack me. Is it because of Rodos? Or is there another reason?”
“That is…”
Hobelerus stared blankly at the spear in his hand, then slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again.
His clear, blue eyes, which seemed to hold the sky, stared straight at me, unwavering, as if he had made some kind of resolution.
“It is because we are that kind of creature.”
“……? What does that…”
“Commander. We are…”
The look in Hobelerus' eyes, who had been about to say something, suddenly changed.
From some point, his blue eyes began to emit a red light.
His mouth firmly shut, he aimed his spear at me with an expressionless face.
“Hobelerus.”
“……”
He did not answer my call.
As if the friendly attitude he had shown me just moments before was all a mirage, the only thing I felt from him was a powerful will to kill the enemy.
Only killing intent.
“Hobelerus!”
I called his name once more.
However, Hobelerus seemed to perceive my shout as a signal to start the attack and charged at full speed.
Hobelerus pulled back the hand holding the spear.
The tip of the spear held enough power to take someone’s life.
“What in the world is going on!”
I didn’t know.
I couldn’t understand anything.
But one thing was clear: if I didn’t fight back now, my life would be in danger.
I raised my shield.
The spot the spear was aiming for was the center of my head.
I raised my shield to protect my head and simultaneously turned my head to secure my vision.
BOOOOM!
“You’re insane…!”
A shock unlike any I had ever experienced was transmitted to my left arm.
A part of the shield shattered, and my left arm was thrown back violently.
Despite having the Fairy Wings operating at maximum output, I was pushed back significantly.
It was a miracle I hadn’t been flipped upside down.
My arm throbbed, and I couldn't put any strength into it.
I could say with certainty that if I hadn't reached Level 3, I would have died from that last blow.
Hobelerus pulled back his spear and thrust it again.
Since I couldn't use my left arm at the moment, I swung my sword with only the strength of my right hand.
Hobelerus' spear and the red blade clashed.