novelraw Chapter 172 : Chapter 172
Chapter 172 : Chapter 172
Chapter 172. Leaving the Forest (3)
“This… this is all I know! Please… please spare me!”
Gento, held by Gaiard’s hand and trembling in agony without even maintaining his form, finally begged pitifully to be spared.
To a human, no less, a race they had looked down upon and hunted their entire lives.
Evan, with a hardened expression, listened to the whole story and then fell into thought for a moment.
As Evan turned his back, Gaiard looked down at the ground where Gento’s blood had pooled and clenched his fist.
“Go, you who have even abandoned the pride of your kin. Now, sleep peacefully.”
“Wa-wait……!”
A red glow flashed in Gaiard’s eyes.
Gento’s blood began to churn and sublimate into smoke, as if burning.
“Kuaaah!!”
A desperate scream scattered into the air, and Gento disappeared without a trace.
Gaiard had granted him eternal death as a final act of mercy.
“It is finished now.”
Gaiard stared at the spot where Gento had disappeared for a while with bitter eyes.
In that gaze was not simple pity, but a sorrowful sadness for the miserable downfall of his kin.
On the other hand, Rorn sneered in a completely different manner.
“Hmph, mosquito bastards are pathetic to the very end.”
“Shut that mouth. If you spew that nonsense one more time, I will really tear your mouth apart.”
“Is that so? Why don’t you try it, you mosquito bastard.”
The deep hatred between the two races flared up again, and Gaiard and Rorn glared at each other.
The other party members, excluding Evan, hastily stood between them.
Meanwhile, Evan, with his arms crossed, was still deep in serious thought.
‘Combining the war situation Fenrir mentioned and the vampire’s testimony… the continent is already in a more serious state of chaos than expected.’
By piecing together the fragments of information he had gathered so far and drawing a picture of the war situation in his mind, the structure of the continent’s war became clear.
‘In the south, the battle with the Solaid Kingdom must be in full swing. Since it was a simultaneous declaration of war, the Manoa Kingdom in the west and the Remshait Federation in the north must be confronting the Empire.’
The situation was divided into three major fronts.
The place where Evan and his party were currently located was near the border of the Solaid Kingdom and the Becken Empire in the south.
In other words, it was highly likely that the force currently fighting against the advance of the Imperial army was the Solaid Kingdom.
‘The vampire clearly said that they planned to target the flank of the allied forces. If so, the southern front is currently in a fierce stalemate, or the allied forces have a slight advantage.’
He thought of the strength of the Solaid Kingdom that he had faced in the past.
But it wasn't a problem to be viewed entirely positively.
Because time was on the Empire’s side.
‘The problem is that once the large-scale reinforcements of the Imperial army, including the vampires, arrive, the situation will be completely reversed.’
Evan’s options became clear.
First, he had to join the kingdom’s emissary delegation that would have moved through the Solaid Kingdom and delay or block the advance of the Imperial army as much as possible.
Or, he could use the gap while the allied forces and the Empire were in a stalemate to quietly infiltrate the Empire’s territory.
‘If I were alone, I would have chosen the latter. I know the internal geography of the Empire better than anyone else. Of course, entering the Imperial Palace would be a secondary problem.’
However, the current Evan was not alone.
As long as he had his companions with him, he wanted to break through with a direct approach that minimized risk and ensured a certain outcome.
“Let’s go. We must head to the Solaid Kingdom immediately and stop the advance of the Imperial army. If the vampire was right, the front line might collapse in no time.”
At Evan’s words, Gaiard crossed his arms and expressed his concern.
“If what that guy I just killed said wasn’t a bluff, there are over tens of thousands of human soldiers, not to mention my kin. That’s too many for us to handle.”
“I’m not unaware of that. Besides, the territory of Solaid is mostly open plains, so it’s true that there are few geographical advantages.”
“In that case, those defending the front line might be annihilated before we can do anything.”
Gaiard spoke worriedly, but Evan shook his head.
“Solaid won’t fall that easily. If it was a country that would collapse due to a difference in troop numbers on open plains, the desert kingdom would have been wiped off the map long ago.”
“Are you saying you have something to rely on?”
“Of course.”
Evan’s eyes deepened as if recalling the past.
‘I know the strength of the Solaid Kingdom well from my past life. If they are still intact, they will be able to block the Imperial army. And if they activate ‘that’ as well.’
Recalling the strength of Solaid that he had personally experienced in the past, Evan immediately turned to head towards the territory of the Solaid Kingdom.
However, at that moment, Anton and Gaiard simultaneously grabbed his shoulders.
“Don’t meddle too much. It’s fine to go and meet the emissary delegation, but are you planning to interfere in someone else’s war as you please?”
Gaiard, who had just heard about the plan discussed during his absence, was discontent.
“I think the same. The moment we fight the Imperial army directly here, it could escalate into a diplomatic issue.”
Thus, Gaiard mentioned the practical risks, and Anton the diplomatic problems, trying to stop Evan.
“I fully understand both of your concerns. But this time, it’s not just a sense of justice or meddling. I am only thinking of my own and the kingdom’s interests.”
Looking at the perplexed party members, Evan logically explained, one by one, why he had made such a decision.
“Initially, our emissary delegation took the route of entering the port of the Solaid Kingdom and heading to the Empire. If a war has already broken out, they will undoubtedly be stranded nearby.”
Anton immediately raised a counterargument.
“I understand that much. But us jumping into the war and fighting the Imperial army according to your plan is a completely different matter. Isn’t it more realistic to quietly cross the border during that gap and infiltrate the heart of the Empire?”
After all, everyone agreed with Evan’s final plan of stopping the Emperor.
But that was something to be done while hiding their affiliation with the kingdom, a completely different story from revealing their identities and participating in the war.
“I have the same opinion. From an assassin’s perspective, the most secretive and quiet method has the highest probability of success.”
Mei, the leader of a mercenary group, nodded in support of Anton.
But Evan’s opinion was firm.
“Of course, I’ve considered that method as well… but the current situation in the Empire cannot be broken through with a stealthy approach alone.”
Tarkin I was a coward in proportion to his desires.
He was the type of person who would mobilize troops on the scale of a legion, beyond just a security force, to protect the Imperial Palace, had over ten bedrooms, and slept in a different one every night.
“The defenses of the Imperial Palace are beyond imagination. It’s difficult to break through with any magic or siege weapons.”
Evan continued speaking, searching his memories.
“Even putting the Imperial Palace aside, the number of troops defending just the capital of the Empire is over 70,000.”
In an instant, surprise was evident on everyone’s faces.
An army of 70,000 was a scale that could wipe out a whole kingdom.
‘This is from when I lived. He might have increased the number of troops by now. He would never reduce them.’
It was truly an impregnable fortress.
Evan judged that a solo assault would be impossible, especially with the added particularity of the current war situation.
“That’s why I’m trying to use this war situation. If the current front line is not completely in the Empire’s favor but in a state of tense balance, we must shake that balance.”
Anton thought for a moment, then asked Evan.
“In other words, you’re saying that you intend to tip the current tense balance in favor of the allied forces and put pressure on the Imperial army?”
“Exactly.”
Evan looked at Jack and asked.
“Jack, if a scale is tilted to one side, what do you have to do to rebalance it?”
“Um……. Wouldn’t you just have to increase the weight on the other side?”
“Correct.”
Evan raised his hands to form a scale and continued his explanation.
“If the allied forces push back the Imperial army and break the front line, the Empire will eventually have no choice but to commit more forces. If that happens, the troops stationed in the capital of the Empire will also likely be mobilized to the front line. That’s when we will have a chance to head to the capital.”
“Do you think that will be as easy as you say?”
As Jaina pointed out coolly, Evan shook his head.
“It won’t be easy at all. The fact that the three front lines are in balance means that the Empire is already far superior in terms of the quality and quantity of troops and supplies.”
“I agree on that point. I only saw them for a short time, but the soldiers of the Empire were far superior in training and organization compared to other kingdoms.”
At Gaiard’s words, Anton made a subtle expression but offered no rebuttal.
“In that case, do you believe that the situation will change just because we jump into the battlefield, Evan?”
To Anton’s question, Evan answered forcefully, without a hint of hesitation.
“Yes. I believe so.”
At his resolute attitude, the party members looked at each other and fell silent for a moment.
Finally, they all nodded.
“Well, then we have to go. You’ve never been wrong.”
“How much money am I supposed to get when this is over?”
Rorn, who was unfamiliar with such an atmosphere, narrowed his eyes and looked puzzled.
Seeing this, Jack discreetly approached Rorn and said.
“Our young master definitely has a plan for any situation. He always has. It will be the same this time.”
“Is that so……”
Rorn scoffed lightly, but he thought that since he was the human chosen by the wolf god Fenrir, there must be something to rely on.
“From now on, our destination is the northwestern border of the Solaid Kingdom, the Ramacht Plains!”
And so, Evan and his party immediately headed towards the point where the Empire’s reinforcements were expected to advance.
* * *
The Ramacht Plains, the border area between the Becken Empire and the Solaid Kingdom.
There, the Solaid central army was barely holding a defensive line in a fortress against the Imperial army, which was displaying immense power.
“Damn it……. If this place falls too, the allied forces will have to worry about the rear of the front line. If that happens, it’s over! We must defend this place no matter what!”
The commander’s cry was desperate.
But he himself suspected it.
The thought of being able to hold on in this plain without any support was nothing more than a pipe dream.
“Commander! Urgent news! The reinforcements of the Becken Empire are reportedly advancing towards this Ramacht Plains now!”
“What……? Damn bastards! They’re swarming in as if they’ll never get tired!”
It was a case of bad to worse.
There was no news of allied support, but the enemy’s forces were surging like a tide.
The commander gritted his teeth and looked up at the sky.
‘If only I could wield that power again, as my ancestors did…….’
A legend left in the history of Solaid.
A mysterious power that once protected the country.
If that power were to manifest here now, at least this plain would not have fallen.
But reality was different.
All that remained were the tattered flag of Solaid and weary soldiers.
At least, until this very moment.