What awaits at the end of this road is (8)
It was a few days after the first battle that I finally heard the news I had been waiting for.
"They won."
"...Really?"
"They said it was a great victory? I guess there aren't many dead people."
I clenched my fist without realizing it. Baba asked me as I briefly controlled my emotions.
"You like it that much?"
"Sure."
"I expected that."
"It's one thing to make a prediction and another to make that prediction come true."
"Hmm... really?"
The Allied victory in the first battle of the Great Rift was news to everyone.
But Baba didn't seem to be interested at all. Nadia frowned at his indifferent expression.
"Why, why do you look so bored with the world when you're delivering such good news? Don't you have any love for humanity?"
"Humanity? I don't have any self-love either."
"Ugh..."
Nadia glanced at me as if she was about to say something, then closed her mouth.
I don't know why I'm paying attention again. I've been fighting well with Baba up until now.
I chuckled and looked at the map.
"They said it was going to snow in Whitefield."
"They said it was going to snow heavily."
In my past life, it snowed often in White Field.
Because of the characteristic of their movements becoming dull when hit by snow, the monsters only attempted to attack on days when the snow stopped.
That number was exactly six times.
I searched through my memories of my past life and visualized three battles into the Futurism.
That means we don't know how the remaining three battles will unfold.
Moreover, since the variable called anti-monster hub appeared, it was impossible to know how the monsters would change their tactics in the future.
In the worst-case scenario, even battles predicted for the future might not proceed as planned.
That's why the number of monsters had to be reduced as much as possible in the first battle, and the Allied Forces achieved that.
"That's good. They'll be able to regroup for a while."
"Will the monsters attack right away when the snow stops?"
"It will be like that."
The second battle will see the most casualties. Thinking about it already makes me sigh.
"Ha..."
Nadia, who was observing my complexion, suddenly changed the subject.
"Baba, is there any other news?"
"What's the news?"
"I asked you to do something last time, right?"
"What? Oh, that."
I thought the two were enemies, but did they become close enough to ask each other for favors? I can't tell if they are on good terms or bad.
Baba said in a nonchalant tone.
"The Marquis is fine. He is not hurt."
"Oh my, Miss, this is really good news. Isn't it?"
Nadia asked Baba for me instead of me, who was absent-minded. I felt so grateful and thoughtful that I held her hand tightly.
"Thank you, Nadia. You are truly the only one."
"Hey, what is it? It's something I should be doing."
Baba poured cold water on us as we held hands and laughed happily.
"Even if he gets hurt, he won't die. There's a 'savior' there, so what are you worried about?"
The unexpected news left me dazed for a while.
"What is that? Is Lord Rahon in the front?"
"I thought so? You didn't know?"
"..."
"What is your wish?"
"I hope that Father, Ian, Kalit, and Rahon all return safely."
"I'll do it."
Surely you didn't move to the front to grant my wish? No, that can't be right...
Rahon's last words were too meaningful to think like that.
I couldn't stand the anger any longer, so I jumped up from the sofa.
I told you to stay in the back, what are you doing?
"You can't even fight!"
***
"...Ah, achwi!"
A loud sneeze echoed through the quiet conference room. Everyone's attention turned to Rahon.
"Do you have a cold?"
Rahon answered Beorn's worried question bluntly.
"Are you asking the 'Savior' if he has a cold?"
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Rahon did not respond to the polite apology, Ian asked him, who was leaning back in his chair with a tired look on his face.
"Are you okay?"
This time too. Rahon only waved his hand instead of answering.
In fact, his entire body was covered in blood. He had not been able to wash up because he was busy treating the wounded who had been pouring in after the first battle.
Although there is no victory without sacrifice, the number of dead was in the tens and the number of injured in the hundreds.
He wants to collapse and sleep right now, but after the meeting, he has to go back to taking care of the injured.
He's afraid that he might die from overwork before the war even ends.
Kalit asked.
"What about the wounded soldiers?"
"Those who were meant to die died, and those who were meant to be saved were saved."
Even though he had the power, he could not save the wounded soldier who was dying.
Not only is the power not infinite, but if he uses it recklessly, he might not be able to save the important people.
It's dirty and deadly, but isn't that the law of life?
'It's like a dog'.
At least they don't send people in danger to the rear...
There was no need to feel this dirty because the wounded soldiers who were fit to survive were carefully selected and sent to the rear.
But who can he blame? It's the path he chose, so he has no choice but to take responsibility for it. Even if his Insides are rotten and torn apart.
Rahon sighed and rubbed the back of his stiff hand. The blood that had already hardened turned to powder and fell away.
Of course, everyone here was better than Rahon, no one was worse.
Although Rahon's body was stained with human blood these people were covered in the blood of monsters.
The conference room was filled with the pungent stench of a monster.
"If you don't clean it off quickly, you'll get addicted."
"I have to wash up after the meeting."
"It hasn't been that long since the battle ended. Isn't it too urgent? It's supposed to snow for the next week."
"We must prepare for the second battle."
If Millenia's predictions are correct, the second battle will be the most costly for the Allied forces.
As the eyes of the people gathered in the conference room changed, the somewhat relaxed atmosphere quickly became serious.
"The demons will resume their attacks as soon as the snow stops. I have no intention of waiting until then."
"Are you thinking of taking the initiative?"
Kalit smiled at the question from Chancellor Halshtail.
"The monsters are probably in hibernation right now. That's how they heal their wounds and store up their lost strength. Why wait until they're healthy again?"
"Hmm..."
The Chancellor of Halstail swept his blood-stained beard. The Marquis of Astrod expressed his doubts.
"But we don't know where their nest was set up. It's hard to find because of the snow, even if we try to trace the blood trail..."
Kalit smiled leisurely.
"There's something I learned when I was fighting monsters with the Knights of Eldern. The Knights of EIdern are very good at tracking."
People quietly exclaimed in admiration at the explanation that several of them had been given a secret mission to track down the retreating monsters.
It was a very smart decision to not stop at winning the first battle but to calculate one more step ahead.
It was also a strategy that could only be developed because they completely believed in the future of Millennia.
"Commander Eldern, please rероrt your findings."
lan pointed absently at the map. It was a short rocky hill on the border of Whitefield.
"They say the monsters have flocked to this place. However, they are unable to approach due to the risk of being discovered, so further investigation will be conducted tonight."
Marquis Astrod's expression was still dark.
"There is one concern."
"Go ahead, Marquis."
"Medium-level monsters and above are not affected by the weather. Top-level monsters don't even hibernate."
People here already knew that the top-level monster had begun its activities.
Moreover, Marquis Astrod had to witness Millennia being seriously injured by the top-level monster's scheme, so it was natural for him to be on guard.
"So, I'm thinking of forming a small elite force of knights who would have a chance of winning even if they faced the highest-level monsters."
The operation devised by Kalit was a guerrilla warfare.
The goal was to shake them up as much as possible before the second battle began, by hitting and retreating until the snow stopped.
Marquis Astrod nodded.
"Can I apply?"
"Of course. It's very sturdy. Then I'll leave the organization of the unit to you, Marquis."
Kalit met the eyes of the leaders.
"The operation will commence in two days. Please pay special attention to security."
The meeting is over.
Among the people comfortably discussing guerrilla warfare, only Rahon was left scratching his head.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment